– 15 February 2025
Swami Deva Rashid (Rashid Maxwell), born in 1937 in London, was a widely-known and universally adored Osho sannyasin. He left his body yesterday, 15th of February 2025, at his home in Hollocombe, Devon. Rashid was initiated into sannyas in 1977 by Osho.
During his time with Osho, Rashid held various significant roles in the commune. At the original Pune ashram (Poona One), he served as Osho’s personal vegetable gardener putting to good use his farming skills. (Rashid had renounced his life in London in the seventies where we worked as an artist and art lecturer to live working his farm in the English countryside.)
On the Ranch, he spent considerable time in the Pot-Washing room and the Fire Tower with equal aplomb. In Poona Two, until Osho left his body in 1990, Rashid wore myriad hats – working as an indubitable bodyguard belying his lean frame, as an editor wielding the pen like a mighty sword, and many other roles. Listen to him talk about his life with Osho:
Rashid, an accomplished author is well known for his memorable and powerful memoir on Osho’s first disciple and secretary, Ma Yoga Laxmi. The book titled, The Only Life – Osho, Laxmi and a Journey of the Heart, was published in 2017 and launched with great fanfare at Oshodham in New Delhi on 11th December 2017, coinciding with Osho’s 86th birthday. The event was made even more memorable by a captivating discussion with film director Subhash Ghai and Swami Atul Anand.
Rashid has also authored a novel, The Point of Vanishing, three volumes of poetry and drawings titled Life is one Blessed Thing After Another, Not Knowing Guides Our Feet and Everything is Something Else and a book about the pathless path we all are treading.
His rich multi-dimensional life is reflected in his varied interests and passions. He designed buildings and landscapes for sacred use; dabbled in some serious bee-keeping, and rejoiced in moments spent with family pampering his grandkids. An artist par excellence, Rashid loved sharing his art and techniques on his Youtube channel:
Text first published on Osho World website (oshoworld.com/rashid-maxwell) – with many thanks
Sannyas darshan
with Osho
Deva means divine, rashid means unerring quality. God is unerring, that is the meaning, and whatever mistakes happen in life, they happen because of us, not because of God. So never complain, and whenever you see something is going wrong, remember: it must be going wrong because of you.
Everything goes right if we surrender to God; everything settles, becomes harmonious. With God there is no mistake possible; with God all is good. The moment the ego arises and starts asserting its own way, its own idea, then we go astray. The ego is always erring, the non-ego never errs. That is the meaning of rashid. So whenever you see something is going wrong in life, remember it must be because of the ego. It is always so, it is necessarily so; it is never otherwise. And whenever something is going right and things are flowing and life is a blessing, remember to thank God, because things are good only because of him.
So whatsoever good happens, it is through God, and whatsoever wrong happens, it is through you. You have to allow that idea into your heart; that will become your prayer. Once that sinks deep in the heart it will transform your whole life. Ordinarily we do just the opposite: if something goes well it is because of us; if something goes wrong, it is because of God. When we are succeeding, it is we who are succeeding; when we are failing, it is fate, it is destiny.
Turn the whole attitude upside-down: whenever things are moving, flowing, are beautiful, it is because of God. If some block, some hindrance, some problem arises, then the ego must have come in. Search for it and you will always find it there. Remove it, and the mistake is removed and you come back to the path.
The Open Door, Ch 24, 27 Dec 1977
Rashid’s life in his own words
- Rashid: In the Tiger’s Mouth – Rashid tells us his story, about growing up in Britain, his studies at Oxford and Chelsea Art School – and how he came to Osho (December 2010)
- The Tiger’s Mouth – as told to Bhagawati for her book, Past the Point of No Return
- Groomed to rule the empire – podcast
- Zoom interview with Divya and Sufi Abheeru (Stories with Osho): youtu.be
Osho answers one of Rashid’s questions
- The most difficult thing in life is to drop the past – Osho, right now, here, I could drink you, share in your Buddhahood, but I don’t. Day after day, I don’t. Beloved Osho, is our conditioning that difficult to drop?
Links
More Tributes
Total disciple, total presence, total creative poet/artist/farmer.
