This man may change everything you know attaining happiness
Prem Rawat Unlocks the
Door to Inner Peace
An Interview with Prem Rawat, also known as Maharaji,
The Prem Rawat Foundation, Los Angeles, California
People from different civilizations with differing aspirations have
sought happiness through a wide variety of means. The exhortation "Know
thyself" has echoed through the ages. In almost all cultures, people
have been told that the happiness they seek lies within themselves.
Despite the simplicity of this message, the pursuit of inner happiness
has proved elusive for most.
Prem Rawat - also known as Maharaji, a title given to him in India
where he began his work - maintains that having a fulfilling life is
actually a birthright. He offers a specific means to make this hope a
reality. He calls it Self-Knowledge, which he describes both as an inner
discipline and a state of being that can be experienced by anyone with a
sincere interest. "What I offer to people is not just talk," he says,
"but a way to go inside and savor the beauty that is within. I don't
create the beauty. It is not imagination. It does not come from ideas.
It is within you. If it were not for the gift of Self-Knowledge, a
practical way to be able to connect with that feeling inside, all my
words would be empty."
Maharaji has worked with men and women on every continent, young and
old, millionaires and those of lesser means, intellectuals and the
uneducated. It does not seem to matter. As you speak with him, it
becomes evident that he has a unique ability to speak simply of the most
profound. It is his courage to keep his message simple that enables him
to touch and be understood by such diverse audiences. With sparkling
humor and unexpected insights, Maharaji has a rare gift for inspiring
people to see life with a fresh perspective and to find within
themselves a sense of personal freedom, regardless of circumstance.
Whether people pursue Self-Knowledge or not, they are almost always
delighted and enriched by listening to his discourses.
Born in a small city in the Himalayan foothills of India, he grew up
in a family where Self-Knowledge was a lifelong passion. From an early
age, he traveled with his father throughout India, listening to his
discourses on inner peace and contentment. Though he was only eight at
the time of his father's death, Maharaji embraced his work and soon
began attracting audiences in the thousands.
Self-Knowledge
shows you how to be happy
because you're alive.
Toronto, Canada - 1997
At the request of various Westerners, Maharaji traveled to London in
1971 when he was thirteen. After speaking engagements in Europe, he
traveled to the U.S. with invitations to speak in several cities. During
the 1970s, many in the U.S. and Western Europe linked him and his
message with their fascination with Indian culture and Eastern
philosophy. As he relates in the following interview, Maharaji realized
early on that his teachings applied to all people, regardless of culture
or belief.
By 1974, Maharaji had settled in the United States but continued to
tour and speak to audiences around the world. His message has remained
consistent over time and is best summed up by his assertion, "What you
are looking for is already within you, and I can show you how to get in
touch with it." In 1971, he told a Glastonbury, England audience, "Isaac
Newton only discovered the law of gravity; he did not invent it. In the
same way, this Knowledge is within you. I can only show you how to
experience it for yourself so that your heart can be satisfied." Those
who have been exposed to Self-Knowledge have described it as a means to
reconcile the often-conflicting aspirations of heart and mind and as a
pathway to their own personal freedom. [See sidebars.]
For the last 30 years, Maharaji has continuously traveled to all six
major continents addressing millions who came to listen to him as a
pre-eminent guide to achieving inner contentment and personal happiness.
While he still maintains a grueling pace lecturing around the world, he
also reaches people via the Internet and through videotapes of his
speaking engagements.
People who practice Self-Knowledge say that it is precious, and yet
Maharaji does not charge for it. When asked why, he explains that he has
never seen helping people gain Self-Knowledge as a commercial
undertaking. Far from "selling" Self-Knowledge, Maharaji even concedes
that it may not be appropriate for everyone. He cautions that people
must choose it freely, be ready for it, and pursue it without
obligation. "This is not for sale," he explains. "It is a gift, in the
truest tradition of a gift." His work is supported entirely by voluntary
contributions and the sale of related materials.
