Maharaji // Prem Rawat - News, Excerpts and more
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- Story of an Existence
I have a lot to say about something very, very simple: that you are alive. And because you are alive, there are amazing possibilities.
Recently, I saw a TV documentary titled “Death of the Sun.” It was very interesting. They were talking about what will happen to the sun. It is brighter now than it used to be a few million years ago because it’s burning up, tapping into more and more inner gases, which is also causing it to expand. It is growing so big that one day there will be no blue sky, only a massive red sun glowing. By this time, life on earth will be gone. The oceans will be dry. Because it has become so big, the sun will start pulling other planets away. Jupiter, Mercury—gone. Earth could possibly escape, but not likely.
When the documentary was over, I turned off the TV, closed my eyes and started to think. Everything we do has some implication for tomorrow. We go to sleep; we like to wake up. And that waking up will happen tomorrow. We eat today, but in a way that has some implication for the future. “I don’t want to eat this because it will make me feel sick.” Or, “I’m looking forward to a big dinner, so I’m only going to have a light snack.” To live, to exist has some implications for tomorrow. Going somewhere, coming from somewhere, doing something, talking to somebody—most things we do have implications for tomorrow.
So, to put it in perspective, the whole of humanity, as we know it, is definitely going down a road. Is it a good road or a bad road? I’m not here to pass judgment, but we’re going down a road. Some people are going down the road happily; some are being dragged down it but everyone is going down a road. But is it obvious to us? We know about our mortality, but it is not obvious to us. That’s when people get shocked—when it becomes obvious.
And here, on this road, as humanity is marching along, there is something coming the other way. It is not just a possibility. It is afoot. The destruction of the sun is afoot. It is in the process right now. After that documentary, the word “future” seems very wavy and twisty.
This isn’t going to happen tomorrow; it is supposed to take 500 billion years. But it is going to happen. So, what does it mean to you and me that this beautiful earth will no longer be? It means that every day you have must not be taken lightly. I know that may seem impractical, but this documentary put it in perspective.
Ultimately speaking, there cannot be any compromise in your existence. None. Do you know about your existence? You know about the things that happen in your existence—your responsibilities, your family—but do you really know about your existence? Do you know that all the things that matter to you so much do not matter to existence?
You have to understand the value of your life. Then, and only then, can you begin to reflect on the value of someone else’s life. Then, and only then, will it be possible to stop the wars. Will that bring peace? No. Because peace does not need to be brought. Peace is in the heart of every human being already. No one is born or dies without having that peace inside of them. When that becomes obvious, something changes. The value of every day, every single moment, needs to become obvious to you.
Knowing that it’s all going to end, what matters to you the most? What option do you have? If you were thirsty and water was leaking from your bottle of water, what would you do? By the time you could fix the hole, the water will have leaked out.
My advice? Drink as much as you can. What else are you going to do? Knowing that it’s all going to go, you may as well enjoy every day that you can. Don’t waste even one.
This is the story of an existence. In this story, there are beautiful things. The story should have hope. And hope is tied to clarity. Try to understand what your objective is. Clarity will bring hope. Hope will bring light and make it obvious: “That way.” And the strength comes.
Maharaji
Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:14:58 -0800 - Prem Rawat Speaks in the Senate of Argentina
In recognition of TPRF’s humanitarian work, Prem Rawat was invited to speak at the Argentine Senate by Claudio Jacoy, president of the National Forum for Human Rights and Humanitarian Action, and Ambassador Oscar Laborde, vice president of the White Helmets, a UN-affiliated humanitarian aid and peacekeeping agency. These three organizations are rolling out a pilot program where tapes from Prem Rawat’s message of peace, along with other materials, are made available to people in prisons in Argentina.
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Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:12:12 -0800 - Prem Rawat – 'The Heart Speaks'
Prem Rawat talks about the similarity in every human being: the want from the heart to be fulfilled. "Why not get in touch with that perfection that is within you?" he asks. "Why not understand what your heart is trying to say to you?"
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Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:03:30 -0800 - Prem Rawat - 'War and Peace'
It’s a great honor and privilege to talk about something that is so fundamental to each human being. Usually, we talk about things that are good for society or for a country. Very seldom do we actually come across something that addresses each human being specifically — not what a human being could create or achieve but the potential that every human being has within to be content and to be in peace.
