23 March 2020, 15:18

From Abducted in Plain Sight to Tiger King and The Trials Of Gabriel Fernandez, here's all the best true crime documentaries on Netflix.

At the moment, we're all sat at home asking ourselves the same question: What should I watch on Netflix now? Well, if you, like most of us, enjoy getting lost in a gripping, multi-episode true crime documentary series to pass the time, then boy does this streamer have a selection for you.

Whether it's murder, cults, cat-related crimes (both exotic and domestic) or some truly creepy mysterious unsolved disappearances, there's a true crime series out there for everyone.

READ MORE: The best Netflix TV shows to binge-watch while in coronavirus quarantine

From some of the world's most highly publicised cases like the disappearance of Madeleine McCann to the absolutely horrifying Don't F*ck With Cats, and the unbelievably shocking story behind Abducted In Plain Sight, here are some of the best true crime documentaries on Netflix...

Netflixs newest true crime documentary details the story of Joseph Maldonado-Passage (a.k.a. The Tiger King, Joe Exotic), who opened a roadside zoo of over 1,200 lions, tigers and bears, before it quickly spiralled out of control, leading to murder, drug rings, and a cult. Joe also had a long-running feud with animal activist Carole Baskin that resulted in him plotting to have her murdered.

From questions surrounding the mysterious disappearance of Carole's husband Don, to the absolutely savage threats made by the big cat breeders, Tiger King will keep blowing your mind, episode after episode.

READ MORE: Where is Joe Exotic from Tiger King now? Here's what happened to the big cat owner

The story of Aaron Hernandez is one of the most recent real life cases to be turned into a docu-series. Hernandez was a hugely successful American football player who played for the New England Patriots between 2010 and 2013. However, his career came to end after he was arrested and convicted of the murder of Odin Lloyd. Killer Inside seeks to examine how the NFL star became a wanted criminal with in-depth interviews and never-before-seen footage.

READ MORE: Aaron Hernandez: The true story behind Killer Inside on Netflix

This one is not for the faint-hearted and definitely not one for cat lovers out there. Don't F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer tells the unbelievable story of a group of internet detectives who help track down infamous cat killer, Luka Rocco Magnotta. Through the sounds, furnishings, and even appliances that could be identified in the brutal videos he posted, internet users were able to track down the killer, who would later go on to be convicted for the murder of Lin Jun in 2014.

READ MORE: Where is Luka Magnotta now? The Don't F**k With Cats killer is terrifying Netflix viewers

The story of Gabriel Fernandez is dark and incredibly harrowing. The docu-series follows the case of a then eight-year-old Gabriel who was brutally murdered by his parents in 2013. While the show looks into the cover up and gruesome beatings that led to his death, it's also about the entire system that failed the boy, including Child Protection Services, who had been involved with the family for a long time and are being blamed just as heavily as his parents for neglect.

READ MORE: Here's what happened to the social workers from The Trials Of Gabriel Fernandez

In a shocking documentary full of twists and turns, Abducted In Plain Sight follows the strange kidnapping case of Jan Broberg, a teenager from Idaho who was abducted on more than one occasion by her neighbour Robert Berchtold in the 1970s. Entrapping the family in a web of lies and complicity, Berchtold managed to even convince the family to drop the criminal charges against him only to return and kidnap the teenager again.

The docu-series has been dubbed one of the best true crime series on Netflix. It's a must watch.

READ MORE: Abducted In Plain Sight viewers call Jan Broberg's mother and father the "worst parents of all time"

If you love cults, then this is series for you. In the 1980s, the controversial Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his followers (including the slightly terrifying and savage Ma Anand Sheela) move to Wasco County in Oregon to build their own community. But what begins as a story of tension between the new arrivals and locals soon escalates into a plot involving murder, assault, wiretapping, arson, immigration, fraud and biological warfare.

One of the US' most notorious serial killers, Ted Bundy killed more than thirty women before being convicted in 1978. This four-part series pieces together archive footage and audio recordings of the killer made while he was on death row, talking about his life and motives. Warning: do not watch The Ted Bundy Tapes alone.

READ MORE: Netflix is warning people not to watch terrifying 'Ted Bundy Tapes' documentary alone

The Staircase follows the story of novelist Michael Petersons wife who died in 2001. He claimed she died after falling down the stairs in their house, but investigators in the case turned the death into a murder trial after they decided she was actually beaten to death by her husband. First released as an eight-part episode series in 2004 and then followed up with sequels in 2013 and 2018, The Staircase will have you wondering whether Peterson was guilty or not.

READ MORE: Netflix's The Staircase has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

This chilling series dives into the unsolved murder of Cathy Cesnik, a nun and high school teacher in Baltimore. After going missing in November 1969, her body was found two months later and to this day, the killer has never been found. Things get even more shocking when some of the teachers former students come forward with potential evidence that the case was a cover up by the authorities after Cathy suspected a priest at the school was guilty of abuse.

