OETI Newsletter #5
November 2011
OSHO COMMUNES - from an Energetic & Psychological perspective
Part 1: OSHO’S THREE COMMUNES & COLLECTIVE CHAKRA ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
I have been working with the chakra energy system for around twenty fours years, and I am continuously learning
more. As an Osho disciple since 1980, I have been involved in all three of Osho’s communes, although I did not
experience the Bombay I phase in the early 1970’s and the foundation of the Pune Ashram, I did arrive in time to
experience the last year and a half there. During the 1980’s I was living in Osho Communes in England and in
Germany, with 4 annual visits to the main commune in Rajneeshpuram, Oregon where I was fortunate to stay for the
last five months. Having been present at the end phase of two of Osho’s communes, I jumped to be at the beginning of
the third commune. Osho returned to Pune on 4 January 1987, I arrived less than a fortnight later. I stayed as long as
I could, as long as I had a visa and some money to survive, I was in Pune soaking up as much of Osho’s energyfield as
I could.
When Osho left his body, a phase that some sannyasins call Pune III, I decided to stay and help the commune
continue. I was a full time commune worker and resident for several years, until I decided to visit on my own terms.
By this time I had been a sannyasin and full time commune worker for 13 years. In the following 8 years until the year
2001, on some of my annual visits to Pune - which lasted between 6 – 10 months a year – I was a paying visitor and
sometimes I was again a full time worker. From 2002 – 2009, my annual visits became shorter and as did my periods
as a full worker as an Osho Multiversity group leader. In 2009, after 29 years of sannyas, in response to a change
that I perceived in the energyfield of the commune, I decided not to return to Pune until I felt a stronger urge.
As an internationally travelling Osho Therapist, I have often been asked on my view point on Osho’s commune and
the future of Osho’s work in the world and in Pune specifically. As many of you know, the policies of Osho Communes
have always been controversial. At this time I do not want to go into who is right or wrong, or to get into supporting or
criticising any particular camp or side of an argument. I will attempt to explain my understanding of the energetic
background of the communes.
If we read, or listen to, Osho discourse on the Tantric Vision on the chakras, he lays out the chakra system of
masculine and feminine positive and negative energies. This teaching is foundational to my work in the seven chakra
transformation groups and the OSHO Energy Counselling Trainings.
The first, third and fifth chakras are masculine positive and feminine negative/receptive.
The second, fourth and sixth chakra are feminine positive and masculine negative/receptive.
These form circles of energetic pairs, the masculine first chakra pairs with the feminine second chakra. The masculine
third chakra pairs with the feminine fourth chakra. And the masculine fifth chakra pairs with the feminine sixth
chakra. And in the seventh chakra the masculine and feminine energies finally meet and merge together in a marriage
of the inner man and inner woman.
Thus we have three circles of chakra pairs, and as the masculine and feminine energies meet we have orgasms!
There are four energetic orgasms possible, the first is when the 1st and 2nd charkas meet, which is the physical and
emotional sexual energies meeting. This is what we usually understand by the word orgasm. But as the third and
fourth chakras meet, we have another more subtle orgasm, it is called ‘love’. Then when the fifth and sixth chakras
meet we have the third, and even more subtle orgasm, the joy of creativity. Then finally as the male and female
energies finally meet within the individual, and without the need for another body or person, we have the orgasm of
meditation, the bliss of silence, that which can blossom as the opening of the lotus, enlightenment. This fourth orgasm
is known in Tantra as Mahamudra.
So how does all that relate to Osho’s communes?
Firstly, it is important to understand that Osho was primarily not a teacher – although he did teach so well – he is a
master. Energy, the building and raising of an energyfield that we called the Buddhafield, was a vital part of Osho’s
work on his disciples. While Osho was alive in his physical body, it was the major aim of sannyasins to stay in the
Buddhafield, to absorb Osho’s enlightened energy. Although Osho did tell us clearly that it is intrinsically impossible
for him, or any Buddha to transmit enlightenment to anyone. Osho often did experiment in ways in which he could
share and transmit his energy to his disciples to be an incentive for them to grow in their own meditation and
consciousness.
In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s he offered Shaktipat (energy transmission) in the meditation camps he conducted.
This involved people jumping up and down like in the third stage of Dynamic, but with their eyes open and staring at
Osho who would be on a stage and sending his enlightened energy to the people.
In sannyas initiations from 1970 – 1981, Osho would touch the 3rd eye of the new disciple to awaken that chakra
energetically, as it functions as a doorway to the spiritual dimension. In the last couple of years of Pune I period, Osho
also gave Energy Darshans. In which invited sannyasins would receive energy transmitted directly from Osho by him
touching the 3rd chakra and sometimes other chakras. I am fortunate to have received Energy Darshan twice from
Osho. The experience is to have a glimpse of being enlightened. Such a blast of blissful energy, it is really
indescribable.
In Pune II years Osho abandoned direct transmissions of energy and slowed his speech. His verbal pauses became
longer and I could feel the same energy coming from him as in the Energy Darshans, but now on a daily basis.
Then in the last nine months before Osho left his body, he again transmitted his energy to us during the 10 minutes of
music and silence in the evening meetings of the Osho White Robe Brotherhood. Which has since been renamed just
as the ‘Evening Meeting.’
So energy was an integral part of Osho’s work on his people while he was in his body, and in the period immediately
after he left the body, whenever I sat in silent meditation in the Osho Samadhi in Lao Tzu House, I also experienced a
transmission of his energy. However while Osho was in the body I experience him through my 3rd eye, as a warm
intense pulsation, boom, boom, boom, wow, bliss! It was the fourth type of orgasm, folks! Osho was the greatest lover!
Thank you to all my beloved lady friends for the other lower type of orgasms, but the energy from the enlightened
master really is incomparable. No wonder Osho said that all sannyasins are female, even the Swami’s are Ma’s (male
disciple are female disciples.
After Osho left his body, I could experience his energy above the top of my head, at the 7th chakra. A much more
subtle and lighter experience which then descend into my heart, with love and a twinge of sadness that he has left us
too soon.
Now to explain how the chakra energies, Osho’s energy and the events of his three communes fit together.
Osho’s 1st Commune - Pune I 1974 – 1981:
Between 1970 – 1974 Osho was settled in a flat in Bombay. In response to an increase of Westerners coming to India
and feeling the pull to Osho, who was called Archaya and then Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the premises for an ashram
in Pune are obtained. The hippie era of openness about love and sex, and the ideals of a new age for humanity, that
revolutionized Western countries in the 1960’s helped inspired many young seekers to go to India. While the West
became disillusioned in the 1970’s, the Pune ashram was a hippie paradise.
In my understanding, Osho changed the way he worked with people in response to who came to him. In the 1960’s his
followers sat in silence with him. Then in 1970 Osho developed Dynamic Meditation. As the modern seeker could not
just sit silently! In terms of chakra energy, Osho’s active meditations work on the lower chakras, to release
repression and tension and then to positively energize them so that the meditator can then experience a few minutes
of deep inner silence.
