Prem Rawat: University of Malaya, 25th April 2005

"Educating the Heart": Prem Rawat: University of Malaya

Rawat did make a speech on the United Nations International Day of Peace (21st September) and it was in a rented room at the Australian Parliament in Canberra but it had no relationship to the Australian Parliament nor the United Nations Organisation though this is exactly the false picture for which Rawat's minions are trying.

Dr Hashim Yaacob: It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to this event, hosted by UAM in collaboration with the Prem Rawat Foundation. In a few minutes, we will be hearing from our speaker, Prem Rawat, who has just completed a tour, giving lectures on the same topic in Australia, namely at the Australian Parliament in Canberra, at the occasion of the United Nations International Day of Peace, and in Melbourne too. His distinguished lecture at the University of Malaya is consistent with our mission to be at the forefront of knowledge that we have pursued since our inception. Our motto is that knowledge is key to success, and we strive to stand and remain at the forefront of knowledge to contribute to nation-building and to the well-being of the people and to promote universal human values. Unfortunately, as we are all keenly aware, the process of creating conditions favourable for peace has been historically less than successful. And it has become apparent throughout history that the ability of people to live lives at peace is somewhat independent from external conditions for peace. In other words, neither national nor individual security or prosperity alone, although they can help, can bring peace to people and to this world. Prem Rawat's message is intriguing in that he looks at peace primarily as an individual experience of inner fulfilment that can and needs to be discovered by each person for themselves. He maintains that if each person responds to an innate calling for peace, peace for them and for this world is possible. Peace, he says, is already in the heart of each person and needs to be discovered. Hence the theme for this distinguished lecture, Educating the Heart. I hope this event will help establish a better awareness and understanding that the peace we all pursue is indeed possible. Once again, let me thank the organising committee of this event for their hard work in organising this event and Prem Rawat for being with us this evening. So without much ado, with the greatest of pleasure, on behalf of the University of Malaya, I welcome you, Prem Rawat, to deliver your speech.

Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Dato Dr. Shafi Muhammad Saleh, Vice-Chancellor, Captain Dato Professor Dr. Haseem Yaqub, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, you have just heard an introduction. Of course, my speech is not prepared, but I have come here to talk from my heart to your heart. My message is really quite simple because it deals with the understanding. And to me, there is a big difference in learning and understanding. Just recently, I was speaking at one of the conferences, and this is how I put it, that learning even a parrot can learn. A parrot can learn how to say, Polly, want a cracker? But the parrot doesn't understand who Polly is, and the parrot definitely does not understand what a cracker is. All it understands is that every time it says something like that, it gets something to eat. We need to go a little bit beyond in this world and understand what is really needed. We think that if we bring prosperity, that if we bring the riches, everything will be taken care of. But there is something more than all of those elements, and that one most important thing for human beings, and I'm talking about human beings, who we are, the way we are, does not change. And that is the aspiration and yearning for peace. It doesn't matter where we go, what religion we belong to, where we live, what we do, at the end of the day, we all need to experience peace. Why? This is as innate of a nature, of a human being, the composition of a human being. You know, there's one of these things where when you have something in abundance, you don't recognize its value. When it is taken away, all of a sudden, you're enlightened to how incredible this one thing is. We are in this world, we do what we do, we see things, we do things, but we don't recognize how important it is to be alive, how important it is to exist every day in fulfillment, how important it is to be in gratitude of what we have been given, every day, every day, and to understand and recognize our fundamental need for peace. There's a small story that I would like to tell you, and this maybe puts it in perspective.