What kind of peace am I talking about? I’m talking about the peace that is innate to every human being. Now, what good is it? This is the big question. The formulas that we are using in the world today for war — economic formulas, solutions, ideas about what war means — have been tried for many, many years. We come up with a slight variation, and we all become happy, “Yes, yes. This is the solution.”
A long time ago, Socrates said, “Know thyself.” This, we have not pursued. We have pursued going to the moon. We thought, “Going to the moon will do everything.” Well, it made wristwatches cheaper, little LEDs possible, and a lot of technology. But, peace? No.
There are two words that have been used in parallel throughout history. And they are: Peace and prosperity. “Peace and prosperity,” not “Peace or…” This formula has some importance. That’s why it was placed there so long ago. We have pursued prosperity. Peace? No. And what do we end up with? No peace and no prosperity. Prosperity seems to come and go. One day, you are a millionaire. The next day, the stock market is down and you are nobody, because you have not identified who you really are.
What I am looking for is not outside of me. What I have, I do not acknowledge. I acknowledge my friends, everybody that I meet, but do I acknowledge me?
There is great significance to knowing who you are. What you are looking for — the solutions you seek, your most fundamental needs — are based upon you being a human being.
It is no accident that you want to be happy. Nobody taught you to be happy. There is a fundamental reason that, again and again, you choose joy over pain, light over darkness, happiness over sadness, clarity over doubt.
Nobody goes to a temple to pray, “God, you have given me too much happiness. Please take a little bit away.” Never. There is no limit.
The desire to be happy is immortal within you. The desire of peace is immortal, and it has been steadily marching with every generation on the face of this earth.
It is a great credit to humanity that there are people in the middle of the war hoping for peace, that they have not given up. For me, they are the heroes. They might be people who have no tools, no authority, no microphone, no audiences. They might live in a little village on top of a mountain in Afghanistan or in the middle of a desert in Iraq, hoping against all odds that there will be peace.
War isn’t just the tank kind. There is another war. This is an incredibly powerful war, and it is devastating. Its bombs are much more powerful, and its bullets are relentless. This war can rage day and night. No cease-fire. It goes, and it goes, and it goes. And even then, there is something inside every single human being that wants peace. The real dignity of a human being is preserved when a human being not only listens to their mind but to their heart, and there is a balance between the two.
Make that heart your friend — that heart that even in the middle of war wants peace. Make that heart your ally, and you will have a friend for life. You will have a friend that is real, a friend that is true.
Maharaji
Tue, 20 Feb 2007 11:47:18 -0800 - The Prem Rawat Foundation Funds Indigenous Australian School Breakfast Program
TPRF has partnered with Oxfam of Australia to help develop and implement a breakfast program for indigenous schoolchildren in northern Queensland. One of the teachers commented, “When children have skipped breakfast in the morning, their levels of concentration are limited and they start to become disruptive. This project is making a difference with the children’s learning development.”
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TPRF continues to reach out to bring food, water, and medical necessities to people most in need all over the world. Your support is most appreciated.
Tue, 20 Feb 2007 11:46:57 -0800 - Prem Rawat - 'Knowing Who You Are'
“There are more important things going on inside of you than you realize,” Maharaji says. “When you begin to know yourself, you begin understand the stage on which truly a dance of life is taking place. A dance that is beautiful. A dance that is all about you.” Watch a video clip
Tue, 20 Feb 2007 11:46:33 -0800 - Prem Rawat - 2006 in Review
Maharaji’s tours started in 2006 with an event in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he addressed students and aspirants.
The next day, he was on his way to India, where, in the course of four weeks, he attended 23 events in 12 locations, including the inauguration of the Food for People facility in Bantoli. Many of these events took place in the countryside and were attended mostly by people from villages. Five events were attended by more than 90,000 people; one was attended by 200,000.
Soon, Maharaji was in Barcelona, Spain, where he attended a two-day meeting held by people involved in helping to spread his message around the world. The meeting was followed by a public event with more than 2,000 people in attendance.
Two weeks later, Maharaji was at the United Nations in New York, where he delivered the keynote address at a special event held in honor of the support provided by TPRF to the United Nations Development Programme’s Community Water Initiative in Ghana and the National Council of Women of the United States’ Water Well Project in Ghana.
The event was attended by distinguished representatives of the UN in New York, as well as by government and civic leaders from the area. Presenting Maharaji with the Distinguished International Humanitarian Achievement Award, Mary Singletary, president of the National Council of Women of the United States, said, “This award is given to you in recognition of outstanding leadership, profound commitment, and exceptional contributions to the quality of life for women, children, and families, and for the inspirational global influence of your message: Peace comes when we begin to look within.”
