Thoughts
Pat Gounden
Date: Monday, October 17, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Each one of you have your own strength and weakness, foibles and fears, skills and handicaps, so, no one prescription can be suggested for all. You must proceed from where you are presently, at your own pace, according to your own inner light. But, as long as one has caught a glimpse of the Atmic Reality, of the source from which one has emerged and the goal into which one is to merge, the goal of the journey will be reached sooner or later. The fascination for the body and the senses which dominate it, and the world which feeds the senses as well as the enchantment for the vainglorious adventures in search of fame and fortune - all this will become meaningless and fade away once you receive a glimpse of that Atmic Reality either through grace or through a Guru or through some other means. One will then have instead of deha-bhranti (body attachment) which now torments him, the yearning to know and be established in the Dehi, the Divine Indweller. (Divine Discourse, Mar 16, 1966) |
-BABA |
This body is changing everyday. Yet something is also not changing. To understand this, you should study a beehive. You have seen a beehive? What keeps it there? The queen bee. Once the queen bee is gone, everything disappears. In the same way, your body is made up of billions of atoms. There is a queen bee in your body. Each body is a beehive full of honey. Locate the queen bee within yourself and that is meditation. Billions of atoms are present throughout your body. It is the same in a human body as in an ant or an elephant. The outer size of the body is irrelevant. It is the unknown or atma (self) which is non-changing. It always remains. Nothing can shake you with this knowledge. You will feel at home with everybody. Nothing will disturb you. This is the essence of spirituality.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
How to Deepen Your Meditation
Wed, 08/24/2016 Bangalore, India
(Below is a continuation of the post Realizing The Subtle Truths)
Yesterday, someone was telling me about a unique quality of the Gir cow (an indigenous native breed of cows) we have in India. People in Gujarat who breed the Gir cow in their farms have even done an experiment to confirm this. They say that the cow is so sensitive and aware, that when it comes in contact with a family member of the house, it is able to understand the Nadis (subtle channels of energy or life-force in the body) and can grasp how healthy the person is. The cow then goes to the forest or grazing grounds and feeds on specifically those kind of plants and herbs that can help cure the condition the person may be suffering from. When the person drinks the milk from this cow then they get cured from whichever disease or medical condition they may be suffering from.
It is said that when you go near a cow and pet it, the cow is able to determine what kind of Doshas your body may be afflicted with – whether it is Vata, Pitta or Kapha Dosha. The cow then grazes on only those herbs and plants which can effectively remedy the disorder or problem you are suffering from. If you drink the milk from this cow then you will be cured of your problem within two to three days. This is really an amazing thing. Nature has this unique quality of being able to access the subtle space very easily. This is why in India we have always given the cow the pedestal of a nurturing Mother, and call her as “Go Mata”. We have always known that the cow is a very sensitive and caring animal, so much so that the cow’s milk is seen as equal to a mother’s milk.
These days the Vegan concept in food has become quite popular in foreign countries – according to which, they do not consume any protein or protein-like food that comes from animals. The research that has been done on the basis of which the Vegan concept in food has come in foreign countries has happened only because of the drawbacks of A1 protein. Many doctors practising Naturopathy in India tend to copy these aspects of the Vegan lifestyle. Supporters and proponents of the Vegan movement say that, since no animal consumes the milk or milk products derived from milk of another animal, hence humans too should not drink milk. Instead they favour consuming more of fruit juices. Many of the Naturopaths I have seen in our country who follow and practice this philosophy seem to have less glow on their faces. They appear to be weak somehow. I have also been told that many people who follow this start having deficiency of Vitamin B-12 and D3 and they have to go to the hospital for treatments to cure this.
What I am saying is that milk is definitely important in our diet, but one must not consume it in excess as that can harm the body. Many people drink one to two litres of milk without thinking of the effect it has on their health. This causes obesity and other disorders also. It becomes very easy for us to do something in excess rather than in moderation. I would suggest that you consume milk in the right quantity, as much as is needed by the body.
That is why it is said, “Ati sarvatra varjayet” (Excess of anything should be refrained from). Twice or thrice in a week, one should consume some milk and curd. I have even advised the Naturopaths about this. I tell them that it is good to promote Naturopathy, but they should not advise people to do away with curd in the diet. A little bit of curd is good for the body. In a vegetarian lifestyle, one needs to supplement the diet with a few other vitamins and minerals as well – which can only come from milk and curd.
Now, I just told you about how our Indian cow can amazingly sense a person’s Nadiwhen it comes in contact with him. This shows that there is only One Consciousness that is present everywhere in Nature and all of creation. This (consciousness) is without a second and all-encompassing. The same Consciousness cares for you in the form of a cow; as your mother and father, your children and so on. So this Divine Consciousness is present in every form and substance of Creation. This is why this entire existence is alive and full of awareness.
The same Consciousness is also present in your enemy. Knowing this, you should relax and rest in deep meditation from time to time. But do not confuse this in practical and worldly matters. In the practical world you will obviously see differences in form and qualities of people and substances, and you will have to act intelligently as per the situation. But the moment you sit for meditation, then you should drop the differences otherwise you will not be able to meditate. When you sit for meditation, you should sit with Abheda-buddhi (a mature intellect that sees the essential unity and oneness in all of Creation) and drop all differences. Having Abheda-buddhi brings enormous strength and steadiness to the mind, intellect and memory.
When you have deep restful sleep, then you find that your sense organs, your body and mind are refreshed and also renewed in strength. When you go to sleep, you drop everything, all differences, cravings and aversions. So in a way, during sleep, you are in a state of Abheda-buddhi. Otherwise you get stuck in inertia and negativity and that does not allow you to rest. When you sit with a restful awareness in meditation, when you drop all differences and repose in a state of Abheda-buddhi, then you acquire many Siddhis (extraordinary abilities). This is a deep secret – and that is what meditation is.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Umhlatuzana Primary-school (Shallcross) 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school 21-23 October 2016
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross) 24-28 October 2016
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
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Pat Gounden
Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Many are not prepared to respect their parents. You may ask a question as to why one should respect one’s parents. Always, whatever actions you undertake, the reaction will come to you in the future. It is your duty to respect your parents for all that your parents have done for you. If today, you show respect to your parents, then your children will respect you when you grow up. If you make your parents suffer now, your children will do the same in return to you; and tears will flow from your eyes. If a student wants to lead a life of security and happiness in the future, he must undertake to lead a good life now. It is the beauty of your heart that is important. It is not the external beauty of the body that matters at all. When you have a pure and clean heart, you will have the strength to cleanse the world. (Summer Roses on Blue Mountains, 1976, Ch 13) |
-BABA |
When I see people disrespect their parents I feel hurt. What is your message for such people?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : I would advise on both sides. Parents should also remember their limitations and stay in their own boundary and children should definitely walk that extra mile to make the parents comfortable. They have to do all that in their capacity to make them happy. But you know if sometimes it so happens, in spite of people trying all their best, still the parents keep cribbing. You cannot bow down to everything in that sense. But they can walk that extra mile to make them happy.
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Breaking Out Of Being A Victim
Sun, 09/25/2016 Bogota, Colombia
The last time I was here, everyone was asking me when will there be peace in Columbia? And now we have peace! (Applause)
The last time, we said we will work for peace, and today, because you all meditated we won peace. Now, we have lot of work to do. We are all going to be the soldiers of peace and the lighthouses of peace. All of us have to work together.
What are the things we need to do?
1. The people who are coming from the jungles, are in a very different state of mind, we have to help them. We have two situations - one is people feeling like a culprit and the other is people feeling like a victim. Both of these situations should change. The victim should no longer feel victimized because in life, we have to change. We cannot just hold on to the past. If you feel sorry for yourself, you can keep feeling sorry your whole life.
2. We need to tell people that they have to forgive and forget.
I want to tell you a story of Lord Buddha. Lord Buddha was sitting in a congregation. Thousands of people were there, meditating. After the meditation, Buddha gave a talk. One man who was very angry, came running and he spat on the face of Buddha and started hurling bad words at him. The people were shocked. Buddha was silent. His smile did not vanish though all the disciples sitting around were getting angry. Then that man left.
The next day, the same man came and everyone tried to stop him, but Buddha said, "No don’t stop him, call him". The man came in and fell at the feet of Buddha and started asking for forgiveness. Lord Buddha said, "I can’t forgive you".
Everyone was shocked. This man was crying and asking for forgiveness and Buddha said he can’t forgive him. Then do you know what Buddha said?
He said, "See, the person whom you spat on, is not here now, and the person who spat is also not here. If I ever meet that person who you spat on, then I will tell him to forgive you". Then he said, "Our mind is like a river. You cannot put your foot twice in the same water".
Our life is like a river, it is not like a stagnant lake. It is constantly flowing. Time is flowing, and our mind is also flowing. Every day, we are new. When you realize this philosophy and this science of the mind, then you see that there is nothing or nobody to forgive and nobody to feel sorry for. This is a higher science in which there is no victim and there is no culprit.
Victim and culprit, are two diseases of the mind. When we feel like a victim, we are putting a burden on our own mind. And when we feel like a culprit, then also we are putting a burden on our mind. So we need to come out of both of these mindsets.
Do you know that The Art of Living has transformed over half a million prisoners around the world? I have worked with many prisoners in jails. You know, when you talk to a prisoner, they feel that when they committed a mistake, they were not themselves. Have you done any mistakes? If someone holds on to your mistake, would you like it? What do you expect? At some point in time, with an unconscious mind you made a mistake, but you expect people to just drop that and move on, right?
When I met the FARC people in Cuba, I told them, "I understand your predicament". I said, "What is your goal? What is it you want?"
They said only two words, "Social justice. The poor people are not getting justice".
I said, "If this is your goal, then it is the same goal of everybody. Everybody wants to help the poor. We are all sitting here, if someone hungry comes in, would you not share some of your food? But the path of violence you have taken to, I don’t agree with it. Adopt the path of non-violence and everybody will be with you. We will work together to make Columbia a happy and strong. Peace and prosperity will come".
First they said no, we don’t agree. Then finally, they said yes. Then they came to the press conference and announced that they will move towards the path of non-violence. So, now we all have work to do here. We have to tell the victims to forgive and forget.
Forgiveness requires a big heart. If someone says, "I am sorry", will you say, "No, I will not forgive?"
So this is what we need to work on. Are you ready? For another five years, if we work hard, you will see Columbia rise higher, and higher and higher. It will become like the Switzerland of South America. But if we don’t work for it, it will go back to the same problem.
So we have to convince the people who are saying no to peace, to give peace a chance. If it doesn’t work, we will move backwards and our children will have more problems -- same violence, same mistrust, the economy will keep going down. But if we say yes to peace, there will be a big difference.
I know there will be many political opinions. I am not for or against any political party. Purely from the humanitarian and spiritual angle, and from the angle of bringing peace and prosperity to the people of Columbia, we should work towards peace.
2nd October is the birthday or Mahatma Gandhi. This will be a very good gift on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi - if everyone says yes to peace, and no to war.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Umhlatuzana Primary-school (Shallcross) 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school 21-23 October 2016
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross) 24-28 October 2016
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
I bring you the message that will confer strength, peace, hope and fulfillment. It may not be pleasing (priya), but it will surely be beneficial (hitha)! A patient has to take drugs and put himself through regimen that is beneficial; he cannot ask for only sweet medicines and comfortable regimen which pleases him. The Doctor knows what is best for the patient! Truly speaking, treat your body as a wound, that needs to be washed, bandaged and treated with medicine thrice or four-times a day. That is the real purpose of food and drink. To cure the disease of thirst, water is the drug. Food is the medicine to cure the disease of hunger. Detachment is the medicine to cure the disease of craving for pleasure. For the pure yearning for the Divine and the pursuit that is impelled by it, the necessary first step is a rigorous self-examination to remove all evil habits, tendencies and qualities from within. (Divine Discourse, Mar 16, 1966) |
-BABA |
By self-study, by observing, by being hollow and empty, you become a channel---you become a part of the Divine. You are able to feel the presence of the Divinity. All the different angels and devas, all these different forms of our consciousness, start blossoming.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The Secret to Unconditional Love
Fri, 08/26/2016 Bangalore, India
Make your life a celebration, and celebrate everything. All the saints and great souls who have been born on Earth have given this very same message. They have always urged to uplift mankind and human values. The secret to unconditional love is to accept everyone as your own, because no one is separate.
Every state and province in our country has a unique and different cuisine, dance styles, dressing styles and they celebrate festivals in their own unique way too. Today you can see so many dishes from Gujarat laid out before you. Nowhere else in the world will you find so much diversity. I still remember that a few years back when we had an event called Annabrahma in Gujarat, an amazing 5800 dishes were prepared for the celebration. Food from every corner of the country was prepared and presented there – ranging from the Kattha Baingan and Dum Aloo. Dishes from Kashmir to a multitude of dishes from the state of Tripura, and the many varieties of Payasam from Kerala. You can find such an amazing diversity only in India. Just see! From one side we have all the savouries and towards the other end we have all the sweet preparations.
I remember an incident from the time I was visiting Lahore in Pakistan. There was a huge meeting arranged in the Lahore University at that time and many young students had attended the meeting.
The Vice Chancellor of the University told me, “Gurudev, we have never had such a huge crowd for one event in the history of this institution. There is huge excitement to listen to you”.
People had gathered and seated in two or three halls together, such was the crowd. One young student asked me, “Gurudev, in Pakistan we believe in only one God that is Allah. But in India, people believe in so many gods and goddesses. How is this possible?” I replied, “See, from the same wheat flour you make Karachi Halwa (a sweet preparation), a Samosa (savoury snack), Naan (baked flatbread), and Parantha (stuffed flatbread) and even noodles. But ultimately it is the one same flour, isn’t it? Then why do you make so many varieties of dishes from it? In the same way in India we also believe that God is one, just that He arrives or presents Himself in a variety of forms and dresses. That’s all. God does not always dress up like a grand warrior all the time. Every time He dresses in a different attire. But still, God is one”.
Hearing this, the boy replied, “Gurudev, I have never heard such a simple and profound explanation”.
I said “See, you adore and address Allah by 99 sacred names, isn’t it? In India we have 108 names for the Divine, just a little more, that’s it”.
