Art of Living in News

Women from around the world to assess role of technology

2012-02-02T20:05:00.001+05:30

Bangalore : Women leaders from India and over 50 other countries are gathering here Friday to discuss role of technology in empowering women, particularly in developing nations.

The three-day conference titled "Women and Technology" is being organised by the Art of Living (AoL) International Centre, founded by spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

This is the fifth International Women's Conference (IWC) hosted by AoL. Parliamentarians, film makers, corporate executives and social activists from India, Argentina, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Holland, Italy, Ireland, Bulgaria, Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Bangladesh, Singapore and Japan will attend the conference, a statement from the AoL said Thursday. Read More

Sri Sri at WEF - NDTV interview

2012-01-29T16:46:00.002+05:30

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - World Economic Forum, Davos 2012

2012-01-29T16:37:00.000+05:30

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - World Economic Forum, Davos 2012 from Jack Johansson on Vimeo.

SPIRITUAL RETREAT: THE POWER OF FAITH By Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Guruji

2012-01-24T21:04:00.000+05:30

Faith is the central core of human existence. Faith sustains life and leads one through difficult times. Faith brings out hidden courage and potential in more ways than one.

There are three types of faith: Faith in oneself, faith in the world, and faith in the divine. All these faiths are connected. You must have all three faiths to be strong. This is a necessary and a sufficient condition to move ahead in life.

During the harvest season, the farmer separates husk from grain with a broad sieve. He stands on an elevated platform, holds the sieve and puts all his grains into it. He then proceeds to shake the sieve. If the particle that falls through the sieve is mere husk, it flies away and is lost. Meanwhile, the grains fall to the ground and stay put. Similarly, if your faith is shaken very quickly and too often, or if you lack faith in difficult times, then you are akin to the flying husk. One whose faith shakes when faced by catastrophes cannot smile through them. If you lack faith and if events frighten you, then you fly away like the husk, lost and anchorless. On the other hand, if you have faith that everything will be alright, you will find stability and everything will settle down.

When this knowledge "I am blessed" is established firmly in one's life, it is called faith. Once you realise that you are blessed, complaints disappear, as do grumblings and insecurities. Not everything in this world is hunky dory. However, if you are grounded in faith, then you will progress and maintain your equanimity in this world. The world is a celebration and you should be happy in life. All aspects of life involve ups and downs. However, one must ensure that happiness is always established in oneself and that things will change.

Faith leads to prayer, and prayer is a vital tool to improve your life. Prayer nurtures values such as integrity and honesty. Now, prayer happens in two situations or in a combination of situations. You pray when you feel grateful or when you feel utterly helpless. In either case, your prayers will be heard / answered. If you are not grateful or prayerful, you will be miserable.

Your faith and belief should be deep-rooted. The role of faith is even more visible in the materialistic world. Faith saves one from suicidal tendencies and helps people see beyond the obvious. When life is based on faith, one follows philosophy rather than getting caught up in revenge and hatred. If there is faith that everything will be all right, then everything will settle down.

Faith plays a big role in shaping one's life. Even those who say, "I don't believe in anything," have to believe in their words! The issue is where you place your faith. For an atheist, his faith in objects is obvious; his faith in people is fluid and his faith in the unseen power of creation is ambiguous. However, for a believer, his faith in the unseen power is supreme; his faith in people is inconsequential and objects do not matter in any way.

To have faith is to realise that God is protecting you. Faith is realising that you always get what you need. Faith is giving the divine a chance to act. Courtesy - Star of Mysore

Thousands turn up for Shiva puja by Sri Sri

2012-01-24T07:01:00.003+05:30

PATNA: Early Monday morning the city witnessed a grand 'Rudra Abhishek' puja as Art of Living (AoL) founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar joined his team of priests to offer obeisance to Lord Shiva at the veterinary college ground.

'Rudra Abhishek', which is believed to bestow prosperity, fulfilment and happiness in life, is religiously performed by the spiritual guru every Monday morning. "Guruji performs the puja wherever he is on Monday," said swami Rakesh of AoL.

Over 500 devotees had registered themselves for the puja, which was performed amid mesmerizing chants of hymns. Sri Sri administered 'sankalp' to them as they sought fulfilment of their wishes. After the puja, the spiritual guru gave blessings to each of these devotees. "The spirituality that permeated the air at the venue was so intense that it felt as if Lord Shiva had also arrived," Sri Sri was heard telling the devotees. Read More

Sri Sri Ravishankar urges people to vote for clean candidates in polls

2012-01-24T06:58:00.000+05:30

Patna, Jan 23 (ANI): Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar has urged people to vote for only clean candidates in the upcoming assembly elections.

“I am not going during the election campaigning, but I am trying my best to build political awareness among the people. I am asking everyone who will vote that please select honest and clean candidates. Never elect people who ask for your vote in lieu of a bribe Ravishankar told media here.

The Election Commission had declared that voting in five states, including the most populous Uttar Pradesh would be held between January 28 and March 03.

Further appreciating Bihar’s development, Ravishankar said: “A lot has been done. But a lot also remains to be done. Biharis are very resilient. You have come here through many challenges. Don’t lose your resilience.”

He asked every devotee to contribute in keeping the city clean by giving just two hours of physical labour every month.

“Many cities have done it successfully. You should follow suit,” he said. (ANI) Read More

Ravishankar praises Nitish, Modi for development in Bihar

2012-01-23T07:03:00.000+05:30

Patna, Jan 22 (PTI) Spiritual 'Guru' Sri Sri Ravishankar today lavished praise on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his Deputy Sushil Kumar Modi for improved law and order situation and development in Bihar, but said much more was needed to be done in this direction. "I am glad that the people of Bihar move around freely without any fear," he said at a function at the Veterinary College in Sheikhpura locality. Singling out Kumar and Modi for their works "in ushering in development and improved law and order situation in Bihar," Ravishankar said the duo should continue to do the good works as much more was needed to be done to take the backward state among the frontline of the developed ones. Ravishankar appealed to the people to neither accept bribe or give it to anybody to weed out the virus. The spiritual guru also disapproved violence by the naxalites "for whatsoever objective" and appealed to the ultras to join the mainstream for their own good and that of the society, he said and referred to the landmine blast by the Naxalites in Jharkhand's Garhwa district yesterday. "The naxalites are misguided youths of our own society who have taken to the path of violence in pursuance of their ideology for social change, but they are wrong if they think that they could achieve their goal through arms," he said. Ravishankar said three Maoists had consented to surrender before him today, but could not do so finally without stating the reasons. Read More

Keep Patna clean, Sri Sri exhorts devotees

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000+05:30

PATNA: Naxals are brave people and are doing 'tapasya' in jungle. They are fighting to make India free of inequality and poverty, Art of Living (AoL) founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said here on Sunday.

"Like you, I also want India to be free from poverty, corruption, casteism and disparity. But I do not support your (read Maoist) ways to achieve these goals. Your ways are wrong," Sri Sri said at the satsang organized by AOL at the veterinary college ground here on Sunday. The satsang titled "Ashirwad" was attended by thousands of devotees.

Appreciating Bihar's development, Sri Sri said: "A lot has been done. But a lot also remains to be done. Biharis are very resilient. You have come here through many challenges. Don't lose your resilience." He also made the devotees to take a pledge to keep the city clean.

He asked every devotee to contribute in keeping the city clean by giving just two hours of physical labour every month. "Many cities have done it successfully. You should follow suit," the devotees were told. Read More

Sri Sri's ashram opens at Bodh Gaya

2012-01-22T10:58:00.000+05:30

GAYA: With the performance of the Rudrabhishekh rituals, the Bodh Gaya ashram of Sri Sri Ravishankar, the Art of Living (AoL) founder, was off to a splendid start on Saturday evening. The rituals comprising hymns and bhajans were performed in the presence of a sizeable number of Sri Sri Ravishankar's followers, including nearly 200 foreign devotees - mostly Chinese and Japanese. AoL's European followers were also present.

The ashram at village Shekhwara near Bodh Gaya off NH-82 is spread over 13 acres of land with facilities for meditation and stay in a serene ambience. The centre is likely to attract visitors from different parts of the world as Sri Sri Ravishankar has followers in over 150 countries across the world. Besides spiritual programmes, Sri Sri Ravishankar's Bodh Gaya ashram will also focus on social services, including development of leadership qualities among youths, programme to save girl child and other training programmes. Read More

Sri Sri refuses to join Anna's poll campaign

2012-01-22T10:55:00.000+05:30

GAYA: Refusing to join the Anna Hazare-Ramdev combine's campaign in the five poll-bound states, Art of Living (AoL) founder Sri Sri Ravishankar proposed to work with the Maoists, provided the rebels shun violence as gun was not the answer to any problem.

The AOL founder said he sympathized with the cause for which extremists were fighting, but disapproved the means adopted by them to achieve an otherwise laudable goal. He was interacting with the media at the Dalmia dharmshala here on Friday evening.

Asked whether he would be joining Team Anna and Baba Ramdev in their campaign in the five poll-bound states, Sri Sri Ravishankar categorically said that he would not. However, he would like the voters to come out in full strength and vote for better candidates in these elections. On whether he approved the manner in which Baba Ramdev escaped from the Ramlila ground, he said that he was not interested in specifics and his broad concern was elimination of corruption. Read More

Ravishankar urges Maoists to renounce violence

2012-01-22T10:52:00.000+05:30

Aurangabad (Bihar), Jan 21 (PTI) Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar today appealed to Maoists to renounce violence and join the mainstream for their own well being and that of the society. "There can be no solution to problems through violence ... an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood can indeed help change the society for the better," he said at a discourse at Madanpur village. Ravishankar asked the people to lead a simple life and renounce Western style of life for their mental and physical well being and emphasized on regular yoga and meditation in their day-to-day life. Read More

Sri Sri Ravishankar not to campaign on corruption issues in poll-bound states

2012-01-21T21:36:00.000+05:30

GAYA (Bihar): Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar said he would not campaign against any political parties on corruption issues in the five poll-bound states.

"I will not campaign against any political party on the corruption issues in the five poll-bound states. It is the job of the political parties to campaign in the polls and not for us to do so," he told reporters after presiding over a spiritual programme here yesterday.

Ravishankar, however, said that he would support the anti-corruption movement by the people.

The spiritual guru and Art of Living founder also trashed Congress leader Digvijay Singh's reported remarks branding him a Sangh Parivar sympathiser on the basis of the former being seen with RSS leaders in a photograph.

"It may be his views that anybody being seen with the RSS leaders could be their man," Ravishankar said.
Read More

Sri Sri to organise camp for Maoists

2012-01-21T21:26:00.000+05:30

Sri Sri hails good governance in state

2012-01-21T07:32:00.001+05:30

GAYA: Art of Living (AOL) founder Sri Sri Ravishankar on Friday evening praised the state government and said the present situation is better than the one prevailing a few years back.

Visiting Gaya after a gap of nearly 12 years, he said with all-round peace and prosperity, Bihar is a changed place now. During his previous visit, he was cautioned against moving out openly. But now there is peace and order everywhere in the state.

Addressing his followers at Gaya Gandhi Maidan, he exhorted them to take a vow neither to give nor take bribe. He favoured collective action against the corrupt. Read More

Ravishankar asks people to stop taking liquor

2012-01-21T07:20:00.000+05:30

Gaya (Bihar), Jan 20 (PTI) Spiritual guru and founder of the Art of Living Foundation Sri Sri Ravishankar today asked people to refrain from consuming liquor and foods produced by the use of chemicals and fertilisers. Talking to disciples at Gandhi Maidan in Gaya district, he appealed them to refrain from consumption of foods produced by the use of chemicals and fertilisers to remain free from ailments and tension. He also asked people to refrain from consumption of liquor and said that alcohol is a major source of strife and tension in the society. Ravishankar further expressed concern with liquor consumption, which has increased substantially in recent times, and said that it is bound to adversely affect development of the country. The spiritual guru identified corruption as yet another bane of India and asked people not to accumulate wealth through ill-gotten means. He asked the people, including government servants present at his sermon, to take pledge to refrain from corruption and related activities for the well being of themselves and their families. The spiritual guru also lauded the law and order situation in Bihar and said that the conduct of religious and spiritual programmes is a simple affair now as compared to the days of earlier times. Read More

Education in South Africa

2012-01-20T07:25:00.003+05:30

FORTE HIGH SCHOOL in Soweto, the sprawling black township outside Johannesburg, was once one of South Africa’s notoriously ill-equipped and poorly performing schools. Five years ago it had no running water, no functioning library, no computers and no sports ground. Designed for 800 pupils, it had to cater for 1,300. Only half those who reached the final year matriculated, gaining the most basic certificate for finishing school. But thanks to philanthropists “adopting” it, Forte has turned itself around. Last year it achieved an 80% pass rate, and half of its matric candidates qualified for university.

