Osho says that in Zen, and only in Zen, there is no distinction between ordinary life and religious life. This is extremely relevant, "because if daily life is not used as a method of meditation, it fatally turns into flight."

Ancient Music in the Pines brings together a fascinating selection of talks devoted to some of the best Zen stories and parables. With the help of these masterful stories and some questions from his listeners, Osho takes a detailed look at what meditation is. He helps us examine the mechanism that governs our minds and the keys to understanding it, because without this understanding we may contribute to the strengthening of old mental patterns that prevent us from hearing ancient music.

The five chosen tales are profound and widely known, but Osho's commentary illuminates them from a new angle. His keen psychological insight, his sweeping humor, his powerful wit, his insight, and his stark exposure of the endless hypocrisies that pervade our traditions make this book not only captivating but highly provocative to read.