Excerpts from Events
No Blind Faith [05:46 min]
One thing that I would like to mention to you is, you need to be fulfilled in your life. You need to have peace in your life. With me, or without me. It doesn't matter. It really does not matter. If I can help. Great! If I can't. Fine! That does not change the point. And the point is, you should be fulfilled. Thats the point. You should be in that peace, that is the point.Logic will come, logic will change. But we are all human beings. This is what we are, this is who we are. I see rich and I see poor, and then all of a sudden, I just see people. I see educated and I see uneducated, and then all of a sudden, I see just people. Same thing, those eyes looking out to see something nice. Thats all. The ears yearning, to listen to something beautiful. This heart in everyone of us, yearning to be fulfilled.
One journey completed, one journey taken in surety. One journey made real. One life, at a time. You see, you are just like me. And I am just like you. We are both vulnerable in the same sense and we both desire the same thing, and so is our yearning, and so is our understanding, and so is our need. If we fundamentally recognize that need, then thats what it is all about.
What do I offer?
I offer knowledge.
How do you get it?
You listen and make sure that this is what you want. No blind faith. No blind faith here.
The Upanishads [04:09 min]
One of these scriptures written a very long ago, and there is one little thing that I came across. There is a definition of what is knowledge and what is not. Here is the definition. That which brings you the knowledge of the self is knowledge, everything else is "non-knowledge". It takes a little while to sink it. But thats how it defines it. It does not dismiss science. But it says, the true knowing is the knowing of the self. Everything else is relative.This is powerful. Because then, Socrates echoes the same thing, "Know Thyself." Today, "Know Thyself" has become a little thing they teach in the university. So, they can be tested and you can write an essay from it. The phrase from the Upanishads, hardly anyone knows it. But knowledge as it relates to knowing of the self and the value and the importance of knowing of the self is still alive today. It is being talked about, and being presented as the most important thing and people agreeing with it. Not one or two but hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people.
Prem Rawat talks about Kabir [06:10 min]
Peace is not a disappointment. Peace is a reality. The joy that is inside of you, is a reality. This is an actuality. And you see, this is where it gets a little funny. If I say it, you migth say, "Aww, I don't know, he said it." So, I bring along Kabir. And when he says it, people go, "O Wow! Kabir said that." And it works very well. Works very well for me. Just bring on along Kabir, and get him to say it. And then people go, "Oh yeah, I got it."In this world, you become absolutely loved and credible after you die. It is absolutely amazing. Death has a profound effect on people. But thats just how it is. When Kabir was alive, did anyone hear him? No! He died penniless. No credit was given to him. He was just somebody battling this stuff. After his death, "Ohh, have you read his stuff!"
And what does he say? That divine that you are looking for, is inside of you. That Kabir said. See, I said the same thing a few minutes ago, exactly the same thing. Thats why Kabir is great.
What is this world like? He says that people are going all over the place searching and looking for that divine, when that divine dwells in you. Like the musk deer who searches for the scent throughout the forest but the scent resides within its own navel.
He says, imagine a pond and on the pond there grows a lotus and all around the lotus, the bees are buzzing. And the same way, he says, this mind wonders buzzing around all that it finds attractive. And who is caught in it, everyone. All the knowledgeable ones, all the intellectuals, all the ones that have all the credentials, all the holy ones. I did’t say that, Kabir did! They are all buzzing around this stuff.
All the while, the divine is waiting for you, to be acknowledged. The church of churches is within you. The temple of temples is within you. And the one you seek, is within you. What do you need? You need someone who can show you the way inside. Somebody who can put a mirror in front of you, so you can see, who you are.
King Janak and Ashtavakra [06:44 min]
Maharaji quotes a story from Ramayana. The story of King Janak, who was father of Sita. Sita was married to Ram of Ayodhya. The story speaks about King Janak’s dream, following which he made a declaration to give away his kingdom as a prize to the person who could answer his question. Through these unfoldings, King Janak met his young master, Ashtavakra.There was a king. I'll abbreviate this. This is an Indian story. There is this king and he is dreaming. He is dreaming that he has lost his kingdom. He is dreaming that he has been defeated. He is dreaming that he is running into the jungle. He is dreaming that he is really hungry. The jungle is cold and wet. He comes across this hut. He knocks at the door and says, "Do you have anything to eat?" An old lady says, "I don't have anything to eat. But I have some rice and some lentils, I will give it to you. You can cook it and satisfy your hunger."
The wood is all wet. He gathers the wood, lights the fire. The smoke is running into his eyes. I mean its a mess. Finally he gets enough of fire going. He puts the pot on. He puts the little bit of lentils, he puts the little bit of rice. Boils it together. It is too hot for him to eat, so he takes a big leaf and puts it on the leaf, to cool down.
In the meanwhile, while he is waiting for it to cool down, two bulls come, fighting, and take what he has made, and plough it into the dirt. In this desperation, the king begins to weep. And he weeps and weeps. And the tears rolling down his eyes, wake him up. When the dreams sometimes get so intense, you wake up. So, he wakes up. He looks. There are the guards. His bed, beautiful bedroom. And he thinks to himself, "What is real? What I was just feeling, was that real? Or now, that I am lying here, is this real?"
