Hans Rawat (Prem Rawat's father and predecessor as Perfect Master), India
Lord Buddha left his kingdom, his wife, his son and everything to find the Truth. He saw that this world is an ocean of grief and miseries. He knew that he would leave this world behind one day, so why not leave it now to find true happiness? He searched for Truth, got it and then spread it. That is why it is said that only what is available at the present time is valid. Only a living doctor, political leader and Spiritual Master can do good for people. We will benefit from asking the living Master who is here now.
Manav Dharam website downloaded on 1st April, 2009

Hans Rawat aka Satgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj
"I prostrate before the Master who is God in human form, whose words are like the sun in eradicating the darkness of delusion". So-called gurus nowadays bestow a rosary or teach some words or a verse of a scripture to their disciples and tell them to remember it as the True Name of God and people accept such gurus as real Masters. But St. Tulsidas says that such gurus are not true Spiritual Masters. Only the one who wipes out darkness and kindles the Divine Light within the heart is the true Spiritual Master. 'Gu' means darkness and 'ru' means light. The Word of the Master is as powerful as the sun. Darkness goes away immediately when the sun rises. Similarly the Word of the Master removes the ignorance of lust and attachment and wipes out sins.
Online Magazines: Manav Dharam (September 2007) downloaded 1st April 2010

Hans Rawat aka Satgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj
Every man has within him the eternal essence. He is in fact, part of the totality of its essence. This word of God has the ability to manifest itself in a potent form in order to bring mankind closer to its truth. This manifestation is called Guru, or the Spiritual Master. While as a spiritual master is in the human body, he is not human. He is the Word made flesh. While living in the world he is not of the world.
Satgurudev Shri Hans Ji Maharaj

Shri Sant Ji Maharaj, July 29, 1966, Prem Nagar Ashram, Hardwar, India
Today, you have got this human body. It is most difficult to get it. The scriptures say, "With great luck we are born in human form. It is difficult even for the gods to attain the human body. It is the only temple suitable for spiritual endeavors." To use it properly, we have to know that means which is the gateway to liberation. First of all, we have to realize why we have got this human form. We have to know why we are alive. We should not arouse Guru Maharaj Ji's anger because we want only to see him all the time. When you are in the presence of Guru Maharaj Ji, time stops, death does not exist. Guru Maharaj Ji is the creator of the whole universe. Still the world gives him pain and will keep giving him pain. He said, "Let me rest at least for two days." You did not let him rest, but called him back to you. I feel that Guru Maharaj Ji is here and is giving satsang through my body. After all, what is in me? I have only flesh, nerves, blood and bones. My body does not have anything more. But I have got the same soul as Guru Maharaj Ji. Guru Maharaj Ji is within me. He is in everyone. He is present in everyone and also in me. So realize that Guru Maharaj Ji is himself speaking. Do not look only at my body.
And It Is Divine, Millenium Program, 1973 and The Golden Age, November 1978, Number 49

Dehradun, India, January 20 1970
Similarly, in order to be with the Lord, one has to become a humble servant in the beginning. You, in the western world, are crippled with materialism. Come to me, for I shall heal you from your disease. You are blind with your eyes, for you cannot look to the spiritual world. Come to me, for I shall enlighten you. If you are lame, I am there to help you. Dear aspirant, day by day, man is exploring materialism. But the saints had explored in the spiritual world. Scientists write books and theories while the saints write scriptures and sing the glory of God. Love God for He is Love. See divine light for He is DIVINE LIGHT. And Sing His glory in words, for He is the WORD. Quench your thirst for He is TRANQUILITY. Listen to the heavenly harmony for He is HEAVENLY HARMONY: from which the universal frame began.
The Golden Age, April 1979, Number 52