Among them was Albert Dove, a black student living with his unemployed, disabled father and poor enough to qualify for free school lunches. He got six distinctions in his exams, including 100% in physical science. Every weekend and throughout the holidays he attended extra maths and science classes at a centre in Soweto run by an international charity.

Much of his success, he said, is thanks to a school-feeding scheme set up by the Art of Living Foundation, an international outfit. “I have enough food in my stomach,” he explained. “I will not go out and steal from other children or go and gamble in the streets. I will not go out looking for a girlfriend or boyfriend to give me money for food…I will not smoke drugs to keep away the stress of having no food at home.” He wants to study nanotechnology but must first find funds. A university science course costs around 30,000 rand ($3,740) a year, excluding board and keep. Read More

Rock & Run Satsang sets pace for ‘Run Powai Run’

2012-01-20T07:23:00.000+05:30

It was a cool and pleasant evening at Glen Podium in Hiranandani that the ‘Art of Living’ (AOL) had come to perform with its quintessential AOL teacher and program director Vikram Hazra’s bhajans reverberating the air of Powai with positive vibes.

The event was a precursor to set pace for the 8th Jan, Sunday ‘Run Powai Run’, a mega event meant to be a charity fund-raiser for the Rotary Powai Lakers. A hundred plus registered on the spot for the Run at the satsang event. It was an evening of music that combined the beat and rhythm of a modern concert with the spirituality of a satsang. Vikram Hazra had both the young and old on his side as he belted out his bhajans over guitar. A handful of youngsters found it a befitting occasion to swing to the rock satsang amidst the gathering.

The Glen podium was packed with more than 600 people raptly listening to the bhajans and the spiritual discourse by Vikram. The audience actively participated humming and clapping along with the AOL teacher. It was heartening to see that the urban breed of Indians find time to participate in such gatherings.

Deepak Daryanani, an office bearer of Lakers told, “We have already got 2000 people who have registered for the Run. A handful of celebrities too have committed to join the run. Vikram Hazra too has assured to join the run.” It is expected that some 3000 people would participate in the run. It shall be a landmark event for Powai and the organisers have meticulously planned the logistics for event to be a grand success. The Lakers have roped in a good number of sponsors rallying with their cause.

Ravi Jashnani, of Lakers informed that, “Sachiin Joshi, a resident of Hiranandani Powai and entrepreneur turned actor (Aaazan fame) will kick off the Run. Some of the other celebrities mainly Bollywood and serial actors like: Memo Chakroborty, Vaishali Desai, Meeta Vashisht, Smilie Suri, Tara Sharma, Aparna Bajpayee, Karanveer Borha are expected to attend the event as participants.”

Vikram could be a promising executive. He has the jargon, the appearance, the confidence and all the gizmos that go with that image. He jet-sets across the globe and counts Rhea Pillai amongst his friends. He is certainly a man on the move, but he is in the business of saving souls, especially young ones. He is just back in Mumbai on the 4th Jan from Hong Kong after a mentoring program for AOL teachers.

You wouldn't think so if you saw him with his Mac laptop, several mobile phones and trendy watch. He wears his kurta-pyjama with elegant ease and listens to the avant-garde music of Bill Frisell and Ottmar Liebert as well as enjoys Dhrupad immensely. Maybe, why this program director with the international Art of Living Foundation goes down so well with young blood all across the globe. News Courtesy

200 ex-militants to get spiritual training

2012-01-19T07:15:00.004+05:30

The Assam police has embarked upon an ambitious plan of sending 200 former militants for spiritual, behavioural and vocational rehabilitation training at the Art of Living in Bengaluru.
Disclosing that the institute of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar would not only be imparting training to them in technical skills, authoritative security sources told this newspaper that these ex-militants, who laid down arms in past few years, would be given complete rehabilitation.
“The training programme is aimed at to stress elimination, bringing inner peace, sensitivity and making them socially responsible citizens,” security sources said adding that alongside, the ex-rebels would be exposed to Vocational Skill Development Training programme to impart technical training in computers, mobile-repair and other electrical equipment.
Pointing out that there have been instances of surrendered militants taking to arms again, security sources said that the Art of Living and its sister organisation, International Association for Human Values had conducted a 90-day intensive spiritual and vocational rehabilitation programme for more than 100 Manipuri militants also.
security sources said that a number of Ulfa rebels have expressed their willingness to start cooperative movements. Read More

Smt. Bhanumathi Narasimhan

2012-01-17T07:29:00.000+05:30

Bhanumathi Narasimhan has played a key role in The Art of Living, since its inception. Founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, The Art of Living is a non-profit, educational and humanitarian NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) engaged in stress-management and service initiatives. The organization operates globally in 151 countries.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, her brother and guide, has been a constant source of support and direction for her. Bhanumathi has been instrumental in instituting the "Care for- Children" program, which provides education for underprivileged rural children, free of cost. The first school to be supported by this program started in 1981 with 30 children in rural Bangalore. Now, 30 years later, there are 175 schools in 19 states of India educating over 24,500 children. She is especially focused on education for girls and empowerment of women.

http://she.msn.astroyogi.com/pathbreaker/smt-bhanumathi-narasimhan.html

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Creative impulse

2012-01-10T19:51:00.002+05:30

It is very important for us to probe into the source of thought. Often we are called great thinkers, but what is a thought? Where does it originate? Is there any way that we can improve the thought process? What is the source of creativity?

Thought is nothing but an impulse of energy and intelligence. That impulse of energy and intelligence, for it to arise and a correct thought to come, you need 16 impulses to meet at a point in the cerebral cortex at a certain speed. In that short interval of time, all the 16 impulses in the cerebral cortex, when they meet, is what we call a correct thought. What do we do about it? We need to train our brain, our mind.

There is always dialogue going on in your own mind. We all have a filter in our mind through which we listen and we accept only what we already know. Something which doesn’t already fall within our belief system, we straightaway filter out. This tendency in the mind to take things which it already knows and reject that which it doesn’t know, is one of the main blocks of creativity. Read More

Sri Sri urges Kashmiri Pandit community to return to Valley

2012-01-08T06:33:00.000+05:30

PUNE: Art of living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Saturday urged members of the Kashmiri Pandit community to go back to Kashmir and start a new chapter to reclaim their identity.

He was addressing the inaugural session of the first Kashmiri Pandit Youth Conference via video-conferencing.

Organised by Youth 4 Panun Kashmir (Y4PK), under the aegis of Panun Kashmir, the conference was attended by members from the Kashmiri Pandit community. The two-day conference aims to discuss various social, cultural and political issues pertaining to them and to recognise and applaud the people who have made a difference to the community.

Speaking from Germany, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar urged the community to go back to Kashmir, buy land and property to establish educational institutions to preserve their cultural heritage and save their identity. He also appealed to the Kashmiri Pandit youth to volunteer during the Amarnath Yatra and help the pilgrims, to bring together and serve their community better. Read More

School feeding scheme motivated Albert

2012-01-08T06:05:00.000+05:30

Albert lives with his disabled father, older brother and sister in Dobsonville, but money is tight.

“My big brother and sister are working - that’s where we’re getting our income from, and also from my dad’s pension. But the income isn’t enough for me to have lunch money.”

The Art of Living Foundation, a humanitarian and educational NGO, runs the school feeding scheme, which sustains 100 to 300 pupils like Albert every school day.

But Albert didn’t only enjoy the meals, he volunteered in the kitchen, too.

“I’m very passionate about helping people. When I started volunteering, I was alone. But then my friends joined me and we all liked doing it.”

“We’re so proud of Albert and proud of all the kids,” says Aneshree Naidoo. He volunteers as project co-ordinator for the Youth Village project, an outreach initiative of Art of Living’s sister organisation, the International Association for Human Values.

All eight matrics the project supports have passed.

“The situations some of these kids are in - they are so hungry for knowledge. It’s the simple things they need. We managed to get uniforms for them, open a computer lab and run the feeding scheme.” Read More

On Tour with Sri Sri - Tour Schedule Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

2012-01-05T07:20:00.000+05:30

SPIRITUAL RETREAT: YOGA AND LUCK

2012-01-03T07:04:00.001+05:30

Yoga is a study of life, of your inner faculties, your body, breath, mind, intellect, memory and ego. It does not mean just physical asanas. It is the complete knowledge including meditation, pranayama and asanas.

The first use of yoga is that it frees you from misery and sorrow. In some form or the other we are unhappy from childhood. You don't get food or milk in time, you start crying. As you grow older you cry for a toy and then, as you grow a little older, you cry for a partner. After that you cry for power, money, position. Throughout life, there is something you always want. And when you don't know how to have it, you cry.

Yoga is essential because it improves skill. Yoga is skill in action. In the Bhagawad Gita, Krishna says to Arjuna that you need to be skillful and only through yoga you can attain those skills, to manage or run a country or an empire.

Yoga also improves your perception. Perception is essential for an administrator or ruler, because a ruler has to have eyes and ears all over. That means he has to understand every subject. In the ancient days, it was said a king should know 64 different trades, including how to steal because then you know the mentality of a thief.

Life is all about human interactions. How you understand the other person and how you express yourself to other persons are affected by you, getting in touch with yourself. You can't trust your own mind because the mind changes all the time. Our opinions change. Turn back and see how many times you have been proved wrong by your own judgement. Hence, yoga is necessary to improve our perceptions.

Therefore, to attain your basic needs and to administer society you need yoga. And to know about life, to explore into the secrets of the universe you also need yoga. It is like wherever you want to go, you need a vehicle and there needs to be a road. And yoga is the path.

The time gap between what you want and when you get it, makes all the difference. The luckiest one is where no want arises. That is the yogi. Even before you want something, it is already there. You are not thirsty, but there is already water. The next level of luck is — you want it and you have it, without much time gap. You know you want to build a hall and you do it. Between your want and the manifestation there is little time gap. And the third level is when you want something for a long time, and then you get it, after toiling a lot, putting all your effort in it.

So yoga takes you from being the most unlucky to the most lucky. Where, even before a desire has arisen in you, it is already there, already manifest.

There is a proverb that says "you wanted peanuts, but you got it, after you lost all your teeth." Just by wanting, things don't happen. It is by relaxing, by reposing in the being, in the self that whatever is essential simply comes.

Yoga is the art of doing nothing, of being in a total calm and serene state of mind. It brings a balance of body, mind and spirit and releases all pain, suffering and misery. If you are a seeker of any kind, spiritual or material, you need meditation. It is essential, to be in touch with the supreme being deep within one self.

Self is like the magnetic field which is every where like the air. Bringing the mind to the self is the whole exercise. Whenever the mind is resting, it is with the self. So self is the recharger, the energiser.

Every day in your sleep you are with the self. But that you do unconsciously. Consciously experiencing the self or being in the self, is meditation. And when you come out of meditation, you feel that freshness, everything looks bright, there is enthusiasm, there is joy there is love. All these qualities start manifesting in life spontaneously and naturally. That is what is called siddhi or the perfection. Courtesy Star of Mysore

Antidote to terrorism

2012-01-03T06:59:00.001+05:30

The Bhagwad Gita encourages reasoning while terrorists are blind to any reasoning. The Russians need to study the mind of a terrorist as much as they need to study the Gita before calling it a terrorist scripture, says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Terrorists are cowards. Whenever terror has struck in any part of the world, we have heard people say it is an act of cowardice. A coward runs away from action but harbours all negative feelings and does it surreptitiously.

This is exactly what happened to Arjuna. Arjuna was angry, upset and sad and wanted to run away. In the Bhagwad Gita, Krishna says, 'Don't be a coward'. Hence the Gita is an antidote to terrorism. Krishna says bravery is the way: Face the war when it is inevitable and do your duty.

A terrorist is stuck in his identity; he hides it, has no rationale and inflicts pain. Whereas the Bhagwad Gita helps you transcend your identity. It encourages reason and infuses wisdom. Therefore, it could be called the antidote to terrorism. Read More

Faith can offer support in tough economic times

2012-01-01T17:53:00.001+05:30

Zankar Desai, state coordinator, Art of Living Foundation With all the economic downturn that we have had in the last few years, it's very important to prepare for the worst. So, as an average Joe, what can we do? We don't have control over global financial disasters. Well, there are things beyond our control. Let's not worry about a nation's stand on certain economic policy and let's focus on what we could do.

First of all, we all need to be little bit more disciplined in our lives. We all love freedom and don't want to be disciplined. Although freedom and disciplined may sound opposite in nature, they are complementary. Being disciplined in our habits and actions brings freedom in the long run. As one of the spiritual seekers and a state coordinator for the Art of Living Foundation, I would strongly recommend everyone to do the following things, which are just common sense in my opinion, irrespective of your faith belief: Read More

Wired faith

2012-01-01T17:51:00.000+05:30

Whoever said that you gotta have faith must have foreseen the coming of Social Network. For, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn, today, spread the word faster than the apostles, messengers and guides of yore.

Ask 22-year-old Nandakishore, a Sri Sri Ravishankar follower, engineering grad and online marketing professional, and he will tell you fifty per cent of the members of Art of Living — founded by his guru — are young people, very active in social networks.

