Maharaji in Dublin, PRE-004-D 2006-07-11

Maharaji in Dublin, PRE-004-D, 11th July, 2006
The Spectrum of Life

Prem Rawat, widely known by the honorary title Maharaji, has been travelling the world for more than 30 years, bringing a unique message of peace. He gave his first public addresses at the age of three, and by the age of 13, he was responding to invitations to speak in the United States and Great Britain [as Guru Maharaj Ji, The Lord of the Universe]. His message is from the heart. He speaks about the possibility for each person to find peace within, regardless of circumstances. Addressing a distinguished audience at the invitation of the United Nations Association of Malaysia, he recently said, Peace is a fundamental necessity and begins with each individual. And yes, peace is possible. Through the Prem Rawat Foundation, he also spearheads significant humanitarian initiatives [rubbish:: TPRF gives aid of $0.5 million p.a.] aimed at improving the lives of people most in need. From large cities to remote villages, millions of people around the world come to him for inspiration and guidance. Even as his audiences increase, Prem Rawat's message remains directed to each individual. If you are looking for fulfillment and peace, he says, the solution lies within. If that is what you want, I can help. www.premrawat.org

Thank you and good evening. And I'm glad that you were able to take a little bit of time from your busy schedule to come here and spend a few minutes listening to something that has to do with you, that has to do with your existence. For me, today was a good day. It was one of those days where things kept breaking down and then if you just waited a little while they would fix themselves. It was one of those days. Some things required proactive approach. Some things required to just wait and go with the flow, have patience. But that's not what today was all about. Today, a breath came into me and brought me the gift of life. For this, I am filled with gratitude. For this, I am eternally thankful. Because today, I am alive.

What does that mean? It doesn't have to mean anything. When I am in that thankfulness, when I am aware of my possibility, when I am aware of what I have been given, it doesn't have to mean anything. When your child, your little baby, not the teenager, the little baby, when the teenager was the little baby, looked at you, before she could walk or before he could walk, and just looked at you and smiled. One of those smiles that melted you. What did it have to mean? Did it have to mean anything? Did you have to jump up and down and go, oh, he's already asking for a car? Did it mean that you got up and said, you're not going to get a car. You're too young. No, it didn't mean, it melted you and you allowed yourself to go. And you looked. And did you have to go and draft a whole letter, read a book? No. In that moment, all that was needed was a smile back. And you did so. And everything was said.

And what was said in that moment, I think there is enough paper on the face of this earth to write what was said. Because you know, in this life, in this existence, what I have understood, traveling so many places, going to so many places, seeing so many people, is that there is a song that has been written, but it has never been sung. There is a symphony that has been composed, but it has never been played. There is a poetry that has been written, but never recited. And each one of us, within us, we carry this song. We carry this poetry. We carry this symphony. We have become so concerned about tomorrow. We have become so concerned about our future. We live every day and everything is so cut and dry. There is only two spectrums to us. Everything in our life gets chopped down into two things. Good. The other one you know. And that's it. Good, bad. Good, bad. Good, bad. Right, wrong. Good, bad. Right, wrong.

That's it. Is that who we are? Because I see that the ability to enjoy exists in a bee. Now, take me wrong. It's not like I just sit there and watch bees. It's like I have nothing to do and there I am. No. But, the reason why I'm telling you this is because one day I was trying to take a macro photo of a bee on a flower with a big lens. And so it was a lot of going around and looking and trying to get it at the right time and getting the focus right and I got to see a lot. And this bee would go flower to flower to flower to flower and then when it would find that nectar it would sit down. Stop buzzing. And it would go again to the flower that it had been to before and it wasn't about good and bad but it was what can I get from this flower, this nectar. That there was, in this symphony, not just two notes. Even though there has been a symphony with three notes, just three. But this symphony uses the notes that it needs. That it needs. That this song uses words that it needs. Whatever they may be. But you have to hear it. You have to hear it sung. That this poetry touches the heart as it needs to. It is not about analyzing. It is not about right and wrong. It is not about good and bad.

