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9/11/2000
Dear all,
I took a break from posting because was in the
process of responding to the Élan
Vital’s FAQ regarding Jagdeo, “Has
Élan Vital covered up alleged past improper
behavior?” Now that I have received an
official response from EV, here is my report on the
actions I have taken.
After much thought as to how best respond to
EV’s FAQ, I decided to write a letter to Rawat
and try to have it delivered to him directly. I was
able to accomplish this with the assistance of
Michael Dettmers. Although Michael was not sure
that he could succeed in getting my letter
delivered directly to Rawat since he had had no
contact with Rawat for at least a decade, he
promised me that he would use whatever
“residual influence” he may still have to
see that my letter was delivered personally to
Rawat by someone who has direct access to him. To
that end, Michael enclosed my letter inside a
personal letter he wrote to Rawat. When Rawat
received Michael’s letter, he did not know the
purpose of Michael’s communiqué nor
that it contained my letter. Given EV’s
subsequent responses to our letters, I am confident
that Rawat received my letter. What follows are
copies of our letters and EV’s responses.
My letter to Rawat (I am editing the
original letter I sent to respect the privacy of
another victim)
July 19, 2000
Dear Mr. Rawat,
My name is Susan Haupt. I am the person known
as “Susan” who has made public on the
”Ex-premie Website” my experience with
Jagdeo when I was a teenager.
I am writing to you now in response to claims
made on your Élan Vital website in a new
section called FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). In
response to the question “Has Élan
Vital covered up alleged past improper
behavior?” you state that “We are aware
that some opposing sites make allegations in
particular against one individual concerning events
alleged to have happened 25 years ago. This kind of
behavior, if true, is completely unacceptable to
Élan Vital and we would be as appalled as
anyone if this was found to be true. The only
information we have comes from postings on these
sites. We were able to contact two individuals who
made these allegations and asked that they help
shed light on what happened but as yet have
received no cooperation from them. As it stands
Élan Vital has still received no direct
information from any of the alleged victims and to
date no complaint has been filed with Élan
Vital or with any authorities”.
Mr. Rawat let me assure you that twice in the
past I have reported what had happened to me and
what I knew about Jagdeo. First to Randy Prouty and
secondly to Judy Osborne who both allegedly now
claim “no recollection” of the
conversations I had with them. So naturally, I feel
insulted that you think I am unwilling to come
forward with a complaint, nor do I have any trust
that Élan Vital really wishes to seriously
investigate this matter. However, I still have deep
concern that Jagdeo may still be molesting
children, despite his advanced age, and if
reporting this matter a third time might allow you
to finally stop him, I shall do so.
Although I am now 38 and happily married with
three children, in 1977, I was a 15-year-old premie
living in Miami. I had been very involved with the
Divine Light Mission for the previous two years and
had received knowledge from Mahatma Jagdeo in
January 1975. I was very sincere in my commitment
to “Guru Maharaj Ji” and when I sang arti
I believed every word. I also lined up with the
other premies to receive darshan. I believed I was
a part of the greatest miracle of the perfect
master incarnating on earth to bring Knowledge and
peace to mankind.
I point this out now because, had I not believed
these things, I might have dealt with what I knew
about Jagdeo differently. How I dealt with what did
happen is something I regret tremendously. To
understand what happened, and how it happened, one
really has to recall the common premie beliefs of
that time. These were beliefs that you were
obviously well aware of and promoted. I went to
satsang nearly every night, meditated morning and
night, and attended every festival I could. I
believed you were the perfect master, superior
power in person, my Lord, my satguru. I believed
you to be a benevolent, kind, messiah-like
figure.
So in 1977, I was 15, when Jagdeo returned to
Miami, I was thrilled because, as my initiator, he
was special to me. He also seemed to have a special
fondness for children. At my knowledge selection
and session, several young girls with flowers in
their hair sat at his feet. At this time in DLM,
Mahatmas were treated with great respect, and
certainly it was an honor for these girls to sit
facing the crowd, at Mahatma Ji’s feet.
