Oshoites come up with piece de resistance
ABHAY VAIDYA
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

PUNE: If you want to live for 300 years, you could consider sitting for just one hour a day inside a pyramid doing absolutely nothing. And you needn't go all the way to Egypt to do so either.
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. Nine storeys high, the Pune Pyramid is set to change the city's skyline — and maybe its lifeline.
Osho, aka Bhagwan Rajneesh, was fascinated with pyramids and all the esoteric concepts associated with them. His dream was that a massive one be constructed right here in Pune. And that dream is now turning into a reality.
In its present state, the pyramid with aluminium sheets covering its three sides is visible from quite a distance and gleams like shining silver in the sunlight. When completed by the beginning of next year, it will be black - the characteristic colour of all Osho buildings in town.
The pyramid is fully air-conditioned and supported on just four pillars. The flooring is dark green Udaipur marble. There will be no carpets or curtains; there will be 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; the pyramid is the piece de resistance of the Osho Commune's ongoing constructions.
No one wants to let on how much this is going to cost. "I don't know," says everyone, including the blue-eyed Gatha, who has a strong European accent but will not give her legal name or talk about her background. "It's all so irrelevant... All that is the past," she says, shrugging off queries.
But she is eager enough to talk about her pet project. "Osho wanted a closed meditation hall and he was fascinated with the pyramid. We are constructing this as a new Buddha Hall was on his wish list," she says.
A "closed meditation hall" was also a good idea to stop complaints from irate neighbours. Osho meditations involve long periods of silence, but they also involve a lot of screaming and shouting, laughter and crying and this did not go down too well with the commune's neighbours in the elite Koregaon Park enclave.
The whole thing is in a pyramid shape because Osho believed in the pyramid's potential to deepen meditation. He also believed that if pyramids are used widely, life could be prolonged.
Whatever its mystical properties there is no doubt about its aesthetic appeal, given the genius of the Oshoites to transform their surroundings into places of real beauty.
The pyramid will be surrounded by a water body and access to it will be over a small bridge from one of the commune complexes. A 60-room guest house adjoins the Pyramid. Below it is a massive kitchen constructed to European standards and a capacity to feed up to 5,000 people.
According to Gatha and Prem Richa, Osho wanted the guest house to be called 'Dharmashala' and have it host visitors and meditators at the commune. But the commune has decided to call it a "guest house."
Much of this may sound gibberish to most. But hey, what the heck! If you have the money, why not make life interesting by building pyramids instead of tall (and dangerous) towers? 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

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Members of the Osho World pray on Thursday for the victims of the terrorist attacks in the US.
Photograph : Bivas Banerjee/Saab Press.

original in the internet from: www.rediff.com

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Respond to a situation, don't react to it

THE BEST place to test our meditation is not the Himalayas but the world, with all its struggles, trials and tribulations. We have to be at the centre of the things to be able to get the right perspective. In the seclusion, there’s nothing to provoke us. Our meditation is real and ripe only when it can cope with the world.

The war is a great opportunity for the meditation. Actually it is the best opportunity. In times of war, our energies become so integrated that our awareness reaches the optimum level, because any wrong move would mean death. When it is a question of life and death, nobody can afford to be inattentive. There will be a 100 per cent alertness in dangerous situations which is usually not possible in normal times. In the time danger, it is very easy for us to find our center within ourselves.

In the Ultimate Alchemy, Osho cites an example of climbing a mountain: “Ask someone going to the top of Gaurishanker on Mount Everest. When for the first time Hillary was there, he must have felt a sudden center. And when for the first time someone was on the moon, a sudden feeling of a center must have come. That is why danger has appeal. You are driving a car and you go on to more and more speed, and then the speed becomes dangerous. Then you cannot think; thoughts cease. Then you cannot dream. Then you cannot imagine. Then the present becomes solid. In that dangerous moment, when any instant death is possible, you are suddenly aware of a center in yourself. Danger has appeal only because in danger you sometimes feel centered. “Nietzsche somewhere says that war must continue because only in war is a center is felt. And when death becomes a reality, life becomes intense and you are centered. But if it is situational, then when the situation is over it will disappear.”

A meditator does not need such situations to attain to centering, but such situations are needed for testing the centering. He does not to react as an automata - he responds with awareness and always remains centered within himself. That is his real strength.

