Art Of Living, Seattle

SEATTLE PrisonSMART SECOND ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY - 2011

2011-09-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

It's already two years since a regular PrisonSMART program, an effort by The International Association for Human Values (www.iahv.org), has been launched in Seattle Jail/KCCF!

Now we have a team of eight volunteers, including the Schedule Manager, whose effort and commitment made it possible for 201 inmate participants benefit from this course since last September 2010 (343 people in two years). It gives us a special joy every time to congratulate those incarcerated men who complete all three days of the program (92 people in the last year; 163 in two years), see them becoming bright, smiling, energized, uplifted, and full of optimism to improve their lives. They are so grateful -- for the peace of mind, relaxation, their profound spiritual experiences, insights, healings, for the volunteers' commitment to them.

The inmate participants routinely report feeling more limber, and strong, and relieved from their various aches and pains in the body because of taking PrisonSMART and doing the Sudharshan Kriya. Thus, last weekend a newly made inmate trustee who graduated from the previous course two weeks ago excited reported to us -- while fervently moving tables and stacks of chairs to prepare the room for the class -- that he kept doing the stretches and breathing exercises he learned from us every day. We could hardly recognize him: he looked 10 years younger and walked not like an old man when we saw him last time! The course was challenging for him because of his constant back pain (he even was not able to do most of the stretches), but he stayed committed, and it payed off so bountifully.

Here's a poem inspired by the insights from the course, by another recent participant, a homeless person without much formal education.

Stillness

The answers to the questions you sometimes

so fervently seek, are often only found

in the allowing of the stillness to speak.

To withdraw for a moment from the

calamities, the tragedies, the stresses

of everyday life, is to welcome the healing,

the calming, the soothing, the absence

of strife.

The key to your freedom, to live and to love,

to be as you must, is found only in truth,

the establishment of trust.

To first put behind you the hurts, the pains,

the sorrows of yesterday, is to allow for

the forgiveness in the stillness to pave

a new way.

As usual, your support of PrisonSMART (www.prisonsmart.org) in any capacity is much appreciated. The donations are tax deductible, and could be made online at www.iahv.org (please choose "Prison SMART program" in the options).

Blessings,

Masha Ellis

Seattle PrisonSMART coordinator

www.iahv.org

Seeking Bliss Among the Honks and Hisses

2011-04-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

By COREY KILGANNON

Richard Perry/The New York Times The Indian meditation guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar takes a walk through Times Square.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, 54, the Indian spiritual guru, said it was his first time in Times Square, as he walked up Broadway on Monday morning.

“It’s a nice place for a stroll,” he said. “A lot is happening.”

Indeed there was. The Crossroads of the World was as hectic as ever, teeming with traffic and sidewalk crowds toward the end of the morning rush.

Mr. Shankar stood, taking it all in: police officers, tourists, office workers, vendors, bomb-sniffing dogs. Even for Mr. Shankar, who lives in the city of Bangalore, this might seem to be sensory overload: a news “zipper” sign overhead trumpeted items like “Long Island Serial Killer Taunting Victim’s Teen Sister.”

The guru smiled broadly — he always seems to be smiling — and ambled up Broadway, dressed in sandals, a flowing, white robe, and a tan, wool scarf. He has a full, dark head of hair and beard, and suffice to say, he stands out even in a crowded Times Square.

Mr. Shankar was in town to offer a workshop to inaugurate the program I Meditate NY, which provides meditation classes to deal with city stress. On Sunday, he conducted a program for 2,700 people at Avery Fisher Hall.

“There is so much energy here, you need help to cope with it all,” he said, looking across Times Square. “When you have so many people of such diversity squeezed together, you need a lot of it.”

Urban life would especially lend itself to his form of breathing and meditation, he said, with its goal of rejuvenating participants physically, mentally and emotionally.

“People who have a lot to do in life, they have a greater need to meditate,” he said. “When you live in the middle of this hustle-bustle, and you have a lot of responsibilities and demands on you, you naturally have a greater longing for it.”

“It is important for people to take a few minutes every day to sit with their eyes closed and look for inner peace,” he said, walking up Broadway, and passing a panhandler holding up a cardboard sign with the words, “I listen to your problems for $2.”

“You need a source of silence and sanity and it is healthy to clearing the mind,” he said.

Mr. Shankar said he envisioned a world free of stress and violence and said that meditation helped nurture the individual love, compassion and enthusiasm to reach these broader goals.

Every few moments, he was interrupted by passers-by who recognized him. At 45th Street, a group of Indian immigrants bowed to him and smiled, and a half-block later, an English tourist, Charlotte West, 20, stopped him and said she took his meditation class at an ashram in India several years ago.

Then a truck rumbled down Seventh Avenue and the driver bellowed out: “Sri Sri Ravi, you’re the greatest.”

The guru’s followers stared at each other and burst out in incredulous laughter. Mr. Shankar simply smiled and kept walking. Still smiling, he then passed Foot Locker, the Swatch store and a souvenir shop displaying “I Love New York” T-shirts.

That logo has been imitated by his group I Meditate New York, with the heart replaced by a sitting meditator.

Mr. Shankar founded the nonprofit Art of Living Foundation in 1982 to help spread the use of meditation to alleviate stress and societal problems and violence, he said, conducting programs for people of all religions and cultures.

Mr. Shankar’s father was an auto executive, but young Ravi took a spiritual path early on, and by age 4 was able to recite from the Bhagavad Gita. He was born on the same day of the year as the Hindu philosopher Adi Shankara and followed the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, developing a rhythmic breathing exercise to help relieve personal suffering. The technique came to him in 1982 “like an intuition” after a 10-day period of silence on the banks of a river in India, he said.

He calls the technique Sudarshan Kriya and has made it the core of his Art of Living courses.

“It gives you a deeper rest than sleep,” he said. “It adds dimension to your life, and it is so suitable for today’s busy life.”

Standing at the curb at 46th Street, an Indian man stopped next to him and did a double-take. The man, Sunin Elias, 42, and his son Nikhil, 13, shook the guru’s hand. Mr. Elias said he lived in Bangalore, where he runs a software company.

A stylishly dressed woman standing on the sidewalk in front of the DoubleTree Hotel was next to approach Mr. Shankar. The woman Kavina Trujillo, 38, a skin care specialist from Seattle said she had come to New York on business and taken his meditation lecture and workshop in Manhattan on Sunday.

“I kept falling asleep,” she told Mr. Shankar, who in response kept smiling but did not speak.

“You’re making me nervous,” she said with a giggle. Finally she shook his hand again and said, “You changed my life.”

At 48th Street, he turned and began walking down Seventh Avenue. He passed several husky men standing next to an inflated 12-foot-tall bedbug and handing out notices attacking a local business. In front of Planet Hollywood, he was greeted by a young man wearing a gold chain and a red baseball hat.

The young man, Kenny Pena, 23, a music producer from Brooklyn with the nickname Nyce and a production company called Money Game, shook the guru’s hand.

“I felt a lot of positive energy just shaking his hand,” Mr. Pena said.

Mr. Shankar’s handlers were anxious to rush him to his next appearance, but he said he enjoyed walking Times Square.

“Once in a while,” he said, and piled with three other handlers into the back of a waiting car, smiling all the while.

Full article: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/seeking-bliss-among-the-honks-and-hisses/

Seattle PrisonSMART Report to the Community

2011-04-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

Updating you on the inspiring work of the local IAHV (www.iahv.org) volunteers at Seattle Jail - since last August 2010.

During this past half a year our local PrisonSMART (www.prisonsmart.org) team taught seven courses for the total of 115 participants (minimal security men). We are on the Jail's regular schedule, and are now allowed to have up to 20 participants in the room (as opposed to 12 when we first started there in the August of 2009 -- more than any other volunteer organization at KCCF, including other yoga programs!).

The inmate population in the Jail is quite transient with participants being often moved to different floors, pulled out of class for lawyer, doctor, and family visits, court appearance, and chores. Commitment is also a big challenge for these people, as you can imagine -- especially, if a big football game, etc. is coming up on TV. Still, in spite of all these challenges we had 59 people successfully completing all three days of the course. There has been 2-6 repeaters at every course, two men even went through the course five times!

What they said recently: "Wow, I never experienced such peace of mind ever, at least since I got incarcerated!" "This is the most profound experience in all my life!" "I am so-o grateful..." "Incredible: I've been sleeping all night through!" "I never got in a fight for the last half a year -- since I started taking this course..." "Everything -- this whole room looks -- very BRIGHT now!" The participants generally report better sleep patterns, improved health, relaxation, getting a new perspective on life, an appreciation of the value of selfless service to others and commitment, awareness of the importance of breath in keeping mind centered and alert. The staff and inmates at KCCF continuously express appreciation and gratitude for our service. It is tremendously inspiring, and keeps us looking forward to every new day of the course -- in the stuffy cement box with painted over windows and constantly barking intercom, called "community room"!

We, the volunteers for PrisonSMART, feel that we all benefit enormously from teaching and facilitating this program, too! It made us much stronger, more confident, truly joyous, and living with more awareness the knowledge points taught in the Art of Living course. We believe that a stress-free violence- free society can be a reality with all of us joining hands!

Thank you for all your support and prayers. If you feel moved to give a tax deductable donation to PrisonSMART, please do so by going to www.prisonsmart.org. Please check with your company if you can donate your volunteer hours or match the funds that you donate. We are proud to let you know that all Seattle PrisonSMART volunteer expenses are covered through the constant fundraising efforts that we do and thanks to your generosity. Again, your support is needed and much appreciated.

The World Culture Festival in Berlin, July 2nd and 3rd 2011

2011-03-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

Celebrating Diversity and Enriching life

The World Culture Festival in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of The Art of Living. This unique event will host more than 70.000 participants from 151 countries who will take home unique sights, sounds and tastes and the mesmerizing variety of the world continents in one place!

The Grand Celebration in the Olympiastadion Berlin as well as in the World Pavilions will showcase the beauty of all world cultures through dance, music, food, literature and conferences.

The Festival will honour the norms and values of various cultures while celebrating harmony in diversity.

The WCF-World Pavilions beautifully situated in the green fields around the stadium will showcase in four pavilions the world continents cultural heritage by allowing participants to experience the typical food, dance, literature and music of Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas.

The pavilions will also host the 5th International Women's Conference, a World Youth Conference and Conference on Living Human Values.

Senior governmental representatives, business leaders, academia, leaders of NGOs, religious and spiritual leaders, peacemakers and renowned personalities from across the globe will exchange their views and spread the message of peace, unity and harmony in diversity.

The World Pavilions will also host an exquisite international vegetarian food festival, allowing participants to taste the cuisine of all continents. The World Culture Festival will furthermore share the vast cultural heritage of India, the source of yoga, not only by showcasing the benefits of yoga, but also by sharing the beauty and depth of the music, dance and the cuisine of India. Up to 5000 guests, including artists and distinguished delegates from public and private sector, are expected to travel from India to Berlin.

The WCF-Yoga Park will allow participants to experience the powerful impact of Yoga as a way to improve physical and mental health as well as to create inner peace. Yoga experts of all different traditions will share their expertise in conferences and workshops. A unique Yoga Museum will chart the evolution of Yoga from ancient sages to its global application in the 21st century. The Yoga Park will also illustrate the societal impact of Yoga in peace building and therefore its application in humanitarian projects around the world.

Leading dance and music troops from around the globe will mesmerize the audience with dazzling performances. The Grand finale will see an unparalleled concert with 30 pianos and 2000 guitars as well as a Peace Meditation.

Welcome to Berlin! Welcome to an unforgettable celebration!

Registration and travel details online: http://www.worldculturefestival.org/en/

The name “Hatha” Yoga — significance of heating and cooling

2011-03-08T22:38:00.000-08:00

Most of the well-known styles of Yoga that include postures, breathing practices and meditation can be classified under the umbrella of Hatha Yoga. While any means or technique (exercise, devotion, service, etc) that leads one to a state of harmony with oneself can qualify as a Yoga Practice, the term Hatha Yoga refers to the system of postures, purification, breath-work and meditation as described in the classic Hatha Yoga texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

The word Hatha literally means union of the sun and moon; the Sanskrit terms “ha” means sun and “tha” means moon. We can think of Hatha Yoga as a process of heating and cooling the system. Hatha Yoga promotes energy, strength, and vitality (qualities of the sun); at the same time it allows the practitioner to experience relaxation, rest and rejuvenation (qualities of the moon). Therefore it provides the practitioner with a harmonious blend of seemingly opposite yet complementary aspects of activity and rest.

What is the magic behind Hatha Yoga? How does heating and cooling the system work to provide exuberant health and well-being?

I like to think of Hatha Yoga as similar to the process of Annealing in metallurgy. Annealing is a technique involving heating and controlled cooling of a material to increase the size of its crystals and reduce their defects. The heat causes the atoms to become unstuck from their initial positions (a local minimum of the internal energy) and wander randomly through states of higher energy; the slow cooling gives them more chances of finding configurations with lower internal energy than the initial one, promoting the growth of crystals. The concept of Annealing has been used beyond metallurgy; for example, the same principle is used routinely in Simulated Annealing to solve global optimization problems in practical settings. See here for an example of how Simulated Annealing works to re-arrange pixels of an image to create beautiful patterns similar to crystal structures.

Let’s see how the practice of Hatha Yoga is similar to the process of Annealing.

The “Ha” (sun) part of Hatha Yoga involves active practices that can be thought of as introducing energy and heat in the system. In fact, the word “Tapas” which is used to describe discipline in Yoga, literally means heat. By introducing this heat, we remove the impurities in the system and strengthen the system. Just like in Annealing, where heat causes the atoms to become unstuck from their initial positions, heat due to tapas causes the body and mind to become unstuck from habitual patterns. For example, many of us hold unnecessary tension in muscles (especially in the shoulders and neck) because of stress; this pent-up energy is released as we introduce heat through the practice of Yoga postures. Likewise in the mind, we allow tension and anxiety to grip the mind in daily life; this unnecessary expenditure of energy is released during the practice of Yoga.

The “Tha” (moon) part of Hatha Yoga includes relaxation, meditation, and other “cooling” practices. This is where we unwind and allow the mind and body to find their place of deep relaxation. Just like in Annealing, where the controlled cooling that follows the initial heating gives rise to harmony & structure (in the form of crystals), the relaxation/meditation done at the end of Yoga gives rise to harmony and a profound sense of well-being. Furthermore, just as slow cooling in Annealing gives the atoms more chances of finding configurations with lower internal energy than the initial one, the Yogic relaxation takes us to a place of deeper relaxation than before. In other words, as we unwind more, there is greater reduction of stress from the system.

Mere cooling alone will not produce crystal formation in annealing – the atomic structure remains the same. Similarly, attempting to relax the body and mind without offering activity first, will only promote lethargy! (Technically speaking, we are stuck in a local minima). Perhaps that is why it is said in Yoga, that we move from Tamas (dullness) to Sattva (clarity) by first moving through Rajas (activity).

If you are reading this blog, then chances are that you already practice Yoga; I am sure you have experienced the depth of relaxation at the end of a Yoga session. As a Yoga Teacher, I observe that the 10 to 15 minutes of relaxation after a well-rounded practice of postures takes everyone to deep rest. Even those who are prone to fidgeting and restlessness experience profound relaxation and stillness.

Same thing can be said for meditation. When we attempt to be in Meditation without doing the active practices, unless we are experienced meditators, we find ourselves stuck in the tendencies of the mind and body (“local minimum”). We experience uncontrolled thoughts / worries / anxieties that grip the mind. We observe the discomforts of the body, and endure the forced silence we subject ourselves to. While meditation performed this way certainly has its benefits, we can boost the quality of meditation by doing the active practices first. When combined this way, the practice of postures followed by meditation culminates in the experience of deep silence and tranquility that is accompanied by blissful rest and rejuvenation.

One can imagine the long-term benefits of practicing Hatha Yoga. When we introduce this practice in our daily lives, we allow an inner transformation to happen that takes us from a place of chaos to clarity — like the clarity of the crystals we produce from Annealing. Allow me to conclude with a powerful quote from Neale Donald Walsch’s book Communion with God, which captures the essence of why Hatha Yoga is so beneficial:

“The combination of exercise and meditation is extremely powerful. When this combination becomes part of your spiritual discipline, you create possibilities for enormous growth.”
Article from Art of Living Sri Sri Yoga Instructor Shriram Sarvotham's blog:
http://upwardogdownwardog.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/the-name-hatha-yoga-significance-of-heating-and-cooling/

Volunteering at Seattle Emergency Services Center...

2011-03-03T23:50:00.000-08:00

Recently, on a Sunday morning, I volunteered with a friend to serve breakfast at the Seattle Emergency Services center which is off of James St and 2nd Ave. It is a place where homeless people spend the night and before they leave, they are fed breakfast .

We served breakfast to 130 people which is an average number of people there on any given morning .

My friend had sent out a sign up sheet in advance for folks to volunteer to cook. I signed up to make Aloo(potato) subzi for 60 people and cooked the meal the night before on Sat Jan 22. My husband
and I signed up to serve the breakfast as well. We reached the venue at 7:30am and reheated the food in the commercial warmers. There were about 10 volunteers who set up the assembly line of food, and plates, cutlery, napkin etc. At 8:30Am the breakfast serving started and we served till 9:30AM. About 130 people were at the shelter that morning and all of them were served a hearty South Indian breakfast. They loved the Banana Lassi(yogurt smoothie) and the Upma.

We have made the intention to do this Seva once a quarter.

Archana
Art of Living Seattle Volunteer

On Faith Panelists Blog: Religion indispensable, but not in political life - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

2011-02-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

Religion indispensable, but not in political life

Mike Huckabee, the conservative former Arkansas governor, this weekend said that he is concerned about Islam's role in Egypt's future. As On Faith panelist Reza Aslan this week noted, Huckabee has also called for Americans to "take this nation back for Christ" and, while running for president in 2008, declared that "what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards."

In America and in Egypt, should a majority religion inspire political life? How will Islam play a role in the struggles for democracy happening now in Egypt and other parts of the Muslim world?

Religion is an integral part of society and is indispensable. However, will adopting a majority religion do the state any good? This is a very big question. Should we go back to the medieval times when religious heads in parallel ran de-facto governments as it was seen in Iran? So far there has not been any successful model where religious heads ran a government and supported democracy. The theocratic state in the past has only caused more violence and unrest in the society. It is high time we move from religious fundamentalism to an all-inclusive, non -denominational spirituality.

Every religion has something unique to offer human development and therefore spirituality. While spirituality is all-inclusive, religion definitely divides the society with its various denominations. We have seen for centuries that conflicts have come between Protestants and Catholics, Shiites and Sunnis, Hindus and Muslims and Muslims and Christians in various parts of the world.

Religion should motivate people to move away from corruption and violence and should steer clear from politics. Religion should console and care in times of disaster and actively be involved in developmental activity and can bring sweeping reforms as far as the social ills are concerned. Democracy is not inherently anti-religious but it should provide equal opportunity to people of all faith and denominations. The perception that secularism is opposed to religion should be done away with. People who claim to be secular should have inter-faith dialogues and honor all religions.

One of the reasons of rampant corruption in secular democracies is lack of spiritual and religious values. This is the one of the reasons, some intellectuals think of marrying religion and politics again. How far and how long this would work remains an unanswered question.

By Sri Sri Ravi Shankar | February 4, 2011; 12:10 PM ET

http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/Sri_Sri_Ravi_Shankar/2011/02/the_role_of_religion_in_politics.html

YES! for Schools in Seattle

2011-02-04T20:10:00.000-08:00

The Youth Empowerment Seminar (YES!) for Schools program is offered right here in Seattle.

Check out how amazing this program has been for students:
http://youthempowermentseminar.org/

Contact Jameelah, the YES! Coordinator for Seattle, at jameelah.carver@iahv.org for more info and to get involved.

Prison S.M.A.R.T. in Seattle

2011-02-04T20:03:00.000-08:00

Did you know we offer the Prison S.M.A.R.T. program here in Seattle through the International Association for Human Values?

http://prisonsmart.org/

Contact Masha, our local Prison S.M.A.R.T. coordinator, at masha.ellis@artofliving.org for more info and to get involved.

Upcoming Courses and Events

2011-02-02T23:20:00.001-08:00

For a full and current list of upcoming courses and events - check out our main site at:

http://us.artofliving.org/wa

Feel free to contact us at seattle@us.artofliving.org as well with any questions.

See you soon!

Be a part of Green Seattle Day at Woodland Park!

2010-10-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

The Art of Living Seattle group invites you to be a part of Green Seattle Day. We will be attending as a group at the Earthcorps site in Woodland Park.

Please RSVP on facebook if you are attending to be sure we send the right number to Earthcorps!

RSVP at:
http://www.facebook.com/ArtofLivingSeattle?v=app_2344061033#!/event.php?eid=159137297450083&index=1

Thanks
...Brian

Volunteers will work with EarthCorps and the Green Seattle Partnership on November 6, 2010 (Green Seattle Day). Today’s event is both a celebration of Seattle’s’ urban forests and a chance to join us in our effort to restore the forested area of Woodland Park. Volunteers will remove invasive plant species that are threatening the health of the forest, perform restoration site maintenance (weeding & mulching) and possibly plant native trees & shrubs.
At just over 90 acres Woodland Park is an exciting, multipurpose park and recreation space just southwest of Green Lake and north of the Fremont district. It is separated into two parts by Aurora Avenue.

East of Aurora, just south of Green Lake Park, the park is an ideal spot for picnics with picnic areas, barbecues, woods, pleasant grassy hills and pathways. It is also one of the city’s most active hubs for sports and recreation, including walkway paths, several playfields, tennis courts, lawn bowling, horseshoe pits, a skate park, and a large, wooded dog off-leash area.
Directions

From I-5, take the 50th St exit. Follow 50th St west. You will pass straight through a large intersection with Stone Way. Just after this intersection, turn RIGHT onto Woodland Park Ave N. Drive a few hundred feet and look for the EarthCorps volunteer registration table on your right.

More info online:
http://www.earthcorps.org/volunteer.php?dateId=826

Green Seattle Dat
http://greenseattle.org/green-seattle-day

Courses and Events Calendar

2010-08-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

Satsang Schedule

2009-09-01T01:01:00.000-07:00

01/28/2012 - Ankur & Mona Shukla
02/04/2012
02/11/2012 - Amit Binal
02/18/2012 - Vandana Prasad
02/25/2012 - Balu Sunitha
03/03/2012 - Ankur and Mona Shukla
03/10/2012
03/17/2012
03/24/2012 - Balu Sunitha
03/31/2012
04/07/2012 -Reshmi & Shyam

Love
Jai Gurudev

Post a comment below to sign up for satsang

Humor and Humiliation

2009-04-25T13:03:00.001-07:00

Humor and Humiliation
Humor is the buffer that saves you from humiliation. If you have a good sense of humor you can never be humiliated. And if you refuse to be humiliated you become invincible. Humor brings everyone together, while humiliation tears them apart. In a society torn with humiliation and insult, humor is like a breath of fresh air. A good sense of humor relieves you from fear and anxiety.Humor should be coupled with care and concern. Mere humor without care and concern or appropriate action often irritates those who come to you with serious problems.Humor can keep the spirit high, yet if overdone it leaves a bad taste. Humor without wisdom is shallow. Humor with wisdom creates an atmosphere of celebration.Humor without sensitivity is satire - it comes back to you with more problems. The wise use humor to bring wisdom and to lighten every situation.The intelligent use humor as a shield against humiliation.The cruel use humor as a sword to insult others.The irresponsible use humor to escape from responsibility.And fools take humor too seriously!To make an effort to be humorous is nonsensical.Question: How does one cultivate a sense of humor?Sri Sri: Humor is not just words, it is the lightness of your Being. You do not have to read and repeat jokes -- just being cordial and light-hearted brings out authentic humor. Taking life itself not too seriously (because you will never come out of it alive!) (Laughter) Having a sense of belongingness with everybody, including those who are not friendly Practicing yoga and meditation Having unshakable faith in the Divine, and in the laws of karma Being in the company of those who live in knowledge and are humorous A willingness to be a clown

On Judgements

2009-04-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

Though you have heard "don't judge," judgement comes unavoidably in day-to-day life. By the actions and behaviors of people, you either approve or disapprove. But always remember that everything is changing, and do not hold onto the judgement. Otherwise your judgement gets solidified like a rock. It brings misery for you and for others.

If judgements are lighter like air, like a breeze, they bring in fragrance, then move away. They could bring a foul smell, then move away. They should not stay there forever.

Judgements are so subtle that you are not even aware of their existence. Judging or labeling someone as judgmental is also a judgement. Only in the state of Being when you are full of love and compassion can you ever be free from all judgements.

Yet the world cannot move without judgements. Until you judge something as good or bad, you cannot do any actions. If you see rotten apples in the market, you say, "No good." Good ones you buy. If someone lies to you ten times, you think next time it also could be a lie. A judgment happens automatically.

See the possibility that people and things can change at any time and don't hold onto the judgements.

