osho buddhism: April 2008

Osho International Meditation Resort: Negligence

List of Articles

Yum Yum: Torrential rains drench the resort and stir up the wells; does a run-down water treatment plant spit out contaminated drinking water?

Terrorism: A perspective on how the Osho community is being terrorized.

Responses: Some feedback from resort management, inner-circle members, and the sannyasin community at large. Please note some of the language is offensive.

Report Assault 2: Was the Eviction Notice that was plastered all over Koregaon Park not received well?

Eviction Notice: Basically it says kick the buggers out!

Report Assault 1: The water contamination report was received well at the front-gate!

Water Contamination: And remember that the clouds are looming over the resort; indeed I would resort to bottled water if it rains!!!

Introductory Note: Gives a basic picture of negligence at the resort.

Further Reading: Gives a more detailed picture of negligence: from water, to water in food, to food, and beyond…

A Funny Email: Funny to some is not funny to others!

Yum Yum: Sunday March 23, 2008

Indeed it is a sad day for visitors to the Osho International Meditation Resort here in Pune, India. With my basic question remaining unanswered – other than by threats, banning, and violence – I can only assume that the water treatment systems remain in their archaic state. Hence the following scenario is an unfortunate and distinct possibility.

The resort has just been drenched by torrential rains. Hence the wells at the resort get stirred up with microbes and other contaminants. The water treatment systems draw this stirred up water, and because they have been in a poor state, simply deposit this contaminated water at random throughout the resort. So for the next few days, it is distinctly possible that the contaminated water will pass through the drinking water stations. Also, I would argue that the drinking water is tested weekly (not daily as on the osho.com website), and also, there is a 24 hour delay in determining test results. Indeed I feel for the innocent victims that are unknowingly going to the resort today, and consuming the water from the drinking water stations.

What is needed is as soon as it rained, a rigorous testing at various points throughout the water system, to ascertain exactly what is going on during periods of heavy rains. This of course was already done four monsoons ago, and the results were disastrous. It is in some way unfortunate that the level of contamination is below the threshold that the problem is obvious: that is, people dropping down in droves around the drinking water stations. Hence the resort can get away with what is happening. Further, I would add that the repeated occurrence of this situation of not doing anything is akin to poisoning. To introduce a contaminant into a water supply or to not make efforts to stop contaminants from entering a water supply is very very similar.
Finally I add that once the water network has been contaminated, even if drinking water stations are closed (with atleast a 24 hour delay of this happening), the contaminated system needs to then be appropriately flushed prior to re-opening. The reason for this is that microbes build up in the system.

Granted the water system may now be at least of reasonable standard. If this is the case I ask anyone that is interested in condemning me to save their energy and ask resort management if this is the case. So rather than venting your anger through blind ignorance and the false delusion that resort management are taking care, simply inform me that now care is being taken with respect to water.

Yahoo
Prem Abhay

Terrorism:

To Management Team India and Osho International Foundation (Inner-Circle/Trustees)

I have been the victim of two assaults. After the second assault, the next afternoon I was stopped by a guard who had just picked up a metal pole and held it behind his back, saying I could not pass along the public road. Eventually I passed by. The next afternoon he had a metal pole and glared at me. However he did not try and stop me walking along the public road. Today, Monday 25th Febuary, as I was putting up small flyers on some metal sheeting protecting a construction site that is not the property (as I understand it) of Osho International Meditation Resort nor Osho International Foundation. A security guard from Osho Resort followed behind me collecting the flyers. Another security guard approached from the other direction and said I could not do this. I said that this was a public road and the adjoining property was private and (presumably) not Osho Resort property, and to leave me alone. I seem to recall that one security guard said that someone had asked him approach me. After repeatedly (perhaps ten times) asking the other guard if he was security for Osho Resort, and similarly indicating that his security badge was turned around so I could not tell, he eventually turned the security pass around to confirm that he was working for Osho Resort. After me repeatedly saying that they had no right to interfere with me, they left me alone.

If this incident is leading up to a third assault on me I find it completely and totally unconscionable. I want to know from a person of relevant authority that I will not be assaulted a third time. I want to know that I can walk along any public road around the Osho Resort and not be unnecessarily approached, not be threatened, and not be attacked. My position is one of peaceful expression of my point of view. I want confirmation of my request urgently as from this mornings incident, a third assault may be imminent. Dhyanesh has been involved in two assaults on me. Obviously I therefore do not consider this person to be an appropriate authority, so I do not want him to reply to my request, and actually am requesting that senior management take appropriate measures to deal with this person.

Below is a copy of my latest work. For more details on the assaults and more works visit http://www.nomindspiration.com/

Yours sincerely,Prem Abhay.

Reflections: Violence in the Name of Religion

Strange it is to make a long journey to a foreign country knowing that one will be received with violence and hatred. I assume it must have either taken me a great deal of courage or a great deal of stupidity to make such a trip.
To put things in perspective the confrontation with ostensible senior Osho disciples has escalated from my side entirely by the written word. The written word managed to get me in my opinion threatened, then banned, and then assaulted.

When I arrived in Koregaon Park, and made the walk to the entrance of the Resort to hand out the Water Contamination Report, do you think that I knew that this might trigger hostility towards me? Most people generally thought that I was some crazy guy obviously with some crazy piece of paper. What is the harm in some lunatic standing around looking stupid and handing out a stupid piece of paper with gibberish written on it. I knew otherwise and so does management. Hence I new that the response would not be a passive one.

Management is well aware of the truth of what I have reported on. The facts are indisputable. The conclusions drawn are done so with rigorously comprehensive arguments. The case is in fact so strong that management has no intelligent response to it. Hence the need to create the illusion that Prem Abhay is a lunatic, and a violent one at that.
I asked Dhyanesh at one stage why a security guard needed to approach me in a threatening way with a metal pipe. Dhyanesh said he needed it to deal with people like me. People like me have engaged in peaceful, non-violent expression of their point of view. I am sorry, do I now reside in a special part of the globe where freedom of expression is suppressed by violence. Excuse me, did the plane I boarded for India accidentally land in Burma, Iran, or China?

In return for the reports that I have written management has replied with what I consider to be threats, being banned, and being assaulted. I have not heard a single word about the validity or not of what I have written. If I have made factual errors or errors in logic, or narrowness of perspective, and if that be the case on every single issue that I have written about, a simple letter saying so would have been much better than the absurd escalation that has occurred. If some of the issues that I raised were considered reasonable, and that they have been or are in the process of being addressed, a short response in this regard would also have been helpful.

I was assaulted for an attempt to peacefully hand out a report. I was assaulted a second time simply because I phoned someone from a phone that I was told to use by a ‘shift co-ordinator’. The second assault was worse than the first, and it looked to me like it may have been planned.
The response by some ostensible Osho sannyasins is to “put up or shut up”. The wiser Osho sannyasins rather than replying with offensive language – whether in person or by mail – tell of psychological deficiencies that have lead me down this troublesome road.

In response to vulgarity I have none. In response to others let it be known that criminals are dealt with in the court of law presided over by a judge, not in a therapist group room. I am sorry but soft fuzzy cushions have not played a part in the assaults on me.

In general terms I see that the argument put forward in response to my position is that we are creating a first class meditation resort, not a beggar seeking slum. However to argue this point knowing the state of neglect of basic infrastructure and maintenance shows a very deep misunderstanding. People can come and live in 5 star conditions at a 3 star price. Great!!! Unfortunately what they do not know is that they eat 2star food and drink 0 star water. To invest in a glorious façade and yet neglect basic maintenance is outright ridiculous. Was it in Osho’s guide-book for the future to have a 5 star façade with filth underneath? I thought Osho liked his sannyasins? Who is the beggar, where is the 5 star resort, why the slum, and who is being cheated?

It is my understanding the power games have played themselves out both at the management team India level, and at the inner-circle level. All is calm yet all is not well.
A common take on the inner circle is that 15 of the original 21 inner-circle members have either been forced out or left because they were forced out. Management team India and the current inner-circle are both responsible for what has been happening in the last years.
Clearly some people undertake or support violence in the name of Osho. This is religious extremism and is a worrying trend over the globe. Yet still people do not get it. How far will this violence go? Perhaps I am lucky that I cannot draw cartoons, however obviously what I write manages to evoke rage and violence.

The more a person clings to power the more they do so to avoid the darkness within. It spirals out of control as the power is dealt out in a more and more rigid and harsh fashion. Eventually this leads to downfall of the authoritarian rule, however as this happens those in power face their fear and express their rage. This worries me a great deal, especially because I have confirmed that some powers that be have not enough consciousness to own their violence and express it in a safe way.

From being in Pune for close to 2 months I have gathered a sense that the majority of the sannyasin community live in fear of speaking out against the resort, or even of offering their constructive opinion. I have spoken out and have been on the receiving end of violence. This validates my views, and probably reinforces the fear that many sannyasins feel. However it demonstrates that their fear is real, not just paranoia. Does this ring any bells; a group of people living in a state of fear; a state of terror?

Revelations and Responses:

Subject: RE: status of visitation

To whom it may concern,

My name is Prem Abhay.

