Page 6 September 27,1982
September 27,1982 Page 7
Neighboring commune revitalizing lifeless land
Just around the corner from'
Warm Springs 350 new
residents of Central Oregon are
busily making a Garden of
Eden out land that was once
considered a no-man’s land.
Clad in sunrise colors,
members of the Rajneesh Neo-
S annyas In te rn a tio n a l
Commune are working land
that has been abused and that
has suffered from short-sighted
fa r m in g a n d r a n c h in g
practices. The land is being
revitalized and turned into a
p ro d u c tiv e e n v iro n m e n t
suitable for supporting up to
3,800 people.
The a rriv a l of these
unusually dressed people with
their communal living situation
disquieted an area of Oregon
normally considered conserva
tive, peaceful and isolated. The
residents of Antelope now see'
50 to 100 tourists daily headed
n the direction of Rancho
Rajneesh, located 18 miles
from the small central Oregon
town.
The co m m u n e w hich
operates the ranch, called
R ajN ee sh N e o -S a n n y a s
International Commune, is one
of three enterprises operated by
followers of the Bhagwan
Shree Rajneese, spiritual leader
of the group.
Followers of the Bhagwan
ilso operate a non-profit
religious foundation called
Rajneesh Foundation Interna-
lonal which is responsible for
listribution of books and
p iritu a l m a te ria l. The
Rajneesh Investment Corpora
tion is a for-profit subsidiary of
the Foundation.
According to communica
tio n s o ffic er Ma Prem
Sunshine, the commune is
fu n d e d so le ly th ro u g h
donations. However, through
agricultural profits and cottage
industries the commune should
be self-sufficient in a few years.
Taxes are a part of life for
Rancho Rajneesh, just as they
are for other citizens of the
area. The only non-taxable
enterprise is the non-profit
Rajneesh Foundation Interna
tional. The church building is
also non-taxable.
The Rajneesh Investment
Corporation purchased 64,000
acres of impoverished central
Oregon land in mid-1981
because the price at $6 million
was “reasonable.” Too, the
followers of the Rajneesh had a
firm desire to revive the land.
We “were looking for land
that had been abused and was
an ecological disaster.. .a piece
of land that we could restore in
keeping with B hagw an’s
t e a c h i n g s , ” M a P rem
Sunshine stated.
A long w ith the land
p u rc h ased by R ajneesh
Investment Corporation, the
ranch also includes 17,000
acres leased from the Bureau of
Land Management.
T w o - th o u s a n d a c r e s ,
unsuitable for agriculture, has
been incorporated into a city
called Rajneeshpuram. The
city which is divided into three
sections will, upon approval of
the comprehensive plan by city
council, contain such features
as a civic center and performing
arts center, small industries,
support services and ; resi
dences.
“Communal living is not for
everyone,” explains Ma Prem
Sunshine. It is necessary that
members of a commune enjoy
being constantly around other
people and be willing to share.
The 350 residents of
Rajneeshpuram live six to a
house. Each of the custom-
built modular units has seven
rooms. When there is time
commune members will be able
to construct their own homes.
Within the structure of the
c o m m u n e a re v a r io u s
departments similar to those in
Warm Springs such as printing,
personnel, warehouse, heavy
equipment, dam construction,
dairy 4 garden, carpentry and
kitchen.
W om en are g en erally
selected as department heads in
the communal organization
because the Bhagwan feels that
women can make decisions
intuitively, says Ma Prem
Sunshine. They are more
nuturingand have constructive
personalities, where men too.
often use power as a motive for
their actions, she explained,
Joining the commune does
not require giving anything up.
If a Sannyasin (follower) of the
Bhagwan cares to donate to the
commune he may, otherwise he
may keep what he owns on the
outside as well as devoting
energy to the commune.
Members of the commune
receive no pay for their work.
They are provided with
everything they need from
shampoo to cigarettes. Meals
are elaborate with dairy
products being made at the
ranch and vegetables grown in
the 43 acre garden.'
Development of the land and
keeping in tune with the
environment at the same time
demands much money and
manpower. So far $25 million
has been spent in development
of the commune.
Some of the projects have the
future of a self-sufficient
community foremost in mind.