Over the years, Maharaji appears to have become more passionate about
his work. Despite the growing number of people with a keen interest in
Self-Knowledge, he seems indifferent to fame and has avoided the
celebrity circuit frequented by so many others who seek to gain
adherents. Others who represent themselves as "self-help" gurus tend to
achieve popularity by focusing on what people could have or do to
achieve external success. Maharaji makes it clear that Self-Knowledge
will not make you a movie star or a CEO, nor will it make you rich or
improve your golf game. It may, however, bring you the fulfillment that
these things alone cannot provide.
We were particularly pleased to have the opportunity to conduct what
is perhaps the first media interview with Maharaji since the
mid-seventies. Unfamil-
VOLUME 25, NUMBER 2 LEADERS 3
Excellence is when
the person is content.
Excellence is when
the person is complete within.
For the real excellence
look within you, that is where
you will find it.
Sao Paulo, Brazil - 1997
iar until recently with his work or his thinking, we found his
comments on the meaning of success and happiness provocative and were
impressed by the story of the development of his global work.
How do you define success?
The way I see it, if you don't feel successful within yourself, then
it doesn't matter how successful you are on the outside. There is always
going to be a distinction between the two. Even if you are the CEO of a
big corporation, you have to come home, and what happens then? You may
have a big office, a lot of power, and a range of awards, but when you
come home, you're just yourself. You need to be a success there, too.
Ultimately, you can be exceedingly wealthy and still be happy and
satisfied, or not have a penny to your name and be equally fulfilled.
Once you draw the distinction between you and everything else, it's very
easy to see that outward success is not what really matters.
Is it difficult to convince people that inner success is as important as success on the outside?
It's not really a question of convincing them. Once you accept that
success begins with you, everything else becomes secondary. People have
to experience this fundamental shift for themselves and then, rich or
poor, it's very easy for them to start grasping the principles of
Self-Knowledge.
Do you see Self-Knowledge as essential to achieving success, or is it more a question of simply adding value to people's lives?
A Most Rewarding Effort
Now a Senior Vice-President with Grubb & Ellis Company, a global real estate services firm, Richard Cooper
is responsible for charting and implementing real estate strategies for
his firm's corporate clients. Cooper reckons he always had a thirst to
get at the fundamental nature of being alive. "When I first discovered
Self:Knowledge," he says, "I knew I had found something unique, but I
had no idea how powerful that discovery would become for me."
Watching the paranoid John Nash in "A Beautiful Mind" recently
reminded me of my own turbulent and sometimes insecure college years. My
practice of Self-Knowledge since that time is directly responsible for
my being able to not just ignore the fears that stymied me, but to
completely eliminate them from my reality. In business, I find myself
strong, confident, and unencumbered by personal agendas. My clients like
that.
People sometimes ask me for advice about finding "contentment." There
are all kinds of contentment, of course, like the kind that comes from
eating a great meal or the kind that comes from closing a big deal. For
those kinds of contentment, I might suggest a fine restaurant or a
seasoned real estate advisor. For a person seeking sustainable inner
peace, though, advice is not likely to help. That person, if anything
like me, is not hungry for advice - but for experience!
I first heard of Maharaji in 1971 while a student at Lafayette
College in Pennsylvania. It was a significant year for me in many ways.
At the encouragement of my parents, I had enrolled as a pre-med student,
competing both for grades and for my professors' considerations, but
that year things changed. I worked to please others a bit less and
started to do things for myself just a bit more. Maharaji was helping me
to become both self-sufficient and truly content. Today, more than 30
years later, Maharaji is doing the same thing. He continues to inspire
and is always there to help. I had always hoped that my appreciation of
both Self-Knowledge and Maharaji would grow, but I could not have
foreseen that it would become as profound for me as indeed it has.
The pursuit of Self-Knowledge has not always been easy, but looking
inside for that which is so elusive on the outside has been the most
rewarding effort of my life.
