One of the greatest spiritual leaders of the twentieth century
encourages us to embrace the qualities of life our advancing years grant
us in Maturity: The Responsibility of Being Oneself.
In a culture infatuated with youth and determined to avoid old age at
all costs, this book dares to raise a question that has been all but
forgotten in the age of Viagra and cosmetic surgery. What benefits might
lie in accepting the aging process as natural, rather than trying to
hold on to youth and its pleasures all the way to the grave?
Osho takes us back to the roots of what it means to grow up rather than
just to grow old. Both in our relationships with others, and in the
fulfillment of our own individual destinies, he reminds us of the
pleasures that only true maturity can bring. He outlines the ten major
growth cycles in human life, from the self-centered universe of the
preschooler to the flowering of wisdom and compassion in old age.
Osho's sly sense of humor runs like a red thread through the book, along
with a profound compassion and understanding of how easy it is to be
distracted from the deeper meaning and purpose of our lives--which is,
ultimately, to flower into our own individual uniqueness and maturity
with an attitude of celebration and joy.
Osho challenges readers to examine and break free of the conditioned
belief systems and prejudices that limit their capacity to enjoy life in
all its richness. He has been described by the Sunday Times of London
as one of the "1000 Makers of the 20th Century" and by Sunday Mid-Day
(India) as one of the ten people--along with Gandhi, Nehru, and
Buddha--who have changed the destiny of India. Since his death in 1990,
the influence of his teachings continues to expand, reaching seekers of
all ages in virtually every country of the world.