I seek official clarification as to whether or not I am elligible to visit the Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune, India. Due to some apparently controversial reports that i circulated i received an email from Amrito (I am assuming this to be Doctor Amrito, Osho's personal physician). Amrito's email stated that some people feel that the resort is the last place I should be, and that i needed to write to response@osho.net before coming to the centre. My response was to send a letter (with a link to more details on a website) informing a number of Indian State and Federal agencies about my concerns. I also copied Amrito and "response" in the email. A copy of a series of email exchanges with Amrito is at the end of this email.

A copy of two website links that outline some of my concerns are below.

http://www.nomindspiration.com/SheelaNWho.zip

http://www.nomindspiration.com/SheelaAndWho.zip

The only other information of substance is a thirty page report received by Doctor Amrito. I would like to add that i considered the emails from Amrito to be of a threatening nature - in particular I was deeply concerned by the following: "several people...feel this is the last place you should be".

I would finally like to add that the only reason I can think a person of sound mind considers the concerns that I have documented to be groundless is that this person has been blatantly lied to. Yours sincerely,
Prem Abhay

Hello Abhay,
Here it is, the way you want the response… "You are not welcome at Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune";
Have fun,
Dhyanesh

(From Abhay To Response Team)

To Whom It May Concern I have been trying to find out if I am eligible to visit the Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune, India. After being redirect several times and then after several email exchanges by Dhyanesh, all I managed to find out was that I was not welcome. Quite obviously I am not welcome there. That is why I did not ask such a question. I wanted to know if I can visit the resort to reconnect with Osho. I am not interested in whether I am greated at the front gate with hugs and kisses or not.

I have been the target of slanderous, malicious lies that started out with me being apparently responsible for someone having a severe allergic reaction whilst working in Lao Tzu garden. The character defamation then turned to me being involved in causing people to drink contaminated water during a monsoon. These and any other propositions of this nature are utterly false.

It would be nice if it is so simple. Unfortunately these lies have the effect of people not listening to the warnings I am repeatedly trying to make about the resort. The problems therefore continue to worsen and pose more and more danger to the health and safety of resort guests. Now if the malicious rumours have a source, and if that source was found to be systematic and calculated in spreading the rumours, this person(s) becomes deeply responsible for the illegal goings on at the resort.

I know from Dhyanesh's email that he has the view that I am trying to have a bit of a laugh at the resorts expense, and will one day deeply regret it because for example now I am not welcome. Unfortunately this situation is not the case. Unless I here otherwise, I am assuming from Dhyanesh's email that although not welcome, I am eligible to visit the resort and reconnect with my beloved master Osho.

Finally, the actual reason why I am not welcome there is that I will push for the lies about me to be shown for what they are, and that this will in turn reveal some utterly unconscionable actions by people running the resort.

Abhay

PS Is there any vacancies at the GuestHouse soon.

Hello Abhay,
You are not welcome to visit Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune.
Response Team
(from Dhyanesh)

Dear Abhay,
I am afraid your website has caused a bit of stir, especially with your comments, now removed, but repeated in emails, that you might be the target of some murder plot… etc…etc.
Now you need to write here before coming…. Several people have seen this article and feel that this is the last place you should be!
I hope you are ok!
With best wishes,
Amrito

Hi Ji,
Please inform him that thanks but that you are our chief criminal negligence investigator and top notch to boot. Hence no need for his services at this time.
Much love,
Yogendra
D'Arcy O'Byrne BA, LL.B

First of all, who are you?The links on your page don´t work.If you have something to say, identify your self, otherwise keep silent.
Veetman

you must be kidding.
I will never open things like this and you shouldn't be sending them
Makrand

Beloved Abhay,i read your poetry and your prose and i wonder, how a human being can manage to vomit so much bullshit and still remain unaware about it.Usually, after a long vomit some clarity of vision and an awakening happens.But your sleep seems to be very very deep.Please go on vomiting.It may help you to awaken one day.
Love.Atasa

Dear Abhay,
i am sorry, that i have hurt you.Your Notice of Eviction provoked me very much.You are not honest.You are not interested in Osho's work and in his vision and in his meditation resort.It is out of your blind hunger for power, that you are giving so much juice to the "rumors".If the resort has to be sold, let it be sold.Why do you make such fuss about it?The sanyassin, who have understood osho's work, will go on working for the awakening of theier souls.If the resort remains, fine.If it is sold,also fine. It will not disturb theier understanding at all.Love.Atasa

…It's kind of like put up or shut up in my view…
Suparni

And it is clear to me that you are simply a troublemaker who takes noresponsibility for his own actions, continually provoking problems so thatyour own sense of importance can be inflated.You are a sad fool.I hope you stop sending me these emails, as I will not be reading anymore. Iread from start to finish and I think Dhyanesh was remarkably restrained inhis dealings with you.
Sw Jivan Chris

BeLoved Prem Abhay,
I just get sick by your so-called truth and going to thepolice. Why are you fighting. Just go to places where there is peace foryou. In this way I feel you have a lot off hate and in stead of doingdynamics, it seems you are dumping it all over... Police is your friend??? Idon't know you but you really sound as a weirdo to me, how you deal/fightwith problems. I hope you get soon loving and positive....Tara

are you crasy?why you still using your sannyas name?I see you around, you look terible, and loose yourtime in destroy thinks.go way from Poona, go way from Osho.go do some think good with your life.hipocrit.
Ekanta

Makrand:
run along idiot.

Klootzak
It is bad that this spiritual santa claus was burned after he died. They should burn him before he died

Obey Abhay,
It feels to me that beating you would help so that you move your energy more from your head...so full of yourself you are...here's a slap on your fanny...now go meditate!

Puhleez...stop sending me this crap you write...takes too much time to read and takes me way out there involved in your shit
Darshano

Report to Police: Assault 2 on Prem Abhay Date: Monday 28 Jan 2008
Location: Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune, INDIA

After the first assault, I e-mailed the Resort requesting a mutually agreed place that I could distribute the Water Contamination Report. After a day (perhaps two), I went to the front gate and requested that I see someone about arranging this, having not received an email reply. The main gate guard said to go to the Welcome Centre and talk to the people their. I spoke to a lady at the Welcome Centre and she said Dhyanesh was coming to talk to me. I said I did not want to speak to this person about the matter as he had already been involved in an assault on me. She said that there was nothing to fear as there was plenty of people around. I disagreed with her.
Dhyanesh came and said ‘come let’s go…to the police’, among other things. I left the Welcome Centre assuming that we would be going to the police, which was fine with me. Outside the Welcome Centre, being escorted by Dhyanesh, I was met by Anand Titnavage(?); as I recall, he was waving a curtain-rod at me. Dhyanesh agreed with my suggestion that I distribute the report outside Sundarbaan Hotel. I recall that the first afternoon of doing this, Anand Titnavage came up to me, again threatening me with a curtain-rod.

Some days later I went to the front-gate to request the phone number of a resident. I called the resident from the front-gate phone, and as the phone was ringing, Anand Titnavage came up to me and started again threatening me with a curtain-rod. The main-gate guard said that I needed to leave, and called Dhyanesh; I left (before Dhyanesh could arrive).

Perhaps 10 days or so ago, one of the Security Guards (Anand Titnavage) made a leering remark (Baba!!) at me whilst I was walking along the street (near Sanai Complex). I was on the walkway on the other side of the road. I walked over to him and said please do not do this. I thought that was the end of the matter. However a few days ago, as I walked passed the front gate, this Security Guard again leered at me…Baba!! I then walked over to the main gate and explained to the person on duty that this is a recurring problem, and I want it to stop. Dhyanesh approached, and I explained the problem to him. He said that many people call him baba: implying that to do so was complimentary. I explained to him that the problem was the Security Guard said “Baba!”. I asked Dhyanesh to tell the Security Guard to leave me alone. Dhyanesh said something to the Security Guard (presumably in Hindi), and I walked off.

I have been calling a resident at the Resort over a number of weeks. Her name is Mukta and she is my friend. A few days ago I tried to call her from the back gate. The person at the back gate said to call from the security guard phone near the back gate. As I walked over to that phone the security guard received a call, and then hung up. I asked if I could use the phone and he said I could not. I went back to the back gate, and another person said that the back gate phone was for internal use only. He said that I could use the phone at the front gate. I asked who he was and explained that I had received conflicting messages from a number of guards at the back gate about the use of the phone. He said he was the ‘shift co-ordinator’.

Two days later, which is today ( approximately 4.30pm), I went to the front gate to phone Mukta. Dhyanesh was close-by, near the main gate guard. I phoned Mukta and she answered immediately. We had a conversation and were trying to arrange a time to meet. A Security Guard then came over and told me to hang up the phone. He took the phone as I was in mid conversation with Mukta, and he hung it up. He then grabbed me on the arm and started escorting me away from the phone. The phone then rang again. Presumably it was Mukta wondering why I had hung up on her.

