Art of Living’s Massive signature campaign for Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees

Many great nations of the world, including the United States of America have given citizenship/Residency status to the homeless SriLankan tamil refugees and have helped them restart their life in these countries. India has given citizenship/ Residency status to refugees from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh. However the SriLankan Tamil refugees who have lived in India for the last 30 years have been denied this right. Art of Living Foundation has many times in the past petitioned that these SriLankan Tamil refugees be given the citizenship/Residency rights/status in India. We once again request the Indian Government to grant these refugees from SriLanka the right to Indian Citizenship/ Residency status. We request everyone to participate in this signature campaign and support this initiative. yours Tamilnadu Art of Living Note: signature is being collected at every Art of living centre in Tamil Nadu.
 For further details, please contact: Teacher / Local Art Of Living Center.

வாழும் கலையின் தமிழ் வேத வேள்வி

"தெளிவு குருவின் திருமேனி காண்டல்

தெளிவு குருவின் திருநாமஞ் செப்பல்

தெளிவு குருவின் திருவார்த்தை கேட்டல்

தெளிவு குருவுரு சிந்தித்தல் தானே'

என திருமந்திரம் செப்பும் "குரு இல்லா வித்தை பாழ்' என்பர் எம்மூத்தோர்.அறியாமை இருளை நீக்கி மருளைப்போக்கி தெளிவை ஏற்படுத்துபவர் குரு ஆவார்.இந்து இலக்கியங்கள் அறிவைப்பெற குருவைநாடிச்சென்று தங்கியிருந்து சேவை செய்தல் வேண்டும் என கூறுகின்றன.

ஆனால் இன்று பூகோளமய மாயையில் சிக்கித்தவிக்கும் உலகமக்கள் தொழில் நுட்பத்துடன் போட்டிபோட்டு தம்மைப்பற்றி தாமே கவனிக்க நேரமற்று நவீன உணவுப்பழக்க வழக்கங்களுக்கு உட்பட்டு மன,உள நோய்களுக்கு ஆட்பட்டு மிகவேகமாக இயங்கிக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றனர்.இதனால் ஆன்மீக தாகமோ தன்னம்பிக்கையோ அற்றுள்ள மக்கள் குருகுலத்தையோ குருவையோ நாடிச்செல்லும் நிலையிலில்லை.

இதனால் தான் நவீன வேதியல் விஞ்ஞானியும் வாழும் கலை அமைப்பின் நிறுவனருமான ஆன்மீக குரு பரம பூஜ்ய ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ ரவிசங்கர் அவர்கள் உலக மக்கள் அனைவரையும் நாடி தானே நேரில்சென்று சுதர்சன கிரியா எனும் தன்னால் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்ட எளிய சுவாசப் பயிற்சியினை அளித்தும் தன்னார்வத்தொண்டர்கள் மூலம் விழிப்புணர்வை ஏற்படுத்தியும் 160 இற்கும் மேற்பட்ட நாடுகளில் பெருமாற்றத்தினை ஏற்படுத்தி வருகின்றார்.

இவ்வகையில் மானிடநேயம் கொண்ட குருஜி தமது அமைப்பின் முப்பதாம் ஆண்டில் கடந்த 22.01.2011 அன்று இலங்கையின் கிழக்கு மாகாணத்தில் அமைந்துள்ள மீன்பாடும் தேனாடாம் மட்டக்களப்பிற்கு வருகை தந்தமை குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

நீர்வளமும் நிலவளமும் ஒருங்கே அமைந்துள்ள மட்டக்களப்பு மண் ஆன்மீகத்திலும் சளைத்ததல்ல.நகரமத்தியில் பரந்து விரிந்து அந்த முற்றவெளி மைதானம்(வெபர்) அடுக்கடுக்காய் வானுயர்ந்த கம்பங்கள் சீரான இடைவெளியில் கம்பீரமாக காட்சியளித்தன வந்தாரை .வரவேற்க நந்திக்கொடிகள் தென்றலின் உதவியுடன் சிந்துபாடி சிரம் அசைத்தன.