According to Nandakishore, the media is widely used to propagate the satsangs, interviews and teachings of the Guruji. Read More

City boy first runner up in International mental maths

2012-01-01T17:43:00.001+05:30

SURAT: Dhariya Tulsiani, a class VI student of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir, was the first runner up in International Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition held in Malaysia this December. More than 2,500 children from 50 countries participated in the event.

Dhairya was declared state national and international champion in mental maths this year in different competitions and was declared Champion of Champions in state-level competition in Vadodara . tnn

Read More

Guruji's New Year Message for 2012

2011-12-31T07:16:00.003+05:30

Sri Sri appeals to Anna to end his fast

2011-12-28T07:19:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: Spiritual guru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Tuesday appealed to social activist Anna Hazare to end his fast. Nonetheless, the Art of Living founder said that the Gandhian should continue his “agitation” for a strong anti-graft bill.

"I appeal to Annaji to end his fast and continue the agitation," Ravi Shankar wrote on microblogging site Twitter.

His appeal came as concerns were raised about Hazare's health.

Sr Sri had come to meet Anna when he was in jail in August last and has been speaking on the menace of corruption at various platforms. He has been asking his followers time and again to denounce corruption in all forms. Read More

Bangalore to Host Arogya Expo 2012

2011-12-28T07:15:00.001+05:30

Bangalore, Dec 27 (PTI): More than 5,000 delegates from 30 countries will participate in the inaugural five day International Conference on Yoga, Naturopathy and Arogya Expo-2012 in this city from February 9 next year. The Rs four crore event is being supported by the Centre and Karnataka government. Karnataka would contribute Rs two crore, the Centre Rs 85 lakh and sponsors the balance amount, Minister for Medical Education S A Ramdas told reporters here. Delegates from USA, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore have already confirmed participation in the Expo which will also have 300 stalls showcasing various health products, Ramdas said. About 500 papers on Yoga and Naturopathy would be presented during the event which would see Bollywood actor Hema Malini and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar among others take part, he said. Read More

SPIRITUAL RETREAT: CONFLICT LIVES INSIDE A CHOICE By Sri Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji

2011-12-20T07:20:00.000+05:30

Srimad Bhagavadgeeta is of the oldest scriptures, around 5,200 years old, with over 1000 translations. Geeta means the song divine. Song means harmony but this one has arisen in a war field. Peace has relevance when there is disharmony and conflict. As one grows up one finds in one's life there are choices you have to make, and when there is a choice, there is a conflict.

Some times what ever you choose, you are in the wrong place. In such situations, there is great need for advice and guidance. And this guidance was given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna the prince. That is the Bhagavadgeeta.

Lord Krishna says you are a yogi if you act without attachment to the fruit of action. This is such a complicated thing because every action you do you are expecting some result out of it. Now, there are two attitudes in life. One is doing action expecting joy out of it. Another is doing action as an expression of joy.

If you see a nice movie and then tell your friends to see it, in this action you expect nothing in result. You are simply sharing. A yogi or a sanyasi, a spiritual person, is one whose actions are an expression of joy. Lord Krishna says just by changing clothes or appearance no one becomes spiritual. It is when you act without expecting a result. You care but you are not depending on the result of the actions. You will move on because every action, adverse or congenial, affects you in a positive manner.

If your action brings an adverse result you have learnt something from it. It has brought out the skill from within you and made you efficient in many ways. And if it brings you good results then it brings you satisfaction. In either case you don’t sit and worry about what will happen or whether the results will be good or not. That worrying of the future, weakens you in the present.

Whenever you worry about the future, you are unable to act the way you could have acted. If you are seriously concerned about something your intuition dies off. Intuition and right ideas can come when the mind is calm serene and settled.

You can’t become a yogi, if you have not let gone this hankering for the result. It is natural for intentions and desires keep coming in our mind. But by holding on to them, you can’t relax. You don’t have to drop everything and run away to Himalayas or Alps or go somewhere and renounce everything. Mentally renouncement is the renunciation. Lord Krishna is giving this advice to the politician, the prince who is going to be king. He is telling him to be a yogi. Running away from the world is not going to make you into a spiritual person. You have to be in the world, right here and be centered mentally. Be a yogi and do your action. Your action can only be effective and fruitful, if you are centered. And being centeredness is what yoga is all about.

Some action is needed for one who is getting on to the path. And once you are on the path, you simply have to relax. Once you are on the plane, you should sit and relax. Your running in the plane is not going to reach you any faster. And this is what people do. Either they do nothing or they keep doing all their life. For the sage who desires to attain yoga, action is said to be the means. And when he has attained yoga, inaction is said to be the means.

Happiness cannot be directly earned. Love and happiness comes to you as a gift. And this gift comes to you through merit. But Merit can be earned through good work and good action. You need merit to go deep within yourself and experience, and enjoy, the peace, love and joy inside. Lord Krishna sings this song of yoga, of spirituality, amidst the war and conflict. Only one who has mastery over the mind and universe can do that. And it is then that you become qualified to be called a yogi.

Kind Courtesy Star of Mysore Link

Spiritual renaissance can reform society: Sri Sri

2011-12-10T18:45:00.000+05:30

With millions of followers in India as well as across the globe, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has redefined the paradigm of spiritualism. In an exclusive interview with Zeenews.com’s Swati Chaturvedi on her show Kahiye Janab, the founder of Art of Living shares his views on corruption, spiritual awakening and lots more.

Swati: You have been involved in so many conflict resolutions. You were part of conflict resolution in Sri Lanka. Why have you not been able to do the same in India? Corruption is rampant in the country. The political divide is glaring.

Sri Sri: We constantly try to attempt conflict resolution in India as well. We went to Rajasthan during the Gujjar movement; we are also trying to resolve differences in the Maoist areas. We will definitely go and try to resolve conflicts wherever possible. Read More

5 Steps to Healthier Living

2011-12-09T19:49:00.001+05:30

Health is not merely absence of disease. Health is being established in the *Self. It is the dynamic expression of life. One can be said to be in a perfect state of health when one is physically fit, mentally calm and emotionally steady. So how does one achieve this state of all-round health in today's fast-paced life? As we get ready to ring in 2012, here are a few steps we can take to help improve our health and the quality of our lives. Read More

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Of Enlightenment

2011-12-06T19:43:00.000+05:30

Memory gives enlightenment to your life. When people get enlightened, they say “I remember”. They have remembered their true nature. Being forgetful of your nature is the root cause of all problems and suffering in life. But the very remembrance of your nature, which is godliness, brings freedom. Here memory is your best friend. The purpose of knowledge is to remind you of your true nature.

Understand clearly that everything in the world is impermanent. Understand that which happened in the past is neither living nor real now, and accept those events. Have dispassion and be centered. Increase your prana through meditation and pranayama. Read More

Breathing your way to success - help for entrepreneurs

2011-12-01T07:13:00.000+05:30

Silicon Valley startup life is very stressful: you are expected to work long hours; you can’t cash in your options for years; and you live in a roller coaster world of manic passions that seem to be changing the world, and then deep depths of dark despair as everything appears to be falling apart.

It’s a great life (some of the time). Yet it doesn’t have to be so stressful and so difficult. There are well established practices that can help people deal with the tough life of surviving Silicon Valley, and to become more effective entrepreneurs.

I spoke with Michael Fischman, president of Art of Living - a 30 year old organization that teaches people a 20-minute daily exercise that greatly reduces their stress while improving their productivity. Read More

Sri Sri gives tips to nurture young minds

2011-11-30T06:56:00.000+05:30

Delhi, November 28, 2011: Grooming the young minds is not an easy task – but it was made simple for 800 principals by The Art of Living Founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in the capital on Monday. The seminar titled 'Educators Meet' saw a huge turn-out of .principals and Managing Committee members of Public and Government Schools coming together to listen to the spiritual master.

Throwing light on the role of a teacher, Sri Sri said, “Nowadays there is a personal touch that is missing from teachers towards students. Every teacher needs to act like a counselor towards each student. This sense of belongingness is essential to build every student’s personality as this can take away the pressure from them. Creativity can only come from a relaxed mind.”.. Read More

Virasat-e-Khalsa dedicated to humanity Rs 300-crore monument depicts the history, evolution of the Khalsa

2011-11-26T07:25:00.000+05:30

Anandpur Sahib, November 25
The Akalis today basked in the reflected glory of the steel petal roof of the Virasat-e-Khalsa that was dedicated to humanity in a ceremony that encompassed all faiths, but was essentially rooted in Sikh culture and tradition.

Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said today’s ‘sankriti’ had been saved by the Khalsa Panth and that the 120-crore people of the country would be indebted to the Sikh Panth for the sacrifices made by its gurus in the cause of humanity. Read More

Spreading the message of peace

2011-11-25T07:10:00.000+05:30

Mukesh Vassen’s day job is as legal adviser to the Speaker of the House in Parliament. Any spare time is spent doing service, teaching Art of Living courses and the accompanying practice of Sudarshan Kriya (“kriya”, a breathing technique that cleanses and harmonises the physical, mental and emotional levels).

The Art of Living is a humanitarian NGO, founded in the early ’80s by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with the vision of creating a violence- and stress-free society. This is Mukesh’s story…

I grew up in Cape Town and was a young kid activist during the apartheid days. My dad was an attorney and used to represent most of the political prisoners, so the police used to watch us a lot. We got many death threats. I left home when I was 13, which was when they came to arrest me. I saw so many people die as a teenage boy; I remember how they killed a two-year-old child and said they thought it was a dog. And the Trojan horse thing, where they hid in boxes and killed a couple of kids. All of this left me with a lot of trauma and anger. Read More

Gratitude and Beauty

2011-11-23T07:27:00.000+05:30

You cannot be grateful and feel the lack. The two cannot exist at the same time. When you feel grateful, you feel full. When you feel lack, grumbling begins from some corner. If you feel grateful, gratitude will increase in you and you will be given more. If you keep on grumbling, the negativity in you will increase. Jesus said, "For those who have not, what little they have will be taken from them. And to those who have, more will be given. And more. And more." This is the law of the nature. For those who do not have this knowledge, there is no way to get out of their grumbling. It becomes a habit.Read More

Sri Sri Ravishankar meets Naveen

2011-11-23T07:25:00.000+05:30

Bhubaneswar, Nov 21 (PTI) Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar today met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who recently suffered a ligament injury, at his residence here. "I enquired about the Chief Minister's health. We also discussed different welfare programmes launched by the state government," Ravishankar told reporters after the meeting. Patnaik has been confined to his residence after he sustained Grade-1 tear in the ligament of his right ankle after he fell down while taking a stroll on the lawns of his residence last Tuesday. Praising the state government's recently launched programme for the pregnant and nursing mothers, Ravishankar said it would help lakhs of rural women. Mamata Scheme has provision of state's assistance of Rs 5,000 to each pregnant and lactating mothers, if they follow guidelines like taking immunisations at regular interval. Besides attending a 'satsang', the spiritual guru was also scheduled to review progress of the proposed Sri Sri University near Cuttack. Read More

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Mechanics of action.

2011-11-23T07:22:00.000+05:30

The dynamics of how events happen is a big mystery. Only one who is 100% in doing can recognise 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, laziness and unawareness set in. Let the happening be for the past and the doing 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. One who does a lot of work will never say he did a lot. If someone says he did a lot of work, it that means he can do more. He has not done enough. Work does not tire you as much as the "doership" does.

All actions happen through consciousness. The world moves because of consciousness. Consciousness expresses the three shaktis as — gyan shakti, ichcha shakti and kriya shakti. Knowledge, action and desire. If these shaktis are aligned, life becomes very smooth. If not, life is in doldrums.Read More

How to Meditate Into Higher States of Consciousness

2011-11-19T07:27:00.000+05:30

We live most of our life through three states of consciousness: waking, dreaming and sleeping.

In the waking state of consciousness, we experience the world through the five senses. We seek elevation and joy from these senses. If any one of the senses is missing, the entire dimension of that sense is lost. One who cannot hear is bereft of the whole arena of sound. Similarly, he who cannot see is deprived of all the beautiful sights and colors. So, the sense is more important and much bigger than the object of the sense.