Featuring interviews with Amanda Knox, her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, Italian prosecutor Giuliano Mignini and other people involved in the case, this documentary looks into the murder of Knoxs flatmate Meredith Kercher in Italy in 2007. Knox was convicted of murder and spent four years in an Italian prison before being acquitted in 2015 but some still think shes guilty of the crime.

In 1996, six-year-old child beauty pageant queen JonBent was found murdered in her family home in Colorado. This documentary takes an unconventional approach to exploring the crime by documenting the casting process for a film, where various actors are interviewed and tested for the roles of real people involved in the case. Rather than simply documenting the crime, this film explores how the events have turned into a pop culture obsession and conspiracy.

When three-year-old Madeleine McCann went missing from a hotel room while on holiday with her parents in Portugal in 2007, it quickly became one of the most high-profile cases of a missing child of all time. This documentary analyses the case in huge detail, featuring 40 experts and key figures involved in the mystery and goes over a number of theories behind what happened to Madeleine.

In one of the most chilling docu-series that Netflix has to offer, I Am A Killer gives voices to the people behind bars who have committed murder. The series features interviews with prisoners who are on death row, where they explain what they did to end up there.

READ MORE: People are freaking out about Netflixs "intense" new true crime series I Am A Killer

Killer Ratings tells the true-life story of a Brazilian TV host and politician Wallace Souza, who was accused of literally killing for ratings and using his show to cover up the truth. Sounds made up, doesn't it? The docu-series presents testimonies and stories from people who worked on the show as well as the authorities who worked on the case, relatives and acquaintances.

READ MORE: Netflix's new true crime series 'Killer Ratings' has been called "horrifying and insane"

This docu-series focuses on serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, who admitted to over 200 unsolved murders all over the US. His confession made him the most prolific serial killer of the 20th century. However, it turned out that his confessions were all lies and authorities didn't realise until years later meaning countless unsolved murder cases had been closed, when they should still be open.

Ahhh, the one that started Netflix's true crime craze. Making A Murderer follows Steven Avery as he attempts to clear his name over two ten-episode long series. Avery was released from prison after two decades serving time for a crime he didnt commit, only to soon be convicted of the murder of 25-year-old photographer Teressa Halbach. Things get more confusing when Stevens nephew Brendan Dassey is accused of assisting in the murder, despite potentially being coerced into confessing.

Read this article:
The best true crime shows on Netflix - PopBuzz

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Mommy Dead and Dearest Honestly, Gypsy Rose Blanchards story is next level. Her mom, Dee Dee, convinced her she suffered from illnesses like leukemia and muscular dystrophy when, in reality, she was fine. Why? Dee Dee likely had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, so she led everyone to believe that her daughter was gravely ill. Well, Gypsy Rose was over itand took some extreme measures. Watch Here Courtesy of HBO

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Casting JonBenet Nobody really knows who killed 6-year-old pageant girl JonBenet Ramsey (well, except for the person who actually did it), but everyone has their own theory. Local actors shared their personal connections to the Ramseysas well as some hot takeswhile they "auditioned" for a dramatization of the crime. This isnt what you typically expect from a documentary, which is what makes it so dont-even-blink intriguing. Watch Here Courtesy Of Netflix

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Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills After three young boys were found brutally murdered in Arkansas, the police pinned it on three teenage boysdespite a total lack of evidence. Police literally thought their motive was tied to a satanic ritual because the teens listened to metal (does not compute). The film and its two sequels detail new evidence, explaining how this case mightve been botched. Yikes on yikes. Watch Here Courtesy of HBO

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Out Of Thin Air Imagination is a powerful thing, but can you actually imagine a murder? Two men went missing in a small Icelandic town, but neither their bodies nor real evidence were found. Still, six people were convicted of their murders. The twist: None of the them remembered the crimebecause they didnt do it. Apparently months of solitary confinement, twisted interrogations, and mystery drugs seriously mess with your head. Watch Here Courtesy of Saga Film

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Time: The Kalief Browder Story Kalief Browder had no idea walking home from a party one night would change his life forever. At 16, he was questioned about a stolen backpack. He wasnt convicted, but he wasnt let go, either. Browder spent three (!!) years in the rough and tough Rikers Island, two of which were in brutal solitary confinement. Eventually, he got out, but his mind was forever transformed. Watch Here Courtesy Of The Cinemart

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Cocaine Cowboys Turns out, Miami had its own Wild West moment in the 1970s and 80s. The city totally transformed as cocaine smugglers brought drugs into the U.S. by the literal boatload. Law enforcers, former drug smugglers, gang members, and the like give a first-hand look at the Miami Drug War and economic growth that turned Miami into more than just a retirement town. Watch Here Courtesy of Rakontur

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Wild Wild Country **Cue swirl of red and orange everything** When cult leader and Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (you can call him Osho) and his personal assistant planted new roots in a small Oregon town, the new neighbors were less than happy. As tensions rose between the Rajneeshees and townies, the cult goes from utopia to total chaos. Watch Here Courtesy of Netflix

