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“You need to work for Osho, make environment that we can have some camp in the USA”, were the words of our beloved Swami Arun when I was bidding goodbye for my studies in the USA. I had no clue, rather disbelief that I could arrange anything without any resources and any active contacts in USA.
And here we are, we were able to organize Osho meditation camps in 6 different cities in US and Canada in the first try. I am still amazed how everything happened. Swami Parimal and Ma Rachana were instrumental in this effort.
Swami Arun landed on 26th June at New York. On 28th a talk program on Strees Management for life style management was organized at Empire State College (State University of New York). Faculty and staff of the college participated in the event. We did two small Osho meditations. On 29th June, we had a satsang program at Hindu temple where 40 people participated and two days evening programs at (30 June and 1st August) Thai Buddha Vihar where 20 people participated. In these events three friends joined Osho neo Sannyas. Talks about opening a new center at NY has materialized and a new center was planned to be inaugurated on 6th August when we were to return back to NY from the trip.
Next we had a weekend Meditation camp at Atlanta from 4-6 July. The camp had 25 participants. Ma Abha, Swami Paritosh and friends had organized the event with immense love. Swami Arun talked about Osho and his early days. Six friends were initiated during the camp. The Atlanta group decided to do regular meditation meetings every week (initially it was once a month). For last two days we held a satsang program at Swami Ananda Teertha and Ma Chetna’s residence.
From Atlanta we travelled to Columbus and then to Chicago where we had two days residential meditation camp from 11-13 July. The efforts of Sw Murali, Ruchi, Ma Shanti and Shakti beared good fruits. 40 friends participated and 10 took sannyas. Many old time Osho sannyasins participated in camp.
After Chicago we took a detour to North and South Carolina and went to see the Medissage center run by an old time Osho sannyasin Swami Gyan Keerti.
Then we headed for greater Washington DC area, where Swami Yoga Prabhat had arranged a weekend meditation camp from 19-20 July. Total of 30 friends participated in the meditations and 2 were initiated into Sannyas.
It was followed by a meditation camp at Brampton in Canada from 26-27 July which was organized by Swami Sukhminder and friends. More than 45 people gathered for the camp on both days, many of whom where new Friends. 6 friends were initiated into Sannyas. Meditation Camp in Brampton resulted in opening up of four meditation centers, namely, Maulshree, Jagaran, Madhuban, Guru Kripa Osho meditation centers on 30 and 31st July. Celebrations were organized in the centers. All of them have daily meditations and weekly satsang programs. On 28th July a talk program was organized at the University of Guelph on the topic “meditation for Busy people”. The program was coordinated by Swami Dhyan Amrit and was attended by about 55 people. Swami Arun talked about the need of meditation in daily life and we experimented with a short Osho Meditation. It was followed by an interesting question and answer session.
After Canada, we had our final meditation camp at Dallas Texas (2-3 August). Friends in Dallas had never organized a two days meditation camp before and were quite skeptical about the number of participants. But to their surprise friends from as far as Houston, Oklahoma and Atlanta joined in the meditation camp. About 30 people attended the camp and five were initiated into sannyas. Sw Arun spoke about Osho, his ways and need for discipline and the freedom it brings. Ma Azti and friends did a marvelous job in coordinating the event.
Now the camps were over, we had to return back to New York to catch our flights. A new center was inaugurated amidst a celebration in New York’s Long Island City on 6th August. “Osho Sadhana Meditation center” was the name of the center. Swami Parimal is a resident in the center and is managed by him and Swami Narendra. The center will conduct daily evening meditations and weekend meditation camps.
During all the meditation camps, I had the fortune to Travel with and assist Swami Anand Arun. I was amazed by his patience and the way he presented Osho to each and everybody. His love for our master brings tears in my eyes. I can never thank him enough for all the love and sharing. In all the camps he emphasized on the importance of daily meditations, mala, Osho’s pictures, need for a meditation center and how a disciplined life can bring about transformation and freedom in life. Wherever he went, his goal would be to talk as much about Osho as possible, inspire friends, wake them up to open a meditation center in their city. In all the cities, something of this sort started. In places where centers were already in place, they made a commitment to meet as often as possible. All want him to come back soon to US for more meditation camps and we have already started planning for the next summer. More details will be posted on http://www.tapoban.com as we roll out some events.
Today was the departure date for Swami ji and me too. Made some quick breakfast and got some fruits. We had completely missed the packet from Niagara Falls. Sw ji was not happy with that. But we finally managed to pack everything up and left for Airport. At the airport, we had some food and then swami ji left for security check. It was sad to see him go away. It was a long company of 6 weeks. I do not know if we could keep him in good comfort but he was so cooperative, never complained. We could not keep him to the standards but we tired our best. Next time we plan a trip we will be very careful about the trip timings and sequence.
