Questions from a Deeper Place
This historical video from the Ranch (1983?) of about 20 minutes is of value.
Only put out this year, it contains a lot of footage of drive by, and could prompt a discussion of the meaning of drive-by which many found powerful. I felt when I watched this, …. that these were people I really felt at home with at the time…. looking now, they still feel mature and half way ecstatic, and somehow a bit further on, yet beneath it something was based on error….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aeAA_vB-tI&t=465s
Hard to feel condemning towards a man who was so non-judgmental.
What was the error? That it can last forever.
But in the world of change only change is the master.
Perhaps the error was a set of beliefs along the lines that nothing could possibly go wrong because Bhagwan was around and in charge of it all (including the ones in authority whom he had chosen), he was ‘super-conscious’ and therefore ‘knew everything and everyone’, so everything and everyone would be ‘looked after’.
In those respects (but not in terms of people’s normal everyday experience over there), in retrospect, a ‘fool’s paradise’ indeed.
“Perhaps the error was a set of beliefs along the lines that nothing could possibly go wrong because Bhagwan was around and in charge of it all (including the ones in authority whom he had chosen), he was ‘super-conscious’ and therefore ‘knew everything and everyone’, so everything and everyone would be ‘looked after’.”
Sounds as if Bhagwan became the Super-Daddy.
And the idea of ‘becoming a child again’ did lead to infantile regression.
That sort of child-like trust could be a wonderful thing but wasn’t always appropriate!
An example of such misplaced naivete was when Bhagwan was just being ‘discovered’ in the UK, back in ’73/74 (heady days indeed) someone I knew, who later went on to be one of Pune’s leading therapists, told me of a few people who were travelling over there on a possibly unreliable airline, via Moscow, but, she said, she was certain they’d be ok as they were on their way to the great Master. I tended to accept this sort of idea at the time, as, I’m sure, did many.
Do you regret taking getting involved with Osho, SD?
No, Arps.
:thumbsup:
Excellent.
Had the idea, at the start, I was getting into a walk in the park, and won’t say life since has been more challenging than life before sannyas, although at times “floundering like a beached whale”; challenging, to be honest. But given I expected that “walk in the park”, has certainly seemed so as often as not, but no regrettin’.
Ah, the Aeroflot thing.
This I would not call dramatic. If it helps to melt the safe ego a bit, why not take the Master as an excuse?
And anyway, “real trust cannot be betrayed” (his words).
So if one has expectations or goals it cannot be “real trust”.
Uuuups, Satchit…´trust´
and YES…
You really know (find words) how to dry a muddy area…
However, sustainable human evolution yet also needs a tender, a loving approach.
I´ve heard in a mystery tale, that ´God´ is a potter, hitting the clay with one hand, caressing the clay with the other, and as time goes by, and by chance a beautiful vessel comes into creation.
To embody what you remind us of with a kind of Himalayan Zen approach needs experiencing growing awareness of ´pottering’ in all its dimensions.
The betrayal of trust is part of the processing, as also delusions of all kind.
And Satchit, thank you for writing here.
Madhu
Merci, Madhu.
The only reward of love is the experience of loving & the only reward of trust is the experience of trusting.
And the only ´reward of loving and trusting in the Cyberworld the ´analog way´, so to say, is to be taken hostage more or less anonymously, by data and identity phishers, suckers and clone-copyist merchandisers of any of your data, which can be captured and be transformed into money, power and businesses, Kusum.
I call that SOUL MURDER.
And I felt to add that this evening, to contribute to your pious and priest-like UK chat contribution (at 1:38 am) much of my experiences in the last two decades.
Just to add it, not to neglect what you have spoken.
Madhu
Yes, Madhu, that is how some companies work on internet. They use people’s data to target ads to them. Be aware but you do not have to be paranoid about everything. Also you do not have to be too literal.
Madhu, Soul world & Business world are different territories.
@Kusum (5 July, 2017 at 12:43 pm – no response button, addressing me):
“Be aware but you do not have to be paranoid about everything. Also you do not have to be too literal.”
