Author: Pranav Kulkarni
Publication: The Indian Express
Dated: March 14, 2008
URL: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Its-Korea-Gaon-Park-as-Osho-meditation-resort-looks-East/283679/
Introduction: 70 Koreans attend a 3-day session,
want to replicate Pune centre in their country
First it was Oregaon to Koregaon for the Rajneesh
ashram, and now it seems, it may just be Koregaon to Korea for the Osho international
meditation resort, which is currently playing host to a 70-member delegation
from Godowon foundation, a Korea-based NGO and cultural center. Even as the
members attend mediation sessions at the resort from March 12 to 15, the foundation
has plans to construct a similar centre in Korea on return.
"India is the centre for meditation,
culture and heritage. I tried a number of meditation techniques from various
parts of the world, but this is what I liked the most. That is the reason
that I want to practise similar techniques in Korea as well. It will help
people understand the philosophy of Osho Rajneesh," said Godowon, CEO,
Godowon foundation.
The first meditation centre for the ambitious
20-year programme that the foundation has, is scheduled to be functional by
2008-end. The location of the project is Chungju, a picturesque small town
in Korea.
During their visit, the 70-member team will
learn various meditation techniques like Osho natraj meditation, vipassana
meditation, whirling meditation, Osho mahamudra meditation and many more.
"I have visited the ashram in Pune thrice
and every time I discovered something new. Far from politics and social imbalances,
the resort provides a great environment for practicing meditation techniques,"
added Godowon as he unravels the reasons behind this decision.
Soohee Cho, a Korean national who has been
associated with the Osho international meditation resort since 2006 said that
since people in Korea were quite reserved, they are looking at the resort
as a means to changing their outlook towards life.
According to Amrit Sadhana who is a part of
the management team at the Osho meditation resort, cross-cultural interactions
such as these would greatly help them to spread Osho's message across the
globe.
Established in 2001, the Godowon foundation
is a non-profit organisation with over 2 billion members across the globe.
The foundation works towards establishing friendly relations between Korea
and foreign countries. Post the three-day visit to the Osho international
meditation resort, the group will be visiting Mumbai and later Kovalam beach,
Kerala in order to learn passive meditation technique.