User:Steven Crossin/Mediation/Prem Rawat/Proposal4
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This page is for proposals related to the Wikipedia:Mediation Cabal/Cases/2008-04-20 Prem Rawat. User should:
Previous versions[Milestones identified by user:Thebainer in A brief history of Prem Rawat.] September 2004Prem Rawat (born December 10, 1957 in Dehra Dun near Haridwar, India) is a sometimes controversial inspirational speaker who brought to the West and promotes in both the West and India four meditative techniques or kriyas that he collectively calls the "techniques of Knowledge" and which he claims bring inner peace. He was for a time known in the West and is still known in India as Guru Maharaj ji, and is now known to his Western students as Maharaji May 2006Prem Pal Singh Rawat, also called Maharaji (formerly called Guru Maharaj Ji ) was born on December 10, 1957 in Dehradun, India.[1] At the age of four[2] he gave his first published address about the practice of "Knowledge", that was being taught by his father and teacher Hans Ji Maharaj. At the age of six he was taught the techniques of Knowledge by his father and succeeded him when he died in 1966, being accepted by his father's followers as their satguru (Sanskrit: true teacher) and assuming the role of "Perfect Master" at his father's funeral.[3][4] He thereby became the recognized leader of the Divine Light Mission that was started by his father and began taking his message to people throughout the Indian subcontinent.[5] In 1971 he was invited to speak in London and Los Angeles and attracted substantial media attention, some of which referred to the 13-year old as the "boy guru"[6]In 1972 he began touring the world talking about inner peace and teaching Knowledge, revisiting the UK and the US and speaking at events for the first time in Switzerland, Germany, Kenya, South Africa, Japan, and Australia.[7] His marriage to a westerner in 1974 precipitated a family rift and Prem Rawat's mother and his eldest brother Satya Pal Singh (Satpal)[8] secured control of DLM in India through legal proceedings.[9] Prem Rawat remained in the west and in the 1980s he began the slow dissolution of the Divine Light Mission,[10] stepped away from the trappings associated with an Indian guru and continued to appear to audiences as Maharaji, a teacher and public speaker, promoting the same message and offering the same techniques of Knowledge for finding peace within.[11] At that time, non-profit, charitable organizations with a minimal structure manned mainly by volunteers were established in several countries called Elan Vital, whose main purpose is organizing events to which Prem Rawat is invited to speak. According to The Prem Rawat Foundation, Prem Rawat has continued to promote a means to achieve a lifelong, individual experience of inner peace,[12] and that his message is that "it is only by individuals finding peace for themselves can the world be at peace" and that he is able to assist in this endeavor. Starting in 2001, he has been invited to address various institutions on the subject of peace,[13] and has through the Prem Rawat Foundation spearheaded various humanitarian initiatives. Prem Rawat has attracted controversy for what his critics consider a lack of intellectual content in his teachings, leading a sumptuous lifestyle, and making what critics and religious scholars regarded as personal claims of divinity. Prem Rawat lives with his wife in Malibu, California in the U.S. They have four grown children. He is an experienced airline transport-rated pilot and holds a number of pilot ratings on jet airplanes and helicopters. His resume discusses skills in computer graphics, computer-aided design, and development of aviation software. He is listed as co-inventor on a U.S. Patent for a world-time watch for aeronautic applications.[14] A US citizen since 1977,[15] he reports that he supports himself and his family as a private investor, and that he has contributed to the success of several startup companies in various industries, including software.[16]
January 2007Prem Pal Singh Rawat also called Maharaji, and formerly called Guru Maharaj Ji, is a speaker and teacher on the subjects of inner peace and spiritual awareness.[17] Born in Haridwar, North India in December 10, 1957, Rawat was initiated in the techniques of "Knowledge" by his father, Hans Ram Singh Rawat, when he was six years old. Rawat's "Techniques of Knowledge" primarily consist of four introspective meditation techniques.[18][19] At the age of eight, Prem Rawat succeeded Hans Rawat upon his death in 1966, being accepted by his father's followers as their satguru (Sanskrit: true teacher) or "Perfect Master" at his funeral.[20][21] He thereby became the recognized leader of the Divine Light Mission (DLM) that was started by his father and continued bringing his message to people throughout the Indian subcontinent.