I state this self-evident truth, because if one were only to view the spin-doctored, revisionist, self-serving official Prem Rawat cult sites and loyal party-line devotee/student cult sites, or peruse the cult's daily manipulation of Wikipedia-related items, one might mistakenly surmise that 'ex-premies' were some kind of generic, monolithic counter-cult, and a calculating bunch of apostates full of hate, at that.

Not true.

For instance, I hadn't posted on this forum again until recently (not since way back last year). The only time I even associate with any 'ex-premies' is when I post on this forum, email some old friends, or chat with (or see) a few friends I've known for many years (outside the cult), who have also left the cult way behind in the dust of the rear-view mirrors of their lives. When I was a premie, though, most of my friends were premies - especially in the cult's first decade in the West. Nowadays, almost all of my friends (and personal contacts) are people who have never had anything to do with Prem Rawat or his cult.

On the contrary, active Prem Rawat cultists go to regular cult programs, videos, Prem speaker events, and they do think of themselves as his 'students', or rather most still regard themselves as Prem's - or more honestly, "Maharaji's" - devotees or "premies." It is only natural, then, that in such a cult mind-set, they regard and define any contrary expression within the confines of their own defensive cultist terms and narrow perspective, which is based upon the cult-indoctrinated belief system. Let's look at that, for a quick moment.

"Ex-premie," a brief etymology: It was "premies" themselves who first started designating people who left the cult as "ex-premies." I remember this very clearly. Premies I knew would do this all the time, in a derogatory, disparaging fashion. It started in the mid-1970s. Anybody who left the cult - boom - now, they're an 'ex-premie.' Watch out for them, don't hang out with them; they're a bad influence. Be careful, if you do! However, many premies had ex-premie friends - people who had left the cult, no longer worshipped and followed the Guru Maharaj ji, or had simply stopped practicing Service, Satsang, and Meditation. Furthermore, lots of people were friends before they had any contact with the maha, and they have remained friends through the years, regardless.

Then, in the late 1990s, something changed; the internet really took off and gained worldwide popularity. The first websites critiquing Maharaji aka Prem Rawat appeared. Prem, himself a computer and tech addict, curiously warned his devotees not to go onto the internet. He warned about "flaming," etc. He did everything he could to formally indicate his distinct disapproval of the internet, as a total waste of time for all his sincere believers/followers. Why? What was he afraid of? Was he afraid his devotees would discover substantive facts and testimony that would irrevocably undermine their faith in him - and affect the mega flow of those all-important monetary contributions, too?

In spite of his warnings, curious premies began exploring the internet. When search engines appeared, people would type in Maharaji's various names, and so forth. As thousands of people who had ever been involved in the Prem personality mind-control cult began reading and exploring the initial and growing body of information posted then, increasingly countless devotees and former devotees began sharing relevant information, documents and other evidence, experiences, concerns etc., regarding a cult involvement that, for many, had lasted decades.

This information, and the volumes of factual material and evidence thereby gathered and published on the internet, became a visible threat to Prem's ongoing operations --- the most direct outside threat to his recruitment and retention of cult members, and to the constant fund-raising necessary to support his luxurious lifestyle (under the deceitful guise of 'non-profit' organizations, various projects, and "propagation").

In the late 1990s, in my own contacts with Elan Vital operatives at the Rawat cult organization's California headquarters, they routinely referred to www.ex-premie.org as ex-premie.hate. In fact, the official cult line was to stereotype and stigmatize - and even demonize - ex-premies as a "hate" group. This was promoted - and has continued - as official Rawat cult policy. The cult has waged a concerted cyber and legal war against any and all public critics of Prem Rawat. Prem Rawat and his cult feel clearly threatened by the truth - by information that contradicts his claims, by facts that reveal his lies and the revisionist lies of his organizations and representatives, and by the damning testimony of literally hundreds of former cult members concerned only to warn others and expose the many lies and wanton abuses of Rawat and his deceitfully presented personality cult.

To reiterate: the reason why Prem's organizational culties label 'ex-premies' as a hate cult is because they, themselves, are in a CULT, and thinking as cult members, when they encounter anti-cult activism and consciousness-raising on any substantive issues, they can ONLY try to comprehend it in cultist terms. They are trapped within a cult that disparages critical thinking and have thereby been socialized to be incapable of legitimate intelligent critical reasoning, on any subject relating to their Lord [er guru, er Master, er motivational speaker, whatever...]. Those faculties are impaired, due to the brain-washing of the Prem personality cult and its sinister mind control indoctrination. We were taught by Rawat, as devotees, NOT to think, not to listen to "Mr. Mind." "Never leave room for doubt." To be "in one's Mind," was a monumental put-down. The devotees all bought into this doctrine; it was ritualized and put into daily practice, as a tenet of the religion.