The majority of seekers arriving in the Pune Ashram during this period; were in their twenties and thirties. I arrived in
early 1980 just before my 20th birthday; I was one of the youngest around except for the kids of other visitors. The
average of visitors would have been around 30 years old.
The small main area of the ashram was always crowded with several thousand people. In the high season the Buddha
Hall was cram packed; we were like 4,000 sitting sardines in one large can of red robes. In the daytime when entering
the ashram gates, the first impression was usually of couples and small groups of people embraced in a long intimate
hug. Around them would be scores of workers and visitors coming and going. The atmosphere was so relaxed and yet
so intense at the same time.
The reputation of the ashram as a place for free sex, and of Osho as ‘The Sex Guru’ did attract some people purely
looking for as much sex as possible. However the majority of people were genuine spiritual seekers who appreciated
Osho’s new vision of combining the spiritual and material worlds. Sex and love were one part of that new vision for the
new humanity. But given the time period and the general energy of the young seekers, it was clear that sex, love and
intimacy were the primary interest of many gathered there. The therapy groups at that time also encouraged people to
openly experiment with their sexuality as well as be freely expressive of their emotions. The most popular phrase I
remember being spoken in conversations was ‘follow your feelings.’
Although Osho did speak on Zen and Buddha during Pune I period, and he placed equal emphasise for disciples to
choose either the ‘Path of Meditation’ or the ‘Path of Love.’ The majority of us were clearly more impressed by
Osho’s discourses on Tantra and love.
Regarding how the ashram was run, there was a clear hierarchy. Non-sannyasin visitors were treated like aliens, but
once a person got involved in groups and took sannyas, they were then part of the energyfield. Workers got
preferential treatment, I was lucky to get a job in the workers canteen so I could be allowed in the worker-only area of
the ashram, as well getting free meals. Several of my fellow workers who got jobs in the visitors’ area of the ashram
were jealous of me.
Along with the love and intimacy another common emotion I experienced, especially in the therapy groups and during
the work life of the ashram, was of fear. Never mind that the place was supposed to where sex was easily available, I
was in a state of energetic shock for the first six months there. Besides which the women were stronger than the men.
In those days, and as long as Osho was in the body, it was the women who chased the men! And I ran away a lot! I was
also afraid of the group leaders and afraid of my boss. The ashram was based on surrender, you had to surrender your
ego to the group leader and to your work boss. Work in the ashram was considered to be more intense than
participation in any of the therapy groups. For Osho to work not only on individuals but on us as a collective group, he
chose to create a hierarchy and not to waste energy in a democratic system.
Intensity, totality, celebration, energy, sex, intimacy and yet also fear – that was Pune I.
It is clear to me that this period of Osho’s work was that of the collective growth of the 1st and 2nd chakra.
Osho’s 2nd Commune - Rajneeshpuram 1981 – 1985:
Towards the end of the Pune I period there was a power play between Osho’s main secretary Ma Yoga Laxmi and her
secretary Ma Anand Sheela. While Laxmi was looking for property for a new commune in North India, Sheela took
over her role in Pune. At the same time, Osho’s health worsened incredibly and Sheela managed to persuade Osho to
go to USA to regain his health. Sheela was a very powerful woman and able to make new things happen quickly.
Within a few months of being in USA, Sheela had bought a huge ranch in Oregon. And thus a new phase of Osho’s
work began.
A lot has been written, most of it negative, about the few years while Osho was in America. The common view it that it
was a disaster with Sheela being blamed for all that went wrong. Our minds tend to judge events and people into black
and white, good and evil categories.
For me, it was a great lesson in the 3rd and 4th chakra energies, power and love. The love of power as well as the
power of love.
As Osho attracted more and more people and Pune ashram was too small, Osho had wanted a large space for many
years, so he could expand his work and move onto the next phase. As the Indian government blocked all attempts at
relocating within India, Sheela manifested the 160 square kilometres of Rancho Rajneesh. Certainly it was not wise
choice of location, in semi-desert of ultra conservative Oregon. Sheela’s powerful but blunt manner, got us the space
we needed but in such a hostile environment. The Oregonians wanted us out as soon as we got there.
We were all dressed in red and with malas, still being very affectionate, and still mentioned in the press as a sex cult.
Many Americans saw Osho as the Antichrist, and we were instantly in a different atmosphere than in India. Although
violence was around us also in India, with an assassination attempt on Osho, and at least one sannyasin murdered by
an Indian. In Oregon we now had rifle carrying neighbours who sported stickers on their cars such as, “Better Dead
than Red” and by red they meant sannyasins!
In order to build a city for 5,000 sannyasins - although in one discourse Osho has given a vision of a city of 100,000 -
our energy had to shift rapidly into even harder work than we were used to in Pune.
And yet, we had our own city at last, we were building our dream. We were united by this great vision and it was a
source of great joy. In a way we were living the American Dream, hippies were replaced by cowboys and construction
workers.
At that that time visa restrictions meant I could not just go to USA permanently, so I had to choose between becoming
a member of the newly founded commune in England or find my own way to make money and go to USA as a tourist. I
chose to be part of the commune. The same commune rules applied whether the commune was in Oregon, England,
Germany or Japan. As the commune in Oregon was founded, so too were smaller communes of 50 – 500 people
founded in cities around the world. We were all united in living the same lifestyle. Work was our meditation called our
worship. Yes, we were a sect and I loved it. To hell with the rest of the world, we were the dawning of the new man in a
new age. We worked 10 hours a day and then we watched a 2 hour video discourse of Osho. Later the work increased
to 12 hours a day plus the video.
The communes were run by women coordinators. Some of whom were genuinely caring and loving “Mamas” as they
were nicknamed. They cared for their workers, asking each, “how does your heart feel today?” Sometimes they would
transfer an unhappy worker into a new job more suiting to the individual. Others were power hungry control freaks,
who did not show much care or concern for others and were getting high on being a boss. They enjoyed punishing bad
workers with transfers to worse jobs, such as toilet cleaning.
During this time I actually fared very well. When the ranch collapsed and Sheela and her Mamas’ power games came
to light, I did not feel hurt. Because I trusted Osho and I trusted in my trust. When the atmosphere got heavy, when
the work load became more and we were pressured with more rules. I turned more to trust Osho, his video discourses
were my lifeline. In midst of all this, my trust manifested a miracle.
I had been waiting patiently for several years to be sent to Oregon. As an old Pune I worker I was due to given a 3
month period in Rajneeshpuram, but time and again, I was over looked and younger sannyasins were sent instead of
me. Finally in 1985, I was told my time had come, and my 3 months would start after the July Festival. However I was
not to join the construction crew there as I expected, I was to be sent to be trained as a therapist! Shock and horror,
“but I hate groups” I replied to my commune Mama. But within a minute I realized it was my ticket to be with Osho
for 3 months.
