Lotus in London: Pankaj

On the outskirts of the City of London lies Wembley known for its stadium and more recently for its Gujarat community settled here from East Africa and India. This suburbia has acquired a distinctly multi-cultural, multi-ethnic atmosphere in which an Osho Meditation Centre named Pankaj - Hindi for Lotus - has flowered for over twenty years.

Ma Pramila Bharti, is the energy behind this happening. Full of positive vibrations, she first came into touch with Osho when she lived in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1976. She started visiting an Osho Meditation Centre managed by Ma Yog Manju - one of the first sannyasins of Osho. In 1977 she went to India and was initiated into Neo-Sannyas by Osho himself at Pune. For around four years, Ma Pramila meditated and listened to Osho on tape before migrating to London with her Sannyasin husband and family.

When Ma Pramila expressed a desire to involve herself more in sharing Osho's vision in 1979, Osho authorized her to run a centre that he named Pankaj Meditation Centre; bestowing this name to her in writing on His letterhead. This letter is a priceless treasure of Osho to this centre.

Pankaj started with three sannyasins coming to meditate every Sunday. Gradually, more joined in as word spread and after some time, Ma Pramila's living room became too small to accommodate them all.

So she extended her house into the back garden to create a suitable meditation hall where up to 40 people can meditate. With orange- purple colours of sannyas, the room looks out into the beautiful garden where the sannyasins enjoy tea and snacks - if the weather permits. The participants put in two pounds per person into discreet box as a voluntary contribution. 

After being welcomed by Ma Pramila, the Sunday meditation sessions start at 3 p.m. with Nadbrahm followed by Kundilini meditations. Osho's taped discourse comes before a break for tea and filling snacks. The evening ends with a White Robe celebration complete with music and dancing. A large collection of audio discourse and books of Osho is also on display here and also available to those interested in knowing more about Osho.

Visiting sannyasins from other countries led meditations at times or hold therapies and Meditation camps for three days at Pankaj; no overnight accommodation is available though. All Osho festivals occurring throughout the year for his birthday, enlightenment day, Guru Purnima or Master's Day - and Osho Mahautsav or the day of leaving the body are celebrated at Pankaj with great joy. 

To visit Pankaj, Osholovers visiting London can contact: 
Ma Pramila Bharti, 100, Thurlby Road, Wembley, London HAO 4RS UK. Tel 0208-902-4984.