His Holiness Sri Viswayogi Viswamjee Maharaj focused on peace, unity and body in his speech "Vision 2020, Peace & Unity a New World Reality" Friday night at the Baker Center.

"Peace is essential. It should begin from a family and an individual," he said. "If we want to get peace, we have to unite. If we can unite, we can do miracles."

His Holiness is a Spiritual Humanist striving for Universal Integration and Peace, a Universal Yogi and a powerhouse of divine energy. In his efforts to highlight the importance of service and help the less fortunate sections of the society, he established a free Mother and Child Care Charity Hospital in Guntur, India. Since 1998, more than 30,000 patients have been served free of cost in pediatrics, cardiology, dental, ophthalmology, gastroenteritis and gynecology.

His Holiness pointed out the lack of unity in family, country and the world because of the distances that the Internet creates. Unity requires people coming together, understanding and loving each other. Love can solve any problems of the world, he said.

If we want to get peace, we have to unite. If we can unite, we can do miracles. His Holiness Sri Viswayogi Viswamjee Maharaj

Maharaj said that a lack of education leads to many problems, including poverty. His Holiness said he feels that students should go to other countries to experience diverse cultures and acquire new knowledge.

"Children must go to each and every country, connecting minds and hearts," he said.

His Holiness said humans' bodies are governed by five elements (fire, soil, water, space, air) and three processes (power of will, knowledge, action). He urged the audience to try and understand the systems of their bodies.

"Human body is the most wonderful thing in the world. Since everything is working automatically in your bodies, try to understand the system behind it," he said.

He said body, mind and money shouldn't be ignored by most people.

"Those things are given to people to do something good for the society," he concluded.

Murthy Kota, event coordinator for His Holiness, said Maharaj can help people achieve peace and unity in the next 10 years. "We can't be happy with ourselves, we have to find a common ground with everyone. Money that we spend on war or luxuries can be used to help needy," he said.  

Sarah Knight, a graduate student in university administration, saw the event posting on UT's Web site and came to see what His Holiness had to say.

The event is co-sponsored by the Center for International Education and UT's Ready for the World.