[5] In 1971, Rawat embarked on a mission to the West to speak in London and Los Angeles. His arrival attracted the attention of the media, some of which referred to the 13-year-old as the "boy guru" and reported claims of divinity.[22][23] He also established the US chapter of Elan Vital. In 1972 he began touring the world talking about inner peace and teaching Knowledge.[24] His marriage to a Westerner in 1974 precipitated a family rift and Rawat's mother and his eldest brother Satya Pal Singh (Satpal) returned to India.[25][26] Rawat remained in the West and in the 1980s he changed the style of his message and relinquished the Hindu tradition, beliefs, and most of its original eastern religious practices.[27]Rawat continued to tour extensively in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2001, Rawat established the The Prem Rawat Foundation to promote his message and advance the cause of various humanitarian initiatives. Since this time he has been invited to address various institutions on the subject of peace[28] and spread his message that, "it is only by individuals finding peace for themselves can the world be at peace". Criticisms of Rawat include the charge that he does not adhere to a simple lifestyle [29], and that organizations affiliated with Rawat are responsible for brainwashing, mind control, and financial exploitation of their members. [30] May 2007Prem Rawat, also known as Maharaji (formerly Guru Maharaj Ji) has been a speaker and teacher on the subject of "inner peace" since the age of eight, as well as offering instruction of four meditation techniques he calls Knowledge.[31][32] In 1971 Rawat traveled from India to speak in London and Los Angeles and was the subject of substantial media attention. [33] He returned to the West in 1972 with his mother and elder brother and formed the Divine Light Mission to assist in spreading his message. Dozens of Indian style ashrams were established and tens of thousands of followers were attracted, largely from the hippie culture. Rawat was frequently criticised by religious scholars on the basis of his age, his behaviour and his teachings.[34][35] Rawat's desire to manifest his own vision brought him into conflict with his mother and family, and his marriage to an American follower in 1974 caused a permanent split.[36] From this point Rawat and his teachings became more Western, and in the early 1980s he abandoned the title and trappings of a guru, closed the ashrams and changed his style to appeal to a Western audience. The Prem Rawat Foundation was established in 2001 to promote his message which is currently distributed in eighty-eight countries on video, print, and television, as well as to spearhead humanitarian efforts. [37][38] Proposal 0(current version)
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Proposal 1
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10 1957 in Haridwar, India) (also known as Balyogeshwar, Sant Ji Maharaj, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji) is an Indian-American who became prominent as the leader of the Divine Light Mission (DLM) and the Elan Vital. His international following includes students in India, the U.S., Europe, Australia, and South America. He speaks on the subject of inner peace, and offers instruction in four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge".
Rawat succeeded his father as spiritual head of the DLM in 1966 at the age of eight when he was proclaimed the "satguru" ("Perfect Master"). In June 1971, he left India for the West. There he became the subject of substantial media attention and attracted tens of thousands of devotees. He made his home in the U.S. and began touring and teaching worldwide. When he turned 16 in 1974, Rawat married and took a more active role in guiding the movement. Internal conflicts and negative publicity led to a reorganization of the DLM. Rawat's teachings became more universal as he moved away from Indian traditions. In the late 1970s and early '80s he closed the ashrams, dropped titles such as "Lord of the Universe" and "Guru", and created the Elan Vital as a replacement for the DLM. Proponents of Rawat have credited him with helping them find inner peace while criticisms have referred to a lack of intellectual depth in his teachings and a sumptuous lifestyle. |
Proposal 2
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10 1957 in Haridwar, India) (also known as Balyogeshwar, Sant Ji Maharaj, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji) is an Indian-American who became prominent as a guru in the 1970s. Organizations formed to spread his message include the Divine Light Mission (DLM), the Elan Vital, and the Prem Rawat Foundation. His international following includes students in India, the U.S., Europe, Australia, and South America. He speaks on the subject of inner peace, and offers instruction in four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge".
