It happened with his touch

Swami Anand Arun of Osho Tapoban speaks about his experience when he took sannyas from Osho.

When I joined Osho in March 1969 there was no sannyas initiation but we were fully aware that  Acharya Rajneesh is our master; we were a bunch of 100-200 who had already surrendered to him in our hearts. Osho had not given a formal initiation to anybody till then. He started initiating people in 1970, and in 1971 Osho sent me a letter and invited me to come to Mt. Abu and take sannyas; he also said that he had already decided for my new name. But I was only a student of engineering and didn’t have the money or time to go.

  

So in 1972 when I was in my final year of engineering studies, I went to Bombay to take sannyas. Osho said to me, “You are in your last year of studies and if you take sannyas, I have doubt that you will complete your studies.” And he was right. So he told me to first go and complete my studies and also asked me to build a house for my parents on the empty plot of land that I owned in Kathmandu. He knew everything about my family. So I did as he said and you would be surprised to know that as soon as we finished the house warming party or Griha Prabesh Puja, the very next morning I escaped to Pune and took sannyas from Osho. I had already surrendered to Osho in 1969 and used to call him Bhagwan even before people had started calling him with this name. And I also wrote letters to him and Osho would reply to my queries. So the master-disciple relationship was already there, yet initiation still has its own value. This I realized after taking sannyas.

Before being initiated, I had been trying to meditate in my college and at home but my meditation was never deep and I always had problems going into silence. But after initiation it became very easy. At the time of receiving sannyas I had my first satori. I went into no-mind the very moment Osho touched my third eye and gave me the mala and my new name. The moment Osho touched me, I screamed so loudly that everybody in the car porch where the initiation was happening got disturbed. There was no Chuang Tzu Auditorium then and we were only 13-15 people in the small car porch, and Osho was speaking without a microphone. I was more of a reserved person before so when he touched me and gave me the mala it felt like a dam had been broken and the river wanted to flow over; so I kept on crying. I couldn’t control the upsurge of emotions and disturbed the whole interview, and people wanted to take me outside. But Osho was kind enough to stop them and said, “Let him let go.”

 And when Osho was initiating I could see the whole atmosphere changing. I saw that everything had turned into orange including Osho’s white robe and his chair. The tile floor, the walls, the trees in the ashram garden, the casual clothes of non-sannyasins, I saw that everything had turned into orange. I rubbed my eyes and I thought I was hypnotized and tried to wake out of it. I didn’t know what had happened but everything had changed into a beautiful psychedelic color of orange. Later on I read in books that when people take LSD they have such psychedelic experiences but to me it happened with his touch! And this lasted for about half an hour. I could see the radiating beauty and grace of Osho and so many other things happened which cannot be explained in words.

 It was an experience of the heart and it seemed to me as if I knew Osho from many lives, it was a reunion. The whole incident lasted for an hour after which the initiation was over and we returned to our rooms. And I was in such ecstasy and joy that I had never experienced in my life. I was staying at the Somji state building where there was a high ceiling hall. And suddenly I saw Osho’s head appear in one corner of the ceiling and I started crying out of joy. People could not understand what was happening. The whole night I had experiences and I felt like light as a feather. It felt like I was flying high and then again coming down. Even though I couldn’t sleep even for a minute, I was still in total ecstasy, in divine madness. The next morning I realized that I was a different person.

 That’s why I insist so much on the mala and sannyas to my new friends. It is one thing to read Osho or to meditate. People say to me that they are already reading Osho and doing his meditations, what is the need to take sannyas. But I know the difference. Without initiation your meditation cannot reach that height, you cannot surrender your ego. And unless you surrender your ego you cannot go into the depths of no-mind. So initiation is a must.

 It was a ten day camp and after those ten days my friends wanted to return so they went for a leaving darshan. I did not want to return and rather stay for another four months but still I also went with them. My initiation was on 11th October and the leaving darshan was on the 20th.  On that day I was so much in bliss that the moment they opened Lao Tzu gate I rushed to sit near Osho. We had been asked to walk in a gentle pace but I started running uncontrollably. Osho was having a private talk with the famous film director Vijay Anand and his girlfriend, who had been allowed in five minutes earlier than us. So when Mukta saw me running towards Osho she wanted to prevent me from disturbing the conversation, but Osho saw it and stopped Mukta. Osho invited me to sit close to his feet and I sat near him. During that interview I touched his feet several times and he blessed me several times. I was in so much bliss and gratitude that there was nothing to say. Osho looked at me and chuckled, “Hmmm … so you are in ecstasy?”

 This was my experience after taking sannyas and for ten days I was in a different world. I tried to force myself to remember where I had come from, my parents, my job, but my mind was not ready to accept that I had any past connection. I was totally in the state of here and now. I had limited funds for ten days but I stayed for four months without a penny. I was half mad and everybody thought that I would not be able to return to the world. My parents had lost hope and thought that I would become a vegetable. I was in so much bliss and happiness that even I had lost hope that I would be able to return to my job and earn my bread.

 During the four months in Pune, I had to go through many physical hardships, using municipal latrines and slept under thatched roofs with several other people. Everything around me was uncomfortable but I was in the most comfortable state. I was so joyful then that afterwards for several years I was ready to pay any price to experience the same joy.

 Now, since last few years I feel the same joy and bliss and I don’t miss Osho anymore. Today there was sannyas initiation in the meditation hall and anyone could see how ecstatic and mad people were. People can still attain to such ecstacy. We are reliving Osho. Today he is closer than the closest person to my heart and I don’t miss him.

 From an interview by Aatmo Neerav

dissolved in my people...

CLAP! now CLAP!!! (a very outrageous discourse of Osho)

During the month that followed Sheela’s exit flight Osho talked three times a day (about seven to eight hours) to disciple and journalists. For such a self-acclaimed lazy man He was doing a tremendous amount of “work,” and was obviously getting tired.

When asked by a journalist how was it possible that He did not know everything that was going on if He was enlightened, Osho replied:

“To be enlightened means I know myself, it does not mean that I know my room is bugged.”

September 26th, 1985. It takes a diamond to cut a diamond, and I recognized that what was coming was going to hurt when in discourse Osho said:

“And today I would like to declare something immensely important – because I feel perhaps this helped Sheela and her people to exploit you, I don’t know whether tomorrow I will be here or not, so it is better to do it while I am here, and make you free from any other possibility of such a fascist regime.”

“That is, from today, you are free to use any color of clothes. If you feel like using red clothes, that is up to you. And this message has to be sent all over the world to all the communes. It will be more beautiful to have all the colors. I had always dreamed of seeing you in all the colors of the rainbow.

Today we claim the rainbow to be our colors.

The second thing: you return your malas – unless you wish otherwise. That is your choice, but it is not a necessity anymore. You return your malas to President Hasya. But if you want to keep it, it is up to you.

The third thing: from now onwasrds, anybody who wants initiation into sannyas will not be given a mala and will not be told to change to red clothes.

So, we can take over the world more easily!” (From Bondage to Freedom)

These words from Osho had an ominous feel to them, but it was the clapping and cheering that frightened me. It was like a stupid mob; like the clapping that had accompanied Sheela’s meetings. Many people left Rajneesh Mandir very happy and went to buy new color clothes in the boutique. I saw Vivek, we were both wary of the change, and she said to me, “He may disband the commune next.”

Ocotober 8th, 1985, Osho said in discourse:

“…You have been clapping because I have dropped red clothes, malas. And when you clap, you don’t know how it hurts me. That means you have been a hypocrite!”

