Born and bred in London. Graduated at Cambridge University in Maths and Law. Highly successful businessman for a while, then a world traveller. Returning to London he sets up the lay movement known as "People Not Psychiatry" and establishes his own Growth Centre, "Community".

In 1974 he becomes a disciple of the Indian teacher Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho). He makes a name for himself as leader of intensive seminars in Poona and other Rajneesh centers.
In 1982 he leaves this movement and soon sets up his own Energyfield known as The Wild Goose Company.

Michael Barnett becomes a spiritual teacher and companion for more than 4500 people. In his numerous talks he speaks about the challenges in daily life, the ego, love, relationships, meditation and spirituality. He refers to the wisdom of other spiritual teachers and also the Zen tradition, which he appreciates very much.

His way leads him and his community from Zurich to Italy at Lago Maggiore. This was followed by five more years in southwest France where a large community project was developed. In this community people from five continents were living and working together.

In 1997 he moves to Zurich and then on to Freiburg, Germany. Here OneLife is born - the name now taken for the worldwide and unique activities.

Apart from his creativity as teacher and author (around 40 books) he is also in private life a man with various facets: passionate family father, soccer fan, car enthusiast, reader of many books, wine connoisseur, and just one of us.

It is his simple presence, his authenticity and his living in the Here and Now, his humour and his clarity which his students appreciate.

the man / biography

©2008 Michael Barnett OneLife