Editing Elan Vital (organization) (section)

==Reception==

[[Ron Geaves]], a professor of religion at [[Liverpool Hope University]] 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 [[Stephen J. Hunt]], 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.116–7, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. {{ISBN|0-7546-3410-8}}</ref></blockquote>

Elan Vital was listed as a cult in a 1996 [[Status of religious freedom in France#Actions of the national government|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.<ref>[http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/WAspad/UnTexteDeJorf?numjo=PRMX0508471C Circulaire du 27 mai 2005 relative à la lutte contre les dérives sectaires]</ref> A 1998 article in ''[[Rocky Mountain News]]'' referred to Elan Vital as a "cult".<ref>"Former Guru on a Different Mission", ''[[Rocky Mountain News]]'', 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 ''[[Australian Associated Press]]'' referred to the organization as the "Elan Vital cult."<ref>"Guru's followers flock to hear him speak", [[Australian Associated Press]], September 3, 2002, [[Brisbane, Australia]]</ref>