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Maharaji is the only person who is allowed to
give aspirants Knowledge, with rare exceptions as
previously described. Only Maharaji and the few
full-time initiators are allowed to give satsang
and talk about the experience of meditation. Thus,
the making and distribution of videotapes of
Maharaji speaking has increased tremendously.
Videos of his speeches are sent all over the world,
along with introductory videos for interested
newcomers, special videos for aspirants, and
"feature" videos for premies. Each country has had
to develop an organization to sell, transcribe,
duplicate, and show these videos.
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Elan Vital has established non-profit organizations in a
number of countries, with a few exceptions, such as
Switzerland and some Muslim countries (which don't allow
that type of organization). The status of these non-profit
organizations has to be compatible with that of Elan Vital
in the United States, for US legal reasons.
Typically Elan Vital has a national representative known as
a "responsible" in each country. This person is
helped by a team of assistants, who take care of activities
such as finances, renting halls, the aspirant program, video
distribution, and security. Security is very developed, and
involves the protection of Maharaji himself, as well as that
of premies during conferences.
Maharaji travels much more now than he did in the
mid-eighties. He has purchased a Challenger jet, but has
recently traded up to a Gulfstream
V, worth approximately 41 million dollars. This allows
him to appear at programs (or "events") in over 100 places
per year, should he so desire. He usually travels twice
around the world per year for his tours, and is quite proud
of this. Arranging his travel and events is very expensive
and requires a large international support organization.
Maharaji is still married to the former Marolyn Johnson, and
has four children. Premlata, born in 1975, is the
oldest. He has a younger daughter, Daya, and two
sons, Hansi and Amar. Daya is a talented
singer, and performs at many of Maharaji's programs and in
several videos and music CD's released by his organization.
Premlata works for Visions International and
occasionally performs on stage with Daya. Hansi and Amar are
rarely seen.
Maharaji's full time staff includes a co-pilot, a flight
engineer, and a stewardess. He always travels with his valet
(who is also in charge of his personal security), and with
his secretary (who handles his flight plans and schedules).
He often has as many as five people from Visions
International traveling with him: two in charge of
the stage and the production of the show, two cameramen, and
one person taking notes during his talk to facilitate
editing. He also has a personal full-time photographer.
Instructors often travel with him to assist him during
Knowledge sessions and to help with conference
preparation.
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