You need to judge your company. Your company can pull you up or pull you down. The company that drags you towards doubt, dejection, blame, complaints, anger, delusion and desires is bad company. The company that pulls you up towards joy, enthusiasm, service, love, trust and Knowledge is good company.

When someone complains, first you listen, then you nod, then you sympathize, then you complain.

Robert says, "Join the party."
Denise says, "I confess, you are absolutely right." (Laughter)

Your company can create Hell for you in Heaven -- or Heaven for you in Hell. Judge for yourself . . . !

Ganesha Sharanam

2009-03-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

G----------------- C----------G---------

Ganesha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha (2x)

C-------------------Am-------C---------

Ganesha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha (2x)

G------- C----------C---------G---------

Ganesha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha (2x)

G--------------- C---------G---------

Siddhi Vinayaka Sharanam Ganesha (2x)

C----------------- Am-------G---------

Buddhi Pradayaka Sharanam Ganesha (2x)

G--------C---------C---------G---------

Ganesha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha (2x)

Second Stanza

G------C-------- G----------

Moriya Re Bappa Moriya Re (2x)

C------Am-------C---------

Moriya Re Bappa Moriya Re (2x)

G------ C-------- G----------

Moriya Re Bappa Moriya Re (2x)

G----------------------- C------------ G-------

Ganapati Bappa Moriya Mangala Murti Moriya (2x)

C------------------------ Am---------- C-------

Ganapati Bappa Moriya Mangala Murti Moriya (2x)

G----- C---------G----------

Moriya Re Bappa Moriya Re (2x)

(Repeat Second Stanza)

Tree Planting

2009-02-27T11:12:00.001-08:00

Art Of Living Foundation will be joining Student Conservation Association and Nature Consortium for a tree planting project on Saturday 3/7.

Please contact Brian (bcarver1@gmail.com) by March 1st if you would like to sign up for this event. It is a great way to be out in the community doing service and also letting people know that Art of Living is out in force in Seattle!

There may be people that want to come to the yoga rave that evening as well :)

When: Saturday, March 7 from 10:00 AM 4:00 PM
Where: Meet at Cooper Elementary 1901 SW Genesee St. Seattle, WA 98106

Lunch is provided, but bring water, snacks, sunscreen, rain gear, long pants, layers of clothing, and appropriate shoes.

Love without wisdom brings trouble

2009-02-15T10:43:00.001-08:00

"Make God be your Valentine. We will never be ditched, deceived or deprived," said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at a Satsang in Kolkata on Saturday
when the city was in the grip of the Valentine's Day fever. The Art of Living founder said the world is so distraught because of the absence of love. "Even if there is love, the problem exists. Because, there is wrong expression of it. Love without wisdom (gyan) can also bring trouble. If love comes with wisdom, there will be joy, satisfaction and benediction," he said addressing a crowd at the Rabindra Sarovar stadium. On the attacks on people celebrating Valentine's Day, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said: "The extreme reaction comes out of fear. Our culture, heritage is not so fragile that one celebration would destroy it. There should be due respect to decency and decorum. But if you apply force against the violators, they will only increase. Force is no solution. Let it happen, if something is bad, people will reject it automatically." The Art of Living Guru prescribed five steps to get out of sufferings. First, you have to understand the time you are in. Secondly, do some Yoga and Sadhana. Yoga will stop bad things from happening in your life. Thirdly, think that you have overcome many a problem in your life and will eventually also overcome the problem causing you suffering. Next, you must understand that there are people whose suffering is much worse than yours. Put yourself in the seva' of that person. Finally, have complete faith in nature's law no suffering is perpetual. Suffering will come and go. "There are two modes you can be in participating and witnessing. We apply both wrongly and end up being unhappy. You must participate in joy and witness suffering. Whenever there is happiness, participate no matter whose happiness it is. When there is suffering, observe it. But what we generally do is that we only participate in suffering, whoever's it is. But when there is real cause of happiness, we become its mere witness," he said.

Divine is your Valentine

2009-02-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

You don't need to worry to maintain knowledge. When knowledge is lodged in you
as wisdom, it will never leave you. Wisdom lodges itself in your heart. Make
the Divine your Valentine (your sweet Beloved). This is the last thing to do
and the first thing to do. Keep your heart in a safe place; it is too delicate.
Events, small things make strong impressions on it. And you cannot find a
better place than the Divine to keep your heart safe and your mind sane. When
you keep your heart in the Divine, the moving time, the passing events, will
not be able to touch it, will not create a scar. A precious stone needs a
setting around it, gold or silver, to hold it and to wear it; so wisdom and
knowledge are that setting around the heart which will hold it in the Divine.

See the Divine in your Valentine and make the Divinity your Valentine (your
sweet beloved). Just BE. . .and know that you are LOVED... That is BELOVED.

Taking Responsibility For Your Feelings

2009-02-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

Often people think caring, being compassionate, means catering to the emotional needs of another person. They think they need to say, "Oh, how are you feeling? You are sad today? You are depressed? Oh, just tell me what is it." They sit, listen and console the person; they support and in fact encourage the other person's feelings of negativity and misery. Pampering a person in this way just leads to a bigger mess.

Just realize how often you ask people how they feel. See, today you feel good. Tomorrow you don't feel good. Who cares? There is no guarantee you will feel good after doing anything. You may feel miserable. You may suffer. You don't need to care for people's emotions at all. This may look very cruel, but I tell you it is okay, because it makes you strong.

A wise person does not care for emotions because emotions are ever changing. And everyone has to work out their own karma. If you are feeling bad, you must have done something terrible in your past. Otherwise, why would you feel bad? Nature is never unjust. Nature always does justice. If you are unhappy, it's because of your own karma. If you are suffering, it's because of your karma. Suffer. Finish it off. Suffer and finish. Nature brings joy to one who has done good and brings suffering to those who have down wrong acts.

It is not necessary to care for anybody's feelings at all. Absolutely not. You needn't complain at all. The question is, are you doing your job? Do your job. That's it. That makes people really strong. And no one complains. Nothing to complain about.

Once a very educated gentleman went to visit an enlightened master. A third person spoke with them, and then left the room, and in half and hour, that person met with an accident on the road and died. When the news came, the master just kept silent for a minute or two and then started doing his usual business. The gentleman said, "There's no compassion here. I cannot understand this."

For a Master, for an enlightened person, death and life is nothing. It's like going from one room to another room. A big deal! Time, inifinity. Dead and gone. So what? The person who is knowledge neither cries for the living nor cries for the dead. Do you see what I am saying? It's not lack of compasson. But compassion we often misunderstand as pampering, telling nice words, giving attention - all those things. There is no way you can demand that kind of attention in the company of a true master. If you demand attention - get out! Straight. When you complain, you will be asked to just get out. Do your job and be happy. That's it.

That strength of discipline helps people to go beyond their feelings and emotions. I think that is good because then you are busy doing something. You are not sitting and thinking, brooding over, expecting someone to console you or to uphold you. Isn't it? Simply working, simply busy and achieving your goal. Your mind is focused on that. Then that brings so much strength in you.

Certainly I don't want you to whine and complain. No way. I don't care how you feel. I care for you and I don't care how you are feeling. You feel up and you feel down - it's so much moodiness. So much wasting of time happens in this.

Take responsibility for your own feelings. In the world, often people throw their responsibiliy of their feelings on others and on situations, circumstances. Somebody else is responsible for my feeling down. Because you said this thing to me, I am feeling low. You didn't look at me, so I am feeling low.

You know, no one is responsibily for the way you feel. YOU are totally responsibile if you are feeling happy or unhappy. Take that
responsbility. When you take responsibility, you gain power. Then you become happy.

JAI GURU DEV

January 2000
Bad Antogast, Germany

Guruji Speaks on Food

2009-01-24T13:28:00.001-08:00

Guruji Speaks on Food/Ayurvedic Tips by Sri Sri Ravi ShankarJanuary 23rd, 2009
Guruji Speaks on Food/Ayurvedic Tips by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
How many of you have body pains since early in the morning, raise your hand? (There was about 25% of the crowd raising their hands)
You know why? We eat the crops that are cultivated by using chemical fertilizers. This causes a lot of diseases in our body. Do you understand? We don’t detoxify the body. To get good yield we use artificial chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Because of these fertilizers, soil turns toxic and he produce from the soil in turn becomes toxic and our body gets toxic substances as we eat them, which cause disease and pain.
How many have hip, joint, back pains and different kinds of headaches. I don’t want you to tell me the number of headaches that you have at home!!! If we have to get rid of all these pains and diseases, we have to go back to our traditional method of farming. We have to do natural farming, Zero budget farming low-cost, more yield, better health. So we have to take this as a revolution to the farmers.
You know the white sugar is termed as white poison in western countries. As it covers the knobs of the intestine and stops the nutrients from being absorbed by the body. The children who consume a lot of sugar are mostly lean because of lack of nutrition. If you stop giving them sugar, they will start getting healthier. We eat a lot of sugar and reduce our body growth as well. So instead if white sugar you should start consuming cane sugar, which is in turn good for the body. It helps the liver as it has minerals. We have to know how to eat tell not how to eat more.
Similarly we need to learn breathing practices to keep our body healthy and earn meditation to get peace of mind and these things are very much essential for life. We should have knowledge and awareness on meditation, breathing practices and food.
Now let us switch on to cane sugar. The only difference that you may notice is that gulab jamuns would look much darker and jalebis would be of a different colour!!! It does not matter.
After 30 -32 years everyone should take 3 Triphala tablets at night. It sets right all the three doshas, vata, pitha and kapha in the body. . It eliminates toxins from the body. Even if there is a problem with the food, Triphala clears the stomach and helps in good elimination the next morning. It also maximizes anti- oxidization in the body. All of you should take “Triphala” and you can see the effect in your body within 5 to 7 days.
“Deva Vati” is a good cure for amebiosis and other diseases caused by change in food and water. It is harmless and every one must carry with them wherever they go. It replaces antibiotics like Flagyl and others. Two to three “Deva Vati” can cure ever.
In India , what ever we prepare we add turmeric in it. You know why? Because of its anti-oxidant properties and it has medicinal value. In 1980, we called upon scientists for a conference in Delhi . When asked about the use of turmeric, they said it is just a colour pigment without any value. Today, the foreigners may turmeric is an antioxidant and it can give immunization against Cancer and let we do not understand its real value.
In Tamilnadu we add turmeric in the pickles, especially the lemon pickles. Turmeric means Goddess Devi. She is incarnation of lemon, turmeric, and neem. All the three plants are considered sacred in our country and they all give good energy to our body. If we grow lemon and tulsi in each and every house we can have good health in our country.
You know in our country there is a shortfall in the production of pulses. We are importing nearly 40% of the pulses and if this continues we will not have sufficient food In the future. So we have to plant pulses in our home garden and our women can do it.
My Grandmother was in Papanasam even at the age of 92 years she used to do things for herself and she had a good system of eating. Like, eating “Agathi Keerai” , on every “Dwadesi” day ( The day after ekadesi Fasting) and she used to take two kinds of vegetables . She had laid rules for herself and hence had a lot of energy. In the next generation the energy level came down and now in our generation it is getting lower.
One more interesting thing you know our “Idly” is considered to be the most nutritious food in the World. Because it contains carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes, fats, amino acids and fibre.Every one should consume ghee. Ghee helps the body to absorb nutrients. If I start talking on food I can go on for hours together. “Idly” is said to be the complete food it is a happy thing to know don’t you think so.

War And Games

2009-01-12T10:17:00.000-08:00

War and games have been part of life since time immemorial. They are both tendencies that have impacted human life and society, sometimes favourably and sometimes adversely. The Mahabharata war began with a game but what came out of it was wisdom of Gita. After the Kalinga war, Buddhism flourished, the golden period of Ashoka dawned. World has seen similar lessons after World War II, when tole-rance, pluralism and secularism gained prominence.

But when war became a game, we have failed to learn a lesson. For the mighty and powerful, war is just a game, as has happened in Vietnam and Iraq. Pakistan and India have fought many wars and the same is true of the Middle East. In spite of so many ethnic conflicts in central Africa, Congo , Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and now Sudan, no lesson has been learnt.

There is a thin line between game and war. While the East has chosen the concept of seeing life as a game, in the Middle East, it is jehad. One thing that seems to be common between war and game is that, in both, you need to be insensitive towards the other. If you are sensitive towards others' feelings, you can't defeat the other. That is why the concept of Life is a game or Leela in-sensitizes you to the pains and the pleasures of life.

Today, when children play video games, Internet, watch violent cartoons, they get in-sensitized. These games have turned into real life situations, leading to classroom violence. The last decade has seen unprecedented instances of violence in schools.

Dropout rates in schools in Washington DC is an alarming 50 per cent and there is an increase in gang violence amongst the adolescents the world over. The intellectuals of today have to devise ways to bring back sensitivity and sensibility in the younger generation, without which there will be neither safety nor security on this planet.

Fear of dominance of one community over the other, one nation over the other, have caused nations and communities to amass weapons. Amassing wealth and weapons has become a game. On many occasions, caste conflicts and cash conflicts are all subsidiaries of the arms race.

Many think that spirituality makes men realise the ultimate. Spirituality is definitely an antidote to war. It helps to prevent the game from turning into a war and war turning into a game. Spirituality, people often think, is just a practice. In fact, it is an attitude as well.

A practice is always bound by time but an attitude gets woven into that time. As practice, it is limited to occasions, to time and has time-bound effects. It is easy to adopt spirituality as a practice but takes courage, maturity and understanding to build it as an attitude.

It is attitude and intention that matters more than action. The Americans apologised for mistaken notion when they bombed civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq. When the Israelis pounded Lebanon or when Sri Lankan forces bombed Tamil Tigers' schools and hospitals, all they said was sorry, it was not our intention; it was a mistaken identity. Here, war has become a game.

Today, many around the globe say spirituality is the answer. Will humaneness in spirituality put an end to war? Will it make you submissive and docile? Will it take away the joy and fun in aggression? Will it make you an escapist? This stream of questions smolders with no answers to put them off. In fact, it should not be. An answer can only be used once, but the path created by these vital questions can be trodden many times to an open-ended human evolution.

Bhagavat Gita Discourse

2009-01-06T01:01:00.000-08:00

Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:01 pm (SGT)

Reality in contradiction. ....by srisriravishankar.

Truth is contradictory, if it is not contradictory, then it is not truth! Bhagvad Gita is full of
contradictions. You can understand it only if you see it in totality.

At one point, Krishna tells Arjuna that action is the most important thing and without action one will be nowhere. But after that He tells him that action is all right but knowledge is better! Then Krishna says, ''You must become a yogi and drop everything around you.'' Then Krishna tells him: ''He is intelligent who sees 'action' in 'inaction' and 'inaction' in 'action'.'' What does this mean? It means even if you don't do something you have acted — simply by 'not
doing'.

If you do something then too you have not acted, for in your not acting here, something else could have happened — you could have done something else. Even
though you have acted, there is 'inaction'; because you did this, you couldn't do something else. So every 'action' has an 'inaction' and every 'inaction' has
got an 'action' connected to it.

And then Krishna takes Arjuna towards Dhyana Yoga —meditation. In the sixth chapter of the Bhagvad Gita, He tells Arjuna that since he is confused, there is no
use talking. He asks him to meditate.

Finally, Krishna says, ''Arjuna, he is the greatest amongst the yogis who keeps Me in his heart whether he meditates or not. He is the real yogi, because I am with him in whatever he is doing.''

The contradictions don't end there. At one juncture, Krishna says, ''Arjuna, there is nobody dear to me, nobody whom I love.'' And then gives a whole list of qualifications for those He really loves!

In another instance, Krishna tells Arjuna to act without looking for the fruit of action. Later He asks Arjuna to act properly, according to natural law. Then He tells him the way he ought to fight if he wants to win the war. So, at this point He is bringing Arjuna's attention to the fruit of action, but then He also tells him not to worry about the fruit of action.

Krishna was like a dear friend to Arjuna. In Bhagavatam, you will see that except for Vidura and
Udhava, nobody even thought he was enlightened; they all thought that he was just very smart. Of course, there were the Pandavas and the gopis who knew who Krishna was and how total He was from all angles. But many of them, including Arjuna, did not see him that way.

But then Krishna shows him, in one minute, that He is infinite. He tells Arjuna, ''You can't see without the eye of knowledge; so now I will give you a special eye of knowledge, which I have haven't given anybody in ages.

I am giving it to you now because it is time.'' With that, He gives him a vision, a flash. For that one moment the universe appears as a manifestation of Krishna to Arjuna.

Arjuna's mind is shattered that moment. He sees all of creation, everything — the mountains and the rivers, the past, the present and the future — dissolving in Krishna.

He sees that Krishna is that space, that infinity, into which everything is coming in and dissolving. For an instant, the whole life, the whole universe, all the memory and all that was associated with it just plays out like a movie and it frightens Arjuna.

Then Arjuna pleads, ''Oh! Please show me your simple, natural and friendly face. I like your simple smile and I want to see my friend. I don't want to see anything beyond. It is too much for me.'' This is called Vishva Roopa Darshana — the vision of the universal.

Thereafter, Krishna tells Arjuna about the yagyas and all the principles and the laws under which the society and universe works. Then He talks about sanyasa and how to be really centered.

For instance, an event or an instance should be seen as just that — an event, an instance or a happening. But it sticks to the mind and you try to get rid of it. The event assumes importance and the mind is caught up in it — ''Oh! He said that, they said this, they didn't say this, etc.''

Once the event goes away, then you feel a sense of great relief. You suddenly discover peace inside you.
Your very nature is peace. In the centre of you, you are peace. The moment this disturbance gets thrown out, you can actually feel it — all the brain cells, and the entire brain becomes so calm and settled the moment this garbage goes out.

And deep inside you can really smile as a flame of peace. Arjuna asks Krishna, ''What you say is very magical and joyful. But it's not easy. This mind is difficult to control. It's like controlling air — can anybody control air?''

Then Krishna says, ''I agree with you. It is difficult but not impossible. Abhyasena tu Kaunteya — with practice, dispassion and by getting to the centre again, you will succeed.'' You will see that Krishna tried everything.

Finally it was the display of the universal vision that worked on Arjuna. People cannot change just by visions also. Krishna does not really bring about the realisation totally from outside — it needs something more.

That is why after Krishna led Arjuna to the infinite vision, he speaks on what is dear to him, on devotion, and then he comes on all the other things you know — about creation and even about food.

But when Arjuna says, ''I give up,'' Krishna says, ''I can't do anything; you think and do whatever is best for you. First ponder on whatever I have said and then act.'' Arjuna says, ''No, now I am clear in my mind. I'll do whatever you will say.'' So, Krishna had to speak through 18 chapters to get him to that point. Krishna could have done it at the very first chapter.
But it is beautiful the way this knowledge has flown.

Everything may appear to be all contradictory, seen from all angles.

But that is in fact reality.

Transform Yourself

2009-01-02T01:01:00.000-08:00

Transform yourself
- Sri Sri Ravishankar

In this era of science and technology, we can be creative and productive, and at the same time not lose the humanness that we are all born with. Just material things or comfort alone do not make you comfortable. You may have a good bed to sleep on, but unable to sleep because of insomnia or worry! You need to get a broad understanding about yourself and your priorities. Clarity in the mind makes things much easier-understanding your basic emotions like love, your interaction with people around you, knowing about your ego or what your intellect or mind is saying to you and introspection will give you a few minutes of relaxation which is very vital. So, what is most important is introspection about one's own life and how to improve the quality of life-this intention itself will open many doors for you to feel better about yourself. First of all, find out for yourself whether you are healthy.

Health is...
a disease-free body.
a quiver-free breath.
a stress-free mind.
an inhibition-free intellect.
an obsession-free memory.
an ego that includes all.
a soul that is free from sorrow.

Have you ever thought what is the purpose of your life? What is the meaning of life? What is life all about?
These questions are very, very precious. When these questions dawn in your mind, only then your life begins! But, when these questions come into your mind, don't be in a hurry to get an answer. Those who know will not tell you and those who tell don't know! You can plug your ears and walk off! These questions are the tools by which you can dig deeper and the answers come from within you. Once these questions come into your life then you start "living" life rather than just existing.

To know for what you are in this planet, find out what you are not here for!
You are not here to be sad.
You are not here to blame.
You are not here to be miserable.
You are not here to worry.
You are not here to show off.
You are not here to get stressed out.
You are not here to get irritated and irritate others.
The list goes on.

All our struggles in life are to know more. You are trying your level-best to understand your feelings and emotions, and you get into more and more and more confusion. This is what has happened with psychology today. It tries to explain to you why you feel like the way you are feeling. The ''why'' arises always when you are unhappy. You ask ''Why this problem to me of all the people?'' Nobody ever asked, ''Why am I so happy?'' You want to understand, ''why am I not feeling good?'' or ''why am I angry?'', or ''why is this not happening?'' The more you try to understand and try to dig it, you seem to understand less and less. The mystery deepens, but an illusion comes as though ''I know it''. But that is for a short while. We ourselves do not know and we try to explain to others! Stop your explanations; your explanations have put you into a soup and make other people also more confused. You don't know what is happening in your mind. Mind is like a roller coaster-it's a crowd. Just be in the simple and innocent state of ''I don't know!''. This life is a mystery-beautiful-live it.
Living the mystery of life so totally is joy.
Becoming the mystery is divine.
You are a mystery!
When you see life in this context, clarity dawns in your mind and your life improves.

1 Review the context of your life
Look at your own life in the light of time. Millions of years have passed and millions will come. What is your life? 60, 70 or 100 years? Span of life is insignificant. It is not even a drop in the ocean. In terms of space you simply don't exist! This understanding dissolves the ego. Ego is ignorance of your reality, ignorance of your existence. Now, just to know this, do we have to do something else? Just open your eyes: ''Who am I? How I am on this planet? What is my life time?'' Awareness dawns in the mind, and you will stop worrying about little things like, ''this person said this thing to me and that person broke away with me and this happened with that person and I am going to say this....'' All smallness will simply drop away, and you will be able to live every moment of your life.
Your life reels around your context. You should be happy in life. All other businesses involve ups and downs which is very natural. If there is a body, then it will get cold, cough, fever or something else and it will go away. But take care to see that happiness is always established in you. That is known as purashaartha. Our love, faith and belief should be deep-rooted, then everything else moves on its own. How many events take place in life! Are you able to maintain your equanimity always? Not everything in the world is sweet. If you are grounded with faith, like the husk with grain, you will progress.

Take this decision: "Whatever happens I will be there. I will be grounded. God's protection is there on me. Whatever happens, I will never go down. I always have God's hand with me." Keep your mind in peace in all situations. The rest will be taken care of. You have to take at least one step forward, which is to be in peace and equanimity. "Oh! Nothing happened. Nothing of my work happened." If you are able to laugh in such a situation, then understand that you have protection with you! The world is filled with love. Everybody has love inside them. You have to see that in your mind.

Your head will be in the mud in a few years; don't put mud in your head while you are still alive! If you review the context of your life, the quality of your life will improve.

2 Know life's impermanence
See the impermanence in this life. That is the truth. Turn back and see that all that you did is like a dream. All have passed, the whole thing is finished. Tomorrow will pass. Now and then, a pinch of unpleasantness comes. It makes you aware of your pleasantness. Suppose you never had unpleasant moments in life, you would never have pleasant ones. Your life would stagnate in utter boredom and you would become like a stone. So, in order to keep you alive, now and then, here and there, nature gives you a little pinch. It makes life more lively. Accept it.

You don't have to be afraid in life. There is always support. So, every pinch that you are having in life is for the best, to make your life more lively and enjoyable. Day and night you work so hard. The whole week is spent working, coming home tired, eating, going to bed. The same routine the next day. Weekends have become another routine.

If you're awake, then you see there is so much foolishness! Just watch when four or five people get together and have a gossip session. In a gossip session, you can immediately change the topic of conversation. This is the thing with a crowd. If ten people are talking about the weather and you change the topic to stock markets, everybody will immediately talk stock markets, whether they know about them or not. It is great fun.

Being aware of this impermanent nature of our life, you find that there is something in you that has not changed. There is a reference point by which you can say things are changing. That reference point is the source of life. That is wisdom. With wisdom, your life improves.

3 Make your smile cheaper
A research done in England found that a baby smiles 400 times a day, an adolescent 17 times and an adult doesn't smile at all! The more successful one keeps a very stiff face. Is roughness a sign of success? Is being stressed a sign of prosperity, growth or dignity?

You should smile more. Every day, every morning, look at the mirror and give a good smile to yourself. You know what happens when you smile? All the muscles in your face get relaxed. The nerves in your brain get relaxation, and you get the confidence, courage and energy to move on in life.

You know, your smile is so fragile! Just one telephone call is enough to take it away! But what is the big deal about your feelings? Bundle them up and throw them into the ocean! Once you are rid of your 'feelings' you can be happy. Just see why your spirits go down? Because somebody said something stupid to you. And why did they say a stupid thing? Because they had some garbage they needed to throw out and you were there, ready to catch it! And once you have caught it, you hold on to it so passionately! Come on! Wake up! Don't let your smile be snatched away by anybody!