There was a man, and he decided that he wanted to go and earn some money. So he left his home, he left his house, and he went to the big city. He started up his business, he did what he had to do, and he ended up earning quite a bit of money. He was on his way back after months, and he was walking along, and on the road, he was spotted by a thief who looked at him, saw his nice clothes, saw that he was carrying a bunch of stuff, and he recognized that this is a great opportunity to rob this person. So he came along, and he started walking alongside of him, and he befriended him, started asking him, where have you been, how has it been? And the man said, oh, you know, I'm so happy I'm returning home after months. I've been to the big city, earning a lot of money, and I've made a lot of money, and I'm returning home. So the thief was very happy, because this is exactly the opportunity he wanted, to be able to steal a lot of money. That night, they decided to check into a hotel, and because both of them were friends, they decided they would share the room. They were both in there, the man got dressed, and said, come on down, let's go eat, let's have dinner. The thief said, you go ahead, I'll join you in just a few minutes. And when the man had left, the thief searched and searched and searched and searched the room, looking for the money, and he didn't find it. So he went downstairs, had dinner, next day they started their journey again, and as they were walking, he said, so really, you earned a lot of money? He said, oh yes, I earned a lot of money, and I'm taking it home. I can't wait to give it to my wife, to give it to my children. And the thief thought, my goodness, he keeps telling me this, but I searched, and there was nothing there. So again, they checked into the hotel, the same thing happened again, the thief said, I'll be right there, and he searched the room again, and he didn't find anything. Next day, they started their journeys again, and when they were almost coming to the village where the guy was from, the thief said, look, I have to confess something to you. I'm really a thief. You're almost home, you're home safe. And two times you have told me that you have a lot of money. And every time you used to go downstairs to have dinner, I would search the room. But I didn't find anything. Do you really have a lot of money? And if you do, what did you do with it? And the man said, I do have a lot of money. And I'm carrying it with me. And when you first joined me and started talking nice to me, I figured you were a thief. So when you weren't looking, I would take all my money and put it under your pillow. And you would search under my pillow, my bed, my clothing, but not once did you search under your own pillow. Because had you searched, you would have found my money.

I like that story. And the reason why I like that story is because this is exactly what happens. We do research and we do search. And where? Everywhere else! Except under our own pillow. Except within our own selves. The concept of peace comes along, and we say it's out there. We say it is incumbent upon the governments to make peace. And a lot of people get surprised when I say that. Because I think peace is a personal responsibility. It is incumbent upon every single person to find that place within, inside of their own self where peace lies. Let me redefine, perhaps, and shed some light on what I mean when I say peace. Because there's many definitions of peace, my friend, out there. Hundreds of definitions. When I say freedom, what do I really mean? What is my definition of freedom? What is my definition of peace? Well, my definition of peace is a peace that nobody can steal from you. See, if you have a noisy neighbor, your version of peace might be when he stops his music. My version of peace is a peace that nobody can steal from you, and a peace that can be experienced in the middle of the war. That's the kind of peace I'm talking about. The freedom that I talk about is a freedom that can be experienced in the middle of a prison. I just received some feedback from prisoners. In many prisons, they have been showing my message, and the prisoners love it. Because they too, I'm not a judge, and I'm not a lawyer. All I see them is the perspective of a human being. Yes, they have done bad, and I am not being the judge of it. But I see them as human beings, and yes, they do have that potential, and if they are going to change their ways, then they need to find a wealth inside of them that nobody can take away from the

To be free means to acquire that freedom that comes truly from the heart. Not somebody striking a label on you and saying, you're free. But to be free and to feel free. A bird placed in a cage can be given an explanation of how good it is in the cage, but the cage is made out of gold. And look, you don't have to go around foraging for food. Every day the owner goes and buys you food and gives you food. Isn't this wonderful? And theoretically, perhaps, but in reality, the bird wants to feel free. Free! The bird wants to do what a bird has to do. Stretch its wings, sit on a tree, and perhaps every morning claim its territory again and again and again. This is my branch. This is my tree. This is my branch. This is my tree. But boy, is it happy doing that. Happiness is a fruit. Happiness is a fruit on a tree. And if you want that fruit in your life, sow the right seed, water that plant, take care of that plant, and one day that tree will grow up, bear the fruit, and you can eat the fruit, and you can taste the sweetness of that fruit. Who amongst us, when we are hungry, be satisfied that that person goes and eats for us and then comes back and explains to us how good the food was? You know, if that could happen, the world's hunger problem would be solved. The whole world could elect one representative, a big guy, huge, who loves food. Then he goes and he eats and eats, and he comes and he says, oh, that was wonderful. I had toast, and I had beans, and I had this, and I had that, and it was all delicious, and everybody can go, oh, thank you, that was a wonderful description. We know that that doesn't work. Governments work hard, some governments work very hard to make sure that their citizens are fed. And boy, if this could be a tool, that would be wonderful. But we know that that's not true. When it comes to food, our hunger needs to be satisfied.

