The footsteps to heaven

The footsteps to heaven are soapy and slippery.
They are soapy, you know,
made up of soap, and it is raining.

Imagine how it would be:
the steps to heaven made of soap
and you have to walk in the rain.

The steps are -
hopes, your securities,
your base beliefs-
which)can make you skate at any time.

And the Master is the railing.
Hold on to the railing,
then even if your foot slips,
you won't slip.

Hold on !!

Sri Sri

Antarnaad

Guruji's Messsage for New Year 2010

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s programs empowering the youth

Killing a girl child is akin to killing a thousand saints

Just returned from the Ashram. Got to interact with some of the doctors who participated in this conference.

Corporate culture.....

Vote-bank politics

By Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

India's problems are complex. And unfortunately these are compounded by vote-bank politics. Instead of uniting the different sections of society, many politicians divide it to keep their vote banks intact. If people are united, politicians won't be able to get votes through divisive politics. In such a situation, the only way for them to win votes would be through good performance.

As citizens, we must protect our country from those who manipulate issues for their personal gains and who lead by playing vote-bank politics. Those with vested interests support insensible decisions and oppose sensible ones. We have to steer clear of such leaders. We must encourage broad-minded politicians and leaders to come forward and take charge, and to educate and uplift the society - spiritually, morally and socially.

We need leaders who are satya-darshi (truthful), sam-darshi (equanimous), priya-darshi (pleasant), paar-darshi (transparent) and door-darshi (visionary). So, before we elect our leaders, we should examine their qualifications.

We must elect leaders who will do away with policies based on caste, creed, religion and region; who will ensure that every child gets a multi-cultural, multi-dimensional education.

We need leadership with a mission and a vision, leadership with a spirit of sacrifice, compassion and commitment. We must choose leaders who have a long-term vision and short-term plans to achieve it. They should have great personal integrity, and place the country before themselves.

Unfortunately, most of our politicians lack a sense of sacrifice and inclusiveness. Irrespective of the party they belong to, people perceive politicians as insincere. Today, people are fed up of them. This is when apathy sets in among people. They dismiss politics as a whole and withdraw from their basic duty of voting.

Our votes are an important tool to bring about a change in the system; they give us an opportunity to raise our voice against injustice. But many of us have developed a chalta hai attitude, because we fail to see the power of our votes. This attitude is dangerous for the country. By not voting we are encouraging the status quo.

Each one of us must not only vote but also encourage others around us to vote. When good, intelligent and well-educated people don't vote, they play into the hands of politicians, who use money and vote bank politics to seize power. People should not lose hope. Good politicians exist. And they must be given a chance to do the best they can for the country, for its people.

We have seen the shortcomings of capitalism, communism and socialism. Now is the time for humanism and spiritualism. Politics without humanism and spiritualism is bound to be dirty. Many people believe that spiritualism is not for this world, that it is not a practical tool to bring about societal transformation. But that's a misconception. Mahatma Gandhi was spiritual. He conducted satsangs every day and played an important role in bringing freedom for our country.

That is why today we need leaders who have a spirit of sacrifice, and who are spiritual in their outlook, to enter politics.

Saints in India

My teacher shared this discussion with me….

Once somebody asked Guruji, how is it that all the saints and sages are born in India?
Guruji replied – jaise Simla mein apples milte hai, Kerala mein narial milate hai, vaise hi India mein saints milate hai….yahan ki mitti ka yahi gun hai….
(like you get apples in Simla, coconuts in Kerala…so you get saints in India…..)
love
Preeti

New year Message from Guruji......

Happy Ugadi!
Happy New Year! We are entering the 5,110th year… it has been 19 billion 729 million 49,100 years since the beginning of the planet earth.

A cycle (of time) comprises 60 years. Every year has a name. This year is called Virodhi (which literally means to oppose). There are more chances of people fighting in this time.

Antarmukhi, sadasukhi: When one is centered, then there is happiness always.
This New Year will be good. It will always be good, always evolutionary for the devotee -whatever the time and the prediction. It is time to move to a higher dimension.