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The Keepers Who killed Sister Cathy? The case still isnt all-the-way cracked, but the search for the nuns murderer upturned years of shocking clergy abuse and a massive cover-up from both the church and local authorities. Hearing what harm was done to young girls in a supposed safe space will make your stomach turn. The doc centers on two women acting as amateur detectives, in an effort to keep Sister Cathys story and compassion alive. Watch Here Courtesy Of Netflix

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The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst Quick true-crime history lesson: In 1982, the wife of New York real estate heir Robert Durst disappeared. In 2000, his friend was killed. A year later, so was his neighbor. It might just be me, but I see one common denominator here. Durst agreed to be interviewed for the documentary, but hes probably kicking himself in the butt for it. Get ready to obsess over whether hes innocent or guilty. Watch Here Courtesy of HBO

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Murder Mountain Humboldt County, CA did (and still does) a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to the countrys marijuana production. Only they did things a bit differently. It was basically a lawless land ruled by illegal growers. (Police who?) Perhaps unsurprisingly, people kept vanishing, like Garret Rodriguez, who moved to the area to grow and, soon after, was reported missing in April 2013. So, yeah... these growers are definitely not your chill neighbor growing a little weed in his backyard. Watch Here Courtesy of Fusion

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The Thin Blue Line Randall Dale Adams was sent off to death row for murdering a police officer. But wait, **injustice alert**: He didnt do it. Thin Blue Line is a prolific documentary that actually inspired real change. A year after the film came out12 years into Adams sentencehe was released from prison, thanks in part to its convincing footage. Watch Here Courtesy Of American Playhouse

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The Staircase When a wife dies, the husband is usually the first person people suspect. Just ask Michael Peterson. He said his wife suffered a fatalyet accidentalfall down the stairs, but a lengthy legal battle full of head-scratching details and secret lives suggested otherwise. Oh, and some food for thought: Peterson was a crime novelist. Funny, huh? Watch Here Courtesy Of Netflix

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Long Shot Juan Catalan had a tough break, but was saved by a stroke of luck. He was arrested for a murder he didnt commit. His alibi? A Dodgers game. The hard part? Proving he was actually there. Its wild, but it turned out the only thing standing between his freedom and a potential death sentence was Curb Your Enthusiasm's Larry David (a.k.a. the most Larry David thing to happen to Larry David). Watch Here Courtesy Of Netflix

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Making A Murderer True crime buffs know all about Stephen Avery. But ICYMI, a brief refresh: Avery was wrongfully convicted of sexual assault and attempted murder, but served 18 years in prison before he was released. Then, four years later, he was convicted of another murder. Like the first time, he said he was innocent and was framed by police. But can lightning really strike twice? Watch Here Courtesy Of Netflix

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First And Last A glimpse into the beginning and end of someones time in prison, this documentary focuses on the first and last days of inmates sentences at a Georgia jail. From sentencing to family life on the outside, youll get to know people of different circumstances with one major thing in common. Watch Here Courtesy Of Netflix

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Conversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes Hopefully listening to a serial killer s real voice doesnt totally skeeve you out, because Ted Bundy s is all over this four-part series. Get ready to hear excerpts from over 100 hours of interviews with Bundy from behind bars. Outlining his childhood, grisly murders of over 30 women , prison breaks , and televised trial , youll see how a serial killer could be so monstrous and still have the media wrapped around his deadly finger. Watch Here Courtesy Of Netflix

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Sour Grapes Make room in your watch list for a scammer story, no murders involved. A man named Rudy Kurniawanhad owned the best stash of rare wines youve ever seen, and he made bank at auction with them. One small catch: He was just relabeling normal wine bottles. Oof. Who wouldve thought the story of a wine fraudster would be so juicy? Its best viewed with a glass of red wineonly the finest stuff, of course. Watch Here Courtesy Of Faites Un Voeu

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Beware the Slenderman The internet has its scary corners, and the Slenderman myth lurks in one of them. In 2014, two 12-year-old girls lured their friend into the woods and tried to kill her as an offering to Slenderman. Thankfully, she survived. The documentary weaves together interviews with those close to the case and homemade Slenderman footage to show how the viral tale caught fire online. Warning: The visuals arent for the faint of heart. Watch Here Courtesy Of HBO

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The Central Park Five In 1989, a female jogger in Central Park was sexually assaulted and left for dead. The police accused five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem, even though there wasnt evidence they were connected to the crime and their confessions were coerced. Two wrongs dont make a right, but nevertheless, the teens spent years behind bars before the real culprit owned up to it. If you want more of this story, add Ava DuVernays new drama miniseries When They See Us to your list. Watch Here Courtesy Of Florentine Films

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Theres Something Wrong With Aunt Diane Diane Schuler was driving a familiar route home from vacation, when she crashed into an oncoming car, killing herself and seven others (including her daughter and three nieces). People saw her as the perfect mother who wouldnt endanger a soul, but she had something to hide. At the time of the accident, her blood alcohol concentration was twice the legal limit and she had a high level of THC in her blood. And thats only the beginning of the mystery... Watch Here Courtesy Of HBO