Easy to admit, Kusum, that you as an entity here show neither any trace of paranoia, nor anything resembling being ´literal´.
Your contribution one or two liners leave more the impression of a golem – google-play entity in the inter-net (priesthood´s section) than of a living Being.
Nothing can be done about it, but sharpening the senses and the view to discern the false from the true, the artificial from the natural and living, and all that is Life is bound to be imperfect and has a pulse, even remarkable and recognisable through the lines.
Kusum (6 July, 2017 at 11:53 pm – no response button either):
“Madhu, Soul world & Business world are different territories.”
No, they are not ´Kusum´, but there are more than a few humans who lost their soul-connection meanwhile (or maybe even never had a glimpse of recognition of one).
Quite a while ago I watched a serial movie production which worked through the issue in story-telling about the encounter of artificial intelligence clones and humans. Amazing plots…quite contemporary. The artificial intelligence clones have been labelled by the production script teams as “REAL humans”.
Was inspiring to go deeper looking at what a human living Source is all about, ´Kusum´.
Better not to flood me as a receiver with and from a priesthood algorithm artificial ´intelligence´section in two-liners, Kusum.
I prefer a human throbbing heart, recognisable – what to do…?
Madhu
But Kusum, if you find your trust was misplaced, unjustified and/or born of naivete or even stupidity, don’t you get a “reward” from what you learn from the experience, eg not to be such a fool again?
Yes, of course, Satyadeva. There is saying, “You make me fool once, shame on you, & if you make me fool twice, shame on me.”
Well, Satyadeva, and Kusum´s response to that (at 4.23 am):
You´re both playing with the ´shame’ thing. Quite common is that, I´d say.
The Beauty of the Master is, has been, to open up space by disempowering shaming and its devastating effects and after-effects.
Well, an invitation was/is that.
Who takes the invitation and how, and how long, or forever (and how) is another open question and Quest (to be solved only, I would say, on an individual plane).
Re-demption – Time.
Ever to be refreshed: sometimes by working that through by senders as by receivers (of shaming/shame).
Madhu
It doesn’t have to be about shame or guilt, Madhu, it’s simply about learning from one’s mistakes.
(Btw, my response to Kusum was referring to any sort of misplaced trust, not only to anything one might have done in the overtly ‘spiritual’ world).
Thank you so much for sharing this video!
Love and Blessings.
Wow, that’s nice!
…errors…condemning?
Let’s see…
Two of my friends have opposite memories about the flirts.
One who did not have time for it because he was very busy in the job or missing privacy in dormitory, the other one who told me that he “put them in line”.
But I would not say that was an error or something to condemn.
Ciao,
VF
In astrology, Neptune is the presiding lord to create feeling of oneness and bliss. Drug addicts sitting outside of major European railway stations and cult followers singing Hare Krishna, Hare Osho are two extremes of same energy.
Sooner or later, the grounding energy represented by stern Saturn comes into force. The moment police, civil and criminal laws in form of collective mind come in picture, party ends abruptly.
Sometimes I really wonder why Bhagwan Shree of that time, the master of immense psychological insights, forgot USA is not India, and western values and laws are impartial and fair, The system is solid and it still operates even if few young misfits spit on it and think grass is greener in Tibetan Buddhism!
For information, Siddharta was the leader of the Cologne commune at the time, and seemed to have amazing access to Osho to shoot his sort of home movie of the Ranch. I was moved by the movie.
There was something amazingly psychologically ‘healthy’, which as a commune member I experienced at that time. If a little bit open one can see it on the faces of many of those pictured in this video.
But the political organisation of the Ranch hierarchy was based, as many dictatorships, on a small number of close confidants of the leadership. Approximately 18 people.
So the thousands of ‘ordinary’ sannyasins were living a very healthy life, but within the womb of something which was sinister, and where there was very, very little communication between the controlling authority and the vast majority who lived there. They were in close communion with each other and the energy of an enlightened one, but lived lives oblivious to the madness of the ruling group almost to the end.
Amazing disinformation from your side, Parmartha.