“Why have you been wearing red clothes if dropping them brings you so much joy? Why have you been wearing the mala? The moment I say, ‘Drop,’ you rejoice. And people rushed to the boutique to change their clothes, they have dropped their malas.

“But you don’t know how much you have wounded me by your clapping and by your changing.”

“Now, I have to say one thing more, and I would like to see whether you have guts to clap or not; that is, now there is no Buddhafield. So if you want enlightenment, you have to work for it individually, the Buddhafield exists no more. You cannot depend on the energy of the Buddhafield to become enlightened.

Now clap as loudly as you can. CLAP!…”

“Now you are completely free: even for enlightenment only you are responsible. And I am completely free from you.”

“You have been behaving like idiots!…”

“And this has given a good chance to see how many people are really intimate with me. If you can drop your malas so easily… Even in my own house there is one sannyasin who immediately changed to blue clothes, with great joy. What does it show? It shows that those red clothes were a burden. She was somehow managing to be in red clothes against her will.

But I don’t want you to do anything against your will.

Now I don’t want even to help you towards your enlightenment against your will. You are absolutely free and responsible for yourself.” (From Bondage to Freedom)

When He shouted “Clap!” it was as though a bomb had exploded and we were all sitting in its fallout, frozen.

- My Diamond Days with Osho, ma prem shunyo

The Commune in the Paradise City

Almost a year ago, I had written an article here on Sannyas News about Osho Tapoban’s official announcement

of the upcoming four new communes in Nepal. Recently I made a trip to one of these communes, Osho Upaban

in Pokhara, and what I saw there has impressed me over expectations. In just a few months after its constructions started, the commune has already taken shape and is ready to welcome Osho lovers.

Perched high on the rim of the deep Seti gorge, Upaban is practically an island bordered by two huge mountain

rivers, the Seti and the Phusre. Osho Sannyasins have now changed the name of Phusre as Mandakini. Mandakini

is the tributary of Ganges, which starts from Kedarnath in North India and has the same color and water quality as Phusre.

Situated at a 10 minutes drive from the Pokhara airport, the commune is connected with a metal road and is only 4 kilometers away from the main city of Pokhara. In Sanskrit, ‘Upaban’ means garden and this commune really looks like an exquisite garden located right at the base grounds of the Annapurna Mountain range from where one can enjoy an

uninterrupted dramatic view of the whole Annapurna range and the intriguing Macchapucchre.

Apart from the rivers and mountains, the commune is also bordered by a lush green forest hill on one edge while the high rising gorges on the other side of the Seti River form dramatic scenery of almost surreal landscape. In addition to this, the commune is also connected to a turquoise colored natural swimming pool sourced by the fresh waters of the Phusre (now called Mandakini) that the visitors at the commune can enjoy at any time.

Arriving outside the commune, a driveway walled by towering cliffs overgrown with moss and long grasses leads to the main entrance of the commune. Beside the entrance is the beautiful bungalow of the semi-circular reception block that houses the spacious welcome center with its future modern audio-visual lounge. This complex is also a guesthouse with huge deluxe rooms that open to a balcony overlooking the beautiful scenery around.

Very close to the welcome centre is the three storied residential cum meditation complex with three halls on each floor, two of which are dormitories and one a multipurpose meditation and therapy room. Situated right on the brink of a cliff

overlooking the Seti River, I was impressed to see that even the bathrooms of this complex bear a five star view of

the deep gorges and the river around.This complex also houses the common bathrooms, a small kitchen for the

future Zorba Restaurant and guest rooms with attached and non attached bathroom facility. Until the construction of the main Buddha Hall is complete, all the meditation sessions are being facilitated in this building.

The other part of the commune is the adjoined long strip of flat hill where the 40 individual residential bungalows and the Buddha hall are being constructed. The construction of seven two-storied bungalows with three bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen have already started and are estimated to be completed by the end of this year. A beautiful walk through garden has also been built by the residential sannyassins living in the commune that extends a long way from the

front of the welcome centre, through the residential buildings and right up to the edge of the

strip where a silent meditation pagoda cum view tower has already been constructed.

Moving towards the northern side of the commune is a vast stretch of wildly vegetated land behind the reception block, which extends from a wide flat land at the base to the highest spot in the whole commune. Right at the edge of the flat land is the first hut of the commune. This orange house can be seen from the road and looks spectacular amongst its wild background. A silent meditation temple is to be constructed at the top of the hillock here.

When asked about the amazing pace with which the work is being done in Pokhara, Swami Yogananda the President of Upaban replied, “I don’t think it is coming too fast, we could have done faster but due to our limitations, we are still lagging behind. It is all because of the continuous efforts of Swami Anand Arun that this commune has taken shape. It is all because of Osho’s grace and His blessings.”

Regarding the meditation programs at Upaban he said, “I would like to invite everyone to come and have a taste of our commune. Next meditation camp of Sw. Anand Arun has been scheduled from 19-24 Nov. For this camp, we have accommodation available only for 75 people and as we expect more bookings, we will be confirming them at a first come, first serve basis. We have also been doing weekend meditation camps when we also have sannyas celebrations. Apart from that we have 3 regular Osho meditations – Dynamic, Kundalini and Whiterobe meditations everyday so people can come for the daily sessions also.”

After meeting the sannyassins here and living in Upaban for three days meditating, taking long walks or just sitting silently looking at the river or the mountains around Upaban I had a great time and it was one of the most beautiful experiences for me. Seeing the way things are coming up in this commune, it does really seem to me that mere human efforts are not the only inspiration behind it, but also the undying love and devotion for the master that can be felt everywhere in Upaban. Well whatever it is, Upaban is one of the almost impossible masterpieces that I have come across, both naturally as well as human wise and I recommend it for everyone.

By- Swami Aatmo Neerav

thank you beloved master

As I look at you with truly open eyes,
emptiness fills me
and I remember that I am an eternal absence.
Listening to your words,
I dissolve, merge, disappear and drown in your voice
and before I know,
I know that everything has remained but me
in a million lives I haven’t experienced a sweeter death
thank you beloved master

nothing to dig, nothing to seek
a dew drop in the morning, vanishing

Neo-Sannyas - A new momentum.

A New Momentum in the Neo-sannyas Movement. By Swami Aatmo Neerav

For thousands of years the culture of sannyas was hidden in the wombs of the East and remained a privilege rare to the common world. It required great penance and unswerving self confidence, determination, honesty, sacrifice and devotion on the part of those who wished to walk this non-worldly path of spiritual enlightenment. For this, seekers had to pass through years of austerities, discipline and purification before a master would initiate them into sannyas.

Osho was not in favour of this concept. He argued that with time, the original concept of sannyas had lost its grace and honor and had become a refuge of the escapists. So in 1970 he invented a revolutionary vision of sannyas known as neo-sannyas.

His sannyas was different from the old concept of no possessions, no family and no profession. Osho did not want his sannyasins to renounce the world but practice meditation in the market, while also embracing their worldly duties. Though this looked easy, it was a bigger challenge for the sannyasins to meditate and remain aware while being in the crowd.

It came as a shock to traditional fundamentalists and priests who thought Osho’s concept of sannyas was just too easy, and they predicted that it wouldn’t work. But the consequences were quite contradictory.

Just in seven years after its establishment, the movement of neo-sannyas had gained so much momentum that every year thousands of people were being initiated at the Pune Ashram. Young sannyasins in mala and orange sprang up throughout the world. This crowd of young and educated individuals further grew when Osho went to America and established his commune, Rajneeshpuram. By 1985 the number of his sannyasins had accelerated beyond millions and the red clads in malas could be seen in all major cities of the world. It was a period of honour and glory for the neo sannyas movement.