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Evil Genius: The True Story of Americas Most Diabolical Bank Heist One day, a man walked into a bank with a bomb locked around his neck, demanding money. It sounds like a twisted twist on the "A man walked into a bar" joke, but with a not-so-funny ending. Spoiler alert: It, uh, didnt end well for him. And that was all before two more bodies mysteriously turned up. Even the police were like, WTF. Whos the "evil genius" behind this dark game? Youll just have to watch to find out. Watch Here Courtesy Of Netflix

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Tales Of The Grim Sleeper Honestly, it took too long for police to find Lonnie Franklin Jr. , a serial killer responsible for the deaths of 10 women of color in a poor South Los Angeles community. You can probably figure out why, but just in case, heres a (pretty big) hint: He gave police 14 years in between murders to find him, for goodness sake! The documentary isnt so much about his crimes, but more about how a killer could be on the loose for two decadesright under peoples noses. Courtesy Of HBO

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Amanda Knox College students fantasize about the adventures in store for them on a semester abroad (especially in Italy!). But for Amanda Knox, that international dream trip turned into a real-life nightmare when she was chargedtwicewith murdering her roommate. Amanda was acquitted in both instances, but it didnt quite make up for the whirlwind of fake tabloid stories and mess of convictions and appeals she endured. Courtesy Of Netflix

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I Am A Killer Ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of a murderer? Nope, me neither (just kidding, here I am). If youre a fan of Mindhunter , then you wont be able to resist this docuseries. Each episode follows an inmate sentenced to death for capital murder, and, sometimes, the killers go into some gnarly detail about their crime or prison life. Its about as close to death row as you want to get. Courtesy Of Netflix

Original post:
The 25 Best True Crime Documentaries You Need To Watch ASAP - Pulse Ghana

Oregon voters generally have it good. Vote-by-mail allows us to vote at home, while, beginning with the first election this year, the state will pick up the postage if we return ballots by mail. And, thanks to a relatively new law that registers voters automatically when they apply for or renew a drivers license, would-be voters dont even have to bother to take time to register.

There is one more step lawmakers could take to make it even easier to vote, however. As Jennifer Williamson, one of the Democratic candidates for Secretary of State, said recently, allowing Oregonians to register to vote on the day of the election would open voting up to people who, for now, are denied the privilege.

Actually, allowing same-day registration would be a return to the old ways in this state. It had been part of the Oregon Revised Statutes since 1979, but voters got rid of it in November, 1986, when they approved Ballot Measure 13 by a nearly 2-1 margin. The measure, a constitutional amendment, was proposed in the wake of attempts by followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh to pack voter rolls in Wasco County in 1984 by busing homeless men and women from the Portland area to The Dalles to register to vote.

If Oregon is serious about making sure every citizen of the state has a right to vote and that its relatively easy for each of us to do so, its time to return to the pre-1986 good old days. Same-day voter registration was, in fact, a problem, though only briefly. Since then the technology to verify and track information about individuals has improved dramatically, making the risk of another major attempt to register people fraudulently unlikely.

Meanwhile, the change would close a loophole that keeps some Oregonians, among them newcomers, from casting ballots in state elections. Thats a loophole ripe for closing.

Read the original:
Take last step to voter access | Wire Commentary - Herald and News

Ma Anand Sheela, Be brave. What you have to do, you must, easy or difficult.

Ma Anand Sheela or Sheela Biernstiel, who lives in Switzerland, visited India last year, after 34 years. And one has to be living under a rock to not know who this very popular millennial icon is. The Vadodara-born was spiritual guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh or Oshos personal secretary and the brain behind the ambitious Rajneeshpuram, a commune established in the 1980s in Oregon, USA, by and for his followers. A part of her controversial life of the 80s was captured in the Netflix series Wild, Wild Country. In the series, she comes across as a redoubtable stateswoman who hit international headlines with her grit, gumption and a sharp tongue

When I met her, I was greeted by a warm and soft-spoken person whose calmness was contagious. Was she indeed the skilful minence grise who kicked up a storm with her witty comebacks and provocative one- liners (remember: tough titties)? Whats left people in her owe is the fact that even back then, the 70-year-old had the guts to live life as she wanted to and totally own her story with all its vagaries, including prison time and controversies.

Read more: Ma Anand Sheela hasnt given Priyanka Chopra permission for biopic, says Alia Bhatt has the necessary spunk to play her

You all have to create your story and you have many ways to create it, says Sheela, who was in India for Sipping Thoughts and the NGO Humans for Humanity.

But living life on ones own terms is not easy, is it? Not easy is not a good excuse either... To not live life on your own way is a very coward way to live. I know millennials are not cowards, says the 70-year-old with conviction, adding, Life is tough, baby. Lifes not easy. You have to go through your crisis, dont look for easy, dont make it easy for yourself. Easy is for cowards. Be brave. What you have to do, you must, easy or difficult. Whatever difficulty comes, say, Ah! I can do it. The resolute voice is back.

