Prem Rawat - Timeline of Shame

When are we going to acknowledge the peace that we need in our lives? When are we going to take the first steps to fulfill the oldest dream that mankind has had? Peace is a fundamental desire of every human being. It needs acknowledgment, and it needs to be realized, fulfilled. We need to turn within ourselves to find the answers for peace. We're not going to find them outside. They are written in the very the pages that reside in the heart of every single human being regardless of who they are, what their belief is, or what they have done.

I have a dream that all civilizations, all people will be in peace. People say to me, "Isn't that an impossible ideal?" Then I say to myself, "If that is true, then it is the only ideal worth having. That is something I can try to help with." And that's what I do. The amazing thing is, that to have peace on the outside, you have to have peace on the inside. This is not new. Everyone knows this. And to find peace on the inside is the most simple process of all because it is already there. It does not have to be created. It is there to discover, to have, to enjoy.

The thirst for peace lies within all of us. Around the world, I have found the currency not to be common, language not to be common, clothing not to be common, food not to be common. But the desire to be fulfilled is common to everyone. That's what I am addressing.

I travel around the world bringing this message to people, and I hope people listen to it, that they get something out of it. I'm not preaching, nor am I teaching. All I'm doing is presenting a possibility. Peace is important to me, and I hope that peace is important to you. Because, after all, when I look at the horizon, if I have to imagine the world without peace, it is, indeed, a very grim prospect. When I see the light on the horizon, I certainly hope it is the light of the peace that dances, waiting to shine in my life, in my time.

"So many people are waiting for other people to do something to bring about peace. But peace needs a very different process. Each individual needs to understand their own responsibility for it because peace is felt in the heart of every human being. This is the palette where the manifestation of peace takes place, not on the outside.

So often peace is defined as the absence of war. There is war that happens between two countries. There is war that takes place between two people. There is war that doesn't even require two people; it takes place inside of a person. For a war on the outside, maybe a cease-fire can be negotiated. Between two people, maybe an understanding can be negotiated. But even in the absence of those kinds of wars, there is a war that takes place inside a human being - a much more ferocious war that devastates the very elements that are the foundation of a person. Which of these wars will become absent so that one day we can stand up and say, "Now there is peace"?

Those people who have talked about peace in earnest have said, "What you are looking for is within you. You are the source and you are the resource for peace on the face of this earth. This is the realization, the understanding, and the challenge of feeling peace in this life, of not being distracted by all our agendas, but accepting and understanding the agenda we have been given with the opportunity to be alive."

Generally, we measure ourselves on a negative scale. Before we set up what we want to accomplish, we look at what we do not have. People come and tell us what we do not know, what we have not accomplished, all the things we do not have. Every window of a shop dares to tell us what we don't have. If the objects displayed were the things we did have, the whole purpose would be defeated.

So in a world where everything is judged on a negative scale, how can we even begin to talk about peace when peace can only be judged on a positive scale? Peace is one of the things we do have. It is one of the things we can have. It is one of the things that is innate within every human being. Like a lamp lit on the darkest night, it is waiting to be discovered.

We need peace in this world as we are. We need peace in this world with all our problems. We need peace in this world with everything that goes on. We need peace in this world because our heart desires it. Something very fundamental wants that peace. There has been an attraction to that peace since time immemorial.

When it comes to peace in my life, it begins with being ready and able to stand on my own feet. It doesn't end there, but it begins there. For too long, we have looked to world leaders. They try, but succeeding is another story. The noblest gesture we can make is to recognize the possibility of peace in our life and to find ourselves to be the source and the resource."

In a world where so much is going on - where there are so many issues, ideas, inventions, and technology - why am I talking about peace? I talk about peace, not as an option in life, not as something that would be nice to have, but as a fundamental feeling that we all need to feel every day we awaken, every day we exist. When I say "we," what I'm talking about is each one of us despite our barriers or differences. We begin to believe our differences. Sometimes when I am piloting an airplane, I make an announcement, just for fun, that just below you can see the border between two countries. Amazingly enough, people start to look. The world teaches us differences and we begin to believe in them. "You are from this country and you are from that country; you speak this language and you speak that language; you like this and you like that." We forget that the fundamental thing that drives us all is the same. We forget that we may be speaking different languages, but what we are saying is exactly the same. "I am thirsty" can be said in many languages. It means exactly the same thing.

When the desire for peace is fundamental to each one of us, should it be such an alien thing? The question isn't whether we want peace. The question is: Do we feel the thirst for peace? The question isn't whether the treasure exists. The question is: Has it been discovered? Once the thirst for peace is understood in a human being's life, the person will look for water, for peace. They will look within.

