Excerpts from Events
The Journey [05:52 min]
Where does this journey begin? Do you know? It's interesting. You know how to breathe, right? But I wonder if you know that this saga begins, this symphony begins, with the first breath in.
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.
Two Ants [06:05 min]
I will tell you a story. Once two ants met and one ant lived on a hill, that was made out of sugar, the other ant lived on a hill made out of salt. They met, "I live on the sugar hill." "Sugar hill- what is sugar?" "Oh, it is this wonderful sweet tasting hill." "Oh, I have never heard of that, I am from the salt hill, salt you know, its salty, you eat it, you get thirsty. This sweet stuff sounds pretty good." So, the ant from the sugar hill said, "Why don’t you come over one day and taste it, see do you like it." So, the ant decided, it is a pretty good idea, new taste. They decided on a date, the date came. The salt ant was on its way. "I am going to this sugar hill. What if I do not like it. What if it is terrible. Then I will be hungry. I know what I am gonna do, I am gonna carry some salt with me. In case I do not like the sugar, I will have the salt." It put some of the salt in its mouth, took off, and arrived. "Oh, I can’t wait to taste the sugar, where is it?" "Here, taste it." Ant put the sugar in the mouth, chewed on a little bit. "This is like salt." "Is it?" "Yes, there is no difference. You call it sugar here, we call it salt. I mean it is the same thing." So, the other ant said, "I do not think so, open your mouth, let me take a look." Sure enough there at the back of the mouth, there is this salt and it took out the salt. "Now taste it." "Unbelievable. So different. So amazing. So incredible. Love this stuff. I am moving."All this was not to be had the salt remained in the mouth. Thats why clean the table. Clean the plate and taste this. As it should be tasted. Not mixed with something else. Taste this, so you will know what its flavour is. Thats all. This is not a blend. This is about you. This is not about your accomplishments. This is about you, you being alive. I know one thing and this is so simple, its almost ridiculously simple and it is, the coming and going of this breath, is the most amazing thing happening in your life.
That's what I do [02:25 min]
Reality is much more beautiful than fantasy. Because there is someone actually with whom you can live with 'Happily ever After'. And that is in your heart. No conflicts, no judgement.This is the reality my friend. You're here and you are the ocean of peace, of kindness, of understanding, of happiness. Look within and you'll see what I'm talking about. And, if you do not know how to look within (opens his arms)- This I'm good at! That's what I do.
I'm not here to sell you anything. You search, wherever you find it; perfect. Be happy, enjoy it, be content. Flourish. But if you don't find it, look me up.
I've this way, I call it knowledge; To know. That can take your attention from outside, turn it inside and you can feel that ocean inside of you. That's it. That's what I do.
Thirst and focus [02:39 min]
Prem Rawat speaking in Mexico City, MexicoLive your life with the thirst and focus, and you'll succeed in whatever you want. Find the water- the water that dwells within you. The answer that is waiting to be recognized.
You're looking for peace, and peace is looking for you! And what do you need to do? Be still; stop running around.
Kabir- No-nonsense, no philosophical mumbo-jumbo, straightforward poet [05:53 min]
There are people are far more infatuated by only two questions- Where did I come from?
- Where am I gonna go?
- Why am I here?
- Who am I?
To put this in perspective I'm going to quote Kabir. My favorite no-nonsense, straightforward enlightened poet. No philosophical mumbo-jumbo. Kabir says:
Ram bulava bhejiya
diya Kabira roye
jo sukh saadhu sang mein
so baikunth na hoye
"God has sent me an invitation- the final call". And upon hearing this, knowing that he's going to die, Kabir starts to weep. For he says, the joy that I find in the company of this truth and in the company of the seekers of the truth. That joy is greater than the joy of heaven.
diya Kabira roye
jo sukh saadhu sang mein
so baikunth na hoye
Play It With Passion [07:48 min]
Human being is an incredibly fine, sensitive, experiencing instrument. That truth resides in you and it will sing out. That is the ultimate passion. Play this instrument. Its resonance, its gratitude, contentment, peace, joy, these are the nodes of this instrument. Play it with the passion it deserves. Fortunately or unfortunately till you play, that yearning will never go away and if you play it that yearning will increase. In my book when something is like that that without it the yearning never goes away and with it the yearning increases then this is the most accurate description of true passion. And that is the passion you need in your life.
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.
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 blooming called peace [02:47 min]
Prem Rawat speaking in Milan, ItalyEvery human being is a seed. I'm not a philosopher. Because a philosopher would talk about the potential of the seed, I talk about the realization of that potential. I'm not a philosopher, I'm much closer to a gardener. Prepare field of your understanding. And then take this existence that you have and sow it in this field. Give it the water of knowing, not believing. Give it the light of clarity. And watch this seed bloom! This blooming is called Peace.