MEGA COURSE GIGA FUN TERA SMILES

The Guru of Peace & Joy

July 13, 2008 at 3:49 pm | Posted in Sri Sri Ravi Shankar | Leave a comment

The wait was finally over. July 7th 2008 dawned and my dreams about being in the presence of the enlightened Master Himself were coming true finally. Sri Sri Ravishankarji, the Guru of Breath, has touched the lives of 300 million people in the world, almost 5% of the world’s population. To be meeting him twice is a blessing!

We reached the Meymandi concert hall in Raleigh downtown at around 6:10 pm. I was really glad I was on time. As we entered the hall, I couldn’t help noticing the excitement of meeting Guruji in the atmosphere. The volunteers were welcoming guests with a warm smile. People came in with friends and family, some knowing what to expect, some totally new to the world of “Art of Living.” As I was waiting outside, I saw questions going around about the course, lot of anxiety amongst everyone. This was not a surprise to me. Raleigh not being one of the biggest cities, Art of Living does not have a lot of following in this city and is still unknown to many people. I am glad Guruji came here and so did so many people to see him. After checking directions for our seats, we decided to enter the auditorium hall.

The auditorium hall was huge with a seating capacity for almost 1500 – 2000 people (I need to check my facts on this.) The stage was set up with Guru’s Asana (Chair) in the center and a beautiful red carpet for him to rest his feet on. On the side was a team of 2 musicians playing Guitar and singing bhajans (Songs of God’s Praise). The stage was simple but the ambience was extremely peaceful.

The seminar started with the personal experience of Bharti, a volunteer from Charlotte. She is currently working in a full-time job as a Traveling Technology Specialist for Microsoft and has 2 kids. She has been a dedicated volunteer to the AOL foundation for the past 6 years. “I have been able to cope up with all this only because of the breathing exercises and other techniques that were taught in the Art of Living Course”, she said. This is a great example that emphasizes the fact of how AOL helps its followers to enjoy every aspect of life 100%.Followed by her experience was a 10 minute video introducing Sri Sri Ravishankarji and the work he does through the Art of Living Foundation. This was shown to introduce the AOL foundation to the many first timers at the event. I am not sure if I am qualified to introduce Sri Sri Ravishankarji and his great work. You can find this information on www.artofliving.org

This great introduction was followed by a 20 minute session with Bhushan Deodhar, a disciple of Sri Sri Ravishankarji, and a teacher, whose life is always on an airplane following Sri Sri wherever he goes. Bhushan had such a vibrating persona and his one smile was enough to put one at ease. Bhushan explained to the audience simple exercises that could be done almost anytime, for example, when sitting at a desk in front of the computer. I had come to the session from work and was really tired, and these exercises relieved all the stress in the muscles of my body.

Followed by this session was a small talk by Michael Fishman, President of the Art of Living Foundation. He has been associated with Art of Living for almost 20 years now. He is a teacher and conducts classes at large companies like World Bank, IBM, and Shell. He had many wonderful things to say about “Sudarshan Kriya”, a breathing technique taught in the basic course of Art of Living. Following paragraph is a gist of his talk.

Everyone wants to be happy. From outside one would think that if you are at an island like Key Biscayne, you would be happy. But even on this beautiful island, people are depressed, stressed from the worldly things like money, relationships, teen pregnancies, drugs, etc. As a child each one of us is flexible, like a cloth. As we grow up, we are conditioned to our surroundings and the society. We choose to be like that. We settle for our tired lives and consider them to be going “fine”. What us grown ups have is a “knotted” nervous system. Sudarshan Kriya helps us to become a child again. “Do Sudarshan Kriya and you will be free of these knots! It makes life more focused, more enthusiastic and more dynamic!!”

Just as these great words were being said, the stage was suddenly glowing. Loud thunder of claps was heard. Sri Sri suddenly made his grand entry on the stage. Everyone rose from their seats to show respect to one of the greatest saints of our times. In a very sweet voice Sri Sri said, “Let’s listen to some music first”. The words of “Parmeshwari Jayadevi, Jagdishwari jaiambe” (songs of praise of the Gods and Goddesses) then reverberated in the entire hall.
Followed by sweet bhajans, was a meditation guided in His own voice. It was so relaxing, it’s beyond words. One has to experience it to believe it.

Followed by these were the golden words of wisdom. I tried to pen them down as closely as possible. I really hope all of you enjoy reading these as much as I have enjoyed listening to them.

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“If life is lived at a formal level without feelings, it tends to get depressing. There is a lot of depression in the world. As children we relate to everyone from the depth of our heart. We have been very free as children. But as adults we have been very superficial. As children we smile 400 times a day. As teenagers maybe 20 times a day but as adults we hardly smile. As adults we move with walls around us. We need

A violence free soul
A conflict free breath
An inhibition free intellect
A trauma free mind
A sorrow free soul
A disease free body

Life is like music, rhythmic. Children need a better world in this life.

Question Answer Session Begins:

1. How to reduce violence?
Guruji: Attention to breath, meditation will help. Mind can be calm. It will give you a universal outlook, sense of belongingness. We are one human family. This education should me made compulsory. We need to bring nasic human values to the society. Have a positive “sankalpa” in mind.

