Talk:Prem Rawat/Teachings

What's happening
I am bringing all the teachings/scholars quotes I can find and amalgamating them here. I have roughly done the "history" part and now I am blending stuff into "Rawat Indian Style" which has a long way to go.Momento 20:51, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

Teachings of Prem Rawat
Prem Rawat has been a speaker and teacher on the subject of inner peace since 1966 when at the age of eight he succeeded his teacher Hans Ji Maharaji. After five years teaching and touring in India whilst still at school, Rawat travelled to the west where he taught the techniques of Knowledge in much the same style as he had done in India. By the early 80s Rawat had recognised the limitations of an Indian based philosophy and changed his teaching to appeal to a universal audience.

History
Scholars have variously claimed that Rawat's teaching comes from Sant tradition as embodied in the Sant Mat, Advait Mat and Radhasoami schools. The Sant teachings are distinguished theologically by inward loving devotion to a divine principle, universalism, equality, direct experience, criticism of blind allegiance to religious ritual and dogma, a tendency towards syncretism, and socially by an egalitarianism opposed to the qualitative distinctions of the Hindu caste hierarchy and to the religious differences between Hindu and Muslim.

Sants believe that true religion was a matter of surrendering to God "who dwells in the heart" and that the Guru or Perfect Master, is "an embodiment of God on earth, a fitting object of worship and veneration" and that "guru is greater than God because if you go to guru, guru will show you God". Kabir, a noted Sant teacher wrote "Guru and God both appear before me. To whom should I prostrate? :I bow before Guru who introduced God to me".

Although Rawat doesn't attribute his teachings to any particular school he has claimed a lineage from Shri Totapuri ji Maharaj (1780-1866), master of Shri Anandpuri ji Maharaj (1782-1872), master of Param Hans Dayal Shri Advaitanand ji (1840-1919), master of Shri Swarupanand ji Maharaj (1884-1936) master to his father and Guru, Yogiraj Param Hans Satgurudev Shri Hans ji Maharaj (1900-1966) whom Rawat succeeded in 1966. Shri Hans was taught the "Techniques of Knowledge" or kriyas by Swarupanand in 1923; an experience that Sri Hans later described : "I was given no mantra, but experienced Knowledge. I experienced the music and light of my heart. My mind was focused within".

According to David Barret, these techniques have some similarities to techniques in Sant Mat derived movements and may be derived from Surat Shabd Yoga[6]. Kranenborg also writes that the techniques of Knowledge originated from the Surat Shabda Yoga or Sant Mat, the Path of the Sound Current, and that some of they techniques are related to the 'japa-' or mantra-yoga that are similar to some techniques of Transcendental meditation and the Hare Krishnas.[7] According to the Dutch religious scholar and Christian minister Reender Kranenborg and the American religious scholar J. Gordon Melton, these techniques of Knowledge "are secret and were originally were called "Light", "Sound", "Name" or "Word" and "Nectar" but Maharaji now refers to them as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th techniques. [8][7][9][10] Kranenbord and Melton provide a description of them in their writing, based upon reports they received from others. "Light" involves careful pressure on the eyes, seeking to open the "third eye" after a long period of training and practice. This is comparable to similar Tantric practices. "Sound" involves positioning the hands over the ears and temples, with the goal of hearing the "heavenly music". This is reported to be related to sabda-brahman meditation. "Name", or "Word", employs mantras, seeking to connect the practioner with the divine. "Nectar" includes tongue positioning, eventually leading the student to taste the "nectar of life". It is said to use yoga breathing methods.[7][9] Michael Drury, describe these techniques as helping the practitioner to develop "a deep and spiritual self-knowledge.