So, he gets up in the morning, goes to his court and makes a declaration. "Whoever can answer my question, I will give him half my kingdom." People come. I am sure dream readers must have come. But, nobody could satisfy him.
Then this young master comes, and he says, "Are you ready to listen to me? So, if you are ready to listen to me. then listen king. Let me tell you. What you saw in your dream, was not real, because that was a dream. But when you thought you woke up, and what you saw was also a dream. Both are dreams.
Thats the point of it, that all that we consider to be real, is not. Then we have those, whom we feel, we are related to, our relatives. Then we have those, whom we feel we love, our loved ones. Are these real? Are these relations real?
There is a time, when all these relations come to an end. So, it is. The loved ones, there is a time, when no longer can they reciprocate this love. So, why am I talking to you about relations, love and all that good stuff? My point is, if you are going to have relations, have a relationship with something inside of you too. And if you are going to have loved ones, then find the love that is inside of you too. Because this is the one that transcends the limitations of this world. I hope you understand what I am trying to say.
From Coal to Diamond [04:42 min]
You have heard the word transform? Let me tell you about the transformation of coal. Coal is very dirty. It is so dirty that if you touch it, your fingers will become dirty. It is so dirty that if you are just around it when it is being handled, the dust from it will get all over you and you too will become black, like the coal. That how coal is. You see coal miners come out of the coal and they are completely black.But, and this is the big but. When that coal is squeezed and squeezed and squeezed, it begins to transform, and it becomes a diamond. Now, lets talk about a diamond. Diamond is very different than the coal. Its clean. You put it in your pocket, and nothing will get dirty. You put it in your hand, it will not get dirty.
And then, if you take that diamond, cut it, facet it, it is such pure form of carbon, squeezed, that it will begin to shine. You can take the coal, a soft piece of coal, and try to clean it, wash it. If you try to wash a soft piece of coal, you know what will happen? The soap will get dirty. Your hands will get dirty. The cloth with which you are cleaning it will get dirty. Everything that it touches will become dirty.
And then the diamond, it is so tough that it can polish other things and make them shine incredibly. This is one of the most incredible examples of transformation.
So, do you have this possibility in your life? I am here to tell you, you do! You do! And that squeezing, I can make that happen. I have this wonderful gift, the gift of knowledge, that can transform you, from coal to diamond.
The Balancing Rod [09:16 min]
This is an excerpt from an event held in Tokyo, Japan.Last night I was thinking that eventually, one of the fates that we all have to go through is that this existence comes to an end and when this existence comes to an end, what actually comes to an end, that ends it?
Its actually a very simple and a very profound process. And the three things that dance in this balance, the breath, the consciousness and then nothing. You see, in truth, we are this breath, we are this consciousness. If this is taken away from us, we are nothing, nothing.
Some people say, that this life is like walking a tight rope, and this is the one I like. Tight rope, point A, point B, just a rope. Go from here to here. Whats here? Whats here? Whats on this side? Whats on the other side?
Now, thats what I like to talk about. So, a person finds themselves in ignorance and they yearn knowledge. Thats the other side. A person finds themselves in the doubt, person yearns clarity, thats on the other side. A person finds themselves in pain, then they yearn joy. You see its no mistake, its not a mistake.
And when we feel the pain, thats the reaction. Get me out! Away, not into, but away from the pain. That is wisdom. You want to know what wisdom is, thats wisdom. Its the wisest thing that is, that you suffer and you want to come out of the suffering.
What am I made out of, these atoms, these molecules running around. Do you think they are any different than an egg plant? Do you think so? No! Some came together made that egg plant, some came together made me. Now you think there is a difference between me and the egg plant. Thats the great mystery. Because some people are walking egg plants. These egg plants can talk, and these egg plants can walk. But there is no difference. They came empty handed into this world they are going to leave empty handed in this world. They do not know the difference between joy and sorrow. They do not know the difference between knowledge and ignorance. They do not know the difference between darkness and light. And like the silly dog that tries to chase its own tail. Like the silly dog that looks at the mirror and barks at its own reflection. Thats the way they are.
Not passing judgement. So, be it, choice has been given. You can be a walking egg plant. It is perfectly acceptable. Whether it is acceptable to your heart? Whether it is acceptable to your nature? Thats out of the story. And you have to feel in your life, the urge to walk this rope.
But if you do decide, get a balancing rod, cause you gonna need it. Something to balance. Why? Because the gravity is going to be saying, "You down here." Your heart is saying, "Me over there." And gravity will say, "You down here."
To overcome, you need the balancing rod. To stabilize you. Why? Because you will make mistakes. And when you do, this balancing rod will take the mount. When you start to lose your balance, you can lean with this balancing rod and it will help bring your balance back in. However, each step that you take must be precise and deliberate.
You are not left without the tools. To create the urge, you have been given the thirst. To push you along this journey you have been given a heart. And to take each step, precisely, so you may do that, you have been given consciousness. And if you do decide to take this little trip, then there is no greater balancing rod than this knowledge. Because this knowledge is the most beautiful, most stable balancing rod there is. And so take it.
