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You’re coming today bringing the light into our darkness,
the light of understanding
the importance birds, of the stars, the voyages across the Pacific.
Our ancestors who reside in this house
thank you for your [words in Maori language]
And now to our guest of honor, Prem Rawat,
who has travelled around the world, dedicated his life toward peace and humanitarian efforts
for several decades.
Maori have aspired to be able to welcome you,
and now we have the day. Welcome!
Please join me in welcoming Prem Rawat.
I would like to acknowledge Natifuta, the people of this island, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests.
First of all, I’d like to just say, I had really no idea to the depth of this welcoming.
It’s very beautiful,
and in a way it reminds me, some of the culture that I grew up in.
Because it is about people.
Not about all the different ideas that we get distracted by,
but the strength of each human being.
This is where the peace resides. This is where the peace is.
I do not find it surprising
that the Maori culture is so enamored with this peace,
so loves this peace.
Because in these areas, the wars,
in these areas, the fighting —
in all lands, in all lands,
but always, there has been and will be a call to that peace.
I came to Auckland a long time ago,
and I was fascinated by the Maori culture.
Because there they were, the challenge,
driven,
and at the same time, with love and peace.
And when I saw the dance
— I had never seen anything like it before -
I was like, “Wow!”
And then, the message was explained to me.
And the message was a message of love.
This is what we need in this world today.
We need this!
Peace on this earth is not difficult.
Peace on this earth is not difficult, and there is only one reason why I say that.
Because, wherever I go, I already see the seed is lying there.
Everywhere,
the seeds are there. They’re waiting for the rain of acknowledgement.
They’re waiting for the rain of people to say, “yes.”
And the time has come.
And so, it has been my great honor to be able to come here today.
And, you know, it has taken a long time. It really has.
But when I heard about it, I said, “It’s going to happen.
It’s going to happen.” That was my little prophesy.
It’s going to happen.
And, here we are. And it has taken shape.
It has given us this opportunity to express,
in this beautiful place, on these sacred grounds,
where — we cannot even imagine with the passion that those chiefs
and our ancestors, your ancestors, stood and looked out over these bays,
looked out over these waters, looked at those stars, looked at those clouds, looked at those birds, looked at those flowers.
And what did they wish for?
Peace.
They saw peace coming to the people.
Well, has peace come?
I hope it’s on its way.
It’s on its way.
Because it is not going to come from out there.
It’s going to come from in here.
So, as much as you have gathered here to honor me,
I honor you.
Because you want peace
on this earth.
Thank you very much.
Now I would like to ask Prem Rawat to step forward to accept this koauau.