NOTHING IS WRONG IN MANAGING OSHO COMMUNE, PUNE, INDIA
JUST ONE HAS TO SEE WITH AN UN-BIASED AND UNPREJUDICED MIND

Some of Osho sannyasins have raised doubts in fair management of Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune, India. These doubts are mainly regarding its financial management and administration. The purpose of writing this chapter is to present the real facts that prevail in Osho International Meditation Resort (OIMR), Pune. We are concentrating only on the management aspect and not going into the alleged financial matters. The commonly raised questions and reply of Osho International Foundation(OIF) to the same on the basis of affidavit filed in a court case are being given hereunder for the information of Osho sannyasins and friends to clear the doubts and confusion created by some persons who are working against OIF and sannyasins managing Pune Commune:-

LEGAL STATUS OF THE INSTITUTIONS RUNNING THE MEDITATION RESORT

Osho International Foundation (OIF) is a Registered Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and also registered as a Trust under the Bombay Trust Act, 1950. Societies Registration Act, 1860 is a Central Act while the BPT Act is a State Act. It is by virtue of the society registered in the State of Maharashtra is the reason it was deemed to be registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act as well. The functioning and governing of this Society and its affaires was governed by the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. However with the amalgamation of OIF first with the Blue Lotus Trust and then with 5 other Trusts – viz. Satyam Foundation, Maneesha Trust, Sambodhi Foundation, Shivam Foundation and Sundaram Foundation, and further with the Abhilasha Foundation and finally with Dhyan Foundation the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of OIF came to be governed by the sanctioned and settled Scheme dated 24-05-2011.

In the above Scheme dated 24-05-2011, the membership and criteria of the said Society is clearly defined and is restrictive in nature leaving no scope for any outside interference much less by persons of vested interests. The membership of the Society and the beneficiaries of OIF are specified in the Scheme that was sanctioned and settled. The members and beneficiaries are therefore, the only ones who would qualify as persons having interest as per the said rules recognized by the Registrar of Societies and the Hon. Charity Commissioner.

As per the provisions laid down in the said Scheme of OIF, it is only those persons who meet the requirements and such others related to its work can be appointed as members or who would qualify as persons having interest. That as per the membership clause governing OIF, there is absolutely no scope for any other persons than what is now defined in the Scheme. OIF therefore functions as per its sanctioned and settled Scheme, as per which its membership is restricted to the subscribers of the Scheme and only to such other persons who have been invited to become members of the Society by the Governing Body. OIF has, therefore, been functioning through the Trustees whose names are appearing on the PTR Schedule 1.

THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ILLEGAL AND UNDERVALUE TRANSFER OF SOME OF OIF PROPERTIES

There has been miss-understanding and confusion in the minds of many Osho sannyasins and lovers concerning the sale of few properties of Osho Commune, Pune by its trustees. These miss-understanding and confusion are born out of the news spread by some news papers and Osho World Foundation. This has happened because most of the people lack knowledge of law relating to the functioning of Public Charitable and Religious Trusts and Public Charitable and Religious Societies. In view of what has been stated by the OIF in the affidavit, it is clear that OIF is a Public Charitable Society created under Societies Registration Act, 1860. It is also deemed to have been registered under Bombay Public Trust Act.

The moveable and immobile properties of the Society or Trust are vested in the hands of their trustees. They hold these properties in their capacity as trustees and not in their individual capacities. The trustees deal with the properties of the Trust or Society as per articles of Memorandum of Association/ Trust Deed and the objects and byelaws framed. However, these all objects and byelaws cannot be against the provisions of Central and State laws relating to the functioning of Trusts or Societies.

The trustees of the Society or Trust can transfer the properties of the Trust/Society by way of gift or sale as the case may be. But such transfers can be made after completing certain legal formalities. The gifts can be made only to the charitable Trust/Society which has the same aims and objects as that of the donor. In case of sale the transfer can be made against adequate consideration which should be applied for the objects of the Trust/Society as the law provides. The OIF appears to have hired the services of experienced lawyers and we cannot conceive that they have acted against the law controlling the functioning of the Trusts and Societies. Thos who want to know more about the transfer of properties of OIF should read the affidavit filed by the OIF by clicking 'DOWN LOADS' of our website.

