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.

A MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN

REPORT FROM COPENHAGEN Preparations are going ahead for Guru Puja '74 in Copenhagen. Work has already begun at the campsite and the final plans for the stage at the Forum have been worked out. Very important news of another sort is the co-operation we have been experiencing, both within Divine Light Mission International and from the outside world. Guru Maharaj Ji's Love is really flowing through the city of Copenhagen, weaving everyone that we come in contact with together in a knot of friendship and understanding. The town officials here have donated such facilities as gas-fired ovens for the campsite kitchens, mechanics' workshops, some storage space for food and tents, and garages, while we, in our turn are setting up the campsite which will be used all summer long to house students and travellers visiting the city. Even the press reaction has been very good. A press conference was held recently in the restaurant at the Forum in Copenhagen, and all those reporters present expressed a great interest in what we are doing here. Already, three excellent articles have been written in major Danish newspapers about the upcoming festival. Everyone who comes to Copenhagen quickly sees Guru Puja '74 is a whole new dimension in festivals. It is so much a manifestation of love and co-operation that it already is a shining example for all future festivals around the world.

GURU PUJA RESIDENCE (AUSTRALIA)

Meanwhile Copenhagen being so far away, the premies have secured a new Divine Residence, to make more practical our invitation to the Holy Family to attend Australia's Guru Puja '74 on July 11, 12 and 13!

Situated in the almost pastoral suburb of Rosanna, it is a large, white two-storeyed house with a garden and swimming pool. Upstairs consists of the Divine Suite: bedroom, bathroom, living room, and balcony, plus three more bedrooms and a bathroom.

Downstairs there is a large living room, adjoining dining room, kitchen and laundry. It is only fifteen to twenty minutes from the State Headquarters in Fitzroy and is being rented, all pressmen note, for the extravagant sum of $75 a week.

MAHATMA SCHEDULE Mahatma Padarthanand Ji June 2      BRISBANE June 8-14   SYDNEY June 15     SAN FRANCISCO 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 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 disciple of Guru Maharaj Ji. Satsang: "Company of Truth". Discourses about the Knowledge revealed by Guru Maharaj Ji.

Mahatma Ji on tour Mahatma Padarthanand Ji has been touring in western and northern parts of Australia for the last few weeks. He spent a fortnight with the premies in Perth, giving five major outside programs, a radio interview and Satsang to an anglican bishop who visited the ashram. Then he flew overnight to Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory, where he was received by the media with great publicity. In fact the local television station was so attracted by Satsang that they invited him back for a second interview! After four very successful days in Darwin Mahatma Ji returned at last to National Headquarters, Sydney, to the great relief of premies who had not seen him for two months. Mahatma Ji, who has been propagating spiritual Knowledge in Australia since July 13, 1973, has received agya (command) from Guru Maharaj Ji to fly to America on June 15 for the Guru Puja in Massachusetts. However there is time for him to be back in Melbourne for Australia's festival on July 11, 12, 13, if Guru Maharaj Ji allows. Meanwhile Mahatma Ji's arrival in Sydney meant the cancellation of his scheduled appearance in Cairns, northern Queensland. Nevertheless premies report that by amazing Grace 150 persons packed the hall to see the films Satguru Has Come and Who Is Guru Maharaj Ji? Whereupon by popular demand Satsang continued until 11.30 p.m. But Sydney premies enjoyed saintly company all too briefly, for after one memorable two and a half hour Satsang Mahatma Ji took off for Brisbane. However his final week before departure for America will be spent in NSW.

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.