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here is a substantial amount of wisdom the Western Christian Church could gain by moving beyond the Greco-Roman mindset that has entrenched much of its theological perspective. Understanding the Eastern cultural and philosophical context in which the scriptures were contextualized could provide valuable new insights. Not only would this provide a deeper insight into theological matters but can aid in removing the void between logic and experiential spiritual encounters. This exploration of the scriptures' original Eastern context could bridge the artificial divide between intellectual understanding and lived spiritual experience, addressing a critical weakness that has left the Church struggling to maintain relevancy with each passing generation.
Even in non-denominational churches, where there is often a stated openness to diverse perspectives, the tendency to prioritize purely intellectual and logical interpretations has created limitations. This rigid approach not only restricts our ability to explore and appreciate different theological viewpoints but also diminishes our capacity to fully experience the profound mysteries of God and the wonder of creation. As for my own journey through the Christian faith, profound breakthroughs in both faith and understanding consistently emerge when I either break free from this Greco-Roman mindset, humbly put myself out of my comfort zone, or let go of the insatiable need for knowledge.
My spiritual growth through embracing new perspectives found an unexpected enrichment during my MBA studies when I was assigned the writings of Chandra Mohan Jain, known more widely as Osho. His journey as a philosopher and mystic, though marked by controversy in his challenges to religious and societal structures, offers a compelling case study in how wisdom can emerge from unexpected sources. Despite the controversy surrounding his life and methods, Osho's examination of joy, a core tenet of the Christian faith, through an Eastern philosophical lens offers unexpected insights. His perspective demonstrates precisely how stepping outside our hyper analytical mindset can provide a deeper connection to the Creator that often remains hidden within Western frameworks.
In exploring Osho's book, I found myself deeply resonating with his radical deconstruction of conventional perspectives on joy. He challenges the common belief that happiness stems from external circumstances, asserting instead that joy is our natural state of being. "Ordinarily what we think is joy is not, at most it is entertainment," says Osho, drawing a crucial distinction that cuts to the heart of modern spiritual malaise. Osho's approach ultimately presents joy as a spiritual practice of radical self-acceptance, where liberation is found not through conforming to external expectations, but through a journey of internal exploration and genuine self-revelation. In a culture that worships entertainment as its primary source of fulfillment, our relentless pursuit of happiness through distraction leads us paradoxically further from the authentic joy and freedom we seek. He describes this modern fixation with entertainment as an "illness" - a sophisticated form of avoidance that keeps us perpetually disconnected from our inherent state of joy.
Our constant pursuit of external stimulation and pleasure not only masks our innate capacity for joy but reinforces the very barriers that prevent us from experiencing it. We become like someone frantically searching for glasses perched atop their head, exhausting ourselves in an increasingly desperate quest for what has been within us all along. This insight challenges not just our approach to happiness, but our entire understanding of what it means to live authentically in a world increasingly designed to keep us distracted from our true nature.
The connection between Osho's understanding of joy as our fundamental nature and the Biblical perspective reveals a fascinating spiritual resonance that transcends cultural and theological boundaries. In the Christian Scriptures, particularly in the Gospel of John chapter 15, Jesus (Yeshua) declares, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." This understanding reveals joy not as an external achievement to be pursued, but as an inherent state of our being, a divine presence dwelling within us that remains accessible in life's dullest or darkest moments, even when facing death itself. Though I believe there is a significant variance between Osho's fundamental outlook and that of the Scriptures, the comparison invites a deeper contemplation: What mental, emotional, and spiritual barriers might we be maintaining that prevent us from experiencing the joy that is already inherent within our nature?
Cast your burden on יהוה, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. [Psalm 55:22]
The concept of “Hell” has become so overused and diluted that its essential meaning has been obscured or neglected. Osho touches on a significant point that previously started to take shape in my mind after reading the book "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. The idea that Hell is not an external realm imposed upon us nor a fiery domain with demons carrying pitchforks, but a prison of our own making as we separate ourselves from God. A desolate state, void of joy, that stems not from our circumstances but from our internal state, where we keep our natural capacity for joy caged like a wild animal. This understanding is simultaneously empowering and sobering, suggesting that if we are the architects of our own Hell, then we also possess the power to transform it by taking ownership of our internal landscape and choosing, moment by moment, to unlock the very doors we have closed. A free choice of whether we align ourselves to the true will of God or doom ourselves to destruction.
While Osho offers valuable insights about joy and liberation from ego, his philosophy overlooks a fundamental reality. Even if universal enlightenment were achieved, our inherent free will would inevitably regenerate the very chaos he seeks to transcend. We find ourselves caught in a maelstrom of our own making that, by its very nature, requires intervention from a perfect being beyond ourselves. Though Osho rightly observes that "We have all poured our own chaos into the world," his solution proves insufficient to address how even the smallest human divergence has and would reverberate through the fabric of existence. In this light, his philosophy inadvertently reveals the very need for divine intervention that it attempts to circumvent, for enlightenment alone leaves us not only vulnerable to recreating patterns of chaos but fails to address the damage already woven into creation itself.
Surrender is not an act, it is a state of being. You cannot do it. If you do it, it is not surrender because the doer is there. [Osho]
This contrast underscores the fundamental difference between Osho's philosophical approach and the Biblical narrative, the recognition that human consciousness alone, no matter how enlightened, cannot fully resolve the profound disorder we've introduced into existence. While Osho's insights about self-created suffering and the nature of joy are valuable, they don't fully address our free will and the deeper issue of human nature's persistent tendency toward chaos and self-destruction. The Biblical narrative suggests that true transformation requires not just individual enlightenment or sanctification but divine intervention, a perfect being capable of breaking the cycle of chaos at its root.
Even with these fundamental disagreements, I still think there is value to be had in searching the thoughts and perspectives of each divinely created individual. The beauty of intellectual and spiritual exploration lies in our ability to glean wisdom from diverse sources, while not to seek our own truth, but by pursuing foundational truths of the Creator, his creation, and our relationship to him. Though Osho at times has sharp criticism of Christ and Christianity, there is still revelations that he presents from which the Church can deeper their connection to God and fully live out the fruits of the Spirit. His insights reveal how we often substitute religious performance and intellectual understanding for genuine transformation, creating elaborate systems of doctrine and practice that can actually distance us from the authentic joy and freedom that Yeshua promised. Perhaps the path forward lies in a simpler truth, that learning to fall into the presence of the moment is where we can hear that still, small voice, releasing our grip on our sinful nature, our ego, and need for religious performance to experience the true Joy that the Creator of Heaven and Earth has innately woven into our being.
On The Path (+)
- Unique and thought provoking
- Challenges the popular way of thinking
- Author has a deep sense of understanding and conviction on the topic
- Wide-ranging and all encompassing ideas. (The author has published extensively)
Off The Path (-)
- 'Do As Thou Wilt' mentality
- Overly critical at times feeling arrogant of other religious philosophies.
- Readers not of the Western Christian faith may not relate to certain parts of the book
- Has a tendency to intentionally go off topic from the core idea of the book