Ma Anand Sheela, Create a little paradise around yourself and beautify this lovely country that you are living in. Everyday take a few minutes off your social media, and clean up the city you are living in. Dont forget to go out and pick garbage from the streets.

She says, Stop looking for life to be easy. Be in the moment... just remain with yourself. Start living life... In the beginning, you go through a trial-and-error period. You look within yourself, what you want, and what you dont like what you dont want... Recognise your qualities and your flaws or weaknesses. Move towards qualities. If you are confused, just say yes to every opportunity and be positive. The choice is always yours. It happens that sometimes you choose the wrong, then accept the consequences.

But how does one stay calm in the midst of a storm, how did she manage it? I dont blame my crisis and catastrophes onto others. I take responsibility of my crisis, I try to analyse it understand it and I dont put my burden on others, she says. And if given a choice, would she change anything about her life? No she says, I can tell you I love my life.

Oh! We have to ask her, why is she not on Twitter? After the series, everyone tried to connect with her, and look her up on social media. I belong to the old generation, I dont understand this social media, I dont understand computer even today. For the work I am supposed to do, I have written down a few steps, and I go through those whenever I need to , she adds, I want to be myself. Social media is probably okay for you guys to occupy in free time and catch up with boredom, but for me, it is a really good time wasted.

Sheela, who runs nursing homes in Switzerland, Mauritius and Vietnam, has three sisters and two brothers.

Interact with author @ MedhaShri/Twitter

See more here:
Ma Anand Sheela: Lifes tough, baby; easy is for cowards - Hindustan Times

Zen out.

Two voices in this world might save me: those of Andy Puddicombe (co-founder of Headspace) and Coach Bennett (Nikes Global Coach). The pair have been trickling mindful thoughts and meditations into my ears thanks to the Nike Run Club app.

I was once a staunch anti-runner living in fear of the pavement pound. As cheesy as it sounds, with friendly and encouraging voices behind me, I have overcome this. Thanks to their collective musings, Ive become a weekly treadmill jogger. Even more, Ive learnt a thing or two about meditation. Yes, Ive started *meditating* while running.

The concept seems counterintuitive when you consider the loss of breath and stress of muscles that running induces.How could a painful activity encourage mindfulness and meditation?I hear you ask, and its a great question.

Supposedly, active meditation is the genius of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (yes, that Rajneesh of Wild Wild Country). Dont let his controversial past put you off; his ideas are aligned with modern-day propriety.

In a nutshell, active meditation endeavours to bring oneself into the body as opposed to into the mind, which occurs in regular meditation. Over-thinkers with an active imagination and full to-do lists, rejoice! By focusing on the body and its senses, the mind is less prone to wandering and related distress.We are no longer side-lined by self-care gurus spruiking daily 15-minute meditations; our gateway to ~chill~ is here.

Truthfully, the practice doesnt have to be complicated or even that intentional. It can easily be integrated into daily life through everyday tasks. Take the morning commute, for example. While the public are staring cross-eyed at their screens, allow yourself to simply stand up, feel the bumpy ride beneath your feet and slow down. Tap into the swaying movement of the carriage, your breathing, or the muffled sounds around you. Pay attention to the moment and come back to the five senses every time your mind starts to wander.

The same principle can be applied in almost every activity: washing the dishes, brushing your teeth, showering, crafting.

For me, exercise is my go-to the distraction of a pounding body and exhaustion prompt mindfulness Ive never previously experienced. I feel a little bit freer; I can breathe a little easier (once the pain has subsided).

Journalist/author/amateur-runner, Bella Mackie, is in the same boat. She delved into the mind-altering effects of running following the breakdown of her marriage, having refused the exercise prior.

When I ran I didnt feel quite so sad, she says of her anxious thoughts. My mind would quieten down; some part of my brain seemed to switch off, or at least cede control for a few minutes.

When practising active meditation, exercise becomes not only a form of fitness but a mental break. By using our bodies and concentrating on the senses the swing of the arms, thumping feet, gasping draws us away from our inner turmoil. Our minds are allowed to rest.

When you run, your body takes your brain along for the ride. Your mind is no longer in the driving seat, Bella writes.

If running isnt your jam, but an active outlet sounds appealing, I recommend swimming.

My research led me to realise that, technically, Ive been practising active meditation for years. My weekend lap swim has been driven by counting, counting, counting the many strokes and shutting off the mind.

There are Sundays when my body is sore, but I know a trip to the pool is necessary to calm me down. Immersing myself in water is utterly life changing. Its almost magical to hear the bubbles of your breath popping and feel the cool of the water against your skin. Once Ive zoned out and released, Im more than ready to tackle the issues waiting for me on the outside.

We dont have to find a quiet place and dig into the trenches of the mind; all it takes is an injection of intentional mindfulness in the everyday.

