Rich Neel
In 1975 Rich Neel was a humble ashram premie in Philadelphia in charge of aspirants and the Knowledge Course:
The completion of our first Knowledge Course will be Tuesday August 12th. Mahatma Ji will make his selection from these aspirants and any aspirants who come from out of town. The second Knowledge Course is scheduled to begin on Friday August 8th. Please encourage any aspirants you know of who are seeking Knowledge to sign up with Rich Neel. We are learning constantly about this subject and realizing how important it is to prepare someone properly to practice Knowledge. Brotherly Love, August 1975
In a few short years his ability to write the most outrageous ass-kissing songs (should that be foot-kissing songs?) ever known on this planet propelled him into becoming a Divine Light Mission star even though his musical talents were not as strong as his bombastic devotion. The sheet music to his "I Love You" was even printed in Divine Times magazines. His songs were recorded on an audio tape - SLT 010 - One Foundation/Rich Neel - "I Love You" and it was still being sold in 1980.
The high point of his career was when Rawat mentioned him more than once in variouis satsangs including one given at the Hans Jayanti festival on Saturday, November 4, 1978, Kissimmee Florida.
His performances at the Guru Puja festival in 1979 were immortalised on film
I Love You by Rich Neel with One Foundation
There you sat before me, your silken hair flowin',
All around your shining face,
Reminding me of the darkness, silent blackness,
Sitting as a backdrop to the glorious moon,
Glorious moon, glorious moon.
Something made me feel like I barely understand
What a pearl-drop of perfection gleam could exist in one's eyes.
Yet the sparkle in your glance made my heart start to dance
As the sky lit up by a shooting star, a shooting star, a shooting star.
So much was growing in me that I hardly could speak a word;
My tongue was twisted by your presence.
To cry or to laugh out, sit still or leap up off my chair,
I was too spellbound to reason, too spellbound to reason, too spellbound to reason.
By what name can I call you, what word can I say, that won't fall short lifelessly to the floor?
No sculptor could portray such an immaculate creation, perfect in every detail.
I'll call you my beloved, sweet precious Lord; That is if my voice does not fail.
I cannot comprehend the adoration I feel comin; Maharaj Ji, my heart wants to wail.
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.
Thank you for coming today.
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.
Maharaj Ji, what more can I say?
If gold could be melted and formed into a body, yours was the one that was chosen.
How could someone shine so bright, have skin so soft and smooth?
Are you baby, child, man or woman, baby, child, man or woman, baby, child, man or woman?
You're so far beyond me, I hate to even try to describe something I never can.
But let me simply say that I love you and adore you, want to worship the very ground
Touched by your precious Lotus Feet, Lotus Feet, your precious Lotus Feet.
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.
Thank you for coming today.
Maharaj Ji, what more can I say?
Bolie Shri Satgurudev Maharaj Ki Jai! Bolie Shri Satgurudev Maharaj Ki Jai!
Dance, Dance, Dance by Rich Neel with One Foundation
Maharaj Ji you are the Lord
You've shown us by your Word
You've taken us from darkness to Light
Your wish is our delight
But now because we love your precious Form
There's one more miracle we ask you to perform
Will you dance, dance, dance
Our hearts long to see you dance
It seems we've waited for ages
Turned countless pages
We can't wait much longer
The music's getting stronger
So please dance, dance, dance
Our hearts long to see you dance
When your feet move the mind shakes
The world in our soul wakes
We can dance on for ever
Nothing else matters
So please dance, dance, dance
Maharaj Ji gather us in your dance
How grateful we are for your Lotus Feet
It's brought us Divine Nectar so sweet
Your breath is the life of all mankind
Without you we are completely blind
Your presence sends our hearts out of control
Please Maharaj Ji our souls are your dance floor
So please dance, dance, dance
Our hearts long to see you dance
Our hearts long to see you dance
It seems we've waited for ages
Turned countless pages
We can't wait much longer
The music's getting stronger
So please dance, dance, dance
Our hearts long to see you dance
In 1997 he appeared and sung at the 25th Anniversary Festival celebrating the 25 years that Prem Rawat had spent in the West bringing world peace. He sang both Dance, Dance, Dance and I Love You
In 2002 he released an album called Rich Beyond Words. While the lyrics were no longer so direct the voice had not improved and there was a piquant irony in the song title "Captain With No Ship" which describes Prem Rawat's fall from possible success succinctly.
And that's the way mind is, because once you get on that trip of mind, there is no return. That's it. Because you're already on your way! What are you going to do! Jump off? I mean, I guess those people could have done that. But they knew that if they did that, that would be the most stupid thing they could have done. What would their chances be of getting back? And Guru Maharaj Ji, this Captain, always keeps saying, "Don't … get … sick!" Because you get sick, and somebody sees you getting sick, then the other guy's going to get sick. And this happens! Once a mind-trip starts, before this virus of mind stops, it gets a few people. And this is what we have to understand. - Prem Rawat, Monday, November 6th, 1978
In 2005 a song titled "Smile" from his 2002 CD was given to those premies who made substantial donations in 2005 as part of an Élan Vital CD called "Thank You."
Beat The Great Drums of Satsang by Rich Neel
What is happening
What is it all about
Why is this world here
Why is that whole universe there
Who is that Lord
Who is that Creator
Whats this thing inside of me somewhere longing
To become one with Him
These are the questions that mankind is asking
As they stumble around in ignorance
So we should all come together
And beat the great drums of this satsang
So that unto all the brothers and sisters in this world
They could hear of the voice of these drums beating
and then they would dance to it
Just like you and I have
Everyone of them
Every soul in this universe
Would dance to it
It would be a beautiful experience
It's gonna be a beautiful experience
Already it is a beautiful experience
By His grace
The Lord comes into this world
To lead man to the Light
He reveals to them his sacred Holy Name
And makes clear the purpose of his life
Once He makes you His devotee
There's only one thing left to do
That's for all the premies to join in
Spreading this Knowledge to all mankind
For without Knowledge man will surely destroy this world
But the ones who knew will be responsible
So we should all come together
And beat the great drums of this satsang
So that unto all the brothers and sisters in this world
They could hear of the voice of these drums beating
and then they would dance to it
Just like you and I have
Everyone of them
Every soul in this universe
Would dance to it
It would be a beautiful experience
It's gonna be a beautiful experience
Already it is a beautiful experience
By His grace
We are so very fortunate to know the Living Lord
In this age of darkness men are full of confusion
Now it's our great opportunity
To let this whole world know
That the Lord is here and He is waiting
For all His children to come back to His feet
Maharaji promised He would establish peace on earth
Since we have his blessing we should not hesitate
So we should all come together
And beat the great drums of this satsang
So that unto all the brothers and sisters in this world
They could hear of the voice of these drums beating
and then they would dance to it
Just like you and I have
Everyone of them
Every soul in this universe
Would dance to it
It would be a beautiful experience
It's gonna be a beautiful experience
Already it is a beautiful experience
By His grace
repeat
Beat the great drums of this satsang
And the world will dance