you had! - to! - go!
Maharaji in the Sanders Theater, Rented for the Night, in Harvard University, 22nd July 2004
Rawat's speeches were not written or prepared but they are certainly not unrehearsed. The speeches preceding his current one are the rehearsals and his speeches following evolve gradually using the same store of tales, premie gossip, clichés, life events, recent tv shows, stock phrases and buzzwords. Click here for more background information
By 2004 (after 35 years of making many, many speeches) Maharaji had attained a level of competence. His speeches were no longer peppered with "you knows,", "I means," 'ums' and other poor expressions though his enunciation was often indistinct and he would speak with great speed or annoyingly slowly. He used very long pauses (apparently to give his speech the appearance of gravity and depth) and wild volume swings from excited shreaks to whispering which he used to indicate to his listeners he was saying something "deep and meaningful". His thinking and logic was still poor and he made many statements that were completely unfactual. From the early 2000s he had honed his conceptual base down to a narrow simplicity and from then on was just basically making the same speech in which he could reuse sentence structures with nouns that were interchangeable.
This was a very important speech for Rawat's Legitimacy Project which had been kept secret from the premies community until then. An appropriately rapt audience was required to attend the prestigious Sanders Theater at Harvard University to prevent the speech from being a fiasco. It was not possible for Maharaji to attract an audience of Harvard students or academics so the word was circulated through the upper echelons of the East Coast premie communities for people who could look and dress appropriately, the cream of the premie crop. Everyone who received the call immediately understood what was required and how incredibly fortunate they were to be in the "In Crowd." Those who found out about it later are probably still feeling the pain of rejection by Maharaji to this day. He gave a very confident speech and he demonstrates confidence by speaking loudly throughout as is his wont.
It might have been caused by nerves but he got lost in words a few times. I was particularly struck by these meaningless nonsenses: "but hardly we go on with the business of knowing!!! ourselves. Too busy to exclude from that process where being says" - and - "When you can and have the camera of this heart, do you go click? So the heart can do, can go click and capture it. Then when you become so good at looking at that moment and in that moment you capture the peace, capture the joy. I tell you, you're going to have quite a collection for the rest of your life." The vision of the enraptured lady premie in a group that seemed blasé was shown at that moment but it might have been just edited in.
Anaphorism was a mainstay of his style and he certainly indulged in the repetition that night. I presume this repetition has an effect on his premie listeners. Let there be … …like you've never looked at it before A peace that … because you are interested in … Look at this …
- "you see a banana or you see a mango. It's courtesy of you. If you weren't there, you wouldn't see anything - Profound. Maharaji's version of Schrödinger's cat
- what is my need that I have identified as not borrowed, not taught, not learnt but that I have always had - While nearly everyone who is attracted by Maharaji's spiel must feel some dissatisfaction within themselves, the "need," the "thirst," these they learnt from Maharaji himself and his co-conspirators
- To Maharaji people are fools: "If we hear noise in the car that we do not like, not to worry, turn the stereo up" - the normal response is to go to a mechanic, we're fixers who ignore Maharaji's thirst by turning up the music
- That's what I do. I go around saying "Well let me introduce you to you" - "That's what I do" is a common refrain for Maharaji, usually he says he's been talking about peace for 50 years but really he's been introducing you to himself, he has been advertising himself, this 50 year attempt has cost a fortune
There are very few of Rawat's speeches after 1980 in which we can compare an edited, published version of the speech with a transcript. This is one of those few. The transcript has 2335 words and the edited publication has 1,197 words. Transcript: 14 'thirsts' Edited: 6 'thirsts'
Gallwey: I credit Harvard for opening the doors of my mind and I credit Prem Rawat for opening the door to my heart of hearts.
Maharaji: Thank you for that nice uh warm Boston welcome. There are times in life when we come across certain things that if one was to really try to explain it, it would be way too complicated, incredibly complicated. Peace, is also, when it comes to theory, a very complicated thing and this I figured from just pure deduction. I figured that it took a lot to put man on the moon. It really did. There was a lot of technology and sure enough and this is on behalf of the humanity. Man was placed on the moon. But peace still eludes the world so it's got to be really complicated. More complicated than going to the moon. So if it is that complicated, I figured well, then it's just like riding a bike. It's too complicated.
