Maharaji: Fake United Nations 60th Anniversary Committee, 26th June 2005
Rawat's speeches were not written or prepared but they are certainly not unrehearsed. The speeches preceding his current one are the rehearsals and the speeches following evolve gradually using the same store of tales, premie gossip, clichés, life events, recent tv shows and stock phrases.
WOPG blurb: Responding to an invitation from the United Nations 60th Anniversary Committee, Prem Rawat addressed a distinguished audience of diplomats, and government and civic leaders at an event held in celebration of the UN's 60th anniversary at the historic Herbst Theater in San Francisco, where the UN Charter was signed sixty years ago.
In reality the United Nations 60th Anniversary Committee was created for the sole purpose of having this one function and making Rawat the speaker. Google it and you will see that every mention of it is made by Rawat's devotees' organisations. It was imagined by Linda Pascotto, a trust fund baby who knew her way around arty socialite events and musical soirées and created this one to provide phony PR for Rawat who doesn't know his way around High Society. There was a partial edited transcript of the speech on ypi.net, on the Inspire electronic newsletter and on www.voiceofmharaji.info now all defunct. In the remants of internet pages dealing with this fake ceremony there remains more of what other people said than what Rawat said. This may be because what he said was his usual spiel and couldn't be related to the original signing of the UN Charter or peace as the UN sees it.
"the worst war is the war within a human being because there's no ceasefire to it" - It sounds like Mr Rawat is a very conflicted person, my internal dialogue is calm
Maharaji: Fake United Nations 60th Anniversary Committee, 26th June 2005
Text, ypi.net: You have heard about peace in many different ways. Maybe this is just one more perspective, but it is a perspective that comes from the heart. Peace. We think, "Peace. Yes, something over here called peace." When I travel around the world and mention the word "peace," everyone has a different reaction. It ranges from "I've heard about that" to "It's a waste of time" to "I am interested in peace." The most significant statement is: "I am interested in peace." I, as an individual, a person - not a label, not a box, not a globe - but a living, breathing, human being whose existence is priceless. This is the opportunity each one of us has been given. Peace is a feeling - a feeling of non-duality, a feeling away from doubt, a feeling of me. Me understanding my existence. Feeling peace - not in turmoil, not in war, not in controversy, but in the serenity of existence.
There is more to you than you realize. There is another chapter here that hasn't been opened. Maybe there is a treasure trove that has not been tapped yet. Maybe there is another room to this villa, this mansion, this house, that has not been looked at. The desire for peace transcends every barrier. Even those who have been incarcerated desire peace. Those who have little to eat also desire peace. And those sitting in giant mansions desire peace. Peace is one of those things: after a bowl of food, I still want to be in peace. The worst war is the war within a human being because there's no ceasefire to it. You can't put a brake on it; you can't negotiate with just one party. And the trouble with the war that rages inside is that, even if you win it, you lose because it's with yourself.
This is your life. Sometimes we forget what is being created here. This is no ordinary construction site. Done well, it will be better and more beautiful than the Mona Lisa, more grand than the Statue of David, more magnificent than the Sistine Chapel. Who will be the admirer? Admiration and simplicity are the guardian angels of this beautiful experience called peace. They are the towers. In no uncertain terms, know the value of this existence, the value of this breath, the desire for peace that we carry in our hearts. There is a part of us that has beckoned us to be in peace again and again, that when we are in turmoil says, "This is no good. You don't want to be here. This is not acceptable."
I'm talking about the peace that can be even experienced in the middle of war. It's not about the new or the fancy. It's about the good old heart that's always been there. It's about the good old breath that is as old and fresh and new as nothing I've seen. I cannot compare it to dew or to the rising sun or to a new star, because when that breath comes into me, it is so new that it is incomparable. That's my potential. I can be fulfilled like you can.
Maharaji
Major Maharaji minion Jossi Fresco put an audio recording of part of Rawat's speech on Wikimedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Prem_Rawat_United_Nations_Anniversary.mp3)
This is a transcript of the audio file.
We have a fantastic, incredible, amazing opportunity to begin with the fundamental steps in recognizing the need for peace for every person. And then, I think, for the first time, we can begin to see a difference. What will the outcome be? Will there be no wars? I don't know. People will have wars for fun. If they had absolutely no reason, they'll say, well, you know what? Let's have a war. It's called, I'm even fascinated, tug of war. Four kids from one side of the block will come around and say, well, we're better than you are. No, we're not. Let's have a fight.
