Anand Meera (Kasue Hashimoto) was born in Ishikawa, Japan, in 1947. She studied, from 1966–1969, at the Musashino Art University, Tokyo, and from 1970 started visiting European museums and then settled in Toledo, Spain.
Until 1972 she studied drawing at the Circulo de Bellas Artes, Madrid, and Escuela de Arte, Toledo, where she became a co-founder of the Grupo Tolmo and the Galeria Tolmo. In 1974 she became a disciple of Osho and started working also in India and Japan. In 1979, on Osho´s suggestion, she established, together with Geetesh Gibson, the Osho Art School and began leading art workshops all over the world.
Excerpt from the darshan diary, Scriptures in Silence and Sermons in Stones Ch 9 – 9 November 1979
(Japanese artist, Meera, is back. She runs a meditation center and an art gallery and it seems she sent in some samples of her work to Osho.
Hello, Meera! When did you arrive?
Five days ago.
Very good! I looked into your paintings and pictures – really beautiful! You have done a good job. Now you also have to create a group of painters here – just like the theatre group.
Good, Meera. Now start working on it.
She developed new methods of creative expression and started communities in Amsterdam, Sicily and California.
More than 40 books by Osho have full-colour endpapers reproducing Meera’s paintings. She was such a prolific painter that her artwork can be found in many museums, galleries and in hidden nooks and corners of the Osho Meditation Resort in Pune. Because of the popularity of her paintings many were made available as reproductions thanks to the technical skills of Premendra (meera-art.com). Meera also published a beautifully designed boxed book dedicated to Osho, Morning Glories Climbing – Blossoming, featuring her paintings and haikus by Satyanand, a Japanese poet and sannyasin, with texts in Japanese and English (youtu.be).
Apart from Creativity and Art therapy workshops, which she facilitated in Japan, Europe and South America, she also led trainings called Osho Art Therapist Training, in Pune as well as in Europe. Meera also contributed to the book Osho Therapy, a compilation of essays by Osho Therapists edited by Svagito.
She was also an accomplished DJ, as music was ‘part of the course’; dancing was a means to help the body (and mind) to become more fluid so that the colours could flow more easily. Forever-young and with an incredible vital energy she would often get up and dance herself or dance during art performances.
One might have booked a painting course with Meera with the intention of playing with colours and learning how to paint, but that was not all you would get for your money! Aviva’s review of Meera’s workshop at the Tao Centre in Greece describes it beautifully:
This workshop works on two different dimensions. It opens up one’s painting creativity, since Meera brings a totally different and unconventional approach to art and to being creative. The second dimension is that of examining and looking at the emotional elements in our lives. The workshop will provoke both a creative as well as an inner change of awareness.
Meera has played an immensely important role in opening the creative eyes in the lives of many seekers of love and truth. She was an inspiration for so many!
Meera died in South Africa from an accident while scuba diving that caused a lung embolism. Her long-time partner Svagito was with her.
Bio taken in part from her website (meera.de) – for the alert and info credit goes to Subhuti, Ananda, Mega, Yatri, Sharmi, Upchara
Photos thanks to Meera, Ananda, Yuki, Chandra, Madhuro, Tao Centre, Zahira, Kanti, Samvado
Articles by Meera or about her in Osho News:
Cleaning is Creativity
The Sacred Mission of Art
Almost An Original
Intensity in action: explosion of creativity
Paintings of Life – a video of Meera’s paintings
Tributes
You can leave a message / tribute / anecdote using our contact form (please add ‘Meera’ in the subject field)…
Dear beloved Meera, you will for ever be an inspiration to so many of us, and remain in our hearts. I believe with all my heart that your soul will still be flying, painting and dancing. Sanne
Beloved Meera, you have been and you still are so important in my life. Because of you I discovered a new way of creativity. You challenged my way of expression and showed me new depths in my creativity and my being. The joy and dance that you radiated was so infectious, for me and for many people. You supported me as an artist and also as an arts teacher. Without you I would not be the way I am now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being just the way you were. A true light in this word. You will always be with me for the rest of my life.
Shivananda
Beloved Meera, diving deep and now flying high. I loved the way you showed me how to be total, how much fun it is to paint with this totality and playfulness. I remember you invited me one evening when I was wandering through the ashram, to come and join and paint with an evening group at the old Buddha Hall, all lit with candles, your beautiful smile. Thank you for your inspiration! Just the other day I was painting in the “Meera-way” and I thought of you. Love,
Devabodhi
I wish Svagito strength and I am sure he will be surrounded by love.
Life is very strange and has taken away beloved Meera, one of the most lively, playful, powerfully vibrant people I’ve ever met. I will always remember an episode that I feel is very significant to describe Meera’s nature and the way she always saw the world.
I had returned to the “resort” after a very long absence and was feeling very self-conscious because I had gained a lot of weight… I was almost dreading meeting old friends. A few people pretended they did not recognize me; others commented on my figure in ways that made me feel even more self-conscious. Then, as I walked out of the back gate, I met Meera… she saw me from a distance, she stopped in her tracks and said, “WOW! That is A BODY!!! I wish I had met you earlier this morning, I would have liked you to be in my painting class as a model! Gorgeous, full body! Full of energy! Full of life!” She was hugging me and giggling and bubbling with her shiny smile and twinkly eyes. I cried and laughed and told her, “Meera, you made my day!”
That feeling still holds on – every time I feel insecure and negative about my body I remember her shiny face and joyous laughter and that’s all I see in the mirror.