The only thing you can do is to inspire people to find the way to feel that peace and it begins with presenting the picture of possibility. Because to everyone there is a version of peace that applies to them. What is it? Well, if you are a city dweller, horns and everything going on all day long and part of the night. Sirens blaring. Then on the weekend when you get out and you go to that quiet little place and it's pretty and there's no sirens and you say "Oh this is so pea--ce--ful. That's not peace. (laughter) Absence of sirens is not peace. Absence of taxi cabs honking is not peace. Absence of screeching tyres is not peace. But getting away from that situation seems peaceful.
So there are these individual variations that people have. If somebody has lost something really precious to them and they are just going crazy thinking about it all the time and you ask them "What? What? What is your version of peace?" Then it would be "Well if I found that thing, I would, I would, I would find myself in peace. Conflict. The resolution of conflict alone is not peace.
So what is real peace? Real peace that is common to every single human being on the face of this earth. There is a peace that has something to do with every individual. A peace that resides in the heart of every human being on the face of this earth. A peace that is not temporary. A peace that is not tied to politics. A peace that is not in the formulas of what this world ought to be. Not somebody's vision, but rich or poor, good or bad, right or wrong that that peace resides within that person even in their darkest hour. That, that peace resides within that person even when that person is surrounded by an ocean, not a river, not a lake, but an ocean of confusion and doubts. A peace that is more than the absence of anger. A peace that is the presence of something beautiful, not an absence of anything. A peace and a thirst for that peace that is real in the heart of every being.
Every century, every civilization, we hear truth. We hear the word 'truth.' It's an awe inspiring word 'truth.' Is the truth debatable? Can somebody else's truth be something else for someone else? Or is there a truth that is common to every single person on the face of this earth? And if there is such a truth, then that is the truth worth looking for. The truth that has survived the variations of thought in the society. The truth that Socrates said "Know thy Self!" Which, by the way, we have debated of what that means, talked about what that could possibly mean and even speculated on what possibly it could be that Socrates was thinking about when he said "Know thy Self" but hardly we go on with the business of knowing!!! ourselves. Too busy to exclude from that process where being says, "You know, I feel that thirst in my life and this thirst is not something that I created. And why should I not look within me for the solution, for that water, that I am thirsty for?"
Because that's the good news. The good news is that the thirst is within you and the water that will quench that thirst is within you. The good news is that that that which you are looking for is within you and the means to get in touch with that thing is also within you. That there is a reality that is so sweet, not in the-not buried in the conflict and pain, not buried in the doubts and the questions but in fact dancing, dancing within every human being because you exist, because you are alive. By taking that moment and understanding the sweet reality of existence. Taking that moment and understanding your thirst, your thirst, not the thirst that you have been taught. People will say "I have never been taught a thirst." "Yes, you have!" Every time you see a window of a shop, that's a little sign saying, you need this. Every time you see a billboard, you need this, you need this, you need that, you need this, you need that and I am not criticising it, believe me, that's fine, that's the way the world runs. The point of it is, that what is my need that I have identified as not borrowed, not taught, not learnt but that I have always had.
Always had and people say "Well, how come I'm not aware of it?" Because we have become experts at hiding it. Experts, turn the noise up. This is our fix. This is our fix. If we hear noise in the car that we do not like, not to worry, turn the stereo up and the noise is gone. And I come to you today and I propose that you take on that thirst. I propose that it is the sweetest thirst, then I propose that it is the most wonderful thirst you've ever had in your life and I say to you that that thirst is about the most noblest of causes that a human being can ever have and that one cause of all the things that we can do, of all the things that we can achieve in our lives, there's one more that we can achieve and, to me, I consider it incredibly noble and it is to be fulfilled, to be fulfilled.
Lotta people say well isn't that very selfish. Hey, hey, extinguished lamp can never light anything, neither can it light the area around it, nor can it light another lamp. The prerequisite for that lamp to do any such thing is one, it needs to be lit. Light your lamp. Light it!!! People say "Well, but, but, but, if I light my lamp then it'll go out because of reality." It's gonna go out. But while you have the chance, light it. Let there be that fulfilment in your life. Let there be the certainty in your life. Let there be clarity in your life. Let there be answers in your life. Not just a question but answers. You exist and because you exist you have the possibility of being fullfilled. Simple, incredibly simple and simply profound. This is what this existence is, that this breath comes and this breath goes and it comes again and it goes again and I walk my life one step at a time.
you had! - to! - go!
and! - get!! - it!!
