…left his body on 14th May 2016.
Anand Anidana was born Klaus Elster in 1940 in Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany. Because his father had died in battle when he was very small he grew up with his mother alone. Mother and son became very dependent on each other. He studied Oratory in his home town and after graduating taught at other universities. Already as a student he played in theatre groups and the stage became his home throught his whole life.
He married Janke, the mother of their son Jan-Frieso, and later the family moved to her hometown in the Netherlands. The marriage broke up when he moved back to Germany where he got involved with the first self-enquiry workshops and the first German sannyasin. He travelled to Pune in 1977, together with Bhagawati, where he received sannyas from Osho. He returned to Berlin and helped create the Vihan Osho Centre where he lead the meditations.
After his travels to Pune, and out of money, he met a sannyasin who offered him a job, “You are so good at speaking and performing. Would you like to work as a freelance funeral orator? You would make good money with it.” He took it on immediately and that became his job for more than 30 years. It lasted until two weeks ago when he was taken to hospital with a heart attack. It looked as if he had recovered a few days ago but he unexpectedly passed away yesterday. He jokingly always said to his friends, “I will work at funerals until I pop my clogs (in German: “…bis ich selbst in die Grube falle.”)
Anidana lived in Rajneeshpuram for 9 months as part of the workers’ programme and later visited the Pune commune several times. He became involved in Jivan Mary’s theatre projects which always delayed his return to his work in Germany.
He was a witty, brilliantly informed, entertaining fellow to have around. At parties he was the focal point with story telling, poem recitals – in particular of his favourite poet Ringelnatz – and with song and guitar playing.
Anidana lived in a communal house on the outskirts of Berlin (complete with meditation room and garden) and loved it there. But his spiritual ‘home’ was the Parimal Centre in Hübenthal where he always helped organise the summer and winter festivals and where he was, of course, on stage with songs, Heart Dance, reading of fairy tales and was the emcee at open mic events. Last year he released an album called Love Songs with 12 tracks of covers, but mostly of his own songs.
A Goodbye Celebration for Anidana is being held today, 15th May 2016, 18:30, at Parimal Centre Huebenthal with an Osho White Robe meditation.
His funeral will take place on 11th June at 12 noon at the Südwest-Friedhof in Stahnsdorf.
Anutosho writes,
I met Anidana the first time in the sannyasin restaurant ‘Die Weisse Wolke’ (‘The White Cloud’) in Berlin. He was standing with his back to me, wearing a long maroon leather coat and a broad-brimmed maroon hat. I had never seen his face before, but I had to walk up to him and hug him from behind. This was the beginning of our 35-year old friendship.
I had taken sannyas in Germany but had never seen Osho. Finally during my summer holidays I travelled to Rajneeshpuram, where Anidana was already working, and so I saw Osho for the first time together with him. I remember the nights in front of his trailer, under the amazing stars, singing together his touching Osho songs.
Until recently it was a regular ritual to meet on Thursdays in his meditation room to sing together, just the two of us. This encouraged me to sing because I has always thought I was out of tune. His devotion to Osho showed in his passion to sing his love songs for his master; it always opened my heart and brought tears to my eyes.
Since three years he has been visiting me in Corfu where he sang in Buddha Hall and in the Satori Café. This year he was meant to arrive yesterday, but he took another flight.
Thank you for everything we have shared. You will always be in my heart, my beloved Anidana.
Bhagawati writes:
I met Anidana in 1976 at an educational training course for free expression in Bad Zwischenahn near Bremen, where I lived at the time. Anidana – then Klaus – was a free-lance course leader and an unusual one at that. He had long curly hair, played the guitar and spoke about liberation – not only for women but necessarily also for men and children. Listening to him, I caught all kinds of insights and felt he was mindblowing. We fell in love right then and there…
A few weeks later I separated from my husband, moved into a flat on my own and Anidana joined me.
