The writer, on whose behalf the story is told, decides to radically change his life and become a man of action. He rents a coal mine in Crete and goes there to do “real business.” Fate does not bring him success in business, does not contribute to the implementation of idealistic plans, but gives him something more. Fate gives him Zorba as a partner.

'Zorba the Greek' is a fascinating novel, funny and sad, deep and subtle. We will meet an absolutely incredible character - the rarest among people living on Earth. This man truly lives “here and now.” He is completely free - including from any moral prohibitions - a being for whom there is no particular difference between matter and spirit, God and the devil.

And at the same time, Osho Rajneesh considered the Greek Zorba to be the highest manifestation Buddhahood.