On a warm evening early in August, Prem Rawat arrived in Columbus, capital of the midwestern state of Ohio, on the fourth stop of his North American tour. Speaking at the historic Southern Theatre, one of Ohio's oldest surviving playhouses, he reminded his audience that there is a difference between believing and knowing — and they have the opportunity to choose.

Here are some excerpts from his talk:

We can either know in our lives, or we can believe in our lives. And I'm not talking about knowing about tomorrow. And I'm not talking about knowing about what's going to happen to you after you die. I'm talking about knowing what this life is all about, now. Now. No speculation.

Today — do you know that this breath came into you, and that it was a miracle? Do you know that every time this breath comes into you it's a miracle? Do you know that? I'm not talking about believing: 'I believe it is.' No, no, no. Do you know that, without a doubt? Because as soon as that doubt comes in, it's ambiguous again. And ambiguity is your weakness, not your strength.

What is peace? Peace is the perfume of God. When you are close to that power that sustains you, when you are close to that beauty inside of you, it has an aroma — an aroma that you cannot smell with your nose — but it has an aroma that you can feel. And this aroma is called peace.