பரந்து விரிந்த மைதானம் போல் ஆங்கே ஒரு மூலையில் வண்ண மின் விளக்குகளால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட மேடையும் பரந்து விரிந்தே காணப்பட்டது.மேடையின் நடுவே அழகிய வெண்பதாகை ஒன்று உலக சமாதானம் மற்றும் ஒற்றுமைக்காக 21,000 மக்கள் இணைந்து தேவாபாராயணம் எனும் செய்தியை பறைசாற்றிக்கொண்டிருந்தது.பதாகைக்குரிய சிவப்பு,வெள்ளை வண்ணத்தெரிவு,சூடு,குளிரைக் குறிப்பதும் சிவ,உமை தத்துவத்தை குறிப்பதுமாக இருக்குமோ என எண்ணத்தோன்றியது.

பரந்து விரிந்த இம்முயற்சிகண்டு அகமகிழ்ந்த வானம் மதிய நேரம் அண்மிக்கும் போது சிறு சிறு வெண்முத்துகளை சிந்தி வாழ்த்தியது.சிந்திய முத்துகள் பூதேவியில் தேங்கிடக்கூடாதென்று தொண்டர்கள் கூடி அகத்துறிஞ்சியால் ஒத்தடம் கொடுத்தனர்.அங்கிருந்த யாவர் மனமும் நிகழ்வு நடக்குமாவென அங்கலாய்த்தது.

அதிசயம்தான் “பிற்பகல் அண்மிக்கும்போது செங்கதிரோன் சிரித்து மகிழ்ந்தான்.மெல்ல மெல்ல மக்கள் மைதானத்தில் கூடினர்.மக்களை ஆற்றுப்படுத்த வெண்ணிற ஆடைகளுடன் தொண்டர்கள் ஆங்காங்கே காணப்பட்டனர்.வரிசை வரிசையாய் ஊர்திகள் அரங்கை நோக்கி அசைந்து வந்தன.இவற்றின் முன் கட்டப்பட்ட பதாகைகள் அவை கண்டி,ஹட்டன்,நுவரெலியா,திருகோணமலை,யாழ்ப்பாணம்,கொழும்பு,மன்னார்,பூநகரி,வவுனியா,வெல்லவாயா முதலிய பிரதேசங்களில் இருந்து வந்ததை அறிவித்தன.

மைதானம் அண்ணளவாக 50,000 மக்களால் நிரம்பி வழிந்தது.மெல்லென பி.ப.3 மணியை அண்மித்தது."குரு ஓம் பாடல் எமதுள்ளத்தை நிரப்பியவேளை குருஜியின் பிரசன்னத்துடன் வேதபராயணம் வானளாவ ஒலிக்க அந்தண சிவாச்சாரியர்கள் “மகாருத்ர'பூசையினை ஆற்றினார்கள்.இவ்வேளை ஐந்து கருடன்கள் ஆகாயத்தில் வட்டமிட்டுக் கொண்டு இருந்ததை அடியவர்கள் தம்முள் பேசிக்கொண்டிருந்தனர்.

நூல்வேத சமர்ப்பணத்தை தொடர்ந்து "அங்கமும் வேதமும்'எனத் தொடங்கும் தமிழ் வேதமும் பாடசாலைப்பிள்ளைகள்,பக்தர்கள் என 21,000 பேர் ஒரு சேர ஒரே குரலில் பாராயணம் பண்ணியமை மனதை பண்படுத்துவதாக அமைந்திருந்தது. இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து உலகமாதேவியிடம் ஞானப்பாலுண்ட ஞானசம்பந்தர் புறநீர்மை பண்ணில் இராமேஸ்வரத்திலிருந்து திருக்கோணேஸ்வரப் பெருமாள் மீது பாடியருளிய"நிரை கழலரவஞ் சிலம்பொலி அலம்பும்' எனும் தமிழ்வேதமும் திருவங்க மாலையிலிருந்து தலை,கண்,நெஞ்சு ஆகிய பாகங்கட்குரிய பாடல்களும் தமிழோசைபாடல் மறந்தடியேன் என்பதற்கிணங்க பாடப்பட்டமை பக்தி பரவசத்தினை ஏற்படுத்தியது.

இந்நிகழ்வில் பொதுமக்கள்,பாடசாலைப்பிள்ளைகள் மட்டுமன்றி அரசியற் பிரமுகர்களும் கலந்து கொண்டமையை காணக்கூடியதாக இருந்தது. திட்டமிட்டபடி காலதேசவர்த்தமானங்களை கடந்து குறிப்பிட்ட நாளில் குறிப்பிட்ட திகதியில் குறிப்பிட்ட நேரத்தில் 21,000 மக்கள் ஒரே மேடையில் தேவபாராயணம் செய்தமை உள்ளத்தை உருக்குவதாகவே உள்ளது.ஆகையால் இதனை வாழும் கலையின் தமிழ்வேத வேள்வியெனில் அது மிகையில்லை.

