50 Years of Practising Self-Knowledge

 Taken from My Piece of Peace by Alun Buffry
ISBN 978-1838440121

One of the many things that I have learned is that it is more important how one reacts to the events in the world around us than the events themselves, in particular events that we cannot control or avoid. Obviously it makes sense to get out of the way of a car that is speeding towards us, to look both ways before crossing the road, to take precautions, look before we leap or whatever. Whilst it makes sense to try to avoid illness and injury, we cannot avoid the inevitable.

Prem talks about the two walls we encounter. The wall of birth and the wall of death. We have been born and we will die. It's the bit in between that is called life and that is the bit we should enjoy.

In the present we experience the point where the future becomes the past. Rather than wallow in the past in regrets, guilt or sorrow, rather than fret and worry about the future, it simply makes more sense to enjoy the present, as “the present is the gift".

That is not to say that we should not learn from our mistakes or make good plans for the future. It is to say that everything is really about now, the eternal now.

In one of his recent talks, Prem mentioned the finite and the infinite. To summarise, he said that we were not, we are and we will not be, but the universe was, is and will be. We are the finite and the universe is the infinite and our life is the time when the finite and the infinite meet. What is more sensible than seeking the infinite. Prem never speculates or tries to tell us what will happen when we die, just that we will.

When he was still quite young, somebody asked him precisely that “What will happen when I die?” “Die and find out,” he answered.

Another thing I have realised is that the answer is mostly in the question. That is, if we can really understand the meaning of the question, what the words mean and what is behind them, we will often see the answer. I think that is how the likes of books such as the I Ching work.

I have met many people that ask questions such as “Why are we here?” “What is the purpose of life?” “How do I find peace and fulfilment?”

Well it seems to me that if somebody is thirsty then they need a drink. Yet even when a drink is offered, people may refuse it if they lack trust. They need to trust whoever is offering the drink that it is not poisoned. The more thirsty and desperate they may become, the more likely they may be to accept the drink.

Likewise those people unable to find their answers need to trust someone offering the answers. There are certainly a lot of people offering answers in this world, some genuine and some not. There are many different paths to peace or enlightenment being offered. Some offer immediate sensory gratification whereas others tell us we will get what we want in heaven or some sort of afterlife. My thoughts are that it is a shame if we have to live our lives in ignorance, dissatisfaction, confusion and fear, just so we can get to heaven when we die.

If people want to believe that, then so be it. I think whatever, we should try to enjoy our lives so long as we do not deliberately harm others or the environment. We all make mistakes but out of those mistakes should come wisdom, not regret.

Prem often talks about gratitude. That’s not just saying thanks but something deeper.

For instance, a child that wants a specific item as a gift for a birthday may well say “Thank you” for anything that is given but will feel real gratitude for the gift he or she really wanted. A person may say “Thank you” for a drink or a bite to eat whenever it is given, but a person dying of thirst or hunger will feel true gratitude for just one cup of water or morsel of food. When a person takes their last breath what would most give for another.

I am not saying that we need to be dying to feel gratitude, but that we need to appreciate this life and the fact that we get each breath without effort, as if it is a valuable gift (which it is). Appreciation of that above all else, above all our ambitions, desires, memories, possessions, beliefs – well, in my experience that does bring inner peace and a sense of fulfilment. Just being thankful that we are still alive. Gratitude not fear of what may happen or guilt over what has happened, or wishful thinking for how we would like the world to be. Simply feeling gratitude for the next breath! Without gratitude what else is there?

I remember going on holiday, for example to India. At one stage we were on a coach going from Delhi to Kashmir. I cannot say it was a comfortable ride. It was jerky. It was hot. It went on and on.

Whilst some of the views were incredible, for many hours it was dark and I got little sleep. Then, during the night, the bus broke down. We had to sit on the bus for ten hours in the middle of nowhere with just a small chai shack nearby, whilst they brought another bus from Delhi.

So, did I enjoy the bus ride? Did I enjoy India. On the whole, yes, but overall I was glad we went. I think life is like that. I wrote a poem about that bus ride.

RAM RAM BUSES

From Delhi on an Indian Tourist bus,

We left thinking they'd take care of us.

