An Interview with Maharaji

By David Schner, President, LEADERS magazine

How do you define Knowledge, and how is it different from other forms of introspection?
The Knowledge that I am speaking of is fundamental to one’s being. It is the core of who you are. It is not about changing behavior. Rather, it is about feeling more centered within yourself.

Some teachers say, “Let’s see what you can accomplish. How can we make you a success?” I focus much more on the person. Rather than show people what they could do, I say, “Look, you have been given the gift of life. You have been given a treasure within you. Why don’t you address your own treasure? Why don’t you address your innermost feeling?”

Do you see Knowledge as essential to achieving success, or is it more a question of simply adding value to people’s lives?
Well, you can look at it both ways. Whatever you are trying to pursue, Knowledge will augment your chances of true success. And if a person is just trying to feel good within, then Knowledge will definitely help. I can’t claim that it will make a person successful in business, nor that it has any particular health benefits. Some people say so, but I dispute that. What I do believe is that the journey toward joy, contentment, inner peace, or whatever it is you are pursuing begins with you.

How do you define success?
If you do not feel successful within yourself, then it doesn’t matter how successful you are on the outside. There is always going to be a distinction between the two. Once you draw the distinction between you and everything else, it’s very easy to see that outward success is not what really matters.

Is it difficult to convince people that inner success is as important as success on the outside?
It’s not really a question of convincing them. Once you accept that success begins with you, everything else becomes secondary. People have to experience this fundamental shift for themselves and then, rich or poor, it’s very easy for them to start grasping the principles of Knowledge.

So what exactly does Knowledge change in a person?
I don’t say that Knowledge will bring outward changes in personality. It may, but it may not. There are no guarantees. But Knowledge will bring a fundamental change within you. There will be a shift, and you will find peace, joy, and harmony, and most importantly, you will find yourself—the real self.

It’s as if you were in a boat being taken up and down by all the waves. Then, suddenly, the boat just takes off and glides on smooth, calm air. You stop being subject to all the ups and downs that continue to happen. If you are able to find peace within yourself, then maybe you will become a better person, and that could make a difference to everything else in your life. But that will always be up to you.

Can you describe the process of reaching Knowledge?
People listen to me, and if they are interested, they pursue their interest and come to more of my lectures. They don’t move on to the next stage until they are convinced it’s really for them. Each person proceeds at his or her own pace. This can take a few weeks, several months, or in some cases, years. After they’re sure they’re interested, I teach them some techniques that allow them to get in touch with the simplicity that is inside all of us. It’s really a question of presenting the possibilities to people.