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.

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

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:

A description of the current teachings of Prem Rawat are available here. Prem Rawat and his followers claim:

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: 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: 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."

See  Site Policy  for statement regarding copyright for these videos.

Video Index Page Top of Page & Main Site Links