On my way back, talked with Sudi and I was in tears when they talked about swami ji. I was really missing him now. Went back to the center to take shower and some rest. Picked up Bhuwan and then they dropped me to the Subway station. Grey hound was a bit delayed but the travel was comfortable and took me to Cleveland without any problem. I had let Molly know about Swami jis arrival to Delhi and they are making arrangements to pick him up from the Airport.
Today was the day to leave. Rakesh took us to airport. I could see him change from normal person to a very loving person in these three days. Flights and connections (via Cleveland) were on time. Narinder and Bhuwan had come to receive us at the airport and we went straight to the center. Swami ji was extremely delighted to see a new center open up in New York. The name was “Osho Sadhana Meditation center” at 18-52 21st Drive Astoria, NY 11105. We did evening meditation and then a friend was initiated into sannyas. Bharati didi, Madhu ji and many friends had gathered in the center for celebrations. After dinner, we went over to Bharati didi’s house for some rest.
Today we went to fry’s store and then to the Costco and then to Azti’s resort which was really beautifully deisgned and maintained and then came back home. Swami Yog’s son had arrived for sannyas. Anika also took sannyas. “Ma Deva Tanuja” was her new name. Then we went out for a trip to Hare Krishna temple, met a bhakta and sw ji chatted with him for a while. Dallas downtown looked nice in the night. Then we had dinner at Maneesh’s house, which was great. It was almost 3 when we slept. Due to my stupidity, I could not get the hard disk delivered on time to take to Tapoban.
Played Wii games with Anika and Rakesh, they are experts. Azti and her friend took us around downtown and up the Chase observation tower. It was a meditative atmosphere in the deck. We went to see the imax movie, “Roving Mars”, it was my first Imax experience and it was great, sw ji enjoyed it too.
Swami Yog invited us over to his house for dinner. We had a small meditation. I had forgotton to bring the cables for the ipod, got a little bit of scolding from Sw ji, but thank god, his sons had some stuff to hook the ipod. Sw Arun talked about Osho and the Five disciplines for Osho Disciples. The food was great too.
Today we started with Mandala Meditation. As it had already been many years since I last did Mandala, it was very tiring. My legs still can feel the pain at times. Again Swami ji talked about Osho. Girija was initiated into sannyas. We had a sharing session too. Swami Yog spoke at length, I did not know when I slept… he took us out for lunch too. And in the evening, we had a mala celebration for him too. The camp ended very well. Sudi departed in Tears, it was touching moment for me, some special connection .. may be.
The camp started a little lat, at about 9am. We did stop meditation, sw ji was in deep meditation, even in such a sweaty and heated room. We then did Chakra-sound meditation immediately after the break. About 25+ people were there in the first day. People had come all the way from Oklahoma and Huston and Atlanta. Sudi also arrived at about 11am. It was so good to see him again. Prakash dai and Bhauju also came to participate in the camp. It was overwhelming to see him again. We went out for lunch and then swami ji talked about Osho and then we did Kundalini meditation. After Kundalini we aimed for Nadabrahma and then Evening satsang meditation followed where Minesh became Swami Anand Maneesh. So many meditations in a same day. We came back home after meditation. Sw ji relaxed on the massage chair in Rakesh’s Room. It was nice to see him enjoy the various modes of the chair.
Slept till late and then in the evening we went out to see the Place for meditation. We met Azti and friends in the club. It was almost 110 Degree Fs, it was like being in a oven. Joie had also arrived in Atlanta already.
To Niagara and back to US Buffalo/Newark/Dallas,TX. Experience of the Niagara was awesome. The Canadian Horse shoe style was nice. Sw ji was delighted to see the water and the mist rising from the falls. Took a lot of pictures. Flight to Buffalo was really late so we went on 4:15 am flight which was to depart on 5:50(finally on 6:11). We are now stuck in Buffalo Airport which is delayed for again another 1 hour. To depart at 8pm but doesnot seem that it will start before 9:30pm. Finally the flight reached at around 2 am and Rakesh had come to pick us up. Lovely dinner and nice sleep.
Went to Sukhy’s house and opened a center “ Osho Guru Kripa MC” at Brampton.
Then to Sukhy’s saloon for a hair cut. We then went around Downtown Toronto, went up the CN tower. Reached Ma Udgaya’s house at around 10:00pm and opened a new center “Osho Maulshree MC”. Sw ji was at his peak even after such a tiring journey. They agreed for a rotatory satang program among all the four places in the Toronto and Greater Toronto Area. Again Asheesh, Amrito and Me went to Ma Asha’s house and then Asha and Asheesh went and then Amrito and I went on our own. It was again a tiring journey back home.
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