I see thousands of labels in this world, and I don't know why they are there. Many labels were put on things way before I was born. People believe in them. Nobody questions these labels. When people hear that the definition of peace is the absence of war, they say, "Yes, that's true." There is a war that rages on inside of a human being that is far more ferocious than any war on the outside. This war continues way past the cease-fires. The outside war is the manifestation or the reflection of the inside war that we see. We have a sense of imbalance, but we don't recognize what is causing it.

I have to acknowledge what I need in my life. If I want peace, I have to acknowledge it. I have to say to myself, in the simplest of words, "Yes. I feel the thirst for peace." I can use fancy words to impress other people, but I cannot use fancy words to impress me. If I want to impress me, I have to speak the truth. Maybe to the world, truth is a scary word, but truth is what the heart wants to hear. That thirst needs to be quenched. Peace is what the heart needs to feel.

It is not an issue of institutions. It is something that has to be felt. It is something that has to be experienced in the heart of every person.
We do so much in this world to try to make ourselves comfortable. We do so much in this world to make a better life.
Everyone who can, in his or her life, tries very hard to better themselves. And yet, we spend so little time understanding the dynamics of what causes this to happen.
What is it inside you and me, what is it inside every person in this whole world, that is pushing them, forcing them, to evolve into a better situation? To be more content, to be more joyous, to be more in peace?
Perhaps we need to understand the dynamics of this incredible thrust that comes from within, because I really feel that inside of every one of us-I'm not exempting anyone-peace is like a seed waiting in the desert to blossom.
It sees no distinction. It does not care if you are rich. It does not care if you are poor. It does not care what religion you belong to. It does not care if you are fat. It does not care if you are thin. And it does not care which country you live in.
But what it does care about is that water. Just like in the desert. All these seeds that are lying in wait. Waiting for that right time to come. Waiting for the opportunity when, indeed, water will come.
In your heart, in your heart also lies the seed, wanting and waiting for nothing else but to be fulfilled. To be fulfilled. For the thirst for peace to be quenched. To once again feel whole. And not segregated, not separated by all the other issues that penetrate our lives.

Breath comes, and each breath brings the possibility of being fulfilled.
To me, that breath coming into so many on the face of this earth, so quietly, so silently, is screaming a message so loud and clear. And what is that message? Now!! NOW!! In your life, be fulfilled. Now, in your life, find that peace. Now, in your life, find that joy. Joy! The joy that doesn't come from the catalysts outside, but that is triggered because one has found their fulfillment within. 'Cause that's what peace is. It's not on the outside. Peace is within the heart of each being.
Absence of war is not peace.

Because it is people, it is us - we're the ones who start the wars. When the differences become so great, and the intolerance - intolerance - reaches epic proportions, wars will happen. When I fail to see another being as I see myself, then wars will happen. When the causes and the reasons become greater than the sanctity of peace, wars will happen. When I fail to realize what is the value - the value - of being alive, wars will happen.
And believe me - believe me - ever that the war begins outside, it would have begun on the inside first. And the war on the inside is far more dangerous, because it is a fire that may never be quenched. And it can rage on and on and on and on. In the battle outside, at least you will hear a noise, but in the battle inside, you may not hear a peep. That battle outside may have strategies, but the battle inside may just be going on and on and on and on, and no one is even negotiating.
Hey! Stop! This is your time on the face of this earth. This is your opportunity to be alive.
For me, when peace begins within me, and has taken hold of me-when I have allowed it to blossom-then peace for me is also possible on the outside. Then peace for me is also possible-a reality-because I have felt it.

This is about appreciation. This is not about formulas. This is about waking up in the morning, and not because you have a label on some wall, going: "Be thankful for today!" You will read the label and you will go: "Ho. Hum. Right."
So, address the war here. Make peace here. And watch peace unfold.
Because, you know, of all the things we have tried in this world, there's one thing that we've never given a chance, and the one thing that has not been tried in this world is peace.

And I'm not going to say: "This is the time for peace." Because it is always time for peace. Always was, always is and, guess what, always will be. Peace is welcomed any time, because I am the seed lying dormant in the desert, and I am waiting, any second, any minute: Come rain, come. I am ready. If it doesn't happen in the morning, I have no agenda. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I am waiting for you. That is my agenda!!
Again, thankful is a feeling. Which one do you believe in? The feeling or the word? Because if you have the feeling, you don't need the word. Who cares? You feel!! And if you have the word, it doesn't mean you have the feeling. They have nothing to do with each other. That's why people go around saying: "Peace, peace, peace, peace - peace" and nothing happens.

