Prem Rawat - University Events

The faculty at the Peace Studies Department of the Graduate School of Humanities and social Sciences at the Nova Southeastern University in Florida invited Maharaji to address a distinguished audience of students, faculty and guests.
The university is the largest independent institution of higher education in the Southeastern region of the United States and is the sixth largest not-for-profit independent university nationwide.

Maharaji addressed students, faculty and guests at the University of California at Berkeley.
The University was once described by the Oxford scholars as the Home of science and seat of the muses. It was founded in 1868 in a merger of the private College of California and the public Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College. By the 1930s, Berkeley had established itself as a premier research university, and today counts sixty-one Nobel Laureates among its faculty, researchers and alumni.
excerpt from the address:

Maharaji delivered the keynote address at the first conference on peace "Peace is Possible", at this 13th century University near Madrid, Spain. Maharaji spoke in the great hall, "Paraninfo". He was introduced by the Vice-Rector, who hailed his message as "Noble".
The University of Salamanca is the oldest university in Spain; founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX. Many well known citizens have walked through the corridors of the university, including Christopher Columbus.

Following is a brief excerpt from an address by Prem Rawat at the University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.

It's an honor to be here to talk about a very simple subject - peace. There are a lot of ideas about peace and I'm not here to add more, but to present a very simple possibility.

Maharaji addressed a distinguished audience of faculty, students and guests at Griffith University. He was thanked by a leader from the Australian Institute for International Relations.

In his address Maharaji says
What I offer is to turn your focus within, so that you can feel that peace in your life. What you are looking for is within you. When there is no peace within, then there is wars outside. Inside, has to much to do with expression of what takes place on outside. Express then, your sincere desire to yourself for peace. Find that thirst that will lead you to water. I have nothing to sell. My speeches are not make you feel good. If it makes you think "I am alive, possibility of peace is there, and I am richer than i can ever imagine." Then the thirst will take over and it will guide you to water. If you take nothing from this event, then take this one thing - you need to have peace in your life, period. With my help, without my help - i don't care. Find it! And if you can't find it - I can help. And thats what its all about. Thank you very much. And i hope you give it, some thought.

Griffith University is committed to high standards of scholarship, innovation, internationalization, social justice, ethical standards and lifelong learning. It consistently ranks high among Good University Guides, with the Griffith Business School ranking 11 in 2006.

Maharaji addressed an audience that included faculty, community leaders, and students at Sanders Theatre, Harvard University.
Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. It is also the first and oldest corporation in North America. Many of the most venerable academic, political, and literary figures of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King, have taken the podium at Sanders Theatre.

Following is a brief excerpt from an address by Prem Rawat at Harvard University:

When it comes to theory, peace is a very complicated thing. The only thing you can do is to inspire people to find the way to feel peace, and that begins with presenting the picture of a possibility.

To each person, there is a version of peace that applies to them. What is it? If you are a city dweller, you hear horns honking, sirens blaring, and everything going on all day and part of the night. Then on the weekend when you go to that quiet little place and there are no sirens, you say, "Ah, this is so peaceful." That's not peace. Absence of sounds is not peace. Absence of taxicabs honking is not peace. Absence of screeching tires is not peace. But getting away from that situation seems peaceful. These are individual variations of peace that people have.

What is real peace - peace that is common to every single human being on the face of this earth? The generic definition of peace is the absence of war, but there is a peace that has nothing to do with arguments and nothing to do with wars. The resolution of conflict alone is not peace.

There is a peace that is not temporary, not tied to politics, not found in the formulas of what the world thinks ought to be. It is not somebody's vision, but resides within the individual, whether they are rich or poor, good or bad, right or wrong - even in their darkest hour, even when they are surrounded by an ocean of confusion and doubt.

This peace is not the absence of anything. Real peace is the presence of something beautiful. Both peace and the thirst for it have been in the heart of every human being in every century and every civilization.

Maharaji was invited by the National Resource Centre for Value Education in Engineering to address a distinguished audience of faculty, guests and students at the prestigious Indian Institute Technology in New Delhi, India.
IIT, Delhi is one of seven Institutes of technology in India. Maharaji's message was hailed as truly remarkable by the Deputy Director of IIT, Delhi.

Prem Rawat was invited by leaders of Thammasat University to address a capacity audience of civic, government and academic leaders.

The guests were welcomed by Manu Leopairote, President of the Economic Faculty Alumni Association of Thammasat, Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Industry, and Chairman of the Thailand Petroleum Authority. Mr. Leopairote is also Director for Thailand of the Asian Productivity Organization, a nonpolitical, nonprofit, intergovernmental organization contributing to the socioeconomic development of Asia and the Pacific by enhancing productivity.

Mr. Leopairote said: "Thammasat University has a long history of providing a forum for different voices with a significant message that, each in their own way, helps people live happier, more prosperous lives. In line with this long tradition, we are gathered tonight to hear from Prem Rawat. He travels the world bringing people a unique message of hope and peace, which deserves to be heard with great attention. We are pleased that he accepted our invitation."

