With our newsletters you get the top stories to your inbox. Sheela Biernstiel - aka Ma Anand Sheela has created a new life for herself in Switzerland as a carer for the mentally disabled, leaving behind her notoriety as the suspected mastermind behind a bioterror plot in the United States. In an interview with The Guardian, Sheela (who is still alive, BTW) revealed that she never watched the entire Netflix series that she took part in. As I am a bit early for my appointment, I wander towards a mare and her foal. . Does she feel that her homes for the disabled are her lifes work as opposed to Rajneeshpuram where she was merely an instrument to realise Rajneeshs vision? One of the homes is Wohnheim Matrusaden, perched on a hill that's surrounded by a forest, looking over the small, 900-strong village of Maisprach. Before I leave, I have one last question for Sheela. Here's What It's Like to Attend. Earlier this year, it was also rumoured that Priyanka Chopra will be playing the lead inthe Amazon Studios dramaSheela, directed and co-produced by Barry Levinson. As I have said, I have tried to stay as non-judgemental as possible. As a federal prosecutor, he brought charges against Sheela and the Bhagwan. She could sense my openness and non-judgemental attitude. "They took drugs with Bhagwan, which he eventually became addicted to. Soon after the Indian natives restrictions ended, she migrated to Maisprach, Switzerland, where she started a government-approved special needs nursing home called Matrusaden. This content was published on Oct 5, 2014 Ma Anand Sheela rose to fame afterbeing spotlighted in the popular Netflix documentaryWild Wild Country,and with the excitement around Searching for Sheela'strailer, it's safe to say that she continues to be a topic of major interest around the world. It was a cool July day in 1986 when Ma Anand Sheela strolled into a courthouse in Oregon to plead guilty to attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, wiretapping and immigration fraud. Reportedly, her first husband was Harris Silverman, an American citizen. Within the subsequent four years, in 1985, though, what she described as mutual love between her and Osho turned into a problem. Sheela shows me a profile of her father written in a book detailing Gandhi's inner circle. Watch on. A Look At Where Five of the Key People and Places in the Rajneesh Cult Saga Are Now. She began typing, and the pages over the next few months turned into a book the life of Ma Anand Sheela, a controversial member of spiritual guru Rajneeshs commune. Born as Sheela Ambalal Patel in 1949 in Baroda, Gujarat, India, despite what some people believe, she initially moved to America at the age of 18 for studies, attending the Montclair State College in New Jersey. Her husband died while she was serving her prison term in the US, leaving her with nobody to depend on. I have served my time gracefully and now people should leave the thing, she once said. He's still practicing law in Portland. Interviewed extensively in a 2018 Netflix documentary called She served three years in a California prison. (She pleaded guilty only to wire-tapping and immigration fraud.) Bhagwan knew exactly what he was selling. In the Netflix documentary, Rajneeshpuram's neighbours constantly refer to the Oregon commune as a sex cult. Netflixs newdocumentarySearching for Sheela follows Ma Anand Sheelas return to India after decades for an interview tour. Here's more on what she said. Ma Anand Sheela runs two nursing homes in Switzerland. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Sheela tells me it was her father and the picture next to it her mother. I learned patience there. By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. Thats why I can not redeem myself. In other words, she implies that she is not guilty of the charges she was accused and convicted of, and there is no redemption needed because she has already served time and paid all her dues. The fine lines on her countenance reflected wisdom and her eyes glinted with the sparkle of many untold stories that I was holding my breath to hear. Her answer to so-called cancel culture is to stand her ground and refuse to be canceled. However, Sheela just had to leave him in 1985. You were allowed to be yourselves and have other relationships if need be., In 1986, Ma Anand Sheela pleaded guilty to attempted murder for her part in the 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attackknown to be one of the biggest of its kind in American historyand was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. Ma Anand Sheela lived with her husband Marc Harris Silverman, in America before moving to India to pursue her spiritual studies and became a disciple of Osho (Rajneesh) and started being called Ma Anand Sheela and her husband took the name of Swami Prem Chinmaya.. Ltd. I had to play the role. She was the constant backdrop to the sanyasis stories of the bygone Orange Era. The 1983 bombing of the sect's Portland hotel was carried out by a drifter named Stephen Paster, who was linked to a radical Islamic group and now lives in Pakistan. Over 751 people fell ill