2. I want to be a really good mother, daughter, daughter in law. I want to be really good at everything. I want to be the best. Is this possible? How?
Guruji: You cannot be a better mother! You are best! You can feel bad, you can get upset. Being angry can act like a vaccine to children. Do not regret when you are angry. If you regret you get more angry and then you regret more. It is a vicious circle. All you need to do is relac. Music, exercise, meditation & proper meals will help you.

3. Is peace possible?
Guruji: If it was impossible, noone would work for it. Everyone in the world is working for it. Permanent peace is not possible. New people keep coming up.They learn values of peace through disturbance.

4. What is your view on technology? Is it a cause for anxiety? Does it work as a double edged sword in regards to depressions/difficulties?
Guruji: Technology does not create difficulties? Mind is untrained in values. Mind will use the “knife” the way it wants to. Individual should be well grounded to use the technology properly.

5. We try to do good jobs. People are still against you. Some time we do bad things and we have followers. Whatever you do peoples opinions change. What to do ?
Guruji: Listen to your heart. Right thing is which doesn’t harm anybody. Definition of wrong is something that gives you short joy but misery for long. Definition for right is something that gives you short misery and joy for long

6. What to do if you are confused?
Guruji: If you are confused, go to bed! Choice is between bad and worse or good and better. When you develop intuition , spontaneity comes out of you. Be clear in mind and it will all click. Why don’t we repeat this consciously? Here is the method : attention to breath and meditation. You will be able to access the source of knowledge.

7. Is it possible to achieve thoughtless minds
Guruji: Yes, through meditation and Sudarshan Kriya.

8. How to invite ego to step aside?
Guruji: Be natural. Just for half a day act like crazy. It works as medicine. There will be no ego left. But mind you, only half a day! Ego is about worrying what others feel about you. Have faith in self. Who has the time to think about you? It’s you who sits and worries!

9. What is your reaction on 911? Terrorism
Guruji: We have taught art of living in many prisons of Inida. Prisoners have changed completely. 1500 people took this program and there is complete transformation. Check videos on the website. This work is not enough. Theres a lot to be done. This is just a drop in the ocean

10. How to react to a situation? Despite of family and friends opinions.
Guruji: You need a lot of patience and perseverance

11. What do you do if you have OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorders)
Guruji: Yoga & Pranayama

12. Should one feel guilty if one has sexual thoughts?
Guruji: Energy which moves up and down causes emotions. Sex is pleasure and gives joy. Joy comes from a channel of energy not from the act. 1000 moments of sex is same as one moment of meditation. You are a fountain of joy. To experience this you indulge in pleasures but this can be achieved through meditation.

13. Define trust
Guruji: To know trust, know doubt. You always doubt positive. We never doubt dishonesty. We doubt capabilities but not weaknesses. Everyone is sure about depression. That’s why we doubt of life force and basis of existence because we have no idea of it. If we accept the doubt, we come to a place called trust. It is a natural phenomenon. Trust comes in when you can stand by what you don’t doubt. Trust is natural and is a process of evolution.

14. Can you see a form of God?
Guruji: Every form indicates formless tha is God

15. What should one do about fear of losing family?
Guruji: Do you think you are here forever? Take life every moment as it comes. We need to be in present moment being happy. Don’t be anxious about the future.

16. How to establish myself as a leader?
Guruji: Listen to inner spirit. Keep doing good work.

17. Do you go in extended periods of silence?
Guruji: During Navratri I go into silence. But I am always silent even when I am speaking. I remain untouched.

18. My spouse is always angry. What to do?
Guruji: I have no idea. I have never spoken about something I have not experienced. But I have some secret for men and women to live a happy married life.

Secret for women: Always encourage ego of the husband; never tell him he is good for nothing, even if he is!! Don’t tell him he‘s dumb! Man cannot take beating from his wife/girlfriend! Keep his ego intact

Secret for men: Man should never step on emotions of women. Never say no to shopping or prayer or anything that she wants to do. If she complains about her family, don’t join her. She will switch sides almost immediately.

Of course, Pranayama, meditation, Sudarshan Kriya can help manage to keep life centered.

19. How to stay connected to God?
Guruji: Don’t worry about it. Trying to keep life centered is a stress in itself. You have no choice but to be connected to God. Divinity is always there. Like when fan is on, you feel air. Similarly, for love or divinity, you sometimes feel more of it, sometimes less.

20. Competition either makes enemies or friends. What do you think of competition in terms of maintaining health relations?
Guruji: Competition with your self is a healthy competition. Do no take competition to mind or heart.

21. Which method for meditation is used for physical pain? What was your first reaction to meditation?
Guruji: Read a book called “Guru of Joy”. Learn Sudarshan Kriya. Engage yourself in some service. How you can contribute? How you can help everyone? Think about this.

22. Define the word “love”
Guruji: Love is a subject of heart. It cannot be defined. If defined, it is not felt. If you feel it, you cannot understand it. Love minus knowledge gives rise to negative feelings. Every negative feeling is an offshoot of love. If love has knowledge, negative emotions will never come to you.

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After these golden words of wisdom, He left the stage. Each and every person in the auditorium was left wondering how a person of His kind is so selfless, so egoless, so calm and so extremely loving. I was so happy to be in HIS presence, it is beyond words! Guruji, Raleigh loves you and wants to keep you in its heart! Please visit us again and give us the pleasure of being in your company!

- Sneha Jhanb