Dehra Dun, 29th July, 1971
The Knowledge is everywhere, the God is everywhere. We have to only discover the God. I won't make a God for you and show you the God. Everybody wants perfect peace. A man who wants to realize that Holy Name, he will have to need a teacher for it, otherwise he can't hear it. … And this Knowledge is so Holy, so Perfect that one spark that comes out of this Knowledge is so perfect, so, so perfect, wherever it goes it hits, it makes it perfect and wherever it goes, again hits, it makes it perfect. Wherever just one spark of this Knowledge shines up, absolutely perfect. So that Knowledge I'm, I've got it here." … This Knowledge, because it is a very sweet fruit, whoever takes a bite feels the sweet and wants to take it more and more. It's not a thing that I'm a spiritual master, I can preach the knowledge then I should not retire. My soul is pure but not my body, it's a body same like you have got, I have got." - 197½
I Have This Knowledge video

Questions & Answers, San Francisco, August 6 1971
Materialistic world and spiritual world - both separate. Right? So what you are dealing with in the spiritual world, you can still have that side with the materialistic world. This materialistic world has nothing to do with that and that has nothing to do with this. I am driving a car and I can do that meditation. Doing a materialistic thing and side-by-side a spiritual thing. … I drove a car four hours, regularly, from Dehra Dun to Delhi, and I did meditation all along. It is possible.
Élan Vital, Spring 1980, Volume IV, Issue 1

Questions & Answers, Morgantown, West Virginia, August 31 1971, Noon Session
Q: When did you become a spiritual master? Did you feel any kind of a spiritual calling that made you decide to become a Guru? How did you get into this?
A: See, after one Master, the power of his spirit is transmitted. That holy spirit of Knowledge is transmitted to another body, whom the first body thinks is capable. Are you feeling thirsty? Can you see that photo of Lord Shiva? You see the water coming out from the top of his head? Drink that water. Drink, drink! Can You? You can't drink that water. It is a picture. You need everything living. If you have doubts, you cannot ask Lord Krishna questions. That's why you need a living Master, for the circumstances of the world today. When Jesus was here there were no nuclear bombs. But now there are nuclear bombs, and the Perfect Master, the Perfect Savior, has come to save you from nuclear bombs.
Élan Vital, Volume 4, Issue 3, Fall 1980 and The Questions, Who Is Guru Maharaj Ji? and Light Reading, 1980

Television interview, New York - 9/10/71
The Western world is much more civilized in all the materialistic things than the East, or than India. But they miss one thing. They are so civilized, but they miss one thing. And that is spiritual Knowledge.
Spiritual Knowledge? Yes. And that's why I have come here. Because we are helping many, many people from America, from London, from Italy, from many, many places, who went to me when I was in India. And they told me that they really required me. And now I have come here to give them spiritual Peace.
Élan Vital

Denver Ashram, Colorado, 18 September 1971
Q: I still don't understand what the relationship is when you were explaining the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and Satguru, and Guru, and Perfect Master. I don't understand what the relationship is.
GMJ: Holy Ghost is the Perfect Master, Sons are we, and He is the Father. People who are existing on this earth are the Sons of God.
Q: Then Jesus, was He just the Son of God?
GMJ: Yes, yes, He was a Perfect Master. See, what is the Holy Ghost? The Holy Ghost is the same spirit as God. But when It has to take a human form It comes into that Holy Spirit. When God takes human form He is Perfect Master. Perfect. Because, except for God, nobody's perfect. So when He is the Perfect Master, He is Himself.
Q: Was Jesus of God, or did He have to advance, did He have to be made perfect?
GMJ: He had to be made perfect. That's why the Knowledge was given to Him, then He was perfect.
Q: But He was once imperfect?
GMJ: Yes.
And It Is Divine, Volume 1, Issue 1, November 1972