In 1926, Swarupanand ji asked Shri Hans to start teaching the "Techniques of Knowledge" and for the next 10 years Sri Hans traveled through what is today known as Pakistan and northern India. A strong bond of teacher/disciple was formed between them which Swarupanand reportedly referred to as follows: "I am in Hans' heart and Hans is in my heart". In 1936, Sri Swarupanand ji died and reported indications about Hans' succession made by Swarupanand were later contested by a group of mahatmas that did not appreciate the fact that Hans ji was married making him a "householder", a status that in their views as renunciates was not acceptable. After the rift, Sri Hans was left with only a handful of people to help him continue his work branched out on his own with the understanding that he had his teacher's blessings, and continued teaching throughout the Indian sub-continent. As Sri Hans ji Maharaj's message was spreading throughout north India, several initiatives were taken to facilitate his work, including the publishing of a monthly magazine named Hansadesh in 1951 and the formation of the Divine Light Mission (DLM).

According to Reinhart Hummel, Hans was influenced by the Sant tradition and the Bhagavad Gita. He asserts that from the former comes the reduction of Hinduism to the inner realization of the divine and the veneration of the guru, and from the latter comes the emphasis on the practical life. Hummel describes the DLM did has not having a systematic set of teachings, neither during Hans' time nor during Prem's time, and that in the satsangs by Prem Rawat in the West, the "mind" was declared the main enemy of direct religious experience. Hummel also asserts that the influence of the North Indian Sant tradition dominated Hans' eclectic thinking., and that from the Sant-tradition further came the rejection of outward rituals and ceremonies; the rejection of asceticism in favor of life as a householder; the rejection of veneration of idols and the focus on the guru as the manifestation of the divine.

In 1963 Shri Hans taught his four sons the "Techniques of Knowledge" and when he died in 1966 his youngest son Prem (later known as Maharaji and recently as Prem Rawat) addressed thousands of grieving students saying, "When Guru Maharaj ji was here, what did he do? He gave Knowledge to everyone and he gave of himself as if it would never end. Everyone kept taking from that endless treasure and now he has passed so much power over to me. He told me to do his work, and Guru Maharaj Ji is in front of us. He is wiithin my heart and everywhere". His succession was generally accepted when the crowd responded to him as their teacher. Afterwards, his mother and brothers came on stage to pay their respects to him. So began Rawat's role as Satguru or Perfect master.

Rawat in India 1966-1971
Upon succeeding his father Rawat was officially the autocratic leader of the DLM, but because of Rawat's age authority was shared by the whole family. During week ends and school holidays Rawat began speaking and teaching "the Techniques of Knowledge". Jeffrey K. Hadden cites Maharaji in saying that "Knowledge is a way to be able to take all your senses that have been going outside all your life, turn them around and put them inside to feel and to actually experience you...(because) What you are looking for is inside of you."[12]

According to Stephen J Hunt, a professor of sociology, the major focus of Rawat is on stillness, peace, and contentment within the individual, and his 'Knowledge' consists of the techniques to obtain them. Knowledge, roughly translated, means the happiness of the true self-understanding. Each individual should seek to comprehend his or her true self. In turn, this brings a sense of well-being, joy, and harmony as one comes in contact with one's "own nature."[52]

Although no beliefs or ethical practices in terms of rules and regulations were taught, the fundamental practices of inner peace were embodied and experienced through satsang, service and meditation, the sum of which is an experience Prem Rawat, or Maharaji, called "Knowledge." The practice of Knowledge resulted for many in an inner calm and contentment which guided their behavior in the place of a belief system. Members of the DLM meditated formally twice daily and attended discourse on the Knowledge (satsang) when possible. Vegetarianism was encouraged but not enforced.

Rawat in the West 1971-1983
Rawat first left India in 1971 and by 1972 had relocated to the USA.

According to a text book about the sociology of religion, "the early years of the Divine Light Mission (DLM) in the United States were characterized by rapidly growing, loosely affiliated local ashrams [..] united mainly by the devotion to the ambiguous charismatic figure of Guru Maharaj Ji." By the end of 1973, tens of thousands had been initiated in the U.S., and several hundred centers as well as over twenty ashrams, which housed approximately 500 of the most dedicated premies, had emerged.

