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From JW
I did a Nexis search and found some good stuff that I will share gradually, as time permits. This first one is from the Associated Press dated January 22, 1979 [Please notice Maharaji's pitiful 'what about me' comment]:
The Maharaj Ji, who came to the United States as a child guru, has become an object of veneration instead of a teacher of truth, a critic says.
'He has bastardized the teaching of the gurus,' said Robert Mishler, worldwide president of the Maharaj Ji's Divine Light Mission until 1976...'Now people are taught to learn the truth about him the Maharaj Ji, instead of themselves.'
...many followers do appear to believe the Maharaj Ji has god like qualities or is himself God.
'That kind of absolute dominion over people provides a corrupting influence,' said Mishler, claiming the guru's followers, 'will literally do anything he tells them.'
A mission spokesman estimated membership in the United States is about 12,000, with 1.2 million worldwise, mostly in India.
While followers flock to Malibu to be near their spiritual leader, the Maharaj Ji limits himself to speeches at national festivals and world tours. He travels to and from his estate by limosine or private helicopter.
Mishler said he left the group after trying to get the Maharaj Ji to tell his followers that he was not God, and to live only off his own tax free gifts, instead of income from the missions as he was. He said the mission took in over $5 million in 1976.
'When I proposed that I remember his exact words,' Mishler said, 'the Maharaj Ji asked, 'What about me?''
Joe Anctil, a spokesman for DLM based in Denver, said Mishler 'freaked out' because his job as international director was discontinued. Anctil described the mission as 'a group of individuals who live autonomously, practice a meditation and do selfless service. The Maharaj Ji is a spiritual inspiration for those people who do meditation.'
On the question of whether the Maharaj Ji is regarded as god, he said 'If you asked every member of the mission, they would each give you a different answer.'
Mishler said another factor in his split with the Maharaj Ji was his suggestion to sell the Malibu estate, because it had been purchased with mission funds. 'They've probably signed it over to Maharaj Ji by now,' he said.
Anctil said the mansion belongs to Maharaj Ji. Asked if it had been given to him by the church, Anctil said, 'That's none of your business or mine.'
He also declined to discuss the mission's net worth.
From Mr Rogers
Yeah, a story going around at the time was that Maharaji, then Guru Maharaj Ji, said after a meeting with ole Bob and his followers (staff) "I don't know what I am going to do, I guess I will just have to go back to India"
I guess he didn't. :)
From JW in response to Billy (Billy's text is in italics)
Well first, Billy, I suggest you calm down and try to be rational rather than just engage in ranting. Try to remember holy name or something, no wait, I guess you aren't supposed to do that anymore. Well, take a few deep breaths anyway.
This is just the sort of nothingness that couldn't fuel a llama dung-propelled vehicle to the next dirt-mound. Did you, or anyone you know, like and respect Bob Mishler while he was alive?
Yes, I did respect Mishler when he was alive, very much so, and every premie I knew did as well. Other than the fact he wore a suit, what exactly was your problem with him?
He tried to mold and package Maharaji in a way that M was obviously uncomfortable with and M gave him the boot. Most everyone I know cheered at the time. Now, in your revisionist cosmology, Bob Mishler was this wonderful, free-thinking guy. Give me a fuckin' break!
Mishler has stated publicly that he tried to 'mold' Maharaji only to the extent of stating publicly that he wasn't god, which seemed more than reasonable because most of the premies believed he was, and he wasn't, and, in fact, Mishler was correct and Maharaji has since stated he isn't god. I think it's you, Billy, that is engaging in revisionism here. I have never stated that Mishler was a saint, but I think it took a lot of courage for him to come out publicly and expose Maharaji for the fraud he is. He had nothing to personally gain by doing that.
Bob Mishler had no credibility then...and he has even less now.
This is bullshit. Maybe he has no credibility with you, but history has proven his credibility. As I said, Maharaji, eventually, pretty much followed the advice Mishler gave him about stating he wasn't god, in 1976, he just did it about 10 years late.
And you're automatically taking his word over someone, who for at least some part of your life, you'd happily travel huge distances to be around. Can you really talk yourself into believing that there was nothing major going on for you that you would ever do such things. Do you really think you were such a total dolt?
Billy, what 'word' has BM ever muttered about what Mishler said? Has he ever, even once, ever denied anything Mishler said, even though it's been 20 years since he said it? No, not once. Maybe he is too chickenshit, or maybe it's because what Mishler said was true. I really did believe Maharaji was god incarnate for the 10 years I followed him. I would have appreciated knowing that wasn't true. And Maharaji NEVER corrected that error, in fact he played it for all it was worth, having us kiss his feet and being referred to as Lord of the Universe. And he had every greedy financial motive to do that, because donations were drying up in 1976 when BM started doing what Mishler suggested andt started cooling the god-thing. Then he went in the opposite direction, because he wanted to continue to be worshiped and for the money. It's Maharaji who is deceitful, not Mishler.
Did you ever really care what Bob Mishler said. Why on earth would you now?
As I said, yes I did care, and the premies I knew also did. Since he was around the BM so closely, that gives his comments a lot of credibility? And Billy, again, if Mishler is wrong, why hasn't Maharaji ever, even once, responded to Mishlers allegations? Hmmmm?