Rawat succeeded his father as spiritual head of the DLM in 1966 at the age of eight when he was proclaimed the "satguru" ("Perfect Master"). In June 1971, he left India for the West. There he became the subject of substantial media attention and attracted tens of thousands of devotees who called him the "Lord of the Universe". He made his home in the U.S. and began touring and teaching worldwide. When he turned 16 in 1974, Rawat married and took a more active role in guiding the movement. Family conflicts split the movement with Rawat retaining control of the DLM in the West, which lost most of its members. In the late 1970s and early '80s Rawat removed the Indian trappings, dropped claims of divinity, stopped referring to himself as a "guru", closed the ashrams, and disbanded the DLM. Since then he has maintained a relatively low profile as an inspirational speaker. Proponents of Rawat have credited him with helping them find inner peace while criticisms have referred to a lack of intellectual depth in his teachings and an opulent, materialistic lifestyle. |
Proposal 3
[...] He is, or has been, associated with organizations like Divine Light Mission (DLM), Divine United Organization (DUO), Elan Vital, and from 2001, The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF).
[...] |
Proposal 4
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, 10 December 1957 in Haridwar, India), also known as Maharaji (formerly Guru Maharaj Ji), is a speaker on the subject of inner peace, and offers instruction in four meditation techniques he calls Knowledge.
Rawat became a Guru or Perfect Master in 1966 following the death of his father and travelled to the West in 1971 where he was the subject of substantial media attention. Tens of thousands were attracted to his message, largely from the hippie culture. When he turned 16, Rawat became an emancipated minor, took control of the Divine Light Mission in the West and married a westerner against his family's wishes. He began eliminating the Indian traditions from his teachings and in the early 1980s he dropped the title "Guru". He continues to tour regularly to promote his message, which is now available throughout the world via print, TV, cable and satellite. |
Proposal 5
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10 1957 in Haridwar, India) (also known as Balyogeshwar, Sant Ji Maharaj, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji)[58] is an Indian-American who became prominent as a guru in the 1970s. He is, or has been, associated with organizations including Divine Light Mission (DLM), Divine United Organization (DUO), Elan Vital, and from 2001, The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF). His international following includes students in India, the U.S., Europe, Australia, and South America. He speaks on the subject of inner peace, and offers instruction in four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge".[59]
Rawat succeeded his father as spiritual head of the DLM in 1966 at the age of eight when he was proclaimed the "satguru" ("Perfect Master").[60] In June 1971, he left India for the West. There he became the subject of substantial media attention and attracted tens of thousands of devotees. Followers called him the "Lord of the Universe".[61] He made his home in the U.S. and began touring and teaching worldwide. When he turned 16 in 1974, Rawat married and took a more active role in guiding the movement.[62] Family conflicts split the movement with Rawat retaining control of the DLM in the West. The DLM lost most of its members after the mid-1970s.[63] In the late 1970s and early '80s Rawat removed the Indian trappings, dropped claims of divinity, stopped referring to himself as a "guru", closed the ashrams, and disbanded the DLM. Since then he has maintained a relatively low profile as an inspirational speaker.[49] Proponents of Rawat have credited him with helping them find inner peace while criticisms have referred to a lack of intellectual depth in his teachings[64] and an opulent, materialistic lifestyle.[56] |
Proposal 6
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, 10 December 1957 in Haridwar, India), also known as Maharaji (formerly Guru Maharaj Ji), is a speaker on the subject of inner peace, and offers instruction in four meditation techniques he calls Knowledge.
Rawat became a Guru or Perfect Master in 1966, following the death of his father. In 1971 he travelled to the West, where he became the subject of substantial media attention. Tens of thousands were attracted to his message, largely from the hippie culture. When he turned 16, Rawat became an emancipated minor. He took control of the Divine Light Mission in the West and married a westerner, against his family's wishes. He began eliminating Indian references from his teachings, and in the early 1980s dropped the title "Guru". He continues to tour regularly to promote his message, which is now available throughout the world via print, TV, cable and satellite. |
Proposal 7
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India) (also known as Balyogeshwar, Sant Ji Maharaj, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji)[58] is an Indian-American who became prominent as a guru in the 1970s. Rawat, who speaks on the subject of inner peace, and offers instruction in four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge",[59] claims a following in many countries including India, the U.S., Europe, Australia, and South America. Organisations which have considered Rawat as variously their leader or inspiration include Divine Light Mission (DLM), Divine United Organization (DUO), Elan Vital, and The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF).
