Elan Vital is an organization that supports the work of Prem Rawat also known by the honorary title Maharaji. Prem Rawat speaks of the possibility of knowing inner peace through four techniques of Knowledge. Elan Vital exists in several countries with the purpose of organizing events in which Prem Rawat is invited to speak. They also engage in fundraising. In some countries, they broadcast public addresses of Prem Rawat. Prem Pal Singh Rawat (born December 10, 1957 in Dehradun near Haridwar, India). ... Prem Pal Singh Rawat (born December 10, 1957 in Dehradun near Haridwar, India) is a sometimes controversial figure whose teachings purport to promote inner peace through four meditative techniques or kriyas that he collectively calls the Knowledge and which he brought to the West and promotes in both the West... Jump to: navigation, search Inner peace or peace of mind is a colloquialism that refers to a state of being mentally or spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep onself strong in the face of discord or stress. ... The four Techniques of Knowledge, also known as kriyas may have originated from the Surat Shabda Yoga, Sant Mat and other ancient traditions in the Far East. ...

According to Glen Whittaker, a former spokesperson for the organization in the United Kingdom, Elan Vital no longer has any connection to its originally Hindu or Sikh religious background. The Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements states that Elan Vital insists that it is not a religion and that Maharaj's teachings are independent of culture and by no means bound to the traditions of India. Jump to: navigation, search A Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, the predominant religious, philosophical and cultural systems of Bharat (India) and Nepal. ... A Sikh man wearing a turban A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism, a religious faith originating in the Punjab. ...

Elan Vital was incorporated in the USA in 1971, is registered as a church there, and enjoys 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. The president of Elan Vital is Larry Leblang who presides over a board of directors composed of four individuals who receive no compensation. Elan Vital has a staff of five full-time employees for administration and broadcast management. The majority of their work is performed by volunteers. [1] Jump to: navigation, search 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... 501C3 refers to section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code that exempts payment of federal income taxes for groups that are organized for charitable, religious, scientific, literary or educational purposes. ...

Elan Vital provides support for the dissemination of materials containing Prem Rawat's message. It also supports an Archive Project aimed to restore and catalog 30 years of film, video, and audio which documents Prem Rawat's work over these years. They claim that their materials reach a global audience in 80 countries in more than 60 languages. They also state that Prem Rawat receives no compensation from Elan Vital. Voluntary contributions and sales of its materials support Elan Vital in the USA, with 3,600 active contributors in the USA [2].

According to their website, Elan Vital adheres to a policy of nondiscrimination on any basis, whether race, religion, creed, custom, nationality, age, or gender.

The Elan Vital in the United Kingdom is a registered charity with similar aims and objectives as the US counterpart [3].

In Australia, Elan Vital is a non-profit organization with similar aims as well, stating that the organization is almost completely a volunteer organization and that volunteers offer their time, skills and donations in supporting the effort to make Prem Rawat’s teachings available as widely as possible[4].

Persons who have been taught Maharaji's techniques of Knowledge can apply and receive a Smartcard, issued by Elan Vital in the USA, that is used to facilitate admittance to events in which the techniques of Knowledege are reviewed, or to gain access to events designed specifically for people that have received such techniques. [5] A smart card, or integrated circuit(s) card (ICC), is defined as any integrated circuitry embedded into a flat, plastic body. ...

According to Elan Vital, Inc. website, the Divine Light Mission changed its name to Elan Vital in 1987.[6] The Divine Light Mission, a new religious movement, was criticized by the anti-cult movement in the 1970s. The Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements refers to the dissolution of Divine Light Mission. The Divine Light Mission (DLM) was founded by the Shri Hans Ji Maharaji in Northern India in 1960. ... Jump to: navigation, search A new religious movement or NRM is a religious, ethical, or spiritual grouping of fairly recent origin which is not part of an established religion and has not yet become recognised as a standard denomination, church, or religious body. ... Book published by the International Cultic Studies Association (a. ... Jump to: navigation, search The 1970s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1970 and 1979. ...

Elan Vital was listed as a sect (cult) in a controversial 1996 French parliamentary commission report. The report was compiled by the general information division of the French National Police (Renseignements généraux) with the help of cult-watching groups. This list has no official statutory or regulatory authority. Jump to: navigation, search 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

References

• Barrett, D. V. The New Believers - A survey of sects, cults and alternative religions 2001 UK, Cassell & Co., pp. 65, 325–329. ISBN 0-304-35592-92-5
• Chryssides, George D. Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements. The Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland and London, 2001, pp. 115–116. ISBN 0-8108-4095-2

External links

• Official site in the USA
• Official site in United Kingdom
• Official site in Spain
• Official site in Australia
• Maharaji's personal website