The Master's Call

Ma Yoga Laxmi

“When you are able to surrender, the teacher will come… You become vacant, you become empty. Then the spiritual force rushes toward you and fills you…becomes responsible for you. This is what is meant by initiation…” Osho, I Am The Gate, 1972

“In your late twenties, you will meet someone who will usher light in your life. Your chances of a marriage are bleak,” said Laxmi’s cousin, a professional astrologer to her during her mid twenties. A few years passed by. Twenty-eight years old, Laxmi was involved with the upbringing and development of the nine young children in the family. These were her brothers’ children. Laxmi looked after their schooling and recreation at home.

The children went to a school run by an accomplished English lady. Laxmi was in touch with her many years’ later and gifted Osho’s books to the school. She recommended these books to the senior students as she appreciated the books.

In addition Laxmi was Secretary of the All India Women’s Congress Mahilla Vibhai, Bombay and a Jain women welfare organization. Several members of these groups included wives of members of the Indian parliament and socially progressive and literate women. Many a time dignitaries were guests of these groups. Loved by most co-workers Laxmi was being groomed for a political career.

Social work had become the focus of her life. Laxmi worked with a group of distressed women who prepared food items to make an income. With Laxmi’s contribution the organization made profits and the income increased multifold. Wages were doubled in a month. Enthused the workers continued the effort and within twelve months the workshop was renovated. Refrigerators, ovens were added and air conditioners were installed in the workshop. This was a good experience for Laxmi as she realized that currency in circulation further generated income. Production increased and round the clock supervision was needed. Owing to commitments to the family, Laxmi decided to hand over charge to new appointee and render a resignation. Popular for ushering in multifold growth, Laxmi’s resignation was opposed by the workers. They wanted her to stay and threatened to go on strike if Laxmi resigned. However Laxmi convinced them that she had to honor her commitment to the family and handed over charge.

Meanwhile Laxmi’s brother dated a young Parse lady and desired to marry her. The family opposed it, as Parses are a different religious group. The Hindus consider Parse a sub culture group as they had origins in Iran. Laxmi was proud and cherished the social status of the family and was opposed to the wedlock and the impending insult. Looking back, Laxmi forgot her own rebelliousness and ensuing resentment towards the elders who opposed her dreams in her life till so far. This led to a controversy of the out of caste marriage.

However a great change was in the offing for Laxmi. A clarion call, loud and clear was round the corner. Laxmi’s life was never going to the same. The Congress Mahila Vibhai invited Acharya Rajneesh as a guest and lead speaker on the silver jubilee meeting. Laxmi envisioned a bare feet, customarily attired Jain monk with a begging bowl, with a mask on the mouth covered in order to not suck in any tiny living beings, and a broom to clean the place before sitting down. Much to her surprise Achayra Rajneesh wore a white khadi lungi (an ankle length cloth tied below torso) and a silk chaddar, shawl around his shoulders. He was unlike a Jain monk. He walked in gracefully casting a spell. On his way to the dais he passed by Laxmi. Frozen and in deep silence, Laxmi forgot to welcome the guest. In complete awe Laxmi couldn’t take her eyes off him. An extraordinary experience Laxmi sat still listening intently. Deep down there was a strange recognition as though she had known him earlier. There was a familiarity Laxmi could not explain. An inner voice seemed to acknowledge that Laxmi had known him forever. Each cell and pore of the body rang out in agreement with this feeling. He was no stranger. However Laxmi was short of words to express the experience.

As he began to speak Laxmi sensed a deep throbbing at her navel center and was carried away into another realm. His command over Hindi and lucidity was enthralling/enchanting like a song from the spheres was flowing. Eyes closed Laxmi melted with the melody of this divine music. Immobilized with awe, she did not get up to thank him at the end of his speech. Laxmi was mesmerized. The President who noticed this got up and gave the vote of thanks. When the President’ sharp vote of thanks fell on Laxmi’s ears, her eyes opened.

Later the President expressed disbelief of Laxmi’s unusual inertia. Laxmi said, “ Love has happened for the first time. It is springtime. There is music all around. It is difficult to explain the feeling “. Confused she asked, “Love for the sadhu?” Laxmi acknowledged love for him and said, “Yes. It is love for him, his eyes, and his purity. Oh God, Acharya Rajneesh, where can one meet him?”

Whacking her on the cheek she said, “ You are hypnotized, he is certainly not a person to be in love with”. “A person. There is no person. It is the sound, the music, and the magic of the human being who was here. He is the man of the earth,” Laxmi’s replied.

Shocked with Laxmi’s overwhelming response the president was worried. She decided to escort Laxmi home. At home she narrated the evening’s events to Mataji. Assured that he was an unbelievable Jain monk, a good orator and no ordinary man, Mataji heard Laxmi’s ecstatic experience. The President did not yield the contact address of Osho to Laxmi. All she said was that he lived in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh in central India. Laxmi did not know how to reach Acharya Rajneesh.