Toronto, Canada, September 25, 1971
That's why Satguru teaches everybody a single skill: that is to meditate, and to give satsang, which everybody can do for everybody. That's why he teaches one universal skill, easiest to perform, with benefit for you and also for a man whom you are speaking with. … That's why the need of Satguru is here. See, any disturbance, any corner jutting out in this world, Satguru comes and makes it round. That's why Satguru is here. He makes the political circumstances normal, material circumstances normal, spiritual circumstances normal. Every circumstance. So the sages have said that he is the greatest politician also, philosopher also, Master also, teacher also, Guru also, or whatever you call him. See?… That's why Satguru stands in between bombs and his devotees. He has got such a huge hand that he puts it over his devotees and devotees are saved. Bombs burst, come on his hand, nothing happens to him. That's why he comes into this world.
Élan Vital, Winter 1978, Volume II, Issue 4

Westminster Engand, November 2 1971
And this Knowledge is so Holy, so Perfect that one spark that comes out of this Knowledge is so perfect, so, so perfect, wherever it goes it hits, it makes it perfect and wherever it goes, again hits, it makes it perfect. Wherever just one spark of this Knowledge shines up, absolutely perfect. So that Knowledge I'm, I've got it here. … This Knowledge, because it is a very sweet fruit, whoever takes a bite feels the sweet and wants to take it more and more. It's not a thing that I'm a spiritual master, I can preach the knowledge then I should not retire. My soul is pure but not my body, it's a body same like you have got, I have got." … In English you can translate this "guru" into "teacher" or "guide" - a guide who can take us away from the darkness of this materialistic world into the bright light or the holy light.
I Have This Knowledge video and Reflections of an Indian Sunrise

Johannesburg, South Africa, 29 April 1972
Every satsang is a discussion on one subject, and that is the true Knowledge which brings peace of mind. Many great saints got fantastic experiences from this wonderful Knowledge and just wanted to spread it to all people. In every age a great saint like Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Mohammed, and Christ has taken birth on earth for this purpose, to give this Knowledge to other people, because, in their time, the truth had declined, spiritual understanding had been lost. As far as spiritual matters go, they were ages of darkness. … I don't mind the difficulties that are being put against me. Whenever he comes to the world the Perfect Master has to tolerate many difficulties. I have come to spread this Knowledge and that is what I am going to do.
Who Is Guru Maharaj Ji?

Miami, Florida, U.S.A. 15 June 1972
So now, if you are really interested in this Knowledge come to me. I have got it for you. You can take it by all means. People come and ask me, "Oh, we can't receive this Knowledge, because we aren't into any spiritual scriptures and so on." But it doesn't matter. I say, "You don't need to be. If you haven't read, it's OK, because supposedly there was a time when those scriptures were not there, yet still people were being given Knowledge. Now, which scripture did they used to read before they could receive Knowledge? So, it's just OK. If you haven't read any scriptures, it's OK, still you can receive this Knowledge." What are people trying to do today? All the scriptures indicate towards one God. … All the scriptures indicate God, so people started going on the scriptures.
Divine Light magazine Volume 2, Number 3, December, 1972

Montrose, Colorado on 17th September, 1972
Remember Jesus prophesied that there will be famine and thunders before the Kingdom of Heaven comes, but remember at the same time that God is very merciful. He is complete mercy. And probably, if He has mercy on you the world won't explode, and I am working on that. I am increasing spiritual Knowledge like anything to stop the bombs destroying the whole world and I need your cooperation. If you don't cooperate with me, okay, then let the bombs explode. They won't wait for me, but if you want real peace, cooperate with me, and really, I will bring it along very fast, because God is merciful, all merciful. No politician has ever brought peace to his country. Even now many wars are going on in the name of peace. Yet if all politicians worked in harmony and cooperation with the great Spiritual Master and with the Truth, then world peace would be obtained in one millionth of a second. A second, not a minute. I issue this challenge! I am not a political leader and have no right to talk about or criticize politicians. True Spiritual Knowledge is my subject and this is the highest Knowledge. From this Satguru obtains His authority. Once you know the Name there is nothing left to know.
And It Is Divine magazine, Volume 1, Issue 1

