Between February 14 and April 4, more than 1 million people throughout the Indian subcontinent came to seek Maharaji's inspiration and guidance. The tour started with events in Delhi and Mumbai, where Maharaji was invited to present his message to civic, government, and business leaders, as well as to members of the international media and the diplomatic corps.
Maharaji held a total of seventeen events throughout the country, including in the cities of Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Pune, Bareilly, Allahabad, Ranchi, Farrukhabad, and Karnal.
A record audience of 275,000 welcomed him in Baghalpur, a city with only 1.2 million inhabitants.
In addition to the more than one million people that came to hear Maharaji in person, a two-day interactive satellite event took place on April 3-4, attended by more than 635,000 people gathered in 2,100 centers throughout India. These people sent Maharaji more than 2,200 questions by telephone and then watched him answer these questions over the live television feed.
For Mr. H. V. Nagappa, the General Manager of
Raj Vidya Kender, which promote s Maharaji's message throughout India, “This record participation is a clear sign that in India the thirst for Maharaji's message of peace is virtually limitless. Wherever he speaks, an audience of 100,000 is becoming the norm. A large number of these people understand that there is more than words to Maharaji's message and decide to actively pursue Knowledge—Maharaji's approach to finding peace within.”
For
Linda Pascotto, President of The Prem Rawat Foundation, which promotes and disseminates Maharaji's message outside India, “The people who came to seek Maharaji's guidance represented an unparalleled cross-section of society. They included diplomats, CEOs, journalists, politicians, and high-level government officials, as well as hundreds of thousands of people whose sole belongings may have been the clothes they were wearing. A ll those people gathered in peace, listening to Maharaji in silence, smiling, clapping, laughing as he presented his message, was an unforgettable sight. Maharaji is doing wonders in India as he brings his message of peace, and we look forward to the same enthusiasm catching on throughout the world.”
Maharaji addressed a distinguished audience of faculty, students, and guests at Griffith University. He was introduced by a member of the faculty and thanked by a leader from the Australian Institute for International Relations. Griffith University enjoys an enviable international reputation. It is committed to high standards of scholarship, innovation, internationalization, social justice, ethical standards, and lifelong learning. It promotes personal growth and development for its students, including career preparation and life fulfillment.
This exciting, upscale lifestyle magazine is published quarterly "for those who live life to the fullest in a world of elegance and style." The publication is geared to an affluent audience described by the editors as, "savvy, intellectual and influential." Each issue offers exciting and insightful stories as well as breathtaking photographs gathered from all over the world. Maharaji is featured in a six-page article in a special issue on "The Pursuit of Happiness, Health and Harmony".
Wherever he goes, Maharaji receives an enthusiastic reception. However, he is welcomed by people in Africa with a unique enthusiasm and unbridled spontaneity. This time he is greeted in a traditional manner with "talking drums" and touching lyrics. He then addressed the audience, speaking of a voice within each person that, with every breath, calls to be fulfilled.
In addition to the one million people who attended the tour, 635,000 people attended each day of a two-day, interactive, satellite video follow-up event. The participants, gathered in more than 2,100 centers, phoned in more than 2,000 questions and watched Maharaji answer questions live over the TV feed.
Nearly three quarters of a million people have come to seek inspiration and guidance from Maharaji in the last two months. Each event brings renewed enthusiasm and opens up new possibilities. What seemed unimaginable just weeks ago is now materializing. In this address, Maharaji shares a simple, delightful story, as well as profound insights into life, illusion, reality, love, and where to turn to find richness in life.
Maharaji expressed he is here to remind people of what they have rather than what they are missing, and he painted a beautiful picture of what can be found within: answers, joy, and fulfillment.
