Silent Period ~ 02

event type	official interview
date & time	14 Oct 1982
location	INS building, Portland, Oregon, USA
language	English
audio	Not available
online audio
video	Not available
online video
see also	timeline : Osho Timeline 1982 first edition : Silent Period (1994 on CD-ROM) other editions, translations and links
online text	find the PDF of this discourse
shorttitle	SILENT02

notes: See Silent Period
CD-ROM on this chapter: This was published in The Rajneesh Times, 26th August 1983 while Osho was in silence.

synopsis: CD-ROM on this chapter: Osho's visit to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service was in connection with an application for permanent residence in the USA, filed on his behalf a year earlier. These extracts are highlights of what Osho said about his work and vision.

Reader of the questions: unknown.

Question 1

On April 11, 1981, it was announced in Poona that beginning May 1, 1981 you would speak only through silence and that a new phase of your work would begin. This is correct?

Question 2

This was your decision to go into this silent stage?

Question 3

Okay, how long will this silent stage continue?

Question 4

Until when?

Question 5

Then you would not be able to give me a specific date in the future that you would resume speaking?

Question 6

Was the silent phase of your work, so to speak, in any way connected with your medical condition?

Question 7

When did you deliver your last discourse?

Question 8

Okay, all I know is that it was announced that you would stop speaking on May 1.

Question 9

Who do you communicate with then during this silent stage, aside from the present company?

Question 10

I would like to know, who do you engage in conversation with?

Question 11

Okay, but do you talk with anybody during the silent mood?

Question 12

Do you not talk with Sheela?

Question 13

Okay, that's what I'm interested in, who you verbally communicate with then during this silent stage.

Question 14

Then she is the only one that has conversation with you?

Question 15

As I see the rite of sannyas, when you initiate someone into your religion... Well, I guess that you can call the rite of sannyas initiation into the religion -- is that right?

Question 16

In the beginning, is it true that you were the only one that could conduct the rite of sannyas?

Question 17

Has this changed now?

Question 18

When did you approve this issue as to someone else conducting sannyas?

Question 19

How many people can administer sannyas as far as you know? That you are aware of now?

Question 20

About thirty?

Question 21

Can you give me a description of what sannyas means to you.

Question 22

I mean briefly, if you can do so.

Question 23

In several of the books that I have read of yours you speak of this stage of enlightenment. I'm also interested in what enlightenment means to you.

Question 24

There have been many things written by you, and about you. I haven't had time to research everything that I have read... I'm going to read some things to you and I merely want you to confirm whether or not you said this. Would you do that for me? Do you understand?

Question 25

Okay, now I think this is an exact quote that occurred in July of 1979 from you "Book of the books": "This ashram is only a launching pad on a small scale. I am experimenting. The new commune will be on a big scale -- 10,000 sannyasins living together as one body, one being. Nobody will possess anything, everybody will use, everybody will enjoy. Everybody is going to live as comfortably, as richly, as we can manage, but nobody will possess anything." Did you say that?

Question 26

Do you remember?

Question 27

Do you consider these one commune?

Question 28

Is Rajneeshpuram the commune that you spoke of at that time?

Question 29

Okay, do you consider yourself a teacher of religion?

Question 30

You may feel free to explain that to me.

Question 31

Where would you put yourself on this list of five categories?

Question 32

Do you consider Sheela enlightened?

Question 33

Does she not have the power to conduct sannyas?

Question 34

Sheela has not reached?

(Here is some discussion of the running of the ashram in Poona. Osho explains the difference between the day-to-day running of the ashram and the spiritual work.)

Question 35

Are you even consulted then in so far as the business matters of the foundation go?

Question 36

Not so far as the purchase of any property?

Question 37

You had nothing to say about the development or the construction of Rajneeshpuram?

Question 38

Are you aware that many sannyasins have recently married here in Oregon?

Question 39

Did you approve of these marriages?

Question 40

In your opinion, should they go into this marriage with the idea that it be a life-long relationship?

Question 41

Well, I realize that things change in everybody's life...

Question 42

But should there not be that commitment at the time they enter into this marriage?

Question 43

There have been articles written in magazines which describe the dismantling of the ashram in Poona after your departure. It was reported that in some of these magazines...

Question 44

Well, on a much smaller scale, though, right?

Question 45

Do you know how many gurus there are in India? Just an estimate?

Question 46

How do you put importance upon wealth?

Question 47

Within the volume of articles that I read, I came across a story that talks about a guru who lived 700 years ago. He went on a fast that was supposed to last 21 days, was murdered on the 18th day of his fast and was reincarnated 700 years later. The first 3 days of his life he neither cried or nursed. Is this story told about you?

Question 48

Do you know how that got started?

Question 49

Have you ever been treated for any mental disorder?

Question 50

Have you ever been treated for any drug addiction?

(source:CD-ROM)