Your last letter to us was sooooo beautiful, full of gratitude and gravitas.
I’m sure yours was a total death too.
Svaha!
Abhiyana
My Dear Friend Rashid,
Thank you for both your life and your death as Rashid, both being ‘a blessing to existence’, a joy to me and to your family and many friends and lovers.
Although we never met each other ‘in person’, a loving friendship has filled and connected our hearts since our lives touched each other. Such a joy has radiated from our many email sharings and especially from your so welcome a support to, and understanding of my transformative love affair with ‘Osho’s 1001 Tales’.
I can almost hear you joyfully singing in your last ‘Fair thee well’ letter, last Christmas, when you wrote:
“Who I really am – this cocktail of awareness, joy, freedom, love, unity and consciousness, etc. – this mix is boundless and forever.
“We don’t know what the next adventure will be, but I certainly know that there is one coming up, because meditation illuminates the infinite nature of the Self, oblivious of the body’s comings and goings.”
I share this trust with you and I will continue to cherish our loving connection beyond our ‘body’s goings’.
Your friend Shanti
I just saw that Rashid moved to a really big villa…
I had a workshop in Manchester in Jan 2024 and had the feeling that I had to go and see him, and that it would be our last meeting.
So glad I did…
Arjava
Beloved Rashid,
Your departure weighs heavily on my heart. It is painful to feel your soul slip away.
I still remember our last meeting in London on that rainy November day in 2017. The skies wept, but our friendship stood unwavering, as it always did – nurtured by your kindness and devotion.
Meeting you and calling you my friend has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. Despite our differences in age, background, and upbringing, you made me feel welcome, included, valued, and deeply cared for.
If the purpose of human life is happiness, then the purpose of all life is death.”
– Leo Tolstoy’s Diary
I do not doubt that your passing was light, joyful, and peaceful – just as you envisioned it.
I will miss you immensely, but I also know I am only a step behind, as is all of humanity before and after us.
Thank you for being a part of my life, Rashid.
You will always be missed.
Chetna
Dharma Brother Rashid,
Ah, the many marvelous adventures in our love affair with the master.
In Poona watching and counting bird species along the meandering river near the ashram, your eagle eyes catching every nuance of activity.
At the ranch we shared the unique privilege of spending alternating solitary weeks at the fire tower. Although we never saw smoke or a fire the views, the wildlife, and the silence was spectacular.
The wonderful summer we spent together along with Satgyan and Bhavan at C’an Barba on Mallorca was very special. We sat vippassana together at the dojo up the mountain that you three had built, had many cups of tea and meals under the grape arbor at the finca you had rented, that same finca where you showed the results of your summer’s painting. Was it true that you had stashed your easel, paints and brushes in a cave and would hike there daily naked with only your boots on? Seems likely. If the unusual exhibition at summer’s end was an indication, it was so.
Thank you too for the many messages sent and for the two books of poetry.
From one such, “Not Knowing, guides my feet,” I’m reminded of a poem entitled, “Good Day Mr. Death” which concludes with this:
Perhaps it’s best to greet death
with no big ideas
no big beliefs
a bald not knowing
and a cordial – Good day Mr. Death
Not doubt it was so.
Pravina and I both thank you for the gift of your friendship,
Srajan
Beloved Rashid,
Standing with you chatting in a green field under the sun at Osho Leela, feeling the beauty of intimacy flowing between us. Some people are described as rough diamonds, but that wasn’t you. You were a finely-cut, clear diamond. You lived totally, leaving the world more beautiful than you found it. I feel grateful today for having known you.
Remembering you with Love
Aradhana
Photos credit Bhagawati’s archive
Beloved Rashid,
Thank you for being a friend and fellow traveler for so many years.
Our journey has been a joy and an inspiration for me on the path. I also love and cherish your creations – art pieces, ink sketches, poems and spoken wisdom.
Bon Voyage, my friend – until we meet again.
Love
Indivar
Dear Rashid,
You took off into some other form just after I received your last book presenting the London exhibition of meditative art…
Thanks for the energy we shared when keeping in touch throughout the years preserving Osho’s legacy…
Shine on, my beautiful co-traveller…
Neeten
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