and this is still considered the largest bioterror attack in American history. This event is also known as the infamousRajneeshee Bioterror Attack. He, the book says, had a litany of demands that petrified Sheela. Just before I leave, Sheela suddenly tries to convince me that she never did anything wrong, offering to send me an email she received from Bhagwan just before he died as proof. It is good to be conscious of this event instead of denying it. But the psychologically healthy think that they're going to achieve enlightenment or be led to enlightenment" She breaks off and smiles. That means an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.". After escaping imprisonment for her crimes, the 69-year-old now lives in Switzerland managing a nursing home. Your web browser is outdated. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. I have very few friends. They were my inspiration to create nursing homes., Born Sheela Ambalal Patel in Vadodara, the 71-year-old was once married to Marc Harris Silverman, an American citizen who moved with her to India to pursue spiritual studies. If you have questions. You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Ad Choices, Everything to Know About Amazons Sheela, Starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas. First unsure of which direction to take, I spot a sign at the bus stop for Matrusaden, the disabled home run by Sheela. Sheela Birnstiel, formerly known as Ma Anand Sheela, or more simply Sheela, emerged as by far the most colorful character in the Duplass Brothers' " Wild Wild Country " documentary. Just like her, her father was close to another powerful religious leader. Rajneeshpuram was Bhagwan's life's work and this is purely mine along with my team. And I have done my best to create a neat melange of Mas words and experiences and things as they happened. As we head upstairs to her room to chat, she leads me past patients' rooms and down corridors that smell of disinfectant. After Oshos death, she shared her experiences with her guru in a memoir that was originally written in German and was later translated into English. All rights reserved. There were no specific instances which escalated matters but it kept building up till I reached a stage where I decided to go on my own. And now, Sheela is independent and thriving in Switzerland, practicing Oshos way of communal living through her work. Glamour may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Ma Anand Sheela (alias Sheela Birnstiel) is an Indian-born American-Swiss. Ma Anand Sheela became a follower ofBhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the spiritual leader of the Rajneesh movement, at the young age of 16. In it, Bhagwan said that Sheela "was not the perpetrator, but a victim". I couldn't convince him to give it up, and because it was my job to protect him and I couldn't, I decided to leave the movement. Contributions under this article have been turned off. Elaborating on how she started her nursing homes, Sheela said that she rented a home and took in five elderly people. ', Super Mario Bros. 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After being released from prison, she moved to Switzerland, where she runs two nursing homes. Free shipping for many products! The route there follows a narrow road through green fields and meanders uphill towards a small glen. In those days, there were no educational qualification requirements. . Good, bad, ugly, it makes no difference. We say move on because she made it clear that there will be no redemption. Jun 7, 2016 Actor Neha Dhupia recently had a fireside chat with Ma Anand Sheela, on the sidelines of the 11th edition of the TiEcon event in Mumbai. Before Sheela's trial, Knapp told the FBI, "Whenever Sheela said something, everyone accepted that she was speaking on behalf of Bhagwan." 7. Just as I begin to wonder if Id missed a turn, I spot another Matrusaden sign poking out of a carpet of dead leaves. I had been trying to trace her for many years. To me my subject and my reader are both equally important. However, it was the controversial gurus secretarySheelathat had the greatest impact on viewers when the series launched in 2018. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Fireworks Ensued. The city was named Rajneeshpuram. Director Shakun Batra pitches the film as tracking a character who is constantly under the weight of public scrutiny. "Rich and famous people wanted to be seen with Bhagwan, to feel special, to sit in the front row, so to speak," Sheela scorns. Furthermore, it reads: "Sheela is not a criminal, and anything that she did, she did to protect the commune. "You can complain about it only when you can do something about it," she said, adding that it's the same passion which inspires her to start a sanitation drive in India. Her work today is all consuming with a total of 29 patients in the two homes under her care. When we met, I realised that she wanted to find someone she could trust. "My main aim was always to protect Bhagwan," she said then, of her spiritual leader Osho Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, still grinning