Courage - The Joy of Living Dangerously

 Courage: The Joy of Living Dangerously 

 
Author: Osho 

                I just came across this book when a big storm smashed my life. When I was fully out of mind & heart my mom! Who supported & stand with me in my best & worst times of my life. She gave this book to me exactly when I had to make an important decision. It helped me to realize, that there is nothing to be afraid of and that it is very vital for us to go for the unknown. Unknown situations are opportunities for adventure.The book taught me that in order to make progress in life we have to move out of our “comfort – zone” with no fear. Thanks a ton Mom :)

 
                     “No, nothing is secure. That is my message. Nothing can be secure, because a secure life will be worse than death. Nothing is certain. Life is full of uncertainties, full of surprises – that is its beauty! You can never come to a moment when you can say, “Now I am certain.” When you say you are certain, you simply declare your death; you have committed suicide.” It is courage because when you function out of a conclusion the conclusion protects you. The conclusion gives you security, safety. To function without a conclusion is to function in innocence. There is no security, you may go wrong, you may go astray. One who is ready to go on the exploration called truth has to be ready to commit many errors, mistakes - has to be ready to risk. One may go astray but that is how one arrives. Magic had something of the mind and something of the no-mind. Then out of magic grew philosophy. Then out of philosophy grew science. Magic was both no-mind and mind. Philosophy was only mind. And then mind plus experimentation became science.

                   Thinking can think only about the known - it can chew the already chewed. Thinking can never be original. How can you think about the unknown? Whatsoever you can manage to think will belong to the known. You can think only because you know. At the most, thinking can create new combinations. You can think about a horse that flies in the sky, who is made of gold, but nothing is new. You know birds that fly in the sky, you know gold, you know horses, and you combine the three together. At the most thinking can create new combinations, but it can not know the unknown. The unknown remains beyond it. So thinking goes in a circle, goes on knowing the known again and again and again. It goes on chewing the chewed. Thinking is never original. To come upon reality originally, radically, to come upon reality without any mediator - to come upon reality as if you were the first person to exist - that is liberating. That very newness of it liberates. 

 
                   I’ve read this book twice, and each time afterward felt the need to purchase 20 copies and give them to total strangers who don’t have courage to face life Osho's approach to religion/spirituality is simple, he uses common sense and fearless boldness to knock down our preconceived notions of our approach to life. This is an amazing, easy read, and should be required reading for all .
Cheers xalvis!

REVIEWED  BY

KEVIN XALVIS