Ever since my earliest memories, my life has been filled with love for God. While still in the cradle, I heard the chanting of God’s name, and as I grew older, this is what I taught my friends and companions. Until the age of ten, the whole of my education was based on the different scriptures, and my life was filled with the practical example of their teachings. Our family practiced a particular kind of Hinduism that followed a strict vegetarian diet, abstention from alcohol and so on. My grandfather was known for his religious background, and there were sages and saints living in the park-lands all around our house. Until they had been fed, we children did not eat. In addition, my father would take leave of his business every year for one month, in order to take me on a pilgrimage. So, the sages and saints of India were all very well knowN to me. Despite all this, however, my search continued, because the one thing that I wanted with all my heart and mind was to know and understand the truth, and there were still certain questions and concerns for which I had no answers. This changed at the age of eighteen, when I met Prajapita Brahma, the founder of what has since become the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. I had known him in my childhood, when he was called Dada Lekraj, but this was before his own spiritual transformation. Through him I was able to understand the essence of all the scriptures I had studied, through teachings which were universal, I found answers to all my questions, solutions to all my concerns.

In my search for God on the path of devotion, I used to say that God is my Mother and Father. I even used to say this to my physical parents. I was not just saying it with feelings of love and devotion, but from the desire to have that relationship practically in my life. What I can say now, after having been a Brahma Kumari for sixty yars, is that this has been my practical experience during all these years . . ., that God is my Mother, my Father, my Friend, my Lord, my Companion. This is the pilgrimage that I have had the fortune of being on throughout this entire life. Why am I telling you all these things? Because I know from my own experience that spirituality has the answer.

If we look at the conditions of the world, there is so much suffering. People have moved far away from God; they have become trapped in materialism, wars and fighting. It is as if the `human-ness' of human beings has been lost. The mind can hardly bear the pain. So we end up shutting it out, saying that now it is up to God, that God is now going to have to do something. We have been together now for three days and this is the one sound emerging from all our hearts – the awareness of the need for God, for relationships with God.

God teaches us to be peaceful, merciful and forgiving. What this means is that we have to develop these in our own life. For this, the study of spiritual knowledge is essential, and within this there are three things we need to know.

The first thing is: Who am I? We need to know that we are spiritual beings, quite distinct from t the body; that when we say ‘soul’, we mean that which is separate from the body. Then we need to practice this awareness of our spiritual identity, and how this body, just like this world, is separate. This is what will allow us to steady the mind; that is, keep it quiet and thus be able to develop inner spiritual power. Then, not only will we be able to see our problems clearly, but we will have the power to overcome them as well. It is not just a question of chanting God’s name – which is what I used to do in the form of prayer – rather, it is simply getting the mind to remain in a state of inner attentiveness to God, at all times. You still need to pay attention to whatever is the task at hand, but having completed the task, the mind should be able to return to that innermost state of attentiveness, a state of inner silence. The mind needs to be kept free form worry, able to maintain that inner focus, no matter how much responsibility there may be.

One reason the mind tends to lose this focus is desires. However, spiritual wisdom can create such a state of contentment – the experience of all desires having been fulfilled – that the soul is no longer distracted by any of the illusions of the outside world. To not be distracted by desires is to give yourself the right to claim all treasures – spiritual treasures, like peace and happiness – from God, as an inheritance. Faith works like a power in this – faith in God and faith in the future. Then, no matter how many tests come in front of you, nothing will shake you; you will remain firm in the understanding that victory is your birthright. For this, the only thing that is needed is to keep our mind free from negativity and defects, firmly set in the consciousness of being the child of God.

The second thing we need to know is this: Who do I belong to? There is One who is the Supreme, One who is God, Allah, the One whom we all love, the One our attention is always focused on in times of difficulty, the One we all point our finger towards, in the same upward direction. There is One who is God, who give benefit to all, who uplifts all. People of all religions belong to this same One, accept this same One. The remembrance of this One not only liberates us from the past, but empowers us to do that which is right, now. Yesterday I was very pleased to hear my brother speak about the relationship with God, in which, if we follow God’s instructions, God becomes responsible for us. This has been the foundation of my life, and it is why I have never had any more questions or even a moment of doubt in my mind. He is definitely looking after me. Even though I am now 81 years old, I still consider myself to be His child – looked after, sustained and protected very, very well. This is a result of following God’s instructions, and also of having the practice of filling the self with spiritual power. It is also why, in my life, there can never be feelings of loneliness or of being empty.

