The Heart of Gratitude 

}  4 min read

Every culture has its own ways of expressing gratitude. Sometimes it takes the form of a holiday. Sometimes it’s an award ceremony, a family reunion or community celebration. And sometimes, it’s simply people coming together to acknowledge someone whose wisdom, kindness and guidance has made a big difference in their lives.

That spirit of appreciation was at the heart of the July 31 – Aug. 2 celebration in New Delhi, India to honor the 60^th sanniversary of Prem Rawat helping people discover a deep and lasting peace within themselves.

Twelve thousand people attended the event in person, 55,000 from 120 community gatherings in India, Nepal, Malaysia and Mauritius and another 59,000 via livestream.

Watch replays of three evening events on TimelessToday®

A Deep Expression of Gratitude

Some people attended for the first time. Others have been part of these gatherings for decades. All came with the same intention: to celebrate the extraordinary possibility of living with greater awareness, appreciation and joy.

“Receive and accept that which is real,
which is true.
What isn’t true, let it go.”

— Prem Rawat

A Lot to Enjoy

Throughout the three-day celebration, laughter frequently rippled through the audience as Prem Rawat mixed humor with stories, reflection and his own unique way of evoking a deep feeling of appreciation. Quiet moments of contemplation alternated with music and spontaneous applause, creating an atmosphere that was both celebratory and deeply personal.

Attendees enjoyed five of Prem Rawat’s presentations, a series of animated videos, a newly produced documentary of his life, many moments of reflection, joy and laughter, and 15 of his recently released songs, including 14 bhajans — Indian devotional songs sung as an expression of love, gratitude, praise or remembrance of the divine

The songs — featuring Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, English, and other languages — further opened the floodgates of feeling. His creative reinterpretation of classic bhajans provided a refreshing new dimension to them and the younger generation especially responded with great enthusiasm and joy.

The six-part documentary of his life chronicled his remarkable 60-year journey of inspiring people to know themselves. Each part captured significant milestones from a different decade of his life. While remembering his father, Shri Hans Ji Maharaji, Prem Rawat became visibly emotional, making the moment deeply moving for everyone present.

Preview of the 3-Day Celebration (1:31)

Marking 60 years since he first began helping people connect with inner clarity — and 90 years since the work was first carried forward by his father, Prem Rawat reminded attendees that lasting solutions cannot be found by treating symptoms while ignoring the source of suffering.
Just as eating ice cream cannot extinguish a fire, external achievements alone cannot resolve the inner unease that drives so much of human striving. In a world preoccupied with success, wealth and constant progress, he encouraged everyone to recognize the greatest success of all: the gift of breath and the preciousness of human life.

Prem Rawat arriving at Montréal–Dorval International Airport — now Montréal–Trudeau — in May 1972

“Whatever you need most in this world,
in this life, is already with you.
It won’t come from anywhere else… Know it.
Recognize it.
Make your life a success.”

— Prem Rawat

Throughout the three days of the 60^th anniversary celebration, Prem Rawat emphasized that the rare opportunity of human existence is too valuable to waste. People often lose sight of life’s finite nature, becoming consumed by conflict, ambition and the desire to prove themselves right. The wisdom of the saints, he said, has always pointed in a different direction — not toward accumulating more, but toward knowing oneself.

PPrem Rawat speaking at his father’s funeral, Delhi, India, 1966

A Journey That Began at Eight Years Old

Looking back to the day he assumed the responsibility of continuing his father’s work at just eight years of age, Prem Rawat recalled the uncertainty and emotion that filled the gathering following Shri Maharaji’s passing. His only wish at that time was to reassure those who were grieving that the guiding presence they were seeking had not disappeared. That simple message transformed the atmosphere and marked the beginning of a lifetime dedicated to helping people discover hope, wisdom and inner fulfillment.

Problems will come and go, he said, but the source of lasting joy remains within each person. Rather than being consumed by the endless demands of modern life, he urged attendees to value their breath, prepare wisely for the journey of life and embrace each day with gratitude, humility and joy.

Let Your Life Bloom

Responding to a question about how individuals can help others learn about Self-Knowledge, Prem Rawat held up a flower as an example. A flower does not advertise or explain itself, he said, it simply blooms. In the same way, he suggested, the most powerful way to communicate the value of Self-Knowledge is to experience it fully and allow its benefits to become visible in the way one lives.

Learn to Recognize the Diamonds

Using another metaphor, Prem Rawat described a field containing both broken glass and unpolished diamonds. Because they may initially look alike, a person needs discernment to recognize what is genuinely valuable. He presented Self-Knowledge as a means of developing that recognition — the ability to distinguish what nourishes and fulfills us from the many distractions that compete for our attention.

Do Not Let Other People Define You

A major theme of the second evening was the influence of other people’s opinions. Prem Rawat compared unwanted criticism to tuning a radio to a station one does not enjoy; rather than becoming distressed, one can simply change the station.

Through stories, questions and a delightful sense of humor, he encouraged participants to stop allowing external voices to undermine their confidence and to listen instead to their own understanding.

As the Guru Puja gathering concluded — with nearly the entire audience singing along to “Lucky Lucky” at the top of their voices while dancing — participants returned home carrying more than just memories of a remarkable event. They left with a renewed appreciation for what had brought them there in the first place: the simple yet profound possibility that peace begins within each person — and that gratitude remains one of its most natural expressions.

Now it has been 60 years
and one day for me
and I am still not giving up.
I will keep reminding you…
to leave the pieces of glass,
pick up the diamonds
and fulfill your life.

— Prem Rawat

The Wisdom of an Eight-Year-Old

What Guru Puja participants had to say

“While I couldn’t witness the beginning of this journey 60 years ago, I was among the fortunate ones to celebrate this historic milestone. May this journey continue to reach every corner of the world, bringing peace for generations to come.” – Nilesh Agarwal, Pune

“The event was beautifully organized, inspiring and filled with positive energy. I enjoyed every moment and learned a lot from the experience.” – Raju Singh, Kathmandu, Nepal

“As a Gen Z attendee, I was touched by how thoughtfully Prem Rawat created music that connects with our generation. I genuinely enjoyed the variety of genres.” – Smaksh

“Prem Rawat’s comment at Guru Puja that ‘we should let go of pieces of glass and embrace the diamond’ was deeply inspiring. I will share his motivation to spread his message of peace across the world with my family and friends.”  — Madhavi Gupta, Patiala, Punjab

“Through Prem Rawat’s guidance, I l have learned how to enjoy every moment of my life with peace, gratitude and joy. Listening to the beautiful bhajans composed by him was a priceless gift I will always cherish.” – Sunil Kumar Shaw, Kolkata, West Bengal

What’s Next

On Sept. 7-11, Prem Rawat will continue celebrating the 60^th anniversary of his life’s work with a five-day immersive event at a beautiful retreat setting (Amaroo) in Queensland, Australia.

The event will include daily keynotes, music, special presentations, community gatherings, and many opportunities to bask in the experience of being grateful, focused and fully alive.

The Amaroo gathering is open to anyone who has received the techniques of Self-Knowledge that Prem Rawat teaches — a simple way to turn one’s attention from the ever-changing circumstances of life to the timeless experience of peace within.

The entire event will be filmed and made available for viewing — first as a video collection and later as a replay for TimelessToday subscribers.

How to register for Amaroo.

Related articles and links

Changing Times. Timeless Truths.

Music by Prem Rawat

Prem Rawat on Gratitude