Ganeshan R. - Suva, Fiji Islands

As I went around my daily business, I was under the impression that whatever I did in life might give me peace and happiness. But many years ago, I heard through a friend of mine about a person widely known as Maharaji who talked about life force as a source of peace and happiness that resides within and can be experienced. The idea that I could practically turn inside of myself instead of just feeling the outside world sounded very interesting. I pursued the message and received the practical techniques from Maharaji on how to go within to experience a simple feeling. I experience that this environment within me is where a stable and consistent feeling of peace resides. Now I realize that I do what I need to do for whatever reasons in my life. The things I do may provide their own forms of limited happiness, but there exists within me a simple place full of feeling of constant peace—a practical experience. I can tap into that reservoir of simplicity anytime I feel I want to. It feels really good every time I turn within, experience the feeling, and continue with my daily chores and activities associated with my family, my job at a university, my social engagements, etc. I still need to handle the issues, responsibilities, problems, etc. in my daily life, yet the feeling of being at ease inside remains. I acknowledge that it is with the kindness of Maharaji that I was given the gift of the method to go within which he calls Knowledge. I am thankful to him. He continues to help me understand this Knowledge better each time I get an opportunity to listen to his message. It is a lot of fun and feels good.

— Ganeshan R.
Suva, Fiji Islands

Derek D. - Lyndhurst, United Kingdom

I am a fifty-four-year-old computer consultant, happily married, with a twenty-two year old son. I first encountered Maharaji thirty years ago.

Understandably, I was initially skeptical about the possibility that a thirteen-year-old schoolboy could tell or show me anything of interest, but was immediately struck by his remarkable ability to answer questions on the deep issues of human existence.

Apart from the personal internal experiences made available by the techniques of Knowledge, I have found it immensely enjoyable and rewarding simply to listen to Maharaji speaking over the years. Many times, a small remark of his has triggered a crucial breakthrough in my own understanding. Invariably these have not been novel or original concepts, but the sincerity of his expression sparked an insight with positive consequences for my life.

Even though Maharaji’s teachings are expressly not about getting improved results in life, I am convinced that several of the side effects have been extremely beneficial in my relationships within my family, my business dealings, and my hobbies. The latter include skiing and acrobatic high board diving, both as a competitor and as a coach. Improved concentration, focus, equanimity, commitment, and empathy have positively impacted all of these areas.

From time to time, it has been my very great pleasure to help with Maharaji’s work, often as a technician working on the audio, video and lighting systems for the events where he speaks, and sometimes by making a financial contribution. These efforts have never been made in response to pressure of any kind, but from my own gratitude to Maharaji for what he had freely given to me, and out of a simple desire to help create a situation where others could enjoy the same benefits that I had received.

— Derek D.
Lyndhurst, England, UK

Astrid J. - Graz, Austria

Since childhood, I read any book I came across that touched on these questions: What is life? What is the meaning of it? Is life as we know and experience it the only truth that exists, or is there something beyond it? I read books about natural science, religion, and philosophy. Though it was comforting to find that, for centuries, human beings all around the world had been busy with the same questions that I had, nothing I read could really answer my questions in a way that was satisfying for me.

Something inside of me encouraged me to keep looking. I started by giving what I was looking for a name: I called it “Life Itself,” and I equipped it with the quality of “True Love.” I hoped to find Life Itself by experiencing True Love. I asked myself how I could find True Love and I got the answer: “Listen to your heart!” I asked myself how to be able to hear my heart and I got the answer: “If you had to live for today only, if tomorrow did not exist, how would you make your decisions for today? What would be important for you?”

From that day on, I began to make my decisions that way, and many changes started to happen in my life. Two years later, during a summer vacation in Greece, I met the man who would become my husband. He talked to me about Life, Truth, and Love in a beautiful way. He told me about an experience he had called Knowledge and a person called Maharaji who taught this Knowledge.

I received Maharaji's Knowledge in 1999, and since then, my life has changed in a wonderful way. Knowledge enables me to connect with a unique feeling inside of me. It is this feeling that has fulfilled my longings and that has answered my questions. I have found Life Itself and True Love inside of me. They had always been there. I just had to discover them.

— Astrid J.
Graz, Austria

Marisa J. - Milano, Italy

After I received Knowledge, I began to be in touch with something that has really enriched my life because it was meeting my real self. It was like finding a friend within me that was full of love, always “on my side,” and able to love me without ever judging me, but simply able to help me to appreciate life.

This is the feeling that I had the first time I was able to direct my attention to the place that Maharaji indicated within me. And this is the feeling that I continue to experience after twenty years of practicing Knowledge.

This experience has had repercussions in all aspects of my life because feeling fulfilled within gives me clarity and a lightness of being.

All this for free and without having to change my way of life.

— Marisa J.
Milano, Italy

Nikoletta T. - Greece

As a young child, I dreamed about magical adventures. As a teenager studying Socrates in school, I dreamed about finding truth. As an adult, I dreamed about finding a stable point in my life that would never change and always be there for me. When I saw Maharaji, I couldn’t believe how real he was. He offered a gift that was beyond any dream, beyond any expectation I ever had—the precious experience to meet with myself.

I am a typical busy mother. I have two children, and I love them very much. I really enjoy my work and activities. But I know that, underlying all these activities, there is a golden thread of understanding of the preciousness and uniqueness of life, which Maharaji has offered me. My life. I know that through this process of knowing myself I can live in a stability that nobody and nothing can take away. And that is because I had the great fortune to meet Maharaji.

— Nikoletta T.
Greece

Robin B. - Boston, USA

A number of years ago in the foothills of southern Texas, I attended a workshop with Maharaji (his real name is Prem Rawat). We were a few days into it when I found my hand raised, offering to role-play with him during a session. We sat in two chairs on the make shift stage and went at it. My role was to be completely obtuse, insisting that I understood what Knowledge was. He was cool, trying to get me to understand the process of learning and growing. I would hear none of it. It was amusing, but eventually it was clear he wanted to wrap it up so he asked me, still in role, “What can I do to help you understand?” “Let me sit with you at dinner tonight,” popped out of my mouth. I blushed at myself, but later when the group went into San Antonio for Mexican food, he invited me over and proceeded to be a completely gracious host. To me, this was quintessential Prem Rawat, an innovative teacher, an inspirational life-guide, and someone who knows how to make a wallflower feel like a princess.

—Robin B.
 
Boston, MA, USA