Older Whiskey
Well-known member
Disclaimer: Our esteemed member @Big Muddy rancher is in no way connected to the cult that once disgraced the land and area in Wasco County with socialist ideas and terrorism, headquartered at the former Big Muddy Ranch.
Imagine a gravel road leading into a remote ranch headquarters. Imagine the beauty of it as you look around seeing scattered cattle in the distance, maybe a ranch hand out working, or maybe antelope out grazing. Then imagine that wonderful scene now with hundreds of red clad cult members lining the road, worshiping the cult leader as he arrives in his Rolls Royce with a fleet of Rolls following. Imagine guards at the gate carrying fully automatic weapons. Imagine tofu for lunch rather than beef.
I remember the ranch in the late 70s and only went as far as to see the armed guards, during the 80s, before turning around. I saw lots of the red and purple clad followers around the area and must say it was very troubling.
This is the saddest of any ranch story I have ever heard, especially since I know it is fact. Even though the cult is long gone, the ranch never returned to being a working cattle ranch, but some kind of scout camp or recreational place.
I was reminded of this sad chapter of Eastern Oregon's history this morning, when I saw a friend posting Osho quotes on his blog. This saddened me and I quickly enlightened him to the fact that Osho was the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a fraud, a terrorist, not enlightened, but very dark and evil.
When I heard that the Big Muddy had been bought and was becoming a commune, I felt a darkness. That darkness, while over the years has been in the deep recesses of my mind, emerged this morning when I saw so many either duped or ignorant, trying to keep this fraud alive as an enlightened leader.
www.oregonlive.com
Imagine a gravel road leading into a remote ranch headquarters. Imagine the beauty of it as you look around seeing scattered cattle in the distance, maybe a ranch hand out working, or maybe antelope out grazing. Then imagine that wonderful scene now with hundreds of red clad cult members lining the road, worshiping the cult leader as he arrives in his Rolls Royce with a fleet of Rolls following. Imagine guards at the gate carrying fully automatic weapons. Imagine tofu for lunch rather than beef.
I remember the ranch in the late 70s and only went as far as to see the armed guards, during the 80s, before turning around. I saw lots of the red and purple clad followers around the area and must say it was very troubling.
This is the saddest of any ranch story I have ever heard, especially since I know it is fact. Even though the cult is long gone, the ranch never returned to being a working cattle ranch, but some kind of scout camp or recreational place.
I was reminded of this sad chapter of Eastern Oregon's history this morning, when I saw a friend posting Osho quotes on his blog. This saddened me and I quickly enlightened him to the fact that Osho was the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a fraud, a terrorist, not enlightened, but very dark and evil.
When I heard that the Big Muddy had been bought and was becoming a commune, I felt a darkness. That darkness, while over the years has been in the deep recesses of my mind, emerged this morning when I saw so many either duped or ignorant, trying to keep this fraud alive as an enlightened leader.
Read The Oregonian’s original 20-part investigative series on Rajneeshees
The in-depth reporting on Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his followers in 1985 chronicled how the religious group came to Oregon, took over the town of Antelope, poisoned people in The Dalles, and threatened the lives of public officials.
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So you figure it would be more complicated than an Old Timer just ridin into the ranch and saying "Hi, I'm so and so, and I need a place to hang my hat."