Magic of "Being at Home" (by Dhiren)

Seeing, Watching, Living with the Master And Being at Home
(Review by Dhiren)

Neelam’s book is magic in many ways. It is a story which her master, Osho, told her to write and one that she gave her full energy to completing, right until her final days. It’s captivating, rich, personal, informative and exceptionally heartfelt all at once. This is not just another autobiography, however colorful and detailed her impressions and recollections are. This is also the honest inside story of a remarkable woman, mother, devotee and seeker. Neelam was a wonderful and entertaining story-teller, warm and touching and clear, and that tone, that ‘Neelam-ness,’ is something that sweetly transpires as the book unfolds: it is a tone that those who knew her will recognise-the voice of a friend talking to her fellow-seekers. It is found in so many of the vivid details, memories and anecdotes of life around Osho which she shares throughout the book.

Osho asked Neelam to write her book with the full title of: ‘Seeing, watching, living with the master and Being at Home’. A lot to live up to, but she has managed to write a wonderful book.This is an intimate self-portrait of one woman’s spiritual transformation; of her meeting with her master in the India of the late 60’s and early 70’s, her leaving behind her loving, cultured family, but especially of her life and work with Osho. Much of ’Being at Home’ is recounted in the present tense, and that sets us up for fascinating descriptions of her years at Rajneeshpuram and of her experiences with Osho on the world tour, Mumbai and finally Pune. Neelam’s words are down to earth about the challenges of being his secretary and she is honest about the experiences of waking-up:being both ’hit’ by the master as well as being showered by his blessings.
Add to all that some juicy revelations and speculation - it certainly had me turning the pages until very late.

What makes the writing so accessible, is her ability to talk to everyone, to connect with old friends as well as visitors and people meeting Osho for the first time. Neelam is able to zoom into delicate detail and fascinating stories of her work with Osho as secretary, and disciple, for example-but also able to zoom out and give the context, the backdrop, the bigger picture, for example to the last few years before Osho’s death, and her informed insight into what has happened in the years which have followed. One of the many fascinating themes in this book is of Neelam as mother-her courage and trust in following Osho’s guidance about her daughter Priya..We learn how together, with a few other devotees, they established Neelam’s project of creating a small meditation center in the Himalayas, fulfilling her master’s wish. Osho Nisarga, in Himachal Pradesh, flourishes today as the result of a unique mother daughter relationship which evolved over the years into a relationship of sisters-seekers together on the path.

Fnally there’s a lot of magic in ‘Being at Home’ because it is a book of about 430 pages (plus beautiful colour photos) into which Neelam poured her last energies. For everyone involved in its production it is must surely have been a labour of love.

Finally it is just simply so enjoyable to read.Neelam’s story is timeless- it would not surprise me if the book becomes a classic in the genre of master-disciple memoirs.

Swami Dhiren