Religion exists to unite people and bring them together, not to divide them and keep them apart. We all are one. The youth really liked this understanding.
Just see, God has created so many different kinds of vegetables. He did not just make only one kind of vegetable isn’t it? God did not only create the eggplant and have everyone only eat eggplant. God created potatoes, tomatoes, okra (ladyfinger), eggplant, etc., and a huge variety of vegetables. In the same way, He also created people of different kinds. So we should bring everyone together and celebrate. This is the essence of Lord Krishna’s message when He said “Dear one! See Me in everyone, and see everyone as Me”.
Questions & Answers
Gurudev, why did Lord Krishna not come to Abhimanyu’s rescue in the fierce battle the way He had rescued and helped Draupadi? What is the secret here?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Lord Krishna came to rescue Draupadi when she called Him for help. Abhimanyu (Arjuna’s son) was a warrior. He had decided to sacrifice himself in the war for the noble cause. But he did not learn the intricacies of war completely. He only half-understood them and went off to the battlefield. In a fit of zeal and enthusiasm of a warrior, he drove into battle in the Chakravyuha (an intricate and specific type of battle formation) and got stuck inside.
Now, if Lord Krishna wanted, He could have helped avert the entire battle altogether, not just the unfortunate killing of Abhimanyu alone. Such questions can always be asked. Lord Krishna was wise and capable in every way, so He could have easily stopped the battle from taking place. Then why did He not do so? See, Lord Krishna went thrice as an ambassador of peace to strike an agreement between the Pandavas and Kauravas to avert the battle. But every time He had to return empty handed.
There is a beautiful story related to this, which I have narrated earlier also. One day Lord Krishna was dressing Himself up in the finest garments, etc., while his charioteer waited outside. The charioteer waited for a long time for his Lord to come out, because Lord Krishna had instructed him to keep the chariot ready. Lord Krishna took time to dress Himself, adjust his crown and ornaments. Now just like a driver sometimes comes in and asks you, “Sir, are we going to go out, or is the programme cancelled?”, Lord Krishna’s charioteer entered His chamber and asked Him, “O Lord! Where are we going today? You seem to be preparing quite elaborately for some meeting”.
To this Lord Krishna replied, “I am planning to go meet Duryodhana today”.
The charioteer was struck with disbelief and said, “O Lord! Why do You have to go meet Duryodhana? You simply have to snap your fingers and he will come running and fall at your feet. Why do You have to take the trouble of going to him?”
A driver too has a sense of belongingness and certain right to ask the master, which is why often we see a driver say, “Sir, please do not take this route. Let us drive through the other route today, since there is heavy traffic on the other route”.
Lord Krishna’s charioteer too put his concerns forward on hearing His travel plans. Lord Krishna replied, “My dear! Darkness does not come to the Light. It is Light that has to go to the Darkness”.
Then Lord Krishna also said, “See, Duryodhana does not recognize Me and who I really am. He only recognizes outward appearances and outward display. Duryodhana will only see what I am wearing, what kind of chariot I have come by, and what kind of clothes and ornaments I am wearing.” Lord Krishna was very intelligent in every way. Now there is a question asked, as to how Lord Krishna ended up having 16,000 wives. Do you know how the modern city of Baghdad (Iraq’s capital city) got its name? How many of you here know the story behind Baghdad’s name? In ancient times, there was a wicked king by the name of Narakasura. He had a son called Baghadutta. From his name Baghadutta came ‘Baghdad’.
The king Narakasura ruled over that region which is now Iraq. He had 16000 wives or consorts. He would marry any woman he liked. He caused a lot of pain and trouble to the people of the kingdom.
When I had gone on a visit to Iraq recently, people there told me, “Gurudev, there are about 100 villages here where there is not even a single male person. Saddam Husain had every man in these 100 villages killed at his command, so that there are only women present now. Narakasura had done a similar thing in the past, some 5000 years ago. It is surprising to see how history has somewhat repeated, and what kind of impressions are carried by that place even till today. So Lord Krishna went there and killed Narakasura. Now after the king’s death, the 16000 ladies decided that they will commit suicide (as they had lost their husband), because they will not be accepted back into their father’s home as they were married.
The land had been freed from Narakasura’s wicked rule and was called as Pragjyotishpur. Do you know what Ahiganasthana means? It means a place which has many different species of snakes. The root ‘Ahi’ has two meanings here. One meaning is a snake, and the other refers to naturally occurring minerals.
After Narakasura’s slaying, Lord Krishna installed Baghadutta on the throne of Pragjyotishpur and since then the name of the place got changed to Baghdad. There is a place called Tikri where Lord Krishna stopped to rest for a while, using a Tikaav (a bedrest or seat support). All these 16000 wives came to meet Lord Krishna there and expressed their desire to commit suicide, since their own families would not accept them back as they were Narakasura’s wives, and would insult or admonish them for being consorts of such a wicked king. They did not wish to live the rest of their lives with such a stain or blemish on their character and modesty. Then Lord Krishna stopped them, and said that, “I will pass on my surname to you. You can then say that you are my wives”.
In order to uplift the sense of dignity and self-respect of those women and save them from committing suicide, Lord Krishna in this way married all the 16000 women in one day. In a way, Lord Krishna gave those women Jeevan-daana or the gift of a new life. Otherwise no man was ready to accept and marry any of the women. So when these ladies returned as the lawful wives of Lord Krishna, they were received with great respect and honour in the society.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Umhlatuzana Primary-school (Shallcross) 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school 21-23 October 2016
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross) 24-28 October 2016
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Thursday, October 20, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
The Avatar of the Lord is the real Guru, who is far more superior and compassionate than all Gurus. He can, by the mere expression of His will, confer the highest consummation of spiritual life. Even the meanest of the mean can acquire the highest wisdom, in a trice. Such is the power of the Guru of all Gurus. A real guru will steal your heart, not your wealth. When the fullest embodiment of God comes down as a human, you too must develop the power to attract the giver of illumination to bestow His Grace on you. You must concentrate on service to the Guru and ruminate over His teachings. You must be eager to translate His teaching into daily activity and actual practices. You must fill your heart with devotion and dedicate all your skill for the actualization of the Guru’s counsel. Such a person alone deserves the title of a pupil (sishya). [Sathya Sai Vahini, Ch. 13] |
-BABA |
Just relax and meditate. When you meditate more, you will realize that the Guru is a Tattva, the Guru is a light that is ever glowing and eternal. The Guru is not the (physical) body. The Guru is the Divine light that resides within the body; the Guru is love.
Whatever you have received from your Guru, you must share it with others. In life, each one of us becomes a Guru for someone or the other. What does being a Guru mean? A Guru desires nothing from you except your well-being and progress on the path. That is the Guru Tattva. You will surely have to play the role of a Guru in someone’s life.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The Power Of Self Reflection
Fri, 08/26/2016 Bangalore, India
Questions & Answers
Gurudev, when I see enthusiastic people, what comes to my mind is that they are showing off. What do you think?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Why do you want to judge them? Let them do what they want to do. It seems that you have too much time on your hands. Do not judge them. If they show off, let them show off. They have something to show off, let them be. If you have something to show off, then you also show off (Laughter). If you do not want to, then simply don’t show off.
Why should someone showing off irritate you? Do you understand what I am saying? See, it is all a game. If someone wants to show off, let them be. If they show off too much, then they themselves will lose their charm. You should think more about yourself and reflect on - how much more natural have you become? Have you become more practical, more wise? Reflect on this instead.
Gurudev, in the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna says, “Sarva-sankalpa parityagi”. What does it mean?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When you are about to go to sleep, and if you keep thinking “I have to do this, I have to do that”, then will you be able to get restful sleep? What do you do when you sleep? You keep everything aside. Only then will you are able to get sleep. There is a deeper meaning in this verse. Yoga will not happen until the mind is stuck in feverish thoughts like 'I want this' or 'I have to do this' or 'I need to do that'.
How can you find deep rest when your mind is running behind acquiring 20 different things? Can you get any comfort in such a state? So for some time, you need to set everything aside. This is what is meant by the term “Sarva-sankalpa Sanyasi”.
'Yada hi nendriyartheshu na karmasv-anusajjate. Sarva-sankalpa-sanyasi yogarudastadochyate' (Bhagavad Gita, 6.4)
When one reaches a stage where he desires nothing for himself, then he becomes a Yogi, a Sanyasi. Such a wise and selfless person becomes useful to everyone around him. Whom do you really call a saint, a prophet, or an apostle? One who does not desire anything for himself, and one who only prays and works for the welfare and wellbeing of everyone else. Often one desires fame, or money, etc. It is desire that destroys a person and makes his vision and perspective in life very narrow and limited. So Lord Krishna says that until and unless a person drops all this (feverishness of desire) and becomes hollow and empty, he does not find peace. Once the mind becomes hollow and empty, one experiences such deep rest, and at the same time such deep joy arises from within. In such a state, one realizes the light of the Divine within and all around. This is what is meant here.
In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna says, “Bow to Me, come take my refuge”. Will this not anger or offend the other gods and goddesses?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No, there is nothing like that. It is all one, they are all the same One Divinity. God is addressed in three different ways – that is, in the first person, second person and third person (here meaning by way of language and grammar). When Lord Krishna says “Me”, it is not the individual or the physical body. Here it refers to the One Consciousness, the Divine Light present within. Everything in Creation is pervaded by the light of the Divine.
Draupadi had surrendered herself to Lord Krishna and was very devoted to Him. Then why was her life full of obstacles?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, it is when there are obstacles that you understand and appreciate miracles! See, whether you read the Ramayana or the Mahabharata, understand what you can and imbibe that in yourself. Implement the good things you read from these epics in your own life. Think about your own life and how you can improve it. See, there have been many great saints and noble souls in the past ages. It is good to read the epics, and you should learn from these great personalities.
At the same time. we should focus on the present and talk about what is happening now. What is the state of your mind now? Are you happy? Do you wish to take up some Seva projects and serve others? Think along these lines and discuss.
Gurudev, I feel I have never done enough for my parents and this bothers me. How do I deal with this feeling?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When there is deep love, you always tend to feel that you have not done enough. If you ask any mother, “Have you done a lot for your child, or all that you had to?” She will say, “Oh, I don’t think so. I feel I have not done much”.
In love one never thinks “I have done enough”. That only happens when you get very tired and exhausted. When you have this feeling, “I have to do more (for someone)” then that is a sign of love.
During times of teamwork, we often have to take decisions that everyone may not
like. What should one do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, that is correct. That is exactly why it is called teamwork. In a team there will be different people with different thoughts, approaches, style of working and varying ideologies. The sign of good teamwork is to integrate them all and take everyone together.
Gurudev, you often speak about Kripa (Grace). Should we all in The Art of Living become certain and confident about the presence of grace in our lives?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, of course! There is no need to worry at all. Just relax and be confident at all times. But at the same time, also be wise and practical. You should not think, “Oh! I have abundance of Grace in my life”, and then put your hand in a burning fire. If you do so then naturally your hands will get burnt.
Being confident (of Grace) does not in any way mean losing awareness and being
impractical. Also, feeling secure and confident should not make you passive and lethargic in life such that you end up doing nothing. You should not become irresponsible. Do your job sincerely and attend to all your duties and responsibilities wholeheartedly. Leave the rest to God with faith.
My wife gets angry. Sometimes I fight back else I run away. How do I develop strength to face her and calm her down?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Sometime back, when I spoke about women empowerment initiatives in society, there are some associations for battered and distressed husbands also who approached me. They wrote a letter to me saying, “Gurudev, you seem to only talk about disadvantaged and distressed women in society. Please give some thought about the poor distressed husbands in society also. We have formed an association of such husbands to address issues”.
I think some of these associations are there in Mumbai and Delhi. Usually these associations are present in bigger cities. There are very less chances of them being in villages and rural areas. I think maybe you should join one of those associations and become a member (Laughter).
Nowadays even young men are wary and cautious about marriage. They think, “Who knows what kind of wife I will have. She could either be like Goddess Lakshmi or even turn out to be wicked like Surpanakha! (a demoness in Ramayana and sister of the evil king Ravana)”. Some people met me in the past and said, “Gurudev, it has only been a few months for our marriage, and now my wife has gone and filed a court case citing demands for dowry or torture, etc.”
The lady had dragged the boy’s parents too to court along with the boy and had them all arrested and put behind bars.
If you go to the jails in Delhi, you will be shocked to see so many elderly ladies behind bars. Some of them are 70 or 80 years old. During one of my visits there I met an old lady and asked her, “Mother, what happened? What did you do that brought you to this jail?” She told me, “Gurudev, what do I say? My own daughter-in-law filed a lawsuit and had me arrested here. I did not do anything to her”. There are many cases where a newlywed daughter-in-law has her in-laws sent off to Lord Krishna’s birth place (here meaning the prison). That is why many young men are distraught and worried seeing such incidents.
Gurudev, could you please speak about the Astral and Causal planes, and your role in these planes.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There are three planes – the physical plane, the astral plane and the causal plane. These are all right here with us. Anything that we see in the material plane first takes place in the subtle planes. That is why people also experience Déjà vu. Do you know what Déjà vu is? It is a feeling that you have been somewhere before or had a certain experience before in the past. You feel “I have been here before” or “I have seen this sometime earlier”. Meditation is the first step to deepening your understanding of these planes.
See, from time to time people criticize and insult you. At other times they also appreciate you and encourage you. It keeps happening in life. So many people criticized and insulted Lord Krishna. He did not have any lesser share of troubles and difficulties in life. In the same way, all the saints and prophets of the world also had to go through pain and many difficulties in life. But the great thing is that they endured all the pain and suffering with an unshakeable smile. They would remain untouched by it from the inside. In the same way, we should also face pleasant and unpleasant times in life.
Now that you are here, just drop all those problems and botherations right here in the Ashram. Do you all know the one rule of the Ashram? The rule is that you have to drop all your problems right here. You are not allowed to take them back with you. Got it?
