Revision as of 01:05, 16 December 2008 editRjwilmsi (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers931,877 editsm gen fixes: (1) set identical unnamed references to use named refs (1), using AWB← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 19:27, 13 November 2024 edit undo177.68.97.92 (talk) Other usesTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit | ||
(56 intermediate revisions by 39 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Other uses|Elan Vital (disambiguation)}} | |||
{{ |
{{Primary sources|date=March 2008}} | ||
:'' For other meanings, see ] | |||
{{Infobox |
{{Infobox organization | ||
|name= Elan Vital | | name = Elan Vital | ||
|image= | |||
| image = | |||
|size= | |||
| size = | |||
|caption= | | caption = | ||
|map= | |||
| map = | |||
|msize= | |||
| msize = | |||
|mcaption= | | mcaption = | ||
|motto= | |||
| motto = | |||
|formation= |
| formation = 1971 (In United States) | ||
⚫ | |type= ] | ||
| logo = Elan Vital logo.gif | |||
⚫ | |headquarters= ] | ||
⚫ | | type = ] | ||
⚫ | |membership= | ||
⚫ | | headquarters = ] | ||
⚫ | |language= ] | ||
⚫ | | membership = | ||
⚫ | |leader_title= Maharaji | ||
⚫ | | language = ] | ||
⚫ | |leader_name= ] | ||
⚫ | | leader_title = Maharaji | ||
⚫ | |key_people= Russ Henderling, President | ||
⚫ | | leader_name = ] | ||
⚫ | |num_staff= Five full-time, plus volunteers | ||
⚫ | | key_people = Russ Henderling, President | ||
|budget= | |||
⚫ | | num_staff = Five full-time, plus volunteers | ||
|website= http://elanvital.org/ | |||
| budget = | |||
| website = {{Cite web|title=www.elanvital.org|url=http://www.elanvital.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221223858/http://www.elanvital.org/|archive-date=2010-02-21}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Elan Vital''' is the name shared by several organizations that support the work of ], a spiritual leader also known by the title "Maharaji". Independent Elan Vital organizations in several countries raise funds, organize speaking engagements by Prem Rawat and in some cases broadcast his public addresses. | |||
⚫ | The "]" in the ] changed its name to Elan Vital in 1983, by filing an entity name change.<ref name="sos.state.co.us"></ref> According to the ''Encyclopedia of American Religions,'' the mission was disbanded Prem Rawat personally renounced the trappings of Indian culture and religion, to make his teachings independent of culture, beliefs and lifestyles.<ref name="EnAmRe">Melton, Gordon, ''Encyclopedia of American Religions'' 7th edition. Thomson (2003) p.2328 {{ISBN|0-7876-6384-0}}<br />"In the early 1980s, Maharaj Ji moved to disband the Divine Light Mission and he personally renounced the trappings of Indian culture and religion, disbanding the mission, he founded Elan Vital, an organization to support his future role as teacher." Maharaji had made every attempt to abandon the traditional Indian religious trappings in which the techniques originated and to make his presentation acceptable to all the various cultural settings in which followers live. He sees his teachings as independent of culture, religion, beliefs, or lifestyles, and regularly addresses audiences in places as culturally diverse as India, Japan, Taiwan, the Ivory Coast, Slovenia, Mauritius and Venezuela, as well as North America, Europe and the South Pacific.</ref> | ||
'''Elan Vital''' is the name of several organizations that support the work of ], also known by the honorary title "Maharaji". Prem Rawat speaks of the possibility of knowing ] through four ]. Elan Vital organizations exist 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. Although these organizations share similar aims and cooperate with each other, they are independent entities, each governed by its own board. | |||
⚫ | According to Glen Whittaker, a former spokesperson for the organization in the ], Elan Vital no longer has any connection to its originally ] or ] religious background. The ''Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements'' states that Elan Vital insists that it is not a religion and that Maharaji's teachings are independent of culture and by no means bound to the traditions of ]. Elan Vital, Inc. in the U.S. is registered as a ] non-profit organization. It has been labelled a "church" in reference to its tax status.<ref></ref> Its 2005 articles of incorporation described its purpose as performing "religious, charitable and educational activities". The Elan Vital website states that Elan Vital ceased operations in 2010, and has been succeeded by new entities such as Words of Peace International, Inc.<ref name=EV>{{Cite web|title=www.elanvital.org|url=http://www.elanvital.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221223858/http://www.elanvital.org/|archive-date=2010-02-21}}</ref> | ||