as she was led away in handcuffs. Ma was very supportive, trusting and co-operative. When she wanted to see me in person, we I, along with my very supportive husband and children packed our bags and flew to Switzerland in June 2019. They could not understand what they were seeing me as on television. Spiritual leaders make false promisesI cannot be duped by that," she asserted. Here's what became of the key people and places in the saga: He was deported from the U.S. in 1985 after pleading guilty to immigration law violations. This content was published on April 12, 2018 - 11:00, This content was published on Oct 25, 2016, This content was published on Jan 28, 2018, This content was published on Oct 5, 2014, This content was published on Jun 7, 2016, Your enhanced Profile Data is being used once you start to contribute to the community. She planned on acquiring a 65,000-acre ranch land in Easco County, Oregon where the cult established its first international base in 1981. Ma Anand Sheela wrote a book titled Rajneeshism, where she shares insight into the life of Osho and his perspective with people however, the name of the author has not been credited and the editor has listed it as Academy of Rajneeshism. 5000 copies of this book were burned at Rajneeshpuram. "You can complain about it only when you can do something about it," she said, adding that it's the same passion which inspires her to start a sanitation drive in India. It was my honour to be living close with men like Bhagwan. "What bigger crime is there than to sell you a product that has no guarantee? She became bodyguard and personal secretary to the guru, and was in large measure the person most responsible for executing the organizations decamp from Poona, India, to the U.S. As the most devoted followers (Sanyassins) built their cash-rich city of free love and ecology in rural Oregon, articulate and feisty Sheela emerged as the Bhagwans spokeswoman, strategist and attack dog. She built up her reputation as a competent carer and five years later she moved to a bigger place and was responsible for 16 patients. He was so good in bed. She later moved to Switzerland and ran two nursing homes. At the end of our day together, I feel like I've gotten to see a compassionate side to Sheela. If you've seen the series, you'll know this battle escalated to an alarming level. Most of the patients were in the sun-bathed conservatory at the opposite end of the home and were busy with their colouring books. 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Thats a journalists dream but can be a family members nightmare. But my personal opinion has not tainted the book in any way. A documentary film called Wild Wild CountryExternal link on Rajneesh, Sheela and the Rajneeshpuram commune in Oregon was released this year. It became the headquarters of the Rajneesh empire. Ma Anand Sheela met with Indira Gandhi for talks to set up an ashram in India in order to expand their movement and popularizing the religious cult among the masses. Its like needing a doctor when you are sick. In 1981, he appointed India-born Sheela as his secretary and she was tasked with finding a new location for the commune in order to expand. Sheela, the controversial former personal secretary of mysterious godman Bhagwan Rajneesh (Osho), talked about working with him, her life lessons, and managing her nursing homes in Switzerland, where she now resides. In fact, things worked out reasonably well. Ma Anand Sheela convicted for her criminal charges After serving in prison, she moved to Switzerland and married a fellow Rajneesh devout Urs Birnstiel, and became a Swiss citizen. The Rajneeshees' Onetime Compound is Now a Christian Summer Camp. "Bhagwan always got so angry when I told him that members thought they were now enlightened. What is your impression of Ma Anand Sheela, the subject of your book? "With mentally ill people, you always know what you're going to get. The youngest is 42 and the oldest 83. How does she go about her life when everyone has something to say about her?. She was only 16 and lost her heart to this charismatic speaker. One of the homes is Wohnheim Matrusaden, perched on a hill that's surrounded by a forest,. Please use a modern web browser for a better experience. I was trained byBhagwanhimself to be quick and witty. Having a good life?. When you are protecting a community and an asset likeBhagwan, you have to show your strength. It is hard to imagine she still has affection for the man who blamed her for carrying out terrorist acts against the American government and the commune. Separately, she will reportedly be portrayed onscreen by Alia Bhatt in a film directed by Shakun Batra. There she now owns two nursing homes in Maisprach und Waldenburg. Sheela calls the room "Demenz Mandir" or dementia temple. I assume it is Sheelas former guru, Rajneesh, but on closer inspection realise I am wrong. She continues to claim that her guilty plea was only to protect the Bhagwan. Life is the biggest act. I am happy with both my legacies: with and without Bhagwan., More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative. Sheela, the