See, we all are relaxed and sitting here in peace. But it saddens me to see the unfortunate state of violence in Kashmir (referring to the incidents of violence in Uri province). Kashmir is surrounded by so many problems. Many young people and women there are very troubled. We should all pray that peace is restored in Kashmir and that an atmosphere of harmony returns very soon.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Umhlatuzana Primary-school (Shallcross) 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school 21-23 October 2016
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross) 24-28 October 2016
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
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Date: Friday, October 21, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Human being is not just a creature with hands and feet, eyes and ears, head and trunk; you are much more than a total of all these organs and parts. The parts in fact are only crude images from the mould. You must then be ground, scraped, polished, perfected and softened through the intellect. Then you will become the ideal candidate for Divinity, which is your real destiny. The impulses will be rendered pure and your intentions will be raised to a higher and nobler level, only if you choose to dedicate all your deeds, words and thoughts to the Lord. To accomplish this, faith in the one Supreme Intelligence, which conceived, conserves and consumes this Universe is essential. The next is to be convinced of your own helplessness and distress at your own grief. Then you will easily achieve surrender to that Supreme Intelligence. Therefore cultivate faith and surrender. Grace will then naturally flow through you into every act of yours! [Divine Discourse, Mar 17, 1966] |
-BABA |
Be aware of the grace, of the love and of the joy that the Divine is pouring on you every minute.
As a seeker, be firm in your commitment to the practice of yoga, pranayama, meditation and chanting and experience the joy and peace that you are....
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The Vastness Of The Unknown
Sun, 08/28/2016 Bangalore, India
One of the more recent and contemporary poets from Karnataka has composed a beautiful poem about Surrender, and whom should one seek refuge in. The verse says “Become a Sharanagati and take refuge in the fact that life is a great and deep secret”.
The more we come to know about life, we find that we do not know so much more about life. What increases is our realization that there is still so much we do not know at all. The more we know, the more we come to realize the vastness of the Unknown. We then realize we have not learnt much about life.
For example, for an infant, his world is small and limited. He does not know anything about the outside world. He just recognizes his toys, his parents and his few friends. That is all that his world is limited to. As he grows, he comes to understand more and more about the vast world outside, and then he realizes that there is so much more to be known and understood. So life is a great mystery; it is a secret. No one has been able to comprehend life completely, nor can anyone actually do so. Yet we should surrender ourselves to this very fact (about the vastness and mystery of life).
What should you surrender to? Take refuge in the Intellect. You do not know anything about your intellect. The intellect is deep and profound. Since time immemorial, we in India have given prime importance to the intellect which is the seat of logic and rationality. That is why in the Gayatri Mantra we pray that - may the Divine inspire and illumine everyone’s intellect.
See, one way of surrender is to surrender after being defeated. But when one gets amazed by seeing a mystery, an unfathomable secret; then the surrender that dawns out of that sense of wonder and amazement is a different kind of surrender. That surrender happens by surrender to the intellect. When you see or meet any great scientist, you will see that they always have an underlying sense of surrender and humility. They say, “This world is an amazing mystery”.
A great scientist had come to the Ashram and he told me, “Gurudev, I know that none of the objects has any actual existence as such. For example, I know that this chair does not really exist!”
Why did he say this? See, he is a Quantum Physicist. So when seen from the perspective of Quantum Physics, the object does not really exist. The scientist said that matter actually does not exist.
He said “Gurudev, when I say all this, people misunderstand me and think I am talking about the principles of Buddhism (referring to one of the core beliefs that everything is nothing). But I am only speaking from the experience of my life and what I have come to understand through Science”.
This is the surrender of the intellect. This is a different kind. The surrender that comes from acknowledging one’s weakness and defeat is different; while the surrender that dawns from within because of wonder and amazement is very different.
When can you feel that your life is like a fully blossomed fragrant flower? That can happen when there are no more cravings and aversions within, and there is no sense of separateness. When you feel a sense of total belongingness, and you exude love and compassion towards everyone and everything in Creation, when you become so natural and simple, then you feel life has blossomed. When you have cravings and aversions towards someone or something, your mind feels hardened like a stone. Life almost feels like a living hell. Life feels hard and miserable. It does not feel like a soft beautiful flower spreading its fragrance everywhere. So when you make efforts to transform your life into a fully blossomed flower, then take surrender in that noble effort as well, whether those efforts succeed or not.
You must have seen that people become very grim and serious when they are sad or miserable. They become so quiet and are not able to express their sorrow to someone else. So when they cannot express their feelings they grow very quiet and serious.
But this kind of silence is not born of deep peace and contentment from within. The silence that dawns when we become totally peaceful and serene from the inside is deep, beautiful and very comforting. So much joy springs from within with that silence, and instead of grim seriousness, a sense of dignified peace blossoms from oneself.
In that state, there is no more fear. There is no sense of separateness with anyone; instead total belongingness arises. In such a state one does not need any false pretence, one becomes so natural. The dignified calm and quiet solemnest that one acquires in such a state is of a different quality altogether. When you realize that the Creator of the Creation resides within oneself, then a great peace and sense of contentment dawns inside. So the verse says – take refuge in that deep sense of peacefulness.
Just as there is an Atma (soul) residing within every living being, so also all souls collectively become the Vishwatma (the Universal Soul or Universal Spirit). The verse says, "Take surrender and refuge in that vast infinite Vishwatma which pervades all of Creation". The end the verse says, “O my sweet foolish one! Why then do you not seek refuge and surrender to this?”
There is a poem in which the poet says “Everyone asks this question – ‘Who is God?’ The atheists have become tired of asking this question since the ages. So they tend to say that God does not exist”.
But our people have given a beautiful answer to this question by giving the definition of God.Who is God? God is Satchidananda. Now, an atheist will argue saying that there is no such thing as the truth. Well, then what he is saying is also not the truth! (Laughter) If someone claims that there is no such thing as the truth, then can what he is saying be true? Sri Adi Shankaracharya Ji expounded upon a very simple fact and made India what it is today. It is a great secret. In those days, following the principles of Lord Buddha, the Buddhist monks used to think “I searched for the soul everywhere and yet I could not find it. Hence the soul does not exist”. This is called Anatmavaad (meaning refuting the existence of the Soul). So, because they searched a lot for the soul everywhere and could not find it, they concluded that the soul does not really exist.
But just see how intelligent and profound Adi Shankaracharya Ji was. When he heard this, he said, “Oh! So you did not find the soul, is it? Tell me, who was it that went searching?” One of the monks replied, “I searched for the soul”.
To this Adi Shankaracharya Ji said, “That is the Soul, none other!” The ‘one’ who went about in search, the ‘one’ (who claimed) he could not find the Soul – that is the Soul itself! By resolving this question, and expounding the simple yet most profound truth, Adi Shankaracharya Ji heralded the revival of Vedic knowledge and Advaita and took India back to the roots, back to the Vedic tradition of pure knowledge.
Until Adi Shankaracharya Ji came, many people believed in Lord Buddha and His principles. Lord Buddha was called as Tathagata (one who has realized the ultimate principle, the ultimate reality). When Adi Shankaracharya Ji came, he said, “Yes, it is true indeed that everything is empty, everything is nothing. But this life is bliss and joy. Life is not misery”.
See, Lord Buddha said that life is misery and difficulty. Adi Shankaracharya Ji said, “Life is Joy”. Lord Buddha said “Everything is emptiness; it is nothing”. Adi Shankaracharya Ji said “Everything is fullness (of Consciousness)”.
Lord Buddha spoke of emptiness; Adi Shankaracharya Ji spoke about fullness. Lord Buddha spoke of Shuunyata (nothingness or not real), but Adi Shankaracharya Ji spoke about Purnata(fullness or totality of Consciousness everywhere). Knowledge is the beautiful confluence and combination of emptiness and fullness. This is the glory of India’s spiritual knowledge and India’s tradition.
Adi Shankaracharya Ji said, “Yes, it is correct that everything is nothing, it is all emptiness. It is because the totality of Fullness cannot be if it does not contain or encompass Nothingness as well”.
In emptiness or nothingness you cannot say there is fullness. But fullness becomes total and complete only when it includes and encompasses emptiness as well. So Adi Shankaracharya Ji very skilfully convinced every one of his philosophy (of Fullness) along with accepting the principle of Emptiness (rather than rejecting it). So here you see the greatest Truth expressed in the most wise and clever way.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Umhlatuzana Primary-school (Shallcross) 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school 21-23 October 2016
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross) 24-28 October 2016
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Monday, October 24, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
When the moon shines in the sky, you can see it directly. You do not require the aid of a torch, or a lamp, or any other artificial light. The reason is it is possible for us to look at the moon by the light of the moon. In the same manner, if you want to be nearer and dearer to God or understand God, who is an embodiment of love, it will be possible to do so only by means of love which is His very nature. God who is the embodiment of love, is not confined to one place or country. He is present everywhere, in every nook and corner of the world. Hence everyone, including youth must love all and regard loving all beings as loving God, as God is present in every living being. Since God is selfless, you must also practice serving selflessly. [Summer Roses on Blue Mountains, 1976, Ch. 14] |
-BABA |
You get what you call good luck. Doing service increases your luck. But doing service in order to enhance luck will be cheating. You do service because you cannot live without that.
Do whatever you can in your capacity.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Criticism: Face It With Courage
Sun, 08/28/2016 Bangalore, India
(Below is the continuation of the post The Underlying Unity Of The Creation)
Questions & Answers
If someone repeatedly insults or criticizes me, what should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I tell you, if someone insults you, criticizes you, let them be! How much harm can they do? Let them go ahead and insult as much as they can. Next time, tell them, “My dear, go ahead and insult me as much as you want. I will not change regardless of how much you want to criticize me”. Face it with courage. Be strong, do not run away from it. Stand tall before them and let them insult you as much as they can.
See, you should respond to an insult with a smile. A person of true patience and courage is one who can respond to any insult or criticism with an unshakeable smile. A real saint is one who responds to a gunfight with bouquets of flowers. The sign of an intelligent person is one who can respond to taunts and criticism with humour and wit. If you also get angry with someone who comments on you or taunts you, then that is not intelligent behaviour on your part. The sign of intelligence is to transform an unpleasant situation into a pleasant one. That is what the intelligent ones do. One who searches for pleasantness even in unpleasant or unfavourable situations is truly an intelligent person.
Gurudev, is there a difference between the Vedic Tradition and Science?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, our ancestors gave a lot of prime importance to the intellect. Our most important mantra is the Gayatri Mantra which is unparalleled. In the Gayatri Mantra it is said b> “Dhiyo yonaha prachodayaat”, which means, “May our intellect be illumined and inspired by the Divine”. It does not pray for just one person’s intellect, the mantra prays for everyone’s minds and intellect to be illumined and inspired by the Divine light. So, by the Gayatri Mantra, we pray that all our minds together are nurtured by the Divine, and may all our intellects blossom. This is the prayer we make through the Gayatri Mantra.
Science also gives importance to the intellect, to logic and rationality. Anything that does not agree with the intellect, or is not aligned with intelligence - cannot be called as Science. When you see things from this perspective, then you realize that both Science and Spirituality work along the same lines. Spirituality just goes one step further than Science and asserts that not only must we inquire “What is this?”, but also go deeper and inquire “Who am I?” This inquiry too is within the scope and boundaries of Science. Here it is not only the scenery that is important; rather the observer or the Seer is also equally important. The Seer too has a very prominent role here, and Spirituality, or Vedic tradition makes this aspect (of the Seer) more evident and clear.
Gurudev, when will I come to know Who am I?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I tell you, first you think about who you are NOT. For the time being, drop the question, 'Who am I'?
If you come and tell me, “Gurudev, I know who I really am”, then that would mean you still do not know. And if you say, “I still do not know who I am”, then that too is not entirely true. I would say, first you try to understand who you are NOT.
Go on asking yourself, 'Who am I not'? When you find that everything that you are NOT disappears and drops off, then a deep silence shall dawn within you. Then you will realize that it is only YOU that really IS, and there is nothing else except YOU.
Gurudev, we can be happy when the people and the situations around us are pleasant. But how can we maintain our happiness when they become unpleasant?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just look back at your life and see – how many times has this happened with you in the past. How many times have you been troubled and distressed by a person, an object, or a situation? And despite that you are still whole right now, total and complete. Isn’t it? The people who troubled you have moved on and may have even passed away; the situations that troubled you are over and no longer there. Yet life goes on. Examine your life closely. Look back in time and reflect on this, then you will find a great inner strength arises in you. You will realize that it is all Maya (illusion). That is why it is said that this entire world is Maya. Why so? It is because this world appears to be frightening, but it is not really so.
It is like how when you were young, your mother would just scare you to make you eat your food, otherwise some villain would come after you! It never used to happen but at least you used to eat your food then. So even from this false scare, something good happens.
In this way, every situation in the world is like a Gabbar Singh(a popular villain from Indian cinema). Do you know what that Gabbar Singh is for? (Here representing a difficult or fearful situation) It is to bring out the skilfulness in you, to enhance the good qualities in you. Just understand this. If you do not understand this true fact and keep getting stuck in situations, then of course you will remain miserable. Once you realize this then you will not be troubled by any situation in life.
See, there is some Karma that you will simply have to endure and undergo. And to be free of some other Karma you can always pray to the Divine. Both Self-effort and Prayer should go hand in hand in life. If either one is missing, then too you become miserable. They are like the two wheels of a bicycle – you cannot move through life if either one is not there. If you only keep praying without making any actual efforts, then you will not get any results. And if you only keep making efforts and struggle, without spending time in prayer, then also it will not help. When you do both effort and prayer, then you will be able to skilfully and happily sail through life. Your path will become easier.
If we are truly Space, or a part of Space, then why is it that we feel comfortable in some space and uncomfortable in some other space?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is because of ignorance. Or it is because of your body type and vibrations. You may have limited vibrations, or you may not be so centered that you feel comfortable and at ease with all kinds of people. You have limited range of vibrations and not the total range of vibrations. If you are strongly centered then you are comfortable with the entire 360 degree range of vibrations, because just like in a circle, every point becomes equidistant from the centre. But if you are on some chord of this circle, then you are not equidistant from everything. So you are not comfortable with every vibration.
Gurudev, how to keep the Prana (subtle life-force energy) level high even after the Vignana Bhairava Advanced Course?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The key is Seva. I would suggest you keep doing some Seva, and stay engaged in knowledge. Tell others about this beautiful knowledge and inspire others about attending Satsang and doing Seva. All this will help to keep the energy levels high. And suppose, even if your energy goes a little low, do not be upset about it. Just know that it will come back again.
