Prem Rawat at the San Antonio Abad University in Cusco, June 2013

Prem Rawat at the San Antonio Abad University in Cusco, June 2013

In June 2013, Prem Rawat was invited to speak at the San Antonio Abad University in Cusco, Peru, at a conference called "Seven Billion Reasons for Peace." Founded in 1692, the university is one of the oldest and most important in Peru and South America.

Faculty, students, distinguished guests. It's a great honour to be here and a great honour to be talking about peace. Now I'm going to tell you a story. And it's very interesting what kind of response this story brings about. And the story goes something like this. Once upon a time, a king was holding court and all his ministers were there. All his subjects were there. And he turned to one of his ministers and said tell me "What? What is happening around in my kingdom?" And the minister said, "well, the most incredible news. Your majesty. And the news is that one of your subjects, one of your citizens, has discovered a way to live forever." So when the king heard that he was very pleased because the king had a secret desire. Like I think we all do sometimes, to live forever. So he summoned his ambassador and he said "immediately you must dispatch. You can go and you must go to this person without delay And you should find out how you live forever." And the King said "don't delay." So the journey was at least 24 hours. And the guy, the ambassador, set off and when the ambassador arrived, unfortunately, the man was dead.

So the ambassador returned and the king was very anxiously waiting, pacing up and down. Just could not wait for this man to this man to return with the with the secret of living forever. And as soon as he saw the ambassador, he said "Tell me. Tell me. Tell me. Tell me" and the ambassador said "I'm sorry. Your majesty. Um, when I got there The man died." So the king said "See I told you not to delay. It is your fault. You delayed. And because you delayed, by the time you got there, the man was dead. Had you not delayed, you would have gotten there. Learn the secret and I could live forever." So of course the king was very upset. He said "Off with his head. You have to be beheaded." So there's this big argument going on in the court. Should he be beheaded? Shouldn't he be beheaded? Maybe there could be a little smaller punishment. The king is furious. The people are furious. And there's this huge discussion going on. Right, wrong, right wrong. One day, a wise man walked into town and said, "why is everybody arguing? Wherever I go, people are arguing."

So somebody narrated the story. And upon hearing the story, the wise man said "But don't you see the obviousness of the situation?" And everybody was "What is the obviousness?" "The obviousness is" he said, "if the man had truly learnt the way to live for ever. He wouldn't have died. But he didn't know." So why did I tell you that story? Because when it comes to the top, to the topic of peace, we are also looking for some magical formula. We are hoping somebody will come to Cusco and claim that they have the magical formula for peace. And before that person dies because of high altitude, (laughter, Rawat laughs also) you you get in and you get the formula and then you can have peace forever.

But first let's understand what peace is. What is peace? For many people they only recognise and realise the manifestations of peace. They only realise and recognise the manifestations of peace not peace itself. So what are the manifestations of peace? Oh, absence of war. That's a manifestation of peace. So let's have absence of war. Let's have absence of this, everybody smiles, because they are in peace. So all of a sudden the whole world is busy trying to create the illusion of peace. I'm here to talk about peace, not the illusion of peace. You know there are people and they're called look-a-likes They look alike. Some people actually look alike. Look like the queen of England. And they hire. You can hire them and they will come to your party and they will wear a crown and they will pretend they are the queen. But they're not the queen. The queen is the queen, with or without the crown. The queen is the queen. Other one is wearing clothes to look like the queen but is not the queen.

So where is peace? First of all, understand that you are the source of peace. You are the source of peace. Peace resides in the heart of each one of you. Last night, and this happens to me quite often, I don't know (laughs) if it is a blessing or a curse, but many times. in the middle of my sleep, I get this incredible idea. So I have to write it down. I have to write about to write it down. I've gotten pretty good. I don't need light. I can just write it on a piece of paper on total darkness and in the daytime, I can read it. So this is from last night from Cusco. This is original as original as it gets. It's only few hours old. There's a reason for every season. There is a reason for every season. But there is no season for a reason. And reason, the second reason being understanding. There is no season. You don't have to be so old. You don't have to be so educated to be able to understand that peace is something that is a need which is fundamental to everyone. Not a luxury. You know why there is summer? Why there is winter? There's a reason for that. Earth tilts. There's a reason for that. But you can always understand, day, night, any age. Whether you be young. Whether you're old. You can always understand the passion of your heart.

