OSHO: The True Meaning of Sambhog Se Samadhi

The most mis-interpreted spiritual message from a great mind who left no stone unturned to teach humanity the essence of life is: “Sambhog se Samadhi."

Let me explain it clearly.

I have been an OSHO follower for more than a decade by now and have watched more than a hundred of his video discourses and read dozens of books highlighting his teachings and messages to humanity.

It truly pains me to observe how most of the humanity misunderstand him because of his ruthless straight-forwardness.

Don't just go by what you listen; rather experience it yourself, do some research, before coming to any conclusion.

Osho’s phrase “Sambhog se Samadhi” is widely misunderstood because it is often taken literally and superficially. 

Osho was not encouraging indulgence or pleasure-seeking. His central concern was awareness. 

By sambhog, he meant living life totally—experiencing emotions, relationships, creativity, work, joy, and even pain with full consciousness, without repression or inner division.

Osho observed that traditional spirituality often rejected life in the name of renunciation, creating guilt and hypocrisy.

He challenged this by saying that whatever is lived unconsciously becomes a bondage, while the same experience lived consciously becomes liberating. 

Suppression strengthens desire; understanding dissolves it. Awareness transforms energy.

He used strong examples to shake people out of moral conditioning, not to glorify them. 

The destination was always samadhi—a state of inner silence, clarity, and egolessness. 

When life is lived with total awareness, the mind gradually loses its grip, and meditation happens naturally.

The teaching was misinterpreted because society heard permission, where Osho spoke of responsibility. 

Moralists felt threatened, and shallow listeners missed the depth. 

Osho’s message was not about pleasure, but about wholeness—a spirituality that includes living a great life, not escaping from it.

For me: OSHO taught us never to be an escapist, but a pragmatist.

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Enlightenment Simplified By OSHO

Osho spoke about enlightenment in a way that was radically different from traditional religious or spiritual teachings. 

His central message was that enlightenment is not something to be achieved in the future, but something to be recognized in the present.

Here are the key ideas Osho emphasized:

1. Enlightenment is not a goal

Osho said that the very effort to achieve enlightenment creates distance from it.

“Enlightenment is not an achievement; it is a recognition.”

According to him, you are already a Buddha by nature—only unaware of it.

2. It is a state of awareness, not morality

He rejected the idea that enlightenment comes from being morally perfect, religious, or disciplined.

“Awareness is the only morality.”

Enlightenment arises from pure awareness, not from following rules or suppressing desires.

3. Living totally in the present moment

For Osho, enlightenment happens here and now, not in some afterlife or future birth.

“The moment you are totally in the present, you are enlightened.”

The past and future are seen as distractions created by the mind.

4. Freedom from the mind

Osho described enlightenment as freedom from identification with thoughts.

“You are not the mind; you are the witness of the mind.”

When thoughts are observed without involvement, silence naturally arises—and in that silence, enlightenment flowers.

5. No seriousness, no struggle

Unlike traditional ascetic paths, Osho emphasized celebration, laughter, and playfulness.

“Enlightenment is not serious; it is a relaxed, playful understanding.”

He believed seriousness strengthens the ego.

6. Individual, not institutional

Osho warned against organized religion and gurus who promise salvation.

“Truth cannot be organized.”

Enlightenment is a deeply personal inner revolution, not something transferable by institutions.

7. Meditation as the way—not discipline

Osho promoted meditation techniques (especially dynamic meditation) as ways to drop the mind, not control it.

“Meditation is not concentration; it is relaxation into awareness.”

8. Enlightenment does not make you special

He often said an enlightened person is utterly ordinary outwardly, yet inwardly free.

“The enlightened one disappears; only enlightenment remains.”

In essence, Osho said:

Enlightenment is awakening from the dream of the mind and living consciously, joyfully, and totally—right now.

Image by NVD from Pixabay

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Nothing Is In Our Control!

Nothing is in our control. 