What a change in fortune, as far as I know I was the only person ever sent for free, who was not already a therapist.
Another English friend was also sent, but his wealthy father had to pay for him! How and why I was chosen is a
mystery, but I reckon it was because someone thought I was especially spiritual. As in my commune in Hanover I
stayed sitting upright throughout the Osho video discourse every day, while all around me my German friends caught
up on much needed sleep.
The commune period in the mid 1980’s was absolute communism. We lived and worked together, in return we
received food, a place to sleep, clothes, a beer and cigarettes. On the ranch there was a free bus system, money was
rarely needed. All decisions were made by the clique of Mamas. Power was in Sheela’s hands, because we trusted her.
Osho was in period of silence for over 3 years. After leaving Pune he stopped speaking publically. But as his
secretary Sheela talked to him privately every day, we believed and trusted that whatever she said and did was with
Osho’s approval. Even when it was obviously foolish, like the time when homeless people where bussed into the
Ranch in an attempt to rig the local elections.
The political situation was a constant pressure, we wanted that the government would grant Osho a permanent visa as
a religious leader. We wanted that we be allowed to build our city. But the American politicians were doing whatever
they could to block us. Sheela, supported by Osho, fought back. She was not diplomatic at all, and had a straight
forward brash loud mouth. Certainly she was a powerful person with a great charisma, and as she was meeting Osho
every day, she had his energy around her. Many of us thought she might be enlightened herself. But we mistook the
bright light of the ego for the true light of consciousness.
When Osho saw that Sheela and her gang of Mamas were going in a wrong direction, he decided to start speaking
publicly again. That instantly reduced Sheela’s basis of power. It seems that Osho chose to try to raise everyone’s
consciousness rather than giving new directives himself; which anyway Sheela could have ignored. Later it emerged
that she planned to permanently silence Osho by poisoning his milk, and attempts were made on local politicians’ lives
and on Osho’s doctor.
When Sheela voluntarily left Rajneeshpuram, the US government took the opportunity to arrest and jail Osho, then
deport him for crimes he did not commit. They just wanted him out the country! Remember this was the era of
President Reagan, a fundamentalist Christian.
As our dream city was destroyed by internal and external political games, it is easily forgotten, what a paradise it was.
We had transformed a barren semi desert with a new lake, organic farming, recycling… it was an ecological city
decades ahead of its time. And the tremendous love shared amongst thousands of friends, plus the amazing daily
devotion of the disciples to their master, waiting for hours to get a glimpse of him drive by in his car. The title of a
video of Rajneeshpuram at that time summarized the positive experience we had there - it was truly, “The Way of the
Heart.”
So the time of Osho in USA and the sannyasin communes around the globe; are clearly experiences of the 3rd and 4th
chakras. In fact the 3rd chakra group, “The Transforming Power group” which was created later in Pune II was based
on our experiences in USA.
So far we have 1974 – 1981 as the 1st and 2nd chakra period, in which the collective atmosphere could help
sannyasins develop those chakras consciously, by living through those lower chakra life lessons with totality. Also the
general collective atmosphere of India is also very conducive to the 2nd chakra. Just as USA is very much a 3rd
chakra country, where expression of oneself is encouraged, competition and politics are a major part of daily life.
Whether it was Osho’s conscious choice, or by the design of Existence, USA was the perfect place for that stage of
Osho’s work on his people – to clear out the darkness of the 3rd chakra power games and to energize the trust of the
4th chakra.
As I see it, those people who left Osho, dropped sannyas or clearly spoke out against Osho, did not understand the
way Osho works energetically. And probably they are not ready to transform their will-to-power. I recently saw a
video of Sheela and can see that she is still stuck in her 3rd chakra even though she still also retains some of Osho’s
grace as well. Those who had worked through their power games or developed trust in their hearts, were ready for the
next stage in Osho’s work.
Osho’s 3rd Commune – Pune II 1987 – 2001
The Pune I period clearly lasted for 7 years and coincided with Osho’s age of 42 – 49, the Pune II period began when
Osho was 55, less than a year before his 8th cycle of 7 years would begin. However Osho left his body prematurely at
the age of 58, due to poisoning during being jailed in USA, otherwise he expected to be alive until the age of 70 and to
guide his people into the new century.
After Osho left in 1990, there were few changes to the commune, and things we pretty much kept as they were in the
last year of Osho’s life in the body. After the turn of the millennium, the ‘Inner Circle’ management team, started to
make more radical changes. Although most sannyasins would agree that if Osho was alive things would have changed
already, the changes that were made in 2000 – 2002, greatly polarized the sannyas community. So I am dating the
Pune II period until 2001, when Osho would have been 70 and the new auditorium was opened.
According to my chakra theory, this period of Osho’s work will have been the meeting of the 5th and 6th chakras. So
let me check that with what was happening in the commune at that time.
Coincidentally for me this period was also in accordance with a cycle of 7 years, in retrospect I saw the first seven
years of my sannyas life as that of developing trust in the spiritual master. And now sannyas was to take on a new
phase, that of meditation. Certainly Osho had always been speaking on meditation, but formal meditation had been
replaced with work in the commune. As Osho once said about the Rajneeshpuram period, it was a basically a
Gurdjieffan experiement. Now after his world tour after leaving Oregon, and being refused residency in 21 countries,
Osho returned to the same site of the Pune I ashram.
My major impression of the first months in this new period, is that of sitting with Osho twice a day for up to six hours.
This was total absorption into his energyfield in a more intimate way than was possible in Rajneeshpuram. Because,
the space in Pune was so much smaller and also because there were just a few hundred people not tens of thousands.
Meditation was now the priority, work was just an excuse to remain in the commune grounds and thus in Osho’s
energyfield for the rest of the day. However, after a few months as more people returned and organisation inevitable
was needed, the atmosphere gradually changed. Although we were in the same location as 6 years previously, it was a
huge energetic difference. Now peace rather than passion was in the air. The hugs less long but more heartful.
As the 5th chakra has the themes of communication – well, Osho was talking at least twice to four times as much as he
had before. As for the 5th chakra theme of creativity, Pune I was also had a lot of creativity in it, but in Pune II, the
Creative Arts department quickly became one the major Multiversity departments. Theatrical, painting and dance
performances were frequent.
The 5th and 6th chakras are also connected to learning, and I saw that expressed in the large range of Multiversity
groups which were developed. Now not just psychotherapy groups, there were groups on as many different subjects as
people were interested in. For several years I worked in the Multiversity administration to squeeze in as many groups
as possible into as many group rooms we could find in the commune. The Mystery School groups also became very
popular, and broadly speaking they can be classified a helping to develop the 6th chakra.
As for how the commune was run, well it gradually shifted during this period from an open atmosphere of friends doing
what was practical needed together towards a new moralistic enforcement. There were ‘guidelines’ from Osho that
then disappeared into ‘He said you must do this/that….’ Morality, a 5th chakra theme, was used more than the
dictatorial style of the American 3rd chakra period.
