Sri Prem Baba
Sri Prem Baba is a Brazilian spiritual guru (he refers to himself as a master) who operates in a traditional Indian style, but also incorporates other approaches.
His teachings are a mixture of psychological group work, meditation, bakthi spiritual practice, and powerful hallucinogenic drugs, like Ayahuasca.
Prem spent the beginning of his life trying various paths in search for the truth. He claims to have obtained a new spiritual awareness after consuming drugs in a forest.
He eventually grew frustrated and moved to India. It is there that he met his master and discovered that he was a “son of the Saccha lineage“.
He does not mention his spiritual enlightenment, though he claims masterhood.
Hans Raj Maharajji of the Saccha lineage
Prem Baba’s guru was Sri Sachcha Baba Maharaja, who died in 2011. While he does not explicitly say so on his website, followers of Prem claim that Maharaja gave him his blessings to become the next guru in the Saccha lineage right before he died.
There are other spiritual gurus, such as ShantiMayi, who make the same claim. Curiously, they don’t mention each other.
The death of a guru is always a mess in any tradition. Followers will often fight for succession rights, driven by their own ego and ambition. The winner gets the great riches and influence available to popular gurus.
Claiming an auspicious lineage is one of the many ways that gurus build up their own credibility. It’s important to be skeptical and discerning in this regard.
Many modern gurus were inspired by Osho, one of the most controversial spiritual teachers in recent memory. Prem fell in love with him. It’s therefore no surprise that Prem offers group courses emphasizing psychological self-work as this was also favoured by Osho.
Critics argue that certain gurus adopt such teaching methods because they generate immense profit.
After all, how much can one really charge for meditation practices? Once the technique is discussed, it’s up to the student to do all the work. Not so for psychological group work! You can just keep coming up with new courses. Ingenious.
Prem Baba, a former Brazilian shaman, is an advocate of Ayahuasca. According to some reports, he’ll ask his followers to take the drug every night for weeks.
Anyone familiar with Ayahuasca knows how powerful it can be. This perhaps explains why a former disciple of his claims his wife experienced a “burnout” after prolonged use of the same.
“After almost two years of ayahuasca usage my wife developed a burnout syndrome. The burnout syndrome is commonly associated with hallucinogenous drugs. I cant state that the Ayahuasca caused it. But the doctors said it was the probable cause.” — Source
Most credible gurus, including Osho and Sadhguru, speak against the use of drugs on the spiritual path. The goal should be to cultivate one’s body and mind to alleviate the need for such cheap, get-spiritual-quick experiences.
While it’s true that certain drugs can open the mind to seeing things differently, using them every day for weeks or months is highly dubious.
We recommend that students avoid Sri Prem Baba for a variety of reasons, most notably his use of drugs for spiritual work. Our sense is that he’s an ambitious, photogenic individual who saw an opportunity when his master passed. He’s now very wealthy, so we suppose: job well-done.
“I know it is hard to hear this, and you can even be angry with me, but you are where you put yourself.” — Sri Prem Baba
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I am brazilian and I met the guru. You are absolutely right. In addition to being followed by rich and famous people, he was totally inspired by OSHO and he is building a city in the midwest region of the country. All with money from "followers". He also does events where photos of him are sold, as well as other expensive useless stuff. On drugs, they are offered to the highest members of his "association" - read the closest to the empire he built. And he and his advisers do everything to hide his obscure past: in a typical Reichian session of the 1970s, when they use to put a pillow on the patient's face so that he would not breathe, he accidentally killed one patient by suffocating. That is why he "withdrew" in India. When he returned, he returned a "guru."
Thank you for your testimony, Being Honest.
A sweet Brasilian man with a big heart but certainly not enlightened. His Guru Shri hans Raj Maharaj did not appoint a successor to the Sachcha line when he left the body. Prem baba just donated a lot of money to the Sachcha Dham Ashram and that's why he got more privileges. This also applies to Shantimay. They are a cheap immitation of their own Guru. They dress, behave, speak and do the same. They have learned well to imitate but are certainly not enlightened. People will eventually find that out for themselves.