Meditation is the strength of the individual and it can also become the collective strength of a nation. The sutra or insight is: Respond! Do not React! Reaction is automatic and without full awareness. Response is not automatic, rather it comes with full awareness and totality. Reaction happens in anger. Response happens in wisdom and responsibility. In Osho's words responsibilty is actually the “ability to respond”. If you want to win this game the sutra is: Drop all the rhetoric. Be responsible. This is the real art of war.

Swami Chaitanya Keerti is the editor of Hindi edition of Osho World magazine.

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Solace in the Aftermath
By Swami Chaitanya Keerti

Our world has changed tremendously since the terrorist attacks in the United States on Tuesday and this is an unfortunate sign of our times. The horrendous destruction of innocent lives and property is a travesty and the unbelievable effect so few have had upon so many is absolutely staggering.

Osho says, "A meditator cannot kill; a meditator cannot be destructive. War, violence, murder, massacre of millions of people will not happen if a man knows something about meditation, then he not only knows himself, but also knows the other whom he is killing. He knows that the other person is is his brother and they all belong to the same oceanic existence."

In the horrendous aftermath of this attack, the entire world desperately needs the balm of meditation to bring peace for the departed souls, solace for their loved ones and speedy recovery for the injured. On a spiritual level, we are all connected and thus it is impossible to imagine that a few can wreck such destruction on so many.

Much healing needs to take place all around the world. This is a delicate time during which meditation can accomplish the most effective and powerful healing for all trauma stricken people and result in the greatest positive benefit.

Osho says, "Be more meditative, become more conscious of your being. Let your inner world become more silent, and love will be flowing through you. People have all these problems. The problems are many but the medicine for all these illnesses is only one, and it is meditation.

He further adds, "I would like you to remind that the word medicine and the word meditation come from the same root. Medicine means something that can cure your body, and meditation means something that can cure your soul. Meditation is meditation only because it is a medicine for your innermost illnesses."

Every concerned and conscious person should join in meditation at this time of great need to create a positive and powerful wave of Meditative Energy around the world to restore the balance.

original article in the internet from: spirituality.indiatimes.com

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Osho Commune foray into real estate

ABHAY VAIDYA
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
UNE: What has Osho's philosophy got to do with real estate development? Plenty of money seems to be the most obvious link, given Osho’s emphasis on "five-star" existence and the commune’s prime properties valued at crores of rupees.
For the first time since its establishment in the 70’s, the Osho Commune International here has commercially used one of its prime properties in Pune’s plush Koregaon Park area.
The commune, through its company — Zen Properties Ltd — has entered into a joint venture collaboration with Godrej Properties and Investment Ltd and erected one of India’s most modern office complexes.
The swanky black-and-blue coloured "Godrej Millennium" complex next to Hotel Blue Diamond, is offering space at Rs 4,000 per square feet. Constructed at a cost of Rs 20 crore by using ‘‘flat slab technology’’ the five-storeyed building will house 30 offices, six showrooms and a double- basement car-park, according to Amit Choudhury, managing director and CEO of Godrej Properties.
Companies such as New York Max Life, BNP Paribas and Suzlon Energy are among those with offices in the building whose exterior is coated with black granite powder to give "an elegant stone finish."
Speaking to this correspondent, K P Sudhir, assistant manager (Marketing) of Godrej Properties, said that the company had entered into a "profit- sharing agreement with Zen Properties."
He, however, declined to give details of this arrangement while stating that the land on which the building was erected belonged to Zen Properties.
Osho Commune’s spokesperson Prem Richa told The Times of India that the land and the building "are owned by us and have been given on contract to Godrej."
Richa said that the purpose of the joint venture was to raise money for the commune’s five-star 60 room "guesthouse" and a nine-storeyed Osho auditorium which were under construction behind the Millennium complex.
While the ground floor of the five- storeyed state-of-the-art complex measures 14,000 square feet, the other floors measure 18,000 square feet each.
She said that the black-and-blue colour of the buiding was similar to that of the commune’s other buildings spread over nearly 25 acres of land in Koregaon Park.

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

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Osho World Meditates for Victims of Terrorist Attacks in USA

For the tragic victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States, Osho World organized a special meditation session in New Delhi on Friday 14 September 2001 coinciding with the prayers in different parts of the globe. One of Osho’s meditations was conducted to feel oneness with the victims and their families and friends, and for all of us who are conscious observers of these tragic actions.

The world has changed since the terrorist attacks in the United States on Tuesday and this is an unfortunate sign of our times. The horrendous destruction of innocent lives and property is a travesty and the unbelievable effect so few have had upon so many is absolutely staggering.

