Thankyou Andries for starting this thread.I have been too embarrassed to reply until now.

I joined the cult in 1973 when I was 19 and right from the start there was all these allusions in the " Divine" literature and songs about his face "shining like the sun" or even 1000 suns.

Maharaji, Maharaji,

Your face shines like a 1000 suns

You have given me all I have asked for

Love and peace and harmony.......

This particular song was sung in a mind numbing round to get the message well and truly internalized. There were many others on the same theme.I suppose the 1000 suns has some Hindu significance.

At first I was puzzled by the "shining face" significance but then I found that if I somehow psyched myself up at a programme ,when Maharaji was present on his throne or latterly speakers chair,by intensely "remembering Holy Name" ( I can never remember the numbers of the tecniques ) and half opened my eyes and fixedly stared at him ,then white shining light seemed to gradually surround him until his actual form seemed to disappear and all I could see was this silvery and golden,bright " glow". It was a euphoric feeling where I experienced what I now know was the delusion that "I" had disappeared and "merged " with him........It is with some relief that I now understand what a load of bollocks ( sorry mods) this kind of self- inflicted hocus pocus was .

The lighting onto the stage at programmes helped me create the "glowing" delusion and the heady meditation along with the group ,almost hysterical, excitement smothered my rational thinking processes ( mind).

I used to look forward to the "glowing" thing happening at an event.It contributed to the desperate proof  I needed that this tubby ,unattractive little man really was the Lord ( of the Universe).I had given so much of myself to his f****** mission that I needed this reassurance.

At the very last programme I went to (Brighton 2002) the "glowing" effect didn't happen for me as I am proud to announce I was completely " in my mind".

Maybe Hilltop ( if he has time) has some Shining/glowing/thousand suns pics/literature.

How interesting Toby,that Rawat picked the photos for sale, himself.

Can you elaborate on this?

Oh my God ..another shudder that I got in so deep and am still struggling out.