I think saying that Shantimai behaves like her Guru is quite an insult to Maharaji. Mean, Abusive, Narcistic Gaslighter. Yes, knows what to say sometimes but frequently becomes unraveled in public and if not for spiritual teacher status would most likely be considered grossly unbalanced. Did Maharaji behave like this? I'm surprised this incredibly enlightening forum hasn't done an expose on her given her fantastic reputation.
The last time I saw Hans Raj Maharaj he was counting lots of money as with the former time or two he did not seem to have the beautiful peace I found with some gurus. A friend told me she told him that she gets peace around other gurus but not him, why? He got mad.
There have been great beneficial gurus in India and many flawed gurus. Find one that gives, does not want your body or money.
Aos 4 anos de idade ele teria matado acidentalmente um paciente? Informe-se melhor sobre quem você está falando.
Aos 4 anos de idade ele teria matado um paciente sufocado? Informe-se melhor sobre quem você está falando.
i met this guru
he is the best one have ever seen.amazing
the people who say avoid disgust me
Can you explain the scandal (all over the news) that he assumed he'd had sexual intercourse for years with married disciples? And to have done this while counseling the husbands?
Prem Babe
He Seemed gentle and spoke well. Had a beautific smile. Problems are that gurus and followers sometimes fall into slave and master relationships. No evidence seen yet re prem baba . However a financially or property rich guru is a contradiction in terms. It is important to understand that forest medicines are seen as medicines, not drugs, with the capability of opening up compassion and a heart of abundance. Calling these medicines drugs is not helpful and has negative connotations.
"I have experienced God directly. I was given instructions for the benefit of all. I want to give these to anyone who will receive. I will accept no money whatsoever, and I will accept no fame, or even public dissemination of my image or writings, unless without my name attached. Come and go as you wish."
Unless a person says the above, I see no reason to think they are but another charlatan.
If I were that person, my FIRST concern would be 'how can i bypass the VERY REASONABLE fear people have that i am just another charlatan?'
These gurus and religious folks sure love talking in absolutes...let them add another absolute...absolute anonymity and zero money
After all, these are spiritual matters, no?
To quote Pink Floyd:
"he's really a laugh, but he's really a cry"
This are the news from Brazil: Disciples accuse Prem Baba of spiritual guru of abusing women
Advisory denies; leader says he has had sex and announces he will go on a retreat https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/cotidiano/2018/08/discipulos-acusam-guru-espiritual-prem-baba-de-abusar-de-mulheres.shtml
he has people kiss his feet, that right there is a huge red flag, no one enlightened would have another person kiss their feet, buster
Prem Baba is not my Guru but I'm a part of the Saccha lineage and have attended Prem Baba's programs for year because of the high vibes and beautiful music and great people involved. (and because my Guru Hans Raj was old and sick and not physically available for years before he died)
I've spent much time with many gurus for 40 years and must say Prem Baba has tons of my respect and, despite recent revelations of a couple affairs 10 years ago when he was less mature, one of the greatest teachers I've seen.
Definitely not motivated by money, when in India he gives free programs daily 7 days a week and extremely rarely is the donation box even mentioned.
Prem Baba almost never mentions OSHO and to my knowledge hasn't much of an Osho connection. He's a trained psychologist and has been inspired by the "Pathwork" teachings if you want to be more accurate.
The bit about daily ayahuasca is totally false. When in India his disciples don't do it at all anymore and in the past, only very rarely by those who needed it. In Brazil, where its legal, it still happens but on occasions, not pushed or central to the teachings at all.
I've seen Prem Baba deal with very delicate situations with much grace and his transparency in dealing with the events from the past coming up I expect will reflect his sincerity in walking the walk.
