::::There is a profound confusion in what Jim is saying. Maybe because he has left the movement many many  years ago? I have studied this subject in-depth and spoke with current students, one of which was initiated in the Knowledge just last year. This is what my research shows me:
The tecniques are very simple and there is ample evidence that these are quite ancient and referred to in many practices, books and poems
There is no "magic" or "grace" or "opening the third eye" involved. For the last 8 years the Knowledge has been imparted via a video presentation in which people come and watch an explanation of the techniques presented by the teacher Maharaji.
Four promise are asked before the video presentation is shown (these are made verbally and no legal document signed, students are trusted implicitly.) Give a fair chance to Knowledge, don't reveal the techniques to others and keep in touch with the teachings. 
The whole presentation last 2 1/2 hours.
As there is no group activities ot colective payer sessions or any other type of liturgy, students are free to use these techniques (one hour per day is recommended). There is no cohersion to do anything, beyond the very mild promise "give a fair chance to the practice."

And no, Jim, my sources do not include ex-students. This is an article on Prem Rawat/Maharaji, not his critics. We have added a critics section because there are critics like you and it is needed for a good encyclopedic  NPOV article. But make no mistake, this article is about Prem Rawat/Maharaji and his movement and not about the small group of critics that you represent.   16:12, 23 Aug 2004 (UTC)