Nivedano tells a few interesting stories about Osho’s Lao Tzu Garden
Right from the first moment at the Ranch I was sent to work with the gardeners at Lao Tzu House. One day Osho asked me if it was possible to get more of the river stones for his door steps. Rashid was also asked by him about the stones but, in the meantime, he was sent to the truck farm, and I was then left as the man for the job.
OSHO SEATED IN HIS GARDEN
I was forbidden (by the Sheela people) to ride horses because I got caught, together with Rupesh and two girls coming back to the stables at 5am one morning. The squealer, a real goody-goody boy, told Sheela about us and she made it out to be a big security breach! I then told Osho that it was easy to get the stones providing that we could use horses, because up on the snowy mountains it was too dangerous for the trucks to go.
He said to go ahead and it was a wonderful moment; to be able to circumvent the powers in place through the direct wishes of the Master. I am a horse wallah from way back and rode all my life and still enjoy the feel of the horse and the liberty, spaciousness and aloneness that one finds in higher hills and plateaux around mountains. It was an innocent perk to go riding, especially if it was forbidden; it was then something of a must to be tried out!
At the Ranch we did the preparatory work for landscaping. It was in-depth speed learning about how to manoeuvre around politicians, pencil pushers and bean counters. Tanmaya was great at that. We managed to landscape Osho’s 20 acre plot with beautiful, magnificent trees and unusual plants, shrubbery, and very rare flowers and orchids.
One day the Sheela office said, “No more money for Lao Tzu Garden!” Yet two days later there were two trucks full to the brim with our plants. Salve Tanmaya. It was a struggle to get plants for the Master’s gardens because landscape costs are always staggering and more so if the materials to be used are for such a great spirit such as Master Osho Embarakasne. (Embarakasne is my private and loving way to address Osho. It means Oceanic in my tribe´s tongue.)
It was indeed a preliminary stage for what would be happening some time later when we came back to Pune.
And then started the real voyage into the Master’s song and dance, into his very heart when he told me to go and create the gardens and waterways around the new Buddha Hall. Imagine! You are put in charge to create a beautiful scenery for his beautiful disciples to wander around in meditation. Such a great opportunity it was!
Yet the problems soon started with the new crowd of administrators (that replaced the Sheela gang!)
“We have no money for food and you are squandering our money with rocks!”
“Why spend so much money, he will die soon!”
“You are using the money the wrong way!”
And so on and so forth they raved, complained, screamed thieves and murder, but we went on. I answered only to the Master and whatever the do-gooders were saying didn’t really matter. There were very callous, envious and perverse disciples, bent on proving their idiotic views and not really seeing that our only responsibly was to be a light unto ourselves and not be bent on proving who is right or who is wrong.
The waterfall story is full of lovely passages with the Master. It was a great challenge indeed and it still stands, a bit neglected for sure, but nevertheless a pinnacle of the creative expression of love, devotion and surrender of Osho’s disciples.
(extracted and edited from an interview with Nivedano over at Osho News)
Is the photo in the string from the days of Rajneeshpuram or from Pune?
As far as I remember, Nivedano was also the main person to construct marble rock fountain in Lao Tzu, Osho´s(in the body) residential complex.
I like Nivedano’s way of telling this story.
It is also instructive. The Sheela regime’s killjoy attitude about horse-riding, and this also mirrored by the Pune 2 officials who replaced her. Fancy saying in Pune 2 to Nivadano that: Why bother with the garden, Osho was not likely to live long, or in both cases that they did not have enough money to landscape the Master’s own garden?
There are many here at SN who endlessly criticise the current regime with Osho now having left his body, but it seems to me they are not so different from those who came before, and might be an improvement.
What certainly can be said is that Osho was either a poor judge of character or really quite unlucky with his administrators and Chief Executives.
I recently heard that Laxmi, who I considered the best of the bunch that I met, falsely indicated to those who would listen that Osho was being kidnapped by non-Indians when she wanted him to stay in India in 1987.
Power certainly corrupts…or the seeking of it.
Don’t discount the role of paranoia in all this.
Meditating in the early stages has a similar effect to alcohol poisoning, ie heightens existing qualities, paranoia for one.
Would you care to elaborate further on this subject, Arpana? Sounds interesting to me. And what do you mean by ‘early stages’ exactly? Also, p’haps describe your own experience if you feel so inclined.
When ever I start a new project, particularly since I got into sannyas and meditating, I always have a honeymoon period, followed by the shit hitting the fan.(Shit hits the fan is the inner monologue going absolutely crazy, jumping from subject to subject. I call it being out on the surface. Horrendous emotional turmoil, including paranoia) This is even more true when I start a new spell of meditation, although not so badly now. (Also happened when I changed address. I’ve had 47.)
This happened particularly badly to me in 1983, just after I moved to London, and I began a phase, which lasted a year, of daily vippassana and I kept going through the paranoia, the freak out, which lasted three weeks. God knows how I got through really. I’ve never looked back since. (In personal terms. not in some objective overarching sense. )
I have seen so many people start exploring meditation and abruptly stop, and I am convinced, from the way they rationalise what’s happened, they have pulled out because the shit has begun to hit the fan.(I am not condemning anyone for this. )
Many thanks, Arpana, for taking the time and effort to share your own experiences….this is always a prompt for me to reflect on my own.
How long one will go on whipping Sheela?
I don´t think every virus which gripped Osho movement can be attributed to one single name.
One is not whipping Sheela. One is whipping the succession of administrators who seemed to make mistakes from 1970 on. The garden was vital for Osho and he loved it. It should have always been a priority.
Now I wonder where that Yoga Chinmaya is who was Osho’s Secretary before 1970. Maybe Kabir knows! At least he never seemed to make such mistakes!