Even washing the dishes is looking far more appealing now.

More here:
Will active meditation save me from myself? - Fashion Journal

Sheela Biernstiel who is popularly known as Ma Anand Sheela is a former spokeswoman of the Rajneesh Movement and an Indian born American-Swiss convicted criminal.

Ma Anand Sheela came into the limelight again after Netflix series Wild, Wild Country aired and she grabbed eyeballs for her witty comments and one-liners.

As per reports, Ma Sheela Anand came across as an influential and imposing stateswoman but the 70-year-old is full of warmth in one meets her in person.

She got involved in a lot of controversies in the 80s when she was a personal secretary for Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and later pleaded guilty to attempted murder and assault for the role she played in the 1984 Rajneeshee Bioterror Attack, however, several filmmakers from the film industry are now approaching her to bring her story to life on reel.

In a recent interview, Ma Anand Sheela spilled the beans about the time Priyanka Chopra had announced starring in a biopic based on her, she had sent Priyanka a legal notice not allowing her to do so. She said that she denied the Quantico actress permission to star in the biopic as she had not chosen her for the same.

Ma Sheela further revealed that she did not hear from Priyanka's team post her legal notice but that she never took it to heart.

When she was asked who she would prefer to play her in the biopic, Ma Sheela said that she wished Alia Bhatt played her as she looked more like Alia when she was young and sees a spunk in the Raazi actress that she had in her early days.

She further added that spunk is very important and natural, not artificial and made up and that Alia has that necessary spunk to play her on-screen.

Read more here:
'I looked like her when I was young': Ma Anand Sheela prefers Alia Bhatt over Priyanka Chopra for her biopic - DNA India

Oregonians with long memories have never forgotten Ma Anand Sheela, and people all over the world saw her in action thanks to the Netflix 2018 documentary, Wild Wild Country. Now, the former top aide to the controversial Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh is getting more Netflix attention as shes set to be the subject of a documentary filmed during her first trip to India in more than three decades.

The Associated Press reports that the documentary, scheduled to stream on Netflix India on a date not yet announced, follows Ma Anand Sheela as she visits the Rajneeshs cremation site in Pune, and also makes a trip to her family home.

When the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his followers came to Oregon in the early 1980s to establish a commune on the the site of what was then known as the Big Muddy Ranch, near Antelope, locals had strong reactions.

As the Rajneeshees exerted their influence in the area, many Oregonians were alarmed at the commune members free-wheeling behavior and the gurus habit of riding in Rolls-Royces, among other things. As the culture clash heightened, the goings-on at Rajneeshpuram, as the commune members had christened their Wasco County property, drew national media attention.

Tensions escalated to crimes, with the revelation that Ma Anand Sheela had been behind the 1984 mass food poisoning bioterror attack in The Dalles, which left more than 700 people ill after eating food contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

Ma Anand Sheela eventually served two years and five months in prison for attempted murder, arson, immigration fraud and the food poisoning in The Dalles. She was granted parole after 39 months and later made her home in Switzerland.

Related: Netflix documentary on Rajneeshees in Oregon revisits an amazing, enraging true story

The bizarre saga became internationally known years later, thanks to the Netflix documentary, Wild Wild Country, which recounted how the commune formed and collapsed amid the Bhagwans deportation from the U.S.

Related: Read The Oregonians original 20-part investigative series on Rajneeshees

According to the Associated Press, when she was asked about her past, Ma Anand Sheela replied, "I have nothing to apologize for."

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.

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Ma Anand Sheela, of Oregons Rajneesh saga and Wild Wild Country fame, will star in new Netflix documentary - OregonLive

Born as Chandra Mohan Jain, Osho took birth in Raisen (a district in Madhya Pradesh) on December 11th, 1931. He was a great visionary and a religious movement leader who was praised and followed by many. His followers used to call him Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and later, Osho. He didnt only have followers in India, but also in many other countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, and many more. It was like people were attracted by his words and he gave them an eye-opening experience.

Along with being a religious leader and a mystic, he was also a best-selling author and published many books such as Tarot Zen, The Book Of The Secrets, Gita Darshan, and many more. His books, words, and morals affected many people and gained him a lot of followers. He was so popular that Netflix even made a docuseries on him by the name of Wild Wild Country consisting of only 6 episodes. He was really a quotable man as he taught people a lot about love and spirituality through his sayings and books.

Rajneesh Osho inspired a lot of people to follow the path of spirituality with his words. I will be sharing some of those words in this article and they are either the ones he has said or written in his books. Either way, the goal is to grow our wisdom with the words of a man who influenced a lot of people. So, here are some eye-opening Osho quotes that will grow your wisdom:

If you love a flower, dont pick it up. Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love. So if you love a flower, let it be. Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.

What Osho says here is gospel and is really the true definition of love. Love is a big misconception nowadays and we really need to understand its true meaning. If you see a flower and find it beautiful, youll most probably pluck it to keep it with you. Well, thats human nature, however, if you do pluck it, it will not be able to complete its necessities for survival and will eventually die.

