Episode 2: Oasis in Poona

In Episode 2: Oasis in Poona, we take a grand tour of Bhagwan’s first ashram in the city of Poona, India. Within a couple years of its founding in 1974, the ashram had expanded into one of the most popular — and controversial — ashrams in India, where people could meditate, commune with likeminded people, and be close to the man they called Master.  We'll see how an unstoppable force of nature made it all happen: Bhagwan’s personal secretary, Ma Yoga Laxmi. We’ll stroll the grounds through the eyes of a newcomer to see what this place was all about. And we’ll explore about a new, lucrative, sometimes-terrifying method that Bhagwan developed to instruct his followers — and to keep them there.

Episode Notes & Sources

Audio interviews of Laxmi, Teertha, Savita, and Deeksha come from the 1978 film Ashram in Poona by Wolfgang Dobrovolny.

Audio of Bhagwan discussing "crazy Deeksha" is from The Dhammapada Vol 1.

Ma Yoga Laxmi, The Journey of the Heart (unpublished)


Map of Poona Ashram, University of Oregon - Oregon Digital

Map of Poona Ashram, University of Oregon - Oregon Digital

Krishna house reception, poona ashram

Krishna house reception, poona ashram

Ma Yoga Laxmi in her Office at Krishna House, Poona Ashram

Ma Yoga Laxmi in her Office at Krishna House, Poona Ashram

Laxmi with Bhagwan

Laxmi with Bhagwan

Ma Prem Deeksha in her cafeteria, Poona ashram

Ma Prem Deeksha in her cafeteria, Poona ashram


Music

Haunting Guitarist by Stefan Netsman

Piano Concerto in G-major, 2nd Movement by Maurice Ravel

When I Am Laid in Space by Rusty King (based on Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell)

Powerwalkin’ by Future Joust

All other music by Rusty King