Captain Kirk Redux
I’m sorry, but Captain Kirk was wrong! Space is not the final frontier (outer space that is). There exists a deeper and more profound voyage into the unfathomable depths of the human being, into a secret place that some might call the divine, essence or soul.
And, no matter how ‘boldly’ man goes, he cannot traverse the threshold to this inner realm, for his senses and mental faculties are much too gross and heavy laden with the limitations of form, space, time and concept. In fact, the only aspect of human kind that can actually pass beyond this threshold is pure consciousness, that part of us that knows no limitations and is free of all the ideas of who we ‘think’ we are.
And, while we’re on the subject, Fox Mulder (X-files) has it all wrong too – the truth is not ‘out there’, but 180 degrees in the opposite direction, within the human being. The accepted definition of illusion is when things are not the way they appear to be, or in many cases, are 100% the opposite to what we think they are. In the pursuit of truth, we have barked-up every tree in the universe except our own and it is within our own ‘tree’ that we will find what we are looking for.
A few years back I crossed paths with a gentleman who, in my humble opinion, had boldly gone where no living person had gone before. He made three simple claims that, at the time, resonated at a very deep, personal level – first, that the truth I was looking for was inside of me, second, that this truth was accessible within my lifetime and third, that he could help guide me along the pathway to this highest of human endeavors. His name is Prem Rawat and this is an introduction to his vision and life’s work.
Prem is a gifted poet, artist, humorist, photographer, humanitarian and peace activist based in the US Southwest. He has been traveling the world since his early childhood, speaking about a simple joy and lasting fulfillment that already exists inside the human being. He refers to this innate experience as ‘self-knowledge’ and has been offering guidance to those who feel a genuine need for something deeper in their lives.
Prem Rawat’s help and generosity extends further to include the corporal needs of his fellow human beings. The Prem Rawat Foundation has been busy over the past many years, providing food, clothing and disaster relief to victims of some of the world’s worst natural and man-made catastrophes including the 2004 Tsunami in Indonesia, Hurricane Katrina, the recent Haiti Earthquake. His Foundation partners with such organizations as the United Nations World Food Program, Oxfam and The Red Cross in helping to alleviate human suffering around the world.
In my personal life I have been showered with many gifts and talents – I am currently involved in a number of art disciplines including music, poetry, photography, writing, producing, comedy and education. I must say that I have benefited immeasurably from the experiences of self-knowledge because it has provided me with a sense of real peace and a way of keeping in touch with deeper things while I go about my busy life. In the diverse world we live in there are many options available for finding answers to fundamental questions and Prem Rawat’s approach of self-knowledge is one of those many options. In this spirit I would like to invite you to check out the websites listed below for more information on his message and good works. Thank you.
Dennis Lakusta