As a result, it wont be appealing to your eyes anymore. So, youll lose the reason you loved it for in the first place. A better thing to do would be taking care of that flower without plucking it. This way, it will always be the flower you fell in love with. It should work the same way with the people you love. For love is about appreciation, not possession.

Be dont try to become.

The meaning of this quote is very simple and quite understandable. Be the way you are. Just learn to love yourself and dont try to become someone or something that you are not. God gave us all different personalities, different goals, and different lives. You only have one life and you are here to be who you are, to play your part. Dont waste your one precious life to change the way you are from the inside.

Friendship is the purest love. It is the highest form of Love where nothing is asked for, no condition, where one simply enjoys giving.

Ive never heard anyone giving such a pure and perfect definition of friendship, other than Osho, of course. He says that the purest form of love is friendship as you dont keep any unreal expectations from your friends and you love them unconditionally. And that is exactly what love should be, caring for someone unconditionally. Rather than expecting that someone will do something for you or be a certain way with you, learn to appreciate them for what they are, just like you do with your friends.

Life begins where fear ends.

Never be afraid of hesitant to achieve anything you want to. Whatever you want in life, just go for it. Life is too short to keep waiting for the right moment and worrying about taking risks. If you really want something from the bottom of your heart, then stop worrying about the future and start working to achieve your goals. The life that you truly want to live, will begin when you stop stressing over things.

Truth is not something outside to be discovered, it is something inside to be realized.

People spend their whole lives trying to discover their true passion and identity. While theres nothing wrong in doing so, but we need to understand where we must be looking for our true identity. And as per Osho, our true identity lies within ourselves and instead of looking for it in the outside world, we must believe in self-exploration. Just dig deep and you will be able to find your true self inside yourself.

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Some Eye-Opening Osho Quotes That Will Grow Your Wisdom - Thrive Global

On October 2, Zorba the Buddha, an open faith spiritual centre in Gurgaon, hosted a date with Ma Anand Sheela, who was the personal secretary of Guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho) from 1980 to 1985. During a pre-dinner talk, the moderator asked about the famous spiritual gurus take on sex, marriage and polygamy. Sheela, 69, sat slightly bent on the stage, wrapped in a green shawl with her grey hair styled into an elegant bob. There was a smiling portrait of Osho in the backdrop, garlanded with marigolds. Although known for her sharp witshe was once called the tigress of the two-minute television news spotthat day, she seemed uncharacteristically mellow. You take responsibility for your actions..., she said. Bhagwan is not interested in your daily problems. Leave him alone.

And what about power, the moderator, Ashwin Bharti, asked. Sheela jumped up from her seat. With an eerie smile, her eyes glinting with excitement, she stared down at her enraptured audience. Look at me, she said. I am Oshos power. Have a good look at me. It is called the power of love. The crowd roared and whistled; they had got their moneys worth. In this instance, Rs 2,500 for a sampling of Oshos work, a talk, a Q&A session and dinner with Sheela, the linchpin of the 2018 blockbuster documentary Wild Wild Country, on Osho and his improbable commune in Oregon.

But what the participants had not bargained for was a possible cameo in an upcoming Netflix documentary on Sheela herself. When they were informed that there was a videographer shooting the show, some walked out of the hall feeling short-changed and wanting a refund. Most did not seem to mind. Ma Anand Sheela is like Oshos first wife, you know, said a participant, who was never really a follower of the godmans teachings but was a fan of Wild Wild Country. It is great entertainment, he said. But you cannot believe anything of what she says. It is like listening to Modi. Sheela, who was born in Gujarat as Sheela Ambalal Patel, was introduced by her father to Bhagwan Rajneesh in Bombay in 1967, just as she was about to leave to the US for further studies. She apparently got lost in his eyes in that first encounter. By mid-1981, she had bought the 64,229-acre Big Muddy Ranch at the Wasco and Jefferson counties in Oregon to form the Rajneeshpuram commune. At its peak, it hosted 15,000 spiritual seekers from around the worlda hippie carnival that turned into a dangerous, aggressive cult. And when it crashed and burnt, Sheela was exposed as the mastermind behind the movementa sort of manager, spokesperson and chief of staff of the Rajneesh empire. Her operating style during her four years in Oregon was perceived as Machiavellian. She was accused of arming the commune members with semi-automatic weapons, drugging homeless people, attempting to murder Oshos doctor and plotting to kill an Oregon investigative reporter. You accept a crown, be ready for the guillotine, Sheela said in a recent interview with Karan Johar, organised by the NGO Humans For Humanity and Sipping Thoughts, a women-centric talk show. The two organisations were responsible for bringing Sheela to India, 34 years after she left the Osho ashram in Pune.

