Hi Premie Spouse

Great post and of course you are totally right.

However lets not underestimate the gullability of what you term rabid premies.  They will have a genuine belief that TPRF can do no bad at all and, seeing that the living perfect master is in charge of TPRF, then only good will come from any humanatarian efforts they try.

Also, I believe, there is another dimension that is at play here. For most followers and especially those that have been around for years and years, i.e. the majority of followers, there is a a need for them to feel they belong to something more mainstream and not cult like.  Contributing to a registered non-profit (not a church as Elan Vital is), that 'appears' to be doing 'good' in the world, especially something as topical as Katrina gives them the perfect 'cover' that they can boast to friends, family and work colleagues.  For many previously having to own up to being part of an organisation with such cult like traits as Elan Vital prompted far too much embarrasment.

But this whole dimension is of course only skin deep as most who take even the mildest form of interest in TPRF will soon discover that TPRF is itself a cult.  One can easily rewrite the blurb that Linda Pascotto of TPRF has put out, to the following:

"Volunteers from TPRF, the organization through which Prem Rawat spearheads significant personal and family initiatives, are currently exploring the best ways to exploit the hurricane victims most in need to further the interests of TPRF."

Speaking of Katrina and totally OT, I have been dipping into the following blog several times a day which has given me a pretty good perspective of what is happening down in New Orleans.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/

T