Prem Rawat (Prem Pal Singh Rawat) whose devotees call him Maharaji (meaning Ultimate Ruler) first came to attention in the West as Guru Maharaj Ji - the self-proclaimed Perfect Master and Lord of the Universe ridiculed in the media as a fat, squeaky-voiced God boy. He had inherited his titles and position as the Satguru, The True Revealer of Light and Spiritual Master of the Divine Light Mission, India (Divya Sandesh Parishad) when his father died in 1966. His father, Hans Rawat, was a successful Indian guru, self titled HRH (His Royal Highness) Yogiraj Param Sant Satgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. As a child the youngest Rawat son was informally called Sant Ji, more formally Balyogeshwar ("Born King of the Yogis") and even more formally Param Sant Satgurudev Shri Sant Ji Maharaj. In the West Rawat dropped these more verbose titles in the early 1980's and instructed his followers to call him Maharaji. He has also changed the names of his organisations many times: Divine Light Mission (DLM), World Welfare Association (WWA), World Peace Corps (WPC) and Divine United Organisation (DUO) became Elan Vital in the early 1980's and in 2001 The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) was created and from 2010 his major orgs are Words Of Peace Global (WOPG) registered in Holland, Words of Peace International (WOPI) in the USA, HDSK (Human Development through Self Knowledge) in Great Britain and Raj Vidya Kender (Royal Knowledge Society) in India. He no longer claims to be an Incarnation of God but an internationally famous humanitarian leader and teacher of peace. He's neither.
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PROGRAM NOTES:
LORD CHRIST Lord Jesus - Michael Nouri John the Baptist - Stephen Clemens FIRST SCENE: The High Court of King Herod. The ministers of King Herod are greatly disturbed. Rumors have reached their ever-anxious ears that three aged foreigners of stately bearing are searching through every shack in Bethlehem. After considerable cowardly maneuvering, it is decided that Flavius will report the matter to Herod. In full glory, Herod enters the court and demands the day's news. Upon learning of the visitors, an audience is arranged. "Our purpose is but one," states Melchior," To find the new master soul of the coming age, and to worship Him." Herod dispatches his couriers to shadow the Mesopotamians until Jesus is found. Their mission is successful, but the couriers return leaving the baby unguarded. Tossing a scroll to the ground, the furious Herod leaves the court. His youthful minstrel retrieves the scroll and sings what is written upon it. It is a ballad praising the infant Lord. SECOND SCENE: The Temple at Jerusalem. Passover. The scene opens with the exalted rabbis of Jerusalem scattering holy water upon the towns people. It is a day of sacrifice and sounds of slaughter can be heard off stage. Jesus is only twelve, but the Knowledge of Truth makes Him bold enough to cut through a ritual centuries old: "Do you not smell the stench that comes from burning flesh?" After much questioning, Rabbi Hillel is especially impressed by the young boy and asks Him to reveal what is God's highest commandment. The Christ softly replies, "I see a golden cord that runs through all the Ten Commands, that binds them fast and makes them one. This cord is Love …" THIRD SCENE: The Baptism. "You stand in the darkness, holding up the candle of tradition and looking to the west, waiting for the sun to return. Look not where the sun has gone, I tell you my brothers. Turn and see the new sun for He has come, the King." Humbling Himself before him who has fought the darkness and prepared the way, Jesus the Christ is baptised by John. FOURTH SCENE: The Kingdom Within. A great number of people have gathered, seekers of the Way. They are addressed by Simon Peter, who is filled with praises of the Living Lord. Together, the crowd sings their love of the Son. Enter Lord Jesus, whose radiance is reflected in every human face. He speaks to them as children and explains the Kingdom of Heaven in parables, for as yet they cannot understand: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven which a woman hides within the meal. It is like a treasure which a farmer found hidden in his own field. For within you is the fountain of Life … Ask and it shall be given unto you. Seek and you shall find." 19 |
Prem Rawat's "Knowledge" has three parts: regularly listening to his speeches, doing voluntary work for organisations serving him or donating money and daily meditation correctly practicing the four techniques he recommends. The techniques are so simple it's hard to see how they could be practiced incorrectly. First technique ("Divine Light") involves sticking your thumb and middle finger on your eyeballs (NB: with eyes closed) and your index finger between your eyebrows. Second technique: ("Heavenly Music") poking your thumbs into your ears and listening. Third technique: ("Holy Name") thinking about your breathing (NB: continue to breathe). Fourth technique: ("Nectar") curling your tongue backwards and tasting. Rawat's father taught slightly different techniques but either way it's difficult to see how these could produce the benefits claimed for them especially as Rawat claims His Knowledge is the only method of attaining real happiness and love in this life.