Premo
Ma Meera speaks what we all feel, and I know that the soul and energy that leaves the physical body just adds to existence and showers on all of us. I am in deep gratitude with all that life offers 
Prem Apoorva
Oh Meera, I have been crying a lot today. I haven’t seen you in person for years but you are a deep part of my Poona life. Someone so plugged in to a source of vitality like you is so rare and so unique. Though I feel you must be in a gorgeous space now I just feel sad that that body is not zooming around the planet anymore. I remember how you got my mum dancing wildly to drums in her knickers in your painting group, and so many memories of your voice, your presence and your amazing Japanese-food birthday parties for Svagito.
Moumina
Beloved Meera, I first met you and Geetesh in Amsterdam, then Poona and the Ranch, so long ago now! Our artist souls recognized each other immediately, although we never spent much time together; we each followed our separate paths and I always hoped that someday we could cross paths again wishing to enjoy your lovely presence again… Alas, existence has its own plans! l have shed my tears for your life cut short, but now l will sit and send my energy to you as you return to Source, and to Svagito for his and all of our loss, this beauty of beauties who has left her love paintings to us all. Namaste from
Tarpana in Quebec xxx
I remember an exhibition of Meera’s paintings in Meera Barn, when it still existed in the ashram. These were nude paintings of men and women in sexual poses – so powerful and also so alive – and Meera was sitting there laughing….
Sharmi Agnidipta
Goodbye, crazy Meera, you were always a challenge to my lazy soul, poking me with “Wake up! Come on!”, especially during your visits at Osho RISK. Thank you!
Madhupran
Beloved Meeraji, disbelief… No not you… The first shock of your leaving passed… You would always invite me to come and sing in your group or your training, always a big smile and a hug in passing… And I remember dinner at your home by the river. Every day in my home I enjoy the beauty of your work, the big poster in my living room; Hortense with beautiful purple flowers. I see it every day right in front of me and a small original in my bedroom which you gave me for my birthday. From now on I will embrace and cherish with a more tangible sense of love. Your expression in colour, always an expression of nature at its most vibrant. Such an expression of you. So much love to you and so much love to beloved Svagito – wishing you strength. There are no words to say, your gifts to us each day – all around your creation, all around our gratefulness…
Narayani
Our beloved cherry blossom has been blown away by the winds – and just like those cherry blossoms, her beauty will never die. Fly High dear crazy heart Meera. Thank you beloved for your pure, deep, loving heart and your ever-present cheerful encouragement… always inspiring Deva and me to step beyond our comfort zone, out into the magical light of the full moon where the cherry blossoms dance and sing in the Master’s love. We love you.
Miten
Today during satsang, Sri Prem Baba paid a tribute to Meera with an improvised musical creation posted on soundcloud (from 1h04’44”)
Prem Soham
I am reporting that Meera Hashimoto left her body in a diving accident in South Africa.
I attended many times her painting groups meeting people who today are among my dearest friends. I feel now the need to share with you and all those who have known or have participated in those groups my regret and sorrow over the loss of an exceptional person, an artist whose greatest work of art was her own life. How many times did I find myself seeing how lucky I was to live an experience with her! My memories of groups at Miasto and Ibiza between 2003 and 2013 are among the most beautiful of my life. Meera has given me a lot and helped me in a difficult walk of life with her unbounded love of life and experience; and with her constant invitation to “doing” in meditation. Her unconventional soul willingly let reveal all the vitality of her “inner child”. It drove her exceptional performances by which she gave an example to her group participants how to play with colors by sharing them with others on the sheet of rice paper, to recognize the dance of tree limbs and to dance with them on the sheet and not to be afraid to “see” its deeper image emerge from the mirror, in meditation. Meera could recognize the beauty that lies hidden in each person and in the things that surround us. “Go and bring your beauty into the world!”
I hope they will organize sooner or later some kind of celebration of her life which I would like to be informed of so that I can eventually participate. And I hope that the knowledge of her work may exceed the confines of the world of Osho.
An affectionate thought even to dear Svagito, her most loving and tender companion, of which I was able to appreciate the deep sensitivity and humanity in a group in Ibiza.
Dear Meera, I now like to imagine that your soul is hovering here and there over the world, caressing one last time the hundreds of men and women you cared about and that you loved in your life. It will be a long journey before you leave us and definitely connected to the energy of the Whole.
A fond memory and a huge hug to all!
Mario from Genoa, Italy
Very touched by her presence again! It is like she is flying around and reconnect with all who worked with her. Such love, such presence, such joy, such harmony, such creativity! Meera Keejai!
Deva Satranga
Rajan Goyal
Beloved one,
You were always diving deep into life, into anything that you were doing. You and Geetesh showed me the way to express myself through painting and made me immensely happy. With you I could suddenly paint and dance and laugh from all my heart. For the first time in those years in the Art Group I became really alive. You were my sister, friend, teacher and somehow also my spiritual guide. We shared those beginning years in the Art Group, in Pune, Amsterdam and Sicily. Later we moved on different paths. Now that you would have become 70 (incredible, because you are so timeless) I intended to come and see you some day. Now I only see you in my heart and there is immense love and gratitude, also the pang and tears of a final goodbye – I know you can’t do other than fly high. Thank you for all your love and reaching out for me. Your sister
Sneh
Beloved Meera, Osho came through your eyes into my heart. Thank you, beloved amazing sweet strong Meera. Dear Svagito, I shall keep you and your beloved Meera in my thoughts and my heart.
Ma Marga Suravi (Italy)