This is the current Elan Vital's spin on how ex-premies came to be unlit matches:  Yes, Guru Maharaj Ji was called "guru" by his followers -- You think?

If Glen Whittaker and other premies are so bloody concerned about "building bridges" then why don't they demand that Prem Rawat come clean about his own past?  The truth is, Prem Rawat doesn't want to talk about his past, his former followers.  That much is abundantly clear.

Frequently Asked Questions

J.	Ancient history – when Maharaji first came to the West
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	(1)	Is it true that some people used to venerate him? Some see him as a friend, some as a teacher, some as a Guru or Master. What does he claim to be? He recently told a journalist: "People used to call me Guru. I speak from my heart, and what happens is from one heart to another. I'm not trying to place myself above people. I am a human being. Many things have been said about me. Many of these things have come from people's own emotions, good or bad. I am proud to be a human being. I am very happy that I have this life. I am also happy that I can feel joy and pain like everyone else. Some people would love to put labels on me, but I am just me."
	(2)	It has been reported that his students touch his feet. Is this true? Expressing respect is not unique to students of Maharaji. Asian teachers of all disciplines, including martial arts, music and philosophy, conduct to this day a procession where students line up and pass by their teacher, bowing or touching his feet as a sign of respect and gratitude. Many Catholics express similar respect to their Cardinals and Bishops by kissing their rings.   There is no great secret about this: Maharaji sits in a chair while people file by and pay their respects. Many simply walk by and smile, others simply say "thank you," others bow, and others choose to briefly touch his feet. In the 1970's the reception line called "darshan" was common in the West, but this practice is now only conducted on rare occasions, mostly in the Indian subcontinent where the practice is culturally accepted. There is no admission charge or fee connected to the reception line, and there is no recommendation or obligation in any way to participate.
	(3)	Why was Maharaji described in the 1970’s as “Guru” and as "Greater than God"? Such statements were made in the '70s at a time of affinity for all things Indian. People in India routinely pronounce the Guru as God or even greater than God. To the man on the street in India, "Guru is greater than God" is a common statement. Such statements can be difficult to understand in Western countries. In India, however, they are seen as mainstream.
	(4)	Why was he called "Lord of the Universe" in the '70s? In Western culture, when a title is given to a person, it comes with a position. In India, by contrast, such grand labels as "His Holiness" or "Lord of the Universe" are given on the basis of affection or admiration. The use of this title, which was used only in the '70s—an era of love for all things Indian— does not imply any claims that the person is holy, any more than the use of "His Excellence" means that the person is an embodiment of excellence. "I am a human being, and you are a human being," says Maharaji, "and that is the basis of this relationship." Other people in India have also been called "Lord of the Universe" well before Maharaji, without its ever implying that they claimed to rule the universe or have anything to do with its creation.
	(5)	What about this song called Arti? Another little-understood practice that came from India with Maharaji in the '70s is Arti, a song sung to the teacher or to members of his family. Arti is performed not only in front of a teacher or master but also on many other occasions: a son returning from a long journey, a sister honoring her brother or to honor the successful completion of an important endeavor. On a handful of occasions in the past decade, some Western students have sung Arti as an expression of the gratitude they feel to their teacher.
	(6)	Has Maharaji made efforts to remove the Indian trappings from the '70s? It is often overlooked that Maharaji was 13 years old when he came to the West. As a young boy, the presentation of Knowledge and his public persona was handled by Indian adults steeped in Indian ways. This resulted in an environment that now seems anachronistic, but was culturally accepted in the 1970's, where many Indian rituals and cultural traditions were being embraced by the younger generation. Living in "ashrams" and vegetarianism are two examples. As a teenager, Maharaji often wore traditional Indian garb. People teaching the techniques of Knowledge were called "mahatmas".   As Maharaji matured from boyhood to adulthood, he made it clear that his message had nothing to do with Indian or any other cultural tradition. In the early 1980s, he began to dismantle the remnants of Indian culture and adopted an approach more universal in style. The Western ashrams were closed. He asked to be referred to as "Maharaji" instead of "Guru Maharaji." The organization created by the Indian heritage, "Divine Light Mission," evolved into Elan Vital.   Today, Maharaji's message is the same as it always was, albeit presented without the Indian cultural overtones.
	(7)	What is Elan Vital’s relationship to the Divine Light Mission? When Elan Vital was originally incorporated in the U.S., it had the name Divine Light Mission, which was brought over from India, but in the late 1980’s that name was changed to Elan Vital.
	(8)	Why was the Divine Light Mission name changed? The name Divine Light Mission was one of many things that came from India to the United States with Maharaji. After Maharaji spent some time in the States, he saw that these things were a hindrance to people who might otherwise be interested in his message. It was with this understanding of removing obstacles to people, that he suggested various changes. The Board of Directors of the organization also felt the need for change and the name was just one such change, many of which have been made over the years and will continue to be made, as needed.
	(8)	Is it true that a former instructor engaged in sexual misconduct in the early '70s? In 2000, Elan Vital first received a complaint of alleged sexual misconduct in the ’70s by Jagdeo, a former instructor. An investigation was launched by Elan Vital even though Jagdeo had not been associated with any organization promoting Maharaji’s teachings for many years and had not performed any duties as an instructor in the U.S. since the 1980s. With help from the organization in India (where Jagdeo had returned) Jagdeo was located and his whereabouts were communicated to the authors of the complaint against him. A resolution was reached and the complainants chose not to pursue the complaint further. Although nothing can undo what happened in the past, every effort was made to find a healing solution. Elan Vital is committed to providing an environment that is free of sexual harassment or any form of sexual misconduct and enforces a strict policy accordingly. Employees and representatives of EV undergo compulsory training to ensure that each individual fully understands this policy. EV promptly responds to any complaints it receives in this regard. Appropriate disciplinary action is taken against anyone who violates the policy.
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