An Indian video humbly plays and we're

Told in 24 hours we'll reach Kashmir.

The journey goes into the darkest night,

As jungle and hills slowly dodge our sight,

The road now is just long and straight,

No bumps and bends or jerks to hate.

We're speeding along, ever so fast,

As if this journey is our last,

The road the driver's trying to keep,

Me - I'm just trying to fall asleep.

Suddenly, we swerve, a crash, a jolt,

Us thrown around, bus comes to a halt,

We look through windows only to see,

We hit a small tractor and just missed a tree!

Spite driver's brave efforts to curve and sway,

One side of the bus has been torn right away!

Amidst cries of Oh God!" - in Hindi "Ram Ram",

And in my own mind "Oh shit, oh damn!"

No one here seems able to tell,

Whether we're earthly or in heaven or hell.

But nobody's hurt, so we all get out,

A policeman a sweeper's given a clout.

For without thought he's just learned that he'd officially signed

A statement unread because he was blind.

There's nothing to do now but sit and wait,

Arriving Kashmir we know we'll be late.

Then mosquitoes surround us and all rush in,

"There's three dozen humans in a half open tin!"

They must have shouted and told their friends,

"We can buzz all about them and insanity send!"

Well I know it's our blood they are trying to drink,

And "Kill the bastards" is what I think,

And now the sun has gotten bright,

People are gathering to smile at our site.

Apparently the tractor driver was drunk,

The cop wanted baksheesh or he'd be sunk.

Ah, now they're trying the bus to fix

With hammers, wires and broken sticks!

It'll be midnight tomorrow before we arrive,

If just 36 hours more we can somehow survive.

But surprise, surprise we weren't there all day,

For two hours later we were on our way.

I read somewhere that as they die, many people think or say something like “Oh shit!” or “Oh God!! or the equivalent in their religion or language, such as "Ram Ram!” How much better if it was “thanks!”

How much better to appreciate life than to feel bitter about it. Gratitude that we were still alive and that we had reached our destination was better than worrying about the next bus ride or moaning about the last. That does not, of course, prevent one from telling the tale and enjoying the telling of it!

So, it seems to me, how important to seek the source of love, peace and joy. Obviously in those times we feel those feelings, we feel them inside ourselves, not in the other person or the sunset or good meal. It may be that those external things stimulate the feeling temporarily, but the feelings themselves are within.

In fact, they are always within. So it makes sense if we could somehow “tune in” to them despite outside events.

It’s obvious that riches, fame, even health and glory, what the world thinks of us, having a good job or family may help, yet some people with those things live in misery and confusion, even kill themselves, or stop caring even about themselves. They play roles, we all do, but in public they may seem happy and successful. In private maybe not.

It took the Universe almost 14 billion years to make you and you are a success. Success is not about reputation, fame, achievement or the opinions of others. It is recognition and acceptance of who you are. That does not mean that we should not make effort to improve ourselves or the world around us, just that we ought not be controlled by those things.

Personally I don’t think we should spend time trying to change what we cannot change.

For example, we may not be able to dig everyone’s garden, but if we can dig our own (or get somebody to do it for us!), maybe it will influence our neighbours and they will dig their own. In that way it may be possible to change the neighbourhood.

I hope I am not sounding like a preacher, by the way, just telling you about what I think and how I feel!

Then there is greed. We all know about greedy people. Not just people that want more and more, but people that want more at the expense of others, Yet they are seldom satisfied.

There was family living in a tent. They had few possessions. They got their food day-to-day. Nobody tried to steal from them. They had little to steal.

One day the father got a job, He was better able to provide for his family, Eventually he managed to build a hut and get some items of furniture, some toys for the children and some jewellery for the wife. They built a fence around their hut and put a lock on their door, There were thieves about. That man became an oil mogul millionaire. He moved into a mansion, sent his children to a good school, was driven around in an expensive limousine. He hired body guards, bought security systems, lived his life in fear of being robbed or conned. He was seemingly more comfortable but was he really more content? Was he so truly happy knowing that one day time itself would take away everything he had? Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. All that he had was just dust. In truth he never ever had anything except his life and he only had that for a while. Did he appreciate life for what it was, or was he distracted by all that dust?

