_The US government’s refusal to accept Osho as a religious teacher touches off a storm of protest from religious and other professionals around the world. Scholars from every Christian denomination (Catholic, Baptist, Church of England, Presbyterian, Quaker, Lutheran and Orthodox), Jewish Rabbis, Zen temple priests, Buddhist scholars and professors of religion from all over the world write in his favour. As do major figures from the worlds of science, medicine, psychology, sociology, business and the arts.

See excerpts from some of their letters here.

Their message is summed up by the Hollywood poet, author and movie-maker, James Broughton: ‘[Osho] is one of the most extraordinary men of these last decades of this century. He is a teacher and author of exceptional abilities, having brought into the history and understanding of religion a fertile new insight and illumination. I am convinced that in the spiritual tradition here is a mind of intellectual brilliance and persuasive ability as an author. He has given me new comprehensions of Christian, Buddhist, Taoist, Sufi, and Hindu teachings, mystical practice, and historical significance. It is [Osho’s] special talent that he helps one to a deeper awareness of all religious experience in a manner that is both necessary and appropriate to present day society. I believe him to be a major force for religious consciousness in our time.’

An interesting fact the letters reveal is that the authors, professionals from varied fields, each consider Osho to be an expert in their own field.

Psychologists call him ‘the most outstanding teacher in psychology in the world today’Dr. Rudolph Wormser, Professor at the Max Planck lnstitut fur Psychopathologie & Psychotherapie, Germany. Chairman, 17th Congress of Experimental Psychology. and ‘an extraordinarily gifted psychologist’Dr. James S. Gordon, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Community and Family Medicine, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, DC, USA..

Artists call him ‘an artist of exceptional vision’Bruno DeMattio, German film-maker, author The Software Culture is Coming, Jenseits der Wuste, ‘a master artist’Perinchery Bhaskaran Unny, Germany, film maker and actor and ‘an exceptional artist of words’Samuel Schapiro, film-maker, winner of the Bronze Lion award at the Cannes Film Festival. ‘(Osho’s) thoughts about music are among the deepest and most inspiring in contemporary musical thinking’.Rainer Artenfels, Viennese actor and director, member of of Max Reinhardt's Theater in der Josefstadt ‘His talk about theatre was the most profound and insightful I’ve ever heard on that issue.’Warren Robertson, Director of the Warren Robertson Theater Workshop, New York, founder and artistic director of the Actors Repertory Theater, New York, and author of Free to Act

A professor of international business at the School of International Politics, Economics and Business, Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, describes Osho simply as ‘a truly universal genius’.

From the normally insular world of religion, religious figures are unanimous in praising Osho.  ‘[He] is a scholar of many religious viewsPaul F Knitter, Professor of Theology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, USA, including Hinduism , Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, and Christianity. He has not only studied the religions of the world but perceived and been able to communicate the spirit or inner essence of them all. While his roots remain in the East, he is not seeking to promote the dominance of any one religion over others.’

Other religious leaders and professors describe him as ‘the rarest and most talented religionist’Profssor Kazuyoshi Kino of Hosen Gakuen College, Tokyo, a Buddhist scholar for thirty years.,  ‘a great religious master of our age’The National President of the Venerable Permanent Counsel of the Orthodox Church of Italy.,  ‘one of the most outstanding religious figures of all time’James R. Agee, Lutheran clergyman for ten years, ‘one of the great living teachers in the worldDaniel Matt, Ph.D., Professor of Judaic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union, California, ‘a religious teacher and spiritual leader of exceptional ability’Dr. Hans-Jurgen Greschat, Professor of the History of Religions, University of Marburg, Germany, ‘a uniquely brilliant spiritual teacher’Dr Maurice R Stein, Professor of Sociology, Brandeis University, Massachusetts, ‘one of the great lights of this centuryRabbi Joseph H. Gelberman, The Tree of Life Synagogue, New York‘, ‘one of the most outstanding and enlightened religious leaders in our’ timeRev. Frank Stribbling, Pastor, Sanctuary of Light Church , Texas, ‘a rareaddition to the teaching corps of the world religions’Douglas V Steers, T Wistar Brown Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Haverford College, Pennsylvania, author of a dozen books on philosophy and religion, former President of the American Theological Society and Chairman of the Friends World Committee, the international body of the Quakers., and ‘a master who opens the Age of Aquarius’Gregorio, The Archimandrite of Turin, Italy.

Scientists describe him as ‘undoubtedly an extraordinary philosopher and scientist’Dr M W Ronsberg, Professor of General Medicine and Sociology, Freie Universitat, Berlin. A Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma, USA,Dr Darrel Harden even goes so far as to pronounce Osho ‘without doubt the foremost general systems engineer alive today’.

As Ted L. Shay, Professor of Political Science at Willamette University, Oregon, sums up, ‘[He] is obviously one of the world’s most exceptional men.’

As a result of these letters, the government rescinds its decision, but then refuses to adjudicate Osho’s application, leaving him in legal limbo for the remainder of his years in the US.