who was baghwan's lawyer

by Mr. Jadon Rice 8 min read

Philip John Toelkes

Full Answer

What happened to Osho’s lawyer Bhagwan?

The now-retired lawyer is still devoted to Osho (the name Bhagwan adopted after returning to India), he visits the Indian ashram regularly, and has a “conscious coaching” practice. But because of his break with Sheela, he was out of the loop for the compound’s most egregious criminal activity.

Who was killed in the Bhagwan case?

Others within the sect plotted to assassinate Bhagwan’s personal doctor, a local investigative journalist, and several Oregon government officials.

What happened to Baghwan Shree Rajneesh?

Baghwan Shree Rajneesh, the Indian guru who attracted thousands of followers at his Oregon commune in the early 1980's before being deported from the United States, died yesterday of heart disease at his commune in Poona, in southern India, members of his entourage there told reporters. He was 58 years old.

What did Bhagwan Rajneesh do?

Indian cult leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh created the spiritual practice of dynamic meditation. He started the Rancho Rajneesh commune in Oregon in the 1980s. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, later known as "Osho," was born December 11, 1931, in Kuchwada, India.

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Where is Ma Prem hasya now?

Death. She had Parkinson's disease for the seven years preceding her death on August 19, 2014, at the home of her daughter, Erika Glazer. She is buried under the name of Francoise “Hasya” Ruddy in Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, a Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles.

Is Rajneesh movement still alive?

Rajneesh died of heart failure in 1990 at age 59, at his ashram in India. His final words were: “remember that you are all Buddhas”. Since then, the media's interest has certainly declined, but the movement itself is still active.

Is Sheela still alive?

She was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and paroled after 29 months. Sheela later moved to Switzerland, where she married, and purchased two nursing homes....Ma Anand SheelaKnown for1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attackTitlePersonal Secretary to Bhagwan Shree RajneeshTerm1981–1985MovementRajneesh (Osho)9 more rows

How true is Wild Wild Country?

Netflix's new true crime series Wild Wild Country is so outrageous that many viewers questioned its authenticity. The story of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and the thousands of red-wearing followers he attracted is true.

Is Rajneeshpuram still in Oregon?

Today, the former Rajneeshpuram in Oregon is known as Washington Family Ranch, a summer camp used by the wholesome Christian teen organization Young Life. Ironic, perhaps, for what was once home to a free love fringe group, but that's what became of the land.

Where are Rajneeshees now?

In 1984, the Rajneeshees Bused 3,000 Homeless People to Live in Their Oregon Compound. Our Reporter Was One of Them. The Rajneeshees' Onetime Compound is Now a Christian Summer Camp.

Who did Bhagwan sleep with?

Within the first 18 months Bhagwan Rajneesh began to sleep with Hugh's girlfriend and then sent him away to work on a farm in one of the hottest parts of India. Hugh says Rajneesh, who was in his early 40s at the time, had "special" darshans with female followers at four in the morning.

How long was Sheela imprisoned?

In spite of her very serious crimes — poisoning an entire town is no joke, and Sheela served 39 months in prison for attempted murder and assault — she became somewhat of a breakout star following Wild Wild Country.

How did the Rajneesh make money?

Rajneesh did not eschew wealth. In fact, his teachings celebrate it. His wealth came from donations by followers both within Rajneeshpuram and across the world. In India, he made money from wealthy locals, but, as his popularity grew in the West, he started making his fortunes directly from followers across the globe.

Who is the lawyer in Wild Wild Country?

He served as the personal Lawyer of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh....Philip ToelkesBornPhilip John Toelkes Tigard, Oregon, U.S.EducationUniversity of San Francisco (BA, JD)9 more rows

Is Osho from Wild Wild Country?

Wild Wild Country is a Netflix documentary series about the controversial Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho), his one-time personal assistant Ma Anand Sheela, and their community of followers in the Rajneeshpuram community located in Wasco County, Oregon, US....Wild Wild CountryOriginal releaseMarch 16, 201817 more rows

Who owns the Big Muddy Ranch in Oregon?

Rancho Rajneesh, as it was called, contentiously occupied the Muddy Ranch until the group collapsed in 1985 and the property reverted to the State of Oregon. In 1991, Dennis R. Washington's firm Washington Construction, of Montana (or a subsidiary), bought the ranch for $3.65 million.

Why was Rajneesh convicted?

In the ’90s, two British followers of Rajneesh were convicted for conspiring to murder a U.S. attorney general in retaliation for his investigation of the group. By that point, however, Rajneesh himself had already died in India, where he relocated after being deported from America after a criminal guilty plea.

