Hello & welcome to our blog.
We came to Osho's in Pune, India for some spiritual fulfillment, but found ourselves (and many others visiting) disillusioned with the money making focus that is now driving the Osho Resort.
It's not all bad, but to avoid the shock and enjoy your trip as much as possible we highly recommend that you read some of the below tips if you intend to visit Osho's Resort in Pune:
Do not book a accommodation for longer than 3 or 4 days.
Once upon a time sanyassins would come here for long durations as the food, accommodation, and entry was very affordable, and the vibe in return was nothing less than magically spiritual. Not anymore, and the Meditation 'Resort' is now seen more of a tourist attraction than a spiritual Oasis. The only people that are not disappointed with the 'Resort' these days are the cashed up tourists that have never experienced anything spiritual before. Think ClubMed with a yoga or meditation on a cold marble floor, with a volunteer off the street as your instructor.
Don't buy 'entry' upon arrival.
Much time is needed for registering, getting cash out, buying special cash vouchers, HIV test, buying maroon robes, white robes, socks, bathers, yoga mats, & scarfs. More importantly, if you don't want the Ashram turned 'Cashram' milking so much profit out of you in such a short duration of time, you may prefer to buy such items from the humble street retailer just one block down the street for a third of the price. After registering and reading the resort guidelines, don't waste 700 rupees+ on a day ticket you'll hardly use, take this day to relax, look around and buy these items.. after all, you didn't come here to stress out.
Tips for the Pyramid
The reason why they make the pyramid chilly is so that you will not only buy robes, but buy a scarf or two as well, oh and socks etc.. Remember its not an Ashram.. its a Cashram, with a capitol 'C'. Security is tough there and if you bag is larger than a fist then expect to be interrogated.
Don't over spend on the special 'Osho cash vouchers'
Currently there is a sign saying you should buy as many of these vouchers as possible. Don't! Unless your planning to splurge at the Osho shop (for clothes, books etc..), just buy one or two 500 rupee vouchers, you can always buy more later. The reason they have these vouchers is because the volunteers working here are not allowed to handle real money for the obvious reasons. The problem is, that once even 5 rupees of the voucher is used, it is no longer refundable. So if you bought a 1000 rupee voucher and you only used 5 rupees of it, before leaving Osho's you have now lost 995 rupees, and in India, that's a lot of money! The management has been very cunning in this manner, so many people get caught in the same trap, and then they get to keep all your unused money for profit!
Well at least you'll makes some friends... errrr
Most people stay at Osho's now only one or two days in which strong bonds are rarely made, although you'll be sure to find friends in others staying longer (& most likely will be complaining about the place). As a friend of ours found out, a lot of the older local men come here to chat up the young western women, they aren't even interested in Osho, this makes for great conversation doesn't it?
The day pass.. what it will give you, what it won't..
The day pass is for entry for the resort, so lucky you will get to see all the nice landscape gardening, tiled walls & chilly pyramid... It will also give you entry to the general day classes that go on. BE WARNED! These classes have NO QUALIFIED TEACHER to guide you!!! There will be one or two people in black robes (and white sash). These people are VOLUNTEERS .. and get this THEY ARE PAYING TO BE THERE! They will appear at the start of the class and for 5 minutes they will and will read one paragraph explanation of the meditation. Then they will play a CD of music they will last the rest of the duration of the class. Hmm, if we'd known sooner we may as well have bought a copy off Amazon and just done this in our own living room, at least we wouldn't be doing it in a freezing pyramid.
Work As Meditation
Even if you don't do the residential program and your living outside the resort you are still expected to be paying for three days entry, plus all the other extortionate costs to be able to work there..That's right, NO DISCOUNTS! Oh and they won't teach you how to meditate while working unless you do the expensive 'Residential Program.'
The Residential Program
All work and no play makes a sannyasin a dull yogi. As per the website, expect to pay $800 US+ to dedicate 8 hours work there every single day for 2 months or more. No days off, and hardly any time to enjoy classes. You also don't get a say in what you want to work as, so be careful when writing done your skill set in the application. If they do find out you have skills they can use do bank in more money for the resort, they will be sure to convince you some how into using them, and some how say it will help you to meditate during work. If you react negatively to this, they will say 'now your reacting, we will teach you how to stop reacting'... Meditation Resort? More like 'Manipulation Resort.' They made this program to make even more money for the Cashram.. So unless your a high school graduate with low self esteem, or a retired window cleaner.. after afew days you may feel like your being taken for a ride. Just look at the people that are working there, generally they aren't even serving with a smile.. let alone an aura of enlightenment, and now you know why.
Once leaving the Meditation Resort..
If you have read books from Osho you would know that Osho had a deep love for connecting with nature. So to help the environment and the poor woman out the front begging with no hands, then donate to these people of the street so they can resell it & share the love. Recycling these robes not only helps the environment, it helps the community & as an offset, you will leave there feeling good too!
Good luck & enjoy the Osho Meditation Resort
xoxo
Peace & Love, from Osho Lovers