LONDON, July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Prem Rawat, known also by the honorary title of Maharaji, addressed a distinguished audience of faculty, students, and guests assembled at the historic South Writing School at Oxford University's Examination Schools.

The attendees were welcomed by Peggy Morgan, who is a lecturer at Mansfield College, Oxford University; a governor and research fellow of Oxford Research Centre; the Director of the Alistair Hardy Research Centre at the University of Wales, Lampeter; and a patron of the International Interfaith Centre in Oxford.

Ms. Morgan said: "The Prem Rawat Foundation has honored our city by bringing here this evening a much respected and well-traveled teacher. And I presume that their choice of venue in one of our finest University buildings is linked to this as a place where truth and understanding are both taught and sought by old and young alike -- by teachers and by their students. The University's emphasis on the development especially of young people's capacity to question and to reach independent and well-supported conclusions about important issues is not only one of intellectual knowledge. It is not only an exercise of the mind. At its best, it is also one we can call a pursuit of wisdom, an exercise of the heart. At least, that is what some of us here aspire to do. And this makes a link to the kind of exploration of inner understanding and personal experience that I think we shall hear about this evening."

Introducing Prem Rawat, Professor Ron Geaves said: "Over the years, I have come to admire his passion for existence, and I remain infused by the content of his message in my own personal growth as a human being. It has had a significant impact -- sometimes a source of strength when required, sometimes a force for stability when everything else shifted. And I must confess that, even in my career, it has helped me develop a world view that underpins my thinking and writing."

During the preceding week, more than 6,000 people came to seek Prem Rawat's inspiration and guidance at an event held in London. This weekend, more than 5,000 people are attending a three-day event he is holding in Lisbon, Portugal.

To read excerpts from Prem Rawat's address at Oxford University: http://www.tprf.org/Oxford2005

To discover more about his message and the humanitarian initiatives he spearheads: www.tprf.org