CHOICE

The Peace Education Program at Zonderwater Prison

Zonderwater is a maximum security prison located in Cullinan, South Africa.

It houses 3,000 inmates, 1688 of which are maximum offenders,

and 476 of which are serving life sentences.

It is known as one of the most progressive prisons

in South Africa.

When I was outside before I was arrested,

and then awaiting trial, I was always focused outward.

I was worried what other people were thinking of me, I was…

running around trying to impress others all the time.

I was wearing masks the whole time.

Reality is that I was distracted,

mentally and physically,

due to this thought that people with money,

they live good life.

So, I was distracted and desperated for money, of course.

My life before I came to prison, I thought I was living well…

but not realizing that I’m lying to myself.

Because I was somebody who was ruthless, who was heartless.

When you think of inmates, people feel…

there’s usually two reactions.

“How can you go? Just leave them alone!

“They’ve committed a crime. Just leave them alone.”

Or, there’s incredible fear.

But having spent so much time with inmates in correctional facilities,

they’re just human beings like you and me, that have made mistakes.

Some of them, very, very big mistakes.

It was hard.

The first time I arrived here, it was made very much difficult for me,

especially to accept the situation at which I was,

after I had been sentenced.

It’s a bit hard, because…

it’s a place where I…

I first knew what prison is, with it.

And…

It was nerve-racking.

Life in Zonderwater before Peace Education was tough for me.

Since 2009, the Peace Education Program

has been made available to inmates at Zonderwater Prison.

You look at your circumstances

and you say, “Well, you know, why am I here?

“I shouldn’t be here.”

“I shouldn’t be here.”

But you have to realize

that it is the choices that you make;

the choices that you make

that get you in here.

It is the choices that you make that’ll get you out of here.

And it is the choices you make that will keep you out of here forever.

So what are you choosing in your life?

It is not a question of being fortunate or unfortunate,

because you are fortunate.

To begin with, you are fortunate.

It’s not like a book, you know, Dignity for Dummies.

It’s very different!

It’s telling stories.

It’s a man, Prem Rawat, speaking

in a very simple but very powerful way,

that touches

the very heart of dignity in the human being.

And I witness that every week, when I’m at the prison.

I used to see inmates behaving in a bad way.

But some others, I encouraged them to do the program,

after me, after I’ve seen the first piece of transformation,

after doing the Peace Education Program.

So I encouraged them to do the program.

So after telling them, some of them,

I can see that indeed, even the environment inside,

it is changing for the better.

I witness it working by addressing the dignity in the human being,

by evoking the respect for themselves.

And not teaching how to be respectful, not teaching how to be dignified.

It’s so amazing and wonderful to see changes in offenders.

Also the influence it has on officials.

Sometimes we don’t see the value of these programs to offenders,

but when we see them

confess the good that it has done for them, it makes it wonderful.

They’re seeing changes in behavior.

They’re seeing less anger, less aggression.

They’re seeing better communication skills.

I was like a person who don’t talk.

I was like, you know,

I was ashamed to talk to people, because of what I did.

But since I’ve done this wonderful program,

the Peace Education, I’m good.

Now I know, I know myself.

For the first time in my life, I started looking at myself,

accepting myself and actually loving myself.

And that made a huge difference in my life.

It changed my whole outlook.

Since I started to attend the peace talks, it has been to me

like something has opened in my life.

Because I started to realize that I was stuck in the past.

How did the court, the judge judged me…

the community I’m coming from… all those things.

And I thought maybe, it looks as if my life has been taken away.

But since I started to do Peace Education Program,

I started to realize that,

“No. Nobody ever take my life away, or my peace away.”

The most important thing is, I must enjoy my life.

Outside there are people who go, “I’m not fortunate.”

– “Well, why aren’t you fortunate?” – “Oh, I am poor.”

“Oh, I’m not fortunate because, you know,

“my village has kicked me out.”

“I’m not fortunate because of this.” “I’m not fortunate because of this.”

And there are 7.5 billion people

and every one of them has an excuse

of why they’re not fortunate.

And I’m stunned.

Because all those people who are saying they are not fortunate

are incredibly fortunate.

And why are they incredibly fortunate?

There you go. Bingo! You are alive.

And so far you are alive,

you get to make choices.

The game isn’t over yet.

So far you are alive,

you are on.

