Philip Toelkes Explained
Philip John Toelkes, also known as Swami Prem Niren and Philip Niren Toelkes,[1] is an American lawyer and follower of Rajneesh who served as the second mayor of Rajneeshpuram from 1985 until the commune's disbandment in 1986.[2] He served as the personal Lawyer of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.
Early life and education
Toelkes was born in Tigard, Oregon and raised Catholic.[3] He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of San Francisco and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Career
Toelkes began his career as an attorney in Los Angeles, working with the Manatt Law Firm which was, at the time, the fastest growing law firm in the U.S.[4] After traveling to Pune and meeting with Rajneesh, he quit his job and relocated to the newly-established Rajneeshpuram commune in Wasco County, Oregon.[5] From 1981 to 1990, Toelkes acted as Rajneesh's personal attorney, until the latter's death.[6]
Toelkes was the director of the Rajneesh Legal Services Corporation[7] and later mayor of Rajneeshpuram, succeeding Krishna Deva. After his first marriage ended, he remarried Ma Prem Isabel, director of public relations for Rajneeshpuram. No legal charges were ever filed against Toelkes, he continues to practice law, and he remains loyal to Osho.
He is featured in Wild Wild Country, a Netflix documentary series about the controversial Indian guru [8] [9] and has written an account of the legal aspects of the cases against Osho and Rajneeshpuram brought by the U.S. Government.[10]
External links
Notes and References
- News: Wild Wild Country: Where Are They Now?. Herzog. Kenny. Vulture. March 27, 2018. August 6, 2020. June 13, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180613042343/http://www.vulture.com/2018/03/wild-wild-country-where-are-they-now.html. live.
- Web site: January 9, 1986. A Swami by Any Other Name Is--Philip J. Toelkes, Attorney. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150506204437/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-01-09/news/mn-14132_1_philip-j-toelkes. May 6, 2015. June 12, 2018. Los Angeles Times.
- Web site: Oregonian/OregonLive. The. 1985-07-20. Rajneeshees catch service napping (part 20 of 20). 2020-12-28. oregonlive. en. 2023-09-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20230904220342/https://www.oregonlive.com/rajneesh/1985/07/rajneeshees_catch_service_napp.html. live.
- Web site: Recounting the community of Rajneeshpuram. 2020-12-28. The Argonaut. en-US. 2023-09-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20230904220252/https://www.uiargonaut.com/2018/09/27/recounting-the-community-of-rajneeshpuram/. live.
- Web site: Swami Prem Niren Wants His Old Name Back. 2020-12-28. AP NEWS.
- Web site: Recounting the community of Rajneeshpuram. 2020-12-28. The Argonaut. en-US. 2023-09-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20230904220252/https://www.uiargonaut.com/2018/09/27/recounting-the-community-of-rajneeshpuram/. live.
- Book: The Rajneesh Chronicles: The True Story of the Cult that Unleashed the First Act of Bioterrorism on U.S. Soil. 2010. 129, 325. Win McCormack . 978-0982569191. Tin House Books.
- Gajanan. Mahita. How the Makers of Wild Wild Country Think About the Heroes and Villains of Their Story. Time. April 13, 2018. June 12, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180415054407/http://time.com/5238200/wild-wild-country-netflix-way-brothers/. April 15, 2018.
- Web site: Turnquist. Kristi. Netflix documentary on Rajneeshees in Oregon revisits an amazing, enraging true story. OregonLive. March 14, 2018. June 12, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180322204835/http://www.oregonlive.com/tv/2018/03/netflix_documentary_on_rajnees.html. March 22, 2018.
- Book: Toelkes . Philip . USA v. OSHO: A Legal History of the US Government Persecution of a Minority Religious Community, Oregon 1981-1986 . 6 March 2021 . Independent Publisher . 978-1792363986 . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211211143858/https://www.bsrinusdocs.com/. Dec 11, 2021. Jan 13, 2022.
