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 also served as the personal lawyer of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.

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.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 left his job and relocated to the newly established Rajneeshpuram commune in Wasco County, Oregon.^[6] From 1981 to 1990, Toelkes served as Rajneesh's personal attorney, until Rajneesh's death.^[7]

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

He is featured in Wild Wild Country, a Netflix documentary series about the controversial Indian guru, ^[8][9] and he has written an account of the legal aspects of the cases against Osho and Rajneeshpuram brought by the U.S. Government.^[10]