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4. So, why did they stop
practicing?
1.
In the early days, some people asked for Knowledge for the wrong
reasons. Practicing Knowledge will not magically solve your problems.
Blaming others for your own failure is quite common in Western
culture. Some people have found it convenient to blame Prem Rawat
because practicing Knowledge did not make their personal problems
disappear. Kahn's statement (above) is a good example.
Some of those who submitted stories
to EPO's website had been suffering mental illness or seem to
have been psychologically unstable before asking for Knowledge.
Mental illness can be extremely debilitating and the practice
of Knowledge will not cure it. David Stirling wrote:
"For a week or two I forgot about
the Knowledge but my mental problem was getting worse. I beleived
everyone else could hear my thoughts - it was making my life
miserable and work impossible. My psychiatrist really couldn't
offer anything more than mind-numbing pills so I tried using
the meditation techniques*."
(*The techniques of Knowledge.)
This sad account is a recipe for failure.
Stirling, a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, was at one time
a member of the inner circle of ex-premies.
Preparation is essential before asking
for Knowledge. We need time to have our questions answered and
to decide whether or not this is something we really want to
persue.
2.
Over the years, Maharaji has changed and developed the organisations
which support his work according to the needs of the times so
that he could reach a wider cross section of society. This was
particularly the case in the 1980s. A small number of people
were not able to accept change at that time.
I was one of many people who helped
with various projects in the late 1970s, early 1980s. When these
projects reached their conclusion, I applied what I had learned
and established my own business. Later, I completed a university
degree. Others around the world benefited in more or less the
same way. However, I think that a few were not able to make the
transition, and looked for somewhere to shift the blame.
3.
In the early days it was not uncommon for people with Knowledge
to try to describe their experience to others. In my opinion,
this was a mistake. And it is a mistake to look for the experience
that someone else has described and not accept and discover your
own unique, individual inner experience. For some exes, this
may have been a contributing factor.
The experience of practicing Knowledge
is personal and private in nature. It does not depend
on any kind of group process or hype. For me, the most wonderful
times have always been totally unexpected and surprising. I could
never adequately describe these experiences to anyone. My experience
and the quality of life that I derive is for me alone.
4. Some
people have been duped into believing hate group propaganda.
I'm not sure why. Perhaps they are susceptible to negativity.
Recently, two friends have suggested
an alternative view:
A few "disgruntled" people
were looking for an excuse to "move back."
i.e. Move back to domination by something which "chatters
away aimlessly most of the time" and is quite capable of
"rationalizing war, suicide, environmental destruction or
any other type of destructive behavior."
4. Miscellaneous material
How do you know?
Q: How
do you know you're in a cult?
A: When two of your most revered spokespeople
are convicted by free and democratic legal systems of serious
crimes but you make lame excuses for them. (Ackland)
Q: How
do you know you're a part of a hate group?
A: When the group make unprovoked attacks
on the children of the person they hate and you don't object.
(Prem Rawat's children)
Q: How
do you know you're a racist?
A: When you criticise and make fun of
a part of another person's culture which is a freely given expression
of love and respect.
Q: How
do you know you've lost the plot?
A: When you know you can answer 'yes'
to any of above questions but you don't care.
by M Barrister, March 2004
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