Darshan: Who Is Guru Maharaj Ji?
Darshan in the Divine Light Mission (Shri Hans Productions) Who Is Guru Maharaj Ji? film of 1974
In late 2009 a former community audio/visual co-ordinator for Divine Light Mission was cleaning out his attic and contacted the Ex-Premie Forum to see if anyone might want the boxes of tapes, magazines and some 35mm films that he hadn't destroyed when ordered to in the early 1980's. The film quality had deteriorated during the 30 years but the films were professionally converted to DVDs.
The film has a 4 ½ minute section showing the darshan line at the Guru Puja (Guru Worship) Festival in England in 1973. Even in those days this was not done in London but in the country. It is the emotional highlight of the film and one of the most popular Divine Light Mission songs, At The Feet Of The Master, based on a poem by another former boy who was declared to be the return of Jesus Christ, Jiddu Krishnamurti.
The young Australian man in the middle of the middle picture is now an old Australian man who has long ago given up on Rawat and his "Knowledge."
The darshan line is stressful. In the above right hand picture we see the young man in the brown coat bending over to make his donation. He has longish hair and has not had Holy Breath so this is his first time in the darshan line and he has to both pranam, kiss Rawat's feet and ask for Holy Breath by cupping his right hand behind his ear. Should this be before he bows and kisses the Lotus Feet of the Master, during or after or both, will he need both hands to steady his bow and hold himself while he kisses his feet, what if he stumbles and falls on the holy Lotus Feet and there are ushers, true devotees, pushing and pulling him as well. It might well take a miracle for him to become a true believer after all that.
It's go go go around the Feet of the Master. On Rawat's left Mahatma Param Saphlanand and his henchpremies feverishly separate the three tons of fruit and veges being offered to the Lord Of the Universe that will be given back to the devotees as prasad from the valuable donations (especially money) that will go to Rawat Himself. Meanwhile on the right, Bob Mishler, President of Divine Light Mission and future Apostate Extraordinaire, helps out, chats with the Perfect Master and ensures everything runs smoothly.
Even the Perfect Master deserves a break and if someone doesn't get Holy Breath while Rawat chats, well it's just a lila.
And after the tension comes the release and ecstatic bliss, or something reasonably close, for some and serious tears for others.
At the Feet of the Master
To Download the song 'Who Is Guru Maharaj Ji', Right Mouse Button Click Here and Select Save File/Target As …Waiting the word of the Master
Watching the Hidden Light
Listening to catch His Orders
In the very midst of the fight
I'm listening to catch His Orders
In the very midst of the fight
Seeing His slightest signal
Across the head of the throng
Hearing His faintest whisper
Above earth's loudest song.
I'm hearing His faintest whisper
Above earth's loudest song.
At the Feet of the master
Well you can really let it go
Let it flow
Cause we're all love
We're all love
We're all love, love, love
By His grace