Trust and faith. We have the intelligence. I don't know how big an intelligence that little seed could possibly have. You would think with all the intelligence, we would know what trust means. But we don't. So, we need to go to the seed to learn trust.
Because this thing is sitting in the desert. And there's only one evidence as far as it can see. No rain. Right? And guess what? That's what it's waiting for. Rain. And the only link there is is the trust. And it does. And somehow, the rain does come. It does.

I have a feeling that that seed knows more about that trust than I do. I've studied meteorology. I'm fascinated by it. I love that stuff. But I have a feeling that seed knows more abut the rain than I do. Because for me, it's just a topic of interest. For that seed, it's its whole life. For me, I'm just fascinated. For that seed, its existence depends on it.
So the seed is the expert, not me.
Like that seed, I want to learn too, about that rain of peace coming to my desert. Because ultimately, my life depends on it too.
And if I want to be an expert, maybe I should be an expert in peace. And if I want to study something, maybe I should be studying peace. And if I want to be fascinated by something, maybe I could be fascinated by peace. And have the trust in my heart, like as that rain does come, that peace will come in my life too.
That's my message. That's what I go around telling people: Look within you. And if you need help to look within, I can help. I can help. But the trust has to come from within you.
And yes, peace needs to be in everyone's life.
So, thank you very much. And it's been a great honor and a privilege to speak here to you tonight.
Thank you.

Maharaji speaking at the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations, at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco, where the UN Charter was signed sixty years ago.

You have heard about peace in many different ways. Maybe this is just one more perspective, but it is a perspective that comes from the heart.

Peace. We think, "Peace. Yes, something over here called peace." When I travel around the world and mention the word "peace," everyone has a different reaction. It ranges from "I've heard about that" to "It's a waste of time" to "I am interested in peace."

The most significant statement is: "I am interested in peace." I, as an individual, a person-not a label, not a box, not a globe-but a living, breathing, human being whose existence is priceless. This is the opportunity each one of us has been given.

Peace is a feeling-a feeling of non-duality, a feeling away from doubt, a feeling of me. Me understanding my existence. Feeling peace-not in turmoil, not in war, not in controversy, but in the serenity of existence.

There is more to you than you realize. There is another chapter here that hasn't been opened. Maybe there is a treasure trove that has not been tapped yet. Maybe there is another room to this villa, this mansion, this house, that has not been looked at.

The desire for peace transcends every barrier. Even those who have been incarcerated desire peace. Those who have little to eat also desire peace. And those sitting in giant mansions desire peace. Peace is one of those things: after a bowl of food, I still want to be in peace. The worst war is the war within a human being because there's no ceasefire to it. You can't put a brake on it; you can't negotiate with just one party. And the trouble with the war that rages inside is that, even if you win it, you lose because it's with yourself.

This is your life. Sometimes we forget what is being created here. This is no ordinary construction site. Done well, it will be better and more beautiful than the Mona Lisa, more grand than the Statue of David, more magnificent than the Sistine Chapel.

Who will be the admirer? Admiration and simplicity are the guardian angels of this beautiful experience called peace. They are the towers. In no uncertain terms, know the value of this existence, the value of this breath, the desire for peace that we carry in our hearts. There is a part of us that has beckoned us to be in peace again and again, that when we are in turmoil says, "This is no good. You don't want to be here. This is not acceptable."

I'm talking about the peace that can be even experienced in the middle of war. It's not about the new or the fancy. It's about the good old heart that's always been there. It's about the good old breath that is as old and fresh and new as nothing I've seen. I cannot compare it to dew or to the rising sun or to a new star, because when that breath comes into me, it is so new that it is incomparable. That's my potential. I can be fulfilled like you can.

What I have to talk about is really quite simple. It deals with one human being - one person, one individual, who breathes, thinks, wants to understand, wants to learn. Sometimes, in the pursuit of all that we pursue in this world, we forget about us. Who am I? Who are you? You are unique. There is no one like you. I cannot emphasize enough the uniqueness of every human being on the face of this earth.

Learning is a process that will happen for every single person. This is our nature. Learning will happen, but amongst all the things we learn, what is the most important thing to learn? Millions have come through these gates to learn, understand, and go on in their lives to be successful and prosperous. But there is one kind of prosperity that was talked about a very, very long time ago: Know thyself.

The idea of peace is not new. I've been talking about peace since I was a child, because I know that there is another face of peace. There is an idyllic face of peace that people paint in which nobody is fighting with anyone. But there is a face of peace that does not rely on boundaries. There is a face of peace that has nothing to do with obedience, nothing to do with your wishes. It is the face of peace that lies in the heart of every human being.