After two three days, world politics will never be the same again.
Referendum kind of voting in Scotland not only can break Great Britain and therefore trigger new kind of Europe; its implications will be feltall over the world, wherever separatist movements are taking place.
My yes is for the Yes Scotland. As an Indian, it will be a sweet feeling to see that country getting divided who was signatory in India´s division. More than that, it supports the new evolution where citizens become powerful to decide their fate.
YES OR NO, Individual will merging with collective will has the power.
As a disciple of a master who supports freedom unconditionally, referendum in Scotland can also be an eye-opener for the lechers who are holding Osho Pune property like a doll. It is not their self-earned property, therefore collective will of the disciples must manifest. For example, if nonsense festivals implanted by such people should take place in Pune or the festivals developed by OSHO.
Freedom is not a theoretical concept but very lifeline of evolution and I love EUROPE for the role as trendsetters.
Absolutely correct, Shantam!
You say:
“As a disciple who supports freedom unconditionally, referendum in Scotland can also be eye-opener for the lechers who are holding OshoPune property like a doll.”
Yes!
These perverted lechers are like perverted lechers looking up the kilt of innocent Scotsmen and lusting after what is not theirs!
They have been interfering and abusing the innocent, loving Scotsmen for centuries as if he was a blow-up doll, just as the Anglo-Saxons have abused the true sannyasins in Pune just for their own filthy amusement!
It is time for a Bannockburn in Koregaon Park and bagpipe music introduced into all Osho festivals!
Your knowledge of Anglo-Scottish politics is certainly on a par with your self-knowledge, Bhai!
Your level of enlightenment clear, bhai!
Like a winter’s day on the Isle of Skye!
Yes, Alex Salmond and Mel Gibson serve as great examples to all Braveheart sannyasins who have had their nonsense festivals and inplants interfered with by the perverted Englisch lechers!
When the individual merges with the collective and then becomes separate, and freedom is not a theoretical concept, like the Scotland, then he has power to say yes or no as a very lifeline for evolution!
Nothing could be more clear!
Yes, and as an Indian it is indeed sweet to see the arrogant Anglo-Saxon being humiliated by the true Scots like Mel Gibson.
It will be a perfect justice for 1947, when I,like you, Shantam Bhai, will enjoy immensely when news breaks of the the fist trans-border Express loaded with corpses pulling into Gretna Green!
Yahoo!
Hare Om!
Scotland the Brave!
“Don’t discount the role of paranoia in all this.
Meditating in the early stages has a similar effect to alcohol poisoning, ie heightens existing qualities, paranoia for one.”
I wouldn´t say that, Arpana; yet meditation has become a word for all and almost anything these decades.
And also in that special context, i´d like to add , what our Beatle Hero said in America, shortly after being shot dead (and having had a long file by FPI).
Shot by an utter obnoxious , crazy, and may be also hired killer.
“When you are paranoid”, he said , “that does ´t mean, that there are no good reasons for it !” And he spoke it in the camera of a television company when (finally) he got his license to stay. To live just but a very few days longer in this body…
And I feel to add that NOW ; in all contexts of (sannyas)dramas , incidents, and also subjects , we ponder upon on many levels here.
(Me personally loves it , that a “garden” thread has opened and will take time for that)
in sincerely meditative mood, and
yours sincerely
Madhu
You said.
“Don’t discount the role of paranoia in all this.
Meditating in the early stages has a similar effect to alcohol poisoning, ie heightens existing qualities, paranoia for one.”
I wouldn´t say that, Arpana; yet meditation has become a word for all and almost anything these decades.”
I would, and stand by that.
“…Power certainly corrupts…or the seeking of it….”
So true, Parmartha –
however – there is another kind of power or may better said ´strengths ´(?);
and as this thread is dedicated to the power of Nature, plants and tress and rocks and water falling or residing , and the Bamoboo and the Roses
all – This
and some creative ´ministry´of celebrating the art of giving a living Sangha a Living Home and Beauty which I connect with Nivedano as also japonese Asanga – and the deep experience of being member like many others in the worship (yes , you read right !) big garden-crew – timeless- time, I will never forget.
For me it has been good that the wild and strong power Nivedano embodies which he up to nowadays gives in his project in Brazil was balanced in the dance with the more Zen-Art of Asanga as a crew leader working with the Bamboo, also building the Bamboo fence (before it all went black- so to say) – have been in the Bamboo crew and the Watering .
I fell very sick in that time and rarely that I can say, to become sick can mean to become more ´whole´. The Bamboo up to nowadays as I can visit the Bamboo even here (but very marrow), The Bamboo and Meditation is not two but one.
(but that´s a long story , i will spare you of)
I love Nivedano , I have been always a bit scary too though ; like you meet an energy of wilderness and undomesticable – like Nature is as well, even if you try to.
And some of this , I meet again even in the Interview of the thread.
And I remember the music, the rhythm beats on the ranch too as well
as in Pune II.
And what I know, is that that brought me (after accidents) again on the feet , in the dance and back to life and also Life.
So – if Nivedano ´peeps´ in here accidentally to read (what I don´t believe),
but when, then I send my gratefulness hereby, for an intense and very important as beautiful time in my life !
His report here and elsewhere about how things were going… is a kind of drumming too , feels familiar to me
and he is a Master drummer , and loving the Master his unique way.
The Garden created in Pune also is a love letter , and one of the most beautiful ones , because it´s LIVING one. Ever changing.
And to have a living love letter , may be the surpreme and may not be topped ,
and may give shelter for many more than those , who left , or a leaving , or are dying (changing forms) , like Nature also does transform endlessly that way.
Love-night-letter to you all (and to Nivedano and his wife)
aahhh -
Madhu