back to overview

back to overview

MEDITATIONS/ Swami Chaitanya Keerti
Science tempered by spirituality is key to civility

A sannyasin from USA has sent me a lovely joke, which is a significant comment on the present situation in the US. This joke is a news item that no newspaper has published.
It is headlined: "U.S. Urges Bin Laden To Form Nation It Can Attack. And it goes like this: "WASHINGTON, DC- Speaking via closed-circuit television from the Oval Office Monday, President Bush made a direct plea to Osama bin Laden to form a nation the U.S. can attack. "Whether you take over an existing nation like Afghanistan or create a new breakaway republic called, say, Osamastan, the important thing is that you establish an identifiable nation-state with an army, a capital, and clearly defined borders," Bush said. "Maybe you could also sign some quick treaties to definitively establish who your allies are." The president then pledged $600 million to bin Laden for the construction of a state-of-the-art defense headquarters that the U.S. can bomb."

It is being said that the war between the US and the Taliban is the ‘clash of civilizations’ a term coined by Samuel Huntington in his book with the same name. The fact is that it is a clash without any civilization or civility.

The West equates the advancement in science and technology with civilisation. This is far from the truth. Science and technology can only make the world materialistically rich and comfortable. It only brings about external prosperity.

With deeper insight, the technology being used in war is also the manifestation of extreme and subtle refinement of barbarism. On the face of it, laser-guided missiles represent the advancement of civilisation, but the reality is that even small time terrorists who till now have been riding on camels have become proficient in the use of these weapons.

Whether we live in the East or in the West, we have not evolved enough to be called civilised. It may be pertinent here to remember what H.G. Wells said when , after the publication of‘War of The Worlds’ an interviewer asked him to spell out his idea of civilisation.

The acclaimed writer replied, "Civilization is a good idea, but it has still to happen. It is still an idea, someone has to make it a reality."

In the worldview of Osho, the problem is the retarded man, not science and technology. The problem is the man using science and technology or being used by it. Man, insists Osho, remains retarded and uncivilised as long as he does not transform his inner self. To attain that state, we must practice the meditation. Meditation is the key to real civilisation. If we want our world to be a safe place to live, an Einstein will have to be a Buddha too.

back to overview

OSHO'S VISION
TODAY'S DIRE NEED: EINSTEIN THE BUDDHA

New Delhi, Oct 15(UNI) The world today needs a scientist who is also a spiritualist and a thinker working for peace: a cross between Einstein and Gautam Buddha, according to wellknown information technologist Vijay Bhatkar.
Speaking at a function recently where he launched oshoworld.com website devoted to the sayings of Osho, Dr Bhatkar who is Chairman of Dishnet and former Director of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) said Osho wanted a Buddha who is an Einstein. Dr Bhatkar is a Padma Shri Awardee.
Padambhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, Director General of Council for Scientific and Industrial research (CSIR) said it was clear that man had not understood the human mind. 'Because if we had, we would have also understood how the human mind could conceptualize the World Trade Centre attack where such a mighty structure could be brought down in a few minutes'. Understanding the human mind and creating a mind which was at peace with itself was a great challenge.
Commenting on the controversy wherein the New York-based Osho International Foundation has claimed it owns the copyright for all that Osho said during his lifetime, Dr Mashelkar asked: 'Can something that Osho said be copyrighted at all? Can an individual form an institution or a foundation to have a right on these great messages both on the form as well as the content? It is quite clear that these messages are so universal, so crucial for this age that the rights truly are universal'.
The oshoworld.com website and a new a simple, browser based Internet computer called NICETOP were launched at the Osho World Galleria in New Delhi. This Internet ready computing hardware has its own Operating System with commonly used applications with most Indian languages. NICETOP is hardware rich on most commonly found features and Internet ready solution for information, communication and entertainment helping empower the common user.

NICETOP will be able to take care of various segments like home users, business services, enterprise computing needs,educational services, E-Governance and information kiosks, rural and remote users (would be just the right for Co-operatives). The product has been developed by the Pune-based I2IT Pvt. Ltd. under the guidance and direction of Dr Bhatkar.
Dr Bhatkar, 54, was the founder and executive director of the Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), a national government initiative to develop advanced computing in India. He led a team of professionals at C-DAC that developed the PARAM Supercomputers. Dr Bhatkar is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet of the Indian government.

He was recently awarded a Padmashree for his contribution to information technology.He holds a Masters of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from M.S. University, Baroda.