Well, you can look at it both ways. Whatever you are trying to
pursue, Self-Knowledge will augment your chances of true success. And if
a person is just trying to feel good within, then Self-Knowledge will
definitely help. I can't claim that it will make a person successful in
business, nor that it has any particular health benefits. Some people
say so, but I dispute that. What I do believe is that the journey toward
joy, contentment, inner peace, or whatever it is you are pursuing
begins with you.
So what exactly does Self-Knowledge change in a person?
I don't say that Knowledge will bring outward changes in personality.
It may, but it may not. There are no guarantees. But Self-Knowledge
will bring a fundamental change within you. There will be a shift, and
you will find peace, joy, and harmony; and most importantly, you will
find yourself - the real self.
It's as if you were in a boat being taken up and down by all the
waves. Then, suddenly, the boat just takes off and glides on smooth,
calm air. You stop being subject to all the ups and downs that con-
tinue to happen. If you are able to find peace within yourself, then
maybe you will become a better person, and that could make a difference
to everything else in your life. But that will always be up to you.
What does "Maharaji" mean, and why do so many people acknowledge you as the leader in the field of Self-Knowledge?
Maharaji is a title given to someone who shows people a way to a
fulfilled and centered existence. Why do many consider me a leader in
the field of Self-Knowledge? It is not for me to say. I simply make an
offer to people who are interested in fulfillment. When those who accept
what I offer find that it satisfies them, they don't have to look
elsewhere.
I have been doing this for a long
4 LEADERS
time, since I was very, very young. And during the last 30 years, we
have pioneered many ways of reaching people across the world, breaking
down many of the boundaries of culture, language, and so many other
kinds of conditioning that tend to trap or limit people in society. It
has all been a remarkable adventure, beyond what I ever could have
imagined from its simple and humble beginnings in India.
The basis of my message is that fulfillment must always begin with
you. Rather than tell people, "Look at all the possibilities the world
offers and see what you can achieve to be successful," I simply say that
I can show you a way to find fulfillment within yourself.
You were speaking to audiences of hundreds of thousands
at the age of eight. How did you find yourself in that type of situation
at so young an age?
I really feel it is a gift. I can't imagine how all of this would
have been possible otherwise. It's a wonderful opportunity to come from
the heart and to address the very simple nature of us all.
Inner Discipline
Self-Knowledge has given me a more objective point of view about the
people and events in my life," observes Neil Evans, Executive Director
of the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies, an
affiliation of Bellevue Community College, Bellevue, WA. Prior to his
work in technology education, Evan, was the CIO (19831994) with
Microsoft where he was recognized for three years by CIO magazine as one
of the nation's leading 100 IT officers. He believes it has made a
difference in his career. "I am constantly asked to take a leadership
role because others can sense my objectivity and clarity, " he says.
In 1974, when I was 26, I had been investigating a variety of
different ways of learning more about myself. I had practiced martial
arts for several years. This certainly helped, but I wanted to apply
this understanding to all aspects of my life. Maharaji's Self-Knowledge
has enabled me to to have this understanding. Like martial arts, it
takes constant practice and the results are cumulative.
The biggest obstacles that I have had to overcome are ones that I
have created. As much as I pursue my dreams wholeheartedly, there is
always a voice within that tells me to stop, to go slower, or practice
tomorrow. I try not to listen to that voice. Maharaji provides guidance
and leadership on this path, reminding me of the value of my life, and
the importance of consistent practice of the techniques of
Self-Knowledge.
At that young age, did you have any idea that you would dedicate your life to this type of work?
Well, at that age, I could not possibly have known the consequences
of what I was doing. I was too young. In those days, I would get up
before groups and talk, and my father would support me in that. I would
talk and enjoy it and that was it. After a time, I had the opportunity
to come to the West, and from that point the potential of my work really
began to grow. But in those early years, it was difficult to
contemplate what the world was. I was living in India, and my world was
very, very small.
What were your expectations about how Self-Knowledge
would be received when you came to the West in 1971? How did you build
your work since then?
