Neo-sannyas

Neo-sannyas is a new type of sannyas introduced by the Indian mystic and philosopher Osho (then known as Acharya Rajneesh, later also known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh) in 1970. In casual parlance, the neo- prefix is often dropped. In the past, neo-sannyasins were also known as Rajneeshees and sometimes as "Orange People" because of the orange (later also red, maroon and pink) clothes they used to wear from 1970 until 1985. [Judith M. Fox: "Osho Rajneesh", (2002: 12) ISBN 1-56085-156-2] The press in India tends to refer to them as "Oshoites". [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/19097457.cms "Times of India" article dated 14 Aug. 2002] ]

Meaning of neo-sannyas

Unlike the traditional sannyasin, who renounces family life, possessions and pleasure, Osho's neo-sannyasins only aim to renounce their identification with their past. According to Osho, neo-sannyas represents a readiness to take a jump into the future, into the unknown. [Osho, "The Perfect Master", Vol. 2] This renunciation may or may not be symbolised by taking a new name.

The only other requirement is “to live life in its totality, but with an absolute condition, categorical condition: and that condition is awareness, meditation.” This can be done without any personal or institutional involvement of anyone else. [ [http://www.neosannyas.org/index.htm Introduction to Osho Sannyas] ]

In contrast to traditional sannyas – which emphasises asceticism – love, laughter, creativity and celebration are seen as core values in neo-sannyas.

From 1970 to 1985, neo-sannyasins wore orange or red clothes and a mala comprising 108 wooden beads and a picture of Osho. Speaking in 1985, Osho explained:

:In India the red clothes and mala have been used for thousands of years by all the religions as symbolic of a sannyasin. I wanted to destroy that traditional idea of sannyas, because the sannyasin has to be celibate, the sannyasin has not to touch a woman, not to talk to a woman. The sannyasin cannot stay in a household, he has to stay in a temple. He has to eat only once a day, he has to fast continuously again and again. He has to torture himself. This is sick.

:I wanted to destroy this image, that's why I had chosen the red color. And I had almost three hundred thousand sannyasins in India. My sannyasins created tremendous trouble amongst the traditional sannyasins, because there was no way to know who is who. My sannyasins would be walking on the road and people would touch their feet, not knowing that these are not celibates; they have their girlfriends. They eat two times a day, they eat everything that is the best – whether it is Italian or Chinese or Japanese, it does not matter. These people belong to the twenty-first century, and old sannyasins were very angry because I have destroyed their image.

:With our coming to the West, now red clothes and the mala are no longer needed, because in the West they have never been symbolic of religion. They have done their work in India. They have made their point, that a sannyasin can be with a wife, with children; that he need not be a parasite on the society, he can work, he can create, he can earn; that he need not be worshipped. [ [http://www.neosannyas.org/on-sannyas.htm Osho on sannyas] ]

Accordingly, neo-sannyasins may live lives in society that are externally unremarkable. [Graham, Rachel. [http://www.wweek.com/html/urbanpulse020200.html Osho? Oh no!] , Willamette Week, Portland, Orgeon, February 2 2000]

See also

* Osho movement

References

Further reading

*cite journal | last =Latkin | first =Carl A. | authorlink = | coauthors =Sundberg, Norman D.; Littman, Richard A.; Katsikis, Melissa G.; Hagan, Richard A. | title =Feelings after the fall: former Rajneeshpuram Commune members' perceptions of and affiliation with the Rajneeshee movement | journal =Sociology of Religion | volume =55 | issue =1 | pages =Pages 65–74 | publisher = | location = | date = | url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0SOR/is_n1_v55/ai_15383493/pg_1 | doi = | id = | accessdate =

External links

* [http://www.neosannyas.org/ Neo-sannyas website, with an introduction to Osho Sannyas and further background]
* [http://osho.com Osho International Foundation website]
* [http://www.sannyas.org sannyas.org incl. the Sannyas Wiki]