I asked the guard to not touch me, and said that I would walk away: so there was no need to physically remove me. At some point he let go of me and Dhyanesh spoke to me. He said that I needed to listen to him. He said something like ‘do you know who I am’, among other things I can’t in this moment recall. After I listened to him I asked if I may explain something: that I was told by the “shift co-ordinator” that I could use this phone. Dhyanesh said that I could not speak. I remember then that the Security Guard struck at me with his fist. I recall that his fist struck my right hand above the wrist (it struck a leather band that I have on my wrist).
I backed out of this situation and Dhyanesh confronted me. He faced me and said something like ‘I will beat you’. The Security Guard than ran to his post and picked up a curtain rod. He ran back and ran at me threatening to strike me with it. I backed back down the road under threat. As I went back, another Security Guard came at me with a wooden stick. I backed back further down the road and then onto the footpath to the entrance of the hospital, with these two Secuity Guards threatening to attack me.. I said that I was backing back and there was no need to threaten me with a curtain rod and stick. At the entrance to the hospital I said that if you attack me I will attack (in self-defense).

As I understand it, people can in general use the back-gate phone. Hence I assume that me being denied access to the back-gate phone(s), and saying that I could use the front-gate phone, was a response to me personally. The question I am asking here is was I set up to go to the front-gate and therefore, was I the victim of a pre-meditated attack?

After the confrontation, I went to Nala Park. In Nala Park (the side with the Osho statue), I did my usual circuit. On the section where the path narrows, a person was approaching. When he was approximately 2 metres away I noticed that he had a pocket knife in his left hand. The blade was somewhat open (not fully, say 1/3 open). I immediately said hey what is this. He closed the blade shut and said that he was oiling it. After he had walked past I said to him basically that it was a little concerning having someone walking along with a half-open pocket knife. I finished my circuit, and this person was ahead of me to the entrance. He talked to the guard at the entrance. I can recall quite clearly the person’s appearance. Perhaps this situation was nothing at all. However just in case, I recount it here.

After walking in the park (perhaps 45 minutes later), I then came back past the Resort, thus completing the regular route of my morning and afternoon walk. I prefer not to walk the back-gate road and then along North Main Rd to reach the German Bakery lane because of the excess traffic. The first Security Guard I met told me that I cannot pass – I was walking on the bitumen. He motioned and said that I had to turn around. I said to him that I was walking along a public road, and told him to fuck off. I continued passed the Resort entrance, and made my way to the German Bakery.

I had a chai at the German Bakery and then typed this report.

I will send this report now, as per my usual procedure, to the Australian Federal Police, to Interpol, and to the Indian Central Bureau of Intelligence. In the morning I will lodge my second complaint to the Pune Central Police Station.

I make here also one remark that comes to mind. I have had issues with Osho International Meditation Resort. I have heard that the Resort is for sale for $375 million (I am assuming that to be US$). If the rumour is true, and there is a person or persons offering such an amount, and if they read my reports, they would change the offer to the value of the land less the cost of knocking down all the buildings. I guess this might take several hundred million US$ off the value of the Resort. That wouldn’t be very nice at all. Perhaps there is no truth in the rumours.

Yours sincerely,
Prem Abhay

Notice of Eviction

Dereliction of Duty: call for the removal of the board of trustees of the Osho International Foundation and senior management of the Osho International Meditation Resort.

There are rumours that the Osho International Meditation Resort is up for sale. The view that the Resort is running at a financial loss has been around for a number of years, and is still current. The rumour has it that the Resort is becoming more and more a burden on the financial resources of the foundation, and hence is up for sale.

For a number of years the Osho International Foundation (and the Resort) has been, putting it bluntly, at war with a large number of Osho sannyasins (and groups of sannyasins). The United States copyright lawsuit against “oshoworld.com” is a case in point. The list of banned and disaffected sannyasins is large and growing.

The long-term viability of the Osho International Foundation, and hence the governing body looking after Osho’s assets and his vision, rests on the collective of Osho sannyasins. There is no following without followers. Admittedly new followers come and old followers go. An example of this is the current and highly effective marketing campaign drawing new customers to the resort in Pune. However these first-time customers come and go, and will ‘switch brands’ for many reasons. For example, a Mumbai business professional will for any number of reasons choose to go to some other ‘resort’ in Goa for the weekend.

The fact is that the loyal base of Osho sannyasins is divergent and deeply split. Also, the resort in Pune is not simply a resort. It is the Master’s home. Osho’s ashes lie under his bed, in his bedroom, in his place, in Pune. If the foundation set up to look after Osho and his vision has to sell the very heartland, and if the reason for this is most essentially because the foundation cannot unify the following of Osho sannyasins, then this foundation has failed in its most essential duty.

The long-term financial viability of the Osho’s foundation and vision rests with Osho sannyasins: it is their loyalty that will keep it safe through the trials of political, financial, and environmental instabillity. The fractures to this group of loyal Osho sannyasins that exist around the world, and the animosity to resort management in Pune, and to the Osho International Foundation, means that the board of trustees (the inner-circle) is failing. If the financial viability of the Resort in Pune, and the foundation itself, is called into question, then the board of trustees has failed. The board of trustees, in this case, would have failed in its most basic duty.
In recent times a high level of financial investment, a rise in situational operating costs (such as food, land rates, and basic services like power), coupled with a huge rise in running costs based on management strategy (a large air-conditioned auditorium and a veritable army of hired labour for example), has no doubt put a financial strain on the resort. Adding to this the political turmoil that exists within the Osho sannyasin community, then there is a distinct possibility that the financial rumours are true.

Some of the financial strain is, as mentioned, inadvertent or circumstancial. However other reasons for negative patterns of financial inflow and outflow are entirely the responsibility of management and trustees. Therefore, if there is any credence to the financial rumours, then the senior management of the resort and the board of trustees of the Osho International Foundation should be required to show cause why they should not be removed. However I would put it in reverse and say that they should be removed, and show cause why they should stay in a position of responsibility.

Simply put, if you have to sell Osho’s heartland, (or even if there is concern that this might have to happen), then you should sell the ‘trusted’ management, not Osho!

Regards,
Prem Abhay

Report to Police: Assault 1 on Prem Abhay

Date: Sunday 30th December 2007
Incident outside the Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune, INDIA.

This letter is a formal request to take legal action(s) against the relevant persons in this report. I was threatened with physical violence by Dhyanesh, I was physically assaulted by two guards; I was further threatened with severe physical violence by one of these guards; Dhyanesh did not allow me to remove myself safely from this severe threat. Dhyanesh also, in my opinion threatened to deal with me in other than legal means, instigated, encouraged, maintained, and refused to stop, this very violent attack.

The role of the resort employee (the fourth person mentioned in the attack) is not clear to me.
The following is my recollection of the facts surrounding the incident that occurred outside the Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune, India. The incident happened on Saturday the 29th December 2007, the time was mid-afternoon (approximately 3pm).

In the morning I printed out copies of a report that I have written about the contamination of water at the Resort. I collected the copies from a print-shop and in the early afternoon handed out some copies of the report to people at the Yogi Tree Restaurant and then the German Bakery. I then proceeded to the Resort.

When I reached the entrance of the Resort I started handing out the report to people. I continued this uninterrupted and peacefully for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. I asked people if they would like a copy of a report about contamination of water at the resort. Some people said or indicated that they were not interested and I immediately respected their wishes. Other people were interested in what I had to say and asked me more specific questions. A lady ‘guarding’ called me over and requested a copy. A person that I recall is a long time Engineer or engineering technician approached me and requested a copy, and then another copy. The lady ‘guarding’ suggested I provide the main gate with a copy. I gave the main gate two copies.

At one stage, as I recall, a guard from the secondary entrance requested me to move. The main guard also asked me to move. He said that the area where I was – that being the road and roadside – was private property. I asked him for confirmation of this as I was quite sure where I was distributing the report was council property. I was met with an unclear response. However he did say to wait near the entrance as a person was coming to speak with me.

Dhyanesh approached me with a pen waving in his left hand. His approach was to me very abrupt and aggressive. There were two guards present. One of these guards had already touched me once on the arm – suggesting me to move on. As I recall, this guard touched me a second time on the upper arm, and I said to him that that was the second time he touched me, and that I found this to be inappropriate.

Dhyanesh said that the entire street was maintained by the Resort, and that the resort had the power to move anyone on if that person was causing a disturbance. He told me to go to the German Bakery. My position was clear and simple: I was distributing a report, and did not consider myself in any way to be causing a disturbance. On the contrary, I found myself well received, with people interested in the report, and interested in asking me more specific questions.

Dhyanesh said that he would deal with me in whichever way. I asked him exactly what he meant by that. He mentioned the possibility of him calling the police to deal with me; however the direction of his conversation lead me to understand that his interpretation of ‘whichever way’ stretched beyond the law.

At one stage, as I seem to recall, Dhyanesh said he would hit me. He also said a number of times that he would get the guards to hit me. The next thing I recall is that two guards are forcing me backwards away from the main-gate. My arms are placed in an awkward upward position, with my fingers bent painfully backwards. I managed to withdraw my hands and as I walked backwards tried to use my arms to defend myself from what I consider to be an unprovoked physical assault.

I withdrew from this assualt to the other side of the road. I continued to then make an attempt to distribute the water contamination report. I was approached by an employee of the resort. He stood almost touching me and asked me to move on. I asked him if he was going to assault me like the other two people just did. The bigger of the two guards then moved towards me from the other side of the road. I asked him if he was going to assualt me a second time.

He continued towards me in such an aggressive manner that I walked backwards along the footpath. He followed me (within striking range with his fists) and with fist(s) clenched threatened to strike me in the head. He did this a number of times as I walked backwards past the rickshaws. I then walked backwards onto the road, and as I did this the guard picked up a very large wooden broom. As I walked backwards down the road he threatened on many occassions to strike me both in the facial region, upper body region, and legs. During this the employee and Dhyanesh were close by.

