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The Rajneesh Sannyasin Community in Fremantle

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The Rajneesh Sannyasin Community in Fremantle The Rajneesh sannyasin community in Fremantle Paula O’Brien Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Communication Studies A thesis submitted for the degree of Research Masters with Training 2008 DECLARATION I declare that this thesis is my own account of my research and contains as its main content work which has not previously been submitted for a degree at any tertiary education institution. .................................... Paula O’Brien ABSTRACT In the early eighties, the world media depicted the emergence of a spiritual movement popularly known as the Orange People, or Rajneeshees. Dedicated to an Indian guru, named Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, they dressed in orange-coloured clothes, wore a wooden beaded-necklace with a photo of the Bhagwan on it and called themselves sannyasins, a term traditionally related to Indian religious discipleship. The spectacular nature of this movement invited the attention of the media and indeed, generated much interest, particularly in their sexual practices. As with other media inspired fashions, the movement appeared quickly and seemingly disappeared as quickly. Rajneesh was extirpated as a unique person in much the same way that superstars pass in and out of the world. Most scholarly work on the subject considers Rajneesh and the Orange People to be a product of their time, the media effectuating the primary evolution of the group. During this time, Fremantle in Western Australia became a major centre for the movement. Using interviews with 21 sannyasins still living in Fremantle, this study documents the rise, expression and demise of the sannyasin community in Fremantle. The interviews illuminate the development of the movement from its earliest days in India to its high point in Oregon, as being in everyway consistent with a normal corporate growth facilitated by its presence in media. While the media’s interest has declined, the movement itself has not gone away. Sannyasins now are not doing anything radically different from what they used to do. Their social and professional relationships appear to have remained largely the same throughout all the publicity highs and lows and the rise and the fall of the movement. The informants as a group offer a perspective that seems to reflect the wider society and the broad de-centring processes associated with the development of post WWII globalisation. The thesis concludes that it may be more useful to consider the movement as being a symptom of globalisation with characteristics that can be found throughout all developed countries. Only the Orange People’s 15 minutes of fame has come and gone and it continues to have a presence, even in its invisibility. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank all the interviewees, without whom this thesis could not have been completed. Each individual generously contributed time to share their stories freely and enthusiastically. Their patience is also greatly appreciated. Thanks must also go to my supervisor Josko Petkovic for his prolonged guidance, support and patience. I am grateful to family and friends who continually supported and encouraged me throughout the course of my candidature. Contents Abstract Acknowledgements Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Section One: India and the US .......................................................................................................... 14 Chapter One: India – Origins of the Rajneesh movement ............................................................... 16 Early years: 1931 – 1970 .............................................................................................................. 16 Bombay (Mumbai) 1970 – 74 ....................................................................................................... 27 Pune 1974 – 1981 ........................................................................................................................ 42 Chapter Two: An experimental community in the US – Oregon: 1981 – 1985 ................................. 60 /1981/ ............................................................................................................................................ 60 /1982/ ............................................................................................................................................ 64 /1983/ ............................................................................................................................................ 74 /1984/ ............................................................................................................................................ 81 /1985/ ............................................................................................................................................ 86 Section Two: Sannyasins in Western Australia ............................................................................... 92 Chapter Three: Early years of the commune .................................................................................... 93 Who were they? ............................................................................................................................ 93 Commune beginnings ................................................................................................................... 98 Questions of leadership .............................................................................................................. 104 The media – early days .............................................................................................................. 108 Early objections .......................................................................................................................... 109 CCG investigations begin ........................................................................................................... 111 Chapter Four: The move to Fremantle............................................................................................ 117 The early eighties ....................................................................................................................... 117 A commune is established - heydays ......................................................................................... 121 More media coverage ................................................................................................................. 124 Sex and the commune ................................................................................................................ 128 Beyond the commune ................................................................................................................. 132 Commune aims........................................................................................................................... 133 Media – an overview ................................................................................................................... 137 Van Leen and CCG investigations continue ............................................................................... 139 Chapter Five: Karri Valley debacle ................................................................................................. 144 Changes in the commune ........................................................................................................... 144 Sheela visits WA ......................................................................................................................... 145 Pemberton – Karri Valley ............................................................................................................ 149 Children and the commune ......................................................................................................... 159 Sheela and Jay ........................................................................................................................... 161 Chapter Six: Then they were gone? ............................................................................................... 166 Fremantle commune disbands ................................................................................................... 166 WA – after the demise ................................................................................................................ 171 Fremantle sannyasins now ......................................................................................................... 177 The global movement today ....................................................................................................... 180 Synthesis .................................................................................................................................... 183 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 192 Appendices ....................................................................................................................................... 197 Appendix One: Interview questions ................................................................................................ 197 Appendix Two: Informant responses ............................................................................................. 201 Bibliography ...................................................................................................................................... 233 Introduction In
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