In View - Summer / Fall 1989
1"To the 9,000 people who came from 40 countries for the Festival of Knowledge this summer in Miami, Maharaji made his point simply and eloquently. "Knowledge," he said, "is for everyone. "The problems of society, of individuals, of nations big and small stem from the same thing; keeping our eyes closed. Open your eyes and you'll find every single answer.""
2"Wherever you go, whatever you do, whichever situation you live in, whatever your pleasure happens to be, whatever you do in your life, just remember, first of all, that you have the most incredible gift of life. Don't ever forget that - whether you practice Knowledge or not. Whether you decide from this program, "This is not for me, I've had it up to here." Fine. No sweat. I don't have any problem with that. That's your decision and always will he your decision. People say to me, "Well, Maharaji, it's so difficult to practice."
I knew well before Miami that Knowledge was the key I'd been looking for my whole life. How else could I have justified five days away from my young son, my husband, and a demanding job to participate in something I Couldn't really explain?
"The program was a new beginning, the launch of a journey."
"I've been going through a difficult time and almost didn't come to this program."
"My practice of Knowledge had subsided to almost nothing since I attended one of the Rejoice programs last year. I had been abusing the gift. I was like a car running on one cylinder. That lonesome feeling within me drastically changed at this program. Twice I was reduced to tears unexpectedly. My heart. which had become so hardened from not practicing Knowledge, was cracked open by Maharaji's inexplicable and oh so profound love and presence."
8"Haven't you heard? You're speaking tomorrow night. Suddenly, I'm 14, my pants are too short, and I'm thinking there must he a terrible mistake. Me?"
"How is it that I can barely remember entire years of my life, but have no trouble at all remembering a single moment with Maharaji? A word from him. A smile. A glance. What is it that happens around him that leaves me so amazed? What does he do that leaves me so undone?"
9Maharaji is meeting with the musicians at the end of their first day of rehearsal. He looks wonderful. Gleaming. The band looks awful - a combination of jet lag, pre-program insomnia, bad hotel lighting, and nervous joy. But the songs are coming back and the band sounds, well … OK. Maharaji talks to them about the feeling of the music and the meaning the songs will convey. It is a beautiful privilege to be standing in the back, seeing the sun come up on whomever he is talking to. As Maharaji leads the musicians through the song list, each song sounds a little brighter, a little better. By the time he leaves rehearsal with the suggestion that everyone get some rest, the band is One again, on a familiar Foundation.
10I am sitting in Sydney, Australia, involved in all the usual business of living, when I hear that Maharaji has just invited everyone to a festival in Miami. I go through all my usual reflex responses: "I'm out of money. It's impractical. It's unrealistic. Maybe he'll come here. I can't possibly get it together." Was this really me, making all these excuses? I couldn't deny, however, that I had reached a point - a familiar point in my life - where I was feeling that something more had to happen. Like before I first heard about Knowledge.
10I flew to Abidjan, Cote d'lvoire, on the west coast of Africa, with only the hope of seeing Maharaji once again. Twelve former instructors and I had been invited to help with the ReCon Program Knowledge Review. Once there, we discovered a land rich with sweet smells and sounds, where bright colors and bold patterns adorned the noble people who moved with a grace and a rhythm much gentler than most of us know. It was a thrill to use my rusty French and work side-by-side with the Ivoirians, putting together a program that had been called only a few weeks before. It had been three years since Maharaji had come to Abidjan. This would be the first review.
Los ANGELES: "People have been saying that, after eight or nine years, the festival clinched something for them in their practice of Knowledge. I have the sense of something new in the air. People want to be ready for that, ready for whatever Maharaji has in store for us." Marta Kepes
More than 3,600 people in the United States have now pledged their monthly support. Throughout most of 1989, support for the program has been fairly consistent, with 65 percent of all pledges being honored. However, if everybody who pledged support followed through, we'd be fully able to meet the North American pledge for our pan in the support of Maharaji's work.