Excerpts from Events

Prem Rawat at Santa Monica, US in March 2010 [10:03 min] Maharaji launched his 2010 world tour at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, where he was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd of nearly 2,250. Although he was speaking to an audience of thousands, he began by making it clear that his words applied equally to each individual. "What is this message all about? Really, it goes back to what this life is all about, what this existence is all about," he said. "Even more so, it goes back to this little story that is yours. Your story."
His words profoundly touched many of his guests. Jennifer Edwards, actress and mother, commented, "I feel the utmost hope when I listen to him. I feel senses and nerve endings I never even knew I had. When I see him live, there’s a connection, an energy," she said. "I’ve never been an unhappy person. I’ve been able to make myself happy on the outside, but I always knew something was lacking. When I first heard Maharaji, what he said made total sense to me. I thought, Ah, that’s what I’ve been looking for."

Prem Rawat in Miami, Florida, June 2010 [02:16 min] This event was held in June 2010 at Miami in Florida, US. Using various examples, Maharaji spoke about advice and understanding where it comes from; about how to follow the heart in order to make the best decisions; and what it takes to embark on the road to peace. Throughout, he returned to his main themes: what it means to be truly wealthy; to be fulfilled; to be content; to be full of joy. What it means, in short, to be alive.

Highest form of acceptance [05:18 min] Speaking at an event in Hong Kong in 2009, Maharaji talks about his tour of Europe and India where hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people came to listen him and their lives were changed.

Make the connection [02:32 min] What is this message all about? Really it goes back to what this life is all about- what this existence all about. And even more so, it goes back to the little story, that is yours. Your story. We're also interested in everyone else's story. We're very interested in knowing what's going on in this world. Are you interested in what's going on in your little world. This is what I talk about.

The wind and the sun [03:59 min] There are certain things we cannot help. Just can't help! Control is not the issue, but because we are human. There is a little story. One day there was a competition between the sun and the wind. Who is more powerful. Wind said "I'm more powerful". They saw a guy walking along the road. Wind said "Whoever can take off his jacket, wins.". Sun asked the wind to try his best. The more wind tried, the more the guy clutched to his jacket. When the sun's turn came it simply shone. When the sun shone, the guy took of his jacket.

There are certain natures in us. We can all become angry, but nobody likes anger. We can all become sad, but nobody likes sadness. Just look at the one quality- you cannot bear pain even a bit. Joy? No limit!

The Reward [04:32 min] The joy that you have in you needs to be honored. The love which expresses itself in Kindness, Gratitude. You need to start seeing that divine in a new light. And that light is in your heart. The homage doesn't need to be paid by building a temple of marble, but by a temple inside of you.

The Ultimate Question [06:22 min] The Ultimate Question, How are you? You get that question too many times, so you do not think about it. But become patient, you want to be learned? You want to become knowledgeable? Ask that question to yourself. How are you? And listen to the answer, don’t think. When you have to say to someone, who asks you the question of, how are you? You say, I am fine, thank you. Thats easy to say. It does’nt matter. You can be tired. You can be miserable. Somebody comes over and says, how are you? You say, I am fine. In reality, that's stupidity. But also, do you really want to explain your troubles to an unknown person? That would be stupidity too. The question, in my opinion. How are you, is meant for you and you should ask that to yourself.
So, How are You? Are you thankful?
Are you in that state of bliss?
Are you enjoying that gift of knowledge?
Is your desert, in full bloom? Three hundred and sixty-five days per year, seven days a week, full bloom. That beautiful aroma in the perfume of fresh flowers. Does it really permeate your life? Do you feel blessed? Do you feel content? Accept, and let that grace bring the rain to your desert. Grace to me is just that, those big billowing clouds coming. Grace is that wind, that turned and where it is dry, brings that moisture and then it can begin to rain. To feel blessed, because you are. So, you should feel blessed. You should feel graced because you have grace in your life.
Be patient and the troubles, they come and let the wind of grace sweep them away. Is that upto me? Yes. Don’t hang on, let go. Hang on to that column, hang on to that garland, hang on to that pillar of breath that comes in and out of you. If you do, nothing can break that link. Enjoy, because you have been given so much to enjoy. Learn, because so much is being taught to you. And above all, be patient and then watch this dance of life unfold. It will unfold. It is going to unfold. Oh, you will see things you have never seen before and hopefully this cup of this heart will get larger and larger and larger. That is its nature. Let it be filled more.The Ultimate Question, How are you? You get that question too many times, so you do not think about it. But become patient, you want to be learned? You want to become knowledgeable? Ask that question to yourself. How are you? And listen to the answer, don’t think. When you have to say to someone, who asks you the question of, how are you? You say, I am fine, thank you. Thats easy to say. It does’nt matter. You can be tired. You can be miserable. Somebody comes over and says, how are you? You say, I am fine. In reality, that's stupidity. But also, do you really want to explain your troubles to an unknown person? That would be stupidity too. The question, in my opinion. How are you, is meant for you and you should ask that to yourself.
So, How are You? Are you thankful?
Are you in that state of bliss?
Are you enjoying that gift of knowledge?
Is your desert, in full bloom? Three hundred and sixty-five days per year, seven days a week, full bloom. That beautiful aroma in the perfume of fresh flowers. Does it really permeate your life? Do you feel blessed? Do you feel content? Accept, and let that grace bring the rain to your desert. Grace to me is just that, those big billowing clouds coming. Grace is that wind, that turned and where it is dry, brings that moisture and then it can begin to rain. To feel blessed, because you are. So, you should feel blessed. You should feel graced because you have grace in your life.
Be patient and the troubles, they come and let the wind of grace sweep them away. Is that upto me? Yes. Don’t hang on, let go. Hang on to that column, hang on to that garland, hang on to that pillar of breath that comes in and out of you. If you do, nothing can break that link. Enjoy, because you have been given so much to enjoy. Learn, because so much is being taught to you. And above all, be patient and then watch this dance of life unfold. It will unfold. It is going to unfold. Oh, you will see things you have never seen before and hopefully this cup of this heart will get larger and larger and larger. That is its nature. Let it be filled more.

