Palmero, Italy, July 2008
Hi Folks…
I am typing in the dark back of my hotel room in Palermo so as not to wake my room-mate. The computer will go with her today and I want to get this to you, so I am writing. I cannot read my notes in this light, so I will start again so I can share with you – and savor my own memories, while fresh – of this amazing event which unfolded as a tale of old.
Corleone is not city like Palermo — indeed it is a small town. The bus ride took about 1 and 1/4 hours and way route was lined with grapevines and hay-fields, beautiful mountains and a picturesque countryside.
Grown men baling and stacking hay waived at our bus, the way children wave to train engineers in rural areas. The town square – named for two men who were shot because they stood up to the Mafia – was smaller than a football field.
Chairs had been brought in and some bleachers at the back. They said this important event could have been held indoors, but that they wanted it in the open air where all who wished to could come. Their sincerity and genuine affection for Mr. Prem Rawat was evident and very touching.
The event’s dream-like quality was unmistakable, yet it was far better than a dream, because it was real. The dignitaries in attendance numbered about 50 dark-suited men who had been in a meeting with Mr Rawat in a government building just up the street from the square who followed him in a procession as he walked from there with this entire entourage to the square. Townsfolk on their balconies overhanging the square all cheered and applauded while some mothers with their babies and many small children waved and smiled; a glowing guest speaker smiled and waved back to them.
Mayors of many surrounding municipalities, some elected as recently as yesterday, were among those he had been meeting with all looked very happy and radiated a beautiful pride as they filed into their seats. During the event more and more people came into the square and even the scrawny dogs seemed unable to stay away! Looking at the old men sitting in front their places of business and homes at the edge of the square, brought to mind the old photos of the Italian communities in Newark and New York in the late 1800s and the early part of the 20th century.
Here are some of moments of his sharing, again, not necessarily in their order of presentation and paraphrased in some places and according to my recollection.
He explained that what you practice you will get good it – if you practice kindness you will get really good at it, if you practice anger you will get really good at it. He then said I will tell you a story about this.
He spoke of a famous archer who could shoot an arrow and while it flew in the air he could split it by shooting a second one. The archer was demonstrating this for a crowd one day and single voice would repeat “it is just a matter of practice, of practice…”
Each time he performed this feat. After the entertainment was over he approached this man and asked him if he knew how difficult it was for him to do this. The man said “Yes, I do – but it is just a matter of practice. Follow me”. He then took the archer to where he worked filling bottles with oil. The man held a coin that had was made with a hole in the center as many ancient Chinese coins were, he placed over the top of bottle. He took a ladle of oil and then proceeded to pour into the bottle, without spilling a single drop on the coin! “Just a matter of practice, he repeated”.
He spoke as he had in Palermo about the saying that if you are strong you should be kind, smart you should be simple, and wealthy you should be humble. He also elaborated on the issue that it is human beings who have created many of the problems we face and human beings that can solve them.
He spoke of equanimity of nature which does not say, “I do not like you… no fruit will grow for you”. He spoke of how clouds are created, the process of it, and said the creation of wars is not like this — they begin in the minds of men.
Before the event began, several introductions included a very warm expression of gratitude that Mr Rawat had come to Corleone to plant the seeds of Peace. Huge posters announcing the event were all over the town and a car with a loud speaker drove around inviting people to the square before the event began. The other speakers made many references to the infamy of Corleone and the Mafia. One very shy man who spoke worked at returning land they had confiscated over the years to their rightful owners and he was very well received by the crowd.
Prem Rawat gently, but firmly expressed they should now not dwell on this past but look to the future – he both began and ended his address with this point. He said that people from “tiny villages in India to cities all across the world would see recordings of this event, and they can be proud to know that they will speak of Corleone as a place truly embraces peace and sows it seed.”
The townsfolk gave him many ovations and at this point all cheered and rose to their feet. The mayor thanked him again and instead of referring to him as Mr. Rawat, he embraced him and called him the Maestro of Peace.
There is so much more that can be told, but kindly accept these brief recollections and excuse my flaws and the errors in my poor attempt to convey a small bit of the magic and beauty that took place at this history making event. I may send you some notes from others who attended.
—
Jules