Television Interview, Sydney Austalia, October 1972
What do you preach then?
We preach the perfect and the spiritual Knowledge. No master, no saint, at his time preached any religion. Now we make a religion after them. Today, what religion has brought eventually in this world is not peace, but war. Actually, religion has started from the word 'realization', and realization of God is the true religion. So as a matter of fact, I am not preaching any religion, but I am preaching this true Knowledge.
Golden Age Special Introductory Issue, February 1980

Interview, 1973
Q: The Knowledge can be realized through that spirit?
AL No. It has to be revealed. By a Perfect Master.
Q: By a living Perfect Master?
A: By a living Perfect Master. I was going to give you an example of Kennedy and Johnson. When Kennedy left his body, they didn't say all right, Kennedy is still going to be President. They put Johnson in.
Light Reading, 1980

Millenium 73, "The Most Holy and Significant Event in human history" Houston, Texas, November 10, 1973
We can use all our imaginations, our minds, our books, our scriptures, our talks, or spiritual discourses, to make you understand that there is something like that and you must get it. You must get it. You must get it. But finally, when you realize, all of these stop. Because they just go to one point. … But when we reach to that point, when we hit that point when God is with us and when we are one with God, there is no more. And it's just completely Perfect and just completely beautiful. See? So that is why we have to understand people are becoming too attached to this materialistic world. But how we have to be in this materialistic world is like a lotus flower, which is born in the dirty water, it's sustained by dirty water, but still it does not touch the dirty water. It's beautiful. It's far above that dirty water you think about. And this is how we have got to be to live in this world, to be sustained by this world. You still have food and everything, but still be like a lotus flower, still be away from it, far, far away from it. Because you can be. You can be like a lotus flower. And isn't a lotus flower beautiful? I think it is. I think it's very beautiful. And this is what we have to be. And now, it's like different, different ways of explaining that one Perfection that all these scriptures have described. Because it has been said in different words by different saints. They say the exact same thing of this realization, of this Perfectness. Because it is within inside of us all. But it's only that we have to realize it. We only have to see within inside of us. And then once we see it -- I just told you, there is no question about it. Then you are with Him. That's within inside of you.
And It Is Divine, Summer 1977, Volume 4, Issue 2

1974
Spreading this Knowledge is the most, most holy and spiritual thing that one can ever do in this life.
The Sayings of Guru Maharaj Ji, © Divine Light Mission 1974

DUO Proclamation 1974
Whereas, the one universal belief of all people hold to be true, is the belief in life itself; and yet due to ignorance of the aim of human life, the world continues to be filled with misery; and Whereas, even with the advancements of the technologically expanding twentieth century, humanity has continually failed in all efforts to find a solution to misery and suffering; and Whereas, Knowledge of the aim of human life is being revealed to all people of the world by the living Perfect Master and spiritual head of Divine Light Mission, Paramhans Satgurudev Shri Sant Ji Maharaj, thus eliminating the cause of ignorance and misery; Therefore, the people who have experienced the Knowledge of Shri Sant Ji Maharaj, with full awareness of the difficulties of living without knowing the aim of human life, are compelled to reach out to the rest of the struggling humanity to spread the solution to strife and suffering by a commitment to work in all fields of endeavour for the elevation of humanity, manifesting an exemplary alternative to be known as the Divine United Organisation or D.U.O.  -- Guru Maharaj Ji
The Golden Age, No. 4, Thursday, April 24, 1974

John F. Kennedy High School, Denver Colorado, May 12 1974
But what service we do after Knowledge, to Guru Maharaj Ji, to spread this peace into this world, to bring that love, to bring that joy that we all have been waiting for, to work in that direction is called service and then the second thing comes, agya. Because the mind is so strong, a human being from the beginning is unable to determine that whatever next thing will I be doing, will it be a real service to the spiritual path or not. … this is just one example of how premies sometimes confuse themselves as to in the case of determining whether this is true service or not and that is why the most important thing is agya.
Perfect Master Tape #16 and Brotherly Love Newsletter, November 1974