But unfortunately the neo-sannyas movement felt a great jolt in October 1985 when the American government plotted and destroyed Rajneeshpuram. Especially after Osho left his body in 1990, the movement seemed to take the journey of a setting sun.

Furthermore, the management at the Pune Ashram formed unnecessary rules that resulted in much confusion. They instructed camp-conductors to wear black clothes and ordered them not to organize camps for more than three days. Orders were made not to celebrate Osho’s birthday, Enlightenment day, Mahaparinirvana and Master’s day. All Osho pictures were removed from the different departments of the Pune Ashram and instructions were made for others to follow the same. Songs mentioning Osho and the word, master, became banned in the Ashram. While great efforts were made to destroy sannyas, initiation was gradually discouraged and wearing Osho’s mala was seen as a “crime”.

All intimate and dedicated disciples who loved Osho were asked to leave the Ashram one after another and their entry became banned inside the Ashram premises. Committed sannyasins who were working in different departments of the Ashram since many years got replaced by paid non-sannyasin workers. Dedicated Osho disciples doing his work for many years were discouraged to continue and great threats were made on the basis of fabricated trademarks and copyrights so that people would stop working out of fear.

Despite the prevailing confusion a few devoted disciples who had been banned by the management of the Pune resort continued with Osho’s work and established communes independent from the control of Pune Resort. Old Indian sannyasins like Swami Narendra Bodhisattva, Ma Amrit Mukti, Ma Yoga Neelam, Swami Chaitanya Keerti, Ma Dharma Jyoti, Sw Anand Vijay, Sw Anand Swabhab, Swami Chaitanya Bharati, Swami Anand Vairagya, Swami Vairagya Amrit and Swami Anand Arun from Nepal started giving sannyas and spreading Osho’s message throughout the world. The newly established communes again started to work as true Osho meditation centres and the neo-sannyas movement which was almost dead regained its pace of acceleration.

Recently this movement has attained a glorious momentum in Nepal. Today there are 4 active Osho communes and 70 meditation centers spread throughout the country with 65,000 initiated sannyasins. Every month Swami Anand Arun and other camp conductors trained in Tapoban conduct several meditation camps and initiate about 3000 people from all over the world every year. During this year Swami Anand Arun is traveling to 11 different countries in Western Europe, North America, Asia and the former USSR to conduct meditation camps, facilitate sannyas and open meditation centres and communes. When asked about his pace of work he says, “This is what existence wants. Its people’s love for Osho that invites them into sannyas and its Osho’s energy and compassion that accepts them. I am just a medium.” He adds. “Osho’s neo-sannyas and his meditation techniques are the only way to create the new man and the best solution to the prevailing global crisis. In 1969 when I had my first interview with Osho, he had said to me, ‘If you work hard the whole of Nepal will plunge into my colour like Tibet has plunged into Buddhism.’ I didn’t believe him then but today I can see it manifesting.”

Seeing “the work” happening in and through this little country in the mountains proves that the concept of neo-sannyas that shook the world in the seventies has lived and is thriving with the same glory. It also ascertains that good intentions never die but manifest themselves in due time.

Becoming a rippleless lake with Ma Anand Madhu. - by Swami Aatmo Neerav

"I gave that watch to the first of my sannyasins. The name of my first sannyasin is Ma Anand Madhu -- a woman of course, because that's what I wanted. Nobody has initiated women into sannyas like me. Not only that, I wanted to initiate a woman as my first sannyasin, just to put things in balance and in order." (Glimpses of a golden childhood) -OSHO

When Osho started giving sannyas in 1970, Ma Anand Madhu was the first lady who decided to become the disciple of Acharya Rajneesh (As Osho was known in those days). A long mala and orange were a compulsion and being a professor and a lady from a renowned political family, it was a bold step for Ma Madhu to accept the controversial guru as her master.

As a sannyasin Ma Madhu became very active in organizing meditation camps for Osho and she was also a member of the kirtan mandali or travelling music groups which carried Osho's message to different parts of India in the early days. Later Ma Madhu became the personal secretary of Osho and contributed much to the growth of Osho's work. Osho wanted Ma Madhu to open a commune in Gujarat and had given it the name, 'Biswa Neer' or World family, but Madhu Ma had recently taken silence camps and her love for silence had only grown over the months. So when she asked Osho if she could go to the Himalayas for a long silence retreat, the master gave his blessings and sent her with his shawl as a gift.

After fourteen years of penance and meditation on the banks of Ganges in Rishikesh, Ma Anand Madhu attained ultimate realization but still preferred to remain in silence. However after many requests of old sannyasins, Ma Madhu came out of silence and today meets only Osho sannyasins for an hour in her room at the Gujarati Ashram in Rishikesh. Here is a little story of my second meeting with her.

It was my second meeting with Ma Anand Madhu, the first initiated disciple of Osho. And this time I had the money and the heart to think of a present. When I first saw the towel in an Ashram shop, I knew this was exactly the gift. Like her it was soft and in orange and my heart said yes.So with a two dozen sannyassin caravan we started our journey to her place. Through the narrow lanes of Rishikesh, over the Ganges on a boat and finally on the same tempo ride I had taken earlier, we arrived at the gates of the Gujrati Ashram.

It was different for me. The Ashram was cool, silent and clean and it was also a place I had come earlier. With polished cemented floors the simple structure of the Ashram not only radiated physical coolness but also the nourishment that touched the heart. I was touched and I knew that I could only be silent.

I also knew that on the floor over this entrance lived a beautiful lady that I deeply loved. I hadn’t met her and I was already influenced by her overflowing presence. Maybe our love had grown over the year and had made me more receptive of her beauty. This I did not know. I looked above and admired the importance that this place so gracefully held along with its plainness.

A bald sannyassin in orange said that we could leave our bags downstairs and go up. So in a group with our own silence and gifts we all went to the upper floor where Ma Anand Madhu lived. I could already hear her soft stern voice repeating the same greeting with which she had greeted me last year. She welcomed each sannyassin with the word Osho.

As I entered I felt a thickness of an overpowering presence spread throughout the room. Though I could not see it I felt a large radius of energy surrounding her which influenced everyone that came to her presence. This was the same nourishment I had felt at the entrance of the Ashram only that this time it was stronger. My eyes were wide open, my mind was silent and I felt a tremendous well being at my heart centre. My heart guided me and I silently bowed down and touched her little feet. She softly touched my back and said, “Right”. I put my gift in her hands and after looking at it she said, "This was important."

Swami Anand Arun had come earlier in the morning and was already sitting with her. He introduced each of us with compliments bigger than ourselves. Such beautiful adjectives can only come from someone like him.

After some time it was Madhu Ma’s turn to play her games. She made fun of everyone and everything. After giving each of us some snacks and sweets she insisted that she would cut apples for Swami Arun and asked him if he liked them peeled or normal. While Swami Arun cracked jokes, Madhu Ma ridiculed him with her witty answers which only made us laugh more.

When Swami Arun told Ma Madhu that he was condemned of trying to pollute Osho for advocating the five disciplines, ‘the panchsheel’, Ma Madhu boldly replied, “These were the same disciplines Osho gave us for meditation when he was taking camps and you have not added anything. Don’t worry. Positive and negative are both needed for a balance. It’s good.”

As I was sitting right in-front of her she would look at me and ask me questions like, “How many meditations do you do in a day?” or “How many meditations do they do in Tapoban?” But every time I tried to speak I only found that I had no words or thoughts to respond to her questions and I only smiled back. She understood this and would smile back at me and somebody else would answer the questions.