When I first came to the West, there was a lot of interest in
anything that originated in India, and what I was presenting was
initially perceived as Indian. However, when I saw that this placed a
limit on how much my work could grow, things really started to change
for me. I saw that my message was indeed a global one, not one
restricted to a particular group of people. I think we have seen such a
lot of growth over the last 30 years because I had the foresight to
adapt my message for people everywhere.
How do you define Self-Knowledge, and how is it different from other forms of introspection?
The Self-Knowledge that I am speaking of is fundamental to one's
being. It is the core of who you are. It is not about changing behavior.
Rather, it is about feeling more centered within yourself. It is much
more fundamental than people
VOLUME 25, NUMBER 1 LEADERS 5
might think.
I make a big distinction between the person and everything else. I
tell people, "You have been given the gift of life. You have been given a
treasure within you. Why don't you address what is most fundamental to
you?"
Worth the Search
A nuclear physicist with degrees from Cal State at North Ridge and the
University of Colorado, Marcus L. Munger, Ph.D., became interested in
Self-Knowledge through his fascination with the forces of nature. For
over two decades, he has worked on the design and development of
surveillance satellites, initially for IBM Federal Systems Division and
currently, as senior scientist, Research and Development Project Lead
for Lockheed Martin. Having worked on the early development of the
Strategic Defense Initiative during the 1980s, he holds two patents for
algorithms that allow satellites to track objects in ballistic motion.
Before receiving Self-Knowledge, Munger thought the pursuit of science
in and of itself might enable him to understand his own nature. He's
discovered that there's more to it than that.
Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by how nature
works. When I went to university, this curiosity led me to study nuclear
physics. I hoped that through these studies I would also come to
understand myself. After a few years, I realized that studying nuclear
physics, although interesting and challenging, was not yielding what I
was looking for.
I first became interested in Self-Knowledge in 1972 when I read an
article about it in a Denver newspaper. This lead me to attend a
Maharaji lecture in Red Rock later that year. What I heard made sense to
me. Maharaji spoke of a superior power within each of us that could
neither be created nor destroyed. This, of course, is one of the tenets
of the principle of the conservation of energy. The pursuit of
Self-Knowledge became for me the means to realize and experience what
was happening within me moment by moment. Thinking a certain way is not
as important to me as being able to experience contentment. Analysis and
synthesis are still necessary in dealing with problems both at home and
on the job but I don't have to rely on them for my own satisfaction.
Self-Knowledge has increased my understanding of my inner self. It
connects me to something that is permanent, affording a wider
perspective to see the beauty around me. The experience has taught me
that there is a way to have satisfaction even when I can't find it in
the world outside. People notice that I tend to remain calm and am not
upset by changing circumstances. I have talked several times with one of
the managers I work with about life and where contentment lies. The
other day, he said to another manager who was feeling upset, "Talk to
Marcus. You will understand things from a different perspective and
begin to feel better." After this person had talked to me, she had
become aware that there was something more important to understand.
I find that this fast-paced life can be confusing, and it is
wonderful to have someone to guide me who knows how to experience joy.
In the 29 years I have known about Self-Knowledge, he has reminded me
again and again to consider what is most important to me. I now know
that it is possible to feel satisfaction and contentment in this life.
It is worth the search.
That's where the Self-Knowledge I am speaking about is very
different. I am confident it's not going to get lost because it is
unique. Of course, it is important to make sure that it doesn't get lost
because other people use similar words. I will continue to adapt my
message to reach people, but essentially it remains unique.
Can you describe the process of reaching Self-Knowledge?
The first step is getting familiar with what I offer. This may
involve coming to a presentation. People listen to me, and if they are
interested, they pursue their interest and listen to more of my
lectures. They don't move on to the next stage until they are convinced
it's really for them. Each person proceeds at his or her own pace. This
can take a few weeks, several months, or in some cases, years. After
what some people have accomplished in this world. But success really
begins within you.
Are you more focused on one age group, or do you work with people of all ages?
