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.

MAHATMA RAJESHWAR …… FLYING VISIT

"Meditation is the only way to liberation and salvation" proclaimed Mahatma Rajeshwar, a close and powerful disciple of Guru Maharaj Ji, at a beautiful program held in Sydney recently. The Anzac House Auditorium's films and plays were replaced by strong satsang from Mahatma Ji about the importance of the human body, how it was a divine grace through which meditation on the Light of God could be achieved. He pointed out the folly of pursuing the temporary methods of satisfaction available in this world when permanent peace is latent in everyone's consciousness. "God is hidden in everything" he declared, "just as butter is hidden in milk. But we have to know the proper way to perceive Him". An audience of three hundred people listened intently as he explained the importance of meditation in parable after parable, exhorting all true seekers not to waste time in idle pursuits when spiritual Knowledge was being offered by the Perfect Master, Guru Maharaj Ji.

Mahatma Rajeshwar's arrival, after a successful tour of New Zealand, was a blissful event for Sydney premies who have not had high holy company for over six weeks. Our resident saint, Mahatma Padarthanand Ji, has been visiting other states, inspiring the Mission into a greater awareness of the significance of propagation. He is currently in Adelaide, travelling westward on a circuit of Australia which will take in Perth, Darwin (program on May 30) and a station-to-station bush hop across to Cairns.

When Mahatma Rajeshwar's plane touched down at Sydney Airport on May 7, he was greeted by many enthusiastic premies and those waiting eagerly to receive Knowledge. He was driven immediately to the Divine Residence where he rested after a tiring journey. Over the last year he has undertaken an extensive propagation tour, including both the United States and South America.

During the rest of the day, the Anzac Auditorium program was prepared. Other than this program, there is no further news on Mahatma Ji's schedule as he is waiting on direction from the Holy Family. We can only hope he will stay in Australia for a while to provide us with his inspiration and guidance.

CORRECTION On behalf of Divine Light Mission, The Golden Age wishes to announce that the stop press news concerning the marriage of Shri Raja Ji, which was printed in edition No. 4, is incorrect. We humbly offer our apologies to the Holy Family and our readers. GURU PUJA 74 Fitzroy Town Hall Melbourne JULY 11, 12, 13 A Real Life Festival

WORDS WE USE Ashram: "shelter", a spiritual community of Guru Maharaj Ji's devotees who have dedicated their lives to spreading Knowledge of God. Darshan: the physical presence of Guru Maharaj Ji and/or members of his Holy Family. Knowledge: the spiritual experience gained through practising the four meditation techniques (Light, Music, Word and Nectar) revealed by Guru Maharaj Ji. Mahatma: "great soul", a disciple of Guru Maharaj Ji empowered to reveal Knowledge. Premie: "lover of God", a devotee of Guru Maharaj Ji. Satsang: "company of Truth", discourses about the Knowledge revealed by Guru Maharaj Ji.

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.