The Rajneesh and Outsiders

Article: http://www.oregonlive.com/rajneesh/index.ssf/2011/04/sheela_left_oregon_but_keeps_b.html

By: Zach Schultz

 I came across an article that discusses the life and legacy of Ma Anand Sheela. An Indian American- Swiss woman who in 1985 pleaded guilty to attempted murder and assault for her role in the 1984 Rajneeshee bio-terror attack. From 1981 through 1985, she managed the Rajnesshpuram ashram in Wasco County, Oregon. She was the former chief assistant for the Indian mystic Rajneeshpuram. Sheela moved to Switzerland. 
         
Continuing on the article, Ma Anand Sheela distanced herself from Oregon and the Rajneesh commune, Sheela became a very successful businesswoman in her native Switzerland. In 1981 Sheela became Rajneesh's personal assistant and convinced him to leave India and establish an ashram in the United States. In July 1981, Sheela purchased a ranch in Wasco County, Oregon which became the site for the development of the Rajneeshpuram commune. She became president of Rajneesh Foundation International, managed the commune and met daily with Rajneesh to discuss business matters. According to Sheela, Rajneesh was complicit in and directed her involvement in criminal acts she later committed. 
            
Sheela married in 1984 and became a widow in 1993, discusses her recounts of her life when she participated in the Rajnesshpuram movement, when the cult was still in Oregon. In the article, Sheela recounts that Oregon shares the same blame between both it's residents and the members of the Rajnesshpuram commune. As Rajnesshe's personal assistant, she believed it was her duty to escort him out of India and travel to the United States, to establish their commune and to broaden their horizons.
          
Sheela blamed her behavior and her attitude towards the guru. She only did what was asked of her. In the article she states that she wasn't interested in the spiritual enlightenment, which was the sole factor of the guru and his commune. She not only was his secretary, but throughout the duration she was working for him, she fell in love with him.



Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 22, 2017 at 5:11 PM

    After reading your blog it seems as if Sheela tried to get away from Rajnesshe, but at the same time she couldn't not and did not want to. She felt obligated to him and went back to Rajnesshe not matter what. She always shared some type of involvement, she never fully extracted herself from Rajnesshe. I think it was he love that kept her going and the fact that she felt she was so obligated to him and the group. She committed crimes, but like said in the article it was the spiritual enlightenment she was interested in.

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