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 VERY REFRESHING EXPERIENCE
Approximately every six months, each of the instructors trained by Maharaji to instruct people in the practice of Knowledge come together for a 1-3 day "refresher course." During this time, they meet with Maharaji to deepen their experience of Knowledge and increase their instructor skills. Following are excerpts from interviews with instructors in which they discuss their experience of attending the January 1987 refresher course in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
GLEN CARVER
I had a great time at the refresher course. It was such a delightful form of fun, and yet, there was a lot of deep learning going on, too. Maharaji's ability to communicate so much inspiration and information was totally educational for me. It was truly eye-opening-and this despite my many years' experience as a college mathematics teacher.
Maharaji showed me that communication is not just a one-way street. He fostered a dynamic interplay between himself and the instructors that was inspiring as well as instructive. I really appreciated the warmth with which he encouraged and received our input. He would become so enthused whenever someone's question or comment unexpectedly opened up a new area for discussion. He was learning and teaching at the same time. It has encouraged me so strongly to be more open to learn from the people I am helping to prepare for Knowledge.
More personally, the training has helped me tune my instincts in a very beautiful way. I am learning to have more trust in the experience that Knowledge has shown me within, and to have more confidence in speaking about it. In the past, I think I had a tendency to be too mechanical and rational about it-to the point of not letting the most basic, heartfelt part of me express itself. Now I feel Much more balanced. When I speak, I feel more free to come from a deeper place, while still expressing myself in very simple terms.
I learned so much on so many levels from being with Maharaji at this refresher. It was very valuable in waking me, once again, to the potential for beauty and enjoyment in my life and in the lives of the people I work with as an instructor.
|
MONICA CASCO |
|
BARBARA MAHLER continued on page 10 10
continued from page 9
|
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.
had a lot to learn for this to happen. But I also felt a lot of love and a lot of care. I felt Maharaji's concern for people who have this Knowledge and for people who want it. I also got another chance to see what high standards Maharaji has. Everything he does to help people learn about and receive Knowledge is done with the highest standards.
Attending the refresher course was a wonderful time in my life. It was also a very active time. I found out that the more involved I am, the more that happens. Maharaji really encourages people to be involved and ask questions, to communicate with him.
I learned a lot about care, and how to do things with quality and integrity. I also learned a lot about myself. Maharaji really challenges me to grow internally. Without an internal experience and without respect for myself and the pride in what I'm doing, I don't have anything to offer people, no matter how well trained I may be. It all begins with love.
One thing that was really stressed at the refresher course was inspiration-having an experience and using the tools we have all been shown. We spent a lot of time on the "how to's," but we also spent a lot of time on the basics: inspiration, love, and kindness. It was beautiful.