⚫ | The "]" in the ] changed its name to Elan Vital in 1983, by filing an entity name change.<ref name="sos.state.co.us"></ref> According to the ''Encyclopedia of American Religions,'' the mission was disbanded Prem Rawat personally renounced the trappings of Indian culture and religion, to make his teachings independent of culture, beliefs and lifestyles.<ref name="EnAmRe">Melton, Gordon, ''Encyclopedia of American Religions'' 7th edition. Thomson (2003) p.2328 ISBN |
||
⚫ | ==History== | ||
⚫ | According to Glen Whittaker, a former spokesperson for the organization in the ], Elan Vital no longer has any connection to its originally ] or ] religious background. The ''Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements'' states that Elan Vital insists that it is not a religion and that Maharaji's teachings are independent of culture and by no means bound to the traditions of ]. Elan Vital, Inc. in the U.S. is registered as a ] non-profit organization. It has been labelled a "church" in reference to its tax status.<ref></ref> |
||
⚫ | The organization was originally incorporated in the U.S. in 1971 as the ] as a non-profit corporation and in 1974 was recognized as a religious organization by the United States ] under section 501(c)(3). The organization changed its name to Elan Vital in 1983, by filing an entity name change.<ref name="sos.state.co.us"/> Elan Vital states in its website that the name was changed to remove Indian labels and to present Maharaji's message in a manner more congruent with Western culture.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Elan Vital FAQs – About Elan Vital, Inc.|url=http://www.elanvital.org/faq/faq_EV.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902054403/http://www.elanvital.org/faq/faq_EV.htm|archive-date=2006-09-02}}</ref> | ||
⚫ | == |
||
The Elan Vital organization in the United Kingdom changed its name to HDSK (Human Development through Self Knowledge) at the end of 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ShowCharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityFramework.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1016818&SubsidiaryNumber=0&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1|date=31 December 2009|access-date=22 February 2010|publisher=Charity Commission|title=1016818-HDSK}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hdsk.org.uk/finance/financial_info.html|publisher=HDSK.org|title=HDSK Finances|year=2010|access-date=22 February 2010}}</ref> In April 2010, the Elan Vital website announced that Elan Vital had stopped collecting donations and would cease operations in 2010, to be succeeded by entities such as Words of Peace International, Inc., a new US 501(c)(3) organization "closely aligned with Words of Peace Global (WOPG), the international charitable foundation that promotes Maharaji’s message of peace".<ref name=EV /> | |||
⚫ | The organization was originally incorporated in the U.S. in 1971 as the ] as a non-profit corporation and in 1974 was recognized as a religious organization by the United States ] under section 501(c)(3). The organization changed its name to Elan Vital in 1983, by filing an entity name change.<ref name="sos.state.co.us"/> Elan Vital states in its website that the name was changed to remove Indian labels and to present Maharaji's message in a manner more congruent with Western culture.<ref> Elan Vital FAQs |
||
== Purpose == | == Purpose == | ||
The United States Elan Vital organization provided support for the dissemination and archiving of materials containing Prem Rawat's message. They say 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, and that the organization is supported by voluntary contributions and sales of its materials.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://elanvital.org/about.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525040759/http://elanvital.org/about.html|archive-date=2006-05-25|title=Elan Vital - About }}</ref> | |||
The president of Elan Vital in the U.S. is Russ Henderling, who presides over a board of directors composed of four individuals who receive no compensation.<ref></ref> Elan Vital has a staff of five full-time employees for administration and broadcast management. The majority of the work is performed by volunteers.<ref></ref> | |||
The Elan Vital organizations in the United Kingdom and ] are a registered charity and a non-profit, respectively, with aims and objectives similar to their U.S. counterpart.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://elanvital.org.uk/elan_vital/profile.html |title=elan vital : profile – Maharaji (Prem Rawat)<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2005-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060419070348/http://www.elanvital.org.uk/elan_vital/profile.html |archive-date=2006-04-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> There are also Elan Vital organizations in Spain and Switzerland. | |||