Ma Anand Madhu inspires and ignites that flame of love, silence and celebration that we all carry. Her being is a living evidence of that beautiful potential that our beloved master always talks about and I feel more than blessed for having met her twice. Through words I only try to express this overflowing experience in hope that a fragment of it is carried.

Four New Osho Communes birthed in Nepal.

By Swami Aatmo Neerav.

When Osho visited Nepal in 1986 he seemed to see much behind the smiles and welcoming eyes of the simple people of the country. For he was later to say that in just a few years the whole country would be colored red, and its streets would run over with the colours of his sannyasins. It seems that this prophesy is taking life.

With the already existing four active communes and 67 meditation centres, one is bound to meet a maroon clad, freely swanking his mala, and flowing around the cities of Nepal. Now the chance of meeting these maroon clad is only to grow as four more communes are to be added.

Local sannyasins have initiated four commune projects in different cities under the patronage of Swami Anand Arun, an old Osho disciple, and the Co-ordinator of Osho Tapoban.

In Lumbini, the birth place of Gautama Buddha 10.6 acre land has been purchased by sannyasins to build an international village known as Osho Chetban International Village. The purchased plot is at a distance of 1 km from Gautama Buddha’s birth place. Bordered by a river the purchased land has been divided into three units; meditation unit, residential unit and a community unit. The village will have 100 residential houses with the facility of a community hall and centre, a meditation hall and a forest area. As the land is protected by the Lord Buddha Trust, no commercial activities or structures can be built around this area. Foreign sannyasins can also acquire land on a lease basis of 99 years.

In the city of lakes, Pokhara, sannyasins have already purchased the half of the purposed 3.8 acre for an Osho International Commune. Bordered by two huge white water rivers the purchased island overlooks a green forest and is situated very close to the Himalayan ranges of Pokhara. The plot is at 4kms distance from the Pokhara airport.

In Eastern Nepal, the Dharan municipality has granted 5 acres of land to Osho Nirvana Centre for developing it into a full fledged active and residential Osho commune. With a river boundary on one side, the land also has a dense forest and an already existing small hall which can be used for immediate meditation. A committee of local sannyasins has been formed for developing the land. In Southern Nepal also; an Osho lover has donated 8 acres land near the East West Highway in Lahan for developing it into an Osho commune. Sannyasins have already started planting trees and a plan has been passed to build a house for twenty people.

The patron of these projects Swami Anand Arun said; “It will be very difficult for people to believe in such big news. But it is all true. The finance and the plans have already been developed for building these communes. Soon we will have four more Osho communes in Nepal.”
All the four communes are spiritually affiliated to Osho Tapoban.

"I am not a Guru", Swami Anand Arun.

"..My main objective is to open centres and communes and inspire people for regular activities so that the work continues even after I leave this body. So that's why I am interested in travelling...."

(Sw Arun was interviewd by Swami Aatmo Neerav on Osho’s Mahaparinirvana day on 19th January 2009 at Osho Tapoban.)

18 years have passed since Osho left his body and much has changed inside, outside and around the sannyas world. The wild dance of his energy, the wisdom in his words and the flight of his movement is reaching many and is taking its pace in acceleration. We sat down and discussed the controversies, the happenings, the poignant moments of this movement of the new man with Swami Anand Arrun, an old disciple. Here are his words.

What is the difference between Nirvana and Mahaparinirvana?

When a person attains nirvana or enlightenment he becomes free but remains in the body due to his past karmas and sanskaras. After a master attains nirvana he works for the world and makes connection with the people before dropping the body or mahaparinirvana. At the same time a part of his energy is also engaged in maintaining the body and body related relationship and work. Before mahaparinirvana, ultimate freedom is not possible because we remain confined or centered with the body. Osho has mentioned that remaining in the body was an imprisonment for him and he sometimes felt suffocated. Once the master drops his physical body his energy becomes totally free and available for a disciple. His consciousness becomes one with the existence and then only he becomes all powerful and universal in true sense. When Osho was in physical body it was a great task for us to reach him, in Rajneeshpuram it was very difficult for the Asian disciples to get the visa and to arrange for the travelling expense. But now you don't have to travel to any specific place to come in contact with him. You just have to close your eyes and remember him with love and trust and he will be available anywhere you pray for his presence. This is the difference.

Its almost two decades since Osho left his body and the work has still continued. Do you see any difference?

Yes there are differences. Superficial people who were connected only with his words and his physical body thought that the movement was over. They started searching for another master and dropped sannyas. When I travel in the west people are surprised when I talk about Osho in present tense. People ask me, "Movement is still alive in Nepal? Do you still wear mala? Do you still have commune? Is sannyas still happening like the old days? We thought it was finished." For those who thought that his physical reality is the only reality, his physical absence has made a difference.

But for us who trust in him and his energy it has become easier to contact him. Before when he was in Pune, I used to visit him three times in a year. But you couldn't go near Osho because of the crowd. In Pune II, darshans or interviews were not possible and we saw him only during the lectures. We could only send him letters. So for us he has come closer after dropping the body. It has become easier for him also. When he was in the body then also he was travelling out of the body to help his disciples but only for a short period because you can't travel out of the body for a long time. A lot of care had to be taken because the temperature of the body should remain the same when you leave and re-enter the body. That's why his room was on air condition between 18-20 degrees centigrade all the time. Before starting sannyas Osho preferred to remain in open air but after sannyas he had to confine himself to air condition. That's why a yogi moves to the Himalayas because the temperature there always remains the same. It's cold there and prevents the body from decaying. So these are esoteric facts which are difficult for general people to understand and spiritually I am not permitted to go in details. But I can tell you that after Osho dropped his body he has become more active, more available and his work has accelerated. So spiritually we have not lost anything.

The leading Osho communes don't seem to be in harmony with each other each claiming that they are doing the right Osho work. What is your view on this?

It is natural. It always happens when the master leaves his body. When Buddha left his body his disciples immediately divided into 36 sects even though Buddha had already declared his successors. But in Osho's case Osho did not declare any succesors. He didn't do that for certain reasons. So there is no central figure and unfortunately the most important ashram, The Pune Ashram (currently known as Osho Meditation Resort) is being managed by efficient resort managers who don’t care about spirituality. They created as much confusion as possible about sannyas, mala or calling yourself ma or swami. They instructed meditation centres not to hang Osho pictures or play Osho songs. So when such instructions came from the "headquarters" it created much confusion around the world. A lot of Osho disciples dropped sannyas and went to other masters and most of the centres got closed in the West. The remaining centre leaders and therapists also started giving their own instructions. Therapists started claiming themselves as enlightened and real Osho succesors and started inventing their own therapies which were not even approved by Osho. In India also a new sect Osho Dhara came up and other centre leaders also started giving their interpretations. When there is no guidance, no central figure to give you guidelines this happens. This is natural and I am not surprised.

Recently the American court made a decision against the Osho International Foundation suspending their hold over the word Osho as their business trademark. Please comment.

This is a rather late decision. It should have come much earlier. Because of the confusion created by the management of Pune resort, uselessly for ten years sannyasins had to fight a court case. Pune resort also spent a lot of money to protect their trademark and Sw. Atul and sannyasins also spent a lot of energy and money to make Osho free. So a lot of money and energy was wasted in something which was useless. Right hand had to fight with the Left hand and the energy which could have been put into Osho work was wasted in fighting. It was a nonsense decision to create Osho as a business trademark and have copyright over it. But thank god that truth and justice has prevailed and Osho is free from this trademark. All over the world people are happy except for a few managers who want to make a business out of Osho. This is a good decision.