With him I plunged into a completely different life, hanging out with new friends at Greek and Italian restaurants, drinking ouzo and eating souvlaki; I listened to him singing and playing songs on his guitar, taking fun-filled weekend trips to Amsterdam, becoming acquainted with the teachings and writings of Fritz Perls, Carl Rogers, Wilhelm Reich, LeBoyer, Erich Fromm, Aldous Huxley, Hermann Hesse, Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, and Black Elk; attending controversial underground theatre plays, drinking huge amounts of Valpolicella while discussing psychology and the world in general, listening to Leonard Cohen and his German equivalent, Hannes Wader.
It was he who came up with the idea to join a weekend ‘group’ outside Bremen and, although I didn’t know what it was, anything new sounded good and we both drove to a run-down farmhouse where a bunch of people, who looked like what I believed were freaks, were dancing with abandon to the sounds of drums, breathing heavily. I was introduced to the therapist by the name of Veet Asmi from England. In a nutshell, both Anidana and I took to the group processes immediately and attended every six weeks with growing enthusiasm.
Half a year later, during yet another weekend group, I had a deep inner experience and I felt to write to Osho about it and also told him that I wanted to come and meet him; by then I knew he was Veet Asmi’s guru. When I surprisingly received a new name by return mail (!) I told Klaus I would fly to India as soon as possible. Although he was shocked he said he would come with me… but he was definitely NOT going to take sannyas.
When we attended our very first darshan in January 1977, he told Osho the same. Osho had begun to write something on a sheet of paper on his clipboard, looked at him silently, kept writing and then put a mala around Anidana’s neck and explained the meaning of his name to him…
We returned to Bremen after a magic time at the ashram to pack up our belongings and return to Pune ‘forever’. Anidana left Pune after a few months whereas I stayed on. We did not connect much since that time yet he has been in my heart always. I do know that he became a freelance funeral orator in Berlin in 1983 and he once mentioned to me that he enjoyed the work. Just in the last year or so we had some contact, also because Punya met him in Corfu and Berlin and shared the latest about his life.
I am so grateful, Anidana, that you came into my life and pointed at something even you didn’t consciously know about, but you pointed in the right direction. I am so grateful for the many things I learned through you, in particular to ‘hang loose’. Fly beloved friend, fly!
Photo credits: Anutosho, Punya and the web
Punya mentions Anidana at the end of her article: Berlin Impressions
For the German speakers a video where Anidana sings in a circle of friends:
Tributes
Oh, beloved Anidana, fly high! Thanks for all the beautiful times together, the laughter and tears, the fun we shared, the moments of silence. The warmth of your smiles often made my day; I still see it… Fly high, beloved. ??? Thanks for the music you left behind.
Aviram
Beloved Anidana, Danke for your open Heart and your enthusiasm singing with you. You are also a big part in Parimal. The Summer Festival and Wintermagydays you have been such a great converser. Thanks Anidana for what you gave to Parimal. Love,
Darpano
Thank you so much, Anidana, for your huge loving heart, your sparkling humor, your vibrating spirit, your presence… You have enriched us so much here in Parimal during our Festivals. We will miss you…
Sangeeta
Dear Anidana, won’t miss the time with you in Parimal. Your heart and your humour – your stories and your compassion – your Ringelnatz recitations and your positive mind – the timbre of your voice and your love-spreading eyes – all that I miss. Your soul might find a lovely place!
Soham
Anidana, what a man. A lovely man with such a heart. Last year he honoured us with his funeral speech at my mom’s funeral. No one could have done it better. He was so in tune with her after having listened to my stories of her life; it was magical and made our send-off a really great moment for all. May he rest in great natural peace.
Adina
Most beloved friend, Anidana, may the love we share here spread its wings and fly with you – into the heart of the universe… Thank you for everything – so precious the singing with you, laughing and loving. Assemallahleikum!
Devageeta
Lieber Anidana, die Nachricht von Deinem plötzlichen Tod hat mich sehr erschreckt. Seitdem denke ich intensiv an Dich. Deine Stimme höre ich und erinnere mich an Deinen Humor – manchmal etwas spitz, aber doch immer wieder liebevoll. Wir hatten gute Gespräche und lachten zusammen. In Deiner WG in Berlin habe ich Dich besucht und freute mich an der Atmosphäre dort, die Du mitgestaltet hast. Danke für Dein Engagement im Parimal – unzählige Male hast Du die Festivals dort mitgestaltet und standest auf der Bühne. Danke!