You have been given this different tools. You have been given different tools. And you must learn how to use these tools. I'll give you example. You have been given eyes to see not, to hear, not to hear. They cannot hear at all. But they can see. You have been given ears to hear but they cannot see. So next time you want to see something. Look, don't go like this and go I cannot see. This is not the tool for seeing. You've been given him out. and in the mouth. you've been given some very complex tools. You given lips to make sure it's not too hot. You've been given tongue to taste. You've been given teeth to chew and you must use these tools accordingly. So why am I telling you of this? I'm sure you're sitting there going, "What is that have to do with peace?" You have been given a mind. You've been given a mind to understand the world. And you have been given a heart to understand you. I know there's a lot of people going "Oh it it it its it's there's no such thing as a heart." (6 second pause) From the perspective of this, the mind. Don't you want to marry the perfect girl? Or marry the perfect boy? Perfect. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Don't you? Don't you? And if this was true, the office for the weddings, nobody would go because you would be waiting and waiting and waiting for the perfect man. Perfect woman. Excuse me.

What is love? What is love? Where is this come from? But you feel you feel in love with the most imperfect man. You feel love with the most imperfect and when the love is there, the most imperfect man becomes perfect. The heart is about you. The mind is about the world. You have learned to use your mind very well. Obviously. But what about the heart? And heart is the domain of peace. Not the mind. The mind says "Wait a minute. That means if I feel peace. If I have peace, I cannot fight. I want to fight. When somebody steals my pencil, I want it back." Some people think if I become peaceful, I will become a vegetable. All day long I'm sitting just sitting and sitting. No, no, no, no, no. You are dynamic. You will remain dynamic. Being in peace gives you a complete whole dynamic person. A complete dynamic person.

A person who understands the simplicity of this breath. Let me just before I close. Let me tell you something. This earth is 4.5 and a little over billion years old. Even if you live for 100 years. Do you know how long that is compared to the earth that is 4.54 billion years old. I will explain it to you. You ready? Ready. Here it comes now. (snaps fingers) And that was too long. It's actually a little less than a second. This is too long. (snaps fingers)So based upon how old the Earth is, even if you live to be 100 years old. (snaps fingers) This is how long you will be on the face of this earth. Are you shocked? I only say that for one reason. And one reason alone. Never part ways with clarity. You cannot afford it. Never part ways with peace. You cannot afford it. Consciously live every moment that you have. Feel full. Not only here (points to brain) but also in your heart.

I say one thing to you today. I said it before in India once. Are you looking for peace? Are you looking for peace? I have something to say to you, then peace is looking for you. Peace is looking for you. Stop running. Let it catch you. Let it catch you. Let it embrace you. Be still just long enough that peace can catch up to you. I'm not talking about an illusionary peace. I'm talking about the real peace. I'm not talking about the manifestations of peace. This is what people talk about. "Oh yes. We will get rid of the wars and we will have this and we will have that and we will have much better societies and okay, whatever will happen will happen. But I'm talking about real peace. No can be, nobody can be forced into real peace. If you have the thirst and thirst is a powerful motivator. What's so incredible about thirst? You know what's incredible about thirst? It focuses you. When you're just a little thirsty. It's like yeah, yeah. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Oh yes, yes, yes. Let's go partying. Let's go dancing. Let's do this. Let's do that. Let's talk about this. Let's talk about that. The thirstier you get. The thirstier you get. The thirstier you get. The thirstier you get. The thirstier you get. "Where's the water? Where's the water? Where's the water? Where's the water?" Thirst is an incredible force that will focus you. What is so incredible about understanding? Do you know? What is incredible about understanding is what you could not even explain to yourself, once you understand you can explain it thousands. That's what's incredible about understanding. Understand your thirst. Put those powers together and see the value of life, of which you only have (snaps fingers) less than that.