A lotta people say, you know, "Well tell us something that will give us peace. What can we do to get this peace?" Aha. There's a problem we have here. Whenever you heard of something nice, you had! - to! - go! - and! - get!! - it!!. Remember? Now we got a problem. What I'm talking about, you already have, You already have the peace inside of you. You don't have to go out somewhere and get it. You already have it. Discover it. Do you know what it is like to discover it? Look at this breath like you've never seen it like before. Look at this life like you have never seen it before. Look at this existence like you've never looked at it before. (whispers) Look at peace like you've never looked at it before. Look at this moment, this moment like you've never looked at it before.
can and have the camera of this heart, do you go click?
So the heart can do, can go click and capture it.
at that moment and peace, capture the joy
When you can and have the camera of this heart, do you go click? So the heart can do, can go click and capture it. Then when you become so good at looking at that moment and in that moment you capture the peace, capture the joy. I tell you, you're going to have quite a collection for the rest of your life.
This is really so simple because it's about us. We're the ones in this world that need peace. We're the ones in this world that will benefit from the peace the most. We're the ones we're taking ourselves so far away from what used to be so simple and we're the ones who need to come back home and home needs to be where you are, not a building with four walls and a roof and a particular number. Because a long time ago there was a home called you, were constructed. You've got many addresses but there is one address missing and this address is an address to you. To you. You've had many introductions and you know a lot of people but there's one person who has not been introduced to and that's you. To you. Because no one says "Let me introduce you to you" except for me. (laughter and applause) That's what I do. I go around saying "Well let me introduce you to you" and a lot of people go "Well, you know, but that's insane. Well think about it. When was the last time you were introduced to yourself, to you?
Because you look at this world and you see a tree or you see a banana or you see a mango. It's courtesy of you. If you weren't there, you wouldn't see anything. I know that. You're the one who takes that nectarine and puts their in the mouth and go "Mmm!" I've never seen a nectarine do that. Go and you know go into somebody's mouth and go "Mmm!" No. But you do that because you have the power to appreciate. Use that, use that power to appreciate. Put something worthy to appreciate in front of it. And I appreciate and I say to you that the most worthy thing to appreciate is this life itself. Everything else will change because that is its nature. To see your own face, you need a mirror. To see your own face, you need a mirror. To see someone else's face, you don't need a mirror but to see your own face you need a mirror. To see what is within inside of you. You also need a mirror. A mirror will project that image like it is without changing it.
It comes down to, first of all turn the volume down so you can hear what I'm saying because most of it is a few words and a lot of lip movement. Well turn the volume down, then you will be able to hear what actually I am saying because what I am saying you already know and you have always known. You have known that peace is inside of you. You have always known that the, the real question that you are asking, the answer lies within you. You have known that. Now listen and listen from that earnest place because you are interested in fulfilment, because you are interested in peace, because you're interested in the possibility that this life offers you, because you're interested in peace even in the middle of turmoil. The peace. When there is the tranquillity inside that is when peace begins for you. For you, for you, for me. Peace, here in my heart and that's the possibility.
This is what I do. Go around places and I talk to people about peace. Then they say "Well nice words." I say you want it. I can make it possible. How can I make it possible? I have that peace inside of me. I am aware of that peace inside of me. Does that mean I don't have problems? Of course I have problems. Does that mean I don't get angry anymore? Of course not. I get angry. Am I a vegetable all the time? No, I'm not a vegetable. These are the excuses. These are the little taboos that are placed. "Oh my God. You know, if you become, I mean, if you have peace, then you'll completely change. Do you have to change your religion? Yeah, I'll have to change my religion because, you know" Why? your religion says you can't have peace. (laughter) Tell me one single religion that says that, you shouldn't have peace. You can have peace. Your communication to your God and your style in your way. Hey, beautiful. But why should that preclude the peace that lies in your heart? Already does. Already does.
And that's what I offer. That's what I talk about. That's what I want to make possible for everyone who wants it. That one thing that you feel so distanced from is the closest you have ever had. Give it a thought. Because at least if I have stretched a little part of imagination, "Peace is possible. Hmm. Interesting." That's good to be stretched. These are the wonderful institutions where people come so they can be stretched so they can learn as learning is the most wonderful thing that we can do. And if all the learning that we can have and all the learnings that we have had and all the learnings that are still possible if one of them led to inner fulfilment I think that would be wonderful. Thank you very much and good night. (Strong applause)
*** Edited Speech ***
Maharaji in the Sanders Theater, Rented for the Night, in Harvard University, 22nd July 2004
When it comes to theory, peace is a very complicated thing. I figured this out from pure deduction. I figured that it took a lot to put a man on the moon. It really did. It involved a lot of technology. And sure enough-on behalf of humanity-man was placed on the moon. But peace still eludes the world. So peace has to be really complicated-more complicated than going to the moon. If it's that complicated, I figured, then it's just like riding a bike-too complicated to explain. The only thing you can do is to inspire people to find the way to feel peace. And that begins with presenting the picture of a possibility.