Everyone knew he seemed to love children. In 1977,
he invited me, then 15, and another
(edited for privacy) to the
Venetian pool in Coral Gables. I felt honored. An
ashram premie brother drove us there (I do not
remember his name). While we were in the pool,
Jagdeo rubbed up against me over and over. He did
this especially in the caves there. But, I did not
think too much about it, I thought it was
accidental.
When we returned to the ashram
(edited for privacy) and I
were alone with him for the first time. He began
singing songs and shouting “Bhole Shri Satguru
Dev Maharaj Ki Jai” a lot. We would sing and
cheer with him. After each song or cheer he would
hug us. At first it just seemed like we were
expressing joy over being premies and the fact that
Guru Maharaj Ji, the living perfect master, was
here and we were his devotees. But, these hugs
evolved into something else. Each time he would hug
us, his hands would end up on our breasts or
buttocks. I would try to wiggle out of these hugs
without being obviously disrespectful to him. I
could not believe it was happening. I questioned my
own judgment. I thought maybe in India people did
not know not to touch these areas, I thought maybe
Mahatma Ji was so “pure” that he did not
know. But he was trembling each time he touched us.
(edited for privacy here too, but this
section of the letter makes it clear that I knew of
worse incidents of abuse than what happened to
me) also told me that the other girls at
my knowledge session had experienced some level of
molestation from him, as they refused to go near
him and called him “nasty”.
I was very upset about this and I knew that it had
to end. I was certain as to the correct way to end
it as well. I had to let Guru Maharaj Ji know. I
did not even consider telling my mom, a non-premie,
or the police. Not only did I not want to embarrass
Guru Maharaj Ji by telling, I also genuinely felt
that telling you about this situation was the
ultimate way to find justice. I loved and trusted
you completely, but you were not terribly
accessible to the average premie.
I knew Randy Prouty fairly well from his days
as a community coordinator in Miami in 1975. I
thought highly of him and he had personal access to
you. I felt that telling Randy would be the best
way to let you know. So, when Randy came to Miami
in 1977, I told him what had happened
(edited for privacy here but I did make
it clear to Randy that there was worse abuse and
more victims than just myself). Randy
said “You did the right thing to tell
me,” and that he would tell you. I trusted
Randy, and Guru Maharaj Ji. I felt I had done the
right thing. I was very aware that if Jagdeo did
this over the span of two years to several children
in Miami, that it was likely he did this wherever
he went to many children. But I also felt that, in
telling Randy, I was giving you the information you
needed to stop him.
Later, I saw that Jagdeo seemed to be still
traveling as an initiator. I even saw him in the
entrance to a darshan tunnel. It was very
disturbing to see a child molester as one of the
people greeting people as they came in. I hoped
that maybe you had a guard on him. Now, a few years
later, when I thought about what I had seen, Jagdeo
in the darshan line tunnel, Jagdeo at festivals,
the idea that he had a 24-hour guard seemed
ludicrous. I wondered if perhaps Randy had never
told you as he said he had. Perhaps, he had
downplayed the seriousness of it. One day I was
watching a talk show and the topic was child sexual
abuse and pedophiles. It was emphasized that these
people never get better. Of course, I thought about
Jagdeo.
At that point, I decided to tell my story
again. I knew of Judy Osborne through some premie
friends. I was very involved in natural childbirth
education and knew Judy was Marolyn’s midwife.
I thought perhaps a woman, and a midwife, would
understand how serious this was. I do not remember
if I called her or wrote her, but somehow I got a
message through to her to call me. She did, and I
told her the story. I want to emphasize that I did
not tell her I had ever told Randy, or anyone,
about Jagdeo before. I did this because I wanted
the issue presented to you again. I thought maybe
with all the publicity about pedophiles, the
seriousness of this situation would be recognized.
