Prem Rawat's Three Pillars of "Knowledge"

Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji and Prem Rawat have all emphasised that his "Knowledge" is not just some meditation techniques but a way of life based on Three Pillars and a Base. They are listening, participating and practising, formerly known as satsang, service and meditation. The base is the Master or Perfect Master as he was formerly known.

On 9th December 2006, in Oxnard Claifornia Rawat explained the need for each of the three Pillars to be strong.

You know, if you look at it, we're doing very well with the uh Satsang portion of things around the world that's being disseminated and all that's happening and Knowledge part, we're doing pretty good. Could always be improved but we're doing pretty good. Be there's Keys, there's Auto Knowledge sessions. People are receiving Knowledge. I mean, every single day with Knowledge Sessions happening in India. But the middle element, the three Pillars of Knowledge, you know, Satsang, Service and Meditation, a practise of Knowledge, Service is missing, is weak, as weak as a, it possibly can be. So the next year, the focus is really to bring that up in par with everything else and as I have been working on it.

I have realised that unless people participate, they will never have a link. They will receive Knowledge. They will listen to the message, and they'll enjoy it, and they'll receive Knowledge and then it's like, "Okay," you know, GONE, but it's, it's, it's the practise and participation that really allows people to link. And when you look at all the people who do a lot of participation That's why. They had, they were provided with that link, and then that's what's brought them and they're still around. So uh we're starting a training because we're going to do it right. And to me, it's just as valuable as giving somebody the gift of Knowledge, because it's part of it. And so this is what we're going to be doing and uh preparing the trainings and I'm looking forward to that.

On January 13th, 2007 in Dallas he spoke about the Four Pillars of Knowledge

Service Area Management Training, SAMT. Got to give these nice names to these things. It doesn't matter what the training is, the name's got to be good, right? That's the way the world is today, you know, there's all these acronyms. But, no. But I'm looking forward to that. Because that is an incredible expression. So much has been done with the message, and so much has been done with Knowledge sessions. But there's one part that is missing, and that's participation. This was supposed to be under the guise of Participation Meeting. Participate. Participate, first of all, in your own life.

You know, like I said, there's four pillars of Knowledge. There's the message. There's participation. There's practice. And there's the Master. And the three Pillars lie on the foundation called the Master. And so far, the other two have been worked on and made very nice. Now it's the third one's turn. And that will be done. And it is obvious to me that this is one of those aspects that was missing, and it needs to be done around the world. Around the world. Because participation is so beautiful. To be a part of it. To be a part of it. I mean, how amazing is that?

Maharaji in Barcelona PWK-014 4th March 2007

There are four elements, three Pillars and one Foundation. The three Pillars are the practice of Knowledge, participation, and listening. One thing that is going to be happening this year is you're going to hear a lot about participation. A lot. And not only hear a lot about participation, but have opportunities in a totally different way to be able to participate. Something very exciting. The fourth element on which these three Pillars stand are glued to is the Master. Now, people in their day, people in their lives, they wonder why is listening important? Why is listening important? Because you won't hear what I just told you a little while ago anywhere else.

And it is now the turn of the third pillar. And this year also, I hope that people understand the value of the foundation, the Master, on which these three Pillars stand. Because without that foundation, these pillars would have gotten knocked down a long time ago. It is the foundation that keeps them holding. Listen, I mean. And today, people are receiving Knowledge, the same Knowledge that they were receiving in 1700s. The value of the foundation is incredible. It's kept the Pillars where they need to be, not let them budge and not let them fall down. Because people have enough craziness to go, wow, we need these pillars, get rid of them. But that's the value of the foundation. And the joy is intact. Craziness, the storms of craziness have come. Foundation has been solid and the Pillars are untouched. Untouched. At the same time, many, many times more people are able to view the beauty of these pillars than ever, ever, ever before on the face of this earth, ever.

On 24th June 2007, in Anaheim Claifornia, he spoke about the need of SAMT training to maintain participation. No participation, no experience. Committment required.

I just wanted to talk to you about the SAMT, the Service Area Management Training. Most important thing, you know, everybody knows that there is something called Knowledge. And, of course, it's important to listen to the Master. And the third Pillar, the three Pillars of Knowledge, one of the Pillars is to Participate. For a long time, this just kept getting overlooked and overlooked and nobody wanted to talk about it. And I can understand why, because it wasn't very pleasurable, not very enjoyable. And so, to me, that's not right. Every realm of Knowledge, every realm that you come in touch with that has something to do with Knowledge is very, very enjoyable. But, things happen, and we live in this world as human beings.

Rawat claims there is compulsion in all in religions, but there is no 'thumping' in Knowledge, everything is optional, only if you want to. I'm not aware that any religious activity is obligatory, you do what you want and accept the consquences. You don't have to preactise Knowledge either but then you accept the consequences. No practise, no carrot.

You go through the Keys, you know exactly what's going to be happening and how you can continue to enjoy Knowledge. So, you're in a very, very, very beautiful part, you know, where your focus is just listening and going, hmm, hmm, hmm. You're turning on light bulbs where, believe me, you never thought light bulbs existed, you know.

And it's so beautiful. That's such a beautiful, beautiful part. It's the part of learning, really, really learning, hmm, and connecting the possibilities. So, do so, and thoroughly, thoroughly enjoy that process. And those who have Knowledge, they want to participate. Nothing is a must. You realize this. You know, this is so unlike religion. There's nobody comes here thumping, you have to do this. No. Do you have to practice Knowledge? Only if you want to. Do you have to go through keys? Only if you want to. Do you have to come here? Only if you want to. Do you have to stay here? Only if you want to. This is true for both of us. I'm not here because I have to be here. Because I want to be here. I don't have to teach you. I want to. You don't have to learn. But if you want to, the possibilities are.

After you receive Knowledge, do you have to practice? Only if you want to. Do you have to do participation? Only if you want to. Do you have to listen? Only if you want to.

On June 30th 2007 in Fort Lauderdale he discussed the newly implemented SAM trainings he believed would fix the "participation problem" and stop the majority of those who received the techniques of Knowledge from quitting.

These trainings are ongoing. They have been happening in Europe. They have been happening in America. More and more of them are going to be happening. But the whole idea is to make, because the other two Pillars, listening has been made very comfortable. People can listen wherever they are. And this works. This really, really, really works. … So receiving Knowledge has become simple. Practice of Knowledge has become simple, very enjoyable. And listening to the Master has become very enjoyable, very, very simple. And then now it's the turn of the middle Pillar, the Service, to make it just as enjoyable and simple as the other two. And that's what's afoot. So I think that more than enough takes care of your concerns because it has been dramatically simplified. And the training is very interesting. It's very tough to be a service area manager, but it's a very nice training. And it's a cute little training because the first thing you see is an event being set up the new way.

On 8th June 2008 in Barcelona Spain Maharaji interacted with aspirants

That's why there is such an importance in listening to the Master. Having that relationship with the Master because the Master will remind you again and again and again of what is important. The idea of the three Pillars the idea of listening, participating, practising. This is not something that I made up. You know this goes back before Christ. This has been talked about this is was considered essential a long long long time ago. Three things, three elements and of course the foundation on which these three Pillars stand. So this has been around for a really long time. I'm just reiterating it because, you know, here we are and we forget that we're just human beings.

Lockdown Broadcast Day 59: The Three Pillars of Peace, Barcelona, Spain

Three things: "Know yourself. Live your life consciously. And have a heart full of gratitude."

It is simple to compare what Maharaji has said about the three Pilllars and the base with what he said as Guru Maharaj Ji in the 1970s when he used the terms:

There were four activities involved in practising this Knowledge:

Satsang: attending regular meetings of premies and proselytising for Maharaji
Service: doing voluntary work for Divine Light Mission and donating money to Prem Rawat personally and the Mission
Daily meditation using the techniques of Knowledge for two hours a day
Darshan: seeing Prem Rawat in person whenever financially possible and lining up to kiss his feet and make a donation

A description of the current teachings of Prem Rawat are available here. Prem Rawat and his followers claim:

anyone who listens to him to develop and sustain the right understanding
who daily practices the techniques of Knowledge
allows themselves to be transformed
develops a relationship of trust with Prem Rawat
and makes a commitment for a lifetime will undoubtedly experience the profound peace that resides within.