This took me way too long to get through. I found it interesting but kind of ehh if I’m being honest. I’m not sure if it was the way it was written or way it was read. I just found myself stopping after a few minutes of listening which took forever for an 11hr recording (even a 2.5 speed)

Meditation: The First and Last Freedom by Osho is a comprehensive guide to the art of meditation and its various aspects. This book is written in a conversational style and is accessible to readers of all backgrounds and levels of experience with meditation.

Osho starts by discussing the reasons why people meditate and the various benefits it can bring to one's life, including reduced stress and anxiety, increased self-awareness, and inner peace. He then goes on to explain different types of meditation and how to practice them, covering topics such as mindfulness, transcendental meditation, and dynamic meditation.

One of the strengths of this book is the way Osho integrates Eastern and Western approaches to meditation, making it relevant to a wide range of readers. He also provides practical tips for overcoming common obstacles in meditation, such as distractions and restlessness.

Overall, I would recommend Meditation: The First and Last Freedom to anyone interested in learning more about meditation and its potential to improve one's life. Osho's insights and guidance are both practical and profound, and the book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to deepen their meditation practice.

I had never heard of Osho before receiving this advance copy audiobook from Netgalley and the publisher, Penguin Random House, which seems to have issued a number of Osho meditation books all at once. I've since learned that Osho was a Jain Indian who practiced tantric yoga and was called the "sex guru;" naturally, he is believed to have abused many of his followers. He wound up accruing enormous wealth from his followers and at one time owned 365 Rolls Royces, apparently so he could drive a new one every day.

Even before I knew these off-putting facts, I found the book off-putting in its didactic tone. Although a young woman narrates and tries to infuse the words with a more modern feel, there is an old stiffness in them, orders handed down from on high. "You will do this, and you will feel this." I didn't like the whole tone, and I didn't feel the book had anything new to say to me. Do not recommend.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press Essentials for making it possible for me to listen to an early edition of this audiobook for review purposes. Thank you so much!

Osho, also known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, was an Indian religious cult leader and a controversial figure.
I feel this book is best enjoyed without a preconceived notion if that can be helped. If you don't know about him, then don't google about him and don't watch "Wild Wild Country," which is an amazing documentary miniseries on Netflix. The documentary is excellent and fascinating; however, this book requires a very open mind. Try listening to it without judgment if you can.

The book was originally published in 1988 while Osho was still living. This is an updated audiobook version of that book. It sounded as though the contents are not exactly the same - some sections were added while some older sections were omitted. The narrator of the audiobook (Natalie Naudus) was excellent.

I felt his idea of meditation transcends religious barriers and can be influential to many people regardless of their background, His ideas are paradoxical - similar to "if a tree falls in a forest and no one heard it, did that tree fall?" The first half of the book was full of his suggestions on meditations. I felt I have learned a lot and his ideas are beneficial in my own meditation practices.

The second half of the audiobook is devoted to various meditation methods. It talks about various techniques an focuses on each methods, which are, again, fascinating. It was frustrating to me that many of these meditations are to be performed with his special meditation music, which is not included in this audiobook. There isn't even a sample music on this audiobook - you have to go to Osho's foundation website and likely have to purchase the music separately. Another gripe of mine is that each meditation is rather long for beginners, at an hour or longer - except for children's meditation, which starts from 15 minutes long. Also, you are on your own on these meditation sessions - there is no "follow along" meditation sessions on music. I felt an audiobook would be an excellent medium to have at least glimpse of an actual practice.

Overall, I feel this book has enhanced my meditation practice and was beneficial to me, even with aforementioned shortcomings.

I have been meaning to read Osho since seeing it recommended in various online forums. I've studied many different types of meditations and spiritual practices and am always open to learning and growing. This book is a newly revised edition that was updated to address common questions and feedback received by the Osho International Foundation. One disappointment for me was the original selected meditations from Osho's "The Book of Secrets" were removed from the revised edition.

The book contains many meditation and spiritual practice elements I've learned from other sources. Osho appears to have taken teachings from several different Eastern religions and spiritual practices and combined them with their own take on things. Most of the book is dedicated to teaching what Osho believes is the proper and best way to approach and practice spirituality with the latter part of the book focused on providing many different meditation techniques.

I tried to keep an open beginner's mind while listening to the audiobook version of this publication. Nevertheless, my subjective listening experience found the presentation to be a bit dogmatic. Both the script and the narration came across as somewhat self-righteous and lightly mocking of non-Osho approved ways of being, thinking, and doing. I found myself projecting back to the Osho recommendations I read previously in the online forums and realized that they also came across as a bit self-righteous and mocking of other gurus and spiritual paths. This is ironic given Osho also speaks out against this kind of dogma. But then again, Osho also says all truths are paradoxical so maybe it all makes sense?? :D

While I enjoyed hearing Osho's take on spirituality and meditation, I ultimately concluded that Osho is not for me. I prefer truly non-dogmatic approaches that present their teachings not as the proper or best, but as mere guideposts to help each person uncover and journey down their own unique spiritual paths.

DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased reviews.