In the intricate tapestry of human existence, where desires and spiritual aspirations interweave, the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta emerges as a profound exploration of consciousness and unity. Central to this philosophy is the non-dualistic belief that the individual soul (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are one and the same.
However, bridging the gap between intellectual understanding and lived experience often requires a journey through the very fabric of human nature, encompassing our desires, expressions, and the myriad ways we seek fulfillment. It is here, in the confluence of art, sexuality, extravagance, and the uninhibited embrace of life’s adventures, that figures like Osho and Chogyam Trungpa propose a radical, yet deeply spiritual, pathway to enlightenment.
The Unorthodox Path: Embracing Life to Transcend It
Both Osho and Chogyam Trungpa, despite their distinct cultural and philosophical backgrounds, converge on a path to spiritual realization that challenges conventional morality and asceticism. They argue for a form of spiritual practice that does not shun the material and sensual aspects of life but instead engages with them fully to transcend them.
Osho, a figure synonymous with controversy and enlightenment, often emphasized the importance of experiencing life in all its dimensions. He famously said, “To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it” (Osho, “Creativity: Unleashing the Forces Within”). For Osho, the path to understanding the ultimate truth of Advaita Vedanta lies in the total embrace of existence—art, sexuality, and all forms of self-expression are seen not as distractions but as essential expressions of the divine.
Chogyam Trungpa, another unconventional spiritual teacher, introduced the concept of “spiritual materialism” – the idea that spiritual practice can become yet another ego-enhancing project if not approached correctly. Trungpa advocated for a path that included rather than excluded worldly experiences, suggesting that the very fabric of life, with all its chaos and beauty, is the path itself. “The bad news is you’re falling through the air, nothing to hang on to, no parachute. The good news is there’s no ground” (Chogyam Trungpa, “Crazy Wisdom”). This metaphor captures the essence of embracing life’s uncertainties and indulgences as a means to spiritual awakening.
The Exhaustion of Desires: A Path to Liberation
The suggestion that indulgence in art, sex, and extravagance could lead to spiritual realization might seem paradoxical at first glance. However, both Osho and Trungpa articulate a vision of spiritual practice that incorporates these elements as means to exhaust desires and ego attachments. Osho posited that it is through the full immersion into and eventual exhaustion of desires that one finds the path to inner peace and enlightenment. By experiencing desires fully without repression, one can transcend them and move towards a state of desirelessness, which is akin to the Advaita Vedanta’s state of realizing the non-dual nature of reality.
Similarly, Trungpa encouraged a fearless engagement with life, where one’s adventures and experiences become the very ground for spiritual practice and understanding. By encountering and embracing the full spectrum of human experience, including those aspects often deemed unworthy or distractions by traditional spiritual paths, one can cut through the illusions of the ego and encounter the basic goodness of our true nature.
Expanding Experiences Through Spiritual Practices
The practices advocated by Osho and Trungpa do not end with the exhaustion of desires. This is merely the beginning of a more profound exploration of consciousness and reality. Both teachers emphasize the importance of meditation, mindfulness, and other spiritual practices as means to integrate and transcend the experiences gained through the embrace of life’s richness.
Through meditation, one learns to observe the movements of the mind and the play of desires without attachment, leading to deeper insights into the nature of self and reality. Mindfulness in daily life transforms even the most mundane activities into spiritual practice, revealing the sacred in the ordinary.
The Confluence of Art and Spirituality: A Vision of Wholeness
Art, in the view of Advaita Vedanta as interpreted by Osho and Trungpa, is not merely a form of aesthetic expression but a means to access deeper truths about ourselves and the universe. Through creativity, one can explore the boundaries of ego and identity, touching the infinite creativity of the cosmos. Art becomes a meditation, a way of seeing and being that transcends the dualities of subject and object, creator and creation.
Sexuality, too, is reclaimed as a sacred act of union that mirrors the ultimate union of Atman and Brahman. It is through the profound acceptance and celebration of our sensual nature that we can transcend it, accessing states of consciousness that reveal the interconnectedness of all things.
Conclusion: A Radical Embrace of Life’s Fullness
The perspectives of Osho and Chogyam Trungpa on Advaita Vedanta offer a radical yet deeply spiritual path to enlightenment that challenges conventional notions of asceticism and renunciation. By fully embracing the totality of human experience, including art, sexuality, and the pursuit of pleasure, we can exhaust our desires and ego attachments, leading to a more profound understanding and realization of our true nature.
This journey is not without its challenges, requiring courage, sincerity, and a willingness to confront oneself at the deepest levels. Yet, it promises a path to liberation that is vibrant, whole, and deeply aligned with the richness of human existence. In the end, it is a celebration of life itself, in all its chaotic, beautiful, and transcendent glory.
You will love The Shankara Oracle as it will take you deeply within and connect you with your pure, divine Self.