Usually, you give your anger freely and smile rarely as though a smile is costly. In ignorance, anger is cheaper and smile costly. In knowledge, a smile is free like sun, air, and water and anger is extremely expensive, like a diamond. Make your smile cheaper and anger expensive! You are here for a greater cause. Just remember that. Take a challenge: "Come what may, I am going to smile today and be happy!" Smile more.

4 Be enthusiastic and praise others
Enthusiasm is the nature of life. We often have a tendency to put cold water on other's enthusiasm. Reverse this tendency. Take every opportunity to praise others and support their enthusiasm. If you put down other's enthusiasm, the same may happen to you. As you sow, so shall you reap. Recollect how much enthusiasm and joy you had when you went to the primary school. Someone without enthusiasm is like a corpse. But as you mature, the enthusiasm curve declines. As enthusiasm declines, we stop communicating.

How would you like to see yourself ? Happy and bubbling with enthusiasm or dull and difficult to please? Often, you like to be pleased, appeased and cajoled. So you put up a tough, upset face and act difficult to please. If a person has to appease and please ten people all the time, it will be so tiring. People who keep a long face and expect others to cajole and appease them make others run away. Lovers often do this. They expend a lot of energy in cajoling, and this brings down the joy and celebration of the moment.

If you feel down, appease and please yourself. Your need to be appeased by someone else is the sign of grossness. If you want attention, all you get is tension. It is not possible to attain Divine Love with a complaining face. Become one whose enthusiasm never dies.

5 Make meditation a part of your life
The higher goals in life can only be realised through a few minutes of meditation and introspection.

What is meditation?
Mind without agitation is meditation.
Mind in the present moment is meditation.
Mind that has no hesitation, no anticipation is meditation.
Mind that has come back home, to the source, is meditation.
Mind that becomes "no mind" is meditation.

Deeper you are able to rest, dynamic you will be in activity. Even though deep rest and dynamic activity are opposite values, they are complementary. Before the body leaves you, you learn to leave everything. That is freedom. What are you looking for? Are you looking for some great joy? YOU ARE JOY!

I will give you an example. Have you seen dogs biting bones? You know why they bite bones? Biting wounds their mouth. Its own blood comes out and the dog feels that the bone is very tasty! Poor dog spends the whole time chewing the bone but getting nothing out of it! Any joy you experience in life is from the depth of your self, when you let go all that you hold on to and settle down being centered in that space. That is called meditation. Actually, meditation is not an act; it is the art of doing nothing! The rest in meditation is deeper than the deepest sleep that you can ever have because in meditation you transcend all desires.

Meditation is letting go of anger from the past and all the planning for the future. Meditation is accepting this moment and living every moment totally with depth. Just this understanding, and a few days of continuous practice of meditation can change the quality of our life.The best comparison of the three states of consciousness-waking, sleeping and dreaming-is with the nature. Nature sleeps, awakes and dreams! It happens in a magnificent scale in existence, and it is happening in a different scale in the human body. Wakefulness and sleep are like sunrise and darkness. Dream is like the twilight in between.

And meditation is like the flight to the outer space, where there is no sunset, no sunrise, nothing! I am sure that deep within, every one of you feel that you have not grown, meaning you have not changed, not grown old. This indicates the soul in you, the depth in you, the spirit in you doesn't change, doesn't grow old, it's not aging. The body is aging but something in you is not aging. Getting in touch with that something that doesn't age brings beauty in life. That is meditation
Transform yourself - II
- Sri Sri Ravishankar

6 Go to the most beautiful place
Only if there is alertness and presence of mind can your life improve. For this, you need to cultivate the habit of listening. Most of us are not good listeners. When you are listening to somebody, the speaker's very first sentence triggers some conversation within you. You are constantly agreeing or disagreeing with the speaker. Have you ever wondered whether you can listen without any thoughts or pre-conceived notions? To cultivate the habit of listening, you have to "go" to a place where everything is beautiful!
Where is this place? That most beautiful place is within you! When you come to this place, then any place is beautiful. Then, wherever you go, you add beauty there.

Learning something about our breath is very important. Our breath has a great lesson to teach us: for every rhythm in the mind, there is a corresponding rhythm in the breath, for every rhythm in the breath, there is a corresponding emotion. So, when you cannot handle your mind directly, through breath you can handle the mind. Neither at school nor at home does anybody teach you what to do when you are upset or angry or depressed. The first thing we did when we came to this planet is that we took a deep breath and then we started to cry. The last thing we'll be doing: we'll breathe out and make others cry! In between, the whole life, we are breathing in and out, but, we have learnt very little about our breath! No breath, no life... know breath, know life!

We need to learn a little bit about our breath. We need to know a little bit about all the layers of our existence-body, breath, mind, intellect, memory, ego and the self. This is what I call Art of Living, learning a little bit about ourselves, the seven layers of our life. And that makes you be in the present moment, and it helps us to maintain the innocence that we are all born with, and feel at home with everybody, anywhere. What I would suggest is, take one week off every year for yourself, like you take your car for servicing. During that time, align yourself with nature, wake up with the sunrise, do some exercise, eat proper food, just as much food as necessary, some exercises, yoga, and some breathing exercises, a few minutes of singing, and then some silent moments, enjoying the creation.

Book yourself on a trip to this most beautiful place in the universe. Then you find that every day is a vacation and a celebration!

7 Communicate effectively
Learning to communicate effectively with everyone is a skill worth possessing. Most of the time you find that you are out of place. Communicating without prejudice is vital for success.
If you are faced with someone who knows more than you, be like a child and keep your ears and eyes open for learning. If you are faced with someone who knows less than you, be humble and strive to make them as good as or better than you. Play with a small child as you played when you were a child. Talk with an elderly person remembering that one day you will be like that. Communicate with a person of your age group like you are his/her best friend.

This world is varied beyond our imagination, and there's always something to share, learn and teach. When you are centered, you become a powerful communicator. And when your communication improves, your life improves.

8 Take out time for yourself
If for the whole day you are engaged in only gathering information, you do not take out time for yourself to think and reflect. A few quiet moments are sources for creativity.
Some time during the day, sit for a few minutes, get into the cave of your heart, eyes closed, and kick the world away like a ball. But, during the day be 100 per cent attached to the work. Eventually, you will be able to be both attached and detached. This is the skill of living, the art of living.

Renunciation refills your energy. Creativity cannot happen only just through efforts. There is a beautiful story about Chhatrapati Shivaji. At one time Shivaji became so frustrated about ruling his kingdom that he went to his guru Samarth Ramdas and told him that he is fed up and that he just wants to renounce everything. Ramdas told him that he can renounce everything. Shivaji became so happy and relaxed at the very thought. Then Ramdas told him: "Now I am the king and you are my servant. Will you do whatever I ask you to do?" Shivaji replied: "For you I am ready to do anything." Ramdas said: "Very good. Will you run this country for me?" Shivaji replied: "Yes, I will run the country for you!" Total renunciation had brought zeal and enthusiasm in him.

Creativity springs up when you are relaxed. You have to renounce all work you have done the whole day, only then can you rest in the night.

Though many times pain, struggle and frustration have brought out creativity in some people, these are not the only reasons for a person to be creative. Millions of people in the world are struggling or frustrated, but they are not creative. So, taking out some time for yourself improves the quality of your life.

9 Better the world around you
A river needs two bunks to flow. The difference between flood and a normal river is that water flow is regulated in a river. During floods, water has no direction. Similarly, the energy in our life needs some direction to flow. If you don't give direction, it is all confusion. Today, most people are confused because there is no direction in life. When you are happy, there is so much of life-energy in you; but when this life-energy doesn't know where to go, how to go, it gets stuck. When it stagnates, it rots. For life-energy to move in a direction, commitment is essential.
Life runs with commitment. If you observe every small thing or big thing in life, they go with certain commitment. A student takes admission in a school or college with a commitment.

Needless to say, a family runs on commitment: mother is committed to the child, child is committed to the parents, husband is committed to wife, and wife is committed to husband. Greater the commitment you take, greater the energy/power you gain to fulfill that commitment. Greater the commitment, easier things are. Smaller the commitment, suffocating it is for you. Smaller commitments suffocate you because you have more capacity, but you are stuck in a small hole!

When you have ten things to do and if one thing goes wrong, you can keep doing the ten things; the 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. Usually we think we should have resource and then we will commit. Greater the commitment you take, greater the resources will come to you automatically. Whatever you are committed to brings you strength. If you are committed to your family then your family supports you, if you are committed to society, you enjoy the support of society.

Commitment will always bring comfort in the long run. Make a commitment to make this world a better place to live.

10Nourish your emotions
A person without emotions is like wood without any juice. You need to make your life interesting to make people be with you. This will happen when you nurture yourself with music, prayer and service.

The way to expand from individual to universal consciousness is to share others' sorrow and joy. As you grow, your consciousness should also grow. When you expand in knowledge with time, then depression is not possible. 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?" and "what can I gain from this world?", think "what can I do for the world?"

Silence heals and rejuvenates. Silence gives you depth and stability and brings creativity. Service leads to the dynamic experience of heart. It creates a sense of belongingness. Lack of service can land a person in depression. Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Pain is physical. Suffering is mental. If you are not sensitive to others' pain, then you are not a human being. That is why you need to serve. Service alone can bring contentment in life, but service without silence tires you. Service without spirituality will be shallow, and cannot be sustained for a long period. The deeper the silence, the more dynamic the outer activity. Both are essential in life.

When you bring some relief or freedom to someone through seva, good vibrations and blessings come to you. Seva brings merit; merit allows you to go deep in meditation; meditation brings back your smile. When you sing and pray from your heart , your emotions are nourished and you become "lively".

11 Plan short and long-term goals
At any given point of time, our mind is oscillating between the past and the future. Either it is angry or sad about the past or anxious about the future. Whatever actions you do in this state of mind, you regret after some time. This is how you get caught up in the same old cycle. Does it mean that you should not plan your future? No! You should plan your short and long-term goals. Then, and only then, life gets a channel, a direction to flow. When the mind is totally in the present, the right planning happens. Not only should you plan your goals, but plan the means and methods to work towards them. Where would you like to see yourself after three years? After 20 years? After 40 years? Don't be feverish about the results. Give your 100 per cent. If you are feverish about the results, it will lead you to disappointment.

Do not make a list of all the things you want to achieve. Select few things that really matters. Once a teacher brought a glass jar to the class and a bag with some big stones, some small stones and some sand. He asked the students to put all the contents from the bag into the glass jar. Some students put the sand first, then small stones and by then there was no place for the big stones. The teacher later explained that had they put the bigger stones first, then the smaller stones, there was always space around the stones for all the sand in the bag. This example teaches us an important lesson in prioritising things. If we put things that will give us maximum fulfillment in the long term, smaller things will automatically fall into place.

Among all planets in the solar system, the earth is privileged to host life in its many forms, and, among all the species, humans are most privileged, for, they can host knowledge. Again and again you remember that you are peace, you are love, you are joy and that you are hosting the creator. If you do not realise that you are the host, you live like a ghost!

Transform yourself - III
- Sri Sri Ravishankar

12 Prayer is a vital tool
Prayer is a vital tool to improve your life. It also nurtures values like integrity and honesty. Prayer happens in two situations, or in a combination of situations. When you feel grateful or when you feel utterly helpless. If you are not grateful and prayerful, you will be miserable. In either case your prayers will be answered.
What you can do, you do.
What you cannot do, you pray for!

It is said the divine dawns in you when you pray for it, when you cry for it, when you sing for it. The divine is only waiting for you to dig a little deeper into yourself. Because, it can then fill you with much more nectar! Divine wants you to create more space in you. Cry from your soul for help. This is for those seekers who are weak. Those seekers who are strong-with the power of knowledge-can sing with that joy of what they have achieved! The moment you sing in gratitude, in glory of the divine, it immediately dawns in you, and fills you up again. One type of people is grateful for all their growth. The other type is helpless and weak. Both will be helped.

Spirituality is not some ritual, or doing something. It's a very pleasant, uplifted state of being and seeing that the whole world is all spirit or consciousness. Use prayer to bring integration in your personality. Whatever you do, know that the higher power has the final say and it will always be for the best.

13 Implement changes if needed
Sorrow simply means that viveka (discrimination) is overshadowed. Viveka means knowing that everything is changing. Your body, your emotions, the people around you and the world-everything is changing. Time and again you have to awaken to this reality. You are often fearful of change. Change is inevitable in many fronts though security is hooked on to stability. You know there is a need for change to improve your life, but you feel secure in the old pattern. You need the courage to implement changes whenever it is necessary. You have to evaluate the pros and the cons. You have to see whether that gives you short-term joy and misery in the long run or short-time pain and joy in the long run.

Life is a combination of both change and non-change. So, use your intelligence and courageously implement changes when you feel that there is a need for change.

14 Identify your limitations
Every time you are unhappy or miserable, you are just coming in touch with your own boundaries! And what can you do? You can just feel thankful: "Oh, I came in touch with my boundary, my limitation. This was my limitation." You just turn the whole situation into a prayer: "Let there be peace, not just in me but in everybody." Prayer is that moment when you come in touch with your limitations, your boundaries.

You are peaceful, you are joyful, you are happy as long as you have not come in contact with your boundaries. At that moment what can you do? You can just say, "My Lord, my God, You made me become aware of my boundaries. You bring peace. I am giving it all to You." That very moment you will start smiling. However hopeless the situation is, you will walk through it, sing through it, dance through it! This is love.

In Hindi, love is written with two-and-a-half letters. They say, "Who is a master, who is a pundit, who is a wise person? Not one who has studied a lot of scriptures, but one who has studied the two-and-a-half letters." And this two-an-a-half letters is at this moment. It is a test of the moment, when you come in touch with your limitations, your boundaries. You are happy, peaceful. Are you in the boundaries? Or are you maintaining your boundless and the innocent love in the heart? Is it remaining? If it is, then nothing can rob you of peace.

15 Do not lose your friends
Mistakes keep happening all the time. Often you want to correct them. How much can you correct? There are two situations when you correct others' mistakes.
1 You correct someone's mistake because it bothers you. But even if you correct it, this does not work.
2 You correct someone's mistake not because it bothers you, but for their sake so that they can grow.
To correct mistakes you need authority and love. Authority and love seem to be contradictory, but in reality they are not. Authority without love is stifling. Love without authority is shallow. A friend needs to have both authority and love but they need to be in the right combination. This can happen if you are totally dispassionate and centered. When you allow room for mistakes, you can be both authoritative and sweet. That is how the Divine is, the right balance of both. Krishna and Jesus had both.
Don't make a mistake by pointing out mistakes!

Once a lady came to me and said her husband had lied to her. She was very upset. I asked, "Why does your husband lie to you? Because he loves you, and is afraid to lose your love or hurt you. If he did not love you, he wouldn't lie to you!"

Do not tell a person a mistake he knows he has committed. By doing this, you will only make him feel more guilty. A magnanimous person will not pick on the mistakes of others and make them feel guilty; he will correct them with compassion and care.

16 Don't look for perfection
Many a time, you become angry or miserable because of the feverishness for perfection. If you are too much of a perfectionist, you are bound to be an angry person.
In a state of ignorance, imperfection is natural and perfection is an effort. In a state of wisdom or enlightenment, imperfection is an effort; perfection is a compulsion and is unavoidable! Perfection is taking total responsibility, and total responsibility means knowing that you are the only responsible person in the whole world. When you think that others are responsible, then your degree of responsibility diminishes. When you are in total vairagya (dispassion), you can take care of even insignificant things with such perfection. Perfection is the very nature of the Enlightened one. When we are joyful, we don't look for perfection. If you are looking for perfection then you are not at the source of joy. Joy is the realisation that there is no vacation from wisdom. The world appears imperfect on the surface but, underneath, all is perfect. Perfection hides; imperfection shows off.

The wise will not stay on the surface but will probe into the depth. Things are not blurred; your vision is blurred. Infinite actions prevail in the wholeness of consciousness, and yet the consciousness remains perfect, untouched. Realise this now and be natural.

In this world, everything cannot be perfect all the time. Even the best, the greatest of actions, performed with the noblest of intentions, will have some imperfections. It is but natural. Unfortunately, the tendency of our mind is to grab the imperfection and hold on to it. And, in the process, we end up making our moods, our minds imperfect and our souls reel with this nonsense. It is imperative to get out of these cycles, and to become strong and courageous from within.

17 Let us be unpredictable
We often behave like machines. A compliment makes us smile and an insult makes us frown. We don't have to react in the same way always. You have the freedom to respond differently. You don't have to answer all questions posed to you. As people have a right to question, you have the right whether to answer or not.
So, be unpredictable!

18 Have a sense of humour
You are endowed with certain naughtiness as a child. Keep it alive. Humour will grease all tough situations. One who has humour can sail through any conflict. Humour is the buffer that saves you from humiliation. If you refuse to be humiliated, you become invincible. Humour brings everyone together, while humiliation tears them apart. In a society torn with humiliation and insult, humour is like a breath of fresh air.

Humour should be coupled with care and concern. Humour can keep the spirit high, yet if overdone it leaves a bad taste. Humour without wisdom is shallow. Humour without sensitivity is satire-it comes back to you with more problems.

The wise use humour to bring wisdom and to lighten situations. The intelligent use humour as a shield against humiliation. The cruel use humour as a sword to insult others. The irresponsible use humour to escape from responsibility. And fools take humour too seriously!

How does one cultivate a sense of humor?
Humour is not just words, it is the lightness of your being. You do not have to read and repeat jokes.
Taking life not too seriously (because you will never come out of it alive)!
Having a sense of belongingness with everybody, including those who are not friendly.
Practicing yoga and meditation.
Having unshakable faith in the Divine and in the laws of karma.
Being in the company of those who live in knowledge and are humorous.
A willingness to be a clown.

19 Don't be afraid to make mistakes
Whenever a boundary is broken, it creates some fear. The fear creates dislike. This dislike puts us back in the boundary. And to keep yourself in the boundary you put forth defenses. When you try to defend your position, it is such a stress. Every time you try to defend your position, it makes you more and more weak. Drop all your defenses. When you are totally defenseless, that's when you'll be strong.

Your knowledge of a mistake comes to you when you are innocent! Whatever mistake has happened, do not consider yourself a sinner because in the present moment you are again new, pure and clear. Mistakes of the past are past. When this knowledge comes, you are again perfect. Often, mothers scold their children and afterwards feel so guilty. Okay, you got angry at your kid once or twice. Why? Because of a lack of awareness! Awareness was missing, so the anger came up. Knowledge of the self, truth and skills can bring out the best in you. So, don't be afraid to make mistakes, but not the same mistakes. You have got to be innovative even in your mistakes!

20 Overcome your prejudice
Your prejudice against gender, religion, caste and class does not allow you to mingle with everyone around you. Often, you don't sit with people who are not economically or socially at par with you. You have to learn to break that barrier. Also, there is age prejudice. Teenagers don't like to have fun with elderly people and vice versa. Gender prejudice is more prevalent in rural areas. Caste system is present even among the royalties of Europe, the UK and Japan.

Religious prejudice is well known. There are good people and bad people in every community, religion and every section of society. Don't be prejudiced against them. At the same time don't be shy about your identity. When you overcome prejudice, you will be very natural, and your quality of life will improve.

21 Feel that "I am blessed"
There is so much talk about success. Have you ever thought what success is? Success is simply ignorance about one's capabilities. Success is ignorance about the power of the self. Because you assume you can do only this much. If there are obstacles, you are clear about your objective. With a calm and serene mind, think of many possibilities. Know that failures are stepping stones for greater success. Actually, there are no failures in life. All the seeming failures are only stepping stones for greater success. If you feel the obstacle is too much, deep prayer can work miracles.

The feeling that "I am blessed" can help you overcome any failure. Once you realise that you are blessed, then
all the complaints disappear.
all the grumbling disappears.
all the insecurities disappear.
a sense of not being loved disappears.
wanting love disappears.

Ego is always ambitious and wants to do tough jobs like climbing Mount Everest. Whereas in a simple act like watching a butterfly, watering the garden, watching the birds or the sky, can bring deep relaxation, and relaxation connects you with your source. Seemingly trivial actions open a new dimension and bring in immense peace and rest. Just come out of your little shell and feel free.

There is a saying: Behind every successful man is a woman. I will modify this: Behind every success there is the Divine saying "I am behind you".

22 Do random acts of kindness
Abiding in the self you become the valentine for the whole world. Spirit is the valentine of matter, and matter is the valentine of spirit. They are made for each other. They uphold each other. If you do not respect the spirit, then matter is not pleased. If you honour the spirit then you will care for the world, and when you care for the world it will take care of you.
You are the Christmas tree. At the time of year when no tree bears anything, it has many gifts to offer. A Christmas tree bears the gifts and the lights not for itself. Similarly, all the gifts you are carrying in your life are for others. Anyone who comes to you, you offer them your gifts. When you show kindness, your true nature comes into play. Have you ever done acts of kindness without expecting anything out of it?

Our service should not be mechanical. Once some boy scouts were at a Sunday service, when the priest said, "You should serve." They asked, "What is this service? Could you give us some example?" He said, "Suppose an old woman wants to cross a road, go and help her cross the road."

So the boys went and looked for a whole week, but there was no old woman trying to cross a street. Finally, four of them found a woman walking on a footpath. One of the boys went and asked her, "Madam, would you like to cross the road?" She turned and said, "No." He was disappointed. So another boy went and asked her again, thinking, perhaps, that the first boy hadn't asked properly. The woman was now a little bit confused. She wondered why she was being asked this. So, she said, it was all right for him to take her across the road. Once they had reached the other side, a third boy came and asked her, "Would you like to cross the road?" Now it really bothered her. When the fourth one approached her, she almost screamed and ran away!

You don't have to plan acts of kindness. Just do something spontaneously. When you do random acts of kindness, you come in touch with your true nature.

23 Be a student, always
Know that you are a student forever. Do not underestimate anybody. Knowledge may come to you from any corner. Remember the ancient saying "let knowledge flow to me from all sides". Each occasion teaches you and each person teaches you. The world is your teacher. When you are always looking to learn, you will stop underestimating others. Humility will dawn in your life.

There is a nice story. A man earned a lot of money and then gave all his property to his son. The son then built a small house behind his big house and told his parents: "Now you have to stay there."

So the old couple stayed there, while the son and his family lived in the bungalow. One day, while playing, the grandchild came to his grandfather's home, where everything was in pathetic condition. The grandchild said, "Grandpa, be careful with your plate and chair. Don't break them." When he asked why, the child said, "Because tomorrow, my father will need them." One does not realise this fact. You are also going to be old one day.

24 Dream the impossible
Unless you have a dream, you cannot realise it. Every invention has come out of a dream. Dream the impossible. Obviously, dreaming employs something which is beyond your perceived capacity. Consider the faculty which is the preceptor of the dream. Some dreams have impacted your daily living and others have not. Some dreams you remember, and others you have forgotten.

We are all born in this world to do something wonderful and unique; don't let this opportunity pass by. Give yourself the freedom to dream and think big. Have the courage and determination to achieve those dreams that are dear to you. Many a time people who dreamt big were ridiculed, but they remained strong to achieve their goals.
Do something creative. Not a year should pass without doing something creative.

25 Compare your performance
As we flip the calendar, we need to keep flipping our mind as well. Often, our diaries are full with memories. See that you don't fill your future dates with past events. Allow the space for creativity to dawn. Celebration of the New Year allows you to be wise. Learn and unlearn from the past, and move on.

In the past year, how many days were you in sanyas? How many days were you struggling, being caught in maya? Turn back and remember the whole year. Do not run away from anything. Do not reject anything. Do not go away from anything. At the same time, let your attention be on the self. This is a delicate balance. That balance is yoga.

A poor man celebrates the New Year once a year. A rich man celebrates each day. But the richest man celebrates every moment.

How rich are you? If you celebrate every moment, you are the Lord of Creation. Review the year while you celebrate. This is your homework. Compare your performance in the year before last and smile.

The year 2007 is fortunate because you are living at this time!!! When you are living for the sake of the world, the world is fortunate. Let time celebrate your presence. You keep smiling as ever.

When you let time celebrate you, you are a witness amid celebration. The heart always longs for the old, the mind for the new. Life is a combination of both. Let the New Year bring into our life ancient wisdom and modernity, as life is incomplete without either of them. Don't feel shy to speak about human and spiritual values. The time has come now to call the whole world!
Be ever new, happy you!!!!

