This life that has been given to us as a gift, as such a precious

Hear now the words of Prem Rawat, seeker of peace and teacher of the heart: “This life that has been given to us as a gift, as such a precious gift. To really try to understand it, really try to recognize it, is the greatest meditation. Through the media of this Knowledge we can tap into our inner sources that are so beautiful.” These words resound like the song of a river, reminding us that to live is itself the holiest blessing, and to become aware of that blessing is the highest act of meditation.

The ancients spoke often of life as a divine trust. The Greeks told of Prometheus bringing fire to mankind, a symbol of vitality and consciousness. The Vedas called life the breath of the eternal, a spark of the infinite hidden in mortal form. Prem Rawat, walking in this timeless stream, reminds us that life is not to be taken as ordinary, not to be squandered in forgetfulness. It is a gift, undeserved yet freely given, delicate as a flower and vast as the sky. To awaken to this truth is to begin the path of wisdom.

How easily we forget this! The multitude chase wealth, power, and distraction, running from one desire to another, yet rarely do they pause to recognize the miracle of simply being alive. To understand life is not to analyze it as a scholar dissects a text, but to perceive it with the heart, to feel its preciousness, to be present in its unfolding. This recognition, says Rawat, is the greatest meditation—greater than rituals, greater than philosophies, greater even than words. It is the stillness in which the soul bows in gratitude for the breath it holds.

History gives us luminous examples. When Helen Keller, deaf and blind from infancy, first grasped that the signs her teacher pressed into her hand were words, a whole universe opened to her. She called this awakening “the light of love, the dawn of language.” Though her body lacked the senses most depend upon, she found within herself wells of courage and joy. She became a teacher to millions, showing that life, when truly recognized, is radiant beyond measure. Her triumph was not in gaining sight or sound, but in discovering the beautiful sources within.

So too must we understand Rawat’s teaching about Knowledge. Here, Knowledge is not a heap of facts, not the pride of intellect, but an inner awareness—a lamp that reveals the treasures of the soul. It is the key that opens the hidden chambers of joy, peace, and clarity within us. The world clamors for outward power, but the wise know the greatest power lies inward, in the heart that has touched its own depths and found them full of light.

The lesson is clear: do not squander your days in forgetfulness. Remember that your very breath is rare and precious, and let this remembrance be your meditation. Pause often, in silence, and let gratitude rise within you. Seek not only to accumulate outer knowledge, but to discover inner Knowledge, that awareness of self and soul that anchors you in peace. In doing so, you will draw upon those inner sources that are beyond fear, beyond lack, beyond despair.

What then must you do? Each day, take time to remember: This life is a gift. In your struggles, recall its preciousness. In your successes, bow to its mystery. In moments of stillness, let your heart rest in the beauty of being alive. Guard this awareness, for it is the truest wealth. And when you walk with such mindfulness, your presence will become a light to others, reminding them too of the miracle of existence.

Thus remember Prem Rawat’s words. “This life that has been given to us as a gift… is the greatest meditation.” To recognize life is to honor it. To honor it is to live it fully, with gratitude and awareness. And to live it thus is to discover the inner beauty that no darkness can extinguish. This is the wisdom of the ages, handed down from the ancients, and still burning bright for all who would see.