What is wrong with Rawat??
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Posted by:
Roark ®

07/16/2016, 15:17:19
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I'm hoping to crowdsource from ya'll a concise, convincing expression of what we are really complaining about on this website.....I mean genuine, unequivocal reasons that Prem Rawat should be avoided, and expressed as objectively as possible.
There are degrees of 'wrongness' I suppose.  Something might be blatantly wrong or may be more like 'disingenuous' (a milder form of wrong), for example.
I feel the key example of what is blatantly wrong with Rawatland is the inconsistency of its messaging, how it started (only living Perfect Master that gonna bring peace to the world), and what it is today (Ambassador of Peace and Humanitarian') and how this revisionist perspective has been so dramatically swept under the carpet.  To mislead so many for so long, leeching huge sums of money under false pretense, all the while riding the backs of the misled and never offering an apology or even acknowledgement seems inexcusable.  I have no issue with wealth, but have a old-fashioned sense that it should be earned and not grifted based on fraudulent claims and constant requests.  A strong argument could also be made regarding the extravagance of what this Ambassador of Peace spent his donated wealth on.

An example of disingenuous could be his current messaging about his focus as a humanitarian leader, when a scant $192K of Prem Rawat Foundation expenditures went to 'humanitarian aid' during 2014 (according to their latest posted Financials) when almost $1.4MM was expensed on 'Peace Initiatives' (might be interesting to see a breakdown of these expenses).
Another example of disingenuous could be: where ARE these enlightened premies that, after over 40 yeas of practice, should likely be exuding peace at every moment by now.  In other words, if Knowledge really works, are practical, lasting and observable results really there?  Does anyone know of any?
On the other hand, I personally have no qualms about someone teaching what I consider to be decent beginning meditation practices that have been passed down to them.  I also have no problem with teaching that 'peace' needs to come from within, the virtue of selfless service and the like.
I just spent some time listening to some recent short videos of him to update myself, and I'll say I can't really object most of what he says now, like the beauty and importance of gratitude, embracing life, not getting caught up in the small stuff, living 'consciously', etc.  Obviously the message is aided (and degraded in my opinion) by the schmaltzy  background music trying to pull on the heartstrings and much of the branding.  In the arena of 'spiritual teachers', I would not find him to be distasteful if I was not so aware of his history....the destruction left in his wake and the deception on which it was based.
But I also think that objectivity tends to get pushed aside when recounting our own special grievances, and gets skewed if we do not take responsibility for our own life decisions, even life decisions made when we were quite young and impressionable and in the sway of the times.  I mean, we are managed and mostly misled all of the time and on every front, vis-à-vis advertising, politicians, theologians, etc. and in the sway of pop 'wisdom' right out of the chute (opinions being like assholes), no?  If I happen to buy into someone else's worldview, I don't think of it as much their fault as it is my own.  And so in this conversation, I try to separate my own bullshit from what is objectively wrong with Rawat, while taking a critical look at what is even meant by 'wrong' (IE trying to leave out opinions of things I don't happen to like). 
Not sure that I have any solid conclusions, but wanted to stir the pot and am interested to see what anyone has to say on this subject (although I am sure it is a rehash).
Some may think am being too kind, but as a sort of devil's advocate, wanted to look for blacks and whites Vs. shades of grey.
warm regards, Mike
BTW, I wonder when Marilyn and others very close to Rawat will finally and bravely express their own apologies for their complicity (if they are even able to get in touch with these feelings), especially given the manner in which they have benefitted from this interesting passion play.






Modified by Roark at Sat, Jul 16, 2016, 16:10:43

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