As we have created it. As we have created it. In this world, what may be right in one place may be totally wrong in the other place. Totally. In England, they have roundabouts and it works. Amiably well. For most part. In America, they started the idea of roundabouts. No. It does not work. In fact, one time I flew from Europe to this one place. And they had to have officers in the roundabout. All around the roundabout. Kind of trying to tell people what to do. And some people would just come barging into the roundabout. This road used to be straight. And now, why am I going? What is this? What happened to the lights? Why are these people not stopping? Because for a lot of them, it is like, well, everybody will stop for you. Because when some people in this world, when they get in a car. They have been blessed by God. And therefore, it is incumbent upon all the rest of God's creatures to yield to this person. And so, good, bad, right, wrong.

This is not what your life is composed of. There is a lot more. If you have only seen two colors, there is a lot more colors to this rainbow than you realize. There is a lot more to every moment of your life. Not a day. Not a day. Forget about the day. I am talking about every moment of your life that you are alive. Question is, how much are you harvesting of this crop? How much? How much at the end of the day do you take home? Is it enough to satisfy your hunger? There are many kinds of hunger. You may get hungry for food. You may get thirsty for water. But that is not the only kind of thirst. That is not the only kind of thirst. Have you never been in love before? And when you are in love, what do you thirst for? What do you thirst for? You thirst for the one you love. Day and night. Day and night. And day and night. And day and night. That is a kind of a thirst. That is a kind of a hunger. Some people hunger to be more successful.

Of course, that is one kind of a hunger that never will be satisfied. It doesn't matter how much you eat of it. Success is very much… A long time ago, they made this movie of the Little Rascals. And, you know, there was one particular episode of this movie where they were having a boat race. And the rich kid had a boat, a proper boat. The little rascals didn't have a boat. They had a duck. And then they put a little boat together kind of thing and put the duck as the motor. And then in front of the duck, they would dangle some food. The duck would try to go to it. And then for steering, they would just move that around and the duck would follow. I know if it really worked or not.

But do you, in your life, recognize that one thing that you can satisfy? Not what you cannot satisfy, but what you can satisfy. What is real? And reality that I am talking about is not a definition that comes from someone else. That's the most important thing. Because we are living our life, our life, by the guidelines that come from our experience, but come from the experience of others. Now you may say, well, what's wrong with that? That's fine. I accept. I have a problem with that. What is freedom? One day I was having a whole conversation about freedom. Especially after that whole thing, that whole controversial thing that happened where the person wrote that cartoon and people got very upset in Europe.

And the whole thing was put down to freedom of speech. If I asked somebody, talk. And I say to them, stop talking. It's a punishment. If I say to somebody, remember in school, freedom was you could stand up or sit down. But when the teacher said, no, you cannot sit down. Stay up. Stand up. You cannot sit down. What did it become? It became a punishment. Freedom of speech includes freedom of silence. If you have freedom of silence, you have a punishment on your hands. Because the task you have been given is, stop talking. Keep talking. Keep talking. You need to stop because you're tired. No, keep talking. Keep talking. Keep talking. Rowing a boat isn't bad. So far you also get to stop when you feel like it.

But when somebody's standing there, no, keep rowing, it becomes a punishment. In your life, what is the definition of freedom? When do you feel free? You as a human being, on the face of this earth, forget about all this technology. People obviously have a reaction to that. What do you mean forget about all this technology? Just forget about this technology. This technology is there. It really has little to do with you as a human being. How can I say that? I love technology. That's how I can say that. I have lots of gadgets. I know about this technology. And I also know that if this earth has been around for 24 hours, we have only appeared in the last 15 minutes. Not much. We may be talking on cell phones and saying, well, this is incredible, but our tailbone is a good little reminder from when we perhaps, perhaps used to be monkeys. Perhaps. And it gives us problems. Sitting on chairs too long. You know, it's pushed the wrong way. And people have to get up and go, oh, I have to stretch. Technology, yeah. But a human being, even more. Because that's who you are. That's who you are.