This is the possibility, the reality, that certain people have always envisioned: "Know thyself." The resource of the joy, the peace, you are looking for exists within you. You have the tools you need to accomplish the aspirations of your heart, regardless of all external circumstances.

Are you in peace? Are you content, not by thought, but by feeling? There cannot be a formula for peace: "I am content because I did this and I did that and therefore, everything is fine." It has to be a reality.

My message is not connected to a religion. My message is connected to getting in touch with your heart, to understanding the value and the preciousness of your existence. It is about addressing, rather than covering up, the fundamental needs that you have as a human being - needs that are the same for everyone.

"There is a peace, without which we would lose the very fabric of who we are," he said. "A peace that dances in the heart of everyone. That's the peace I am talking about. The reality. The beauty. The joy. The true peace - not an absence of something, but the very presence of something. That is what is possible, even in the middle of war."

Melissa Mann of nearby Maryville, Tennessee organized the event. The daughter of a former U.S. foreign service diplomat who served in several countries, Ms. Mann teaches English at a local college. "Knoxville responded very positively," Ms. Mann said. "People were very excited to hear that Prem Rawat had accepted our invitation, and a lot of people came to see him, not just from Knoxville, but Atlanta, Memphis, Birmingham - all over."

"The freedom I talk about is not the kind of freedom that people think is freedom. People think freedom is when you get away from your house for the weekend. 'Free - I'm free.' To teenagers, freedom is when they leave their parents' house. Freedom to parents is when their teenagers actually leave. Not just threaten to leave, but actually leave. 'Now we are free.' Is that freedom?

"Freedom from my troubles. Is that freedom? Freedom from my concerns. Is that freedom? Freedom from my responsibilities. Is that freedom? I talk about a freedom that can be felt in a prison. That's the freedom that no one on the face of this earth can take away from me. No one. That's freedom.

"Peace - a peace that cannot be disturbed. That is real peace. And one that cannot be taken away - that is real freedom.

"Often, people think they're free. And sometimes they're trying to free themselves from their concepts of freedom. 'Am I really free? If I think differently, I'll be free. If I am open to everything, I will be free.' This is our time to make that understanding happen. To begin to understand. And here is the concrete thing: To start to realize that all that we ever want, we have. We have that freedom inside of us.

"I go around giving people a mirror. A mirror that shows something that is real, that is true. Something that by its very existence is the most beautiful play ever written. You are the actor, and the most incredible script has been written for you. There is love, a little bit of action, a little bit of clarity, and a little bit of confusion. How well do we know this play? How well are we playing it?"

People leaving the hall were clearly enthusiastic about Prem Rawat and his message. For Russell G. from Oakridge, "I really enjoyed this opportunity to learn more about myself. I came at the invitation of a good friend. My faith is Christian based, but I am always eager to hear and listen to new ideas. I quickly realized that what this man had to say did not contradict my faith, but rather served to strengthen the ultimate message of love and happiness."

For Adriana T. from Asheville, "I recently had surgery for cancer and have asked what difference my life has made. The answer came in his address. I am unique. There is no other that brings the gifts I can to make a difference in life."

Mary W. from Asheville said, "This is the first time to see and hear him in person. Magnificent human being. Gives me much thought to proceed from this moment. I am a Christian, and I think I want what he is offering. His message is universal, and I see the possibility of connecting to me."

Debbie S., a Knoxville resident and physical therapist at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, has been familiar with Prem Rawat's message for years. She helped organize the Knoxville event. "It's the most exciting thing to invite Prem Rawat and to have him accept our invitation. It's a wonderful opportunity, not just for me, but for the people in the area to hear him speak and to hear his message, which is unique and very applicable to everyone regardless of background, education, or occupation."

*** Lions don't live in the jungle. In India, lions live in the Gir Forest, a dry deciduous forest. In Africa they live on the savanna plains. ***

Let me begin with a little story: There was a lion who was feeling very good one morning, very happy. He came out of his den, saw a little rabbit, immediately pounced on it, and said, "Who is the king of the jungle? And the rabbit, terribly afraid and shaking, said, "You are."

This made the lion even more proud. Bouncing along, he found a deer, jumped on it, and said, "Deer, who is the king of the jungle?" And the deer said, shaking, "You are."

Now the lion was feeling really, really good. He was the king. So he goes along, sees an elephant, jumps on it, and says, "Elephant, who is the king of this jungle?" The elephant spun the lion around his trunk, pounded him on the ground again and again till he was senseless, then let go of him. The lion looked at the elephant and said, "Don't get upset if you don't know the answer!"

