Welcome In The New

The line between the year that was and the year that is blurs as my touring schedule continues with the Brasil events just on the horizon.

January 1st found me in a hotel room in India just behind the Pune train station. The first thing I did when I woke up was to order chai and toast-butter from room service. Savoring such simple joys of life, I eased my way effortlessly into the first morning of the New Year. Later that day, I played and sang for sannyas celebration at the Osho Resort in the new pyramid auditorium.

Last year, I traveled the world at least a few times over. I had to laugh when on my most-recent flight they showed the movie “Around The World in Eighty Days”. I must have seen this film at least a dozen times by now. I know all Jackie Chan’s lines and moves by heart. One thing that continues to impress me in my travels is how far and wide Osho has reached: as if a seed pod has burst, scattering his vision to all nooks and corners of this vast beautiful planet, to longing hearts and thirsty souls everywhere.

We live in interesting times where the polarization between East and West – the inner and the outer – has perhaps never been more extreme. But alongside this polarization comes clarity. In this sense, I think the things Osho speaks of regarding politics and religion have never been more easy to see and understand.

As spirits soared during the Sannyas Celebration at the Resort, thousands of ecstatic people raised their voices skyward and I felt grateful to be a fish in that ocean of celebration. What better way to start the New Year than with meditation, music, song, dance, laughter, and love? Yes, waves are indeed coming in … coming in.

Events playing out on the world stage at this moment in history can be a great service in keeping one’s meditation focused. I only read one book last year, a beautiful story by Ernest Hemingway called “The Old Man and The Sea”. Just like Hemingway’s salty, old character I know it’s important to keep my sails to the wind and a steady hand on the tiller, knowing well that the wind and rolling waves that rock a boat can be experienced in two ways: either as a nuisance and excuse to roll over and go back to sleep, or a challenge to wake-up. For me, the choice is not just clear. It’s obvious.