Michael Dettmers, Former Personal Assistant to Prem Rawat
In early 2000 Jim Heller (real Name), a lawyer from Vancouver and a person prominent in on-line criticism of Prem Rawat and his so-called "Knowledge", contacted Michael Dettmers, former personal assistant to Prem
Rawat, and thereby began a process of debate that eventually had Dettmers publicly revealing much discreditable information about Prem Rawat's life that was formerly unknown to people who weren't part of Rawat's inner circle of devotees.
Dettmers begins by trying to keep to the "high philosphical road" though as time goes on and his defenses lessen a more realistic picture emerges.
There were certainly enough sordid details about Rawat's hypocrisy, drug and alcohol abuse, his extraordinary selfishness and failure to actually meditate, his use of Dettmers to pimp for him amongst his female
devotees, his long term mistress Monica Lewis, his wife's affair and his refusal to accept meaningful marriage and life counselling to satisfy the most avid soap opera addict.
Since those revelations most of the more sophisticated of Rawat's followers no longer deny any of these "pecadilloes", they deny their importance to Rawat's career as a guru or teacher. The great majority of people who
expect "teachers" who talk the talk to walk the walk will make up their own mind. What sort of inner peace manifests in the life of a person who acts in this manner? Make up your own mind and remember, Rawat's life style and lack of peace is written into his face.
A more succinct questions and answers session is transcribed here for those who prefer a simple summary. A page of Rawat's "autobiography" is dedicated to providing a mild criticism of Dettmers but does not address nor refute any of his statements.
| Dettmers talks about the setting up of the Élan Vital Foundation in Switzerland and Rawat's financial situation and his own background. |
Date: Mon, Apr 03, 2000 |
| He introduces himself and some of his intellectual philosophy, and his early history in DLM. He ascribes almost supernatural powers to the
young Rawat whom he thinks actually created the early DLM in the West through "charismatic ability and foresight". |
Date: Thurs, Apr 06, 2000 |
| He discusses his background with and beliefs in Rawat, Rawat's marriage problems, his own identity crisis in 1985 and Rawat's profligate lifestyle. |
Date: Tues, Oct 10, 2000 |
| He discusses the Boeing 707, Rawat's "shameless lies", his understanding of Rawat's beliefs and childhood indoctrination. He is still putting the most positive interpretation on Rawat and his own
involvement that he can and blames the victims for the DECA abuses. |
Date: Wed, Oct 11 - 12, 2000 |
| He discusses the closing of the ashrams, the inequitable cult structure and Rawat's lifeview and compassion (nil). |
Date: Fri, Oct 13, 2000 |
| He discusses threats made against him and Élan Vital's responses, the "drug culture" in Rawat's "Residence" (Rawat's homes are invariably spoken of by premies as "'The Residence", always capitalised)
and the Mahatma Jagdeo child sexual abuse cover-ups. |
Date: Sun, Oct 15, 2000 |
| He answers 4 questions during which he offhandedly makes the most damning criticisms of Rawat's character. |
Date: Thurs, Oct 19, 2000 |
| He answers questions about Rawat's drug and alcohol abuse, whether Rawat performed miracles, Bob Mishler and "darshan". |
Date: Oct 23-24, 2000 |
| This is reasonably lengthy discussion/argument about why Dettmers created a Swiss Foundation for Élan Vital. |
Tues, Oct 24, 2000 |
| A long post about the events of 1976 in which the management attempted to "normalise" Divine Light Mission activities and business practices, Rawat's extravagant
and illegal use of the organisation's funds and Mishler's ultimatum to Rawat. He also reveals that all the top managers of the DLM (apart from Bob Mishler
who had married) were indulging in "illicit" sexual relationships despite living in the "ashram". |
Mon, Oct 30, 2000 |
| He answers questions about Rawat's accidental killing of a bicycle rider in India and it's "cover-up" and strongly recommends, after over 15 years' close association, that no one else place his or her
trust in Rawat. |
Tues, Dec 26, 2000 |
| He answers questions about Rawat's occasional talks about "giving the whole thing away" and about Rawat's brother "Raja Ji" |
Date: Sat, Feb 03, 2001 |
| He discusses Rawat's belief that his wife was having an affair and their marital therapy sessions and the failure of the "truth and openness sessions" with Will Schutz. |
Date: Fri, Mar 02, 2001 |
| He recaps his evolution since deciding to "speak out"; Rawat's indifference to the Mahatma Jagdeo's child sexual abuse and his outrage at Rawat's lack of morality
and lies. |
Date: Sun, Dec 16, 2001 |
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.