Prem Rawat speaks about September 11 [07:08 min] Are we vulnerable to things?
When I think about it, America was just as vulnerable, before September 11th as it was on September 11. But did you know? No. Did you care? Absolutely not. Were you concerned? Not at all. Then it happens. Terrible. You see it happening in front of your eyes on television and it's too much. And then all of a sudden, everybody gets very friendly. People are not cutting each other off on the highway any more, they are actually letting you come in. That was cute. Because that is so much the nature of unconsciousness. And let me explain, because the people who are conscious, do it everyday.
People go along in their lives, merrily pretending. "Oh, I will live forever.". And then something happens, and everyone is like, "Oh, my God, I really got to live my life consciously." I hear this, and whenever somebody comes and says this to me, I never make fun of them, I never joke with them. I say "Good." But then I see, and what do I see? I see consciousness fade away, and unconsciousness walks in and everything else is back to normal. We are not talking about ,"It would be great some day if you could be conscious." We are talking about, you starting, you starting now, and starting to become conscious. And not conscious about your neighbour, and not conscious about your pet, and not conscious about this and that, but conscious about being alive. Neighbour and pet and everything else will fall in place, if it needs to.
Consciousness is like that light in darkness, wherever it is, it has it's radius, it has it's circle, it has it's influence. And darkness will not come there. It will stay away just that far, and take it wherever you can. And the darkness dare not impede in it's path, thats what consciousness is, thats what reality is, thats what realization is. And even if you can do it once in your life. Atleast the candle is lit.

Do you feel blessed? [04:45 min] In India, I got this email from this person and he said, there is this couple in South India and the guy’s wife is dying of cancer, so they would like to see you. So, we worked it out. It was a young couple, a very young couple, and I walked into the room where they were sitting. And believe me I could’nt figure out who it was, that was sick. She looked just radiant. And her grandmother was sitting on one side, her husband was sitting there, and she was sitting, and I was like, "Who is it?". The doctors had said time-out. Yet I remember her face, because she was still filled with so much hope and so much joy. And it reminded me of the flower that I had seen coming out of the rock.
The audacity - Why should you be so happy, why should you be so hopeful. Don’t you know what the doctors are saying? But there was a thankfulness, for having knowledge. For having been alive, for having this gift. And a hope, not formulated in some concrete numbers. But whatever will happen will be fine.
This I must tell you is a powerful thing. Why here, why are you using your time and energy to sprout here, go down further south, it’s better. But no, this is it. This is the place. When that flower sprouts from that rock, in the middle of the most incredibly barren land. What that flower is saying, "This is the place to be. Regardless of the consequences. And I am here and here I’ll grow, and it happens."
Hope, but hope cannot be the first thing. Knowing, understanding, and then that brings the truest hope. Let it be like that, the truest hope. Not in, "This is the specific result I want.", but in, "It will be fine." That there is indeed a blessing in my life. "Do you feel blessed?"
Blessed you are, the only thing missing, is for you to know it.

The Ability to Be Happy [03:58 min] I ask you, "Does your ability to feel contentment actually ever vary?" The answer to it is "No". The ability to feel that joy in your life doesn't vary. So let's stop for a second. Hmmm, the ability does not vary, but the joy that I feel does vary. I would be a hypocrite to say to you "Yes, 24x7 365 days a year, I'm in complete bliss" I'm not going to tell you this, because that's not true. Things happen. So what does that mean? It means that I can actually make an effort and feel that joy- far more than I ever imagined. Just simple, I want to feel a gratitude when I wake up, that I'm alive. That is blessing- this breath is coming in and out of me. I can find my joy within me.