New Year Message from Guruji

2008-12-31T14:10:00.001-08:00

Learn and unlearn from the past: Become free
- By Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Every year, we begin the New Year wishing others happiness and prosperity. What is the sign of prosperity? The sign of prosperity is freedom, a smile and the willingness to share with people around you, without fear. The sign of prosperity is the trust and confidence that you will get whatever is needed in life. Welcome the year 2009 with a smile from within. As we flip the calendar, we need to keep flipping our mind as well. Often, our diaries are full with memories. See that you don't fill your future dates with past events. Learn and unlearn from the past, and move on.You want to be free from greed, hatred, jealousy and all such imperfections. If the mind is holding all these negative qualities, it cannot be happy or peaceful – you cannot enjoy your life. So the first step is to see that negative emotions are due to the past and not let the past affect your experience of life now. Forgive the past. If you cannot forgive the past, then your future will be miserable. This new year make up with someone with whom you are not on good terms. Commit yourself to dropping the past and starting a fresh life. When the new year arrives wish everyone with a sankalpa (intention) for peace and prosperity for all the people on the planet. With the economic meltdown, looming terrorism, with floods & famine around, do more selfless service. Realise that our foremost priority is to check violence in the world, to free the world from domestic and societal violence. Make a resolution to do more good to society, help the people who are in need and bring solace to those who are suffering. Take responsibility for the nation. The spiritual dimension of life brings a great sense of belongingness, responsibility, compassion and caring for the whole world, for the whole humanity. The spiritual dimension in the truest form smashes the narrow boundaries of caste, creed, religion and nationality and gives one a broader awareness of life present everywhere. This year, let your devotion flower. Give it a chance to work. We should experience the divine's presence, the divine's light around us. You should have a desire in your mind to experience this. Has such a desire ever risen in you - that you want the highest peace? The whole world is running by this divine light. When you sing or pray there should be total involvement. If the mind is preoccupied elsewhere then that is no prayer at all. You are like a free bird. You are fully open. Feel that you are flying like a bird. Learn to fly. This is something which you have to experience within yourself. There is nothing else. If you consider yourself as bonded, you will remain bound here. Be free. When will you experience freedom? Become free right now. Sit down and become content. Spend some time in meditation & satsang so that your inner self becomes strong enough to deal with the challenges. When the mind relaxes, the intellect becomes sharp. When the mind is loaded with small things such as ambition, feverishness and desire, then the intellect loses its keenness. And when the intellect and observation are not sharp, life does not express itself fully, ideas dont flow and abilities diminish day by day. With this understanding, step out of your little mind and that step will solve many problems in your life. Be natural. Be with love. Involve yourself in service. Celebrate your life .............CELEBRATE NEW YEAR - 2009

Who wins

2008-12-27T13:19:00.001-08:00

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said: 'My son, the battle is between 'two wolves' inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority,
lies,false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.'
The grandson thought about it for a minute, and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?'

The old Cherokee simply replied: 'The one you feed.'

-Mahendra

Passive and Aggressive

2008-12-24T12:54:00.000-08:00

In a discourse on Bhagavad Gita, Guruji says :

"There are two types of people in this world – Passive and Aggressive. Passive are those who don’t do anything and don’t get involved in any thing. Aggressive – they do anything (legal, illegal, right, wrong) to achieve whatever they want. Sooner or later, both find their hands empty - both feel failure. The Gita says: 'Dynamism with Calmness'. That serenity, which is proactive, is what is needed; It is what would be the right solution to any problem."

Gurudev as guest editor at TOI

2008-12-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

Guruji was the guest editor at Times of India, India's largest circulated newspaper, for the Dec 15 edition, 2006 ! Enjoy ~

Art of editing: Let the good Times roll

He’s counselled statesmen and celebrities, tycoons and the down-and-out, spiritual seekers and sinners, cops and convicts, and various other shades of humanity. He’s journeyed far and wide—on both the physical and metaphysical planes. He’s been conferred numerous awards, and nominated for the Nobel peace prize. And he’s discoursed, joked and sung his way through many a satsang. But there’s one thing even Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar hadn’t done until yesterday—edited a newspaper.
“I feel like a boy on his first day in university,’’ He confessed.

If so, he’d done his homework. Well before the big day, the Smiling Sage had thrown himself into the project with his trademark exuberance, discussing ideas and suggesting reports. If you thought he’d only be interested in non-material, other-worldly subjects, think again. Sure, he wanted pieces on spirituality in politics and business. But he also sought—and got—an analysis of the executive-judiciary faceoff, a comparison of how India and China are faring, and a critique of the politics of caste in India. You can find all these articles—and many more on the pages mentioned alongside.

Racing against tight deadlines (for once, we truly wished time was mere maya), we finally got everything in readiness. Minutes later, the Guest Editor glided in, showering smiles and one-liners (sample: asked to explain why he had so many followers, he quipped, “That’s easy. I walk really fast.’’) Then it was time for some serious work.

We began by asking him if he read the paper regularly. “Oh yes,’’ he said promptly. “And when I’m out of the country, I follow the news on the internet. I make sure I keep abreast of current events.’’ Some words of praise for TOI followed. “I like the fact that instead of trying to educate the young, TOI seeks to educate the old about what the young are thinking and doing. And I really liked the survey that appeared in a recent Sunday Times edition on faith in India.’’

‘WAR: Worst Act of Reason’

Guru Gyaan: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar On The Art Of Living, Role Of Media, Growing Global Tension And Lots More
He likes to read the newspaper everyday, but does spiritual guru and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar have any favourite pages or columns?
“I flip through most of the pages, except sports, which doesn’t interest me much. Of course I read Speaking Tree and Sacred Space on the TOI edit page, but I also like to read science stories. I have a degree in science, you know, though I can’t claim to know much about science.’’
How did his interest in science square with his spiritual pursuits, we asked. “Where’s the contradiction?” he retorted. “Both science and eastern spirituality begin with the same premise: experience it first, then believe it. That’s why there’s never been a clash between science and spirituality in the Orient.”

Modern Art

How does He feel when he’s criticised by the media?
“The media’s job is to criticise, and it must do its job. But the criticism should be constructive. Criticism has value when you’re thinking big and positive, not when you’re thinking narrow and divisive. I don’t agree with biased journalism, which attacks specific communities or groups.”
“Actually, I think the media has two roles,” he went on. “One is to present the facts as they are. And the other is to provide a ray of hope, present a vision for the future.”
We moved on to the movement he founded, which has now grown into a global spiritual empire. Who coined the term ‘The Art of Living’, we asked. “A group of us were sitting together and someone said our principles turned living into an art. So I said, fine, call it The Art of Living. The name had a nice, secular, allinclusive feel to it. It’s really a modern name for a traditional philosophy. Remember, 25 years ago, most Indians tended to see Vedanta and Yoga as outdated relics; there was little respect for them. It’s nice to see things coming full circle now.”
So how does he react to charges of being a well-marketed Guru? “It’s like commentary after the match is over,” he shrugged. “People can study the movement’s success and turn it into a marketing model now, but no model was originally designed to make it a success. Frankly, no one was more surprised than I was that it became so successful. Truly, I want nothing except to share my joy. Maybe that’s why so many things are happening.”
What about people who misuse the foundation’s name for commercial benefit? “I can’t police the world. But I do request anyone who’s thinking of joining a centre to log on to our website and make sure that it’s actually affiliated to us.”
How does he react to arguments that religion is becoming an increasingly divisive force and creating tension in the world? “I think western philosophy has been really clogged up by the concept of good and evil,” he responded. “If someone doesn’t think like you, he becomes evil. Indian philosophy has never been so black and white — notice we have no concept of Satan. And we say that when even Ravana died, his soul merged into Rama’s, because after all, we’re all part of the same cosmic unit. But the world is getting increasingly polarised. I gave a speech at the European Parliament saying all religions have the same goal and a lot of MPs were furious. They asked how I could equate their religion with one that they claimed gave rise to suicide bombers.”
“The tragedy is that people from all parts of the world can do so much harm while being convinced they’re upholding the cause of good,” he went on. “I call war the Worst Act of Reason. After all, everyone comes up with a rational justification for war. Saddam said he had good reason to invade Kuwait, George W Bush insisted he was justified in attacking Iraq. But what good finally came of it all?’’

Choices & Blessings

The conversation turned to the day’s big stories. Where does He stand on the great Afzal debate?
“Personally, I oppose capital punishment. I believe every criminal should be given the opportunity to reform. But I can understand the sentiments of the families of those who died defending Parliament. Letting off Afzal could demoralise them, apart from hundreds of security personnel. I would suggest life imprisonment for Afzal.”
Does he know tennis ace Leander Paes? “I’ve met him a few times.” Does he have any advice for Leander following the much-publicised spat with doubles partner Mahesh Bhupati at the Asian Games in Doha? “I don’t give advice unless asked. The world is full of orphan advice — advice not taken because it wasn’t asked for. Of course, a lot of times people also ask me for advice so that they can later blame me if things later go wrong. At times like that, there’s a phrase I really like to use, “The choice is yours, the blessing is mine!’
Happily, he didn’t use that phrase even once during the news meeting. Stories were pored over, details sought in some cases, and slots decisively indicated.
And then it was time for a graceful exit. Clearly, the Guru of good times hasn’t just discovered and perfected the art of living, he’s also mastered the art of leaving — people happy, that is.

- Sri Sri at The Times of India’s news meeting in Mumbai on Thursday, 2 years ago

What to offer in Puja ?

2008-12-12T10:26:00.000-08:00

What is the proper offering to God?

It is said, Patram, Pushpam, Phalam, Toyam
(a leaf, flower, fruit and water).

What are these?

Your body is the leaf, your heart is the flower,
your mind is the fruit, and your tears of bliss are the water.

Instead of attaching undue importance to this ephemeral body, emphasize the atmic principle.

Also surrender the body unto God. How?
By acts of worship and other sacred deeds.

Finding life's direction

2008-12-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

published Friday August 12 2005 15:23 IST

A river needs two bunks to flow. The difference between flood and a flowing river is water flows regulated in a direction in a river. During floods the water is muddled and has no direction. Similarly, the energy in our life needs some direction to flow. If you don't give direction, it is all confusion.

Today most of the people are in confusion because there is no direction in life. When you are happy, there is so much of life energy in you; but when this life energy doesn't know where to go, how to go, it gets stuck. When it stagnates, it rots! Just like how the water has to keep flowing, in the same way, life has to keep moving.

For life energy to move in a direction, commitment is essential. Life runs with commitment. If you observe every small thing or big thing in life, it goes with certain commitment. A student takes admission in a school or college with a commitment. You go to a doctor with a commitment saying that you are going to take the medication or listen to whatever the doctor says, right? The banks work on commitment. Government works on commitment.

Needless to say, a family runs on commitment: mother is committed to the child, child is committed to the parents, husband is committed to wife, and wife is committed to husband.

Whether it is love or business or friendship or at work or any area of life you take, there is commitment, isn't it?

What would really irritate you is non-commitment. If you just observe, you expect some commitment from someone and when they don't do it, you get upset. Or when someone doesn't keep up his or her commitment, you get upset. Commitment is essential in life. You cannot stand someone who does not commit, but see how much commitment have you taken in your life? Of course our commitment is proportional to what we have, our power, our capacity or capability. If you are committed to taking care of your family, that much capacity or power you gain. If your commitment is for the community, you will get that much energy, joy, that much power.
In life, what you always want is more joy, more power, more energy, 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' bugs in your mind and that you do not look to your capabilities. More will be given to you only if you utilise properly what you already have! This is a law in nature. Why should the 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 a twist to it. Instead of 'what more I can have', just turn it around and start asking yourself 'what more I can do?' . Then you will see that there is joy. Nature of joy is to give because you are the source of joy! The more responsibility you take on, the more energy/power will come on to you.

Greater the commitment you take, greater the energy/power you gain to fulfil that commitment. Greater the commitment, easier things are. Smaller the commitment, suffocating it is for you. Smaller commitments suffocate you because you have more capacity, but you are stuck in a small hole! When you have ten things to do and even if one thing goes wrong, you can keep doing the ten things, that thing that has gone wrong will set right itself! But if you have only one thing to do and that goes wrong, then you are stuck with it. Usually we think we should have resource and then we will commit. Greater the commitment you take, greater the resources will come to you automatically. You don't have to sit and worry how you will get resources. When you have the intention to do something, resources simply flow when it is needed and how much it is needed.

In doing what you can do, there is nothing much about it, there is no growth. Stretching a little beyond your capacity will increase your capacity. If you can take care of your town or your society, there is nothing great about doing that because it is within your capacity or capability. But if you stretch it and little more and take commitment to take care of the whole state, then you gain that much more power. As much as you take on the responsibility on your self, that much your capacity increases, your capability increases, your talents increase, your joy increases and that much you become one with the divine force. In whatever capacity you do something for the society, for the environment, for the creation, that much you progress further both materially and spiritually (value wise). The heart opens up with a feeling that you are part of everyone.

The technique to get depressed is to sit and think only about you! If you just sit and
think, 'what about me, what will happen to me?' you will thoroughly get depressed. The way to expand from individual to universal consciousness is to share others sorrow and joy. As you grow, your consciousness should also grow. When you expand in Knowledge with time, then depression is not possible. Your inner most source is joy. 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?' When everyone comes from the point of contributing to society, you have a Divine society. We have to educate and culture our individual consciousness in order to expand in time with the Knowledge from 'what about me?' to 'what can I contribute?'

A commitment can only be felt when it oversteps convenience. That which is convenient, you do not call commitment. If you just go on your convenience, your commitment falls apart causing more inconvenience! If you keep dropping your commitment because it is inconvenient, can you be comfortable? Often, what is convenient does not bring comfort, but gives an illusion of comfort. Whatever you are committed to brings you strength. If you are committed to your family then your family supports you, if you are committed to your society, you enjoy the support of society. If you are committed to God, God gives you strength. If you are committed to Truth, Truth brings you strength.

Often one is not aware of this idea and that is why one is hesitant to commit to a greater cause. Also there is a fear that commitment would weaken one or take away one's freedom. To the wise, their commitment is their comfort.

Whenever their commitment is shaken, their comfort is also shaken. To the lazy, commitment is torture though it is the best remedy! Your commitment to a cause is bound to bring you comfort in the long run.

Are there any commitments that can be given up? Yes, commitments made with shortsightedness can be given up because when you are committed without a vision, you feel stifled when your vision expands. When your commitment brings misery to many in the long run, it can be given up. Just like you run out of fuel in the car and you have to refill it again and again, in the same way your dedication and commitment runs out in the course of time and it needs constant renewal! Commitment in life grows toward a higher cause. The higher the commitment, greater is the good for all.

Recipe of Blue berry muffins

2008-12-05T07:24:00.000-08:00

Makes about 60

Ingredients

Butter - ¼Cup

Unsweetened applesauce - 2 ½Cup

Salt - 2 ½TSP

Blue Agave - 5 Cups

Whole wheat flour - 10 Cups

Vanilla - 5TSP

Milk - 2 ½Cup

Blueberries - 10Cups

Baking powder- 5TBS

Walnuts - 2.5Cups

Method:

Preheat oven to 350Degree F

Line muffin cups with paper liners or spray with non stick spray ---- Instead of spray take olive oil in a bowl and with paper /napkin spread it on the muffins cups.

Mix all ingredients together until moistened

Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups. Each should be filled ¾ full.

Bake 35 minutes or until the tops are firm.

Cool on a wire rack.

Recipe of Saag soup

2008-12-05T07:22:00.000-08:00

Serves 40 people

Ingredients

Spinach - 11.5 LBS

Ground coriander - .25 Cup

Large red potatoes - 11

Water - 51 Cups

Ghee - ¾ Cup

Ginger (A little more than ½ cup)

Salt (to taste)

Method:

Pressure cook the potatoes until tender. Cool, peel and keep it aside.

In a pan bring water to a boil. Add spinach to the boiling water and switch off the heat immediately.

Cover with a lid for 20 minutes. Strain the spinach. Allow it to cool.

Blend together the potatoes and spinach until smooth. Add water if required.

Take a pot and add ghee to it. When the ghee is heated add ginger and coriander and sauté.

To this add the blended mixture and salt to taste. Add water to get desired consistency.

Serve hot.

Recipe of Sautéed green vegetables in Pesto

2008-12-05T07:16:00.000-08:00

Serves 40

Ingredients

Broccoli - 14 Lbs

Green beans - 5 Lbs

Zucchini - 9 Lbs

Olive oil to Saute

Basil - 10 Cups

Pine nuts - 5 Cups

Olive Oil - 7.5 Cups

Cashew - 1 Cup

Lemon juice - 2.5 Cups

Ginger - 1 Inch

Salt - 1 Tsp

Pepper - 2 tbsp

Method

Sauté Green beans (cut into 1" lengths) with broccoli florets and zucchini. Cut zucchini into ¼" slices, sauté briefly in olive oil, then add broccoli and green beans to pan, sauté until all vegetables have changed color. Then add a little water and put lid on pan to steam vegetables until done. When vegetables are tender, remove lid, let remaining water boil off and toss vegetables with pesto.

Pesto: Mix all the ingredients and blend.

Recipe of Cumin Couscous with vegetables

2008-12-05T07:13:00.001-08:00

Serves 40

Whole grain Couscous (yellow one if not available) 1 box ~ .75 Cups 10Boxes (164g)

Water (as per direction)

Cumin

Peas - 1.25LBS

Carrots - 6

Medium Winter squash like acorn - 3 or 4 Medium

Parsley

Dried coconut powder

Salt Pepper

Olive oil (as per direction)…though a little less is good else the taste is overpowering

Method

Add oil to pan. Once heated add cumin (don't sauté as much as we do for Indian cuisine) Add vegetables. Saute it. Don't overcook it. Put water (boiling) over the vegetables and add salt. Immediately pour couscous and stir to make sure it is mixed properly. Put the lid, turn off the gas and let it sit for 5 minutes. Don't open the pot even if you are tempted to. Fluff up the couscous. Garnish it with coconut powder, parsley.

India Asks Sri Sri Answers : On Economic Slowdown

2008-12-01T22:14:00.000-08:00

CNN IBN has organized a question answer session with Sri Sri to answer common man's questions during the economic recession times. As usual Guruji answers in a simple yet firm manner with a smile. Here is the first of four clips. You can get the other three from the site. Enjoy viewing!

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/78517/watch-now-india-asks-sri-sri-ravi-shankar-answers.html

Recipe for Mixed vegetable soup

2008-12-01T15:11:00.001-08:00

Ingredients

Serves 40

Carrots - 10

Green Beans - 2 LBS

Sweet Potatoes - 6

Seitan?

Zucchini - 6

Fresh basil

Salt and pepper

Mung dal for viscosity (Probably around 2 cups for 8 to 10 cups of water) -6 cups

Water - 35 Cups

Method

Say for 10 people probably use 2 cups of mung dal and 8 to 10 cups of water.

Bring water and mung dal to boil. Once the dal is mushy then use hand blender to mash it thoroughly. It shouldn't be very thick. Add vegetables to it and once cooked then tofu (or replace with cooked shell pasta. Add fresh basil, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Yummy Oatmeal

2008-12-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

Serves 40

Oatmeal (Usually 1 cup for 4 people) 10Cups

Organic Apple 6

Salt

Soaked raisins 4Cups

Blue agave

Method:

Soak oatmeal overnight. For 1 cup oatmeal take 2 cups of water. Boil the water and add oats to it. Finely chop the apple and put it along with oats into boiling water. Add little salt. Then add soaked raisins, either maple syrup or blue agave (but not too much). Add cinnamon (optional). Turn the heat to low and let it simmer for some time. It probably takes about 30 minutes

Also soak almond and raisins overnight.

Tips

The oats have tendency to get burnt at the bottom so stirring continuously is important.

Recipe for Herbed Millet Potato Kichari

2008-12-01T15:05:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

Serves 40

Unit Organic Millet (washed and drained) - 10Cup

Red lentil dal

Washed and drained - 5Cup

Cumin seeds - 10 TSP

Mustard seeds - 10 TSP

Turmeric powder - 2.5 TSP

Large Organic sweet potato diced - 10

Cilantro leaves finely chopped - 2.5Cup

Mint leaves, finely chopped -2.5Cup

Ginger, finely chopped - 10TBS

Asafoetida - ½TSP

Coriander powder - ½ Cup

Cumin powder - ½ Cup

Method

In a thick bottomed saucepan heat the sunflower oil. Add the cumin seeds, turmeric, mustard seeds, asafoetida and ginger.

After the seeds pop add the sweet potato, millet, water and salt

Cover and reduce heat to low.

Cook until most of water is absorbed (about 30 min) and consistency is between a soup and stew

Add cumin powder, coriander powder and black pepper. And let it simmer.

Add very little lemon juice as all other recipes have tangy taste to them.

Garnish with cilantro and mint and serve hot.

Recipe for Mixed green salad with steamed green beans & tahini dill dressing

2008-12-01T15:04:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

Serves 40 people

Unit Romaine - 1 romaine for 5 people

Radicchio - 5

Fresh green beans - 1.5LB

Walnuts - 5 Handfuls

Whole grain / Wheat crackers as croutons

Tahini paste (Usually ½ bottle of 365 organics is needed for 30 people) - ½ Bottle

Lemon juice - 3-4

Fresh dill leaves - 4 Bunches

Salt and pepper

Olive oil - 1 Cup

Sugar

Some warm water

Method

Mix all salad dressing and fresh and cut dill and using hand mixer blend together.

Warm up some water and add French beans to them for 2 mins. Cut Fresh green beans into 1 cm length so that they taste good.

Recipe for Kapha Pacifying carrot soup (raw)

2008-12-01T15:01:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

Serves 40 (Proportion is 4 people 1 cup)

Large Organic Carrots - 7

Small organic celery branch - 2

Organic tomato - 2

Organic orange - 2

Thick slice of ginger - 2"

Soaked organic cashew nuts (optional) - ¾ Cup

Dry organic ginger - ½ teaspoon

Organic cumin powder - 2 teaspoon

salt and pepper

Cilantro as garnish

Method

Soak the cashews for a few hours. Cut the orange in half and juice it. Place all ingredients into the blender including pulp of orange as well. Blend together. Serve warm (do not heat above 115 degrees Fahrenheit)

Variation: Add cashew as garnish instead of blending them together also can add currants to them.

More Recipes!

2008-12-01T14:29:00.000-08:00

Recipe Name: Cucumber Raita (Non dairy)
Type: Side
Ingredients:

Serves 40
Unit Cucumber (finely chopped) - 10
Lemon juice
Cilantro
Peanut powder 3Cups
Salt Curry leaves 1Cup
Cumin seeds
Ghee
Hing
Mustard seeds
Urad dal

Method

Chop cucumber, coriander finely. Toss all together. Don't cut this way ahead.

Lunch
Recipe Name: Italian Salad - Grape juice poppy dressing
Type: Salad
Ingredients
Serves 40
Sweet Grapes (to make 4 cups of juice)
Olive oil (Formula is 1 1/2 -2 cups of oil for 1 cup of juice) 8Cup
Lime juice 1Cup
Poppy seeds 1Cup
Salt to taste 6TBS
Pepper 2TSP
Rosemary 4TBS
Water4 Cup
Romaine Heads 35
Radicchio 5

Method

Make fresh grape juice if possible. Wash and blend the grapes and strain the skin. Mix all the above ingredients and whisk it away in blender.
The above dressing goes well with Italian Salad green mix.

Recipe Name: Cumin Couscous with vegetables
Type: Salad
Ingredients (Done)

Serves 40
Whole grain Couscous (yellow one if not available)
1 box ~ .75 Cups 10Boxes (164g)Water (as per direction) Cumin Peas1.25LBS Carrots6Medium Winter squash like acorn3 or 4Medium Parsley Dried coconut powder Salt Pepper Olive oil (as per direction)…though a little less is good else the taste is overpowering
Method

Add oil to pan. Once heated add cumin (don't sauté as much as we do for Indian cuisine) Add vegetables. Saute it. Don't overcook it. Put water (boiling) over the vegetables and add salt. Immediately pour couscous and stir to make sure it is mixed properly. Put the lid, turn off the gas and let it sit for 5 minutes. Don't open the pot even if you are tempted to. Fluff up the couscous. Garnish it with coconut powder, parsley.

Dinner
Recipe Name: Tomato, black olive, chick pea stew
Type: Soup
Ingredients:
Serves 40
Extra virgin olive oil10TBSWater CupsWhole peeled tomatoes15CupsChickpeas (Usually the measure is 5 pounds for 30 people)6.5CupsCured black olives – pitted2.5CupsCrumbled dried or minced oregano5TBSSea salt Black pepper White grapes juice or water1.5 CupsHing Ginger Lime juice to taste
Method

Soak chick peas overnight and pressure cook it with salt.
Using Dutch oven or other enameled cast-iron pot, heat over medium heat and add olive oil. When oil is fragrant, reduce heat to medium-low and add water. Once its hot add tomatoes, chickpeas, capers, olives, oregano, salt and pepper. Cook 15 minutes more, or until heated through. Set aside, covered, until ready to serve.
Add lemon if required to give it slightly tangy taste

Recipe Name: Italian Salad with orange dressing
Type: Salad
Ingredients:
Served 40

Italian Salad Mix greens5PacketsRomaine heads (1 head per person) 30 Radicchio 5 Diced cucumber4 Yellow bell peppers3 Shredded or cubed carrots5 Garnish with raisins Salad dressing Orange juice4CupsOrange zest8TBSMaple syrup Olive oil6Cups
1 cup of juice needs 1 ½ cup of olive oil and two table spoons of zest

Method

Dice bell peppers, cucumber and shred or cube carrots. Mix it with Italian salad mix greens and sprinkle raisins on top

Swish juice, zest, syrup and oil in blender.

