The Last Testament (Vol 1) ~ 01

event type	interview
date & time	17 Jul 1985, 19:00
location	Jesus Grove, Rajneeshpuram
language	English
audio	Available, duration 1h 32min. Quality: good.
online audio	free download from OshoWorld purchase from Osho.com
video	Available, duration 1h 33min. Quality: good.
online video	Edited excerpt: I Live Spontaneously (7min 49sec, questions 1-2, 26-27, parts of q.28, 30-31) ** Edited excerpt: There Is No Tomorrow (4min 45sec, questions 5-8) ** Edited excerpt: My God! There Is No God! (3min 55sec, questions 17-18) ** Edited excerpt: The Value of Religious Teachings (10min 00sec, questions 21-27) ** Edited excerpt: I Am the Rich Man's Guru (5min 07sec, a part of questions 50-56) **
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	LAST101

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 1. See The Last Testament, Vol 1#Correspondence between this Book and the CD-ROM.

synopsis

Interview. Announcements by Ma Anand Sheela : (name inaudible)

CD-ROM on this chapter: Ken Kashiwahara, Good Morning America, ABC Network, USA.

Question 1

Edited excerpt: 7min 49sec, questions 1-2, 26-27, parts of q.28, 30-31 **

Bhagwan, first of all, thank you very much for speaking with us tonight. A number of years ago, you adopted a vow of silence. Recently, you have decided to speak out to your supporters and then to us here today. Why have you decided to speak out now?

Question 2

Was there a reason that you decided to adopt the vow of silence in the first place, or was there also no reason?

Question 3

When you went before the immigration service for a visa as a religious leader, the comment was made by the officials of the service that how could you be a religious leader if you didn't speak? Did that have any influence on you at all?

Question 4

If you were to explain to someone listening and watching who knows nothing about you or your religion...

What is your theology, what is your belief what do you stand for, what are you trying to achieve?

Question 5

Edited excerpt: 4min 45sec, questions 5-8 **

You have no philosophy of life?

Question 6

Your philosophy, if there is one, has been expressed in "the three L's," love, life, laughter. Is that a philosophy of life?

Question 7

Could you explain that?

Question 8

Is it to enjoy life and not worry about tomorrow?

Question 9

Let me ask you about something you said a moment ago. You said you didn't believe in controlling people, and have no control. But do you not have either control or tremendous influence over 350,000 of your followers?

Question 10

If they look to you, they worship you, would they then not do whatever you tell them?

Question 11

Who is Bbhagwan Shree Rajneesh? How did you become Bhagwan?

Question 12

How did you know that you were the blessed one?

Question 13

When did you know it?

Question 14

How did you know it?

Question 15

Was there a vision?

Question 16

Did you know as a child, for example, that you would become the enlightened one?

Question 17

Edited excerpt: 3min 55sec, questions 17-18 **

Do you consider yourself a God?

Question 18

Why?

Question 19

He also said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

Question 20

Why?

Question 21

Edited excerpt: 10min 00sec, questions 21-27 **

But haven't there been some teachings handed down from Jesus which form the basis of much that is good in civilization today?

Question 22

Some of them.

Question 23

The Pope?

Question 24

Why?

Question 25

Is there any part of Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, any of the established religions that you think are good?

Question 26

You say the whole world is a mess. What is it that you're trying to create in man, in the world?

Question 27

How?

Question 28

Bhagwan, since you came to this country a number of years ago, there have been a lot of things written -- alleged -- about you and the Rajneeshees. Since this is the first time you're speaking in public, I'd like to get you to set the record straight about some of these things that have been said. For example, it has been written and people have talked about you as a "free sex guru," believing in promiscuous sex with violent encounter sessions and mind control. True or false?

Question 29

I think what they were implying is the image of wild sexual orgies going on.

Question 30

Is that not good?

Question 31

Are you saying that man should follow his polygamous instincts?

Question 32

You seem to be saying -- and I believe you've suggested before -- that people should not have any "Western hangups," so called, about sex. Recently you predicted that alds will kill two-thirds of the world's population, and you told your followers to engage in celibacy or have sex with one partner. Why?

Question 33

Responsible for aids?

Question 34

Why?

Question 35

Why do you believe that?

