6  GREELEY (Colo.) TRIBUNE     Sat., Mar 27, 1976

Lack of funds postpones Guru's N. American tour

DENVER (AP) - Guru Maharaj Ji, spiritual leader of the Denver-based Divine Light Mission, has postponed a North American tour because of insufficient funds.

Joe Anctil, press spokesman for the mission, said Friday the tour in April and May would have cost an estimated $75,000, including plane fares, promotion costs and rental of auditoriums.

Maharaj Ji, 18, was to have appeared in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Washing on. D.C., Minneapolis, Montreal and Denver.

The tour will be rescheduled later in the year Anctil said.

Anctil said the mission receives many unsolicited and unexpected gifts each year, often from young members who have inherited estates.

"We've been living on them, in many cases," Anctil said.

He added that the mission has "decided to follow sound financial planning this year and not spend money until we have it. In years before we often spent it first, praying it would come in later."

Anctil said "the mission is in the best financial position we've ever been in," and said membership continues to increase steadily. There are now 3,000 active members in the United States, he said.

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.