Osho/Jabalpur/1967

Today I remembered the Taran Taran Jayanti celebration at Fawwara Square, Jabalpur. I can’t remember the date but it might have been the break of winter 1967 or 1968.  On the stage, Osho was seated with Shri Kunji Lal Dube, former Vice-Chancellor of Rani Durgavati University Jabalpur (then a Minister of the State), Dr Raj Bali Pande, VC, RD University, a Jain Muni, a Sardarji and a Christian Father, who all were there to represent their religions. The idea of the organisers was that it should be a meeting of all religions.

Osho in crowd

The Jain Muni emphasised in his talk that religion is one. Kunji Lal Dube said that he longed to be a contemporary to Buddha, because then he must have sat at his feet. I can’t remember even a bit what the Sardarji, the Father and Dr Raj Bali Pande spoke about. But one thing I remember very well is that when Dr Raj Bali Pande was speaking, he quite frequently looked back at you as if hesitant to speak in front of you – as he was older and a VIP, the Vice-Chancellor of the University. Then you were to speak as the last one.

In Jabalpur, when there were several people to speak at an event, you were always put last, because the main speaker or most respected person is usually scheduled to speak as the last one. Here with you, one more thing was vital, that if you would speak earlier, the whole congregation would disperse after you finished. Nobody would be there to listen to anybody else. Big gatherings used to happen only because the people exclusively came to listen to you.

Then you were on the mike. I am in wonder-filled tears to remember your roar like a lion in the crowd of goats… you said, “If there is only one religion, then you will have to stop saying that there is only one religion. Because if there are not many religions, there is no point in saying one religion. One religion is relevant only if there are two, three, four or more religions. And if you say one religion, then a Hindu moves his head in affirmation that yes, there is only one religion, the Hindu religion. And a Muslim thinks, yes, that religion is the Muslim religion; that’s what Hazrat said. A Buddhist will enjoy that yes, that is the Buddhist religion because only Buddha has attained the unattainable… and so on, and so forth. We will have to say there is religiousness or irreligiousness. Either you are religious or you are not religious.

“It is a self-deception to say that if I had been in Buddha’s time, I must have sat at his feet. Because this earth is never without a Buddha. There is always a lamp burning. Even today there may be one. He may be in your own town but you have no time even to look at him. You are too far away to sit at his feet. Because you are too active in politics. Even in Buddha’s time you must have not gone near him because you were engaged in politics then too. So, stop saying that if you were in Buddha’s time you would have sat at his feet. Don’t deceive yourself. Be true and authentic.

“If one wants to be religious in the right sense, one should enquire within oneself as to who you are. Close your eyes and ask intensely ‘Who am I’? Who am I? Because you are not the name, you are not the body, you are not the mind either. Then who are you? Go on asking within yourself. Let your being become the question ‘Who am I’? And then one day when innocence is absolute, in that silent state you realize yourself. And that is the most blessed day. Now nothing remains to attain. I pray that one day you realize who you are. That is the fulfilment!

“You listened to my talk with so much peace and attention, I feel grateful for this. And in closing, I offer my regards to the Divine residing inside you. Please accept it.”

Ageh BhartiAgeh Bharti

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10 Responses to Osho/Jabalpur/1967

  1. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    Sometimes – like yesterday – Dear Moderators/ Editors of ´Sannyasnews´-

    I simply love your picking up every now and then some reliable memory stick (from oshonews.com).

    It´s then – sometimes – like being reminded of some pure and rich seeds having been showered unconditionally onto the emotional, mental and spiritual ´Earth´ of their Time.

    In particular, so good to be reminded when feeling in danger of being overwhelmed by some pain about what may be apparently lost, or lost forever (like some promise of dignity in truth, while being confronted with lost awareness in fragmentation, quarrels and/or misunderstandings etc.).

    I´m grateful for Ageh Bharti´s contribution. And that you posted it here again.

    He doesn´t write here, or does he? As I would be interested to read/hear how he, having been an early witness of Osho´s coming out, perceives the growth of seeds during the course of time in all these decades?

    Madhu

  2. shantam prem says:

    I can understand, Swami Ageh Bharti´s life became colourful to be a witness of great man´s public life unfolding.

    What others gain out of the memories of someone else, even when memories are about some great wizard?

    Maybe few people get the motivation to walk around their city with the lamp in hand, “Looking for someone who walks like a master, talks like a master.”

    • madhu dagmar frantzen says:

      Seems to me, Shantam Prem, that in a topic honouring here at SN/UK one of the venerable elders, who is Indian, like you – and has been with Osho from the very beginning – meets your bitterness and acid jealousy you´re boiling with even more strongly and painfully like at other chat-spots.

      Point is that your painful jealousy and bitterness does not only affect you but also lots of fellow-readers here, as possibly contributors. And this way, I´d say, nothing good will come out of it!

      Madhu

  3. shantam prem says:

    Madhu, you seem to be as childish and devotee as a Christian nun. A man like me, who is fighting to give commune back to Osho´s people, is never being appreciated by the frozen heads like you.

    If in the Sannyas scene I ever feel jealous it will be towards Turiya, who is leading Path of Love, or for Neelam, who is the spirit behind Osho Nisarga, or for my friend Rajneesh, who has created an Oasis on his own.

    • satchit says:

      “A man like me, who is fighting to give commune back to Osho´s people, is never being appreciated by the frozen heads like you.”

      Shantam Prem, you live in the illusion that commune is in Koregaon Park.

      • shantam prem says:

        Satchit, it seems ‘your Osho’ was living in an illusion to create a commune in Pune.

        Osho is one such master whose name should be in Guinness record for producing lots of disciples who are not only wiser than others but probably smarter than him.

  4. Parmartha says:

    I like the atmosphere described and the photo here recorded. The world, and the world of Osho, would be less without it.

    It lifted me up.

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