Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Me & World !!

I am connected to Art of Living organization since 2002 when I was doing my MBA, my sister Kalpana told me about it. She suggested me to do the basic course, in the beginning I was resisting to join but some how she managed to convince me. I went for the course and now I know what I gained in all these years by doing different advance level courses.

The courses are strong enough to take out any type of negative emotions stored within us from years. Mentally & Physically you become so strong that nothing can affect you. Sri Sri, has designed the knowledge points in such a way that you can apply them in your daily life and use them as weapons to protect yourself from being affected. He has included strong and ancient processes. And you really feel so refreshed and happy after the course. I personally can’t start my day without doing Kriya!!


His books are as inspiring as him, the books I read are, God Loves Fun, Wisdom of New Millennium, Punarnava, Buddha-The Manifestation of Silence, Source of life, Spirit of Enquiry, Belongingness Silence, The Seven Spiritual Laws, Celebrating Silence etc.

I first met him personally in Canada, Quebec when I was attending my advance course. There was some thing in him which attracted me, am still in the path of discovery who is he actually??

But the tremendous effort he is putting to get SMILE in millions of people around the world is so inspiring. His “Sudarshan Kriya” has healed millions of people around the world. You name any place and there is an Art of Living center there. The instructors who he chooses are so energetic and caring, and they are so well trained. AOL have adopted hundreds of villages in India, they provide free schooling for rural children and basic amenities to people. They have started Youth Leadership programme in various countries, they are also teaching courses in jail. This is the thing which attracts me because why will anyone go to jail and speak to criminal, understand them and make them feel they are actually good by heart.

He is also very miraculous man …there are thousands of stories of different devotees and I myself have experienced lots of things in my life.

Thanks to Guruji for loving all of us so much!!

A trip to Chicago

I reached Chicago on June 06, and enjoyed the summers. Chicago is totally fun in summers, with lots of activities, games, excitements, places to explore, restaurants (veggie), and what not. Chicago is too clean and planned city. But the same place is killing in the winters. It’s just unbearable. This is my second winter in Chicago and I was too happy to see temp not going below zero till Jan, but my happiness disappeared when in Feb temp went below -30 degrees (Huhhhh...spine chilling/killing wind chill). Now i understand why it is Windy City.

When ever I go out I remember Delhi’s(India) winter which I use to feel was too high, now that’s nothing for me. I feel I can withstand any amount of cold, as after certain level our skin becomes insensitive.

I love Starbucks coffee and in winters it’s like God.It also has Classic Coffee cake and Ginger Molase cookie which is my favourite. Starbucks is located in each and every corner of Chicago downtown. So, friends who ever come to Chicago please search for Starbucks in Google for nearest location.

And in any type of cool drinks, Ginger Ale is too good. I wonder how people have lots of ice in water or any type of drinks even in pick winters. And the funniest thing is if you go to any restaurant and order any drink they will give you little drink and more ice & if you ask for drink without ice, then drink will be ice water.....Hahhaaaa

I love Barren & Nobel and Borders, which are giant book chains and once you go there, you will for sure come back again !! Time flies there and you won’t realize you can finish one whole book in 2-3 hours.

I hope you enjoyed reading this and have come to know some facts about Chicago. But over all it’s a beautiful city and you will love to stay here in spite of it's cold weather & cold water in restaurants :)......

Sweta

A Poetry just stuck me... for Sri Sri my Guru !!

Months have passed, years have gone,
Time never stops, life goes on...
Childhood passed, Teenage came,
I wondered who is GOD?
Heard lot about God, people said,
Ram, Rahim, Shyam, Shiva, Nanak & Christ !!

Than came my adulthood, I still wondered ...who is GOD?
I went here & there to find my answer & to find a guru.
My prayers were answered by god, and I got my guru...
But my mind doors were closed!!
It took me time, but I finally reached my Lord Krishna, my Guru “ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar”.
I remember God holding my hands, at the time I needed him,
He smiled at me, played with me,
He always had something to gift me that is the Wisdom of Knowledge....
I missed it always,

But see Krishna came again to gift me the knowledge of “ Sudarshan Kriya ” & teach me,
God is one Made of Love!!
He said slowly in my ears " I belong to you ",Lets walk together !!

I am not a poet, this is a simple thought came in my mind…..

Sweta Patra

Open Up Yourself!!!

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains;

You always want joy, more energy,in life, isn't it? You want more! Anything you are given, you want more- more money, more fame, more beauty, more joy, more pleasure....This "wanting something more" keeps bugging you in your mind, and you do not look to your capabilities. More will be given to you , only if you properly utilise, what you have already! This is a law in nature. Why should nature give you more, when you are stuck with your little mind?

This tendency of wanting more is there in you- you only have to give it a twist; just turn it around- instead of " What more can I have?" start asking yourself, "What more can i do?" Then you will see that there is joy. The nature of joy is to give because you are the source of joy! The more responsibility you take on, the more energy or power will come to you.

When you have ten things to do, and even one of them goes wrong, you can keep doing the other
thing( or the ten things)- the one thing that has gone wrong, will set itself right! But, if you have only one thing to do, and that goes wrong, then you are stuck with it.

When you have the intention to do something, resources simply flow in- when they are needed....and in the amount they are needed.
There is nothing much in doing what you can do- there is no growth. Stretching a little beyond your capacity, will increase your capacity. In whatever capacity you do something for society, for the environment, for creation, that much more you progress- that much more you go further.

