Mahendra

A kind, compassionate, and sometimes very funny man

by Haritama

Sw. Anand Mahendra (Peter Ramsay) left his body by assisted dying (legal in California where he lived), on the day that in the UK the “Assisted Dying Bill” passed in the Houses of Parliament. He would have enjoyed knowing this, as besides being a lover of Osho, he had always kept himself well informed about politics in the UK & USA.

When I first met him in 1973, he was already involved with SHELTER (National Campaign for the Homeless). He was eventually awarded a grant of one million pounds from the government (I believe he was the first person in the UK to receive this). He then quit his town planning job and became founder and head of Portsmouth Housing Association, which provided houses for the homeless.

In 1976 Mahendra decided to take part in a therapy group at Quaesitor in London. The group leader, who was to run that group, got sick and replacing him was Somendra. One evening, on his return from the group in London, Mahendra came in the door wearing a red sweater and a mala, announcing he had taken sannyas and that his new name was Swami Anand Mahendra (Great God of Bliss)!

We travelled together to India in August 1977, and like many other couples (though not all) we split up and had other lovers, but we remained “best friends”. While Mahendra returned to the UK, I stayed behind in Poona, which was only made possible by him sending me money to live until I became an ashramite.

When Osho moved to the USA, we both eventually ended up there. Mahendra met his future wife Francoise at Harben Hot Springs, Northern California, while I was at Geetam (a desert community of sannyasins) near Big Bear, Southern California.

Mahendra participated in many groups and trainings in Poona 1; the Rebalancing Training, Urja, and a Hypnotherapy group with Santosh on the lakes in Northern India among others. He wanted to do the Encounter Group, but Osho gave him Vipassana instead. I remember meeting him when the group finished; he looked 10 years older. He said he hated it and nearly left as his mind never stopped for a second during all those 10 days!

If you knew Mahendra, he was a kind, compassionate, and sometimes very funny man. He was a devoted father to Tessa, and a loving husband.

Recently, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and before that, he had kidney cancer which was dormant for years, but reappeared in his thigh bone, making it very difficult for him to be mobile.

On the night before he chose to leave, he FaceTimed me to tell me he was “leaving the next day”. He was crystal clear and determined. “I’ve had enough, Hari,” he said…

“Well then,” I replied… “I will see you next lifetime” and we both laughed out loud.

Francoise related to me that Mahendra went peacefully and bravely in the presence of his family and a few close friends. When his body was taken from the house, his friends from the community he lived in for the past several years, lined the pathway in silence, holding candles. He was well loved by all.

I shall miss you, beloved old friend.

See you along the road.

All my love,

Haritama

More Tributes

I knew Mahendra for several years, both in London and at Medina. I always found him to be a gentle and loving person, and wish I had been able to spend more time with him over the years. So sad to hear about his passing, but totally understand. We will miss him.

Anupam (Ma Anand)

I remember Mahendra from my early sannyas days about 40 years ago. I think it was in Leeds.

He always seemed so sweet and kind. 💛💛🙏🙏

Archan

I knew Mahendra at Medina, where he fixed my ever problematic back. He’d just finished Rebalancing training and I had to suppress my nervousness as he sometimes paused the session to consult a text or chart.

We reconnected in Marin in the ’90s. He was leaving for a trip and left his cat Expresso with us for a few months – that turned into a couple of years. I remember he was finally able to take it back as I was getting out of Marin, so my cat – Cleo – joined his household as well.

Always enjoyed our connection, though it’s been a couple of decades.

Mitra

Oh Mahendra, this hit me hard as I remember your loving help after the Ranch. In those first hardscrabble days we were so poor, not exactly homeless in Marin but close and you gave us a used gas stove that served us well for years. Many meals were cooked in your honor.

You are loved, sweet friend…

Sw. Ramapada

I never knew him as Mahendra, but always appreciated beloved Peter. When a house became available in Nevada city Cohousing, I called Peter immediately. He moved up and then became a beloved neighbor, a man who loved community as much as any person I have ever known. Both in principle (to care about your neighbor), but also in practice (his compassion towards his neighbors, day in and day out, was always palpable).

In the early 90’s, we took a ruined 3-story building in San Francisco and turned it into a 5-story community for folks with very, very low to no income, who otherwise had no housing. Peter was the project manager, me the architect, and Ann Howell the developer. Fraught with challenges, mostly political, but also technical.

On the political side we had 26 people stand at the public hearing and yell “over my dead body!” while they pounded the podium. We were at the foot of Pacific Heights. The technical was always a big deal, to say the least. The original 3-story building was built on sand in the 1890s – and it was really just junk. We had to put a six-foot deep new footing under the existing building, again, into pure sand. We managed, I believe, because our hearts were always aligned in perfect resonance and we were both completely determined to get these very good people out from under the freeway overpasses. And we did. For years they took turns making dinner for each other. They were and still are a true community.

Farewell, my dear comrade Peter.

Chuck

Swami, brother, silence in your eyes, joy in your heart, connection in your voice.

Omkar

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