Recipe Name: Delicata Squash stuffed with Quinoa
Type: Main
Ingredients:
Serves 40
Quinoa6.5 CupWater12.5 Cup (read instructions)
Salt2 TSPGround coriander2.25 TSPTurmeric1 TSPChopped cilantro2.25 CupDried currants2.25 CupPine nuts toasted and chopped1.5 CupRed Bell peppers 5 ½ Grated orange or lemon zest3 TBSSalt and freshly milled pepper Olive oil 8 1/2 TBSAsafetida Ground cumin 2.25 TBSGround cinnamon 2.25 TSPGround ginger 2.25 TSPDelicata squash 20 Pomegranate seeds 3
Method

Halve the delicate squash and scoop out seeds. Bake; face down, in 350 oven for 45 minutes. Serve filled with Quinoa Pilaf.
Rinse
the quinoa several times in a bowl of cold water to remove the saponin, draining it each time in a fine sieve. Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan, add salt and quinoa. Lower the heat, cover the pan, and simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the spiral of the germ is visible, 12 to 15 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. Drain.
Meanwhile, warm the oil in a small skillet. Add the asafetida, spices, and several grinds of pepper, and cook gently until softened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt. Toss it with the onion mixture, drained quinoa, cilantro, currants, pine nuts, and citrus zest.
We garnished with a little chopped cilantro and a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds.

Day 3 – 21st November

Breakfast:
Recipe Name: 8 Grain gluten-free Cereal with dried fruit and nuts
Type:
Ingredients
Serves 40
8-grain wheat free cereal10CupWater (1:3 according to Deborah's menu)30 Cup (read instructions)
Gold raisins 1.5 Cups Pistachio nutmeats1.75 Cups Raw or roasted unsalted cashews 1.5 Cups Chopped apricots 1.5 Cups Cantaloupe 6 Grapes 2 LBS Blueberries 2Costco box Bananas 10 Raisins 3 Cups (Soak overnight) Almond Milk Rice milk Regular Milk
Bring water to a boil, stir in dry fruits and nuts, cook for 5 minutes, then add dry cereal, stirring continuously to prevent clumping. When all cereal is blended in and smooth, add remaining ingredients. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring continuously.
Serve with almond milk and maple syrup. Make fresh fruit available too.
Cut cantaloupe and mix cantaloupe, grapes and blueberries together. Mix a little bit of mint into it.
Cut banana into 3 pieces and serve.
Also soak raisins overnight

Lunch:
Recipe Name: Upma
Type:
Ingredients
Serves 40
Coarse grain Semolina9.5CupsGhee2CupMustard seeds4TBSSplit Urad dal10TBSCumin seeds5TBSChanna dal 6.5TBSCashew .75CupGreen beans3CupsPeas3Cups Carrots5 Cups Spinach leaves4BunchWater19CupsSalt TBS Lemon juice Curry leaves 1.5CupsGinger 4 Fresh coconut 1PKT
Method:

In a little bit of ghee Stir-fry the semolina in a large, heavy frying pan over moderate heat for 6-8 minutes or until the grains darken a few shades. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Heat the ghee
or oil in a heavy saucepan over moderately high heat. Sauté the black mustard seeds in the hot oil until they crackle. Add the channa dal, curry leaves, urad dal, ginger
and cumin seeds and saute them until they darken; add the chilies and, stirring, add all of the vegetables. Saute for 2 or 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to moderate and continue to cook for another 4 or 5 minutes or until the vegetables are limp and partly cooked.
Carefully add the hot water and bring to the boil. Add spinach and then add the semolina, stirring continuously. Add the salt; reduce the heat to very low, and half-cover with a lid, stirring often until the upma
becomes a light, fluffy pudding (about 10 minutes). If the upma
appears too dry, add a little warm water.
Remove the upma
from the heat, stir in the cashew nuts, coconut and fresh coriander leaves, and serve hot with a sprinkle of lemon juice.

Recipe Name: White bean, greens and tomato Gratin
Type: Salad
Ingredients
Calculated for 15 people
Leafy bunch green Chard 6.5LBSKale Beet greens Olive oil7.5TBSGinger White beans7.5CupsTomatoes (Peeled, seeded and chopped)7 Vegetable broth2CupsDried thyme2TSPSalt2TSPCottage cheese Topping Fresh bread crumbs3CupsOlive oil3TBSSalt
Method

To make bread crumbs, whirl two or three slices of day-old French bread in a food processor or blender to fine crumbs.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch round or 10-inch oval gratin or baking dish. Remove tough stems from greens and rinse well. Stack greens and cut into thin strips.
In Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add ginger and stir 30 seconds. Add greens and cook until tender, tossing often, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat. Add beans, tomatoes, broth, thyme and salt and mix well. Spoon into prepared gratin dish, spreading evenly.
Topping: In small bowl, mix all ingredients. Sprinkle evenly over top of greens mixture. Bake until hot, about 40 minutes.

Recipe Name: Sautéed green vegetables in Pesto
Type: Main
Ingredients

Serves 40

Broccoli 14 Lbs Green beans 5 Lbs Zucchini 9 Lbs Olive oil to Saute Basil 101Cups Pine nuts 5½Cups Olive Oil 7.5¾Cups Cashew 11/8 cupCupLemon juice2.5¼Cups Ginger 1 1 cmInch salt 1 Tsp Pepper 2 tbsp
Method

Sauté Green beans (cut into 1" lengths) with broccoli florets and zucchini. Cut zucchini into ¼" slices, sauté briefly in olive oil, then add broccoli and green beans to pan, sauté until all vegetables have changed color. Then add a little water and put lid on pan to steam vegetables until done. When vegetables are tender, remove lid, let remaining water boil off and toss vegetables with pesto.

Pesto: Mix all the ingredients and blend.

Dinner
Recipe Name: Kale & potato
Type: Salad
Ingredients:
Serves 40
Fingerling or small new potatoes6LBSCelery (replaced Onion)1BunchOlive oil17TBSGinger (replaced garlic) Chile pepper such as jalapeno (seeded and finely chopped)4SmallKale (torn into small pieces)4.5 LBS Lemon (replaced balsamic vinegar) 17 TBS Fresh Oregano 8 TBS Salt Ground pepper
Method

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In medium bowl, toss potatoes and celery with 8 TBS olive oil. Spread potato-celery mixture on baking sheet and roast until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. When cool enough to handle, cut potatoes into bite-size pieces.
In large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat. Add ginger and chile pepper and cook, stirring often, 30 seconds. Add kale, potatoes and celery. Cover and cook until kale is wilted, 2 to 5 minutes. Add lemon, oregano, salt and pepper. Toss thoroughly and serve.

Recipe Name: Coconut Quinoa Khichari
Type: Main
Ingredients:
Serves 40
Carrots, Celery, Broccoli, Beans20 CupsQuinoa 5 Cup Baby spinach leaves20 CupsCumin seeds10 TSPTurmeric10 TSPDry ginger 10 TSPFresh ginger 10 InchPeppercorns Ghee 20 TBSWater CupsSalt and black pepper to taste Parsley to garnish Coconut to garnish

Method

Heat ghee in a large saucepan. When hot add the turmeric, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, dry ginger and peppercorns to it. When cumin seeds brown and mustard seeds pop add fresh ginger sauté for few mins.
Add all veggies except spinach and stir fry for 5-10 min or until vegetables are tender.
Add quinoa and water to it. Simmer for 15 min more or until quinoa cooked
Add cumin powder, salt and pepper to taste and lemon juice. Add spinach leaves. Take off the flame.
Garnish with parsley and coconut and serve hot.

Recipe Name: Masoor and Spinach soup
Type: Soup
Ingredients:
Serves 40

Masoor 10 Cup Spinach 25 bunches lemon juice 8 TBSP ginger shredded 9 inches cumin powder 2/3 Cup coriander powder 1 Cup Salt TBS Pepper Red chilli powder Water 30 Cup

Recipe Name: Apple crisp
Type: Dessert
Ingredients:
Serves 40
Apples, sliced thin (20 count)1020CupsSuccanat2 ½5CupsWhole wheat pastry flour2 ½5CupsRolled oats.751.5CupGhee.751.5CupRaisins 1.53CupBaking powder, aluminum free 1.53TSPCinnamon 3 1/310TSPLemon juice .751.5CupWhole milk

Method

Spread the sliced apples in a 9X 12 inch pan. Add lemon juice and mix.
Sprinkle raisins and a cup of brown sugar on top
Add the cinnamon spice
Combine the butter, half cup of cane sugar, whole wheat pastry flour, rolled oats and baking powder together. Cream with fingers till crumbly and semi sticking together. Use milk if needed.
Sprinkle this mixture on top of apple cane sugar mixture
Bake in a preheated oven at 375 for 40-45 minutes
Cut into serving slices and serve hot

Day 4 – 22nd November

Breakfast:
Recipe Name: Blue berry muffins
Type:
Ingredients:
Makes about 60
Butter ¼CupUnsweetened applesauce 2 ½CupSalt2 ½TSPBlue Agave 5 Cups Whole wheat flour 10 Cups Vanilla5TSPMilk2 ½CupBlueberries10CupsBaking powder5TBSWalnuts2.5Cups Gluten free Cereal 15Cups Almonds 2
Cups (soaked overnight)Raisins 3Cups (soaked overnight)Pumpkin seeds1.5 Cups (Soaked overnight) Bananas Pear20 Persimmons 15 Almond Milk 2 Regular Milk 2½ gallonRice milk 1 Butter
Method:

Preheat oven to 350Degree F
Line muffin cups with paper liners or spray with non stick spray ---- Instead of spray take olive oil in a bowl and with paper /napkin spread it on the muffins cups.
Mix all ingredients together until moistened
Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups. Each should be filled ¾ full.
Bake 35 minutes or until the tops are firm.
Cool on a wire rack.

Lunch:
Recipe Name: Saag soup
Type:
Ingredients
Serves 40 people
Spinach11.5LBSGround coriander.25CupLarge red potatoes11 Water51CupsGhee ( A little more than ½)¾CupGinger (A little more than ½ cup)¾CupSalt (to taste)2Cups

Method:

Pressure cook the potatoes until tender. Cool, peel and keep it aside.
In a pan bring water to a boil. Add spinach to the boiling water and switch off the heat immediately.
Cover with a lid for 20 minutes. Strain the spinach. Allow it to cool.
Blend together the potatoes and spinach until smooth. Add water if required.
Take a pot and add ghee to it. When the ghee is heated add ginger and coriander and sauté.
To this add the blended mixture and salt to taste. Add water to get desired consistency.
Serve hot.

Recipe Name: Almond butter dressing
Type: Salad
Ingredients
Serves 40
Italian salad mix Romaine 25 Radicchio 5 Cucumber10 Red Bell pepper5 Dressing Almond butter12TBSOlive oil3CupsLemon juice3/2CupBlue Agave9TSP Lots of black pepper Sesame seeds6TSPDry Oregano6TSP

Method

Mix all the dressing ingredients.

Adjust dry oregano as required.

Recipe Name: Pesto zucchini and squash pasta
Type: Salad
Ingredients
Serves 40
Medium size zucchini 40 Medium size yellow squash 40 Pesto Sauce Pine nuts 5 Cups Ginger 10 Inch Cilantro 5 Cups Fresh Basil5CupsLemon juice20TBS Bragg Liquid amino30TBS Coarsely chopped tomatoes20Cups Very Finely Chopped Red bell peppers for garnish2CupsVery finely Chopped yellow bell peppers for garnish 2 CupsVery finely Broccoli 1 CupFinely chopped Roasted walnuts2 Cups

Method

Shave zucchini and squash into ribbons (like fettuccini pasta) using vegetable peeler.
Purée pine nuts, ginger, cilantro, basil, lemon juice, liquid aminos and pinch of salt in food processor until smooth. Add tomatoes, and pulse until blended.
Toss squash ribbons with pesto. Season to taste with pepper.
Chop roasted walnuts, red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers and broccoli into very thin and fine pieces

Dinner
Recipe Name: Squash Soup
Type: Soup
Ingredients:
Serves 45
Butternut pumpkin (17)11.25LBSGinger chopped3.75TBSPMustard seeds1.25TBSPCumin Seeds2.5TSPFresh Coriander2.5TBSPNutmeg 1.25 TSP Turmeric 1.25 TSP Salt 1.25 TSP Lemon Juice 1.25 TBSP Lime juice
Lime and lemon can be replaced by a cup of apple juice2.5 TBSP Rice milk 1 Gallon Water1 Gallon Parsley for garnish3Cups
Method

1. Bake squash until very well done. Scrape pulp. (Should = 10-11 cups)
2. Sauté ginger for a minute in ghee and then blend to puree. Sauté black mustard seeds until they pop and then add other spices and sauté a few minutes. Add squash and sauté.
3. Add apple juice or citrus juices and then milk and water to get soup consistency

Wash and peel the butternut pumpkin. Cut into quarters and pressure cook with enough water until tender. Approximately 3 whistles on medium heat. Cool and blend into a smooth paste.
Take a pot and add ghee. When the ghee is heated add mustard seeds. When they pop add cumin seeds .when they turn brown add turmeric, coriander powder and fresh ginger. Saute for few mintues. To this add the blended pumpkin. Add nutmeg, salt.
Add citrus juices and then milk and water to get the consistency. Cook for few mintues.
Garnish with parsley and serve hot.

Recipe Name: Couscous with dry fruits
Type: Main
Ingredients:
Serves 40
Instant couscous6BoxesRaisins 3 Cups Olive Oil 13 TB Ginger 6 TSP Cayenne 1.5 TSP Zucchini 6 Large Chickpeas 8.5 Cups Green beans 6 Cups Freshly ground pepper Salt Chopped pitted dates 6 Cups Cashews 4 Cups Parsley (minced) 3 Cups Mint leaves for garnish Serve Pita chips

Method

An adaptation of the Moroccan classic dish, this Americanized version melds sweet with savory and just a tinge of heat. Part of its charm lies with its handsome presentation, which shows off its many textures and colors. Feel free to make your own adaptations using golden raisins instead of black ones, and summer squash, fava beans or trimmed green beans for the zucchini and chickpeas. This meal-in-one calls for accompaniments of toasted pita triangles and a spicy hot or chilled tea, plus something exotic for dessert, such as a wedge of baklava or a dish of rose-scented Persian ice cream.

Directions
Using a large saucepan, cook grains with raisins according to package directions and with no added fat.
Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in skillet over medium heat and when hot, add ginger and sauté. Add cayenne, paprika and zucchini and sauté 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in chickpeas and green peas, and season to taste.
Stir vegetable mixture into cooked couscous. Spoon into large serving dish, making well in center. Fill well with dates and cashews, and garnish dish with parsley and mint leaves. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Recipe Name: Oven roasted vegetables with lemon herb
Type: Side
Ingredients:
Serves 40
Zucchini10 Yellow squash10 Carrots10 Sweet Potato10 Olive Oil1.5CupBasil leaves1.25CupLemon juice5TBSPRosemary5SprigOregano5SprigAsparagus (can add)

Method

Cut zucchini, squash, sweet potato into thinly sliced rings.
Cut carrots into 1" pieces
Chop rosemary and oregano very finely
In a bowl whisk olive oil, lemon juice and chopped herbs
Add vegetables to it. Season with salt and pepper
Spread the vegetables on a baking pan
Preheat the over to 350 degrees and bake for 35-45 min till crisp and tender.

Recipe Name: Winter punch
Type: Side
Ingredients:
Serves 40
Cranberries20QTSWater20QTSMaply syrup5CupCinnamon sticks20 Whole cloves5TSPLemon cut into thin slices 5 Orange juice 1 Nutmeg Dash
Method

This winter punch will warm you up and is packed full of vitamin C from wholesome cranberries.

Cook the cranberries in water untill the skins pop. Strain through a sieve or blend in a blender.
Add maple syrup, cinnamon and cloves and boil 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and add lemon slices and orange juice.
Reheat and serve hot, sprinkled with nutmeg.
Very easy to put together and it will be perfect for the course :)

Day 5 – 23rd November

Breakfast:
Recipe Name: 8 Grain gluten-free Cereal with dried fruit and nuts
Type:
Ingredients
Serves 40
8-grain wheat free cereal10 CupWater (1:3 according to Deborah's menu)30 Cup (read instructions)
Gold raisins 1.5 Cups Pistachio nutmeats 1.75 Cups Raw or roasted unsalted cashews1.5 Cups Chopped apricots 1.5 Cups Apples12 Bananas 15 Almond milk Rice milk Regular milk
Method:

Bring water to a boil, stir in dry fruits and nuts, cook for 5 minutes, then add dry cereal, stirring continuously to prevent clumping. When all cereal is blended in and smooth, add remaining ingredients. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring continuously.
Serve with almond milk and maple syrup. Make fresh fruit available too.
Cut cantaloupe and mix cantaloupe, grapes and blueberries together. Cut banana into 3 pieces and serve.
Also soak almonds overnight

Lunch:
Recipe Name: Lentil and Barley soup with vegetables
Type:
Ingredients
Serves 40
Organic Red Lentils6CupsOrganic pearled barley3.5CupOrganic carrots3.5CupLemon juice2LemonBaby spinach leaves6CupCumin seeds4TSPTurmeric4TSPGinger 4Inch Ghee 6TBS Water 35Cups Salt and black pepper to taste Cilantro 3 Cups

Method:

Wash and rinse red lentils and pearled barley 2-3 times .Pressure cook with enough water. Blend it so that it is smooth and not very grainy.
In a thick bottom pot add ghee. When hot add mustard seeds, when they pop add cumin seeds. When they brown add turmeric, peppercorns and dry ginger. Sauté for few seconds and then add fresh ginger. Saute for few minutes. Add little water and cook carrots in it.
Once the carrots are slightly cooked then add cooked dal and barley. To this add cumin powder, pepper powder and salt.
Allow it to boil adding enough water to get the soup consistency. Add spinach and lemon juice. Take the pot off the heat.
Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

Recipe Name: Hummus wrap
Type: Main
Ingredients
Serves 40
Cooked chickpeas20Cup Tahini (Sesame paste)7.5TBS Fresh lemon juice7.5TBS Olive oil 2.5TBS Vegetable oil5TBS Ginger2.5TSP Cumin powder.625TSP Salt.3TSP Tomato10 Cucumber 15 Alpha Alpha or sunflower seed sprouts Whole grain tortilla 40 Chopped lettuce 6HeadsCilantro 4CupsTooth picks
Method

This is a vegan

• Place all the ingredients into a blender or food processor (or do the 'chunky' version by mashing them with a potato masher or fork) and mix until smooth.
• Spread the hummus on the wrap and put chopped cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, sprouts and cilantro. Probably need tooth picks or something like that to keep it in place.

Recipe Name: Spinach Quinoa salad with cherries and almonds
Type: Salad
Ingredients
Serves 40
Sliced almonds3.3CupsQuinoa 10CupsSpinach leaves (not baby)13CupsFresh cherries or raisins 13CupsCucumber 10 Chickpeas (100 oz) ~ 7cups4lbsCelery 3.5CupsYogurt 1.5CupOlive oil 20TBSLemon juice 13TBSGinger 5InchAvocado 4
Method

Preheat oven to 350F. Spread almonds on baking sheet, and toast 7 to 10 minutes, shaking pan occasionally, or until golden brown. Cool.
As per instruction to cook Quinoa take enough water and bring it to boil over medium-high heat. Stir in quinoa. Reduce heat to medium low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes, or until all liquid has been absorbed.
Remove from heat and cool, covered, in pot.
Lay 5 or 6 spinach leaves flat on top of one another on cutting board. Roll tightly into cylinder, then slice into slivers. Repeat with remaining spinach.
Toss together quinoa, almonds, spinach, cherries, cucumber, chickpeas and red onion in large serving bowl. Whisk together yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic in small bowl. Pour over salad, and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop, then serve

Recipe Name: Chocolate chip cookie
Type: Dessert
Ingredients
Serves 40

Organic carrots15LBSBrown sugar (Succanat) Ghee1CupWhole milk Cardamom powder3TBSFinely chopped nuts Almonds Cashews Pistachios
Method

Wash, peel and grate the carrots.
Take a pan, add ghee to it. When heated add grated carrots to it and sauté.
Add whole milk to it till the carrots are soaked. Allow it cook on medium heat till it becomes tender stirring continuously. Once cooked, add sugar and allow it to cook till all the liquid is absorbed.
To this add cardamom powder and stir.
Place it in a serving bowl and garnish with chopped nuts.

Recipe Name: Bliss balls
Type: Dessert
Ingredients
Should make about 70
Unsweetened Shredded coconut powder3Cups 365 brand organic creamy almond butter 2 Cups Mejdool dates 15 Organic Thompson raisins 12 TBSP 365 Organic wildflower honey 4 TSP Organic walnuts 2 Cups Organic unsweetened coconut powder for rolling balls Walnut powder Almond powder
Method

Hand mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Divide into bite sized balls, Roll ball in organic un-sweetened shredded coconut
Roll it in walnut powder or almond powder or coconut powder

For all TTC aspirants!

2008-11-26T17:35:00.000-08:00

A very inspiring video by Rishiji - to all TTC1 graduates and TTC aspirants.

An Amazing Thanksgiving 08 Part II Course

2008-11-25T10:10:00.000-08:00

Seattle just hosted the most amazing Part II course and the also the largest ever since 2003!! The food was insanely delicious!

Thoughts to Destiny

2008-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Watch your 'Thoughts,' they become words.
Watch your 'Words,' they become actions.
Watch your 'Actions,' they become habits.
Watch your 'Habits,' they become character.
Watch your 'Character,' for it becomes your Destiny.
- H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

At one level Guruji says, recognize that you are not the thoughts. The above phrases represent the other dimension. As He always says 'Truth is multidimensional'.

WAR - Worst Act of Reason

2008-11-14T00:43:00.000-08:00

I alway found the following knowledge to be more concept and less practice for me.
You may want to read the knowledge part first
After all, how many times do I get to decide whether to go on war on not. But one day, it hit me..
There is a war going on at every level. It doesn't have to be between two countries using weapons. It could be a war of words between two people. It could be a war of thoughts against people in the mind...And the beauty of this knowledge and how it applies to practical life finally dawned..

Weekly Knowledge #323 24 Sep 2001, India

Every war has a reason, and the reason justifies the war. Those who engage in war, reason it out. But reason is limited. As reason changes, justification falls apart.

All the reasons for every war appear to be justifiable to some limited minds and for limited time. Hence, war becomes inevitable on this planet.

War is limited to human beings. No other species in creation engage in war or mass destruction, as they have no reason. Animals have their prey and let everything just be. But mankind, from time immemorial, has been engaging in war because Man lives on reason. Man gives reason to every act of his and justifies it. As reasons change, his justifications fall apart.

Man has to transcend reason, and only then can he realize the Divinity. Then he does not engage in war. Only when people become sensible, rise above hatred and have heightened consciousness can the war be stopped.

News Flash (24 Sep 2001):

Guruji arrived in Shillong to a tumultuous welcome by the Governor and the Chief Minister. For the first time ever, Shillong witnessed such huge gatherings as the Satsang found thousands rapt in meditation and high in spirit.

In this week alone…

Guruji was the state guest of four different Indian states – Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal and Tripura! Estimated crowds of over 250,000 people have taken darshan and blessings of Guruji! Estimated crowds of over 35,000 people have done Sudarshan Kriya with Guruji!

At Calcutta, Guruji addressed delegates of the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The evening Satsang had 30,000 people rapt in meditation and blissfully singing bhajans. Memorable yagnyas were performed at Calcutta and Guwahati for harmony in the world.

Guwahati welcomed Guruji with beautiful Assamese Bihu songs and dance sequences. Guruji emphasized the need to protect the rich and diverse Assamese culture. Thousands braved the rains to be in the evening Satsang. Guruji inaugurated the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir (school) at Guwahati by ringing the bell. After a cruise on the river Brahmaputra, the entourage left for Siliguri for less than a 24-hour stay!

Siliguri, a town in the foothill of the Darjeeling, (close to Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim), celebrated His arrival with all roads leading to the Mega Satsang. Guruji’s entourage had no risk of getting lost, as any resident of the town could guide them to Guruji’s place of residence and Satsang! The Maha Kriya in the morning had thousands doing the Sudarshan Kriya with Guruji, while the Mega Satsang had over 50,000 people singing, dancing and celebrating the grace of Guruji. At Siliguri, Guruji graced the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir and inaugurated the Rural Training Centre in the Siliguri Ashram premises. The entourage is now headed to Agartala for the last leg of Guruji’s tour of the North East.