Why did Rajneesh infect the Dalles?

Later investigation discovered that 10 restaurants in The Dalles had had their salad bars infected by followers of Rajneesh in an attempt to suppress voter turnout and ensure the group could gain seats on the county commission.

What happened to the Rajneesh ranch?

Against this social and political conflict came more serious altercations: In 1983, a Portland hotel owned by the group was bombed by an Islamic militant (though no one was killed) while in 1984, hundreds of residents of the Wasco County seat where the Rajneesh ranch was located became ill from salmonella infections.

What city did the Rajneeshes own?

Such seeming friendliness faded as the Rajneeshes pushed first to incorporate their ranch as its own city, Rajneeshpuram, and then — through quirks in the state’s election laws — used their numbers to take control of Antelope’s city council, at one point officially renaming it after their leader.

Where is Shree Rajneesh's commune?

Rajneesh and his thousands of followers made headlines throughout the '80s after opening a large commune in a remote part of Oregon. By Adam Carlson. April 06, 2018 09:36 AM. There are few aspects of the story of the Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his Oregon commune that don’t sound too strange to be true.

How many people were in Rajneesh?

At various points the commune was described as housing approximately 1,400, 3,500 and 5,000 people; with Rajneesh representatives maintaining to media that there were some 200,000 followers worldwide. RAJNEESHEES.

What did the Way brothers plead guilty to?

Sheela would ultimately plead guilty to a variety of charges, including conspiracy, wiretapping, and attempted murder.

Who was the first person to contact then Attorney General Dave Frohnmayer?

Finally, we get to a few story lines that go unresolved in Wild Wild Country, starting with former Antelope mayor John Silvertooth —who says in the series that he was the first to contact then-Attorney General Dave Frohnmayer with unshredded Rajneeshee documents he had found at the city dump. But Jon Bowerman, Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman’s son, thinks it was his family’s connections to the now-deceased Oregon official that brought the Rajneeshees to his attention.

How long was the Way Brothers sentence?

She served two years of a 20-year sentence, and paid a $400,000 fine. After she was released, the Way brothers say she cleaned houses in Spain, worked as a dog walker, and with the help of her family, purchased a small Swiss retirement home for the mentally disabled.

Who was the deputy of Frohnmayer?

Maclain says Frohnmayer’s deputy, William Gary, would only acknowledge the receipt of letters from the Bowermans, and that he was aware of what Silvertooth sent Frohnmayer. The documents shown in the series were obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request.

Who was the woman who worked with a handpicked group of female assistants?

Still, the woman who worked with a handpicked group of female assistants (nicknamed the “Moms ”) and former mayor Swami Krishna Deva to arm sanyassins and drug and eventually discard homeless people imported to win the county election, among other crimes, tries to justify her actions in Wild Wild Country.

Who is Dr. Hasya's wife?

The doctor’s wife, Anan Hasya—formerly Francoise Ruddy, the ex-wife of Godfather producer Albert S. Ruddy, who helped with the down payment on the ranch and succeeded Sheela as Bhagwan’s secretary—died in 2014. Prem Niren and Ma Anand Sheela. Courtesy of Netflix.

What is Bhagwan's name?

The name Bhagwan by which the guru was known in the United States is an honorific word that means ''god'' in Hindi. His American commune, a 64,229-acre ranch bought by his followers, was called Rajneeshpuram. Thousands of devotees lived in the commune with him.

How did Baghwan Shree Rajneesh die?

Baghwan Shree Rajneesh, the Indian guru who attracted thousands of followers at his Oregon commune in the early 1980's before being deported from the United States, died yesterday of heart disease at his commune in Poona, in southern India, members of his entourage there told reporters. He was 58 years old.

What was the name of the town that the Rajneeshees took over?

His followers, called Rajneeshees, took over the town of Antelope near the commune and gave it a new name, Rajneesh. Charges of voter fraud arose after the Rajneeshees brought in thousands of homeless people.

What religion did Bhagwan follow?

FitzGerald said in the book that Bhagwan's name at birth was Chandra Mohan Jain and that he came from a merchant family whose members believed in Jainism, a Hindu religion resembling Buddhism that emphasizes asceticism and reverence for all living things.

Where was Bhagwan born?

Bhagwan was born in 1931 in a small town in what later became the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India, the author Frances FitzGerald reported in her book ''Cities on a Hill.''. The book, a work of history and reportage about utopian communities in the United States, was published by Simon & Schuster in 1986.

How many followers did Rajneesh have?