When it comes to peace, it is the same way. We need to feel peace, not just "Peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace." It's like a parrot that sings all day long, "Peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace, peace" but peace needs to be felt by every single person. The fundamental, this is the heart that we have been given. Through our mind, we try to comprehend the universe. Through our heart, we can comprehend our own universe. Through the mind, we try to measure the depths of the ocean. Through this heart, we can measure our own depth. Every single human being on the face of this earth is a universe to us, to themselves.

Do you know how unique you are? Do you have any idea how unique you are? There's no one on the face of this earth like you and there will be no one on the face of this earth. The way you smile, the way you laugh, the way you cry, the way you hurt, the way you sing, the way you are joyful, every single intricacy is a gift of that magnificent Creator to every single human being on the face of this earth. It's a gift that you have been given. Yet, how do we measure this gift? How do we weigh this gift? How do we look at this gift? How? We look at its shortcomings. We say, this is what I do not have. Our scales measure the negative. When we need to understand that every breath and yes, indeed, every breath coming into us is a gift of that almighty Creator. The greatest blessing given to a human being is that gift that is being given and given and nothing is being asked for in return.

Take, take. What can you do with this? What can you do with the gift of life? You can do many things with the gift of life. You can become the most incredible engineer. You can. And engineers are needed and will be needed. But there will be always a better engineer than you. I know. When I got my first type rating for a 707, I was the youngest person to ever get a type rating for a four engine aircraft. Since then, there have been many, many younger than me. I got my flying license as legal as it was to get it. So that hasn't changed. But there will be somebody better. But there's one thing that I can do, like you all can do. And that is that we can be, that we can be in this space, that we can be all our accomplishments. Many there will be and many there can be. But there is one accomplishment that as a human being, you need not for the sake of society, but for the sake of being a human being. And that is to find that peace, to be fulfilled. And is it important? Yes, it is important.

Look at this world. And the world has many inventions. New inventions come along and we look at these inventions and we're fascinated by these inventions. And they are, I mean, some are amazing. And we think we have changed. People say the world has changed. Excuse me. We have not changed. We have cell phones going off. People can communicate. The new cell phones, the 3Gs are coming out. You'll be able to see the other person. That will be awful. No privacy. Forget about makeup. Can you imagine your girlfriend or boyfriend and you look at them and go, whoa, is that how you really look? Has the world really changed? Who are we? The quest for peace. Know thyself. Socrates said this. Know thyself. Peace was the better days. Peace were the better days in history of peace and prosperity. And civilizations loved it. And the kings who could bring peace and prosperity. Oh, there were other ones that had a lot of prosperity but no peace. They really didn't like that. But peace and prosperity were those two foundations, those two pillars that the civilizations loved. People have loved, people have been in love with peace for a really, really long time. This is no novel idea.

I've been talking about peace since I was only this high. Barely be able to speak properly. And I remember where people would come and sometimes people wouldn't come. And a meeting would be called and my father would be waiting for everybody to gather around and I would go and I would start speaking. They would see a little boy speaking and they would all gather. And it was wonderful to tell them a simple thing that this is in your life one of those elements that you need. Do not forget it. Aspire and achieve what you need to. But do not forget your fundamentals. What good is it to have a beautiful building on the outside when it has nothing on the inside? What good is it to have an incredible looking building on the outside, bold and strong with no foundation? It is doomed to come down. I speak in an age which is different.

Not too long ago there was incredible disaster. Thousands of people got killed. Tragedy. I got on the phone to the Foundation and I said, hey, make sure you send some aid. They need it. Whatever we can do. Believe me, this is not about money. I was in the United States when Katrina hit. In fact, I flew just north of Katrina. Everybody knew it was coming. I mean, it made no attempts to hide itself. They were tracking it with satellite. The most incredibly accurate equipment was tracking this thing. Hurricane hunters had been dispatched to take a close look at it. And the unbelievable thing was people. What ensued? What ensued could have been anywhere. Because people are people. People are. And they have needs. And amongst those basic needs is the need to feel fulfilled. Why do I go around the world and try to tell people about this? Let me explain one thing.