The next day, Maharaji was on his way to Montreal, Canada, where he attended an event and then on to Europe for an event in Hamburg. Two weeks later, an event in Los Angeles was followed by another in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Ten days later, Maharaji was in Malmö, Sweden. Responding to an invitation from the president of Rotary International, he delivered the keynote address at the pre-convention meeting for delegates of Rotaract—a division of Rotary International for people age 18 to 30. Rotaract has 182,000 members from more than 140 countries.
Next, on to Marseilles, France, where nearly 4,000 people heard his message of peace. A week later, Maharaji was in Cotonou, Benin, where he addressed people who had traveled from all over West Africa to hear him speak. He made his first visit to the Canary Islands, where people had been inviting him to come for years. He went on to The Hague, Netherlands, also for the first time, and five more locations for public events in Europe.
Shortly after that, 25,000 people under the age of 25 greeted him at an event in India celebrating the 40th anniversary of Maharaji bringing his message of peace. The vice president of India welcomed him, saying, “I want Maharaji’s message to reach the people around the world.”
After an event for students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he presented his message to the Chinese community at the invitation of the Chinese Malay Association. Maharaji was welcomed by the minister of health. The minister of education was also there to greet him.
After another event in India and one in Mauritius, Maharaji traveled to South America. In Florianopolis, Brazil, at the International University of Peace, Pierre Weil, the rector, appointed Maharaji Ambassador of Peace.
Two days later, Maharaji was in Argentina for an event with more than 4,000 people. The next day he was presenting his message at the Senate of Argentina, at the invitation of the United Nations’ White Helmets as well as the Forum of Human Rights and Humanitarian Action.
From Buenos Aires, Maharaji went on to Quito, Ecuador, where before an event with a capacity audience, he received the distinction of “Illustrious Guest” from the representative of the mayor.
On his way to a four-day event near Brisbane, Australia, he stopped in Wellington, New Zealand, to share his message of peace on the occasion of the UN International Day of Peace. The event took place at the Parliament of New Zealand. The United Nations Association of New Zealand and the member of parliament for Wellington joined forces with TPRF to help bring this event to life.
Before the year was out, Maharaji had spoken to over a million people in 21 countries, most of whom had come to hear him for the first time.
2006 Humanitarian Activities
In early 2006, TPRF’s humanitarian efforts were first directed to the victims of Hurricane Wilma in Cancun, Mexico. TPRF had helped rebuild roofs in 2005, and many people in other Mayan villages still needed help. TPRF funded the purchase of more roofing material to rebuild 250 more roofs.
Shortly after that, Maharaji inaugurated the first Food for People facility in a village called Bantoli, in a tribal area in northeastern India. The 10,000 square-foot custom-built facility was developed in consultation with local tribal elders and with full support of villagers. Each day, year-round, 1,000 free hot meals are distributed to children and another 500 meals to adults. Part of the food served is grown on the land around the facility. The facility is operated by Premsagar Foundation, a nonprofit organization, and funding is provided by TPRF.
Two months later, following mudslides in the Philippines, TPRF made a significant contribution to the Philippine National Red Cross for food packs. At the same time, a free vision clinic was held in northeastern India.
During a special event at the UN in New York, on behalf of TPRF, Maharaji gave significant contributions to the United Nations Development Programme and to the National Council of Women of the United States for water well programs in Ghana.Following a series of earthquakes in Indonesia, TPRF made three contributions to Yayasan Dian Desa, the Indonesian Development of Education and Permaculture Foundation, and the World Food Programme to repair water wells and feed people.
After turmoil struck in the Middle East, the Foundation made a contribution to another reputable nonprofit organization, Oxfam, to bring clean water to people in need.
Last but not least, at the end of 2006, the Foundation entered into a three-year partnership with Oxfam to help improve the nutrition of indigenous Australian schoolchildren in northern Queensland.
Photo courtesy of WFP/Rein Skullerud Technorati Tags: Prem Rawat, The Prem Rawat Foundation
Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:02:36 -0800 - Prem Rawat - 'Chasing Fulfillment'
Sometimes, even in my dreams, I’m talking to people, and sometimes I wake up, remember the dream, and write it down. This is a story I dreamed about.
There were three brothers—all very, very poor. They decided to sell whatever they had and buy some gold. And each one knew that this gold could give them everything they wanted. It could make them rich and give them nice clothes, food, a house—everything.