There are a few controversies attached with your name. One is that you claim that you are enlightened.

I am only a seeker on the path and I am honored to be his disciple. And I don’t need any other adjective other than that. I have never claimed that I am enlightened. In 1984 Osho declared few people as enlightened, Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas. My name was also declared as a Bodhisattva and Acharya he said that all his Boddhisattvas will become enlightened in this life and they will not have to take another life. And I am one of the oldest centre leader. So I have all the ingredients to declare myself enlightened. But I have never said that I am enlightened. People are with me since a long time and nobody can quote me say that anywhere. I am against anybody who's making this claim because I know many of my friends who have declared themselves enlightened have done it because of some inferiority/superiority complex or because of impatience. They cannot wait. All of us will become enlightened, we are on the path and I can wait. And when the journey is so beautiful what is the need to claim that I have achieved to the goal. So these people who are making this allegation on me, maybe they think that I am enlightened.

Are you a self-proclaimed guru?

I have seen Osho go through so much torture just because he was trying to help people. The first thing is that after he started giving sannyas his health deteriorated and he had to be confined to his air conditioned room all the time. He was criticized all over the world because he declared himself a master or Bhagwaan. He was not only tortured in America but many parts of the world because he wanted to help this dying humanity. If he had lived by himself, he could have lived a very comfortable life for a century just from the royalty from his books. But he suffered because he wanted to help this humanity which is MAD, SICK, which doesn't understand compassion and always misbehaves with the masters. Anytime any master is born in any part of the world, this humanity will always crucify him whether it is Socrates, Jesus, Rajneesh or Mansoor. It could not even tolerate a simple and honest man like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. who were murdered simply for telling the truth and didn’t even claim themselves enlightened. So I have seen how this world behaves with a real guru. And the torture I have seen Osho go through in American jails, in Indian media, it is horrible. Still people are devaluating Osho and they haven't been honest with him. In India, anybody who writes two or three popular books or serves the Indian language gets a lot of respect; he gets Padmashree, Padmabhusan or Gyan Pith Puraskar. Osho has given about 300 classical books in Hindi and 400 classical books in English that havev been translated in all major languages and are bestsellers and yet he was not duly recognized even as an author. He has designed 300 beautiful techniques of meditation for this sick society, do you see anybody giving him thanks? I have seen how this cruel society, how his own disciples have misbehaved and tortured my master and are still damaging his work. So looking at the whole drama only an idiot will try to become a guru and I am not an idiot. I will be the last person to become a guru.

Why are you so much interested in the media?

Yes, it has some truth in it. Through media I have made Osho popular in Nepal. I have used the media. I have regularly spoken on television, given interviews on radio, published books, written articles in newspapers and magazines. I have worked hard otherwise how I could reach all the people in Nepal and I have no power, no personal radio station or newspaper. It is a torture to write articles spending hours sacrificing your meditation time. It is a torture to face mundane questions of journalists. But that is how I have made Osho popular in Nepal by using the media. Osho started sannyas in 1970 and in 77 his words had reached all parts of the world. This happened because of the power of media. So I have learnt from my master. Because of active support of the media we have over 50000 sannyasins in Nepal, 4 active communes and four upcoming communes and seventy active meditation centres.

Why are you always surrounded by the crowd?

Living in a crowd for a meditator is a torture. You lose your inner balance and your energy in the crowd. I am not a politician and I don't need any vote from the crowd. Being in the crowd is a torture for me but I am in the crowd because I can help people. How many people can I meet in a day if I meet them individually? If I want to share Osho I have to remain in the crowd as long as my body permits me. But it is becoming difficult every day. It is not a pleasure for me to be in public, it is a torture but sometimes you have to go through it.

It seems that you like foreigners otherwise why do you travel so much.

There are no foreigners for me. I believe in universal family and in universal brotherhood. We all belong to the same planet and this term is not applicable for us. It is applicable only for politicians who keep the world divided. And Osho has instructed me to take his message to different parts of the world. Unfortunately in the west there are not many leaders who are conducting meditation camps. They are only doing therapies. In the west it is difficult to find people interested in expanding Osho's message, opening centres or spreading sannyas. Our meditations are group meditations and our work is school work and without centres and communes the work will not have roots and spiritual growth is difficult. So looking at this I started travelling in the west conducting meditation camps and opening centres. My main objective is to open centres and communes and inspire people for regular activities so that the work continues even after I leave this body. So that's why I am interested in travelling.

People claim that you are only interested in the rich and executive.

Although I have been trying to, unfortunately I have not been able to reach the rich people otherwise we would have had a lot of centres and communes in the West. Those who come to my camps are young professionals and young professionals don't have much money. Business men have money. Politicians have money. Those who come to my camp are rich in soul, they are rich in consciousness, and they are rich in understanding. But if I meet people who are rich in pocket I'll be happier.

Osho devoted his whole life for the new man and you have already given four decades of your life. Has it been worthwhile? Do you see that light of hope?

Yes, I see that light of hope. You are young and I see a lot of hope in you that's why you are here asking me these beautiful questions. Although my beard and my hair are getting white all my friends are young. And I see much hope in young people. For instance when I was in Canada I met Amrito who is of your age. I inspired him for Osho's work and now he is full of spirit. He's working hard running a centre, conducting meditation camps and when somebody writes against Osho, me or Tapoban on any media he is the first one to respond. So the new man will come and we have to wait because it is not like a seasonal flower. People have to be free from their old conditionings and mature in meditation and understanding, it takes time. Osho worked so hard for 39 years. When I first met Osho I was one of the most miserable person. He gave me the hope to live. If I had not met him I would have died a miserable death much earlier. But he helped an ordinary miserable person like me and today I see myself as one of the happiest person on Earth. I see hope because if my life can change a lot of other people around the world can also change. And I have seen it happening. Whenever I go back to cities where I have taken camps and initiated people into sannyas, I see that they have become happier, wealthier, and are more loving. I know I can't change the whole world but if I can change even a person like you my job is done. He will make the other mad person like me and the chain will continue. People are changing and it takes time.

Please share with us one of your most memorable moment spent with Osho.

There are many but I can tell you one. When Osho was in Manali after Rajneeshpuram he stayed there for one and a half months and I was there with him. There were only 18-20 disciples. Every morning at 9 o' clock he used to walk near the Vyas River and sit in silence watching the Himalayas and the river for an hour. Sometimes he used to call somebody to sit with him in meditation or talk intimately with him. He called me on the very first day I arrived and I was the first person who was given this privilege. He was sitting on a wooden bench and I was sitting on the sand near his feet and I was free to ask him any question. Just sitting in his presence was a blessing and I can't describe it to you in words. I can't create that milieu. You are immediately transported to some other plane whenever you are in his presence. So a few times he called me and I was with him for an hour. Those were the golden moments of my life. No river can be compared with the beauty of a Himalayan river and no mountain can be compared with the energy of the Himalayas. So amidst this beauty I was sitting with Osho, something I had not even dreamt of. I asked him many personal questions because it was just two of us. I asked him one question which I would like to share with you.

It had just been two days after he had come back from Rajneeshpuram where he had access to all the luxuries in the world including his palatial bedroom, bathroom, and his 99 Rolls Royces. And now here he was in Manali living in a small room which was around 12sqmtr. His bathroom had a geyser but there was not enough power to heat the water. He had come from the airport in an old ambassador car and you know how dirty Indian taxies are. But he had no complaint and he was not missing anything. I missed Rajneeshpuram and I was sad and everybody else was sad except for Osho. He was damn happy in the Himalayas. So I asked him, "Osho don't you miss anything?" and he replied, "Why should I miss anything? You look the mountains are so beautiful and see that cloud over there. Do you have this type of cloud in Nepal? Oh I love the Himalayas and I had always dreamt to come here and finally the existence brought me here. I am so happy in Manali." That was his statement.