You accept a crown, be ready for the guillotine Ma Anand Sheela

Evidently, the Indian audience wants more of her trademark, flame-throwing punchlines from the 1980s. The internet is full of listicles of her wild wild quotes. What can I say? Tough titties tops the lot. Ever the slick provocateur, she could twist any uncomfortable question into a brazen celebration of the self. Which is how she has tackled questions during her India tour as well. But those quotable quotes are not as fiery or egomaniacal as they used to be. Now, they are more about self-love and self-help. A few of her tepid one-liners during Johars show which generated hearty applause were: I am a free woman; Love has no reason, if love has [a] reason it is not love. It is a bargain; I dont push the buck around; You create your own rainbow and You too are divinity. Some titillating bits included Sheela offering Johar post-coital Swiss chocolates, admitting how she never meditated or had sexual relations with Osho, and how she had personally paid for 96 Rolls Royces.

But often, one could see flashes of alarm and muted outrage. After Johars interview, when an audience member asked her about the allegations of mass poisoning and fighting with the local residents of Antelope in Oregon, she recalledalmost with a death-glarehow the Rajneeshees were even blamed for a volcano that exploded there. I have nothing to do with these accusations.... This information you have is not correct, she said. There was a bit of gaslighting, too. At the pre-dinner session on October 2, when a woman wondered how her great love for Bhagwan could allow for violence, Sheela defended her actions as self-protection at a time of spiraling negativity. But I have a question for you, Sheela shot back. Tell me this, you are such a pretty girl, but why do you look so sad? She ended the cross-questioning with an advice: Be positive, otherwise you will become suicidal. Yes, that is where depression starts. That was the last question of the evening.

Original post:
Return of the agent provocateur - THE WEEK

On October 4, I had the rare opportunity of spending more than three hours with Sheela Birnstiel, formerly, Ma Anand Sheela, as she re-visited the lanes and by-lanes of Koregaon Park, saw the Osho International commune, and paid her respects to Osho at the place where he was cremated in Pune.

Famous as the controversial secretary of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, who was later known as Osho, Sheela shot into the limelight in recent years after the Netflix docu-series, Wild Wild Country, featured her prominently, and, the rise and fall of Rajneeshpuram in Oregon.

The most tumultuous period of Rajneeshpuram centred around clashes with the locals, her sudden flight to Germany in September 1985, and the criminal convictions for which she was deported to the US and served a prison sentence.

Pune was the place where she spent one of the most beautiful periods of her life at the Commune, demonstrated her organisational capabilities, rose to become Oshos secretary after Ma Yoga Laxmi and planned Oshos secretive departure to the US in June 1981. Pune was also the place where she spent beautiful moments with her first love Chinmaya, whom she lost to cancer in this city.

Now 70 and settled in Switzerland where she runs two homes for the elderly and disabled, Sheela, accompanied by her two devoted secretaries-caretakers, and a film crew, was on a short, discrete visit to Pune to re-visit Koregaon Park.

Full of nostalgia about Koregaon Park (KP) of the mid-to-late 1970s, one of the first things she noticed was the lifeless faade of Osho International commune in lane number 1, and the complete absence of people in orange robes. Yes, when she left Pune in 1981, Oshos followers wore bright orange robes, and the maroon robes only came later. She was happy with the rich greenery of KP, although the entire landscape had changed with large buildings, numerous shops and restaurants and the high volume traffic.

She was not aware of the famous German Bakery restaurant because it did not exist when she was here. The only hotel she knew was Blue Diamond- Punes first and only five star hotel in those days. Take me to Hotel Blue Diamond because that is my reference pointthe Commune was right behind, she said.

The most poignant and deeply emotional moment for her was when she visited the place where Osho was cremated on the night of January 19, 1990, at Tulsiram Ghat in KP. Full of reverence for Osho, Sheela closed her eyes, stood in silence for minutes and bowed with a namaste at the low pedestal created to place bodies. She was delighted to spot a dog sitting below the grill and spoke of her immense love for animals.

For Sheela, this was one of the most significant moments of her journey with Osho. I was not there when he died, but I feel connected with him here, she said.

When asked, where she was when Osho died, Sheela said she was in Paris with her lawyer, who saw the news on TV, confirmed it and then informed her. I had the feeling that it was an unnatural death, Sheela said, of her intuition when she got the news.

We had a lengthy discussion on all that happened on the day Osho died, and in the years that followed. She could not immediately connect with some of the names such as Amrito- Oshos personal physician, whom she knew as Devraj; and Nirvano- whom Osho considered as his soulmate- and who had died in suspicious circumstances 40 days before his own death. Sheela knew Nirvano as Vivek.

Sheela spoke extensively of how shocking and outrageous it was to completely deny the existence of Oshos Samadhi inside the Commune, created as per his own wish. She wondered whether this was being denied by the Commune managers to make it easy to liquidate the property.

She expressed the hope that Oshos followers, his admirers and others would take steps to ensure that the Samadhi was protected and opened to the public.

abhay.vaidya@hindustantimes.com

First Published:Oct 07, 2019 14:02 IST

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Monday Musings: When Sheelas love for Osho brought her to Pune after 35 years - Hindustan Times