When the last breath is taken, no cell phones can save you. None of this technology, at the end of the day, can save you. I was talking to a doctor. And I said, do doctors really save lives? And the doctor said, yes, of course. And I said, then why do people die? And he stopped. It was provoked. It was a very provocative thing to say, I know. Doctors definitely help. I'm not saying they help. When I get injured, when I need a doctor, I go to a doctor. But my life is a little bit more than that. My life, my everyday, my breath is a little bit more than the sum of all those things I perceive every day and say, this is it. No, it's a little bit more. And that is what I have to understand. And when I begin to understand, something incredible happens. When you are fulfilled, when you are fulfilled, something amazing happens automatically. And this thing that happens, people spend a lot of money trying to make this thing happen. But sometimes all the money and effort in this world doesn't do it. But then something happens. Not too often, but once in a while, it happens. And when it does, it does amazing things.

OK, enough of suspense. You know what it is? It's contentment. Once in a while, you find yourself content. And when you find yourself content, do you know what happens? You become happy. And you know what happens when you become happy? Amazing things happen when you become happy. Unbelievable things happen when you become happy All of a sudden, you become kind. I'm not kidding. I'm not kidding. I know if you've noticed that. But when you are content, you become happy. And when you become happy, you become kind. I mean, your level of tolerance goes sky high. Your son comes up to you and says, mommy, mommy, I need $10 for ice cream. And you go, here, take $20. $10 for you and $10 for me. Get me an ice cream. And somebody says good morning to you. And you know what do you say? A very good morning to you. Aren't you curious? Because people spend a lot of money trying to become that. One, people spend a lot of money trying to be happy.

But all that trying really gets them very frustrated. And they get so frustrated that then they go for behavioral change so that they can appear kind and considerate and anger management. Manage your anger. And when you're content, anger management is automatic. Somebody cuts in front of you. Somebody rear ends you. Oh, I'm sure you didn't mean to. All that trying that doesn't really work happens to be an automatic nature of every single human being. Could that be? That kindness is automatic to you? That gentleness is your second nature? That peace is appreciated by you? That you like love? That you like understanding? That you wish good for another human being who you may not even know? All because you happen to be content for a few minutes and all this happened? You know what? If that's true, there is a chance for peace. But maybe the peace is not that elusive after all. But if these things that we think are so distant to us, we find them alienating, find them strange perhaps at times. When people are angry, they go, I want to be angry. It's my right to be angry. He cut me off, and that's why I am angry. And when you are content, you go, come on over. It's OK. When you are content, you might give up your seat. When you are content, somebody wants that parking space, and you go, it's OK. I'll go find another one. I'm not talking about becoming a vegetable. Kindness, that's all. Kindness. Kindness. Kindness towards yourself, kindness towards another human being. Kindness. That in this life, instead of so much noise, a symphony begins to play that is so sweet, that every day, every moment begins to fill with gratitude. It's not about anger management. I know there's so many people, they're like, oh, yes, yes, yes, you've got to have anger management. You know. No, no. As human beings, we begin to lose touch with ourselves. This cannot be. This cannot be.

I was in Spain, and where I was staying, one day, somebody found a baby bird on the balcony. And somehow, the baby bird had hurt itself and couldn't fly. So they told me, what should we do? I said, immediately take the baby bird to the animal hospital, where they can repair the wing. And they did. And they also told me that the baby bird recovered really fast, and in two or three days, it'd be ready to fly. I was very happy. Good. Then one day, I saw this bird sitting on the fence, and calling, and calling, and calling, and calling, and calling. And my first reaction was, what is wrong with this bird? Why is it sitting there, and calling, and calling, and calling, and calling? And then I remembered, that's the mama. She's calling for her baby. A little bird knows. A little bird knows. In its nature, it knows about what it needs to do. Does it not have an agenda other than that? Of course it does. Bugs to collect. Places to fly to. Test out the winds. But through it all, it knows what it needs to do. Has not lost in touch with its birdiness. It knows what is important.

Somebody around 14th century said, the good and bad, even all the animals know. What is good, what is bad, they know. You approach a deer too fast, it'll run away. It knows. It doesn't go, huh, I wonder what this guy wants. It feels threatened, it splits. And this person went on to say that human being is the doorway to the Knowledge of the Self. This is what makes us different. There's something in our lives that we can experience, that we can feel. That this is the doorway to feeling what has been placed inside of us. This is the doorway to that song that has been written. This is the doorway to that symphony that is waiting to be played. This is the doorway to that poetry that was written for each one of us. That bird does not know how to send rockets into outer space. That bird does not know how to fly airplanes. That bird does not know how to operate computers. And subsequently is not frustrated by those things. Which I know, probably is a good thing. But that bird knows what is important.

