The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1938 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
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Rajneesh, Bhagwan Shree
(1931–90)
. Founder of an Indian-based movement known variously as the Orange People (from their dress), Sannyasins or neo-Sannyasins, Rajneeshees, or followers of Bhagwan. He was born Mohan Chandra Rajneesh of a Jain father. He became enlightened, by his own account, in 1953. In 1981, having temporarily disappeared, he moved to Oregon in the USA, where a new city was planned, called Rajneeshpuram. Rajneesh took a vow of silence until 1984, so the foundation was run (increasingly autocratically) by his personal assistant, Ma Anand Sheela. In 1985, she absconded (and was later arrested), and Rajneesh was expelled from the USA. He resettled in Poona, where he became known as Osho. After his death, his followers continued to offer courses in his teaching.
In the Bhagwan's monistic interpretation of the world, there is only one source of energy and that is bio-energy, called ‘life’ or ‘love’ or ‘light’. Awareness of one's inner life enables one to stand at a distance from it, and eventually to become an impartial observer and witness—the
sashi
of classical Indian
yoga
. Thus, if one is ‘aware’, then whether one enters into or renounces sexual relationships, the end result is the same.
Rajputs
.
Rulers in R
jputana (now R
jasthan) in India. They were
K
atriyas
who rose to prominence before and during the
Gupta dynasty
.
Rak‘a
.
Unit of movements during the Muslim
al
t
(obligatory worship). These are:
ruk
‘, bending forward;
suj
d
, prostration;
jul
s
(half-sitting, half-kneeling); a second
suj
d
.

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