In 1966 at the age of eight, Rawat succeeded his father as spiritual head of the DLM in India, when he was proclaimed the "satguru" ("Perfect Master").[60] In June 1971, Rawat traveled to Britain and the US where he became the subject of substantial media attention. As Guru Maharaj Ji, Rawat attracted tens of thousands of devotees who called him the "Lord of the Universe", [61] he then made his home in the U.S. and began touring worldwide. Achieving emancipated minor status at aged 16 in 1974, Rawat married and, although he sought to take a more active role in guiding the by then international Divine Light Mission movement,[62] the movement was split by conflicts within the Rawat family. Prem Rawat retained control of the movement outside of India, although much of the membership was lost.[63] In the early 1980s Rawat removed the Indian trappings of his teaching and stopped referring to himself as a "guru"; since then he has maintained a relatively low profile as an inspirational speaker.[49] Rawat's proponents have credited him with helping them find inner peace while his critics have referred to a lack of intellectual depth in his teachings[64] and an opulent, materialistic lifestyle.[56] |
Proposal 8
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India) (also known as Balyogeshwar, Sant Ji Maharaj, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji)[58] became prominent in the 1970s when he arrived to the West as a 13-year old guru. Rawat, who speaks on the subject of inner peace, has a following in many countries including India, the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. His teachings include four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge",[59] which he says can bring stillness, peace, and contentment within the individual.[45][46] In 1966 at the age of eight, after his father death, Rawat succeeded him as the spiritual head of the movement India, when he was proclaimed "satguru" ("Perfect Master").[60] In June 1971, age 13, Rawat traveled to Britain and the US where he became prominent due to his youth and his claims of being able to impart direct knowledge of God.[65] Achieving emancipated minor status at age 16, Rawat married in 1974 resulting in conflicts with his family and the split of the movement. Prem Rawat retained control of the movement outside of India and sought to take a more active role in guiding the movement in the West. He became a US citizen in 1977[66]In the early 1980s he dropped the title "Guru" and abandoned the Indian trappings that were associated with the early movement in order to appeal to a Western context.[67] Over the years, several organizations have considered Rawat as variously their leader or inspiration including Divine Light Mission (DLM), the Divine United Organization (DUO), and later Elan Vital and the Raj Vidya Kender. In 2001 he founded The Prem Rawat Foundation which contributes to humanitarian efforts and to promote his message, which is made available world-wide via print, and public TV broadcasts. Rawat's proponents have credited him with helping them find inner peace, while critics have referred to a lack of intellectual content in his teachings,[56][55] and for leading a sumptuous lifestyle. [56] |
Proposal 9
Supersedes Proposal #8 based on editor's feedback
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India) (also known as Balyogeshwar, Sant Ji Maharaj, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji[39][40][68]) became prominent in the 1970s when he arrived in the West as a 13 year-old guru. Rawat, who speaks on the subject of inner peace, has a following in many countries including India, the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. His teachings include four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge",[43][69] which he says can lead the individual to inner stillness, peace and contentment.[45]
In 1966 at the age of eight, Rawat's father died, and Rawat succeeded him as the spiritual head of the movement in India when he was proclaimed "satguru" ("Perfect Master").[60] In June 1971, age 13, Rawat traveled to Britain and the US, where he became prominent due to his claims of being able to impart direct knowledge of God.[70] Achieving emancipated minor status at age 16, Rawat married in 1974, resulting in conflicts within his family and the splitting of the movement.[45][71] Prem Rawat retained control of the movement outside of India and took a more active role in guiding the movement in the West.[72] He became a US citizen in 1977.[73] In the early 1980s he dropped the title "Guru" and abandoned the Indian trappings that were associated with the early movement, in order to appeal to a Western context.[74] Over the years, several organizations have considered Rawat as their leader or inspiration, including Divine Light Mission (DLM), the Divine United Organization (DUO), and later Elan Vital and the Raj Vidya Kender. In 2001 he founded The Prem Rawat Foundation which contributes to humanitarian efforts and promotes his message, which is made available world-wide via print, and public TV broadcasts.[75][76] Rawat's proponents have credited him with helping them find inner peace, while critics have referred to a lack of intellectual content in his teachings,Cite error: A |
Proposal 10
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Proposal 11
Paragraphing added and some rearrangement of previous version for clarity.
