Bhagwan Rajneesh

Bhagwan Rajneesh, later known as Osho, was an Indian mystic who established a new religious movement that gained international attention and controversy. Initially lecturing in India in the 1960s, he promoted meditation and concepts like free love, while also criticizing traditional morality and institutions. His followers, who adopted distinctive orange clothing for a period, were known as Rajneeshees. The movement expanded significantly, establishing an ashram in Pune, India, and attracting Westerners, including psychotherapists, leading Rajneesh to integrate Eastern spiritual teachings with Western psychological approaches.

However, the movement faced significant controversy, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. This included clashes with established morality in India and the US, and legal issues stemming from criminal activities by leading members in Oregon, such as a bioterror attack and an assassination plot, which aimed to influence local elections. These events led to Rajneesh's deportation from the United States in 1985 and the dissolution of the Oregon commune. Despite these challenges, the movement continued, with its headquarters eventually returning to Pune, India.

Born in 1931, Bhagwan Rajneesh, also known as Osho, began his public speaking career in 1958 while working as a philosophy lecturer. Throughout the 1960s, he traveled across India, advocating for meditation and the principles of free love, which emphasized personal freedom from societal and religious constraints in relationships. He also voiced criticisms of socialism and Gandhi, while expressing support for capitalism, scientific advancements, and birth control, cautioning against overpopulation and religious doctrines that promoted poverty. He adopted the name Acharya Rajneesh, meaning 'teacher' or 'professor,' a title derived from his childhood nickname. By 1964, a trust was established to support his work, and he was assisted by a prominent businesswoman who became his first disciple, Ma Yoga Laxmi.

After being compelled to resign from his university position in 1966, Rajneesh intensified his role as a spiritual teacher, sustaining himself through lectures, meditation retreats, and private sessions. In 1971, he initiated his first disciples into what became known as the Neo-Sannyas International Movement. He redefined sannyas, encouraging disciples to renounce ego rather than worldly life, while they adopted traditional symbols like robes and name changes. By 1972, he had initiated thousands of followers in India and hundreds internationally. Following the establishment of an ashram in Pune in 1974, the movement's membership surged, attracting many from Western countries, including therapists interested in human potential. Rajneesh became notable for merging Eastern spiritual philosophies with Western psychotherapy, daily discoursing on various scriptures and philosophical traditions.

The movement experienced significant controversy, particularly in the 1980s. In Oregon, the establishment of the intentional community Rajneeshpuram led to conflicts with local residents. A major crisis unfolded in 1984 with a bioterror attack where followers contaminated food with Salmonella to influence local elections, poisoning hundreds. This incident, along with revelations of extensive wiretapping, led to criminal charges against key figures, including Rajneesh's secretary, Ma Anand Sheela. These events culminated in Rajneesh's deportation from the United States in 1985 as part of a plea agreement, and 21 countries subsequently denied him entry. The Oregon commune was dismantled, and the movement's focus returned to Pune, India.

Following Rajneesh's death in 1990, the movement continued under the management of the Osho International Foundation (OIF), overseen by an 'Inner Circle' he appointed. The OIF operates the Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune, which presents itself as a spiritual center offering various techniques and attracting a global audience. Despite the controversies of the past, the movement's leadership has sought to present a more accessible image. However, internal disputes arose regarding the control of Rajneesh's works and intellectual property, leading to legal battles, including a significant trademark dispute in the United States. Smaller centers associated with the movement exist worldwide.