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Although my physical birthday falls on February 23 since… how many years? (wink wink)… festivities started a good month before. This is because I am under the belief that when it comes to celebration, why place limitations on it. Why celebrate one’s birthday just a day? Isn’t that a little stingy? Why not two days, three days, a week, a month, a year, or… eternity!
When friends began asking me last month what would I enjoy as a present, I thought, hmm, you know this year there is no greater present I can imagine than meditating with friends. So, together with Svaaha, we invited a small group of the New York City center friends, as many as we could comfortably accommodate, for two days of meditation at the house. And of course, celebration! In fact, it was the most perfect, divine balance of Buddha and Zorba. And although everything stayed within moderation (more or less ;+) it is a good thing I forewarned the neighbors as Dynamic and Mandala Meditations Sunday morning definitely shook the floorboards!
Our dear friends from Virginia, Vasanti and Anam, “surprised” me with their visit coming all the way from Virginia. And our youngest attendee, Rakesh, spontaneously took a jump Sunday afternoon and became Anand Puneet (blissful innocence). I think it must be the first sannyas celebration ever in the State of Connecticut. So, what started as one birthday celebration became TWO. A double-whammy so to speak!
Festivities came to a soft landing Sunday evening at our local tapas place with those few friends remaining. I don’t think after this weekend the State of Connecticut will ever be the same. I’ve added some captions to the photos. And I want to say THANK YOU to everyone — especially beloved Svaaha — for making this birthday my best EVER. In fact, if getting old is going to be this much fun, I think I’ll try to stretch-out things out a little more… perhaps indefinitely? Hahaha … Is this being shameless? Actually, at my age (now how old am I?) I can say on my own authority: Who cares?
Finally, some words from Osho on birthdays. And thank you, Puneet. You took a jump and reminded us all of something essential<3
“… This second birth is the real birth. The first birth is not the real birth; it is only an opportunity for the second birth, that’s all. If the second birth happens, you used your first birth. If the second never happens, then the opportunity was lost. The first birth is only the birth of the body and the mind. The second birth is the birth of your spirit, of your soul. And unless you know something of the innermost eternal core of your being, you have not known anything… Each moment should be a new birth.” paraphrased from “Nirvana: The Last Nightmare #7”
“Maneesha has asked: ‘Beloved Osho, you have often said you will have no successors. But won’t all those who love you be your successors in that we carry you in our blood and bones and so you are part of us forever?’
“Maneesha, the concept of the successor is bureaucratic. The very idea of succession is not the right idea in the world of consciousness. That’s why I have said, I will not have successors. But you are right in saying that you will carry in your bones and in your blood my love, my insight. But don’t use the word `successor’; rather use the words `you will be me’. Why be so far away, a successor, when you can be me? Be so empty that I can make a home in you, that your emptiness can absorb my emptiness, that your heart can have the same dance as my heart. It is not succession; it is transmission. The very idea of succession is political. Only one person can be a successor, so there is bound to be competition, ambition. There is bound to be a subtle struggle to be closer to the master, to force others away. It may not be on the surface, but underneath the problem will remain in the disciples: “Who is going to be the successor?” I destroy the whole conception. Every disciple who has loved has become one with the master. There is no need of any competition; nor one successor. It is for everybody who has offered himself in deep gratitude, who has become one in a certain sense with the master’s presence. There is no need of any competition. Thousands can have the same experience, millions can have the same experience. To avoid politics in religion, I have said that I will not have successors. I want religion to be absolutely devoid of ambition, competition, being higher than another, putting everybody lower than oneself. With me you are all equal. And I trust and love you, that you will prove this equality. In equals there is no competition; there is a combined effort. You will all carry my message. But nobody will be higher or lower, nobody will be a successor. All will be my lovers and they will carry me … If the disciple loves the master, if there is trust, and trust founded on experience, he will carry spontaneously the master’s message. There is no need to say anything, he will be his master’s message. Now something serious…
“The Babblebrain family are going to the theater one night but nobody wants to stay at home to look after Grandad. So they decide to take him with them.
The movie is nearing its most exciting part when the whole row is disturbed by old man Babblebrain crawling around on his hands and knees.
‘Grandpa!’ whispers Boris loudly. ‘Get back in your seat!’
‘I can’t,’ replies Grandad. ‘I’ve lost a toffee.’
‘Sit down!’ snaps Boris. ‘You are disturbing the whole theater for a lousy toffee. I’ll buy you another one if you just sit down!’
‘I need that one,’ says Grandad.
‘My God!’ cries Boris. ‘What’s so special about THAT toffee?’
‘Because my teeth are in it!’ shouts Grandad.”
Osho, paraphrased from Nansen: The Point of Departure, Chapter 2
Recently, I rented a compact economy car in Atlanta and the agent said, “Sorry. We don’t have the car you requested. I hope this will do” — and handed me the keys to this American Beauty. I felt a little guilty about the carbon foot-print I’d be leaving until I fired it up and heard (and felt!) the lion roar. After which, it was game-on and just fun. Pure fun. I am thinking it could be a nice option for this year’s tour van. What do you think?
“The man who respects himself is authentic. He cannot compromise: he would prefer to die but stick to his truth. And that is the price God asks for. Risk all that you have — because you don’t have anything, you only think you have. In reality, you are a nothingness.
“Sanai says:
‘STRIVE TO PASS FROM NOTHINGNESS TO BEING,
AND MAKE YOURSELF DRUNK WITH THE WINE OF GOD.’
“Be open, and God starts pouring into you like wine from every nook and corner of existence. Then wherever you look, you find God. Then whatsoever you touch, you find God. Then whatsoever you drink and eat, you find God. And when God pours from everywhere, then life is a celebration.”
Osho, Unio Mystica, Volume 2 #3
A country priest used to keep chickens in a coop behind his church.
One evening, the old cock from his lot went missing. The next service, the priest asked his congregation, “Who has a cock?”
All the MEN stood up.
The priest said, “No, I mean who has SEEN a cock?”
All the WOMEN stood up.
The priest said, “No, no, I mean who has seen a cock that isn’t theirs?”
HALF the WOMEN stood up.
Exasperated, the priest shouted: “For heavens sake, who has seen my cock?”
All the NUNS stood up.