Now, regarding so-called ex-premies. There are literally hundreds of thousands of ex-premies - perhaps millions worldwide. Most people who ever came to him have rejected him, and moved on. That includes those who post on critical forums - whether rarely, occasionally, or even regularly. Those persons who do post regularly on the forum do so for their own diverse reasons - as a Public Service, for the sake of those still entrapped in the cult, to communicate with those who likewise have ever been affected by the cult, and simply for the sake of camaraderie and friendly banter on many related subjects (philosophy, science, spirituality, cults, etc.), and so forth. Each poster has her/his own reasons and personal perspectives, philosophy, politics, avocations...

A careful review of the ex-premie forum archives reveals many different viewpoints by posters, as well as constant debates, arguments, and personal expressions -- all of which vary according to each individual (and personality). There is NO doctrine, no single mind-set, no catechism, no unitary theory, no group belief system. There are no meetings, no 'official' organizations, no paid employees, no publications, no fund-raising tours, no guru aka master, no heirarchy, etc. All this stands in direct contrast to the actual group-think endemic and central to the Rawat cult indoctrination and modus operandi.

The archives of the various ex-premie forums since the late 1990s are characterized by "diversity" - of people, personal philosophies, testimonies, and their views vis a vis the Prem Rawat personality religious cult. These ex-premie forum archives include (among others): the former president of Rawat's official organization, other top officers, his personal financial manager, his appointed instructors of the so-called "Knowledge," his office personnel, his personal staff, his event managers, his spokespersons, his ashram officials, ashram members, premie [Prem devotee] householders, spouses of premies, families of premies, premie children and women who were sexually molested by Rawat's instructors, aspirants, persons who attended at least one (or more) of his programs, persons who have escaped from other similar religious guru worship mind-control cults, persons never in a cult who nevertheless enjoy the intellectual discussions to be found on the ex-premie forums, and of course - innumerable premies themselves who have initially come to the forums (in various guises) to preach and defend their guru Lord - or premies seeking relief and answers to long-suppressed questions and doubts about Prem Rawat and his operations.

In point of fact, many current ex-premies first discovered the truth about Prem Rawat (Guru Maharaj ji aka Maharaji) by reading the files at www.ex-premie.org and then the various ex-premie forums - when they were still "premies" [devotees aka Prem's students]. Indeed, the ex-premie websites and forums have served as vital humanitarian catalysts that have helped awaken countless Rawat devotees/students - human beings who have consequently freed themselves from the layers of cult-induced delusions, the "maya" of guru servitude and guru-related superstitions.

The term "ex-premie" is therefore utilized by former cult members, in this context, primarily only because that was the very term premies themselves used to label those who had left, fallen away from the faith of the alleged 'true believers', in an obvious attempt to draw a distinction (with judgmental connotations) between the 'saved' and the 'backsliders' [or apostates]. Rawat's and his devotees' behavior is typical of all cults, and it is yet further indication that, yes, they are indeed part of a cult.

The Rawat organizations' and [his] representatives' continued attempts to demonize and harass the cult critics, including filing frivolous lawsuits, waging unlawful cyber terrorism on websites which criticize Rawat and his cult, physically stalking and intimidating witnesses in some cases, attempting to censor and historically professionally, legally, or physically harm journalists (including attempted murder, not by just by Rawat's "students" but by top cult officials - including an instructor) all serve to underline that this sinister cult engages (and has historically engaged) in a campaign of terrorism against outspoken Rawat cult critics.

I submit this statement to the world regarding the true nature of Prem Rawat's cult and his representatives' attempts to paint his critics - and lump all ex-premies - into a small corner with a poisoned paintbrush of the Rawat cult's own choosing. In fact, the Rawat cult's coordinated campaign against so-called ex-premies is "terrorism." Unless this campaign -especially the computer hacking and personal stalking and intimidation - stops, I would urge any and all governments of the world - including the United Nations - to classify the Prem Rawat cult and its organizations and representatives as "Terrorists" (with a capital "T").

Realistically, if Prem Rawat and his cult wish such criticism to ever cease, then he must at least initiate something along the lines of the following:
1) first, formally and publicly renounce any and all claims he has ever made, and apologize to all followers, past and present, for his behavior and rote "cheat and deceit";
2) dissolve his entire cult apparatus, and turn over all organizational financial records to independent auditors and investigators;
3) assist legal authorities in apprehending Jagdeo and other criminals hidden by the cult;
4) sell the properties and tangible assets of all the shell corporations set up (and put the money generated in a trust for subsequent disbursement to all former and present cult members, and those directly harmed by his cult);
5) allow independent auditors and investigators to assess the total amount of contributions made worldwide since he proclaimed himself to be the "guru" [aka "Master" ], and legally take custodial control over all related bank accounts;
and
6) disburse/reimburse all these accumulated funds proportionately (for instance: 10% to sexual abuse victims; 30% to former ashram members; and 60% to all other documented financial donors [worldwide since 1971], based upon amount of individual contributions made).

Until then, there will Always be a huge pool of understandably outraged 'ex-premies' - and among those persons, definitely a number who are, and shall remain (and those in the future), justifiably vigilant public critics of this insidious phony religious cult and its megalomaniacal charismatic leader, Prem Rawat.

Sincerely,

Mick, a lover of life, liberty, and honesty