Hans R. to James B—“ Hello James, I would like to weigh in on this topic if I may. I recently did some research on google and found some interesting information that I believe is relevant to this question. “Knowledge ” as practiced in the cult of the perfect master AKA Guru Maharaj ji is without a doubt derived from the teachings contained in the ancient Sanskrit text, the Bhagavad Gita which is part of the larger epic poem known as the Mahabharata, the basis of the Hindu religion. In the Gita, lord Krishna tells lord Arjun, there are four yogas or methods that can lead to the liberation of the human spirit. They are also clearly the methods practiced by Maharaj ji’s premies. Keep in mind these yogas were presumably intended to work on their own, not together and could take many years if not a lifetime to achieve. 

1. Karma yoga, the yoga of action and reaction. Traditionally Hindus give alms to the poor which they believe will cause good fortune to be bestowed upon them at a later date or in another life and eventually lead to Nirvana and the end of reincarnation. In the cult, however, practitioners are persuaded to give directly to the master in the form of “service” usually physical labor or offering their particular expertise and or the donation of money to the master (so he can bring peace to the world, one person at a time, in jaw dropping luxury). Some people find such practices to be incredibly rewarding, even outside of the cult. Philanthropy is often a major part in the life of the extremely wealthy. Being part of or contributing to a cause that one see as grater than one’s self can be highly rewarding. 

2. Bhakti Yoga or idol worship. Clearly idol worship or worshiping the perfect master in this case has a major roll in the experience of “knowledge”. This phenomenon can also be seen in modern society in the form of celebrity reverence. Take someone like the late Michael Jackson for instance. He may not have been a cult leader per se but he certainly had a cult like following. If someone who did not appreciate him or his music attended his concert, their level of excitement would presumably be far less than that of a true diehard fan or someone who literally worshiped the man as an idol or icon.

3. Jnana yoga, the path of self knowledge. This is the practice of arriving at spiritual conclusions based on direct observation and personal experience. Obviously the word knowledge is part of the description. One may listen to “satsang” (translation, truth) and agree with what is said because of previous beliefs or observations. One may find enjoyment in practicing “knowledge” and equate that with the legitimacy of the operation. I find this to be the most deceptive of the four methods as not all observations in life are accurate. Some believe the Earth is flat because they stand on top of a hill and look at the horizon which certainly appears to be flat. In reality, if you stand on the beach and look out over the ocean, you can only see about three miles of ocean surface because of the curvature of the earth. Another example is this, say you have a young child in school. You receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a faculty member, they tell you that something terrible has happened to your child. Would this not evoke a strong emotional response? It should! Is the emotion itself real? Yes, you certainly feel something but does it prove that something bad happened to your child? No, the experience or emotional response you feel does not prove the validity of statement being made which caused it. The mind produces an experience based on input both true or false and can literally be tricked, sometimes by its own inaccurate observations or interpretations. 

These are the three main yogas that Krishna presents to Arjun. Then he says there is a fourth yoga. A shortcut to liberation if you will. Raj yoga, the yoga of ritual and meditation. This is the yoga to which my father attributes his teachings, though clearly all four yogas can play a significant roll in the experience. I believe meditation its self is the most legitimate of the four practices. ( but not necessarily the techniques my father teaches). Meditation, particularly breathing exercises, have been scientifically proven to cause a measurable effect on brain activity. Without the grace of a guru I might add. Many around the world, who are not members of a spiritual cult, practice meditation as a sort of ritual and believe it contributes to their mental and physical wellbeing with noticeable results. 

When I read the descriptions of the four yogas online I realized instantly what my father had never told me. These were the components that create the experience of “knowledge”. It has nothing to do with my father’s claims of being a master of “perfection” as he puts it. In fact whenever someone comes along who has a greater grasp of language and speaks more convincingly about the spiritual con that is Knowledge, my father quickly puts them in their place. The last thing he wants is for someone else to run away with his golden goose. Behind the scenes, he acts more like a mob boss than someone with spiritual mastery. Gurus are ubiquitous in India. An expert recently estimated that there are over ten thousand cults in the United States alone. People think this experience is special and devote their life to this man. Why? So many premies have told me, “your father saved me” I often wonder. Saved from what? Boredom? No. It turns out that many suffered from acute emotional trauma before receiving knowledge. The loss of loved ones in a tragic way. Abuse in their childhood, rejection by loved ones and so on. People quote my father and say, “knowledge works”. My response to that is, yes it does, so does Fentanyl! Does that mean everyone in pain should use it? Not necessarily, opioids regularly ruin people’s lives. However, Im sure some people swear by it. So what about worshipping a false idol, does that ruin lives? I believe in some cases it has. I also believe it can ruin more than just your life on earth. That is of course a belief but a belief that has been around since the time of the old testament. The way I see it, the experience of knowledge is a rehashing of one of the world’s oldest religions. The methods tap deep into the human psyche and can create a powerful experience when fully adopted and implemented by the practitioner.”

Another thread-

Hans R. to Patrick W.  “Hi Patrick, I read your post and wanted to sincerely thank you for expressing your understanding, empathy and insight into my situation. I am grateful for the  kindness and support I have received from so many who have taken the time to read Don’s posts and were able to responded with sympathy and compassion. Wishing you a wonderful day! Hans”