Whatever happens, happens for the good. Chant Om Namah Shivay.

Meditation is important. Even if one percent of you all meditate, it helps the remaining 99 percent of the population. This year everyone has to meditate and do satsang. The rest of the population will thrive on your spirituality. This year keep your spiritual goal. The material goals can be kept aside.

Meditate, do satsang, read knowledge sheets. By doing that, you are helping others who have a hard time. People eat neem leaves and sweets on Ugadi to remind themselves that life is a mixture of both – the bitter and the sweet.
Jai Guru Dev

Sri Lankan cricketers bounce back, thanks to Sri Sri

Guruji in Ranchi

Mahashivaratri

It's Mahashivaratri today. And I just missed going to Kerala, where celebrations are on with Guruji.
This is a post on Guruji's Shivaratri message last year.....

Shivaratri is the day of Lord Shiva. Shiva is the lord of meditation and therefore the lord of awakening. Shiva Tatva means to be awakened. Shivaratri is thus an occasion to awaken one's self from all sorts of slumber.Shivaratri is not a night to be slept over. One should try and be up through the night. It signifies being aware of everything you have and being grateful about it. Be grateful for the happiness which leads to growth, and also for sadness which gives a depth to life.

This is the right way of observing Shivaratri.For the pious, the following method of Shiva worship is advisable – sit down in lotus posture, do some Pranayam to stabilize your breath, then indulge in Dhyana, followed by chanting of "Om Namah Shivay". It is the greatest mantra and the devout should drown himself in its Kirtan.

Shivaratri worship leads to fulfillment of a devotee's wishes. There are certain days and time frames in a year that enhance one's mental and spiritual faculties. In such times, whatever one wishes, materializes. Shivaratri is one such day. All this is very scientific.Going to temples on this day is OK but you should remember that Shiva is everywhere. The meaning of Kailasa (legendary abode of Shiva in Himalayas) is celebration. So where there is happiness and celebration, Shiva is present.Whether in Sanyasa or Sansara, you can't escape Shiva. Feeling his presence all the time is the essence of Shivaratri. That is the real Sanyasa.

No worship is complete without offering something to the deity. Shiva is a very simple lord, He is innocent – Bholanath. One just needs to offer bel-patra to him. But in this simplicity is a deep message. Bel-patra offerings signify the surrender of all three aspects of one's nature – Tamas, Rajas and Sattva. You have to surrender the positives and negatives of your life to Shiva and become carefree! The greatest offering is your self.To offer one's self is the key to happiness in life. Afterall, why do you get sad? It is mainly because you are not able to achieve something in life. At such times you should surrender everything to the all knowing God. The greatest power is in surrender to the divine. It's like a drop owning the ocean. If a drop remains separate, it will perish. But when it becomes the ocean, it is eternal!

Spiritual Guru keen to talk to Taliban

Shift from bullet to ballot, spritual guru asks Maoists

Something beyond

All that an aware mind looks for is clarity, clarity of mind. Many a times our perceptions are distorted. What meets the eyes need not be true. We have had experienced this many a times. A stick, half in water and half out looks bend. A board which has the picture of a parrot on one side and the cage on the other side, when rotated along its vertical axis shows that the parrot is in the cage. Now we know for sure that neither the stick is bent nor the parrot is in the cage but our senses deceive us day and night. But all that we believe and know in the visible world is through our senses. And how many times have we doubted them?

There is something more than what seems to exist. Something beyond what the senses can perceive. That ‘something beyond’ makes its presence felt when logic does not work, when planning fail ….something beyond the intellect. It rules …it maintains this creation…and also transforms it…That ‘something beyond’ knows me much better than I know myself…. It is an experience, is a realization, is a recognition…

Love

Preeti

TRIVENI ASHRAM

This was a bright Sunday morning. The YES!+ Pune volunteers, 43 of us, started on our bikes to one of the most fascinating place in Pune. We were on a trip to our very own “Art of Living Triveni Ashram” at Markal, just 30 km from Pune.

The day started with Sudarshan Kriya in the morning. Our YES!+ Teacher Sarthak leaded us through the pranayams and the Kriya.

