Prem Rawat

Prem Rawat is a peace teacher and author. His message, as he puts it on his own site, begins with the idea that peace is within every one of us, without exception. He describes his approach as simple, practical and easy to apply. It is not about years of study, because what a person needs is already inside them. Self-knowledge, in his words, begins when someone takes responsibility for their own well-being and chooses to look within.

He sees his role as a modest one. He says it is not his job to tell people what they should or should not be. He is there to remind them that they are blessed by the miracle of existence, and to help point toward inner peace. He compares a good teacher to one who does not sing your song or play your instrument for you. You play your own tune and set your own rhythm.

Born in Haridwar, India, in 1957, he began speaking at his father's meetings at the age of four. He has spoken about peace to audiences around the world since his teens. His messages are translated into languages including Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Tamil, Portuguese, Italian, Mandarin and Japanese. He has also written books, among them Hear Yourself: How to Find Peace in a Noisy World, and a more recent title on the breath. He shares his message through videos, podcasts and music as well.

In 2001 he established The Prem Rawat Foundation, a humanitarian organization that addresses the needs of food, water and peace. Its Peace Education Program is a series of video-based workshops, launched in 2012, that helps people discover their own inner strength and personal peace. Outside his public work, he has said he enjoys photography, composing music, cooking and restoring old cars. He is also a licensed pilot. He has been married since 1974 and has four children and four grandchildren.