Osho says, "A meditator cannot kill; a meditator cannot be destructive… War, violence, murder, massacre of millions of people - this is not possible if a man knows something of meditation. Then he also knows not only himself, he knows the other whom he is killing. He is his brother. They all belong to the same oceanic existence."

In the horrendous aftermath of this attack, the entire world desperately needs the balm of meditation to bring peace for the departed souls, solace for their loved ones and speedy recovery for the injured. On a spiritual level, we are all connected and thus it is impossible to imagine that a few can wreck such destruction on so many.

Much healing needs to take place all around the world. This is a delicate time during which meditation can accomplish the most effective and powerful healing for all trauma stricken people and result in the greatest positive benefit.

Osho says, "Be more meditative, become more conscious of your being. Let your inner world become more silent, and love will be flowing through you. People have all these problems. The problems are different -- violence, jealousy -- but the medicine for all these illnesses is only one, and it is meditation.

"And I would like you to be reminded that the word medicine and the word meditation come
from the same root. Medicine means something that can cure your body, and meditation means something that can cure your soul. Meditation is meditation only because it is a medicine for your innermost illnesses."

Osho World invites every concerned and conscious person to join in meditation at this time of great need to create a positive and powerful wave of Meditative Energy around the world to restore the balance.

Swami Chaitanya Keerti
Osho World Foundation
Ansal Plaza, Khelgaon Marg, New Delhi 110049
Phone: 91-11-626 1616 Fax: 91-11-626 1618
E Mail: contact@oshoworld.com

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A dance with Krishna
There’s no cause for renunciation, just thrill in beauty

SWAMI CHAITANYA KEERTI

When you see a beautiful face of a man or a woman or a child, if really you are struck by the beauty, the experience is not only aesthetic; it is religious. In that moment of beauty, God has looked at you through that face; God has revealed himself to you through that face. Through those eyes, the depth of existence has been communicated. Depth has talked to depth, there has been a dialogue. It has not only been aesthetic. Suddenly one morning you are light and graceful. You are fresh and unburdened. The past is no more haunting you and the future has not yet started. You look at the sky, a vast emptiness, and everything stops within you. You also become a vast emptiness. It is not just an aesthetic experience; it is religious. Beauty is truth... and truth is beautiful!’’ Thus says Osho.

God is not against beauty. God is all for beauty and richness. That’s why he has created so much beauty and richness in existence that it overflows. Just one look at nature proves this point. Look at the mountains and rivers, brilliant bright flowers in nature basking in majestic glory. It is nothing but God’s signature. God believes in abundance. Hence, this immeasurable splendor and creation all around. He untiringly goes on creating universe after universe. Those who are in the know do not call it universe — they have coined a new name: Multi-verse. And only a multi-dimensional person on earth can represent God in totality.

Many incarnations have come unto this earth to represent God. But Indians have worshipped only one incarnation as the total incarnation of God — Purnavtar. We know him as Lord Krishna. His birthday was celebrated a month ago as Janmashtmi. Only he is the perfect example of all that we seek in life: Beauty, Bravery, Celebration, Compassion, Festivity, Laughter, Mischief, Politics, Spirituality and ultimately Wisdom. Krishna has it all. He is the most romantic and fashionable, he decorates himself with colourful clothes, peacock feathers, flute and other hypnotic paraphernalia, which can make any young man jealous of him. In his heart of hearts, every young man dreams of being as charming as Krishna, with numberless gopis dancing around him. This eternal romance of Krishna and Radha is described in India as the romance of Purush and Prakriti, God manifesting as two, the polar opposites of Yin and Yang, but Krishna goes beyond the manifestation in two. He is not simply content with one Radha — he has thousands of gopis! Let these girls feel jealous of each other, he accepts them all.

Besides accepting and embracing all and rejecting none, Krishna’s personality is emphatically colourful, playful and totally beautiful. And this is ultimate divinity and godliness. God accepts everything and everybody because it is all his own manifestation. The so-called religious people are often seen condemning beauty and bliss of life as something mundane and despicable. Incapable of enjoying the beauty and bliss of life themselves, they start teaching renunciation and rejection. This is not the case with Krishna. He is all for rejoicing and beauty. To the mystic yogis such as Krishna, beauty is truth and truth is beauty. God’s creation in any form can only be beautiful, there’s no other way of being.