I said to Osho that when I was in Pune I had purchased a second hand bicycle in 40 Rupees and somebody stole it. It was my entire saving and after that I couldn't even afford to take a rickshaw. I missed the bicycle for a long time. I asked Osho, "You had 99 Rolls Royces, don't you miss the cars?" Bhagwan said, "No, I don't miss them because I had never thought that they were mine. They were toys and I played with them. The play is over. You miss your bicycle because you thought they were yours. I never thought that the cars belonged to me. I was not attached with them but you were attached with that old bicycle. That is the difference and this is the lesson that I want to give to you. Don't get attached with anything but enjoy everything that life gives to you. And in that way you will always remain free." That was his message.

- kneerub@gmail.com

From Insanity to Sanity. (Interview with Swami Swaram)

Every man is a philosopher and if he is an Osho sanyassin the philosophy he professes is just too strong. A philosopher by mind, a teacher by profession and a sanyassin at heart, Swami Swaram is a thirty year old man from Italy whos been living in Osho Tapoban for the last five months. We talked to him about his experience at Osho Tapoban and his views about Osho and meditation.

How did you come to know about Osho?

When I was 18 I had gone to an underground rock concert. In the concert I saw a man with long hair and an unusually long beard that reached his waist. He was holding a small book stall where all the books for sale had OSHO written on them. There, I bought a very small book by Osho known as the "Philosphy of Non-Violence", it was the cheapest one. But when I read the book I was entralled and amazed by Oshos intellegence. This was my first encounter with Osho.

You took sanyass and have become a disciple of Osho, when and why did you decide to choose Osho as your spiritual master?

In 1998 I went to Pune. Even though I really felt close to Osho and did all the meditation I didnt take sannyaas. Later in Jan 2000, when I returned to Pune, my resistances collapsed. It was not a planned decision and I took sannyass. During the sannyaas celebration, the energy was so strong that I cried for an hour and I had no reason. I chose Osho as my spiritual master because he understood me and gave me the freedom to be myself. He had the answers to all my questions which I couldnt find anywhere else

What inspired you or motivated you to come here?

In London my friend informed me that Swami Arun was going to conduct a meditation camp in there. I did not want to miss this camp which took place outside the city. After participating in the camp my life was totally transformed. I got the real glimpse of meditation and experienced something which I had never experienced before. I had psychological problems since I was 17. When I went to Pune, I participated in many groups and visited the therapists there in the commune. After attending the therapies or groups in Pune, I would feel better for sometime but then it would return again. But when I took Swami Aruns camp, things started changing for me. Through Swami Arun I understood OSHO. I understood what it means to be a sanyassin and to be on a spiritual path. Then I really wanted to taste silence and when I watched Tapobans introductary documentary I immidiately decided to come to Tapoban.

You took Sannyaas in Pune and only recently you started wearing the mala again, why do you wear it now?

In Pune and everywhere else nobody gives importance to the mala. Though I was wearing it in the beginning I saw how insignificant it was for other sanyassins in Pune and other places so I stopped wearing it. But when I participate in Swami Aruns camp I felt his profound love and respect for mala and listening from him about the importance of Mala especially for us, the people from the West who do not consider it to be significant and take it as a commodity. I really felt the difference with the Mala which I received in sanyass as a token of love from the Master.

What was your first impression when you came to Tapoban?

When I first came here I had tons of problems, I was very low, depressed and suicidal. Outside it was very easy for me to distract myself but in Tapoban there was no escape. So here I had a total encounter with myself. All my problems intesified. Many times I wanted to fly back to Italy but within I felt that it was not the solution. Gradually I started feeling better and a trust for myself arose within me. After participating in the next camp conducted by Swami Arun I started going deeper in meditation. For the first time after many years I was relaxed in my body and mind.

I have seen that you are very regular in meditations and you attend all the five sessions in Rajneesh Dhyan Mandir. Which is your favorite meditation & Why?

I like Dynamic the most and here I can feel it going deep. It is the most powerful meditation and I can feel that it can transform life and the whole chemistry of the human body. It’s the perfect cure to everything and I thank Osho for creating it. If done with commitment and patience it can work wonders.

How have Osho Meditations changed your life?

The meditations completely transformed my life. When I started doing it regularly many habits dropped and it completely changed the chemistry of my body. As I started meditating my body started cleansing and many of my physcial problems got cured. The fear that I was carrying within started fading away and I have become more ready to be still and relaxed.

Interview Taken By: Swami Aatmo Neerav.

funny... bhagwan at a wedding

NAMASTE

My First Meditation Camp with Osho, Swami Anand Arun

On the evening of 29th March, 1969, Acharya (Osho) returned to Jabalpur (from Patna) by the Toofan Mail Express where I had first met him, and heard him lecture. I started writing letters to him. My life was filled with questions and was full of problems; and I started writing about my personal situation to Acharya. He used to reply back at that time with beautiful handwritten letters. They used to be short, but filled with guidance and messages for me. In one of his letters, he wrote “Meditation is the only solution to your problem. From meditation, you will get spiritual energy and when this energy overflows, it will clear all the obstacles and solve your problems. There will be a meditation camp at Dwarika in October, if you can manage it then come so that you can meditate and we can talk in detail."

Traveling long distances alone at that time was a difficult thing. So I requested some of my friends to go with me, but nobody was ready for that. So I half-heartedly returned back home to Kathmandu. Still there was a strong force that was pulling me towards Osho. I could not enjoy the festivals at home, rather I seemed to become more anxious. Finally I decided to travel to Dwarika alone. As soon as I decided this, I felt a strong energy arising within me. As usual at festival times, it is very difficult get a reservation on the trains, but for some reason I easily got a reservation! I was surprised to find many people on the journey who were very helpful and friendly towards me. After a long journey, I reached Dwarika. It was the month of October 1969.

The Ocean is both my delight and weakness. Even today whenever I go near it, I feel a certain mysterious aloneness and inner bliss. My futile ego surrenders in front of the widespread-endless ocean and I feel inner silence, peace and elevatation. Many thousands of years ago, Dwarika was ruled by Krishna and it was his favourite place for his pastimes. The background of the Arabian Sea, and above all the mystical presence of Osho took my consciousness to newer realms. The meditations on the sandy beaches of the sea, triggered a deep transformation within me, and turned the whole course of my life. Osho’s presence, his discourses and meditations on the art of dying took us within to a deep inner awareness of undying. Later the discourses given in that camp were published as a book called “Mein Mrityu Sikhata Hu (In Hindi)”.

Most of the participants in the camp were from Gujarat and Maharastra. I was the only one who was from outside India. For the first time I found myself in the company of open, friendly and happy meditators, free from all hypocrisies.