Siddhartha, aka ´Fongi´, a quite well-known eccentric artist and sculptor, had founded with a bunch of sannyasins a countryside place (ashram) in the beautiful countryside area of Bavaria already in the seventies
Margarethenried moved then to a secluded place (an old castle, ´Schloss Wolfsbrunnen´) in Hessen during Ranch time, and finally moved with old and new friends of this again to another place in another countryside place in more eastern Germany, the place where he died a few years ago.
He never lived at the Ranch in Oregon but was clearly well known as a Centre leader and as such had access to shoot that utterly relaxed vid clip about ´Ranch life´, probably while visiting during one of Ranch festival times. It’s mostly his view and was done in his favour, I presume.
If thousands of sannyasins lived a “very healthy life” on the Ranch I would question by my own experience and not the least by the books and later vids and testimonial contributions; Sannyas News UK itself has and is contributing to the history of the Sannyas movement.
The ´sinister womb´ you are talking here of (now), have been all who didn´t know and had not enough sense of awareness about how fascist developments settle and while these developments happen then are seen as ´normal´, or even as ´healthy´. Those who rebelled have been easily excluded or left on their own accord.
And don´t misunderstand me, please, I also loved to recognise some well-known faces, these big smiles and the laughter and the most beautiful landscape and landscaping.
What we see in the vid are mostly some beauties of the VIPs, therapists or also centre leaders of Europe or elsewhere – understandable – as Siddhartha had been a centre leader too.
What I also see in the vid compilation is this very beautiful yearning to create a place and a ´space´for a better life and the enormous creativity releasable and released, when humans see the the possibility of a start-up for such an enterprise together, beyond the ´small family´, as we used to say.
And it is this beautiful yearning that sets us on the move, doesn´t it? With more awareness about failures.
Madhu
Nice, Maddhu,
As you say, we were all drawn to the dream, and dreams can be very beautiful. They can also be very inspiring and affirming in their own way.
The dream of one-ness, the yearning to feel at one with others, and to create a better world is as old as humanity itself.
As you indicate, the desire to explore the failures or obstacles is the search you and I and others are on. It’s fraught with idealism, and hope and a powerful longing.
Not only do we attempt it in the world, through political or commune-type ideals, we attempt it in relationships with our fellow men and women, through intimacy and love.
This drive is largely unconscious and even when I’ve tried to make it conscious intimately, has proven to be possible for a short while, but then proven ultimately futile. For example, all relationships work for a while but then the division arises and we either work them through or leave.
We can never make our divided selves ‘whole’. Never reach across the void between ourselves. We are always alone. Whatever I feel or sense can never be felt or sensed by another, I’m always alone.
My continued exploration has been to acccept this alone-ness and to learn to accept the divide.
I don’t mean to infer this divide as ‘pain’ or make it ‘bad’ – it’s simply a fact. But as ‘emotion’ and ‘need’ or feelings of isolation arise – so the mind often says I feel “bad”.
I continue to explore all the emotions in me with my partner (and with others) so I’m learning to see my aloneness differently. I’m seeing alone-ness as a beautiful thing, I’m less afraid, less needy, the longing dies and I accept myself and others with more grace.
It’s all a work in progress, Maddhu, never accomplished and it’s always good to meet people who empower and support and have some knowledge of this subject.
Thanks for sharing.
Rev. Simond,
I withdraw my criticism.
Who could fail to recognize how superior you are after a lovely sermon like that?
I see, that our e -mails crossed, Simond; mine at 12.23, yours (the long one) at 12.24, today. Time for letting that settle down inside.
Madhu
Seeing happy smiling faces in this video reminds me of childhood photos. When the sun shone, and all was good.
Daddy loved me, and I felt home was sweet, sweet home.
Once I hit teenage years, the times weren’t so sweet, and all the selective memories of childhood no longer counted. They were part of the myth I’d built up around childhood itself, about mummy and daddy and family itself.
Daddy turned into someone else, and I had to walk my own path.
The Ranch was similar, a childhood dream of commune, a fantasy dreamt up by children who couldn’t have known better….