OSHO HAD REJECTED THE NAME "ASHRAM" AND STRONGLY OBJECTED FOR WORSHIP

Few of the sannyasins and friends have raised the question as to why the name Ashram was changed. Osho had rejected the term "Ashram" in the autumn of 1989, and the same was announced in the 'Osho Times' magazine of that time. Furthermore, Osho did not live in Pune for 'most of his life' and in fact resided in the present campus for a total of ten years out of 59 years of his life. There is therefore and never was only a "Pune Ashram".

The contention that "Osho's Ashram at Pune is considered and believed to be the main Ashram and place of worship of Osho in the entire world" is not only totally wrong and erroneous but is a shocking piece of misinformation. Not only was Osho completely uninterested in what people "believe" he rejected the value of belief as such, and in particular the idea that his work would include a "main Ashram" is ludicrous as hierarchy was something he spoke against during his entire life. Likewise, "worship of Osho" is as gross a misunderstanding as one can imagine.

Similarly, a question has been raised that "visitors to the Ashram come to pay tribute and seek blessing from Osho's Samadhi . It is simply not true or correct. Any person or people coming for that reason would be those who have not followed or understood or listened to what Osho taught. Osho's instructions for the use of his bed room, were simply that it would be "a place for people to meditate" and nothing else. The idea that Osho would want people to "pay tribute" or seek "blessings" from his ashes is pure fantasy of the traditional spiritual mind against which Osho spoke for 35 years. While 'inner peace' could be said to be available for meditators, the followers would by Osho's own definition, not be helped. In the same way the premises referred to us "the most sacred place in the world for Osho's devotees" is again a misinterpretation, as Osho had said except for this existence, you don't have any sacred place. This is the only holy, sacred temple. There is no other temple. All other temples are false, substitutes to deceive and cheat you." Osho's interest was only in awareness, and not at all in these traditional substitutes presented under the guise of "spirituality." As Osho had put it: "It does not matter where awareness happens, what matters is that it happens. If it happens in a casino, then the casino has become a temple, a sacred place."

It is worth reviewing Osho's own approach to "sacred places" in relation to his own life. When his own family has asked Osho if they could turn his birth place into a sacred place and a shrine, he had declined. Then after he had spent some years in his flat in Bombay, his secretary had asked if they should buy the flat as memorial, to which he had again refused. Further, when Osho was designing the old meditation hall called Chuang Tzu so that it could become his new bedroom. The exact spot where he had sat on and spoken from than any other place and which was again the exact spot where he had given sannyas to thousands of meditators was the spot he turned it into a cupboard for cleaning materials. He did not preserve that spot for posterity as so many of his "followers" might have wished.

Similarly (many) have no idea what they are talking about when they have tried to elucidate the devotional aspect of Osho. Osho's view on devotion to quote was, "For example, devotion is far lower than love, because devotion basically implies self-disrespect. I am against it because at the cost of self-respect you are respecting somebody else. The cost is too much. My whole effort is to teach you to feel dignity as a human being, to feel self-respect as part of this beautiful existence."

THE INNER CIRCLE HAS NOT BEEN DISSOLVED; IT IS FUNCTIONING WELL.

Rumors have been spread by the vested interests that the group of 21 disciples called Inner Circle, which was alleged to have been created to manage day to day activities of Pune Commune and to take care of movable and immovable properties and intellectual property rights and assets of Osho all over the world, has been dissolved. This is absolutely incorrect. Osho did not have any personal assets at all. The properties belong to the Trust. It has been denied by the OIF that Inner Circle has been dissolved. It is in existence and functioning well according to the wishes of Osho.

Lies have been spread by Osho sannyasins who have left Osho Commune in the year 2000 and subsequently, that few persons viz. Mr. Micheal O'Byrne alias Swami Jayesh, Mr. George Merdith alias Swami Amrito and Mr. Darcy O'Byrne alias Swami Yogendra are interfering in the affairs of the Trust or that they are trying to exercise the powers of the Trustees. This is not correct. There is no delegation of any powers by trustees to them or for that matter to anybody else. Such rumors have been spread by these out going sannyasins out of jealousy perhaps with the motive to take the control of management of OIF and Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune in their hands. They think that because Osho was born in India, therefore Indians should have that right. This is against the wishes of Osho.

