that evening i met with raji to talk over what we could do to help him.
our two main ideas were focussed around the humaniversity (a community that tathagat had belonged to for many years), and osho uta, the cologne centre, which had been his ‘home’ for the past 10 years or so...
unfortunately, neither could absorb him because he needed such intense care, but still, we weren’t discouraged.
we felt that maybe they would consider taking him for day visits now and again...maybe...
raji and i ended our meeting wondering where to go and what to do next...
but a miracle was about to happen in the shape of a smiling englishman...
meet premananda.
premananda is an inspired spiritual teacher with a community that has gathered around him that he calls ‘open sky house’.
he was in cologne to interview us for a movie he is making about spiritual teachers, and the various paths that have opened up during these years of spiritual expansion..
as we talked, i brought up the subject of tathagat.
premananda (god bless him) responded like a zen archer – after hearing my story, he immediately decided to invite tathagat to visit his community with a view to joining their musical evenings – and who knows – even to becoming a resident.
a miracle was in process!
this is more than simply an over-flowing soul in action: premananda understands that people like tathagat, who are not engaged with their busy minds, are possibly anchored in the heart...which in tathagats case, is true.
he knows people like tathagat can actually inspire those around them, as opposed to being a weight on the shoulders of the community.
so, true to his word, next day he collected tathagat from the home and drove him to the ‘open sky house’ for evening music celebration.
here’s a pic from the evening (tathagat is in the yellow t-shirt).
and here’s a part of a message from one of the residents after that evening:
‘...and now with tathagat it was 100 percent clear how totally serious and indispensable it is to stay as heart. no one mirrored what i really am so clearly as tathagat. i recognize myself in him much more than in anyone else. he is my clearest mirror...’
as for tathagat, he simply went along happily, asking no questions of these ‘strangers’ who had come to drive him to their home – like a child he smiled, trusted...all he brought with him was his big smile and his instrument – the sugar jar.
premananda – thank you so much for your openness...and your willingness to go beyond the ideas of what it takes to befriend tathagat.
you have shown so much heart and courage and your actions speak way louder than any amount of words.
for me, this is the essence of osho’s vision.
walk on tathagat!!
ps – premananda continues to invite tathagat to the ‘open sky house’ and i hear their musical events remain a highlight in the lives of all present.
and raji, a fine singer in her own right (seen here with tathagat at our workshop) has created a site where you can read more:
www.myspace.com/tathagatmusic.
pps..the ‘apple’ is a shaker in disguise...
ppps..thank you esha, for taking the great pix of our visit to tathagat.
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