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Comedy or humor has a bit of truth—otherwise it’s not funny!

And it is funny that in everything else, in everything else that we do ... You go to a bank? The line, where it starts, we know. You go take a number, ticket number. You know—and you watch the counter, “Okay, what is the number?” So you know! And when it comes to the self, no idea!

And when I propose this, a lot of people go, “What do you mean, ‘Knowing yourself?’ Of course I know myself. My name is bla-bla-bla-bla-bla.” Really? Was that your name before you came out? When you were born, what was your name? Just when you were born?

Because you didn’t exist! Officially you did not exist; your birth certificate hadn’t been signed yet. You did not have a piece of paper validating you exist—but you existed. On what strength did you exist? Do you know what that is?

The wisdom that you seek from the world is actually inside of you. Do you know that? You are wiser than you realize. Do you know that?

So, if you don’t, don’t you think it’ll be good to know yourself? Then you would know who you are, the strengths you have, how you can go forward. And of course, when it comes to loving, if you don’t know yourself, how are you going to love yourself?

- Prem Rawat

I see what’s happening in this world and it’s not good. It’s time we change it. But the change—the change can only begin with us. And right now, what we want is the change to begin with other people, not us. Because we don’t know who we are. We’re just like them. We’re just like them. Knowing yourself has a lot of value, believe me, a lot of value.

So, this is the possibility. Your desert too, however “desert-y” it may look, does have the seeds. It is going to rain. It is. And when it does, your desert can bloom as well.

Beautiful, beautiful things in the “Store of the Divine.” Don’t be shocked if all you get is a bunch of seeds. Don’t be shocked because that’s the way they come.

Are you ready to invest a little bit in those seeds? Are you ready to take all that knowledge and give it a little wisdom—and use it wisely? Because if you do, even if you think your life has changed, it can still transform so much more than you could ever imagine. There is no limit; there is no limit.

So, how beautiful, this opportunity. How beautiful, this chance. And how beautiful when the desert blooms. Please let your desert bloom. That’s what it’s all about.

- Prem Rawat

We are talking about, “Oh, what does that person think of me? Do they like me?” No! Do you like yourself—of truly who you are? Have you gotten in touch with that part of you that wants to appreciate? Have you gotten in touch with that part of you that wants to enjoy clarity in life? Have you gotten in touch with that part of you?

Have you gotten in—listen to what I’m saying. Have you gotten in touch with that part of you that likes peace? Have you gotten in touch with that part of you that wants to be content? Have you gotten in touch with that part of you that deeply respects knowledge? Have you gotten in touch with that part of you that wants to express the sincerest kindness?

Have you gotten in touch with the part of you that wants to celebrate this existence? Have you gotten in touch with the part of you that wants to feel that gratitude? Have you gotten in touch with the part of you that holds these as the highest achievement of your existence?

Because you exist, you can be a warmonger. And because you exist, you can be in peace.

Have you gotten in touch with you? Do you know your self? Do you know that you are the carrier of light? And by “light,” I do not mean lux! “Light” means wisdom; “light” means knowledge. “Light,” indeed, means understanding.

- Prem Rawat

So, what is the importance of knowing yourself? I can give you the most beautiful map, very well illustrated; everything is there; everything is marked—and there is a very beautiful place on the map that you want to go to.

But what is the most important thing you need to have on that map? And that is, "Where are you on that map?" Because, "turn left, turn right, and go straight" is all relevant to where you are. But if you don't know where you are, what is "left?" What is "right?" What is "go straight?" What is "go around the roundabout"—it doesn’t mean anything.

And we forget! People are writing books; people are making lectures, and they’re telling everybody, "You know, we have to turn left; we have to turn left." And then, "Oh no, now we have to turn right." Whose "right?" Whose "left?" Which "left?" Where are we going? Which "straight?" Because it’s all relative.

Unless you know who you are, living in this world is going to be very different. Because one of the things is going to be disorientation because you don't know where you are. You're lost. That feeling of—yeah, somewhere here—"What I am about to do, is that right? Do people like me? Am I popular?"

This is all before you ever get to loving yourself. You are more interested in whether other people love you. You're not even interested in whether you love yourself. And it's disorienting; look at what's—what is social media all about? Approval from other people.

So, now I am bringing this message—it's not my message. Socrates said this a long time ago. Some of the hieroglyphs that were deciphered from Egypt also said the same thing: "Understand who you are; know yourself." Socrates echoes that—"Know yourself. Know thyself." Because the importance of knowing yourself is so important.

- Prem Rawat

My strategy is very simple. And my strategy isn’t to have world peace. I said it. “Aagh,” pin-drop silence. Because that’s not possible.

But this is what’s possible—you, be, first in peace with yourself. It’s just you. Nobody else is involved. You be in peace with yourself. And how can you be in peace with yourself? One—and that’s why we are here tonight: “Journey to the self”—you must know yourself.

And once you know yourself, you then must gain victory over the self. Not victory over your neighbor, not victory over that person, and that person, and that person, and that person, but victory over the self.

And when you are victorious over yourself, then you can be in peace with yourself. And when you are in peace with yourself, then you make peace with the world.

And when enough, enough people make peace with the world—because they have made peace with themselves—then, vaguely, the idea of world peace starts to come into view.

When every war happens and the innocent die.... Same way, when you are at war with yourself, the innocent moments of your life are being slaughtered. Because they’re innocent! They can be anything.

Never have I seen more innocence, in a moment of existence.... It’s, totally, as it comes to you, it’s innocent—just brings you possibility, anything you want—like a baby, like a baby.

You can mold it; you can fold it; you can destroy it; you can create a monster out of it if you wish. Or you can have it as the most tender-est, gentle time—the time with you, listening to that feeling which fills this heart and causes the gratitude to emerge.

- Prem Rawat

Human wisdom is about simplicity: If you are thirsty, drink water. If you’re tired, rest. If you’re confused, seek clarity! If you’re in the darkness, seek light. If you’re in sadness, seek joy. This is human wisdom! This is human wisdom. Does it work for dogs? They have their own! They have their own, and they absolutely stick to their wisdom.

They absolutely do. I have seen it. I have seen it.

Do crocodiles, alligators have their wisdom? Absolutely: “Lay low. Be incognito. Don’t let them see you coming, and attack when it’s too late.” Works for them every time.

They use their wisdom every single day. How do you use your wisdom? When you’re in darkness, look for light. Could anything be wiser than that? When you’re sad, look for joy. When you’re in joy, stay there.

That’s ... that’s the wisdom!

When you feel empty, find your fulfillment. Because that’s in you too.