Timeline

'Festivals' are now renamed 'conventions' and 'programs' are 'events.'
Divine Light Mission name changed to Elan Vital
Activities in Elan Vital are increasing as the recovery from the financial and attendance collapse begins.
Maharaji holds "the First Convention" in Miami Beach, 3,000 attend.
1985 Declares Himself (himself?) to be human, New York, June 14 1985

The first part-time instructors training program begin with one in Tapatio, TX. Maharaji had previously poured scorn on the concept ofpart-time initiators in 1976 when the concept was first floated by his administrators. But needs must, there was not enough money so full-time initiators became part-time instructors. Mike Finch wrote about these programs in which he was approved by Maharaji as being similar to a Royal Court with all these trainee instructors, the inner circle who were Maharaji's most devoted and trusted premies, competing to be closer to their Lord and Master.

Maharaji begins to conduct Knowledge reviews (called Rejoices) for his followers all over the world. These continue for the next 5 years and Maharaji changes the techniques, changes the results premies are supposed to experience and changes the minumim required meditation time.

Maharaji continues to conduct instructor training programs, 8 in all, in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Palestrina (Italy), London, Penang (Malaysia), and Los Angeles. He also holds a training for those students who will present his message.

In February, in Oxnard, California, Maharaji personally begins to manage the Knowledge process and conducts a Knowledge Session for the first time. He was understandably dissatisfied with the results since 1982 and has never understood that he is the problem and not the solution. He tries different methodss but never finds a solution to the possibility of attracting large numbers of new people. In India, using the time honoured concepts and methods, supported by expensive modern technology, larger crowds are coming to see him though he is not considerd an important guru, unlike Satpal Maharaj, hi eldest brother. 'Premies' are now called "People with Knowledge" (PWKs) or 'students.'

Maharaji attends international events for his students in Miami (in July, with 9,000 attendees), in New Delhi (in November with 75,000), and in Brussels (in December with 10,500).

Maharaji continues to direct how his message is presented and the Knowledge process. A landmark event this year is the instructor conference in Malibu in February where he begins to redefine this role.

The first event at "La Tierra del Amor," the land that has been purchased in Escobar, Argentina, near Buenos Aires. This land proves unsuitable.
A 2100 acre tract of rural land in Australia purchased at Peak Crossing, SE Qld

The first event at "Amaroo," the Ivory's Rock Conference Centre located in Peak Crossing outside of Brisbane, Australia, and for Maharaji's continuing hands-on participation in all aspects of the Knowledge process.

Early in the year, Maharaji conducts many meetings with people interested in Knowledge and holds several Knowledge Sessions in the West.

In Australia, Maharaji attends a 5-day event at Amaroo in October.

Maharaji establishes video events as the way to present his message.

The number of people actively preparing for Knowledge is high, and he asks a small number of instructors to assist with those meetings.

The year is marked by Maharaji's ongoing involvement in the Knowledge process and the first of many team trainings for those organizing his work.

Maharaji continues to conduct Knowledge preparation meetings and Knowledge Sessions and speak at events for students and those who are preparing for Knowledge.

Maharaji's wife, Marolyn, suffers an aneurysm, and for more than a month Maharaji does not speak at any events.

Multi-day events with Maharaji include one in New Delhi for 56,000 attendees in April.

In late December, Maharaji attends the first of many team trainings for a small group of instructors and organizers.
1995 Ivory's Rock Conference Centre Pty Ltd established (Amaroo)

Maharaji designs team trainings based on individual responsibility

In 1995 and 1996 Maharaji began team trainings for people who were helping with his work. He wanted to bring in some accountability and for people to learn how to work together. He also wanted to cut out the sense of hierarchy. I was one of the facilitators. I'd been in the training field for twenty years at the time and saw how intuitive Maharaji was about how to do a training. Very few ideas were presented. Tasks would be given to people, and the tasks would not allow for positional importance or expertise because they were too simple. People had to think for themselves and be able to justify their proposals to the rest of the team. If anybody disagreed with the proposal, they could object, but they would have to give clear grounds for their objection. The one who made the proposal would then have to answer the objection for the work to go forward. It brought out the best and the worst in people, so that they had a chance to look at both. He had a lot of trust that if people could be more conscious and they worked together, there was nothing they couldn't do. Probably the most common thing that people said coming out that training, even though it was teamwork training, was, "I've found my voice."

Tim Gallwey, author, corporate consultant

Besides ongoing meetings for people interested in Knowledge and Knowledge Sessions, the year's activities are focused on team trainings and events for students that feature Knowledge reviews.

Multi-day international events with Maharaji are held in Rome, in June, with 6,500 attending and in Miami Beach, in July, with 7,500.

In November, Maharaji does several events in India outside of New Delhi, including a public event in Ahmedabad where he speaks to 51,000.

There is a multi-day, international event for 8,900 in Long Beach, CA, at year's end.

