Osho Meditation Retreat in Bangalore

Keerti writes from a four-day Osho meditation retreat in Bangalore and a late-night meditation gathering near Hyderabad

From 25 to 28 December, an Osho Meditation Retreat took place at The School of Ancient Wisdom near Bangalore. Soon afterwards, I was invited to facilitate a large meditation gathering at the Pyramid Spiritual Societies Movement headquarters in Telangana. Both experiences left me deeply nourished and grateful – and they revealed, in different ways, how alive meditation is today.

Four days immersed in Osho’s meditations

Maybe it was after a decade that I returned to Bangalore to facilitate an Osho Meditation Retreat. There was no special theme – just Meditate, Celebrate, Here and Now. The location felt perfect: close to the airport, yet far from the crowded city and its noise.

The School of Ancient Wisdom is not an ashram and not a resort. It is simply a beautiful space for seekers of body, mind, and soul. Surrounded by forest, the place carries a quiet, welcoming energy. One feels nourished simply by being there. I felt strongly that our world needs more such spaces – places where transformation happens naturally, without effort.

The retreat brought together 55 participants, most of them young professionals from the IT and medical worlds. Fifteen people were initiated into Osho’s Neo-Sannyas during these days.

Our daily rhythm included Osho’s Dynamic and Kundalini meditations, Nadabrahma, Gibberish meditation, silent sitting, relaxation, dance, kirtan, and discourse. The programme flowed smoothly thanks to the dedicated support of Shimon, Ashish, Pratiyan, Sakshin, Kushaj, Ma Anu Bodhi, Ma Sonali, and the entire team, who held the space with care and love.

One participant, Kuheli Das, described the retreat as “truly life-changing”.

“We went there knowing almost nothing, with open hearts and curious minds, and we returned completely transformed – lighter, clearer, and deeply touched.”

She speaks of joy, laughter, and deep inner connection, and expresses heartfelt gratitude for the initiation and for everything that was shared.

Saravanam, another participant, reflects on the setting itself. He writes of the tranquil surroundings, nourishing food, and heartfelt hospitality that created “an atmosphere of deep comfort and ease”.

“What made the experience truly special was the sense of connection – arriving as strangers and departing as friends.”

For many, it was this feeling of connection – beyond technique or teaching – that stayed strongest.

For Swami Bodhidharma Zen, the retreat became an inner turning point. He arrived with hesitation, believing he was not ready for sannyas initiation.

“Love does not wait for readiness. Love simply arrives.”

In that space of trust, form and protocol dissolved. Initiation happened not as a decision of the mind, but as grace.

“I did not choose sannyas – sannyas chose me.”

What followed, he writes, was surrender, tears, and the feeling of finally coming home. His gratitude extends to the whole group, each shared silence and smile becoming part of his inner journey.

Patri-ji and the Pyramid Spiritual Societies Movement (PSSM)

The Pyramid Spiritual Societies Movement (PSSM) was founded by Brahmarshi Subhash Patri, widely known as Patri-ji, who left his body in July 2022.

Gently and gradually, South India has been waking up to Osho in a big way. Patri-ji himself was a realised and honest man, and although a spiritual teacher in his own right, he always showed deep respect for Osho. I remember meeting him in Pune around 1995, when he visited the Osho Resort and I gave him a tour.

For decades, Patri-ji’s magazines published Osho discourses in every issue. His disciples – numbering in the millions – are Osho lovers. Many are simple villagers, capable of sitting silently for hours. Their main meditation practice is Apnapan Satiyoga, rooted in the teachings of Gautam the Buddha.

Patri-ji initiated what can rightly be called a pyramid revolution in India. His headquarters in Telangana houses the Maheshwara Maha Pyramid, one of the largest meditation pyramids in the world, where thousands can sit together in silence. Every year, from 21 to 31 December, the centre hosts a ten-day meditation gathering, welcoming vast numbers of people with remarkable simplicity and generosity.

Late-night meditation in Telangana

On 29 December, I was invited to facilitate a meditation session at the PSSM headquarters near Hyderabad. I was amazed to see a gathering of around 15,000 people. Bookstalls displayed Osho’s books in Telugu, Hindi, and English. I met Swami Osho Bharat, dressed in Osho-style robes, who has translated and published more than two dozen of Osho’s books in Telugu. He was radiant and joyful.

Late in the evening, from 9 to 10 pm – what the Buddha called Ratri Ka Antim Karya, the final act of the night – around 5,000 people sat in absolute silence for an Osho-inspired guided meditation. I was fortunate to be accompanied by the renowned local flute player Swami Anand Nisarga (Ramachandra Murthy).

The meditation began with Buddham Sharanam Gachchhami, Dhammam Sharanam Gachchhami, Sangham Sharanam Gachchhami. What followed was a depth of stillness that moved me deeply.

I saw clearly that Patri-ji had trained thousands of people from villages, and many of them were simply better meditators than educated people in big cities. That night, 5,000 people sat in silence and stillness.

What magnificence. What grace. What gratitude.

As the meditation concluded, the air filled with a collective, resounding shout of Osho! Osho! Osho! – an expression of gratitude and celebration.

Over those days, more than half a million people visited the centre. They were offered breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, freely. I was told that trustees contribute their own money to welcome people during the ten-day event. The simplicity and generosity were humbling.

Looking ahead

On 1 February, I will be facilitating a one-day meditation event at a PSSM centre in Gujarat, near the Statue of Unity. After these experiences in Bangalore and Telangana, I look forward to continuing this shared journey of meditation, silence, and celebration.