Customer Reviews

Hellbent for Enlightenment: Unmasking Sex, Power, and Death with a Notorious Master

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the early 70s Rosemary Hamilton's life took an unexpected turn when she found herself as an orangeclad disciple of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. And from then on started the beautiful and profound adventure of her life, which she here shares with the rest of the world.

She lived in silence, she went through hard therapy, witnessed relationship problems and other problems in the ashram. And had the great fortune to move into close proximity to Osho as his cook.

Here she portraits not only the controversial Osho and his life in Poona and the unfortunate stay in the US, where Rosemary goes into a hungerstrike in protest against the illegalities surroding his arrest. But also chronicles her own awakening process, giving the picture of a strong, couragous and humorous woman. Where Osho comes across as a rather gentle and humble man, quite unlike the medias "sex guru with the 93 Rolls Royces". And as a master who places his own interests second to the growth of his disciples.

A profound and well written book about the relationship between an Enlightened Master and a mature, ready and open disciple.

I found the book fascinating, and appreciated the personal revelations Ms. Hamilton shares. I believe the book is invaluable to those seeking an insight into the attraction of these kinds of movements in general, and the Rajneesh movement in particular. I believe that Ms. Hamilton does take an apologist's tone regarding the Bhagwan's involvement or knowledge of the violent attacks on surrounding communities. Ms. Hamilton suggests that Ma Sheela and her security force were solely responsible for the attacks without the knowledge of surrounding community members or the Bhagwan. I believe that her idealization of the Bhagwan continues to affect her analysis, and causes her to cast the members of the movement as victims of an individual. I grew up in a small town, and know that secrets simply cannot be kept. BUT people can always refuse to look...