The mind is higher than the senses. The mind is infinite, its desires are many, but the capacity of the senses to enjoy is limited. Greed is wanting more and more of sensory objects. Even though one can only enjoy a limited amount during a lifetime, one wants all the wealth in the world. Read More

The Art of Living Foundation Celebrates 30 Years of Education and Service

2011-11-19T07:24:00.000+05:30

Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 18, 2011
The Art of Living Foundation(AOLF),an educational and humanitarian non-profit announced today that it has completed 30 years of education and service bringing happiness, peace and development to individuals and communities in the United States and the world as a whole. The Foundation, which offers stress management and self development programs, in partnership with International Association for Human Values (IAHV) has worked on several initiatives related to health, education, sustainable development, conflict resolution, disaster and trauma relief, prisoner rehabilitation and women empowerment to positively impact millions of people in more than 150 countries over the last three decades. Read More

Street movements can't replace Parliament, says Sri Sri Ravishankar

2011-11-19T07:21:00.000+05:30

All eyes are on Uttar Pradesh as India's largest state is set to go to the hustings next year. While Rahul Gandhi blew the poll bugle at Phoolpur, there is yet another figure whose visit to the state raised many an eyebrow.Sri Sri Ravishankar, guruji to millions, toured some of the most important constituencies in the state exhorting people to rise up against corruption. Political parties of all hues tried to play the four day long visit in their favour but the spiritual leader didn't bat an eyelid, apart from cancelling his Amethi visit at the last moment. Now, in an exclusive interview toindiatoday.in, Sri Sri Ravishankar reveals what the pressure was all about.

Q. What was the aim of your UP yatra and have you achieved it?

A. Uttar Pradesh was part of my routine yatra which I have been doing for past several years. I give dates according to local people's request. No political motive should be attached to my U.P. tour. It is mainly spiritual and of course social causes are also raised, just as we have been doing everywhere else. Satsangs are always an uplifting experience and it was obvious by the response of the people.
Read More

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Balance with study of Ayurveda

2011-11-15T20:24:00.000+05:30

The study of life is Ayurveda (‘Ved’ means to know, ‘Ayur’ is life). Life has four characteristics - it exists, evolves, expresses and extinguishes. For this, it depends on five elements: the earth, water, air, ether and fire. To make it easier to understand, we can bring in the five senses and its objects: sight, smell, taste, sound and touch.

According to Ayurveda, life or existence is not a rigid compartment, but a harmonious flow. Even these five elements, of which the whole universe is made, are not tight compartments of defined objects. They flow into one another. Each one of the elements contains the other four.

The subtlest in us is space, which the mind is made up of, and the gross is the earth element, which our bones and marrows, and the skin and the structure are made of. This is further divided into three Doshas — Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Read More

Madhya Pradesh bureaucrats to master the ‘Art of Living’

2011-11-15T07:11:00.001+05:30

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh state government has decided to provide its bureaucrats an opportunity to participate in spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar’s 'Art of Living' course. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has given the go-ahead to the plan.

Officials of four government departments can participate in the course. These are Department of Higher Education, Public Health and Family Welfare Department, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department and Forest Department.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been recently in news for his support to the anti-corruption movement. He himself has decided to take part in the movement by holding a rally in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, on November 7. Read More

Sri Sri supports Team Anna, asks politicians to introspect

2011-11-07T21:01:00.000+05:30

LUCKNOW: Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar on Sunday gave clean chit to anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare and his Team from the charges of corruption,impropriety and having hidden agenda leveled against them by a section of politicians and media. He said that both Anna and his team members have dedicated theselves to the service of country and have today emerged as role models for the youth.

He also advised politicians to introspect as to why people have lost faith in them and are looking up at spiritual gurus and civil society for solution of their problems and grievances.

"Had Anna and his Team members been corrupt, I would have not been supporting them," he said while addressing media-persons in Jaunpur, where he arrived to rousing welcome on Monday evening for a four day tour of UP, in which he will hold satsang at various places. After Jaunpur on Monday, he will holding satsang in Sonebhadra on November 8, Mirzapur on November 9, Sultanpur on November 10 and Kanpur on November 11. He would be administering oath to nearly one lakh people, asking them not to give or take bribe and shun all kinds of corruption and social evils during the trip. Read More

Politics should not become trade: Sri Sri

2011-11-07T20:58:00.000+05:30

Jaunpur: Renowned spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who embarked on a three-day anti-corruption yatra from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh on Monday clarified that his yatra was not “political”.

In his first address to his followers in the state the spiritual guru said, “Strong Lokpal is needed but only this bill cannot eradicate corruption”. In an appeal to all political parties he said, “Politics should not become trade.”

While asking everyone to keep an eye on corrupt politicians, Sri Sri said that Ramdev and Anna along with him were one on the issue of graft. Fully backing Anna Hazare in his fight against corruption, he said that Anna is “committed, honest and ideal for the youth”. Refusing to believe that Team Anna members had compromised on their ideals, he said, “I don’t agree that they are corrupt.” Read More

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: A yogi doesn't mind criticism at all

2011-11-06T20:02:00.000+05:30

"If Congress has an untouchable attitude towards spiritual and religious gurus, it is their problem," says spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. In an interview with the TOI, Sri Sri talks about Anna Hazare, using fast as a means of protest and on other issues. Excerpts from the interview:

Q) You have been an active participant in the India Against Corruption campaign led by Anna Hazare. However once a spiritual master enters the political arena, he will be criticised like any other politician. Are you prepared for this? Will not your devotees get dvesh bhav for your critics?

A) A yogi doesn't mind criticism at all. All the brahmagyanis in the past have been criticized including Lord Krishna. A saadhak should not get into dwesha bhaav. At most, knowing that criticism is out of ignorance, he can have a good laugh about it.

Q) The Congress sees all sages as a group which is politically saffron (close to BJP/ RSS). Aren't you reinforcing this impression by praising Nitin Gadkari and asking for the BJP's help over Jan Lokpal? Shouldn't the distinction between spiritual saffron and political saffron be maintained?

A) If Congress has an untouchable attitude towards spiritual and religious gurus, it is their problem. It is wrong to think that, to please the minorities, you have to keep away from spiritual sages and gurus.
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Teaching prisoners the art of living

2011-11-06T11:01:00.001+05:30

SONAL NAGDA quit a well paying job that she had held for 26 years to concentrate on social work. Through a global educational and humanitarian organisation, she is teaching inmates at Kenyan prisons on how to lead a stress-free life. She spoke to KIUNDU WAWERU

Life at Kamiti Maximum Prison moves slowly and mechanically. Inmates follow their chores like clockwork, but in no hurry. After all, most of them are serving life sentences while others are there for more than ten years. Yet others live in seclusion, in death row.

One such man, Brian Kariuki, has served five years of his life sentence. In an interview with Presstv, Brian, who was a student at Nairobi Aviation College before his arrest, says he harboured deep-seated anger against the people who accused him of the crime he is in prison for and which he maintains he did not commit.

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Development only way to end Maoist problem in Bengal: Sri Sri

2011-11-06T10:58:00.000+05:30

The Maoist problem in Bengal is due to stunted development in the affected areas, feels Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

"Money is not going to places where it should go. The Maoist problem in West Bengal is due to lack of development. There is always a way to resolve this conflict.

Development has to take place here and violence is not the way to sort out the problems. Jharkhand has become a peaceful state now. And I am sure there will be peace and development in Bengal too," the spiritual guru said during an interaction. Read More

People want Lokpal Bill to be passed: Sri Sri Ravishankar

2011-11-05T20:14:00.000+05:30

Sri Sri Ravishankar today said corruption cannot be prevented by legislation only but supported a strong Lokpal Bill as people want it.

"There has to be a spiritual awakening among the people and politicians so that they do not indulge in corrupt practices," he told newsmen here.

Asked whether the government is serious in introducing the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Parliament, he said, "I wish they are. There are people in the government who are against corruption. They should pursue the matter so that the bill is issued in Parliament. I do not see why there should not be strong Lokpal bill, because people want it."

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Corrupt Times Lead India To Spiritual Leaders

2011-11-03T07:24:00.001+05:30

"The government of India is corrupt."

Ask any passerby on the streets of India to confirm this, and they'll agree.

Yet the statement, declarative as it is, in fact is old news that the people of India have known for a long time. Corruption, mainly through the form of bribery, infiltrates almost every sector at almost every level of government.

"The government's inflexible attitude and double standards towards a genuine public aspiration are very disturbing for the people," said Anand Mathur, a businessman based in Kolkata.

"Religious leaders are in touch with the population more than the politicians," said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual guru and founder of The Art of Living, who is a presence in the anticorruption campaign against the Indian government. "Religious and spiritual leaders want nothing for themselves, but they are just working for the betterment of society. And people see that." Read More

Kannada at its creative best

2011-11-02T07:25:00.000+05:30

BANGALORE : It was a celebration of Kannada writers and writing, ranging from veterans like G Venkatsubbaiah and G S Shivarudrappa to the likes of Kalegowda Nagawara and Vijayalakshmi Balekundri.

Fifty-five writers were felicitated and a book by each of them was released on Rajyotsava Day at a programme organized by Sapna Book House. The 55 books were released to mark 55 years of the formation of Karnataka.

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said the occasion is momentous as the best of Kannada writers have gathered under one roof. "I keep telling people wherever I go, especially outside Karnataka , that they have been deprived of the best of Kannada literature. That's why I think translating Kannada works into Hindi and English would bring readers from outside Karnataka. We need to demonstrate the strength and creativity of our literature to people " Read More

Part I Course with Poojya Gurudev a dream come true opportunity.

2011-11-01T07:20:00.001+05:30

Sri Sri to go on anti-corruption yatra in UP

2011-11-01T07:17:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: Renowned spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will embark on an anti-corruption yatra in Uttar Pradesh next month.

Ravi Shankar would visit Jaunpur, Sultanpur, Mirzapur, Amethi, Sonebhadra, Chandauli and Kanpur from November 7 to November 10. Importantly, most of the districts to be covered by Sri Sri are known Congress strongholds.

The announcement comes at a crucial time as Uttar Pradesh is scheduled to go to polls early next year and political parties are considering the elections as the decider before the big fight – Lok Sabha polls in 2014.

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Opposing corruption is religion in itself: Sri Sri

2011-10-31T07:08:00.000+05:30

VADODARA: Religious people's opposition to corruption is also a religion in itself. These were the words of spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is camping in Vadodara to attend Deepotsav celebrations.

An advance meditation course has begun in his presence. He stressed that if all selfless individuals agree to work for the nation then that will be very beneficial for the society.

"Our country needs sincere and honest people to serve the nation," he said on Saturday evening, while addressing more than 2,500 participants who are attending the course which will end on October 31. Read More

Modi, Sri Sri discuss rural, literacy schemes

2011-10-30T11:02:00.000+05:30

VADODARA: Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi met spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Saturday. "It was a courtesy visit. He (Modi) had come for meditation," trustee of The Art of Living Ved Vignan Mahavidyapeeth Mehul Parikh told mediapersons after Modi held a closed door meeting with Sri Sri at The Art of Living Gujarat Ashram at Anklavwadi near Vasad in Anand district.

"Whenever Guruji is in Gujarat, Modi visits him. Guruji does meditation in the morning and Modi also joined him," Parikh said.

Addressing mediapersons on Saturday evening in Vadodara, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, "Modi came and discussed ways to strengthen rural infrastructure. He apprised me of the ongoing projects of Gujarat government. We also discussed means to achieve 100 per cent literacy among women in rural areas."

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Law alone not sufficient to curb corruption: Ravi Shankar

2011-10-30T10:59:00.001+05:30

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has said law alone is not sufficient to curb corruption and a moral and spiritual wave has to be created to tackle the menace.
“A law is necessary (to tackle graft). However, a law alone cannot bring down corruption.
A moral and spiritual wave has to be created (to deal with the issue),” the Art of Living founder said in a statement last night. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said he will continue to fight against corruption.
Two days back, he had administered an oath to nearly one lakh people, asking them not to give or accept bribe. Read More

Sam Johnson to receive Humanitarian Award from Art of Living Foundation

2011-10-28T07:15:00.002+05:30

Art of Living Foundation New Zealand has chosen Sam Johnson as the recipient of its inaugural Humanitarian Award. Sam was chosen for his contribution to the Christchurch community in setting up the Student Volunteer Army after the 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 earthquakes.

AOL NZ president Mrs Rashmi Bhatia will present the award at a public ceremony open to all. A short DVD showcasing the work of the Foundation will follow, and the opportunity to chat with Sam over refreshments.

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Guruji's Diwali Message

2011-10-21T07:11:00.000+05:30

Happy Diwali to all of you.

Web Seva Team www.aolcbe.org

Essence of charity

2011-10-09T10:58:00.000+05:30

India for long had a tradition of charity. Several hospitals, rest-houses, ponds and temples were built by business houses for the benefit of the poor. We need to bring back that sense of social responsibility, says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Money gives us a sense of freedom and ownership. The general feeling is that with money, we can own anything or put a price tag to other people’s services. Ownership of something means total control of its existence. When we pay for a piece of land, we feel that we own it, although the land continues to exist even after the owner is long gone. How can you own something that outlives you? Money also gives the idea that you are powerful and independent, blinding you to the fact that we live in a world of interdependence. We depend on farmers, cooks, drivers and the services of so many other people around us. Even a surgeon cannot operate on himself; he depends on others. Why are most rich people arrogant? It is because of the feeling of independence that money brings. The awareness of dependence, on the other hand, makes one humble.

