Ep.11 The Rajneesh movement

They came to rural Oregon dressed in shades of orange and red, following a spiritual guru who rarely spoke and a powerful woman who did all the talking. What began as an ambitious attempt to build a utopian community quickly turned into one of the most controversial religious experiments in American history. In this episode, we trace the rise of the Rajneesh movement, from its roots in India to the creation of Rajneeshpuram, through escalating legal battles, immigration fraud, internal control, and the largest bioterror attack ever committed on U.S. soil.

Part 1 – The Making of a Guru: From Chandra Mohan to Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh
Part 2 – From Pune to Oregon: Ma Anand Sheela and the Rise of Rajneeshpuram
Part 3 – Exile and Reinvention: From Bhagwan to Osho
Part 4 – After the Master: The Osho Brand, the Digital Turn, and the Battle for Legacy
Part 5 – Aftermath and Accountability: Survivors, Truth-Seekers, and the Unfinished Reckoning
Part 6 – Legacy in the Ashes: The Echo of Osho and the Market of Modern Enlightenment
 
From silent compounds to subway attacks, from charismatic prophets to catastrophic ends, Hidden Cults is a documentary-style podcast that digs deep into the world's most extreme, elusive, and explosive fringe groups. Each episode unpacks a different cult with investigative depth, emotional clarity, and gripping storytelling. You'll hear the full timeline: from the origins and ideology, to the rise of control, to the final descent into chaos. We're not here for the sensational. We're here for the truth. If you've ever wondered how ordinary people fall into extraordinary belief systems, and what happens when those systems implode, you're in the right place. New episodes weekly. Listener stories always welcome. Anonymity guaranteed.

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