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Rennie Davis, defendant in the 1968 "Chicago Seven" trial, led 3,500 youths this weekend in worship of a 15-year-old Indian guru whom he calls the "living perfect master" - the answer to all the world's ills.

Davis acted as master of ceremonies Saturday at a happening in the newly-named Louis Armstrong stadium to welcome the Guru Maharaj Ji on the first stop in a seven-city tour of the country.

"I believe 1973 is the year America will recognize that the living perfect master is here," said Davis, who forsook radical politics several months ago to become a devotee of the cherubic faced guru.

Several hundred followers, wearing buttons depicting the Indian boy, burst forth with the Hindu response "Bolie Shri Satgurudev Maharaj Ki Jai!" which is Hindi for "Speak of the Glory of the Perfect Master."

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.