controversial former personal secretary of mysterious godman Bhagwan Rajneesh (Osho), talked about working with him, her life lessons, and managing her nursing homes in Switzerland, where she now resides. And when the local residents looked on course to defeat the Rajneeshis attempt to win county elections, Sheelas group attempted to suppress opposition voters by making them sick with salmonella. Sheela Biernstiel - aka Ma Anand Sheela - has created a new life for herself in Switzerland as a carer for the mentally disabled, leaving behind her notoriety as the suspected mastermind. As a 21-year-old, Sheela became a follower of Indian mystic and guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Im there for strangers, for my audience who are so curious about me.. As soon as I enter the building, I see a large photograph of a bearded man. A lot of mentally disabled people have a massive anxiety of dying. "One of my lovers was South African. Chopra Jonas will take on the role of Sheela as well as act as a producer on the film. Earlier, she denied the allegations and said that money must have been spent on Bhagwans luxurious lifestyle. Later on, she rented a house and took in six elderly disabled patients in 1990. After parting ways with Bhagwan Rajneesh, the FBI conducted an investigation for months and confiscated hundreds of tapes and cassettes. 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He then went into private practicewith even more high-profile clients. When Sheela left Bhagwan, she was accused of stealing the organisations funds. The only patients that Sheela turns away are drug addicts and those suffering from tetraplegia. But once there, I befriended many sanyasis, who had fascinating stories to narrate. A confirmation e-mail has been sent to your address. The controversial Ma Anand Sheela served Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in his Ashram in Oregon and then did 39 months in a US prison, accused of serious crimes. This week, statements from his self-proclaimed 'virtual sovereign state' the United States of Kailasa suggested that it was represented at the United Nations by 'Ma Vijayapriya Nithyananda', who they claim is their "Permanent Ambassador of Kailasa to the UN". Why are people punished? "Everything I did was based on Bhagwan's teachings," Sheela explains. "Of course we kissed and cuddled in public. Ma Anand Sheela appeared in Netflixs Wild Wild Country documentary which was released in 2018 and Youtube Channel BBC stories published a video named Wild Wild Country: What happened to Sheela? My eyes are immediately attracted to a large framed photograph of what appears to be Rajneesh being served champagne by Sheela. Ma Anand Sheela born Sheela Ambalal Patel and now known as Sheela Birnstiel is a figure whose life and deeds continue to intrigue. Produced by Bollywood star Karan Johars Dharmatic Entertainment and Jouska Films, Searching for Sheela follows Sheela as she departs her home in Switzerland and returns to India for the first time in nearly 35 years. Sheela was released for good behaviour after serving just under three years of her 20-year sentence. But I had the best married relationship because there was the basic freedom in us. Barely out of her teens, the young Sheela quickly ascended the organization that followed Bhagwan Shri Rajneesh. Oct 5, 2014 My Mom Left Me for the Wild Wild Country Cult, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonass Complete Relationship Timeline, Goldie, Bette, and Diane Are Reuniting for the First Time Since. Report a problem? I plod on with growing apprehension of meeting the notorious Sheela. During her stay in India, she also attended private dinners and events. Every hour of my existence now hasfragrance of Bhagwan's teachings that I have carried in my heart and my brains." I am me. Osho was gone by then, and the air was listless. There are obvious parallels here: as documented in Wild Wild Country, Sheela was more than happy to do whatever it took to keep Bhagwan happy. Nothing to Lose as an official memoir of Sheela. The book refers to an incident when Osho suddenly asked Ma Sheela to get him 30 new Rolls Royce cars. This is one of the biggest conflicts that my siblings have. Sheela received a sentence of 59 years total in prison for her charges but was later released after serving less than three years. Now as a caretaker for the disabled, the antihero of Netflix's hit documentary claims that everything she did was for the sake of the commune. You should see some of the photographs and see how he looked at me, and the way he said Sheela, she recalled. As the personal secretary of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the spiritual leader of the Rajneesh movement, from 1981 through 1985, she managed the Rajneeshpuram ashram in Wasco County, Oregon, United States. But walking around, you never saw people openly having sex. It is the love of my parents that I have received that must be shared with people, she revealed in an interview with Vogue. Elaborating on how she started her nursing homes, Sheela said that she rented a home and took in five elderly people.