Nasa Scientist and a Molecular Biologist Visit Osho Tapoban
Sw Vasanto and Ma Abhiru are scientist couples from France who came to Tapoban this October to participate in the seven days intense silence meditation camp. While Swami Vasanto has already filed two major patents and has forty three of his designs on the space shuttle, ISS (International Space Station), Ma Abhiru is a holder of two PhDs and works on molecular biology in the R&D center of a private company. We sat down with these science inventors to know more about their experiences as spiritual seekers.
Vasanto, Abhiru was telling me that you have interesting incidents about how you came in contact with Osho. Tell us about it.
Vasanto:- I was born in France in 1938 in a catholic family. Probably when I was 14 years old, I was having dreams about eastern countries that I had never been to. I used to receive impressions coming from a culture born in India during 8th-12th century about Shiva and Tantric practices. When I was 30 years old, the new age flowed from America into Northern Europe like flu. I was running after things like rebirth in order to meet higher beings, or probably a master but I found nothing.
Later in my professional life when I was inventing, I always felt that some one was watching me over my shoulder while I was designing my inventions. The repetitive occurrence of this feeling made me paranoid but it was real. These were the most creative years of my life. Now I have clearly come to know that it was Osho who was guiding me in my designs. Its been three years since I met Osho through a woman, Ma Anand Marga and I am more aware today about how he is helping me.
And your new work?
Vasanto:- This new work was a secret until today. I have come to know that sometimes when our body is silent, our biology works better and can work as a medium for energetic healing. I am working on how to bring this phenomenon to use. I am preparing a text about this and Osho has helped me a lot in it. When we met Swami Arun it was a great time. After a lot of discussion we have come to know that the people in Europe don’t know that most of their problems are in the mind and the only solution is meditation. So we also have plans to open a Osho commune in near future where people can come and meditate. It will happen gradually and the first step has already been taken.
I have seen that it’s very difficult for scientists or people from a science background to bend towards spirituality or religion. But today it is a different story………
Abhiru:- Scientists have to be convinced by a demonstration like a+b=c. They have to understand through logic. So the difficulty is to bring them to the heart. But today there is a lot of stress in France like in Europe and people have slowly begun to realize that there is something wrong in their lives. So I think that the right way to explain it to them is by allowing them to experiment it on themselves. Then its ok. They are narrow minded and at the same time they are not narrow minded. When I said to my colleagues that I was going to Nepal for meditation camp, they were very happy for me. So they can understand that it will help me but they are not ready to accept that it could help them too.
But today most of the European people need help. There is a lot of sadness and depression in the West especially in the professional world and many are seeking help from different practices, therapies and spiritual teachers. Nature can also be very therapeutic. I think that meditation is actually the true way for scientists to make their life lighter and happier and today people from Europe can easily understand why. These problems can be easily solve by introducing them to meditation and gradually to Osho when their heart is more open.
Vasanto:- Its difficult in France because most of the people are Catholics and anything other than Christian is considered as a cult. They are wrong but it’s not their fault because they don’t know. People need to experiment inside themselves and this is the only way to know.
Before Osho, religion was not accepted into science and science was not welcomed by religion. As scientists what would you say to that?
Abhiru:- Osho is a bridge between these two worlds, science and spirituality. Osho made it easier especially for the occident people to understand spirituality and helped them to come to their hearts. He also gave these rules during his early days, the five principles that Swami Arun talks about. It’s important to have guidelines. You are right about the difference between science and religion before Osho. And for me Osho’s meditation is a crossroad between these two worlds. Through Osho it became easier for us, people in the mind to understand, because he gave us the privilege of experimenting.
These five principles have raised a lot of controversy in the Osho community. Could you talk about your experience with these five principles?
Abhiru:- I think that its important for us to pass through these disciplines. In France I did try to meditate but I realized that I do need some guidelines. It is a step by step process for me and has helped me to be on the line. I realized that I can’t reach the finish line without passing through the first point. And the first point is purification and then the discipline that I have to meditate at least twice a day. And then the life will do the rest. Its like a demonstration, a man who climbs the Mt Everest has to start from the base camp. He also needs to make sure that he takes each of his steps carefully. I think the five principles are in fact the right way for us, the Occident people. I have understood the importance of purification, meditation, company, silence retreat through my own experience.
Vasanto:- The reality is very clear and there is nothing to be said about it.
I would like to know about your experience during this camp.
Abhiru:- It was like Oh my God! Hey Bhagwan! It was wonderful. For me I have been touched by the love of Osho. Its something that I hadn’t experienced before and I was really impressed by all this love, this goodness of everybody. We are very lucky first to know Osho, to know Arun. It was really an honor, a privilege to attend this camp. The camp has been a transformation for both of us. Now I have come to know that through discipline, through meditation I can be, I can be another woman. From here I have also learnt how to celebrate life and I am very thankful. I am sure that one day our joy will spread like an epidemic. That’s my scientific word.
Vasanto:- We are the 2nd generation sannyasins and its a great time. Arun is working perfectly. I speak about my deep feeling that when u meet Arun, when u see the light in his eyes, when u hear the love in his words, when u feel the love overflowing from his heart, phewww……. We have seen that he gives time to everybody and all the 250 people in this camp feel his love. And the beauty of the people here, they are always taking care for your comfort and are always smiling. You are like our examples and we would love to be like you, always laughing even at work.
What was your favorite session during the camp?
Vasanto:- I liked the prayer meditation because I felt a very strong presence of energy. It really spoke deeply in my heart, my body and my brains. The energy was growing more and more everyday during the day and it was a great experiment for us.
Abhiru:- In the beginning I didn’t feel anything when Swami Arun said feel Osho because I was not so connected. But from the middle of the camp I really felt his love and it was a new feeling for me. Then of course the sharing sessions with Swami Arun and the Sannyas celebration on the last day. I also liked the prayer meditation because it made me feel that cosmic energy does exist. I really liked how we receive from the sky and then give it back to Earth.
In the end do you have anything to say?
Vasanto:- Many Many thanks to everyone, to Arun, to Osho, to life for the love that we received.
Abhiru:- A lot of gratitude to you people, to Osho and Swami Arun. Tapoban is a message of hope for the Occidental people because we have come to know that there is a way to change our lives. We all became one during the camp and it’s an example that this can happen on a larger scale through out the world. So my message to the French people is that if you want to transform your lives we know the way and we know the place. We have Osho and we have meditation. It’s a small thing to say but Arun is doing a job really important for the humanity.
Interview by- Swami Aatmo Neerav