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 say 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 U.S., with 1,964 active contributors in the U.S.<ref></ref> | |||
⚫ | Persons who have been taught Maharaji's techniques can apply and receive a ], issued by Elan Vital in the U.S., that is used to facilitate admittance to events in which the techniques of Knowledge are reviewed, or to gain access to events designed specifically for people that have received such techniques.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.smartcardoffice.org/englishPublic/generalinformation.cfm |title=General Information<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2005-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007024518/http://www.smartcardoffice.org/englishPublic/generalinformation.cfm |archive-date=2007-10-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
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 aims and objectives similar to the U.S. counterpart.<ref></ref> In ], Elan Vital is a non-profit organization also with similar aims. EV states that the organization is almost completely run by volunteers, who offer their time, skills and donations in supporting the effort to make Prem Rawat’s teachings available as widely as possible.<ref></ref> There are also Elan Vital organizations in Spain and Switzerland. | |||
⚫ | Persons who have been taught Maharaji's techniques |
||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
], a |
], a professor of religion at ] in England and follower of Prem Rawat, says | ||
<blockquote>Elan Vital was established to more effectively promote Maharaji's teachings in a way that was free from any particular religious or cultural association.<ref>Ron Geaves in Christopher Partridge (Eds.), New Religions: A Guide: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities pp.201–202, Oxford University Press, USA (2004) {{ISBN|978-0-19-522042-1}}</ref></blockquote> | |||
Sociologist ], writes |
Sociologist ], writes | ||
<blockquote>For Elan Vital, the emphasis is on individual, subjective experience, rather than on a body of dogma. The teachings provide a kind of practical mysticism. Maharaji speaks not of God, but of the god or divinity within, the power that gives existence. He has occasionally referred to the existence of the two gods—the one created by humankind and the one which creates humankind. Although such references apparently suggest an acceptance of a creative, loving power, he distances himself and his teachings from any concept of religion...deliberately keeping a low profile has meant that the movement has generally managed to escape the gaze of publicity that surrounds other NRMs.<ref>Stephen J. Hunt Alternative Religions: A Sociological Introduction (2003), pp. |
<blockquote>For Elan Vital, the emphasis is on individual, subjective experience, rather than on a body of dogma. The teachings provide a kind of practical mysticism. Maharaji speaks not of God, but of the god or divinity within, the power that gives existence. He has occasionally referred to the existence of the two gods—the one created by humankind and the one which creates humankind. Although such references apparently suggest an acceptance of a creative, loving power, he distances himself and his teachings from any concept of religion...deliberately keeping a low profile has meant that the movement has generally managed to escape the gaze of publicity that surrounds other NRMs.<ref>Stephen J. Hunt Alternative Religions: A Sociological Introduction (2003), pp.116–7, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. {{ISBN|0-7546-3410-8}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
Elan Vital was listed as a cult in a 1996 ]. 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, and in May 2005 the former prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin issued a circular indicating that the parliamentary report should no longer be used to identify cults.<ref></ref> A 1998 article in '']'' referred to Elan Vital as a "cult"<ref>"Former Guru on a Different Mission", '']'', |
Elan Vital was listed as a cult in a 1996 ]. 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, and in May 2005 the former prime minister ] issued a circular indicating that the parliamentary report should no longer be used to identify cults.<ref></ref> A 1998 article in '']'' referred to Elan Vital as a "cult".<ref>"Former Guru on a Different Mission", '']'', January 30, 1998.<br>Nowadays, former cult members estimate Maharaji (he's dropped the Guru from his name and simplified the spelling) has 100000 to 200000 followers...</ref> In 2002 an article by the '']'' referred to the organization as the "Elan Vital cult."<ref>"Guru's followers flock to hear him speak", ], September 3, 2002, ]</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
===Notes=== | ===Notes=== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
===Bibliography=== | ===Bibliography=== | ||
*Barrett, D. V. The New Believers |