He founded an ashram, or religious community, with seven followers in Poona. His followers in the United States said in 1981 that about 10,000 followers ...

Where was Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh born?

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (né Chandra Mohan Jain) was born on December 11, 1931, in Kuchwada, India. He lived with his grandparents during his early youth and then with his parents and was an intelligent but rebellious child. In 1951, Rajneesh graduated from high school and started attending Hitkarini College in Jabalpur but was forced to transfer ...

Why was Rajneesh arrested?

After several of his commune leaders fled to avoid prosecution for their crimes, in 1985, police arrested Rajneesh, who was himself attempting to flee the United States to escape charges of immigration fraud.

Where did Rajneesh go to school?

In 1951, Rajneesh graduated from high school and started attending Hitkarini College in Jabalpur but was forced to transfer to D.N. Jain College after his disruptive behavior put him at odds with one of his professors.

What did Rajneesh teach?

Among his teachings was the notion that sex was the first step toward achieving "superconsciousness.".

What is Rajneesh's nickname?

In the process, he became something of a pariah and earned himself the nickname "the sex guru.". In 1970, Rajneesh introduced the practice of "dynamic meditation," which, he asserted, enables people to experience divinity. The prospect enticed young Westerners to come reside at his ashram in Pune, India, and become Rajneesh's devout disciples, ...

What were the crimes of Rajneesh?

including murder, wiretapping, voter fraud, arson and a mass salmonella poisoning in 1984 that affected more than 700 people. After several of his commune leaders fled to avoid prosecution for their crimes, in 1985, police arrested Rajneesh, who was himself attempting to flee the United States to escape charges of immigration fraud. During his subsequent trial, Rajneesh pleaded guilty of immigration charges, realizing that a plea bargain was the only way he'd be allowed to return to India.

When did Rajneesh flee to the US?

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Photo: Matthew Naythons/Liaison. Facing ongoing pressure from government authorities and traditional religious groups, in 1981 Rajneesh fled to the United States with 2,000 of his disciples, settling on a 100-square-mile ranch in ...

Who brought down Bhagwan?

The man who brought down Bhagwan (and Sheela and others), and who was allegedly targeted for assassination by those within Rajneeshpuram, nearly survived to see Wild Wild Country come to life. Turner passed away relatively peacefully this January at the age of 82. He retired from the U.S. Attorney’s Office not long after successfully prosecuting the aforementioned, and lived in the greater Seattle area from 1993 until his death.

Who is Jon Bowerman?

Jon Bowerman. Photo: Netflix. The proud rancher and son of Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman says in Wild Wild Country that he tends to relish a fight. And in recent years leading up to filming interviews for the documentary, he was nothing if not tested.

Who is the attorney who defended Tonya Harding?

Though somehow, things only got more provocative from there. In 1994, Weaver defended none other than Tonya Harding. Weaver now helps companies and persons in deep water with the government for white-collar crimes for a Portland-based firm, but was also notably recognized by the ACLU for pro bono services to Guantanamo detainees. However, his successful work on behalf of scandalized ex-Portland mayor Sam Adams is believed to have cost him a judgeship.

Where is Sheela Birnstiel now?

Now living as Sheela Birnstiel (she remarried in 1984, but was widowed nine years later) in a small Swiss village not far from Zurich, the fiery former secretary for Rajneesh commune founder Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (later Osho) made quite the pivot. As revealed at Wild Wild Country ’s end, she now runs a caretaking and nursing facility for older individuals dealing with a range of aging-related disorders, a kind of small-scale analog to the sprawling rural ashram she helped erect by Bhagwan’s side. Sheela has also engaged in Dadaist theater and written a memoir of her time with Bhagwan, which is perhaps why she was so worn out from rehashing details by the time the Ways were done filming her.

Who was the Justice of Pakistan in the kidnapping case?

Justice Bhagwandas took strong note of a kidnapping case involving a girl in North-West Frontier Province forced to be a prostitute for four years. A believer in the sanctity of the Constitution of Pakistan and its legal system, Bhagwandas maintained that the law was equal for all religious communities in Pakistan.

When was Rana Bhagwandas honoured?

On 8 February 2005 Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas was honoured with "Siropa" (robe of honour) during his maiden visit to Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, India. He was on a private visit to Amritsar, Ropar and Chandigarh with Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday, another judge of the Pakistan Supreme Court and his wife.

Where is Rana Bhagwandas from?

