Read What? By My Own Rules – My Story in my Own Words – written by Maa Anand Sheela.
Read Where? Hardback Copy, sent by Blogchatter for their Book Review Program #BookChatter, in return for an honest review. Also available in a Kindle format.
Language. Genre: English. Memoir.
Pages: 175
What is it about? If you have heard of Osho/Rajneesh then it is unlikely that you haven’t heard of Maa Anand Sheela, who was his personal secretary in the 1980s. ‘Seela’ is how Osho addressed her as and she called him, and still does, Bhagwan.
Sheela was introduced to Osho by her father when she was 16 years old. She fell deeply in love with him and that love has not abated over all these years.
Maa Anand Sheela has seen it all and done it all, from setting up Osho’s commune, Rajneeshpuram, in the USA to going to prison for multiple crimes. She enjoyed luxuries and battled poverty. She has received adulation and faced deep hatred. Stangers have embraced her even as certain members of the family rejected her.
In this book, Maa Anand Sheela shares the 18 rules that define her life. From leading a controversial life with Osho to founding and running care homes in Switzerland and Mauritius, Sheela has lived out the entire spectrum of stages and situations life had to offer her.
What did I think of it? I have been intrigued by the duo of Osho-Maa Sheela for the past many years, and I devour all that I can read up about them. Sheela has lead a life rich with varied experiences some so unusual that no common man could even imagine them or going through them.
Her experiences, and overcoming the obstacles she fought her way through give weight to each of the lessons she shares. From pain to acceptance, from love to sex, Sheela covers it all. Her steely determination and the courage and positivity to look life in the eye comes through. She has faced every challenge life threw her way and remains forever grateful to whatever ‘Existence’ brings her way. ‘By My Own Rules’ is certainly a very inspiring book to read.
' Everyone in the world has an opinion about me. I do not expect them to change. I accept life as it comes' - is Maa Sheela's inspiring thought that that was my biggest takeaway from this book. Click To Tweet
Wow or Not Now? This is a memoir and a self-help guide rolled into one. The book is engrossing and well written, however, it reads like a very sanitized and politically correct memoir.
What Else? Reading this book made me fence sit on what I felt about it. Did life give Sheela a second chance to redeem her conscience/herself or does she want to correct her image and leave a good last impression? I also wonder if I expected more out of this book purely because I have been reading about Maa Sheela and Osho for years now.
*** 3 Stars to By My Own Rules – My Story in my own words by Maa Anand Sheela
My rating chart;
*Use it as a doorstop.
**Read it if you have nothing better to do.
***You may like it if you like this particular genre.
****Must read!
*****What! You haven’t read it YET?!
I came to know about Maa Anand Sheela through a documentary on Netflix. She played a significant role in Osho’s life in spreading his work. I am not very keen to read more about it but as you mentioned, if I happen to find it will give it a try.
This Books Seems very interesting. I love to read and spend my extra time to read and write. Would love to read this book. Thank you for sharing valuable feedback.
I have this book but haven’t begun reading yet. Your review made me curious and also confirmed my doubt that it would be ‘politically correct’. Looking forward to reading it now.
My brother is an avid admirer of Osho and I had heard about maa sheela from him. the book sounds interesting to me and I would love to read her life experiences with it. loved your honest review dear.
This book looks really interesting, I really love to read this and going to get my copy now. Thanks for sharing such an honest review..
“By My Own Rules”, the book by Ma Anand Sheela sounds really interesting. We recently watched, “Wild Wild Country,” on Netflix. The documentary series covers the setting up of the Oregon Ashram. We were intrigued by Ma Anand Sheela in this documentary. Hope to catch up on this book.
I wasn’t much aware of the story of Sheela and how she was so involved in the Osho. The details you have shared in this post have sure intrigued me to read this book further and know more about her.
I am unaware of this story and heard it for the first time through your post. I would like to give it a read soon.
The book is seems interesting. I did not know about Maa Sheela earlier, but aroused curiosity in my mind. I will definitely read it in my free time.
Well I have seen the documentary about Sheela. What I feel about her is a little bit of admiration as she was such a confident lady in that era but also a kind of mystery around her personality.
I got intrigued with their story after watching a documentary on Netflix. After that, I read a few blogs on OSHO and the story behind his success as well as his fall. I am really intrigued with this book and would love to pick it up for my next read.
My interest piqued after watching a documentary on Netflix and since then the story of Osho and Maa Anand Sheela has been quite intriguing to me. I have read a few blogs as well and wanted to get my hands on this book once I realized it will be released soon. I am definitely picking it up for my next read.
Ma Anand Sheela is an iron lady whose life has been turbulent and with more action than a fictional story. I would love to read the book.
I so wanted to know more about her and osho and was planning to watch the documentary but some how not getting time but now I think I am going to grab this book. Thanks for sharing such a honest review.
The role of Sheela in Osho life is intriguing. That’s very intriguing crisp read. The storyline and narration is crisp and increases curiousity. Would love to check out
This is a honest review for sure, seems like a interesting read. I am aware about the story of Sheela and you have covered the details well
I happen to watch a documentary on Maa Anand Sheela on the OTT platform, not a huge fan of this genre but your crisp review and some scoop about the personal life of the author piqued my interest to read more about her.
I have never heard about her before reading this blog. Now I am intrigued to know more and I am going to get my hands on this book.
Book seems interesting and love to give it a read. I heard about Osho involvement in her life and how her life changes.
I watched a documentary recently about Osho and his Ashram set up and got to know about Maa Anand Sheela from there. It triggered a lot of interest in me about her. I will surely get this book.
I got to know about Maa Sheela and Osho only after watching ‘Wild Wild Country’ on Netflix. Now that I already have some background about Maa Sheela, I would love to read My Own Rules. Your book review is fantastic and I can’t wait to pick a book at the store.
I have never heard about her before reading this blog. Seems interesting . Will check for sure