:: INTERVIEW ::

Swami Om Prakash Saraswati was the epitome of a disciple. Lovingly known as Swamiji, his commitment and surrender to his master, Osho, was total and absolute. Sent by his master to start a meditation center in Delhi, Swamiji as a true disciple, with love, devotion and dedication became the vehicle of his beloved master in spreading His vision. While he continued to work and promote the vision of Osho, he went deeper into his spiritual journey. While Swamiji blossomed in meditation, his inner growth manifested in his work. This section is dedicated to experiences of sannyasins who have come in direct contact with Swamiji at some point of time and have been inspired by his compassion, dedication and commitment.
(Click here to know more about Swami Om Prakash Saraswati)

Q- What is your legal name?
A- Meenakshi Yadav

Q - And your sannyas name?
A- Ma Dev Dakshina.

Q- In which year you took sannyas?
A- I got initiated into sannyas on 14th April, 2002 during meditation camp at Oshodham. Swami Vairagya Amrit was leading the camp.

Q-What is your educational qualification?
A-Masters in Computer Applications.

Q- What is your profession?
A- Till now I have been working as a Software Engineer.

Q- What have you been working on during the last two-three years?
A- After completing my Masters, I have developed many software applications and for the last 2-3 years, this has been my work.

Q- In Delhi?
A- No, the last 3 years I was in America and working for various companies in the same profession. I just returned from America.

Q- Why did you return from America? You had a good job and a better living condition there, so why did you return to India?
A- Everything was good there. But last year when I visited India, I took sannyas and meditated with everybody at Oshodham. All these memories went with me to America. I had a kind of attitude of always working on something or the other, always keeping myself occupied and I could never sit silently, till last year when I participated in silent sitting in Rajyoga, SwamiJi used to conduct silent meditation in the center. In the beginning it was difficult for me to sit silently for one hour and I kept thinking when this will get over. Then I participated in silent meditation a few more times. When I went back to America silent sitting continued and I did not have a job at that time. When I was on my visit to India, I had been laid off and I felt bad about it more because ever since I had completed my studies and started working, I never lost a job, moreover I used to consider myself a good professional, so I was hurt. But then I had a feelingt that I will get another job soon. Then I took it easy because I knew my talent. So when I went back to America, silent sitting continued regularly at home as I most of the time I use to be at home, job hunting also continued. Previously I used to think that I could never stay at home the whole day as no one is at home there so the first month was really difficult for me, then gradually I started enjoying that period of aloneness. Job search was also running in parallel.. I was very desperate to get a job in the beginning. When we moved to a different place after two three months, I had stopped looking for a job. When I got a job I couldn't believe. It came like a gift to me, I got a call and without major efforts, I was offered a good profile. Everthing came up so easily, and I got the opportunity to work with really nice colleagues. When I started working I realized that I had lost my interest in software. I use to recall those 2-3 months spend at home. Me and Amit never had long-term plans of staying at States but when will we return back to India was also not decided. Then suddenly we realized that it's time to return back to India as all the purpose of visiting States was fulfilled. Moreover we use to miss our friends and family at India and so we came back.

Q - How did you feel when you met Swamiji for the first time. Amit knew Swamiji for a very long time.
A- I heard about Swamiji from Amit but I was not attached with Swamiji when I met him for the first time. I met Swamiji for the first time during a celebration at Oshodham. It was a celebration of Prem Joshua's music. When I went to Oshodham, Swamiji was sitting on his chair surrounded by many friends who were seeking his blessings. I kept watching him from a distance and I loved that moment of watching Swamiji. I did not feel like going near him and touching his feet, I was just watching him from a distance that's what I can remember. My feelings for Swamiji started grawing when I came to India last year. In fact two years back. I cannot remember much about the beginning but just that I was standing a bit away from Swamiji and could not go near him. I do not know why I could not go near him. It was not fear yet I could not go near him. Later I felt that he is very soft at heart. I had heard from Amit that he scolds sometimes, but I did not see him scolding anybody. Last year I felt so good to see him, he was sitting on his chair and Jyoti Ma was sitting near his feet, massaging his feet with oil. I asked Jyoti Ma what she was doing and she explained some points related to acupressure. I sat down on the floor next to Jyoti Ma and I cannot explain that feeling when I kept looking at Swamiji. It was such a good feeling when I touched him. I cannot remember more at the moment but many times the meeting was very beautiful. It happened very slowly. I saw the gratitude and the feeling with which one remembers his guru in Amit when in America he used to sit in front of Swamiji's picture for hours. As much as Amit used to feel the connection in those moments, I too could feel it. In between, Amit was without a job. He used to sit in front of Swamiji's photo in the morning and when I used to return from my office, I used to find him there only. So I was very much inspired by it though inspiration is not the right word for it. 