Each person has a version of peace that applies to them. What is it? If you are a city dweller, you hear horns honking, sirens blaring, and everything going on all day and part of the night. Then on the weekend, when you go to that quiet little place and there are no sirens, you say, "Ah, this is so peaceful." That's not peace. Absence of sounds is not peace. Absence of taxicabs honking is not peace. Absence of screeching tires is not peace. But getting away from that situation seems peaceful. These are the individual variations of peace that people have.
If somebody has lost something precious to them, and they are going crazy thinking about it all the time, and you ask them, "What is your version of peace?" their answer will be, "If I found what I'm looking for, I would find myself in peace."
The resolution of conflict alone is not peace. You won't hear this other places. What you will hear is, "Peace is nice. We should all find it and get on with our lives." But it has to be very clear what it is we are looking for, because if somebody's version of peace is no more sirens, then it is a totally different thing.
So, what is real peace-peace that is common to every single human being on the face of this earth? The generic definition of peace is the absence of war, but there is a peace that has nothing to do with arguments and nothing to do with wars. There is a peace that resides in the heart of every human being on the face of this earth. There is a peace that is not temporary, not tied to politics, not found in the formulas of what the world thinks ought to be. It is not somebody's vision, but resides within the individual, whether they are rich or poor, good or bad, right or wrong-even in their darkest hour, even when they are surrounded by an ocean of confusion and doubt.
This peace is not the absence of anything. Real peace is the presence of something beautiful. Both peace and the thirst for it have been in the heart of every human being in every century and every civilization.
This is the good news: the thirst is within you, and the water that will quench that thirst is within you. The good news is that what you are looking for is within you and the means to get in touch with that is also within you. There is a reality that is so sweet-not buried in conflicts and pain, not buried in doubts and questions, but in fact dancing-dancing within every human being because you exist, because you are alive.
I propose that you take on that thirst. I propose that it is the sweetest and most wonderful thirst you have ever had in your life. That thirst is one of the noblest causes a human being can ever have. With all the things we can achieve in our lives, there is one more that is incredibly noble: we can be fulfilled.
A lot of people say, "Isn't that very selfish?" An extinguished lamp can never light anything. It can neither light the area around it, nor light another lamp. The prerequisite for either of these things is for the lamp to be lit.
Light your lamp. People say, "But if I light my lamp, then it'll go out." That is reality. It is going to go out, but while you have the chance, light it. Let there be fulfillment in your life. Let there be certainty in your life. Let there be clarity in your life.
You exist, and because you exist, you have the possibility of being fulfilled. It is incredibly simple-and simply profound. This is what existence is: this breath comes and this breath goes, and it comes again and it goes again. And I walk my life one step at a time.
A lot of people ask, "Tell us something that will give us peace. What can we do to get this peace?" We have a problem here. Usually when you hear about something nice, you want to go and get it. What I'm talking about, you already have. You already have peace inside of you. You don't have to go out somewhere and get it. You already have it. Discover it. Do you know what it is like to discover?
Look at this breath like you have never seen it before. Look at this life like you have never seen it before. Look at this existence like you have never looked at it before. Look at peace like you have never looked at it before. Look at this moment like you have never looked at it before.
Even in the middle of turmoil, peace exists. How does this affect this world? Do you know what this world is? It's a screen. You are the projector, and what you see as the world is just a big screen. So when you see things on the screen, don't look at the screen, look at the projector. That's where it's coming from. The display of the inner fight turns into the outer fight-it always has and always will. When there is tranquility inside, that is when peace begins. Peace here in my heart. That's the possibility.
How is it possible? I can help. Look around this world. If you are interested, search for peace. If you find it, good. And if you don't find it, look me up. I can help. This is what I do-I go around the world talking to people about peace. People say, "Nice words." And I say, "Do you want it? I can make it possible." How can I make it possible? I have that peace in my life. I am aware of that peace in my life. Does that mean I don't have problems? Of course not. I have problems. Does that mean I don't get angry anymore? Of course not. I get angry. Am I a vegetable? No. These are excuses: "If you have peace, then you'll completely change," or "You will have to change your religion." Why would you have to do that? Does your religion say you can't have peace? Of course it doesn't. Your communication to your God in your style, in your way, is beautiful. Why should that preclude the reality that peace lies in your heart? It's already there.