Los Angeles Meditation Retreat, 1st June 1974
Once we have understood the importance, the significance than like and what it will do to us, what it will mean to us will be just so incredible, so much, so enormous, so, so much that it'll be blissed out completely 24 hours and this is a really good thing that all the premies have started this retreat idea. It's really nice because everybody can assemble then and, and, and really try to experience and really try to understand because see this life has been given to us for a particular purpose. … This is a beauty for us but doesn't become a part of our spiritual life. It be remains a beauty, beauty as a beauty but if we go further and higher than at this situation can take us and that's, that's so beautiful because this is where we want to be. That's where we want to go and when we are there, when we are at that point it's like everything is so blissful so premies, it's like, do meditation, you know, try to understand what this Knowledge is.
Perfect Master Tape 016

Denver, Colorado, October 17, 1976
Now, they asked their own questions and they answered their own questions. They didn't wait for Guru Maharaj Ji to handle it. They didn't just have faith in Guru Maharaj Ji. But you see, this is where it's really, really important. And that is the reason why Guru Maharaj Ji comes in a body. There can be this enormous, spiritual power - well, there is - and no physical body, and it's just like it was before. There was no Guru Maharaj Ji, and everybody was just doing whatever they wanted to do. Everybody was into their own trip. This is what happens time after time when we lose our perspective, when we lose that fundamental thing. … But you have to understand what this is all about. You know? This is about peace. Premies say, "Well, my experience isn't working out." Or, "There is an even greater experience than this experience." The thing is, there is a reason why Guru Maharaj Ji is in this body, and if you really have faith in Guru Maharaj Ji, then Guru Maharaj Ji will let you know, will let you understand what is really to happen. He has done it. Not just one time, but time, after time, after time, after time.
Divine Times - November 1976 Volume 5, Number 10

Meeting with Initiator Candidates, Malibu California, January 10 1977
You really cannot surrender to Knowledge. Knowledge is within inside of you and therefore … It'll affect you if you just start to surrender to Knowledge; it'll affect you in many different ways, whereas maybe that day your experience isn't what it's supposed to be. And for a lot of people, for two, three years, four years, five years, they've been doing meditation, and their Knowledge experience isn't exact, isn't correct. But you directly need to really surrender to Guru Maharaj Ji, because that is a practical essence where you can physically, spiritually, consciously surrender to.
The Initiator Service, Quotes From Guru Maharaj Ji's Satsang

Ventura, California, 21st January, 1979
That is why I guess whoever invented the word "guru," did invent the word "guru" - the person that can bring us from darkness into Light, from not-knowing, from illusion, from confusion. And tell me, how many of us are constantly into Light? … But in the spiritual life, where you are trying to sustain yourself away from the river of ego, from this maya, from this illusion, and you go up to somebody to help him, and he starts drowning you, he starts making that stuff rub out on you; then it is very, very obvious that help will be on its way, but maybe you're not exactly the person who should help him. And Guru Maharaj Ji has come to save exactly everybody, not one person. The people who cannot swim. The point is, if everybody could save themselves, would you really think there would ever be a word called "A Saviour"? The whole reason why there is a word "Saviour" means that there are people who cannot be saved, who would not be able to save themselves. And that is why there is a person who can save those people who cannot save themselves, called a "Saviour". But we have to have that trust
The Golden Age, Issue 52

"I have not come here to bring you some new piece of information that you can debate or rate, that you can argue or unargue, no. This is not about religion, this is not about spirituality, in fact, for what I am talking to you about there is no label in this whole world for it. So what do you know? You know about being happy how you need that in this life. You know that. You know how you need the joy in this life. You know that. You know how contentment is important to you, you know that. You know that you dislike sadness, you know that. … Awakening is awakening to that which already is. Then with this heart awakened to the possibility of being fulfilled. Then in this life know that you can be fulfilled. Know in this life know that you can be content and that is the simplest of request that has always been."
Fulfillment Video, 1998