Philip Toelkes

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.

Philip Toelkes
2nd Mayor of Rajneeshpuram
In office
1985–1986
LeaderRajneesh
Preceded byDavid Berry Knapp
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born
Philip John Toelkes

Tigard, Oregon, U.S.
EducationUniversity of San Francisco (BA, JD)
Websitenirentoelkes.com

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.[4]

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.[5] After traveling to Pune and meeting with Rajneesh, he quit his job and relocated to the newly-established Rajneeshpuram commune in Wasco County, Oregon.[6] From 1981 to 1990, Toelkes acted as Rajneesh's personal attorney, until the latter's death.[7]

Toelkes was the director of the Rajneesh Legal Services Corporation[4] and later mayor of Rajneeshpuram, succeeding Krishna Deva. After his first marriage ended, he remarried Ma Prem Isabel, director of public relations for Rajneeshpuram.[4] No legal charges were ever filed against Toelkes, he continues to practice law, and he remains loyal to Osho.[4]

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]

References
  1. Herzog, Kenny (March 27, 2018). "Wild Wild Country: Where Are They Now?". Vulture. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  2. "A Swami by Any Other Name Is--Philip J. Toelkes, Attorney". Los Angeles Times. January 9, 1986. Archived from the original on May 6, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  3. Oregonian/OregonLive, The (1985-07-20). "Rajneeshees catch service napping (part 20 of 20)". oregonlive. Archived from the original on 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  4. Win McCormack (2010). The Rajneesh Chronicles: The True Story of the Cult that Unleashed the First Act of Bioterrorism on U.S. Soil. Tin House Books. pp. 129, 325. ISBN 978-0982569191.
  5. "Recounting the community of Rajneeshpuram". The Argonaut. Archived from the original on 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  6. "Swami Prem Niren Wants His Old Name Back". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  7. "Recounting the community of Rajneeshpuram". The Argonaut. Archived from the original on 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  8. Gajanan, Mahita (April 13, 2018). "How the Makers of Wild Wild Country Think About the Heroes and Villains of Their Story". Time. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  9. Turnquist, Kristi (March 14, 2018). "Netflix documentary on Rajneeshees in Oregon revisits an amazing, enraging true story". OregonLive. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  10. Toelkes, Philip (6 March 2021). USA v. OSHO: A Legal History of the US Government Persecution of a Minority Religious Community, Oregon 1981-1986. Independent Publisher. ISBN 978-1792363986. Archived from the original on Dec 11, 2021. Retrieved Jan 13, 2022.



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