Rana Bhagwandas was born on 20 December 1942 into a Hindu Sindhi Rajput family in Naseerabad, Larkana District (now Qambar Shahdadkot District) in Sindh. He studied law and received a Master's degree in Islamic studies. He joined the bar in 1965 and after two years of practising law with Abdul Ghafoor Bhurgri, an eminent lawyer of Larkana, joined the Pakistani judicial system in 1967. Later, he became a sessions judge, and subsequently, a judge of the Sindh High Court. He was not a fan of cricket, but remained a supporter of the Pakistan cricket team.

When did Abdul Ghafoor Bhurgri join the Pakistani judiciary?

He joined the bar in 1965 and after two years of practising law with Abdul Ghafoor Bhurgri, an eminent lawyer of Larkana, joined the Pakistani judicial system in 1967. Later, he became a sessions judge, and subsequently, a judge of the Sindh High Court. He was not a fan of cricket, but remained a supporter of the Pakistan cricket team.

Who was the judge who refused to take oath under the PCO?

The judgment removed obstacles to Pervez Musharraf 's election bid but gave Bhagwandas more honour and respect in the country. Justice Bhagwandas refused to take oath under the PCO which was issued by then President of Pakistan General Musharraf and was among the 60 judges sacked on 3 November 2007.

Who was the leader of the cult that urged people to kill themselves by drinking poison?

Rajneesh was just one of many cult leaders who have captivated — and horrified — people throughout history. In 1978, cult leader Jim Jones urged more than 900 of his followers to kill themselves by drinking poison in Jonestown, Guyana.

Where did Rajneesh live?

In 1981, with the help of Sheela, who became his personal assistant, Rajneesh bought a ranch nearby the tiny town of Antelope, Oregon, and moved his cult there, creating a whole new city named Rajneeshpuram.

How many Branch Davidians died in 1993?

In 1993, in a standoff with government officials, more than 75 Branch Davidians died in a building fire in Waco, Texas, together with their leader David Koresh. All of these groups, and many more less prominent cult organizations, have some things in common.

Did Jim Jones want to give up control of Jonestown?

Jim Jones didn’t want to give up control of those hundreds of people in Jonestown, and people died. I think wanting to control is a driving force from the leader, and wanting to belong is the driving force for the member. You put those things together, you create the perfect storm for getting people into a cult.

Did Rajneesh get sterilized?

The Netflix documentary doesn’t show this, but Win McCormack, who wrote about the cult in the 1980s, points out in The New Republic that Rajneesh’s followers were encouraged to get sterilized or have abortions. (For more on Rajneesh and his cult, read The Oregonian ’s 20-part investigation from the 1980s.) Rajneesh was just one of many cult leaders ...

Who was the Bhagwan's inner circle?

image caption. Hugh was part of the Bhagwan's inner circle. Rajneesh claimed to be uncomfortable with the idea of denying his followers access to him but Hugh says the guru could not stand people touching him or kissing his feet. "He found it distasteful," he says.

Who was the bodyguard of the sex guru?

The Scot who was the sex guru's bodyguard. Hugh Milne was a disciple of Indian "sex guru" Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh from his very early days but his dream of an enlightened community based on love and kindness came crashing down in spectacular style. The popular Netflix series Wild Wild Country documented how the charismatic ...

How many followers did Rajneesh have?

In the decade that Hugh was with him, Rajneesh presided over the rapid expansion of a movement from "20 followers to 20,000". "These are not 20,000 people who are buying a magazine," Hugh says. "These are people who have left home, left their families, given up everything and will work 60 to 80 hours a week for no pay and live in dormitories.

What did Hugh Sannyasins believe about the Oregon commune?

Sheela bought the Big Muddy Ranch in Oregon in 1981 with little regard to local laws and set the Sannyasins to work on building a new city based on Rajneeshi beliefs. "I regard Oregon as a mistake," says Hugh. "It was a disastrous choice.".

What did Rajneesh have?

Rajneesh had 'extraordinary gifts of perception and understanding' says Hugh. "When you meet such a remarkable man it has an extraordinary impact on your being," says Hugh, who in India went by the name of Swami Shivamurti. "I thought 'what a wonderful, wise, kind, loving, sentient being this is'.

Where did Rajneesh move to?

image caption. Sannyasins watch as Rajneesh's car passes by in New Jersey before the move to Oregon. Hugh admits that he was jealous and considered leaving the ashram but he says some part of him thought it would work out for the best. "I knew he was a sex guru. It was par for the course," he says.

Who is Hugh Milne?

Hugh Milne was a disciple of Indian "sex guru" Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh from his very early days but his dream of an enlightened community based on love and kindness came crashing down in spectacular style.

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