Rev. Simond,
How many more times do you need to remind us here at Sannyas News you are above all this?
“Power is like being a lady…if you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.”
(Margaret Thatcher)
Arpana did ask you, Simond: “How many more times do you need to remind us here at Sannyas News you are above all this?”
I have a guess: You will show your way of malicious joy (we call it ‘schadenfreude’) about the damage or failure of others as long as you don´t question your ‘schadenfreude-habit’ from a deeper place inside.
Otherwise, I would also say that you didn´t see a thing, but passed over quite very common shortcuts and rubbish about the stuff in offered in quest and question, some sharing of this – and the topic.
Madhu
Thank you, Madhu.
Arpana, you are so funny. You regularly mock and despise Madhu for her comments.
But I guess the enemy of my enemy is my friend now.
Lokesh, for whom you, Rev. Simond, occupy such a special place, regularly mocks and derides Madhu for her comments.
Arps, you have lost me there.
Oh, I see, my hard rain comment was posted as a response to Anubodh’s white cloud comment, which I enjoyed by the way. I posted it in the correct place but for some reason my comment seems to have wandered into Arpanalandia, home of the nippy sweetie and defender of aged damsels in distress. Well, at least that is what the guide book says.
The comment had nothing to do with anything Madhu said whatsoever. So you are barking up the wrong tree. You can relax now. Woof woof.
Madhu
I assure you as much as I enjoy the word, ‘schadenfreude’, which has no direct translation in English, I take no pleasure in the failure or the pain of others.
I don’t seek to upset Arpana or you. That I do is quite beyond my control. In Arpana’s case, his mind is so fixed and damaged that it rarely matters what I say, he will be offended and hurt.
That’s simply because he is fixed in his opinions, lost in his belief systems and can only ridicule me and any others who might see things differently.
I don’t see you in the same way, you often write thoughtfully and even if, because English isn’t your first language, it isn’t always clear to me exactly what you mean.
What is often transparent to me is your sensitivity, and your challenge to deal with this in yourself. So sometimes you take offence where none is meant and you feel bullied by what you perceive as male aggression from some of the contributors here. Often you are right, men are bullies, men can be opinionated and aggressive. But so indeed can women. And women who are offended and hurt can be as aggressive as any man.
That’s the cruel nature of dialogue and exploration. But you always show courage and a willingness to say your piece and are often complimentary to those who also offer their sincere opinions. All of which makes you unique, valuable and a source of wisdom that is yours. And worth listening to.
As to my own writing, I stand by it. There’s no sense of schadenfreude, no axe to grind. I’m simply saying that the commune ideal was just that. An ideal, a fantasy, a dream.
And it turned out like that, didn’t it? It came crashing down and has died. You can accept this or fight it – it’s up to you.
Reverend Simond,
I don’t seek to upset Madhu or you. That I do is quite beyond my control.
In your case, Reverend, your mind is so fixed and damaged that it rarely matters what I say, you will be offended and hurt.
That’s simply because you, Reverend Simond, are so fixed in your opinions, lost in your belief systems and can only sulk at me and any others who might see things differently.
This is one wise post.
In the early days, I remember Bhagwan’s encouragement was towards his sannyasins being like “white clouds”, gently drifting, with no preferred direction. The emphasis very much on the individual.
As time passed, and the number of small groups and individuals continued to gather around him, a community began to emerge. Which, by its appeal, attracted many more who were community-minded.
I felt this led to a distinct change in the late 70s when suddenly Sannyas seemed to become much more serious. This was brought home to me one evening in the Brighton, UK, meditation centre, where I was quietly sitting, minding my own business, when I was suddenly confronted by a Ma, whom I had never seen before, demanding to know why I had not made a commitment to go to Oregon. I cannot remember how I answered, but I can remember being accused of being “too logical”.
The message was clear: If you are a sannyasin, you are surrendered, therefore, you will do as you are told. It was as if all the white clouds were suddenly to be given purpose and direction. Sitting quietly was no longer an option, even in a meditation space. This gave me great unease about the future course of events.
