The ongoing controversy, wherein the Osho International Foundation has gifted a prime property to the unknown Darshan Trust in Delhi, has dismayed many Osho followers. They feel that the commune has been commercialised and the warmth and friendliness that existed during the master’s presence has been lost. Citizens tell DNA
The present OMR is like a five-star hotel with no takers
I am an Osho disciple and have been going to the ashram since 1996. We want the Osho ashram the way it was before with volunteers running the place. Previously, all Osho disciples volunteered for day-to-day activities. I don’t understand why do we now need all this pomp, extra bureaucracy and hired contract workers? This is not a commercial organisation so let it remain a meditation place as Osho dreamt it to be.
The present Osho Meditation Resort (OMR) is like a five-star hotel with no takers. A place of meditation requires soul, energy and guru’s devotion. There were administrators even before, but it was not an isolated place like it is today. OMR is not a happening place because devotion and the disciples are missing. Basically, disciples just want their old ashram back.
After Osho left his body, the administrators started creating barriers, which today has reached to its ultimate limit. Hence, people have stopped going to the ashram. Our demand is to reduce the entry fee of the ashram and let volunteers carry on the work. We have to stop the Osho ashram from winding-up.
— Subhash Bal, retired IT professional and Osho follower
The friendly spirit of the ashram has been replaced by arrogance
I do not exactly know why the ashram property was gifted in the first place to the Darshan Trust. Though I know both the trustees, Anand Kumar Awasthi (Swami Satyarthi) and Vidya Khubchandani, have been living on the commune premises for many years. Awasthi has been editing Osho’s Hindi books. He is very good as an editor. I always appreciated his work.
Khubchandani has been working as an accountant in the commune for many years. How did they become trustees of Darshan Trust, which is based in New Delhi, and what will the trust do with the gifted properties?
When Osho was alive, I heard that he wanted us to buy the whole Koregaon Park to accommodate thousands of his followers from around the world. He said, “Make space available for new people who will be coming.”
However, now less people are coming to the ashram and most of them who come are not welcomed whole-heartedly with the friendly spirit, which was alive during Osho’s presence. I have heard and also seen the photos of the resort and it surely looks more beautiful than before, but the friendly spirit has been replaced by arrogance. There are no tours conducted for the visitors. Some kind of fear seems to have gripped the minds of the Osho management team.
This needs to change. And the commune needs to spread Osho’s love which it received from the most gracious and enlightened master.
It would also be better to make the entry fees affordable. It was not more than Rs30-40 for Indian and Western people without any discrimination. The number of participants has also come down to 10%. A few years ago, there were 2,000-3,000 participants and now it is just 200-300. And the numbers are dwindling but the management is not bothered.
More and more people are reading Osho’s books and listening to his discourses. Now is the time that the “Gateless Gate” of the commune should be opened. So many Osho devotees are waiting to come in. If they do not do this, then they are committing a crime; a spiritual crime.
— Swami Chaitanya Keerti, editor, Osho World Magazine
Administrators with vested interests should leave the ashram
I am inspired by Osho and have been following him since the last 30 years. I actively started meditating at Osho ashram since 1990.
When they broke the Buddha Hall, where Osho sat and gave discourse, I and many other disciples were part of the protest gathering in front of the ashram. You can never touch the sacrilege and the place of the master’s presence. The administrators of the ashram started doing wrong things after Osho left his body. The place has lost its energy and flavour.
After ten years of Osho leaving his body, the administrators slowly stopped all kinds of celebrations inside the ashram. They also stopped dance, music and festivals in the name of Osho, saying the master himself had said so. The OMR is no more a meditation place, it is just a business-driven organisation.
I want to specifically share an incident that took place few years back. Amrito, one of Osho’s inner circle member, yelled at me and said not to call OMR an ashram anymore or wear the sanyas mala. We want our ashram back and want these administrators with vested interests to leave.
— Radhika Rajpal, Odissi Dancer and Osho disciple
Osho discourse video costs Rs100 then why pay more to enter OMR?
I was working for many years in the Ashram Hindi publication department between 1976 and 1993. Many books of Osho still bear my name as the transcriber. I have seen the ashram blossom into a beautiful place for meditation because I was part of the growth process. Thousands of Osho lovers come to Pune ashram from all over the world, attracted by the great master’s teachings.
When a tree grows, it must be cared for. If the tree is dying then it means something has terribly gone wrong and the gardener is responsible for it. To me, as of now, it is too costly to go to the ashram for meditation. Outside I can buy a video of Osho discourse for Rs100 and mediate at home, then why should I spend over Rs500 to just enter the ashram? Very few sanyasis are actually going to OMR since it has become very costly. If the ashram charges less, many will start going there. The Osho ashram belongs to all his disciples because it is their hard work and donation that has helped to build the ashram. It hurts to know that we have been left out.
— Swami Surendra Saraswati, Osho disciple
Indian sanyasis can’t afford to pay the steep entrance cost at OMR
I think the present dispute must be settled amicably as soon as possible between the two parties, the OMR administration and the sanyasis who are demanding to make the ashram an affordable place for meditation.Both should sit with an open heart, because on must try to understand what difficulties the present Osho Meditation Resort administration is facing.
Transparency is very important from the people who are running OMR. All of us love Osho and to achieve his dreams. The Indian sanyasis can’t afford to pay the steep entrance cost that the OMR is charging right now. All of us want to meditate and the place should not be so costly.
Osho said that for limitless flight, one needs two wings; one for meditation and other of devotion. The administrators have, however, cut the wings of devotion so how can a meditator fly?
Both the parties are working for Osho. It is all in the family so we don’t need any court or government’s help to resolve this dispute.
— Swami Jagdish Bharti, Publisher and Osho disciple
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