I teach you richness: richness of the body, richness of the soul, richness of this world and that world.- Osho

ISSUE EIGHT - JUNE 2002

THE WHOLE MAN

> MEETING OSHO LOVERS

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART !

Ma Dharm Jyoti has been around Osho since He started conducting meditation camps and giving discourses in India. She is also among the first group that was initiated into Neo-Sannyas by Osho at Manali on September 26, 1970. She has spent a major part of her life with the Beloved Master. She has also authored One Hundred Tales for Ten Thousand Buddhas - a book that relives her memories of the cherubic days she spent at the feet of Osho.

Tell us about your childhood, your early days?

I was born in a middle class Hindu family in Karachi when it was a part of India. I migrated to India with my parents after the British left in 1947. We settled in Bombay.

When I was about 4-5 years old and first time I realized being a girl. The very first moment of my childhood is my wonder about being a girl. These questions haunted me. "How I became a girl? Now, how will I go to the mountains alone? How I came to this family where I felt everyone as stranger." There was no answer. Everything looked puzzling. In the night, I used to sleep on terrace, gazing at sky, stars, moon and vast space and always wondering who created all this. Finding no answers, my innocent child inside accepts everything as it is and starts working out the solution. Fortunately, my parents never imposed their ideas on us children. We were three sisters and one brother who was the eldest. I was the third child and had full freedom to be myself. I can say, "I was brought up as a wild child." 

As a small girl having no knowledge about married life, I decided that I am not going to marry and that I do not want children. My father may force me to get married, so I decided to study and at least get some degree so that I could be financially independent. I put my total energy in studies and at the age of Eighteen I came out of Bombay University with an honours degree in psychology and immediately found a good job in B.E.S.T. Company in Bombay itself. During all these years I lived a happy-go-lucky life. I enjoyed everything that life offered.

How did you come to know about Osho? What brought you to him? Osho was not very well known when you came in contact with Osho. How did this happen? How did your family react to this?

I was Twenty years old when a sudden turn happened in my life. One of my friends died in an accident. Looking at his dead body, something triggered inside me. Again the childhood memories with many more questions arose, especially about death. I lost interest in life I was living and an inner quest began, a kind of thirst, an enquiry to know "what this life is all about?" I started reading all kinds of religious books, which gave me only intellectual understanding. My heart was longing for some experience of 'TRUTH'. In search, I travelled to many Ashrams, met many so-called Gurus and Mahatmas and felt more frustrated to hear borrowed knowledge from them. It felt like empty talk without any experience of their own. Six years passed away like that. Those six years of my life were a nightmare. Outwardly I was working in office, but inside, I lost interest in everything. 

In that state of mind, suddenly Osho appeared for me. Osho used to live in Jabalpur and was travelling in India giving discourses and leading meditation camps. He was known as Acharya Rajneesh in those days. It was 16th January 1968 and He was to speak in a big auditorium in Bombay. I saw a banner on the road about his programme and went to listen Him. That was it. Listening to His voice, my heart started jumping with joy, he was answering all my questions. My heart recognized, "Here is a man, speaking from His own experience, He is the one I was looking for1" I purchased His books and was reading whole night. I felt like I have found a precious treasure. His each word was so full of wisdom. Soon after that I went to attend his first meditation camp in Nagrol and met Him there personally for the first time. I felt I know Him since many lives and Osho also received me with such love as if He has found a lost child. That is how my journey started with my master.

There was no reaction from my family. My mother had already died. My sisters were least concerned about me. My brother had already separated from the family. My father heard Osho only once and was convinced that I am on the right path. He supported me totally.

You were among the members of the first Sannyas group. It must have taken a lot of courage. Tell us how did it come about?

Yes, I was amongst the first group of Sannyasins. There was really no question of courage. I was madly in love with Osho. I did not care about anything else. By the time I took Sannyas, I was strong enough to be an individual in my own way.

What does Sannyas means to you?

For me, Sannyas was being initiated and accepted by my Master as a disciple. Actually, I was waiting for this for a long timw, so it was the fulfillment of my longing.

You have spent a considerable part of your life around the Beloved Master. How did it feel to be near to someone like Him?

Yes, I had this Golden opportunity to be around Him for a considerable part of my life. Osho's greatness is that He never allows anyone to feel inferior. He allowed me just to be myself. Around Him the whole atmosphere used to be so light and relaxed. He used to make everyone laugh and enjoy being with Him.

What prompted you to write 'One Hundred Tales for Ten Thousand Buddhas'? Tell us about the period while you were writing this book.

I can't claim that I have written it, though it has been written through me. While writing, I felt possessed by some energy, that made me write it. Really, I am not a writer and while writing this book, I had no idea that I am writing a book. I was just putting on paper whatsoever was coming out. While writing, I relived all those moments again. While writing sometimes I was crying, sometimes laughing, feeling His presence around me.

Any memorable event or happening that you would like to share with Osholovers.

There are so many memorable events, it is difficult to choose. All I would like to say is that, "A Master like Osho leaves the body, but remains available for those whose hearts are tuned with Him." So just be open and available and experience those magical moments.

What is meditation? You lead many a meditation camps all over the world. What according to you can meditation do for anyone?

It is difficult to say in words. One has to experience it. For me, meditation is a way of life, where one is full of awareness inside and outside on periphery is full of love. Living moment to moment and not imagining the future. Being totally in the present, 'HERE AND NOW' is meditation. In meditation, you are no more identified with your body and mind, you become the Master and use them whenever needed.

In meditation, you live joyously, you die joyously because you know that the one who will die is not you. You become the witness. Meditation is the 'Art of Living and Dying'. Osho's all meditation techniques are devised to raise the consciousness of humanity.

Now that Osho is a trademark and his legacy copyrighted, how do you feel about it?

I feel that Osho is the Buddha of present times. Whatever He has spoken and is published should be available for entire humanity without any hindrances. Osho and His teachings are the only remedy for sickmindedness from which, almost the whole humanity is suffering. He is the only solution for today's problems. Before it becomes too late, His people have the responsibility to fulfill, to spread His message without any delay and by using all the means of technology available.

How will you describe Osho?

It is like asking a drop to describe the ocean. NO words can describe 'Him'. It will be like trying to frame the SKY. FORGIVE ME.

Your message for Osholovers…

"Share," Don't hold!" Whatever you have learned, experienced, share it. Find your own way of sharing and I tell you from my own experience that it is like taking out water from the well. Remember your Master, don't compromise with the false. Listen to your heart.