A New Path – Becoming a Sanyas.
From Burnt Out to Bliss: How India Stole My Heart (and Gave Me a New Name!)
This photo is taken during my Sanyas Ceremony in July 1995.
Life, huh? Sometimes, it’s like a runaway tuk-tuk with a mind of its own. One minute, you’re stuck in the rat race; the next, you’re off on an adventure that changes everything. That’s exactly what happened to me back in 1995.
I was working myself to the bone, giving workshops 300 days a year (I was on the verge of a burnout). Yoni’s business was hanging by a thread, and we both desperately needed a break – a serious time-out with a side of palm trees.
Yoni had his heart set on Puna, India, this ashram run by disciples of the charismatic guru named Osho. Osho’s books and meditations had Yoni hooked. Me? I was all about Findhorn in Scotland, a spiritual community that tickled something deep inside.
So, we hatched a four-month plan: two months in Puna, soaking up ashram life and workshops, then hopping over to the UK for a taste of Findhorn’s magic. Now, India wasn’t exactly on my bucket list, but hey, love conquers all.
Puna? OMG! It was a sensory explosion of colour, delicious foods, joyful faces, and a whole lot of beauty I never knew existed. I was smitten!
Yoni knew from the get-go he wanted to become a Sanyasin (basically, a devotee of Osho). Me? I wasn’t so sure. But guess what? I ended up being the first one to say “let’s do it!”
The initiation ceremony was pure magic. Think vibrant songs, joyous dancing, and enough good vibes to fill a stadium. And let me tell you, it stirred up some serious emotions I wasn’t expecting. This picture captures the pure awe and beauty of the Sanyas initiation ceremony. Let’s just say, my heart was overflowing!
During the ceremony, you get a new name that reflects your path to enlightenment or your true inner self.
My new name? Prem Tanmayo – which means “Dissolved into Love.” It felt like both who I was and the direction I needed to go. At 35, I finally felt like I understood myself and the journey ahead. That night was unforgettable, a beautiful explosion of self-discovery under the Indian sky.
So yeah, life’s funny. You never know where it’ll take you, but sometimes, the best detours lead to the most incredible destinations (and maybe a little enlightenment along the way!).