(Message from http://www.thinakkural.com/beta/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6861:2011-02-07-03-56-14&catid=72:article&Itemid=100) sent by Shri. Manikandanji 

மீன் பாடும் தேன் நாட்டில் தெய்வீக மறுமலர்ச்சி

வாழும் கலை அமைப்பின் நிறுவனர் பூஜ்ய ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ ரவிசங்கர் குருஜி அவர்களால் உலக அமைதிக்காகவும் , ஒற்றுமைக்காகவும் , ஆரோக்கியம், அன்பு , மனித நேயம் மற்றும் தமிழ்  கலாச்சாரம் தழைத்தோங்கவும் இலங்கை திருநாட்டில் கிழக்கு மாகாணத்தின் மீன் பாடும் தேன் நாடாம் மட்டகளப்பு  மாநகரின் வெபர் திறந்த வெளி  வெளியரங்கில்  22 ம் திகதி ஜனவரி 2011 ம்  ஆண்டு சனிக்கிழமை மாலை 3 .30  மணிக்கு நடந்த இந்நிகழ்வில் மகா ருத்ர பூஜையை தொடர்ந்து 21000 இசைக்கலைஞர்கள் ஒன்றிணைந்து வழங்கிய தேவரபரயணம் நடைபெற்றது. இறைவன் அருள் பெற்ற சமயகுரவர்கள் காலத்தில் காணப்பட்ட தெய்வீகக் பொற்காலம் மீண்டும் ஆரம்பமாகும் பொருட்டு அவர்களால் பாடப்பட்ட 12 திருமுறை தேவாரங்களிலிருந்து தேர்ந்து எடுக்கப்பட்ட சில தேவாரங்கள் இத்தேவாரபாராயணத்தில் பாடப்படும். இந்த பிரம்மாண்டமான நிகழ்வில் யாழ்பாணம், மட்டகளப்பு, மன்னார், கண்டி,அட்டன் , வவுனியா, திருகோணமலை, கொழும்பு ,நுவரேலியா போன்ற பல பாகங்களிருந்தும் , கனடா, லண்டன், இந்தியா, துபாய் போன்ற பல வெளிநாடுகளிலிருந்தும் ௫௦௦௦௦ மேற்பட்ட பக்தர்கள் கலந்து கொண்டனர். 

ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ ரவிசங்கர் குருஜியின் தலைமையில் நேற்று முன்தினம் சனிக்கிழமை மட்டக்களப்பு வெபர் மைதானத்தில் நடைபெற்ற தேவார பாராயண நிகழ்வில் சுமார் 21 ஆயிரம் மக்கள் கலந்துகொண்டனர். இதில் கிழக்கு மாகாண முதலமைச்சர் சி.சந்திரகாந்தன்,மீள்குடியேற்ற பிரதியமைச்சர்களான விநாயகமூர்த்தி முரளிதரன், எம்.எல்.ஏ.எம்.ஹிஸ்புல்லாஹ்,மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்ட பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களான சீ.யோகேஸ்வரன்,பா.அரியநேந்த்திரன், பொன்.செல்வராசா உட்பட பல பிரமுகர்கள் கலந்துகொண்டனர். பல்லாயிரக்கணக்கான பக்தர்களின் மேள,தாள வாத்தியங்கள் முழங்க ரவிசங்கர் குருஜி வரவேற்கப்பட்டு பூஜைகள் நடைபெற்றன. அதனைத் தொடர்ந்து அங்கு கூடியிருந்த சுமார் 21 ஆயிரம் மக்கள் இணைந்து தேவார பாராயணத்தில் கலந்துகொண்டனர். இந்நிகழ்வில் குருஜி பக்தர்களுக்கு ஆசிர்வாதம் வழங்கிய பின்னர் உரையாற்றியபோது; உங்களிடமுள்ள அனைத்துக் குறைகளையும் இந்த மைதானத்திலேயே விட்டுவிட்டுச் செல்லுங்கள். மனித சமுதாயம் எங்கெல்லாம் உள்ளதோ அங்கெல்லாம் குலம்,கோத்திரம்,சாதி பேதம் என்ற அனைத்தினையும் அகற்றுங்கள். தவறுகளை மன்னித்து விடுங்கள்.நடந்ததெல்லாம் நடந்துவிட்டன. மெஞ்ஞானம் விஞ்ஞானம் என்ற உண்மையைக் கூறுகின்றன. இதனை உணர்த்துவதே வாழும் கலை அமைப்பின் இரகசியமாகும். தற்போதெல்லாம் தமிழ் திரிபடைந்துள்ளது. இனிமேல் இலங்கையில் இருந்துதான் தமிழைக் கற்க வேண்டும் என்றார். இந்நிகழ்வில் பிரதியமைச்சர்களான வி.முரளிதரன், எம்.எல்.ஏ.எம்.ஹிஸ்புல்லாஹ், முதலமைச்சர் சி.சந்திரகாந்தன்,சி.யோகேஸ்வரன் எம்.பி. ஆகியோரும் உரை நிகழ்த்தினர்