It is also interesting to note the shift from female to male leadership, which happened in the months just before Osho
left. He stated that two of his communes were destroyed due to women’s jealousies, and that this 3rd commune was to
be his last. As part of making women aware of their unconsciousness, men were chosen as his caretakers and
secretary. During this phase Osho left the body. Personally I feel, it would not be Osho’s permanent decision to leave
men in charge, and this has been a major factor in the controversies especially after the major changes in the
commune since 2001.
I do see that the Pune II period does correspond to my theory of the three pairs of chakra energies.
After 2001 – Pune III
At first I believed that Osho must have left instructions for the ‘Inner Circle’ of commune managers to only make
major changes after the new millennium. After a while I realized they had decided on their own. After the huge festival
in 2000, what was the future of Osho’s work going to be, how much longer could we continue as we were? Changes
were inevitable sooner or later. But the changes that were made and how they were made and by whom, reveals that
we had entered another phase in the life of Osho’s work.
According to my chakra theory this fourth stage of Osho’s work should be of the union of male and female energies at
the seventh chakra and the fourth orgasm of collective enlightenment! Instead we got a division between the male and
female forces in the commune and an energetic divorce! With the central argument about devotional versus ‘Zen’
ways of interpreting Osho vision. As several key people left Pune to open centres in Northern India, this soon
became a bigger split then that which occurred in 1991 when several other key managers left.
Extra to my observation of collective chakra energies, my study of astrology (Pluto transiting Osho’s natal Sun) plus
numerology (2000 = 2 = duality) plus Aura-Soma Colour System (the Archangels bottles from 100 on) plus my
observation of what was happening collectively around the human world, all help me understand and accept what was
happening in Osho’s world.
We could not stay in the 7th chakra state of unity, as we were not ready. But as energy always must move and flow,
and it could not go up further, it had to come down! Thus the male and female energies split again, and the divorce
continues to this day. On the positive side, new seekers coming into Osho’s world have a greater choice than ever of
where in the world they can experience Osho and how. For the old sannyasins the challenge is to integrate the
experiences they had of life in Osho’s communes into wherever they are now. Also understanding what has happened
in Osho’s communes and to embrace each other sannyasin as a fellow seeker, even if they have a different vision of
Osho’s vision than their own.
As I understand it, Osho gave us tremendous gifts, including the gift of a dogmatic free, rule free, moral free,
organisational free, multi-dimensional, multi-choice way of approaching spiritual growth. What remains is a planet-
wide loose community of fellow seekers and lovers of his meditations and discourses, that is still called
Osho Neo-Sannyas.
The future of Osho Sannyas is in the hands of all who are his sannyasins.
With Love to All
Sarovara
16 Nov 2011
November 2011
OSHO COMMUNES - from an Energetic & Psychological perspective
Part 1: OSHO’S THREE COMMUNES & COLLECTIVE CHAKRA ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
I have been working with the chakra energy system for around twenty fours years, and I am continuously learning
more. As an Osho disciple since 1980, I have been involved in all three of Osho’s communes, although I did not
experience the Bombay I phase in the early 1970’s and the foundation of the Pune Ashram, I did arrive in time to
experience the last year and a half there. During the 1980’s I was living in Osho Communes in England and in
Germany, with 4 annual visits to the main commune in Rajneeshpuram, Oregon where I was fortunate to stay for the
last five months. Having been present at the end phase of two of Osho’s communes, I jumped to be at the beginning of
the third commune. Osho returned to Pune on 4 January 1987, I arrived less than a fortnight later. I stayed as long as
I could, as long as I had a visa and some money to survive, I was in Pune soaking up as much of Osho’s energyfield as
I could.
When Osho left his body, a phase that some sannyasins call Pune III, I decided to stay and help the commune
continue. I was a full time commune worker and resident for several years, until I decided to visit on my own terms.
By this time I had been a sannyasin and full time commune worker for 13 years. In the following 8 years until the year
2001, on some of my annual visits to Pune - which lasted between 6 – 10 months a year – I was a paying visitor and
sometimes I was again a full time worker. From 2002 – 2009, my annual visits became shorter and as did my periods
as a full worker as an Osho Multiversity group leader. In 2009, after 29 years of sannyas, in response to a change
that I perceived in the energyfield of the commune, I decided not to return to Pune until I felt a stronger urge.
As an internationally travelling Osho Therapist, I have often been asked on my view point on Osho’s commune and
the future of Osho’s work in the world and in Pune specifically. As many of you know, the policies of Osho Communes
have always been controversial. At this time I do not want to go into who is right or wrong, or to get into supporting or
criticising any particular camp or side of an argument. I will attempt to explain my understanding of the energetic
background of the communes.
If we read, or listen to, Osho discourse on the Tantric Vision on the chakras, he lays out the chakra system of
masculine and feminine positive and negative energies. This teaching is foundational to my work in the seven chakra
transformation groups and the OSHO Energy Counselling Trainings.
The first, third and fifth chakras are masculine positive and feminine negative/receptive.
The second, fourth and sixth chakra are feminine positive and masculine negative/receptive.
These form circles of energetic pairs, the masculine first chakra pairs with the feminine second chakra. The masculine
third chakra pairs with the feminine fourth chakra. And the masculine fifth chakra pairs with the feminine sixth
chakra. And in the seventh chakra the masculine and feminine energies finally meet and merge together in a marriage
of the inner man and inner woman.
Thus we have three circles of chakra pairs, and as the masculine and feminine energies meet we have orgasms!
There are four energetic orgasms possible, the first is when the 1st and 2nd charkas meet, which is the physical and
emotional sexual energies meeting. This is what we usually understand by the word orgasm. But as the third and
fourth chakras meet, we have another more subtle orgasm, it is called ‘love’. Then when the fifth and sixth chakras
meet we have the third, and even more subtle orgasm, the joy of creativity. Then finally as the male and female
energies finally meet within the individual, and without the need for another body or person, we have the orgasm of
meditation, the bliss of silence, that which can blossom as the opening of the lotus, enlightenment. This fourth orgasm
is known in Tantra as Mahamudra.
So how does all that relate to Osho’s communes?
Firstly, it is important to understand that Osho was primarily not a teacher – although he did teach so well – he is a
master. Energy, the building and raising of an energyfield that we called the Buddhafield, was a vital part of Osho’s
work on his disciples. While Osho was alive in his physical body, it was the major aim of sannyasins to stay in the
Buddhafield, to absorb Osho’s enlightened energy. Although Osho did tell us clearly that it is intrinsically impossible
for him, or any Buddha to transmit enlightenment to anyone. Osho often did experiment in ways in which he could
share and transmit his energy to his disciples to be an incentive for them to grow in their own meditation and
consciousness.
In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s he offered Shaktipat (energy transmission) in the meditation camps he conducted.
This involved people jumping up and down like in the third stage of Dynamic, but with their eyes open and staring at
Osho who would be on a stage and sending his enlightened energy to the people.
