Guilherme receives sannyas in a dream and a new name by post
I first came to know about Osho in 2016, when I was 21. I remember reading a text about the Inner Child, taken from one of his discourses – and the feeling I had was that he was saying things my heart understood. From that point on, I began to immerse myself in his universe.
In 2020, aged 25, I had two beautiful dreams about Osho. In one of them, he was gently walking towards me across a beautiful field, dressed in white (just like when he used to give discourses in Poona 1), holding a mala in his hands. I was there, on my knees, crying uncontrollably like a child. He placed the mala around my neck as I touched his feet, and then he put his hand on my head. And he smiled gently. This moment became a poem I wrote:
He came towards me
As slowly as if he walked to yet another discourse in Buddha Hall
Wearing a white robe and holding a mala in his hands
It was my mala
He placed it around my neck
Tears like that of a child ran down my face
He smiled gently
The Master of Masters
2020
That same year, I connected with Punya and Madhuri, which was very interesting. Madhuri gifted me her beautiful books and poems, and I have two paintings by her hanging on my wall. One time we were chatting on Messenger and I affectionately called her “Dear Witch”, and jokingly asked her to give me a name – just for fun, with no expectations.
She replied: “Maitreya of Aldebaran.”
I thought it was really cool, though I didn’t take it seriously. I googled it to see if it had any particular meaning. I didn’t find anything directly tied to the name, but I came across some references to Aldebaran: the Eye of the Bull, the Star of Enlightenment – and Maitreya, which means “The Friend”.
Four years later, at the end of 2024, I felt a strong urge to get my own mala, so I ordered one. When I put it around my neck, I didn’t feel like taking it off. It was a very special and joyful day.
I remember I had an office party that same day. At first, I hesitated to wear the mala on the outside of my clothes, since it’s quite striking. But it felt like going against my inner self if I didn’t. So, I ended up going to the party with it.
Naturally, everyone was curious, especially because I looked so happy, with a different glow. One colleague asked: “Who is this guru?”
Another colleague tried to explain: “It’s Osho. It’s a way of life.”
I heard the same thing months later from another woman – that Osho was a way of life. I didn’t say anything to either of them at the time. I just smiled. I’m not the type to argue about him. What matters most to me is my own experience, and I’ve never wanted to impose it on anyone. But afterwards, I reflected.
To me, it’s not a philosophy of life. The feeling is experiential – it’s more like a love affair, this relationship between master and disciple.
The same day my mala arrived, there was also a blank certificate included. I filled it out spontaneously, and this is what came out:
19/12/2024
This is my sannyas certificate, received on the same day as my mala.
Very happy, with a sense of completeness in the air!
Ah yes, my sannyas name:
Maitreya of Aldebaran, given by Madhuri. A sannyasin who was with the Master while he was in the body.
Maitreya means “the friend”. Aldebaran is a star – a red giant, much larger than our sun, 65 light years from Earth. In its final days, it shines brightly over the sky, the universe, over God…
It’s the star of Buddha, orange like the colour of sannyas robes. The Eye of the Bull, the star of enlightenment.
A call to enlightenment. The eternal reminder of our sky through the ages.
One day Aldebaran will burn out, billions of years from now, but its light – the light of Sannyas – will never fade. Aldebaran will remain in our hearts, within us.
I really like Maitreya of Aldebaran. It feels like a very honourable and powerful name. As for enlightenment and Aldebaran… that’s not my experience, and I’m not searching for that. For me, a simple life – emotionally happy, doing what I love, with people I love, filled with joy – is enough.
I haven’t publicly adopted the name with friends, family or acquaintances like many sannyasins have done. For now, it remains something intimate and personal. But who knows, maybe one day?
I never met Osho in person, but I’m deeply grateful for his presence on Earth and the connection I have with him. I’ve changed a lot since discovering him. I’m almost unrecognisable. I’ve never been a great meditator in the strict sense – sitting, observing my thoughts, and so on… although I’ve tried. But somehow, I’ve been “transformed” through this connection. Maybe through trust, love…? I don’t know.
Sometimes I wonder: is all this madness? Me with his mala, a new name… But it’s something bigger than me, and it makes me happy and feel well. And if it happened, it happened.
My connection with Osho isn’t direct. I don’t see him, I don’t feel him… well, there have been some spontaneous moments when I started crying and thanking him, but it’s never been something straightforward. Even I don’t fully understand what it is.
So I think that’s it. I think I just have to thank him for everything. And now, as I finish writing this text, a few more tears – some of those inexplicable ones.
They appear once again…
Yes, that’s it.
I think I just feel gratitude – and more gratitude.
Comments are closed.