Does anyone remember the Indian Guru
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh controversy in the 80's in Oregon? His commune was a very big deal there from '81-'85, the antics were constantly on the news and in the papers in Portland.
He bought a large ranch in eastern Oregon and set up a commune of wealthy followers. They attempted to overtake the nearby small town and rename it Rajneeshpuram. This had to go on the local election ballot, and they attempted to subvert the voting process by importing street people from Portland, claiming they were residents of the ranch and town. They introduced bacteria into several salad bars in local restaurants in The Dalles close to voting day, so the local voters were too sick to turn out.
The commune it's self was primarily overseen by a woman named Sheela who shielded the Rajneesh from the followers and media. For months he sat on his throne in a tent and held daily meetings during which time he refused to utter a word to his followers, afterwards taking a daily chauffered drive in one of his 90 Rolls-Royces down the driveway of the ranch.
The followers, who were generally well to do, educated people worked hard on the ranch and supposedly marriages were not recognized, and sex was a free for all. In order to join the commune, their money was pledged to the Rajneesh, who apparently enjoyed purchasing Rolls with it.
His General, Sheela in the meantime was up to much mayhem of her own, which ultimately led to her arrest and the Bhagwan being deported. Apparently 21 countries refuse to accept him, and he traveled the world for most of the rest his life, changing his name to Ohso, eventually dying in Poona in 1990. I think his cohort Sheela was deported to Germany... some facts may not be exactly accurate as it was a long time ago.
I always wondered how someone can take all your money, spend it on Rolls Royces and refuse to utter a word to you and still you worship them...Of course he denied the cars were bought with the followers money, and at the collapse of all this the majority of the cars were ultimately sold to a Houston dealer.
