Personal Essays by Students of Prem Rawat

Maestro of Peace in Corleone
July 2008

-by Jule Kowarsky

Corleone is a small town. The bus ride, from Palermo, took a little more than an hour and the route was lined with grapevines, hayfields, mountains, and a picturesque countryside. Grown men, baling and stacking hay, waved at our bus -- the way children wave to train engineers in rural areas.

The town square, named for two men who were shot because they stood up to the Mafia was smaller than a football field. Chairs had been brought in and some bleachers at the back. They said this important event could have been held indoors, but that they wanted it in the open air where all who wished to could come. Their sincerity and genuine affection for Mr Prem Rawat was evident and very touching.

The dream-like quality of the event was unmistakable. The dignitaries in attendance numbered about 50 dark suited men who had been in a meeting with Maharaji in a government building just up the street from the square. They followed him in a procession as he walked from there to the square. Townsfolk on their balconies overhanging the square all cheered and applauded while some mothers with their babies and many small children waived and smiled. Maharaji smiled and waved back to them.

Mayors of many surrounding municipalities, some elected only the day before, were among those he had been meeting with. All looked very happy and radiated pride as they filed into their seats. During the event more and more people came into the square and even the scrawny dogs seemed unable to stay away! Looking at the old men sitting in front their places of business and homes at the edge of the square brought to mind the old photos of the Italian communities in Newark and New York in the late 1800s and the early part of the 20th century.

Here are some highlights of the event, not necessarily in their order of presentation and paraphrased in some places according to my recollection:

He explained that what you practice you will get good at. If you practise kindness you will get really good at it. If you practice anger you will get really good at it. He then said, "I will tell you a story about this." He spoke of a famous archer who could shoot an arrow and while it flew in the air he could split it by shooting a second one. The archer was demonstrating this for a crowd one day and each time a single voice would repeat, "It is just a matter of practice."

After the entertainment was over he approached this man and asked him if he knew how difficult it was for him to do this. The man said "Yes, I do - but it is just a matter of practice. Follow me." He then took the archer to where he worked filling bottles with oil. The man held a coin that was made with a hole in the centre as many ancient Chinese coins were, and placed it over the top of bottle. He took a ladle of oil and then proceeded to pour into the bottle without spilling a single drop on the coin! "Just a matter of practice," he repeated.

He spoke as he had in Palermo, repeating that if you are strong you should be kind, if you are smart you should be simple, and wealthy, you should be humble. He also elaborated on the issue that it is human beings who have created many of the problems we face and human beings that can solve them.

He spoke of equanimity of nature which does not say, "I do not like you... no fruit will grow for you." He spoke of how clouds are created, the process of it, and said the creation of wars is not like this. They begin in the minds of men.

Before Maharaji began speaking, each speaker included a very warm expression of gratitude that he had come to Corleone to plant the seeds of Peace. Huge posters announcing the event were all over the town and a car with a loud speaker drove around inviting people to the square before the event began.

The other speakers made many references to the infamy of Corleone and the Mafia. One very shy man who spoke worked at returning land confiscated by the mafia over the years to the rightful owners, and he was very well received by the crowd.

Maharaji gently, but firmly, expressed they should now not dwell on this past but look to the future. He began and ended his address with this point. He said that people from "tiny villages in India to cities all across the world would see recordings of this event." People of Corleone "can be proud to know that they will speak of Corleone as a place truly embraces peace and sows it seed."

The townsfolk gave him many ovations and at this point all cheered and rose to their feet. The mayor thanked him again and instead of referring to him as Mr. Rawat, or Prem Rawat, he embraced him and called him the "Maestro of Peace."

There is so much more that can be told, but kindly accept these brief recollections and excuse my poor attempt to convey a small bit of the magic and beauty that took place at this history making event.