Prem Rawat (Maharaji) - 1980s Press Articles

In the beginning of the 1980s probably the best description of the state of Divine Light Mission was hysterical. Prem Rawat had decreed that Darshan was the most important part of his "Knowledge" and his dancing was the most celebrated part of the numerous "festivals" that DLM were holding. While new premies were few, the effort to attract them was great and nightly services were still held wherever a premie quorum could gather.

Only Prem Rawat might have had an inkling that the Iron Curtain was about to descend but until Sun Myung Moon was indicted and jailed even he probably hadn't given it a thought. But once Prem Rawat closed Divine Light Mission, ordered his followers to stop advertising or telling anyone about him and his "Knowledge", having nightly public meetings or any regular meetings and to destroy all copies of newspapers, magazines, films and videos relating to him and changed his title to Maharaji from Guru Maharaj Ji, the press stories soon dried up.

Prem Rawat was interviewed by Michael Gawenda due to the influence of Johnny Young, a then-follower of Prem Rawat and an important media personality in Australia

The kidnapping and attempted deprogramming of a premie was widely reported. One ex-premie, Maggie Shivers, testified to a House committee.

It wasn't long before the question wasn't "Who Is Guru Maharaj Ji?" but "Whatever Happened To … ?"

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.