The question is, have you found out what is important to you? Not from the definitions given by other people, but by that longing and the thirst that comes from within every single human being. The longing, what do you long for? The understanding, what do you understand? Feeling, what do you feel? What clarity do you hold in your life every single day? On a smooth ocean, on a smooth ocean, you can sit in a tiny little rubber raft and it's fine. It's not about the smooth ocean.

Because one day, that ocean will not be smooth. That is its nature. That is the nature of that ocean. It can be smooth and it can kick up. And when it kicks up, it can be destructive. And when it is smooth, it can be so calm and innocent, like, come on down. I will never hurt you. And all those fishermen that make their living off of that sea know, and it is not about not going out in that ocean. It is when to go and when not to go. They read the pulse of that ocean. You are also in this ocean of life. Do you know how to read its pulse? Do you know that space where it is the safe haven? You know that space where it is the place where you can drop the anchor and rest for the night and not have to get pounded by the winds of change. That's clarity. The sweetest angel that can come in your life is that angel of clarity. And when she comes, the darkness leaves. It's dispelled. Because now you can see. That's all. It's not about creating road maps. It's the ability to see, to know. Every day in your life to feel that clarity and garner that clarity. And even when that clarity is not there in the life, to be knowing in the back of your heart, yes, I know, it's there.

Living life should be a beautiful thing. Living life, living this existence should be a beautiful thing every single day. For me, it is work in progress. Every day, a conscious effort has to be made. Every day, I have to have the ability to be able to turn within and find my reality. That is why I am so thankful.

Because one day in my life, I did not have this. I was very young. I wasn't an unhappy child. Things were good. I was young, and I had the great gift of being able to go to some of the events with my father where he would talk to people about this possibility. I was so young, I would fall asleep just listening. Hot summer nights, events would happen very late. I would fall asleep.

Why is that critical? Well, because people think to find the inner happiness, you have to give up everything. No, no, no. Even though I am work in progress, I can clearly tell you to find the inner happiness. You do not have to give up any of that. You can have a computer, which has Mac OS X and Windows on it, so ultimately you are set up to receive the worst of both. I mean, I was working on a project, and I had three computers, two keyboards, two mice on my desk. And it was so confusing, which one is what? So finally, I had to kind of get it in place. Now I'd be sitting there typing, and nothing would happen. And here, this other computer is just changing the screen. And it's like, oh my God, I better not do this, or everything will crash. It's not about that, it's not about giving up.

Some people become renunciates, they renounce. And when they renounce, they feel they must announce. So as soon as they renounce, they start announcing, I have renounced. And they're more concerned about their announcement of their renouncement than they are about the renouncement. And that is why the message becomes so beautiful in this day and age, and underline thee also, that yes, there is the green balloon, and yes, there is the blue balloon, and yes, there is that mansion, and yes, there is that car, and yes, there is all that, and yes, there is a family, and yes, there is responsibilities. And also, there is something within you. And all you have to do is say, I'm not going to trade one for the other. I want it all. Because that's the possibility. This message would mean nothing, if it only clearly provided you an alternative, yes, you can have peace, give up everything. I have four wonderful kids, I love to fly, would I give up all of that? I have to. Because that one thing that I'm really looking for has always been inside of me, always will be inside of me, and it is inside of me now, and if I want to, I can go and be there, and be in this world too. Not either or.

Who will be the judge that you have found peace? I mean, you know, simple preparation, if somebody is looking for peace in their lives, how am I going to not have found peace? You are going to be the judge of when you have found peace. And the kind of peace that I am talking about is the kind of peace that can be experienced in the middle of a battlefield. Yes, a lot of people who have the gift of this, being able to witness this beauty within, were and are in Iraq, in Afghanistan. Some have returned, and they were able to experience that peace in the middle of the battlefield, that peace. The peace that Socrates talked about, know thyself, not know your enemy, not know the girl across the room, or vice versa, but know thyself. The type, the kind of freedom I am talking about is the kind of freedom being experienced by people who have the gift of being able to go within and experience that freedom in the middle of a prison. Prison, that's freedom. That kind of freedom. And who can be the judge but you, when you know? Not through doubts, not through the questions of this world, but by a feeling, will you know? This much is common to every single human being on the face of this earth. Put salt water in your mouth, and you go, salty. Anywhere you go, this happens to be the case.