Meanwhile, a three-day Osho Meditation Camp from October 19 to 21 is being held at Oshodham in the capital and will be conducted by Ma Yoga Neelam, Osho’s Secretary for India. During this camp the meditators will be introduced to Dynamic, Kundalini, Nataraj, Nadbrahma, Nischal Dhyan Yoga, Relaxing Body and Mind and Vigyan Bhairav Tantra will take place.
UNI BBN

back to overview

Desperately Needed Now: 'Einstein The Buddha'

New Delhi, 11 October 2001

The world now needs Einstein the Buddha for the fusion of science and spirituality according to Osho, said Padamshree Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, chairman of Dishnet and former Director of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), in New Delhi on Wednesday evening.

Speaking at the launch of oshoworld.com website devoted to the vision of an enlightened master, Dr. Bhatkar said that Osho wanted a Buddha who is an Einstein. This is wonderful; as there is a gap – indeed a chasm – between the religious leaders and scientists.

Speaking at the same event, Padambhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, Director General of Council for Scientific and Industrial research (SCIR) said, “We have not understood the human mind because if we had, we would have also understood how the human mind could conceptualize the World Trade Centre attack where such a mighty structure could be brought down in a few minutes.

The issues facing us are so intricate that perhaps the very best of our minds are trying to put their minds together to understand the human mind,” he added. “This is the great challenge before us not only to understand human mind but to create that mind which is at peace with itself. I believe that Osho was well ahead of his time in terms of his teachings, his thinking and as a practical man I wonder how his message can reach people by using the new technology as by launching a new site – oshoworld.com – today but also be removing the several other impediments in taking that knowledge forward.”

“Can something that Osho said be copyrighted at all? Can an individual form an institution or a foundation to have a right on these great messages both on the form as well as the content? It is quite clear that these messages are so universal, so crucial for this age that the rights truly are universal,” he added. The whole globe of six billion people owns his message. To carry this message forward we will have to remove these technological barriers, mental barriers and the barriers that have been created by our greed to create wealth out of these messages which really belong to all of us.”

The oshoworld.com website and a new a simple, browser based Internet computer called NICETOP were launched at the Osho World Galleria in New Delhi. This Internet ready computing hardware has its own Operating System with commonly used applications with most Indian languages.

back to overview

Pivko’s palace of creative space
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
HERE is more to one of the world’s most creative forces, than charismatic aura and eloquence, we discovered.
Master architect Ilan Pivko was in Pune recently, visiting the Osho commune with his wife and friends. Pivko is a high-flier and his friendcircle includes couturier Isse Miyaki and French movie star Michelle Picoli. Pivko is also referred to as the ‘Father of Israeli Architecture’ and has created stylistic distinctions that have won him accolades and have caused people to refer to him as one of the most influential architects of our time.
But the man, in person, is a lesson in honesty and modesty. Despite his international stature, Pivko is remarkably candid. “I truly believe that only if you love yourself enough, can you create pleasant things for others to enjoy. That’s what my designs are all about - exciting and vibrant spaces that celebrate life,” he smiles.
Born in Paris, an only child, this self-made creative genius says success never came on a platter. Neither did obstacles deter him from letting his creative juices flow - from architecture to furniture, city plans to door knobs, chinaware to clothes, as he reinforces the notion of creativity being limitless.
“I passed my architectural school and got deeply involved in the local wicker weaving technique. I worked with local craftsmen and soon, created furniture that was being retailed in every store worth its tag in London, Miami, Paris, Toronto and New York,” he tells us.
Combining basic local materials in its raw form, with a sophisticated international flavour, is what Pivko’s signature designs are all about.
His creative pursuits took a fresh turn towards research, as he moved into Jaffa. With a penchant to create things beyond the already prevalent spartan styles, Pivko’s work now had an idiosyncratic mélange of basic socialistic roots, sprinkled with an informal Israeli approach - a dash of multi-cultural influences, with a new-age western lavishness.
“I definitely insist that every design should bear a touch of the local element,” says Pivko, as he displays the drawings of one of Tel Aviv’s tallest building the Residential Towers, that he designed. The Towers have a contemporary flair of steel and glass, and yet, boast a traditional intersecting Gothic arch, circumscribing the pinnacle of the tower.
Pivko’s creative favourites are architect Eric Mendelson, art furniture designer Rhuman and British architect Sir Norman Foster.
Pivko remains introspective about his work. “I think that buildings are like people, with emotions, expressions and, trust me, they even have wrinkles. That’s why I like to involve time as an element of design in my work,” he says.
Sensitive and esoteric, Pivko is fascinated by the 18th century romanticism of ruins; in fact, his own house is inspired by the era. “I like working with black, white and earth colours”, he tells us, while explaining his taste for achromatic tones and simple geometric forms.
The avant-garde French Channel Art’e has honoured Pivko with a prestigious documentary on his creative contributions and Israel’s national museum has asked him to exhibit his work there.
Currently, it’s a commercial complex in Madrid, an exotic villa complex in Morocco and a residential project in Cannes that are keeping Pivko occupied.
As for Pune, Pivko is besotted with the variety of architectural designs. “Some parts of this city have that mid-forties touch, while the wadas are still in the last century. Then there are parts that are charged with contemporary ideas. Very rarely does one get to see such a harmony of ideas. That’s what I really like, besides the people of course,” he says.