Now I am not saying that one should not have ambitions or try to improve the quality of life. I am saying that maybe we should understand what the priorities should be. If only the priority is to appreciate more the life itself. That is one thing that Prem has taught me through The Knowledge.

My friend asked me what it’s all about. I say maybe he should focus more on enjoying it than asking questions that only he can answer. He says he does. He asked me what is the purpose, then tells me there is a purpose in everything he does. He tells me he can look after himself. So why does he ask me questions? It is obvious to me that he doesn’t want to listen to what either I or Prem says. To me he seems to be living in confusion. He says he is just waiting til he dies. I have learned that all I can do is listen.

Don’t fret because on cannot change what one cannot change or that you cannot have what you cannot have!

Television can be fun, entertaining even educational and inspirational. It can also be fearful, annoying, misguiding and indoctrinating. What I dislike is the news, which usually consists of fear-mongering, and advertising which creates dissatisfaction. So I try not to watch that. I don’t mind fiction that claims to be fiction but I detest fiction that claims to be fact.

Prem recently said that most of us look for the truth in the lies and the lies in the truth.

Decades ago, people talked about war in Europe or war in Vietnam. More recently war in Iraq or Ukraine. Years ago people talked about the ozone layer or nuclear radiation. More recently it’s about pollution or Covid19. We all know about overpopulation and world poverty. Many people run their lives on credit cards and mortgages. Every country in the world is in debt, well maybe not some of those that own all the oil. Many young people live their lives like there’s no tomorrow as many don’t think there is. I didn’t when I was at their age. Many older people live in fear of streets (their world) full of drugs and thugs, whilst others find solace in alcohol or antidepressants. Few seem to realise and appreciate or accept the availability of a practical way to get above all that. Most people want to blame the parents for the way the youth can behave or the Government or even God or Devil for their problems. Talking about positivity makes one weird!

POSITIVITY (2015)

by Alun Buffry

Always to be found in this the same place,
Throughout our universe of time and space,
On I will travel, at my own pace,
Can you now see it, in my face?

Never to question how or why,
Upon this earth I find I,
Content and amazed beneath earth's sky,
Yet soaring above white clouds on high.

Hidden within us there is a clue.
It looks like I, it looks like you
For once we were one and that is true,
Now one of so many amongst quite a few.

There is a Love, there is a Light,
Forget any guilt, ignore any fright,
Focus within on a wondrous sight,
The future is now and it's ever so Bright.

How can one find positivity? Positivity and negativity are attitudes. They are inside us, always. So we need to look within. That is what Prem has helped me to do. Not just in my head but in my heart. I am forever grateful for that.

Smoke.

Well I cannot deny that cannabis has played a major part in my life. I smoked and enjoyed it for most of fifty years. It was through cannabis that I met Australian Paul and Lorraine in 1971, and it was through them that I heard about Knowledge. Through cannabis I met probably thousands of people in many countries, all sorts of people, different ages, cultures, jobs from the unemployed to the criminals, from drivers to doctors, lawyers and of course musicians. All sorts. That incudes Premies.

I don’t regret any of that, even the time in prison. I stopped smoking in February 2020, out of choice, first for two weeks, now it’s been over two years. I do not miss it at all. The only difference is that I get and remember more vivid dreams, some good, some bad; it depends on my day and to a large extent the TV! I don’t regret stopping smoking (I stopped using tobacco in 1999 and that did me good) and I would not say I will never smoke (toke) or eat it again. It’s just that right now, I don’t need it.

Also over those years I campaigned for a change in statue law to stop the punishment of people that have done no harm to others and to protect their Human Rights and Freedom of Choice. I believe in “No Victim, No Crime”. I even founded a single issue political party in 1999, called the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, which had candidates in over 80 elections in seven years; I stood for Parliament myself in 2005 gaining 620 votes in Norwich South. I spoke at many events including Hustings, at Universities and a girls school. I debated at the Oxford Union, testified before a Parliamentary Select Committee and spoke on radio and TV. It was a tremendous experience. Having the Knowledge helped me cope with all that too. It also helped me let go when the time came. No regrets.