The new paradigm expressed by Prem Baba in embracing the feminine, emotional healing, not forcing celibacy along with concern with education and the environment is inspirational stuff. Personally, if I were to be uncomfortable with Prem Baba, it's because of his emphasis on surrendering to the Guru but basically he must teach this because that's what worked for him.
There is no doubt Hans Raj Maharaj ji authorized Prem Baba to do his work. I know that personally from Maharaj ji himself, and Prem Baba was doing it under his direction right under his nose for years.
Shantimayi and Prem Baba have very different styles but there is no conflict in both of them offering the teaching of Saccha. There doesn't have to be "only one" In fact, there are a couple other lesser known ones teaching on behalf of Saccha as well. Maharaj ji clearly authorized me to teach as well, but I've held back from that full commitment, both because of al the pitfalls of that role noted throughout this site, and because of the surrender of one's life needed to do that well. I can vouch that Prem Baba indeed has surrendered his whole life to this service. He has no time for personal enjoyment of money or much else. The guy is working all the time.
I am ShantiMayi
I have NEVER claimed to be the head of the Sacha Linage.
Not ever. I never wanted to be the head of the Sacha Linage.
Our linage does not designate successors. We do our work and that is all.
My Master Maharajji was never himself designated as the head of the Sacha Linage. The linage is very vast and it would be one heck of a job to
gather everyone under one arm and state that one was the head.
So, no I never claimed, never wanted to claim and never did claim to be the head of the Sacha Linage or a successor...Simply doing my work.
About Prem Baba...may he come through this very well. There is a deep sweetness in him. He has a fine teaching. There have been mistakes and he admits that. Blessings that this situation brings wisdom to all concerned and that everyone comes through this in the best possible way.
Sincerely ShantiMayi
This is a correction to something that the person calling themselves ShantiMayi has written in the post above. She wrote, "My Master Maharajji was never himself designated as the head of the Sacha Linage. The lineage is very vast and it would be one heck of a job to gather everyone under one arm and state that one was the head." This is the opposite of what is stated on the homepage of ShantiMayi's own website, where it explicitly states that Hansraj Maharajji was the head of the Sacha lineage. https://www.shantimayi.com/ It is written, "Sri Hansraj Maharajji was a universally highly regarded traditional Vedic, Indian Saint, and was the head of the ancient Sacha lineage, which exists solely for the purpose of the enlightenment of all beings." That's as specific and explicit a statement as one can write. As the real ShantiMayi died a few days ago, on February 17, 2025, she can't respond. If Maharajji was never the head of the Sacha lineage, why would it be stated that he was, on the home page of ShantiMayi's website, of which ShantiMayi would have read, and given approval to the content? Could the person who posted that be someone other than ShantiMayi, and used her name? It is true that ShantiMayi never claimed to be the head of the Sacha lineage.
PS
Prem Baba and I (ShantiMayi) have a wonderful relationship. We care of reach other and have always had a good relationship. Though at times we see things differently our love for one another has been a stable bridge for the two of us.
The reason we don't mention each other is because we have our own sanghas.
We (he and I ) have always had respect for one another.
I don't know who wrote this but there is a good deal of misinformation here.
Nuances that don't fit our situation, our relationship at all.
Blessings ShantiMayi
PSSS : )
I am also sorry that you post Maharajji's photo. He was such an amazing simple profoundly loving being. He loved Prem Baba deeply and would be (likely is ) saddedned of heart about this messy situation. Why not post Osho's photo?
It is Osho that worked with tantra and inspired Prem Baba this way.
Not that Ohos was right or wrong or should be dragged into this situation either...just that he was Prem Baba's tantric inspiration.
Maharajji life was dedicated to such as a Bodhisattwa. Prayed for the world
for an enlightened humanity. His Master instructed him such and so he did.
I do feel it would be good to check your sources before writing such an article that brings others into the mess.
May all get something really important in all of this including the writer of this article.
Blessings for that possibility.