OSHO INTERNATIONAL MEDITATION RESORT, PUNE, INDIA HAS NOT BEEN COMMERCIALIZED

The trustees are not converting the properties of OIF Trust for their personal benefits. These are not being used for commercial venture as has been pointed out by few friends. The trustees are not alienating the properties of the said Trust or are trying to prevent any person from participating in meditation activities within the said Trust premises. The trustees are working according to the wishes of Osho. The OIF has strongly denied that its trustees have done anything contrary to the teachings of Osho. On the contrary they have strictly adhered to the philosophy/principles of Osho. There are doubts in the minds of many Osho's sannyasins and friends that the trustees of OIF have made certain changes in the functioning of Osho Commune , Pune which were against the teachings of Osho and which have hampered the Growth of his work and inflow of visitors of the Commune. Whatever changes have been made in the functioning of the Commune are made according to the ideas and wishes of Osho. The OIF has denied that any change is against the directions of Osho and that it was prejudicially affecting the inherent rights of the individual followers. Increasing number of participants in the commune from over 120 countries visit the said Trust premises each year to participate in the teachings of Osho.

YOU PAY FOR EVERYTHING IN LIFE, WHY NOT FOR YOUR MEDITATION?

Few people have objected for charging entry fee in Osho International Meditation Resort (OIMR), Pune. They claim that by doing so the commune has been commercialized. Such doubts indicate that these people know nothing about the working of Osho and his wishes. When Osho had been questioned as to, "Why must everybody who wants to do meditation or hear the lecturer pay for this?" Osho had answered, "Why not? You pay for everything in life, why not for your meditation? You pay for everything in your life, why not for God? Why do you want God for free? In fact you don't want God. You are ready to pay for whatsoever you want. You know that you have to pay. Meditation you don't want. If it is given free, and even with a 'prashad', then you will think about it. You are ready to go to the movie and pay for it; why should you not pay for your meditation and the lecture if you want to hear it? The question comes, naturally, from an Indian and a non-sannyasin who does not understand me at all, who must be newcomer. The Indians think they are the most religious people in the world; all bullshit. They are the most irreligious people in the world – they just have an egoistic idea that they are very religious. If you are really religious, you will be ready to pay for your meditation with everything, even with your life.

"What is money? If you pay five rupees for something, and if you earn ten rupees a day, then you have paid with half the day. Money is just a symbol that you have devoted half your day's labor for it. You go to the movie and pay ten rupees for a ticket; you earn ten rupees per day. You are saying that this movie is worth it – "I can stake one day's labor for it." But you are not ready to stake anything for your meditation, prayer, for religion. In fact, religion is the last thing on your list. You want it free; basically you don't want it. If there is a price to it you start feeling uneasy. You ask why you have to pay here. The price that is asked is nothing; it is just the beginning of learning a certain lesson: that one has to pay for everything, and certainly for prayer, certainly for meditation – because it is the highest thing in life. Those few rupees that you have to pay are very symbolic, just symbolic, and just token – they indicate something. If you are ready to pay something, then I know you will be persuaded to pay more. By and by, one day you will be able to stake your whole life for it. If you are not ready to pay even five rupees for it, it is impossible for you to stake your whole life. There are only two ways. One is: somebody else should donate for you. But why somebody else should donate for you? You will meditate and somebody else will donate for you. Why? If you want to meditate, you pay for it. And if you really want to meditate you will be ready to pay for it; there should be no hitch about it. If you don't have money, go and earn it. If it is absolutely impossible, then come and work in the ashram and pay that way, work wise. But don't ask to come for free.

"The greatest greed is for money, so whenever you have to lose your money you have to lose a little part of your greed. When you pay five rupees for entry, you are paying by dropping a little greed. The money is not the problem, the problem is greed; you are dropping a little greed. And this is just a beginning – because meditation can happen only when all greed disappears. A slight greed inside you and meditation is not possible. For a greedy mind there is no meditation; meditation happens only to a non-greedy mind. If you don't have money, then work. Pay by your work and show your sincerity."

Thus it is revealed from public statements made above by Osho that everybody pays for everything. And hence the money is then made available for the expansion of Osho's work, just as he requested. The implication that this process for "a few individuals for making gains by way of commercial benefits" is totally untrue and therefore show a gross misunderstanding of Osho's specific guidance.

