The 'spark' is one way it's described although the term seems to have orginated with the philosopher Henri Bergson who intended it (not necessarily literally) in the sense of 'life force' - a sort of 'first cause' in evolution. It can also sometimes be used in the sense of the 'ghost in the machine'.
Why was it used to re-name Divine Light Mission ? - ask a premie and get a blank look - or maybe some tale about how it came to Rawat in a dream. You certainly will not get a discussion about Bergson, philosophy or evolution because cult meaning is not common meaning so Rawat's Elan Vital is different to everyone elses - except that is when it suits premies for it to be the same thing.
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