These days, we go to a great extent of measuring people in terms of their net worth on the money scale. Can money reflect the worth of a person? Calling someone a millionaire or a billionaire is not a compliment. You cannot assign a monetary value to human life. When people lack faith in divinity, in their own abilities and in the goodness of society, they suffer from a deep sense of insecurity. Then all that appears to provide security is money. In other words, money can provide an illusory sense of security. It is due to these notions that money is considered a part of maya. The truth is that human values erode when you put a price tag on all that cannot be measured, like love, truth, wisdom and life itself.

On the other extreme, there are those who criticise money and blame it for all ills in society. There are others who even consider it evil. Not only does possessing money bring arrogance, rejecting it does, too. People who renounce money take pride in their poverty, just to draw attention and sympathy. However, the ancient sages never denigrated money or maya. In fact, they honoured it as a part of the divine and thereby transcended the grip of its illusion. They knew the secret that when you reject or hate something, you can never transcend it. They honoured wealth as Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Narayan. She is born out of yoga. It is yoga that transforms the bad karma and brings out latent skills and talent. It also brings up ashtasiddhis — the eight perfections, and nava nidhis — the nine gems. It is this wisdom of yoga that helps one transform arrogance into humility, the burden of dependence into the realisation of interdependence, craving for freedom into recognition of unboundedness, a limited ownership into oneness with the whole.

In the 11th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says, “Win the war with enemies and enjoy a prosperous empire.” Krishna’s advice was not for a recluse but a prince. The entireBhagavad Gita is focussed on the prince who had to shoulder a huge responsibility, encounter complex situations and deal with complicated human relations to make the country prosperous. Any business empire has to perform all these functions. The Dharmashastras advise a man to divide wealth into five portions: One portion for spiritual and religious purposes; the second for charity and society; the third portion for the growth of the wealth; the fourth for oneself and one’s own comforts; and, finally, the fifth portion should be kept for one’s family.
The most intelligent thing would be to undertake all the charitable works during one’s lifetime. However, when you write a will, you must give a substantial portion for charitable work. Certainly, you can’t conduct business with a charitable mindset, but when it comes to enjoying the fruits of your business, you should have a charitable mind. The charity, however, should be self-sustainable. It should create more wealth instead of perpetuating the cycle of poverty and dependence. Governments alone cannot do this; it is a social partnership with NGOs and business organisations. If every business undertakes corporate social responsibility of investing 10 per cent of its profit in developing rural areas, this planet will have no hunger, disease and illiteracy.
It is said that the GDP of a country should be now measured with GDH, Gross Domestic Happiness factor. So whether it is economy or politics, social entrepreneurship or any other activity, everything is centred around one fact: Welfare of the society. Ethics form one of the backbones of wellness and business forms its wings. India for long had a tradition of charity by business houses. Most hospitals, dharamshalas (rest-houses for pilgrims), talaabs (ponds) and temples were built by the moneyed classes. We need to bring back that sense of contributing and taking pride in giving.
Spirituality is recognising the truth that a divine power is managing creation and your life. Integrity, charity and compassion are all virtues that are essential by-products of spirituality. The extent of calm and dynamism, compassion and shrewdness indicates the depth of your spirituality. Instead of thinking – “what can I gain from this world?” — think “what can I do for the world?” When everyone will think about contributing to society, we will have a divine society.

So, we have to educate and culture our individual consciousness to expand in that direction. There should be spirituality in politics, corporate social responsibility in business and secularism in religion. This value shift has to happen. (Message Courtesy)

Sri Sri inaugurates Ayurveda hospital

2011-10-09T10:53:00.000+05:30

BANGALORE: Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar inaugurated a new campus for the Sri Sri College of Ayurveda Science and Research Hospital located inside the Art Of Living campus on Kanakpura road on Friday.

The hospital offers free consultation and a variety of Ayurveda treatments including surgery and dentistry. “We shall aim to promote well being and not just treat diseases,” said Dr Seema, Head of Department. Discussing the dentistry treatments being offered, she explained that the treatments are carried out without anesthesia. “There is a particular way of turning the face which acts as a natural anesthesia, this results in anesthesia free dental operations,” she explained. “We shall also aim at treating the rural population at these premises, people who are well off can pay or else we won’t charge them,” said Sri Sri Ravishankar while speaking at the launch.

Medical Education minister S A Ramdas also announced that the college will soon get permission to conduct PG courses. Read More

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar releases book of Nitin Gadkari's speeches

2011-10-09T10:46:00.000+05:30

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Saturday released a book containing the speeches of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari with a call to "spiritualise politics and guide every political action" by ethics.

The book in Hindi, titled Vikas Ke Path (Road to Development), was released in the presence of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and BJP leaders including LK Advani.

Sri Sri said there was a need to "spiritualise politics, socialise business and secularise reliegion". Read More

இந்திய அரசியல்வாதிகள் வெளிநாட்டில் வைத்துள்ள கருப்பு பணத்தை கொண்டு வந்தால் ஒரு நபருக்கு 3 லட்சம் - ஸ்ரீ ரவிசங்கர் ஜி

2011-09-25T06:20:00.001+05:30

தூத்துக்குடி : இந்திய நாட்டில் உள்ள அரசியல் வாதிகள், தொழில் அதிபர்கள் வெளிநாடுகளில் வைத்துள்ள கருப்புபணத்தை கொண்டு வந்தால் ஒவ்வொரு மனிதனுக்கும் 3 லட்ச ரூபாய் இலவசமாக கொடுக்க முடியும் என்று தூத்துக்குடியில் பல ஆயிரக்கணக்கான மக்கள் திரண்ட பிரமாண்ட ஆனந்த சங்கமத்தில் வாழும் கலை நிறுவனர் ஸ்ரீ ரவிசங்கர் ஜி தெரிவித்தார். தூத்துக்குடி வ.உ.சி மைதானத்தில் நேற்று வாழும் கலை நிறுவனர் ரவிசங்கர்ஜியின் ஆனந்த சங்கமம் நிகழ்ச்சி நடந்தது. இந்த நிகழ்ச்சியில் பங்கேற்க மாலை 6.55 மணிக்கு மேடைக்கு வந்த குருஜி மக்களுக்கு ஆசி வழங்க போடப்பட்டிருந்த நீண்ட மேடையில் வந்து மக்களை பார்த்து கையசைத்தார். மக்கள் கொடுத்த பூக்கள் போன்றவற்றை வாங்கி அணிந்து கொண்டார். பின்னர் அதனை பக்தர்களிடம் வழங்கினார். இதனை தொடர்ந்து கிறிஸ்தவ அருட்சகோதரிகள் சார்பில் வழங்கப்பட்ட புறாவை குருஜி பறக்க விட்டார்.

இதனை தொடர்ந்து குருஜி ரவிசங்கர் ஜி பேசியதாவது; தூத்துக்குடியில் குறுகிய காலத்தில் இதுபோன்ற மிகப் பெரிய அளவில் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டிருப்பது மகிழ்ச்சியாக உள்ளது. இதே போல் குறுகிய காலத்தில் நம் நாட்டை நோய் இல்லாத ஆன்மிக நாடாக மாற்ற முடியும். அதற்கான முயற்சிகள் தான் தற்போது செய்யப்பட்டு வருகிறது. ஆன்மிகம் என்றால் பஜனை பாடுவது ஆன்மிகம் கிடையாது. எல்லோரும் அன்புமனப்பான்மையுடன் இருப்பது தான் ஆன்மிகம். அன்பே சிவம். அன்புக்கு சமமான சக்தி உலகத்தில் வேறு எதுவும் கிடையாது. ஆழமான தியானம் பண்ணினால் அன்பு கிடைக்கும். அநியாயத்தை ஒழிக்க வேண்டும். அதனை எதிர்த்து ஒன்றுபட்டு மக்கள் நிற்க வேண்டும். அகம்பாவம் இருக்கவே கூடாது. எந்த காரணம் கொண்டும் என்னிடம் ஒன்றும் இல்லை என்கிற இல்லாமைப்பாட்டு பாடக் கூடாது. இல்லாமையை ஒழிக்க பாடுபட வேண்டும். இதற்கு சிரமப்பட்டு வேலைகள் செய்ய வேண்டும். சுத்தமாக இருக்க வேண்டும். அசுத்தம் ஒழிக்கப்பட வேண்டும். நம் வீட்டையும், நாட்டையும், ஊரையும், மனதையும் சுத்தமாக வைத்திருக்க வேண்டும். இது தான் நாம் கடவுளுக்கு செய்கிற நன்றியாகும். 30 ஆண்டுகளாக இதற்காக முயற்சி செய்து வருகிறோம். எத்தனையோ நாடுகளுக்கு சென்று பயிற்சி அளித்து வருகிறோம். இதில் ஒரு விஷயம் மட்டும் உறுதியாக தெரிகிறது.

நம் நாட்டில் மட்டும் தான் மனிததன்மையை அதிகமாக பார்க்கிறோம். அதுவும் நம் நாட்டில் உள்ள கிராமங்களில் தான் அதனை அதிகம் பார்க்கிறோம். மற்ற நாடுகளில் இது இல்லை. ஜப்பான் நாட்டை பொறுத்தமட்டில் எல்லோரும் சேர்ந்து உழைப்பார்கள். லீடர் சொல்வதை அப்படியே கேட்பார்கள். ஜெர்மன் நாட்டை பொறுத்தமட்டில் எந்த வேலையை சொன்னாலும் அதனை பெர்பெக்டாக செய்து முடிப்பார்கள். இதற்காக நேரம், காலம் பார்க்க மாட்டார்கள். இந்த நாடுகளில் இருந்து நாம் இதனை கற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

பிரிட்டீஷ் நாட்டை சேர்ந்தவர்களிடம் நல்ல பண்பாடு உள்ளது. அதனை நாம் கற்றுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். அமெரிக்காவினரிடம் வியாபாரம் எப்படி செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பதை கற்றுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். அமாவாசை என்று சந்திரனை அமெரிக்கர்கள் விற்பனை செய்து விடுவர். வியாபாரத்தில் அவர்கள் அவ்வளவு கில்லாடி. அவர்களை அதில் மிஞ்ச முடியாது.

கடனில் மூழ்கிற நிலையில் அணுமின் திட்டங்களை நம்மிடம் 60 பில்லியனுக்கு நம்மிடம் விற்று விட்டு சென்று விட்டனர். இதுபோன்ற அணுமின் திட்டத்தால் தற்போது கூடங்குளத்தில் மக்கள் உண்ணாவிரதம் இருந்து போராட வேண்டிய நிலை வந்தது. நாட்டு நலனுக்காக மக்கள் போராட முன் வந்திருப்பது மிகப் பெரிய விஷயம். இதன் மூலம் புதிய யுகம் ஆரம்பித்துள்ளது. நாட்டு நலனுக்காக மக்கள் போராட வேண்டும். நம் வேலையை பார்த்து விட்டு நாம் போவோம். அதில் ஏன் தலையிட வேண்டும் என்று இருக்க கூடாது. எதற்கும் மக்கள் எழுந்து நிற்க வேண்டும். இதன் மூலம் வெற்றி காண முடியும்.
அரசியல் வாதிகளை பொறுத்தமட்டில் முதலின் நான், அதற்கு பிறகு கட்சி. அதற்கு பிறகு தான் மக்கள் என்று நினைக்கின்றனர். இதனால் தான் குட்டி சுவராகி விட்டது. நாடு கடனில் மூழ்கும் நிலையை இவர்கள் உருவாக்கி விட்டனர். இதனை தடுக்கவும், மக்களிடம் விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்தவும் தான் வாழும் கலை அமைப்பு சார்பில் 14 நாடுகளில் 54 மிகப் பெரிய நகரங்களில் நாட்டை காப்பாற்ற உறுதிமொழி எடுக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. உறுதி மொழி என்றால் ஊழலை அனுமதிக்க மாட்டோம் என்கிற உறுதிமொழி எடுக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. கொடுத்தால் தானே வாங்குவார்கள். கொடுக்கமாட்டேன் லஞ்சம் என்று உறுதிமொழியை மக்கள் எடுத்து வருகின்றனர். இதன் மூலம் தான் லோக்பால் மசோதாவும் கொண்டுவரப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