It has been a source of great joy to hear from you that even if 5% of the world were to have a state of powerful consciousness, we could bring about change in the world. Yes, definitely! Just as God is the One who removes everyone’s sorrow and bestows happiness, we can develop that same power, so that we are stable to do the same for others. Non-violence is the highest quality of religion, and with this awareness all violence can be finished. Let us reach for such heights that we are able to remove the sorrow and suffering of others and give them peace. Let us not have any thoughts of violence, hatred, or even thoughts of dislike within our heart. Throughout my whole life, I can truly say that this is the instruction from God that I have always followed. If our feelings are of love, devotion and faith in God, then I know we can be assured that the rest is in God’s hands.

The third feature we need to know is the importance of the philosophy of action; i.e., the law of cause and effect, or ‘karma’. Let us do only those actions which are elevated, so that our own conscience can agree that what we are doing are only those right things taught to us by God. Let us understand how God is creating our fortune through this.

Some people say, " Your life must have been one of great renunciation", but the experience has not been of renunciation at all but rather, of good fortune. Following God’s instructions has kept my life free from the influence of bad habits; it has ensured that my food and drink are filled with goodness and that my relationships are filled with love. These are not features of renunciation, but of fortune. This kind of fortune is a question of good actions and good actions are based on an awareness of values. Values are what allow us to make sound judgments about what is right, and what needs to happen. It is only when we are standing on the foundation of our values that we are then able to remain steady – in the face of victory or defeat, success or failure. So it all comes down to knowing the self, and cultivating that inner state of self-dignity. This is the spiritual power that is needed, and only God can give it. At this time, every human being is in need of this spiritual power. I believe that people are ready to hear these things now.

When you look at the world through your physical eyes, you will see culture, personality and religion – and it is very easy to get entrenched in stubbornness and the desire to prove the self right. Where there is stubbornness, there is no love, and trying to prove the self right is an equally dangerous state.(A diamond will sparkle even in the dust; you do not ever need to prove that you are right.) In front of these dangers, my suggestion is that it is now time for us to go beyond all divisions, beyond the limits altogether. Whatever is the race, the religion, the class – the consciousness now has to be able to go beyond all these things. Only then will we realize that there is enough for all.

Just as my concern is to be obedient to God and to be honest in God’s work, so this is my advice to each one: Let there be obedience to God. Whichever religion you belong to, whichever tradition you belong to, let there just be that sense of obedience and the desire to be trustworthy and honest in God’s task. The transformation of the world is God’s task – all we need to do is to be honest within that. Our collective power in this is the solution, in front of which nothing can be difficult. So often I hear people say, "This is difficult". But I say, " Remove this word ‘difficult’ from your vocabulary." It is possible for human beings to do whatever they want. In fact, it is easy. It is we humans who have created the world as it is today, and so it is in our human hands to see it changed. It all depends on our awareness, it depends on our hearts. Every one’s hear desires a better world, and we all want practical action for this. What is needed is the spiritual might generated by collective power of the gathering.

God also has the desire to see the world transformed, which is why it is possible to have God’s company. How can this be attained? I have been practicing 4:00 am early morning meditation every day for many, many years, and it is my life’s aim to share exactly this with you. Basically, there are four concepts which need to be practiced:

• I am a child of God
• Let me always be a student; let me learn every day; let me learn from God; let me learn from others around me.
• Let me be an example, because one can’t teach by speaking; one can only show others through one’s own life, and
• Let me be an instrument of God; let me sing God’s praise in my heart; let me use God’s qualities and God’s virtues in the actions of my life.

In conclusion, I would like to request that we share a moment of silence together, in which I will speak a few thoughts out loud, so that we can all think deeply about the things we have heard and so be able to experience and practice them in our life in a very natural way.

"Turning my attention inwards, I come to that point of peace which is within my own inner being….And in this awareness of peace, I can feel the presence of the Supreme….the light, the love, the power of the Supreme…And as I keep that connection, through my thoughts….that light, that love, moves out from this room….out into the city…..and out into the universe. And our concentrated thought focuses on that light…on that peace…….human hearts are touched with peace……and with love. Nature, the elements of matter, are also touched with this light….and moving in to a state of harmony….And humanity comes together in the awareness of one family…..