Guruji's US Tour: In The News

2008-11-07T12:56:00.000-08:00

Art of Living signs MoU with Huston

UNI

Tuesday, November 04th, 2008 AT 11:11 AM

On last month's US Tour, Guruji was honored by Houston by proclaiming Him Honorary Citizen and a Goodwill Ambassador of the city. In Atlanta, Georgia, Sri Sri was presented the Phoenix Award, the highest award given by the Office of the Mayor of Atlanta. This is the second time Gurudev has been honoured with the prestigious award. In Irving, Texas, October 29 was declared Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Day.

The Art of Living has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Houston and the Mayor’s Council on Wellness to promote health and wellness in the city. Under the MoU, the Art of Living will bring its effective stress relief and service programmes to the people of Houston, an Art of Living release said here. The MoU was signed this week, at a time when the US is undergoing financial turmoil and has elections round the corner. Signed between the Mayor of Houston Bill White and Guruji, it will include specific programmes for city youth, returning war veterans, and prisoners among others.

Gurudev delivered a keynote address on human rights and religion at a function hosted by the UNESCO Chair for Human Rights and the Institute of Comparative Human Rights at the University of Connecticut. He also delivered a keynote address at a wellness symposium at the University of North Texas in Dallas. He addressed physicians, scientists and other people at various universities and celebrated Diwali in Dallas with more than 4000 people.

A radio interview

2008-10-31T05:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share an exciting news with you guys. While calling up radio stations to have Stress free Seattle announced as a PSA, we got an exciting opportunity to be interviewed by KISS 106.1 with 20 minutes of airtime. Last monday three amazing gals rocked the interview. Do you want to know who they were? and how they stole the show :o) ….then tune in

This SUNDAY at 7.30 AM to 106.1. Don’t miss the star performance.

Jai gurudev

Diwali - Celebrating the Light of Wisdom

2008-10-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

Diwali -- or "the festival of lights'' -- celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Lights lit on this day do more than decorate homes. They also communicate a profound truth about life: lights dispel darkness. Similarly, the darkness within you is dispelled through the light of wisdom and the good wins over the evil in you.

Though many legends exist about the festival, Diwali is essentially celebrated to light wisdom in every heart, light life in every home, and bring a smile on every face. Diwali is an abbreviation of Deepavali or "rows of lights.'' Life has many facets and stages to it. It is important that you throw light on all of them, for if one aspect of your life is in darkness, expression of life remains incomplete. The rows of lights in Diwali remind you that every aspect of life needs your attention and light of knowledge.

Every Diwali lamp symbolizes a good quality. There are good qualities in every human being. Some have forbearance, some have love, some show strength, some represent generosity, and some have the ability to unite people. The latent values in you are like a lamp. When they are lit, or awakened, then Diwali begins.

Don't be satisfied with lighting one lamp; light a thousand. If you possess the quality of service, light the lamp of wisdom and acquire knowledge. Awaken all facets of your being.

Another profound symbolism is wrapped in the numerous firecrackers that go off during Diwali. In life, you often become like a firecracker, waiting to explode with your pent-up emotions, frustration and anger. However, when you continue to suppress your emotions, cravings, aversions, and hatred, it is bound to reach a bursting point. Bursting crackers is a psychological exercise created by the ancients to release bottled-up emotions. When you see firecracker explode outside, you feel similar sensations within you as well. Accompanying the explosion is light. So, when you let go of suppressed emotions, you become hollow and empty, and the light of knowledge dawns.

Wisdom is needed everywhere. Even if one member of your family is shrouded in darkness, you cannot be happy. So you need to light the lamp of wisdom in every member of your family. Extend the lamp to every member of society, and to every person on the planet.

Celebration is the nature of the spirit and every excuse to celebrate is good. In celebration, you should not just party; you must remind yourself of the wisdom. When true wisdom dawns, it gives rise to celebration.

Often in celebrations, you tend to lose focus or awareness. To maintain awareness in the midst of celebrations, the ancient rishis (sages) included sacredness and puja (rituals). For the same reason, Diwali is also time for pujas.

The spiritual aspect of Diwali adds depth to the celebrations. Any celebration has to be spiritual; a celebration without spirituality has no depth.

For the one who does not have knowledge, Diwali comes only once a year, but for the wise, Diwali comes every moment, every day. Be wise, and celebrate Diwali every moment and every day of your life.

Art of Living, Metuchen • October 15, 2008

Just because you don't use your brilliance, it doesn't mean you don't have it

2008-10-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

Gurudev spoke at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School yesterday.

Guruji began His talk with a little deep breathing and meditation. But before getting the group to close their eyes, Guruji said, "I was told this was a perfect time to come here because of the economic crisis here."

He noted that students may be worried about the job market and finding work when they graduate. After getting more than 300 people to breathe quietly for a few minutes, Guruji offered suggestions for relieving stress after sitting for hours at a computer.

Then He asked if his audience had questions.

Question: What is the purpose of life?

Guruji : That is the million-dollar question, but one for you have to search within yourself to find the answer. Anyone who knows that will not tell you, and if anyone tries to tell you that he knows, he really doesn't know.

Another student noted that the teachings are nonreligious, and asked what religion He practices.

Guruji: I would say that spirituality is where all religions meet. I was born a Hindu and remain one, but spirituality - that's universal.

One student, noting that Guruji worked to resolve conflicts between groups, wanted to know suggestions for resolving conflict between two people.

Guruji: It depends if one is talking about a husband and wife, a boyfriend and girlfriend or just two friends. As a man, you never want to step on the emotions of the woman. And as a woman, you do not want to step on the ego of the man. Even if your boyfriend may be dumb, you should never tell him that. While the world may think he is a fool, you say that he is brilliant. Just because you don't use your brilliance, it doesn't mean you don't have it.

excerpts from : http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081024_A_different_kkind_of_guru_for_MBAs.html

Living the Mystery of Life

2008-10-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

Purpose of words is to create silence. Does every word you speak create silence in others or does it create turbulence in their minds? Purpose of knowledge is to make you feel that you don’t know! If the knowledge makes you feel that you know it all, then it has not fulfilled its goal. The more you know, the more you become aware of the unknown. Knowing is just pushing the brick a little further towards ignorance.

Before, you thought that you had less ignorance and now you know that you have more ignorance. Purpose of knowledge is to create awareness of the Being. This creation is enormous and infinite. It is a mystery. Mysteries are there not to understand, but to live. Love is a mystery, sleep is a mystery, your mind is mystery and all that you see around is a mystery. Your life is a mystery. Trying to understand mystery is confusion, but living it fully is called enlightenment.

There is one ‘‘I don’t know’’ that comes out of ignorance. This is an ugly ‘‘I don’t know’’. Then it passes through knowledge and becomes a transformed ‘‘I don’t know!’’. This is a beautiful ‘‘I don’t know!’’ which is a wonder. This is how every question turns into a wonder. What is the difference between a wonder and a question? Question is associated with sorrow and restlessness whereas wonder is joy in expression.

What is your life? After all, how many years are you planning to be here in this planet? Look in the light of the time. In the time scale, millions of years have passed and millions will come in the future. What is your life? 60 years or 70 years or 100 years? Span of life is insignificant. It is not even a drop in the ocean. In terms of space you simply don’t exist! This understanding dissolves the ego.

Ego is ignorance of your reality, ignorance of your existence. Now, just to know this do we have to do some thing else? Just open your eyes and see, ‘‘Who am I? How I am on this planet? What is my life time?’’. Awareness dawns in the mind. It does not worry about small little things like, ‘‘this person said this thing to me and that person broke away with me and this happened with that person and I am going to say this and that’’. All smallness will simply drop away with this beautiful ‘‘I don’t know!’’.

Ignorance has its necessity. Ignorance keeps the joy in the game. In a game if you know the result before you are playing you won’t be playing sincerely. If you know you are going to win a game you won’t put your 100 percent in the game. If you know that you are going to lose a game, then also there is no charm in playing the game. The game is joyful when its results are unknown, when they are hidden away... The nature is so kind and loving to you that it does not tell you about your future and does not remind you of your very old past. But, even with the short little memory it has given us we try hard to make our self miserable!

When the state of ‘‘I don’t know’’ passes through knowledge, you are delivered in another state of ‘‘I don’t know!’’... That is a beautiful ‘‘I don’t know!’’ and that is the end of knowledge. So the whole journey is from ‘‘I don’t know’’ to ‘‘I don’t know!’’. There is a saying that before enlightenment you chop wood and carry water and after enlightenment you chop wood and carry water. But with a slight difference; before it was a miserable ‘‘I don’t know’’ afterwards it’s a beautiful ‘‘I don’t know!’’. Every knowledge whether scientific or artistic leaves you in a place of amazement and wonder. You ask a poet, ‘‘How did you write this poetry?’’ He will say, ‘‘I don’t know!’’. You ask a scientist, ‘‘How did you discover this?’’. He will say, ‘‘Oh! I don’t know!’’. This ‘‘I don’t know!’’ level of consciousness is innocence.

Some of you might have the problem that the mind goes round and round. This is because you want to know all the time. Just remain in ‘‘I don’t know’’, the mind becomes quiet. Knowledge is like a detergent agent. You put the soap on the cloth, but wash it away. You never say, ‘‘it is a wonderful detergent soap, let it remain on my body’’.

All our struggle is to know more, know more, know more... you are trying your level best to understand your feelings and your emotions and you get into more and more and more confusion. This is what has happened with psychology today. It tries to explain to you why you feel like the way you are feeling. The ‘‘why’’ question arises always when you are unhappy. You say ‘‘why this problem to me on earth of all the people?’’... Nobody ever asked, ‘‘why am I so happy?’’ or ‘‘why is there so much joy and beauty in the world?’’. You want to understand, ‘‘why am I not feeling good?’’ or ‘‘why am I angry?’’, or ‘‘why is this not happening?’’.

The more you try to understand and try to dig it, you seem to understand less and less. The mystery deepens, but an illusion comes as though ‘‘I know it’’. But that’s for a short while. We ourselves do not know and we try to explain to others! Stop your explanations; your explanations have put you into a soup and make other people also more confused. You don’t know what is happening in your mind. Mind is like a rollercoaster — it’s a crowd. Something comes up sometime and then some other thing pops up.

Just be in the simple and innocent state of ‘‘I don’t know!’’. This life is a mystery — beautiful — live it. Living the mystery of life so totally is joy. Becoming the mystery is divine. You are a mystery!

Navratri - The Power of Devi Shakti

2008-10-03T11:31:00.001-07:00

NAVRATRI - The Power of Devi Shakti

Talks By Gurudev on Navratri

a)'Nava' means 'nine' and 'Ratri' is made up of 'Ra' which also means 'night' and 'Tri' meaning the 'the three aspects of our life, Body, Mind
and Soul. So 'Navaratri' means 'giving rest to all the three aspects of our life,for nine days'.

The first three days of Navaratri, are 'Tamasic' days, followed by three 'Rajasic' days and ending with three 'Sattvic' days. At night all the artis are performed for the Devi - the enjoyer of everything. So there is classical dance, music and various musical instruments being played. Each day has special implications, yagnas, poojas and homas are performed. Among the things offered to the fire are hundreds of different herbs, fruits, garments, and mantras, all creating a gloriously divine atmosphere to drown in? Our ancestors felt the inadequacy of words and so they expressed themselves with symbols ... for instance, we offer flowers and fruit to God. The 'flower' is a symbol of what we are - so full, attractive and so light - so beautiful. Fruits are symbols of completeness. In the life cycle of
a plant, fruits signify completeness. Also the fruit is the ultimate result. That is how we feel when we offer the symbolic fruit to God with all the gratitude for contentment in life.

We also light lamps. Indian tradition involves tall brass lamps with a swan carved at the top. This is a very beautiful symbol. It means
that with the light of knowledge, one attains 'Viveka' a characteristic of the swan. In Sanskrit, it is called 'Neerakshiraviveka' meaning a
swan can differentiate between milk and water even though both may be mixed. Similarly, in the context of Navaratri, there is a symbolism behind the 'bull' being destroyed by the 'Devi'. What do we call someone who is very dull, thick skinned and insensitive? A buffalo! Only the Mother Divine can destroy this buffalo with the collective energy of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh! Just as a baby takes nine months to be born, the Devi took nine days to rest and what was born on the tenth day was pure love and devotion, with which the Devi conquered the buffalo of inertia and dullness! Devi Ma is not somebody holding a big 'trishool' in one hand.

She is a form of energy, a manifestation of the Divine itself. Therefore, sometimes, the forms taken by this Divine may be that of
Ganesha, Chandi (Devi), Vishnu, Shiva..... and the manifestation, in this creation, happens in a mother's womb.... in silence, secretly. So during these nine days of Navaratri when the Master goes into silence, the energy is in the process of getting more and more refined,
well-tuned, to welcome the Mother Divine. This is called 'Aradhana'. Now these yagnas are not for the sages who perform them, but for the entire Universe for all the misery, sorrow, and pain in the world. The blessings of the yagnas and poojas teach the whole of humanity and a lot of good comes out of these - peace, strength, prosperity, success and faith - which by itself, is the best blessing. Gurudev says that the ninth day is a day for honoring everything that we have, no matter how seemingly insignificant, and the tenth day is 'Vijaya Dashmi' the 'victory day'. It is only after we have honored something that we can gain victory over it. This day is celebrated as the victory of the Devi over the evil forces - which is also just 'Maya'.

b)The Nine Nights of Navaratri
------------------------------

Navaratri means nine nights and the new night. Creation happens in darkness,in the womb of the mother and underneath the
soil.Nine months in the womb are like nine long nights where the spirit takes human form. Night provides rejuvenation and rest.People come home from work at night and celebrate,rejoice,and pray.At night,the entire creation goes to sleep,including the Ashram night watchman

These nine nights of Navaratri are precious; they are enriched with subtle energy.Sixty-four impulses of the Divine Mother govern the subtle creation and are responsible for restoring all earthly and spiritual benefits.These impulses are contained within one's awakened consciousness.The nine nights of Navaratri are celebrated to rekindle those divine impulses and to renew the inner depth
of our lives.

Cleanse your body and cleanse your soul.

Cleanse your body with water;

Cleanse your soul with Knowledge, pranayam,Sudarshan Kriya, and meditation.

c)Navratri

As we take nine months in our mother's womb, before we are born, we take these nine days to go back to our source. These nine days are to be spent in meditation, satsangs, silence and knowledge. During this period, the first three days are of the Kaali,the Adhishthata (the Authority) of Tamo Guna, the next three days are of Mahalakshmi, the Adhishthata of RajoGuna and the last three days are of Saraswati, the Adhishthata of Sata Guna.

And when we move from Tamo through to Satva, the Victory happens; victory over our own devilish tendencies, like RaagDvesh (cravings-aversions), Raktabijakshur (inherent 'tendencies in our DNA.: which can be changed ,only through satsang) and Dhumralochan (the laziness of Mahishasur, the"bull; one who's eyes are clouded with small-mindedness)

Upavaas (what is normally understood as Fasting) actually means 'sitting close'; close to the Guru. And when you are close to the Guru, the Self, you are in so much bliss, that you forget to eat or drink! You don't feel Hungry or thirsty. And now that has become a false notion about' Upavaas'.We relate it to fasting. It is good, to fast once in a while, for a day or two. However, it is not worth eating fried foods in the name of Upavaas (Saboodana wada, fried potato, etc). Eat fruits. The main thing is to listen to the body. Give it a
break from the daily grind of digesting three meals, etc. When you attend to the body and it is rested, the mind also becomes peaceful. You do not have to fast to please GOD. Do it to purify your body and mind. Observing silence is also good. Everyone need not observe silence, avoid useless talks. Ardha Maun (partial-silence) is fine. Keep silence with a smile and Upavaas happens. At the end of the nine- day Aradhana, let there be newness in us.

Nav also means new. These are nine new nights. Krishna used to do a lot of Devi Pujas during Navaratri. He said; "I take a dip in my own Prakruti(nature), and come out to create new". So, take a dip in your own nature and come out fresh and new. The more we go deep within ourselves, the more this Creation rejoices in celebration. These Yagnas have all the aspects of life so beautifully covered within them. It comprises of dance, music, food, celebration and everything. Not a single aspect of life has been left out. So, be within yourself during these nine days. Do not let any complaints happen.

Complaints drag you out; keep you rooted in the mud outside. Drop it all with a smile and go within. The diverse aspects of the Holy" Spirit are invoked during, these nine days. And like the nine months of formation spent in the womb, spend these nine days within and form a new spirit.

Then all the bad karmas and impressions are washed away. Navaratri purifies the individual consciousness and then the universal consciousness, the creation.

NAVRATRI - The Power of Devi Shakti

As the nine sacred nights of Navratri arrive, each nook and corner of the Ashram reverberates with the glory of its Dweller. And as Gurudev goes in silence, the space around echoes the unsung song of Divine Love.

Navratri is celebrated to honor the creation and rekindle the impulses of the Mother Divine contained in our consciousness. There are 64
impulses that govern the entire creation. Nights signify darkness. Creation takes place in darkness, like in the mother's womb. The nine
month's in the mother's womb are like nine long nights when the spirit takes the human form. Night also provides rest and rejuvenation and these nine nights represent eternal rest and freedom from bondage of the mind. This nine day period also has a great impact on the environment and surrounding. During the first three nights the energy is dominated by tamas, transforming to rajas during the next three and dominated by satva in the last three days.

The divinity is present in every atom of creation. This dormant divinity is enlivened through the process called yagya. The yagyas conducted during these nine days cover every aspect of the vast Vedic tradition.They are performed for the health, happiness and prosperity of all the people in the world, to nullify the negative karmas and create positive vibrations and celebration.

The yagyas begin with Ganesha Homa to clear all obstacles and hurdles.Navagraha Homa and Sudarshana Homa are performed before the grand Chandi Homa on Ashtami day. The most powerful of all Homas, the Chandi Homa covers 700 verses and 13 chapters of the Devi Mahatmaya. Through the yagyas the divinity is enlivened in the five elements, and in every possible thing in creation. The potency of the mantra is enlivened in our consciousness through various herbs, fruit and other substances which are all offered in the fire; and that shakti(energy) is transferred into the water in the kalash(the pot) which represents the Devi(Mother Divine).

The worshipper is Divine, the worship is Divine and the objects with which you worship are also Divine. During arati, all the species are
represented, because all living beings are expressions of Shakti. Cows, elephants, children, couples - in everyone the Devi is recognized and invoked. Just as white light contains all the colors, so all the different aspects of divinity are of the nature of the self. The yagya
thus is a prism through which the Self manifests.

Explaining the underlying meaning, Guruji once said, "During homas, Virupaksha is used in addressing the Divine. Virupa means formless and Aksha means eyes. So Virupaksha is one who is formless but can see everything. Our chetna or atma is like that. We perceive things through the senses, but its the consciousness that sees everything"._,___

Life is a Dream, a Burden or a Joke

2008-09-22T11:10:00.001-07:00

Weekly Knowledge #304 Montreal Ashram 10 May 2000 Canada

Life is a Dream, a Burden or a Joke

Often when you are happy you feel life is a dream because you do not believe in the reality of it. When there is misery you feel life as a burden. And we take trivial things very seriously. But one who has really gone through the pleasure realizes that pleasure is a burden. And if you have undergone mis ery thoroughly you will realize that life is a dream. In every miserable condition you have been walked or carried through and you realize life is a dream. When you see life is dream a burden or a joke only then can you be centered.

And when you have really gone through misery you have really seen life as a dream. And in between the pain and pleasure life is all a joke.

Life is very uncertain. Before it takes you away, realize it is a dream, a burden or a joke.

Someone asked: What about life is a joke?

Answer: A joke you do not question. If you question a joke, it is no longer a joke. Do not question a burden either. It is a waste of time to question life and its events.

The burden makes you go deep. It gets you to the core of yourself.

Realization of a dream wakes you up. And seeing life as a joke makes you light.

The only certainty is that life is a dream, a burden or a joke and only when you realize th is can you be centered.

Sri Sri addresses Nobel Peace laureates

2008-09-12T16:07:00.001-07:00

Sri Sri addresses Nobel Peace laureates

September 12, 2008

Spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Thursday stressed on the power of dialogue in resolving conflicts in the world.

Addressing a government-sponsored Point of Peace Summit, a meeting between former Nobel Peace Prize laureates and conflict solution experts, in Stavanger, Norway, Ravi Shankar emphasised how effective mediation can bring warring parties to dialogue. "There is a great need for dialogue and for creating mediators. The role of a mediator is vital and he needs to play the role of a catalyst without imposing himself," he said.

Addressing the highly-qualified audience, Sri Sri elucidated how he and Art of Living work to reform violent tendencies and promote dialogues all over the world. Citing stress as the root cause of conflicts in the world, he emphasised the need for mechanisms for getting rid of stress. "Stress creates barriers in communication. For any dialogue to happen a mediator is needed, and it is the skill of the mediator that makes successful dialogues," he said.

"There is always misinformation, rumours campaigns involved in a conflict. A mediator needs to listen and create hope in people. A proper understanding of the situation on the part of the mediator is crucial for preventing the situation getting escalated," he added..

"Most conflicts are based on identity crisis. We have forgotten that first and foremost, we are all human beings; then other identifications such as religion, nationality and gender follow. If people get stuck with their limited identity, they are ready to die for it. We need to move beyond our narrow identities to overcome fear, mistrust and conflict in the post 9/11 scenario," he said. "To curb terrorism in the long-run, children must be provided a multicultural and multi-faith education," added.

The three-day summit is held as part of Stavanger's nomination as the 'European Capital of Culture in 2008'. A large number of Nobel Peace Prize laureates gathered to exchange ideas and Sri Sri was invited to deliver an address on the topic 'The Power of Dialogue -- 9/11 and Then What?'. Also joining him on the panel were former President of South Korea Kim Dae-Jung, former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik and several other intellectuals..

Strength and Subordination

2008-09-04T11:28:00.001-07:00

STRENGTH AND SUBORDINATION
-- Sri Sri

Many people do not want to work under someone else, be it in their profession, in any company or even voluntary service. The general notion is
that when you work under someone, you lose your freedom, you have to be answerable.

So, many people opt for business, wanting to be their own boss. But, in business, you are accountable to so many people. If you cannot be
accountable to even one person, how can you be accountable to many? This is the paradox. In fact, being in business binds you more than the boss!

Refusing to work under someone is a sign of weakness, not strength. A strong person would not feel uncomfortable working under anyone, because he knows his strength. It is the weak and poor in spirit who do not like to work under someone else, because they are unaware of their strength. They can be neither successful in business nor in any profession.

And the same is true even in the field of social service - often volunteers do not want to work under someone else. This is merely an exhibition of
their weakness. With such an attitude, they achieve very little.

One who is timid and weak in spirit would be uncomfortable to work even under the Wise one; but one who knows his own strength can work effectively even under a fool!

Nityanand: But to work under a fool is frustrating!

SriSri: When you know your strength, with skill and intelligence, you can turn every disadvantage into an advantage. A fool can bring out the best of your communication skills! (laughter)

So watch out! If you feel uncomfortable working under someone, it clearly shows you need to strengthen yourself. Desiring freedom from circumstances, situations or people is no freedom at all. Knowing that nobody can take away your freedom Ö that is strength! And when you realize your strength is unshakable, you would not mind working under anybody.

Decision And Confusion

2008-08-26T13:13:00.001-07:00

Weekly Knowledge #151	Hamburg
29 Apr 1998	Germany

Decision And Confusion

Decision comes only when there is confusion. When there is no confusion then there is no decision. For example, if there is a piece of wood and a biscuit on your desk, you don't decide which one to eat, isn't that right? Decision is always about choice and choice is always confusing. So, all decision-makers are confused! (Laughter)

Action is spontaneous when there is no actor. In you, there is an actor and there is a witness. An actor is either confused or decisive, but the witness realizes that the action is spontaneous and smiles.

The more decisions you make, the more confused you are, and as a result you swing between pain and pleasure. The more the witness grows in you, the more playful and untouched you are. Trust, faith, love and joy all manifest in and around you.

Are you confused, decided or happy now?

Eberhard: Confusion is too strong of an expression. Is it not rather "choice"?

Urmila: We are decided that choice is confusion. (Everyone laughs)

Hans Peter: Is there any freedom without confusion?

Sri Sri: When you are confused, there is no freedom.

Hans Peter: What is freedom of choice?

Sri Sri: Confusion! (Laughter)

NEWS FLASH: There was a big discussion whether Guruji should wear a plain white or a white with gold shawl for the evening "Human Values Conference". Everyone was confused because there was a choice, but still there was a lot of laughter!

Jai Guru Dev

Learning has to be made more fun

2008-08-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

"If you want to grow in Divine Love, you have got to drop the pride and all of the artificial wall we build between ourselves and others. In the "wall" we keep judging others, and we think others are judging us."

Times of India, Bangalore, 22nd August, 2008

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, shares his insights into education

He is called Guruji and is a teacher among teachers. That he has touched over 300 million people's lives through his personal interaction, public events and
teachings is testimony to this. His Art of Living courses, disseminated by over 4000 teachers, have transformed the lives of many across the globe. Reason
enough for TOI to speak to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in connection with the Teach India programme. Guruji had many insights on volunteerism, how the educational
system can be changed, how girl children must be asked to go to school and what the government, NGOs and corporate houses can do to make education for all a
reality.

