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Where It All Went Wrong
Wire-tapping
From January through September 1984, Sheela and 21 other followers of Osho were found bugging members’ phone calls in the commune. Sheela, and Puja, the head of the Rajneesh Medical Clinic, were jailed. After Sheela left, Osho put the responsibility for the crimes on her, claiming he had no part in it.
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. (Multnomah County Archives)
“What is marriage now, or what has it been ever? Just a painful suffering – a long suffering, with false smiling faces. It has simply proved a misery. At the most it can be just a convenience.”
~Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, "The Ultimate Alchemy"
Bio-terrorism
In September 1984, the Rajneeshees poisoned 10 salad bars with salmonella to sway a local election. This was the largest bioterrorism attack on U.S. soil with 751 people with food poisoning, and 45 hospitalized. The plan was to get their members elected, gaining political influence. Sheela, Puja, and other members orchestrated the attack while Osho claimed he was unaware.
Immigration Fraud
Whenever Rajneesh members immigrated to the U.S. they would organize marriages so they could get Green Cards. Immigration and Naturalization Services investigated these marriages, Rajneeshees claimed this was a form of discrimination against them. The commune would send foreign disciples out of the commune or state whenever these services came. Osho himself said he wasn't worried as he didn't believe he was attached to his body or earthly surroundings. On April 8, 1983, these authorities claimed 95% of the Rajneeshes’ marriages to U.S. citizens were phony.
“The ongoing investigation has involved suspected patterns of marriage fraud among Rajneeshees, as well as allegations that individual marriages have been entered into for the purpose of securing immigration benefits or evading immigration laws,”
~Said a document filed in Portland U.S. District Court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laury H. Hennings.
"‘Calling it a cult is degrading’: Wild Wild Country’s Ma Anand Sheela on her time as Bhagwan’s lieutenant", The Guardian.
"I didn’t like or trust Sheela but none of us had any clue what was going on — the poisonings, the fire-bombing. It was inconceivable to me. After it all came out, we were all sort of wandering in shock for days. I just remember walking down one of the roads not knowing what I was doing, what, what, where am I?"
~Rashid Maxwell Artist/painter and farmer living in England. Lived at Rajneeshpuram for four years.
“9 Rajneeshpuram Residents on What Wild Wild Country Got Wrong,” (The Cut.)
"Oregonian coverage of the Hotel Rajneesh bombing." (The Oregonian)
The Rajneesh Fire Bombing
On 1984, July 29th, 3 small bombs went off in the Rajneesh hotel. The bomber, Stephen Paster, lost his fingers in the explosion.