When I watch these drive-bys, I see great feelings of togetherness, and think, maybe that’s because all are sharing the same level of compliant submission.
The only error I would speculate on would be towards those performing namaste whilst inwardly knowing that they are really white clouds.
Why not greet the ´white clouds´ as a ´white cloud´ with a ´Namaste´, Anand Anubodh?
And yet, I can follow your report and can relate (memorizing some incidents of the past) to that. Good to let them go.
Madhu
Hello Madhu,
I am happy to greet any white cloud I chance upon.
So, Namaste.
“This was brought home to me one evening in the Brighton, UK, meditation centre, where I was quietly sitting, minding my own business, when I was suddenly confronted by a Ma, whom I had never seen before, demanding to know why I had not made a commitment to go to Oregon. I cannot remember how I answered, but I can remember being accused of being “too logical”.
The message was clear: If you are a sannyasin, you are surrendered, therefore, you will do as you are told. It was as if all the white clouds were suddenly to be given purpose and direction. Sitting quietly was no longer an option, even in a meditation space. This gave me great unease about the future course of events.”
Makes me curious, Anubodh.
Did you obey that Ma or did you follow your inner White Cloud?
It is always the question: does one follow the group pressure or not?
And certainly White Clouds can also dance the Namaste – if it happens.
No, Satchit, I did not go to Rajneeshpuram.
The events I speak of were in 1982, but my decision not to go had its roots in 79, when I heard a rumour about a move to a new commune. The USA, seemed to be the destination. Which I did not think was a very good idea, as even before Reagan, Osho had been critical of Jimmy Carter. I just could not see how he expected to be welcomed there. I also heard that it was only to be an ‘experiment’, and only those handpicked by Osho would be taken. Such is the nature of gossip.
I did not take sannyas to be part of an experimental commune. Which for others had great appeal.
I was only interested in my own growth and did not presume to know what was best for the rest of humanity by setting a fine example of alternative living.
During the last darshan I had before leaving in 79, Osho actually asked me when I would be returning to see him again. Perhaps, the usual reply he heard was: “Whenever I can”. I just shook my head and said: “I don’t know”. He seemed happy with that, so as far as I was concerned I left on good terms with no unfinished business.
Maybe, if he had noticed me there amongst the thousands, he would’ve been a little disappointed to know that his ‘White Cloud’ message had been forgotten.
I don’t know.
Oh, btw, Satchit,
f you decide to be part of a group, then being a ‘white cloud’ becomes a moot point.
“I did not take sannyas to be part of an experimental commune. Which for others had great appeal.”
Yes, maybe the only reason for the experiment was to get detached from that dream.
And for the Master it was from the beginning like building a sandcastle on the beach.
You say, Satchit: “Yes, maybe the only reason for the experiment was to get detached from that dream.
And for the Master it was from the beginning like building a sandcastle on the beach.”
I simply don´t know, Satchit.
But your lines to this remind me of a time (a phase) where me and former friends of mine, preferred that kind of version you are presenting here.
In the NOW, I have to cope since quite a while with the fact that also this concept of understanding (?) lost its quality of support and encouragement for further growing up.
That sort of consolation concepts bring or can bring: a concept that some sense is to be found, also to ease pain.
On the other hand, it becomes clearer for me in what ways also a Master is in a bonding with His disciples and the inter-relatedness of it all.
And what I also remember this evening, that I would have literally died if the Master hadn´t have spoken again in late autumn 1984, where I – after a longer Ranch stay – was able (by Grace, I would say) to listen to what he had to say then and there in this historical chapter of it all.
For Lovers, I would say the initial triggers probably never end but change, change, change.
And as you rightly stated it shortly: Change is all that is. And the more any concept about how that should or ´ought´to happen just disappears, the better (for a well-being in the midst of turbulence in-side-out-side).
As well known here in the UK SN chat, some of the guys truly came to know that my capacities with dealing with that are limited quite often. But some of them also like to pretend and are quite skilled in that role of pretending. Pretending and noisy pretending quite an easy game on the virtual realms, isn´t it?
