Osho Commune International

 
Visit : osho.com
 

Osho Commune International

The Bhagwan Rajneesh's famous ashram (Ph.- 6128562, fax-6124181),commune@osho.net, 17 Koregaon Park) is in a leafy northern suburb of Pune. Styling itself as a ‘Spiritual Health Club’, it has continued to prosper since the Bhagwan’s death  in 1990 and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Facilities include swimming pool, sauna, tennis and basketball court, massage and beauty parlour, bistro, bookshop and a five hector Zen garden known as Osho Teerth, open to public from 6am to 9am  and 4pm to 7pm. Daily. The main center for meditation  or dance are Buddha Hall (where the ‘White robe Brotherhood’  gathers every evening ) and the Osho Samadhi, where the guru’s ashes are kept. The Commune is a Big Business - its ' Multiversity' runs a plethora of (expensive ) courses in traditional meditation as well as New Age Techniques, all with computerized booking facilities. Those wishing to meditate at the commune must fill out an application form( complete with two passport size photographs), prove HIV - negative to an on -the -spot test given at the center (Rs 125) and purchase three tunics (two maroon and one white). Meditation is then Rs 100 per day (Rs 35 for Indians) and you can come and go as you please. You must also arrange your own accommodation outside the Ashram. Casual visitors can take a one hour tour and video presentation (Rs 70,including some Osho literature ) at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm daily. Even if you don't decide to enter the ashram, it's worthwhile to see hundreds of maroon-clad soul-searchers being together - though there are just as many wandering around outside the ashram. It's advisable to book ahead.


The Bhagwan

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (1931 - 1990) , or Osho as he preferred to be called, was one of India's most popular and flamboyant ' export gurus ' and without double the most controversial. He followed no particular religion, tradition or philosophy and his often acerbic criticism and dismissal of various religious and political leaders made him many enemies world over. What particularly outraged his Indian critics was his advocacy of sex as a path to enlightenment an approach which earned him epithet 'sex guru' from the Indian press. Rajneesh used a curious blend of Californian pop psychology and Indian mysticism to motivate his followers. His last technique , tagged The Mystic Rose, involved following a regime of laughing for three hours a day for one week, crying for three hours a day the next week, followed by becoming a ' watcher on the hill ' (i.e. sitting ) for three hours a day for another week. The Bhagwan felt that it was' the most important breakthrough in editation since the Buddha's vipassana, created 25 centuries ago' . Indeed, he began to lean heavily towards Zen Buddhism in the years before his death and at one point, even declared himself to be the Buddha. In 1981, Rajneesh went to USA and set up the agricultural commune and ashram of Rajneeshpuram in Oregon. It was here that he drew the attention of international media and ashrams notoriety (along with its highly publicised fleet Rolls Royces) grew and grew. In January 1987, Rajneesh took residence  at Pune ashram, and soon thousands of foreigners (mostly from Germany,Italy and Japan) were flocking to attend his nightly discourses and meditation courses. From early 1989 until his death, Rajneesh reverted to silence as he had done so once in America.Before his death, the orange clothes and the mala ( the string of beads and photograph of Bhagwan worn around the neck), which used to be the distinctive mark of Bhagwan followers, had been discarded. This was done so that his followers could( according to ashram press office) 'avoid harassment and molestation by the authorities'. These days there seems no discrimination against the followers (who now get around in maroon ).

For More Information Contact : 
Osho Commune International 17 , Koregaon Park , Pune 411001 ( India )
Telephone : 6128562    Fax : 6124181 
Or Visit : www.osho.com


Site Best Viewed With Internet Explorer at 800*600 Resolution.
© Copyright ( Registration No. SW-768/2002 Diary No. 458/2001-CO/SW )
All Rights Reserved  No Part of this site , Including photocopy is permitted to copy or  translate in any  language ,
without prior permission in writing from
punediary.com ( World Web Solutions )