Saten

Saten (Stephen Grealy) was born in Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia. He lived in Rajneeshpuram, OR; San Diego, CA and Canberra, Australia. He graduated with a BS in Business Administration and Management at the California State University, and with an MSc in Environment and Agricultural Development at the Imperial College, University of London.

For many years he was involved as a technical consultant in the US and Australian organic certification and environmental policy communities. His work is been praised for having helped the San Diego recycling programmes get off the ground.

On Rancho Rajneesh in Oregon he contributed with innovative ideas mainly in the farming department. He wrote in a Facebook post: “I started in Dadu and finished in Dadu [farming]. Side jobs included security, running the compactor at the landfill, driving buses up and back to Antelope in the winter when farming slowed down, and rattlesnake collection. First shot is farming meeting at Surdas and second shot was while on security at B-site.”

After battling with prostate cancer, he decided to leave his body in Merimbula, Australia, by voluntary assisted dying, surrounded by family and friends. The funeral on 11 November in Wolumla, was live-streamed for those who could not attend in person.

A true brother

by Arpitam

I met Saten about a year into the Ranch when I was moved to Dadu, the farming department. Dadu was heavily tinted with Aussies at the time and I marvelled at how they could be so different to any group I had ever known. As I sat in this meeting, I couldn’t help but notice this fellow who had a twinkle in his eye and such a ready smile.

Yes, Saten.

The jobs were allocated, and we headed off to our work. We were part of a crew building Rabiya dairy barn and dismantling the old lambing sheds. We worked steady, but it stayed fun and even thrilling as we cowboyed our way through learning how to build a pole barn.

Saten had a way of taking the tension out of crazy situations. I don’t think I’ve known anyone more ready to laugh, joke or tease as he was. He’d turn that smile on and it was like a light going on. Almost as an instant reminder of why we are here. Love is what we are doing now.

I loved him to bits. The crew would then sit around the campfire in the evening, waiting till dinner was ready, ‘cause it was already dark and we weren’t yet in the mode of night lights and working frenzy. Just passing the occasional bottle and telling tall tales around the fire. Some great memories.

I was lucky to have spent time with him and felt him as a true brother. Someone I would trust to the limit.

After the barn, we passed in and out of each other’s lives. We even did some wheat farming high up on the Ranch, but that was pretty alone and kind of meditative, not the bonhomie of the barn. Some security together. However weird it got, the smile and radiance never stopped.

Thanks to you, Saten.

Arpitam

Thanks to Navina and Vinod for photos and help

More Tributes

Another beautiful soul transitions.

Saten always had a big smile and hug for me, even after a 12-hour workday. He had awesome Dadu-Aussie energy.

Peace out, brother. You will be missed.

Abhiyana

Saten was so sweet with that always bright smile and fun sense of humor. At the same time he was so intense in the work he was doing – he was one of the brightest faces of the Dadu farming community. He worked hard and was always willing to help out whenever he saw someone else in need. A totally beautiful human being.

I feel fortunate to have met him. He will surely create a bright star ‘over there’ or ‘back here’.

Love and blessings for his family and friends as they process through their grief and loss.

Navina

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