If you want to light up a football field, how do you do it? You got to light up the bulbs. If you want to light up this hall, what do you need? You need to light up the bulbs. People are the bulbs. And if we want peace on this earth, then those bulbs have to light up. And each one has to light up. No one can substitute for another one. Nobody can say, well, you go feel peace for me. That would be the same thing as saying you go drink water for me. You go eat food for me. You go sleep for me. There are certain things you cannot send a replacement for. Can you imagine if you were getting married and you couldn't make it because you were too busy? When you sent your best friend, go get married on my behalf? It would not work. I mean, the fact that the missus would be extremely mad, it would not work. And so I say to people that it is incumbent upon you and you alone to reach out to that one place within inside of you where the peace resides.

We think we have formulas for everything. We think that's what it is. That's what it takes. Have a formula. Come up with a formula. It is time to rethink. It is time to rethink. People think that the world leaders have the solutions to all their problems. It is time to rethink. It is time to rethink a lot of things. It is time to rethink whether peace is possible or not. A long time ago, I was coming from Canada to the United States and the customs officer asked me, where were you? I said, well, I was in Canada. What were you doing there? I was talking about peace. It's not possible, he said. Impossible. So far he said there is all this greed in this world. There's all this stuff going on, power struggles going on. There will be no peace in this world. I thought about it. I thought about it. Is that right? And I said to myself, yes, he is right if he is talking about the concept of peace that everybody has. I'm not talking about the same peace. I'm talking about the personal peace. And personal peace is very possible because it has nothing to do with the struggles of the outside. It is time to rethink what it means to be alive. It is time to rethink what it means to exist. It is time to rethink about the gift that we have been given.

On many occasions, people buy gifts for each other, birthdays are celebrated, candles are placed on the cake, and the person whose birthday it is blows out the candle. Do you know why? Each candle represents a year that that person was alive. And as he blows out those candles, he puts those behind him. Indeed, that whole little ritual that people go through, it is not a pleasant ritual, but we have created into a pleasant ritual. Everybody comes, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Everybody sings, everybody gets really happy. And people think, wow, I get to blow out candles. Who were you in that one year? What were you in that one year? What were you when there was one candle on that cake and you were alive? And what were your priorities like? We look at children and we're fascinated. Why are we fascinated when we look at children? Because they remind us of us. Aspirations. Hope. That's what dances in a child's eye is this incredible hope. We know about this. We've been on this journey in this life. We have seen good, bad, right, wrong. All the citizens of this earth need hope. Future generations need hope. And if there needs to be some investment on the face of this earth, there needs to be investment in peace, besides all the other investments that we do. Peace has become a hollow word where people just say it, but don't mean it. Because nobody knows how to go about it. And yet the clues are in knowing thyself. Know who you are.

What are you? What have you been given? Understand the intricacies of the blessings that you receive every single day. I'm not here to preach to you. I'm not here to say this is how it is. I want you to feel the need for peace in yours. If I am a person who has a water stand on the side of the street, you know who my best ally is? Not the advertising. Not my face. My biggest ally is thirst. Because the thirst will bring people to mind. If you, in your life, want people to come to that stand that you have in this existence, then thirst is your best ally. Feel the need for peace in your life. Feel the need for joy in your life. Because once you have, and once you have understood that need in your life, yes, indeed, it will be possible for you to have it. Recognition is the first step. The need is the first step. Without the recognition and without the need, if they are not clear to you in your life, you will not be able to take the necessary steps. I know I've already taken a lot of your time, and I know that you have other things to do, but I just wanted to tell you one simple, beautiful message, that what you are looking for is inside. People say, well, give us the trick of how to look inside of us. You know how to look inside of you. Turn the volume down outside if you want to listen to the whisper inside. If you want to see something of a candle glowing in your room, close the curtains, and you will see the candle glow even brighter. Understand that you are the source of that joy and peace in your life. And yes, peace is very possible. And yes, heart is the very gauge that will gauge and be the guide to that process of peace in individual's life. Thank you very much for coming. It's my privilege to be able to come to this university and give my message of peace and hope. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Prem Rawat. I just couldn't help coming up the second time before my secretary gives the final word. As I sat and listened to you, for a moment I thought you were a Malay person, because your name is Rawat. Rawat means to make things better. In that Malay language. Rawat means to heal. That is what you are, and thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Prem Rawat, for the very interesting talk. And now I am deeply honoured to invite Yang Bohormat, Dr. Dr. Shafi and Mr. Prem Rawat to the stage for the Minister to present a token of appreciation to Mr. Prem Rawat.