On the very first day Osho said “All the Hindus say that the Soul is immortal, but nobody has experienced it, it is only a concept, an idea borrowed from the Scriptures. One self-realized person is enough to enlighten a whole village. As the presence of a beautiful woman changes the vibe of the environment, as a blooming flower can change the surrounding by its fragrance, similarly a self-realized soul can change the spirit of the surrounding. There are more than 10 million traditional sannyasins and ascetics (in India) and most of them claim themselves to have realized the divine. All of them have their own ways to attract people by going through various self torturing practices and austerities. This is not meditation, but rather a religious circus. The country would not have been in such mess if there were 10 million enlightened beings. These are not sadhakas but they are all hypocrites. In fact, it’s all because of them, we are poor and loosing our morality. Ordinairy people are not to be blamed because they have been the same all the time. If there is anything wrong then it is because of so-called saints and ascetics. They go on saying that they will change everyone’s character and make people more moral, but they don't know that this is next to impossible. Common people will remain the same. If we are to change the world then a few people are enough. And they have to go through an intense transformation that can be the spotlight for society, and can guide millions of souls. That's why I only need one hundred such people. If these people can reach the heights of consciousness then the rest of the humanity will not remain the same. Gurdijeff and Vivekananda used to say, "If I get one hundred true, dedicated meditators, I will change the course of time." But they could not get hundred such people and had to die in frustration. I also need one hundred such people, but I am not going to die like them. I will travel to each and every place, I will look into the eyes of each and every one, and if I find anybody that can be a potential, I will pull him out of all the troubles of his life, and I have done the preparation to put all my effort and capacity to transform them. If you have courage and strength then come to me I will reveal to you that secret beyond life and death."

I was completely moved by the fiery words of Acharya. I could not sleep that night and was shivering due to the overflow of energy within me. The very next day, I wrote a small note to him “Acharya, now look for only 99 people, one has arrived”

Drop it from the mind.

If meditation has happened to you, just feel thankful to the divine and forget it. Just feel grateful, and remember well that you don't have any capacity to have it, you are not in any way authorized to have it; it has been a gift. It has been an overflowing of the divine. Forget it. Don't expect it; dont demand it. It will come next day again deeper, higher, greater. It will go on expanding, but everyday drop it from the mind. -OSHO

Swami Narendra, Ma Mukti and Ma Divya speak of their Osho experience.(interview)

(Here’s an interview of Swami Narendra Bodhiattva, Ma Amrit Mukti, and Ma Divya Gandha taken by Ma Anand Punyam when they visited Osho Tapoban. The article is published with permission. Pictures of Ma Divya Gandha weren't available so haven't been published in the interview)

After years of beckoning, Swami Narendra Bodhisattwa, Ma Amrit Mukti and Ma Divya Gandha, three beautiful diamonds from the Osho family finally made their way to Tapoban to grace us with their presence. As intimate disciples of Osho, they have had the privilege of living with Osho and serving him on daily basis for years. They have devoted their lives to spreading Osho’s vision as his spiritual mediums. Their love for Osho has culminated in a small but delightful commune in Dehradun. Narendra Swami worked in the publishing department while Mukti Ma and Divya Ma used to cook for Osho. We asked them to share with us their own Osho experiences.

Please say a few words about Tapoban.

Tapoban is a beautiful, very beautiful place. This is perhaps the first time we have seen such a beautiful place in the Himalayas. Osho used to say that he would like to end up in the Himalayas. He was very fond of such places. Especially Manali, which is where sannyas began. When he returned from America his first destination was Manali. He wanted to live there. But the government did not allow him to, which is why he came to Kathmandu. So obviously this is a place that is very dear to Osho’s heart. It is an ideal place for meditation. It is so secluded from the city that nobody wants to leave. In our Ashram in Dehradun, people are continuously going out for tea or shopping. Nobody seems to want to leave Tapoban after settling here. It is so tranquil. Wherever you sit silently, you are bound to enter into a deep state of meditation.

Was Osho different in his public and private life? He appears to be sober and serious in his public appearance but you have seen him in his private space.

When in public, he used to greet people by doing Namaste. But that was just one facet of his personality. When he used to sit alone amongst us, he used to be very simple and modest. He never put up a façade or try to impress anyone. There was no point to his trying to impress anyone because everyone was already impressed with him.

Swami Narendra during Energy Darshan with Osho.

You’d mentioned in yesterday’s gathering that he was quiet notorious regarding food.

Yes indeed, as far as food is concerned, he was as notorious as a kid. He really enjoyed food. Whatever it was, specially spicy food. So food was a big part of his life, but when we went to Rajneeshpuram, he was given a diet of 1500 calories per day. So that was slightly problematic. But Ma Mukti and Ma Divya now had a challenge, of pleasing his taste buds. So what they would do is make one dish spicy and make the others plain. He was very spontaneous and picky about food. We would have to provide a dish the moment he desired for it. He was very experimental as well. For example, for six months he would only have soup and toast four times a day. And then once for three weeks continuously he had malai laddoo thrice daily. Once he suddenly had the desire for black sweets. Now I didn’t know what they were and I knew that he did not like chocolates. They turned out to be Khajur sweets that look black. Ma Karuna used to make them and bring them from Bombay. Neither of us knew the recipe but we tried our best to find it. At 6:00 he said he wanted them and at 8:00 he was asking again about what was happening about his black sweets. When we finally figured out the recipe, we realized that certain ingredients were missing so we immediately sent three people out to look for them. In this way, he was quiet troublesome about his food. But at the same time it was like a challenge for us , and to be able to succeed in bringing him whatever he asked for gave us a-lot of joy.

Do you think that he was impulsive in this way for his own pleaure or for the sake of others?

He was obviously doing it for our sake, to check up on us and see how alert we are in our work. He used to test us continually. Once he suddenly had the desire to have chutney made of a special fruit called kaid that is only found in the place where we grew up. Now, everyone went crazy calling people up trying to find the fruit. When we’d finally gathered enough fruit to make the chutney, he wouldn’t take any. We later found out that there was a kaid tree in the ashram. He obviously hadn’t wanted the chutney in the first place but was only testing us.

The communes in Pune as well as Oregon were massive. How was it possible to sustain such large systems?

Osho alone could run his communes. He would be aware of everything that was happening in the commune. And instructions according to how everyone should work would reach everyone. Every little thing we would do, he would know. Pune I was such a big commune, and then Rajneeshpuram which was bigger, then Pune II. But there was never any problems. Any issue that came up would be resolved immediately so that there were no problems. He taught us an important lesson that problems essentially do not exist. We create the problems and then we try to solve them. It is our mind that creates them. Now Osho never created problems in the first place, so there was no question of having to solve them. The mind is the problem, an no-mind is the solution.

It is easy to say so. But to put it in practice is difficult.

Yes, it is difficult for us. But for Osho, it wasn’t. Osho is not in his body anymore. What do you think is the difference in the commune experiences when he was in the body and now when he’s not around. Theirs is no difference at all. The main purpose of a master is to help you lose as little of your mind as you can. So, do whatever the coordinator of your commune asks of you and forget all other things. Then where is the problem? And it isn’t that Osho isn’t around. He may not be physically present, but his aura is stronger than ever. More and more people are gathering in his communes. He had wished to have a commune in the Himalayas. And look now, there is Tapoban in Kathmandu, there’s one in Dehradun, in Dharmashala and there’s a small one in Manali as well. So there are a lot already and a lot more are yet to be made. But the real question is how devoted we really are. And not onto any one person but onto Osho, our master. If our devotion exists in totality, then there is no problem at all. And when there are no problems, then life is full of joy.

What do you think is the future of Osho’s vision?

If a fire starts in the forest, then the entire forest gets burnt in a matter of minutes. A similar fire is spreading as far as Osho’s vision is concerned. Had you ever imagined that Arun Swami would be invited all over the world to conduct meditation camps? Now people want him to stay for three months when he’s only there for 20 days. But he has to manage the commune here as well. We had never conceived that there would be so much work being done at a global level. The website http://www.oshoworld.com/ has brought all of Osho’s literature, photographs, signatures at one’s fingertips for free by publishing them online. This is such a great work that is happening. A lot of sannyassin are giving their heart and soul into spreading Osho’s vision.