Once you understand this hierarchy, you will begin to understand what peace is and what peace is about not an illusion, not a formula, not a theory, not a thesis but something real that you need to feel in your life every single day. With that I will end because they will be some questions that you have and uh I will take those questions. So, thank you very much.

Q: Good evening, I would like to know how your message is different from the rest. Thank you.

Well. (clears throat strongly) I see a lot of messages that really try to deal with the manifestations of peace. You know, uh, when somebody is cooking food, you smell, and the first night I was in Cusco, I stepped out and there's this beautiful aroma of corn and beans in the air. I have a good nose so I could smell "Mmm beans." Now, I can say that when I go back and I miss Cusco. I tell my cooks "Cook me some beans and corn" and then I can go stand in the kitchen and go "Mmm Cusco." To me peace is something that can be felt by every single human being. Lot of people talk about social peace. But I talk about individual peace. When you look at Cusco at night, it looks beautiful, all these lights. "Oh, that's, look at Cusco at night." But do you know that's each one of one bulb that's lit, makes that scene, right? I'm talking about peace on Earth. Not because Earth needs peace. Earth doesn't need peace. We do. We are the problem, not the Earth. We need peace. Birds don't need peace. We need peace. Animals don't need peace. We need peace. And so I am coming from a very fundamental place and if anybody else is coming from that fundamental place and talking about experiencing peace, then there is no difference between my message and their message.

But if it is simply chanting, a lotta people do that "Pe-a-ce, peace, peace, peace" you know, if we could get peace like that. I mean, I'm not a rich man, terribly rich, I could just say "Money, money, money." Ohh, actually everybody could that would solve the poverty problem of the world. But by simply saying "Money, money, money" doesn't bring you money. Saying "Peace, peace, peace" will not bring you peace. Something has to be done. What has to be done? With your eyes you can see everybody else's face, right? You can see the face next to the guy next to you. You can see the face of the person next to you. But what about your face? Could you see your face? You need a mirror. You need to be able to look inside. Amazing. You know, I think, you would think, with your own eyes, you should be able to see your own face But you can't. You need a mirror. And as there is knowledge of the world, there is knowledge of the self. And without the knowledge of the self, a person is fundamentally lost. Fundamentally. If you have a map, what do you need to know? What do you need to know? If you have a map, what do you need to know? What do you need to know? Where are you on that map? You know you have GPS. You have constellation of GPS. Billions of dollars. What does it tell you? What does it really tell you? Where are you? That's because that's what you need to know. So that's my message. And if other messengers talk like that about that, then there is no difference. And if they don't, then there's a big difference.

I am down to Earth. Fundamental. Reality. Feel, than decide. That's what I have to say. (applause)

Q: Good evening, Mr Rawat. I would like to thank you for coming here and welcome you again to Cusco. My question is basically this: What do I need to do to feel content, to feel peace? How can I achieve it? And I'd like to know what it is that I really want. Thank you very much.

Oh good afternoon to you and the most important thing. The most important thing is to first know where it is. You know people look for treasure. People look for treasure. So they hear a story. The pirates buried it here. The pirates buried it there. They dig here. They dig there. They look for it there. They look for it there but once they have located where it is, then all the digging they do will produce results. Because they know where it is. Most important thing. Most fundamental thing is to understand that peace is within you. See people have been asking me questions like that since I was very, very young and they would say "Well where is it?? And I was saying "In you." Did they understand that? Or was it just some philosophy? Because if it is in you, don't search for it outside. I know exactly where my handkerchief is. It's in this pocket right here. You see how easily I got to it. But if I don't know, (pretend to be searching pockets) but this is what the world does. Where is it? Where is it? 0h maybe Maybe it's here. Maybe it's. Maybe it's here. Maybe. And once you have expressed "I do not know where my handkerchief is." Once you say this out loud everybody will start helping you and they will say maybe it's in your car. Maybe it's in your bed. Maybe it's in your suit. Maybe it's in your suitcase. Now you have more places to look and more places to look and more places to look and more places to look.

