there should never be any reason to explore the background of anyone when you are considering making a decision about them. If a Presidential candidate was involved in scandals earlier, or someone looking to get hired had changed jobs 10 times in the last 5 years, or someone who you are thinking of marrying was divorced 5 times already, all water under the bridge.Live for the moment because the past and the future are an illusion I guess? That might work on Planet Maharaji, but not in the real world. Just like every single other person, Maharaji has to accept responsibility for his past and realise that the things you do have repercussions. Take for example again a Presidential candidate. George Bush Jr. had to answer alot of questions about his previous alcoholism. Apparently he did that to the satisfaction of enough people to get elected. That was due to the fact that he faced up to it, admitted his past faults and demonstrated that he was over it. Imagine what would have happened if he had just tried to hide it and then a reporter discovered it later.
Well that is just what Rawat has been trying to do. In a way, EPO and the rest of the websites shouldn't even be necessary or at least not the major sources of information about Rawat's history. That they are says everything.
Rawat is used to living in an isolated autocratic world where he burps and people go running. Unfortunately for him, the bubble he is living in is easy to burst. Outside of that bubble is a big wide world where freedom of speech, dialogue and criticism are the operating modes of communication and learning. Maybe on his remote Australian oasis he is the unchallengeable monarch, but unless he wants to hole up there for the rest of his life, he will have to accept the rules of society around him. Criticism of him doesn't just come from ex-followers and it won't go away no matter how many civic awards he wins and press releases Linda sends out.
Grow up reporter. In the real world, people who put themselves in the arena of public attention get scrutinised. And only idiots are going to believe your baloney distortions. The only way out for Rawat is to acknowledge one way or another his past and to deal with the repercusions. As long as he continues to hide, he makes himself look worse.