In sannyas initiations from 1970 – 1981, Osho would touch the 3rd eye of the new disciple to awaken that chakra
energetically, as it functions as a doorway to the spiritual dimension. In the last couple of years of Pune I period, Osho
also gave Energy Darshans. In which invited sannyasins would receive energy transmitted directly from Osho by him
touching the 3rd chakra and sometimes other chakras. I am fortunate to have received Energy Darshan twice from
Osho. The experience is to have a glimpse of being enlightened. Such a blast of blissful energy, it is really
indescribable.
In Pune II years Osho abandoned direct transmissions of energy and slowed his speech. His verbal pauses became
longer and I could feel the same energy coming from him as in the Energy Darshans, but now on a daily basis.
Then in the last nine months before Osho left his body, he again transmitted his energy to us during the 10 minutes of
music and silence in the evening meetings of the Osho White Robe Brotherhood. Which has since been renamed just
as the ‘Evening Meeting.’
So energy was an integral part of Osho’s work on his people while he was in his body, and in the period immediately
after he left the body, whenever I sat in silent meditation in the Osho Samadhi in Lao Tzu House, I also experienced a
transmission of his energy. However while Osho was in the body I experience him through my 3rd eye, as a warm
intense pulsation, boom, boom, boom, wow, bliss! It was the fourth type of orgasm, folks! Osho was the greatest lover!
Thank you to all my beloved lady friends for the other lower type of orgasms, but the energy from the enlightened
master really is incomparable. No wonder Osho said that all sannyasins are female, even the Swami’s are Ma’s (male
disciple are female disciples.
After Osho left his body, I could experience his energy above the top of my head, at the 7th chakra. A much more
subtle and lighter experience which then descend into my heart, with love and a twinge of sadness that he has left us
too soon.
Now to explain how the chakra energies, Osho’s energy and the events of his three communes fit together.
Osho’s 1st Commune - Pune I 1974 – 1981:
Between 1970 – 1974 Osho was settled in a flat in Bombay. In response to an increase of Westerners coming to India
and feeling the pull to Osho, who was called Archaya and then Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the premises for an ashram
in Pune are obtained. The hippie era of openness about love and sex, and the ideals of a new age for humanity, that
revolutionized Western countries in the 1960’s helped inspired many young seekers to go to India. While the West
became disillusioned in the 1970’s, the Pune ashram was a hippie paradise.
In my understanding, Osho changed the way he worked with people in response to who came to him. In the 1960’s his
followers sat in silence with him. Then in 1970 Osho developed Dynamic Meditation. As the modern seeker could not
just sit silently! In terms of chakra energy, Osho’s active meditations work on the lower chakras, to release
repression and tension and then to positively energize them so that the meditator can then experience a few minutes
of deep inner silence.
The majority of seekers arriving in the Pune Ashram during this period; were in their twenties and thirties. I arrived in
early 1980 just before my 20th birthday; I was one of the youngest around except for the kids of other visitors. The
average of visitors would have been around 30 years old.
The small main area of the ashram was always crowded with several thousand people. In the high season the Buddha
Hall was cram packed; we were like 4,000 sitting sardines in one large can of red robes. In the daytime when entering
the ashram gates, the first impression was usually of couples and small groups of people embraced in a long intimate
hug. Around them would be scores of workers and visitors coming and going. The atmosphere was so relaxed and yet
so intense at the same time.
The reputation of the ashram as a place for free sex, and of Osho as ‘The Sex Guru’ did attract some people purely
looking for as much sex as possible. However the majority of people were genuine spiritual seekers who appreciated
Osho’s new vision of combining the spiritual and material worlds. Sex and love were one part of that new vision for the
new humanity. But given the time period and the general energy of the young seekers, it was clear that sex, love and
intimacy were the primary interest of many gathered there. The therapy groups at that time also encouraged people to
openly experiment with their sexuality as well as be freely expressive of their emotions. The most popular phrase I
remember being spoken in conversations was ‘follow your feelings.’
Although Osho did speak on Zen and Buddha during Pune I period, and he placed equal emphasise for disciples to
choose either the ‘Path of Meditation’ or the ‘Path of Love.’ The majority of us were clearly more impressed by
Osho’s discourses on Tantra and love.
Regarding how the ashram was run, there was a clear hierarchy. Non-sannyasin visitors were treated like aliens, but
once a person got involved in groups and took sannyas, they were then part of the energyfield. Workers got
preferential treatment, I was lucky to get a job in the workers canteen so I could be allowed in the worker-only area of
the ashram, as well getting free meals. Several of my fellow workers who got jobs in the visitors’ area of the ashram
were jealous of me.
Along with the love and intimacy another common emotion I experienced, especially in the therapy groups and during
the work life of the ashram, was of fear. Never mind that the place was supposed to where sex was easily available, I
was in a state of energetic shock for the first six months there. Besides which the women were stronger than the men.
In those days, and as long as Osho was in the body, it was the women who chased the men! And I ran away a lot! I was
also afraid of the group leaders and afraid of my boss. The ashram was based on surrender, you had to surrender your
ego to the group leader and to your work boss. Work in the ashram was considered to be more intense than
participation in any of the therapy groups. For Osho to work not only on individuals but on us as a collective group, he
chose to create a hierarchy and not to waste energy in a democratic system.
Intensity, totality, celebration, energy, sex, intimacy and yet also fear – that was Pune I.
It is clear to me that this period of Osho’s work was that of the collective growth of the 1st and 2nd chakra.
Osho’s 2nd Commune - Rajneeshpuram 1981 – 1985:
Towards the end of the Pune I period there was a power play between Osho’s main secretary Ma Yoga Laxmi and her
secretary Ma Anand Sheela. While Laxmi was looking for property for a new commune in North India, Sheela took
over her role in Pune. At the same time, Osho’s health worsened incredibly and Sheela managed to persuade Osho to
go to USA to regain his health. Sheela was a very powerful woman and able to make new things happen quickly.
Within a few months of being in USA, Sheela had bought a huge ranch in Oregon. And thus a new phase of Osho’s
work began.
A lot has been written, most of it negative, about the few years while Osho was in America. The common view it that it
was a disaster with Sheela being blamed for all that went wrong. Our minds tend to judge events and people into black
and white, good and evil categories.
For me, it was a great lesson in the 3rd and 4th chakra energies, power and love. The love of power as well as the
power of love.
As Osho attracted more and more people and Pune ashram was too small, Osho had wanted a large space for many
years, so he could expand his work and move onto the next phase. As the Indian government blocked all attempts at
relocating within India, Sheela manifested the 160 square kilometres of Rancho Rajneesh. Certainly it was not wise
choice of location, in semi-desert of ultra conservative Oregon. Sheela’s powerful but blunt manner, got us the space
we needed but in such a hostile environment. The Oregonians wanted us out as soon as we got there.
