Prem Rawat's Greeting/Reception Line
I'm pretty sure that most of us know what a greeting line is even if we've never been involved in one. The hosts and/or dignitaries greet the guests individually as they arrive according to the appropriate protocol. They can be informal as in the picture of the Obamas at the White House or more formal as in the picture of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace. No matter how powerful the greeter we can see they greet the guest, shake hands and possibly have a quick chat. President Obama, the most powerful man on earth, even bows to some people he meets.
Prem Rawat hosts his own special and unique greeting or reception lines. This greeting line is an updated, non-denominational renamed version of Darshan in which Prem Rawat's students file past but neither shake his hand, exchange greetings or do any of the normal human interactions. Instead, they reverently bow before him and kiss his feet, the holy Lotus Feet of the living Master. This is the peak experience for students of Prem Rawat, who they believe is the current Incarnation of God on earth otherwise why would they kiss his feet. Out of India this ritual is usually considered something of an abomination even when done voluntarily and eagerly by people who believe they are kissing God's feet. Prem Rawat aka Maharaji is trying to achieve public respect and recognition as an internationally renowned humanitarian leader and respected voice for peace even though he isn't, so to avoid criticism of the Kissed One, this is done secretly. Greeting Lines can occur wherever Maharaji is but it is only at Amaroo (aka Ivory's Rock Conference Centre) at Peak Crossing in South East Queensland that they occur regularly.
To maintain this secrecy the divine grace of the Greeting Line occurs in a purpose built holy space within the Amaroo compound that is cunningly disguised as a small unremarkable building. This room is the Kaaba for Rawat's students and devotees because this highest form of worship is hosted regularly at this one place on the planet! It is a purpose built temple, the Holy of Holies and is situated behind the amphitheatre at Amaroo. When a Greeting Line is scheduled, followers of Prem Rawat wait on spiritual tenterhooks in the amphitheatre and after the cripples, the non-ambulant frail aged, the sick and dying and the harmless crazy bongos are bussed up and helped/guarded through the Greeting Room then the ordinary followers leave the amphitheatre one line at a time, move to the left of the the seats and in single file enter this most holy temple by the southern entrance and after enjoying the bliss of the Grace of Kissing the Lotus Feet of the Living Lord they exit through the northern entrance and either collapse in bliss, dance with the rhythm of life, helplessly laugh and giggle in joy, return to their seats and stay centered in deep meditation or go and buy some snacks and drinks at the cafe or fast food booths, chat, gossip, humbly boast of their experience and generally get on with life with a bit of an emotional lift for a while.
Just imagine the people in the pictures below are in their 60's and you'll get the picture of what it looks like now though it's unlikely they'd be so excited. Actually the chances that all of those people would still be interested in kissing Rawat's feet are very small. The majority of his early 1970's devotees are no longer devoted having realized long ago (or just recently) that Rawat is a fake and a phony. Of course, quite a few of them might already be dead or dying.
Pranaming and kissing the feet of Maharaji, the living Perfect Master, is only available to authorised people. It's not something that just anyone should be able to avail themselves of. A person must be worthy. They must prove they are bona fide "People who Have Been Revealed the Techniques of Maharaji's Knowledge" by showing their Smart Cards or being vouched for by a premie with credibility within the organisation before they are allowed to enter the grounds of Amaroo while an event with Maharaji is eventing. Then at the appropriate time usually breathlessly announced over the PA the chosen ones are allowed to stand up, file left, leave the Amaroo amphitheatre and walk to the Holy of Holies and bow and kiss the Lotus Feet of the Living Lord and make a direct cash dedication (in envelopes) as they approach His throne.
Maharaji tells his ageing followers where to line up to kiss his feet.
Click here to see everything you always wanted to know that Prem preached about darshan - the "Greeting Line".