Excerpts from Events
Stating the obvious [04:17 min]
Everything that I am stating is obvious. What is the obvious? That you are alive. This is obvious. That peace that you look for is inside of you. That is obvious. Everything else, in a moment's notice, can change. The only thing that doesn't change is your strength, your beauty, your joy. You, after all, are a human being.
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. " You have to be in love with this breath- highest form of acceptance. You have to be in love with clarity- highest form of acceptance."
Seed of Kindness [03:51 min]
When we come in this world, We are given seeds. And this is of course a metaphor
But its true that we are human beings. But the opportunity truly is, what we do with these seeds. And what are these seeds?
Well we can begin with very simple stuff. One of the seeds can be the seed of kindness, There is a seed of love, there is a seed of understanding, and there is a seed of doubt, there is a seed of confusion. And it always becomes- whatever seed it is that you have sown in your garden- garden of life, garden of existence, then ultimately this is what you are going to sit under and rest, and how restful it will be, directly depends, on what kind of seed you sow.
So every seed that you have, has a particular quality, has something that it offers, but when it is sown, and when it bears itself, when it grows and becomes a tree, it is going to have very particular characteristics which you may or may not like.
I am not here to pass judgement, nor am I here to try to advertise what kind of seed it is that you should have sown.
I think that if I merely point out some of the characteristics of these, then you are capable of making that decision for yourself, that fundamentally being human, you have enough intelligence to choose from clarity, to choose what will benefit you the most, each one of us within ourselves, carries an innate need and this need is never dictated by the world, it is our need, and it is fundamental to every human being.
This is the need that we have when we were young, it is the need that will stay there throughout our lives and will be there till the very end.
This is who we are- This is one of our natures.
But its true that we are human beings. But the opportunity truly is, what we do with these seeds. And what are these seeds?
Well we can begin with very simple stuff. One of the seeds can be the seed of kindness, There is a seed of love, there is a seed of understanding, and there is a seed of doubt, there is a seed of confusion. And it always becomes- whatever seed it is that you have sown in your garden- garden of life, garden of existence, then ultimately this is what you are going to sit under and rest, and how restful it will be, directly depends, on what kind of seed you sow.
So every seed that you have, has a particular quality, has something that it offers, but when it is sown, and when it bears itself, when it grows and becomes a tree, it is going to have very particular characteristics which you may or may not like.
I am not here to pass judgement, nor am I here to try to advertise what kind of seed it is that you should have sown.
I think that if I merely point out some of the characteristics of these, then you are capable of making that decision for yourself, that fundamentally being human, you have enough intelligence to choose from clarity, to choose what will benefit you the most, each one of us within ourselves, carries an innate need and this need is never dictated by the world, it is our need, and it is fundamental to every human being.
This is the need that we have when we were young, it is the need that will stay there throughout our lives and will be there till the very end.
This is who we are- This is one of our natures.
Answers to 2 FAQs- as a Freebie! [07:40 min]
- Where did I come from?
- Where am I going to go?
There is this (pointing to the body) and there's you (the infinite). You deal with this (the body) everyday. You take care of it whole day; you brush, you shave and do all the things, but you don't deal with infinite everyday. You're one more element than just this body- that 'Hans' that resides in you, that makes you 'you'. What is death? It is just the simple disconnect between the two.
If you recognize only as a body then the answer to the two questions are: You came from this dirt and you're going back to dirt. Not so glamorous, but true.
And if happen to be so lucky, to recognize the infinite in you then I've got good news for you. That's where you came from and that's where you gonna go!
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."
"Why is Paris Hilton crying?" funny but thought provoking [07:19 min]
Maharaji talks about how difficult it would be to explain to a poor Indian farmer why Paris Hilton is crying. How can she suffer when she is so rich? Because pain and suffering dont look at your bank balance, education, awards, looks, age, nationaltity. Neither does peace!
Feeling the Need for Peace [05:11 min]
Prem Rawat talks about the universal need for peace. “Not as a society,” he says, “but as an individual. I strongly believe that it is the individual that has to understand what peace is. And feel that need in their lives. Then and only then can we begin to see the movement towards peace, because the foundation is solid.”
Magnificent Monk [04:06 min]
The good news is "What you are looking for, is inside of you". This is the best news. If a mother loses her child, her fear is that something bad might happen. If someone informs her just this much- your child is fine. This alone is sufficient for that mother to feel calm. The journey to peace is not a solemn one. The journey to peace is full of enthusiasm and newness and discovery and openness and feeling beautiful. Some people say, to find peace you need to join monastery- No. If you want to find peace, go inside this monastery (pointing to the heart). Search if you need to, and if you don't find- look within. If you need way to look within, look me up!
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.