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Sri Lankan Cricket Captain meets Guruji

Jan 25,2011 - Sri Lankan cricket team captain Kumar Sangakara thanked Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and The Art of Living for helping the Sri Lankan cricket team to come out of trauma after the Lahore attack. Kumar Sangakara called on Sri Sri in Colombo on January 23. Sri Sri was on a three-visit to Sri Lanka, from January 21-23.


In 2009, immediately after the Lahore attack , the team had undergone breathing sessions and meditation techniques of the Art of Living in Colombo.


On completing the course then, Kumar Sangakara had said that he had felt relaxed and calm after two sessions of the Sudarshan Kriya. It was “a really pleasant experience”, the sports ministry had quoted him. 


"The Sri Lankan cricketers have now found a new direction to be relaxed, calm and still be dynamic and alert," the ministry said.


"Relaxation and recovery is an integral part of a sportsperson's lifestyle, it is techniques like Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique that gives them the energy to bounce back," he said. The eight-hour workshop was conducted by Swami Sadyojatha, International Director, The Art of Living.


On being asked if the cricketers spoke about the trauma, Sri Sri said, “The four days that we spent together, I didn't ask them anything about Lahore and they didn't tell me also. It was like past is past and finished. It was about how to bring your mind to the present and move ahead. They had the belief as well and they wanted to do something as a team.”

Sri Lanka witnesses the largest Tamil music choir ever

Batticaloa. January 22.2010. History was created in Sri Lanka as 21,000 singers gathered together to sing the ‘Thevaram’, the richest Tamil devotional poetry sung over centuries. The event was organized by several hundred youth volunteers of the Art of Living in Sri Lanka. 


The grand event was attended by Art of Living founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is on a three-day tour of the country. Speaking at the gathering, Sri Sri urged people to drop the past and move ahead. He emphasized the need to apply the human virtue of forgiveness in our daily life. He also called upon the people to unite in a spirit of unity and respect for all religions.


Also present on the occasion was Mr. Chandrakanthan Sivanesathurai , The Chief Minister of the Eastern Province. He thanked Sri Sri and the Art of Living for their wholehearted support in providing relief and assistance in the recent floods that had impaired life in several areas of Batticaloa. 


The event had enthusiastic participation from all sections of society. Students, homemakers, executives and government dignitaries were part of the event. Read More

Sri Sri calls for people to live without fear in Sri Lanka

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation who was in Sri Lanka over the last two days, has emphasized on the need for people in Sri Lanka to live without fear, join hands with everyone and to promote peace and build a prosperous society.

In his fifth visit to Sri Lanka on Tuesday over 10,000 people were blessed by Sri Sri with meditation, prayers and sacred chants, the Art of Living Foundation said in a press release.

The mega event titled Uniting Hearts and Minds was held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium that brought people from all walks of life and from across the country. Several Christian priests, Islamic scholars, Buddhist monks, Hindu Swamis and priests came together in a spirit of unity and faith. Read More

Sri Sri asks people to unite for peace in Lanka

Colombo: Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, on a visit to Sri Lanka, has asked the people of this conflict-hit country to live without fear and join hands to promote peace.

"Peace and prosperity go together... peace comes when you have trust and confidence. No one can take away your self-respect and dignity," he told a gathering here yesterday.
Read More

Give Indian citizenship to Tamil refugees: TN Chief Minister takes up initiative given by Guruji

Bangalore: Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has backed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's call to give Indian citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India.

