From a silent job to a speaking job as a PR person and tour guide in Rajneeshpuram – by Sarita.
For eight years, my devotional work was to clean Osho’s house. This was a silent and meditative occupation which gave plenty of opportunity to practice the art of inner cleaning as well! One day, Osho’s then secretary Sheela said to me, “You are a perfect cleaner, maybe too perfect! I think it is time for a job change for you. I think you will make an excellent ‘Twinkie’.” (This was the name jokingly given to the women who ran the public relations department, including tours, press relations and public talks. It was short for ‘Hostess Twinkie’, an American junk food dessert.) She then elaborated, “You have one month to learn to drive a tour bus, memorise facts and figures about the Ranch (Rajneeshpuram) and practice how to do public speaking.” My jaw dropped open in astonishment as she opened a door into my new life.
After harrowing adventures learning to drive on the perilous mud roads of our amazing ranch, I was ready to give tours. Mr and Mrs ordinary folks visiting our exotic community came in busloads. For my first few tours, I would return to the public relations trailer and vomit because I was not used to such dense vibrations as exhibited by these ‘carnivores’.
Over time, I got used to the smell of the unhealthy hordes, who nonetheless were genuinely curious about our community. Often they would say at the end of the tour, “Did you put some kind of drug in our tea? I feel so happy!” Another favourite comment was, “Do y’all put on a show just for us tourists? Because I always see y’all smiling, laughing and hugging! That ain’t normal behaviour so I’m wondering if this is all a performance!” In other words, they thought we were like trained seals in a zoo!
When I was sent to a local Lion’s Club to give a public talk, I was shaking like a leaf. My audience was made up of local business people and I had to find a way to communicate to them about meditation! After this daunting experience, I came back and had a talk with my boss, the beautiful and wise Isabel. I said, “I think I am not cut out for this work! I am a shy person and don’t find it in myself to give public talks!”
She cocked her head charmingly to one side and asked in her elegant Chilean accent: “In what kind of situation do you find it easy to speak?” I answered, “Only with my lover! I am normally tongue-tied and shy but with my lover, in intimacy, I feel relaxed and can speak about many things.” “Good!” She replied. “This is your true gift! So now, your task is to imagine, when you are giving a public talk, that all of these people listening are your beloved. Speak in the same way you speak with your beloved!” I tried it and it worked! People adored my speaking presence!
One time however, I found myself in a truly challenging situation. There were certain towns in the surrounding counties who hated our presence in Oregon. I was sent to one of the towns which carried the most hatred towards our community. My public talk was being held in the university in a huge amphitheatre. I was surrounded by hostile Oregon natives who began literally throwing garbage and insults at me even before I began speaking.
I sent a silent prayer to Osho which went as follows: “Osho, this is too much for me! Please come and help me!” No sooner had I completed my prayer when there was a whoosh of luminous energy which filled my whole body! I found myself outside my body witnessing from above what was going on. I realised Osho had taken possession of my body! He proceeded, through me, to offer a brilliant discourse!
The audience gradually became attentive, still and silent. Finally, at the end of the discourse, there was a standing ovation. People crowded around me asking, “You are amazing! Where did you learn public speaking? Did you study in a special university to get such a skill as an orator? We welcome you to come back anytime! You are so inspiring!” I smiled mysteriously, not ready to tell my little secret about Osho possessing my body. Some people asked for clarification on what was said but I was unable to give them any because I had no idea what had been said! It was not me speaking and so I had zero memory about it!
The work with the press was a fascinating dance of reality and unreality. Journalists would come and be very impressed by all that we were and had achieved. We had literally greened the desert! They would write a very positive article only to have it overturned by the editor of their magazine or newspaper. Many of the articles were simply a rehash of something written many years before with as many derogatory statements as possible. When we would question the journalists as to why they did this, they would throw up their hands in despair and say, “It is either print untruth or lose my job!”
And indeed, one evening a frequent visitor to the ranch who was a TV presenter, was relaxing in the bar / lounge after a long day of filming. I had been his press relations liaison for months and so we had developed a friendly working relationship. Everyone who stayed at Rajneeshpuram for any length of time got used to frequent hugs and he was no exception. I threw my arm around his shoulder in camaraderie as we shared a laugh. His film man shot this brief moment and the boss saw it the next day and freaked out. This poor TV presenter was taken off the job, accused of being ‘too friendly’ with the Rajneeshees!
I had many revelatory experiences working as a Twinkie. The pinnacle of this devotional service in Rajneeshpuram came when I was asked to accompany a journalist to a private audience with Osho. Usually, when Osho spoke with the press, there would be lots of invited people around, all in a delirium to be close to the master. However, on this rare occasion, as it was being held in the afternoon instead of the evening, there was only the journalist, me and Osho. I sat on the floor in a meditation posture directly in front of Osho and the journalist was slightly to one side. The journalist asked a question and Osho took off into a powerful, poetic and high-flying discourse. He looked at me the entire time, his eyes boring a hole into my skull. His discourse continued unabated for four hours and his eyes never left mine. I dared not move a muscle or show the slightest sign of fatigue. I remained still, silent and alert the entire time, taking a dive into eternity and beyond.
With thanks to Sarlo at SannyasWiki who inspired us to get the Twinkie stories told, each one from our viewpoint. They are featured in this Series: The Life of Twinkies
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