This year is notable for team-training sessions and Maharaji's continued involvement with Knowledge preparation meetings and Knowledge Sessions.

Maharaji reinstitutes the part-time instructor role at one of the team trainings. Instructors are to provide general inspiration and assist in the Knowledge preparation process as needed.

Maharaji continues to conduct meetings for people interested in Knowledge and Knowledge Sessions as time allows. Two instructors conduct preparation meetings and Knowledge Sessions using a video presentation of the techniques when Maharaji is not available.

There are events for students, people preparing for Knowledge, and the public.

Maharaji speaks at multi-day events in New Delhi, in April with 50,000 attendees, in Brighton (UK) with 4,000, in Amaroo for 4,400, in Kathmandu for 13,000, and in Long Beach (CA) with 8,900 attendees in December.

Elan Vital communities are committed to holding video events.

Noteworthy events of the year include ongoing team-training sessions, meetings with students about letting more people know about Maharaji and Knowledge, and a live satellite broadcast.

Local Communities contract with ELAN VITAL, INC. doing business as VISIONS INTERNATIONAL, a Colorado nonprofit corporation for supply and permission to use performances of Maharaji for a monthly fee.

Maharaji continues to attend team-training sessions and conducts Knowledge preparation meetings and Knowledge Sessions as time allows.

Events for students feature Knowledge practice sessions or Knowledge reviews. Maharaji speaks at events for people preparing for Knowledge and for students.

Meetings with Maharaji for students involved in propagation and event planning are held in the UK and the US.

In December, Maharaji speaks via a live, interactive global satellite broadcast from an event in Pasadena, CA, to 86,600 participants in 173 locations in 50 countries.

The landmark event of this year is the introduction of the computer-based presentation of the techniques of Knowledge.

This video presentation is used for Knowledge reviews for Maharaji's students and for Knowledge Sessions.

Most events are for students, although Maharaji does speak at some meetings for people preparing for Knowledge.

A multi-day event in New Delhi in November is attended by 81,000.

Team-training sessions continue. Maharaji also attends event-planning meetings and meetings for those involved in introducing people to his message.

The landmark event of this year is the introduction of the computer-based presentation of the techniques of Knowledge.

This video presentation is used for Knowledge reviews for Maharaji's students and for Knowledge Sessions.

Most events are for students, although Maharaji does speak at some meetings for people preparing for Knowledge.

A multi-day event in New Delhi in November is attended by 81,000.

Team-training sessions continue. Maharaji also attends event-planning meetings and meetings for those involved in introducing people to his message.

The establishment of The Prem Rawat Foundation.

A new element of some events is a session that allows for individuals' expressions and interaction with Maharaji. Events for students also feature Knowledge reviews with a video presentation of the techniques of Knowledge.

Maharaji establishes two teams that travel and conduct Knowledge Sessions with the video presentation. Instructors assist with Knowledge preparation meetings and Knowledge Sessions as needed.

Maharaji attends events for students and those preparing for Knowledge. Multi-day events are held with Maharaji in Amaroo for 4,600 attendees, Nottingham (UK) for 6,000, and Miami Beach for 4,400 attendees.

This year is notable for Maharaji's extensive tour of Indian cities, public events in Europe, and interviews for articles in print media. The website for The Prem Rawat Foundation is launched.

Maharaji speaks at events for his students in 12 cities in India.

There are public events in Europe as well as events for his students that include opportunities for students in the audience to speak with Maharaji.

Maharaji speaks at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. Interviews with Maharaji are published in print media.

This year is notable for special media events with Maharaji, highly successful public events in India, and trainings for Knowledge Session teams.

An interview with Maharaji and television journalist Burt Wolf is filmed, and more print media interviews are conducted. Maharaji accepts invitations to present his message at several universities in the US.

Maharaji concludes a successful public event tour in India with a live, satellite follow-up event that allows him to speak to and answer questions from over 400,000 interested guests listening from over 1,000 locations.

Maharaji speaks at public events in Europe and continues holding events for his students featuring Knowledge reviews and time for interaction.

Maharaji initiates trainings in India for candidates for the first Knowledge Session teams that will be responsible for conducting Knowledge Sessions.

Maharaji attends event-planning meetings in India and elsewhere.

the development of "The Keys," more successful public events in cities in India, as well as worldwide media events and a number of special events.

Maharaji develops and films The Keys - a series of custom-made videos in which he addresses key understandings about Knowledge for those preparing to learn the techniques.

Maharaji speaks at public events in India in March and April concluding with a live satellite follow-up event with an audience of over 650,000 located in the cities where he has spoken.

Maharaji is interviewed for print media articles and accepts invitations to speak at universities, conferences, and forums, including the Italian Parliament.

Events for students featuring Knowledge reviews and time for personal interaction with Maharaji continue. Maharaji also attends public events in cities in Europe and North America.

Trainings are held for more candidates for the Knowledge Session teams to be located in different regions and countries around the world.

the launch of The Keys, more successful public events in cities in India, and media and special events.