After that we had a really satvic breakfast along with raagi.

And then started the real fun….
Our Ashramite friend Vikram had already planned some gardening activities for us.

So, all of us wanted to give our physical contribution to see the Ashram garden blossom.

We made chains to pass the soil so that the plants grow firm and strong.

Himanshu, who is regular at the gym, commented that if we continue to do this kind of work daily what kind of biceps and wings we will have.

While all of us were enjoying work, Shashank was making everyone comfortable with shade and water and Vinayak was in the Kitchen looking after the lunch arrangements.

After a physical exhaustion for about 3 hrs all of us marched towards the pious Bheema.

The Triveni Ashram is a blessed land with the River Bheema flowing on one side and the river Indrayani on the other side. Bheema is the same river called as Chandrabhaga in Pandharpur. For the sweating bodies a dip in the Beema was most welcoming. It was not just a dip, but a dump in the river for the next 3 hrs. All those who knew swimming, this was a paradise as the water was clear and deep. Just 2’ from the banks the water was around 5’ deep and towards the middle of the river it should be around 20’ deep. Those who did not know to swim were dumped in the water like buffalos. Well, they were also putting full efforts to learn to swim. Our dear Amit Bhaiya knows to swim under the water. He would go under water at some point and suddenly rise up at some other point.
The river water has the power to heal. Along with relaxation and masti, we also felt enthused and energized.

Lunch was awaiting us. Post lunch was the time for a delicious and sweet sugar cane directly from the farm. Vinayak and Abhijit shared a lot about the cultivation of Sugarcane. By the time it was evening. It was time for knowledge, meditation and Satsang. Humming the tunes we all left to visit the ashram again and again.

Love

Preeti

Going Global

Going global in its literal sense is described as a process by which people of the world are unified into a single society and function together. Well, if that is going global then the first thought that comes to me is that of a Kumbha Mela…why a kumbha Mela? From a common man’s point of view it seems to be something totally illogical. But if we see from a broader perspective, a Kumbha Mela is a Spiritual Expo. Over the centuries, thousands of sages who have meditated, done penance and been enlightened come to the "Kumbha Mela" and relieve themselves of the burden of the merits gained through Sadhana by bathing in the rivers. Water has the quality to absorb the energy that they radiate. The seekers, who come from all corners to be in the company of the seers and saints, gain that merit when they take a dip in the rivers.
Isn’t this a perfect example of Globalization!!!

As Guruji says, Globalization is not a new concept because long before we even thought of globalization, religion and spirituality has already done it.

In the modern context globalization should not be only of chips and coca cola but of wisdom.

Today the world is in the grip of terrorism, which is striking everywhere in the name of God and India has the solution for this. As the French Journalist and writer François Gautier aptly puts in one of his articles-
Beyond the poverty, beyond the immense problems that India has encountered since independence, there is a knowledge here that has been lost to the rest of the world, a knowledge so precious that it makes India unique. India holds the key to the world's future. For India is the only nation which still preserves in the darkness of Her Himalayan caves, on the luminous ghats of Benares, in the hearts of her countless yogis, or even in the minds of her ordinary folk, the key to the planetary evolution, its future and its hope.

It is required to reread history, and look at India not through the western prism, but with the ancient wisdom that she has bestowed upon us. Be it the Bhagwad Geeta, the Vedas, the Puranas, everything is perfect and flawless. These have come from the perfected being in a state of total bliss, love and contentment.

Love

Preeti

Loot all you can

If You Want To Come To Me -

Praising me is not enough. I am not satisfied by your praises,gratefulness and gratitude. Do not just keep me on the stage, on the altar, put flowers and say, Jai Gurudev!’ Keep me in your heart.When you are grateful, there is also a lot of gratitude and you feel like praising. But all this should be converted into your soul and make you blossom.

Once in a while when you have a problem, you come and say JaiGurudev. Don’t say it only some times, say it all the time,everyday and every minute. All these qualities you see in me are also in you.

