Philip Toelkes | |
---|---|
2nd Mayor of Rajneeshpuram | |
In office 1985–1986 | |
Leader | Rajneesh |
Preceded by | David Berry Knapp |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Philip John Toelkes Tigard, Oregon, U.S. |
Education | University of San Francisco ( BA, JD) |
Website |
nirentoelkes |
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.
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]
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]