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India), also known as Maharaji (formerly Guru Maharaj Ji),[39][40][87] became a guru at the age of 8 and began traveling and speaking internationally at 13. Rawat's subject is inner peace, and he teaches four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge",[43] which he says can lead the individual to stillness, peace and contentment.[88][45] Rawat's father and guru was Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. When Sri Hans died in 1966, Rawat was proclaimed "Satguru" ("Perfect Master") and became the spiritual leader of five million followers in India.[60] In June 1971 Rawat traveled to Britain and the US, where he became prominent due to his charisma and his claims of being able to impart direct knowledge of God.[89] After becoming an emancipated minor in 1974 at age 16, Rawat married, which resulted in conflicts within his family and the splitting of the movement.[45][90] Prem Rawat retained the support of his followers outside of India and began to take a more active role in guiding the movement in the West.[91] He became a US citizen in 1977.[92] In the early 1980s, to broaden his appeal to a western audience he dropped the title "Guru" and abandoned the Indian elements that were associated with the early movement.[93] Various organizations have been formed to support Rawat's activities, including the Divine Light Mission, which was founded by his father in 1960, and Elan Vital, which replaced DLM in 1983. In 2001 he founded The Prem Rawat Foundation, which contributes to humanitarian efforts and promotes his message world-wide via print, video and public TV broadcasts.[94][76]
Rawat's proponents have credited him with helping them find inner peace, while critics have referred to a lack of intellectual content in his teachings,Cite error: A |
Proposal 12
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Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India) (also known as Maharaji, Guru Maharaj Ji, Balyogeshwar, and Sant Ji) is an Indian-American who became a guru in India at the age of eight and who gained prominence in the West at age 13. Rawat's subject is inner peace, and he teaches four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge", which he says can lead the individual to stillness, peace and contentment.[96][45] Various organizations have been formed to support Rawat's activities, including the Divine Light Mission, which was founded by his father in 1960, the Elan Vital, which replaced DLM in 1983, and The Prem Rawat Foundation, founded in 2001.
Rawat's father and guru was Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. When Sri Hans died in 1966, Rawat was proclaimed "Satguru" ("Perfect Master") and became the spiritual leader of five million followers in India.[60] In June 1971 Rawat traveled to England and the U.S.[97] After Rawat married in 1974 at age 16 conflicts within his family resulted in the splitting of the movement.[45][98] Prem Rawat retained the support of his followers outside of India and began to take a more active role in guiding the movement in the West.[99] He became a U.S. citizen in 1977.[100] In the early 1980s, to broaden his appeal to a western audience he dropped the title "Guru" and abandoned the Indian elements that were associated with the early movement.[101] Rawat has been credited for helping followers find inner peace and has been criticized for a lack of intellectual content in his teachings,Cite error: A |
Proposal 13
- addressing concerns about proposal 9 and 11
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India) (also known as Maharaji, formerly Guru Maharaj Ji)[39][40][103] became a guru in India at the age of eight and gained prominence at age 13 when he began traveling and lecturing internationally. Rawat, who speaks on the subject of inner peace, now has a worldwide following. His teachings include four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge",[43][104] which he says can lead the individual to inner stillness, peace and contentment.[45]
Rawat's father and guru was Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. When Sri Hans died in 1966, Rawat succeeded him as the spiritual head of the movement in India and was proclaimed "satguru" ("Perfect Master") to five million followers.[60] In June 1971, age 13, Rawat traveled to Britain and the US, where he attracted an extraordinary amount of interest from young adults who were willing to examine his claim to impart direct knowledge of the Divine.[105] Achieving emancipated minor status at age 16, Rawat married in 1974, resulting in conflicts within his family and the splitting of the movement.[45][106] Prem Rawat retained control of the movement outside of India and took a more active role in guiding the movement in the West.[107] He became a US citizen in 1977.[108] In the early 1980s he dropped the title "Guru" and abandoned the Indian elements of his early teachings in order to make his message more universal.[109] Over the years, several organizations have supported Rawat, including Divine Light Mission, and later Elan Vital and the Raj Vidya Kender. In 2001 he founded The Prem Rawat Foundation with a dual mission of contributing to humanitarian efforts and promoting his message.[110][76] Rawat's supporters and independent studies have credited him with helping people find inner peace, while Christian scholars have criticized Rawat for his age, lack of intellectual content in his teachings,Cite error: A |
Proposal 14
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India), also known as Balyogeshwar, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji,[39][40][112] became a guru in India at the age of eight, and gained international prominence at 13 when he first began to spread his message in the west. Rawat's teachings include four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge",[43][113] which he says can lead the individual to inner stillness, peace and contentment.[45]