*Barrett, D. V. The New Believers – ''A survey of sects, cults and alternative religions'' 2001 UK, Cassell & Co., pp. 65, 325–329. {{ISBN|0-304-35592-5}} | ||
*Chryssides, George D. ''Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements''. The Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland and London, 2001, pp. |
*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 == | == External links == | ||
<!--========================({{No More Links}})============================ | |||
* | |||
| PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS IN ADDING MORE LINKS TO THIS ARTICLE. WIKIPEDIA | | |||
| IS NOT A COLLECTION OF LINKS NOR SHOULD IT BE USED FOR ADVERTISING. | | |||
| | | |||
| Excessive or inappropriate links WILL BE DELETED. | | |||
| See ] & ] for details. | | |||
| | | |||
| If there are already plentiful links, please propose additions or | | |||
| replacements on this article's discussion page, or submit your link | | |||
| to the relevant category at the Open Directory Project (dmoz.org) | | |||
| and link back to that category using the {{dmoz}} template. | | |||
=======================({{No More Links}})=============================--> | |||
*{{Cite web|title=www.elanvital.org|url=http://www.elanvital.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221223858/http://www.elanvital.org/|archive-date=2010-02-21}} | |||
* | * | ||
* | *{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} | ||
* | * {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051105015924/http://www.elanvital.com.au/ |date=2005-11-05 }} | ||
* | |||
{{ |
{{Prem Rawat}} | ||
{{Sant Mat}} | |||
{{New Religious Movements}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elan Vital (Organization)}} | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] |
Latest revision as of 19:27, 13 November 2024
For other uses, see Elan Vital (disambiguation).This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "Elan Vital" organization – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Formation | 1971 (In United States) |
---|---|
Type | 501(c)(3) |
Headquarters | California, United States |
Official language | English |
Maharaji | Prem Rawat |
Key people | Russ Henderling, President |
Staff | Five full-time, plus volunteers |
Website | "www.elanvital.org". Archived from the original on 2010-02-21. |
Elan Vital is the name shared by several organizations that support the work of Prem Rawat, a spiritual leader also known by the title "Maharaji". Independent Elan Vital organizations in several countries raise funds, organize speaking engagements by Prem Rawat and in some cases broadcast his public addresses.
The "Divine Light Mission" in the United States changed its name to Elan Vital in 1983, by filing an entity name change. According to the Encyclopedia of American Religions, the mission was disbanded Prem Rawat personally renounced the trappings of Indian culture and religion, to make his teachings independent of culture, beliefs and lifestyles.
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 Maharaji's teachings are independent of culture and by no means bound to the traditions of India. Elan Vital, Inc. in the U.S. is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It has been labelled a "church" in reference to its tax status. Its 2005 articles of incorporation described its purpose as performing "religious, charitable and educational activities". The Elan Vital website states that Elan Vital ceased operations in 2010, and has been succeeded by new entities such as Words of Peace International, Inc.
History
The organization was originally incorporated in the U.S. in 1971 as the Divine Light Mission as a non-profit corporation and in 1974 was recognized as a religious organization by the United States Internal Revenue Service under section 501(c)(3). The organization changed its name to Elan Vital in 1983, by filing an entity name change. Elan Vital states in its website that the name was changed to remove Indian labels and to present Maharaji's message in a manner more congruent with Western culture.
The Elan Vital organization in the United Kingdom changed its name to HDSK (Human Development through Self Knowledge) at the end of 2009. In April 2010, the Elan Vital website announced that Elan Vital had stopped collecting donations and would cease operations in 2010, to be succeeded by entities such as Words of Peace International, Inc., a new US 501(c)(3) organization "closely aligned with Words of Peace Global (WOPG), the international charitable foundation that promotes Maharaji’s message of peace".
Purpose
The United States Elan Vital organization provided support for the dissemination and archiving of materials containing Prem Rawat's message. They say 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, and that the organization is supported by voluntary contributions and sales of its materials.
