dsouza@waltz (09/23/85)
Rajneeshpuram is (once again) embroiled in controversy. These are excerpts from an article in the Austin American Statesman, Sept 23 (comments in parens mine): "...Indicative of the tremors that have rocked the commune was an offer by spiritual leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh to give all but 1 of his 90 Rolls Royces to his 5000 disciples as a gesture of appreciation. (My, how generous!). "The offer was not accepted, however. The cars belong to the Rajneesh Investment Trust, which specifies that they be used exclusively by Raj- neesh. The trust president, Swami Dhyan John, said that because the guru had sat in all the vehicles, 'they are sacred, and we want them just where they are.' (How come Rajneesh gets to use them if they are sacred?) "...Rajneesh's principal advisor, Ma Anand Sheela, fled the commune with as many as 20 other leaders. Investigators are looking into charges by guru that Sheela was involved in attempted murder, wiretapping, arson and fraud. (I thought all that was what Rajneesh preached, among other such delights?). "...Observers outside the commune were skeptical of the charges, saying he may have been trying to draw attention to Sheela in an effort to shift focus from his visa troubles. "Rajneesh also says that Sheela was responsible for most of the activ- ities that profoundly angered surrounding communities...included bringing in 3800 homeless people last year (now wasn't that supposed to be a gener- ous, concerned effort at rehousing these people, as opposed to charges that it was done to stack the voting in local elections? Read on...). "'I'm not much interested in uneducated, illiterate street beggars', Rajneesh said. (So much for Rajneesh's claims to being a God. Uneducated, illiterate street beggars don't have Rolls Royces to 'donate' to him, unfortunately). "Rajneesh emerged last Oct from 3.5 years of self-imposed exile at the commune. He said little about it except that he 'got tired of talking to the walls'. (Maybe they got tired of him? Maybe he does not know that we are tired of listening to his fulminations?). "He is pressing the argument that Sheela...used her position to impose 'a fascist state' on the 4 yr old commune. "...His teaching that there is no God (besides himself, of course) has particularly angered local Christians, as does casual nudity and cheerful advocacy of free love." (Is there AIDS in the commune?) There is much I would like to say on the subject of Rajneesh; maybe I shall refrain from putting it on the net. cheers, dilip.
brahme@uicsl.UUCP (09/28/85)
I fail to understand why some people criticize Rajneesh & his activities. I am not aware of his preachings but just reading the criticism against him, i feel i should say my bit. > "'I'm not much interested in uneducated, illiterate street beggars', >Rajneesh said. (So much for Rajneesh's claims to being a God. Uneducated, >illiterate street beggars don't have Rolls Royces to 'donate' to him, >unfortunately). First of all there is nothing wrong in someone claiming to be a GOD! And there is no reason why all such GODS have to help the poor & the needy. Remember the rich also ocassionally require help. Where would they go if there was'nt any one like Rajneesh around? Also i don't see why anybody should object their donating Rolls Royces to him. > "...His teaching that there is no God (besides himself, of course) has >particularly angered local Christians, as does casual nudity and cheerful >advocacy of free love." > There is no reason for the local christians to be angry with his teachings. They can believe what they want to. Can't they be tolerant to people whose beliefs do not coincide with theirs?
rajkumar@im4u.UUCP (V. Rajkumar) (10/01/85)
In article <10400002@uicsl> brahme@uicsl.UUCP writes: > > >I fail to understand why some people criticize Rajneesh & his activities. I >am not aware of his preachings but just reading the criticism against him, i >feel i should say my bit. > >> "'I'm not much interested in uneducated, illiterate street beggars', >>Rajneesh said. (So much for Rajneesh's claims to being a God. Uneducated, >>illiterate street beggars don't have Rolls Royces to 'donate' to him, >>unfortunately). > >First of all there is nothing wrong in someone claiming to be a GOD! And >there is no reason why all such GODS have to help the poor & the needy. I totally disagree. If Brahme has a different definition of God, then that is a different story. >Remember the rich also ocassionally require help. Where would they go if >there was'nt any one like Rajneesh around? Does that mean the poor go to the rich when in need of help?
jeff@rtech.UUCP (Jeff Lichtman) (10/02/85)
> > > I fail to understand why some people criticize Rajneesh & his activities. I > am not aware of his preachings but just reading the criticism against him, i > feel i should say my bit... > > There is no reason for the local christians to be angry with his teachings. > They can believe what they want to. Can't they be tolerant to people whose > beliefs do not coincide with theirs? When the guy moves into an established town and takes it over, harassing the natives and bringing in derelicts to vote in local elections (thus changing the outcome to what *he* wants), it tends to be a little annoying. Why should someone tolerate behavior like this? -- Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.) "Saints should always be judged guilty until they are proved innocent..." {amdahl, sun}!rtech!jeff {ucbvax, decvax}!mtxinu!rtech!jeff
vohra@ut-sally.UUCP (Pavan Vohra) (10/03/85)
In article <10400002@uicsl> brahme@uicsl.UUCP writes: > >>..... (So much for Rajneesh's claims to being a God......) > >...First of all there is nothing wrong in someone claiming to be a GOD! .... > >> "...His teaching that there is no God (besides himself, of course) .... Has he ever claimed to be God? On Nightline a few nights ago (with Charlie Gibson - Ted had the night off), Rajneesh (yes, one of his rare press appearances) claimed he was not a leader - let alone a religeous leader. He made an awful Nightline guest 'cause his answers were terse (one or two words, at the most a sentence). Charlie also asked him to comment on the rumor that he has an arsenal of illegal weapons at his "hideout". He said all weapons at the Ashram were legal. Can't help but wonder if Rajneesh had anything to do with supplying weapons to the Golden Temple folk. There may be a secret connection here which has yet to be discovered. We all know he didn't get along with the Indain Government - they threw him out of India to begin with. This may have been his way to get back at them. pavan. ----- Arpa: vohra@sally.utexas.edu _________________________________________________ | | | vohra@sally E-MAIL 22c | | | | | | To, | | net.nlang.india | | net distribution | | USA | -------------------------------------------------