GOK,

"Lying by omission", as you call it, is not lying, or at least not necessarily lying.

Of course lying by omission is lying!  White lies are still lies, GOK.  Your example about the Valentine's Day gift is a pretty good example of a lie by omission that doesn't really harm anybody.  It's cute.  Harmless.   I wouldn't think it immoral of myself or others if a surprise birthday party was being planned and my friends and I omitted the truth about the party in order to surprise the birthday boy or girl.  You've really wandered away from this discussion. 

We're having a discussion here about something and someone very specific, GOK. It's about Prem Rawat a/k/a Maharaji, who claimed to be God, Lord, the Satguru  This is not about some birthday or holiday surprise gift.

You've said that Rawat doesn't disabuse premies about their continued belief that he is their Lord.  Further, you said that it's quite okay for EV to lie on behalf of Prem Rawat to newcomers.  In other words, you believe that the end justifies the means, no matter what when it comes to Maharaji and Elan Vital.

I'd say without blinking an eye, that what Prem Rawat says and does in order to fulfill his mission in life is very harmful lying.  He hold a great position of power for some people.  That kind of lying by omission is simply unacceptable.

Once someone embarks on the Prem Rawat road of deception, a person can really lose themself.