Prem Rawat's Family Life
In both the Guru Maharaj Ji and Maharaji years (1973 - 1990) Prem Rawat lived a very unusual life in his Malibu palace. The closest description would be that of a Royal Court. He was surrounded by premies - courtiers and unpaid servants - always striving to get closer to the source of power and enabling and indulging in all the hedonist diversions the Lord desired. This was the opposite of the life of a true spiritual leader which is why it was kept secret, the insiders called it being x-rated.
Prem Rawat's Public Prohibition of Drug Abuse Was Widely Reported
In his paper Globalization, charisma, innovation, and tradition Premie & Professor Ron Geaves wrote: "Members were expected to forswear drugs and alcohol, and adopt a strict vegetarian diet." Many newspaper articles mentioned the prohibition on recreational drugs, alcohol and cigarettes and researchers Foss & Larkin of Rutgers University wrote "It banned drugs and established an order of celibate-renunciates. It enforced hair and dress codes and fostered servility and obedience in lower-level operatives."
In 2022 Prem Rawat issued a book called Hear Yourself. It contained a section titled FAMILY MATTERS in which he or his ghost writer wrote:
most of all, we need to support the family. And what can we all do to empower the family? Start with our own.
In 2024 Rawat's eldest son made public accusations that he had been sexually abused as a child by his parents
He also gave a few details about Prem Rawat as a parent:
For the record, My father first gave me alcohol and cannabis when we lived in Miami Beach; there were several premies who saw this. I was seven.
(He) Also drank cognac daily starting in the late afternoon and would regularly throw uncontrolled fits of rage directed at followers or family members, including his young children.
In 2000/01 Michael Dettmers (PA to Maharaji) and Michael Donner (Pres, DLM) revealed the truth of Rawat's debauched life
These accusations have been corroborated many times by others who were at one time x-rated by Rawat.
Prem Rawat publicly demanded a drug free life for his followers but Michael Dettmers reported that:
… this was "completely at odds with what was going on during that same period, night after night, in Maharaji's residence in Malibu. After Maharaji had dinner, he, and most of the residence staff, would gather in his living room … joints that were freely passed around. Don't get me wrong, I liked getting stoned and there is nothing quite like being passed a joint that had just been toked on by the Lord. When everyone was ripped, Maharaji loved to play "Frampton Comes Alive" at full volume. To me those were great times, but please spare me the bullshit about protecting us from the drug culture. The awards Maharaji received in this regard were a joke. They were as ridiculous as Elvis Presley receiving an honorary FBI badge from Nixon."
Another close offsider, Michael Donner, wrote:
"my personal experience is that M has been drinking since I began in Denver in 1973 … told then by Bob Mishler that he was drinking daily…that is daily…since he arrived in America. His daily routine was created around his evening drinking … usually always began about 5pm … minimum 4 or 5 very large shots (probably 2-3 oz per drink) each evening, before dinner … usually later in evening about 9pm. Interesting by the way that he never or extremely rarely if ever eat with his children. They were fed earlier. So he drank cognac every evening til dinner, sometimes after dinner, often he would drink more, never less.
at the millenium program? yes, in houston at the residence he drank daily. i never saw him in all the years drink at any program until after he spoke…then always after. michael Dettmers might know otherwise and i would believe him. Dettmers talked about Maharaji's personality change with more then the usual drink and I certainly witnessed that often enough. The scene was comical/pathetic (in retrospect). Alvaro or John Miller would bring a crystal glass out to the dinning room, Maharaji at the end of the table, perhaps a couple people sitting against the walls of the dining room…sometimes 5 or 6. the glass would be on a smallish tray with the glass covered (all the way from the kitchen to the dining room). the serving premie would have the other hand over the heart…the glass placed on the table in front of m and the server bowing with eyes closed….backing out of the room. i witnesed this ritual countless times.2. drinking problem? you be the judge…my experience was that his whole schedule was set up…covertly around his drinking time.
3. drug use? I witnesed Maharaji smoking pot beginning 1973 (my witnessing began then). how often…not sure really, lots more then i saw i know for sure. most likely often weekly during most of the time i was around (1984 … then I left and got married, returned as part time instructor til 1987 and saw little during those years except it was the same when i was around sometimes as an x-rated premie til 1987). I personally doubt that Maharaji ever tried acid or stronger then hash drugs. I have no personal knowledge of anything except pot and hashish nor did I ever hear of more between 1973-87.
Most often my experience with Maharaji and pot was (always) at the Residence, late in the evening, maybe 20 x-rated staff around the living room. Maharaji would start a large joint, maybe two … to his own lips making it of course more special to us!) Hhe would have as much as he wanted and then pass it to Marolyn (usually) and from there to the rest of us til it was gone. He would play music for a while and go upstairs to bedroom after 30-60 minutes. For me, this was maybe 2-3 times a month. I found it generally part of what was so boring. The vibe around the residence was all single pointed focus of course … very boring)
During the summer of 1984, Maharaji and Marolyn encountered a severe "bump in the road" in their marriage. During that time, Maharaji became aware of a rumor that Marolyn was having an affair with one of the premies doing full-time service at the Malibu residence. It is my belief that the rumor was true, although I have no absolute proof of that fact. I know that Maharaji believed it was true because I witnessed his incredible anger as well as his genuine sadness over this matter.
