Where Inner Peace and Playtime Harmonize.
In July 1998, we returned to the Osho Ashram in Pune, and this time, it was a whole new adventure.
Our first visit in 1995 had completely flipped our lives upside down, setting us on a path neither Yoni nor I could have predicted—the one that eventually led us to Holland.
But in ’98, we returned with something even more unexpected… a toddler!
That’s right, a 14-month-old in an ashram—definitely not something you see every day in a place like Osho’s Ashram.
Truth be told, Yoni had already made a solo trip to the ashram in 1996 when I was newly pregnant, and I wasn’t entirely sure if he’d ever go back.
But there he was, back again, with a renewed commitment to our relationship and a new chapter in our lives about to unfold.
When I broke the news to my family that we were heading back to Pune for six weeks with a baby, the skeptics came out in full force. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” “You’re taking a child to India?!” “What about vaccinations?” And to top it off, we only gave Thom vaccines for tetanus and polio.
As you can imagine, this sent my traditionally minded family into a bit of a tizzy.
But we trusted our gut and packed our bags.
From the moment we arrived, it was clear this trip would be a world apart from our last one.
Kids weren’t allowed in the Ashram itself, so one of us (usually me) stayed back with Thom in our cozy apartment—a simple but charming room with a bed, cool marble floors for Thom to crawl and explore, and a tiny garden overlooking the river.
And let me tell you, Thom was a ball of energy. She could turn anything into a game, making every day an adventure.
A week into our stay, we found a lovely older woman, an Aya, who instantly fell in love with Thom and offered to help take care of her.
She practically became Thom’s Indian grandmother, and wherever we went, people just couldn’t get enough of her.
Thom had this magnetic charm, and suddenly even the most serious Sannyasins—who never thought of having kids—were laughing, playing, and doting on her.
This arrangement worked out especially well when Yoni and I snuck away for our romantic dinners.
We had a favorite restaurant, and the moment we walked in, the staff would whisk Thom away to play with their kids in the kitchen while we enjoyed a peaceful evening alone. It was bliss!
Having a child in a place where people were usually seeking solitude and self-discovery definitely made us stand out.
We made friends with people we otherwise never would have connected with.
The highlight of our time there came on July 15—my birthday.
An Israeli woman who had made Pune her home threw me a birthday party, and it was packed!
Thom came along, of course, and she even joined in when a belly dancer started to perform.
There was Thom, just 14 months old, twirling alongside the dancer, stealing the show.
But the real grand finale? A surprise Boylesque performance, courtesy of none other than my darling husband, Yoni!
Let’s just say it was a birthday for the ages.
That summer was unforgettable, filled with love, laughter, and a unique blend of spirituality, fun, and personal growth.
Though it was the last time we enjoyed Pune for what it was—a magical place where joy and transformation came together—I’ll always carry those memories in my heart.