But if you know. Without wasting time there it is. In you. Search in you. Search in you. You are not less. You are more You come to this university. Why? To learn. You are taught something. And when you understand, the light bulb goes on. Before your friend asks you. "Do you know what this is?" And you are like "No." Once you understand, friend asks, "You know what this is?" Oh yes. Yes. Let me help you." I know. I know. Search within. Search within. You are the source of your peace (applause) and the most most beautiful thing about it is the day you recognise it's in you. You haven't got the treasure yet but you know where it is. You're just as rich. You're just as rich. (applause)

Good evening. This is my question: What motivates you to carry on spreading your message of peace when we know that the world is becoming increasingly corrupt, and furthermore, when it looks like people don't want peace?

Well. Good question. Is there corruption in this world? Yes. Is there greed in this world? Yes. Is there hate in this world? Yes. Yes. But is there generosity in this world? Yes. Yes. Yes. Is there love in this world? Yes. Is there simplicity in this world? Yes. Is there a passion for peace in this world? Yes. Look at these wonderful teachers. You have doctors, professors. They come, they teach you. They teach you even though there's so much ignorance in this world, they recognise that you have the potential to know. So yes, there are a lot of problems in this world. But let me make you one thing very clear. One little candle holds the power to remove a darkness.

One little candle holds the power to remove darkness. We know the speed of light. I was wondering the other day. What is the speed of darkness? It seems to come to very quickly. It's like there but that candle can remove the darkness. How do you remove darkness? If you took a bucket in a room and try go like this and throw it out the window. You think you can remove the darkness? No. Light the candle. I believe in lighting the candles. It's obvious. Do you believe in lighting the candles? Then come, light the candle. Light the candles with me (applause) and we will make a difference because one little candle, just, just the proportions are amazing. One little candle removes a lot of darkness, a lot of darkness.

Because peace is inside of you, people in prison have been able to feel hope and peace even when they are in the prison. If it can work there, you think it can work everywhere. I mean, these are hard core prisons. Yes. Hope, a little bit of hope is more powerful than lifelong despair. Little bit of light is more powerful than a lot of darkness. A pitcher full of water can remove a week's worth of thirst. A little bit of knowledge can remove a lot of ignorance. This is how it is. (applause)

Good evening. My name is Melisa. I'm really happy that you are here in person. This is my question: I'm a really busy person and lead a very active life. So, I would like to know how I can find peace and at the same time keep doing the things I do.

Good question. But all the things that you do you do on the outside? Right. Other things you do. You do on the outside. Outside is nothing to do with the inside. So what you do outside? You do. Do do do do do do do but inside you are full and that's the whole point of feeling and needing and wanting peace in your life. Lot of people think "I don't want peace. I will have to wear some special robes. I will have to remove my hair. I will have to sit on top of a mountain." Actually if you are in Cusco you have that automatically, you're on way on top but, but no you don't need to do any of that. You can have party every night if you want and party on the inside too. (applause) Party with your friends and party with yourself. Party with your friends will bring your, the smile, this one and party with yourself will make the heart smile. Better. (applause)

Q: Good evening. Here is my question: If peace exists inside every humans being then why does it seem we are on the brink of a third world war?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Yes, yes, yes, that's what I. have to deal with in terms of questions every time. Because, yes, I know for a fact that peace is inside of everyone but we are bombarded every day, every day with so much misinformation. Misinformation. Misinformation. How many of you know that people that people go hungry in this world. I do. People go hungry in this world. Now the Institute of Mechanical Engineers has calculated that 1.2 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year. You know how much that food is? The quantity, that's half the world food production. Is there any reason? Is there any reason what anybody should go hungry? The food is wasted. Half the food that is produced is wasted. Wasted. Wasted. Wasted. Wasted and then we will go "Oh yes, yes. People are going hungry. To me, what do people want in this world? Very simple. They want one, opportunity to grow. To have prosperity in their life. They want elbow room. Little space they can call their own and they want to be able to practise their beliefs. Anything wrong with number one? No. Anything wrong with number two? No. Anything wrong with number three? No. Then why do we fight?