That´s what the fabulous jokes then are for…
Old, good and sometimes very effective painkiller remedy, to keep on going.
Madhu
Satchit,
You speculate that maybe the experiment was to get detached from that dream. But, what if the experiment had been a success and the dream had come true?
Many of the questions being asked these days can only be answered by Osho, and he is not speaking. And if he was, I think it unlikely that you would ever get a straight answer.
” Many of the questions being asked these days can only be answered by Osho, and he is not speaking. And if he was, I think it unlikely that you would ever get a straight answer.”
That made me laugh. So absolutely true.
“Many of the questions being asked these days can only be answered by Osho, and he is not speaking. And if he was, I think it unlikely that you would ever get a straight answer.” ( Anand Anubodh)
I would subscribe to that, Anand Anubodh, and enjoyed these of your lines. Very much.
Madhu
“You speculate that maybe the experiment was to get detached from that dream. But, what if the experiment had been a success and the dream had come true?
Many of the questions being asked these days can only be answered by Osho, and he is not speaking. And if he was, I think it unlikely that you would ever get a straight answer.”
For a playful mind, success and defeat is the same. And what else is sannyas than playfulness?
No need to ask Osho – the answer is already inside you waiting.
And surely he would answer:
“Hey, what a beautiful disaster!”
Satchit,
You think in terms of “playfulness” because Osho said so.
Nothing of you has the ring of authenticity. Perhaps, one day we will hear from the real Satchit.
And btw,
“Hey, what a beautiful disaster!” No, Satchit. It’s on the record that Osho actually said: “I was put in an American prison cell and poisoned.”
“And btw,
“Hey, what a beautiful disaster!” No, Satchit. It’s on the record that Osho actually said: “I was put in an American prison cell and poisoned.””
You seem to me a true believer of Osho’s words, Anubodh.
Sorry, in the poison issue I am more in tune with Lokesh, who also doubts the story.
Satchit,
In your haste to dig yourself into a deeper hole, you have neglected to realise that I was merely repeating what Osho said happened. Which is in stark contrast to your naive ‘fantasy’ Osho quote, and so you are feeling a little ‘miffed’. For the record: I think it very unlikely he was poisoned. Other than that, I don’t care.
“It seems, Satchit, that your “playfulness” has a very short shelf life.”
It seems, Anubodh, you have a wrong understanding of “playfulness”. It is not always fluffy and nice.
What is this comment-game here on SN? Has it a goal? I don’t think so – do you? So it is a play.
Sense of humour is also involved by talking about news from 1984.
Actually, Satchit, I reckon that it is far more likely that you are now desperately obfuscating to try and mask the fact that you were fool enough to put unspoken words into Osho’s mouth. Words that you thought would make you look deep and profound, but sadly, only made you look shallow and pretentious.
I am happy for you to have any last word on this matter, as I have every confidence in the followers of SN to know within themselves which of us has ‘wrong understanding’.
“Actually, Satchit, I reckon that it is far more likely that you are now desperately obfuscating to try and mask the fact that you were fool enough to put unspoken words into Osho’s mouth. Words that you thought would make you look deep and profound, but sadly, only made you look shallow and pretentious.”
Has it any value for me how you perceive me from your corner? Not really.
Anyway, thanks for the conversation.
What about Pune 2?
Anyway, what is your nationality, Anubodh?
SP,
All I know about Pune 2 is what I have been able to glean from your disgruntled droning.
It’s not a very good idea these days to reveal unnecessary personal info on the internet. Read and heed Madhu @9:34 pm, July 4.
Surely Osho is not here to get stones on behalf of his disciples.
SP,
I know you always like to try and wriggle away behind the smokescreen of an inane metaphor. But this time I thought I could catch you out. Unfortunately, I could not find in Google translate: Shantam Prem to Sensible plain English.
So it looks like you live to fight another day.
“In your haste to dig yourself into a deeper hole, you have neglected to realise that I was merely repeating what Osho said happened. Which is in stark contrast to your naive ‘fantasy’ Osho quote, and so you are feeling a little ‘miffed’. For the record: I think it very unlikely he was poisoned. Other than that, I don’t care.”