They're all ages, from the very young to the very elderly. You need
to be at least eighteen to fully participate, but there are a lot of
young people who just come and listen, and many of them have told me
that it has made a profound difference in their lives.
Do your techniques remain consistent from one country to the next?
Yes, they do.
Do you work with corporations, or is your work mainly with individuals?
I look at everyone as an individual rather than as a part of a
particular group of people. That way it is much easier to cross the
cultural barriers, the language barriers, and whatever other barriers
people put up.
And while you provide the techniques and the know-how, it's up to
LEADERS 6 VOLUME 25, NUMBER 1
Every being wants to be happy because
that is what their heart desires.
But we have broken happiness into formulas
and we pursue the formulas
more than we pursue the desire itself.
Kaosiung, Taiwan -1996
individuals to carry themselves through to a state of Self-Knowledge?
Yes, definitely. It is always incumbent upon the individual. How much
he or she wants to pursue and apply Self-Knowledge is up to each
person.
How many people have you reached so far?
In the past 30 years, I have been to over 250 cities in 50 countries
and addressed in person more than 4.5 million people. I go around the
world, stopping at places where there is interest in my work. This is
not just a passive thing, like watching TV. It is much more interactive.
People come, they listen, and sometimes there are opportunities for
questions and answers. That happens from India to Argentina to Florida
to any number of other places around the world.
Finding a Forgotten Freedom
In her capacity as Director, Business Excellence for Rolls-Royce plc,
Dr. Sandy Hewitt travels to diverse locations, coaching and encouraging
the use of best practices. She has worked for several global companies
and spent three years researching excellence in business management. She
has two sons and first discovered Self Knowledge towards the end of
1975.
Initially, I had little interest in Maharaji, but gradually, as I
learned more about myself, I began to appreciate his clarity and to
recognize his wisdom. Most importantly, I have come to value his
perspective.
Self-Knowledge has made me aware that first and foremost, I am a
human being, alive and alert with the ability to learn, to appreciate
and to shine. Knowing that about myself means that I see it in others
too: in my family, the people I work with and people I meet. Pursuing
Self-Knowledge is teaching me to trust myself and to see that feeling
good does not depend upon other people or situations. Because I'm less
dependent on those things, I can enjoy them so very much more. Although
I've been many things - a student, a wife and mum, a secretary, a
shopkeeper, a manager, a consultant, an academic - through it all, what
I've actually been is me, enjoying the learning.
People tell me that over the years I've become more open, receptive,
self-assured, and resilient. But the thing I notice is that, compared
with many of my generation, instead of getting set in my ways as I get
older, I'm probably getting less so.
I have great admiration for Maharaji as a leader because of his
absolute refusal to allow anything to contaminate the integrity of his
teaching. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to watch a real craftsman or
engineer at work, and I'm always struck by the focus, total mastery of a
skill, and depth of understanding of their craft. There are many of
these people in the company I work for, people who will accept nothing
less than excellence in the gas turbine engines they design and make.
Twenty-six years ago, I encountered a man who has this same kind of
understanding about himself and about life. With each subsequent
encounter, I've noted that his mastery does not waver and his clarity
does not weaken. Although our lives are superficially very different, he
continues to be a reference point for me as I learn more about myself.
Looking back, I realize that although the view of the world that I
had learned from my family, from school and my friends was valuable, I
have a fresh perspective that has more to do with my own integrity than
with the judgment of others. I don't know how that shows on the surface,
but I know I feel less driven to weigh myself on the scales of
successes and failures. That's freedom.
How does your foundation operate?
Our focus is not really on the organization itself as much as on what
we do. The organization is a tool that is flexible enough to change
with the needs of the times. What we do is greater than the sum of all
the elements of the organization, and this approach has to be
maintained. A lot of young people are now participating, and it's
wonderful to see the wide spectrum of people involved in the work, the
old mixing with the young.
Do you have other people helping you teach, or do most individuals deal directly with you?
There are people who help on many different levels, but really,
individuals have to deal directly with me. And hopefully it is enjoyable
for people when they come and listen.