Only when you keep me in your heart, does guru ship arise in you.Otherwise just doing pad puja (worshiping the feet), saluting and running away, nothing will be born in you. If you only want to garland flowers, then go to temples. There are many idols there. There is no need of a Guru then. Not only that, there are many people in the world,who love to sit and be garlanded. Go and garland them.

If you have come to me, then change. Change from inside.

There is no happiness in the world which you cannot get by being on the path of knowledge. Once you taste this nectar, everything else will be bitter. Once you begin to float in this, you will never experience a lack of anything in any way in your life.

Don’t keep me at a distance. By staying far away from me you have no benefit whatsoever. You are just wasting your time and mine too. Whatever I am, you are that too. Whatever you thought was impossible for you, I have come here to show you that it is possible.

This body, this prana, has only one mission. It has come for one reason - to introduce you all to your own self, to reveal the true self to you. Who are you? You are truth. You are shiva. You are beauty.

See, many people come here. Some come just to visit the place and say, “oh! nice.” some feel nice inside and say, “oh! nice energy!”they take few deep breaths and go back after one or two days in a good state of mind. Few others come and stay a little longer, while, while others just loot every thing. They take every thing. And that is good. Those are the kind of people I want. They must loot everything.

The shop is open. So loot all you can.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji talks about terrorism

What, according to you, is the solution to the menace of terrorism? If everyone follows the 'eye for an eye' principle, what will happen to this country?
I am very concerned about what is happening. 'An eye for an eye' is not our culture at all. Yet, we cannot take things lying down. We cannot stop educating people about our values. The message of Indian ethos and spirituality, which emphasise on ahimsa (non-violence) and the truth, will have to be conveyed across the board.What do you think about Hindu terrorism?
Fringe elements in Hindu society, who think they can avenge terrorism by perpetuating terror themselves, have brought disgrace to Indian culture. Milking political mileage and giving undue publicity to such cases have only strengthened the jihadis. Let our media and politicians know that sensationalising, politicising and giving undue publicity to this case, even before the accused is proven guilty, has proved to be a shot in the arm for jihadis.
Our late Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare had mentioned that in the last two months, 90 per cent of the time and manpower of the agency had been spent on this case. All this has cost the nation heavily.

Lieutenant Colonel Purohit reportedly attended some Art of Living meetings. Will there be a screening process in the Art of Living courses to ensure that such elements do not attend meetings in the future?
No. In fact, we welcome everybody to the Art of Living. Our mission is to work with fundamentalists and extremists to transform them into loving human beings. People from all backgrounds come here and so do ex-army people. We have programmes for army personnel and many of them visit our ashram to seek blessings. Naxalites Maoists, jihadis have all attended our programmes.
We don't discriminate and we don't ban anybody from attending the AoL sessions. I wish they had come here much earlier and participated in our training programme. Perhaps they came here to find some peace and solace.

What can spiritual gurus do to ensure that terrorism is wiped out? What plans does AoL have in this regard?
Some religions have a dogmatic and untouchable attitude, and that should be removed. For example, what happened to author Taslima Nasreen is a shame on the democratic and liberal image of the country (Nasreen was forced to leave India after violent protests broke out against her writings in Kolkata). The government should shift its focus from the minority-majority culture and should give multi-cultural, multi-dimensional education to all.
Religious and spiritual institutions need to come together and pledge to work towards protecting our country. We need social leaders who are satya-darshi (truthful), sam-darshi (equanimous), and door-darshi (farsighted). Let us also resolve to first examine the qualifications of those whom we elect. We need to protect our country from those who manipulate issues for their personal gains and lead by playing vote-bank politics.
Art of Living has been conducting various rehabilitation programmes for prisoners and convicts. The results are so positive that one has to witness it to believe it.

Can terrorism be wiped out through the message of peace?
Any action that is undertaken without inner peace only leads to regret. And peace does not mean inaction. One has to use all methodologies to curb terrorism. We have to do it through education and persuasion. Force should be used only when nothing else works.

What is your message to all those practising terrorism?
Meditation and Sudarshan Kriya have transformed the aggression and violence inside people into compassion, love and care.