…left his body on 19th January 2014.
Kavish left for the other shore on Osho Day, on Sunday morning around 9am, in a hospice in Munich Nymphenburg. He departed peacefully and in the arms of his beloved companion Sunshine. While the nurse was replacing his pillow and Sunshine lifted his head, in that very moment, he breathed his last breath. He was 86 years old.
Kavish became a successful businessman as if to disprove his grandfather who used to call him a ‘good for nothing’. He had various businesses which he brought to successful heights, but he also had the ability to know when and how to let go of them, and move on – and, ultimately, when it was time to live in the community around the master.
As he was a keen gardener, the first businesses he created were connected to plants and vegetables. He started with a fruit and vegetable preserves company. It was the first to bottle them in glass jars, instead of tin cans. His idea was that the shoppers should see what they were buying. He bottled all kinds of fruit and berries, asparagus and mushrooms, to name just a few. At the height of this business he ran about 40 trucks to distribute the goods. He then owned a bio farm where, among vegetables and fruit trees, he also planted pine trees to be sold at Xmas.
As a hobby (and a business) he had a horse stable with 60 horses, which he was also breeding. He loved riding and competed in many championships. His last business was a residential care home complex.
Kavish came to Pune to meet Osho in the late seventies and took a great jump: after only a few years he sold the residential complex so that he could live close to Osho all the time. He contributed to the ashram financially but was also involved as a worker.
He frequently visited the Ranch.
In Pune 2 many might remember him as the head gardener of Krishna House garden. He later set up a pottery studio, complete with kiln, and organised the yearly exhibition of pottery articles produced by himself and visitors. He loved to experiment with many different glazes, the ingredients of which he mostly imported from Germany. One of his favourite topics was to discuss the glazes!
While still commuting between Germany and Pune he purchased a beautiful house in Grünwald, on the outskirts of Munich. He decorated it together with his long-time beloved Samvado and remained there even after her death a few years ago. Needless to say that he turned the garden into a stunning place.
Kavish continued to work/play as a potter in his own studio near Munich until just a few years before he died. In 2011 he participated in the first Osho Med Mod at Odeon Platz in Munich and, the following year, in the Osho Tribe Gathering also in Munich.
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His life as a sannyasin and his love for Osho was in deep contrast with his shrewd business manners he had taken on in earlier years. Shortly after taking sannyas he felt to re-connect with his son and started to write a letter to him; this then grew to such length that it became a book. In there we read that he became a soldier as a 16-year-old boy. He was on the front in WWII and barely survived it. The story goes that an American soldier found him lying in a ditch. Thinking he was dead, he was about to snatch off his boots, but suddenly noticed that he was still breathing and so brought him to the medical unit instead.
Despite living a millionaire’s life he held on to his very individual manners: he had the heart of a farmer and remained true to himself, despite what people might say or expect of him. He could not care less about how he ‘should behave’. He was generous with others, happy to make presents to friends and support them, but for himself he remained with few needs. He was a bad loser: at scrabble he would even cheat on his friends not to lose!
Kavish kept his sense of humour even when unwell. When Ganga visited him two weeks before he left the body, they were both laughing when he discribed the way he was now climbing stairs: He pulls himself up the stairs along the rails and Sunshine pushes him up from behind. He almost wanted to get up and demonstrate.
When Ganga asked him if he enjoyed his recent birthday party, he said: “It was wonderful – it was probably my last one because it is going to end soon,” and then he added “I am ready.” She could feel that it was true what he was saying. While she was there with him he expressed his gratefulness for life, most of all to have met Osho, and for having met so many beautiful people during the course of his life. He was also grateful for being taken care of so beautifully by the staff of the home, by his daughter Raga and his beloved Sunshine.
He loved life, women, flowers, Osho – and Gummibärchen!
Text based on information from Ganga and Sankalpa
Photos thanks to Sankalpa, Mega and Neelamber
On 29th January 9-10 am, Kavish’s body will be cremated. In the evening (at 7 pm) a meditation will be held in his house in Grünwald. Everyone is welcome. Please bring a cushion.
