An old friend of mine wrote me the following letter. He apparently thought I was still into the guru, and has been trying to "receive knowledge", as we used to say in the old days. However, with the new process he has gotten quite confused, which makes him even more un-peaceful. He feels that he really needs peace now. He's trying...but also feels that he may have an alternative solution. Any helpful comments you might have for him will be gratefully passed on to him.
Hi there, I've been trying to get the "knowledge" from Prem Rawat (formerly Guru Maharaja Ji, then Guru Maharaji, then Maharaji, now Prem Rawat). I remember him as the young man who was happily married to Marilyn with four kids and a nice mistress, Monika. I also remember that he liked to sport a crown and wear garlands of flowers while dancing to tunes from a premie band at devotional programs at times. Quite a character!
However I'm confused now, with today's process for getting peace. The complicated process is making me unpeaceful, consequently I feel that I REALLY need some peace now, after going through the process. Maybe you can help me.
I was listening to Monika Winslow (formerly Monika Lewis, but not Monika Lewinsky), Prem's mistress. I also liked listening to Marilyn, Prem's wife, and found her devotion to Prem to be inspiring, but I understand that I need to go through the mistress, not the wife, to get to Prem's message these days. That's OK.
But it's so confusing!
I want to get the PEAK (peace, education and knowledge)experience, which I now understand it's an updated PEP (peace education process) program. But then Monika, says that PEP is only theoretical, and can't give me the peace that is only available through the KEYS process, which is the old 4 Techniques of light, music, sound and nectar, although they are now called #1,2,3 and 4.
And then there is INTELLIGENT EXISTENCE, which is a subsidiary of Prem Rawat Creations. I guess I need to check that out as well, although Monika informs me that "from what I can tell with the numbers, not a whole lot of people have actually completed PEAK".
And then Monika says that there is going to be "different levels of trainings coming up as well".
And that we have to "make the space for all the new people to come in"...
Will they be coming in to get PEPPED, or PEAKED, or just to make their EXISTENCE more INTELLIGENT?
As I was contemplating these different options, I learned that there is also a TIMELESS TODAY app that I can get. Sounds good, but what is it? I guess I better check that one out too.
And then I learn that the 4 original techniques are now called SELF KNOWLEDGE.
And to top it off, it's going to be presented on a brand spanking new LMS (LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) platform. Just like at a university or an online course. Monika also told me that "it's not a bunch of chunky little fragmented pieces. It's perfectly laid out in chapters, with reflection and journal questions. It's a lovely experience."
I 'm sure that Monika knows about chunky little things, getting perfectly laid out, and having lovely experiences, so I'm ready for this exciting new phase as well.
But then I found out that Prem is also going to expand it a bit.
And that it's self paced now, but we make get a facilitated PEAK experience later.
So, should I go for the current self paced PEAK now, maybe get PEPPED first?,add a little INTELLIGENT EXISTENCE to the mix (couldn't hurt, right?), or wait until Prem expands it a bit? That sounds awesome!
And then I hear that the "2023 Focus Sessions" are crushing it, and think that maybe I need to hear them first? And to top that off, there are also Understanding More Focus Sessions" coming, as well as a "Best Of Prem" series. What's an aspirant to do? (are we still called aspirants?)
And then I hear about "Community Meetings", where the grass roots efforts are finally coming together.
And "Regional Representatives" and "Knowledge Session Representatives", along with "Knowledge Session Teams" and some sort of "Knowledge Review Media" to check out. Wow, this is a lot to think about, and I'm trying to be a good premie (or is it 'student' these days) and NOT think.
So, that's it for now. I'm confused and not feeling much peace. I guess I need to surrender and really try to get that peace now, because I'm really in need of it.
On the other hand, and I know this is "out of the box" and all that, but have you heard about this guy TED Farkel? TED claims that in his down home country community you just get the 4 techniques, practice them, and rock out! He's got wet t-shirt satsangs, and road kill Thursday pot lucks. And they're still singing Arti by banging on 55 gallon oil cans out back!
I kinda like the simplicity of it all, but also want to get it right with Prem and Marilyn and Monika.
Any suggestions for a guy who's a bit "in his mind"?
I can use them...