Where does Intuition come from, and what is the source of Intuition?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, I will tell you this intuitively! (Laughter) See, intuition definitely cannot come from the books. Intuition = In + tuition; it means that ‘tuition’ (knowledge) that comes from the inside.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Umhlatuzana Primary-school (Shallcross) 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
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Pat Gounden
Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
When you revel in the contemplation of the splendour of the Lord, nothing material can attract you. Everything this world has to offer will seem inferior. The company of the godly and the humble alone will be relished. Great saints who have sung the Grace of the Lord have realised Him in the altar of their own hearts. The unsullied love and devotion they transmitted through their songs has fertilized millions of devotees’ parched hearts. Reciting the Lord’s Name and observing their chosen spiritual practices have enabled many an aspirant to win over the Lord quickly and intimately. So strong and deep is their love and devotion that no disappointment could ever shake their faith. Ramdas, Tukaram, Meera and many others are wonderful examples of the above, and they have built the royal road of devotion for all of humanity. It is your duty now to live up to the heritage handed to you for your development by your pious forefathers. [Divine Discourse, Mar 17, 1966] |
-BABA |
Devotion is nothing but love; with maturity.
See you love somebody, because you like something in that somebody. Your likes and dislikes are always changing.
Suppose tomorrow your likes changed, your dislikes changed, and then your love turns into hatred.
But when the love matures and doesn’t turn into hatred, that love is called devotion. Someone is so devoted to wife means, how much she is, whatever she is, I just am committed to her. That’s devotion.
The first is attraction; just on the physical level. Attraction dies on very fast. On the physical level there is attraction.
The step further on the mental level, there is love. And it is in the mental level - jealousy, possessiveness, hatred all these distortions of love happens.
But when you surpass that level, then there comes Devotion. It’s like the love of the mother to her child. Mother doesn’t bother what the child thinks and does. You know, the child kicks the mother or screams at the mother; she is not perturbed at all. Still she goes and picks him up with love, sits and dissolves everything.
Child is kicking in, screaming in, running in, it refusing to take medicines but she still chases after the kid; and sees that he has what he needs , she gives it; and that is what Devotion is; which is independent of the reaction or response.
The love which is independent of response is called Devotion…
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The Underlying Unity Of The Creation
Sun, 08/28/2016 Bangalore, India
(Below is the continuation of the post The Vastness Of The Unknown)
Who is God? God is Satchitananda. ‘Sat’ means the Truth, the ultimate reality without a second. ‘Chit’
means the blissful Consciousness that is alive and complete with intelligence. It is not dead, inert or passive in any way. Consciousness is that which is constant, eternal and ever present. Consciousness is alive, it has intelligence and it alone has the ability to know and comprehend. ‘Ananda’ means that it is blissful.
We say, ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’. It means that like Lord Shiva, the Consciousness is benevolent and blissful, it is the Ultimate Truth, and the pinnacle of all beauty. It is peaceful and without a second, it alone is. That is Shiva.
It is only in India that beauty has been associated with God. In no other culture or tradition in the World has God been addressed as beautiful, or the source of all beauty. But in India, the Lord of all beauty and majesty is Lord Shiva, who is also titled as Sundaresa. Beauty is a quality, a sign of Lord Shiva. This is why this whole World is so beautiful. Wherever you see or find something beautiful, there is a deep and subtle energy that rises within you from your very core – and that is the Shiva Tattva. That is the Truth. There was a saint from Kashmir called Lakshman Ju Ji. I came to hear a story about his Guru. Once it so happened that a little girl dressed beautifully with ornaments and flowers came and sat before him. Lakshman Ju’s Guru, who was quite old and elderly, saw the girl and kept looking at the girl for two or three minutes. After that, he rose from his seat and went inside his room. There he went into deep meditation. After some time when he came out, he said “That little girl exuded so much beauty that I went into deep Samadhi upon seeing it”.
Why do people adorn and decorate the idols of Devi Radha and Lord Krishna so beautifully? It is done so that by beholding such unequalled beauty, deep Truth and theShiva Tattva gets kindled from within us. That is why temples are decorated so beautifully. If you visit the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, you will see that they decorate the temple so beautifully. Even the idol of the Goddess is decorated so beautifully, that just by looking at the beauty of the Mother Divine one cannot help but adore the beauty and also feel so meditative. By seeing such images deep waves of beauty arise from within us, and they kindle and awaken the Truth, and the Shiva Tattva within us. That is why Adi Shankaracharya Ji composed the Soundarya Lahiri along with the Shivananda Lahiri. We have never concealed beauty. We have always nurtured, adored and celebrated beauty. If you take any Stotra from our scriptures, you will see that God’s qualities and His beauty are sung about together. There is a hymn in Sanskrit –
Shuklam Brahmavichara Sara Parmamadyam Jagadvyapineem
Veena Pustaka Dharineem-abhayadam Jadyandhakaraapaham.
Haste Sphatikamalikam Vidadhateem Padmasane Samsthitam
Vande Tam Parmeshvareem Bhagwateem Buddhipradam Sharadam.
(Hymn of Adoration to Goddess Saraswati)
Dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the hymn says, “She is seated with a majestic Veena in Her hands; Your thoughts are the thoughts of purity of the Brahman, yet O Divine mother! You are seated adorned with beautiful flowers of all colours”.
While composing these verses and hymns, one would contemplate and imagine all kinds of beauty associated with the Divine. If someone saw the fully blossomed lotus, they would exclaim “Oh, how beautiful is this lotus!” But nowadays if someone were to make that same statement about a lotus flower, people would misinterpret it, thinking of the person’s political associations (here referring to the Lotus being the electoral symbol of a political party in India). So there is a slight danger of such harmless statements too being seen in a political light.
Dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the hymn says, “She is seated with a majestic Veena in Her hands; Your thoughts are the thoughts of purity of the Brahman, yet O Divine mother! You are seated adorned with beautiful flowers of all colours”. While composing these verses and hymns, one would contemplate and imagine all kinds of beauty associated with the Divine. If someone saw the fully blossomed lotus, they would exclaim “Oh, how beautiful is this lotus!” But nowadays if someone were to make that same statement about a lotus flower, people would misinterpret it, thinking of the person’s political associations (here referring to the Lotus being the electoral symbol of a political party in India). So there is a slight danger of such harmless statements too being seen in a political light.
The blossoming of a lotus is compared to the full blossoming of one’s Consciousness. The Mother Divine is called as Kamalatmika meaning that the Mother Divine is fully blossomed like a lotus flower in bloom. She is also the secret and the cause behind the full bloom of the lotus flower. She is also called as Kamaladharini – meaning that the Mother Divine holds a fully blossomed lotus flower in one of her hands. In this way we connect every aspect of beauty with the Divine. This has always been the tradition in India. Why? It is because beauty is always understood as an aspect of Divinity.
God is addressed as Satchidananda.
A scientist may say, “I do not believe in beauty, etc.”, that is alright. But would one not accept the fact that God is Satchitananda? The poet says that using these six colours or qualities: Satya, Shiva, Sundara, Sat, Chitda, Ananda – God has created these uncountable creatures and coloured this Creation. And you are the very reflection of these divine qualities. God Himself is the canvas or the backdrop, and He also encompasses all the colours from which has come this Creation of countless sceneries and wonders.
The deeper meaning here is that you should do away with an intellect that discriminates or divides on the basis of this multitude and diversity; and instead understand that everything in Creation is actually made of One thing only. Whether it appears red or blue, or of any colour and attributes, the entire Creation is made up of One all-powerful Consciousness. When you embed this profound truth in your heart, then you become established in Yoga and see the underlying unity of everything.
The poet also says that usually we get stuck in people’s opinions and what they think of us, or our mind gets entangled in petty politics happening before us. Our mind gets trapped with the conflicts and problems around us. But it is not real, actually.
How can you think or know what someone is thinking of you? But you think “This person thinks so-and-so about me; that person thinks like this about me”, etc.
We create such false impressions in our mind, and we keep nurturing our cravings and aversions. What will happen if we drop all the cravings and aversions and think of beauty and divine qualities in our mind? All these distortions drop off and dissolve by themselves and we get established in Yoga.
Maharishi Patanjali said, “Yoga chitta-vritti nirodhah”, meaning that Yoga is to silence the distortions of the Mind. One moves from the scenery to the Seer when we see that this entire Creation is a play of Consciousness and everything is made up of that One Consciousness only. The diversity of colours and scenery is only because of this One Consciousness.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Umhlatuzana Primary-school 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
If you attach yourself to the Lord through the path of love (prema), it will be possible to realise Him. God’s love is like an infinite and endless ocean. Simply because God’s love is infinite and endless, you cannot carry all of it with you. What you can carry with you will depend on the size of the pot you take. So the first thing to do is to enlarge the size of your pot, and this can be done through spiritual practice (sadhana). The first step in Sadhana, is respect for your mother. The devotion towards the mother should be such that you recognise the great love and affection with which your mother has brought you up. You must return gratitude to your mother in the form of love or bhakti. The mother will also show bhakti in the form of vatsalya (affection of mother for child), in return to the love of the child. [Summer Roses on Blue Mountains, 1976, Ch. 14] |
-BABA |
When there is deep love, you always tend to feel that you have not done enough. If you ask any mother, “Have you done a lot for your child, or all that you had to?” She will say, “Oh, I don’t think so. I feel I have not done much”.
In love one never thinks “I have done enough”. That only happens when you get very tired and exhausted. When you have this feeling, “I have to do more (for someone)” then that is a sign of love.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
A Happy State Of Mind
Sun, 08/28/2016 Bangalore, India
Questions & Answers
Are there different stages of being enlightened? What are the signs of enlightenment?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You need not worry about it. There are no different stages. Enlightenment is only one, that’s all. Are there different types of emptiness? Emptiness is only one. But it can be for different purpose and the manifestations can be different.
The Shastras mention three types: Bala, Unmatta and Pishacha-vatt.
Bala means like a child. In Bala there is Sattvik predominance like a child, where one is playful, innocent, loving and connects with everybody.
Unmatta is as if one is intoxicated, when one does not care about everybody, and they are in their own world. People around them may be undergoing trouble and misery, but in Unmatta one will feel, “Never mind, let them undergo trouble. They will learn something through trouble”. They do not bother about others’ trouble at all because they think that anyway everybody is going to die ultimately. So what if someone is crying and dying and someone else is laughing and dying? It is the same thing for them.
They think that if someone is suffering, let them suffer because suffering also comes because of some Karma. They have nothing to do with anything around them. This is Unmatta – being in one’s own world, as if intoxicated.
The third is Pishacha-vatt, in which one is almost demonic. The Demonic type of people are those who just destroy everything. For them, new awakening, or new creation only comes out of destruction. There were some people who used to give such harsh punishments to their students to test them and try out if the disciples can really withstand those hardships on the path.
So the third kind is Pishacha-vatt, a different kind of enlightened people who tend to destroy everything. They say, “I have come to destroy everything”. They do not observe any rules. For them, if you want to smoke, you smoke; if you wish to drink (alcohol), you drink. You have no restrictions and can do anything. So this third type of enlightenment is the path through destruction (or destructive practices and beliefs). It is a dangerous path, where hardly a few people get anything out of it. Very few people are able to go through this (third) path.
You must have seen some people during the Kumbh Mela. They smoke the chillum (opium), they do drugs like marijuana. Just look at their bodies, their faces. These people think, “Oh! What is there to take from this world? Nothing can be gained from it. Anyway I will die. I am here on the planet only for a few years. I am as good as dead right now!” Such people have this attitude and tread this third kind of path. Only rarely do one or two people actually succeed to reach the goal through this path. There are others who only copy them.
There was a great saint in Maharashtra who used to smoke hookah. He was a great man and for him it didn’t matter, it did not affect him. But others around him would look and think, “Oh, our Gurudev is smoking hookah, let me also smoke hookah like him”.
These people will then suffer and get beaten up. There was another saint who used to drink alcohol but he would never once lose his awareness. He used to drink copious amounts of alcohol, not a little. But it would not affect him. A normal person cannot even think of drinking that much amount of alcohol. If you drink that much you would not be able to handle it. I personally do not have any experience in this area (Laughter), but what I have heard is that if someone consumes alcohol beyond a certain limit then they do not remain in control of themselves. They go to their own world. So these are different types of enlightenment.
What is the Shiva Tattva? How can one dissolve in the Shiva Tattva?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I have spoken in detail about this. You ask what is the Shiva Tattva. I tell you, what is it that is not (encompassed or contained by) the Shiva Tattva? We are all immersed in the Shiva Tattva. If you look carefully, you will understand that this is the very purpose and essence of the Rudrabhishekam. The meaning of the Rudrabhishekam is to convey that everything is Shiva, and is contained in the Shiva Tattva. There is nothing beyond the Shiva Tattva.
It is said: that which moves, and that which is steady and immobile – is the Shiva Tattva. That which is awake and that which is dormant or asleep – is also the Shiva Tattva. That which is greatest, supremely intelligent, and that which is the smallest – is the Shiva Tattva. In the Rudram chanting there is a verse which says, “Namo jyeshthaaya cha kanishthaya cha. Namo dhundhubhyaya cha hananyaya cha”. It means Salutations to that (Shiva Tattva) which is the greatest and the smallest; That which nurtures and That which destroys and dissolves everything – is also the Shiva Tattva. Shiva Tattva is both the unmanifest, and the manifest in all forms of Creation.
The Rudram mentions “Vanchate parivanchate sthayunaam-pataye namo namaha.”. It means, “O Lord Shiva, you are the presiding Lord and Master of everything, even those who cheat and deceive others”. Another verse mentions “Namo vrikshebhyo Harikeshebhyo pashunaam pataye namo Namaha”. It means “O Lord Shiva! You are the Supreme Divinity and Lord of all plants, vegetation, and all living creatures”.
The Shiva Tattva is manifest as and present in all plants, trees, birds, animals and living creatures, even in thieves and cheats. So it means that the Shiva Tattva is the Divinity that is eternal and omnipresent in everyone and everything in Creation. This is why in the Rudram we pray, “O Lord Shiva, you alone are present everywhere and in everything. Hence shower your benevolence upon me and bless me with everything favourable”.