The guard was in my opinion out of control with blind rage. He was clearly completely out of control. Dhyanesh was in my opinion insensible with anger. There was clearly an inappropriate an excess use of (and threat of) force. I walked backwards under attack a significant distance - to the entrance of Sunderbaan Hotel.

By the time I reached the entrance to Sunderbaan Hotel I realized that it was also dangerous for me to walk backwards down the street as I may get hit by an oncoming vehicle (or person), or simply trip over. I passed close by a sweeping lady who was near the road-side. With this guard threatening to strike me with a large stick (and within striking range), I could not for one moment take my concentration from him; hence the risk of something from behind. This was when I started to become vocal. I said to Dhyanesh that I needed space so I could turn around and walk away. Dhyanesh said I could simply turn around and walk away. I let Dhyanesh know that with a large Guard threatening me angrily with a big stick, that this was not an option.
Walking backwards along a road with three guys in my face, with one of them waving a big stick, was in my opinion very very dangerous. Also, Dhyanesh did not allow me the chance (and space) to turn around and walk away from the serious threat. Hence I made the decision to try and change the situation. I vocally shouted if you attack me I will defend myself. I repeated this. I threw the remaining copies of the report on the ground – partially in frustration and partially to keep my hands free in case of an imminent attack. I continued to be very vocal – yelling things like ‘fuck off’ and ‘give me space’ - and this seemed to work.

Dhyanesh must have then moved back a little. The guard with the big broom stick moved back a little. Then the resort employee moved back a little. I moved to the entrance of the Sunderbaan hotel, got out some more copies of the report, and gave one to a gentleman. We had a short and fruitful discussion. Another person approached me and seemed to have a calming effect on me. He walked with me to the end of the resort road. He made some suggestions of what I might do to resolve the problem, and showed me frame by frame pictures of some of the incident. I gave him my email address and he said he would send the photos.

I was very shaken by the incident, and probably was in a state of shock. That night I had a very disturbed sleep.

I was handing out a report that in my opinion uncovers serious negligence on behalf of senior management at the resort. However I was doing so in a peaceful manner, engaging people in constructive dialogue, and very definitely not creating a disturbance. After the two guards initially attacked me I made this point clear to Dhyanesh. I said that I was not creating the disturbance. I repeatedly said that I was here peacefully, and that he and others were creating the disturbance by attacking me. This is what happened. I was making a peaceful protest and I was physically attacked and threatened. If the guard with the large broom stick did actually strike me the way he threatened to, he could have easily killed me!!!!

I have been a critic of resort management for years. I have been banned from the resort, and in my opinion I have previously been threatened by people at the resort. I have approached and been well received by the Australian State police on two occasions; I have attempted to personally visit the Australian Federal Police. I have sent messages to the Australian Federal Police, to Interpol, and to the Indian Central Bureau of Intelligence – on a number of occasions. I had a lengthy and helpful discussion with the Australian Embassy in Bangkok. I have repeatedly said that I have a sense that a person or persons having involvement with the centre are trying to kill me.

The message that I have is that the negligence at the resort shows a blatant disregard to the sanctity of human life. The management is in my opinion very clearly aware of this, and ignores the right direction to fix the problems – problems that may have already lead to serious injury and death. So if the management is to this extent ignoring problems, why would they not make efforts to harm me, or end my life??? I came to Pune to resolve this issue as I have now spent years in hiding, am tired of it, have no place to hide left that I wouldn’t mind staying at, and am running out of money.

I handed out a report in peaceful protest and was physically attacked and threatened in a manner that if carried out, could easily have ended my life. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Regards,
Prem Abhay

Water Contamination Report:
Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune, India.

Why is it that I have said that the water treatment system is (was) in a seriously neglected state?

I am an Engineer, and this article is based on recollections of interactions with 3 Engineers, the microbiology consultant, and the head of the microbiology consultancy company. Some of the content of this article is based on recollections that may be partial remembrances, or that may require clarification by another party.

Some four monsoons ago there was a major contamination of the resorts drinking water. A partial summary of the initial investigation into the situation was written by myself and the person in charge of the Water division of Facility Management department (also an Engineer). The following is based on this report.

There were no filters at the wells whatsoever. This had been the case for a number of years. The reason for their removal was apparently because they clog up too quickly with matter, especially calcium carbonate. The 16 in-line filters on the Jesus House plant were after the UV/chlorine system. This is a serious flaw in design as a primary function is to remove particulate matter such that the UV/chlorine system can work effectively.

If supply water is ‘murky’ the UV light cannot penetrate as effectively into the water to target pathogens; similarly, the chlorine cannot effectively perform its task as the chlorine breaks down during interaction with excess matter, and also, pathogens ‘hide’ in this excess matter and therefore cannot be targeted by the chlorine. Hence (especially) in the monsoon when the well water becomes ‘stirred up’ these filters cannot perform a key part of their function, as they filter the water after the water purification process. This problem is amplified because the filters at the wells have been removed.

In regard to the Mahakashapa plant, there was no filtration system whatsoever. I repeat this for emphasis, on the Mahakashapa water treatment plant there was no filtering of water at all!! In fact there had never been any filtering of water at the Mahakashapa water treatment plant. I find this quite remarkable.

Actually there is a filtration system (a large some 3metre in diameter dome) for the Mahakashapa plant. The only trouble is that this is not connected, and has never been connected, as the system works so well it takes out all the chlorine. Hence there would be no residual chlorine to keep the water clean as it travels to the end user. From memory this filtration system uses charcoal, and it is the charcoal that removes the chlorine.

It is important here to make here a second qualification. For each drinking water station there was an individual filter (expensive and European) that uses activated carbon and colloidal silver. However with no filters at the wells, and the central filtration system (a dome construction some 3 metres in diameter) disconnected, this hardly seems adequate. This filter is, like the residual level of chlorine, in place to ensure that treated water remains so when it reaches the end user.
In relation to food, what this means is that all the water that goes into the food in the main kitchen was (perhaps is) unfiltered – as was (perhaps is) all the water that goes anywhere in the resort from the Mahakashapa treatment plant! (Perhaps filtered Jesus House water gets redirected to the central kitchen; however this I think is unlikely and perhaps technically unfeasible).

Also, from my recollections with conversations, there were repeated efforts to purchase filters for the wells – including submission of application for purchase prior to leaving the centre prior to the time of four monsoons ago by an Engineer who was involved with not commissioning the main system. My guess here is that this person possibibly missed the fact that by not connecting the central filtration system, this leaves the water essentially unfiltered - due to the fact that the filters at the wells had been removed.

Perhaps this person(s), did not miss this as from my recollection resort engineers were actively (and unsuccessfully) trying to purchase filters for the wells and drinking water stations. Taking into account their rejected efforts to purchase things like little new filters to replace years old little old filters, what chance would they have to address the problem of a big new central filtration system that does not work properly. So perhaps they did not miss the problem of lack of filtration, and then later on felt guilty about this, and due to this guilt thought that my gosh we really missed a big one. In short perhaps they missed that they did not miss that something was missing. If they did miss that they did not miss that something was missing, I only hope that they now do not miss this. Which ever way things fell, the bottom line is that something very important was and perhaps still is, missing!!!

There were repeated efforts by three or four engineers over a number of years to purchase new filters for either the drinking stations or wells. The filters at the drinking stations were old, and it is very simple to check whether this is the case. The request for new filters at the drinking water stations was not even granted when the major contamination problem was identified some four monsoons ago – I still find this astounding! The engineers in my opinion were primarily doing the best they could given absurd constraints.

People drank contaminated water four monsoons ago. At first this was because the problem had not been identified. After the drinking water stations were “closed” there was a problem with some people ignoring this closure and gaining access to the drinking water. These people reopened very obviously closed drinking water taps - by for example taking off signs and removing plastic bags, taping and or string - and therefore led to the possibility of other people drinking this water. I assumed that the people removing the signs were Indian nationals who were not concerned by the contamination - perhaps because they (perhaps correctly) thought that this water would anyhow be cleaner than the local council tap water. More and more steps were taken to in response to some very determined people. In hindsight I do not know why the taps weren’t simply turned off. Perhaps there was not a main on/off tap. However to insert a tap would have not been a big deal. The suggested direction that I did make to try and resolve the problem and still give some Indian nationals access to potentially ‘cleaner’ water may give an indication of why this simple option did not take place.

I made the suggestion to put up a very clear sign stating ‘do not drink this water as it is contaminated’. I was told that this was a good idea and that a sannyassin lawyer would take up the task of appropriately wording the sign. The sign however made reference to the drinking water stations being ‘closed for cleaning’, not closed due to contamination. I made mention that in my opinion the wording of the sign fails to achieve its aim. I said that with all the drinking water stations closed people would generally be aware that there is a contamination problem. Hence, I argued, by saying that the stations are closed for cleaning, actually you are making people aware that you are deceiving them - that is in addition to deceiving them in the first place. My comments had no practical outcome that I am aware of - that is in relation to the signs.
A fuller wording of the sign said something along the lines for example that “due to the current heavy monsoon, the drinking water station is closed for cleaning, please purchase bottled water from the cappuccinno bar”. It might be argued that this wording indicates that the water is not drinkable as the ‘cleaning’ process makes it so. However firstly it is false. Secondly, as I recall, the sign was not general in nature as it gave reference to each individual drinking water station, and hence gave the impression that the cleaning was localized and routine in nature. (Perhaps the signs did say that “the drinking water stations are closed for cleaning”; if this is the case than the previous argument is less valid). Thirdly, with the important aim of addressing the problem of people continuing to gain access to potentially contaminated water, “closed for cleaning” is ineffectually euphemistic.

