Here are some excerpts from his talk:

All I am trying to do this evening is to draw your attention to certain things that you usually don’t pay attention to — even though you know them. Like clarity, like understanding, like simplicity, like fulfillment. Like your heart. You know these things. But you don’t acknowledge them — not always.

Nobody has to bring peace to you. You have peace already inside of you. You have consciousness in you, and you have unconsciousness in you. You have hate in you, and you have love in you. You have clarity in you, and you have confusion in you. You have the mortal in you, and you have the immortal in you. Talk about everything. Right there, you’ve covered it — the mortal in you, and the immortal in you.

I can tell you one thing: Every person that has been within has called out to all of humanity and said, ‘Wish you were here.’ Because there is no place like home. And that’s your home. And because it is a reality, it works — even in the confines of a correctional institution. That’s just a façade. A human being is a human being — and as long as there is a human being, within them is this most precious thing that is available to them.

On January 22nd, Prem Rawat returned to the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach to speak to almost 2,300 people. It was the first event of 2012, and he asked those who came to make a commitment this year to their own personal peace and happiness.

Here are some excerpts from his talk:

I’m here to tell you it all begins with personal peace — not world peace. It begins with personal peace: peace within you. Is there one? Yes. Then the question is: What does it feel like? And this question can only be answered with a question. Have you never felt it? Because if you haven’t, you should feel it.

If I wasted today, I’m not going to waste another second lamenting that I wasted today. But I’ll come up with a plan for tomorrow. I will try a little harder, and that’s all it takes. That’s all it takes to be a little more conscious. To see. To appreciate. Appreciation begins — not from other people — but from within yourself. To appreciate first that you are alive.

Make a difference this year. Of all the years you have been alive on the face of this earth, make a difference this year. Light up that lamp inside, because that’s the only way there can be light on the outside. It’s not about what you have accomplished or what you are going to accomplish — it’s about what is already there.

Miami Beach, Florida and Long Beach, California (USA)
Events have been confirmed in Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, January 22nd and Long Beach, California on Sunday, January 29th. People who have learned the techniques of Knowledge are warmly invited to attend.

More information will be available shortly.

This program begins at 7:00 p.m. in the EWEB Community Room, located at 500 E. 4th Ave., Eugene. For directions to EWEB Building, see the Events page in this website.

Against a backdrop of international uncertainty, including riots in many European cities, government change and continued unrest in the Middle East, an audience of institutional representatives and MEPs joined academics and business people from more than 25 countries to explore the most pressing issues facing Europe and the world today: peace and well-being.

Gianni Pittella and keynote speaker Prem Rawat were introduced by Dr. Anthony Seldon, political historian, author, journalist, and current Headmaster of Wellington College (UK). Referring to Ambassador of Peace Prem Rawat, Dr. Seldon commented, “Peace — what a wonderful country to be Ambassador for.”

Dr. Seldon then set the scene for the event by inviting the whole audience to pause for a moment of silent reflection, describing the feeling of peace as an “ineffable and indescribable experience, which is here now.”

Ambassador of Peace Prem Rawat spoke from the heart and without notes, focusing on the personal need for peace, “one day at a time, one person at a time.” He touched on the issue of conflict, pointing out that “wars happen because people lose respect for each other.” Emphasizing the human connection people have with each other, he added, “Every single being on the face of this earth is your neighbor.”

Referring to the recent low General Election turnout in one European country, Mr. Rawat commented, “Democracy is a few serving the many. Today, democracy has become the many serving the few. I’m not a politician, but I am a human being who holds very close to his heart the fundamental possibility of peace on this earth.” He said that “peace is in the heart of human beings, not in the mind of human beings” and concluded, “Peace needs to be given the chance to happen. We have tried everything else.”

Mr. Pittella and Mr. Rawat took questions from students from the Red Cross Nordic United World College, and then the EU representatives present were invited to show public commitment to peace and well-being by signing the “Pledge to Peace.” Inspired by the lectures of Prem Rawat and his message of personal peace, the Pledge to Peace was created under the patronage of Gianni Pittella. It is a call to action to do something tangible for peace in 2012 and beyond.

Mr. Pittella explained, “the Pledge to Peace is based upon the founding principles of the European Union, the core principles of the Lisbon Treaty 2009, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. It promotes the development of peace and peace education to enhance the well-being of its peoples.”

After the Pledge to Peace was signed by Mr. Pittella and Mr. Rawat, the first signatory was Linda Pascotto, President of The Prem Rawat Foundation. The Foundation promotes Prem Rawat’s message of peace and his vision of addressing fundamental human needs so that people everywhere can live with dignity, peace and prosperity.

Founding signatories of the Pledge included UN Peace Day creator, Jeremy Gilley from England; Mr. Seemanto Roy, son of Subrata Roy Sahara, Chairman of the Sahara Group in India; and the Honorable Nicolo Cristaldi MEP (Italy) and Mayor of Mazara Del Vallo, Sicily, who had recently invited Mr. Rawat to speak on the topic of peace in that region. Each took a few moments to explain to the audience why they were adding their names to the document, and their own projects in service of peace. Their signatures were followed by those of representative dignitaries from across Europe.

The Secretariat for the Peace and Well-being conference was provided by Associazione Percorsi.

Photos courtesy of The Prem Rawat Foundation.

The latest episodes of Words of Peace are available in the Online store.

This program begins at 7:00 p.m. in the EWEB Community Room, located at 500 E. 4th Ave., Eugene. For directions to EWEB Building, see the Events page in this website.