Towards the conclusion of the Rudram chanting we pray, “O Lord Shiva! Bless that everyone becomes my friend and is friendly to me; May everything become favourable and pleasing for me. O Lord Shiva! You as Aghora have a pleasant benevolent form; and are also Ghora – having a terrifying fearful form. I pray to You to please conceal your fearful forms, and bless me with your pleasing benevolent form”.
In the Chamakam part of the Rudram we chant, “Shancha-me, Mayascha-me, Priyancha-me, Anukamascha-me, Kamascha-me…”.
'Shancha-me' means 'Bless me with peace and love'.
'Priyancha-me' means 'May all favourable things happen for me, so please fulfill all my wishes'.
In the beginning we honor and worship Lord Shiva by acknowledging, "O Lord! You are everything and present everywhere. Our salutations to you; again and again”.
Then we lovingly ask the Divine for favors and blessings, by fulfilling our wishes and what we desire for. We pray that the Divine bestows Grace on us. Then we only ask for positive and favorable things from the Divine. We do not ask or pray for punishment, or any calamity, loss, or destruction. We pray to receive peace, and love in life.
So, Rudrabhishekamand also the Maha Rudra very beautifully acknowledge and honour the Advaita Jnana (here meaning the Divine as the all-pervading One Consciousness without duality). Along with Advaita Jnana we also pray that we receive everything that is favourable and good in our life. We ask for both Bhukti (fulfilment of material desires) and Mukti (liberation). We also chant “Maanastoketanaye ma-na ayushhi ma-no goshhu ma-no ashveshu ririshhah. Viranma-no rudra bhamitoavadhi 'rhavishhmanto namasa vidhema te” (Section 10 of Namakam in Rudram Chanting).
It means, “O Lord! Please bless everyone around me with happiness and health. May our animals be healthy and safe. Please save them all from your Ghora Rupa(your terrifying forms). Bless us all with peace and happiness”. This is the prayer in the verse here.
See, a Sanyasi (a renunciate or ascetic) does not want anything. But a Grihastha (a house-holder) cannot say so. He may say he does not want anything for some time, may be during meditation. But in practical life and worldly matters, he cannot say this.
He will need to do a lot since he is a family person. He would have to pay the electricity bill; his wife may request him to take her to this place or that, and he would have to accompany her. He would have to attend to the needs and wants of his children, his parents and other relatives also. And one definitely needs the grace of the Divine to be able to fulfil all desires and prayers. That is why our Rishis have mentioned a difference between these two lifestyles.
There is a branch of knowledge called Purva Mimamsa wherein all the procedures and materials required for different Pooja rituals and Yajnas (fire sacrifices) are mentioned in detail. It tells us what one can do, if let us say, there have been no rains?
See here we are very blessed, because it rains frequently and in plenty. But in places where there are no rains, people are advised to do chant, such as Varuna Japa, or pray to Lord Shiva to bless them with rains. This is something that devotees can ask for, from the Divine. Hence the rituals and procedures to fulfill desires and prayers are mentioned in the Purva Mimamsa. It is like Applied Sciences.
After Purva Mimamsa comes Uttara Mimamsa which is Pure knowledge. It is higher knowledge, and instils Sanyasa (detachment) from everything. It brings one to the realization that 'Aham Brahmasmi - I am everything. I do not desire anything'. It is the pinnacle of Vedanta, the highest state. But before one can reach this stage (of transcending duality and desires), the Rishis mentioned the Purva Mimamsa to provide the knowledge for obtaining and fulfilling one’s desires and prayers, such as, “May everyone prosper and have peace and happiness. May my mind be at peace; may there be happiness in my family and may there be harmony in society”.
That is why in one of the mantras mentioned in the Vedas, we offer Madhu (Honey) to the deity or the Shiva lingam. We chant the following mantra along with offering honey: “Madhu-vata ruta-yate, madhu-ksharanti sindhava, Madvirna-samtoshadhih, madhunaktam-utoshasi madhumat parthiva'gm rajah, madhu dyaurastu nah pitaa, madhmano-vanaspatir madhuma'gm astu Suryah, madhvergavo bhavantunah”. It means, “May the breeze that blows be sweet and gentle; may the rivers and seas be harmonious and favourable to us. May there be no floods, no storms or any natural calamity that affects us and our homes. May our intellect blossom with contentment, and may both our days and nights be peaceful and sweet. May we not face troubles from any wild creatures in the night. May there be sweetness and fertility in the soil, may there be goodness in the crops we get from this soil".
“Dyau” here refers to the subtle world, full of divine lights and forces. Here we pray that we get peace and blessings from the subtle creation as well. There should not be any celestial or astronomical calamity, like any meteorite colliding with the Earth. May we receive sweetness and nourishment from the rays of the Sun. Just as a father is always loving and sweet towards his children, may our behaviour towards others also be sweet and friendly. May the plants and vegetation around us be sweet and favourable.
So, this chant is a prayer to ask for sweetness, harmony and goodness around us. Offering honey during Puja is a tradition that has been in place since many ages, since honey symbolizes this sweetness. So we have a practice to offer honey during Puja as a symbol of our prayer for sweetness and harmony. It is not necessary to offer honey as such, but when we offer honey during Puja, and also mix honey in the Charanamrit Panchamrit (sacred water consisting of five or more ingredients), then you feel so nice and uplifted.
The process of offering different ingredients and things to the Divine during Puja is an act of worship on the outside. It is more to create an atmosphere of sacredness and purity. Every substance has its own use and importance, which we have honoured and followed as a part of our tradition since time immemorial. So we do these rituals and practices to keep the tradition alive. It is not necessary for you to do it all the time or every day at home. Yes, these Pujas and rituals do happen once a week in Ashram and other holy places. You should participate and attend these also whenever possible. The positive vibrations that arise from these rituals bring calmness and happiness to the mind. This positive and happy mind is Prasad. When you go to a temple, you get somePrasad after doing Puja. What does Prasad really mean? Prasad is that which immediately brings happiness to the mind.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Umhlatuzana Primary-school 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Thursday, October 27, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
To light a lamp, you need four elements - a container, oil, wick and a match box. If any one of them are missing, you cannot light the lamp. This lit lamp can, however, remove only the external darkness. How do you remove the darkness within the heart? It can be removed only by the Light of Wisdom (Jnana Jyoti). How to light the spiritual light, the light of wisdom? It needs four elements too. Detachment (Vairagya) is the container. Devotion (Bhakti) is the oil. One-pointed concentration (Ekagrata) is the wick. Knowledge of the Supreme Truth (Jnana) is the match stick. Without all the four, the light of Spiritual Wisdom cannot be got. Of the four, the primary prerequisite is the spirit of renunciation (Vairagya). Detachment is absence of attachment to the body. The ego-feeling, which makes one think of ‘I’ all the time, should be given up. Without this detachment, knowledge of scriptures is of no avail. (Divine Discourse, 9 Nov 1988) |
-BABA |
When you want to get a balance, you are already looking for it. Whenever you are out of balance, it pinches you. Listen to the pinch, that's all. If you have too much passion and no dispassion, you will lose night's sleep. You cannot do anything, you cannot meditate and it catches you like a fever, then remember dispassion. Know that there is a bigger power that is taking care of everything, I have nothing to do! Then you will become calmer. Remember the dream nature of everything. Everything is a dream, then the dispassion comes up automatically. If you find yourself being too lazy, thinking everything is dispassion and why do I have to do anything? Why do I even have to do my yoga class in the morning! C'mon! Wake up, do something. Never mind if it's a dream, you have to do something in the dream also.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The Key To Being A Good Human Being
Thu, 09/01/2016 Bangalore, India
Questions & Answers
Gurudev, what is the parameter to call myself a good human being? Please guide me.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: An eye that can see beyond the obvious, ears that can give a patient hearing, an intellect that is free from prejudice, an intention to help those in need, and a heart that is strong and soft.
It is easy to find people who are very emotional, and say, "Oh, I love everybody". They are compassionate but have no strength in them, they cannot endure even a simple criticism, which is no good. Then there are those who just throw their weight around; they are very harsh and hard. They feel like there is a stone inside - that is not the quality of a good human being.
A good human being has the right combination of the head and the heart, the left and right brain is balanced.
Gurudev, how can one remain sensitive to anything, knowing that everything is unreal?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You cannot exercise sensitivity, either it is there or not. This is because sensitivity is beyond thought, it is at the level of a feeling, you cannot create sensitivity in you. When you are free from stress and are content, you automatically are sensitive. When you are miserable, you are insensitive.
Usually people think a miserable person is very sensitive. When you are miserable, you block yourself out. You may feel sensitive to others comments, but you are not sensitive to others feelings, it’s a one-way sort of sensitivity. Because your perception is totally colored, you are not sensitive to others, you feel vulnerable. But when you are centered, you are sensitive to others feelings.
Do you understand the two types of sensitivity? One is vulnerability, you feel very vulnerable when you are hurt and upset. When you are on your own trip of self-pity, you are ready to accept anything someone says. It does not mean that you are sensitive to others feelings. It is only when you are centered, content and calm that you become sensitive to others needs and requirements -- that is a different kind of sensitivity.
Gurudev, what is the role of death on one’s spiritual journey?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Every moment dying to the past! Unless you die every moment, you can’t live in the present.
Gurudev, how to deal with growing up and becoming an adult?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Know that it is a tough time, and it will pass. Many concepts will come; every day you will find different concepts crumbling down. When these concepts keep crumbling down, you often experience vacuums. It is the vacuums that create restlessness and confusion in you. Here, meditation will help and enhance your endurance.
Gurudev, the Vedic Wisdom course started today. We have come from all over the world. Please tell us what is the principle of Vedic Wisdom?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is amazing to see how much wisdom has been there in the past. From the Vedic Wisdom program, you will get a little glimpse of the various aspects of life and tattvas,i.e., the principles and the natural laws that govern the universe. That is what you will learn.
The first initiation for this is called the Gayatri Mantra, which is a very powerful mantra. It was kept a big secret for all these years. In certain sections of society, it was given only from father to son, it was not available to general public. People were even barred from chanting it aloud. It is only in the last 10-15 years that you have started getting it on tapes, people even sing out aloud. Before that, when we were young, when I was 10, nobody would even utter it, it was kept so secretive.
I thought everyone should now get access to this beautiful chanting. The meaning of the chant is, 'Let all our intellects be inspired by the divinity deep within us. Let noble thoughts and intuitive thoughts come up in our mind and rule our intellect. Let our intellect be soaked in the transcendental consciousness.’
It is our intellect and not just mine, since it is a collective prayer and wish. Similarly, you will understand more and more during the program. Actually, if you have to study any one aspect of the Vedas, it will take 12 years, it is that vast. But in these 4 to 6 weeks, you will get a little sample of everything. I thought people would enjoy it because this Vedic wisdom does not belong to any one religion, nation alone, it is the property of the whole planet, and the whole humanity. That is how I see it. No one can say that only one particular set of people should keep it. Although in the past that has been the case, now, it is available to everybody.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ APD 65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Friday, October 28, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
While Lord Krishna was growing up, one of the Gopalas would come up to Him and say, “Dear Krishna, please sing, sing to my heart’s content. Take the essence of the Vedas and pour it through your flute and play a beautiful song to mesmerise my heart.” The Gopalas regarded Lord Krishna as the ocean of love, and themselves as drops of water which have come out of this ocean of love. Their sole purpose was to take their own lives and merge it with the infinite ocean of love. So long as we hold a drop of water in the palm of our hand, it remains a drop of water; but if we take this drop of water and mix it with the ocean, the drop does not exist any more, as it loses its individuality and merges with the ocean. What better objective can there be in life beyond wanting to merge with the Lord? (Summer Roses on Blue Mountains, 1976, Ch 14) |
-BABA |
If you look at all of us at the level of the breath, we are all one. When you go even deeper into the subtle layers, you will see that everything is an extension and expansion of the same mind. Just meditate, and be regular with Seva, Satsang and your Sadhana. You will see that in no time a fountain of love and happiness will come up from within you, and you will exude great contentment.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Realizing The Subtle Truths
Wed, 08/24/2016 Bangalore, India
There are two perspectives of life:
1. To see everything alive, like a person.
2. To see everything as an object.
When we were children, we used to see everything as a person, as a living entity. As a child, we would see the Sun smiling at us, and even the Moon at night had a wonderful smile on its face. As children, even plants and animals were full of life. This is how the world appeared to us when we were children.
In cartoons, you must have seen that everything has life and can talk. Even a tree talks in a cartoon. The entire world for a child is full of life, everything is so lively. From a child’s eyes, every particle of the world is brimming and bursting with life, it is full of liveliness. A child’s mind is fresh and clean, his heart is blossomed, and that is why he sees life everywhere. As we grow older in life, what we also call as becoming mature, somehow makes us very stiff and hard from inside. Our 'No' (refusal) becomes very hard and rigid, and our 'Yes' (agreement or acceptance) also becomes equally hard. We lose that lightness or naturalness. For children, their 'Yes' and 'No' has a certain lightness, or easiness to it. But the 'Yes' and 'No' of an adult has a certain rigidity to it. So in this way our perspective also changes in life. The more we perceive everything in the world as an (inanimate or lifeless) object instead of a living being (filled with life or exhibiting liveliness), that much easier and more inclined we become towards killing or destroying things. It is because we see things as mere objects without any life or sentiment, we find it easier to kill and destroy.
I have heard that in military training across the world, the soldiers are trained to see an enemy as an object and not as a living being. They are told to think of the enemy as some wild animal approaching to kill them. They are repeatedly trained to see even a man as an animal or as an inanimate object in the military. Why is this so? It is because if someone looks into the eyes of the enemy and sees a living human being instead of some lifeless object, then they will not be able to fire and kill that person.
In the same way, when someone keeps a pet dog at their house, they start loving and treating the dog as a member of the family. Then no one tries to beat or kill the dog. When one keeps cows at home, then the cow also becomes an equal member of the family. The cow also behaves and acts like any other (human) member of the family, and we also develop the same feelings and love towards the cow.
