Chapter #8 Press Conferences #8
Discourse Overview
Main Teaching: He presents his arrest as an abrupt violation—completely unaware of a sealed indictment—and uses the incident to expose how authority can humiliate and silence rather than seek truth. He insists on his innocence of criminal intent, demanding clarity and respect while remaining willing to cooperate with due process. The episode becomes a mirror for his larger concern: when power becomes dictatorial it pushes a teacher and his community away rather than fostering democracy or dialogue. His priority is the well‑being of his followers and the continuity of his teaching, even if that means relocating. On the sealed indictment: he emphasizes that he was absolutely unaware of the thirty‑five counts and was startled by being handcuffed without explanation. On accusations of fleeing: he firmly denies any attempt to escape prosecution, pointing out his long legal struggle to remain in the United States. On leaving the U.S.: he says the degrading treatment makes it impossible to stay and that once the legal matters are resolved he will move. On the commune and followers: he pledges to bring his community to India and continue guiding them, stressing that the legal fight must be concluded first.
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Osho's Commentary
INTERVIEW WITH CHANNEL 6 TV
OSHO: I had no idea.... I asked them what they are doing -- they don't have any warrant, they did not know for what they are arresting me, and they were shouting, and I told them that "There is no need to shout. You just tell me why you are arresting," and they will not tell. They just handcuffed me.
I am not a criminal and nobody has ever treated me this way. I am willing to come with you, wherever you want... and if you want me to go back to Oregon, I can go back to Oregon, but I must know what is the reason.
I had no idea of this indictment. I was just going for few days rest.
QUESTION: YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU WERE UNAWARE OF THE SEALED INDICTMENT?
A: Absolutely.
Q: THE THIRTY-FIVE COUNTS.?
A: Absolutely unaware, because they never informed me anything about it.
Q: THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY THAT YOU WERE FLEEING THE UNITED STATES TO ESCAPE PROSECUTION.
A: That's wrong. They are absolutely wrong, because I have been fighting for all these four years in so many courts, to stay here. But there was no question of leaving the country. I was fighting, the whole problem was that they were not giving me the green card and I have been fighting for it. But the way they have behaved with me has been so disappointing.
Q: ARE YOU SAYING THEN THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN TERMS OF THESE CHARGES AGAINST YOU, YOU WILL LEAVE THE UNITED STATES?
A: Yes, because I... you can see me, this type of behavior.... I have been for thirty years in India, teaching millions of people, and I have been criticizing prime ministers -- if I thought that they were doing something which was not democratic, if I felt it was not civilized, it was something dictatorial or if they are taking the country towards communism, not towards freedom and more democracy -- I had criticized them continuously.
Q: WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW, WHAT WILL BECOME OF YOUR COMMUNE, OF RAJNEESHPURAM?
A: No, first I will have to fight -- whatsoever is going on, it has to be finished. Once it is finished, I will move; I will not stay here.
Q: WHAT WILL BECOME OF YOUR FOLLOWERS?
A: No, I will take them to India. There is no problem...
[this part of transcript was scrambled... ]