Perhaps some people involved with trying to keep the drinking water stations closed missed that there is a simple answer - install a tap - because of a culture of utter disregard for human health and safety, emanating from other people.

After the monsoon (now four monsoons ago) I received an email telling me about the sparkling water at the swimming pool – sparkling because of a brand new pool filtration system. I sincerely hope that the same is the case for water purification in general. If this is not the case - if for example money is spent on making the swimming pool water sparkling clean, whilst drinking water and water for the kitchen (and elsewhere) is poorly filtered and treated – this is in my opinion absolutely deplorable. Ironically water for the pool also comes from the resorts water treatment system. This is why for example an engineer who had previously been in charge of Water management at the resort for many years commented to me that during the relevant monsoon he would have had the swimming pool closed; with at one time (as I recall) an E.coli reading of close to 1000, this person considered people to in simple terms be ‘swimming in shit’!

If there is now no filtration system on the Mahakashapa water treatment plant it means that right now for example most of the water that goes into most of the food that most of the people eat – like a nice yummy watery Indian curry – is unfiltered. This is especially concerning in a heavy monsoon when the well water becomes stirred up. Oh well, what to do???!!!! We are doing the best we can!! If this is the response of the management team of the resort, it is in my opinion utterly incorrect and totally unconscionable.

I do not know what now is the case with respect to the water treatment system(s) at the resort. The reason for this is that I am “not welcome to visit” the resort. However at the heart of my efforts that have made me banned is to get the resort to fix the water treatment system. Why then would I think that anything significant has been done about this problem if I was told that “several people…feel this is the last place you should be”, and then I was told that I am “not welcome to visit”.

I now turn to an administrative question prior to summarizing. When the major contamination problem was identified some four monsoons ago, nothing substantial was done to rectify the problem.. All the drinking water stations were closed and there were some very obvious findings - like for example purchase some little filters: some to replace filters that have needed replacing for years, and others to fill the place where they had been removed (admittedly these filters had apparently a functional problem; however I am quite sure that problem could easily have been resolved)! Eventually the correct path to approach the situation revealed itself: an Engineer was to present the findings and directions to a Space Committee meeting.

At the time, the fortnightly meeting was unfortunately more than a week away. However with some drinking water stations closed and others (in my opinion) reopened prematurely, and with some very obvious findings, this issue was apparently not important enough to bring the Space Committee meeting forward.

From here, as I recall, another remarkable thing occurred. A person had a sufficiently important reason to hold an emergency Space Committee meeting, such that the meeting was brought forward one week. However this important reason was not related to the water crisis. The emergency meeting took place and the Engineer, waiting for the next week to present the water issue, did not attend this meeting. The next meeting was scheduled for two weeks from the emergency meeting. This meant that the Engineer now had to wait more than two weeks to present the water issue. By this time the end of the monsoon had come and the water results were (probably) either absolutely or almost completely clean. Hence by the books there would have likely been no problem whatsoever. I do not know if the Engineer ever presented the case. However the case was very clear and simple.

The essential findings of the report were to purchase some items that obviously needed purchasing. As far as further directions, the head of the microbiology company made a number of suggestions of directions to tackle the problem – during a phone conversation with me. This person made it very clear that it was for example important to decontaminate the entire system, and offered a service to do this: once there is a major contamination, there is the likelihood of what is called a micro-film build up of pathogens throughout the system; essentially pathogens can find shelter throughout the system, and then multiply to the point that they cannot be adequately removed by residual chlorine; this colony can then release pathogens into the system (including after the central treatment system) and these pathogens can reach the end user. I am of the opinion that the decontamination process that took place was inadequate. In relation to the reopening process and the water situation in general, the relevant Engineer said to me very directly and clearly that the actions taken were done so within the framework of very strict and limited access to financial and other resources. I consider this framework to actually be untenable.

The head of the microbiology consultancy company also said to me that although he did not consider himself an expert in this field, he new of an expert, and this person was fortunately a resident of Pune. I recall that the conversations with the microbiology consultant formed part of the content of suggested directions in the preliminary water report.

In relation to the Space Committee itself and lines of responsibility let me make something very clear. I was working in food hygiene (not water) for the Kitchen Department not the Water division of Facility Management (formerly Housekeeping Department). I tried to support the relevant people in Facility Management on the water issue. Though I became involved in the water contamination issue, I was not the formal contact. I accept that at the centre I was very much on a personal journey and only open to limited social contact. However in my position as ‘food hygiene’ liason in the Kitchen Department I was always available for contact, never ever felt that someone felt any reservations with approaching me, and actually had significant contact with people – including Sodexo cooks and general staff. If anyone felt that they wanted to discuss any relevant issue and thought I was for some (perhaps personal) reason unavailable, then my co-ordinator should have been contacted – that being the second in charge of the Kitchen Department. On a pratical level however, if I was more approachable and if people wanted to approach me but did not for this reason, a better outcome may have eventuated. However I also consider the people I supported in the Water division of Facility Management to be very intelligent, informed, available, and ultimately the formal contact. If there was any communication problems in this area then the person responsible is the head of Facility Management.

As with at the time of the water issue, I am still on an inwardly focused personally journey that makes me in simple terms not particularly sociable nor approachable. This has meant that I have not taken the decision to for example arrange meetings and make social visits to Pune to resolve any misunderstandings – and to present my case in person. However I have made efforts to communicate respectfully and intelligently by phone and by email. Such efforts were met with (what I consider to be) threatening remarks, and me ultimately being banned from the resort.

To ask nicely can you please make the water clean and address the host of other serious health and safety issues is simply ineffectual. I have felt that it is absolutely critical to shed light on the situation at the resort, and hence have felt compelled to communicate in an assertive manner that some may wrongly take as aggressive or threatening. I have never endeavoured to be threatening, and have never undertaken to take any action that may be considered to be illegal or unethical. I consider some people involved with the resort to be guilty of serious wrongdoings; if this is the case then to these people I am a threat – a threat to wrongful action and conduct. However I am not making threats. Everything that I have written is factual, informed, and reasoned.

I have not for example written a single word on the futile drama about what is essentially a linguistic issue in relation to Osho’s samadhi. The remarks that I have made about people are not uninformed, malicious, personal gossip. The people that I have written about I am sure are very much aware of the nature of what I have written. Hence it is important to shut down this message. The circulation of meaningless linguistic trivia through various people and websites serves no purpose, and hence it does not matter that it circulates. What I have to say does matter and hence it is important not to circulate it. Hence it is important to slander me, kick me out of the resort, and make me an enemy of Osho. In time the truth that be otherwise will be revealed!

Returning to the central theme of water, primarily I consider the actions undertaken by Engineers to have been done so under duress. I also consider that excess financial pressures and time constraints would have been a constant attack on their capacity to work clearly and effectively. Was there for example a lot of pressure to open the Mahakashapa complex prior to an upcoming high season and new year – this old Buddha Hall structure may have also contributed to this. Also, I am under the impression that the Engineer responsible for bringing the water treatment system back online towards the end of the (four monsoons ago) monsoon did so with the following directive: fix this problem as soon as possible, and by the way, you can not have any money to do it. This impression I formed during my discussions with the relevant Engineer.

I would like to know if the water treatment system is now at least up to standard, and that people accept responsibility for their actions – whether they be inadvertent or not; and especially so if the actions be intentionally reprehensible.
The author of this article accepts no responsibility for the contents, whether expressed or implied.

Introductory Note: (22 May 07)

I am writing this note to answer a very important question that may arise if you read the main article. What is my motivation for publicly throwing dirt on the Osho centre – and therefore on Osho?

In my opinion the centre has been the stage of internal politicking for many years. Also, the centre has gradually been taken in a more and more negative direction. In my opinion, there are a number of very serious concerns, and each of these is at a tipping point where a little trigger will create a major incident – perhaps (considerable) loss of life. Further, I am of the view that some beautiful and sincere people have fought to correct this trend; and for whatever reason, have almost lost the struggle – and that some nice (and some perhaps not so nice) people will be held responsible.

I am of the opinion that some Osho sanyassins think me stupid, confused, possibly borderline illiterate, and with only ill-will and malice as motivation – hence a blind unwillingness to take seriously what I have written. In partial response, I received the senior-year Chemistry prize in high-school. I have a diploma in export management from the Australian Institute of Export. I have a business degree from Queensland University of Technology. I have an honours degree in manufacturing systems engineering from Queensland University of Technology, and have specialised in fluid systems. I have had professional experience in underground mining as a geo-technical services engineer. I also have a post-graduate diploma with distinction in philosophy from the University of Queensland.
I would like to explain my case more specifically by example of the water purification system. In my opinion some of the above mentioned qualifications and experience makes a strong case for having expertise in this field.