Judy was very respectful and caring. I felt she did
understand that this was important. She called me
back about a week later and said that she told you,
and that you had heard about this before, and was
glad it was “not a new incident.“
How did I feel? One thing I felt was guilt
for not trusting Randy. Obviously, Randy had indeed
relayed my story to you. I said to Judy, “Yes,
I had told Randy years ago when it had happened,
but I thought he must not have told you as nothing
was done that I could tell.” Judy seemed a
little annoyed that I had not told her about
telling Randy. She said, “Randy is a good guy,
of course he would have told Maharaj Ji”. I
felt it was out of my hands. I do not know if I
considered telling the police at that time. By now,
I had two small children, no means of supporting
myself, and a husband who worked at DECA. I also
still could not imagine why you would not do
something about Jagdeo, if only to protect
yourself. Frankly, I still do not understand
that.
Over a decade later, I was remarried and
living happily in California. I had not thought
much about you or premies for many years. But, when
I got online and discovered the wonders of a search
engine, I thought, “hmm….whatever
happened to the Guru….” and I found
“Ex premie org.” When I relayed what had
happened regarding Jagdeo, I was quickly put in
touch with another victim, Abi. Abi lived in
England when she was molested by Jagdeo much worse
than I was. My worst fears about him were true; it
was one thing to suspect he molested children all
over the globe, now I knew it. This was very
upsetting to me.
Given this background, I’m sure you will
understand why I feel insulted by the statement on
your website that you have contacted the two
victims who refuse to speak to you. To make matters
worse, Glen Whitaker’s insulting letter denies
that I ever reported this before when indeed I have
reported it twice.
So why on earth am I writing to you now?
Frankly, I have grave doubts that this letter will
effect any change whatsoever. But, I do care, very
much, that wherever Jagdeo is, children are in
danger. I do want to do what is right and I do not
trust your organization at all. Frankly, I do not
trust you either. I have many bitter feelings; both
about how the issue of Jagdeo was handled and about
the years I spent worshipping you. Mr. Dettmers,
whom I have found to be a very honorable man,
states that how the matter of Jagdeo was handled
was uncharacteristic of your response to other
similar events of sexual misconduct among the
Mahatmas. Even as a rank and file 'premie” I
had heard stories which support this statement. If
there is some possibility that my reporting this
again will this time lead to a response which can
allow me some closure on this issue, I would
welcome that.
I would appreciate it if you would kindly
acknowledge that you have received and read this
letter. Because I have continued wariness and
mistrust of your organization, I am hesitant to
invite you or your representatives to call or write
me directly. If you would contact Mr. Dettmers with
your response I would be more comfortable with
that. If you have, however, any questions about
this matter, which I can answer, I certainly would
consider making myself available to answer them. It
would be very necessary though, if this were to
occur, that I protect myself from further instances
of an inability on your organization’s part to
remember what I have reported.
Sincerely,
Susan Haupt
Michael’s cover letter to Rawat
July 25, 2000
Dear Maharaji,
I am writing to you because I believe you
would want to be informed about the situation that
is explained fully in the attached letter from
Susan Haupt. She was prompted to write to you
following a recent statement on Élan
Vital’s website under the heading
“FAQ.”
Specifically, she is writing to you about
Élan Vital’s response to the question,
“Has Élan Vital covered up alleged past
improper behavior?” She, quite correctly in my
opinion, takes issue with Élan Vital’s
answer to that rhetorical question and wishes to
make one final effort to set the record straight
about a very serious allegation she has made
repeatedly in the past about improper behavior by
Jagdeo. She is qualified to do so because she was,
at the time, a teenage victim of his sexual
abuse.
Maharaji, I did not know Susan at the time
the incident occurred, but I have since come to
know her as a sincere person of integrity. I am
confident that she is telling the truth. Her only
motive in bringing this situation to your attention
is to provide you with the information necessary
for you to look into her allegation and take
appropriate action.
I have assured Susan that it was my personal
experience that, whenever Maharaji became aware of
improper sexual behavior by any of his instructors,
he took immediate disciplinary action. Thus, I am
at a loss to explain why her previous efforts to
bring this situation to your attention seem to have
failed. My perplexity is compounded by Élan
Vital’s official response to this
matter.