Several religious scholars and journalists condemned Rawat's talks in the West as banal and lacking in substance and Rawat, who frequently acted like the teenager that he was in public, was seen as immature and hence unfit to be a religious leader, his behavior being “nonsensical” and “unpredictable.” Rawat was harshly criticised by several Christian scholars. Jan van der Lans, a scholar at the Catholic University of Nijmegen claimed that Maharaji is an example of a guru who has become a charlatan leading a double life. On the one hand, he tried to remain loyal to the role in which he was forced and to the expectations of his students, yet on the other hand, his private life was one of idleness and pleasure, which was only known to small circle of insiders. According to van der Lans, one could consider him either a fraud or a victim of his surroundings. And Reender Kranenborg wrote that when Christians get into dialogue with premies that the lifestyle of the guru is of great importance. He argued that a satguru who drives an expensive car and owns a big yacht may not be a problem for premies, but it is a problem for Christians and that they should ask premies why Maharaj ji does not live what Kranenborg considers to be a normal and simple life. Wim Haan, a student of theology at a Pastoral and Theology school claimed "that the battle against the mind sometimes degenerated into complete irrationality, that sometimes premies branded every critical and objective approach as "mind", and that they often avoided discussions with outsiders because these discussions could possibly stimulate the mind. And that "the DLM hardly had a philosophical background and that its central items of faith were summarized in the song associated with the Hindu devotional ritual called aarti". Haan further wrote in that article that the DLM in India was involved in charity and social work but that the spiritual side received more emphasis at the expense of the social work when it came to the West. In India, Rawat was seen as a subject of great controversy and a major heretic. According to the 1976 book "The New Religious Consciousness" - "any man who says that all scriptures are true, that Buddha, Mohammed, Moses, Jesus, Krishna, and a host of others were all Christ, is a heretic everywhere. To many Western devotees he is plainly a Christian, but there is no clear definition there either". Ex-members attacked the group with standard anti-cult charges of brainwashing and mind control.

James V. Downton, in his 1979 book Sacred Journeys, writes that in 1976 the majority of premies saw Rawat primarily as their "spiritual teacher, guide, and inspiration", and quit imputing great powers to him, assuming more responsibility for their own personal growth. He asserts that, since the beginning, Rawat appealed to his followers to give up beliefs and concepts, so that they could experience the Knowledge more fully, but that it did not prevent followers from adopting a "a fairly rigid set of ideas about his divinity and the coming of a new age."

After shuffling the top leadership of the Mission, Guru Maharaj Ji began to decentralize organizational initiative and power by turning some of the decision-making over to local premie communities, while he maintained his status as the ultimate authority over spiritual and secular matters. This move stimulated another change in the movement by encouraging independent action on the part of premies. For example, the guru had inspired greater autonomy by saying in January 1976: "Don't expect that all these premies who are in the ashram right now are going to stay in the ashram. I hope they don't."7 This comment had the effect of producing a widespread exodus from the ashrams that year, which gave rise to an individualistic attitude.

Relating to the aspects of charisma, Geaves asserts that Rawat does not consider himself to be a charismatic figure, preferring rather to refer to his teachings on the experience of the individual as the basis of his authority, and that although followers in both east and west have asserted that he is either an avatar of the supreme being or one of the avatars of Vishnu, especially Krishna, he has gone to great lengths to assert his humanity and deconstruct the hagiography that has developed around his life.[85]

According to George D. Chryssides, Knowledge is "based on self-understanding, providing the practitioner with calmness, peace, and contentment, as the inner-self is identical with the divine, and that Maharaji emphasizes that Knowledge is universal, not Indian, in nature". Lans and Derks wrote that according to Maharaj Ji, "all evil should be attributed to the mind", and that such concept of mind indicates the obstacle of freeing oneself from former bonds, referring primarily to a "state of consciousness characterized by everything but passive, nonrational confidence and trust."