The Elan Vital organizations in the United Kingdom and Australia are a registered charity and a non-profit, respectively, with aims and objectives similar to their U.S. counterpart. There are also Elan Vital organizations in Spain and Switzerland.
Persons who have been taught Maharaji's techniques can apply and receive a Smartcard, issued by Elan Vital in the U.S., that is used to facilitate admittance to events in which the techniques of Knowledge are reviewed, or to gain access to events designed specifically for people that have received such techniques.
Reception
Ron Geaves, a professor of religion at Liverpool Hope University in England and follower of Prem Rawat, says
Elan Vital was established to more effectively promote Maharaji's teachings in a way that was free from any particular religious or cultural association.
Sociologist Stephen J. Hunt, writes
For Elan Vital, the emphasis is on individual, subjective experience, rather than on a body of dogma. The teachings provide a kind of practical mysticism. Maharaji speaks not of God, but of the god or divinity within, the power that gives existence. He has occasionally referred to the existence of the two gods—the one created by humankind and the one which creates humankind. Although such references apparently suggest an acceptance of a creative, loving power, he distances himself and his teachings from any concept of religion...deliberately keeping a low profile has meant that the movement has generally managed to escape the gaze of publicity that surrounds other NRMs.
Elan Vital was listed as a cult in a 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, and in May 2005 the former prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin issued a circular indicating that the parliamentary report should no longer be used to identify cults. A 1998 article in Rocky Mountain News referred to Elan Vital as a "cult". In 2002 an article by the Australian Associated Press referred to the organization as the "Elan Vital cult."
References
Notes
- ^ Colorado Secretary of State, Business Center.
- Melton, Gordon, Encyclopedia of American Religions 7th edition. Thomson (2003) p.2328 ISBN 0-7876-6384-0
"In the early 1980s, Maharaj Ji moved to disband the Divine Light Mission and he personally renounced the trappings of Indian culture and religion, disbanding the mission, he founded Elan Vital, an organization to support his future role as teacher." Maharaji had made every attempt to abandon the traditional Indian religious trappings in which the techniques originated and to make his presentation acceptable to all the various cultural settings in which followers live. He sees his teachings as independent of culture, religion, beliefs, or lifestyles, and regularly addresses audiences in places as culturally diverse as India, Japan, Taiwan, the Ivory Coast, Slovenia, Mauritius and Venezuela, as well as North America, Europe and the South Pacific. - GuideStar – American Express Search – ELAN VITAL INC
- ^ "www.elanvital.org". Archived from the original on 2010-02-21.
- "Elan Vital FAQs – About Elan Vital, Inc". Archived from the original on 2006-09-02.
- "1016818-HDSK". Charity Commission. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- "HDSK Finances". HDSK.org. 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- "Elan Vital - About". Archived from the original on 2006-05-25.
- "elan vital : profile – Maharaji (Prem Rawat)". Archived from the original on 2006-04-19. Retrieved 2005-10-25.
- "General Information". Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2005-10-25.
- Ron Geaves in Christopher Partridge (Eds.), New Religions: A Guide: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities pp.201–202, Oxford University Press, USA (2004) ISBN 978-0-19-522042-1
- Stephen J. Hunt Alternative Religions: A Sociological Introduction (2003), pp.116–7, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 0-7546-3410-8
- Circulaire du 27 mai 2005 relative à la lutte contre les dérives sectaires
- "Former Guru on a Different Mission", Rocky Mountain News, January 30, 1998.
Nowadays, former cult members estimate Maharaji (he's dropped the Guru from his name and simplified the spelling) has 100000 to 200000 followers... - "Guru's followers flock to hear him speak", Australian Associated Press, September 3, 2002, Brisbane, Australia
Bibliography
- Barrett, D. V. The New Believers – A survey of sects, cults and alternative religions 2001 UK, Cassell & Co., pp. 65, 325–329. ISBN 0-304-35592-5
- 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
- "www.elanvital.org". Archived from the original on 2010-02-21.
- Official site in United Kingdom
- Official site in Spain
- Official site in Australia Archived 2005-11-05 at the Wayback Machine
Prem Rawat (related topics) | |
---|---|
Teachings | |
Books | |
Films |
|
Related | |