I'm an atheist with a healthy respect for peoples choice for their own religious beliefs. I then tend to slowly move away when anyone starts to talk religion so as not to offend. However 25 years ago a then neighbour lent me a tape of a man named PREM RAWAT....also known as Maharaji. He asked me to listen to this tape alone and when wanting peace in my life.
I listened and the tears never stopped from the beginning to the end. It was and still is the most beautiful piece of music and words I've ever heard.
The story of Maharaji as was told to me 25 years ago was: that at 9 years old he attended a funeral where hundreds of people gathered to mourn the death of an elder. In his confusion this boy climbed a tall fence and yelled at all the mourners to stop weeping and instead to rejoice in the elders death,and his achievements. He began to make an impact on his society. At 13 years old there are some youtube film of him addressing audiences...his fame was rapidly accelerating. At around 40 years old he was flying his own Learjet around the world spreading his messages.
There may well be a religious foundation to his movement. For me it doesnt matter. I am in awe of his words and Youtube messages and dont intend on pursuing his movement as an official follower.
In one of his messages he mentions things like queues, forms to fill out and other stressful modern chores. He puts things into perspective. He gives you the listener the opportunity to reconsider your place in the world, your own presence, appreciating your worth.
In one tape I heard, he explained how you have a key to your door- your inner self. No one else has that key. You haveit but you have to find it. Many, so many people never find it...like a life wasted away. Once you find your inner self, no easy feat, you are at full peace. Many of his followers meet him, talk shortly with him and often find out, disappointingly, that he has told them to keep searching for he knows through that short conversation- that they have a journey left to go before they will find their true selves.
There are many other reasons why I have ended up a positive thinker in my life. This is only one of them. When my thinking goes 'south' I often click onto one of Maharaji's youtube's to return to the fundamentals. He usually makes more sense than anyone else.
Delai Lama and others also hit the mark with quotes. I hope Maharaji helps you, sooths you and gives you a direction of hope.