So you belong to the category of people who are good in projecting?
You know exactly that I did “neglect” and how I “feel”? Funny, old rabbit Anubodh.
It seems, Satchit, that your “playfulness” has a very short shelf life.
Many white clouds joined together make heap big thunder cloud. Boom, boom, next thing you know a hard rain is gonna fall.
One man called Kalyan I meet quite often during summer times at one of the most Buddha field-like FKK lake. If I translate FKK it will become FBC. Free Body Culture lake is synonym of naturist lake.
Kalyan is of 70 years of age. Once he was a very successful and socially upwardly mobile architect. During Ranch time he was living in LA with his girlfriend and very much connected with sannyasins at that time. He knows basically inside-out of Sannyas scene of that era.
So whenever we meet, there is a talk about Osho (Bhagwan) and his nostalgic days back in California.
Few weeks ago, he opened a box of mint tablets to offer me some. When I took one and said “thank you” came the punch line,: “At that time sannyasins have such boxes filled with drug pills instead of mint.”
We had a belly laugh for this!
Just last week, he said in some context, every tenth resident of Rajneeshpuram was a FBI agent! One can take this with pinch of salt, even one in hundred is more than enough!
Here one joke spoken by Osho is not out of context:
What is common between oral sex and FBI?
Just a small slip of tongue and in both cases you are in shit!
Shit happens!
Arps, if I am not mistaken it was on October 30, 1984. Cheers!
Thanks, Tan. (•̀o•́)ง
Oh, Oh, Osho is not here to answer the questions. Poor Christians look million times more creative to create intelligent answers based on one boring book!
Two plus two are four.
Three plus three are six.
They are people, certified disciples yet have no idea what is two multiplied by three.
Master has not spoken!
Quite remarkable that a movement based around a teaching that says the here and now is the place to be, has so much nostalgia and sentimentality for the past.
I watched the video and found it to be a re-run of the same old, same old. I feel much the same way watching vids about Poona 1. Oh look, there is such and such, he died a few years back. Doesn’t the headmaster look great in that hat? I do not see much difference between that sort of thing and old school chums looking through forty year-old photo albums.
Osho once told me that he was not in the least bit sentimental about the past. I needed to hear it because I can be a bit of a sentimentalist. That very human quality is fading as I age. Poonjaji told me, “The past is a graveyard.” I know what he means. As a result I do not spend much time thinking about all our yesterdays. Really, it is boring, when you get down to it.
Looking at the Oregon vid brought up a few things for me. The most important being the incredible amount of creative energy sannyasins put into the project. Utterly amazing. A great pity that the whole thing was ultimately doomed from the word go. Osho’s drive-bys I now find a bit ridiculous. Somehow he still manged to emanate those love vibes while driving his latest toy. Somehow we all went for it, even if it now looks to me a bit absurd.
Another thing I noticed was those blissful, knowing smiles after Osho drove by. To me they at times look smug, spiritual egos at full blast. I wondered, “Is that just me being cynical?” So I went to my best reflection and asked her what she thought. “A bit of both, I guess.” So, bottom line is I find all those videos of the good old days pretty naff.
Reminds me of another thing Osho once said to me: “There is nothing more absurd than worrying about how people will remember you when you are dead.” I agree, positive, negative, or somewhere in between, it makes no difference. There is no percentage in the past, except maybe as a reference point to gauge where you stand today. I do that sort of thing when listening to American Beauty by the Grateful Dead. You know, “It’s all a dream we dreamed, One afternoon long ago.”
Nice to read your considered response, Lokesh, especially the opening lines:
“Quite remarkable that a movement based around a teaching that says the here and now is the place to be, has so much nostalgia and sentimentality for the past.”
And what I also loved is one of the rare ´nuggets when you share about your relating with´your best reflection´, as you did put it, and your exchange : ” “Is that just me being cynical?” So I went to my best reflection and asked her what she thought. “A bit of both, I guess.” ”
Refreshing read – and thank you for that.
Madhu
Cool, Madhu.