Is new technology affecting the way you operate?
Yes. I am a computer buff, and I have integrated new technology into my work
they're sure they're interested, I teach them some techniques that
allow them to get in touch with the simplicity that is inside all of us.
It's really a question of presenting the possibilities to people. If
you focus within, you can start up the ladder of success from the right
place, rather than just reaching for the outside trappings of success.
Of course, I'm not dismissing that kind of achievement. It's
extraordinary
as much as possible. It has made things a lot easier for us as we can
now present the possibility of Self-Knowledge to people in a very
simple and intimate way. At first, we used the Internet as an
informational tool only.
However, as technology evolves and Internet speeds get faster and
faster, an increasing number of people will be able to access services
that are much more interactive.
What does Self-Knowledge cost?
There is no charge for Self-Knowledge. Many people who enjoy this
gift help make it possible to spread the message around the world.
Reaching out to people happens on a local basis.
Are you planning any changes to what you do?
I keep the message and the techniques consistent for everyone around
the world. At the same time, I adapt to what the future brings. The
future is a wonderful thing as long as you don't carry too
VOLUME 25, NUMBER 1 LEADERS 7
You judge your life by the good things and the bad things,
by what you have accomplished and by what is left
to be accomplished. None of these things should be the
measure for this life. There should only be one measure -
how content and how satisfied you are.
Miami, Florida - 2000
much of the past into it.
How important is it for you to maintain a relationship with the persons to whom you show the techniques of Self-Knowledge?
Well, it's up to the people involved. If they want to pursue the relationship, they can. It's up to them.
Success in any industry always brings with it some jealousy or
criticism. You have not been exempt from that in the success you've had.
How does that affect you?
Well, fortunately or unfortunately, I have been exposed to this since
I was eight years old. When I first used to speak, some couldn't
believe it was really me. I was even accused of having a tape recorder
hidden somewhere. So contro versy is not something that has ever been
foreign to me.
Discovering What's Important
As the CEO of Intellikey Labs, a DVD testing service based in Burbank,
California, Lauren Evers is at the center of a firm experiencing
hypergrowth. In 1996, Lauren and her future husband, Darrell, both
worked in Time-Warner's quality assurance program creating quality
standards for computer and DVD applications. Time-Warner had doubts
about the future of its testing business and closed the quality
assurance department. Darrell and Lauren thought otherwise and set up a
testing service. They were able to turn their contacts with Sony,
Paramount, Warner Brothers, Disney and Universal into permanent
customers. Demand for DVD players and the disc testing methodologies
they employ has been recession proof, a boon to Intellikey which tests
thousands of master discs every month. Virtually no DVD reaches a
consumer's hands in the United States without its check disc having been
vetted by Intellikey. Evers believes receiving Self-Knowledge has
afforded a different kind of quality assurance - more like quality of
life. In 2001, her husband, the love of her life as well as her business
partner, died. Having received Self-Knowledge in 1997, she reckons,
allowed her to cope and find strength.
When I first met Darrell we both worked for Time-Warner. I knew there
was something different about him. One day he returned from Miami
beaming about an experience he had listening to Maharaji. I asked him to
explain it to me and that's when he told me about Self-Knowledge and
how much Maharaji had helped him in this pursuit. I remember thinking,
"Darrell must be weak: why does he need to depend on this person for
guidance?" I was puzzled, but also curious. A month later, Darrell
invited me to hear Maharaji speak in California. That evening, I became
fascinated. I started listening to tapes of Maharaji's addresses several
times a week and discovered he was addressing some of the most profound
questions I ever had. I began having new insights into my life, seeing
it as a gift that I had never fully appreciated. I also realized that I
had, in reality, expected Darrell (now my husband) to be the source of
my entire happiness when, in fact, happiness was first to be found
within myself.
