MovieChat Forums > Wild Wild Country (2018) Discussion > What was the appeal of Bhagwan Rajneesh?

What was the appeal of Bhagwan Rajneesh?

posted 7 years ago by Catbookss (13664)
7 replies | jump to latest

I've watched most of this. Fell asleep during parts of Parts 4&5 and am about to watch them again. But I cannot figure out the appeal, and even *less* so once people knew about and heard Sheela!

Why would anyone want to be a part of a "spiritual" community when someone at the helm acts and speaks this way??

It's crazy.

But there MUST have been something about him to have gained such a large and loyal following, and apparently there are still quite a few members even today.

I suppose I'll have to Google for answers. I'm posting here for others' opinions, and hopefully some interesting discussion.

[–] HAL 9010 (906) 7 years ago

That is the true question. And unfortunately, not explored in this documentary.

Why indeed can a cult following occur from seemingly intelligent and educated people?

How can such mass-hysteria suck in otherwise strong individuals and making them do questionable activities all in the name of some vague coverup.... it goes for Osho, as for all other religions or organized faiths. And at one point such an organization becomes almost sentient in itself, where it seems each individual is none the wiser of where they together as a group drift.... it brings to mind how research in ants show that single ants are quite boring and show no sign of organizing skills or dare I say intelligence, and yet put them together and they work as a beautiful symphony as though they are all orchestrated towards a holistic goal.... how?

I am of the believe that education is the only tool to true enlightenment and the only weapon against this plague I see in cults and similar organizations. Weather their intentions are pure or not, they all drift towards their own existence as the prime objective, and so eventually turn evil... but seeing how Wild Wild Country did consist of educated (seemingly) people, it makes me wonder how….

I surely would never join and be so blindly a part of such evil or nonsense… let’s stand together and spread this gospel of anti-cult for the sake of just being cults…. Lets us meet and created a safe haven someplace in the hills for us to share ideas and why not also a bit a partying, and ….. oh, shit… ;)

[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

I've watched the first 2 parts again, and it does to a slight degree explain this, but not enough to understand it, and to me that's its main failing.

Sheela was proven to be a liar, so even if she did eventually tell the truth about some things, why should we believe anything she said?

To me mass hysteria isn't enough of an explanation as to what happened. This could explain some people falling into this, but not all. Maybe not even most.

"I surely would never join and be so blindly a part of such evil or nonsense… let’s stand together and spread this gospel of anti-cult for the sake of just being cults…. Lets us meet and created a safe haven someplace in the hills for us to share ideas and why not also a bit a partying, and ….. oh, shit… ;)"

😂

[–] eYeDEF (5050) 6 years ago

He had an amazing and remarkable con man's ability to read people, enough so that many of his disciples believed him to be an enlightened spiritual teacher in the same vein as Jesus or Buddha.

I'm only about halfway through the 1st EP and I haven't been impressed with what I've seen so far. It doesn't really capture what a talented huckster he was.

Did you ever happen to see that HBO series The Leftovers (2014) about a Dispensationalist "rapture" type event about those left behind?

[–] Catbookss (13664) 6 years ago

I gather you knew a fair amount about him before watching this. That was the problem for me as well: it didn't show well enough how or why he was so good at what he did. He had, what, a million seemingly enraptured followers internationally? And his organisation still carries on today. I would have liked to have seen him doing his thing.

No, I haven't seen The Leftovers. Sounds intriguing. Too bad it's an HBO series, since I don't have HBO and Netflix is unlikely to ever get it.

[–] eYeDEF (5050) 6 years ago

Ah too bad. I ask because of this really intriguing guru type cult leader introduced as a season 2 story line that I believe to be modeled on the Bhagwan. Not in mannerisms or yogi background, but more the salubrious impact he had on the psyches of his targets. It gave every appearance of transcending mere personal charisma or cult of personality. After all, there had to be a compelling reason why first time contacts would instantly convert, eagerly emptying their bank accounts, and give up their normal lives to join his cause right? All so he could buy a different Benz to ride around in for every day of the year?

There was heated debate throughout the season whether he was a shyster or a spiritual guide, but towards the end the question didn't seem to matter as much. He had such an enormous positive impact on the mental health of those he "graced" with his mythical hugs (very similar to the pied piper effect Bhagwan's embrace reportedly left upon converts) that even if he were a shyster the reciprocal mental and spiritual self actualization that made their repurposed lives worth living made it moot.

Anyway, it's a fascinating 3 season series that explores the global reaction to the inexplicable disappearance of 2% of the world's population. It's not overtly religious even though the event itself is interpreted by many in the global populace on the show through a religious prism. I'd definitely rec checking it out of you have Netflix DVD.

[–] jriley555 (8220) 6 years ago

i suspect it was mainly the community built around him by his staff, especially of course, sheela.

also, his teachings were easy to bear. a nice meditation-purgative, you got to work, drink, have sex, with him as a beneficent smiling cheer-leader.

they also were apparently very choosy about the kinds of people they let in. what they accomplished in oregon was phenomenal.

it was the package.

[–] zephyr_cape (2979) 6 years ago

Wow, I hadn't heard about this flick. Definitely going to have to check it out.

In college I read the majority of his published writings and transcribed talks. Beyond his persona and the community/cult surrounding him (which is highly entertaining) he is a fount of legitimate wisdom and food for thought for anyone on a path of spiritual inquiry, as long as he's taken with a good coating of salt on the rim.