Q- Didn't you feel that he has lost his mind?
A- No, I never felt that way. On the contrary I use to feel good.

Q- In school or in college you must have read about devotion and disciplehood. So, did you feel by seeing Amit that this is devotion and disciplehood?
A- I used to feel something like this only.

Q- How did Swamiji inspire you? What transformation happened in you, inner and outer, in your life and your feelings, after you had met Swamiji or after taking sannyas or after beginning to meditate.
A- I never meditated before my marriage. After my marriage, two year back, we went to America and fortunately, there we had ample opportunity for meditating which I doubt would have happened had we been here in India. It would not have been possible had I lived with the family after marriage but since we both were there, alone, we started meditating together. Only we two used to meditate and we also used to go to Osho Viha where we used to participate in Silent meditation. I did not know much about silent meditation at that time. I used to think that Dynamic & Kundalini Meditations are the only meditations and the only way to bliss. I was hard for me to sit in silence. In Osho Viha there use to be silent sitting on Sundays. Last year when we came here, and I attended my first camp of Swami Vairagya Amrit, I felt for the first time during that camp what difference it makes when so many people are meditating together rather than just two of us. I had not taken my sannyas till then. I felt that its time to take sannyas when Swami Vairagya Amrit called for sannyas initiation. Swamiji was also there that day. There was kirtan dhyan on the day of sannyas celebration. By that time I had decided to take sannyas. I can realize even now the difference in meditation before I took sannyas and and the inner transformation after I became sannyasin. I feel that I am deepening in meditation after I took sannyas. I feel more connected to everyone after I took sannyas. Before my initiation, I used to feel a gap between me and other sannyasins, now I feel one connection. 

Q- Do you feel a difference in the quality of meditation?
A- Yes there is a difference in the quality of meditation. I feel so blissful that I think everybody should meditate. I feel that way. I remember that after taking sannyas, I came here to meet Swamiji. I was very happy and told Swamiji that I have taken sannyas, but I was not comfortable with my sannyas name. I did not like my name Ma Dev Dakshina. Swamiji started laughing and said that "lets change your name to Devyani". I could not imagie that I will be able to speak to Swamiji with such ease and love. Before, I used to stay away from Swamiji. I don't know what it was, fear or something else. But last year when I came here, I loved speaking to Swamiji though I did not have lengthy conversations with Swamiji. We used to converse very less. But as many times we have had a conversation I remember it. Many times he used to be in silence when we came to him. But I felt very happy that he told me that whatever name I like, I will be given. Then he started calling me Dev ma and I really loved it. I also felt that now I will keep this name Dev ma. My closeness with Swamiji started last year and I feel very happy & deep inside. I love it.

Q- In this short duration of one year, how will you describe your relation with Swamiji?
A- The same feeling came as I felt when I used to see Osho in His photograph. A motherly feeling. Many times, I used to say from within that "you are my baby". I used to feel that he is a small baby. I feel the same whenever I see Osho's photograph. With Swamiji this feeling came many times when I saw him in center and when I saw his photograph. We are taught to respect our parents. I felt that something was born in me that I never had before. I respect my parents but the feelings that I had on seeing Swamiji was something that I never realized was inside me. 

