Touch: The Forgotten Language of Love. Osho and ARUN
Text from Red Alternativa (Madrid – Spain) – May – June 2002
For 15 years, from 1975-1990, I had the opportunity of living and studying with the great Enlightened Mystic, Osho. During his lifetime (Osho left his body January 19, 1990), his Academy for Meditation, Spiritual Therapy, and the Healing Arts, in India, was the most multi-dimensional and largest 'Inner Growth' Training Center in the the World. My work during this time was directing the Healing Arts Department, as well as giving sessions, teaching Yoga, and leading the Rebalancing and Craniosacral Trainings. There were over 100 of us, from all countries and every imaginable background- giving sessions, leading classes, and conducting longer trainings. It was out of this open environment, under Osho's direct guidance, that ARUN Tacto Consciente was born. One spring evening, 26 years ago, Osho was talking to a few of us about human touch and life energy, and he helped open us up to a new way of giving and receiving sessions. What Osho was sharing is as relevant and timely today as it was then. As I tune into his beautiful words, I can still smell the magic fragrance of the flower "Queen of the night", with each breath. And I can say from my heart that it is true and it works...
Osho: "Massage is something that you can start learning but you never finish. It goes on and on, and the experience becomes continuously deeper and deeper, and higher and higher. Massage is one of the most subtle arts - and it is not only a question of expertise. It is more a question of love...
"Learn the technique - then forget it. Then just 'feel', and move by feeling. When you learn deeply, ninety percent of the work is done by love, ten percent by the technique. By just the very touch - a loving, conscious touch, something relaxes in the body.
"If you love and feel compassion for the other person, and feel the ultimate value of him; if you don't treat him as if he is a mechanism to be put right, but an energy of tremendous value; if you are grateful that he trusts you and allows you to play with his energy - then by and by you will feel as if you are playing on an organ. The whole body becomes the keys of the organ and you can feel that a harmony is created inside the body. Not only will the person be helped, but you also.
"Conscious Touch is needed in the world today because 'love' has disappeared. Once, the very touch of lovers was enough. A mother touched the child, played with his body, and it was massage. The husband played with the body of his woman, and it was massage. It was enough, more than enough. It was deep relaxation and part of love.
"But that has disappeared from the world. By and by, we have forgotten where to touch, how to touch, how deep to touch. In fact, 'touch' is one of the most forgotten languages. We have become almost awkward in touching, because the very word has been corrupted by so-called religious people. They have given it a sexual color.
The word has become sexual and people have become afraid. Everybody is on guard not to be touched, unless he allows it.
"Now, in the West, the other extreme has come. Touch and massage have become sexual. These days massage is just a cover, a blanket, for sexuality. In fact, essentially, neither touch nor massage are sexual. They are functions of love. When love falls from its height, it becomes sex, and it becomes ugly. "So be prayerful. When you touch the body of a person, be prayerful... as if God himself is there, and you are just serving him. Flow with total energy. And, whenever you see the body flowing and the energy creating a new pattern of harmony - you will feel a delight that you have never felt before. You will fall into deep meditation.
"While massaging, just massage. Don't think of other things, because those things are distractions. 'Be' in your fingers and your hands as if your whole being, your whole soul, is there. Don't let it be just a touch of the body. Your whole soul enters into the body of the other, penetrates it, relaxes the deepest complexes. "And make it a play. Don't do it as a job. Make it a game, and take it as fun. Laugh, and let the other laugh, too."
There are so many 'keys within keys' in these words of Osho. What touches me deeply is Osho saying that touch is "the forgotten language of love", and that massaging can lead into deep meditation. This means that we can all 'relearn' this forgotten language. The Basic Training in ARUN Tacto Consciente is designed to help the participants relearn and utilize this forgotten language of touch and meditation. ARUN is dedicated to the ongoing evolution of creative human touch. It recognizes, and teaches that we are "body" and "consciousness" as a living organic unity. Rooted in a deep appreciation and respect for the human body, ARUN nurtures love and awareness for all the natural functionings and interactions of the
"Human Energy Field".
Conscious Touch is not a technique to be learned. It is learning to feel directly in 'this moment', the touch...without judging, analysing, or comparing. Being yourself and feeling, without fear or expectations, the life in the body and then learning how to use your touch in a safe, intimate way that helps the body relax and the inner awareness expand. ARUN could also be called, "Interactive Meditation". ARUN is deeply rooted in Osho's vision of "the 3 M's" (Mathematics, Music, and, Meditation) and the "Psychology of the Buddhas". Its potential is immense.
For over 25 years, we have been exploring the mystery of the human body, mind, emotions, movement, and spirit, learning from the East and the West many simple and direct touching and healing methods. The understanding and awareness in ARUN of inner energetic anatomy and creative touch will enhance whatever approach to touch and the body that you are interested in.
The Craniosacral pulse, the Breath, and the Heartbeat are all gateways in 'this moment' and can all be utilized consciously for meditation, relaxation, health, and inner vitality. The Brain and spine, all the joints of the skeleton and its nerves can easily be contacted in a way that promotes well-being. The synergy of muscles, organs, glands, and enegy centers, when touched with awareness and sensitivity can be experienced and appreciated by everyone. When we keep it simple, look deeply, and are not afraid of spontaneous life energy (including tension, joy, fear, and pain), ARUN Tacto Consciente becomes a way of sharing health, love, and the essence of meditation.