Tributes
Oh so beloved Kavish, fellow traveller, friend, meditator, Krishna House neighbour, sometimes father figure, adviser, womaniser, potter, gardener, race car driver, horseman, business man and devotee. How much you will be missed by so many of us! I remember dearly our first encounter at Maneesh’s swimming pool in Oakland. We were to drive “up” to the Ranch. I was so excited, in love with life, a guy, existence, and you grounded me with a warm embrace. We became close friends and this friendship lasted until your departure, 31 years… You accepted whatever came your way. You trusted and at the same time you were cautious. I admire your devotion. You loved many but the greatest love was Osho. You even decided to breathe your last breath on Osho’s leaving-the-body-day! How much I, we, will miss you. When I look at some of the flowers and shrubs in our garden I remember you telling me where to plant them. How to water them. Your pottery is part of our household. The little guest house on our land will always house your spirit as you have been here so many times. You and Sami were at our wedding, we played together, sang together, ate – a lot! – together, and with delight! You enjoyed life so much and lived it to its fullest, you never gave up. There was always a tiny bit of restlessness left in you. But now it’s time to rest. Your legs did hurt a lot lately. You left the body behind. Your spirit will linger around, hopefully, for much longer, perhaps forever, whatever that means! Have an exciting never-ending Backgammon, wherever you are, and you will always win! Thank you for being in my, in our life, dearest Kavish!
Anasha
Dear Lovely Friend, fellow artist and Lover of the Divine. We both treasure our times with you, your generous and enthusiastic support of our art. You will be missed in the body but will always be gently held in our hearts. XXXX
Padma and Ashika
Lovely Kavish, I remember you always with fondness. Love to you, wherever you are,
Gopa
Farewell, beloved Kavish! So many loving memories of you: the meetings we had here and there, always with love and care. Thank you,
Aviram
Beloved Kavish, I feel close to you. Ich bin froh, dich kennengelernt zu haben. Happy Mahaparinirvana Day!
Prem Vajra
How did you surrender it all on our Master’s Day? So precisely! Loving the Beloved One – timeless and graceful. Yes, we’re late, He must be waiting, so come! Meeting you here or there for a cup of tea again. You won’t be missed, no? Our thoughts are with Sunshine.
Prema
Although I had met him couple of times, I knew him more from other common friends. He was very warm hearted and kind, human being.
Anil Vora
Dear Kavish! We shared many spaces together over many, many years, always surrounded by the ones we both loved. But perhaps it was a language thing…. but we rarely spoke except to hug and smile. Your exquisite pots – bowls, jugs, plates – are still with me, and I am forever grateful to the Pune commune kiln and the work you and Sami and your people produced there.
Savita
I remember you in the early eighties in Frankfurt: you were the only one who was allowed to park his car (a beautiful little sports car) directly in front of the entrance door of our Mada Osho Center. A gentleman to all the women around the place! With your joyful heart you made our day! Love and gratitude,
Virochana
Dear Kavish, We became friends in Pune. I overheard a conversation you had with Haridas at Mariam Canteen and that you needed a third person for your “Skat Game” that night. I interrupted your conversation and said, “I have the time and would like to join you, if it is OK.” This was the start of a long friendship with a lot of events, festivities and travelling. You always had your own way of doing things, as when you invited is for coffee and cake during a silent retreat that we attended. Have a good journey, you are in my heart,
Hariprem
I will always remember you fondly, Kavish. From the times I visited you (a long time ago) at your farm in the Odenwald to our last meeting at the 2012 Sannyas Reunion Party in Munich – and everything in between in Pune, where you gave me a first print of your new biography. Fly high!
Pragyana
Beloved Kavish, you were a friend to many, and you proved to be a friend to me! I will remember you with a big smile, you debonair, womanizer, entrepreneur, devotee, gardener. Your life was rich and full and you planted so many seeds of love….. Farewell, my friend,
Pratibha
Goodbye beloved Kavish. Poona two garden memories, fly high, Kavish!
Abheeru
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