The Last Testament (Vol 1) ~ 12

event type	interview
date & time	29 Jul 1985 pm
location	Jesus Grove, Rajneeshpuram
language	English
audio	Available, duration 1h 33min. Quality: good. Live music after the interview.
online audio	free download from OshoWorld purchase from Osho.com
video	Available, duration 1h 50min. Quality: good.
online video	Edited excerpt: No Faith for Nostradamus (5min 17sec, question 49) **
see also	timeline : Osho Timeline 1985 first edition : The Last Testament, Vol 1 (1986.06) other editions, translations and links
online text	find the PDF of this discourse
shorttitle	LAST112

notes: Most of the 166 interviews Osho gave during the Ranch era and World Tour (see The Last Testament (series)) have never been published in book form. They have been published on the CD-ROM though; there they appear under the titles The Last Testament (Vol 1) to (Vol 6).; CD-ROM on this chapter: This discourse is published in The Last Testament, Vol 1, chapter 23. See The Last Testament, Vol 1#Correspondence between this Book and the CD-ROM.

synopsis: Interview. Announcements by Ma Anand Sheela : Lynn Hudson, India Abroad, New York.

Question 1

Yes, Bhagwan, I've been asked to tell you a little bit about 'India Abroad.' It's an English-language weekly newspaper about Indians and about India, mainly for Indian Americans in this country, or Asian Indians in this country, but it is circulated somewhat in India, as well. Another thing I want to say is that I have covered the activities of this community since its inception. Since you've been in this country for four years now, I'd like to ask you what your reactions are to America, Americans and American institutions.

Question 2

Would you live in the Soviet Union?

Question 3

Well, if you feel that way about it, why are you happy here? Or are you happy here?

Question 4

Even in a place as oppressive as the United States?

Question 5

How about the individual Americans? How do you feel about the ones that you've met, that you've come into contact with? Or the ones that you've read about?

Question 6

But many Americans come here to see you, do they not? The parents of your sannyasins, and others?

Question 7

I wonder if I might ask you about your childhood in India? What was it like? How did other children relate to you? How did you relate to them? How did they feel about you? How did you feel about yourself as a child?

Question 8

You felt yourself a teacher even then, isn't that right?

Question 9

Did this make you an outcast with children your own age? Did that matter to you?

Question 10

Do you think there's a psychological dynamic there, though, in your feeling an outcast, that led you in the direction of forming a commune of which you are the center?

Question 11

The adulation that is obviously felt for you here in this community, does that give you a sense of humility or a sense of omnipotence?

Question 12

One of the things I'm asking, I guess, is what does it do to your head, as they say, to feel all this love? -- I mean, as a human being to be the center of so much whatever you call it, love, adoration, adulation?

Question 13

Do you think you would be as happy if you were one of the sannyasins and there was another leader?

Question 14

In regard to the remarks you made earlier about the United States, I would gather that you do comment on politics. I would like to ask you what your feelings are about Rajiv Gandhi and the present government of India.

Question 15

So you foresee another emergency?

Question 16

What are your opinions of Sikhism and of the Sikh extremist elements?

Question 17

Do you favor separate statehood for Punjab?

Question 18

Your statements about Mrs. Gandhi seem to suggest that you were on good terms with the Indian government when you left India.

Question 19

How did that work? What were the dynamics of that?

Question 20

Were there problems between you and other ministers or departments of the Indian government?

Question 21

Was that a key factor in your leaving India?

Question 22

What was your quarrel with Desai?

Question 23

But haven't you yourself said that it's the technology we've developed that's gotten us into the possibility of a holocaust?

Question 24

But no one's ever found a way to put a cap on science, have they? I mean, it has a life of its own.

Question 25

But even given that, do you really see a way to put the nuclear genie back in the bottle when even graduate students have the technology to make a nuclear bomb today?

Question 26

Does this put you on the side of nuclear power plants?

Question 27

How do you think we can go about changing the present attitude in the world to create this sort of future that you see?

Question 28

And how would you go about creating that consciousness throughout mankind?

Question 29

How many in Russia?

Question 30

Are there other leaders today that you feel are working in the same direction you are? Or do you feel that you are doing this alone?

Question 31

As I recall your press conference last week, you mentioned eugenics as a way in which we could avoid creating other monsters such as Hitler, Stalin, and Genghis Khan. Is that correct?

Question 32

But when you intrude into people's lives to tell them when and how they can have children, isn't that somewhat fascistic, somewhat Hitlerian in itself?

Question 33

If you'll pardon a couple of personal questions, have you never wanted to have a child yourself?

Question 34

There's been a story recently that you plan to return to India and to move this commune back to India. Is there any truth in that?

Question 35

Why are you determined to remain here, inasmuch as you seem very critical and unfavorably disposed toward the United States government and the United States in general?

Question 36

Is there any reason that there are not many Indian sannyasins here in Oregon?

Question 37

Were you ever a practicing Hindu?

Question 38

Well, how would you describe the thing that brings you all together?

Question 39

You apparently are the head of a very rich worldwide organization. What is your position on any obligation you may have to contribute to world charity? To the famine countries? To poverty in India? To the many other places that need help?

Question 40

What is your personal feeling about it then?

Question 41

Do you not believe that if you wished to help Ethiopia, your sannyasins would comply with your wishes and render help?

Question 42

Well, even if you believe world hunger is a result of misguided policies on the part of world leaders, what about human compassion for the people who are starving? -- simple human compassion.

Question 43

You believe in reincarnation, then?

Question 44

Would that be part of your Indian heritage, since it is a strong belief among Indians?

Question 45

You've often expressed a view of a coming world apocalypse if man doesn't change his outlook. Is that view of an apocalypse something that's rationalized from an analysis of history and current events, or is it a vision?

Question 46

You would call yourself a rationalist about this, then?

Question 47

And your analysis also suggests a world epidemic of some disease -- possibly AIDS, I believe you said.

Question 48

I believe that you've also predicted a terrible flood. What reasons do you see for that?

Question 49