Prem Rawat was then introduced by Professor Dr. Surapon Nitikraipot, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Rector of Thammasat University, and President of the Alumni Association. A professor of law, he is regarded as one of Thailand's sharpest legal minds on public issues and has helped Thammasat become a voice of public conscience. Professor Surapon has served as a member of several committees in the Prime Minister's Office, modernizing Thai law and developing the legal infrastructure.

Professor Surapon said: "Throughout time, leading thinkers, academicians, and government leaders have attempted to develop an understanding of how to build peace. Many approaches have been explored, all attempting to create favorable conditions for peace. These solutions have drawn from economics, history, international law, comparative peace studies, conflict resolution, political science, sociology, anthropology, and more. Prem Rawat's message of peace is rooted in the need for each person to find peace within themselves. He emphasizes that whether our search is for world peace or for personal peace, we very much need to look at the search for peace as a personal quest, rooted in an understanding of who we are. 'When people in the world are at peace,' he says, 'the world will be at peace.'"

Thammasat University is one of the most prestigious universities in Thailand. More than 70 years since its establishment in 1934, the University has produced more than 240,000 undergraduate and graduate students who have greatly contributed to the development and progress of the society and the country. The University's alumni include prime ministers, top-level politicians and officers, Bank of Thailand governors, as well as most of the city's governors.

Prem Rawat responded to an invitation to speak at an event in the Knoxville Convention Center. More than 1200 people from Knoxville and the surrounding area attended the event. This was the first time Prem Rawat had given an address in Tennessee.

Maharaji addressed leaders and prominent members of the Miami community as well as members of Miami Dade College's faculty at the James L. Knight Centre, Miami's largest auditorium.
Dr. Padron awarded Prem Rawat a "Key" to the City of Miami on behalf of Mayor, Manny Diaz, before a group of Miami government, civic and business leaders.

Responding to an invitation from Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President of Miami Dade College, Prem Rawat, known also as Maharaji, addressed a distinguished audience of faculty, guests, and students at the James L. Knight Center, Miami's largest auditorium. MDC is the largest institution of higher education in the US with 163,000 students from 170 countries. The event benefited the World Food Programme (WFP). The Foundation's contribution will provide food for 4,500 schoolchildren in Guatemala for a month. The sponsors for this event included Bell South, the Human Services Coalition, Mahoney Cohen, Grubb & Ellis, the City of Miami, the Four Seasons Hotel, and Miami resident artist Romero Britto. Prior to the June 16 event, Dr. Padrón awarded Prem Rawat a key to the City of Miami on behalf of Mayor Manny Diaz before a group of Miami government, civic, and business leaders.

Welcoming Prem Rawat, Dr. Padrón told the gathering on June 16: "His message is one of hope and peace, and he has inspired millions throughout the world. As an educator, the opportunity to learn has been central and the focus of my life. I have witnessed brilliant teachers and eager students turn classrooms into magical places. Prem Rawat reminds us that magic begins with people, and it's within each person. That the possibility of peace and the possibility of living a life to the fullest begins with recognizing the value of life itself. That is, in my opinion, the deepest learning and is certainly a curriculum for everyone."

In the world of higher education, few people command the universal respect that Dr. Padrón does. President Clinton, one of four US presidents to appoint him to national commissions, called him "one of America's great educators."

Karen Sendelback, President and CEO of Friends of WFP, said: "In February, a gift from The Prem Rawat Foundation provided critical food aid to 15,000 tsunami victims for the entire first month after the tragedy struck, literally saving these people's lives. How is hunger relief related to Prem Rawat's message of peace and dignity? In every way, for a hungry community is not at peace. Where hunger exists, there cannot be true peace. And that's what makes an evening such as tonight so important. Thank you to Prem Rawat and the Foundation for their generosity toward the World Food Programme."

Maharaji was invited to present his message to the heads, lecturers and young students of Malaya University (Kuala Lumpur).
Vice Chancellor, Captain Dato' Professor Dr. Hashim Yaacob, describes Maharaji's message to be intriguing. The University of Malaya (Abbreviation: UM; Malay: Universiti Malaya) is the oldest university in Malaysia. The university motto, Ilmu Punca Kemajuan (Malay: Knowledge is the Key to Success), reflects the philosophy of the University in its constant endeavor to seek knowledge in all fields to produce successful graduates and a successful nation.
UM is widely recognized as one of the top universities in Malaysia.

Maharaji addressed a distinguished audience of faculty, students, and guests at Oxford University. He said "The peace you are looking for exists within you. Have the tools you need to accomplish the aspirations of your heart, regardless of all external circumstance."
The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The university traces its roots back to the end of the 11th century.
Excerpt from address of Prem Rawat: