Introduction: Who Is Guru Maharaj Ji?

A summary of the first section of the Divine Light Mission (Shri Hans Productions) film Who Is Guru Maharaj Ji? of 1974

Click here to see a note re the provenance of this and other Divine Light Mission films. Who Is Guru Maharaj Ji? has a long introductory section that consists of the credits, a "light show" that supposedly depicts the "Divine Light" seen in meditation, a cartoon introduction to the Rawat religion, pretty poor quality documentary scenes of animal life, a brief apocalytpic "satsang" (sermon) by the young Rawat in Los Angeles 1972 and scenes purporting to demonstrate the horrors of life: refugee camps, Hong Kong water dwellers, city night-life and congestion, North Vietnamese anti-aircraft batteries, shooting at B-52's, a scene from a Kung Fu movie, repression of anti-war demonstrations in the USA, natural disasters and a New York cityscape which fades into a swan moving over the water. The swan or Hansa (or Hamsa) was an important spiritual symbol of truth and purity in Hinduism and especially so in Divine Light Mission as Prem Rawat's father and predecessor as Perfect Master was called 'Hans.'

The light show that is supposed to recreate the appearance of Divine Light and Sound as seen through Prem Rawat's meditation techniques. It demonstrates why no-one would practice these techniques more that once or twice if they didn't believe they had some spiritual value as, quite simply, it's boring even though it's much more colourful and tuneful than the meditation in real life.

I am unsure whether the poor quality of the nature scenes is due to the film fading over the last 30 years sitting in cans in an attic or whether our standards have risen dramatically because of the wonderful quality of television nature documentaries available over the last 30 years. The connections that Divine Light Mission and Élan Vital films try to make between Rawatism and the beauties of natural world are completely spurious. All the specific activities of followers of Rawat's have no connnection with "nature". They include sitting in halls watching DVDs of Rawat's speeches, sitting under blankets meditating and clerical, administrative and money-raising activities.

The cartoon section gives a standardised retelling of a "typical" journey of a person through birth, growth, questioning, life experiences and the coming to "Knowledge"

The lotus flower is another important spiritual symbol in Hinduism and especially so in Divine Light Mission where Prem Rawat's feet were kissed by his followers in darshan lines and were called the Divine Lotus Feet ie they stood in the dirt but remained completely pure and divine. The Lotus flowers' roots are deep in the mud (maya) but it's flowers float above the water at all times. IN DLM's 1970's incarnation, Rawat taught that the techniques of meditation his followers were taught would actually change them into people who would rise above the "maya."

Rawat's early Western speeches (satsangs) often contained an apocalyptic message though with the optimistic extra that God in the form of the Perfect Master (and you know that is) was on the planet and would probably save humanity and usher in the Golden Age of love and peace whereas in India he spoke of these times as Kali Yuga.

"Man, we can finally understand that what man has got in his brain is to destroy the whole world. He does not understand that if he tries to cut the same branch he is sitting on he will also fall down. He doesn't understand that so he is trying to cut the same branch on which he is sitting. He is trying to cut away the same world he is sitting on he is on. Now if this will be destroyed then where the man will live?"

A series of scenes of poverty, urban overcrowding, violence, war, repression, natural disasters and urban decay fades into the lone swan (symbol of purity and truth, the Satguru or Perfect Master) swimming about in perfect peace and then fades into an idyllic scene of the fat, teenage Godboy Guru MaharaJ Ji (Prem Rawat) walking down a country path leading his blissful and worshipful devotees.

Who is Guru Maharaj Ji?
Who is the artist of creation?
That's the question you must ask
Ask till you know the answer

What is the purpose of your living?
What is the meaning of your breath?
And death? Is it to serve?
Why do we deserve this precious human body?

Since history began,
We have killed our fellow man,
Has there ever been a time of peace?
Can He make this sickness cease?

Who is Guru Maharaj Ji?
What is a Master of perfection?
That's the question you must ask
Ask til you know the answer(s)

What keeps the universe in motion?
Can problems be solved by devotion?
Is there truly a master plan?
Can this planet be saved by man?

Watch who'll be feeding all the people
Watch who will wash away the tears
Watch the fruit(s) of his knowledge
Cast away your fears

Who is Guru Maharaj Ji?
Who is the lover of your soul?
That's the question you must ask
The answer you must know

Written and sung by Allan Thomas