original article in the internet from: www.timesofindia.com

back to overview

Religion Of Sane People Is Love
SWAMI CHAITANYA KEERTI

''OSAMA bin Laden does not live in Afghanistan'', declare the fundamentalists in Afghanistan and Pakistan. ''He lives in our hearts'', they proclaim, loudly and proudly.
Terrorism and its poisonous weeds have no permanent address in any country. They live and flourish in the hearts of people and in almost all parts of the world, and the most surprising thing is that the so-called religions are responsible for this poisonous growth.
The world has become clearly divided between two expressions of religion. The choice is between the religion of terrorism and the true religion of self-transformation and compassion for the world.
The religion of terrorism may be divided into thousands of sects and ideologies but it is united by one common goal that has only one name: Terrorism. The people opting for this religion will live and die for it.
The other religion which is the religion of the sane people is the religion without any name and can be labelled as the 'pure religiousness of self-transformation'. It helps in moulding people as better human beings with values of love, compassion and non-violence.
They may believe or not believe in any ideology, they may worship any God or not, but they transform themselves with meditation and share their awareness, bliss and compassion with all who come in contact with them.
In the hearts of such people lives the fragrance of enlightenment of all the buddhas, mystics and saints. But, unfortunately, such people are not in big numbers.
These flowers of meditation and compassion have been outnumbered by the weeds of hatred and violence. And now there is an urgency to restore the balance between these two forces, otherwise the oscillation towards violence will destroy the world very soon, whether Nostradamus predicted it or not.
Hundreds of thousands of people are needed around the world to meditate and create good vibes to balance the forces of death and destruction.
There is an urgency and situation of emergency. Such people belonging to any religion should unite in the spread of human values and restore the balance.
In his book In Search of the Miraculous, written more than 30 years ago, Osho had predicted that the coming few years are going to be very significant years in man's history.
Now a handful of people will be of no help in spiritual matters. Unless a mighty and massive spiritual movement sweeps the earth, it will be impossible to save the world from the mire of materialism.
It will be a very, very momentous moment in a person's life; the coming 50 years are going to be fateful and decisive, in the sense that either religion, or stark irreligion -- all that is against religion, will live.
The struggle that has been going on from time immemorial has reached its moment of decision. And looking at the situation as it obtains at present, there is not much hope.
But I am not disappointed because it seems to me that very soon a simple and natural way can be found which will revolutionise the lives of millions of people spiritually. A few individuals can be of no help in the present times.
In olden times it was enough if only one person became enlightened. Now this would not do. In view of the tremendous explosion of population taking place in the world, a few individuals cannot do a thing.
Now something tangible can be possible only if, commensurate with the huge population, hundreds of thousands of people are influenced and involved in spiritualism. And it is possible as I see it.
If a few people form a nucleus and begin the work, India can play a significant role in that momentous fight. No matter how poor and miserable, how degraded and slavish, how misled and misguided this country has been, yet this land has some well preserved treasures with it.
Down the centuries such people have walked across this land that their light, their fragrance, their blessings have left their vibes in the air, have left their imprint on every blade of grass here.
People in this country have gone astray but the dust of this land still remembers Buddha's feet walking on it, the trees still cherish the memory that Mahavira had once stood in their shade, the seas surrounding this country still know a different voice they had heard in the past and the skies of this country are still full of hope.
Everything is there, only the human being has to come back home, to nature.
In this time of great upheaval India has a historical role to perform, as it has the reservoir of eternal wisdom that no country has been blessed with.

original article in the internet from: www.timesofindia.com

back to overview

Spiritual imprints from the canvas of life

Her work immediately transports you to a world far removed from the mundane, but 32-year-old painter Bindu Popli herself is rooted in the affairs of daily life. Happily married to the man of her choice (Hindi scholar Ishaan Mahesh) and a mother of two small kids, aged 6 and 4, Bindu imparts the same contentment to her work.

