Topics

What happens when a person is in peace? What happens? There is a recognition; there is a simplicity; there is an appreciation. There is a gratitude. This is what happens: recognition of each other; recognition that “my need is like yours.” That it isn’t about power. That it isn’t about destruction. But it is about preserving that which is precious. It is about appreciating the gift that we have been given. It is about being alive.

You think being alive is to walk? No! Being alive is that person that has a heart full of gratitude, that has an understanding, that has the aroma of kindness, a passion for peace, and a singularity—not confusion, but a clarity to the objective of being alive. That’s when the reason why sun is where it is makes sense. That is when being on this earth makes sense.

When I say, “The knowledge of the self, knowledge of the self,” this is connecting to the message, the very message that Socrates said. “Know thyself.” He could have said anything. He could have said anything. He could have said, “Dates are too expensive.” You know?

But he didn’t say that. What did he say? “Know thyself. Know thyself.”

What effort do we make in a day to know yourself? Everybody else? “Oh, I want to know that person, I want to know that person, I want to know that person, I want to.... Can I have your phone number?”

What is your phone number? What is really your phone number? The one that goes to you? That number that nobody else can pick up? That only goes to you? You don’t know, do you? Area code? “Human being.” Human being. Need? Peace.

That’s your nature. And when you understand that, then you begin to feel the thirst, the thirst for peace. And do you know, the day you find peace begins with the day you feel the thirst for peace. Once you feel the thirst, water is there.

You know, before you come into the desert, people go...people go with the tents into the desert. “Oh, look at the stars.” I’ve done this, see. “Look at the stars. Oh, look at the sand. Oh, look at the sunset. Oh, look at the sunrise. Oh, listen to the quietness.” But when you get thirsty, “Bye, stars. Bye, this. Bye, that. Water. Water. Water, water, water,” till you find it.

There’s good news. And the good news is that the peace you are looking for is inside of you, is inside of you. Always will be. And the day you recognize it, the day you experience it, you will start living.

– Prem Rawat

Whatever happens in your life, the goodness is in you; the joy is in you; the clarity is in you; the peace is in you. This is what makes a human a human. That’s what makes you so special: that we have the possibility to feel peace, this power to reason, this power to be able to communicate, this power to be able to understand, this power to be able to transfer knowledge, to understand and fulfill, as a human being. Try! Try, in your life.

That positive effort that you make towards knowing yourself, every step that you take, will not go in vain—whoever you are. In the realm of knowing, age does not matter. Age doesn’t matter!

Because you’re not trying to create peace. See, if you were trying to create peace, then age would matter because your physical dexterity and strength would all come into play.

That process of peace is undoing, not doing. Anybody can undo. It’s removing those blocks that are here, to be able to get to that heart where that courage resides, where the simplicity resides within you.

– Prem Rawat

There are many people who talk theory. This is okay; theory is okay. I talk practical. My challenge is to go around the world and tell people of this world—not on the moon, not on Mars, but of this earth—that peace is possible.

I tell them, “The finest human achievement of mankind will not be the rockets, will not be the space exploration. But the finest achievement of mankind will be peace.” I cannot talk theory.

Because, do you know how many people there are in this world who look at me and say, “You’re crazy. There will never be peace. Never be peace.” And I say, “No. There will be peace.” Why?

(Ha-hah.) For war, you have to do something. You have to prepare. You have to get ready. You have to have weapons. You have to have training. You have to have uniforms. You have to have discipline. You have to have tanks. You have to have cars. You have to have planes. You have to have ships. You have to have submarines.

For peace, you don’t need anything. Nothing! Nothing! Not even a flower. Nothing. Because peace is a light that is already lit inside of you.

So, tonight I’ve been talking about the human potential; I’ve been talking, “The peace is in you,” “What you are looking for is in you.” You must be going, “Well, if this is true, how come I don’t know it?!”

Okay. (See, I told you I’m not about theories; I’m practical.) With your two eyes, you see the world, right? Right? You can see everybody’s face with these two eyes, right? Except for yours. You can’t see yours.

For these eyes to see your face, you require a mirror. Not a theory. It’s practical. And the day you begin to understand—as simple as that—you are on your way to peace.

– Prem Rawat

I say to people all around the world ... “Look, heaven is right here! Heaven is right here! And if you haven’t found it, you’re in hell!” (That’s my definition of heaven and hell.) It’s ... it’s not about getting baked.... It’s not about getting fried; it’s not about getting toasted; this is not a cooking show. [laughter]

There is a heaven ... and if you are not in that heaven ... then you’re in the other place. It’s as simple as that!

If you haven’t found your heaven now ... here! ... then you won’t even know what heaven is. Because it is here ... that you have ... that expression!—expression ... of life; this is what peace is.

(Yeah so, I know, I know-I-know-I-know—when I say the word “peace,” the first thing is like, “some vegetable ... like an okra ....”) [laughter]

No, that’s not peace. A person in peace is highly dynamic! A person in peace is highly dynamic. And they make that effort ... the effort ... to be ... a fulfilled human. No more. There’s nothing greater as a gift ... that you could be given.

The facts say, “For peace you don’t have to do anything.” Like, “What? For peace you don’t have to do anything? How can that be?” I mean, after all, everything ... you do, you have to something for it.... (Program your phone to turn on the coffee!)

Everything you do, you have to do something for it ... and for peace ... you have to do ... nothing? [Indicates something going over his head] Whssssht!

“How can that be?” How can that be? Because the peace is already inside of you!

In the core, in the core of your being, that’s where peace is!