Osho during his lifetime had directed that the activities of the Trust should be self sufficient. Accordingly, NSF/OIF has been charging daily entrance fees from visitors to meet the day to day expenses of the Trust. Since, over the past twenty five years, the cost of living and the cost of goods and services has increased dramatically, the trustees were left with no option but to increase entrance fees from Rs.40/- to Rs. 480/- for Indian participants and to Rs. 980/- for foreign participants over a period of twenty five years.

WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT WELCOME IN OSHO COMMUNE, PUNE?

As per Osho's guidance, anyone who went public in the newspapers or magazines criticizing his work were not welcome, and that they would be welcome only if they realized their mistake and published an apology in the same newspaper or magazine where they had publicly gone against his work. By automatic application of this rule, some people have got themselves banned for participating in the commune activities. The friends need to understand that the movement of Osho is not a religious movement. Only spiritual and philosophical activities are carried out in the commune and no religious activities (like other established religions) relating to any religion were or are practiced in the Commune even during the life time of Osho.

CLARIFICATION ON EMPLOYING OUT SIDE WORK FORCE FOR MAINTAINING THE COMMUNE

Some Osho friends have been raising the question that the Commune Management has been avoiding the use of volunteers offering their services for maintenance of the Commune and instead using outside workforce which has increased expenditure. Such expenditure could have been avoided. In this respect the OIF has explained in the following words:-

"It is correct that the persons living in the Osho Commune or visiting the same would offer their voluntary servicers for any kind of work that would be available as per the request of such persons. Considering the need of keeping the highest standards of hygienic living, and creating an atmosphere most suitable for spiritual activities, it was realized that a large work force of manpower was needed. All the time there was a need of workmen being available at all material times and right kind of workmen with necessary skills or experience even in the most minor kind of chores or work. It was found that the inmates of Osho Commune though were willing to work, and volunteer their services in their desired field of activities, still several aspects of maintenance needed work force which was not available and therefore there was a need to employ people. In addition thereto it was also found that it was impossible to depend wholly and fully on the volunteers and it was found to be uneconomical too as the volunteers were required to be accommodated, supplied the necessities like food etc. and therefore a conscious decision was taken not to depend entirely on the services volunteered by the disciples. Even as on today the Trust gratefully appreciates the services volunteered by the disciples and depending on the availability of the work even as on today such work is done by the volunteers. Earlier also all the work of the Commune was not being done by the volunteers. Approximately 3oo persons are required for maintenance and upkeep of the Osho Commune. On an average the number of inmates and volunteers are in the range of 100 to 150 depending upon the inflow of the persons in the Commune. It is impossible to depend on the volunteers, to do a work, which requires 300 persons approximately. No person is restrained wrongfully or otherwise from performing such services.

In order to maintain a proper hygienic and clean atmosphere conducive to the spiritual activities attempts are made to achieve the highest standards. A company which is internationally known and expert in the field has therefore been engaged. Prior to this company Sodexho, another company namely, Kinship was entrusted with the work since about 1994 which worked till about 2002 and created several labor problems. The present organization Sodexho has been working in the commune since about 2002 and therefore, is not a recent development."

THE INCREASE IN THE ENTRY FEE WAS JUSTIFIED

It is correct that the entry fee has been increased from Rs.40/- to Rs. 480/- for Indian nationals and Rs.980/- for the foreigners. The entry fee for the Indian Nationals is lower than the per day participants actual expenses incurred by the Trust and in fact Indian National are enjoying a subsidized charge on account of the foreign nationals who are contributing more for the same. Further, the fee of Rs.40/- was being charged in the year 1987. Thereafter, gradually each year the fee was increased by about 15% and the fees charged as on today are almost after 25 years when the fees were Rs.40/- in the year 1987. This is not high handed or arbitrary action.

There is doubt in the minds of some of the friends that due to the unreasonable increase of entry fees the number of sannyasins and friends visiting the commune has been reduced which is causing loss to the Commune. This is not correct. The trustees are not charging any heavy entrance fee which fact has been explained in the above Para. Whosoever has visited the Commune knows, understands and appreciates the surroundings, the atmosphere and the attempts and efforts to keep the highest standards conducive to the spiritual activities and the cost that is and would be involved. The services of the volunteers are continued to be accepted and no one is denied his desire to offer voluntary services.

CLARIFICATION ABOUT OSHO'S PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND ARTS ETC.

