Arica (group)

Arica was an experimental group which did not have a long run, according to The Sound of Running Water's chart of most known groups' timelines, just Dec 1975 to Jan 1976. It was led by (among others) Sw Anup, whose potential middle name is unknown. The techniques used derived principally from Arica.

More information about it has turned up in a couple of places in a Darshan Diary, Hammer on the Rock. First, on Dec 19, Maneesha mentions at the end of her long introduction backgrounder already cited in the Groups main page that:

The Arica programme is shortly to be introduced into the ashram for the first time. The course lasts three days and the format includes gymnastic exercises (psychocalesthenics), mantrams, music meditations, Afrfican dance and body awareness.

The eight sannyasins, who have all trained in the West in Arica, came to darshan tonight. Bhagwan talked about Arica and suggested that the trainers bear in mind several things when taking the groups.

After this came Osho's words, already quoted on the Groups main page as mentioned above. Then on Dec 24, Maneesha writes:

The Arica group, consisting of about thirty members, came to darshan tonight. Bhagwan first addressed one of the leaders, asking how he experienced the group.

Anup said that it felt very different doing the Arica work here in the ashram compared to groups he'd been in in the States. He said he'd felt there had been a lot more love, and that the trainers had felt okay about any mistakes they had made without feeling "reduced"; and had been able to let things flow.

The term "reduced", ego-reduction, was coined to describe the process that usually happens in Arica groups when the trainers and trainees collect to discuss the progress of the group and to give feedback and tell each other how they feel they are functioning.Any negative comment or criticism can be potentially ego-reducing. Anup said they had not felt the need to do it this time.

He continued, saying that he had found that he was on a power-trip. He added that he felt the training would need to be longer than this one had been; that these three days had been just a taste.

Osho told Anup:

Techniques work only when there is deep love. Left alone, techniques never work, because in fact it is love that works, not the technique.

Techniques are just excuses, and once love is there then there is no difference between the leader and the led, the teacher and the taught. They both become one and work together; it is an experience that is shared. It is not that the leader is higher than the led -- maybe he knows a little more, but he is also learning.

Love never comes to a state where you can say that now you know it. Love never becomes wise -- and that is its wisdom. It is always learning and learning and learning to the very end. It continues to be a learner.

And when the leader himself is learning then there is no power-trip. The power-trip, the ego-trip, arises when the leader starts thinking that he has arrived, that he is to guide -- not help, but guide, lead others. then the whole thing becomes wrong. Once techniques are in the hands of the ego they become destructive. The same techniques in the hands of love become creative. It depends. With love, even poison can be used and it will be medicine; with ego, even elixir will become poisonous. So it is a very delicate job to be a leader.

He went on to say that three days would indeed not be enough, so the next group would be seven days. And ...

In fact all changes start near the fourth day, because mind has a certain resistance. On the first day it is very, very resistant. By the second day it learns that it is simply foolish to be resistant: you are simply wasting your energy and time; no one else is harmed but you. So on the second day one relaxes a little.

On the third day, because one is beginning to relax, one starts understanding that more is possible, and why settle for less? On the fourth day one relaxes. This is ordinarily. A few rare people who are receptive, can be open on the first day; a few people, very egoistic, will not even be on the seventh day. But as a general rule the fourth day is the most potential day, and after that day things start on a different plane.

And here, the CD-ROM indicates that Anup was an "assistant leader", fwiw.

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