Sometimes we accept other people's definitions of things, but forget about one simple thing, and that is you. What I am talking about is not what you can accomplish, not what you can do, not about your hopes, dreams, and ideas - but, you, as a gift that came into this world.

It was no mistake that Socrates said, "Know thyself." Know who you are. Understand who you are, your nature. Understand that if you do not feel peace, you may not be able to give it to anyone. If you want to quench the thirst of another, the least you need is water. The water of peace flows within you. The serenity of understanding flows through you - your life.

In all that you are trying to understand, add one more - understanding about yourself. In all that you're trying to complete, complete one more. And besides all those you are trying to help, help one more person - you. You need to feel content regardless of what is going on. You need to feel whole. Yes, you are the building block of your existence. And if that first step is missing, the next and the next and the next will also be missing.

It is not impossible. It is not mysterious. It is not strange. And, indeed, it is not selfish. To unwrap a gift that has been given is not selfish. If I do something at the expense of others, that is selfish. But if I feel an itch and I scratch it, not at the expense of anyone else, it's not selfish. The gift has been given; the gift is you. Life has been given; it is in progress. Your understanding is there, your thirst is there, and the idea of peace is at hand.

I invite you to take a peek inside to know what this existence is all about. The person who said, "Know thyself," didn't make it up to make your life more difficult. But, there was something there, some mystery that could be solved. Humanity will face many, many challenges, and one of the biggest challenges is to find the peace that is within every single being. That has been an incredible challenge. People say, "Peace is not possible." But the personal peace - the peace that you have inside of you - is very possible and has always been there, and that is why it is said, "Know thyself."

It begins with the simplest of understandings, to listen to what something simple is saying to you. It's not about your responsibilities, but about the chance to be fulfilled. The want.

I remind people that what you are looking for is inside of you - not outside. Always has been and always will be. Even if you decide not to discover it, it will always be inside of you. Always. The answers will come from within, not from the outside. The true sense of accomplishment will happen here, not somewhere else. Be who you are.

Be fulfilled every day so you can fulfill others. Be fulfilled every day so you can fulfill the responsibilities that are ahead of you. But it begins with you. What I talk about, you have, whether you decide to pursue it or not. Search if you must. Do whatever it takes to find that self and fulfill that self, so you may serve and serve well. Be fulfilled. Be happy. One lifetime. And only one like you on the face of this earth. You are unique. Shine with that uniqueness.

When you were born - who were you? A doctor, perhaps? A lawyer? No. There was one little moment of time when you were born when everybody held their breath to see if you were taking yours. Until that breath had been taken, nobody cared if you were a boy or girl. Nobody cared about your aspirations. Nobody cared about anything but that breath.

Once we are born, we start understanding our responsibilities. We start understanding the good, the bad, the right, the wrong. I'm not here to discuss those things. That's up to you. Those are the decisions you have to make. I'm here to remind you about that one simple thing called existence. Not what we do with existence, but existence itself.

We judge life by its external components, but is life just external components? Is life a bunch of happenstances in one's existence? Or is life something greater? The sum of it is greater than all of those things put together. One life is greater than all the things that are happening in this world, because all the things in this world can be replicated again and again, but that one human being dancing on the face of this earth will never be replicated. I am here to talk about the importance of your existence.

You will do many things, and hopefully, you will do incredible things for humanity, and I commend you on that. I also want to help as much as I can. People in this world need some help. And those who can, should provide that help, because it is about us human beings - us. It isn't about governments. I don't see that it's the responsibility of governments to bring peace on earth. It's the responsibility of individuals because peace on earth begins with individuals.

Know who you are. Understand your nature. Understand that if you do not feel that peace, you may not be able to give it to anyone. If you want to quench the thirst of another, the least you need is water. The water of peace flows within you. The serenity of understanding flows through you - your life. If you want to understand what it is like to be alive, listen to what your request has been all along to be fulfilled.

Be in peace, the peace that is within - not a manufactured peace. The peace that is inherent to every single human being on the face of this earth regardless of their circumstances. The peace that can be felt in the middle of a battlefield. That kind of peace.

A discontented person cannot bring contentment to another. An incomplete person cannot bring completeness to another. And a person void of happiness cannot bring happiness to another.

The desire for peace is noble in nature, and an effort towards that peace is also noble in nature. Discover what already exists inside of you. Within you is an infinite ocean of peace. Within you is an infinite ocean of joy. Within you is an infinite ocean of the potential to succeed - the ocean of success.