Question: Do you think volunteering and community service by individuals can make a difference in education for children who have no access to formal schooling?

Sri Sri: Volunteerism is not an alternative to formal schooling. A formal school education is essential and we must focus on it. In this curriculum, we must have volunteerism for kids. We do have the National Service Scheme (NSS) system, but it comes much later, at the college level. There should be some service activity which must be introduced at the primary level itself, where children are asked to distribute things, etc.

Question: How can the problem of lack of education in rural areas, stemming from a lack of infrastructure, teachers and social conditioning, be countered?

Sri Sri: If all corporate houses adopt a few villages and a few districts in the country (this can be taken care of). There are 612 districts in the country and thousands of corporate houses. If NGOs, the government, and corporate houses can work together, I think the goal is not far away from being achieved.

Question: Do you think our education system's methodologies need to be reviewed?

Sri Sri: Definitely. Children are asked to carry whole loads of books on their backs. So many children have a backache by 16, they can't do anything else because their back hurts. We need to bring about a revolution in the education system, where a child learns with his own aptitude. We need to come up with innovative methods and not just learn by heart poems in a foreign language. When we were kids, we were taught Shakespeare's verses. It is simply not necessary. Memorizing is such a load. Instead, we must give them an education which uses the use right brain and left brain, like music and logic; relaxation, some yoga; give them proper food. All this will enable a child to learn better and learn more than you expect them to.

Question: How can attitudes be changed in rural areas towards education of the girl child?

Sri Sri: Through awareness campaigns. Kerala has 100% literacy. Karnataka is moving towards that. Tamil Nadu has high literacy. It needs to be a joint effort between religious institutions, NGOs and the government. Religion can help in a big way. People are religious, women are religious. If religious heads emphasize that every child should be educated, why wouldn't a woman herself learn and send her daughter to school? If every priest in the village says the people must send the girl child to school, his word will be honoured.

Question: One of the primary problems in government schools is absenteeism, both among teachers as well as students. What is the solution to ensure attendance?

Sri Sri: Learning has to be made more fun. Then schools will be able to hold or draw the children to school. In some NGO schools, including Art of Living
schools, the children want to come to school even during the holidays. That is because teachers have the attitude of caring for children, they take personal care of them. Teachers and principals must create such an atmosphere in schools.

Question: The Education Bill which will promise universal primary education is expected to be presented in Parliament. How important will this be in ensuring
a fundamental right to education? What role should the government play in improving education infrastructure?

Sri Sri: Many a time, we see that policy makers in education have prejudices. Even among historians, there are left- and right-wing historians. A
prejudice-free mind is absolutely essential for policy makers. We must have a balanced outlook.
We also need to be contemporary. Some policy makers do not know how to operate a computer. They are two generations behind. They have lost touch with the mental state of the students in schools and colleges.

A good teacher is one who can recognize where a child is and where he must reach. Only when a teacher understands the difficulties or challenges of a student, can you become a good teacher, or a good policy maker. We need to have interaction, brain-storming. So often policymakers are not in touch with the ground reality.

We need to keep having seminars, so that teachers and policy makers can update their knowledge. It is appalling to know that 40% of teachers are depressed.
When teachers are depressed, what can they transmit to children? That's why children don't want to be in school, they want to run away from school.

Policy makers must create learning systems for the teachers. One, through continuing education programmes. Two, by deleting unwanted things in the books that burden a child's mind.

A child who has studied high school and college, goes back home in the village and does not know how to repair a pump. They don't know anything about
agriculture. they don't know how to fix a radio or a bulb. That is, students can't earn a living with what they have studied. If education cannot help you
earn your bread, we have to reframe education. After school, simple skills must be taught, specially in rural areas. Some knowledge of agriculture is a must.

Question: There has been talk of making education more inclusive by inviting public schools to open up their premises to accommodate second and third shifts after traditional school hours for the education of underprivileged children. Do you think that can be an effective strategy?

Sri Sri: I think it's good. It will go a long way in bridging the urban-rural divide, and the rich-poor divide. Quality education can be given to such
children. Not just in cities. Even in semi-urban areas, buses must fetch the children from remote places. Taking a ride in a bus every day can motivate
children to go to school. Adult literacy is also important. These institutions can play a major role in this.

Question: Broadly speaking, what measures do you think are required to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of education for all?

Sri Sri: Four institutions are needed to be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The government's role is essential. There must be a greater budget allocated to education. Not for just opening universities and having more unemployment, but for giving primary education at the lowest cost, or free of cost.

Today, in India, 51% of postgraduates, 39% graduates and 0% of the illiterate are unemployed. This is appalling. Why would you want your son or daughter to
spend so much time and so many years to become unemployed? When they are unemployed, crime increases.

Therefore, a good primary education is a must. Religious and spiritual institutions must join hands in this. Those with a spiritual education will not get involved in criminal activities. So, spiritual institutions have a role. The third is NGOs as they have creative ideas, plans and proposals. If they implement these in their schools, such schools excel. The fourth is corporate houses. If all these four sectors come together, the MDG will not be a dream, but achieved in a couple of years.

Question: More than 90,000 people have responded to Teach India's call for volunteers. What message would you like to give them and NGOs involved in education?

Sri Sri: Work together. Intellectuals often do not come together. Each one thinks he knows best. There is no team spirit. But they must come together with one goal — in bringing quality education for all. If this can be done, we can achieve it.
For this, we need a violence-free environment, volunteers must be healthy, free from prejudices; with a little tinge of spirituality — it can bring about so much joy in those who want to work. If you are working as an expression of your joy, you will create that happiness all around. You will create that sort of education that you are aspiring for.

Gurudev on Atheism

2008-08-04T10:04:00.001-07:00

Weekly Knowledge #284 Bad Anogast 25 Dec 2000 Germany

Atheism

Atheism is when one does not believe either in values or in the abstract. When an atheist comes to the Guru, what happens? You start experiencing your own form and discover that you are indeed formless, hollow and empty. And
this abstract non-form in you becomes more and more concrete!!!

The guru makes the abstract more real and what you thought as solid appears to be more unreal. Sensitivity and subtlety dawns. Perception of love, not as an emotion, but as the substratum of existence becomes evident. The
formless spirit shines through every form in creation and mystery of life deepens, shattering the atheism. Then the journey begins and it has four stages.

The first stage is Saarupya (to see the formless in the form) Ö Seeing God in all the forms. Often, one feels more comfortable to see God as formless rather than with a form, because with a form, one feels a distance, a
duality, a fear of rejection and other limitations. In life all of our interactions are with the form, other than in deep sleep and in Samadhi. And, if you do not see God in the form, then the waking part of life remains
devoid of the Divine. All those who accept God to be formless use symbols, and perhaps love the symbols more than God himself! If God comes and tells a Christian to leave the cross or a Muslim to drop the crescent, perhaps he
may not do it! To begin with loving the formless is possible only through forms.

The second stage is Saamipya (closeness) Ö feeling absolutely close to the form you have chosen and reaching out to the formless. This leads to a sense of intimacy with the whole creation. In this stage, one overcomes the fear
of rejection and other fears. But this is time and space bound.

The third stage is Saanidhya - feeling the presence of the Divine by which you transcend the limitations of time and space.

Then the final stage Ö Saayujya Ö is when you are firmly entrenched with the Divine. It is then you realize you are one with the Divine. There is a total merging with the Beloved and all duality disappears.

This is That & That is This.

Vinod Mathur: Does a believer also go through these four stages?

Sri Sri: Certainly, whether an atheist or believer, he goes through the four
stages.

Act Without Expectation

2008-06-12T23:13:00.000-07:00

Act without Expectation: It relaxes and rewards
A talk by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

It's often believed that if people become spiritual and dispassionate about the outcome of their actions, they will stagnate; there will be no progress. In fact, the opposite is true. Creativity and enthusiasm can spring only when you are well rested; and you cannot rest if you are anxious about the outcome of your actions.

When we perform every action with an eye on the end result, we get lost in the end and don't enjoy the means of getting to the end. But when we perform some actions as an expression of joy and do not bother about the result, the action itself brings fulfillment. When we act expecting joy, the action becomes inferior. For example, you want to spread happiness, but if you try to find out whether the other person has become happy, you get entangled in a vicious circle. In the process, you lose your happiness!

Anxiety about the outcome of your action is what pulls you down. At the beginning of a project if you start worrying, then your whole enthusiasm for the project gets dampened. When you are aware of your potential, just jump into action without bothering about the result. When you are in doubt, any activity you do will bring more doubts. When you have a choice, the grass on the other side will look greener and this prevents you from enjoying what you have in your hand. When you are bothered by a choice, relax.

The choice is never between good and bad; it's always between bad and worse or good and better. Choices bring conflict and there is freedom in 'choicelessness'. How can you be centred when there is conflict? There is a Chinese saying: that when you are in doubt, take a pillow and go to bed!

In Narada Bhakti Sutras, Narada says, "Karmanyapi Sanyasyati". Take a break, not just from activity, but also from the fruit of the activity. It will bring deep rest from doubts and conflicts. One who is not concerned about the outcome and is centered on the action, goes beyond dualities, beyond conflicts. The wise one is beyond all actions. Yet he continues to engage himself in action. You can only let go of what you have. So to let go of the fruit of action, you need to have the fruit and to have the fruit, you need to act!

This is so beautiful. If you have never acted, then how can you drop either the action or the fruit of action. So be active. Keep doing your work, and drop the fruit of action. The fruit of action is there as the motivation for you to start acting. Krishna used the fruit of action to motivate Arjuna to fight. He told Arjuna that if you die in battle, you will attain heaven and if you win, you will rule the world. Jesus did the
same. When you are bogged down by laziness, you need motivation to do something and the expected fruit of action acts as the motivating factor.

But once you start acting, let go of the expected result. Just focus on the work on hand. This is the way of the wise!

Desires & Expectation

2008-05-08T10:45:00.001-07:00

We were asking Guruji about the difference between a desire and an expectation. ..
He said, Desires are always for something nice or good, but an expectation can be for something bad... Like you may expect the share market to crash, I don't think many will desire that! :)

Then He went on to say that there is really no difference between desire, fear and anxiety!!

He said that the mind (or that aspect of yourself that manifests stuff into the physical realm) cannot distinguish between a desire, some fear or an anxiety... so for example, if you are riding a bicycle, and are thinking, oh i should not bang into the pavement, i should not bang into the pavement, i should not bang........ . The mind incorrectly assumes that that's exactly what you want and manifests that! and so you bang! :)

This little byte of Knowledge, this insight can explain every single happening in our life! The mind CANNOT differentiate between a desire, a fear or an anxiety, and will merrily manifest whatever it is that you are feeling and thinking strongly about...

We have the utsav in Bangalore in an open air place, and off late there have been a few clouds and some rumblings of thunder... Rashmin was listening to me while i was talking about what Guruji had said and remarked oh i hope there will be no rain... and i said thats it! if you think that, there is going to be rain! :)

and he said, oh this is complicated. .. what do i think!?... Think about clear skies! is what i told him...

We are all so used to thinking "negatively" ... hoping, wishing for things NOT to happen... and exactly that manifests into our lives!

Reprogram yourself to wishing and hoping for certain things to happen!! and then let go of the desire, 'coz feverishness for the desire will make you go for certain into "what ifing" ... and soon the thoughts and feeling about it not happening become strong :)

Guruji once had remarked, whenever you wish for something, always wish, "Let me have this or better!" :) You may wish for a million dollars and the Universe actually wanted to give you a 100 million, but since your wish is for just a million, thats all you get... :)

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu!!! ...or better!!!!! :)

Jai Gurudeva!
love
bawa

2008-04-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

Moving from Religion to Spirituality

2008-02-05T09:00:00.001-08:00

Panaji, India, Feb 4, 2008:
The internationally acclaimed spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today said that the world needs to move from religion to spirituality.

“Though at least six religions are followed in the East, including countries like China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia, amongst others,” the revered spiritual leader said, “no war is fought in these Oriental countries on the basis of religion.” “On the other hand, so many religious wars have taken place in countries extending from Iraq to Pakistan, and it’s unbelievable,".

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who was delivering the spiritual discourse in the city, organised by the Dempo Charities Trust, also maintained that during past 1,000 years, India has no religious wars, although people from foreign countries came and suppressed Indians. “There may be few exceptions like inquisition witnessed in Goa during the colonial rule,” He added.

Expressing faith in goodness existing in the world, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that the majority of people around us are good, while there exists a small percentage of people who do bad things. “These few people are not bad people but people doing bad things,” He reiterated, stating “therefore, there should be no concern about increase in the number of members of this minority group.”

The revered spiritual leader observed that there is always a tendency on the part of the people to join the majority group as it has a ‘market value’, and the same would result in increase in the number of good people around the world.

"This situation allows us to remain honest and maintain goodness in ourselves, in spite of the adverse environment existing today", He said.

Speaking further, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that one should decide whether he or she wants to lead life like an incense stick by spreading fragrance of the work in the society, or illuminate the world by burning like a lamp so that darkness in the life of others is dispelled. “If we ourselves don’t experience satisfaction, then how are we going to satisfy others,”, He said.

Stating that it is more important to learn life than language, the spiritual leader said that spiritualism in nothing but delving inside oneself to learn the unknown. “We should learn the art of soothing our mind,” He advised, appealing to the audience to be at ease before and after doing any work so as to calm oneself from all tensions.

“Then and only then we will be able to solve the mystery of the unknown,” the spiritual leader maintained.

Interacting with the audience, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that when the body falls off, we carry the impressions of the mind. “Like in television technology wherein the event is transported through wave medium, our mind too is a wave energy and captures day-to-day activities, further relaying them to the universe,” He noted.

The acclaimed spiritual leader also observed that as explained in the Bhagwad Geeta, anger erupts from righteousness, while being accommodative brings enormous expansion in one’s state of mind.

Science and Spirituality

2008-01-16T12:41:00.000-08:00

Mathematics, Science and Spirituality!

Memorial Lecture given by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
at S. M. Medical college, Jodhpur (23 February 2005)

Science and Spirituality

I know you all are waiting to hear me, while there are others who are simply waiting to see me, doesn't matter what I talk. Should I speak in Hindi or English? Some want in Hindi and others in English. I will speak in both and whenever I am speaking in the language other than that of your choice, just listen as if you are listening to some music, otherwise you will start feeling restless!

Listening is also an art- there is an art of listening. Are you all listening? It can be any speaker who may speak for ten minutes but we actually hear for about three minutes; this is a statistical figure! The remaining seven minutes, the body remains there but the mind goes out gallivanting and comes back after roaming for sometime. So if one speaks for thirty minutes say, then, in actual effect, you hear for about 9-10 minutes. That’s why I said, whatever language I speak, if you do not understand, just hear it like a music otherwise restlessness starts building in the mind, right?

You always complain if someone speaks in the language you don’t know. When you sit and gossip for 2-3 hours, you don’t know how the time flies but when you are sitting and someone is speaking for a couple of minutes in a foreign language you don’t know, even those couple of minutes seem to be very long, hasn’t it been our experience? Whenever your mind is engaged, you do not feel the time but when the mind is not engaged, you feel the time is too long, correct?

Study of time is both Spirituality and Science. Time is the junction.

Are you all here? What is happening now? Waiting- waiting for a phone call, waiting for someone to come, waiting for something. But you know what’s interesting is that we don’t know what waiting itself is!

If you can experience the pure waiting- that becomes meditation. Suppose I am not going to speak for next 20-25 minutes, are you willing to be here? Yes! Waiting for infinity is meditation and if we don’t understand what waiting is, we tend towards frustration.

See, waiting is the junction that either leads you to frustration on one side or, on another side, takes you to a meditative state. If you are a meditator then you know what ‘dhyaan’(meditation) is, then nothing can frustrate you because every moment that you are free and have to wait for something, you drop into meditation !

We become carefree when we realize that waiting can lead to either meditation or frustration. You can be free from frustration if you meditate and be happy and joyful. Many moments come in our lives, when we have to wait and with this waiting we are filled with frustration, anger, restlessness - all kinds of disorders of mind. So to become free from all such disorders it is very essential to know about meditation.

"What is this?"- is Science ; " Who am I?"- is Spirituality. It is only in India, in this country, that no conflict ever happened between Science and Spirituality.

It is only in India that from ages the science and spirituality said the Earth and other planets are moving round the Sun. We also teach our students but unfortunately in a wrong way. We teach today in our schools that Galileo discovered that the earth is round. We don’t remember that it is India which has given the concept of earth being spherical ‘khagoal’ (kha means Earth and goal means round), ‘bhoogoal’ (geography- the study of earth ) etc. The earth was always considered spherical. In the 7- 8th century sculptures you see the ‘Varah Murti’ carrying a globe on their tusks. That means our ancestors; the people in India in ancient days knew that the earth was
spherical.

From the times of Vedic age itself, our ancient people knew the placing of the sun and the planets. In today’s time too we worship the same way by placing the sun in the center and all planets around it. Long ago, from ancient times, we knew that the sun was the center of our solar system yet we teach wrong and give credit to Galileo for discovering it! We need to change such history now. Similarly the value of ‘Pi’(p) and its formula were known long ago. They were well advanced in mathematics . All geometry, trigonometry etc was given in verses with not just formulas but also with detail and diagrams. So we were never ignorant but very advanced in Science from ancient time but unfortunately what is being taught is that our ancestors were ignorant and foolish. It is heard that a professor of History, in Delhi University, is teaching the children that the ancient man burnt incense to scare the God saying- “See the incense in my hand, fulfill my wish or I will burn you down” And if that was not sufficient to scare then he went with the lamp etc. According to his teaching the ancient man knew nothing else but to scare for fulfilling his wishes and because of such foolish ideas only he began doing worship! If we teach such things to the children then these children will become naxalites in future. It is the lack of spirituality in education in our country, that the youth are becoming naxalites. On one hand they commit suicide or on other hand they become violent and aggressive.

What is spiritualism? To understand this, ponder over this “ Who am I? What am I made up of? This body is made of food we eat etc but then consciousness, the spirit within it is made up of what? What are its ingredients?- to know this all is spiritualism.

Our ancestors have given the beautiful explanations of it. Asti, Bhati, Preeti , Naam and Roop - these are the five ingredients/elements or aspects of self. Asti, Bhati, Priti- are the three forms of our consciousness, our mind . Asti meaning "I am", bhati is realizing that it is and preeti , the love with which it is made of â€“these are the three forms with which our consciousness is made of. If all the lights were put off in this room, even then you feel your presence, don’t you still feel , â€œI am â€œ here?-this feeling of â€œI amâ€� is- asti.

Are you all listening? Still here? The mind has not gone out for a tea break na? Yes! So ,when you say you are listening to me you , you realize your presence that is bhati.

And your nature is love- that is preeti. So these are the three aspects of our consciousness.

And the body or matter has two aspects- naam or name and roop or the form. Every thing has a name and a form. With a form or property and a name different things exist in the world.

Science examines or studies on name and shape, while Spirituality on asti, bhati and preeti.
What is this? - is Science ; Who am I?- is Spirituality. Can there be any conflict between the two? Never! Both are the two ends of the same thread of knowledge. People may say that spiritualism begins where science ends but I do not agree with that. Science and Spiritualism are not separate, they go together, they are always in oneness. And there can be no dispute after the theory of relativity which proved about matter and energy.

And what is happening now? As I am speaking you are also thinking in your mind-
Yes, yes, he is speaking right, or, No, no, how can that be right.. like that Yes, yes No,
no going on in the mind, isn’t it? That faculty by which you perceive is Mind and that by
which you agree/accept or disagree is Intellect. And the study of this inner, internal layers of
consciousness is Spirituality.

Sri Krishna also said in Geeta- Gyaan vigyaan pratyaatmaâ€�. One gains the Complete knowledge only if gets the knowledge of both science and spirituality. From our four ‘Darshan shastras’- the first three are of science only!

Vaisheshik Darshan says - padartha gyaanatva mokshah. Sage Vaisheshik said that knowledge of one element contains the full knowledge of all other elements, knowing which you can attain pure bliss. If you understand and have full knowledge of one atom, you are liberated. Even if you don’t believe in God but understand even one atom thoroughly, it gives you liberation- this is what the ancient scriptures have said.

How to achieve it? Put your attention to know one thing fully. Understand an atom. What is your body?-a heap of atoms. When all atoms embraced and combine with each other- a body is formed and when they become at daggers with each other and separate with each other- the body disintegrates and death takes place. This body is made up of so many atoms. What is an atom? What is the function of an atom? â€“ So who am I? Am I the body? What is this body? Do you know this body is not solid but fluid like a river? 98% of our body is empty- space element. If you observe a small piece of your skin under the microscope, it looks like a mosquito net- so porous and full of holes! Likewise take any metal, it has lot of empty space also. And out of remaining 2% - 60% is water element and 15% air element in the body. You are like a water or a juice sachet! After you drink juice, how does the packet looks- pressed and bad similarly if all the water is removed from your body , you will become depressed! And if air is removed then, as the fish perishes if removed from water, you will perish too! We don’t know fully about our body itself. So it is good to have full knowledge like this first. If you know about your own body, the mind becomes still and liberation happens. So where is the conflict? Science is a logical, sequential understanding of the reality and spirituality goes one step ahead from the aspects you know.

You will see there are many types of logic- Whether the means of understanding itself is correct or not? The correct aspect is there or not? The subjective analysis- the aspect from which you learn, by which you know, whether your apparatus or analysis itself is correct or not- and this is spirituality. So unless you take both approaches, your knowledge will not be complete.

Belongingness is the sign of spiritualism. In today’s life, man has become rigid like a stone living in a small world of his own. We convey more through our presence than through our words. We live whole of our life in a formal atmosphere and lose the naturalness and belongingness. One can have a simple, lovable nature or personality through spirituality only.

Truth is multidimensional. This is a gift given to the world by India. Knowledge or Truth is not linear but spherical. (Isliye virodhaatmak batein sath sath hoti hein) That's why controversial things co-exist- and that's what we teach in the Art of Living course-that opposite values are complementary. Unless you take both approaches, knowledge will be incomplete. Any life devoid of Spiritualism is dry and lack of knowledge makes one sad, and sorrowful.

Some question/ answers

Q- What is God?
A-(Bhoomi jaise sahansheel, Agni jaise prajvalit, vayu jeise halkaa, paani jeise vinamra aur nubh jeise sarva vyaapak- jismein yuh sub tutva hein , vuh bhagvaan hei)

Patience like the Earth, Glow of the Fire, light like the Air, humble like the water(which flows downward) and present every where like space- the one having all these elements is God!

Q- How to realise faithfulness?
A- The same way you feel the pain. When there is a pain, you just know it!

Q- Guru se bada kaun? Who is above Guru?
A – (Guru ka matlub hee hei - bahut bada toe jaan jao khud hee!) Guru means Great so you know the answer yourself!

Whatever you give importance to brings misery or happiness

2007-12-18T11:23:00.000-08:00

Whatever thing you give importance to in your life is the cause of happiness or misery. For e.g. you give importance to respect in your life. You entire life will be centered around it. You will do those actions by which you will get respect. You will be unhappy when you do not get the respect.
So if you feel you are giving too much importance to something just use the three point program to get over it.

The three point program is :-
> Take a deep breath in
> Remember your connection with Guruji
> Take a deep breath out and let go of what is troubling you

Use the three point program to get rid of the thoughts and emotions that are troubling you. The three point program is useful in bringing you from a negative state of mind to a neutral state of mind. But to go from the neutral state of mind to a positive state of mind you need something else. This something else is enthusiasm, responsibility and love. Whatever thing you do with enthusiasm, the quality of whatever action you are doing becomes more profound, more intense.
The highest form of seva is to bring someone on the path of knowledge.

Bhajans on guitar

2007-09-23T01:03:00.000-07:00

Maa Amba Maa

E
Maa Amba Maa Amba Maa Amba Bol

G
Eshwara Sat Chit Ananda Ho

E
SambaSadaShiva SambaSadaShiva SambaSadaShiva Bol

G
Eshwara Sat Chit Ananda Ho

E
Amba Amba Maa Jagadamba

G
Akhilandeshwari Jaya Jagadamba

E -----------------G---------- E
Jai Jai Maa Jai Jai Maa Jai Jai Maa

E ---C ---D-----E
Jaya Maa Jaya Maa

Bholaaa..

