Knowledge

Prem Rawat has "de-emphasised" use of the term 'meditation' in respect to the "Techniques of Knowledge" that he 'reveals' in an attempt to distance himself further in public perception from other people teaching meditation. However, there is no doubt that he does teach a form of meditation and that is how his "Knowledge" was presented for decades and how his father and predecessor also described it.

For reasons that are not clear, Prem Rawat has altered the terminology he uses to describe himself and his teachings and that he wishes his followers to use many times in the last 35 years. However the basic, underlying tenets of his public teaching have remained unchanged.

His Knowledge is a method to contact the source of life within each human being

There are four physical methods of contacting this Elan Vital in this Knowledge

He is the only person able to reveal and empower his Knowledge and as such he is unique

There have been others who have had this unique power throughout human history and they include his father and Jesus Christ

Despite their inherent capability, these techniques are useless without the student committing to Knowledge and maintaining a connection to him.

The practice of this Knowledge results in Inner Peace and Joy independent of life's vicissitudes if a connection to him is maintained

The appropriate mode of connection to him is worship and devotion

There are also some private teachings that are not given overtly but are learnt from other students indirectly or as events occur.

Devotion to Prem Rawat is the most important and rewarding part of the practice of Knowledge
Due to his position and the stress it causes Prem Rawat should have the greatest wealth and comfort and opulence possible
Prem Rawat has the power to alter any of the preceding at any time

In 1987 in a series of meetings with his followers he even altered some of the physical techniques themselves and the description of the internal experiences during meditation even though this Knowledge is claimed to be the same knowledge and the same inner experience of the source of life within each person taught as far back as Jesus' time and further back to the time of Krishna and Ram.

The language used to discuss Knowledge has changed considerably during the tenure of Prem Rawat as Perfect Master. He is not even ordinarily referred to as a Perfect Master anymore. At times in the last 25 years his followers have called him: Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji, Balyogeshwar Param Sant Ji Maharaj, the Speaker, the Invited Speaker, the Internationally Renowned Teacher of Inner Peace as he has directed them. However while the words change the basis is the same. Maharaji's Meditation Techniques have new names and slightly different methods but there are still four of them.

Divine Light:	First Technique:
Universal Harmonies or Music:	Second Technique:
Holy Name or The Word:	Third Technique:
Nectar of the Gods:	Fourth Technique

In the 1970s and parts of the 80's, a Mahatma/Initiator/Instructor/Part Time Instructor explained how to do the four techniques of meditation and the rules for practising the Knowledge according to Prem Rawat. Now this is done through the use of a DVD of Prem Rawat giving the instructions.

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.

In the 1970's, before being shown the techniques, the people who were going to receive Knowledge would have to take vows to Guru Maharaj Ji:

Never to reveal the meditation techniques
To follow Maharaji's five commandments
To practice satsang, service, and meditation

and repeat the following prayer:

'Oh my Guru Maharaji, I dedicate myself to your lotus feet. I am weak and ignorant and am filled with the impurities of this world. Oh Guru Maharaji, please take my mind and purge me of the impurities I possess. Reveal to me the knowledge of all knowledge. Strengthen me, uplift me and reveal the kingdom of heaven within inside of me. Bring me from hate to love, from darkness to light, death to immortality. I will OBEY you implicitly and will never reveal this knowledge to anyone for any reason. I will keep in contact with you through my DEVOTIONAL LOVE, satsang, meditation and service. Thank you my LORD for everything.'

Now, Maharaji asks for three promises:

to give the practice of Knowledge a fair chance;
to keep in touch with him for inspiration and guidance;
and not to reveal the techniques to anyone.

The further you immerse yourself in the practise of Knowledge the more you will learn how these are basically identical. The earlier statements were simple and straightforward, the later ones vague and indefinite, the underlying reality, the same.

Prem Rawat continually states that his Knowledge is not a religion or spiritual path. His critics agree to a certain extent. The claim his Knowledge is a false religion and certainly not spiritual. Many of Rawat's followers believe they are on a spiritual path and are having the same experiences that the great saints and mystics had in prior times. They are not able to convince many others of this though.

It is very easy to take Knowledge and to take what I am doing and put it on the parallel tracks of religion but This is about as far from religion as it gets. Because religion is a discipline so that after you die you go to heaven. You do everything right, then you've got an Indian heaven, you got a Chinese heaven, this heaven, that heaven, busy place."

"I'm not saying that those people who don't have Knowledge are gonna go to hell." "But can they be happy?" (voice from audience) "Huh?" "Can they be happy?" (voice from audience) "Can they be happy? Without going to hell? Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha. Um. Uh uh."

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It is very easy to take Knowledge and to take what I am doing and put it on the parallel tracks of religion but This is about as far from religion as it gets. Because religion is a discipline so that after you die you go to heaven. You do everything right, then you've got an Indian heaven, you got a Chinese heaven, this heaven, that heaven, busy place."
"I'm not saying that those people who don't have Knowledge are gonna go to hell." "But can they be happy?" (voice from audience) "Huh?" "Can they be happy?" (voice from audience) "Can they be happy? Without going to hell? Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha. Um. Uh uh."