Osho had the vision of self-sufficient communes. But it is difficult to run an independent commune, which means that we have to depend on outside sources and donations for the sustenance of the commune.

Yes, Osho has created his vision for us indeed. But we are not as yet ready to support a commune. When Osho was in Uruguay, he said to stop making big communes because a big commune would create hierarchy. It will generate dictatorship and disharmony. So make a commune with 12 to 15 people in it. Let’s say 3 to 4 families. And everybody is earning. Meditate every morning and evening and work during the day. Then why can’t we establish a commune, and why won’t it be self-sustainable? It is possible, definitely. The real problem is that we are holding onto certain attitudes. All the big communes that are already in existence - who is supporting them? It is people like you and me. There is a uniqueness amongst Tibetans. They give 30% of their profits to their monasteries. Sikhs give 10% of their profits to their Gurudwaras. But our sannyassin don’t even give one percent of their income. Nevertheless, if there are small communes, why won’t they be self-sufficient? Nothing is impossible.

We hope that, in this spirit of infinite possibilities, Osho’s vision will sweep the world and his dream will be fulfilled through the efforts of his sannyassin like Narendra Swami, Mukti Ma and Divya Ma.

Interview by Ma Anand Punyam

Early birds of the OSHO neo-sannyas.

in orange...

in ecstacy...

Swami Anand Arun: I am only an ardent lover of Osho. (interview)

Swami Anand Arun, a 65 year-old-engineer first saw Osho in 1969 and was tantalized by his physical grace and firing speech. He began spreading Osho’s message in Nepal in 1970 opening a meditation centre at his own residence. Today, Swami Anand Arun is the Co-ordinator of Osho Tapoban International Commune in Nepal which has been spreading Osho’s message and helping seekers throughout the world since last 18 years. Through Swami Arun’s efforts Tapoban has already opened 22 Osho centres and communes in USA, Canada, Russia, UK , Germany and five communes and 60 centres only in Nepal. We sat down and talked with Swami Arun to know more about his experience with Osho and the ever-growing neo-sannyas movement. Here is what he had to say.

Would you please say something about Osho’s life and work?

Sw Arun: It’s very difficult to talk about Osho. He cannot be defined in words. The life of mystics and enlightened masters is like an iceberg. Only a small portion of their life is visible and the major portion remains hidden. He says that first you should know who you are. You should know your centre, your soul. Then you can understand at least a fragment of somebody like Osho who has become oceanic. An easier way is also to love him madly. If you are madly in love with him and you trust him totally, then you may be able to understand some of the mysteries of his life, what he is and what he wants to do for us. So, you either become self realized or fall madly in love with him. I can talk about him and his life endlessly, but it is completely unnecessary. It does not define who he is.

It’s been almost forty years since you met Osho and have been actively working to spread his message. What inspired you to give so much of your life for this movement?

Sw Arun: When I first met Osho forty years ago I was in a totally defeated state. There was no hope or zeal in life and I didn’t want to live. Before I met Osho there was a big question in my mind; What’s the purpose of living? But after I fell in love with him I found my answer. I should live to spread his message and to share his love with the world. I should live to meditate and to celebrate. He has given me this life, its meaning and the reason to live. I have surrendered my life to him and as his disciple I just want to become his medium. It’s not my life and therefore I don’t have any plans for it. He will keep me as long as he wants and I will continue with the same madness.

You have initiated more than fifty thousand people from all over the world and seventy five
percent of them are below the age of thirty five. What attracts so many young people to Osho?

Sw Arun: I would like to correct you. I have not initiated anybody. Only a master can initiate. I only inspire people. It is their decision to take sanyass and its Osho’s energy and love that accepts them. I am just a medium. I can become an empty vessel and through me Osho initiates his disciples. You are asking why most of the people are young. Yes, when religion is alive, it attracts young people. All the great things done by great masters were done during their young age. Buddha left his palace at the age of 29 and became enlightened when he was 35. Shankaracharya became enlightened at the age of 16 and died at the age of 32. Vivekananda died at 39 and Jesus died at 33. They were young people and they have done miracles in the world. When you are young energy is alive and you are innocent. Old people become cunning and old minds become greedy. So when religion is young it always attracts young people. Only young people can create miracles. Only young people can be REALLY RELIGIOUS.

What is your opinion about the current global situation?

Sw Arun: The current global situation is very alarming. It looks like we are no more interested in life. We are heading towards total destruction. Global warming, over population, scarcity of water, rupture in the ozone layer are a few indicators to show that the world is moving towards destruction. Osho has said several times that it’s high time we corrected ourselves or we will have to vacate this beautiful planet. Enlightened masters have always been giving the indication but very few people listen to them. But now even sociologists, environmentalists and scientists have started saying that we are heading towards global suicide. It’s now very urgent to correct our mistakes. Osho is a messenger for this transformation; to show where we have made mistakes and how we can correct them.

Your efforts have culminated into numerous meditation centres and communes all over the world.How do you manage so much?

Sw Arun: People can build houses but they can’t build temples. I have been to several temples built by rich people. Architecturally, they are well planned and well decorated but most of them have no spiritual energy because this energy cannot be created by money. Our meditation centres are Buddha fields where spiritual energy is alive. I would like to give you an example of the centre (Osho Sambodhi) that was recently opened in London. It is just an ordinary house but if you sit there for five minutes you will be charged by a divine energy. I cannot create this energy. Osho centres are created by existence and they are running because existence wants them to. Yes! We can become facilitators, we can become mediums, and I feel very lucky that existence has given me this opportunity.

What do these centres contribute to the society?

Their contribution to society is indirect. These centres make good and joyful individuals. A happy individual can make a happy society. If individuals are unhappy, stressed and angry then the whole society gets affected. So, these centres make people relaxed and joyful. At Tapoban you can see that people are happy even if they are not affluent. A new person can instantly realize that people here are always laughing and cracking jokes. Yes! We are happy people and we love to share happiness. These centres are like oases that radiate happiness in the world. And if the world needs anything, it’s happiness, love and freedom. These three most essential things in people’s life are all available in these centres. Osho centres are a free space, nobody interferes in anybody’s personal life. People have total liberty. It’s their life and they live according to their own intelligence. Centre coordinators or anybody in the centre does not have any right to interfere in anybody’s life. An individual’s right is highly respected. The centre attracts people who love Osho or who love humanity. You are here because you love Osho, because you love me and I am here because I love you. So, the basic ingredient is love. Freedom, love and happiness are a rare combination in the world. These centres provide the environment for love and life.

Being one of the pioneers of the Osho movement what would you to like to say to those involved with it today?

Sw Arun: I don’t consider myself a pioneer. I am only an ardent lover of Osho. I am not alone. Thousands of people are working for the master according to their understanding and I am one of them. I always work with the understanding that I could also be wrong. So, when I advise someone I also remind him that he is free to do what his intelligence tells him to. I have this experience that working for the master is the greatest pleasure of my life. Nothing can give me more happiness, more satisfaction. My experience says that if you want to be happy, if you want satisfaction then become a medium of the master. When the master starts working through you the whole existence will bless you, the whole existence will love you. Lots of people think that they will work for Osho after five years, after ten years, after they complete their studies, their service and so on.
NO! If you are postponing, it is never going to happen. It has to happen from this moment, from now. It is the greatest illusion of the mind. Right it down in your diary that if you are not doing it today, you are not doing it tomorrow either. If you are not meditating today, you are not meditating tomorrow. If you don’t love Osho and become his medium today, there is less chance that you’ll become his medium tomorrow. In fact there’s NO CHANCE.

Interviewed by: Swami Aatmo Neerav.