Osho says: Beauty is the first glimpse of the divine. Wherever you see beauty, remember you are on holy ground. Wherever, I say: in a human face, in a child’s eyes, in a lotus flower, or in the wings of a bird in flight, in the rainbow, or in a silent rock. Wherever you see beauty, remember, you are on holy ground — God is close. Beauty is the first glimpse of the divine; so there is no dichotomy between beauty and truth. The aesthetic and the spiritual are not two things, two points on the same path, two milestones on the same pilgrimage.

original article in the internet from: www.indian-express.com

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Osho Disciples to Celebrate Neo-Sannyas Day on 26th September

Osho disciples around the world will be celebrating Neo-Sannyas Day (Nav-Sannyas divas in India) on 26th September this year and every year. This is the day when Osho introduced his vision of sannyas and initiated his first group of disciples as his sannyasins in a meditation camp in Manali. Thus began his Neo-Sannyas Movement which continues to attract thousands of seekers of truth every year. During this meditation camp in 1970, Osho was talking on Krishna: The Man And His Philosophy, and he gave birth to a new Sannyas of life-affirmation, joy, freedom and celebration. He brought the spirit of Krishna, his dance and playfulness into the twenty-first century. He wanted the Sannyas to have a fresh lease of life with new vigour and vitality, colour and creativity. "Sannyas has to be invested with a new meaning, a new concept. Sannyas has to live; it is the most profound, the most precious treasure that mankind has.But how to save it, preserve it, is the question. I would like to share with you my vision on this score," declared Osho in the foothills of Himalayas.

Previously the flavour of sanyyas had deteriorated into a denial of life.Osho rejected this misconception about sannyas and life-negative attitude and he said that if sannyas were to survive in the future or become rejuvenated, it needed a new meaning and a new dimension of celebration and creativity. Said Osho: "My sannyasins celebrate everything. Celebration is the foundation of my sannyas - not renunciation but rejoicing; rejoicing in all the beauties, all the joys, all that life offers, because this whole life is a gift of God. "The old religions have taught you to renounce life. They are all life negative; their whole approach is pessimistic. They are all against life and its joys. To me, life and God are synonymous. In fact, life is a far better word than! God itself, because God is only a philosophical term, while life is real, existential. The word "God" exists only in scriptures; it is a word, a mere word. Life is within you and without you -- in the trees, in the clouds, in the stars. This whole existence is a dance of life. I teach love for life."

Osho invites the whole world to join in the celebration of this phenonomen of Neo-Sannyas. It's a playful journey of transformation through meditation. And celebration is the real flavour of this transformation.

Osho talks about how Acharya became Bhagwan in Himalayas:
So when I started speaking and when people started feeling something for me, on their own they began to call me Acharya. Acharya means 'the master', but not just the master; it is something more. Actually it means the person who says only that which he lives, one whose actions and thoughts are absolutely in harmony. So for almost twenty years people called me Acharya. This was before I started initiating people. They were asking me all over India to initiate them. But I was waiting for the right moment, and I have never allowed anybody to dictate anything to me. I simply live out of my own spontaneity. For years people had been telling me that they would like to be initiated into sannyas by me, and I said to them, "Wait. Let the moment come when I feel to. The day came. I was taking a meditation camp deep in the Himalayas, in Kulu-Manali -- it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is called the Valley of the Gods, it is so beautiful, so otherworldly. Once you enter Kulu-Manali you start feeling you are entering into another world. On the last day of the camp it came to me, "Now the moment has come," and I declared, "Whosoever wants to be initiated, I am ready." Twenty-one persons immediately stood up. They entered into sannyas. Now for them it became a question what to call me. Everybody else used to call me Acharya; now it was not enough for them. For them I had become far more important, far more significant, far more intimate. They had come very close to my being, and they decided that they would call me Bhagwan They asked me. I said, "That's perfectly good, because that's a very meaningful word for me: the blessed one." It does not mean God to me, it does not mean the creator, it simply means the blessed one -- one who is at home, has arrived; one who has found, one who has encountered himself. Then there is nothing else but blessings, and blessings go on raining over him. Day in, day out, the blessing goes on showering. So remember, Bhagwan has nothing to do with God. It has certainly something to do with godliness, because that is what arriving is: coming home. That is what makes you the Blessed One.
Osho: From Unconsciousness to Consciousness # 3

Today I am immeasurably happy finding myself again in the Himalayas. I wanted to die in the Himalayas just as Lao Tzu did. It is wonderful to be alive in the Himalayas, it is even more wonderful to die in the Himalayas. The snow, wherever it is, represents the purity of the Himalayas, the virginity.... Tomorrow never comes, so there is no need to worry. With me it is always today, and this very moment we are in that world of the Himalayas.
Osho: The Books I Have Loved

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

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