We were all dressed in red and with malas, still being very affectionate, and still mentioned in the press as a sex cult.
Many Americans saw Osho as the Antichrist, and we were instantly in a different atmosphere than in India. Although
violence was around us also in India, with an assassination attempt on Osho, and at least one sannyasin murdered by
an Indian. In Oregon we now had rifle carrying neighbours who sported stickers on their cars such as, “Better Dead
than Red” and by red they meant sannyasins!
In order to build a city for 5,000 sannyasins - although in one discourse Osho has given a vision of a city of 100,000 -
our energy had to shift rapidly into even harder work than we were used to in Pune.
And yet, we had our own city at last, we were building our dream. We were united by this great vision and it was a
source of great joy. In a way we were living the American Dream, hippies were replaced by cowboys and construction
workers.
At that that time visa restrictions meant I could not just go to USA permanently, so I had to choose between becoming
a member of the newly founded commune in England or find my own way to make money and go to USA as a tourist. I
chose to be part of the commune. The same commune rules applied whether the commune was in Oregon, England,
Germany or Japan. As the commune in Oregon was founded, so too were smaller communes of 50 – 500 people
founded in cities around the world. We were all united in living the same lifestyle. Work was our meditation called our
worship. Yes, we were a sect and I loved it. To hell with the rest of the world, we were the dawning of the new man in a
new age. We worked 10 hours a day and then we watched a 2 hour video discourse of Osho. Later the work increased
to 12 hours a day plus the video.
The communes were run by women coordinators. Some of whom were genuinely caring and loving “Mamas” as they
were nicknamed. They cared for their workers, asking each, “how does your heart feel today?” Sometimes they would
transfer an unhappy worker into a new job more suiting to the individual. Others were power hungry control freaks,
who did not show much care or concern for others and were getting high on being a boss. They enjoyed punishing bad
workers with transfers to worse jobs, such as toilet cleaning.
During this time I actually fared very well. When the ranch collapsed and Sheela and her Mamas’ power games came
to light, I did not feel hurt. Because I trusted Osho and I trusted in my trust. When the atmosphere got heavy, when
the work load became more and we were pressured with more rules. I turned more to trust Osho, his video discourses
were my lifeline. In midst of all this, my trust manifested a miracle.
I had been waiting patiently for several years to be sent to Oregon. As an old Pune I worker I was due to given a 3
month period in Rajneeshpuram, but time and again, I was over looked and younger sannyasins were sent instead of
me. Finally in 1985, I was told my time had come, and my 3 months would start after the July Festival. However I was
not to join the construction crew there as I expected, I was to be sent to be trained as a therapist! Shock and horror,
“but I hate groups” I replied to my commune Mama. But within a minute I realized it was my ticket to be with Osho
for 3 months.
What a change in fortune, as far as I know I was the only person ever sent for free, who was not already a therapist.
Another English friend was also sent, but his wealthy father had to pay for him! How and why I was chosen is a
mystery, but I reckon it was because someone thought I was especially spiritual. As in my commune in Hanover I
stayed sitting upright throughout the Osho video discourse every day, while all around me my German friends caught
up on much needed sleep.
The commune period in the mid 1980’s was absolute communism. We lived and worked together, in return we
received food, a place to sleep, clothes, a beer and cigarettes. On the ranch there was a free bus system, money was
rarely needed. All decisions were made by the clique of Mamas. Power was in Sheela’s hands, because we trusted her.
Osho was in period of silence for over 3 years. After leaving Pune he stopped speaking publically. But as his
secretary Sheela talked to him privately every day, we believed and trusted that whatever she said and did was with
Osho’s approval. Even when it was obviously foolish, like the time when homeless people where bussed into the
Ranch in an attempt to rig the local elections.
The political situation was a constant pressure, we wanted that the government would grant Osho a permanent visa as
a religious leader. We wanted that we be allowed to build our city. But the American politicians were doing whatever
they could to block us. Sheela, supported by Osho, fought back. She was not diplomatic at all, and had a straight
forward brash loud mouth. Certainly she was a powerful person with a great charisma, and as she was meeting Osho
every day, she had his energy around her. Many of us thought she might be enlightened herself. But we mistook the
bright light of the ego for the true light of consciousness.
When Osho saw that Sheela and her gang of Mamas were going in a wrong direction, he decided to start speaking
publicly again. That instantly reduced Sheela’s basis of power. It seems that Osho chose to try to raise everyone’s
consciousness rather than giving new directives himself; which anyway Sheela could have ignored. Later it emerged
that she planned to permanently silence Osho by poisoning his milk, and attempts were made on local politicians’ lives
and on Osho’s doctor.
When Sheela voluntarily left Rajneeshpuram, the US government took the opportunity to arrest and jail Osho, then
deport him for crimes he did not commit. They just wanted him out the country! Remember this was the era of
President Reagan, a fundamentalist Christian.
As our dream city was destroyed by internal and external political games, it is easily forgotten, what a paradise it was.
We had transformed a barren semi desert with a new lake, organic farming, recycling… it was an ecological city
decades ahead of its time. And the tremendous love shared amongst thousands of friends, plus the amazing daily
devotion of the disciples to their master, waiting for hours to get a glimpse of him drive by in his car. The title of a
video of Rajneeshpuram at that time summarized the positive experience we had there - it was truly, “The Way of the
Heart.”
So the time of Osho in USA and the sannyasin communes around the globe; are clearly experiences of the 3rd and 4th
chakras. In fact the 3rd chakra group, “The Transforming Power group” which was created later in Pune II was based
on our experiences in USA.
So far we have 1974 – 1981 as the 1st and 2nd chakra period, in which the collective atmosphere could help
sannyasins develop those chakras consciously, by living through those lower chakra life lessons with totality. Also the
general collective atmosphere of India is also very conducive to the 2nd chakra. Just as USA is very much a 3rd
chakra country, where expression of oneself is encouraged, competition and politics are a major part of daily life.
Whether it was Osho’s conscious choice, or by the design of Existence, USA was the perfect place for that stage of
Osho’s work on his people – to clear out the darkness of the 3rd chakra power games and to energize the trust of the
4th chakra.
As I see it, those people who left Osho, dropped sannyas or clearly spoke out against Osho, did not understand the
way Osho works energetically. And probably they are not ready to transform their will-to-power. I recently saw a
video of Sheela and can see that she is still stuck in her 3rd chakra even though she still also retains some of Osho’s
grace as well. Those who had worked through their power games or developed trust in their hearts, were ready for the
next stage in Osho’s work.
Osho’s 3rd Commune – Pune II 1987 – 2001
The Pune I period clearly lasted for 7 years and coincided with Osho’s age of 42 – 49, the Pune II period began when
Osho was 55, less than a year before his 8th cycle of 7 years would begin. However Osho left his body prematurely at
the age of 58, due to poisoning during being jailed in USA, otherwise he expected to be alive until the age of 70 and to
guide his people into the new century.
