You've talked to quite a number of recently exited premies - face to face, how many? I've talked to long term premies in normal chit chat - M & K weren't mentioned. The majority live normal lives, work in businesses, public servants, self-employed, etc, etc etc. There is a minority who live on pensions of one sort or another but in Australia that's not unusual. Maybe it's just because I only know Australian premies and Austalians are a pretty happy lot, what country are you from?From your perspective what time they spend in "practising Knowledge" might be waste of time and resources but it doesn't differ from most religious practice and if it feels valuable it is valuable to the person doing it.
The longer you've been an active ex-premie the harder it might be not to see everything about M & K as miserable and vicious but I believe a more realistic approach is better. Those people who leave because of the last straw were having more problems with their religion than those who are completely satisfied with their practice.
Apparently most Americans are very religious and believe they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Maharaji) and spend much time in prayer (meditation), at church listening to sermons (satsang), doing charity work (service). Sounds the same to me and they seem to be doing OK.
Please go on providing all the support people need, that's very admirable indeed but keep perspective.
