Abstract

The document provides  an account  of an internship at Osho Dham,  examining various  aspects of meditation and my personal reflections  on the experience.  It delves into the essence of meditation, emphasizing the power  to resist external influences and achieve a state of freedom  and heightened  awareness. The internship involved practicing  meditation  techniques such as Dynamic Meditation, Kundalini  Meditation,  and Osho Nadabrahma  Meditation,  each with unique stages and impacts.  Reflects on the intensity  of catharsis experienced during these meditations, the ecological  aspects  of Osho Dham, the expressive  and celebratory nature of Osho’s meditations, and the positive effects of the internship on relaxation  and everyday mindfulness.  The summary captures the transformative nature of the  internship and the diverse range of experiences  encountered.

WHAT  IS MEDITATION?

What  is meditation? Meditation  is the power  which  enables  us to resist  all this. Nature may  call  us,  “Look,  there  is  a beautiful thing!”  I do not  look.  Now  she says, “There  is a beautiful  smell;  smell  it!”  I say to my nose,  “Do  not smell  it”,  and the nose  doesn’t.  “Eyes,  do not see!”  Nature  does such an awful  thing-kills one of my children, and says,  “Now,  rascal,  sit down  and weep!  Go to the depths! I say,  “I
don’t  have to.” I jumped up.  I must  be free.  Try it sometimes … [In meditation], for a moment, you can change  this nature. Now,  if you had that power  in yourself, would  not that be heaven,  freedom? That is the power  of meditation. (Swami Vivekananda, Meditation and Its Methods; pg- 6)

“By meditation I  mean silence, awareness, witnessing.  You can meditate any time of the day, you can meditate working, walking, doing things. Meditation  is not something separate  from  life; it should  not be separate, otherwise it remains  a little artificial. Meditation should  be spread  all over life. You should  walk  in meditation, you should  sit in  meditation;  that means  silently,  fully  aware.  Slowly, slowly it becomes your very flavor…. ”  Osho

The Intention behind this internship was to go beyond words and experiment with my own consciousness.

After having read and learnt about spirituality, it felt like something was missing,  the experience of it all. To put into practice the concepts I  have known of Consciousness,  meditation,  spirituality. This internship felt like the perfect opportunity to finally get out of my arm chair speculation and actually go on the ground to see what this meditation is all about.

MEDITATIONS  IN THE DHAM

Osho Dham   offers a plethora of meditative techniques  to go to the deepest level  of inner self.  It is a blend of active and still  meditations.

All  of Osho’s  active meditations involve  a beginning stage of activity• sometimes  intense  and physical  followed by a period  of silence.  All are accompanied by music  that has been specially composed  to guide the meditator  through  the different  stages.

Dynamic  Meditation

Dynamic  meditation is  a morning practice  done  on an empty  stomach. Initially, it felt like  a strenuous  physical  exercise, requiring  effort. The catharsis  phase  was  challenging,  as I had to force myself to release emotions unlike others.  However,  over time,  it became  more  natural.  During  week  two, I  experienced intense  rage and growled  throughout the catharsis  phase, realizing  the power  of catharsis.  I observed others  shouting,  crying,  and hitting cushions  with  astonishing intensity.  The  effectiveness  of chaotic breathing  or the group  dynamic  remains  uncertain.  In subsequent weeks, catharsis  felt forced again, requiring intentional  expression  of emotions.  The phase  involving  continuous shouting  and jumping was physically  challenging throughout.  In the fourth stage, I  felt a deep connection with existence, appreciating the sounds  of birds and passing  planes.  The final  stage brought a genuine smile,  dancing,  and a  heart filled with gratitude  towards nature, Osho,  Lord Shiva,  and existence.

Insights
Catharsis  refers to the process  of releasing,  and thereby  providing  relief from. strong or repressed emotions. The term is derived  from the Greek word “katharsis,”  meaning purification or cleansing.  This meditation’ is to be commended  for achieving such a high level of emotional  eruption  in such a short period; it is not so much about catharsis  as it is about  the intensity of catharsis.  Order of activities  Dynamic meditations have a sequence  where  the chaotic breathing phase  comes before the catharsis  phase. This sequence worked  well because the chaotic  breathing  creates  the conditions  for catharsis, which  in turn  allows  the body to release  tension  and more unconscious hidden feelings.  Similarly  the dissemination  of the stored unused  energy in the first three  phases paves the smooth  way to go into meditation in stage 4 and 5.

KUN DAL IN I MEDITATION

This meditation  is a favorite  due to its  simplicity and structure,  with  each stage clearly  laid out with proper  instructions.  It occurs every evening  at 4PM and is filled with joy and energy. The first stage involves psychosomatic working, which gets the energy levels high and makes  the mind active and relaxing. The second  stage involves dancing,  which fills the heart with joy and energy.  Visualization helps in this stage,  as one imagines  dancing  with loved ones and for the supreme being.  The third stage involves listening to softer music, which  can be either sitting or standing.  The joy felt during stage 2 and 3  can carry forward into the final  stage, where one must lay down straight.

Insights

Osho Dham’s  meditations are experiments  with consciousness, with key components  such as active, active, and intensity of catharsis.  Active meditations  involve the dissemination  of energy  before  moving to silence through techniques  like Chaotic Breathing,  Dancing, Jumping, or Shaking. Traditional  meditative techniques  often require  sitting still for inner stillness, which is valuable and difficult  due to accumulated stress  in the body.

Active meditations have been scientifically designed  by Osho over a long period of experimentation,  allowing individuals to consciously express, experience, and release  repressed  feelings  and emotions.  bringing the body back to relaxed harmony.  This approach has worked  well  for me personally, as I found  it easier to enter into meditation when I tried to release  energy through  dancing.

