Historical Revisionism in "Hear Yourself" by Prem Rawat

I've called it revisionism but really its nothing but outright deceit. The young Rawat began his career with a theology that his father had taught, his father's organisation, his family and his most trusted followers taught and which he was taught and repeated in his speeches. He taught this for more than 15 years until his first major change of direction. He has stated in 2022 that he never believed in this "Indian religion" and its quite likely that he didn't. He was a reasonably intelligent boy but not one greatly interested in theory and spirituality and he couldn't help notice that he was not treated with the respect and worship that a Perfect Master should receive from his own family, especially his mother who continually nagged him about his shortcomings. Nor was he gifted with any of the great powers that he taught the Perfect Master had. He was also unhappy and anxious much of the time due to his dislike of school and his teachers there and his fear of his mother's punishment if she learnt he was not doing his homework.

In "Hear Yourself" he tells a bowdlerised version of his father's death and his actions following:

I was eight and a half years old when my father passed away. I was very attached to him. He was very loving but quite strict. People had great reverence for him, but when you're a child, you just accept things as they are, so this was all normal for me - he was simply my father. Thousands would gather to hear him speak, and those events were magical. Everyone had come with one purpose, which was to know a little more about themselves. He would sit down and start talking, and from that moment there would be absolute silence. I was very fortunate to be a part of it. To experience just one day of that in a lifetime would be very special, but I lived it for a number of years.

In the first few days after my father passed, I didn't really understand what had happened. I just remember crying and crying. And then, after a while, I realized something: in my heart I could still see him, hear him, feel him. It's been quite a few years since then, but I still see him and I still hear him and I still feel him in me. When somebody passes away, there is nothing you can do about it. All you can do is begin to accept. Then, slowly perhaps, you can begin to understand that they are with you in a new way. That feeling of connection can never be taken from you.

Many, many people felt great sadness when my father passed away. Some days later a large crowd gathered, and I could see that people were very upset. I didn't want them to keep feeling such grief, and suddenly I found myself walking onto the stage and up to the microphone. I looked out at those faces and said: "There's no need to cry. The one you're crying for is still here with us in our hearts, in your being, and he always will be." When people heard this sentiment from me, it was very uplifting for them, and they started cheering. Perhaps they could see an aspect of my father in me, but they could also feel his energy in them.

We have Rawat's original recounting of this time as published 50 years ago.

He was 10 years old and had been taught enough to know what to say and do and everything had been prepared to anoint him Satguru and take photos to record the event for posterity. We will never the exact details of the organisation and any backstage conniving that might have occurred beforehand. The young Rawat continued to play this role and teach this "Indian Religion" for another 15 years until he felt it was time to drop it.

But I feel that Guru Maharaj Ji is alive and always will remain alive. So many times, Guru Maharaj Ji has come to this world. There have been many, many Perfect Masters and each one has revealed the very same Knowledge. You haven't understood. Each Divine Incarnation has gone away and still you have not realized the Knowledge he brought.

You can all see Guru Maharaj Ji sitting in front of you in the form of a photograph, but you should understand that he is even more near to us. He is omnipresent. He is present in this photograph and he is within you in your own heart. Guru Maharaj Ji is present in this body. I want to ask the Pandits, these hypocrites, if they chant mantras while asleep. Guru Maharaj Ji has revealed to us the Holy Name, that is like air inside and outside of us. Now, Guru Maharaj Ji has dissolved himself in the air. That Word, that Name disappears in the air and you bring that air into you when you breathe, waking or sleeping.

When Knowledge of God is spread through the whole world, there will be one religion. The Knowledge will be spread through mahatmas, because, without these great souls, it cannot be done. You cannot prepare the lamp without oil. Without oil, it will not burn. The spreading of the Knowledge is beneficial for all. That is why we should not waste time. We have to give even our last breath for the sake of others. You can practice propagating this Knowledge and see for yourself. When Guru Maharaj Ji was here, what did he do? He spread the Knowledge to everyone and such work he did that it will never end. Everyone kept taking from his endless treasure. He told me, "I came for this purpose only. Now you have to do my work." I will unite all religions. I only need the grace of Guru Maharaj Ji. We will become such a multitude that we will fill every hall and every temple. Guru Maharaj Ji is in front of us. I have got in me the God who is omnipresent God. Guru Maharaj Ji is within my heart and is everywhere.

The young Rawat had one tremendous advantage in pulling off his scam. He could do anything and it would be explained (away) as the inability of normal people to understand the Divine. All actions normally considered discreditable could be explained away as a Divine Lila. There was never a single event in which Rawat surprised anyone by acting in ethically higher ways than normal expectations. As His Number One Mahatma, advance man to the West and greatest devotee, the former Mahatma Gurucharanand explained: