Retreat: Osho Tapoban Nepal
Before returning to a busy life in Australia,
I was looking for a silent and mindful environment in Kathmandu, to be able to integrate my pilgrimage experiences to Lake Mansarova and Mount Kailash, Tibet.
Set in the lush hills of Kathmandu, Nepal, Osho Tapoban quickly takes you away from the noise, dust and busyness of downtown Kathmandu to tranquility, lovingly attended to garden beds and well manicured lawns. It’s easy to forget the outside material world, as you step into a maroon robe and blend in with the sea of people moving around in long maroon coloured robes/dresses.
The simplicity of the maroon/white attire, well structured daily program and deep meditation opportunities offers a wonderful place to learn and grow your practice. There are plenty of places to sit quietly and go deeper into your practice - Osho Samadhi (where Buddhist saint Nagarjuna attained his ultimate Enlightenment 2000 years ago), the Shivapuri Baba Silence Temple, beside the river, in the meditation hall or around the grounds on the grass.
Personally I found the spiritual energy at the Shivapuri Baba Temple very deep and uplifting. The ten day retreat incorporates Osho’s various meditation practices and teachings such as Osho active meditation, dynamic meditation, kundalini meditation, as well as morning Yoga and pranayama, and varied relaxation techniques each day,
There is also daily Osho Dharma talks (recorded video or audio) and enquiry sessions. Ending the evening with satsang and dancing in our white robes - White Robe Celebration. It was a great balance of stillness and activity to discover the practice that connected best with each individual.It was a great balance of stillness and activity to discover the practice that connected best with each individual.Swami Anand Arun, one of Osho’s early disciples established Osho Tapoban and other centres/communes in Nepal and said he has initiated over 100,000 people.
Predominantly Nepalese attended this retreat both followers/disciples and non followers are welcome without pressure. It was wonderful to see so many families, the teenagers would attend the sessions whilst the smaller children would play with a parent watching them. All respectfully mingled easily with the 250 adults, all dressed in their maroon robes.It was a happy and relaxed community of people that laughed and connected with each other during the retreat breaks.
The meditation hall has capacity for several hundred people, and foreign guests would account for approximately 10-15%.Set into a hill, the kitchen/eating areas, meditation hall and accommodation are all separated by steps, (approximately 200 steps), making for wonderful daily mindfulness practice each time, passing by statues including Buddha, Shiva, Ganesha, Shivapuri Baba and quotes by Osho.
The vegetarian Nepalese food is divine, nourishing and well balanced, cooked and served with love and intention. Don’t miss out on the morning chai, treat yourself with the traditional added sugar chai.
Accomodation varies for all budgets and levels of solitude from shared rooms and dormitories to more hotel like private rooms, with the intention to attract more international guests.As one of the vehicles to discovering our true and hidden Self, Osho Tapoban can be a great support. I can’t wait to return and immerse myself again into the many opportunities for deep meditation
Gabrielle@BeBliss xx