After Osho left in 1990, there were few changes to the commune, and things we pretty much kept as they were in the
last year of Osho’s life in the body. After the turn of the millennium, the ‘Inner Circle’ management team, started to
make more radical changes. Although most sannyasins would agree that if Osho was alive things would have changed
already, the changes that were made in 2000 – 2002, greatly polarized the sannyas community. So I am dating the
Pune II period until 2001, when Osho would have been 70 and the new auditorium was opened.
According to my chakra theory, this period of Osho’s work will have been the meeting of the 5th and 6th chakras. So
let me check that with what was happening in the commune at that time.
Coincidentally for me this period was also in accordance with a cycle of 7 years, in retrospect I saw the first seven
years of my sannyas life as that of developing trust in the spiritual master. And now sannyas was to take on a new
phase, that of meditation. Certainly Osho had always been speaking on meditation, but formal meditation had been
replaced with work in the commune. As Osho once said about the Rajneeshpuram period, it was a basically a
Gurdjieffan experiement. Now after his world tour after leaving Oregon, and being refused residency in 21 countries,
Osho returned to the same site of the Pune I ashram.
My major impression of the first months in this new period, is that of sitting with Osho twice a day for up to six hours.
This was total absorption into his energyfield in a more intimate way than was possible in Rajneeshpuram. Because,
the space in Pune was so much smaller and also because there were just a few hundred people not tens of thousands.
Meditation was now the priority, work was just an excuse to remain in the commune grounds and thus in Osho’s
energyfield for the rest of the day. However, after a few months as more people returned and organisation inevitable
was needed, the atmosphere gradually changed. Although we were in the same location as 6 years previously, it was a
huge energetic difference. Now peace rather than passion was in the air. The hugs less long but more heartful.
As the 5th chakra has the themes of communication – well, Osho was talking at least twice to four times as much as he
had before. As for the 5th chakra theme of creativity, Pune I was also had a lot of creativity in it, but in Pune II, the
Creative Arts department quickly became one the major Multiversity departments. Theatrical, painting and dance
performances were frequent.
The 5th and 6th chakras are also connected to learning, and I saw that expressed in the large range of Multiversity
groups which were developed. Now not just psychotherapy groups, there were groups on as many different subjects as
people were interested in. For several years I worked in the Multiversity administration to squeeze in as many groups
as possible into as many group rooms we could find in the commune. The Mystery School groups also became very
popular, and broadly speaking they can be classified a helping to develop the 6th chakra.
As for how the commune was run, well it gradually shifted during this period from an open atmosphere of friends doing
what was practical needed together towards a new moralistic enforcement. There were ‘guidelines’ from Osho that
then disappeared into ‘He said you must do this/that….’ Morality, a 5th chakra theme, was used more than the
dictatorial style of the American 3rd chakra period.
It is also interesting to note the shift from female to male leadership, which happened in the months just before Osho
left. He stated that two of his communes were destroyed due to women’s jealousies, and that this 3rd commune was to
be his last. As part of making women aware of their unconsciousness, men were chosen as his caretakers and
secretary. During this phase Osho left the body. Personally I feel, it would not be Osho’s permanent decision to leave
men in charge, and this has been a major factor in the controversies especially after the major changes in the
commune since 2001.
I do see that the Pune II period does correspond to my theory of the three pairs of chakra energies.
After 2001 – Pune III
At first I believed that Osho must have left instructions for the ‘Inner Circle’ of commune managers to only make
major changes after the new millennium. After a while I realized they had decided on their own. After the huge festival
in 2000, what was the future of Osho’s work going to be, how much longer could we continue as we were? Changes
were inevitable sooner or later. But the changes that were made and how they were made and by whom, reveals that
we had entered another phase in the life of Osho’s work.
According to my chakra theory this fourth stage of Osho’s work should be of the union of male and female energies at
the seventh chakra and the fourth orgasm of collective enlightenment! Instead we got a division between the male and
female forces in the commune and an energetic divorce! With the central argument about devotional versus ‘Zen’
ways of interpreting Osho vision. As several key people left Pune to open centres in Northern India, this soon
became a bigger split then that which occurred in 1991 when several other key managers left.
Extra to my observation of collective chakra energies, my study of astrology (Pluto transiting Osho’s natal Sun) plus
numerology (2000 = 2 = duality) plus Aura-Soma Colour System (the Archangels bottles from 100 on) plus my
observation of what was happening collectively around the human world, all help me understand and accept what was
happening in Osho’s world.
We could not stay in the 7th chakra state of unity, as we were not ready. But as energy always must move and flow,
and it could not go up further, it had to come down! Thus the male and female energies split again, and the divorce
continues to this day. On the positive side, new seekers coming into Osho’s world have a greater choice than ever of
where in the world they can experience Osho and how. For the old sannyasins the challenge is to integrate the
experiences they had of life in Osho’s communes into wherever they are now. Also understanding what has happened
in Osho’s communes and to embrace each other sannyasin as a fellow seeker, even if they have a different vision of
Osho’s vision than their own.
As I understand it, Osho gave us tremendous gifts, including the gift of a dogmatic free, rule free, moral free,
organisational free, multi-dimensional, multi-choice way of approaching spiritual growth. What remains is a planet-
wide loose community of fellow seekers and lovers of his meditations and discourses, that is still called
Osho Neo-Sannyas.
The future of Osho Sannyas is in the hands of all who are his sannyasins.
With Love to All
Sarovara
16 Nov 2011
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Newsletter #1
Nov 2009
On New Age
ideas
Nov 2009
On New Age
ideas
Newsletter #2
May 2010
On
Numerology
& Astrology
May 2010
On
Numerology
& Astrology
Newsletter #3
Dec 2010
On Family
Constellations
Dec 2010
On Family
Constellations
Newsletter #4
July 2011:
On WWF
July 2011:
On WWF
Part 2: OSHO COMMUNES’ LEADERSHIP STYLE ACCORDING TO APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
In a book on Organisational/Occupational Psychology published by the UK's Open University I recently came across this
sentence:
“Docility fostered by suave leadership. A suave leader who makes it difficult to question consensus can manipulate
the agenda.”
This was in a section on the disadvantages of closed groups and on ‘groupthink’ where consensus in a group discourages
creative thinking.
This seems to be what happened with the Inner Circle in Pune Commune post-1990. When Osho chose the 21 members, he
chose people of differing opinions and asked them to make decisions based on consensus. In my view, the only way 21 strong
willed individuals could come to a consensus would be to transcend their egos! When after a year of disagreements the
‘Hollywood gang’ left the Inner Circle, they were replaced by “yes men.”
Thus dissent was reduced and decision making was easier, but creative thinking was reduced. The chairman of the Inner
Circle is well known to be a charismatic and suave character. The basis of his position is that he was chosen by Osho, and
implied by his main supporter/vice-chairman, to be the one to whom Osho said “I leave you my dream.” In his soft spoken
manner he could quote Osho’s words spoken to him in private, which could seduce voices of dissent.