Why do we fight? No war gets triggered without somebody rationalising it. We are fighting not because Good day to fight today, The sun is shining, Nice temperature. Let's fight!" No. People rationalise. People take their intelligence and rationalise of why we should fight. Do you realise wars are anti-life. Anti-life. But people fight. These people who start wars are not stupid. They're well educated and they understand what they're doing. But the responsibility ultimately has to has to fall upon all of us. You know there are people still waiting for the Angel to come to save us. And you know what I say to people? The Angel has come. And you know who the Angel is? You know who the Angel is? You and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you. We are the angels that have come who can save us. It is time, not to become passive, but peace is a fundamental human right. The 7 billion people, the reasons for peace. That's what they want. That's what they want. It is time. You know what the world's problem is? This is the problem right here. You know what the problem of the families are? The father needs to listen to the children. The mother needs to listen to the children. The doctor needs to listen to the patient. The children need to listen to their parents. Parents need to listen to their children. Governments need to listen to the people. Here is the solution. Right here. If you don't listen. Students need to listen to their teachers. Listen. It's free. Completely free. Just listen. Just listen. Just listen. You think ancient civilizations like the Inca civilization has not said beautiful things about life. Absolutely. But do people listen? No! No! No! What do they want to do? They want to put the credit card between the rocks. (????) I would rather they listen to what they were saying. Live in harmony. Live in harmony. Just listen. Live in harmony with each other. Live in harmony with nature. Listen. And so when we don't listen then yes, human being gets pitted against human being. Then what we are told is that the colour of this (watch) is more important.

You see, we're not told that 99% of human being is what? Oxygen. Hydrogen. Calcium. Carbon. Nitrogen. Phosphorus That's what you are made out of. That's what I am made out of. I don't I don't know where you were born. I know where I was born. I was born in (garbled) That's what I was told. I was born in India. But what you are made out of. I am made of. No, no, no. You're a woman. Not a human being. Who? Why? Why the distinction? When, what you are made out of? It is the same thing I am made out of. But division division division division. Can be also look at our similarity. Just not our differences. Maybe we can understand something. We live on this planet. They have been looking for life for a long time. They haven't found one, yet. There's speculation, it might be out there We're talking about light years and light years and light years. They've been looking. They haven't found it. I'm not a scientist. I can show them where there is life. I know exactly where there is life. They don't need to spend billions of dollars looking for life. I know where there is some. Here. Ha ha ha ha! Right here. Ha ha ha.

You see we know more about moon than we know about Earth because it's easier to look at the moon. It's out there. Hard to look at the earth because we are on it. Same thing, look inside. Look inside. If people begin to see their own selves. Maybe the world will change.

I am not the only one, I am just a link in a long long chain. Hopefully, hopefully, people who are interested in peace will carry on this message till one day people like me are not needed anymore. Because people of this earth have understood the meaning of peace. (applause)

Was this guy even listening to Rawat's speech?"

For the National University of San Antonio Abad in Cusco, it is an honor to have here in the university's auditorium a philosopher of the stature of Dr. Prem Rawat, Ambassador of Peace. He is visiting the city of Cusco and in particular, this university with the purpose of disseminating a virtue, maybe one of humanity's greatest - that of peace. On behalf of the National University of San Antonio Abad in Cusco and again, on behalf of this university I present this Resolution which acknowledge and expresses thanks to the personality and wisdom of the messenger of peoace, Prem Rawat.