So if you have to kill an animal, you have to see it as an object, not as a living creature or a being with life. Otherwise you will simply not be able to kill the animal.
When you cut wood, why are you able to do it so easily? It is because you see it as a dead lifeless object. But people who love plants and trees become attached to them and they can feel immense pain when they see someone uprooting or cutting trees.
In our country, since time immemorial, we have had a tradition of worshipping and honouring the rivers, the mountains and Nature. Why? It is because we saw God in everything and everywhere – in the grass, the plants, trees, and even birds and animals. In our country no one hits or kills even a crow. We give respect to even a crow. We revere it as a messenger or a form of our departed ancestors.
If we are able to see and honour life even in a small bird, then the tendency of violence disappears from our life.
The root cause of any violence or violent tendencies is that we have strayed away from our core belief of seeing life in everything. We have forgotten the perspective of life. Just see how much violence and distress is happening in Kashmir, in Iraq and in Syria. The ones who are committing such wicked acts of violence do not see life in another person. This is because their perspective has changed, and they think that they or their family and relatives alone are supreme and rightful in every way. For them others do not matter anymore. Spirituality is the ability to establish and communicate this very connection of oneness with everyone.
This is what Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita.
Yo mam pashyati sarvatra sarvam cha mayi pashyati. Tasyaham na pranashyami sa cha me na pranashyati. (6.30) Lord Krishna says, “One who see Me everywhere and in everything, and sees everyone and everything as Me and Me alone; such a noble soul is truly intelligent and wise”.
We usually think that being cunning or deceiving someone else is a sign of wisdom. No, it is not so at all. True intelligence or wisdom lies in having that fine awareness, that subtle perception that Nature and everything in this creation is so alive and full of consciousness. We should become sukshmagrahi (being able to sense and see the subtler and deeper truth of life). That alone is the true sign of wisdom. In English it is called as having ‘subtlety’. Wisdom lies in being able to grasp or realize the most intricate and subtle truths.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ APD 65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Monday, October 31, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
The Gopikas’ adoration of Lord Krishna is Madhura Bhakthi. The gopikas always thought of Lord Krishna and completely surrendered themselves. They believed that all their wealth, body, mind and everything they had was all surrendered to Krishna. Whatever they did, ate or talked was all in the name of Krishna. If there was any moment of time, it had to belong to Krishna. If Krishna was not there even for a moment, they regarded themselves as lifeless. When Krishna went with the cowherds, these gopikas always worried about Him and His comfort - whether He had proper protection or not, whether He had slippers on or not, whether He had any discomfort of any kind, and so on. They were thinking of Gopala and His well-being, even when they were eating their food, resting or sleeping. Because of leading such a life, over time, they turned themselves to be One with Him. (Summer Roses on Blue Mountains, 1976, Ch 14) |
-BABA |
Your heart beats by itself – you do not make it beat. Your breath moves by itself, sleep comes, you feel hungry, you feel thirsty, you feel good, you feel bad.
All these phenomena are happening in your life. When this realization comes, a deep relaxation, a trust, a feeling of being “at home,” and a fullness arises in you. That is surrender.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The Only Way To Beat Loneliness
Mon, 07/25/2016 Montreal, Canada
Questions & Answers
How to be happy when you are lonely?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You should feel the freedom! (Laughter from the audience) Look at the birds, how they fly.
What is lonely? When there is nobody to bug you, nobody to ask you where did you go? What did you do? Whom did you look at? No control, no obligation, nothing! It is like being a free bird, just jump around like a bird. You want to put some music on and dance, do it!
What do you mean by lonely? Just having a partner does not take away your loneliness, mind you! There are millions of people who have partners, soul mates, who have fallen in love and married the same person, and yet they feel lonely! Many may not come out and tell you honestly, but if you ask the ideal couples, "Tell me one secret, do you ever feel lonely or anything like that?" They will say, "Yes!" The only people who don’t feel lonely are the ones who are connected with the being, with the self. One who is established in the self feels no loneliness. Only spiritual elevation can take away the loneliness, not soul mates.
Dear Gurudev, could you please tell us the significance of the Canadian Ashram, why did you choose this place? Are there any historic links?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When I spoke on the Ashtavakara Gita in India in 1990, sometime after that I told our people that I’ll come to Canada only when we have a place of our own. I gave it to them as a challenge, because until then we had been hiring venues here and there. Everyone thought we should have a place of our own, and so our devotees went searching and Ganesh and Janice found this place. When we visited it, we found the place to be appropriate, and it is also close to Trois Rivières.
In India, a place is considered to be very sacred when three rivers meet. In fact, interestingly, the ashram in Poland is also very close to a place where three rivers meet. We somehow get such places, and that is considered to be very good. The meeting of three rivers is actually symbolic of the three energy channels (nadis ) i.e., ida, pingla, sushumna; meditation happens when they meet. And so, at a place where three rivers meet also, meditation is very good.
In this campus, we now have six lakes and three mountains. The gentleman who was building this place also didn’t know why he was creating such a campus; he even expressed to Janice saying, "I don’t know why I’m doing this!" They are a very nice couple who sold this campus to us.
Dear Gurudev, what is the significance of different shlokas that you sing after meditation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It feels good, isn’t it that is the purpose. Infusing a little energy, and those seeds of wisdom uplift the consciousness because your consciousness knows this at a deeper level. Somewhere in our depth, we understand these chants, and in some unknown manner, it energizes, uplifts and soothes the spirit; doesn’t it feel that way? How many of you feel it, the moment you hear some chanting, you feel something soothing, isn’t it?
Dear Gurudev, is this real or is the worldly family that awaits me real?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: For now, this is real, and tomorrow that is real! This real helps you to deal with that real. (Applause from the audience)
And when that real appears to be very difficult, remember you had another level of reality in which you lived, and experienced. That very remembrance will give you the strength to carry on. Then, when you are totally drained, you can always come back here to recharge.
When will people around us recognize the significance of the subtle, unseen, yet powerful energy?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I think the world is waking up slowly; they have woken up quite some bit from where they were before. A few decades back, it was so hard to talk to people about the unseen, ethereal reality. But today, it seems much easier. People seem to get it. Anyways, there were always some groups of people who believed in something higher, something ethereal, and something unseen.
One of our ashramite boy’s father is a big industrialist. When he came and stayed at the ashram, he told his son, "You are so young, 24 only; this is the time for you to have a passion, an ambition, grow up to have a better life. What are you doing sitting in an ashram like a retired person?"
Do you know what that boy replied to his father? He said, "Dad, people are ambitious about something that is seen, visible, tangible; they want more money, a car, a plane, a little more in their life. Is there anyone who is ambitious about something that nobody has seen? Something unseen, higher, much bigger, where nobody has ventured? I am here because I want that something which nobody has seen, that something which is higher, bigger! Now tell me, who is more ambitious?" The boy’s father had to keep quiet.
These days people are much more open to the realm of the unseen, from where everything happens, from where energies uplift the planet, that which is the cause of all causes. Sometimes the path appears to be a little difficult, but ultimately it is the most comforting, fulfilling, soothing and satisfying. That which is very pleasant and comfortable in the beginning, and ends up as misery in the end (is not good), and that which is difficult in the beginning but ends up as being very sweet and pleasant in the end, is called tapas. Tapas means enduring, bearing the opposites, enduring through the toughness, so you come out successful, and that is long lasting!
One very big industrialist in India, who owned planes also, would come to Bangalore and speak to our ashramites, especially Vinodji. He would say, "I envy you, I'm so jealous of you people".
At that time, I think our people did not understand much because he had everything, they wondered how he was saying that I am so jealous of people in the ashram. Today, it is very obvious because he has lost everything. These things - position, fame, money, they all come and go, they don’t give you the stability and happiness in your life, which they appear to give at some point.
In the early days of this ashram, we had just one little cabin called Ganga Kutir or Sumeru Kutir? Andrew and a few others built that for me. It had just a little portable toilet, and a meditation hall. In those days, Andrew and some others worked day and night to build the Issa block, which was the first building in the ashram, and then slowly everything came up. Again, similar to the condition of the Indian ashram in the early days, we didn’t have proper amenities; we hardly had electricity. People had to carry water in buckets. Today, you have all the comforts, but there is a different joy when you are coming with such enthusiasm to do something in a place where there is nothing. To build it from scratch had its own charm.
In India, there was a big industrialist who offered me Rs. 25 lakhs (Rs. 2.5 million) to build the whole ashram for us; in those days that was a huge sum. I refused. I didn’t want one person to build the ashram, and put his name stating that so and so donated this big ashram to Gurudev. I said, "Let this place be built brick by brick by many people; let them all participate in building it, then there would a sense of ownership for everyone. Let them all feel that it belongs to them". So many people dug holes in the ground, planted trees, carried water; David was one of them. (David Watson was there when the Indian ashram was being built, right from the beginning when there was just a kutir on top of the hill; he can tell you many stories; he made the stone platform.)
Bit by bit, and piece by piece, like a puzzle coming together, our movement has been built all over the world. Even I was surprised when Beatrice took me to Tierra Del Fuego (Southern tip of South America), a thousand people were chanting Om Namah Shivayaand meditating there; it was the same when I went to Tromso, far North in Norway, where the sun just comes on the surface and goes away. I was surprised when we had people waiting there for us at the airport. I thought nobody knew us but I was surprised to find people there doing the Sudarshan Kriya weekly.
Marcy took me on a flight to Iqaluit (Canada). Do you know the story of Iqaluit? We were seven of us who got on a small plane to see the North Pole. Towards the end of the trip, there was a snow storm and our plane could not take off. This place has very strong wind; it seems when the wind comes, it even blows the steps of a house away. So the roofs of the houses are tied with thick steel ropes, like the ones used on suspended bridges, all the way down to the ground, to the steps. Suppose your house is at a height and you have about six to eight steps going to the house; if you don’t have the steps tied down with thick ropes, then your steps will be carried away and you would have to jump down from the house, there is so much wind.
When we went there, the airport authorities said the plane can’t take you back. We had gone for a day trip, so we had not even carried any clothes with us. Somehow, we stayed there, and the next day I insisted that we should leave now. When we left, halfway through the flight, we found out that the airport where we were supposed to land was closed. There were thick clouds, zero visibility and no fuel in the plane to go anywhere. The pilot said that we can’t land, and we can’t go anywhere because we have no fuel! And we can’t even see anything! Everybody said, "Well, this is the end!" But there was no fear! Just imagine the situation, the pilot was so nervous, he didn’t know what to do! He could not go back, he had no fuel, and there was no way to land since it was all so thick.
Marcy and Shirley and the others on the plane said, "Oh what do we do!" I said let us just chant Om Namah Shivaya anyway, if we are supposed to come down with the body, then so be it, and if not, only the body will go down, we will go up anyway! We all chanted Om Namah Shivaya; we were singing, and suddenly the pilot said, "Hey! Wait! I’ve found a hole in the thick clouds, I will take this risk". He jumped down through the thick clouds and landed when the airport was closed. The highway was full of thick snow since there was a snowstorm; there was no electricity when the plane landed.
The airport authorities came running as we landed saying, "You’re not supposed to land now, why did you land, you can’t land!"
The pilot said, "What do I do? I had no fuel, I can’t go anywhere!" And that is how we came back! When we came back there was no water, there is ice everywhere but no water. We did something, I don’t remember now. But see the beauty here; nobody was worried, nobody was complaining! Tell me, could there be any situation with more anxiety? People who are in comfortable spaces say, "I have anxiety, neurosis!" You should have had anxiety being in that situation!
I think we should put people who complain about anxiety in a plane, and say there is no fuel now! All the fear will disappear. What are we so anxious about? An interview or something? We were seven or eight of us in that plane and none of us were anxious, not a bit. I think I can speak up for everybody. They were all smiling, cracking jokes, up in the air, over 20,000 feet above!
How many of you didn’t know about this story? When was this? 2003! The story is in Marcy’s book! We had many such adventures, and that was really something adventurous. The person who was really anxious and excited was our pilot when he saw the hole through the thick clouds!
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ APD 65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
There are nations that have no peace even in the midst of plenty; they are obsessed by fear and anxiety on account of the very plenty they have earned for themselves. The only guarantor of peace for the individual and for society is spiritual progress and spiritual discipline. In India, as well as in other countries, there is to be seen a sad neglect of just these two objectives. Providing housing, clothing and food gives physical happiness (sukha); providing education in skills and imparting information about the world gives a means of livelihood. But the ancient adage says, "Na sukhat labhate sukham" - Real and lasting happiness cannot be won through physical happiness. Lasting happiness, happiness that will not be shaken or diminished or modified by good fortune or bad, can come only by the discipline of the mind and faith in a Higher Power that guides all the deeds and words and thoughts of man. The lamp of that spiritual awareness has to be lit and fed, so that the footsteps of man can take that path and proceed unharmed. (Divine Discourse, Anantapur High School for Girls, School Day, 1966) |
-BABA |
When you look back you will find that you are not the same as before. That person of the past is not there any longer.
See how strong you have become!
Sometimes the thought arises that despite so many years of sadhana, I still get angry. But see now, the intensity is far less. Sometimes the past impressions (samskaras) come up. Still, on this path if you have taken ten steps ahead, you will not slip back completely. You may go back four steps, not completely ever.
There is a permanent transformation that happens within us.
We are just not that same person. Walking on this path even donkeys turn into God, what to say of men?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Gurudev, You have said that the more gratitude we have the more grace flows into our lives. How do I become more grateful ?
First of all drop this more. More devotion, more gratitude, more joy, more happiness, we need to drop this, ‘I want more and more.
First you are thinking, ‘I want more money, more joy, more happiness and more pleasure.’
Then you shifted your tendency to wanting more peace, more knowledge, more of this and more of that.
As long as you are in the run for more, you are not going to settle.
Got it?!
So somewhere you should take this whole ‘I want more’ thing and dump it and say ‘okay, that is it!
It is said in the Bhagavad Gita, ‘Yadrccha-labha-santusto Dvandvatito Vimatsarah.’
Whatever is coming to you, you should have some level of contentment and with contentment comes gratitude. If you are discontent, how can you be grateful?
If you are grumbling, you can’t be grateful, and if you are not grateful, how can there be grace? Do you see what I am saying? It all fits one into another.