Q- So by seeing him all your feelings used to pick up.
A-Yes

Q- On 27th March, when did you reach his room?
A- I reached his room at about 9-9.30 in the morning. I do not remember the exact time, but since I was staying nearby, Amit called up in the morning and asked me to come to center. I did not know anything about it till I reached center.

Q- Amit did not tell you?
A- No, Amit did not say anything to me. Since morning that day I had this urge to come to center. And Amit had stayed in center for the first time since we came back from America. Before he had stayed in center many times but that day he was there and I was also feeling that I should reach center early.

Q- How did you feel when you entered Swamiji's room? Or when Amit or someone had told you that Swamiji had left his bosy. How did you feel?
A- I was told by Swami Ravindra Bharti at the gate. I felt like crying when he told me that Swamiji had left his body.

Q- You instantly felt like crying by hearing about it?
A- Not when he told me but when I approached inside, I felt like crying. 

Q- Who else was sitting there, if you can remember?
A- Everyone was there, Ma Shakti, Ma Neelam, and everyone was there. I still remember Swamiji's face. By seeing him, it didn't appeared at all that he is not in his body anymore. I felt he will move again.

Q- Then you went to his cremation and you saw that everybody was doing kirtan and dancing. How did you feel when for the first time you witnessed something like this or maybe you might have heard about death celebration. 
A- I read about death celebration in one of Osho' books. I have seen the photographs of Ma Vipassana's death celebration in Osho's book, when I was going through it in January in America. I remember that I took a detailed look at those pictures. I observed everyone's gestures and I feel that I am very fortunate to witness a death celebration and it's a unique experience seeing death celebration.

Q- All the people who were related to him were in a way his famiy members. They too were celebrating and you being so close to him were not doing so?
A- It is not like that. Swamiji left his body and as such I was tearful. It's a different issue that I was crying. But deep inside I was dancing. Such a beautiful kirtan we had that day with everybody. It was a mixture of both dance and tears.

Q- It was an unique experience. You have returned from America and here you are without a regular job. Swamiji has left his body. What do you think of your future?
A- I feel to become part of growing Osho's work. I want to do something creative be it is in the software sector or otherwise. I am not sure what I will do and I haven't thought about what will happen in the future. We have returned without planning what we will do here. 

Q- What can you say about master-disciple relation. The relation you had with Swamiji for one year and with Amit, whom you have seen as a devotee and as a disciple. What did you understand about a master and a disciple?
A- I knew nothing much though I have read about master in books but that is another thing. But the feelings which come from inside are inexpressible. 

Q- Do you feel that you are a disciple. Are you a disciple?
A- I see myself as a disciple, rest Osho knows…

Q- Tell me what transformation meditation brought in your life?
A- The more I use to meditate more blissful I use to feel, it was not a question of reaching somewhere or attaining something, it's a pure joy for me. Lot of things has changed, my life has transformed totally, like I was very ambitious when I started my career. I wanted to become a manager and rise very high in my career. I do not say that it's wrong but after I started meditating I started feeling the joy and happiness around and that there's no need to wait for rising that high in career and then be happy. One very positive point I feel about my stay in America is that I lived my life totally independent, alone with no one to look after me. I had to take care of myself and look after myself. In the beginning I used to get frustrated, but when I started meditating, I started feeling that I am not alone, that I have company. And then I met everyone here and when I participated in the first camp, I felt that so many people are with me.

Q- Do you remember anything more?
Anand Amit - She loves dancing in meditation.

Q- You like to celebrate?
A- Before, Swamiji, I never knew what celebration was. When for the first time I attended Osho Birthday celebration in Osho Viha, I saw everyone dancing. I went with Amit and one friend. I saw that without a reason also one can dance. Before I used to feel that dance comes only with music and with a reason. It was a beautiful experience and I enjoyed every celebration and awaited another. 

Q- Without reason, laugh, cry and celebrate?
A- Yes, celebration without a reason.

Q-Thank you.
A-Thank you Swamiji.