I have also always wanted to help spread Prem Rawat’s message and the Knowledge, believing that it will make the world a better place by bringing peace and fulfilment to more people. Of course not everyone listens, it seems that Knowledge and its practice is not for everyone, at least for now. What to do about those that do not even want to listen?

In the Gospel of St Mark in the New Testament, one version says quite clearly, quoting Christ (as it has been interpreted) “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.”

For me, having been one of those people who, for a while, did not listen because I did not understand, I am not sure I go with that. In fact, in one version, it said to leave a curse!

Then there are people that received Knowledge and never practised, or practised and stopped. There are even people that have turned against Prem, or Guru Maharaj Ji as many still call him.

There are even ex-Premie websites on line. Mostly written by people that criticise his personal life or got caught up in the concepts of what sort of life he or they should be living.

Yet Prem himself has never said, as far as I have heard, how to live one’s life, what to do or not do, whether or not to eat meat or smoke cannabis or take drugs or get married; he has just said that true peace is not in those activities and lifestyles, that we should see peace inside first, that we should give Knowledge time, trust it and be focussed. In fact many people have said that Prem drank alcohol, ate meat and took drugs. We know he got married and has had four children. Many times, since his first speech at Glastonbury Festival in 1971, Prem has said quite clearly that he is a human being, not a god!

Prem’s marriage, at the age of just 16, was announced thus:

“On May 20th 1974, at 8 pm, Guru Maharaj Ji (Prem Rawat) was wed to Marolyn Lois Johnson in a small chapel in the Colorado Rockies.”

That did cause quite a stir, not just because he was so young and it was not expected by most people but also because she was American and several years older than him.

It didn’t really bother me, but I heard that his mother (who was referred to as Mata Ji or Holy Mother) was upset as were many of the early Mahatmas. I heard a story that one Mahatma took a plane back to India but upon his arrival took a plane back to the US.

The couple went on to have four children. Prem has continued in his efforts to spread peace throughout.

“"I am simply offering an experience of life. God is in you. You can experience the Knowledge of God, you can enjoy it. It's a practical thing. Incredible. Life. And there's an experience to it. There is love of the Creator to enjoy.”

For me that is indeed simple. Knowledge is not about the world around me. It is about an inner experience. Like everything we do, if the experience is enjoyable, do it; if not stop. I know a lot of people that have stopped and they all told me that they found something beneficial in it. For whatever reason they stopped or maybe just distracted for a while, bless them so long as they do no harm to others. There are many routes to London, some direct, some can go many miles even in the opposite direction. The key is in the journey. London is still there, even if you go via Sydney.

Well maybe that’s enough preaching from me for now, not that I set out to preach, even if it comes across as that.

Now, 2022, we are (hopefully) coming out of the lockdowns and misery created by the way the Governments have handled (or mishandled) the so-called Corona virus pandemic (Covid19) and people are talking instead of the fear that the Russian invasion of Ukraine could lead to nuclear war, here I am writing this. It’s not the first book I have written. In the last twenty years, in fact mostly in the last eight, I have written many, including poetry, for want of a better name. Many of them are about places I went to, people I met, along my pathway. Some include elements of fantasy or Science Fiction. Although I do of course hope that many people will read them and be inspired to travel think or write their own books or poetry or even seek Knowledge, but the joy has been in the writing. I have heard about many many writers, artists, musicians, that have produced some wonderful work but had no desire to share it widely or be published, many that shun fame. I decided to publish mine of Amazon and Kindle and one can find them there; they are hardly best sellers. To do that I have had to learn how to format a book and set myself up as a publisher, which has enabled me to offer the service to others. That in itself has been a distraction from writing. But I enjoy it, so what!

So that has been my story of my time with Prem Rawat, my personal memories of my experiences.

Now I feel fulfilled and grateful for the Knowledge that peace and love and joy are within inside of me and for the techniques for finding that place.

I have written this, not to sell books, but for the joy of expressing my feelings in the hope that maybe, just maybe, it will help others to find their own piece of peace and enjoy their lives as much as I have enjoyed mine.

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