Editing Prem Rawat (section)

==Organizations==
{{see also|Bibliography of Prem Rawat and related organizations}}
Rawat inherited the first organization he was associated with ([[Divine Light Mission]]) from his father. Moving away from the trappings of [[India]]n culture and religion, he later established [[Elan Vital (organization)|Elan Vital]] and Words of Peace International, independent of culture, beliefs and lifestyles, and not bound to the traditions of India. The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) founded in 2001, added more focus to humanitarian efforts.

===Divine Light Mission===
{{main|Divine Light Mission}}
The Divine Light Mission (''Divya Sandesh Parishad''; DLM) was an organization founded in 1960 by [[guru]] [[Hans Ji Maharaj|Hans Rawat]] for his following in northern India. During the 1970s, the DLM gained prominence in the [[Western world|West]] under the leadership of his fourth and youngest son, Prem Rawat. Some scholars noted the influence of the [[Bhagavad Gita]] and the [[Sant Mat]] tradition, but the western movement was widely seen as a [[new religious movement]], a [[cult]], a charismatic [[religious sect]] or an alternative religion.<ref>van Driel & Richardson (1988)</ref> DLM officials said the movement represented a church rather than a religion.<ref>"Miami's startled elite wish the guru, in short, a pleasant stay", By Barry Bearak, Knight-Ridder Service, 30 July 1977. INDEPENDENT PRESS TELEGRAM (Long Beach, CA) A-11 "ACCORDING to Anctil and mission president Bill Patterson, they represent a church rather than a religion."</ref>

===Elan Vital and Words of Peace International===
{{main|Elan Vital (organization)}}
DLM was disbanded when Prem Rawat renounced the trappings of Indian culture and religion, making 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> The DLM in the [[United States]] changed its name to Elan Vital in 1983, by filing an entity name change.<ref name="sos.state.co.us">{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/ViewImage.do;jsessionid=0000x3kyxhvQmIUOPNwkHlTDN7v:10e81ru5k?masterFileId=19871234276&fileId=19871509395|title=Colorado Secretary of State, Business Center.|website=state.co.us|access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024145/http://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/ViewImage.do;jsessionid=0000x3kyxhvQmIUOPNwkHlTDN7v:10e81ru5k?masterFileId=19871234276&fileId=19871509395|archive-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> Elan Vital became the name shared by several organizations supporting the work of Rawat. Independent Elan Vital organizations in several countries engaged in raising funds, organising speaking engagements by Rawat and in some cases broadcast his public addresses. Currently, Elan Vital is no longer connected to its originally [[Hindu]] or [[Sikh]] religious background. 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=amex&ein=23-7174539#rptlink1|title=GuideStar:Amex-Organization Report|website=www.guidestar.org|access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208161045/http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=amex&ein=23-7174539#rptlink1|archive-date=8 February 2012}}</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=21 February 2010}}</ref>

===The Prem Rawat Foundation and others===
In 2001, Prem Rawat founded The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF),<ref name="About Prem Rawat"/> a [[501(c)|Public Charitable Organization]] for the production and distribution of materials promoting his message, and also for funding worldwide humanitarian efforts. TPRF has provided food, water and medical help to war-torn and impoverished areas.<ref name="Charity report">{{cite web|url=http://charityreports.give.org/Public/Report.aspx?CharityID=3098|title=Charity report|publisher=BBB Wise Giving Alliance|access-date=6 March 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506081453/http://charityreports.give.org/Public/Report.aspx?CharityID=3098|archive-date=6 May 2007}}</ref>

The Peace Education Program (PEP), founded by TPRF, is a media-based educational program that helps participants explore the possibility of personal peace, and to discover personal resources – tools for living such as inner strength, choice, appreciation and hope. The program, not only successful in some educational institutions, had by 2012 also been adopted by 28 prisons in 10 countries including the United States, South Africa, India, Spain, Ireland, the U.K. and Australia.<ref>
{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/15/thameside-prison-privately-run-state-sector |title=There's more than one way to run a prison &#124; Eric Allison |access-date=20 November 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201174355/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/15/thameside-prison-privately-run-state-sector |archive-date=1 December 2016|newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 December 2015 |last1=Allison |first1=Eric }}</ref> The voluntary program takes inmates onto a unique route of rehabilitation involving self-discovery, and hopes of a fulfilled life, within or without the prison walls.<ref name="Ayadurai2012"/>