According to a study performed by Jeanne Messer in 1976 the adherents of the Divine Light Mission underwent several psychological changes after they learned and began practicing the techniques of Knowledge, or inner peace, including experiencing benefits from meditation such as increased energy levels, an increased awareness of coincidences and a tendency to see them as divine interventions, as well as improvements in their marriage and work life. "Although there were still residues of belief in his divinity, in 1976, the vast majority [of premies] viewed the guru primarily as their spiritual teacher, guide, and inspiration. [...] Having quit imputing great powers to Guru Maharaj Ji by the end of 1976, premies assumed much more responsibility for their own spiritual growth. [...]From the beginning Guru Maharaj Ji appealead to premies to give up their beliefs and concepts so that the might experience the Knowledge, or life force more fully[...] Yet Guru Maharaj Ji's emphasis on giving up beliefs and concepts, did not prevent premies from adopting a fairly rigid set of ideas about his divinity and the coming of a new age.

In another study by Galanter, in cooperation with P Buckley, R and J Rabkin, on group influence for decreased drug use, it is presented that members of the DLM, many of whom had been involved in the counterculture of the early 1970s, reported incidence of drug use prior to joining which was much above that of a non-member comparison group. Reported levels were considerably lower after joining, and the decline was maintained over an average membership of 2 years.[citation needed] In spite of the many references that he used to make to Hindu mythology and his former usage of Hindu terminology in his teachings, he used to say, and still says, that Knowledge is independent of and compatible with all religions. Even in the 1970s, his students came from many religious backgrounds and Rawat himself has often quoted Rumi (Iran) and other masters that were not of Indian origin. Rawat has been vigorously criticized by the magazine Hinduism Today for not being aligned with traditional Hindu beliefs. James Downton, in a study of followers he performed during 1972 through 1976, writes that despite Maharaji's emphasis on giving up beliefs and concepts to experience Knowledge more fully, this did not prevent premies from adopting a rigid set of ideas about his divinity, but that by 1976, the majority of premies had abandoned their beliefs in their guru's divinity, viewing him primarily as a spiritual teacher and guide and started assuming much more responsibility for their spiritual growth. [18]

Kranenborg wrote in a 1982 article that "in Maharaj ji's satsangs one can notice a speaking style that resembles very much some Christian evangelization campaigns: a pressing request, an emphasis on the last possibility to choose before it is too late and a terminology in which one is requested to surrender to the Lord, in this case Maharaj ji himself."[46] Rawat denied claims to be divine in several interviews given to the press and on television.[48][49] In 1971 he had said that yes, he is human (with) hands, bone (and) lungs but that "guru is greater than God because if you go to guru, guru will show you God"ǘ

In 1979, Singer mentioned the Divine Light Movement as one of a set of groups that have "intense relationships between followers and a powerful idea or leader", in an article in Psychology Today.[60]

The author David V. Barrett writes in his book The New Believers, that the "the flamboyant and definitively Eastern-inspired Divine Light Mission", has matured into something new changing its name to reflect a current emphasis as well as to distance itself from the past. Barrett asserts that the fact that Rawat came from a lineage of 'Perfect Masters', is no longer relevant as that is not where the authority comes from, neither from the recognition of Rawat as the master by his student, rather, this comes from "the nature of the teachings and its benefit to the individual." He also writes that "the Divine Light movement used to be criticized for the devotion given to Maharaji, who was thought to live a life of luxury on the donations of his followers" but a spokesperson "clearly conscious of past criticism, is emphatic that Maharaji has never earned anything from Elan Vital or any other movement promoting his teachings". Barrett continues that "the experience is an individual, subjective experience rather than on a body of dogma, and in its Divine Light days the movement was sometime criticized for this stressing of emotional experience over intellect.

