He developed branches in the United States, Canada,[4] Australia and the UK — adding to existing groups in Jaffna and Colombo,[5] Sri Lanka.

Bawa established vegetarianism as the norm for his followers[6] and meat products are not permitted at the legacy fellowship center or farm.

[5] Many of his followers who lived around the northern town of Jaffna were Hindus and addressed him as swami or guru, where he was a medical and spiritual faith healer — and is alleged to have cured demonic possession.

After meeting business travelers from the south, he was invited to visit Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, at the time Ceylon.

[9] As in Sri Lanka, Bawa developed a following among people of diverse religious, social and ethnic backgrounds, who came to Philadelphia to listen to him speak.

[citation needed] In the United States, Canada and England, he was recognized by religious scholars, journalists, educators and leaders.[how?]

The United Nations' Assistant Secretary General, Robert Muller, asked for Bawa's guidance on behalf of mankind during an interview in 1974.

[13][14] Time magazine, during the crisis in 1980, quoted Bawa as saying that when the Iranians understand the Koran "they will release the hostages immediately.

"[15] Interviews with Bawa appeared in Psychology Today,[16] the Harvard Divinity Bulletin,[17] and in The Philadelphia Inquirer[18] and the Pittsburgh Press.

[25] In the United States, from 1971 to 1986, Bawa authored over twenty-five books,[26] created from over 10,000 hours of audio and video transcriptions of his discourses and songs.

[citation needed] Bawa established vegetarianism as the norm for his followers as he believed the only compassionate choice is to eat without slaughter.

[27] Bawa Muhaiyaddeen was referred to as Guru, Swami, Sheikh or 'His Holiness' depending on the background of the speaker or writer.

[39][40] In "Blue-Eyed Devil", Michael Muhammad Knight attempts to receive a message from Bawa in a dream, in a Sufi practice called istikhara.