Just watch the developments as a Shakshi, means observer.

Had I understood it 12 years ago, life would have been diagonally opposite now.

Anyways, I am always happy now. 

Whatever life gave, giving and will - everything is accepted and acceptable unconditionally.

Completely surrender to the divine power, with the best Karma possible. Universe can change our destiny, based on Karma.

That's why I said, nothing is in our hands. Because, even after unleashing the best possible actions, result is decided by the Universe.

Free-will does exist, but not the outcome of the actions performed by free-will in our control.

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Let Me Be The Me Again

My readers must have noticed that I haven't written a single blog and posted here for a long time. 

This is because of my inability to express emotions and I don't really know, why is this happening.

During last 3 months I have visited many religious places and temples, seeking the blessings of all deities for making me me once again. I don't know if that will happen ever.

I am sure that this blockage of expression will soon disappear, and I will continue with highlighting my thoughts and emotions on this blog.

I might be going through a transitional phase of life and Lord Krishna is testing my patience for making me a better me in due course of time.

So much yet to be expressed; so many stories yet to be told and lot many memories to be shared with all of you.

Pray to God, my Kanha, for giving me the strength and courage to dissolve what is conventionally called "Writers' Block' and let me be the me what I actually am.

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Are You Lonely?

Most of us are experiencing it, but silently. None else knows about the same. However, deep inside, we all know that it's happening. Because, we know, it's truth.

What's that, that we are experiencing but afraid to admit to even to self - forget about sharing with others within our circle of influence.

Often I wonder, do we really have a circle of influence in our lives now?

Well, read the following piece and absorb what you already know from deep inside.

"In today's hyperconnected world, loneliness has quietly become a global epidemic.

In 2025, nearly 1 in 5 people worldwide reports strong feelings of loneliness.

The numbers in India are even more striking—43% of urban Indians say they’re lonely, and rates are rising among both youth and older adults.

Why?

Urban migration, the breakdown of joint families, and digital “connections” that often fall short of true companionship all play a part.

Seniors and young professionals are especially impacted, with nearly 34% of elderly Indians experiencing social isolation.

The stakes are serious:

1. Loneliness increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline.

2. Chronic loneliness can harm our hearts and immune system—posing risks similar to smoking.

In India, the erosion of traditional support systems makes the challenge even tougher for the vulnerable.

What helps?

1. Prioritize real-life connections over screen time.

2. Join community activities or volunteering efforts.

3. Support elders—regular visits, calls, or helping them stay digitally connected.

4. Practice self-care & seek professional support when needed.

5. Open up honest conversations about mental health at home, work, and schools.

Bottom line:

Loneliness isn’t a personal failing—it’s a shared challenge we can tackle together. Every act of genuine connection helps rebuild empathy and community."

Having experiencing the same at the age of 63 years, despite being so busy through-out the day for running my own business, I can understand what just a few hours of loneliness in the evening for me means the whole day for those who don't have anything to do through-out.

I stay in a colony in Gurgaon. In the evening,  I meet retired people. Unfortunately, I sense a strong smell of loneliness and, frankly speaking, it's not an issue with only senior citizens.

Being a writer first, then an entrepreneur, I thought that it's my moral responsibility to highlight the onset of an pandemic much more devastating than Covid.

It's happening across all ages, all around the globe, like heart attacks. It's happening with our knowledge and it will continue, unless we initiate some corrective actions to minimize it at least.

Loneliness is the biggest threat to human existence and we must encounter it with right strategy.

This is a research oriented article, highlighting the facts that we either don't know or pretend not to know.

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3S Principles of Living A Meaningful Life

Sankalp, Siddhi, and Sanskar, together provide a powerful framework for making life meaningful, purposeful, and filled with joy and bliss.

Sankalp means a firm resolve or intention. When you take a sankalp, it gives your mind a clear direction and focus. This concentrated intention channels your mental energy, increasing your willpower and accelerating your progress toward your goals. Just as an arrow needs an aim, your actions need a clear sankalp to be effective.