The sociologist Ralph Larkin with Daniel A. Foss wrote in 1978 that the DLM "emphasized formal structure without substantive content."[111] In response the religious scholar Dr. Ron Geaves, who is a student of Prem Rawat, accused them of bias, pointing to the number of students that were attracted to the DLM.[112]

The psychiatrist Saul V. Levine, who has published several articles about cults and new religious movements, wrote in an article titled Life in Cults, published in 1989, that public perception is that the Divine Light Mission, the Hare Krishna, the Unification Church, and the Children of God are seen as cults held in low esteem and that families' perceptions "that their children are being financially exploited" is one of the most pernicious and malevolent aspects of these groups, where "the leaders live in ostentation and offensive opulence." He also wrote that "[...] in the Divine Light Mission, members are expected to turn over all material possessions and earnings to the religion and to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, meat, and sex".[115]

1983 - Westernisation of Knowledge
By the late 70s Rawat came to recognize that the Indian influences on his followers in the West were a hindrance to the wider acceptance of his teachings. He therefore changed the style of his message and relinquished the the Hindu tradition, beliefs, and most of its original eastern religious practices.

The Encyclopedia of American Religions describes that in the early 1980s Rawat personally renounced the trappings of Indian culture and religion, and disbanded the DLM, to make his teachings independent of culture, religious beliefs, and lifestyles.[13] Other scholars, such as Kranenborg, George D. Chryssides and Ron Geaves also described a departure from divine connotations.[56][57] Rawat continued delivering the four techniques of Knowledge which, according to Chryssides, afford self-understanding and self-realization, in a manner that is independent of culture and not bound to the traditions of India.[58]59

As Rawat matured from boyhood to adulthood, he removed Indian connotations from his message[19]. In the early 1980s, he began to dismantle the remnants of Indian culture and adopted a more universal style that was independent of culture, religion and belief. The Denver DLM headquarters and the ashrams were closed. He asked to be referred to as “Maharaji” instead of “Guru Maharaj Ji.” Divine Light Mission, the organization founded by his father, had its named changed to Elan Vital. [20]

Melton, Gordon, Encyclopedia of American Religions 7th edition. Thomson (2003) p.2328 ISBN 0-7876-6384-0 "In the early 1980s, Maharaj Ji moved to disband the Divine Light Mission and he personally renounced the trappings of Indian culture and religion, disbanding the mission, he founded Elan Vital, an organization to support his future role as teacher." [...]Maharaji had made every attempt to abandon the traditional Indian religious trappings in which the techniques originated and to make his presentation acceptable to all the various cultural settings in which followers live. He sees his teachings as independent of culture, religion, beliefs, or lifestyles, and regularly addresses audiences in places as culturally diverse as India, Japan, Taiwan, the Ivory Coast, Slovenia, Mauritius and Venezuela, as well as North America, Europe and the South Pacific.

In this new role, "he may be reaching more listeners than ever, especially abroad, but his role is that of a public speaker, and the original religious movement is essentially defunct."[64] An article published on 4 December 1987 in The Times of India, describes Rawat's mission as involving international tours during which he explains to "people in general without any distinction of caste, color, race, stature, or wealth that the source of happiness, peace and contentment lies within one's own self. [...] He is trying to prepare humanity to face and overcome the present day tussle and turmoil prevailing in the world in the name of achieving world peace, on individual basis. In fact what Maharaj Ji is trying to do is not being comprehended by most of the people, with the results that he is included in the category of those persons who have become mere machines to collect wealth, while Maharaj Ji has taken a pledge to complete this huge task without any monetary consideration."[6

In a study by Marc Galanter in 2002 about the healing effects of spiritual affiliation6, he found that social and spiritual recovery occurred naturally in certain groups. In the study, Galanter presents as an example the fact that members of the DLM experienced a reduction of symptoms of psychological distress after they joined the group.[citation needed]