Vasanti
Anidana, our beloved madman; we shared so many joyful, creative and lovely moments together. A precious time that we carry in our hearts as long as we live. In Parimal, during the festivals over the last years it was so much fun to have you here in our communal house. All these enthusiastic preparations, sitting in our dining room till late at night, enjoying good food and far-out talks. Together we turned into bubbling champagne bottles. Thank you for this, Anidana. We love you and miss you with one eye laughing, one eye crying.
Almira, Jaladhi and Veet
Thank you! Beloved Anidana, remembering you fondly from that time you took me in to your Berlin WG (communal house). Happy Travels!
Komala
Beloved Anidana, I had just left you a message asking you to lead a Heart Dance event in our new center in Berlin… I loved your Heart Dance event and parties in your house. Thank you so much for your love. Miss you and wish you a good flight home.
Alvina
Hallo Anidana, schade, dass wir diesen Sommer keinen Sketch zusammen machen können, wie wir es vorhatten. Hätte eine menge Spaß gemacht! Ein anderes Mal 😉 Danke für Dein Vertrauen und das Lachen mit Dir!
Song – Jivan Astho
Oh dear soul, fly high. I always loved listening to you speak and sing. Memories come and weave themselves into my early morning meditation. All of them good. All of them full of bliss and depth, filled with wisdom and that big open smile that was connected to your big open heart. Journey Home, my friend.
Prem Anjee
Mensch, Anidana, das ging jetzt aber schnell! Gut, dass wir uns letztes Jahr im Parimal nochmal getroffen haben! Ich hatte ja keine Ahnung, dass es das letzte Mal in diesem Leben sein würde. Anidana war von November 1980 an 3 Jahre lang mein allererster Sannyas-Freund und der “Link” zu Osho. Er leitete damals Sufi Dance und Meditationswochenenden in Göttingen; da haben wir uns kennengelernt. Nach der Orange Connection Ende 1981 wollte ich nach Berlin ziehen, weil es dort ein großes Center gab und tja, da musste er dann wohl oder übel mit:) Es war beileibe keine einfache, aber eine wichtige Zeit mit ihm, denn ich bestand im Wesentlichen aus Problemen und Unglücklichsein und war alles andere als ihm treu.
Heute auf der Rückfahrt vom Walchensee erzählt mir Mahendra, dass Du grad “gestorben” bist. Ich war überrascht, betroffen und fragte nur “Herzinfarkt?” er sagte: “hm”. Was Anderes konnte ich mir eh nicht vorstellen, denn es gab keinerlei Anzeichen von Siechtum oder Schwäche bei unserem letzten Treffen. Gut, dass Du in good spirits gegangen (oder besser geflogen) bist! Fly high! Ich singe noch ein paar Songs für Dich – versprochen!
Gyandip
Oh beloved Anidana, I still can’t believe that you are no more in your body. Thank you so much for all your love and aliveness and caring you brought to us here in Parimal. I will miss your laughter, I will miss your singing, I will miss your story-readings in Mandir during the festivals. I have heard that you left your body just before I went to a morning with singing with Peter Makena and Aneeta as part of their group together with Anubuddha and Anasha. This morning I was singing every song for you with lots of love and thankfulness. All the best wishes on your way on. I just remember one Osho song: And it goes on and on and on this sweet, sweet song, and it goes on and on and on. So, so, so much love to you, Anidana,
Rohini
Anidana, whereever you are.
Wir haben gerade an Dich gedacht und wünschen Dir, dass es Dir gut geht und dass Du dort, wo Du bist, glücklich und zufrieden bist. Irgendwann kommen wir Dich besuchen und bringen den Rotwein mit.
Liebe Grüße von
Petra und Jochen
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