NEW PROJECT: [ OSHO AND THE IDEOLOGY CRITIQUE ]

OSHO AND THE CRITIQUE OF IDEOLOGY

I am starting a new project. A project of combining Zizekian paradigm of ideology critique (Ideologiekritik) in the Indian context, that is, in the writings of Osho, Acharya Rajneesh, the Indian Mystic. 

Ideology is a form of false consciousness, a sort of wrong description of the world. But, no, this definition of ideology as false consciousness or wrong description of the world is illusive. There is a certain evolution of ideology as we see in the contemporary works of Slovenian Philosopher Slavoj Zizek. Marx defined Ideology as, "They do not know they are doing it, but they do it". From Marx, Ideologiekritik reaches to Adorno, Althusser and then to Zizek. Zizek reverses the definition in a Hegelian fashion and redefines ideology as, 

"They know what they are doing, but they, nevertheless, do it!" 

This is our baseline. In the Indian context, East of the Europe and eastern side of philosophy has many universalistic ideas to contribute. In works of Osho, we see a sort of revisit to the old wisdom, which Eurocentric thinkers might call oriental wisdom, modern and postmodern thinkers will announce them as spiritual, but they remain practical, rational philosophy in eyes of Osho. Osho, an Indian ordinary mystic, ordinary in the sense that this land is most abundant of mystics. Yet, I believe he has to contribute many things as a thinker and as a philosopher to the world. In Osho, I find and Ideology critic, a post-modernist, a Marxist and even at times a highly western mind and yet he represents sometimes spiritual wisdom of far east (The teachings of Lao Tzu), The wisdom of Bhagwat Geeta, The Teachings of Jesus Christ and yes even Buddha, the materialist redeemer of todays. Yet, he remains many things, but seems one thing at a time. Thus, he seems an extraordinary genius. I think, using Zizekian paradigm to interpret Osho's teachings to provide a critic of Indian Ideology seems a proper way to go since this nation is amidst darkness of knowledge, a sort of place it has become which has institutionalized ignorance. Every street has a spiritual leader, and every house has a sort of divine attachment. But this is not to be romanticized but feared. I feel it is schizophrenic because, this spirituality is the result of social conditioning and not through a dialectical movement between material and ideal thought, which is the real way it should happen. This has resulted in the making of a dual mind of an average Indian, a mind split between Marx and Gandhi. A thought split between the idea and the matter and a sort of bastard mind which does not flinch in having hypocrisy between thought and action. 

Moreover, in the wake of neo-liberal economy, globalization and a global rise of far right, India has started exporting this spiritual hypocritic garbage which has led to what Zizek calls, "The Buddhist Ethic and the rise of Global Capitalism", where the consumerist guilt can today be overcome by meditating, the guilt of doing wrong can be wiped by what Hindus call, "Pashchataaap". 

My aim, which is not at all humble, is to provide a just, rightful and brutal critique of this Indian ideology in order that the right spiritual thought, the authentic spirituality, which is basically philosophy, can prevail, and we can again dream a better world in reality, take action and eventually, rest. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1 

 1. History of Ideologiekritik

2. The contributions to Ideologiekritik by Marx.

3. The contributions to Ideologiekritik by Althusser.

4. Zizek, The ultimate 

5. Zizek, from Lacan inside and Hegel Outside

6. Zizek the critic of ideology

PART 2

1. THE INDIAN IDEOLOGY IN A NUTSHELL

2. PERVERSION IS THE LAW

3. OSHO: THE DOCTOR TO PATIENTS OF SPIRITUALITY

4. OSHO AND COMMENTARY ON GEETA

5. OSHO AND COMMENTARY ON BUDDHISM

6. OSHO AND COMMENTARY ON JAINISM

7. OSHO AND SAINT TRADITION IN INDIA, GORAKH, MEERA, KABIR ETC. 

8. OSHO AND POLITICAL REALM, GANDHI, AMBEDKAR, ETC. 

9. OSHO AND SPIRITUAL FIGHTS 

10. WHY OSHO FAILED?

11. ALL THOSE WHO CURE, NEED CURE, ALL THOSE WHO GET CURED, DO NOT CURE OTHERS. 

This is the brief outline of a major project I wish to pull off in future. Till then, I bid Pranaam to the Paramatma (The Divine) sitting within all of who will read this ever, as Osho used to say.