But I'm talking about the peace that can be even experienced in the middle of the war. What will the world be like if every human being on the face of this earth had peace? I don't know what the world would be like. But I know that every human being would look so beautiful. Because human beings wear peace so well, so well. They're so attractive when they have peace dancing in their eyes. And that, that is possible. What that would mean, I cannot even imagine. I cannot even imagine. But yes, I am trying. And I will try. And I will try. And I will try, for as long as I can try, to bring peace to people, to each individual. That's all I can do. That's all I can do. Some people come.
People listen to me. They say, eh, I've heard this before. Good. Did you really hear it? Or did you open up that incredible valve between the two ears, in one, out the other? Oh, yes, yes, yes, you know, inner peace, that's, you know. There are more pressing issues. No, this is the pressing issue. The precedent of it was laid a long time ago. Know thyself. And until it is accomplished, the full potential of this life itself, the dignity of the life itself, will never be recognized. I'm not here to talk to you about anything new. I'm only here to remind you of what you already know. Because I think if I tell you something new, I have failed. If I remind you of what you know, I have succeeded. That's a good, that's my indicator. Did I do well tonight? Well, did I remind them of something they already knew? And if I did, I did well.
If I told them something new, eh, I'll work on it. Because it's not about the new. It's not about the fancy. It's about the good old heart that's always been there. It's about the good old breath that is as old, as long as I remember, and as fresh and new as I have nothing seen so fresh or new. I cannot compare it to dew, and I cannot compare it to the rising sun, and I cannot compare it to a new star. Because when that breath comes into me, it is so new that it is incomparable. That's my potential. And I can be fulfilled like you can. We're different, yet we're the same. We're different the way we look, our tastes, but we're the same in the fundamental desire that we all have. We're no different.
There were some other people doing introductions
Welcoming the attendees, Bill McCarthy, Administrator of the UN 60th Anniversary Committee, said:
"We are here tonight to commemorate and celebrate the anniversary of a historic event and to hear distinguished speakers. Sixty years ago, in this same hall, the founding charter of the United Nations was signed. President Truman addressed the delegates as they arrived and said: 'I earnestly appeal to each and every one of you to rise above personal interests and adhere to those lofty principles which benefit all mankind. You are to be the architects of a better world. In your hands rests our future. If we do not want to die together in war, we must learn to live together in peace.'
"Since President Truman spoke these visionary words, a tremendous amount of human, financial, and economic efforts have been invested in trying to bring about peace. Have President Truman's sincere hopes materialized? Unfortunately, not as much as we would like. While we enjoy the benefits of civilization, technology, and progress, the world we live in is filled with conflict. Even more sadly, many people have come to accept that peace is an impossible dream. Could it be that we're missing something? Something important?
"'Peace,' says Prem Rawat, 'is possible.' His affirmation stands in contrast to commonly accepted beliefs. His message is controversial in the noble sense of the word. He presents a message of hope and peace that challenges the commonly negative views of the world; his message is visionary and yet practical, profound, and yet relatable."
Nancy Peterson, President of the United Nations Association of San Francisco and President of the UN 60th Anniversary Committee, said:
"How fortunate we all are to be here tonight in this historic place remembering these memories, which are so important to all of us and to our lives as citizens today. The founding of the United Nations is the reflection of an ancient dream of mankind, because if you look at the writings of the ancient Romans and Greeks, from time to time they would comment: Wouldn't it be better if people could come together and talk about their differences and settle things by negotiations and words rather than resorting to war?"
Speaking of the day when the United Nations Charter was signed sixty years ago, Ms. Peterson said: "What a day this was for San Francisco. There are many people still living who remember with honor and pride their parts in it. And so it is a part of the heritage of our city to remember the founding of the United Nations."
Welcoming Prem Rawat, Astrid Stromberg, President of the United Nations Association of Northern California, said:
"It is in the spirit of celebration for the accomplishments of the United Nations and of many millions of unnamed people around the world who strive to let peace dwell within the human spirit that we are gathered here. It is also in the hope that the peace that has kept eluding this world will in our lifetime become a reality. Prem Rawat's message is from the heart. While the peace that he speaks of is of universal relevance and value, his message is profound, personal, and practical - from heart to heart. Peace, he says, is our birthright. It is already within, waiting to be felt. Peace, he says, is possible."