Siddhi is the accomplishment or realization of your intention. When your sankalp is strong, sincere, and backed by consistent effort and devotion, it transforms into siddhi—your goal is achieved, and your life gains a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Sanskar refers to the positive impressions, values, and habits you cultivate. In Indian tradition, sanskars are life rituals and practices that shape your character, purify your mind, and help you grow spiritually and ethically. These values support your sankalp, making your pursuit meaningful and aligned with higher principles.

How to make life meaningful, purposeful, and blissful through Sankalp, Siddhi and Sanskar:

Set a clear sankalp for what you want to achieve or become—whether it’s inner peace, success, compassion, or any other goal. Let this intention guide your daily actions.

Practice regularly—affirm your sankalp during meditation, prayer, or even through hand gestures like Sankalpa Mudra, which helps balance your mind and brings stability and contentment.

Cultivate positive sanskars—adopt good habits, values, and rituals that reinforce your intention and keep you on the right path.

Stay devoted and disciplined—combine your resolve with sincere effort and devotion. This transforms energy into tangible results and brings joy and fulfillment in the process.

Experience joy and bliss—as your intentions align with your actions and values, you naturally experience a sense of contentment, positivity, and inner happiness.

In essence, Sankalp, Siddhi and Sanskar together help you focus your energy, shape your character, and manifest a life filled with purpose, joy, and bliss.

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Can AI Replace Human Recruiters?

Being an External Recruiter - and Published Author - for last 25 plus years, having attended a few AI Workshops recently, I am vehemently against using AI Agents for writing fictions.

However, there is no doubt that AI can be used to exponentially increase the productivity in every domain of life.

Talking about the role of AI in Executive Search and Recruitment, here is no doubt that it's changing the game for how companies find and hire talent. 

Frankly speaking, it's not just a buzzword anymore, but a powerful tool -- making hiring faster and smarter.

I did a quick research while going through a few relevant publications and the outcome is as follows:

Speed & Efficiency: 

AI-powered systems can review thousands of resumes and shortlist candidates in minutes, not days. 

This can cut time-to-hire significantly. It also automates rutine tasks like scheduling interviews and sending follow-ups, freeing up recruiters' time.

Smarter Matching: 

AI goes beyond keywords, using advanced analysis to match candidates based on skills and experience, reducing guesswork.

Better Candidate Experience: 

AI chatbots provide 24/7 answers to applicant questions and updates, making the application process smoother and more engaging.

Reducing Bias (When Done Right): 

If designed carefully, AI can help reduce unconscious bias by focusing on objective criteria like skills rather than subjective impressions. 

Data-Driven Decisions: 

AI analyzes vast amounts of hiring data to predict candidate success and optimize recruitment strategies, giving HR teams valuable insights.

However, it's not without its challenges. Here are some of these:

Bias Risk: 

AI systems can unfortunately learn and perpetuate human biases, if they're trained on unfair or unrepresentative data. 

Regular audits and diverse training data are crucial to prevent this.

Privacy & Ethics: 

Using AI for social media scraping or biometric analysis (like facial expressions in video interviews) raises significant privacy and ethical questions, leading to new regulations in some areas.

Lack of Human Touch: 

AI still lacks the emotional intelligence needed for cultural fitment assessments or deep conversations about a candidate's values.

This, in my opinion, is absolutely essential for leadership hiring.

To sum up, AI isn't here to replace human recruiters but to augment their capabilities. Particularly, for hiring senior level candidates, AI doesn't have much role to play.

Please share your take on this article in the comment box.

Reference material:

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Photo by Pixabay

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The Power of Control: A Personal Reflection on Performance and Engagement

Looking back across the decades of my professional journey, if I were to isolate the single most effective factor that enhanced my performance—it would be this: having a sense of control over my work. Not titles. Not perks. Not even compensation.