So now, don’t ask me how can one be more grateful? Just stop complaining!
Know that this whole life is like a dream. It is all going to end and everything is going to finish one day. This very awareness will bring a shift in you.
‘This story is going to end someday and the curtains are going to fall’, knowing this suddenly a shift happens from the run to having more to contentment.
It will come to that.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ APD 65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
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Pat Gounden
Date: Thursday, November 3, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
You must strive to diagnose your own character and discover the faults that are infesting it; do not try to analyse the character of others and seek to spot their defects. Life is a campaign against foes; it is a battle with obstacles, temptations, hardships and hesitations. These forces are within every individual and so the battle has to be incessant and perpetual. Like the virus that thrives in the bloodstream, the vices of lust, greed, hate, malice, pride and envy sap the energy and faith, and lead one to untimely fall. Ravana had great scholarship, wealth, power, authority, even the Grace of God – but the viruses of lust and pride lodged in his mind brought about his complete destruction. He could not dwell in peace and joy, even for a moment, after these viruses began their job. Remember, virtue is strength and vice is weakness. (Divine Discourse, 16 Mar 1966) |
-BABA |
Virtues have to be practiced till they become your nature. Friendliness, compassion and meditation should continue as practices till you realize that they are your very nature.
The flaw in doing something as an act is that you look for a result. When it is done as your nature, you are not attached to the result and you continue doing it. An action that arises from your nature is neither tiring nor frustrating. For example, daily routines like brushing one's teeth or bathing are not even considered actions because they are so integrated into one's life. You do all this without doership. When Seva is made part of your nature, it happens without doership.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Finding Contentment
Wed, 10/12/2016 Bangalore, India
It is so interesting how conflicts just pop up in the world. If you see the mechanics, it is all coming from the head. It is the head which complicates one’s personality. It is so amazing to see how people can get into conflict, and can even want conflict to happen and thrive on conflict. The mind wants to create some scenes. Smoothness does not make the mind happy.
Questions & Answers
Gurudev, what brings satisfaction in life? Whatever I do finally does not bring great joy and contentment after a while.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The whole idea of finding satisfaction by doing something itself is not correct. Satisfaction comes from deep rest, by reposing deep within oneself. When you get established within your Self, then there is contentment. The satisfaction you think that comes by doing some work is very temporary and lasts only for a short while.
If your work is successful, then you feel the need to do more work. When you get more success, then that again drives you to work more. You do not feel like stopping after having success. On the other hand, if you face some loss or failure in what you are doing, then also you feel, “Oh, how did it fail despite my efforts? I won’t give up; I will try again and succeed”. You feel challenged to do more. So you want to work more and work harder whether you get success or failure. And in this process the search for contentment continues. You keep searching for contentment when you are constantly engaged in work, or in action. It is only in knowledge that you can find your true contentment. Fulfilment or contentment lies only in wisdom, and in deep meditation; not in any work or action as such.
Today there is a Ravana in every street and corner, which one do I set to fire? Every year during Dusshera we burn the effigies of Ravana but there does not appear to be any decrease in negativity and sin. The terrorists of today are also no less than Ravana himself. When will all this come to an end?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If you only keep looking at the thorns, then when will you be able to see the beautiful flower? Even the thorny Babool (Acacia) tree bears flowers and they look so beautiful. Though this world is like the thorny Acacia tree, still there are a few beautiful flowers on its branches. Take your sight and attention to those beautiful flowers. Forget everyone else.
You should strive to overcome that negativity and inertia that is bringing you harm and hurting you. Even if there is dirt (here referring to negativity or ignorance) around you, still you should strive to blossom from within. Bloom like a beautiful lotus even if the pond is dirty. Do not trouble yourself too much with what the World is like. Instead focus on enhancing your good qualities and blossoming from within.
Everything you need is right there where you are right now, my dear, just take your sight and attention to this. You will be amazed at what you find. Instead of a blanket of thorns you will see a garden of beautiful fragrant flowers. Then you will not see the dirt and garbage around, instead you will see the beauty all around you. Instead of the violence you will see the serenity and beauty in the World.
Yes, it is true that there is tension and strife in the World today. But that is not all that is in the World. Just look at the children laughing, look at the flowers blooming around you. I tell you, there are many good people in this World. It was only in the Dwapara Yuga that there were 100 Kauravas (representing evil and negativity) and only five Pandavas (representing positivity and progress). Today there are only five Kauravas and 100 Pandavas – this is the Kaliyuga. If you only go searching for flaws and negativity, then that is all you are going to see.
Stop blaming others around you, and instead reflect on your own shortcomings first. Just think how rotten your mind has become. You should first attend to this carefully. Then you will be able to see flowers sprouting and blooming from the garbage and dirt around you (meaning that by self-introspection one will be able to find goodness even in the environment around). Do not nurture an intellect that only finds flaws and mistakes in others. Who does not have some flaws or shortcomings? If you only go on harping and focusing on the flaws and the negative, then you will also become full of that. Do you know what happens then? Then you will feel that only you are good and noble, while everyone else around you is wicked. You will be full of self-pity, and think of yourself as a poor victim of their wickedness.
Anyone who says, “People are being unjust and unfair to me”, is suffering from this very state of victim-consciousness. They want others to express sympathy and pity towards them for being a victim, and they find comfort in this. This becomes a way of attracting attention. This is a very low and poor mentality. Do you think that only you are good and all others are bad? If you think that everyone around you is egoistic, I tell you, you should first reflect on yourself about this, because only ego can recognize ego.
If you call someone as egoistic or arrogant, then what are you, my dear? Look within yourself, look at yourself in a mirror. Your language, conduct, behaviour, etc., everything would show that you are ten times more egoistic that what you suppose others to be. One who suffers from egotism or is full of arrogance is the one who goes around calling others egoistic and arrogant. They are able to recognize the ego and arrogance of others. I tell you, just be simple and natural. If someone else is being arrogant, then they will suffer the results of it. What have you got to do with it? Whenever we regard someone else as arrogant, then our own behaviour towards them becomes very incorrect and wicked. This is very natural. When someone behaves arrogantly with you, then you also tend to behave in the same way. So then it is you who will appear as the arrogant one. You will see this example everywhere. How many of you here have observed this? (Many in the audience raise hands in agreement).
We go about labelling people as arrogant. But who is really arrogant? How do you behave with someone who is arrogant and egoistic? You also become totally arrogant. So, you start behaving arrogantly because arrogance has come into your perspective. Where does humility remain anymore then?
We get entangled in useless things. We lose precious time when our mind is stuck in meaningless things and activities. You will find such characters in every family, and in every workplace. God has perhaps kept a few such people in every place to trouble and disturb others. There is a good reason behind this also. At least you will become strong from within by all this.
When you find yourself among such people, or in the midst of difficult and challenging situations, then naturally anger will arise within you, and when you calm that rising anger in you, you will become stronger. It is like an (inner) exercise. If everyone is very sweet, nice and cooperative with you, then what will happen? Whatever dirt (negativity or shortcomings) that is within you will remain as it is. But on the other hand, if you have to deal with even a few handfuls of such difficult people, then they will push all the buttons inside you and show you what flaws and shortcomings you need to overcome.
Actually, such people are in great abundance. So just think of this as a mental exercise. You will find such people in every organization and it is so difficult to even talk to them. No matter what you say, they will find it wrong. Have you ever had such experiences?
Such kinds of people are everywhere, so you need to tackle them and find your way.
Think of it as a way of cleansing your own Karma. Do not become pessimistic and lose hope because of all this. So do what you have to do and tackle them as is required.
There are four ways of dealing with any situation – Sama (Persuasion), Dama (Greed), Bheda (using secrets) and Danda (punishment). Use all four of these when required. This is called as Chaturopaya (the four ways). But before you do so, make yourself very strong from within. If you try to punish someone out of anger, then that will not work.
Gurudev, I always face a loss in business. People around me tell me that by doing more of Sadhana and Seva, I will get profits and progress in my business. I do not understand how Sadhana and Seva can help in bringing progress in my business. Please explain.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The five factors important for any task are: Kartaa (Doer), Karma (right action), Upakarana (instrument or approach), and so on. I urge you to find out the other means by yourself. I will not tell them all myself. The last factor required is Daiva (Divine grace or blessing) which we also call as luck or good fortune. Sadhana and Satsang helps increase one’s good fortune, and also burns away one’s Karma.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ APD 65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Friday, November 4, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Many are unable to understand the sacredness of the selfless love and devotion of the Gopikas and misinterpret all their actions attributing them wrong meanings. Gopikas had noble thoughts; their love and devotion to Lord Krishna was absolutely selfless. It is for this reason that even after so many centuries they remain fresh in the minds of millions in India. The Bhagavata preaches the sacredness of devotion to Lord Krishna. There is no hatred, jealousy, or anger in divine love; that is why it can give happiness to the entire world. We should accept selfless love as an essential type of devotion and promote it in our country. It must be an ideal so far as our relationship with God is concerned. Discard any unsacred thoughts or selfishness from your hearts, from this very moment, and cultivate selfless divine love and purify your heart. (Summer Roses on Blue Mountains, 1976, Ch 14) |
-BABA |
When selfishness is not there, love is there as your very nature.
Love & longing are two sides of the same coin.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Gurudev Sri Sri's Message On Gowri Habba
Sun, 09/04/2016 Bangalore, India
Did you all celebrate Gowri or Ganesha habba well?
During the Gowri festival, we give bhagina. What does bhagina mean? Bhagina means fortune. We share our fortune with each others with the feeling that 'We are part of your life and you are part of our life, and so we share our fortunes'.
How do we share them? In a secretive manner. As per tradition, the items are enclosed between two wicker trays, and rocked three times before offering it. What is the purpose of these wicker trays? They are to separate the heavy from the light, to sift between the wheat and the chaff. And as you do this, the chaff, flies off and the wheat settles down. In the same manner, in everyone’s lives the chaff and wheat are mixed, and the process of separating them gives us our fortune. The wicker tray that we offer is an indication of viveka, the fortune in our lives. If we do not have any viveka, then our lives are without fortune.
What do we keep inside the wicker tray? We keep whatever has been newly harvested, like rice, pulses, etc.. Getting food is our biggest and first fortune. If we do not get food to eat, that is our greatest misfortune. And so we keep whatever has been newly harvested like rice, dal (pulses), jaggery, fruits, i.e., whatever is required for our daily needs. We even keep sarees, kumkum and bangles. Thus, we need viveka and nutritious food for our existence; we offer them both. We cover the tray with the saree pallu (the loose end of a saree that is worn over the head and shoulder) and offer it secretly; we don’t make a big show when we make the offering. We do not offer it to announce who we are or how great we are, nor to show that the other person is smaller. We offer it because the person who is receiving is doing so with a big heart, and so we offer it as our duty. We don’t offer it thinking that this will give us merit. Vadhagodhu is also known as bhagina; thus, both, to offer and to receive the bhaginas. This is the significance of celebrating the Gowri festival.
Questions & Answers
Gurudev, during the Ganesha festival, Shankaracharya has depicted a few forms of Lord Ganesha, could you please elaborate?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, Shankaracharya has depicted the forms of Lord Ganesha very beautifully. If you read the Ganesha Atharvashisha (Upanishad), you will know of many forms of Lord Ganesha.
Ganesha is present in all directions, in every possible form - the Earth, Air, Sun, Moon, in every form of nature. You are Brahma, Indra, Shiva, Rudra etc., they are all in your form. You can see the form of paramatma (Supreme Being) in one God, the formless in one form - this is known as meditation.
We recite the Ganesha Stotram –Shuklam Baradaram Vishnum, Shashivarnam Chaturbhujam, Prasanna Vadanam Dhyaayeth, Sarva Vighno Pashantaye. This does not have the name of Ganesha at all!
Shuklam Baradharam means the one who is dressed in white, the one who is pure. Vishnum means that he is at the very core of our being.
Shashivarnam means milky white like the full moon, cool like the moon that soothes us, and it has the rays of brightness. (There are two types of brightness, one like the sun that can hurt our eyes, and the other is so soothing that we can keep on looking at it.) Chaturbhujam, bhuja means shoulders that can bear weight, while chatur means cleverness or intelligence, which together means - one who can bear the burden easily.
Prasanna vadhanam dhayeth means that if you meditate on the one whose face is so peaceful, pleasant and remember them, you feel instantly uplifted. Sarva vighno pashantaye, then that one will give you the strength in the mind to overcome all obstacles.
This is not just for Ganesha, it is also related to Vigneshwara, but the most important part in this shloka is about the One who is present everywhere.
If you think God is angry with you, if you feel that you have committed a mistake and feel distant from him; or if you feel that God is always happy and content with you, then you develop a relationship with him.
Many times people say that you are angry with us, as if I don’t have any other work. You make a mistake and I get angry! Why should I get irritated if you make a mistake? Why will a Guru get angry? A Guru is always happy. I feel compassion if you make a mistake.
I feel, "Oh my God, why is he putting himself through so much hardship?" That is why if you think of something pleasant, remember a pleasant face, you get strength! When we think of something pleasant in our mind, the fear of the unknown goes away, we get strength to overcome the obstacle.
What is the form of Ganesha?
Ajam nirvikalpam means someone who was not born.
Nirakaram ekam - you have no form, you are the only one, and there is no one else. Nirananda mananda madhvaita poornam - you are happiness. you are the only one, the whole world is in your form.
The shloka continues with Param nirgunam nirvisesham niriham para brahma roopam ganesham bhajemam, you are the form of the parabrahma, you are present everywhere, you have the chaitanya shakti, the scintillating energy, I meditate on you in my mind.
Gurudev, what is vairagya and how can I continue to live in it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let us take vairagya to mean contentment. Whenever you are content, that is vairagya. If you have had a full meal, and someone brings more food, you will say, "No I am full", that is vairagya. You cannot exist without vairagya. Just as you breathe in, at some point, you have to breathe out. Breathing in is raga, passion, and breathing out is vairagya, dispassion. Breathing in is passion and breathing out is dispassion, and both are essential in life.
