Indian Guru Rajneesh Ordered to Leave U.S.

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the controversial Indian mystic who established a city and commune on a sprawling ranch in central Oregon (CT, April 23,1982, p. 38), has been denied permanent U.S. residency by immigration authorities and ordered to leave the country. He plans to appeal the order.

U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) officials in Portland rejected two applications by Rajneesh, 51, on grounds that he does not qualify for “preferred status” as a religious worker. In addition, authorities contend the guru made “false and misleading statements” to obtain a visitor’s visa when he and a band of his followers entered the U.S. 18 months ago.

Rajneesh has maintained public silence for about two years as part of the mystique surrounding his leadership. Carl Houseman, deputy director of the INS in Portland, said that silence was a “major factor” in the INS decision that Rajneesh was not a religious teacher or leader. Because of his silence, Rajneesh “took himself out of active involvement as a religious worker” after early 1981, Houseman said. “He did not conduct ceremonies or participate in any of their [religious] acts,” thus disqualifying him as religious leader, he said.

The case is seen as raising the church and state issue of whether a government agency has the right to define religious practice.

Ma Prem Isabel, a spokesperson for the guru, said the visa denial would be appealed “all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if there is a need.” The guru’s followers and his attorney, Jeffrey Noles of Portland, insist that silence doesn’t stop Rajneesh’s capacity as a religious leader. “That’s outright discrimination,” Ma Prem Isabel said. “Who is he (INS director Robert Krueger) to decide what are our religious practices? Silent, heart-to-heart communion between Bhagwan and his disciples is an integral part of our religion. And he gives spiritual guidance to disciples all over the world through Ma Anand Sheela, his personal secretary.”

Houseman said that his office had determined that Rajneesh had made “false and misleading statements” about his dire need to immigrate to the U.S. for medical attention. “He claimed he was suffering from cancer and needed a back operation, and that was not the case,” Houseman said. Followers of the frail Indian mystic maintain he suffers from asthma, diabetes, and a heart and back ailment.

Disciples of Rajneesh have been despised by Oregon residents since they moved to a 100-square-mile ranch-commune, now called Rancho Rajneesh, in the summer of 1981. The group moved its headquarters from Poona, India, and settled near the Oregon hamlet of Antelope. Residents, fearing takeover by the newcomers, attempted to disincorporate the village last spring, but Rajneesh’s disciples outvoted the old-time residents. Last month, Rajneesh’s followers were elected to head Antelope, thus becoming the first Eastern religious group known to take over an American city.

RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE

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