French Documentary About Prem Rawat and Elan Vital
This documentary, from around 2003, was inspired by Jean-Michel Kahn a former dedicated premie and administrator and probably an initiator/instructor. Kahn gives too much credit to the young Prem Rawat's abilities but otherwise gives a good short history of Prem Rawat in his Guru Maharaj Ji persona, with Divine Light Mission and Maharaji persona, with Elan Vital. The young Rqawat understood very little about the West by he knew his main chance when he saw it and had nothing to lose and theexciting possibility of escaping his mother's control in the West. In 2003 Rawat had probably 15,000 followers with only a minority being dedicated. There may have been crowds of 100,000 attending festivals in India but this does not translate to 100,000 premies. It is a successful cash cow for Rawat himself but still requires constant badgering and begging for funds from his PWKs to keep him flying. At this time, and for 20 years prior, it had been the rump of the premies he had attracted from 1970 to the end of 1973 who had suipported him and attracting and converting new followers had been a dismal failure.
The French government is far more concerned about the effect of cults on society than most other governements. Rawat is far more circumspect there than in other countries.
Last Sunday, hidden is in his Mercedes with tinted windows, Guru Maharaji arrived at the artist's entrance of the Palais de Congres.
The police are not far away. His baggage was searched when he descended from his aeroplane.
The man called Maharaji is at the head of the sect, Elan Vital, which has 100,000 followers. It's a golden business.
Distinguishing mark: He's a millionaire And he doesn't want to meet me.
In order to find out more, I questioned one of his close followers. In a word, the ways of the Maharaji are impossible to understand.
Whilst the thousands of French followers are expecting the good word, an ex-follower is standing nearby and watching.
"I left long ago because I noticed it was a business. Then it was much more free (sic) than it is now."
"In those days, it was less private, now it's private. It is hard to find out a lot.
We know the guru play the hide and seek and likes doing business. This is a guru his name is Prem Pal Rawat.
He only travels by private jet. He bought his last toy from the king of Jordan for 300 million French francs ($US 40 million).
His wonderful achievements started in the cradle. Son of an Indian guru, he became Perfect Master at eight years old.
The sixties the sexual revolution, the beatnik's era … The fascination with the East.
Maharaji understood this. He arrived in Europe in 1971 without any money at all. Immediate success!
He filled stadiums, held festivals … And makes headlines in the newspapers.
To his followers, he's the Lord of the Universe, the Divine Incarnation. His recipe is a mixture of an old Hindu Knowledge and verbose preachings.
Thirty years later, the guru has kept his faithful followers. "He's been saying the same thing for 35 years with different words," Jean Paul Bibarian, President Elan Vital, France.
"He simply says what you are looking for is inside of you. You can experience it now."
"Your life is happening now enjoy it now." An innocent but obsessive message diffused by every means available.
The guru is generous. CDs, books, global satellite broadcasts 3 time a week. He even employs the marketing men for his propaganda. Discover the Elan Vital Internet site.
He releases 100 new videos a year. You have to pay for them, of course, and all to the Glory of the Master.
Document: Elan Vital. The contribution to parish costs. A dubious conditioning.
This is where Elan Vital starts to resemble a sect. Jean-Michel Kahn, adept for 24 years … "You start to become addicted to this so-called teaching."
To watch his videos … go to his programs. It's not an experience of freedom at all … it's an experience of being psychologically imprisoned.
27th of May, 2001 Versailles. (78) the highest experience is to see the Guru in person. A new occasion to leave a little money. Even if officially everything is free
Elan Vital never misses an opportunity to ask for donations. … To attend the onference at Versaille, the minimum contribution is 600 francs.
You make it a bigger donation, you get a front row seat. You are requested to make donations in every possible way and at every step of the way.
Although the videos are supposedly free, We are asked to make donations on a regular basis … Every month or so about 300 francs a month these days ($40).
You're asked to make a donation to attend Versailles. If you make a bigger donation you get a front row seat.
That's very secret and unofficial. And or so have heard some donations are as high as 50,000 francs, or even more.
You conform because you don't want to be further pressured or seem marginal compared to others.
So everyone pays. The French President of Elan Vital is no exception.
"I must give. To the Association? around 1000 francs a month." That's 12,000 francs a year
The guru has a taste for luxury. To fund his private jets, for instance, he doesn't hesitate to launch fundraising campaigns.
In this document, he is asking for donations to purchase a Lear Jet G55. And It works!
He hides the rest of his fortune. A house in England, a helicopter, a yacht costing 50 million francs ($US 7 million), christened "Serenity."
In the shade of the palm trees of the California coast, Maharaji owns a palatial villa in Malibu that is his primary residence with more than 21 rooms and is valued at over 150 million francs ($US 20 million).
He and his family receive 150,000 francs per month ($US20,000) in donations from disciples...
The rest comes from his companies for which his followers benevolently work
In 30 years, the guru of Malibu has achieved at least one miracle: He made his fortune.