So they got the gold, and each made a little hut for himself far, far away. One was a very religious man. He put the gold on the altar, and every day he prayed to it, “Oh, please, gold, make me rich. Give me food and a house and new clothes.” And he would write beautiful prayers and sing beautiful songs: “Gold is everything. Gold, you will make me rich.”
The second one also made an altar, but it wasn’t called an altar. He was scientific, and so it was called “a display.” He would display the gold and write essays. He wasn’t religious, but he also prayed in his own way, “Oh, gold, you have the potential to remove my hunger, give me a house, give me new clothes, give me food.”
The third one sold the gold. In the opinion of the first brother, he would be sacrilegious. To the second one, he would be very impractical, very unscientific. To get rid of the very source? Very bad. But, anyway, he sold the gold. With the money he got, he bought a farm, plowed a field, raised vegetables, grew fruit. Whatever he needed, he ate, and whatever he didn’t need, he would sell in the market. With the money he made, he built a house, bought new clothes. And every season, he got more and more and more. Whatever he wanted to eat, he would. Whatever he didn’t, he’d sell. And he just kept getting richer and richer and richer.
After a few years had gone by, the three brothers decided to get together. The first one explained how he prayed to the gold every day, and one day the gold would answer his prayers. The second one, who was very scientific, said, “One day, this gold will fulfill everything that I have in my mind it can do. Its potential will come through.”
They both turned to the third one and said, “What do you do? You’re doing pretty well. You look bigger and have new clothes, a nice watch, nice shoes. What do you do?”
He was very shy and said, “Oh, well, I sold the gold. Out of that, I bought a farm. And, hey, come visit me! I’ve got a home, a beautiful orchard. I grow my vegetables and I’ll cook for you and give you some clothes.” And they said, “You sold the gold?”
Every time I think of this story, I find it to be deeper than I first realized. Those two couldn’t see the obvious—that what they were praying for had in fact happened for this brother. The only thing they could see was, “You sold the gold?!! You’re doomed now.” No. He wasn’t doomed. He had unlocked the potential of the gold and he has all that he needs.
You, too, have all that you need. It lies within you. Every day—even in sadness, in sorrow—there is a joy unparalleled inside of you waiting to be discovered. People think, “Does that mean that you don’t get upset?” Of course I get upset. But even when I am upset, I know that within me is unparalleled joy. Do bad things happen to me? Yes. Do good things happen to me? Yes. Am I any different from you? No. And if I am, it’s only one thing: In all that I do, I know that inside of me resides the One I have always sought; that when I feel lonely, I know that I am not alone; that when there is darkness outside, I know there is a lamp. I know. Not, “I think” or “I wish. . .” or “Wouldn’t it be nice. . .” No. “I know.”
The journey of being fulfilled is very simple. You. You have that whether you decide you want to experience it or not. Even if you decide you don’t want to experience it, you still have it. You have the possibility to be fulfilled. That is what the journey is all about. How do I know? I have felt it.
Maharaji
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Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:59:48 -0800 - Prem Rawat - 'A Peace, Yet Undefined'
Maharaji talks about the difference between philosophies and a reality that each human being wants to know and is searching for: “A nature of a human being is to try to find. Always, always. Trying to find a comfort…a joy…a peace. A peace, yet undefined.”
Watch a video clipTechnorati Tags: Maharaji, peace within, Prem Rawat
Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:41:11 -0800 - Prem Rawat - 'Every Minute Counts'
Maharaji, as Prem Rawat is widely known, talks about a fundamental need for peace that is innate to everyone. In a busy world where every minute counts, he says, of all the possibilities that exist, there is also the possibility for each person to be content.
Watch a video clip
Wed, 17 Jan 2007 14:32:15 -0800 - "Welcome to the World of Existence" by Maharaji (Prem Rawat)
I’m here to talk about something very, very simple, but at the same time, it touches every one of us. What is it? It is about this journey, this life, this existence. Not an idea. Not a theory. Not rules. Not some printed pages. But about you and me.
The most incredible thing that is taking place is not what you read in the newspaper. It is not what is in your library. Don’t mistake me; I’m not putting them down. I’m just trying to lay forth an order of priority. What is the most important thing? The most important thing is: you are alive. Now what? What does that mean to you?
Sometimes we have interpretations of what it means to be alive. Because I am alive, I can do this, I can do that. The focus is not about all those things. The focus is your existence, you being on the face of this earth. This will never happen again. The house you live in, other people will live in, too. Right now, you say, “It’s mine.” One day, somebody else will say, “It’s mine.”