Rawat's father and guru was Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. When Sri Hans died in 1966, Rawat was proclaimed "satguru" or "Perfect Master",[114] and succeeded him as the spiritual leader of five million followers in India.[60] Achieving emancipated minor status at age 16, Rawat married in 1974, which resulted in conflicts within his family and the splitting of the movement.[45][115] Prem Rawat retained control of the movement outside of India and took a more active role in guiding the movement in the West.[116] He became a US citizen in 1977.[117] In the early 1980s he dropped the title "Guru" and abandoned the Indian elements that were associated with the early movement.[118] Over the years, several organizations have been formed to assist in spreading his message, including the Divine Light Mission, Elan Vital and the Raj Vidya Kender. In 2001 he founded The Prem Rawat Foundation which also contributes to humanitarian efforts.[119][76] Rawat has been praised for his role in promoting inner peace, but critics have referred to a lack of intellectual content in his teachings,Cite error: A |
Proposal 15
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India), also known as Balyogeshwar, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji,[39][40][121] became a guru in India at the age of eight, and gained international prominence at 13 when he first began to spread his message in the West. Rawat's teachings include four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge",[122] which he says can lead the individual to inner stillness, peace and contentment.[45] Over the years, several organizations have been formed to assist in spreading his message, including the Divine Light Mission, Elan Vital, and The Prem Rawat Foundation.[123][76]
Rawat's father and guru was Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. When Sri Hans died in 1966, Rawat was proclaimed "satguru" or "Perfect Master",[124] and succeeded him as the spiritual leader of five million followers in India.[60] Achieving emancipated minor status at age 16, Rawat married in 1974, which resulted in conflicts within his family and the splitting of the movement.[45][125] Prem Rawat retained control of the movement outside of India and took a more active role in guiding the movement in the West.[126] He became a US citizen in 1977.[127] In the early 1980s he dropped the title "Guru" and abandoned the Indian elements associated with the early movement.[128] Rawat has been described as living a luxurious,[129] materialistic lifestyle.[130]. His teachings have been characterized as lacking intellectual content.Cite error: A |
Proposal 16
- Combines several previous versions and tweaks into a compromise verison. Rvd redundancies and tweaked grammar.
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India, also known as Balyogeshwar, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji,[39][40][131]) became a guru in India at the age of eight, and gained international prominence at 13 when he first began to spread his message in the West. Rawat's teachings include four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge".[132] Over the years, several organizations have been formed to assist in spreading his message, including the Divine Light Mission (1960), Elan Vital (1983), and The Prem Rawat Foundation (2001).[133]
Rawat's father and guru was Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. When Sri Hans died in 1966, Rawat was proclaimed "satguru" or "Perfect Master",[134] and succeeded him as the spiritual leader of five million followers in India.[60] Achieving emancipated minor status at age 16, Rawat married in 1974, which resulted in conflicts within his family and the splitting of the movement.[45][135] Prem Rawat retained control outside of India and took a more active role in guiding the movement in the West.[136] He became a US citizen in 1977.[137] In the early 1980s he dropped the title "Guru" and abandoned the Indian aspects of his teachings associated with the early movement.[138] The focus of Rawat's teachings is on stillness, peace and contentment within the individual,[45] which has led secular authors to criticize his talks as stressing emotional experience over intellect.[139][56][55] Some religious scholars have characterised Rawat as materialistic and described his lifestyle as luxurious.[140][141]. |
Proposal 17
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India) (also known as Maharaji, formerly Guru Maharaj Ji)[39][40][142] became a guru in India at the age of eight and gained prominence at age 13 when he began traveling and lecturing internationally. Rawat, who speaks on the subject of inner peace, now has a worldwide following. His teachings include four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge",[43][143] which he says can lead the individual to inner stillness, peace and contentment.[45]
Rawat's father and guru was Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. When Sri Hans died in 1966, Rawat succeeded him as the spiritual head of the movement in India and was proclaimed "satguru" ("Perfect Master") to five million followers.[60] In June 1971, age 13, Rawat traveled to Britain and the US, where he attracted an extraordinary amount of interest from young adults who were willing to examine his claim to impart direct knowledge of the Divine.[144] Achieving emancipated minor status at age 16, Rawat married in 1974, resulting in conflicts within his family and the splitting of the movement.[45][145] Prem Rawat retained control of the movement outside of India and took a more active role in guiding the movement in the West.[146] He became a US citizen in 1977.[147] In the early 1980s he dropped the title "Guru" and abandoned the Indian elements of his early teachings in order to make his message more universal.[148] Over the years, several organizations have supported Rawat, including Divine Light Mission, and later Elan Vital and the Raj Vidya Kender. In 2001 he founded The Prem Rawat Foundation with a dual mission of contributing to humanitarian efforts and promoting his message.[149][76] Rawat's supporters and independent studies have credited him with helping people experience inner peace, while Christian scholars have criticized Rawat for his age, lack of intellectual content in his teachings,Cite error: A |