Nevertheless, as Élan Vital has chosen
to make this matter an issue, I feel no compunction
about bringing this matter to your personal
attention. I am confident that you will do what is
necessary to ensure that it is properly
addressed.
Sincerely,
Michael Dettmers
About a week after this letter was delivered,
Michael received the following fax from Marcia
Leitner: (here is a scanned copy of the
original of Marcia
Leitner's letter)
Fax from Marcia Leitner
August 2, 2000
Dear Mr. Dettmers:
Your letter to Maharaji dated July 25, 2000
and the letter you enclosed from Susan Haupt were
forwarded to the Board of Directors of Élan
Vital.
I am a member of the Board of Directors of
Élan Vital and I am also working with
Élan Vital in the human resources area. I
have been asked by Élan Vital’s Board
to review the issues raised in Susan’s
letter.
I will be contacting you next week to discuss
this matter with you further.
Your assistance is greatly
appreciated.
Sincerely,
Marcia Leitner
Marcia Leitner’s phone call with Michael
Dettmers
When Michael spoke to Ms. Leitner she was
professional and friendly. But, some of what she
had to say was very disturbing to me, though I
expected it. She stated that Randy Prouty and Judy
Osborne “did not recall” the
conversations I relayed in my letter. She stated
that Rawat “had not heard” of my reports.
She added that my letter was the first official
complaint EV had received by one of Jagdeo’s
alleged victims. They had heard of the allegations
during the past year “from two other sources,
but not from the alleged victims themselves”,
hence, their official response on their
website.
She wanted Michael to assure me that Maharaji
and Élan Vital do not condone the behavior I
reported. She made it clear that Jagdeo is no
longer serving in any capacity within Élan
Vital throughout the world, that he in now in his
late 70’s, in poor health, and living in a
village in Bihar, India.
Finally, she wanted to know if I would like to
speak with her and if so, would Michael arrange
it.
I considered meeting with Marcia, but ultimately
I decided against this. I did not think I would
gain anything by meeting with her, or any EV
person, other than some satisfaction when they
realized how credible what I am saying is. I did
however, say that I would meet with them to answer
any questions, if they have any, but this meeting
would have to take place with a witness, for the
obvious reason that no one can now recall the times
I have reported what I knew about Jagdeo in the
past.
Élan Vital’s Letter to Me
August 31, 2000
Dear Susan,
Your letter to Maharaji of July 9, 2000 was
forwarded to the Board of Directors of Élan
Vital for response. Thank you for bringing this
matter concerning Jagdeo to our attention. The type
of behavior described in your letter is completely
unacceptable to Élan Vital and will not be
tolerated.
I understand that Michael Dettmers has passed
on to you the fact that Jagdeo is no longer
associated in any capacity with Élan Vital
organizations worldwide. He has not performed any
duties as an instructor in the United States since
the 1980’s. He is now retired and living in a
village in India.
Thank you again for bringing this matter to our
attention. If I can be of further assistance to
you, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Marcia Leitner
Élan Vital Board of Directors
As some of you have already noted, Élan
Vital has since removed the offensive FAQ from
their website.
How do I feel about all this? I am upset that
the reports I made in the past have been
“forgotten”. I still believe Rawat was
told both in 1977 and in the early eighties. I
think there has been a decision not to remember. I
do not know how many people were involved in
deciding that a response to “not recall”
was the best one. I am glad though that the FAQ has
been removed and that at least this report has been
acknowledged without including any gratuitous
insults. Of course, there is much they should say
that they have not, but most of what they should
say would leave them open to liability if they said
it. It was carefully worded.
Thanks to all the ex premie org posters who were
supportive of me when the FAQ was first published.
There are so many really good nice people who post
here.
As Abi once said to me, we have won, because we
figured out we were in a cult, and we got out.
Susan Haupt
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