அன்னாஹசாரேவுடன் சேர்ந்து நானும் ஊழலை எதிர்த்து உண்ணாவிரதம் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்று நினைத்தேன். ஆனால் வாழும் கலை அமைப்பு பல நாடுகளில் இருப்பதால் அவர்கள் இதுபோன்று அனைத்து நாடுகளில் ஆதரவு தெரிவித்து பிரச்னை ஏதேனும் வந்துவிடும். அதன் மூலம் நம் நாட்டிற்கு கெட்ட பெயர் எதுவும் வந்துவிடக் கூடாது என்பதற்காக தான் உண்ணாவிரதம் இருக்கவில்லை. தியான பயிற்சியின் மூலம் வாழ்க்கையில் நல்ல அமைதியை காணமுடியும். இனிமையை கொண்டுவர முடியும். அன்பு மயமான வாழ்க்கை வருவதற்கு கண்டிப்பாக எல்லோரும் தியானம் செய்ய வேண்டும். வெளிநாடுகளில் நம் நாட்டு அரசியல் வாதிகளும், தொழில் அதிபர்களும் கருப்பு பணம் மிக அதிக அளவில் வைத்துள்ளனர். இந்த பணம் குறித்து கணக்கு போட முடியாது. 3 பில்லியன் டாலர் என்கிறார்கள். ராமேஸ்வரம் முதல் கன்னியாகுமரி வரை சீரோ போட்டாலும் முடியாது.
அரசியல் வாதிகள் நாட்டு மக்களுக்கு உதவி செய்ய வேண்டும் என்று நாம் சொல்கிறோம். ஆனால் அவர்கள் வெளிநாடுகளில் சென்று பணத்தை முதலீடு செய்கின்றனர். இது மிகப் பெரிய வன்முறை. நாட்டிற்கு செய்யக் கூடிய தேசதுரோகம். வெளிநாட்டில் உள்ள கருப்புபணத்தை திருப்பி கொண்டு வந்தால் இந்திய நாட்டில் உள்ள ஒரு குடிமனுக்கும் 3 லட்ச ரூபாய் பணத்தை இலவசமாக கொடுக்கலாம். 30 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு வரி கட்ட வேண்டாம். அவ்வளவு கருப்பு பணத்தை குவித்து வைத்துள்ளனர். அரசியலில் நாம் தலையிடக் கூடாது என்கின்றனர். ஊழல் பண்ணாமல் இருந்தால் தலையிட மாட்டோம். ஊழல் இருப்பதால் தலையிட்டு தான் ஆக வேண்டும். ஊழலை ஒழிக்க வேண்டிய முயற்சிகளில் இறங்கத்தான் வேண்டியுள்ளது. அதில் முழு பயனும் கிடைக்கும் வரை தொடர்ந்து தலையிடுவோம். ஊழலை எதிர்த்து நிற்பது தான் மனிதத்தன்மை. ஊழல் எங்கு ஆரம்பிக்கிறது என்றால் மனித தன்மை முடியும் இடத்தில் துவங்குகிறது. நம்முடன் சேர்ந்தவர்களிடம் லஞ்சம் வாங்க முடியாது. அதே போல் யாரிடமும் வாங்க கூடாது என்கிற நிலை வரவேண்டும். அதற்கு ஆன்மிக புத்துணர்ச்சி உண்டாக வேண்டும். எல்லா ஜாதியும், மதமும் ஒன்று தான். நாம் எல்லோரும் ஒன்று என்கிற எண்ணம் மனதில் வர வேண்டும்.ஒரே கடவுள் தான். பலவித வழிபாடுகள் மூலம் நாம் வழிபடுகிறோம். பாகிஸ்தானுக்கு சென்ற போது என்னிடம் கேட்டனர். எத்தனையோ கடவுளை வழிபடுகிறார்களே என்று என்னிடம் கேட்டனர். அதற்கு நாங்கள் நீங்கள் ஏன் கோதுமை உணவில் சமோசா, சப்பாத்தி, அல்வா என்று பல பொருட்களை தயார் செய்து சாப்பிடுகிறீர்கள். அது போல் தான் இதுவும் என்றேன். கடவுள் ஒருவர் தான். ஆண், பெண், குழந்தை என்று பல ரூபத்தில் நாம் வழிபடுகிறோம். எல்லாவற்றிலும் இருப்பது ஒரே பரம்பொருள் தான். இல்லாமையை போக்க வேண்டும். அசுத்தத்தை ஒழிக்க வேண்டும். அறியாமை போக்க வேண்டும். அகங்காரத்தை ஒழிக்க வேண்டும். அகந்தை இல்லாமல் இருந்தால் அமைதியும், பேரின்பமும் உண்டாகும். இதனை நினைத்து நடக்க வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு ரவிசங்கர்ஜி பேசினார்.

பின்னர் மக்கள் கேட்ட பல கேள்விகளுக்கு பதில் அளித்து சுவாமிஜி பேசியதாவது;
கே. உலகம் முழுவதிலும் கோடிக்கணக்கான மக்கள் எப்படி வசிகரம் செய்துள்ளீர்கள்.
ப. நான் யாரையும் வசிகரம் செய்ய போவதில்லை. நான் வளராத குழந்தை.
கே. திவ்யசமுதாயம் எவ்வாறு அமைய வேண்டும்.
ப. குடி, வன்முறை இல்லாத நன்றாக இருக்கும் சமுதாயம் தான் திவ்யசமுதாயமாகும். அதனை நாம் உண்டாக்க வேண்டும். மகராஷ்டிரா மாநிலத்தில் வாழும் கலையை சேர்ந்த ஆசிரியர் ஒருவர் அந்த கிராமத்திற்கு சென்று பயிற்சி அளித்து 150 கோர்ட் வழக்குகளை வாபஸ் வாங்க செய்துள்ளார்.
கே. நாடு சுபிட்சமாக இருக்க என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும்.
ப. ஊழல் இல்லாமல் இருந்தால் நாடு சுபிட்சமாக இருக்கும். எல்லோருக்கும் எல்லா வசதிகளும் கிடைக்கும்.
கே. ஆன்மிகம் விஞ்ஞானமா, வேதாந்தமா
ப. இரண்டும் சேர்ந்தது தான் ஆன்மிகம்
கே. கவனிக்கும் சக்தி, ஞாபசக்தி அதிகரிக்க என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும்.
ப. நல்ல விளையாட வேண்டும். உடலில் வியர்வை அதிகமாக வரும் வரை விளையாட வேண்டும். படி, படி என்று குழந்தைகளை சொல்லக் கடாது. கசப்பாக ருசி இல்லாவிட்டாலும் ஆயர்வேத, மூலிகை மருந்துகளை சாப்பிட வேண்டும்.டேஸ்டாக இருக்கிறது என்று எண்ணெய் பலகாரங்களை அதிகமாக சாப்பிடக் கூடாது. அதன் மூலம் நோய் தான் ஏற்படும்.
கே. ஆன்மிகம் என்ற போர்வையில் போலிச்சாமியார்கள் உலா வருவது பற்றி
ப. ராவணன் கூட சீதையை கடத்தியுள்ளான். போலி வேடம் போட்டு பொய், பிரபகண்டா செய்பவர்களை மக்கள் நம்ப கூடாது. மக்களின் எல்லா கஷ்டத்தையும் தான் ஏற்றுக் கொண்டு மக்கள் அமைதியாக, சந்தோஷமாக வாழ வைப்பவர்கள் தான் ஆன்மிகவாதிகள்.வாழும் குறைந்த காலத்தில் சந்தோஷமாக வாழ வேண்டும். அதனை தான் வாழும் கலையில் கற்றுக் கொடுக்கப்படுகிறது. தூத்துக்குடியை சுத்தமாக வைத்திருக்க ஒவ்வொருவரும் மாதத்தில் இரண்டு மணி நேரத்தை ஒதுக்கி பொது சேவை செய்ய வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு ரவிசங்கர்ஜி பேசினார்.

Anandha Sangamam with Guruji at Tuticorin

2011-09-11T06:24:00.003+05:30

Remembering 9/11: A Decade Later

2011-09-10T07:17:00.000+05:30

Though there had been acts of terrorism before 9/11, this event compelled the world community to act. Let us look at what it brought. 9/11 brought an expenditure of billions of dollars on security. It brought two wars which snowballed into a massive economic crisis for America. It brought stringent measures such as making people remove shoes before boarding flights, a ban on carrying liquids while flying and random profiling of people. After having gone through ten years of all this, we must take stock of how effective the war on terror has been. Of course, these measures have had an impact on enhancing safety. However, we have to introspect and ask -- are they enough to eliminate terrorism? An emphatic no! Read More from Guruji's Article

Blast a well-planned attack on judiciary: Sri Sri

2011-09-08T07:18:00.000+05:30

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Wednesday termed the terror blast at the Delhi high court as a well-planned attack on the judiciary.

“It was a well-planned attack on our judiciary, which has systematically brought the guilty to book. No one should support the perpetrators of such crimes,” the spiritual leader said here in a statement.

Guruji coming to Tuticorin -

2011-09-08T07:11:00.001+05:30

Guruji coming to Tuticorin on 23rd September, 2011. "Ananda Sangamam" at VOC College Grounds evening 6.00 P.M. All are welcome.

Bangalore's Art of Living ashram now flush with Paradise tree

2011-09-05T07:16:00.000+05:30

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn, goes the popular adage by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Bangalore-based Art of Living Foundation has taken this to heart; besides touching more than a million lives through its yoga and ashram-based techniques, the foundation has also been a silent campaigner, promoting a greener way of life.

The Art of Living ashram near Bangalore, which is being headed by spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar, is now flush with a special tree—scientifically termed the Simarouba glacua. Sri Sri fondly calls it the ‘Lakshmi Taru.’

“Simarouba was named Lakshmi Taru because when a farmer invests Rs10 for the tree, he gets Rs1,000 or more as returns,” he said.

The ashram’s nursery is the largest producer of Lakshmi Taru in the state. The forest department is using the saplings from the nursery to make the wastelands of Western Ghats green. Read More

Sri Sri Ravishankar launches Pt. Rupak Kulkarni album on Worldwide Records

2011-08-30T07:18:00.000+05:30

MUMBAI: Spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravishankar launched an album ‘Chakraview’, composed by flute virtuoso Pt. Rupak Kulkarni on Worldwide Records.

Worldwide Records MD Ratnakar Kumar said, “Chakraview is a unique concept. The compositions and breathtaking flute renditions by Rupakji are rejuvenating.”

The album is based on the concept of ‘Chakra’ theory, which has references from old Sanatan Hindu scriptures and experience of various yogis with the touch of modern techniques. Read More

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on real laughter

2011-07-26T07:23:00.000+05:30

If you ever happened to meet God, do you know what you would tell him? “Oh, I have met you inside.” God will dance in our life when your day dawns in laughter and love. True prayer is laughing in the morning. Don’t just be laughing outside but from deep inside. The laughter comes from the centre of our Being, from the core of our heart. True laughter is true prayer. When you laugh, all of nature laughs with you. When things go all right, everybody can laugh, but when everything falls apart, and then if you can laugh, that is evolution and growth. So there is nothing in life that is more worthy than your laughter. Never lose it for anything.

Events come and go. Some are a little pleasant, some are unpleasant, but whatever happens, they all leave you untouched. Read More

Sri Sri and other Shrine Board Members visit the Holy Cave

2011-07-26T07:20:00.000+05:30

Amarnath, July 22
The members of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Pt. Bhajan Sopori, Justice (Retd) G.D Sharma and Dr. (Prof.) Ved Kumari Ghai, accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Board, R.K Goyal, visited the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnathji and paid obeisance at the Sanctum Sanctorum on 22 July. Read More

Indo-Pak dialogue process should continue - Guruji

2011-07-25T07:21:00.000+05:30

Jammu, Jul 23 (PTI) Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today gave a thumbs up to the ongoing Indo-Pak dialogue process and said Mumbai-like terror attacks should not hamper the peace talks."Dialogue (Indo-Pak talks) should continue (despite the Mumbai attacks). It would be continued," Ravi Shanker told reporters after inaugurating a Ma Sharika Meditation Centre at Raipur area in the outskirts of Jammu city this evening. "But at the same time stringent measures should be taken (to deal with the terrorism)," he said. In reply to the question about the present security situation in Jammu and Kashmir as compared to last few years, Ravi Shanker said "There is peace in Kashmir this year. Time is better than last year for normal life". "A better environment is prevailing. Locals are very happy," said Ravi Shanker, who had returned after 2-day visit of the Kashmir Valley. With regard to his meeting with Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, he said "it was courtesy call. it was good meeting".Shanker also said that Amarnath yatra is expected to reach a record of 7 lakh this year. "The yatra is going on smoothly. It is expected to reach a record of 7 lakh this year. Next year, it would further increase," Shanker said.

Read More

Sri Sri to head Sub-Committee on Yatra duration

2011-07-23T07:19:00.000+05:30

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) on Friday decided to set up its Sub-Committee under the chairmanship of H H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Member of the Board, to advise it regarding the duration and schedule of the Yatra from 2012 onwards.

The other members of the Sub-Committee would be Swami Avdheshanandji Maharaj, Joona Peethadishwar, Haridwar; Dr Chandermouli Raina, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Jammu; Prem Gupta, IPS (Retd), Jammu; R L Bharti, IFS (Retd), Jammu; Y V Sharma, President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, and R K Goyal, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board, as its Member Secretary. Read More

Make efforts to excel in life: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to people

2011-07-22T07:15:00.001+05:30

Srinagar: Hindu religious leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is in Kashmir presently, called on Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at Hurriyat headquarters at Rajbagh here on Thursday.