Draft 18
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India, also known as Balyogeshwar, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji,[39][40][151]) became a guru in India at the age of eight, and gained international prominence at 13 when he began traveling and speaking internationally. He now has a world-wide following. Rawat speaks on the subject of inner peace, and teaches four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge".[43] [152] Over the years, several organizations have been formed to assist in spreading his message, including the Divine Light Mission (1960), Elan Vital (1983), the Raj Vidya Kender (India) and The Prem Rawat Foundation (2001).[153]
Rawat's father and guru was Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. When Sri Hans died in 1966, Rawat was proclaimed "satguru" or "Perfect Master",[154] and succeeded him as the spiritual leader of five million followers in India.[155] Granted emancipated minor status at age 16, Rawat married in 1974, which resulted in conflicts within his family and the splitting of the movement.[45][156] Prem Rawat retained control outside of India and took a more active role in guiding the movement in the West.[157] He became a US citizen in 1977.[158] In the early 1980s he dropped the title "Guru" and made his message more universal by dropping the Indian aspects of his teachings.[159] Rawat's focus on stillness, peace and contentment within the individual[45] has led secular scholars to criticize his talks as stressing emotional experience over intellect,[160][56][55] while religious and other writers have characterised Rawat as materialistic, and described his lifestyle as luxurious.[161][162] Rawat's supporters and independent studies have credited him with helping people experience inner peace.[163][164]
Draft 19
Prem Rawat (born Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10 1957 in Haridwar, India) also known as Balyogeshwar, Guru Maharaj Ji, and Maharaji,[39][40][165]) became a guru in India at the age of eight, and gained international prominence at 13 when he first began to spread his message in the West. He now has a world-wide following. Rawat's teachings include four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge".[166] Over the years, several organizations have been formed to assist in spreading his message, including the Divine Light Mission, Elan Vital (1983), and The Prem Rawat Foundation (2001).[167]
Rawat's father and guru was Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. When he died in 1966, Rawat was proclaimed "satguru" or "Perfect Master",[168] and succeeded his father as the spiritual leader of five million followers in India.[60] Granted emancipated minor status at age 16, Rawat married in 1974, which resulted in conflicts within his family and the splitting of the movement.[45][169] Prem Rawat retained control outside of India and took a more active role in guiding the movement in the West.[170] He became a United States citizen in 1977.[171] He later dropped the title "Guru" and claims of divinity, and abandoned the Indian aspects of his teachings associated with the early movement.[172]
The focus of Rawat's teachings is on stillness, peace and contentment within the individual.[45] Rawat's supporters and independent studies have credited him with helping people experience inner peace.[citation needed] Some authors have criticized his talks as stressing emotional experience over intellect,[173][56][55] while other writers have characterized Rawat as materialistic, and described his lifestyle as luxurious.[174][175]
Draft 20
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India, also known as Balyogeshwar, Guru Maharaj Ji, Maharaji,[39][40][151]) became a guru in India at the age of eight, and gained international prominence at 13 when he began traveling and speaking internationally. He now has a world-wide following. Rawat speaks on the subject of inner peace, and teaches four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge".[43] [152] Over the years, several organizations have been formed to assist in spreading his message, including the Divine Light Mission (1960), Elan Vital (1983), the Raj Vidya Kender (India) and The Prem Rawat Foundation (2001).[153]
Rawat's father and guru was Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. When Shri Hans died in 1966, Rawat was proclaimed "satguru" or "Perfect Master",[154] and succeeded him as the spiritual leader of five million followers in India.[60] Achieving emancipated minor status at age 16, Rawat married in 1974, which resulted in conflicts within his family and the splitting of the international movement.[45][155] Prem Rawat retained control outside of India, and took a more active role in the movement's guidance.[156] He became a US citizen in 1977.[157] In the early 1980s he made his message more universal by dropping his title "Guru" and the Hindu aspects of his teachings.[158] Rawat's focus on stillness, peace and contentment within the individual[45] has led secular scholars to criticize his talks as stressing emotional experience over intellect,[159][56][55] while other writers have characterised Rawat as materialistic, and described his lifestyle as luxurious.[160][161] Rawat's supporters and independent studies have credited him with helping people experience inner peace.
