It's very creepy , Joe. Yes it does hit all the old buttons.

I remember when I was invited to see it. Maharaji himself was present. We were invited to a meal in an upmarket hotel ....late eighties, Paris.A long time ago but I think one or two of his children were there too ( ?? ). After the meal ( a fairly jolly, if stilted and artificial , affair ) we were invited to watch the video ( which I bought a copy of ). I definitely remember being confused and uncomfortable then and there at what seemed to be lies and revisionism. It contradicted my memories and I was very puzzled at that very time.

I didn't remember the "saris" either ( there may have been a very few, way back ...) I suppose I must have pushed the  "Never leave room for doubt ..." button and blindly carried on regardless...In retrospect it was another "drip" though.

Was it all a dream ? Are you there Jean-Michel ? Do you remember that hotel/meal and the launching of the " Passages " video ?

I also remember that the " Divine Times" or some such publication ran an

article written by Ron Geaves ( 1980 ish) ....all about how he had fled the premie scene in London because he was having such a hard time and settled in a cottage in South- West England to find himself and be alone. There he decided to follow his religious studies or whatever. I seem to remember he was going through a really difficult time and felt really low.... So much for his " Fantastic" life !

I agree with you Joe...they are not IMO consciously lying, just deluded. Just trying really hard to " make it real" ...wanting so much for it all to be true......just like I did.

I'm not sure where that " feeling" came from....but I kind of remember what Joan Apter was talking about ( and the tears )......and that bit where Ron Geaves laughs.  

         What an inexplicable crock! Shudder !