The Region - News from April 26, 1985

A terminally ill Laguna Beach minister was granted his last wish when he died just inside Rajneeshpuram, the Oregon commune set up by followers of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Last year Swami Bodhimitra, 75, won a lawsuit filed by members of his congregation after he converted to Rajneeshism. Swami Bodhimitra clung to life until he was just inside the city limits, Rajneeshee spokeswoman Ma Prem Sunshine said. Suffering liver cancer, he had expressed a wish to die near Rajneesh, who has said that any disciples who die within 24 miles of him automatically will become enlightened. Swami Bodhimitra, whose legal name was Henry Gerhard, became embroiled in a lawsuit after his conversion split his Church of Religious Science in Laguna Beach. Some of his congregation also became Rajneeshees, but others filed a lawsuit to regain control of the multimillion-dollar church building.