So far you are alive, it is not over.

There’s a difference between somebody who attended this program and who didn’t.

You see the way they behave.

They’re more calm. They think through before they react.

While somebody who hasn’t done the program,

immediately when we see them,

they’re assuming everything is wrong with them.

So, there is an impact that we see

when we are speaking to an offender who has attended the Peace Program,

compared to an offender who hasn’t done it.

The first moment I knew about this Peace Education Program,

I realized that I indeed found myself.

I found who I am.

I didn’t know that this peace that they were talking about,

I was having it already in my heart.

But I was ignoring it. The problem is I was ignoring it.

The knowledge I have gained behind bars,

it’s more than…

it’s far much greater than the time I’m spending behind bars.

I’ve looked into people’s faces, into their eyes,

people who’ve probably done the most horrendous things.

And I just see

I see hope.

And not

an empty hope.

Not a hope, because someone’s been told to hope.

Hope, because they’re feeling it. And they can’t help feeling it.

I’ve learned a lot.

I’ve gained knowledge about my inner self.

And it’s amazing to know who you are.

Because, if I knew that before, I wouldn’t be here.

For one to find peace, it’s all about…

one to find it within himself.

It is priceless. It requires not any circumstance to be paid.

No, it’s something that one has to search within himself.

With it, that’s where joy and happiness is.

We definitely all need joy.

And we love to have happiness. We love freedom.

So, at this moment, I have gained so much freedom,

when I’m still in the bondage.

So, with this, I have gain a lot.

Remember, the more offenders are engaged in it,

there are benefits for both themselves as individual and the department.

Because, that is about transformation. That’s about change.

So, we want more offenders to participate.

And we want more offenders to go out.

Because, remember, some of these issues,

they’re from outside.

They came in being angry because of the outside environment.

So, for them to find inner peace in the center, it’s a benefit for us.

It’s not an ideal situation.

But at least, they are the ones to go out and say,

“Guys, you don’t need to be in prison to learn about peace.

“It’s something you can do naturally, yourself.”

And so, it is very much imperative that we continue with this program.

Inmates listen to him,

and they see videos of him having visited other correctional facilities.

And they say, “Would there be a possibility

“that Prem Rawat could come to our correctional facility?”

And, yes, there definitely is that possibility.

He visited in 2012.

And for many people, they never believed

that such a high-ranking person

would take the time to come and talk to inmates

in a correctional facility.

And help them in their journey of rehabilitation.

It’s so exciting! And I can’t wait to meet Prem Rawat.

As a matter of fact, from the time I have heard

that Prem Rawat will visit us,

I couldn’t sleep till the day he’s coming, today.

Wow! Please, I want to meet Prem Rawat, of course.

This is my first time. And, I’m happy.

I’m very happy to see that man,

to see that international humanitarian, to see that Peace Ambassador.

I can’t wait to see him.

I think it’s an honor and privilege for us all,

to have Mr. Prem Rawat with us.

You’ll remember that he was here in 2012,

in the very same hall.

So we’re the luckiest people.

I’m back here

because I wanted to come,

hoping that what I have to say will help you.

I’m not here as a judge.

I’m not here

to convert you to something.

I’m not here for any of those things.

I’m here because I’m a human being

and you are a human being.

Human being.

I’m here to tell you, you can be happy here.

Do you believe me?

Because unless you understand

that the happiness has nothing to do with your circumstances,

when you get out of here, you will start doing things

that will end you right back in here.

Happiness has nothing to do with what you have and don’t have.

Happiness is when you are in touch with yourself.

Choose.

Choose peace over chaos.

Choose love over hate.

Choose respect over disregard.

Choose clarity over confusion.

And you will find,

discover your power.

And that’s the same power you’re going to need

when you get out of here.

It was an amazing feeling.

He reminded us that we’re human, and we have good inside.

Your choice.

Up to you.

Up to you.

Whatever it is

that you want,

there it is, all the cards are open.

All the cards are open.

All the cards are open.

So,

that’s what I wanted to say.

Now,

if you have anything you want to say to me

or if you have any question for me, we’ll do that.

Mr. Rawat,

since I’ve been attending these programs

a great deal,

I mean, now they set me free.

The facilitators

that have worked with me can tell you

that I’ve been an angry man when I came to this Center.

But after going through this course,