What is yours? What can you truly consider yours that no one can take away from you? All your life, you work very hard to collect things. But are they yours? All your life, you work very hard to become somebody—to have a name, a title. But is that really you?
Who are you really? Who am I? I have a lot of awards. Is that who I am? What is this journey I am on? I was born. Things have been happening. When I say “journey,” I’m not saying, “Let’s go on a journey. Let’s find out what we can do on this journey.” The journey has already begun. This is not about brochures or holiday packages. This is not about what you would like to eat. The journey has begun.
When you were in your mother’s womb, your parents had a lot of ideas about you. And being in love, they made their little plans for you. They may not have known if you were going to be a boy or a girl. But when you came into this world, there was a very short period of time in which they held their breath, waiting. In that moment, it was not about aspirations and your gender. They were only interested in knowing one thing: Are you breathing or not?
If you are breathing, then, “Ah! Congratulations, it’s a boy. It’s a girl! Oh, wonderful! Oh, so cute. Look at those eyes.” But before that, before the eyes and the face and the cuteness, there’s only one concern, and that concern was, “Are you breathing or not?”
And this happens again—at the end. At the end, they all wait. And they wait, and they wait, and they wait, and they want to know: Have you stopped breathing?
Everything you are is predicated on something so incredibly simple. And everything you do in your life seems so far removed from that reality. Is this reality ugly? No. It is beautiful. Welcome to the world of existence. Welcome to the world of clarity. Welcome to the world of understanding because this is what it is about—the peace that dances in your heart, not the doubts that wreak havoc in your mind. The reality of your existence is supremely sweet.
I’m not here to tell you about the good or bad, right or wrong. I’m only here to tell you that what you are looking for is inside of you. And this is not a puzzle. These are not empty words, because I have a way that you can feel the reality that is inside of you, the peace that is inside of you, the joy that is inside of you. In this life.
You think you are blessed when things go your way. But you are blessed—truly blessed—when breath comes into you. Could it be that the miracle of all miracles is the coming and going of this breath? Could it be that I have been living on top of a goldmine every single day?
The good news is that true joy is already inside every single human being. And you can experience it if you want to. Search for peace. And wherever you find it, great. And if you don’t find it, come to me. I can make it possible.
Maharaji
Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:18:39 -0800 - The Prem Rawat Foundation Helps Fight Hunger and AIDS in India
Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:44:16 -0800 - Prem Rawat at UNIPAZ -- "Where Peace Begins"
When I travel and speak to people, my message is about the very real thing that peace is and the possibility of feeling that peace in this life every single day. So where does it begin? Let me tell you a little story that might put it in perspective.
One day a tourist arrived in a very remote village where the people were very simple. The next morning he put his mirror on the wall to shave, but forgot to take it down. Later on, an elderly villager with gray hair, bright eyes, and a beautiful shining face came across the mirror on the wall. He had never seen himself before, and so when he saw his reflection in the mirror, he was mesmerized. “Today,” he thought, “I have seen the face of God.” He left completely happy.
Then came a beautiful young girl. When she saw herself in the mirror, she was taken aback. “I have seen the most beautiful woman on earth, and when I grow up, that’s how I want to look!” Next, a man came along who had lost his father. When he looked in the mirror, he said, “Oh, my God, I saw my father again!” And he took the mirror with him.
Now, these three people who had seen themselves in the mirror started to get very upset. They started arguing, and before long, fights broke out throughout the entire village. Soon everybody was unhappy because whoever looked in the mirror saw something they liked, and they all wanted the mirror for themselves.
Finally, a wise man happened to come along and asked, “Why are you fighting?” One said the mirror showed him God, another that it showed him his father, and others told him what they had seen. So he called for this magical thing, and when he saw it, he smiled, “Do you know what this is? This is a mirror.”
He called the old man and said, “You did not see the face of God. You saw yourself.”
He called the young girl and said, “You did not see the most beautiful woman—you saw yourself.” He called the young man and said, “You thought you saw your father because now you look like him. But it was you.” One by one, he called everyone and he said, “Look. What you see in this mirror, what you like in this mirror, is not the mirror. It’s you!”How does this story relate to peace? Peace begins with us. Try to understand where the idea of peace came from. Was it somebody’s invention? Was there some intelligent person walking along high mountains somewhere who said, “Peace. That’s a good idea. Let’s have peace.” No.