The Hurriyat chairman, according to the spokesman of the conglomerate, appealed the visiting leader to make people aware about the realities of Kashmir issue and try to evaluate it in a realistic manner.
Read More

Watch World Cultural Festival on Sony TV

2011-07-22T07:12:00.002+05:30

Guru Purnima Celebrations

2011-07-15T07:15:00.002+05:30

2011-07-02T07:19:00.000+05:30

There will be Live Telecast and Webcast of the World Culture Festival on 2, 3 July 2011

The live telecast will be on Shraddha,Sanskar, Sri Shankara TV Channel

The live webcast can we watched from http://www.artofliving.org/wcf

The details of timings are on the link above

Share with ALL!!

Read Article in Dinamalar

Tens of thousands due at Berlin yoga fest

2011-07-02T07:16:00.000+05:30

BERLIN — Tens of thousands of yoga fans are expected in Berlin this weekend for a huge festival organised in the German capital's 1930s Olympic Stadium by one of India's best-known gurus, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
The July 2-3 World Culture Festival is billed as a "unique celebration of harmony in diversity", bringing together a hoped-for 70,000 participants from 151 countries.
All will take back home with them "unique sights, sounds, tastes and the mesmerising variety of all the world continents in one place", the organisers promise.
Dance and music troops from around the globe will perform, climaxing in a grand finale involving 30 pianos and 2,000 guitars as well as a mass "Peace Meditation".
Figures from government, business and academia as well as "spiritual leaders, peacemakers and renowned personalities" will "exchange their views and spread the message of peace, unity and harmony in diversity".
The venue was built for the 1936 Olympic Games, infamously intended by Adolf Hitler to showcase Aryan racial supremacy, but since then its Nazi ghosts have been steadily exorcised.
The stadium plays a central role in the German sports and cultural calendar, hosting Berlin's main football team, the 2006 World Cup final, concerts by the likes of U2 -- and in September Pope Benedict XVI will hold a mass there.
The eclectic list of weekend attendees includes former European Commission president Jacques Santer, a tribal king from Ghana and a former Slovenian prime minister who will play the EU anthem, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", on the harmonica.
Yoga, though, the originally Eastern combination of meditation, controlled breathing and body postures that has exploded in popularity in the West in recent decades, is the main focus.
The event will be "the world's biggest yoga camp", according to Ravi Shankar's biographer Francois Gautier.
"It will be a chance for the public to get to know all the different kinds," operations director Christoph Glaser told a news conference ahead of the festival.
The event also celebrates the 30th birthday of the Art of Living Foundation, created by Ravi Shankar, one of India's best-known spiritual figures whose public appearances draw vast crowds.
The 55-year-old's foundation is a not-for-profit, educational and humanitarian non-governmental organisation dedicated to creating a "stress-free mind and a violence-free society".
Based in Bangalore, India, it has also helped in conflict resolution in places such as Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Iraq, disaster relief, female empowerment and environmental sustainability.
Ravi Shankar, always dressed in white and sporting a long dark beard, is one of India's five most influential people, according to US magazine Forbes. He is also on social networking website Facebook, needless to say.
He once studied under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi -- the guru who famously inspired the Beatles. He is not to be confused with the world-famous sitar player Ravi Shankar, also associated with the Fab Four.
Mllions of people overseas are believed to follow his breathing techniques.
"Unless we have a stress-free mind and a violence-free society, we cannot achieve world Peace," he says.
Further information can be found at http://www.worldculturefestival.org, where live webcasts of the event will be available. Read More

Ira Losco to perform at Berlin's Olympic Stadium this weekend

2011-07-02T07:13:00.000+05:30

Ira Losco will be performing at The World Cultural Festival at the Berlin Olympic Stadium this weekend. Celebrating 30 years " Art of Living ",the festival has an impressive line up of artistes and musicians from 151 countries.
Ira Losco will be one of the three headliners and will also deliver a peace message to diplomats, Peace Ambassadors and other guests .
The World Culture Festival was founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who played a key role in conflict resolution and bringing opposing parties to the negotiating table in Iraq, Ivory Coast, Kashmir and Bihar.
Tomorrow, Ira Losco will be performing live on the main stage of the Olympic Stadium before an audience of 70,000 . The performance will also broadcast on various TV stations.
On Sunday, she'll be performing a live set at the Pavillion, which will attract a further 19,000 visitors. She will also be singing in some other smaller shows with her band during her stay in Berlin. Read More

70,000 people to gather in Germany to mark 30 years of Art of Living

2011-06-29T07:22:00.001+05:30

The Art of Living is all set to host The World Culture Festival on July 2 and 3 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin to celebrate its 30 years of service.

The central theme of The World Culture Festival is celebrating diversity and enriching life. More than 70,000 people from 151 countries are expected to come together for a unique weekend.Read More

Thinking that you know the world is the biggest problem

2011-06-29T07:19:00.001+05:30

There are two kinds of minds- an open mind and a closed mind. A closed mind is that which says, “This is how it is, I know it, that is it.” An open mind says, “Oh may be! Perhaps! I do not know!” Limited knowledge, and conformity about it, makes a mind very hard. Whenever you seem to understand a situation and label it,

“This is how it is’, that is the beginning of your problem. And all problems arise from “knowing”, not from “not knowing”. Whenever you think that injustice has been done to you; this falls in the category of - I know it, this is how things are. Suffering is a product of limited knowledge.

Whenever we attach a label ‘not good’, it comes from limited knowledge. But when there is amazement, patience, joy, then you are in a state of ‘ I don’t know, may be, something, Oh, what is it.” The whole life is a shift from the limited ‘I know’ to all possibilities’. Read More

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to feature on NewsX's 'Art Talk'

2011-06-24T19:30:00.000+05:30

This week on ‘Art Talk’, NewsX will feature world famous spiritual leader and the founder of ‘Art Of Living’, Pt. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. In a candid discussion with host Jujhar Singh, Ravi Shankar Ji talks about the link between the arts and spirituality and explains how the goal of music is Silence. He also throws light on the effect of music on the chakras of human body, on unborn babies and on plants and animals. He further speaks about how the sound of the universe is AUM (OM) and dwells on ‘Art of Living's’ emphasis on music and dance.

‘ArtTalk’ is a weekly art show which features interviews of leading artists specializing in different forms of art including classical musicians, dancers, pop musicians, painters, photographers, writers and lots more - in a fun oriented and lively manner. The show gives a sneak peek into the work and lives of these treasured artists while they demonstrate their popular art forms on the show.

Watch out for this mesmerizing piece of interview, this weekend only on NewsX!

Telecast details: Saturday, 25th June, 2011 @ 4:30 pm & 10.30 PM

Repeat: Sunday, 26th June, 2011 @ 8:30 pm.

For further information, please contact:

NewsX
Shivali Malhotra
Mobile: +919810330390
Email: shivali.malhotra@newsx.com

World Cultural Festival Art of Living 30 Years Celebration

2011-06-24T07:09:00.000+05:30

Click on the Image to view better.

Sri Sri becomes the first Indian to receive the Crans Montana Forum Award

2011-06-23T07:16:00.000+05:30

The Art of Living Founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, will become the first Indian to receive the Crans Montana Forum Award in Belgium on June 24

Bengaluru, Karnataka, June 22, 2011 /India PRwire/ -- The Art of Living Founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, will become the first Indian to receive the Crans Montana Forum Award in Belgium on June 24. "You (Sri Sri) represent, today, hope to people in conflict," says Jean-Paul Carteron, Chairman and Founder, in a letter.Since 1989, the Crans Montana Forum has been awarding individuals who fight for peace, democracy and liberty.

Several Presidents and Prime Ministers have received this award. President of the United States of America, Barack Obama; Former Prime Minister of Portugal and current President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso; Current President of Finland, Tarja Halonen; Current President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka; Current Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel are some of the previous recipients of this award.

Sri Sri has also been invited to share his vision of a stress-free, violence-free world at the Crans Montana Forum 21, on June 24, in a session entitled: 'Shaping a new world for tomorrow - The necessity of identifying & implementing common values.'Sri Sri's message of a one-world family and his three decade-body of work in reviving human values have transformed communities across 151 nations. Tribes in Africa, villages in rural India, troubled youth in Iraq, Bosnia and Kosovo have adopted Sri Sri's call to action: inner peace to outer peace.

The Art of Living celebrates 30 years of service to humanity on July 2 and 3 in Berlin through the World Culture Festival. The organization has been serving people through projects that empower the individual, provide freedom from trauma and stress in crisis areas, and rehabilitates victims of violence and prison inmates. It teaches yoga and meditation, emphasizing on using the breath to relax and manage stress. A key component is the Sudarshan Kriya, a health-promoting breathing technique. The organization also holds special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN), and he is active in numerous other international bodies and committees in the areas of health, education and sustainable development.Read More

Art of Living to mark 30 years in Berlin

2011-06-22T07:24:00.000+05:30

Bangalore, June 21 (IANS) The Art of Living will celebrate its 30th anniversary in Berlin with a 'World Culture Festival' July 2-3 where more than 70,000 people from 151 countries will congregate.

Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said in a statement that the festival would be "a celebration of achievements and a vision to do even more good".

The event will be held at Berlin's Olympic stadium. The reception committee is headed by Ruud Lubbers, former prime minister of the Netherlands.

The event will be attended by MPs and several former presidents and prime ministers, the statement said.

Representatives will come from the US, Germany, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Bangladesh and Lithuania.

From India, ministers Praful Patel and Subodh Kant Sahay, Karnataka Chief Minster B.S. Yedyurappa and Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari will attend. Read More

Guruji Says I don't believe in Fast Protest

2011-06-18T10:00:00.002+05:30

The World Culture Festival: A Major Peace Event with International Music, Dance, Meditation, Yoga, Wisdom, and Symposiums

2011-06-17T07:55:00.002+05:30

Brought Together by the Art of Living Foundation, 70,000 People from Six Continents to Join at Berlin’s Historic Olympiastadion, July 2-3

WASHINGTON, D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In an era of widespread natural and manmade disaster and conflict, the world will have a chance to join in one of the largest peace festivals ever held — the World Culture Festival, July 2-3, 2011. U.S. Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL) join other members of the Festival’s reception committee, including former Netherlands Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers, Nobel Prize winning Economist Myron Scholes, members of the European Parliament and other governments, and other leading figures from around the world in support of this historic event. U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) are joining many more in support of this gathering that will share the world’s cultures, spirituality, and a message of harmony.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, is an internationally recognized humanitarian and spiritual leader, and the inspiration for this grand peace event. He said, “The Festival offers a platform for people to get to know different cultures and celebrate together in a joyful manner. Our goal is to support intercultural dialogue and peace in a non-bureaucratic way.” Read More

What is God Work ? - By Acharya Ratnanadaji

2011-06-17T07:51:00.000+05:30

Once a proud but benevolent king sent for his prime minister and said, "All of us have some definite work or assignment to perform. A king rules, a soldier fights, a trader trades, a teacher teaches and a preacher preaches, though as individuals they do other things also. Then what is the primary function of the Creator? Can you answer my question?"

The minister was puzzled. No one knew, and no book ever explained what God's work was. After some thought, he said, "I, too, have often wondered about this like you. But my duty here is to advise and assist you on worldly affairs. This involves spiritual matters and the right person to answer you is our bishop."

When the king repeated his question to the bishop, the bishop asked for a week's time to reply. At the end of the week, the bishop was sitting under a tree on the outskirts of the town, thinking whether to face the king's wrath the next morning, or to run away from the kingdom.

A shepherd boy who was passing by enquired about the cause for his worry. The bishop brushed him aside, saying he was deeply worried about a spiritual matter. The boy was quite insistent, and so the bishop related his trouble, without any hope of solution or solace from the boy.

"My dear master," said the boy, "is that all that worries you so much? Please go in peace to the king. Tell him that the shepherd boy knows the answer."

The surprised bishop begged the boy to give him the answer, but the boy preferred to meet the king in person. So the bishop went home, and the next morning he was at the court when the king eagerly asked for a reply.

"My dear king!" said the bishop, "i need not have taken so much time or trouble to give you a reply. However, i would request you to call for my shepherd boy who will give you a satisfactory answer."

The surprised king immediately sent for the boy, who promptly presented himself before the king. His appearance was repulsive to everyone, but the court awaited his words with interest.

"You, shepherd boy," said the king, "do you know the answer to my question which even learned scholars are not aware of?"

The boy paused for a while and said, "My dear sir, before i answer your query, may i request that proper protocol is observed. You are a student, as far as this question is concerned, since you want to learn. I am a master as i am to give you the knowledge. Normally the master occupies a higher seat than the student." After some hesitation the king slowly came down from his throne and let the boy sit on it. So eager was he to know the answer!

But the boy, after ascending the throne, was calmly enjoying the new-found dignity and did not speak for a while. Impatient, the king shouted at the boy, "You fellow! Where is my answer? What is God's work?" The boy calmly replied, "Here's the answer, to push down the haughty and to push up the humble - that is God's work!"

