Visit the City of Rajneeshpuram....in Oregon

When a controversial cult leader builds a utopian city in the Oregon desert, conflict with the locals escalates into a national scandal. …This show is….riveting, provocative, true crime, media circus, critically acclaimed, cerebral, docuseries, TV --Netflix Series description of Wild Wild Country, 2018

Yes, this is still a non-fiction blog and the description that Netflix provides is pretty accurate. I was flabbergasted when I heard about and began to research Rajneeshpuram, a real city in Oregon (yes, that is the 33rd U.S. state). The city existed between 1981 and 1989. I stumbled across the name when I was looking at a list of cities in Oregon; the list included a number of former cities now disincorporated and I began to wonder where it came from and where did it go?

Typical autumn landscape reflective of central Oregon
Typical Rural Landscape
Picture designed by Freepik 

This is not a spoiler for the Netflix docuseries; I will not disclose the outcome(s). In a nutshell, an Indian, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, facilitated the purchase of land in rural central Oregon (Wasco County), built a multi-million dollar city with its own airport, airline, police, government, farms, and dam, and incorporated it under the laws of Oregon. The neighboring town of Antelope (yes, a real name), fought back, was overpowered, democratically, and renamed to Rajneesh. The State and Federal Governments got involved in a complex stew made up of drugs, weapons, sex, wiretapping, land use, zoning, FBI, DOJ, food poisoning, homelessness, veterans, elections, and assassinations plots. I kid you not.

What Do I think?

The first thought that crossed my mind was why would an Indian commune relocate from Pune, India, to rural Wasco County, Oregon? Why to a state whose constitution explicitly excluded African Americans from residing in the state until 1926, only half a century earlier. But this group, which appealed to thousands of Americans, was looking for a new home and strongly believed in America’s fundamentals: freedom of religion, the right to incorporate a city (Oregon requires only 150 people), the right to bear arms to protect oneself, respect for private property, and prohibitions of illegal searches. I guess that's why others have also created their own communes (e.g., Branch Davidians in Waco Texas; Heaven’s Gate in California; or Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Texas). Albeit none of these actually went so far as to incorporate a formal city and establish a government, mayor, council, police department, and schools. Only Rajneeshpuram, Oregon.

While so many aspects of the story fascinated me, I will only share one: to take over the town of Antelope, the commune leaders bought vacant properties, persuaded others to sell, and added enough people to the voters roll that they could vote their own candidates into office. Brilliant. Then they opened up their doors to thousands of homeless men and women from around the country, bussed them to Oregon, fed, housed, and upskilled them, provided health care and clothing, and then tried to do the same for the Wasco County election. All completely legal. No voter fraud or rigging needed! 

Why Should You Care?

Something that seems pure fiction may be true. In a world where the truth is frequently bent, twisted, and presented in multiple competing ways, it is impossible for us to discern reality. Add the power of A.I. and its ability to create realistic images that we gloss over and rapidly absorb when scrolling through our feeds. 

One aspect of the story echoes my recent post on the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. After the Government first set its eyes on the commune, it was protected as a legally incorporated city with its own government. The Government’s entry point was the Establishment Clause of the Constitution - that there was no separation of religion from the City’s government; the religious leader was the de-facto head of the City. Ironically, today, the remnants of the commune are a Christian summer camp.

Read closely into stories and back check them to discern truth from fiction. This bizarre blip of Oregonian history, shows how one can legally swing an election (or two), and accomplish, rightly or wrongly, in our great free nation. 

Please let me know how bizarre you think this story is given all you have run across in your life?







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