48 Facts About Prem Rawat

Prem Rawat's teachings include a meditation practice he calls "Knowledge", and peace education based on the discovery of personal resources such as inner strength, choice, appreciation and hope.

Prem Rawat is the youngest son of Hans Ram Singh Rawat, an Indian guru and the founder of the Divya Sandesh Parishad, later known as Divine Light Mission.

Since that time, Prem Rawat has continued to travel extensively, speaking about peace to large and select audiences worldwide.

Prem Pal Singh Rawat was born in Haridwar, Uttarakhand in northern India, on 10 December 1957, the fourth and youngest son of guru Hans Ram Singh Rawat and his second wife, Jagat Janani Mata Shri Rajeshwari Devi.

Prem Rawat attended St Joseph's Academy elementary school in his hometown of Dehra Dun.

Previously known to his father's followers as Sant Ji, Prem Rawat now assumed the title "Guru Maharaj Ji" and was called "Balyogeshwar" by others on account of his youth and spiritual precocity.

From that time, Prem Rawat spent his weekends and school holidays traveling as his father had, addressing audiences on the subject of Knowledge and inner peace.

In 1971, Prem Rawat traveled to the West against his mother's wishes.

Prem Rawat then went to Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Canada and South Africa.

Prem Rawat returned to India later that year with 300 westerners, stayed in the mission's ashrams.

Prem Rawat started flying lessons when he was 13, and jet training at age 15.

The 1972 Hans Jayanti, an annual festival celebrating the birthday of Prem Rawat's guru, was attended by over 500,000 people.

Sociologist James Downton said that from his beginnings, Prem Rawat appealed to his followers to give up concepts and beliefs that might impede them from fully experiencing the Knowledge.

Prem Rawat said that he did not want his attacker arrested or hurt, but Halley was attacked a few days later and injured.

When local members heard of the incident, they notified Prem Rawat, who requested that DLM conduct a full investigation.

Prem Rawat's physician said that his body, weakened by the pace of continual travel, showed the stresses of a middle-aged executive.

When Prem Rawat reached sixteen years of age he wanted to take a more active part in guiding the movement.

In December 1973, Prem Rawat took administrative control of the Mission's US branch; his mother and Satpal returned to India.

Prem Rawat's upscale lifestyle was a source of controversy in the early 1970s.

Supporters said there is no conflict between worldly and spiritual riches, and that Prem Rawat did not advise anyone to "abandon the material world", but said it is our attachment to it that is wrong.

Prem Rawat retained control of the Indian DLM and appointed Satpal as its leader.

Prem Rawat had become wealthy as a result of contributions from his Western devotees, and led the life of an American millionaire.

Prem Rawat ran a household for his wife, his brother and his sister-in-law, and financed travel for the close officials and mahatmas who accompanied him on his frequent trips around the globe to attend the Mission's festivals.

In November 1974, seeking more privacy for himself, his wife and his entourage following security concerns, Prem Rawat moved to a 4-acre property in Malibu, California.

In January 1976 Prem Rawat encouraged them to leave the ashrams and discard Indian customs and terminology.

Prem Rawat said that the organization had come between his devotees and himself.

Prem Rawat decentralized some decision making to local premie communities, while he maintained his status as the ultimate authority over spiritual and secular matters.

In January 1979 the Los Angeles Times reported that Prem Rawat was maintaining his Malibu following despite a rising mistrust of cults.

In 1980, Prem Rawat removed all the "religious" aspects of the movement and declared he now wanted "no movement whatsoever".

Once called "Perfect Master", Prem Rawat abandoned his "almost divine status as guru" but affirmed his status as a master.

In 1983 the Divine Light Mission was renamed Elan Vital and Prem Rawat closed the last western ashrams, marking the end of his use of Indian methods for international objectives.

In 2001, Prem Rawat founded The Prem Rawat Foundation, a Public Charitable Organization to support his message, and worldwide humanitarian efforts.

In 2007, Prem Rawat started the Peace Education Program for inmates which, as of 2012, operates in 25 prisons across 10 countries.

In 2009, Prem Rawat was made Ambassador of Peace for the Basilicata region of Italy.

In 2016, Prem Rawat delivered the keynote address at a forum hosted by TPRF and the Tutu Foundation UK at the British Film Institute in London.

The core of Prem Rawat's teaching is that the individual's need for fulfillment can be satisfied by turning within to contact a constant source of peace and joy.

Prem Rawat has been criticized for a lack of intellectual content in his public discourses.

Prem Rawat asks that they not reveal the techniques to anyone else, but allow others to prepare to receive the experience for themselves.

Aldridge writes that Prem Rawat originally aspired to bring about world peace, but now he places his attention on helping individuals rather than society.

Prem Rawat inherited the first organization he was associated with from his father.

The Prem Rawat Foundation founded in 2001, added more focus to humanitarian efforts.

DLM was disbanded when Prem Rawat renounced the trappings of Indian culture and religion, making his teachings independent of culture, beliefs and lifestyles.

In 2001, Prem Rawat founded The Prem Rawat Foundation, a Public Charitable Organization for the production and distribution of materials promoting his message, and for funding worldwide humanitarian efforts.

Prem Rawat characterized Rawat as materialistic, pampered and intellectually unremarkable compared to Osho, but no less charismatic.

Stephen J Hunt described Prem Rawat's major focus as being on stillness, peace and contentment within the individual, with his 'Knowledge' consisting of the techniques to obtain these.

Ron Geaves, a professor in various fields of religion and long-time adherent of Prem Rawat, wrote that Prem Rawat is not a renunciate, and that he has made great efforts to assert his humanity and take apart the hagiography that has developed around him.

Petersen stated that Prem Rawat claimed 7 million disciples worldwide in 1973, with 60,000 in the US.

Paul Schnabel referenced professor in the psychology of religion Van der Lans saying that among his Western students, Prem Rawat appeared to stimulate an uncritical attitude, which gave them an opportunity to project their fantasies of divinity onto his person.