Three monsoons ago an incident occurred where the water treatment system was pumping out contaminated water to the drinking water stations. Unfortunately, people drank this water! In my opinion, the water treatment system was found to be in a seriously run-down and neglected state. I am also of the view that nothing substantial was done to fix this.
Two monsoons ago the level of contamination of water was considerably worse. Was the water treatment system at least up to minimum standard? Did people drink this water? Also, what happened in the most recent monsoon? Further, the next monsoon is imminent.
As I recall, prior to the last monsoon I received an online advert claiming that the swimming-pool now had extra sparkling water from a brand-new filtering system. Was money spent in such areas and not on fixing up a run-down water treatment system that pumps out contaminated drinking water?

What if a serious incident (has) occurred where a number of people became very sick (or perhaps worse) from drinking contaminated ‘drinking’ water at the centre? I would assume that an independent expert would be required to give opinion about the “Health & Safety and Management” report and the summary article. The papers are written in an articulate and professional manner. They are also clear, factual, and with justifiable conclusions. In my opinion they have professional standing.

How about I go to Pune and don’t drink the water? Granted it is nice to be in the know. Also, notwithstanding ongoing contamination problems with some bottled water, there are numerous other serious shortcomings and potential hazards: contamination of food and beverages through use of contaminated water (also from worker neglect, rodents, poor design and construction, and from improperly functioning machinery and equipment); inadequate response to rodent problems; ingestion of excess levels of corrosive chemicals and carcinogens (Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Hypochlorite); cabled and dead trees (and limbs); structural integrity of buildings; and poor or inadequate outdoor lighting. This list is not exhaustive.

The centre looks like a beautiful oasis. When I wrote the initial report, and then walked in the gates of the centre, I just couldn’t integrate what I just wrote with what I saw. However these papers would in my opinion stand up to professional critique – in a number of disciplines. In my opinion, to an outsider they are a very clear warning (just like the Bhopal disaster – where a safety report was ignored, and lead to a horribly tragic outcome).

Unfortunately (as it would appear to me) nobody listened to the first report. Although it was lengthy and deeply analytical, it was with good reason. It was to provide critical analysis of key problem areas, and to provide that to people with expertise in the relevant fields. I am of the opinion that the advice was largely ignored. So, one year on, and with (as it would appear to me) the issues slowly worsening, the centre is perhaps at a fragile and precarious stage. Therefore I have written a different type of report, and it targets a different audience. I am simply trying to prevent a serious incident at the centre. The year after year internal struggle failed; the ‘internal’ report failed; and so now outside help is being sought.

Perhaps you are disturbed about a brazen attack on Osho’s image? Unlike the Ranch fiasco, Osho is not around to bear the blame for the outright stupidity and unconscionable actions of his ostensible disciples. Ironically therefore the association of Osho with negligence and criminality is lessened.

Lastly, I have professional expertise in several disciplines. I do not want to be called to the stand to give expert testimony!

The author and “nomindspiration.com” takes no responsibility for the content of this article.
Prem Abhay

Further Reading: Sheela and Who?

When the Rajneesh Ranch in Oregon collapsed, police tracked people down all over the world, and the charges (and convictions) reached to the level of attempted murder. Osho and his people were crucified from the inside. If you firmly believe that such circumstances could not be repeated, and you would not like your ignorant beliefs to be strongly challenged, then I recommend that you read no further.

Surely nothing like what happened at The Ranch could happen at the Osho International Meditation Centre, Pune, India. Surely nothing like what happened at The Ranch is and has been happening at the Osho International Meditation Centre. Having just re-read this article that I have just written, in my opinion, there is the distinct possibility of serious and criminal misconduct at the Osho International Meditation Resort. It is my opinion that Osho, and his people, have been betrayed not once, but twice.

H. H.Dalai Lama has praised Osho as an enlightened master. The Dalai Lama has also visited his Pune centre (ashram). Yet Osho has been branded by some as being of all things a terrorist - this being not the only false allegation. Where does this come from? There is a key difference between Osho and the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama stands within an accepted cultural framework; Osho (clearly) does not. There is also one subtle difference between the two: Osho see’s a little further.

With the above in mind, it is clearly not my intention to discredit Osho, his name, his vision, or any of his people. I spent a year working in his Samadhi, and another two years in his Lao Tzu garden. I even took sannyas on his birthday (all be it unintentionally). However it is the opinion of the author that there are ignorant and ill-meaning people that cloak themselves in maroon, and whose actions are reprehensible; and that these people have also failed to learn and grow from their mistakes. Existence provides opportunities to learn from mistakes, and the more people fail to take opportunities to learn and grow, in time, the more will be their demise.
The body of this article is a summary of a 2006 report into “Health & Safety, and Management” at the Osho International Meditation Centre, Pune, India. A brief, non-exhaustive summary of the investigation follows. Please note that the summary is written as if from the time of writing the report in 2006. However this summary adds some post-report information.

Upon visiting Pune and the centre, I fell very ill with gastro-enteritis. A stool test from Hemotech Diagnostic Centre revealed that I had Entamoeba Histolytica (amoebic dysentery). Mucous, puss cells, and red blood cells, were also present. An abdominal ultrasonography from Jehangir Hospital found ‘no significant abnormality’. It took three different treatments of broad-spectrum anti-biotics and anti-virals before the gastro-enteritis abated.

Just prior to becoming ill I had started drinking the ‘purified drinking water’ provided by the centre - rather than drinking bottled water. There was a sense that the drinking water was the cause of my gastro-enteritis. I also recalled that in the second most recent monsoon there was a major contamination problem with drinking water. (Note: the contamination problem was significantly worse in the most recent monsoon).

At the time of this contamination I was helping (Work-as-Meditation) in hygiene at the Kitchen Department. Issues to do with water were the responsibility of Facility Management. However the consulting micro-biologist employed by the centre tested food and water, and so I was privy to the water testing results.

At times drinking water gets contaminated by ‘back-contamination’: contamination of the water taps - by spitting or brushing your teeth at the water dispenser for example. It was towards the end of the monsoon when I noticed what appeared to be an excessive level of (unfortunate) back-contamination. I contacted the Facility Management about the matter, and the drinking water stations were consequently shut-down.

An investigation into the contamination revealed that the contamination source was indeed not back-contamination; both central water treatment systems at the centre were not effectively treating the water: they were pumping out contaminated water to the ‘drinking water’ stations. Significantly, the investigation also revealed that, in my opinion, the overall water treatment system was in a seriously neglected state.

At the centre, monsoonal rains have the effect - as rain water filters down into the (underground water) aquifer - of increasing the level of aquifer contamination: bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants as well. It is a little like watching a clear pool or pond get disturbed by torrential rain (in a city). This being the case, the monsoon puts significant pressure on the water treatment system.

It might be argued that in the monsoon, ‘we simply do our best under difficult conditions’. However a ‘what to do’ response has no relevance in this situation. The situation is of, in my opinion, a seriously neglected water treatment system. The ‘what to do’ is to fix the derelict system.

Admittedly if best practice is being employed (or at least standard practice), perhaps a legal and ethical response might be ‘what to do’. However if the water treatment system is not up to a reasonable standard (let alone an optimised system), how can the water treatment system stand a chance in sub-optimal (monsoonal for example) conditions. Even if adequate or optimised systems are incapable of dealing with heavy monsoonal conditions, they will at least provide more purified water than a rundown system. Up until the time of getting very ill, I assumed (or perhaps hoped) that the matter had been at least adequately dealt with.
People drank, and may perhaps still be drinking, contaminated ‘drinking water’ from a seriously rundown water treatment system.

As well as monsoonal rains, the water aquifer at the centre may be further contaminated by the following local events:
· leaking (and overflowing) taps and garden hoses;
· leaking ponds;
· emptying out of ponds;
· construction in and around the centre:
· industrial pollutants;
· deep footings disturbing the ground (thus making it more easy for contaminants to flow down into the aquifer);
· leaking roofs (the Pyramid buildings for example);
· leaking water pipes (Pyramid buildings for example);
· leaking sewerage pipes (anecdotally Osho House for example); and
· leaching down of chemical elements from ‘leaking’ buildings - an example being dieldrin from termite treated timber.

Note: This list is not necessarily exhaustive.

While the water treatment system ostensibly removes bacteria and viruses, I am not sure how it is designed to respond to an influx of sewerage. However as I understand it, the system is not designed to remove bacterially produced toxins, industrial chemicals, building residues such as dieldrin, pesticides, heavy metals, and the like.

With a little summary of water, I turn to food. The Hydrogen Peroxide (HP) solution used at the centre to treat fruit and vegies - which I understand to be in accordance with the consultant microbiology companies HP concentration guidelines - is significantly higher than stipulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is also significantly higher than the ‘Indian text’ level, as shown to me by a senior microbiologist. In too high concentrations, HP is hazardous and corrosive. If a dose of highly concentrated HP is ingested it can for example cause internal bleeding. There are also other concerns about the use of HP in excessive concentrations - by Sodexo kitchen staff.

There are similar concerns with Sodium Hypochlorite (NaHCl). NaHCl is used to sterilise typically large items (pots, pans, trays etc) not processed by the central dishwashing station. Also, chlorine (hypochlorite) is known to be carcinogenic when mixed with organic matter (food). So the mixing of food with chlorine residue - from excess NaHCl concentrations - on pots, pans, trays etc. is of concern.