This isn’t just a personal observation, it’s backed by research in psychology and organizational behavior. In the words of Daniel Pink, bestselling author of 'Drive,'

"Autonomy—the desire to direct our own lives—is one of the three essential elements of true motivation, along with mastery and purpose."

When I worked in organizations that empowered me with the authority to solve problems, take decisions, and design my own path to results, I felt deeply connected to my work. I wasn’t just working in the system, I was working on it. I owned outcomes. I took pride in every success, and responsibility for every setback. It was in these roles that I delivered my best performance.

In stark contrast, I’ve also experienced the other end of the spectrum: years in an organization where, despite being accountable for results, I had no real control over the process. Every step needed approval. Every idea faced resistance. Over time, enthusiasm gave way to resignation. As Stephen Covey said in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:

“Accountability without control is not empowerment—it’s abuse.”

It taught me a critical leadership lesson: when you remove control from capable hands, you don’t just stifle creativity but dilute commitment. People disengage not because they lack competence, but because they lack ownership.

This aligns with what Edward Deci, a pioneer of Self-Determination Theory, wrote:

“When people are controlled, they tend to lose initiative and become alienated; when autonomous, they experience ownership and responsibility.”

In today’s fast-changing business world, building a culture of self-leadership is not optional—it’s essential. Leadership must go beyond traditional command-and-control models and adopt what I call a "trust-and-empower" framework.

Give people the tools. Give them clarity. Then give them control.

“Control is not about micromanaging people. It’s about giving them the freedom to take charge and the confidence that you trust their judgment.” – Anonymous

When leaders delegate authority with intention, magic happens. Engagement soars. Innovation flourishes. Teams become resilient, not just compliant.

Give them the Power of Control and watch the wonders unfold. I’ve lived it, and I can tell you this much: when people feel truly in control of their work, they don’t just perform better—they transform the workplace.

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Corporate Boss: A Nightmare?

Having spent 15 years in job with Corporate India, before becoming an entrepreneur, and few years with an extremely insecure and difficult boss to deal with, let me tell you that it demands a lot of courage and maturity to tolerate a continuous bombardment of both decent and indecent abuses and subtle insults directed from the opposite side.

This article is based on my own experiences, while working with one of the largest Indian corporations during early nineties. 

My boss was a science graduate and was insecured about a qualified engineer directly reporting to him. And also that of many others, who have been sharing with me their own sufferings.

Every evening I would return home soaked with insults and abuse and vowed to resign the next day. I couldn't. Because, I had to take care of my family. Self-respect surrendered to the reality of life. That was the time when I had decided to be an entrepreneur and it took 9 long years to materialise.

Dealing with an insecured and difficult boss can be a challenging and draining experience. I know it, because I had lived that experience and frankly speaking when I remember those years now, I just tell myself: What the 'Hell' was that?

Many employees find themselves in a situation where they have to navigate the delicate balance of maintaining a professional relationship, while also protecting their own well-being. 

It is important to approach the situation with a strategic mindset and utilize a variety of tactics to effectively handle a difficult boss.

One of the key aspects of managing a difficult boss is to maintain open and clear communication. 

It is crucial to address any issues or concerns directly with your boss in a respectful and professional manner. 

By expressing your thoughts and feelings in a constructive way, you can potentially resolve misunderstandings and prevent further conflicts from arising. 

Additionally, it is important to actively listen to your boss’s perspective and try to understand their point of view. This can help foster a sense of empathy and mutual respect in the relationship.

Another important aspect of handling a difficult boss is to set boundaries and manage expectations. 

It is essential to establish clear boundaries in terms of work responsibilities, communication protocols, and personal space. 

By clearly defining your role and expectations, you can avoid potential misunderstandings and minimize conflicts. 

Also, it is important to manage expectations by setting realistic goals and deadlines. This can help alleviate stress and pressure in the workplace, leading to a more harmonious and productive work environment.

