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Love them or hate them, but you just cannot ignore
the ashramites of the Osho Commune. To form an opinion,
you may have to spend some time in the city. Until
such time, let us provide some dope (pun absolutely
unintended) to arouse your curiosity about the Commune.
Turn in to the North Main Road at Koregaon Park,
and you will  instinctively
know you are headed in the right direction. The
road resembles a tourist spot and you will be witness
to some frenzied activity. The two hundred yard
stretch ahead has a mind boggling assortment of
items on sale. There are florists, fruit vendors,
locksmiths, dress designers who specialise in maroon
robes, touts and several other smart cookies. Turn
into the first lane to the right, and the din magically
vanishes. You are bound to be struck by the beauty
of the lane. The charming cobbled pavement, the
luscious green surroundings and the attractive potted
plants aligned neatly on either side of the road
engulf you in a sense of serenity. Keep walking,
and before you know it, you would have reached your
destination. You just cannot miss the impressive
black gates at the entrance to the commune. There
is water cascading from the cracks on either side
of the wall. Walk in through the side door to the
visitors centre. There is an inquiry counter manned
by a few Sanyasins who are more than willing to
answer any questions that you may have. You can
pick up a two-page leaflet that has 'Welcome to
the Osho Commune International' printed on the first
page. Also printed is the following
"We are creating a commune of individuals with their
own spirituality; unhindered, uninterfered with.
We want them to cleanse their minds, sharpen their
intelligence, and enter into the deepest center
of their being.'' |
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-Osho
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 Suitably
impressed, you might well decide to take a small
guided tour. After all, here is an opportunity to
get introduced to Osho's work and some of his meditation
techniques, and check out parts of the commune grounds.
At the end of it, you will be shown a short video
film. After the tour, you could saunter towards
the bookstore in the visitors centre and generally
browse through the books and cassettes of Osho.
If you are truly bowled over and do decide to tell
friends to check it out, remember to convey the
following points:
- Tickets for
the tour are Rs 10/- per person.
- Do not take along anyone below 15 years.
The poor kid would have to hang around in the
lobby.
- Photography
is strictly prohibited.
- The place is
open everyday, including Sundays.
- Tickets for the tour could be bought in advance
anytime between 9.30 am-1.00 pm and 2.00 pm-4.00
pm.
- There are
two tours available each day, one scheduled
at 10.15 am-11.15 am and the other at 2.30 pm-3.30
pm.
'You are welcome to participate in the meditations,'
announces page two of the leaflet.
Basically, there are six one-hour-long meditations
offered in  Gautama
the Buddha Auditorium everyday. One could, if
interested, register at the commune's Welfare Centre,
open daily between 9.00am-1.00pm and 2.00pm-4.00pm.
One needs to take along a photo identity card, two
recent passport-size photographs, and undergo an
HIV test at the Centre. The cost of the test is
Rs125/-. Registration over, you will receive an
entry pass which can be validated on a daily basis.
The daily entrance fee is Rs 45/- (Rs 100/- for
foreigners). You may have to invest in a couple
of robes. Maroon ones are worn throughout the day.
White robes are worn for the Osho White Robe Brotherhood
Meditation in the evening. Finally and more importantly
there is no accommodation available within the commune,
so you have to make your own living arrangements.
Sounds interesting? Want more information? Simply
log on to www.osho.com
Address: Osho Commune International,
17 Koregaon Park, Pune 411 001 Phone: 612
5622. Fax: 6124181,
e-mail:
commune@osho.com,
website: www.osho.com.
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