As long as there have been human beings, there has been a desire for peace. The need for peace comes from within. Peace is the desire of the heart. It is as simple as the coming and going of breath. The movie of life begins with the first breath. And we all know how the movie ends.
We are fascinated by the in-between part. This is what we live for: “Who am I? What am I? What have I accomplished?” That’s all fine, but never, ever forget the importance of where it began and where it ends.
Within you lies the possibility of peace. Peace does not belong to any nation, any society, or any religion. Peace belongs to people like you and me. Where will peace manifest? It will manifest in the cathedral of the heart. That is the only place where peace is welcomed. It is people like you and me who want peace and welcome it in our lives. It is here in our existence that peace resides.
Maharaji
Tue, 26 Dec 2006 12:29:04 -0800 - "Avenues to Contentment", by Prem Rawat
Maharaji talks about the search for contentment and the avenues and formulas to find it. “There is a magic formula,” he says. “In me, in you. The solution lies within us—in our understanding that, yes, peace is a possibility.”
Watch a video clip of an adress by Maharaji
Tue, 26 Dec 2006 12:20:12 -0800 - "The Reflection of Peace", by Prem Rawat
Everybody wants peace, everywhere you go. Not long ago, I was talking to some prisoners, “Do you want peace?” “Of course!” You can speak to people in the Army, “Do you want peace?” “Yes, of course!” So everybody wants peace. And then, you ask, “What is peace?” And here, you get a surprising answer. Everybody has their own version of peace and everybody looks at it from a totally different angle.
The other day, I was talking to my niece, and she said, “Oh, I love that color.” I said, “You love that color? Or you like that color?” She said, “What’s the difference?” I said, “There’s a very big difference. ‘Like’ is really what you want to say, and you can emphasize that, ‘I like that very much,’ but love is a little more interactive than that color can provide you.”
And in the same way, when it is quiet, people say, “Oh, it is so peaceful.” All it is, is quiet. People think the absence of war is peace. They have their ideas of peace. There are people who think peace is when everybody walks very slowly, wears flowing robes with flowers in their hair, and everybody is greeted by the peace symbol. You don’t shake hands anymore. Perhaps you just touch two fingers and say, “Peace.” Well there’s no limit to it, is there?
Let me tell you a story. Once there was a queen, and she had a very beautiful necklace. One day, after her bath, she was on the balcony drying her hair. She took her necklace off and put it on a hook. A crow was flying by, saw the necklace shining in the sun, and flew off with it. But the crow dropped it in a tree, and it got caught on one of the branches.
Beneath the tree was a filthy dirty river. Now, when the queen reached for her necklace and found it missing, she threw a tantrum. “Who stole it?” She had everybody searching for it. Nobody could find it. She said to the king, “If I don’t find my necklace, I’m never going to eat again.” The king was very concerned and sent all his army and others looking for it—but nobody could find it. So the king finally made an announcement. “Whoever finds the necklace gets half of my kingdom.” Then people started seriously looking.
One day, a general walked by the tree and saw the necklace in the river below it. He immediately jumped into the sewage-filled river because he wanted half the kingdom. The minister saw the general jumping in, and he, too, saw the necklace, and jumped in. The king saw his general and his minister looking for it, jumped in, and now all three were fishing for it. By then, more soldiers and the villagers had come, and they all jumped in.
Finally, somebody with a little wisdom said, “What are you doing? The necklace is not down there; it is up there. You’re jumping after the reflection.” And so the king said, “Since you found it, half of the kingdom is yours.” And the wise man said, “I don’t need your kingdom. You keep it.”
Why did I tell this story? Because that’s what we do, too. We just see the reflection of peace. It’s nice when there are not wars, but that’s a reflection of peace—that’s not peace in itself. Peace begins with every single human being on the face of this earth. That's the necklace. Everything else is a reflection.
When the heart is full, when the human being is full, then automatically, the person is not in duality, is not in questions, but in answers. Not the complicated, but the simple—that we are. This is what we favor; this is who we need to be. This is our nature. When we are in that equilibrium where our hearts are full, our true nature shines. And the true nature that we have is beautiful. It’s real. And that is the place of true peace. We look for it far away when it is so close to us.
Even in the most hopeless of situations, there is hope. This is who we are. There is a resilience, there is an understanding, there is a strength to every human being. And that is the strength to march towards the gateways of inner peace.
Prem Rawat (widely known as Maharaji)
Fri, 08 Dec 2006 14:46:24 -0800