The technique to get depressed is to sit and only think about yourself! If you sit and think, What about me? What will happen to me"- you will get thoroughly depressed. The way to expand from individual to universal consciousness is to share the sorrow and joy of others. The way to overcome personal misery is to share universal misery. The way to expand personal joy is to share universal joy! Instead of thinking ; "What about me? What can i gain from this world?"- think; -" What can i do for the world?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is the founder of the Art of Living Foundation (1981) and the International Association for Human Values (1997). With a practice called Sudarshan Kriya, he guides us to go beyond the surface of our thoughts and emotions, and experience the essence of our true Self.

My School Thriveni Academy

Thriven Academy my School in Vadakapattu village, 30 km from Chennai city is a mini Island. It included all type of sports like squash, basketball, tennis, horse riding, swimming, skating, gymnasium etc. It also included shopping complex for teachers, guest house, canteen, and a big hospital. We had morning yoga, exercise & cross country every Saturday. We also had a Shiva Temple where every Sunday we had one hour Bhajan sessions. The school had all Extracurricular activities like singing, dancing, painting, guitar, clay work etc.

The mini Island had more then 2000 students and staff members. I remember we had Thriveni Mahotsav, a cultural festival every year which included dances of all state, drama & singing competition. It was a fun time. I remember the tuck-shop, we use to wait for the evening so that we could go and eat. On the way to girls hostel, there was merry land (kids play ground), we use to pluck cherries and play there for some time.

As there is a slogan, if the base of the tree is strong, then the tree is strong. In the same way my school has made my base strong. The time spent there is an Asset for me. The school days are still fresh in my mind and will always cherish the time spent there.

This note is for the students of Thriveni and all associated with it.

Perfection & Imperfection

In the words of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, In a state of ignorance, imperfection is natural and perfection is an effort!! ion.
In a state of wisdom or enlightenment, imperfection is an effort, while perfection is a compulsion and unavoidable!!
There is a certain mindset that always finds fault, even in the best of condition.Such a mindset cannot know the sacred knowledge.If you are only intrested in the holes, you will not see the magnanimity of things.
The recognition of imperfections leads you to more perfection.Perfection can be of three types:
1. Perfection in action or work.
2. Perfection in speech
3. Perfection in feelings or intent

Sri Sri says, suppose someone makes a mistake and you get angry looking at that mistake ,then you are no better than the person because , there the action was imperfect, but here your feelings have become imperfect.Any action will have flaw, but when feelings become imperfect, they stay for a longer period...The innermost perfection is lost.

There are six imperfections - Lust, anger, greed, entanglement, arrogance & jealousy. You think one is better then the other but they are not.

Lust is considered a sin because in lust, you treat the other person like an object. In love, you see the person as someone higher. Anger is a sin because when you are angry, you lose your centre; you lose sight of the Self. In guilt, you limit the small mind to an action that has alreagy happened.

Sin is not your nature, and you are not born out of sin. Sin is just the wrinkle on a cloth. It needs proper ironing!!

Simplicity & Pretendence

Being natural is simplicity. Pretendence is to act the way you are not. Both the people exist in this world. May be sometime its obligatory to pretend when you reach a certain stage in life. And to some extent it’s fine and you can’t avoid it. My question is this was the case some decades back or it’s more now?

Being simple does not mean you don’t put makeup or were fashionable cloths, it’s to be real by heart. Yes to some extent we all pretend, as that has to be done. For example, if you see someone you don’t like still you smile and greet him. All this is fine.

Very few people you can find who are natural in this world. We can count the no. of people in our life or none. For actors I feel they forget to be natural and in corporate culture the pretendence is at high level. Everyone or the other is just trying to be good and appreciate the other, but at the back they can’t just tolerate the other person.

I feel why not be clear and natural in thoughts. Yes pretend but to the extent required!!

9/11 Attack & Air Force Engineer

It was evening 5pm, Tuesday,2006. I had to go to someone’s house to get some things sent by my friend from Delhi, India. So I took a cab and told him the street address. In my way the Cab driver asked me you from Kerela, India. I replied no. Then again he said ok from where then, I said Orissa. Now the story begins, he started telling me he is from air force and he is an Engineer. He said he had a good life before but due to 9/11 attack US government has made strict rules. Asians are not allowed to join any federal government job and only citizens are allowed. He had a valid work permit but as terrorism is in the rise he was not allowed to join the US air force. It’s been six years he is still in a hope that he will get his job back, and applied for green card. His waiting period is so long, he feels that coming back to US he took a bad decision. But it’s too late now. Going back also does not help him. He has his family to look after. This is a small story about cab driver, but there might be lots of people till suffering.

So one day or the other we all have to face it!!

Passive & Aggressive People

I am influenced by the simple talks of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, i would like to share one. His talks enlighten you instantly.

He says there are two types of people in the world - those who are passive and those who are aggressive. Aggressive people do not achieve much. For that matter, passive people also do not achieve much!!
It is easier to be aggressive or passive...and this is what has been happening in our country. There are people who are very passive -who don't do anything, who don't get involved in anything, and there are people who are very aggressive- they do anything(legal, illegal,right, wrong) to achieve whatever they want. Sooner or later both find their hands empty- both feel failure.

Then Sri Sri is elaborating on Gita....What is the Gita about? Is it passive or does it instigate one to be aggressive.

The answer is , It does neither of the two!! The Gita says: " Dynamism with calmness" . Dynamism with calmness is worth having in our lives. The serenity, which is proactive, is what is needed; it is what would be the right solution to any problem.

In very simple way he explains the essence of life to people.