The Rawatism Religion

According to Prem Rawat his followers receive from him an experience and not a religion, it is not about 'belief', it is about 'knowing.' It is not about believing you know, it is about knowing you know. Prem Rawat says, "I'm not talking about believing. I know there are believers, and I have news for the believers. Knowing is one grade up. If you are a believer, knowing encompasses believing. Yet believing does not necessarily encompass knowing." Religions offer belief, spiritual organisations offer belief, the New Age offers belief, only Prem Rawat can offer knowing … according to Prem Rawat.

But even Prem Rawat's simplest gift, the gift of peace, when examined is revealed to consist of many beliefs:

  • That there is 'true' peace and happiness which is distinct from commonly experienced peace and/or happiness.
  • That 'true' peace and happiness cannot be achieved by any kind of social or co-operative action.
  • Conflict on a societal and global level will only be reduced when individuals have 'true' peace and happiness.
  • 'True' peace and happiness can only be achieved by an individual's involvement with their self.
  • The self is present in all humans, but is particular to each human.
  • The only route to experience the particular self is via Prem Rawat's unique Knowledge meditation and staying in touch with him.
  • That the Knowledge meditation will only work if an aspirant is made to 'thirst' for the experience delivered by the Knowledge meditation.
  • That only by listening to Rawat's speeches can an appropriate thirst be generated.
  • Only Rawat's demonstration of the Knowledge techniques provides genuine instruction and inspiration which allows practice of the techniques to actually provide access to the self.

Rituals and Ceremonies

  • Darshan The peak experience for a student of Prem Rawat's. Bowing down before him and kissing his feet. It's now known as the Greeting Line
  • Pranam Pranam is bowing down before Prem Rawat and touching or kissing his feet. See darshan or greeting line.
  • Prasad The eating of Rawat's leftovers or at least food that has been presented to Rawat to eat.
  • Holy Breath This was an important step after initiation. It was the recognising and accepting of the initiate as one of his students.
  • Charanamrit or "Holy Water" was water in which Prem Rawat had bathed his feet diluted à la homeopathy
  • Lotus Feet No longer called the Lotus Feet though Rawat's feet still hold an important position. Kissed in darshan.
  • Holi The Holi festivals with giant water cannon showering his devotees are no longer held in the West.
  • Dancing Prem Rawat no longer dances on stage dressed as Krishna. He does still dance on stage.
  • Devotional Music Daya Rawat is now the major singer of devotional songs for Rawat's followers. Sings many of the old favourites.
  • The Pinups Prem Rawat's organisations continue to sell calendars etc with pictures of an aging Prem Rawat
  • Festivals Festivals, renamed 'events,' still occur though with fewer and older attendees than in years past. Most important gatherings are at Amaroo.
  • Satsang, Service & Meditation Still the backbone. Satsang is now called "staying in touch."
  • Prachar or Propagation Students are encouraged to introduce people by giving them Words of Peace materials, a link to the Words of Peace website or a link to a video on the Words of Peace YouTube channel.
  • Deprogramming Prem Rawat's Students Opposition to "cults" no longer includes kidnapping. Cult information is available on the internet.
  • Apostasy (manmat) These days, Prem Rawat operates on a "if you don't like it, leave it" policy

Secrets

Doctrines and Scriptures

Organisation

The Teachings

Rawatism has a very comprehensive belief system which exists throughout the Prem Rawat movement, although outside of Prem Rawat's often contradictory speeches, it has no supporting liturgy, prescribed text or publicly acknowledged historical reference. In an attempt to unify his teachings a crack team of scholars of religion, inspired by Ron Geaves' dedication, have compiled the following concordance.