She, however, likes to attribute the spirituality in her recent paintings, currently on show at the Osho Galleria, to none other than Osho himself. “I have been reading his teachings for the last one year,” says Bindu, a College of Art, Delhi, product, “and the thoughts of his that has inspired me the most is that one should live life in that moment and not burden oneself with unending ambition.” This very reason makes Bindu’s latest exhibition so different from her earlier ones. “My earlier paintings were all about myself, my family and my children, but this time it is about a journey of the self. It could be your journey or mine,” says the artist whose favourite colours are green, yellow and red. Not only are her colours inspired by nature, so were her earlier works.
Bindu’s first art outing, was extremely figurative and in her second (at Triveni in ’94), nature once again bloomed in the form of a woman personified as a flower. “I’ve never really painted tables or chairs,” says Bindu, “my themes come out of my own self.” Naturally then, her next solo in ’97, after her daughter was born, was replete with symbols of a mother and child, and Nar-Naari in ’99 came out of a fulfilling relationship with her husband. And even though she claims that she has no future plans (“I have stopped planning after reading Osho”), one knows for sure that this soft-spoken teacher (she teaches art at DAV, Pitampura) can only go forward from here.

original article in the internet

back to overview

back to overview

Pyrimads in Pune
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

UNE: Osho's fascination with pyramids and all the esoteric concepts associated with them; his dream that a massive one be constructed right here in Pune, is now turning into a distinct reality.
What is coming up near Hotel Blue Diamond in Koregaon Park is the tallest of the half-a-dozen black Osho pyramids that already exist in the city. The latest one is, of course, no competition with any of the Egyptian ones. Nevertheless, at nine-storeys high, the Pune Pyramid is set to change the city's skyline.
In its present state, the pyramid with aluminium sheets covering its three sides is visble from quite a distance and gleams like shining silver in the bright sunlight. When completed by the beginning of next year, it will be black- the characteristic colour of all Osho buildings in town.
The Osho Commune has big plans for this pyramid: Nine storeys high from the outside and six-storeys high from inside. Fully airconditioned. Supported on just four pillars. And floored with dark green Udaipur marble. It will have no carpets or curtains and will have indirect indoor lighting apart from natural light coming in through the wide windows.
"This is the most sacred space for me. I am so happy that I am a part of this construction," says Osho Sanyasin Ma Gatha who is supervising all aspects of the project. Her sentiments are understandable as the pyramid is the piece-de-resistance of Osho Commune's on-going constructions.
An obvious question about the project is its cost; but Gatha and others at the commune will not discuss the cost. "I don't know" is the simple answer.
Blue-eyed with a strong European accent, she will also not give her legal name or talk of her background. "It's all so irrelevant...All that is the past," she says, shrugging off these queries.
Turn back to the Pyramid story and there's Gatha, right in her element again.
"Osho wanted a closed meditation hall and he was fascinated with pyramid. We are constructing this as this new Buddha hall was on his wish list, says Gatha.
The other reason for a "closed meditation hall" is to avoid complaints from Osho Commune's neighbours at Koregaon Park. Apart from long periods of silence, Osho meditations involve a lot of screaming and shouting, laughter and crying. Angry neighbours is definitely an issue that needed to be tackled.
Giving an aesthetic touch to the pyramid will be enormous quantities of water. The pyramid, in fact, will be surrounded by a water body and access to it will be over a small bridge from inside one of the commune complexes.
Adjoining the Pyramid is a 60-room guesthouse that is being constructed. And below the pyramid a massive kitchen- constructed to European standards and specifications. According to Gatha, the kitchen will have the capacity to feed up to 5,000 people.
About the four-storey high guesthouse, says Gatha, "It will be simple, but elegant and with a touch of luxury. It will have most facilities of a modern hotel- but without room service, telephone or television. The rooms will, however, be cleaned thrice a day," she says.
According to Gatha and the Prem Richa, Osho wanted the guesthouse to be called "Dharmashala" and have it house visitors and meditators at the commune. But the commune has decided to do away with the term "Dharmashala" and call it, simply, "guesthouse."
The commune's backgrounder on the pyramid says that Osho wanted the pyramids in Pune because of their "potential to deepen meditation." He also believed that if the pyramids are used widely, life could be prolonged.
Quoting Osho, the commune backgrounder says, "If it becomes a routine exercise for every child, in every home, in every school, in every college, life can be stretched up to three hundred years. Just one hour every day inside the pyramid, and you are not to do anything, just sit there. It is helpful in both ways: It will preserve your life, and that one hour of well-being will give you a deep feeling of meditation. The people who created the pyramids must have been mystics who had come to such a clarity to see things which are not available to us."
Much of this may fascinate some (Osho followers, particularly) and sound gibberish to others. But hey, what the heck, if you have the money, why not make life interesting by building pyramids...Why not make Pune a city of pyramids and live longer than the rest of the world!

original article in the internet from: www.timesofindia.com

back to overview