There are people who want to give you scenarios, why you should do this. The real master will tell you, how you can do this.
Does God Test? [06:41 min]
This is your nature, this is how you are. You have a mind, but you don’t think it is limited. You think it is unlimited. It is very limited. It can think of incredible things, but can it think of obvious things? Not always. Mind can dream about tomorrow. Mind can remember all those things that happened yesterday. But can mind actually help you live in the moment called now? It can’t. It’s not capable. Its job, to either go backwards or forward. Its job is not to think of what is now. It’s only one thing in you that can understand the moment called now and it is your heart. Not your mind. That’s why you have a heart. That one place from where questions don’t come but inspiration does. That one place from where reasoning doesn’t come but gratitude does. Gratitude and understanding that gratitude. Not reasoning. Mind likes to reason. Mind likes to gloat. Human beings like to gloat.What does God do? In India, people believe God does nothing but test, test, test, test! I ask you a question. The God who tests, does this God know what the result will be? No, you think about this.. okay. People say, God is testing me. So, if the God is testing, that will imply that the God does not know whether you will pass or fail. Because if he already knows, you will fail, what is the point of testing you? If God already knows you will pass, what is the point of testing you. But you think God tests you. If you think that God tests you, then this God that tests you doesn’t know and why would you like to be tested by a God that doesn’t know.
There is a big hole in this theory of "God tests you". God does not test you. You allow yourself to be tested. Who gives you the test? The society gives you the test, your friends give you the test, because they don’t know. Why would God want to test. What would be the reason. It is quite the contrary, that every human being is blessed. The blessing already exists. To understand this that the blessing already exists, thats why you need knowledge. Because nothing shows it clearer. Every day that you sit down to practice it, nothing shows it you clearer that the blessing has already been given to you. Nothing.
Are you rich? [06:22 min]
What does it mean to be rich? Now, rich isn’t just rich in money. You can be rich in many things. So, what is the definition of being rich? Two elements are involved in being rich. One- You have to have something precious. What does precious mean? Something that is not ordinary, but something precious. And secondly, you have to have abundance of it.Gold is precious. But having a gold the size of a hairpin, isn’t going to make you rich. Two elements. You have to have something precious and lots of it. And the more you have of it, the richer you are. And both things, the preciousness and abundance play off each other to make you rich. If you have a lot of nothing, you are not rich! Two things have to be, two elements have to be.
So, now the question becomes, are you rich? What is incredibly precious? And not only precious, but what do you have that is precious and you have abundance of it. There is something, and its not dollars, and its not diamonds. It is another kind of wealth and one thing that is incredibly precious is this breath that comes in and out of you. And not only is it precious, here’s the beauty, it comes in abundance, not just one. Coz that wouldn’t make you rich. The two things, the two tests that it has to pass, precious and abundant. There is one thing that qualifies. Every human being that is sitting in this hall, outside of this hall, in this world, everyone, has this. And it just so happens to be the source of immense joy.
When you have found, not only the abundance, but the richness of that existence, of that breath, of that gift that is coming in and out of you. And somebody to point that out. The obviousness that you are alive, not what you can do. The fact that you are alive. There in lies, the foundation of peace for you, there in lies your treasure, there in lies your clarity, there in lies your understanding, there in lies, your peace.
Peace is not a piece of something. You cannot buy peace. Like I say, Peace is the perfume of god. And when you find that god, which god? Not the one that lives over there, but the one in you. Then you smell the perfume and when you smell the perfume, you feel the peace, the tranquility, the reality, the beauty, the simplicity, of life. Not the complicated, not the duties, but the richness, the abundance, the preciousness.
The Lamp [08:57 min]
Recognize your freedom, that within you is a light so bright, that never again, do you have to be in darkness. And if the majesty that is inside of you is unchanging. Where is freedom? Freedom is within you. Where is the joy, the joy is within you. That is your true love, that is your true joy, that is your true knowledge. So, in this life, you dont have to wander. In this life, you dont have to walk confused. The wondering should be changed to knowing. Know where you are. Know what you have been given. Know the truth about you. You, are the well and from this well comes the spring of clarity.Each one of you needs the peace within. You are a lamp and you need to be lighted. And when you are lit, you too will give light. This is when you will look the most beautiful.
The Most Amazing Miracle [09:01 min]
There is something so amazing inside of you, that you cannot comprehend. That there is something so beautiful inside of you, that you cannot compare, because you have never felt anything as beautiful as that. Your imagination can only take you so far, but in the realm of this heart, in the realm of this inner beauty, there is something that is indeed divine. Not by your making, but by its very nature. This life is about the most incredible union of the finite and the infinite. This is where the two have come together. This is where you get to feel the divine that resides within you.From dust you came, to dust you will go. And the magic of those two things, the beginning of the end is so you can be fulfilled, thats when this is about. That out of dirt, a doll is made and in front of your eyes this doll walks, talks, dances, thinks, thats not a miracle? Thats the most amazing miracle. But of all those miracles there is another miracle that happens, and this is the miracle of the breath which comes into you from nowhere and every time it comes, it brings you the gift of life.