I have been cautioned about drinking fruit health drinks - I only surmise that the reason being the possibility of ‘rotten’ fruit (and vegies) making their way into the production line. I question the healthiness of the soya health drinks: India is a country with significant pesticide/herbicide use; growing soya beans normally requires a high use of herbicides. Lettuce has historically been next to impossible to keep (hygienically) clean, and continues to make its way onto the counter - papaya is another example. There have been repeated problems with Himalayan bottled drinking water - according to testing guidelines from the consultant microbiology company. There have been other ongoing hygiene problems: with coffee machines and plastic food containers for example.

There are a number of ‘finance’ issues. For example, there was (previously) an ongoing delay in obtaining the DDT test results for the ostensibly ‘organic’ brown rice the centre purchases: the reason as I understand it was that Finance had not paid the bill. I also recall - though with not absolute surety - a letter from the consulting microbiology company that appeared to me to outline a reduced level of services provided, due to financial reasons. The hygiene laboratory also has aging, outdated, and at times improperly functioning, equipment and facilities.
Rats and mice are a historic, endemic problem at the centre. On just one occasion I went for a brisk, early morning walk at the centre. The Meera Garden dishwashing station had the appearance of being unattended by Sodexo (contract labour) from the night before. Its main door(s) was left wide open; the floor of the dishwashing station was in a filthy state; there was rubbish piled up behind the station; and there was a cat inside the dishwashing station. At Zorba Restaurant the window to the ‘serving’ kitchen was open; the door to the service counter was slightly open. Used dishes and food scraps were left at the Dishwashing Station drop-off point. At the time, the Zorba Restaurant area also gave the appearance of being unattended.
In my opinion Sodexo cannot be educated about hygiene, and will not comply with clearly stipulated hygiene guidelines. For example the Sodexo chief engineer didn’t even know where the specific kitchen water taps were that he was supposed to have been decontaminating - a request made regularly by the consultant microbiologist. I have also regularly watched Sodexo staff employ the use of surgical gloves enthusiastically in outdoor manual labour, and incorrectly to sterilized kitchen equipment.

The central dishwasher has not functioned properly for at least a year, and produces visible and microbial contamination. At one stage processed items continually tested positive to E. coli (microbe) for weeks, with in my opinion, nothing fundamentally done to fix the dishwasher. Even the critical temperature gauges have been broken for at least fourteen months. Further concern (especially in monsoon) is that the machine uses municipal water; and dishes and scraps in Meera Garden are regularly raided by teams of scavenging birds. Just a little further note here: the deadly H5N1 strain of bird-flu has been found in a neighbouring state, and wetlands outside Pune are host to migratory birds.

I have also watched contract labourers spend weeks ‘dry-cutting’ stone tiles, sending plumes of dust all over the Pyramids area. In Australia the use of a ‘wet-saw’ to cut stone tiles is mandatory by law. The centre appears to have a ‘dry-saw’ policy. Incidentally, at this dusty time, the exterior building walls were being cleaned without cleaning the rooves, and done so just prior to bats arriving and painting the walls with faeces in their annual migration.

At the centre there are also other design and construction issues - some of which pertain to rodents. Meera Garden and Zorba Restaurant dishwashing stations are by design open to the elements. An attempt has been made to seal off the new Plaza Café drop-off station with a roll-a-door. However the roll-a-door does not close properly.

The dishwashing station at Zorba restaurant is excessively small - this small room functions as a dish and scrap drop-off point, a food scrap storage area, an automatic and manual dishwashing station, and as a drying station. However there are two considerably larger service counters, one of which, to my knowledge, is never used unless the other is closed. Washed items from this dishwashing station have been continually contaminated with more serious microbes (E. coli for example) for at least a year.

Relating to construction, on one occasion as I attended the Meera Garden men’s showers, a large marble slab at a cubicle entrance broke away (not completely). It appeared to me that the reason for the marble slab dislodging was that the cement had been ‘mixed down’. ‘Mixing down’ is a term used when there is insufficient cement in the ‘cement-sand’ concrete mixture.
Also, shortly after the Osho Auditorium opened, a large slab of railing broke away from the main entrance. It makes me wonder about ‘mixing down’. For example were there responsible supervisors and adequate supervision of workers in this project’s construction; and hence is the auditorium really a pyramid like Egypt? It makes for something worthy of meditating on when you are in the ostensibly ‘pollution-filtered’ meditation auditorium - good luck on the silent sitting!

Another issue that has some relevance to design is that of unsafe passage through poorly lit areas at night - areas that are encouraged to be used at night. An example of this is a lady who injured her ankle (a broken bone or torn ligament) near the Internet Café. This area is extremely poorly lit, and the terrain very uneven. There are numerous other night hazards, and perhaps there are numerous other casualties?

Relating to casualties, there was a night-time scooter (motorbike) accident involving two Westerners - during the last monsoon. (I do not know in what way, if at all, the people involved were connected to the centre). The rider died at the accident scene, and the pillion passenger was thrown into a neighbouring field. At some stage later a passer-by heard her screams, and the short of her story is that she had been seriously injured, and was emergency air-lifted back to her home country.

Another anecdote is of a Mystic Rose meditative therapy participant who forgot to retract the stand of his motor-scooter. Travelling to (or from) the centre, the un-retracted stand hit the road surface, and the person was thrown from the scooter. The scooter went into another vehicle, and fortunately the rider was thrown in the other direction. However he nonetheless sustained what I consider significant injuries.

The issue here is a question about ‘duty of care’ towards participants of ‘strong’ emotionally charged therapy groups, where the participant has off-campus accommodation.
There are three issues relating to trees. I recount here an anecdote about a very large Neem tree that borders Sanai (used by the centre) and Number 21 (a private residential block). The tree was encroaching on buildings in Sanai. The centre cut down the half of the tree on Sanai’s side - hence alleviating the encroachment problem. The tree subsequently (or perhaps consequently) fell over onto residential buildings on Number 21’s side. The buildings were not completely destroyed, and were re-built. Fortunately, when the tree fell, no people were present in the accommodation buildings - the rooms are normally rented out to people attending the centre, as it is in close proximity.

I recall hearing that the centres response to complaints by the owner of Number 21 was that perhaps leaking hoses or an over-enthusiastic gardener caused the roots of the tree to rot. However in Osho Teerth (Zen Garden) there are towering Neem trees that also enjoy the fruits of irrigation in addition to the monsoon rains. These trees look to be doing very well, and I haven’t noticed any of them falling over.

In my understanding, the likely (and blatantly obvious) scenario is that in cutting one side of the tree down, the tree was precariously over-balanced, and fell over (the other side).
The second concern is that there are many dead trees and limbs at the centre. I was particularly concerned about one tree outside Lao Tzu carport (entrance to Osho’s Samadhi). I spoke to the person whom I thought responsible for such affairs. He told me that he was worried about trees all over the centre, and mentioned in particular a tree outside the bookshop that had been dead for five years!

The third issue is that there are many ‘cabled’ trees - in particular around Buddha Grove. The trees have grown up at a precarious angle and notoriously therefore fall over. The historic response is that a tree leaning one way be cabled to a tree leaning the other way.
Is this a good idea? The cables have little stretch in them, and are fixed to a certain point on the tree. So when one tree grows up one way, and the other tree grows up the other way, the distance between the two trees at the point of contact with the cable should in theory increase. However the cable is not going to give in to this request to increase in length, and so the effect is that the trees will both be pulled up a little straighter. As the trees grow, they tension themselves - and the cable - up. (To some extent the tree may grow into its straightening position). To give a practical analogy, it is like making a gigantic sling-shot - except the sling is a cable, and doesn’t stretch. I have not read any textbooks on the matter; nor have I done any testing or measurements; it is a theory about the situation. However it is a theory that is to me concerning.

The above is a partial summary of the contents of a Health & Safety and Management report that as I understand it, was given to the Osho International Meditation Centre early in 2006. The following issue is partially mentioned in the report, however deserves more attention.
In relation to safety of women, on an unrelated visit to a local chemist I was once offered prescription aphrodisiacs. Also, Western women (and no doubt women in general) are seen by some locals as being objects worthy of sexual assault. Osho Teerth (Zen Garden) is for example the scene of daily privacy invasions. My sense is that part of this is a deeply misguided notion about Osho’s views on relationships.

At the centre, on one occasion a man of local appearance, dressed only in non-maroon coloured underwear, was parading himself at the crowded Zorba swimming pool - I also add that he was displaying what he may well have considered to be a rather large erection. From my observations, the person (women) on duty at the poolside tried unsuccessfully to deal with the situation. I approached this person, took him to the sign saying ‘maroon coloured swimwear only’, and in no uncertain terms explained to this gentleman about the ‘colour’ problem. The centre carries a ‘sex-guru’ legacy, and there are many people (both local and from overseas) that are drawn to this, and display psychotic symptoms and undertake psychotic actions. The safety of women, especially outside the centre at night, warrants serious ongoing attention.

Perhaps some of the issues raised in the report - and here in summary - can be attributed to financial constraint. However the recent construction of a Guesthouse-Kitchen-Auditorium complex, the Zorba Restaurant, the Plaza Café, and a veritable army of Sodexo (and other) contract employees at the centre, make such a proposal utterly absurd.

