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"As we pass through life we come across many spiritual masters, how
is one to choose amongst them?" asked one person in the audience
of more than 2,000 people recently gathered in New York City's plush
Waldorf Astoria to hear Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, or Guruji, as he is called
by his disciples.
"Have you walked down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan?" asked Guruji,
eliciting immediate laughter from the audience "Have you noticed how
every shopkeeper says that his merchandise is the best? It is you who
decides which one to believe. In the same manner your heart will tell
you which guru or spiritual leader to choose."
This answer immediately endeared me to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a
humanitarian and founder of Art of Living, a volunteer-run foundation
with more than 20 million members in about 144 countries. Before
Saturday, I had paid Ravi Shankar scarce attention being a typical
busy, stressed-out New Yorker, but after listening to him answer a vari-
ety of questions on everyday problems like stress, depression, burnout
and even obesity, I concluded that he is one enlightened human being
who holds the solution to many of our problems.
The Art of Living course, pioneered by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, uses a
revitalizing breathing technique known as Sudarshan Kriya, which The session at the Waldorf began with about 20 minutes of hypnotic
releases stress and toxins at the mental and emotional level, thereby chanting led by one of the volunteers. The bhajans were beautiful and
promoting increased happiness and peace. When I questioned a vol- immediately relaxed the audience, including myself. When Guruji
unteer, Birjoo Vaishna, an liT graduate studying gravitational physics appeared, he took a seat and spoke of music. "Music brings harmo-
at Penn State University, about the difference between Sudarshan ny to our mind and whole being," he says. "The purpose of sound is
Kriya and Pranayama (another well-known breathing technique), he to lead to silence which leads to meditation Let us do a short medi-
responded: "During Pranayama, the body's vital energy is processed tation." After meditation he started to answer questions written on
and enhanced. Sudarshan Knya takes this process deeper; it mobi- cards by the audience.
lizes this energy to focus on the mind thus freeing the memory and
intellect from negative impressions and confusion. In addition, it pro- "Why is enlightenment not natural to human beings?"
duces intense cleansing at the cellular level of the cranial and spinal The Guruji laughed. He responds to all questions with wit, spontan,)
nervous systems. Sudarshan Kriya increases awareness and brings ity and simplicity, although some of his responses are quite profour~d.
about deep relaxation (as shown by the brain's beta and alpha activi- "It is the most natural thing, but because of conditioning we have Ie )st
ty), much more than traditional Pranayama." it. We have created inhibitions and built walls around ourselves. 11[1 a
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paddy field grows rice, likewise inside everyone there is enlighten- world and broaden their vision. Do service and make a change in this
ment, but the husk needs to be peeled little by little to see that enlight- world."
enment."
"What is the purpose of life?"
"What is depression and how is it dealt with?" "Make life a celebration," answers the Guruji. "Do this by spiritual
"It is when you keep thinking about yourself," he says. "Constantly practice and social service."
chanting 'What about me?' creates depression. Sudarshan Kriya
can alleviate that. Lack of spirituality brings about depression and The question "Who is your dress designer?" brings laughter and relief
suicidal thoughts." from these serious musings. "The One up in the sky," he responds.
When questioned about the one emotion we all seek, which is love, In conclusion I could not resist asking him, "What is your outlook for
he answered, "No creature on this planet has been deprived of love. the world?"
Every human being has had the experience of love. It begins the first "A peaceful, more just world," he replied simply. I should have expect-
moment when a baby is born ... love later gives rise to other emo- ed it. ea
tions like anger, jealousy, fear and so on. The journey of man is to find
love which is free from pain. Meditation gives us this. It helps us relax For further information, visit www.artofliving.org
and frees us from mental and emotional anguish, thus bringing us
back to this integral emotion."
rave'ro
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