Capo II (3 taal Down—UpDown----UpDown)

A
Bhola Hara Hara Bhola

Shiva Shiva Bhola

-------------E-A
Shankara Bhola

A
Surya Chandra Pralayagni Netra Dhara

A ----------------E
Shakti Sahit Shiv Natana Manohara

Krishna Govinda

A
Krishna Govinda Govinda Gopala

---------E------------- A
Govinda Shyam Radhe Krishna

A --------------------------------E
Govinda Govinda , Paramananda Ananda

E ----------------------A
GhanaShyama Ananda Krishna

A ----------------------------------------E
Madhusudhana Krishna Manamohana Krishna

A -----------E---------- A
Madhava Keshava, Yadu Nanda Nanda Ananda

Nanda Ke Lala

A ------------------------E
Nanda Ke Lala, O Nanda Ke Lala O Ho Ho

-------------------------------A
Nanda Ke Lala, ho, Nanda Ke Lala

A
Nanda ke Lala Ho Ho

------------D ----------------------E--------------A
Yashoda ke Bala, Giridhar Gwala O Nanda Ke Lala Aa

A ----------------------------E
Hey Nanda Lala… O Nanda Ke Lala O O

-----------------------------A
Nanda Ke Lala O Nanda Ke Lala

Shiv Om

D
Shiv Om....

Shiv Shiv Shiv Shiv Om

- ---------------------A
Hara Hara Hara Hara Om Om Om

--------------D
Namah Shivaya

Om Namah Shivay
Shiva Om Namah Shivay
Shiv Om Namah Shivay Namah Shivay Namah Shivay

Om Gurave Namah

D
Om Gurave Namah

G
Om Gurave Namah

D-----------------G
Guru Om Namo Narayana

D-----------------G-------D
Guru Om Namo NaArayanaa

2-1 Bhajan

Capo III

E----G---------------------D--------E
Raadhe Raadhe Raadhe Raadhe Shyam

C------------------D---------------E
Govinda Gopala Radhe Radhe Shyam

E-------------------------G
Govinda Radhe Radhe Shyam

D------------------------E
Gopala Radhe Radhe Shyam

E---------------------------D
Sri Radhe Radhe Radhe Shyam

-----------E
Govinda Radhe

E
Sri Radhe...

G----------------------D
Govinda Radhe Radhe Shyam

D--------------------E
Gopala Radhe Radhe Shyam

Shiva Bhajan chords

2007-09-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Om Namah Shivaya Shivaya Namah Om Capo II

Am---------(F)-----G------(F)------Am
Om Namah Shivaya Shivaya Namah Om

Am---------------G-------Am
Om Namah Shivaya Shivaya Om

G--------------------Am---------Em--------Am
Om, Om, Shivaya Om, Hara Hara Shiva Shambho
G---------------------Am--------G-----------

Shankara Shankara

In E chord only

Shankara, Shankara, Shankara Hara, Shashi Shekhara Hara....

Dama Dama Dama Damaru Baje
Capo I
C-------------------G------C (repeat)
Dama Dama Dama Dama Damaru Baje, Bholenath Shiva Shambho Bhaje, Kashinath Shiva Shambho Bhaje, Ghana Ghana ....

Krsna Bhajan Guitar chords

2007-09-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

Guru Bhajan guitar chords

2007-09-22T11:54:00.002-07:00

Guru Songs

Guruji Sharanam
--a---------d----E--------a-
GURUJI SHARANAM JAI GURUDEVA 2X
---C-----a-------d-----E------
KARUNA VATARAM TVAM PREMSAGARAM
---a-------d------E--------a---
GYANA JYOTIRMAYAM JAI GURU DEVA 2X

--a---------d----E--------a-
GURUJI SHARANAM JAI GURUDEVA 2X

---c----a-----d-----E---
SUNDARARUPAM ANANDA DATAM
---a-------d-----E--------a--
HRIDAYE VASATAM JAI GURU DEVA 2X

--a---------d----E--------a-
GURUJI SHARANAM JAI GURUDEVA 2X

---C-------a--------d---------E----
MADHURA SVABHAVAM MANGALA DARSHANAM
---a-------d----E-------a---
NIRJAHANILAYAM JAI GURU DEVA 2X

Guru Deva Sharanam
Am---------E--------Am
Guru Deva Sharanam Deva
Am-----------E-------Am
Pahi Prabho Sharanam Deva
Am---------E-------Am
Guru Deva Sharanam Deva
Am------------A7------E
Sundara Rupa Sri Guru Deva
C---------F------------Am
Sharanam Sharanam Guru Deva

Jaya Guru Om

Ver 1
-----------a-----E-a---e-a
JAYA GURU OM NAMAH SHIVAYA 4X
1/2F----------a----------e----a-
DAKHINA MURTI GURU OM OM GURU OM 2X
1/2F---------------e—A7---
DAKHINA MURTI GURU O-O-O-M

Ver 2

Am-------------Em-----AmEmAm
Jaya Guru Om Namah Shivaya

D7---------A7------------Em---Am
Dakhina Murti Guru Om Om Guru Om

D7----------Am-------Em---E
Dakhina Murti Guru O-O-O-M

a-------------G----F-----
[OMKAR GURUJI OMKAR GURUJI]

Guru Deva Shankara
a--------C--------E
GURU DEV GURU DEV GURUDEV
F--------C--------E

F--------------------C----------E
GUR DEVA GURU DEVA SHANKARA SHANKARA

Jaya Guru Omkara

C-------------G-----------------------C
Jaya Guru Omkara Jaya Jaya Sadguru Omkara

C-------------------G--
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiva

G-------------------------C
Hara Hara Hara Hara Mahadeva

Jaya Guru Deva Guru Om Namo Narayana
Ver 1
C----------------------------------G-
Jaya Guru Deva Guru Om Namo Narayana

C----G-------C----G------
Om Narayana, Om Namo Namo

Ver 2

D----------------------------------A-
Jaya Guru Deva Guru Om Namo Narayana

D----A-------D----A------
Om Narayana, Om Namo Namo

Om Namah Shivaya GuraveVer 1

C-----------G---------F---------G----
Om Namah Shivaya, Gurave Sachidananda,

------F-G-C
Murta Ye
C-------G------------F------------G--
Namastasmai, Namastasmai, Namastasmai
--F-------C-
Namo Namaha

Ver 2

D-----------A---------G---------A----
Om Namah Shivaya, Gurave Sachidananda,

------G-A-D
Murta Ye
D-------A------------G------------A--
Namastasmai, Namastasmai, Namastasmai
--G-------D-
Namo Namaha

Om Guru Om Guru Deva Deva
(Ver 1)

Am-------C----G--------Am--
Om Guru, Om Guru, Deva Deva

Am-----G------Em------Am-
Aja Ki Jai, Ananda Ki Jai

(Alternate Chords: Dm, C)

(Ver 2)

Dm----------------C----Dm--
Om Guru, Om Guru, Deva Deva

Dm-------------C------Dm-
Aja Ki Jai, Ananda Ki Jai

(Ver 3) Capo II

a----------------G---- a--
Om Guru, Om Guru, Deva Deva

a-------F---G---------a--
Aja Ki Jai, Ananda Ki Jai

Guru Kripa Karo

C----------------G-------F----C
Guru Kripa Karo, Guru Kripa Karo

C----F-------G---F-------G----C
Guru Kripa Karo, Guru Kripa Karo

C-------------------G---------F----C
Guru Deva Guru Dev, Guru Deva Guru Dev
Guru Deva Guru Dev, Guru Deva Guru Dev
Guru Om
-----Am-------Em-------Am-------Em--Am
Guru Om, Guru Om, Guru Om, Guru Om,
-----Am-------G--------Am-------Em--Am
Guru Om, Guru Om, Guru Om, Guru Om
(Alternate Chords Dm, C)

Tere Naam Ke Siva
C
Tere Naam Ke Siva

G---------------------C
Mujhe Kuch bhi yaad nahin

C-------G---C
Guruji, Guruji

C----------------F------------C
Om Gurave Namah, Om Gurave Namaha

C----------------G------C
Dharti Mein Bhi, Tuhi Tuhi

C----------F----------G
Ambar Mein Bhi, Tuhi Tuhi

Saagar Mein Bhi, Tuhi Tuhi
Lehron Mein Bhi, Tuhi Tuhi

Ajo Anantaya
G--------------C-------------
Ajo Anantaya Nityaya Shudhaya

-----C-------------G--------
Sacchidananda Nanda Guru Om

G--------------C--------G
Guru Om Guru Om Guru Om Guru Om

G-------C-------G
Guru Om Guru Om Guru Om

--------C-------------------------G------
Namo Narayana Hari Hara Shashi Shekharaya

---------C-----------D--
Para Brahmananda Guru Om

Balance & Discipline (with a riddle)

2007-07-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

BALANCE AND DISCIPLINE
-- Gurudev
People who are free, regret that they don't have discipline. They keep promising that they will become disciplined.
People who are disciplined look for the end. (Discipline is not an end in itself, it is a means.)

Look at the people who have no discipline; they are miserable. Freedom without discipline is absolute misery.
Discipline without freedom is suffocating.

Orderliness is monotonous and chaos is stressful. We have to make the discipline free and the freedom disciplined.

People who are in company all the time, they look for the comforts of solitude. People who are in solitude,
feel so lonely and want to be in company.

People who are in a cold place want to be in a warm place. People who are in a warm place love something cool.

This is the dilemma of life: Everyone is looking for perfect balance. Perfect balance is like a razor's edge.
It can only be found in the self.

There is no road to this town and there are no steps to this house.

How do you get in? Figure it all out.

Riddle on Patanjali

2007-07-11T16:40:00.000-07:00

Patanjali and the gift of knowledge
-- Gurudev asks everyone to think about this story and infer what it really means

We will begin with a story, the greatest and most effective way of conveying knowledge. Once upon a time, long ago, all the munis and rishis approached Lord Vishnu to tell him that even though He (incarnated as Lord Dhanvanthari) had given them the means to cure illnesses through Ayurveda, people still fell ill. They also wanted to know what to do when people got sick.

Sometimes it is not just physical illness, but mental and emotional illness too that needs to be dealt with. Anger, lust, greed, jealousy etc. How does one get rid of all these impurities? What is the formula?

Vishnu was lying on the bed of snakes — the serpent Adishésha with a 1,000 heads. When the Rishis approached Him, he gave them Adishésha, the symbol of awareness, who took birth in the world as Maharishi Patanjali.

So Patanjali came to this earth to give this knowledge of yoga which came to be known as the yogasutras. Patanjali said he was not going to discuss the yogasutras unless 1,000 people got together. So 1,000 people gathered south of Vindhya Mountains to listen to him.

Patanjali had another condition — he would put a screen between him and his students and told them that nobody was to lift the screen or leave. Everybody had to stay in the hall till he finished. So Patanjali stayed behind the curtain and he transmitted his knowledge to the 1,000 gathered. Each of them absorbed this knowledge. It was an amazing phenomenon and even amongst the students, they could not believe how they were getting this knowledge, how the master was making each of them understand without uttering words from behind the curtain.

Everybody was amazed. Each one of them experienced such a blast of energy, such a blast of enthusiasm, that they could not even contain it. But they still had to maintain the discipline.

But one little boy had to go out to attend nature’s call. So he left the room. He thought to himself that he would go quietly and return quietly. Another person became curious. “What is the Master doing behind the curtain? I want to see.” He got so curious that he lifted the curtain to see the Master. But just as he did so, all 999 disciples were burnt to ashes. Now, Patanjali became very sad. There he was, ready to impart knowledge to the whole world and all of his disciples were burnt.

At this moment, that one little boy returned. Patanjali asked him where he had gone. The boy explained and asked his forgiveness. Patanjali was compassionate and felt that at least one of his disciples was saved.

So he gave him the rest of the sutras, the rest of the knowledge. But the student had violated the law and Patanjali was not willing to forget that. So he said, “Since you have violated the law, you will become a Brahmarakshasa , a ghost and hang on the tree.” And the only way he could liberate himself from the curse is to teach one student. Saying this Patanjali disappeared.

Now Brahmarakshasa, hanging on a tree, would ask everyone who passed by one question and when they could not answer he would eat them. He had no choice and for a few thousand years this was the story. He could not find a single person to whom he could teach the yogasutras. So he remained in the tree as a Brahmarakshasa (the lesson here being that for the one who has great knowledge, and who does something wrong, the state of Brahmarakshasa will come. An intelligent person becoming a criminal becomes more dangerous than an innocent person becoming a criminal. If a person, who knows all knowledge and then turns a criminal, it is much more dangerous). So the Brahmarakshasa was hanging there and waiting for relief.

Then out of compassion, Patanjali himself becomes a disciple and comes as a student to Brahmarakshasa who told him all the sutras, which Patanjali wrote on the palm leaf. The story goes that to redeem one disciple, the Master became the disciple of a disciple.

Patanjali wrote the sutras sitting on the top of the tree as that was where the Brahmarakshasa sat. Also, Brahmarakshasa worked only in the night. So he dictated the sutras at night and Patanjali wrote them on the leaves. He plucked all the leaves and made a small scratch, drew blood and wrote. This went on for seven days. At the end of it, Patanjali was tired and put everything he had written on a piece pf cloth and set it down and went to bathe. But when Patanjali returned, he found that a goat had eaten most of the leaves. Patanjali then took the cloth bag and the rest of the leaves and walked away.

In this story, there is a lot of depth. The puranas do not give any explanation. They just give a story and it is for us to unlock the meaning. So what is that you all have to find out? (1) How did the master convey the knowledge to everybody without uttering a word? (2) What was the significance of the veil and when it was lifted why did everybody burn down? (3) Why was the one boy forgiven? (4) What is the significance of the goat? (4) What is the significance of this story? You should think about all this and come up with your own answers.

This is the first in a series on yoga sutras

Free Your Mind - Patanjali Yoga Sutra

2007-07-11T16:25:00.000-07:00

Free your mind
--- Commentary by Sri Sri on Patanjali Yoga Sutras

Is practice alone enough? Patanjali says “No”. There are two oxen, which pull a cart. The two wheels of this cart
are abhyasa (practice) on one side and vairagya (dispassion) on the other.

What is vairagya?

Drishtanu shravikavishaya vitrush’asya vashikara sanjna vairagyam (Sutra 15) meaning “dispassion is that state of supremacy of consciousness in the one free from the thirst of the perceptible and celestial enjoyment”.

The mind gallops towards the world of passion. You just keep quiet, close your eyes or open your eyes or do anything. Where does your mind go? It travels towards the sense of sight. You want to see something somewhere.

Or the mind runs towards he sense of smell, taste, sound and touch. Do you see that? Or it gallops towards something it has heard. It has never seen but it has read some thoughts. This craving for any of these experiences in the mind can stop you from being in the present moment.

Vairagya is that, when, for a few moments, however beautiful a scenery is, you say: “I am not interested at looking at it right now”. However good the food is, you say, “This is not the time. I am not interested in it”.

Even a few moments of retrieving our senses, the craving or thirst for objects and going back to the source is vairagya. Are you getting this? This is another basic requirement for meditation. Whenever you want to meditate, your mind should be in dispassion. Without dispassion your meditation is no good and cannot provide you the rest that you are longing for.

Your mind is tired and bogged down by galloping through desires. It is so tired. Just turn back and see all the desires you have had. Have they given you rest? No. They have only created a few more desires and the few more desires, which come, have they given you rest? No. They have given you more, for you to achieve more and have another trip on the merry-go-round. You are not just here, you just go round. You know, the merry-go-round has horses, which do not go anywhere. They just go round in the same place.

Stuck in this illusion, you travel miles and miles but go nowhere. This is what desire does to you.

There are two types of arguments even in this. “The sage has said that you should not have desires;
so I will not desire anything” is one argument. Now, saying “I do not want any desire” becomes another desire. Some people do this and that is beating around the bush. Some people are on a trip to destroy their desires.

Vitrushnasya vashikara sanjna vairagyam. The mind that gallops is an obstruction. An expectation in meditation is an obstruction. You have heard somebody’s experience of light coming and somebody coming from heaven and taking them by hand and you see it with your eyes close. All these ideas are the construction of fiction.

Your desire for pleasure or happiness makes you unhappy. You examine whenever you are unhappy or miserable. Behind that is your wanting to be happy. You got it? Craving for happiness brings misery. If you do not even crave for happiness, then you are happy. You crave for happiness and you invite misery. When you do not care for happiness, you are liberated and when you do not even care for liberation, you attain love. The first step is when you do not care for happiness. The second step is param vairagya or supreme dispassion when you do not even care for liberation. Then you are free. You are liberated.

Happiness is just a mere idea in the mind. You think that if you have this you are happy. If you have whatever you wanted, then are you happy? Vairagya is putting a stop to craving for happiness. That does not mean you must be miserable. It is not that. It does not mean you should not enjoy yourself, but the craving for joy, only when you retrieve your mind from it, only then can you meditate. Then yoga happens.

Your dreams and fantasies, just shatter them. All your dreams and fantasies, offer them to the fire. Burn them. What great happiness do you want to have? How long can you have it? You are going to be finished. It is all going to end. Before this earth eats you up, become free.

Free yourself from this feverishness that is gripping your mind.

Free yourself from this craving for happiness.

Look into every craving you have closely and remember you are going to die. Your craving for sweets, sugar, food. Ask yourself if you want to keep eating them. Ok, eat for as long as you like. See consciously, what can they do? Nothing. What else do you crave for? Beautiful views? Keep on looking at the view. How long you can go on looking?

Sex. How much sex can you have? Then you will see that there is nothing in it. How long? Few moments later, the body looks like styrofoam, that which was so attractive before.

What other thing? All these substances you see have limitations, but your mind is not ready for limitations. It wants unlimited pleasure, which the five senses cannot give you. It is impossible. You simply get burnt down, over and over again.

Skillfully handling the objects of senses and bringing it to the self is dispassion or vairagya

Doing Versus Happening

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Doing Versus Happening

Only one who is 100 percent in doing can recognize the happening.

The healthiest way to apply this knowledge is to see the whole past as happening and the present as doing. If you see the past as doing, then ego and regret come along. And when you see the present as happening, then laziness and unawareness set in. If you apply the doing for the future, it brings tension and worry. If you apply the happening for the future, it might bring some confidence and also lethargy.

Let the happening be for the past. Let the doing be for the present. And the future is a mix of both.

The wise will see the doing in happening and the happening in doing simultaneously. Are you confused now? (Laughter)

One who does a lot of work will never say he did a lot. When someone says he did a lot of work, that means he can do more. He has not done enough.

Work does not tire you as much as the doership does. All the talents you have are for others. If you have good voice, it is for others. If you are a good cook, it is for others. If you write a good book, it is for others. What do you do? You don´t sit and read your own book! If you are a good carpenter, it is for others. So all of your talents are useful for others. If you are a good surgeon, it is for others. You cannot do your own surgery. This is interesting. If you are school teacher, it is for others. You cannot teach your own children; they donÒ´ listen to you anyway. So all your work and talents are for others.

If you don't make use of your talents, they will not be given to you again.

Reality in contradiction

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Reality in contradiction. ....by srisriravishankar.
Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:01 pm (SGT)

Truth is contradictory, if it is not contradictory, then it is not truth! Bhagvad Gita is full of contradictions. You can understand it only if you see it in totality.

At one point, Krishna tells Arjuna that action is the most important thing and without action one will be nowhere. But after that He tells him that action is all right but knowledge is better! Then Krishna says, ''You must become a yogi and drop everything around you.'' Then Krishna tells him: ''He is intelligent who
sees 'action' in 'inaction' and 'inaction' in 'action'.'' What does this mean? It means even if you don't do something you have acted — simply by 'not
doing'.

If you do something then too you have not acted, for in your not acting here, something else could have happened — you could have done something else. Even
though you have acted, there is 'inaction'; because you did this, you couldn't do something else. So every 'action' has an 'inaction' and every 'inaction' has
got an 'action' connected to it.

And then Krishna takes Arjuna towards Dhyana Yoga — meditation. In the sixth chapter of the Bhagvad Gita, He tells Arjuna that since he is confused, there is no
use talking. He asks him to meditate.

Finally, Krishna says, ''Arjuna, he is the greatest amongst the yogis who keeps Me in his heart whether he meditates or not. He is the real yogi, because I am
with him in whatever he is doing.''

The contradictions don't end there. At one juncture, Krishna says, ''Arjuna, there is nobody dear to me, nobody whom I love.'' And then gives a whole list of
qualifications for those He really loves!

In another instance, Krishna tells Arjuna to act without looking for the fruit of action. Later He asks Arjuna to act properly, according to natural law. Then
He tells him the way he ought to fight if he wants to win the war. So, at this point He is bringing Arjuna's attention to the fruit of action, but then He also
tells him not to worry about the fruit of action.

Krishna was like a dear friend to Arjuna. In Bhagavatam, you will see that except for Vidura and Udhava, nobody even thought he was enlightened; they all thought that he was just very smart. Of course, there were the Pandavas and the gopis who knew who Krishna was and how total He was from all angles. But many of them, including Arjuna, did not see him that way.

But then Krishna shows him, in one minute, that He is infinite. He tells Arjuna, ''You can't see without the eye of knowledge; so now I will give you a special eye of knowledge, which I have haven't given anybody in
ages.

I am giving it to you now because it is time.'' With that, He gives him a vision, a flash. For that one moment the universe appears as a manifestation of
Krishna to Arjuna.

Arjuna's mind is shattered that moment. He sees all of creation, everything — the mountains and the rivers, the past, the present and the future —
dissolving in Krishna.

He sees that Krishna is that space, that infinity, into which everything is coming in and dissolving. For an instant, the whole life, the whole universe, all
the memory and all that was associated with it just plays out like a movie and it frightens Arjuna.

Then Arjuna pleads, ''Oh! Please show me your simple, natural and friendly face. I like your simple smile and I want to see my friend. I don't want to see
anything beyond. It is too much for me.'' This is called Vishva Roopa Darshana — the vision of the universal.

Thereafter, Krishna tells Arjuna about the yagyas and all the principles and the laws under which the society and universe works. Then He talks about
sanyasa and how to be really centered.

For instance, an event or an instance should be seen as just that — an event, an instance or a happening. But it sticks to the mind and you try to get rid of
it. The event assumes importance and the mind is caught up in it — ''Oh! He said that, they said this, they didn't say this, etc.''

Once the event goes away, then you feel a sense of great relief. You suddenly discover peace inside you.

Your very nature is peace. In the centre of you, you are peace. The moment this disturbance gets thrown out, you can actually feel it — all the brain cells,
and the entire brain becomes so calm and settled the moment this garbage goes out.

And deep inside you can really smile as a flame of peace. Arjuna asks Krishna, ''What you say is very magical and joyful. But it's not easy. This mind is
difficult to control. It's like controlling air — can anybody control air?''

Then Krishna says, ''I agree with you. It is difficult but not impossible. Abhyasena tu Kaunteya — with practice, dispassion and by getting to the centre
again, you will succeed.'' You will see that Krishna tried everything.

Finally it was the display of the universal vision that worked on Arjuna. People cannot change just by visions also. Krishna does not really bring about the
realisation totally from outside — it needs something more.

That is why after Krishna led Arjuna to the infinite vision, he speaks on what is dear to him, on devotion, and then he comes on all the other things you know —
about creation and even about food.

But when Arjuna says, ''I give up,'' Krishna says, ''I can't do anything; you think and do whatever is best for you. First ponder on whatever I have said and
then act.'' Arjuna says, ''No, now I am clear in my mind. I'll do whatever you will say.'' So, Krishna had to speak through 18 chapters to get him to that point.
Krishna could have done it at the very first chapter.
But it is beautiful the way this knowledge has flown.

Everything may appear to be all contradictory, seen from all angles.

But that is in fact reality.

Transform Yourself

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Calendar

2001-01-01T01:01:00.003-08:00

Seattle AOL Events planned for the year

For a current listing of upcoming courses and events, please visit http://us.artofliving.org/wa

Below is a list of courses/events that had been planned for 2009.
April 2009 :
> Part II Course (taught by Michael Fischman, led by Vani, Apr 29 - May 3rd)
> Art excel, Apr 28- May 02

May 2009:
> 5th - 10th, Part I Course ( led by Ravitej)
> 9th - 17th, Seattle Chapter Fundraiser week (led by David)
> 23-25th, Sahaj Samadhi Course ( taught by Mike Mastro, organized by Vani)
> 25th - 30th, Part I Course, Seattle
June 2009:
> June 6 , Orcas Island Fun Trip (led by Lisa)
> June 9-14, Part I Course , Bellevue
> June 13th, Care for Children Event (led by Lisa)

July 2009
> Part I Course, July 14-19

Aug 2009
> Part I Course, Aug 11-16

Sept 2009
> Part I Course, Sept 8-13

October 2009:
> AOL week (focus on Part I and YES!+ courses)
> Part I Course, Oct 6-10

Nov 2009
> Part I Course, Nov 3-7

Dec 2009
> Part I Course, Dec 8-12

Completed Courses / Events
Nov 2008:
> 18th Nov - Health & Happiness with Mikey (Rashmi)
> 21st Nov - iLead (Brian)

Dec 2008 :
> 20th Dec - Christmas Party (Vani led it, organized at Deb's over New Year.)
> New Year Satsang at Maple Valley Temple (Mahendra led it. Done! a huge success!)

Jan 2009:
> Part I Course with Ani

Feb 2009 :
> AOL week
> Part I with Bhushan & Ani
> YES!+ course with Jameelah

March 2009:
> Part I Course, by Ani

ContactUs

2001-01-01T01:01:00.000-08:00