Ravi Shankar said that his Art of Living Foundation had taken up the matter since August this year.

"We are conducting a signature campaign in support of this issue. We have over a lakh of signatories. We were about to bring this to the chief minister's attention when we learnt he is already taking up this matter with the central government," Ravi Shankar said.

"We hope that citizenship will be granted soon to the Tamil refugees," he said, adding that the foundation was now terminating its signature drive.

Several thousands of Tamils have taken refuge in Tamil Nadu since fleeing the war in Sri Lanka.

Signature Campaign for granting citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamils

Guruji,during HIS recent tour of Tamil Nadu,urged all of us to help the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils living in camps in various parts of Tamil Nadu. There are many camps across our state and more than 1.2 lakh people live in these camps under very strict observation and time clauses. Some of them have been on these camps for years! Guruji suggested that we launch a signature campaign and request the State government to take up the cause of these refugees by granting them citizenship status.

To implement this effectively, we would like volunteers to kindly come forward, from all districts of Tamil Nadu to co ordinate this campaign and get maximum support for this cause. We have the format under which signatures need to be collected. Its important to plan this and effectively take it forward.

Therefore, all those of you who are interested in volunteering for this campaign, please get in touch with Mr.Ravichandran who will be co-ordinating this project
(Mobile ; 9444904644 / e.mail : ravvichandran@gmail.com )

Click here to download specimen form

• Sri Ravi Shankar demands immigrant status for SL Tamils

New Delhi, Aug 4 (PTI) Art of Living exponent Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today said that the 1.25 lakh Sri Lankan Tamils living as refugees in the country should be given immigrant status like their counterparts in Europe and America."Sri Lankan Tamils living in Europe and America have jobs, businesses, have a home and are well off, while those living in Tamil Nadu since 1983 are still languishing in the camps are refugees. They should be integrated into the country," he said in a statement.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who kicked off his one-week long Tamil Nadu tour yesterday from Kancheepuram, said that this would be a "human" gesture to give hope and opportunity.He also said that one cannot turn a blind eye to the sufferings of Sri Lankan Tamils in Tamil Nadu when refugees from Bangladesh and Nepal have been enjoying these benefits. (Courtesy Press Trust of India)

Lankan Tamils displaced by war find peace in Sri Sri’s programmes

Hundreds of thousands of war displaced Sri Lankan Tamils, helped by the Art of Living Foundation, observed Aadi Amavasya on July 21 with prayers, meditations, breathing techniques, satsang and pujas to pay tribute to the departed souls of their kith and kin.
The programme was aired live by the Sri Lankan Tamil channels.

Aadi Amavasya is the day that Tamil Hindus the world over observe remembrance of all the departed souls through special pujas and rituals. For the war displaced Sri Lankan Tamils, the day is particularly poignant, as they struggle to cope with the tragic loss of their near and ones in the three-decade long bitter war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka.

This year, they had a unique opportunity to let-go off their deep- seated grief, anxiety and stress on Aadi Amavaysa. A team of dedicated Art of Living teachers helped the internally displaced Tamils in the camps of Vavuniya, Batticoloa and Trincomalee express their heartfelt emotions for their loved ones. Women wailed for their family members who have either gone missing or killed in action during the war. Survivors huddled and consoled each other finding solace, peace and a definite direction in the Art of Living’s breathing techniques and healing satsangs organised at the camps. At the conclusion of the program me several participants came forward to express their gratitude to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for specially sending his team of teachers to help them relieve their sad and miserable past and look forward to a new life.

Currently over 2, 75,000 Tamils displaced after the war are housed in various camps in Vavuniya District of Northern Sri Lanka. Over 10,000 persons participated in the camps in Batticoloa and Trincomalee.

For over five years His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of The Art of Living has been organising a series of programmes and initiatives directed at bringing peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

Currently in a post-conflict scenario in Sri Lanka, Sri Sri`s healing initiative titled `Uniting hearts and minds` is being delivered to the internally displaced Tamils in the camps.. Cooked food, rice grains, milk powder, medicines, clothes and other essential items have been distributed to the displaced.

(Photos and Message from Shri.K.K.Ganeshji - Senior Faculty - Art of Living.)