Admittedly (perhaps) the Buddha Hall ‘tent’ structure needed retiring, and perhaps a new kitchen was overdue? However Buddha Hall has become a highly used open-air meditation space (Buddha Grove); also, the type of design of the pyramid shaped Auditorium complex must have required way above average financial investment for seating capacity. It would be incomprehensible to spend money unnecessarily or in exorbitant ways if the water treatment system wasn’t (in the least) up to scratch! I would for example prefer to sit in Buddha Grove under the stars, than to sit in the Auditorium with a churning stomach. Surely clean food and water takes absolute priority. If it cannot be provided then the centre should not be in operation.
Perhaps it would be not so nice to sit in your nice white robe under the sky in a torrential monsoon downpour? Personally I would enjoy it much more than consuming unclean food and drinking contaminated water; and, I have never attended a White-Robe sleep-over! It is to me negligent to invest in non-essential infrastructure over basic infrastructure and services.
The meditation centre is, in my opinion, a prima facie successful business Notwithstanding what appears to me to be (in the least) very bad investment decisions, it begs the question as to why the centre, in my opinion, struggles to meet the most basic duty of care principles.

Osho was a very powerful being. Some people are attracted to power, and some people are (or become) blind to this power. The centre in Pune has a legacy. There is a story that there are some people who, when in charge, won’t let anyone else behind the counter (be in charge). There are other people when in charge let everyone who wants to jump behind the counter. Osho happened to fall in the latter category.

Hence the centre’s legacy is one of managerial and administrative chaos. This makes for interesting times. If a subversive person or persons undertake to push their way to the top of the centre’s hierarchy, factors may well have been in place to make this unavoidable - or at least extremely difficult to avoid. An example might be that a subversive person owns some of the land or buildings at the centre - please note here that this is a hypothesis and nothing is being implied; I have no knowledge of the ownership situation.
Osho, his vision, and the authentic seekers that follow this path, are part of a fresh direction into life-positive spirituality. However, it is very easy to get a job at the ‘just-like-heaven’, ‘heaven-on-earth’, ‘spiritual oasis’ in Pune. If you don’t know the ropes in a difficult (or perhaps even treacherous) environment, you may well get hurt; you may well end up looking like you have wronged; you may well falsely think that you have wronged; and you may well end up fighting on the wrong side.

The centre has been a challenge for me. In my last visit - when I investigated and wrote the report, of which this is a summary - I felt increasingly a target of ill-will. It got to the stage where I felt that my personal safety was being threatened - perhaps just my imagination? However at a certain stage an inner-voice in me said that I must leave the centre, leave Pune, and leave India, immediately. Within a few hours of this intuition, I had thrown a few of my belongings into my backpack; with washing left on the line and a room full of belongings, I was in a hastily rented vehicle heading towards Mumbai airport. I caught the next available flight out of India.

The situation of feeling victimised (and perhaps even feeling threatened) was similar to the year before. I had been working (or should I say fighting) in the Kitchen Department helping out with hygiene. One day, as I was walking around Buddha Grove, my co-ordinator approached me. The meeting was curt. I was asked to stop the Residential Work Program, and to also stop the (non-residential) Work-as-Meditation program. I was given no reason for this. I had very little money at the time, and so could not afford to stay in Pune: now faced with additionally paying outside rent and the non-worker entrance fee. (I had previously made my co-ordinator aware of my financial situation. Naturally I soon left Pune).

After this meeting, when I at short notice had insufficient time to find adequate accommodation outside the centre, I asked the Residential Program co-ordinator if I could stay a little longer. The co-ordinator said I could only stay an extra day or so. When I later spoke to my accommodation care-taker, I gave mention of the slightly amended move-out date. The care-taker was surprised that I was given such a short extension, as there was no-one allotted to move into the room for some time.

Prior to the furore, I spent three years ‘working’ in Osho’s Samadhi, Lao Tzu house, and Lao Tzu garden. I have a sense that many people postulated that I was intimate with one (or who knows, perhaps more) of Osho’s closest disciples that resided in Lao Tzu during this time. I also have university qualifications to post-graduate level, and one area of specialisation is in international business management.

I recall one particular incident that occurred when I was standing at the back-gate of the centre. A car roared up to the gate and stopped abruptly; music was blazing loudly; and the young man of Indian appearance gave the appearance of being drunk. The car window was down, and he made some strange obscure comments to me. Suddenly he accelerated of, only to stop approximately 100 metres down the road. The car then spun around, and came back at considerable speed. It then swerved towards me. I reacted quickly, and ended up near the wall of the centre – another person witnessed this event. Other than thinking what a ‘crazy driver’ (a euphemism), I thought nothing further of it; nothing further, that is until right now I type these words.

If subtleties and innuendoes are not your thing, then let me make it clear. I left Pune as a matter of utmost urgency because I had a clear sense that there were people conspiring to murder me: out of jealousy and my incessant efforts to expose and stop absolutely deplorable conduct. I now am reflecting on whether or not there has already been an attempt on my life?

I am at the moment in Thailand, and will arrive in Pune this (soon) coming monsoon; however prior to taking my first sip of the centre’s ‘purified’ drinking water, I might just ask a few questions first. The very first question I will ask is Sheela and who?

From hearsay, from my observations, and from my understanding, I am of the opinion that there are a number of strong cases for civil negligence and criminal misconduct at the centre. I am also of the opinion that some of these actions are of an intentional (voluntary as opposed to involuntary) nature.

The Dalai Lama said Osho was an enlightened master. He also said that Osho was attempting to help humanity through a very difficult phase in its evolution. No doubt this is the case.
This paper uses anecdotes, at times vague recollections, and draws conclusions based only on the understanding of the author. The author claims no experience nor professional qualifications or standing in any area relevant to this paper. The paper is to be considered as a lay-persons opinion. There may be anecdotes that I have mis-spoke; there may be factual errors in the report; there may be incorrectly drawn conclusions or inferences. However many, if not all, of the issues are, if actually the case, serious in nature. I am of the opinion that the matter warrants investigation.

A summary leaves itself open to interpretation and mis-interpretation. The author therefore accepts no responsibility for any views formed, or actions undertaken, as a result of interpretations and misinterpretations. The author accepts no responsibility for the contents of this article, whether expressed directly or implied.

Prem Abhay

A Funny Email

To the Response and Management Team

“(Osho) International Meditation Resort, Pune, INDIA”

Please be very clear that the following is not a threat in any way. I am interested in exploring the situation at the resort through constructive dialogue - as has always been my approach.

At the (Osho) International Meditation Resort in Pune, India, there was a major water contamination problem 4 monsoons ago. The water treatment system was found to be in an absolutely deplorable state, and nothing of any substance was done to fix the problem. As per comments from the consulting microbiologist, the contamination problem was considerably worse 3 monsoons ago. Following the logic, as I have done so in other areas, that what I have reported is essentially nonsense (as per an e-Mail from Dr Amrito, and e-Mails from Dhyanesh), it is reasonable to assume that the water situation has continued on its historic trajectory.

More specifically, I am not aware of the situation with the last 2 monsoons - other than that they were very heavy. Also, though first diagnosed (that I am aware of) 4 monsoons ago, the deplorable state of the water treatment system at that time leads me to conclude that this was a problem going undiagnosed for some years prior - lets say for example 2 years (what I consider an optimistic guestimate). Plotting the chart, I have 4 years heading in a negative track, including 2 years of ignoring the problem. Adding to this the fact that my efforts to help fix the problem have led me to be "not welcome to visit" the centre (ie. banned or excommunicated), I therefore assume that the last two monsoons - both being very heavy - have produced major water contamination problems.

In simple terms I think it reasonable to conclude that some of the people that became sick whilst visiting the resort during the last (lets say) 6 years, did so because of the contaminated drinking water. Also, some water borne pathogens such as are prevalent in India can result in death. This logically leaves open the possiblity that a person(s) has died from the Resort's drinking water.
So my question is this, has anyone died from drinking contaminated water at the (Osho) International Meditation Resort, Pune, India?

Also, I have reason to believe the contamination of drinking water is by no means contained within the monsoon period, and that it is likewise also a worsening situation. Further, the contaminated drinking water goes into the food. Finally, there are numerous other significant issues that appear to me to be also worsening in nature.

Why would I think anything of any substance has been done to fix any of the other serious problems if I have been excommunicated for my endeavors? Also, to ignore a serious problem that has been clearly identified moves towards more and mores serious negligence - from civil to criminal - as does covering up any negligence!

Granted I am not welcome to visit the resort. However I am writing to request special permission to be a guest: as a criminal negligence investigator - to have a detailed look at the state of facilities at the centre and to ask some people some very specific questions - for example about microbiology test results over the last few years for both food and water.

I look forward to your prompt reply.

If you provide a free room in the guesthouse as part payment for my services that would be most welcome, though not at all necessary.

Yours sincerely,
Abhay.
The author of this letter takes no responsibility for any content, whether expressed or implied.

osho buddhism

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Understanding the Beyond

Friday, April 11, 2008

Osho International Meditation Resort: Negligence

PayPal

Labels

Languages

Blog Archive

About Me