Viha magazine Nov/Dec 2013 | Page 6

Ma Prem leevan Swami Paraprem May 9, 1921- August I I , 2013 Jeevan was a wild, September 29, 1948 - August 16. 2 0 ! ! courageous, and freedom-loving w o m a n , who took sannyas in Los Angeles in 1975 at the age of 48, and spent the rest of her life in Osho’s orbit. After Osho left the body, she spent a few years teaching English in Japan to finance her visits to Pune, and then moved back here around 1995, declaring her intention to live near the Resort "forever." She was an integral p a r t of the community for all these years, working at the Osho Times, and later the audio-checking project. She loved this work, blissing o u t as she listened to Osho, and was able to continue with it till about a month before she left her body. She also loved to sing at our Variety Shows and on YouTube for friends around the globe. She unabashedly celebrated life, her o w n and everyone else’s. She loved meeting the new people who are coming to Osho, taking a keen interest in their stories, and gently encouraging them on their path of self-discovery by sharing her o w n stories. As she got weaker these last months she spoke openly of death and said recently that she was ready to go now. Her time cameat the beginning of the annual Monsoon Festival. There were hundreds of people here to celebrate her final journey, beating drums and setting off firecrackers as we walked with her body to the burning ghats. The joy in the air was palpable, and even new arrivals who didn’t know her said they were deeply touched. She always and only wanted freedom, and I think she found it. For more details about Jeevan’s life and death, with links to her stories and videos, go to www.oshonews. com/2013/08/prem-jeevan. Sheelu: [email protected] Paraprem came to Osho in 1979 and was p a r t of the whole adventure and experiment created by Osho: a commune member in Pune One, early resident at the Ranch, and back to Pune. A big heart, a rare friend, he was a devotee and appreciated by many. He was a very skilled man: a plumber, a carpenter, a house builder, who worked with love and loved to work well. He was also an amazing organic gardener, a beekeeper, and known by the Japanese as M r . Propolis. He became expert at everything he got interested in. Shunya, his long‑ t e r m work partner in Pune Tw o says, “Paraprem was always a joy to work with; he was the perfect plumb‑ ing Buddha incarnated.” He lived his whole life with totality, delight, friendli‑ ness, and a sweet sense of humor. He loved life. A few years ago Paraprem had prostate cancer that almost healed, but last winter he found o u t that the cancer had spread into the bones. Paraprem stayed at home, under the care of his Japanese wife, Yoga Bija, and with the help of beautiful local friends. He was perfectly aware of his state and felt at peace, serene, and quiet. He refused chemo and w e n t to the hospi‑ tal in Carcassonne a few times in order to deal with the pain. O n his last visit there h e did n o t r e t u r n home. Parapem was a sincere disciple of Osho, who left his body consciously, gently, like a bird flying high in the sky and disappearing, while showering his friends with love. ‘ About 40 people gathered from all corners of France to give h i m a beautiful send-off. The energy was especially light, simple, and profound, just like he was, and touched everyone present in its o w n unique way. His ashes have been dispersed in the Mediterranean Sea, as he wished. Kavisho kavisho@neuffr