The countries of the Middle East have had a long history of conflict and war. Almost daily, the news is filled with accounts of violence. Even in the midst of this discord, Maharaji's message of peace shows that peace is still possible for anyone who wants to find it.

Bahia Zahnan is a sociologist living in Lebanon. With Maharaji’s help, she has discovered firsthand that peace can be found within. She recently sent this article to Words of Peace Global:

"The local media knows me because I have done many television interviews about special occasions like Mother's Day. Recently, a journalist from a television channel in Dubai came to interview me. They filmed me at home for five hours, and I talked about many subjects. The final program included an hour about my experience with Maharaji and peace within.

"The journalist asked me if I had children, and I told her my story. I had lost both my husband and my son within one year. The loss was a great calamity to me. I could not face the reality that anything like that could happen in this world. I could only survive by going to sleep inside myself.

"Gradually, I accepted what had happened. I practiced the techniques for focusing within that Maharaji calls Knowledge. I started to feel that there is no death as long as there is love. I became more and more attracted to love — the real love that is inside us already, not the outer one.

"So, I told all this to the journalist. She was very impressed and said, 'I have never in my life seen a person like you who has such peace in your heart and your eyes. How can you explain this after losing your family in one year and being all alone?'

"I said that I'm alone, but I am not lonely, because my heart is filled with love and peace. I told her about Knowledge and the beautiful impact this has made in my life. I told her that Prem Rawat is offering a wonderful message of peace and teaching simple techniques to go inside and feel joy, happiness, love, and peace. And these techniques are taught free of charge to anyone who would like to learn them. They are not about philosophy or religion, but a simple way to find fulfillment.

"I talked about all that I am learning. There’s no going back to the past nor thinking about the future. It’s about the moment called now. Suffering emerges from thoughts, but by going within, I feel that I have something besides thinking and confusion and troubles. The moment called now accompanies us all throughout the day. Difficulties exist, but this Knowledge gives me the way to face them. Difficulty is not important. What is important is how we deal with them.

"My experience, I said, is only a beginning in comparison to what is given by Prem Rawat. I hope that everyone gets to listen to him. I told her about Prem Rawat's life, first in India and then his traveling to London and Los Angeles, having been invited by students to share his message. And that he is still traveling around the world bringing his message of peace from heart to heart.

"At the end of the interview, I gave the journalist a DVD of one of Maharaji's addresses and another one called Spark of Hope to see what Prem Rawat is doing with humanitarian aid worldwide in addition to his message of peace. Then I asked her if she would like to show Words of Peace on her channel. She told me that it would be an honor and asked me for more DVDs. She said, 'This subject will be very well-received by our audience. Be ready to receive many calls!'

"She was right. Indeed, people love this interview, and the channel has shown it more than ten times. The interview was first shown last June, and I am still receiving calls. One person told me they have seen the interview more than six times, and every time they love it more. The channel in Jordan bought a copy, and they are broadcasting it also. My interview is still being shown from time to time on television in Dubai and Jordan. Almost every day, a request comes from someone, asking me to talk more about happiness, breath, and peace. They sincerely want to know more.

"There are currently almost 200 people who have received Maharaji's gift of Knowledge in the Middle East, 22 of them quite recently. There are also many people who are learning about it and who have been inspired by Maharaji's teachings and have been very active in helping to let others know about him. Now, it is our priority to make Words of Peace available in Arabic on more television channels, as well as to have articles in magazines and newspapers. We are working very hard to make this happen."