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.

Guru Has a Plan For World Peace By RALPH RATH Tribune Religion Writer Oakland's newest honorary citizen, 14-year-old Guru Maharaj JI, has a plan for world peace. The guru, spiritual leader of 5 million devotees according to claims of his followers, was named an honorary citizen of Oakland and given a key to the city at a ceremony yesterday in the city council chamber. "We are very honored to have you here," Vice Mayor Frank Ogawa said in welcoming the young guru from India. It is a great pleasure to be here," responded Guru Maharaj Ji. "I pray to God to bless this city of Oakland." In his lectures, the guru has a simple formula for assuring world peace - the individual must find peace in himself and then his actions will be peaceful. According to an aide, the guru made the one-day stopover in Oakland on a trip from London to Japan because of a "'beautiful letter" from Mayor John H. Reading. Reading wrote in a Sept. 1 letter, "I had the opportunity to peruse the booklet entitled 'Reflections on an Indian Sunrise,' and enjoyed reading the quotes and articles written by you. "I was amazed by the knowledge you have gained at such a young age, and commend you upon your wisdom and talents," Reading continued. He is presently away on a trip. Guru Maharaj Ji believes both India and the western countries limp, but for different reasons. In his "Reflections" booklet he observed. "India has a long, long spiritual foot, but a very short materialistic foot. The western countries have a very long materialistic foot but a very short spiritual foot. "When these two walk, they cannot walk straight," he contended. "They have to limp about." The guru finished his formal schooling last year and has made several trips to Europe and America since then, bringing his spiritual message to the western world. At his talks, like the one at the Oakland Auditorium last night, the guru does not attempt to get on-the-spot converts. "Maharaj Ji says you can never understand his teaching with your reasoning," an aide commented. "You have to experience it." This takes time, he added. Followers of the guru have opened an Eastbay center - Divine Light Mission, 607 Brooklyn St. Their 7 p.m. spiritual discourses every night are open to the public free of charge.

MAHARAJ JI (RIGHT) GETS CITY'S KEY Vice Mayor Frank Ogawa greets 14-year-old guru

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.