This is one of the 1,50,000 stories found in the ancient puranas, which have relevance even in modern times.

Acharya Ratnananda (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's father) left for his heavenly abode on June 8. Vaikunth Aradhana on June 19 at the Art of Living International Centre, Bangalore. Priti Bhoj at 10 a.m. All are invited.
News courtesy Times of India

ART OF LIVING SCREENS ‘DISCOVER THE GIFT’

2011-06-15T16:40:00.000+05:30

The Art of Living Foundation, Muscat screened Discover the Gift, an inspirational documentary dir-ected by Demian Lichtenstein, at City Cinema Shatti last weekend. The foundation is a volunteer-based, humanitarian and educational NGO founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Demian’s body of work includes music videos for Sting and Eric Clapton. Through Discover the Gift, Demian attempts to inspire people to find their true calling. He takes the audience on his journey of discovering his own gift, interspersed with lessons from leading speakers and icons in the worlds of self improvement and spiritual growth, including the Dalai Lama, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Sir Ken Robinson and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

The film talks about the gift that each individual possesses and the need for each one to discover and share it. According to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, “Life itself is a gift which is wrapped in a beautiful wrapping paper. We need to unwrap the gift that life has offered us and discover what is inside of us.”

Speaking about the objective behind screening the film, Kamal Khimji, a teacher of the Art of Living Foundation, Muscat said, “I was very inspired by the movie. It was given as a gift to me and I wanted to share this gift with other people.”

Damien’s picturisation is spot-on, with words of the speakers forming pictures in the background to make it easier for viewers to understand the message. Worthy of a special mention is Carlos José Alvarez and his team that created the film’s background music. It helps maintain the interest level of viewers throughout the film.

Among the multinational audience that attended the screening was Hanan Owalweel, from Egypt, who said, “It was an amazing experience. I learned a lot from this film. It has made me realise what my role is in this life.” Adventurer Nabil al Busaidi, who also attended the screening, said, “I think we need to find out our gifts and share it a bit more.” Read More

Tamil Newspaper Applauds Guruji's effort

2011-06-15T09:50:00.000+05:30

Guruji Says 'I will not support anybody adopting any form of violence'

2011-06-13T08:09:00.001+05:30

First Gandhian Anna Hazare and then yoga guru Baba Ramdev -- a fast appears to be an effective way of getting the government to do things.

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been vocal about these movements and even managed to convince Baba Ramdev to call off his fast.

In an interview with rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa, the Art of Living founder says that even though he supports the cause, he would never support anybody who resorts to violence.Read the full transcript

Ravi Shankar meets Ramdev, appeals to end fast

2011-06-12T10:36:00.000+05:30

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Saturday met Baba Ramdev and appealed to him to end his eight-day fast even as the health condition of the yoga guru showed signs of improvement.

The Art of Living founder however made it clear that the Centre had not asked him to negotiate with 46—year—old Ramdev for ending his fast against black money and corruption.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and former President A.P.J. Abdula Kalam also appealed to Baba Ramdev to end his fast.

No government mediation

“No. Nobody in the central government has said anything to me and I have come here on my own. I will keep meeting him till he breaks it,” Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said when asked if someone from the government got in touch with him on the issue. Read More

Guruji wants Baba to breakfast

2011-06-11T10:32:00.000+05:30

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who has been on a fast at his Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar for the last six days, was moved today to a hospital here after his health showed visible signs of deterioration.

Art of Living founder and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar — who has thrown his weight behind Team Anna and Baba Ramdev’s campaign against corruption — visited the Baba at the hospital and urged him to break his fast.

Ravishankar intervened apparently after Law Minister Veerappa Moily got in touch with him. “Moily had called Sri Sri Ravishankar and he is touch with the Prime Minister regarding Ramdev’s fast,” the Art of Living said.

Sources said that with the Baba refusing to break his fast even on the seventh day, apparently for fear of losing face, Uttarakhand’s BJP government decided at the highest levels to step in.

Sources said top BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh spoke with Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and asked him to make efforts to shift Ramdev to hospital. The chief minister spoke with Ramdev and his second-in-command Acharya Balkrishna in the morning, urging them to allow the administration to move them to hospital in Dehradun.

Tribute to Pitaji from Art of Living Web Seva Team Coimbatore.

2011-06-10T20:22:00.000+05:30

The ART OF LIVING family in obeisance, express our sincere gratitude to Pujya Pitaji for his selfless service and his gift of Gurudev to us.

He was a true Gandhian and joined the freedom movement.
A scholar, educationist and social worker, he served tirelessly for woman empowerment and education. He dedicated his life to service.

He remains our eternal inspiration.

Excerpts from International Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore (India) Satsang (8th June 2011)

2011-06-10T08:07:00.000+05:30

Posted: 08 Jun 2011 12:48 PM PDT

**
*Sri Sri:* Jai Gurudev!
Today an incident has taken place. Pitaji, the one who has given me this
body, has left his body. Body coming and leaving is a celebration. After
living a complete life he has gone to the source. We should know that
our bodies are going to be destroyed one day.

There are three Gunas by which ones life can be considered. If we see
from this angle, Pitaji's life was sattvic. He has been always
enthusiastic, never every complained about anything but took everything
as challenging. Every one's life is a story.

In his childhood he was born in scientific and learned family. His
parents were in Gandhi ji's ashram for 20 years and worked for a India's
independence. His parents gave all the gold and wealth at home to
Gandhiji for the struggle that finally got India its independence. At
that time Pitaji was 10 years old. He was studying in an English medium
school in Bangalore. He quit school during the Quit India Movement. His
father expired when he was just 16 years old. At that tender age, he
took care of his family including his brother and sister financially. He
used to walk 17km daily to do the job. He used to work and he started a
shop which his brother used to manage. Pitaji's younger brother was very
innocent. He wasn't managing the business at the shop so well but Pitaji
never said anything to his brother about not talking proper care of the
shop.

When Bhanu and I were born, he ensured that we always had everything. He
used to tell us new stories everyday that were very inspiring. Every
evening when he would come, we would clap hands and make everyone smile
for sometime. He would serve the poor. He never bothered or used to
worry about tomorrow. When the Bangalore International center started,
he took care of the ashram. He would come to the ashram everyday to take
care of the requirements and he would bring vegetables too for the
ashram kitchen. He would travel by bus, even though I would tell him to
go by car. In a village nearby the ashram, 100 young girls were about to
be sold, Pitaji stopped that and taught those girls tailoring to support
their life by themselves. He has had a enthusiastic and happy life. I
would like all the elderly to live with enthusiasm till their last
breath. Its very important because nowadays after 50 years, people are
loosing enthusiasm.

Pitaji used to say: there are three kinds of people: VIP, VVIP, and
VOC. VOC: Very ordinary chap. Pitaji used to call himself a very
ordinary chap. He was a down to earth person. Till his last breath he
was involved in service projects. He never believed in long rituals.
When rituals for the dead would go on for too long, Pitaji would say
that the person performing the rituals for the dead would die :)

A few days ago, Pitaji expressed his wish that he wants to depart. He
breathed his last when I landed in Bangalore. He was so energetic. Even
when he would walk, he would walk like an elephant. He has experienced a
wide spectrum of life.

Remembering all his qualities mean that we should imbibe those qualities
in us. He was so deep in faith and commitment. We need to imbibe all
those qualities that he represented and lived all his life. His sense of
humor and humility.

He designed a car when we were young. He was very fond of making a 4
wheeler car in India.
At that time he went to Delhi to get a license for the same. At that
time Maruti car was also getting launched. He tried to get the license
for 4 years. He said OK the government is refusing to give license for 4
wheeler car, so I will take one wheel away. He made a 3 wheeler
vehicle. There was so much corruption at every step of the way and since
he was not ready to pay bribe to anyone, he couldn't make it. I told
him, why are you doing all this?
I told him to get into service, social service. Then he started VISTA
India. In Sirsi, 450 km from here he started work. He has worked in 33
villages and created many groups. He used to go to these remote villages
and take care of those women and children. In fact, till now I haven't
been to that place yet. His wish was that I should visit the 33 villages
where he has worked. I will go there.

*Q:* What is the most important/Valuable thing in life?
*Sri Sri:* Life itself is the most valuable thing. Things/objects should
gain value from life, life shouldn't get value from things. When we
value life, things also get valued.

*Q:* If everyone goes to heaven then who will serve people?
*Sri Sri:* I received a funny SMS. As soon as I opened it, the first
line was *Goto Hell*. Then it was followed by "Because only you can
transform hell into heaven". You know any one would get shocked by
seeing the first line :)
Hell and heaven are right here. It depends on the state of mind. When it
is happy, heaven gets created whereever it is.

*Q:* How to go beyond happiness and sadness?
*Sri Sri:* Days of happiness and sadness come and go, but life keeps
going on. Between clouds of happiness and sadness, see the sky - that is
what we are.

*Q:* Why wasn't Sudarshan Kriya come earlier?
*Sri Sri:* Bhagvad Gita was given to this world 5000 years back.Why it
was not there before it. The nature knows what is required when and it
comes at the right time.

*Q:* Why doesn't God teach the corrupt people as lesson?
*Sri Sri:* So that you can do something. God has created corruption and
has given some work to you. Dont expect everything do be done by God
only. We never think let God himself come and feed us. We put in efforts
to fulfill our needs, similarly we need to put in efforts to fulfill the
needs of our country. Our work is to support dharma.
In Germany, every 2 years, 1.5 lakh people gather at a evangelical
church. They asked me to come and I went. Everyone loved the
program. Then on the next day I saw in the newspaper that they had
called me because they knew that people who are seekers will come when
they hear my name. They had kept a ticket.
They wanted people to come and there was a lady moderator, and a priest.
These two were supposed to cut whatever Guruji says and then all the
people who have come to the church will have more respect for the
church. This was revealed in the newspapers in Germany later.
The program was a good one and everyone was interested at the end in Art
of Living instead in church. The discussion was such that all the people
who came said that this is what we want. Though people wanted to fight
and win over me, they didn't know how to fight with me, so I already
won. In the newspapers next day, they wrote that their plan failed. The
plan was of a small group of people. Not everyone is bad here, there are
more good than bad. The world is made of all kinds of people.
If there is nothing else, people take a religious cause to fight - my
God is better than your God.

Anna Hazare's team (Team fighting against corruption in India) said that
we will ask for Chidambaram(a member of Indian parliament) to resign. I
asked what will happen even if he resigns? They will replace one pawn
with another.
Ask the whole goverment to resign.

I am telling Ramdev ji (One more saint leading the fight against
corruption in India) also to stop fasting. You need a lot of energy when
you have a big fight. When you are dealing with sensitive people, it is
fine. They will feel that you are fasting, they will have some mercy but
when you are with insensitive people, you have design and plan new tactics.

*Excerpt source:*
_http://www.artofliving.org/sites/all/themes/aolglobal/webcast-with-sri-sri-ravi-shankar.html_
*Note*: The recorded satsangs will soon be displayed on
_http://www.artofliving.org/satsang_
Full fledged satsang QNA's will be published on
_http://wisdomfromsrisriravishankar.blogspot.com/_ very soon!
For the details on the upcoming LIVE webcast satsangs, please visit
_http://www.artofliving.org/satsang_

Sri Sri Ravishankar backs Ramdev's campaign

2011-06-03T07:37:00.001+05:30

NEW DELHI: Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar Thursday extended his support to yoga guru Baba Ramdev's indefinite fast against illegal wealth stashed in foreign banks, saying "all are together in the fight against corruption".

"We are all together in this cause ... may be our working style is little different but we are all together. I am not going on fast because it will have more international impact. I don't want these things to go beyond Indian borders," Ravishankar told Times Now.
"People all over the world are getting upset over corruption ... I am keeping low profile, but I am supporting the cause. We all are together," he said.
The spiritual guru said the government should immediately take action against those involved in corruption.
"They have to take this thing seriously, you know, corruption and the black money issue have been in news for last one year but nothing much is happening. It is not moving ahead, so I think it is essential to hurry this thing," he added.
Baba Ramdev has called for a fast-unto-death from June 4 to pressurise the government to take urgent steps to bring back black money stashed abroad by the Indians. Courtesy Indian Express

Stressbusting with Sri Sri Ravishankar

2011-05-30T07:24:00.001+05:30

BANGALORE: It was the perfect ending to a long day for Anna. Saturday evening was spent in the company of spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar at Art of Living International Centre on Kanakapura Road.

He devoted 15 minutes to meditation with Sri Sri and hundreds of devotees. Addressing them, he said: "Service to humanity is service to God. Many people spend at least half an hour in temples doing pujas. Later, they spend one hour trying to grab others' land. Both worship and service to people should go hand in hand."

Sri Sri called on people to fight against corruption by sticking labels stating 'I won't take bribe' on every officer's desk. "First we should stop giving bribes. The fight against corruption should begin from here. We should at least influence 100 people and commit them against giving bribes," he said. He underlined the need for a revolution of thought and feeling. Read More