Few friends have raised the question that the trustees of OIF have stopped displaying the personal belongings and arts of Osho on particular important days i.e. particular days of celebration. That this act of the trustees raises the doubts that these things are not available in the Pune Commune and may have been shifted for the personal gains of the trustees.

The OIF has clarified that there has never been the practice of displaying the personal belonging or other belongings of Osho to be seen by his disciples. The paintings, signatures etc. and pieces of arts etc. are all over the Commune. It was Osho's insight that every day is a celebration and there was no need to celebrate any particular day and hence the Trustees in turn permit celebration every day.

All personal articles of Osho, his library, photo gallery, paintings, and original manuscripts have been properly accounted for and kept secured in the Commune. In view of above position it will be wrong to say that in order to convert the property into the own property the Trustees have made attempt to shift all these articles to some other place in the world and started generating income there from for their personal gains. This seems to be a false propaganda being made by those who are working against the rebellious spirit of Osho' Vision.

Some friends have a misunderstanding that they get connected to Osho by looking at his belongings is simply unfortunate. Osho had spent 35 years explaining that there was only one way to get close to him or get connect, and that was by getting close to yourself, to meditate, and to look inwards and not outwards.

WHY VARIOUS FUNCTIONS LIKE 'BIRTH DAY' ETC. HAVE BEEN STOPPED?

Many friends are not aware of Osho's public statements on "celebration days". In a public talk in 1986 Osho had explained that there would be no more regular festival days: "Now we will not be having any celebrations; now the celebration will continue all the year round – three hundred and sixty five days of celebration! And this is going to be the new order of the Buddhafield."And yet in another public talk from that time, Osho had said: " I am going to drop all the festivals so there is no need for twenty thousand, thirty thousand people together, because then there is no intimacy. So the festival will be every day. And why have only one festival when you can have three hundred and sixty five!" And further "we will dissolve those four ceremonies and make the whole year a festival – a three-hundred-and-sixty-five-day festival …. So now the whole year will be the festival."

"As your silence grows, your friendliness, your love grows, a joy, a celebration. Do you hear On his return to India in the same year, Osho further spoke in Mumbai: the firecrackers outside? Have you ever thought about why, all over the world, in every culture, in every society, there are a few days in the year for celebration? These few days for celebration are just compensation – because these societies have taken away all celebration of your life, and if nothing is given to you in compensation your life can become a danger to the culture."

In view of above statements of Osho these celebrations on special days like Birth day or Enlightenment day were not stopped arbitrarily, but were stopped in response to the explicit wishes of Osho.

THERE EXISTED NO SAMADHI OF OSHO, BUT ONLY HIS BED ROOM WHERE FRIENDS MEDITATE

Few people having vested interests have spread the rumors that Osho's Samadhi has been spoiled or shifted from Osho Commune, Pune. This is false propaganda made just to spread misunderstandings about the functioning of the Commune.

While in Pune, Osho used to reside in 'Chuang Tzu' House. As per Osho's instructions his ashes have been kept in his bed room. His instructions for the use of his bed room were simply that it would be "a place for people to meditate", and nothing else. Some people's idea that Osho would want people to "pay tribute" or seek "blessings" from his ashes is pure fantasy of the traditional spiritual mind against which Osho spoke for 35 years. Osho had said, "Except for this existence, you don't have any sacred place. This is the only holy, sacred temple. There is no other temple. All other temples are false, substitute to deceive and cheat you."Osho's interest was only in awareness, and not at all in these traditional substitutes presented in the guise of "spirituality". As Osho has put it, "It does not matter where awareness happens, what matters is that it happens. If it happens in a casino, then the casino has become a temple, a sacred place."

Several disciples and friends of Osho did come and meditate in the said 'Chuang Tzu' during the life time of Osho and the meditation continues even as on today in the said "Chuang Tzu". Few friends have raised the question for the removal of the name plate 'Samadhi' from 'Chuang Tzu" house now is also not correct. Such name plate was removed more than 14 years before as the place was not a Samadhi.

Few vested interests have pointed out that the trustees of OIF are manipulating Osho's work and vision and thereby have got disgraced and have prejudiced the interests of the disciples all over the world. This is all imagination and nothing else.

(Note: OIF has the copyrights of all above Osho's quotations.)

OSHO FRIENDS TRUST