Furthermore, it is important to practice self-care and prioritize your well-being when dealing with a difficult boss. 

It is crucial to take care of your physical and mental health by getting enough rest, exercise, and relaxation. By practicing self-care, you can build resilience and cope with the challenges posed by a difficult boss. 

In addition, it is important to seek support from friends, family, or colleagues who can offer guidance and advice. Having a supportive network can provide emotional strength and validation during difficult times.

Innovatively, one can also consider using mindfulness techniques to navigate the complex dynamics of a difficult boss. 

Mindfulness involves being present in the moment and cultivating awareness of one’s thoughts and emotions. By practicing mindfulness, you can develop a sense of calmness and clarity, which can help you respond to challenging situations with composure and grace. 

To add further, mindfulness can help cultivate empathy and compassion towards your boss, which can deepen your understanding of their behavior and motivations.

In conclusion, handling a difficult boss requires a strategic approach that integrates open communication, boundary-setting, expectation management, self-care, and mindfulness. 

By utilizing these different aspects, you can effectively navigate the challenges posed by a difficult boss and maintain a sense of professionalism and well-being in the workplace. 

Remember that you are not alone in facing a difficult boss, and it is important to seek support and guidance when needed. 

By employing a variety of tactics and approaches, you can effectively manage the complexities of a difficult boss and thrive in your professional career

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Sense Of Purpose In Life: An Inner Compass

A sense of purpose is not just a lofty ideal; it is the quiet compass that gives direction to our journey through life. It fuels our motivation, sustains us through challenges, and infuses our daily actions with meaning. Purpose transforms existence into experience and routine into ritual. It helps us answer the deeper questions: Why am I here? What is my life meant to contribute?

At the heart of it, purpose is the soul’s yearning to participate in something greater than the self.

Many great thinkers, philosophers, and spiritual leaders have spoken about this deep inner drive:

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate... to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.” — Buddha

“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” — Viktor E. Frankl

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that... Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” — Howard Thurman

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” — Mark Twain

“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” — John F. Kennedy

There is a deeper, spiritual dimension to this idea. Beyond ambition, goals, and even passion, lies the truth that we are not just bodies with minds—we are souls. And the soul, they say, is immortal. It travels through lifetimes, evolving, experiencing, and learning, until it integrates fully with the Ultimate Soul—the Source.

This life, this moment, this current station on your journey is not random. You are here now for a reason.

But how do we uncover that reason?

Mark Twain asked the question point blank: Why were you born? And even more piercingly—What for?

These aren’t questions that yield answers in a rush. They ask us to slow down. To get quiet. To look inward.

On a quiet day, when the noise of the world dims and your to-do list loosens its grip on your mind, find a moment for yourself. No screens, no distractions. Just you and your breath.

Sit in silence. Close your eyes. Let your thoughts drift by like clouds in the sky. Give yourself permission to just be. Then, when your mind is calm, ask:

• Who am I?
• Why am I here?
• What is my purpose in this phase of life?

Don’t strain for answers. Just listen. Feel. Notice what stirs within. Sometimes, the answers come as a feeling. Sometimes as a memory. Sometimes as a subtle whisper.

You might not get clarity in one sitting—but something will shift. Something deep inside will awaken and begin to guide you.

It’s important to understand that purpose is not always grand or fixed. It can evolve. What feels purposeful at 20 might change at 40 or 60. In one season of life, your purpose might be to care for a loved one. In another, to create. In yet another, to heal, teach, build, or serve.

Your purpose doesn’t have to make headlines. It only needs to make you feel alive. At peace. Aligned.

Purpose is not something you find like a buried treasure. It’s something you remember—and slowly uncover from within.

You are not here by accident. Your existence is meaningful. Your presence matters.

Feel free to share your thoughts or personal reflections in the comments—I’d love to hear what your soul says when you ask it: Why am I here?

Image by 巻（Maki） from Pixabay

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