The construction of a dam is in
progress which will collect
three percent of the water
flowing from three creeks on
land. Three billion gallons of
water will irrigate 400 acres of
garden. “The people below us
will see more water,” says Ma
Prem Sunshine.
A small hydroelectric plant
The personnel department is will ev e n tu a lly p ro v id e
responsible for screening electricity for the Rajneesh
applicants for the commune. community. Twenty-five wells
Applicants are considered for have been dug and now provide
acceptance based upon their water for experimental gardens
talents and skills. It is estimated and households.
A two-acre greenhouse will
that 65 percent of the members
hold bachelors degrees and 25 enable the production of year-
percent have doctorate degrees. round crops as well as tropical
fruits. The temperature will be
co m p u ter-co n tro lled . All
fertilization is organic. No
poisons or chemicals are used.
Approximately 8,000 acres
will be put into dry land farm
crops. Soybeans, barley and
wheat will be planted in small
patches which is unsuitable for
conventional farm machinery.
Enough manpower is available
to do the work.
Experiments are docu
mented and recorded with the
State of Oregon for the use of
Oregon’s citizens.
One of the rules of the land is
no hunting. To keep deer from
crops, a 17-mile pulsating deer
fence has been erected. Because
of advanced technology in
agriculture, members of the;
commune feel there is no need
to kill to eat. Red meat is not
served with meals.
An aviary where guinea fowl,
peacocks and chickens are
housed is protected by natural
means. Rather than shooting
predators the commune has
imported two Emu. These large
birds are known for their loud
noises at the approach of
predators. They are able to
run 55 miles per hour and have
the ability to kick hard enough
to break the back of a coyote.
Ninty-five beehives will
p ro d u c e honey fo r the
commune along with increas
ing crop yields.
Already, 23,000 trees have
been planted. A total of
200,000 trees will be planted in
th e area to ev e n tu a lly
increase moisture in the soil as
well as beau, y to the depleted
land.
An A-rate| dairy barn with
35 Holstein cows provides
enough milk for cheese, milk
and butter b r the commune
members. A ineyard occupies
one hillside a| the ranch next to
calving barn.
An admin stration building
is currently u nder construction
and an airport provides
transportatii in to meetings.
The commuie owns a small
plane and a n ine-passenger jet.
A service station provides
gasoline for ehicles owned by
the commutile Members who
have their own cars must
purchase and maintain their
own vehicles.
Keeping close to nature and
focusing on the building of a
community that blends with
the environment and com
pletely self-sufficient living is
the goal of the Rajneesh Neo-
S an n y as In te rn a tio n a l
Commune. Giving to the land
rather than taking from it is the
philosphy taught by their
spiritual leader and accounts
for their unusual approach to
living. Communal members are
diligent in their efforts to create
a productive environment from
a once seemingly barren land.
A sign surrounded with flowers indicates entrance to land owned
by the Rajneesh Investment Corporation and occupied by the
Rajneesh Neo-Sannyas International Commune.
A/a Prem Sunshine feeds two imported Emu babies at the commune’s aviary. These giant birds from A ustrailia are able
to run 55 m p h and have the strength to break the back oa a coyote. When full-grown they will protect chickens and
other fo w l from predators.
> :
Zorba the Buddah restaurant was established when it appeared that the Rajneesh
commune would not be able to incorporate a city on its own land. Since that time they
have incorporated and the Antelope restaurant continues to serve tourists and the towns
people.
Construction o f a dam to provide water fo r the irrigation o f 400 acres is underway. A small
hydroelectric plant will be built upon completion o f the dam.
Spilyay Tymoo
photos and text
by
Marsha Shewczyk
Members o f the commune line the streets of Rajneeshpuram to pay tribute to their spiritual leader as he makes his daily sojourn to Madras and back. This is
a social event fo r the Sannyasin as they are able to talk and socialize with other commune members at this time. The work day normally lastsfrom 7:30 a.m. to
8.-00 p.m.
A two-acre greenhouse with computer-controlled temperatures will provide vegetable ad tropical fruit throughout the year.
Experiments are currently being conducted to determine what grows well in the area.