Osho noticed that Laxmi wore khadi, hand woven cotton. He asked her why she wore khadi. Laxmi replied proudly. Laxmi said that Gandhi, Father of the nation was loved and respected by the family. Gandhi taught the Indians to weave cloth, and as a Gandhian one should devote one self to the nation. That is why she wore khadi. Osho suggested that they discuss Gandhi and the issue of khadi during another visit. He then turned to talk to other guests in the room.

Laxmi continued to feel Osho’s touch for long. The fragrance of his presence lingered on for days after Osho departed from Mumbai. It seemed fresh. To Laxmi it seemed her cousin’s forecast was true. The light finally shone in her life.

Two months later it so happened Mataji went to visit a relative. Later in the day she accompanied the relative to hear a Jain monk speak on religion. The monk turned out to be Acharya Rajneesh in later years known as Osho. Mataji was overwhelmed by his presence, sound and expression. “You have a discerning eye. He is indeed a remarkable and pure man. His lecture reaches the heart immediately,” she said to Laxmi foremost on returning home. Excited Laxmi requested her to find out the contact address of Osho. Contact was made. However Osho had departed by train to Jabalpur in the afternoon. Disappointed she could not meet Osho, Laxmi was glad that she could now share Osho with Mataji. For several days Osho was the subject of conversation between the two.

There were a series of surprises for Laxmi. One after the other the Kuruwa family got to meet Osho. Next it was Laxmi’s maternal uncles’ turn to hear Osho. Uncle was a regular and compulsive gambler. Once his friend suggested that he accompany him to a discourse by an unconventional and revolutionary Jain sadhu. These discourses would appeal to him as the sadhu did not condemn any habits including gambling, drinking liquor and visiting brothels. Uncle brushed aside this in disbelief. Knowing his weakness for gambling the friend seduced Uncle into accompanying him to the lecture of Acharya Rajneesh despite the initial doubt. Uncle was trapped. He fell for the bait. He was promised ten thousand rupees provided he sat through the entire discourse. If he failed he need only pay one rupee to his friend.

On that day Osho in his lecture spoke on the issue of gambling and the problems related with it. To Uncle it seemed as though Osho was addressing his problem issues. This co-incidence surprised him. At the end he was refreshed and transformed. Uncle thanked his friend and offered twenty thousand rupees as a gift.

Uncle convinced Laxmi’s older brother to go for Osho’s next talk. On return Laxmi’s brother said, “Laxmi, this is the man for you and us. “ Ecstatic he wanted to meet him in person. A few days later uncle brought home a proposal to host Osho’s visit to Matheran, Maharashtra at the Kuruwa home. He informed the family that the trustees of Jeevan Jagruti Kendra (Centre of Life Awakening) were in search of a good accommodation for Osho at Matheran. Soon the family house was offered to put up Osho during his visits to Matheran.

Special arrangements were made for Osho’s stay at the house. The cook was given special instructions for Osho’s meals which comprised of fruits, cracked wheat, lentils, dal, a bean or bean soup dish, boiled vegetables, salad without chilly and spices. Seven members of the family left for Matheran for the meditation camp. They met Osho at Neral, a train station two hours away from Matheran. Accompanied by Osho they proceeded to Matheran for the meditation camp.

During the meditation camp the meditators attended discourses in the morning and sat in silence during evening for five days in Osho’s presence. In the afternoon the meditators sat in silence with their eyes closed around Osho. During this hour they were encouraged to express their feelings. While some cried, the others laughed. After this hour was over they sat closer around while Osho touched the third eye center on the forehead of the meditators in turn. Each would then move to accommodate the other.

At the end of the camp Osho told Mataji that he had had good food and a comfortable stay. He added that this was indeed the first time that everything was taken care of so well. Grateful, Mataji invited Osho to stay with the family during his visit to Mumbai. Mataji knew Osho was fond of open spaces therefore she added that there were no fields in Mumbai. Osho confirmed that he would visit the family en route the station in the evening. He added he would stay with them on his next visit.

Laxmi did not go to Matheran and stayed in Mumbai as caretaker of a child who had high fever.

Within a week all the children had recovered and were fine. Laxmi was excited to learn Osho was to be their guest in the evening and would stay for dinner. It was a beautiful day. Laxmi was full of laughter and joy. She spent the day preparing for his arrival. She cooked for him as the cook was still in Matheran.

Osho arrived with the trustees of Jeevan Jagruti Kendra. Laxmi brought a glass of fresh juice for Osho and was introduced to him by Mataji. Osho asked her to sit besides him. He held her hand as he drank the juice. Laxmi took the glass from Osho when he had finished the juice. Seated next to Osho Laxmi’s body vibrated as if hit by an electric current. Laxmi sat still. Meanwhile someone took the glass away from Laxmi. Osho thanked her for the juice. “It was sweet and given with a lot of love,” he said. Blessing her head he added, “ I shall stay here when I am in Mumbai, and you should take care of me”.

The above is chapter 4 of Ma Laxmi’s biography Journey of the Heart:
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