Eeva L. - Finland

In the autumn of 1998, a friend told me about the possibility to have something called Knowledge. I was interested and wanted to know more because I felt something was missing in my life.

The first time I saw a video of Maharaji and his message it really touched my heart. I almost had tears in my eyes because I felt so happy when I listened to him.

It was a little exciting to wait, but I looked forward to meeting Maharaji and to receiving Knowledge. It’s not that I had built up any expectations about Knowledge. I just thought that it would help me to grow.

I received Knowledge in the summer of 1999 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Today, every time I do the techniques, I am the happiest person and really thankful. I know that my life isn’t wasted.

— Eeva L.
Finland

Walter P. - Switzerland

I was twenty-five years old when a friend told me about Maharaji, who was coming to Switzerland to speak. When I went to hear him, what he said immediately made sense to me. In time, I knew that I wanted what he was offering and soon received the techniques of Knowledge.

Right from the beginning, I have been able to help out with making his message known to other people. The result is a feeling of freedom, of inner calmness, and of fulfillment. I like it.

When I listen to Maharaji, something very deep within me gets touched. He brings me so much clarity. On some occasions, it has virtually changed my life. Even after so many years, his message always opens up new horizons for me and brings things into perspective. He is a great teacher, truly patient, and very humorous.

— Walter P.
Switzerland

Helen B. - Perth, Australia

It was December 1981 when I first became interested in Maharaji’s teaching and Knowledge. That year had been the most difficult one of my life. My husband had been admitted to hospital in February with a ruptured aneurysm in his brain. The operation to tie off the aneurysm went badly, and my husband became severely disabled. Our two sons were young and still in school. I was advised that my husband should be admitted to a nursing home after nine months of unsuccessful rehabilitation.

It was at this point that a work colleague invited me to a presentation about Maharaji. Three people spoke about Maharaji, and I remember being touched by their comments and by a feeling of wellbeing. The following week I saw a video of Maharaji. This was a turning point for me. Many times during that year I had observed life-threatening situations. These experiences had made me reevaluate my own life. I didn’t want any artificiality in it.

Upon hearing Maharaji speak for the first time through that video, I was struck by the devastating logic of his words. I say ‘devastating logic’ not in a pejorative sense but in a positive sense. He cut through artificiality/superficiality to what was real. I wanted that in my life. Here was a man who could help me.

So my journey began. I was taught the techniques of Knowledge in September 1982. The practice of Knowledge keeps me grounded in what is really important in life. My appreciation continues to grow; it cannot be quantified. Maharaji gave me the tools to mine the treasure of my own life so that it is a continuous adventure. For this, I am truly grateful. It is like being given a second chance at living.

As for my husband, I decided not to take the advice of the medical team. I brought him home, and he is still alive and mobile twenty years later.

— Helen B.
Perth, Australia

Gudron B. - Belgium

When I was a little child, I could feel a presence of something very special and would fall asleep with the sweet feeling of being in contact with it. By the time I was twelve, it hit me that the feeling was gone. This discovery made me feel so sad, lost, and lonely. I was afraid of having nothing but a big black hole inside which would one day swallow me.

At the age of nineteen, I heard Maharaji talk about love, about the heart of each person being like a rose that needed to be watered. In the beginning, I thought he was only a philosopher, but I soon realized this was what I had been yearning for.

Since then, although sometimes I lose this perspective, I always know that it is there and how to find my way back to it. From there, I have a ground to walk on. I can learn and progress and appreciate. And if I need inspiration, Maharaji is the best one.

— Gudron B.
Belgium

Dr. Sandy Hewitt, United Kingdom

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 tbree years researching excellence in business management. Sbe has two sons and first discovered self-knowledge toward 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’m 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 his 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.