Draft 21
Prem Rawat (b. Prem Pal Singh Rawat, December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India) also known as Maharaji (formerly Guru Maharaj Ji)[39][40][176] became a guru in India at the age of eight, and gained international prominence at 13 when he began traveling and speaking internationally. He now has a world-wide following. Rawat speaks on the subject of inner peace, and teaches four meditation techniques he calls "Knowledge".[43] [152] Over the years, several organizations have been formed to assist in spreading his message, including the Divine Light Mission (1960), Elan Vital (1983), the Raj Vidya Kender (India) and The Prem Rawat Foundation (2001).[153]
Rawat's father and guru was Shri Hans Ji Maharaj. When Shri Hans died in 1966, Rawat was acknowledged as "satguru" or "Perfect Master",[154] and succeeded him as the spiritual leader of five million followers in India.[60] In 1971 Rawat travelled to the West and became the subject of substantial media attention attracting tens of thousands of devotees. He made his home in the U.S. and began touring and teaching worldwide.Achieving emancipated minor status at age 16, Rawat married in 1974, which resulted in conflicts within his family and the splitting of the international movement.[45][155] Prem Rawat retained control outside of India, and took a more active role in the movement's guidance.[156] He became a US citizen in 1977.[157] In the early 1980s he made his message more universal by dropping his title "Guru" and the Hindu aspects of his teachings.[158] Rawat promotes a direct experience of the divine to obtain inner peace rather than theory or dogma and some Christian clergy have criticized him for stressing what they call "emotional experience" over intellect.[177][178][179][56][55] Rawat, who claims Knowledge is independent of culture, religion and lifestyle, has been criticized for enjoying a luxurious life.[180][181]His supporters and independent studies have credited him with helping people experience inner peace.[182][183]
Draft 22
(early draft stage:)
Prem Pal Singh Rawat (born December 10, 1957 in Haridwar, India), gained worldwide prominence as a guru in the 1970s under various names including Maharaji, Guru Maharaj Ji and Balyogeshwar. Rawat is the youngest son of Advait Mat guru Hans Ji Maharaj. After his father's death in 1966 he was proclaimed the new satguru, and became the most visible person of the Divine Light Mission (DLM, also referred to as the Mission), an organization created by his father in 1960. Still a youngster, Rawat started to spread his message around the world, with the active support of DLM mahatmas. He took the United States as his home base from the early 1970s. There, a branch of the DLM was founded, followed by many others in a multitude of countries. In 1973, the year of the Millenium 73 event (televised as Lord of the Universe), his worldwide fame and reknown peaked: he claimed millions of followers. His message that he was on a mission to bring peace to the world and knew how to bring that about was reported in the media. Various other aspects drew media attention too, including his predilection for a wealthy lifestyle, the cult-like behaviour among his following (often referred to as premies), and a rupture with part of his family which made him lose control of the Indian branch of the DLM. From around 1974 he started gradually to cut away some of the excesses, fading out on his Indian roots and semi-divine status. In the early 1980s he reformed DLM into Elan Vital, a process including the closure of Western ashrams, the settings of communal living where thousands of his most devoted initiates led a life imbued in mortification. Rawat, his students and his organizations feature in several mainly sociological scholarly studies, most of these authored in the period from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s. His teachings are described as without intellectual merit, but generally having a positive effect on those who measuredly practice the techniques of Knowledge he recommends. After a media silence until the late years of the 20th century he had a new organization, The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF), play a central role in the publicity for the Knowledge techniques as brought by him, for his touring around the world, and for his humanitarian relief programs. |
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