After watching the entire seven-hour documentary on Netflix, Wild Wild Country, the following poured out. Pranam to ALL.
Does anyone really believe – after hearing directly from the U.S. Attorney; Oregon State Attorney General; Bill Bowerman; those who we did not hear from in the series but whose opinions have been documented by Max Brecher in A Passage to America such as Edwin Meese, (U.S. Attorney General); Pope Benedict before he was pope (Joseph Ratzinger); and many more – after hearing from these people, does anyone really believe if we had just been a little more ‘good neighborly’ they would have allowed us to continue? Perhaps if all we had wanted to do was have a communal farm for a couple of hundred friends. Maybe. But I am doubtful even of that.
Osho wanted to build a city/commune, a place where thousands could gather and meditate together. In order to create that space, a lot of work needed to be done, but this work was to be done with awareness, with love. This was only possible because of someone like Sheela and her “gang” who created a protective shell around the community for the meditators/workers to carry on. Her job was to keep the forces that colluded from day one to close us down at bay long enough to for us to finish the job. You see, I do not subscribe to the belief that Osho ever intended Rajneeshpuram to be an ongoing, permanent community. It was as Osho has said about his community, “an experiment to provoke God.” We were creating a “footprint” on the Earth. A footprint of consciousness. Just the effort to create such a community was an opening in the consciousness of the world. It has been attempted before to lesser degrees and with each attempt the ball has moved forward. But this attempt was not scorning the use of science and technology. This attempt was not renouncing the world; it was an attempt that would bring Zorba and Buddha together in harmony. It would ultimately bring 10,000 meditators together in a city they had created for themselves. And in that work of creation, the effect would be that many of those who had worked on the project were transformed.
But in order to create this Buddhafield, someone was going to have play defense so the work could continue. Most of us inside the Ranch did not know the extent of the opposition to our very presence until the bombing of Hotel Rajneesh in Portland. And this event was a wake-up call for Sheela too. If we were going to survive long enough to complete the experiment, we would have to be able to protect ourselves. And the best protection was in showing the outside world that we were willing to protect ourselves and had the means. That was a language they could understand. We very publicly displayed our resources and even filmed our abilities at the shooting range. This was enough to create doubt. And in my mind, this is why nobody was ever shot at, no one was ever hurt by firearms.
In the Wild Wild Country series, you hear Shanti B. describe what it was like to be in the meetings with Sheela and crew. They would gather around and problem solve. For example, we weren’t allowed to have commercial activity at the Ranch; okay we’ll do it in Antelope. We weren’t allowed to do it in Antelope; okay we’ll buy up properties in order to control the decision-making. We weren’t allowed by Wasco County to carry on our activities; okay we’ll bring in more voters to the county. Where can we get more voters? How about the homeless people? Good idea, and then we can do two things, we can help the homeless and elect out representatives too. They were just problem solving to the best of their abilities. All the while “running interference” so that the work at the Ranch could continue.
In life we have projects that we are working on, and if we are very determined, we try every avenue to success, but sometimes we just have to recognize “the jig is up” and let go. In hindsight, it appears that being about to lose the Wasco County Commissioner election was one of those times. Many will say that we shouldn’t have tried to affect the election with the Share-A-Home program, and that is probably true. But just as it is one-sided to talk only of the benefits of the program (bringing the homeless off the street, exposing street people to meditation, giving a sense of self-worth to those who felt abandoned, etc.) without talking about the well-known ill effects, so too is it one-sided to ignore these benefits. By the way, yes, there were some who were forcibly removed, but there were also some who remained to the very end, long after many of us had found new homes.
But clearly, when we were not able to affect the election with our newfound comrades, that was the time to realize we had done all that we could do. And Sheela should have been willing to let go of her position if that is what it meant. It is interesting that Osho decided to begin giving discourses again the very night we had a voter rally with the homeless. I think he knew “the jig was up.” We would be able to continue with the momentum created for just one more year.
Now, how to unwind this experiment that many had mistakenly thought was a permanent utopian dream?
Fortunately, Sheela provided the answer for most of that too. It was her own unwillingness to accept defeat, to let go of power, that would be the means for unwinding the commune. The crimes that were committed in order to hang on to power were the means that allowed the external forces to extinguish the experiment. But the experiment had already succeeded. We had already created a city of 10,000 meditators. We had created a beautiful eco-friendly community in the desert. And in the process, all of us were transformed to varying degrees. It was time to let go.
Osho saw the situation and very wisely left the Ranch which avoided the confrontation that the Oregon National Guard, FBI, State Police, and local law enforcement feared.
Osho returned to India with a few stops along the way. Many sannyasins joined him to listen to his talks for a couple more years. (He still had a few things to say.) Others took whatever light had been ignited in “the experiment” and went out into the “marketplace.”
Do you really think that if it had been someone different in Sheela’s place the result would have been better? Personally, I doubt it.
It goes without saying that none of this would have taken place without Osho. I bow down. But perhaps, what is not so obvious, is that each and every actor is essential in this play.
So, I bow down to everyone who participated in whatever way you did, and I don’t exclude anyone. Everyone played their part which includes the residents, the RHT workers, the festival workers, all of the visitors, those that stayed and those that left, those who never managed to make it to the Ranch, and those that stayed to the very end. And how can I bow down to Sheela and her crew without also bowing down to the residents of Antelope and Wasco County, the government officials, and the Rajneesh Hotel bomber because without any of you, there may not be that “footprint in consciousness” in the Oregon desert.
-purushottama
This is from the collection of stories, essays, poems and insights that is compiled to form the book From Lemurs to Lamas: Confessions of a Bodhisattva. Order the book Here.
Thank you Purushottama for the perspective. Love.
Beautiful….brings tears to my eyes…we are blessed in so may ways.
