THE FAMILY into which one is born –
well, it certainly has a lot to say about the ground work of a person one becomes.
Two person or three person families – pretty strange fare in pre-war India. Families were big then!
Osho was the eldest of 11 children! (One wonders about his poor mother.)
Osho did not live with his parents after birth. Our understanding was that Osho’s mother was a teenager when she had him and he lived with his grandparents for the first seven years of his life.
Osho’s parents in old age. They both became neo-sannyasins of Osho
Perhaps one thing in particular which is worthy of comment it rarely receives is the role of Osho’s younger brother, Vijay. Osho refused to marry, and this was extremely difficult decision for the first born of such a family. However he was much helped by Vijay who he acknowledged :
Osho says: “I am very grateful to my brother, Vijay. He could not go to the university just because of me, because I was not earning, and somebody had to provide for the family. My other brothers went to university too, and their expenses had also to be paid, so Vijay stayed at home. He really sacrificed. It is worth a fortune to have such a beautiful brother. He sacrificed everything. I was not willing to marry, although my family was insistent.
Vijay told me, “Bhaiyya”—bhaiyya means brother—”if they are torturing you too much, I am ready to get married. Just promise me one thing: you will have to choose the girl.” It was an arranged marriage as all marriages are in India.
I said, “I can do that.” But his sacrifice touched me, and it helped me tremendously. Once he was married I was completely forgotten (by the family) , because I have other brothers and sisters. Once he was married, then there were the others to be married.
Also I was not ready to do any business. Vijay said, “Don’t be worried, I am ready to do any kind of work.” And from a very young age he became involved in very mundane things. I feel for him immensely. My gratitude to him is great.”
Vijay outlived Osho and continued to care for his mother in the Pune Resort until she died some years after Osho. It was his life’s work, he subsequently died a short time after her.
SN outline these remarks as stimuli for certain questions.
How far can one be said to be “lucky” with one’s family constellation? (As Osho considered himself to be).
How far is it meaningful to see the mystical life as “going beyond the family”. ?
And many other questions SN is sure that arise within this kind of parameter! Comments welcome.