Michael Drury, describe these techniques as helping the practitioner to develop "a deep and spiritual self-knowledge." [11] [edit]Experience

Glen Whitaker, former national organizer of Elan Vital in the UK, says "That which we seek is already within us. The process of reaching it is one of learning to experience what is already there. It is one the individual needs to perform for him — or herself, with the guidance and help of the teacher".[13]

According to George D. Chryssides, this Knowledge was based on self-understanding, providing the practitioner with calmness, peace, and contentment, as the inner-self is identical with the divine, and that Maharaji emphasizes that Knowledge is universal, not Indian, in nature.[14] According to Stephen J. Hunt "the major focus of Maharaji is on stillness, peace, and contentment within the individual, and his 'Knowledge' consists of the techniques to obtain them. Knowledge, roughly translated, means the happiness of the true self-understanding. Each individual should seek to comprehend his or her true self. In turn, this brings a sense of well-being, joy, and harmony as one comes in contact with one's "own nature." The Knowledge includes four meditation procedures: Light, Music, Nectar and Word. The process of reaching the true self within can only be achieved by the individual, but with the guidance and help of a teacher. Hence, the movement seems to embrace aspects of world-rejection and world-affirmation. The tens of thousands of followers in the West do not see themselves as members of a religion, but the adherents of a system of teachings that extol the goal of enjoying life to the full."[15] The experience of Knowledge is described by practitioners as highly internal and individual. The techniques are to be practised privately, with no social structure or hierarchy related to their practice. According to students, there is no liturgy or social obligation involved, but Maharaji instructs them to practise the techniques daily for at least one hour to fully benefit from them. They also say that the techniques are universally applicable and their practice has no impact on or relationship to a student's gender, race, sexual orientation, economic status or national origin. Elan Vital, the organization that succeeded the Divine Light Mission, also states that practice of Knowledge will not affect a person's religion.[16] [edit]Knowledge sessions

In his early days in the West, Prem Rawat or his instructors (called Mahatmas in India) conducted these sessions face-to-face with small groups. As of the 2001 the techniques are taught via a multimedia presentation made by Maharaji. It is available in more than 50 languages (of which he speaks five himself: English, Hindi, Nepalese, Spanish and Italian. The other languages are dubbed). In this presentation, Maharaji explains the techniques step-by-step, demonstrating them in ample detail, to ensure that these are understood and practised correctly. The process takes 2 1/2 hours, of which one hour is dedicated to practicing the techniques, 15 minutes each. Before the presentation starts, people can hear Maharaji asking for three promises: a) to keep in touch, b) to give Knowledge a fair chance, and c) to not to share these techniques with anyone. He then asks attendees to stay and receive "the gift of Knowledge" if they agree with these three promises.[10] The Knowledge sessions are facilitated by volunteers that operate the video equipment and ensure the comfort of the attendees and assist them if needed. Knowledge sessions are available throughout the year in most Western countries mainly during weekends. In India, due to the large number of people, there are Knowledge sessions every day of the year. In special cases such as people in hospitals, or bed-ridden, etc, these volunteers go to these people to conduct the Knowledge session at their convenience. As of 2005, there is a self-paced process of preparation, called "The Keys," that must be completed before a person is taught the techniques of Knowledge. Going through the Keys process involves watching video materials in which Maharaji helps the person develop the understanding necessary to learn the techniques of Knowledge. [17] Wim Haan, who belonged to a critical movement within the Roman Catholic Church wrote in an article while he was a student of theology at a seminary in a small town in the Netherlands that receiving Knowledge involved a formal initiation that the aspirant had to keep secret and that he believed that the reason for the secrecy was a direct connection between the techniques, the initiation and the need to live a life of devotion to Rawat. Haan, who did not receive the techniques of Knowledge, also wrote that the fact that other groups may also use the same techniques would probably not help to increase the interest in them. Haan wrote this article based on observations of the Dutch branch of the defunct DLM between 1980 and 1981. [18] [