I also applaud your take and expression and agree with you: The experiment to provoke god was a success. It was never about establishing a permanent foothold in America or anywhere else. It was about transforming enough of us to change the suicidal arc of human kind – in the world.
I feel compelled to add: The inhumane crimes that were committed by Sheela against the homeless and the 700+ innocent people poisoned and many Sannyasins are much more serious than you let on.
It is not the case, that just the violent among the Share-a-home people were shipped out of Rajneeshpuram. Once it became clear that the previously homeless had outlived their political usefulness, essentially the entire lot of them were made homeless again, expelled in the dead of night, but not before stripping them of the winter coats we had given them.
You didn’t mention the mass poisoning in the Dalles, the worst bioterror attack in the history of the country.
These things I bring out here because the impact of this ugliness was an integral part of what made Rajneeshpuram so appropriately dissolutioning and therefore so transformative.
There was so much light and magnificence in Rajneeshpuram. And there was darkness and ugliness. Just as there is within all of us too. Nothing is to be excluded.
Beloved Tilopa,
There is of course much more that could have been said, but the question that I was asking and answering for myself was “Would we have succeeded in putting that “footprint in consciousness” if someone other than Sheela was in charge? Would the “powers that be” have allowed us to build our city of 10,000 meditators if we had treated our neighbors better? Cheers!
ps. BTW I am wondering if you have seen the series yet? I can’t really tell from your comment.
Beloved Purushottama, and my dear friend – A BIG YES to your question and your answer both. It is very difficult – impossible for me – to imagine anybody else in our world could have done the job that Sheela was called upon to do. I agree wholeheartedly and unreservedly.
Yes I saw the documentary and enjoyed it very much.
When the story is told I am Johnny one note on the notes that are most difficult to hear. Apologies and smiles to one and all
Pranam. A big, big hug and perhaps even a smacker on the cheek. love from here to you and the one standing next to you.
Yes and no…
the homeless, the guns, the Sheela, the… you?
Question arises: what were you doing at the time of the crime? Classic Agatha Christie my dear sannyasin… as from your own account: you were there, in Rajneeshpuram! Aha! So perhaps you had no motive, no opportunity to commit any crime? Is that what you are saying? We don’t know that, we don’t know who you are! I must agree finally with Puro (what a long name…) we are all actors in this game.
Meaning: you can’t be left out of the crime. So why should you and other holier-than-thou point the finger? I shall never know.
I was never near the scene of the crime, but I enjoyed every moment of it!!!
Why didn’t you, that’s the real question???
Well summarized. ..
Everything happens!!!
As your title says foot print of consciousness, 10000 Buddha’s influence many more people like me to take a step with consciousness.
Much gratitude for your postings!
So very interesting, Prem. I wish I had been more attentive at the time. I knew you were there, but had little understanding of the processes that occurred. I watched the first two episodes last night. To be continued. I so appreciate your comments.
Rhonda
Very well written. Delighted to read your perspective.
I still get a smile to see that Osho still creating big waves 28+ years after leaving the body! Grateful to all those who made and contributed to this docuseries as this may bring many more genuine seekers to Osho.
Love
Thanks to all
Beloved Puroshottama, thank you, thank you, thank you! Beautiful! Much love, Ayama
Dear Purushottama,
yes that was very well written thank you (and btw. I very much appreciate your blog ) – however what comes to my mind after watching the series (and reading court documents etc.) is this :
What if the emperor simply had no clothes ( or lost them along the way ) and it is simply too painful or difficult to seriously entertain that thought ?
Beloved Purnam,
Of course the emperor had no clothes. That is because the emperor had disappeared long before we met him. For some time I clung to the clothes but in meditation even the clothes disappeared. And where there were clothes there is only Unconditional Love. To be that Unconditional Love, I must love unconditionally. And it is that Unconditional Love that still binds many of his sannyasins today. love to you and to V. if she is still by your side.
Dear Purushottama,
Thank you so much for so eloquently expressing what I feel is in the hearts of many of us who shared in “the footprint of consciousness”. I am forever grateful for the experience! Love <3
The core and overview of this whole happening:
So I bow down to everyone who participated in whatever way you did and I don’t exclude anyone. Everyone played their part, which includes the residents, the RHT workers, the festival workers, all of the visitors, those that stayed and those that left, those who never managed to make it to the Ranch and those that stayed to the very end. And how can I bow down to Sheela and her crew without also bowing down to the residents of Antelope and Wasco County, the government officials, and the Rajneesh Hotel bomber, because without any of you there may not be that “footprint of consciousness” in the Oregon desert.
I feel a deeper understanding of the whole that gives space for compassion beyond judgement. Going beyond the agressor/victim paradigm. Forgiveness happens and nobody does it. Grace finally.
Riveted, I watched the whole series, Prem. Yes we’re all players on the stage and all executed their roles well. I am reminded of the Gita in which Krishna speaks to Arjuna as he’s about to go into battle and assures him he needs to play his role on the battle field. Sheela played her role and who is to judge it. As she said, Everyone should be happy they were even in this opera, or something to that effect. Now we are again in challenging times with the US devolving into totalitarianism led by the Manchurian candidate. So much has happened in this short lifetime of ours, it’s dizzying. How do we respond now? Many answer we should stay in the Oneness. I have jumped into duality to fight, non violently, but with pen and presence.
In awareness Oneness fights with Oneness. That is how transformation occurs. love.
Dear , i send you the version of our blog in english. It´s about Wild Wild Country.
With Love
Jemima
https://amoscaqueperturbaoteusono.wordpress.com
Osho did whatever he wanted to do wake up us all. I simply love him. A mere thought of whatever happened with lovely sanyasins in the commune bring tears to me.
Lots of Love to you all and My Osho.