When Darrell was diagnosed and soon died of cancer, I was devastated;
but these last years have been a rich time as so much good has taken
place. Through my practice of Self-Knowledge, I was able to see what
happened as a gift, and to remain at peace. I remember how differently I
once saw things. At Time-Warner and earlier at Commodore Computer, I
was a workaholic and judged myself on the approval of colleagues and
superiors. I have come to realize that life isn't about your success or
failure in business, and yet success keeps manifesting for me.
Having Self-Knowledge has helped me discern what's really important for me and how to work for it. For that, I am grateful.
Do you ever consider who will take your place when you can no longer be there for people?
Whoever succeeds me will have to prove himself or herself in the
field. I don't think it's possible to simply name someone as a
successor. It doesn't work like that.
Since last year's terrorist attacks on the United States, people
often say that we're living in a different world. Have the new
complexities of life brought an even greater need for Self-Knowledge?
Yes, many boundaries are becoming increasingly vague, and the need to
be an individual and to be satisfied individually has become even more
salient. In other words, the need for Self-Knowledge becomes more and
more apparent as technology and the global situation continue to evolve.
How easy is it to step back and truly appreciate what you have accomplished in your life?
All I can say is that every time I read a letter of gratitude from
someone, I am inspired by a sense of how much more is possible. My
teaching makes a difference in people's lives, and the more I can do,
the better people's lives become. Sometimes it is difficult to step back
from the fervor and the passion, but I don't mind. I passionately enjoy
my work.
So your work is on your mind twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week?
That's right.
Do you ever try to forget about your work?
No, because I find it challenging. I have a passion for my work, so
even if I find myself playing tennis, I will usually be discussing my
work at the same time.
Over your career, each person whose life you have touched has viewed you in a different way. How
8 LEADERS VOLUME 25, NUMBER 1
do you view yourself?
I have always maintained that I am myself. I am not any of the labels
people might want to place on me. When I was in school, I would go to
an event and speak to 100,000 people; then I'd go back to school and be
with my friends. In both< places, I was the same person. Even back
then, I made it distinctly clear that I have to be me and only me.
People may put labels on me, but that is them putting on labels. I say
to people, "Look at me for who I am, what I am doing, and what I have to
offer."
Finally, what is your own personal measure of success?
If I can keep satisfying my passion, that is success for me.
The Prem Rawat Foundation
tprf org
The Other Part of Me
An MD, Giulio Cossu has spent a career in medical research, beginning
with his postdoctoral work in anatomy and embryology at the University
of Pennsylvania and culminating in a professorship at the University of
Rome, with a sabbatical at the Pasteur Institute in Paris in the
interim. His work on muscular dystrophy led him to work on stem cells to
develop treatments for such diseases as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. He
is President of the Italian Society of Cell and Developmental Biology
in addition to being Director of the Stem Cell Research Institute in
Milan. Cossu experienced Self-Knowledge only recently and has come to
value it as a source of personal strength.
The experience of Self-Knowledge is recent for me. Several friends
who had received Self-Knowledge gave me videotapes of Maharaji's
lectures. I thought this man was saying something very simple and
straight to the heart. Later, I watched satellite broadcasts and found
myself listening to him nonjudgmentally and with simple curiosity. My
rational mind kept saying (and at times still does), "Come on, this is a
story for people living in another world. Listen if you want, but then
you will have to go back to real life." Now, I ask, which is the real
life?
Despite the pressure of hundreds of of commitments and deadlines, I
am becoming aware of how much more there is to enjoy in life. As a
scientist, I always prized the rational part of me, always planned my
life to the minute. I had closed off the other part of me, perhaps out
of fear. I left no time to be curious about the substance of my life, or
to appreciate what an incredible gift it was.
People close to me started to notice something different. I should
add that I am, on the surface, an easy-going, light-hearted person,
which makes seeing personal changes more difficult.
The experience of Self-Knowledge is difficult to describe. It is like
a subtle but continuous presence of enormous benefit. I feel stronger
and more confident simply because now I know something more about myself
and am able to enjoy the little things in life that I had once crowded
out.
VOLUME 25, NUMBER 1 LEADERS 9