Maharaji - Peace then Prosperity

Business, government and community leaders welcome Prem Rawat

Los Angeles, March 3, 2004 — Prem Rawat, known also by the honorary title Maharaji, is currently addressing audiences throughout the Indian subcontinent. He has been invited several times over recent weeks to address cosmopolitan groups of leaders.
On February 17, at the Habitat Center in New Delhi, in a hall filled to capacity, he addressed a group of distinguished members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the international media and government and business leaders.
On February 19, he was invited by Young Leaders Forum of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry to address more than 1,850 young leaders at Sirifort Auditorium, New Delhi's premier conference center.
On February 28, Maharaji addressed more than 1,100 community, government and business leaders at the National Center for Performing Arts in Mumbai, the Indian capital. He was welcomed by Mr. Shailesh Haribhakti, President of the Indian Merchants Chamber, India's oldest and most respected chamber of commerce. From Jawarhalal Nehru to Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi, who was a honorary member, the Chamber has a history of association with most eminent personalities. Mr. Haribhakti, welcoming Maharaji, expressed how impressed he was by the extent of the recognition that Maharaji has received throughout the world. Mr. Haribhakti praised him for having touched the lives of countless individuals, rich and poor alike, regardless of their beliefs or position in society.
Dr. Hegde, the Sheriff of Mumbai, also a former director of the Terna Medical College and of the Patil Dental College and a member of the executive council of Mumbai University, expressed that we all long to find peace, joy, fulfillment regardless of circumstances. He said that he found Maharaji's message to be interesting, simple and from the heart, and thanked Maharaji for taking time from his busy schedule and for offering a noble message of hope and peace.
Maharaji is expected to speak at nine more events throughout India during March and early April 2004. More than half a million attendees are expected.
Read excerpts from Maharaji's address at the National Center for Performing Arts in Mumbai.

Maharaji - Salamanca Peace Conference

Prem Rawat's Message of Peace Hailed as "Noble" at Salamanca University Peace Conference

SALAMANCA, Spain, June 30, 2003 — Speaking at the University of Salamanca’s first “Conference on Peace,” Prem Rawat, an internationally known voice for peace, said, “Peace within is necessary in our lives in order for us to become complete as human beings.” His keynote address was delivered before a capacity audience that included members of the senate and of the congress, as well as civic and business leaders.
Prem Rawat, also known as Maharaji, addressed a distinguished audience in the Paraninfo, the Great Hall of the 13th century Salamanca University, 200 kilometers north of Madrid: “I have a dream that all civilizations, all people on the face of the earth will soon live in peace. To those that say, ‘Isn’t that reaching too far?’ I say, ‘If that is true, then it is the only ideal worth having.’”
In his address, he went on to point out that people everywhere need to openly acknowledge: “Peace is a fundamental desire of every human being. It needs to be recognized and fulfilled. We need to turn within ourselves to find the answers for peace. We are not going to find them outside or on top of some mountain.”
Calling his message “noble,” University of Salamanca Vice Rector D. Jose Maria Hernandez Diaz, who delivered the opening address of the “Peace Is Necessary” conference, said: “Prem Rawat talks about peace from a very original perspective. We are used to hearing about peace from a political or sociological perspective as the absence of war, and we normally put the responsibility for peace on governments or political organizations. But he talks about peace from a human perspective and highlights the important role of each human being in bringing peace to the world.”
Following the conference, Prem Rawat spoke at three successive events at the Madrid International Fairgrounds. On June 21, expanding upon the theme he developed in the Salamanca conference, he declared in front of an audience of more than 5,700: “There are advertisements everywhere that tell us about what we could have, not what we need. There are no advertisements for peace. Yet the key ingredient missing in all that is happening in the world is the cry in the heart of each one of us for peace.”
For highlights from Prem Rawat's keynote address, please visit: http://tprf.org/salamanca

