Contact 88 - Maharaji in Australia again

When Maharaji announced at the Gold Coast Rejoice that he intended to return again before the end of the year, it was evident that there would be little time to rest and reflect on the success of the recent programmes. Instead, it was a chance to build on the inspiration and get everyone involved in preparing for the Contact programmes.

Located in the three major cities, the Contact programmes give everyone the chance to attend and to participate in the preparations. Contact 88 is an important step, a building block, in Australia's development as a target country where Maharaji is investing his time and energy. Contact 88 is not only a chance to spend a day with Maharaji. It is a time to express a commitment. An individual commitment, to the practice of Knowledge, and to Maharaji, to his work in Australia, and the development of that work in 1989 and onward.

If you have not yet registered and wish to attend, phone the following Contact hotlines:

Melbourne (03)598 1183 (5.00pm-9.00pm)
(03)482 103 7
(03)754 7366 (6.00pm-8.00pm)

Sydney (02)559 1739

Brisbane (0 7)371 6163

The address for registration for all programmes is:

Contact 88
PO Box 356
Cammeray NSW 2062

Maharaji on tour

Maharaji returned to the United States after the Rejoice programmes in Australia and New Zealand. After completing his six-monthly flight training he held a series of four Contact programmes in Miami, Los Angeles, New York and Montreal (see this page).

In July and August he held four Rejoice programmes in England, plus Rejoices in Athens and Jerusalem. After returning to the United States for a brief stay he returned to Europe for Contact programmes in Paris, Munich, Rome, Lisbon, Madrid and Montreux.

In October, Maharaji is conducting Knowledge selections and sessions in the United States and Europe.

Maharaji continues to develop this area of giving Knowledge. He is currently training four full time instructors to specialise in conducting the Knowledge selection and Knowledge sessions.

He has recently completed a Knowledge session in Los Angeles where the initial training for these instructors began in late September. Five people received Knowledge.

When Maharaji visits Australia in November we will learn more of his plans regarding the Knowledge selection and session process for this part of the world.

There are approximately fifty-eight people throughout Australia actively involved in preparing for Knowledge.

As Maharaji's schedule for 1989 is already being considered, a proposal for Australia has been forwarded.

In 1988 Maharaji's attention has been toward the people with Knowledge through the Rejoice and Contact programmes.

In 1989 the attention will be toward preparing for Maharaji to be able to do public presentations in one or more major cities. This preparation may include an instructor training conference in the first part of the year.

This will undoubtedly be a new and exciting direction and a chance to enable Maharaji's work in Australia to take a further step forward.

Contact '88 - the USA

For 12 days during June and July this year, Maharaji criss-crossed North America, offering thousands of people with Knowledge a relaxed opportunity to 'set a priority in this life' - the priority to practise Knowledge. Although many participants assumed that Contact '88 would be a repeat of last year's 'Rejoices', this was not to be. Contact '88 had its own unique flavour - still another reminder of Maharaji's commitment to growth. It was a programme well-named. The 5,000 people in attendance had ample opportunity for contact - contact with Maharaji, contact with Knowledge, and contact with each other.

The series of four one-day programmes began on June 29th in Grenelefe, Florida, where Maharaji set the stage for the entire tour, The reason to be here' he explained, 'is for all of us to take a little bit of time and practise Knowledge'.

Two days later, it was on to Rye Brook, New York for more of the same. Following that, Maharaji went to Palm Desert, California. The final programme took place in Montreal on July 10th. Admittedly tired from an all-night flight from California, Maharaji greeted the 1,100 people assembled there and reassured everyone that although he was exhausted from his travels, they were nonetheless in store for a great day. 'The only difference,' he laughed, 'is the jokes will be better'.

From start to finish, Maharaji assumed responsibility for many of the programme details. As a result,' explained tour coor dinator, Alberto Monteiro, 'the focus was very clear - every minute of it. Contact '88 was simple, sweet and powerful'.

At each programme of the tour, Maharaji addressed a wide range of topics. He also answered questions, showed a new video, read some of his recently written poetry, and set aside a generous amount of time for the practice of techniques. The half hour video chronicled Maharaji's worldwide travels over the past year, from small gatherings with people wanting to be instructed in Knowledge to a traditional Holi festival in India with 168,000 ecstatic people.

In one video segment, Maharaji spoke of the challenge of his work - especially the challenge of bringing an infinite experience into a modern culture with all its attendant limitations. He made it very clear that his mission is to keep Knowledge a living experience and that he would accomplish this by changing his presentation as needed to overcome people's tendency to artificially structure and ritualise Knowledge.

Addressing one questioner in Grenelefe, Maharaji talked about the ways in which the presentation of Knowledge has changed over the years. He explained that while he thoroughly enjoyed the past - and hoped others had, too - 'certain changes had to be made' if Knowledge was going to become available to a wider audience.

'It was fantastic!' said Diane Timiero after the Montreal programme, an international event that drew 500 Americans across the border. 'Contact '88 clarified what my life and Knowledge are all about.'

But perhaps no one summed up the feeling more clearly than Maharaji himself at the Palm Desert programme. 'If you have a minute or so, close your eyes and remember how beautiful Knowledge is. Or try some basic 'thank yous' thank you for this life. Thank you for this experience. And feel. Remember that longing within inside of how beautiful Knowledge is.'

Birthday in Delhi

Maharaji will be in India for his 31st birthday later this year, with a 3 day meeting on the 8th, 9th and 10th December. A large gathering is expected at the Sant Yog Ashram facility on the outskirts of New Delhi.

Last April, when Maharaji was in Delhi, 170,000 people attended a public meeting introducing the Knowledge. The following day audiences were divided into small groups of 40,000 for a more intimate gathering with him.

The annual Organisers Conference is planned for 6th and 7th December in Delhi to coincide with Maharaji's birthday programme.

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