Sri Lankan Tamils - Guruji Visit Video

Guruji in talks with Lanka for ceasefire

The Art of Living Foundation says that its Leader and Spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is in touch with the government after the LTTE had sought his intervention to secure a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
LTTE’s Political Wing Head, B. Nadesan had on Monday urged Ravi Shankar through a telephone conversation to facilitate a ceasefire in the island.
Nadesan had informed Ravi Shankar that thousands of people were suffering due to the acute shortage of food and medical facilities in the narrow strip of land held by the LTTE. Read More

Selvi Jayalalitha meeting Guruji

PEACE MISSION: Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar interacts with AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa in Madurai on Thursday. They discussed the Sri Lankan Issue.

India should intervene in Lanka crisis: Sri Sri

The ongoing civil war in Sri Lanka is the worst tragedy since the 1971 war with Pakistan, according to Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar. "Thousands of civilians in Sri Lanka are caught in the conflict and are on the verge of losing their mental balance," he said on Friday after returning from a three-day visit to the war-torn country.

He described the current situation: "The operation has been successful but the patient is dead."

He said over 3 lakh refugees are confined to camps, and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse plans to keep them in those camps for a long time.

"I appealed to the Sri Lankan government to send the refugees home as soon as possible. The international community, too, is apathetic to the crisis," he explained. Read More

The Indian government has let down Lanka Tamils, says Guruji.

CHENNAI: The Indian Government has let down Sri Lankan Tamils and so have the politicians, said Art of Living Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.


Addressing mediapersons here on Wednesday after a three-day visit to the strife-torn island, Ravi Shankar said more than 70,000 Tamils were displaced, over 1,000 killed and 25,000 injured according to some of the displaced he met.

"We are witnessing an enormous human tragedy. People, who have done well in their professions, are as good as beggars today. There should be immediate efforts to stop the tragedy,'' he said. Read More

From the Hindu

Sri Lankan civilians 'escape' rebel stronghold - 22 Apr 09

Video Courtesy AlJazeera.

News Headlines - Video of Interview with Swami Sadyojathah

Interview with Swami Sadyojathah

The Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team was yet another reminder of the growing threat of terrorism in today's world. You could call it 'Munich Olympics attack re-visited', though in Lahore, fortunately, the Sri Lankan players escaped with just minor injuries.
Even weeks later the cricketers were still reeling from the aftermath of the attack. That's when Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa decided summon the expertise of Art of Living teacher Swami Sadyojathah.

Sadyojathah, who is at the Art of Living International Ashram in Bangalore under the tutelage of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, conducted a four-day trauma relief programme for the cricketers.

In a detailed conversation with Chief Sports Correspondent Harish Kotian, Swami Sadyojathah talks about the programme he undertook with the players and the secret to healthy living.

Can you describe the course you put the Sri Lankan cricket team through?
The Art of Living foundation got an invitation from the Institute of Sports Medicine Sri Lanka on behalf of his Excellency the President of Sri Lanka [Mahinda Rajapaksa] to conduct the trauma relief programme for the Sri Lankan cricketers, who went to Lahore. Based on that I went there and had an eight-hour workshop spread over four days; the entire Sri Lankan team, except the two players who were in hospital, underwent the programme. They all enjoyed it; they felt it was a good break for them to move ahead.

When you met the players, did you feel that they will still in a state of shock? Were they still suffering from that trauma?
In fact, many people and the media were asking me about the trauma that they were going through. But, interestingly, in our style of Art of Living we conduct the same programme. We don't sit and just make them talk about the trauma. That is because they have spoken a lot about the trauma in the media and that was happening for nearly two weeks.

So, the four days that we spent together, I didn't ask them anything about Lahore and they didn't tell me also. It was like past is past and finished. It was about how to bring your mind to the present and move ahead. They had the belief as well and they wanted to do something as a team.
They felt this course was a good break for them. For the first time after the Lahore attack the whole team was in the same room, sitting for two hours everyday and learning the breathing techniques.

Did anyone approach you personally during the four-day course asking for help to overcome the shock?
No. We didn't have that session. They all, as a team, underwent the process. Some people did come to me, but all of them wanted to learn more about the yoga and breathing techniques.

Would you say they have got over the episode and are ready for life and returning to playing cricket?
Yes, definitely! They had already started going to the ground and practicing cricket. They believe they don't want to get stuck in the past and want to move ahead in life.