Question 36

Bhagwan, let me move on to another subject. Again, in keeping with some of the things that have been written and said about you and the Rajneeshees, and that is the fear when people see your bodyguards carrying weapons -- submachine guns -- and rumors that there are large caches of weapons here on the Ranch. Is that true? And if so, why are the weapons kept here?

Question 37

Large numbers of guns?

Question 38

Do you expect to be attacked? Are you afraid of attack?

Question 39

So why should they stay here?

Question 40

In fact, recently you seem to be painting a very pessimistic future of the world and mankind when you warned that a cyclone of destruction both natural and man made will hit the world, and that the Rajneesh religion will provide a "Noah's ark of consciousness," allowing your supporters to survive.

Question 41

Could you explain that? What does that mean?

Question 42

But what are you saying will happen with this cycle of destruction?

Question 43

Bhagwan, a moment ago you said that you were not pessimistic; yet, if I may read another quote wherein you said "This world is not worth saving. Once in a while I think it will be better if the Third world war happens and destroys this whole stupid humanity." isn't that pessimistic? Very gloomy?

Question 44

Why?

Question 45

You think the world should be destroyed?

Question 46

But you, as a religious leader, shouldn't your role be one to enlighten and to help to change...?

Question 47

Rather than to say the world should be destroyed?

Question 48

Let me go back... I know we're running out of time. When you first got here to Oregon, your supporters said that you wouldn't take over the town of Antelope. Yet now Rajneeshees are in control of the town and the residents there have charged that they were forced out. There have been suggestions that perhaps the Rajneeshees really want to take over the entire state of Oregon. True, or false?

Question 49

Well, would you want to see them take over the state of Oregon?

Question 50

Edited excerpt: 5min 07sec, a part of questions 50-56 **

There is a perception that you and your religious following are extremely wealthy. If it's true, where did the money come from?

Question 51

Isn't that a contradiction with the traditional perception of a life of austerity led by religious leaders and ascetics?

Question 52

One thing I think people on the outside remember about you when they read stories or see you on television is the fact that you own so many, or have so many Rolls Royces. Why is that?

Question 53

Eighty?

Question 54

Forty?

Question 55

Why do you need ninety?

Question 56

Couldn't you tell them to give their money for something else, other than for Rolls Royces?

Question 57

Bhagwan, there have been fears expressed, as you know, ever since you first got to Oregon, that Rajneeshpuram might turn into another Jonestown.

Question 58

Are there any similarities between you and Jim Jones?

Question 59

People think the power you have over your followers....

Question 60

But you see them out there every day as you drive by.

Question 61

You can see that they're devoted to you.

Question 62

So you see no similarity between Rajneeshpuram and Jonestown?

Question 63

That the whole world will end up like that?

Question 64

A number of Oregonians have expressed a concern, however, that you will eventually attract up to a hundred thousand people to live in this city and that it's simply a matter of time before you call all 350,000 of your supporters to come here to live.

Question 65

You may?

Question 66

When?

Question 67

And you may do it.

Question 68

Some environmentalists say that this land simply can't support that many people, that it would hurt the land if that many people lived here. Are you concerned about that?

Question 69

Why do you feel you engender such hostility on the part of your neighbors and other Oregonians?

Question 70

People in nearby towns....

Question 71

Why do you think there is this hostility?

Question 72

No, on the part of some people who live in Oregon, some Oregonians.

Question 73

Isn't it really because you're different that they don't understand you? That people dress alike, wear various shades of red, wear beads?

Question 74

Why do your people wear various shades of red? Why do the people here wear various shades of red and beads?

Question 75

There have been those who have accused you and the people living here of obscuring the line between church and state. Is this a religious city, or is it a city, for example, that should qualify for school aid? What are your views on the separation of church and state?

Question 76

But everybody living here believes and follows you.

Question 77

Let me go back, if I can, a number of years, because there have been some things written about it. Why did you leave India?

Question 78

There were stories at the time that you were forced out. Is that true?

Question 79

Do you plan to leave Oregon?

Question 80

Do you think the immigration service is hoping you will leave the country?

Question 81

Are you recovered now? Are you better?

Question 82

What does the future hold for you and for Rajneeshees?

Question 83

Bhagwan, I must tell you that I am not feeling well tonight because I've stopped smoking.

Question 84

Can you tell me a little bit, just briefly, of your daily routine, what you do here?

Question 85

You've been described as a person of contradictions. Are you?

(source:CD-ROM)

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