Manda

Manda was born Xenia Damwijk in Bogor, Java, Indonesia. She had six sisters. Her father, an architect, died at a very young age, in his forties. After WWII she moved to Holland, to The Hague, with her mother and sisters.

Before taking sannyas, she worked as a secretary for the Ministry of Defense in The Hague. There she met her partner, Hielke, and had three children with him; Samia, Brenda and Samved. She divorced him beginning of the seventies. Afterwards she became involved in spiritual life and became interested in Bhagwan, who was living in Pune, India.

She became Ma Anand Manda on 11 October 1977. Shortly thereafter, she was followed by two of her children; Samia, and Samved. Brenda also visited Pune for a short period, but it was not for her. In the Pune 1 commune, Manda worked in Central Records.

In 1982 she moved to the US with her son Samved and often visited the Ranch with her friend Swami Anudas from San Diego. After Bhagwan left the States she moved back to Holland, in 1986.

She loved to sing and often would smile her beautiful smile and start singing out of the blue.

Manda died peacefully at age 95, a month short of her 96th birthday. After living independently in her own apartment in Rijswijk close to The Hague, she fell and broke her hip. Manda had moved to palliative care in Zoetermeer just three weeks earlier.

She had made many friends all over the world – wherever she travelled – and was loved by all who met her.

Manda had been our close friend since 1977. We had shared many adventures together all over the world.

We will miss her sense of humor, her adventurous spirit, rebelliousness and wisdom. May her continuing journey be smooth and peaceful.

Samved (Peter Schipper)
Natyam
Premyoga

Sannyas Darshan

Anand means bliss, blissfulness, manda means gentle: gentle blissfulness. The transformation that is going to happen to you will not be like violent laughter: it will be like a gentle smile. It will be very graceful. It will be round; it will not have any angles to it. It will be feminine. A smile is feminine, laughter is masculine. And laughter has something hysterical about it; a smile is very healthy.

So become a gentle blissfulness!

Osho, Only Losers Can Win in This Game, Ch 11

Tributes

I have known Manda for many years – I don’t even remember when and where we first met. I became closer to her when I started visiting her with beloved Jwala.

Manda was very devoted to Osho and to sannyas. She also had a very clear vision of what was happening in the world.

Manda loved the music and songs we made for Osho, and also my singing. About 10 months ago, on my last visit to her home in Rijswijk, I took my guitar with me and sang for her. She visibly loved it. She enjoyed it wholeheartedly, which made it a real pleasure for me too.

Later, I also visited her in hospice, where we took this video. Manda was enjoying the songs immensely and kept thanking me. She knew she was on her way out. She seemed ready for it. We even joked about her coming to spook us. When she wanted to say, ‘Now I won’t see you anymore,’ I insisted on saying, ‘You will see us, but I won’t see you.’ It was a wonderful afternoon…

Narayani

Beloved Manda,

I am happy for you that finally after a long and wonderful life in this realm you are traveling again.

A broken hip has not stopped you to take on another adventure.

Singing ‘n smiling, I’m sure you will be fine.

So lovely to watch you enjoying the performance of your singing friend.

In loving memory,

Nivedita

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