Did you meet the two cricketers, Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana, who were hospitalised after sustaining bullet injuries?
Yes, I did meet them. In fact, before the course started, the Institute of Sports Medicine wanted me to meet them, so I visited them in the hospital. Since they were not able to do the course they said they will do it as soon as they can.

Many of the cricketers have come out in the open and praised the Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique. Can you give us a brief on it?
The Sudarshan Kriya is a very beautiful breathing technique that his Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has given to this world. It is a very simple and, at the same time, very powerful breathing technique. In fact, by this breathing technique, what happens is that the toxins get released from each and every cell of the body in a short span of time. Once you learn the breathing technique in the Art of Living programme you will know how to practice it everyday just for 10-15 minutes.
So you just got to do it for say around 10 minutes of breathing in 24 hours any time of the day wherever you are as simple as that. It has a very deep profound effect on the body and mind and gives deep relaxation. So once body and mind gets totally relaxed you become more dynamic and you will be able to do much more in a short time in a more effective way.
This Sudarshan Kriya is so powerful that once they start doing it as part of their everyday follow up sessions, the past will not affect them at all.

So you mean to say breathing techniques can you help over come mental trauma?
Yes, most definitely. In our day-to-day life we are experiencing that our breath pattern and emotions are connected. For example, if you are very happy, inhalation is prominent; if you notice it is deep inhalation, like you are enjoying the fragrance of a flower. When you are sad, exhalation is prominent, like sometimes you say a deep sigh. And when you are angry you can notice fast breathing.
So it is very clear that breath pattern and our emotions are connected. But, as of now, it is one-way traffic or a one-way street, like when you have different emotions you have different breath patterns.
But you have to make it a two-way street where using different breath patterns you can handle the mind and emotions.

Will you go back again and help the Sri Lankan cricket team if needed?
In fact it came from them only that they would like to have Sudarshan Kriya as part of their recovery programme after every match. They have a recovery day after a game where they do other processes; so they want Sudarshan Kriya as a part of that and they are also keen to do follow-up sessions, whichever part of the world they are. The Art of Living is present throughout the world so it easy for them also.

Do you also follow cricket or some other sports?
Yes, if I get time I do watch.

Don't you think the Indian cricket team could also benefit using this breathing technique?
Yes; in fact everyone should do it.. The quality of your action depends on the state of your mind. If your mind is calm, centred, balanced, happy or joyful your action will be like that; but if your mind is frustrated, irritated or stressed then your action will be according to that. So the whole theme is to make the mind calm or focused, because that what everyone needs, especially the players.
I am sure the Indian cricket team will also benefit from this programme and they are most welcome if they want to do it.

The Art of Living course is meant for mental conditioning, but can it also bring relief from physical pain?
You should see the full definition of health. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has given this definition of health in which he says you have to see health in seven dimensions that is body, breath, mind, intellect, memory, ego and self.
These are the seven layers of existence. We all know health as disease-free body, but it is not just that. It is a combination of disease-free body, quiver-free breath, confusion-free mind, inhibition-free intellect, trauma-free memory, ego that includes all, and sorrow-free soul.
So only when all these seven layers of existence are taken into account only then you can say that you are healthy. So these breathing techniques and the other programmes that we do cater to each layer of existence; it is holistic.

You have also helped tragedy-struck people in other parts of Sri Lanka, mainly during the tsunami in 2005. Can you give details on that?
Wherever our help is required, our volunteers go there. We have done work is Kosovo also after the war, then in Lebanon and Iraq. In fact, in Iraq we have local Iraqis who conduct Sudarshan Kriya programmes and we also have Iraqi Art of Living teachers.

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has also visited Iraq twice and we trained the youth there; it is a ongoing process.
And during the tsunami, immediately after the tragedy struck, I went to Sri Lanka. The first week after the tsunami I visited Jafna. Already it was affected by war for the past 20-25 years and on top of that the tsunami happened. It was in a very bad state. That is when I took the volunteers and teachers from India and other countries to start the work there.
(Message kind courtesy Ms.Raji Swaminathan, Chennai)

Sri Lankan cricketers bounce back, thanks to Guruji

Bruised and shaken by the terror attack in Pakistan, Sri Lankan cricketers are breathing easy after undergoing yoga and meditation taught by Indian spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Kumar Sangakkara, the dynamic and optimistic new captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team, said that he felt relaxed and calm after just two sessions of the Sudarshan Kriya breathing.

It was "a really pleasant experience", the sports ministry quoted him as saying.
Read More