PTI News
August 13, 2001
New Delhi, Monday, August 13, 2001: Taking time off his hectic schedule, Union Home Minister L K Advani today spent some time meditating in a departmental store here and revealed that he has been influenced by the teachings of spiritual Guru Osho.
Accompanied by long-time Osho disciple and actor-turned-MP Vinod Khanna, the Home Minister sat silently with closed eyes to the strains of sitar at the Osho World Galleria inside the plush ‘Shopper’s Stop’ store in upmarket South Delhi.
Recalling that he heard Osho’s (then Acharya Rajneesh’s) discourses on politics for the first time in 1967, Advani said “I was influenced by listening to his tapes.”
“It was considered petty to oppose socialism at that time. But the way, he (Osho) interpreted and proved that it could cause harm to the country, I was surprised. I was influenced by him though I had never met him,” he said.
The Home Minister said he read Osho’s writings on Mahavir, Kabir and the Gita extensively during the Emergency, when he was incarcerated.
Describing Osho as a “fundamental philosopher” on the lines of Sri Aurobindo, Advani said India did not represent a mere quest for truth, but also its experience.
The whole world, he said, would benefit from studying Osho’s teachings.
Earlier, Advani inaugurated ‘India my love week’ promoted by the Galleria. During the week, the shop will exhibit and market home textiles made by residents of Gandhidham relief camp for Gujarat earthquake victims, set up by Khanna.
(PTI)
