Tim Guest
Encyclopedia
Tim Guest (also known as Yogesh and Errol Mysterio) was an English author
and journalist
.
mother, Anne Geraghty, who went to India
and became involved with the emergent Rajneesh movement
, founded by the Indian mystic
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, now known as Osho
. She returned from her trip dressed all in orange and with a new name Ma Prem Vismaya, a sanskrit
name which translates as, wonderful love. She dyed Tim's clothes and gave him a mala, a bead necklace with picture of Bhagwan. Tim was given the new name - Swami
Prem
Yogesh
, meaning love of yoga
. Tim and his mother moved to Medina, a large sannyas commune
in Suffolk
, England
that ran from 1981 to 1985, here Tim went to the commune school, where English and maths were compulsory and history and politics were not taught. Guest spent his youth moving between Osho communes in England, India, Germany
and the United States
, a childhood he was later to describe as "somewhere in between Peter Pan
and Lord of the Flies
".
.
, and obtained a M.A.
degree in creative writing
from the University of East Anglia
.
, The Observer
and the Telegraph Magazine. He also had two books published, My Life in Orange
about his early life, growing up in the Osho movement, and Second Lives
, about virtual communities where he was known as Errol Mysterio.
Guest died in July 2009 after a suspected drug overdose
at 34 years old. He was found dead by his wife Jo; despite her effort to resuscitate him she was unable to revive him. Tests found 1,020 micrograms of morphine
per litre of blood. Barnet coroner
s verdict was that he died of non-dependent drug use.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
.
Early childhood
When he was four, Guest was left in the UK by his psychologistPsychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
mother, Anne Geraghty, who went to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and became involved with the emergent Rajneesh movement
Rajneesh movement
The Rajneesh movement is a term used by Hugh B. Urban and other commentators to refer collectively to persons inspired by the Indian mystic Osho , particularly initiated disciples who are referred to as "neo-sannyasins" or simply "sannyasins", also formerly known as Rajneeshees or "Orange People",...
, founded by the Indian mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, now known as Osho
Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh)
Osho , born Chandra Mohan Jain , and also known as Acharya Rajneesh from the 1960s onwards, as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh during the 1970s and 1980s and as Osho from 1989, was an Indian mystic, guru, and spiritual teacher who garnered an international following.A professor of philosophy, he travelled...
. She returned from her trip dressed all in orange and with a new name Ma Prem Vismaya, a sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
name which translates as, wonderful love. She dyed Tim's clothes and gave him a mala, a bead necklace with picture of Bhagwan. Tim was given the new name - Swami
Swami
A swami sometimes abbreviated "Sw." is an ascetic or yogi who has been initiated into the religious monastic order founded by Adi Sankara, or to a religious teacher.The Oxford English Dictionary gives the etymology as...
Prem
Prem
Prem is a Sanskrit word meaning love. This word is also used in other languages including Assamese, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, and Telugu, and is commonly used as a male first name...
Yogesh
Yogesh
Yogesh is a Hindu name for males. It is formed from two words: Yoga-Ishvara . The name literally means "God of Yoga", who according to the Hindu mythology is Lord shiva."Yoga" here implies yogic powers or mystic powers....
, meaning love of yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
. Tim and his mother moved to Medina, a large sannyas commune
Commune
Commune may refer to:In society:* Commune, a human community in which resources are shared* Commune , a township or municipality* One of the Communes of France* An Italian Comune...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
that ran from 1981 to 1985, here Tim went to the commune school, where English and maths were compulsory and history and politics were not taught. Guest spent his youth moving between Osho communes in England, India, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a childhood he was later to describe as "somewhere in between Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
and Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies is a novel by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding about a group of British boys stuck on a deserted island who try to govern themselves, with disastrous results...
".
Return to London and teenage years
His mother left the movement when he was 11 years old and they returned to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Higher education
He attended Sussex University where he studied psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, and obtained a M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
from the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
.
Career
He started writing, and had articles published in The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
and the Telegraph Magazine. He also had two books published, My Life in Orange
My Life in Orange
My Life in Orange: Growing Up with the Guru is an account of a child growing up in the Rajneesh movement led by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. The book is a firsthand account, written by Tim Guest years after his experiences, at the age of 27. The book was published in 2004 by Granta Books...
about his early life, growing up in the Osho movement, and Second Lives
Second Lives: A Journey Through Virtual Worlds
Second Lives: A Journey Through Virtual Worlds is a book about virtual community, written by author Tim Guest.-Contents:Tim Guest examines life in virtual worlds...
, about virtual communities where he was known as Errol Mysterio.
Guest died in July 2009 after a suspected drug overdose
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...
at 34 years old. He was found dead by his wife Jo; despite her effort to resuscitate him she was unable to revive him. Tests found 1,020 micrograms of morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
per litre of blood. Barnet coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
s verdict was that he died of non-dependent drug use.
Major works
- My Life in OrangeMy Life in OrangeMy Life in Orange: Growing Up with the Guru is an account of a child growing up in the Rajneesh movement led by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. The book is a firsthand account, written by Tim Guest years after his experiences, at the age of 27. The book was published in 2004 by Granta Books...
, London: Granta Books, 2004 - Second Lives: A Journey Through Virtual WorldsSecond Lives: A Journey Through Virtual WorldsSecond Lives: A Journey Through Virtual Worlds is a book about virtual community, written by author Tim Guest.-Contents:Tim Guest examines life in virtual worlds...
, London: Random House, 2008