For the past 10 days Bathurst has been host to 318 students of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment.

Students of Ramtha’s teachings believe he was a Lemurian warrior who fought the Atlanteans over 35,000 years ago.

Hard to believe he is still teaching all these years later, however, the American founder of the school JZ Knight is said to act as a channel for his thoughts on all manner of topics.

The school has thousands of foll-owers worldwide. Many call it a cult, but wherever the truth lies there is no denying that those who have spent the past 10 days at CSU are some of the happiest people on the planet.

This is the 10th year the school of enlightenment has held its retreat at CSU and Bathurst is the only city in Australia chosen by the school to host the Ramtha retreats.

Organisers chose the university because of the excellent facilities, the friendliness of staff and the beautiful surroundings.

But over the years those who keep coming back have come to love Bathurst. A few have even bought property here.

Among those visiting this week were corporate employees, scientists, doctors, policewomen, retirees and stay at home mums.

The youngest participant was a toddler, the oldest 96 years of age.

They travelled from every state in Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, New Zealand and Holland. There was also a big contingent from Japan.

And all the time they are pouring money into the local economy.

Organisers say the school’s unconventional teaching methods are designed to train participants in maintaining focus by stilling the mind.

The most visually interesting, was an exercise held each day in a field at the university.

Each student had to draw a symbol on a card representing what they truly want from life. These cards were slipped into small black folder hanging from the fence. The students, who were blindfolded, had to move around the field picturing their symbol in their mind until they found it. And many did.

At the same time they were practising a breathing exercise to focus the mind which created a loud hissing sound.

Teacher Laura Mooney, who travelled from the United States to lead the workshops, said when a student finds their card blindly it acts as proof that they create their own reality.

“Here we teach people how to negotiate life and get what they want out of it,” she said. To do this students are taught quantum physics, neurobiology and biology among other things.

It is Ms Mooney’s first visit to Australia.

“It’s beautiful and the people are wonderful,” she said. “We love this university environment. It is so beautiful here.”

Australian co-ordinator Janine Fuller denies the Ramtha School of Enlightenment is a cult.

“Anything that is outside what is considered normal is labelled a cult,” she said.

“We don’t have to live in a compound, we are never asked to give money, although we do pay tuition, and no-one has to do anything they don’t want to do. I have watched people who are fearful with no self-worth turn their lives around. Now they are beaming,” she said.