This is not about religion. This is not about a way of belief. This is about living your life eyes wide open, living your life with a feeling, listening to that feeling. For the first time, to dance to a song whose origin comes from within you. To be mesmerized by a poem whose words come from within you. When there's no doubt, when there's clarity, when there's no questions, abundance of answers. What kind of life is that? No questions, just answers. Answers, answers, answers, answers. And somebody goes, I wonder what question goes to this. And you care. To feel love. And the reason is this breath. That you have fallen in love with the gift of God. So many people say, God, if you're there, let yourself be known to me so I can believe in you. Then stop and know that through every breath, God comes to you and touches you.

That is a miracle of all miracles. That he comes and he touches you in this miracle of life. This is his work of art. Art. It's so artsy, it's amazing. And you believe me? Go see a peacock. This thing doesn't have to be this artsy. Talk about color combination, green and blue. Every time a human being puts those two colors together, it looks horrible. Horrible. It's the wrong colors. But that Creator put them together. Just change the hues so subtly they go blend in. They go together perfectly. you think that's artsy? Somebody creates art to be unappreciated? Let me make this person's life really difficult. Let me make this really nice. No, that's an oxymoron. There's something beautiful in everything. Reflection. Even when the skies at night are black, little things, oh, these things are not so little, shine like stars. How much? No end.

No end to this beauty. No end to this beauty. And that same one that created all this beauty created you and me. Every human being on the face of this earth. Same exact manufacturer, believe me. Not a subcontractor, genuine product every single time. Every single time. Unique. Unique. I mean, I'm sure to flies we all look alike. It's like, what's the difference? Because to us, flies look all alike. But I'm sure to the flies, they all look alike. They're like, ha, Henry, Arthur. Whatever name they give, bzz, bzz, and bzz, bzz, bzz, and whatever it is. Everything, every human being on the face of this earth, unique. Even if they're twins, unique. Unique. A lot to be said for that. All to feel the gratitude in your life for what you have been given. To feel the reality of your existence of what you have been given. To feel alive every single day.

Not just think of being alive every single day, but to actually feel alive every single day. That should be your possibility. Peace was set as a threshold for every single human being. In fact, for the entire humanity a long time ago. It is only one of those dreams that we have not been able to fulfill. Going to the moon, we have done it. Now the real challenge is peace. Peace begins with every single human being. That's where peace begins. You want light in this world? Then we are the lamps. And each one has to be lit. And when each one of us is lit, there will be some incredible light. I guarantee it. I guarantee it. I'm not the one who set the threshold for peace. Here, this is the thing to attain. Peace was set a long time ago. How was it put? Peace and prosperity.

Now we're going about it backwards. Because we're saying prosperity and peace. No, no. (using weird voices) It's peace. (laughter) Then prosperity. Because true prosperity will automatically come when there is peace. So you know, I am for peace. I love peace. I have found that peace in my life. I'm so thankful that I have. I want you to also find that peace in your life. And for those who have found that peace in their lives, to feel that peace every day. Be it work in progress. That's not the point. Progress is good. Work is good. In is very good. (strong laughter) So work in progress. Work is fine. But in this life, to feel that feeling inside. It's possible. It is possible. If I could feel it, you can feel it. And it is possible. It's not a dream. It's not a philosophy. It's not an idea. I'm talking about a well where you can quench your thirst. I'm talking about an ocean where I'm saying, come, swim, jump in, cleanse yourself, feel refreshed every single day. Every single day. Every single day. Not just one day. Every single day. And I'm saying, search for peace. If you found peace, wonderful. If you, come look me up. I can help. This is what I do.

So thank you very much for coming this evening, listening to me. I hope you have rest of the evening, a pleasant evening. And of course, rest of the life, a very pleasant life. Good night, and thank you again.