Janis, a psychologist who studied President Kennedy’s failed Bay of Pigs invasion, found the symptoms of ‘groupthink’ to be
“Illusions of invulnerability; Illusion of unanimity; Excessive optimism; Suppression of personal doubts; Self-appointed
mindguard; Docility fostered by suave leadership.”
Looking back to all three of Osho’s communes: Pune 1, Oregon & Pune 2; I see all these symptoms. Over multiple discourses
Osho set out his vision to create a new humanity with society based on communes with a rotating leadership chosen by
meritocracy.
Although we have experimented with the commune, with mixed results, we still have a long way to go to fulfil his vision. And I
don’t see any progress towards it. What would be the first step?
Here are some ideas for the current leadership in Pune do the following: (i) meditate (ii) review the results of their 21 years of
leadership (iii) meditate more (iv) hire an independent organisational psychologist to review their leadership and decision
making styles, and don’t automatically dismiss the findings (v) meditate again (vi) to participate in several therapy groups
including Primal and the Power group: 3rd Chakra group (vii) Recreate the Inner Circle with members coming from all areas
of the world, to make decisions not only on the future of the Commune/Resort in Pune, but also how to reunite the global
sannyas network and further expand Osho’s vision to the whole world. (viii) Resign, retire and relax.
Or continue on their current agenda, to pursue an ideal of Pune premises to be a luxury resort, with a constant reduction of
visitors who are required to pay more. And to ensure income from Osho’s words, to continue to take legal action against those
they do not authorise to distribute Osho’s words. The likely consequences of which is to create further divisions in the Osho
sannyas global community yet inadvertently inspire more sannyasins to create their own Osho oases in their own countries.
Thus there are two paths to expansion of Osho’s vision – division or unity.
1. Division – analogous to the division of cells in a growing organism. However it is questionable to what extent the global
Sannyas community can be still be regarded as a single organism. Another analogy is spread of Buddhism due to its expulsion
from India 2000 years ago, and more recently with the Chinese invasion of Tibet. Although the expulsion of many of Osho’s
sannyasins from Pune is self-induced, the outcome can be of spreading seeds for further growth. Thus Osho’s world in the
future will be multi-polar, with Pune Resort becoming less significant, reduced in size or even closed down. Osho’s legacy will
spread according his published works, with argument over original authenticity vs. his messages. The brilliance of his words
tarnished by the continuing arguments of his disciples. This is the current pathway.
2. Unity – somewhat a utopian dream to reunite the sannyas world and to put into practice Osho’s vision according to his
discourses rather than unpublished messages to his Inner Circle. This would require a great leap in consciousness, with
leadership based on meditativeness not on power and illusions. With a system of meritocracy that chooses leaders according to
consciousness and creativity, not on personality.
Which path is the most likely? The first and current path, but in the same vein as Osho’s pragmatic optimism, I feel it was
worthwhile expressing this opinion.
With Love to All
Sarovara
19 December 2011
In a book on Organisational/Occupational Psychology published by the UK's Open University I recently came across this
sentence:
“Docility fostered by suave leadership. A suave leader who makes it difficult to question consensus can manipulate
the agenda.”
This was in a section on the disadvantages of closed groups and on ‘groupthink’ where consensus in a group discourages
creative thinking.
This seems to be what happened with the Inner Circle in Pune Commune post-1990. When Osho chose the 21 members, he
chose people of differing opinions and asked them to make decisions based on consensus. In my view, the only way 21 strong
willed individuals could come to a consensus would be to transcend their egos! When after a year of disagreements the
‘Hollywood gang’ left the Inner Circle, they were replaced by “yes men.”
Thus dissent was reduced and decision making was easier, but creative thinking was reduced. The chairman of the Inner
Circle is well known to be a charismatic and suave character. The basis of his position is that he was chosen by Osho, and
implied by his main supporter/vice-chairman, to be the one to whom Osho said “I leave you my dream.” In his soft spoken
manner he could quote Osho’s words spoken to him in private, which could seduce voices of dissent.
Janis, a psychologist who studied President Kennedy’s failed Bay of Pigs invasion, found the symptoms of ‘groupthink’ to be
“Illusions of invulnerability; Illusion of unanimity; Excessive optimism; Suppression of personal doubts; Self-appointed
mindguard; Docility fostered by suave leadership.”
Looking back to all three of Osho’s communes: Pune 1, Oregon & Pune 2; I see all these symptoms. Over multiple discourses
Osho set out his vision to create a new humanity with society based on communes with a rotating leadership chosen by
meritocracy.
Although we have experimented with the commune, with mixed results, we still have a long way to go to fulfil his vision. And I
don’t see any progress towards it. What would be the first step?
Here are some ideas for the current leadership in Pune do the following: (i) meditate (ii) review the results of their 21 years of
leadership (iii) meditate more (iv) hire an independent organisational psychologist to review their leadership and decision
making styles, and don’t automatically dismiss the findings (v) meditate again (vi) to participate in several therapy groups
including Primal and the Power group: 3rd Chakra group (vii) Recreate the Inner Circle with members coming from all areas
of the world, to make decisions not only on the future of the Commune/Resort in Pune, but also how to reunite the global
sannyas network and further expand Osho’s vision to the whole world. (viii) Resign, retire and relax.
Or continue on their current agenda, to pursue an ideal of Pune premises to be a luxury resort, with a constant reduction of
visitors who are required to pay more. And to ensure income from Osho’s words, to continue to take legal action against those
they do not authorise to distribute Osho’s words. The likely consequences of which is to create further divisions in the Osho
sannyas global community yet inadvertently inspire more sannyasins to create their own Osho oases in their own countries.
Thus there are two paths to expansion of Osho’s vision – division or unity.
1. Division – analogous to the division of cells in a growing organism. However it is questionable to what extent the global
Sannyas community can be still be regarded as a single organism. Another analogy is spread of Buddhism due to its expulsion
from India 2000 years ago, and more recently with the Chinese invasion of Tibet. Although the expulsion of many of Osho’s
sannyasins from Pune is self-induced, the outcome can be of spreading seeds for further growth. Thus Osho’s world in the
future will be multi-polar, with Pune Resort becoming less significant, reduced in size or even closed down. Osho’s legacy will
spread according his published works, with argument over original authenticity vs. his messages. The brilliance of his words
tarnished by the continuing arguments of his disciples. This is the current pathway.
2. Unity – somewhat a utopian dream to reunite the sannyas world and to put into practice Osho’s vision according to his
discourses rather than unpublished messages to his Inner Circle. This would require a great leap in consciousness, with
leadership based on meditativeness not on power and illusions. With a system of meritocracy that chooses leaders according to
consciousness and creativity, not on personality.
Which path is the most likely? The first and current path, but in the same vein as Osho’s pragmatic optimism, I feel it was
worthwhile expressing this opinion.
With Love to All
Sarovara
19 December 2011