Catharsis, a psychological concept  related  to Freud’s psychoanalytic theories, involves the expression and release  of pent-up  emotions  and unconscious conflicts, often throughtalking or other forms of emotional expression. In dynamic meditations, catharsis  is an essential part, with the chaotic  breathing setting  the stage for catharsis  and facilitating the venting  out of stress and hidden  feelings.

For me, catharsis  has worked  on some  occasions, such as releasing suppressed guilts, animalistic  rage,  and gratitude. The group  setting  plays a crucial  role in this process,  as it allows  for easy venting of emotions without restraint.  The intensity of catharsis  in this meditation  is to be praised  for, as it achieves such high intensity of emotional outburst  in such a short  time.

ECOPSYCHOLOGY

The stay in Osho dham is rooted  in nature. It has many elements  of what makes  up Ecospsychologic healing  practices.
Eccpsychology is a field of psychology that explores the relationship between humans  and the natural  world,  recognizing the interconnection between  personal well-being  and the health of the environment. It integrates psychological  principles  with ecological understanding, emphasizing the idea that the well-being of individuals is interconnected with the health  of the Earth. Key concepts  and principles of ecopsychology include the nature connection, which suggests  that humans  have an innate connection with nature,  and the natural  environment as a source of haling and restoration.

Environmental  consciousness promotes awareness  of environmental  issues and a sense or responsibility for the planet’s  well-being. Ecological  identity refers  to the idea  that individuals have a sense of self connected to the larger ecological  systems,  and developing an ecological  identity  involves recognizing one’s place within  the natural  world  and understanding the impact  of human  actions  on the  environment.

Ecopsychology incorporates  therapeutic practices  that involve nature,  such  as wilderness therapy,  ecotherapy,  and nature-based rituals,  to enhance  mental health  and well-being by fostering  a deep  connection with the natural  world. Practitioners  in this  field may  include psychologists,  therapists, environmental  educators,  and researchers.  The ultimate  goal  is  to promote a sustainable  and harmonious  relationship between  humans  and the natural world  for the benefit  of both  individual  well-being and the health  of the planet.

Osho  Dham,  a hidden  gem near Delhi,  offers  many elements  of ecopsychology.  After NADABRAHMA meditation,  participants were instructed  to walk  barefoot  towards nearby  trees, feeling  a connection with them  and hugging  them, which  is an eye-opening experience.

Osho’s  meditation approach  is known  for its  expressive  and celebratory nature,  aiming  to help individuals  move  beyond  the mind  into  a state  of heightened awareness,  joy,  and celebration.  This  is  evident  in various meditations, such as Nataraj  Meditation, No-Mind  Meditation, and Sufi Whirling Meditation.  Nataraj  Meditation involves  spontaneous dance, allowing  the body  to move freely  and connect  with the divine. No-Mind Meditation quiets  the mind and creates space  for inner silence  by expressing thoughts  and emotions  through  gibberish  and laughter.  Sufi Whirling Meditation,  inspired  by Sufi mysticism, involves whirling or spinning in  a meditative state, promoting  balance,  centering,  and celebration.  Osho’s meditations encourage  folldwers  to embrace  all  aspects of life,  including joy, laughter, and playfulness.  These meditations break through  mental conditioning, allowing  individuals to experience a state of mindfulness, presence,  and celebration. The overall  experience  is enjoyable and encourages individuals to continue  practicing meditation.

SOME  OTHER POSITIVE ASPECTS  OF THIS  INTERNSHIP

• Revival of the Heart
  Osho Dham,  a meditation center  that offers various  meditations and discourses that follow  the Bhakti  way, a method  of love  and understanding. The program  began  with  a three-day  program  called  “Bhakti: The way of the heart,”  which  led to a deep  emotional  connection with  people,  nature, and existence.  This feeling was repeated  after several  other  meditations,  such  as the White robe meditation and Nadabrahma meditation.
• Socially Healthy
  The Osho Dham  is known for its happy social  gatherings, where  people  are generally  accepting and  make  special  bonds with  strangers.  The author personally experienced this  happening  with fellow classmates and people from  around  the world.

Some  meditations  worked  wel I   for the author,  while  others  did not..  The author  acknowledges that  everyone  has a different temperament suited  to meditation,  and the one size fits all  concept  is  not applicable to meditative techniques.

• Absence of urge  to smoke
  The author  also mentions the absence  of the urge  to smoke  during  their time in the Dham, which  could  be due to the stimulation  of the brain  throughout the day.  This absence  of smoking urge could  be further researched.
• Experiment with  Consciousness
  Meditation is  often  considered an exploration  or experiment with consciousness,  as it involves various  techniques  and practices  aimed at altering  one’s state  of awareness,  understanding the nature  of the mind, and expanding consciousness.  Through  various  meditations,  the author experienced  what “dhyan”  means  and experienced  losing  sense of space and time.
• Leaming to relax
  It is another  life  navigating skill learned  from the internship.  I have experienced it both inside  and outside  the Dham,  with  multiple  active meditations and feeling  refreshed after entering  a meditation. I use these methods  to refresh myself in daily life, even when not in the Dham.

The author also discusses  the importance of meditation in everyday  life, stating that it should be spread  throughout  life,  including walking, walking, and doing things.  They describe  meditation  as being like the eye of the hurricane, silent among the chaos, but this progress diminished after not being regular with meditations.
Meditation is a continuous endeavor  that requires  consistency and a willingness  to practice  in various  aspects of life.