Maharaji - Inner Peace and Fulfillment

Miami Beach Mayor Honors Prem Rawat for Contribution to City

MIAMI, June 18, 2003 — Citing "his tireless efforts" in helping "many people find inner peace and fulfillment," Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer bestowed the traditional "Keys to the City" on Prem Rawat, known internationally as a leading voice for peace. The Mayor thanked Prem Rawat, who many also know as Maharaji, for attracting over the years well over 220,000 people from across the U.S. and abroad, who visited the famed resort city to hear his inspiring addresses. In his presentation remarks, Mayor Dermer noted that many who came to Miami to listen to Prem Rawat "ended up making Miami Beach their home. They bought properties and created businesses including leading construction and real estate companies and well-known restaurants. Some have become civic activists, sitting on redevelopment boards." Since 1977, the 46 events in which Prem Rawat has spoken have contributed "more than $90 million" to the city's economy, according to the Mayor, and have created positive national and international publicity for the city. Prior to the keys-presenting ceremony, Prem Rawat, a one-time Miami Beach resident, held another packed two-day event at the city's Theater of Performing Arts, addressing a standing-room-only audience in the 2,700 seat hall. The event was the final stop this year of a successful six week U.S. tour where more than 18,700 people came to hear him. "We hope that Prem Rawat continues to make Miami Beach a venue for bringing his message of peace," said Mayor Dermer. Accepting the honor from the mayor, Prem Rawat, lauded the hospitality of the people in the city and expressed his "hope to be able to keep coming back and holding many more events in Miami Beach in the years ahead."

Maharaji - Personal and World Peace

Internationally-Known Speaker on College Speaking Tour Makes Plea For Renewed Focus on Inner Life as Path to Personal, World Peace

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 20, 2003 /PRNewswire/— Prem Rawat, the internationally-known teacher who has addressed 4.5 million people around the world on achieving inner peace and contentment, recently brought his special insights and perception to Nova Southeastern University, a stop on a national collegiate tour that also included the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Speaking before a capacity audience of students, faculty, and guests, Prem Rawat, also known as Maharaji, questioned the modern obsession with external goals as the path to personal happiness and fulfillment. "We do so much to fulfill ourselves on the outside," Prem Rawat said. "Wecreate massive institutions as we seek to expand our outer horizons, yet overlook our inner horizons. It's perfectly fine to learn about the world,but we must also learn about the heart because true peace is not found outside. Within the heart of every human being lies the possibility forbeing fulfilled and discovering what is real in life." In an address covering many aspects of the contemporary quest for a more fulfilled existence, he placed particular emphasis on "the importance of recognizing what it means to be alive" and the need to strengthen the search for peace within first.
"Right now there are a thousand explanations for why we should have wars, but hardly any about why we should have peace. With all the research that is done to efficiently destroy one another, there should be some research done to understand how we can save each other."
"Peace," he stated, "is not an impossible dream for the world." But he also stressed it is something that "begins with each of us. It does notbegin with nations. It does not begin with giant institutions. Everyone waits for someone else will bring peace. But we can do this ourselves. Westart to say, 'I need peace in my life and let it begin with me,' that is the day we are going to see profound change."
He ended his remarks with an affirmation of the simple value of being alive. "Try to live your life more consciously. For every day — for everybreath — be thankful."

©The Prem Rawat Foundation

Maharaji - Give Peace a Chance

Prem Rawat Says “Give Peace a Chance by Looking Inward”

NEW DELHI, India, March 10, 2003 — With the threat of another calamitous war now hanging over the Middle East, Prem Rawat, an internationally recognized leader and speaker to 4.5 million worldwide, writing in the prestigious "Times of India" this week, made an appeal to world leaders and people generally to "give peace a chance" by turning inward.
Citing mounting intolerance, a failure of reason, and indifference to the sanctity of human life as the root cause of war, he argues that war is not basically an issue of institutions, "but rather of men's hearts. It is people who start wars. Before a war starts outside, it begins inside." Prem Rawat's message is that these issues are personal to each individual. The admonition, "don't go to war" at the beginning of the article refers not to the current geopolitical situation, but is directed to each individual. “The war on the inside is more dangerous because it is a fire that may never be quenched. Wars are being fought because peace is not being found inside by those who make wars."
Noting that all peoples are searching for something, Prem Rawat tells "Times of India" readers, that finding peace within is, for most, not easy. It must be carefully mined, he wrote. Taking out what we need — what is precious — and discarding what is not.
"Peace sees no distinctions," he points out. "It does not care if we are rich, if we are poor, or what religions we belong to. It does not care what country we live in. Peace lies in our hearts, waiting to be fulfilled."
"Peace is when the heart is no longer in duality; when the struggle within has been resolved. When peace comes to the heart, serenity follows. Love comes flooding in, uncontrolled. Joy cannot be held back. It bursts through because something is right. That is the meaning of peace."
Prem Rawat closes his commentary with a heartfelt appeal: "of all the things we have tried in this world, there is one thing that we have never given a chance. Will we give peace a chance?"