Gurudev, you have often said that you are not the doer. Please help me understand this as I have been stuck in the self-blame game for past incidents.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Come on, wake up! All that happened in the past is finished, it is like a dream, it is done! You did something wrong and you learnt a lesson from it, it is finished. Now, move on. Broaden your vision, and don’t worry about doership and non-doership. Leave all that.
Gurudev, why do we call Ganesha - Ekadanta?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Often, people have two tendencies, one for themselves and another for others. An elephant also has two tusks, one for showing and the other for chewing. It never shows the one it uses for chewing, and it never uses the one it shows for chewing. Similarly, people have two tendencies, they do not show who they are and they are not what they show. But Ganesha is not like that, it is Ekdanta, which has many meanings; danta means the one who gives, he is the only daata, giver. Ekadanta can also also mean someone who has one target, lakshya, and one face. All these qualities are focused into one, ekadanta.
Gurudev, how to keep the spine erect during meditation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Make a start with the spine being erect, then if the head comes down, the back bends, don’t bother about it. You cannot start meditation in a sleeping posture, because then you will be snoring very soon. So sit down, and start with the spine erect when you meditate, and then let go, let it happen.
There is a song in Kannada which has a very profound meaning. When you are in a garden, in the midst of flowers, then the state of your mind is completely different. If you are in the midst of people, your state of mind is very different - sometimes the emotions of passion, anger, hatred come up. But when you are in the garden, amongst flowers, such emotions will not come up; there will be no feelings of jealousy, no emotional upheaval, nothing of the sort. But if you are in the midst of people, then definitely all this will happen. However good your friends are, when you spend time with people, something or the other comes up. You cannot always live in the midst of people, nor can you live alone in a garden.
Sometimes you have to spend time dreaming, and sometimes you have to listen to music, you cannot be in one state. There are people who work all the time, doing accounts or something or the other. The radio may be playing in the background but they do not pay attention to it; they keep thinking of something else. This is being in an imbalanced state. Who is a balanced person? A person who is sometimes in music, sometimes working; such a person thinks like a scientist, and looks at the world in a scientific manner; sometimes enjoys music, sometimes science and art. You must spend your life in both these streams.
Sometimes you must live in the world, and sometimes in silence. Go with these two and you will experience Brahman. You cannot run away from your responsibilities and go to the Himalayas, or stay in the worldly aspects all the time; you must strike a balance between both and experience the Brahman within you.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ APD 65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Monday, November 7, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
If our love, belief and affection are confined to our nearest kith and kin, that will be the lowest kind of selfish love. On the other hand, if you stretch a little beyond the narrow region of your family and extend your faith and belief to your countrymen, then it becomes intermediate. If you treat the entire world as one and regard all the people living in it as one, and extend your faith and sympathy to all of them, then it is the highest kind of selfless love. Gradually we should move from the limited circle of our family to the wider circle of our country and then expand to the Universe. When we talk of humanity, it should not be confined to a small group of people. There is only one caste, and that is the caste of humanity, and when we talk of humanity, we must extend our selfless love to all species in the Universe too. (Summer Roses on Blue Mountains, 1976, Ch 15) |
-BABA |
A person with authentic love feels obliged to the person who accepts his love. They could have rejected it!
When you start giving love with a deep sense of gratitude to all those who accept it, you will be surprised to know that you are no longer a beggar knocking on every door for love, you have become an emperor.
Love belongs to the world of emperors, not of beggars.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Your Mind Is Like A Mirror
Sun, 07/24/2016 Montreal, Canada
A gardener is working in the garden. When you really work in the garden, you will definitely get dirty. Your hands will get dirty. Your gloves will get dirty. Your clothes will get some splashes. But after you come inside and wash up, you don’t identify yourself with the mud that gets splashed onto you while you’re working in the garden, right?
In the same way, while we are in society, moving amongst people, their emotions get splashed onto our subtle mind, and we identify with them. This is what becomes a problem. We identify, “Oh, this is my emotion. This is my anger! This is my greed!” Whether the emotions are positive or negative, we identify with them. And then we try to get rid of them. It’s not an easy job. It’s like the gardener who thinks some mud that is on him will not go away.
Similarly, you’re working in your office, and you are peaceful. You have done a good meditation. But your boss is uptight, and there is some problem, and you get agitated. Someone else’s agitation has latched onto you. and then you think, “Oh! I am angry.”
The clever thing to do is, to not identify yourself with the emotion which has nothing to do with you. You can realize, “I am different from the emotions. The emotions are different from me.”
In Ayurveda there is a practice called Dhootnadi. You go to a doctor on behalf of someone and show your pulse to the doctor. While you’re showing your pulse, you think of the person for whom you have come to collect the medicine. This is called Dhootnadi. It means checking the pulse of a messenger. A messenger comes to collect medicine from the doctor, the messenger’s pulse is taken by the doctor, and the doctor gives the medicine for the person for whom the messenger has come. This is Dhootnadi, reading the nadi by taking the pulse of a messenger. It works because anybody you think of, their emotions and their state of mind latches onto you. Are you getting what I’m saying?
Your mind is like a mirror. When it is like a mirror, whatever comes in front of you is there, reflected in it. But the mirror doesn’t cry “Oh, I got dirty” when a dirty picture comes in front of it. And it doesn’t jump up and say, “Oh, I have got these wonderful qualities.”
When you’re driving, you can see in the mirror that there is a garbage can behind your car. Just imagine the mirror identifying itself with the garbage can. Or, imagine the mirror identifying with some beautiful scenery. In both cases, what would you say? It’s a stupid idea, it’s not the case. The mirror is neither the garbage can, nor the scenery. And that is exactly how it is with our own consciousness.
Our consciousness is like a mirror. Different images come onto it, and they all move away. If we know this, then we’re free. But if we get attached to any of those images, that is bondage. So, wake up! Wake up and see it is a mirror.
We have 186,000 nadis, or channels of energy in our body. At different times, different channels open. Sometimes that channel opens by which you get intuitive thoughts. Some other time another channel opens by which you experience emotions. Another time another channel opens. It’s very fascinating. If you keep thinking about happy people, you get happy, that channel gets opened. Thinking about unhappy things, the unhappy channels open.
That’s why I have said, “Don’t hate anybody.” Why should you not hate anybody? What is the reason? Not for the sake of the person whom you hate, but for your own sake. Your own mind, your nervous system, will assume the form, shape and color of that person. That is why we don’t hate anybody. Is this an intelligent thing to do, or not? The most intelligent thing to do is not to hate anybody because whomsoever you hate, you get those impressions embedded in you.
We spoke about the 3 spaces. Bhut Akasha is the outer physical space. Chit Akasha is the inner space, the space of the mind. And Chid Akasha is the space of pure consciousness. All 3 are space: Bhut Akasha - the physical space, Chit Akasha - the mental or ethereal space, and Chida Akasha - the causal space.
The causal space is what is called Shiva, the pure, unblemished, unattached nature of yourself. Why do I say true nature? What is the truth? Truth is that which doesn’t change. Chida Akasha, the causal space, which is called Shiva is your true nature, which doesn’t change at all, - which is ever and always the same.
In the Chit Akasha - the inner space of the mind, thoughts and emotions hover around like clouds moving in the sky. Whatever clouds move in the sky, does the sky get colored by them? Does the sky get affected by them? No. The clouds come, they move, and they go. In the same way, emotions come and they go; thoughts come and they go.
To some extent everyone is aware of this. To some extent you get thoughts on which you’ll never act. Every thought that you have, do you act on it? You get thoughts on which you don’t act. That ability to filter out inappropriate thoughts is what keeps you sane.
What is the difference between a sane person and an insane person? An insane person acts on almost every thought. That’s why you call them insane because there is no filter there. Going one step ahead in wisdom, not only do you not act upon certain thoughts that hover around, you don’t even identify yourself with those thoughts.
How do thoughts hover around? This is another thing that you need to see. The microcosm and macrocosm are so intimately connected. The macrocosm and microcosm together form one organism. The whole world is just one organism. So how does this affect the space?
It’s just like the meteorological department which says rain is going to come, or they predict thunder showers, or sunshine, or hurricane. All this is predicted. In the same way, the stars and the movement of the moon predict the ups and downs in the minds. This is pure calculation.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ APD 65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
People today suffer intensely from the fever of the senses and try the quack remedies of recreations, pleasures, vacations, picnics, banquets, dances, etc. only to find that the fever abates but returns after an interval – it does not subside. All the varieties in taste, colour, smell of the various food delicacies, when you consider fairly and squarely, are a mere drug to cure the illness of hunger. All the drinks that people have invented are but drugs to alleviate the illness of thirst. What you term luxury (bhoga) today, is a thing that drags people into excitement and insane pursuits. A fever will go away only when the hidden virus is rendered ineffective. So too, the virus or illness of your mind will die only when the rays of wisdom (Jnana) falls upon it. Discern and always try to prefer the beneficial (hitha) to the pleasant (priya), for the pleasant might lead you down the sliding path into the bottomless pit. (Divine Discourse, Mar 16, 1966) |
-BABA |
What really is wisdom? Why should we be wise? Nobody wants to be in suffering. Nobody wants to be upset. That something which takes us away from suffering, which gives us a vision, which makes life vibrant, and which connects the individual you to the universal you that exists in the universe, is wisdom.
Wisdom brings immense satisfaction that small gratification does not bring. And it is available to everybody. It has nothing to do with education, I tell you. You will find wise people even amongst the illiterates in the villages. Perhaps even more. They know how to manage their homes, they know how to keep harmony in their neighborhood, they know how to bring people together, and how to bring celebration in life. Wisdom is that which brings celebration in life, which brings a smile on your face. That which keeps you healthy, and gives you the intuitive ability to see what is ahead of you in life.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The Inner Space Of The Mind
Sun, 07/24/2016 Montreal, Canada
(below is a continuation of the post Your Mind Is Like A Mirror)
Chida Akasha (the causal space) is different from the Chit Akasha. It is just like the space inside each pot is different. Suppose you have ten pots of different sizes, the amount of space inside each pots will be different. It depends on the pot. How do you calculate something as one liter? Because the container has one-liter space in it. Another pot has two liters’ space. A third pot has half liter space in it. It is like that.
So, in a similar way, by looking at the different astrological charts, people decipher the different kinds of chit Akasha. Someone who is Aquarius will keep quiet until one day they’ll explode. With someone whose moon is in Gemini, you might predict that the person is double minded, always yes and no. From the chart of a person who is Taurus, you may predict that they’re very focused, they’re go getters. In the chart of someone who is Leo, you see that they’re very adamant, and they never listen to anybody. So some of these traits are identified from these charts. It indicates the Chit Akasha - the type of thoughts and emotions this person will have.
Then time also matters. When someone has Jupiter in the 8th house, this person, for that one whole year will have all kinds of doubts. They will doubt everything; they will doubt themselves and doubt others. With the 8th house in Jupiter, wherever they are, they will want to run away from there. But it won’t stay forever. After they manage to get through that one year, then it all changes and becomes different.
Similarly, when there is a combination of Saturn and Mars, you will find anger in the individual, as well as in the society, in the cosmos and in the nation. You can say that in the nation there’s going to be anger and conflicts running high. See what is happening now, these last two to three months, there are bomb blasts, issues, and problems in so many areas.
Astrological predictions are just like meteorological predictions. They need not always be correct. Meteorological predictions don’t work all the time. The day before yesterday, they said there were going to be thunderstorms, but we had sunshine! So Astrology is only a probability. You can say it is a possibility.
Similarly, moods depend on the moon. A mood does not stay for more than two and a quarter day. That is the amount of time the moon is at one place. The moment the moon moves from that place; your mood also changes. And when the moon and Saturn combine, people get depressed. So these emotions, these feelings, they come and they go away. Nothing is permanent. No planet is permanently stationary in one place. They all move. But when you identify yourself with any one of these emotions, you get stuck. That’s when you don’t move. That is when it infiltrates into your body and you get sick, and all such things happen. Isn’t it fascinating? So what is the way? How to move on from that?
On a cloudy day, when a flight takes off, what does it do? It goes above the clouds, and then there is sunshine. That is what the spiritual practices are. They move us away from the Chit Akasha to the Chida Akasha. We move beyond all the emotions.
If your flight has a radar in it, night landing is possible because there is a radar. You can take-off at any time, and land anywhere. A helicopter cannot take off, or a primitive plane cannot take off. But one with a radar, one with the sophisticated instruments can take off.
Do you know why 'Om Namah Shivaya' is chanted 108 times.
People a long time ago observed how the 9 planets moving through the 12 constellations brings 108 units of change. So to enhance the good effects and to reduce the malefic effects, 'Om Namah Shivaya' is chanted 108 times. That uplifts you, uplifts your spirit, and takes you beyond. It connects you to the Chida Akash.
In India, especially in Tamil Nadu, they use the term ‘Chittambalam Shiva’. This refers to the space of Chida Akasha. Many people don’t understand the meaning of this. It is, “I call Shiva and I land up in the Chida Akasha, the space which is consciousness”.
In every puja, if you have observed in the ashram, the moment they say Shiva Chittambalam, I take off into the causal space called Shiva. Shiva Chittambalam is the same as Guru Tattva, or Shiva Tattva, or the Self. Everything is that, and that is called meditation. That’s what happens when you transcend. All the thoughts move away. Emotions get settled and we experience the most tranquil, most benevolent and most beautiful inner space. That’s what the Kriya does, takes you round and round, and then takes you out of this orbit. You go round, round, round and then you eject out of the orbit and move into that space.
Questions & Answers
Why is Causal?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Causal means the cause of all causes. It is not an effect of anything. Effect means it should have had some cause for it. ‘This is causal’ means this is the ultimate cause. Because there is no other cause behind it, that’s why it’s called the causal body.
What can I do to not feel anxiety in the face of terrorism?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The news of so many incidences of violence happening again and again should not make us numb. This is important. We tend to become numb toward these violent incidents that happen around us. We should be cautious; we should keep our sensitivity.
Keeping the sensitivity does not mean you get swayed away by it. When you feel you’re getting carried away, affected very heavily, remember there is a power much bigger than you and everyone else, that is in charge. There is a great power in the universe, that has maintained this universe from billions of years. Have faith in that power. It will take care. Not by your doing something, is anything going to happen. The faith in a greater power in control can relieve you of your anxiety.
Now, that does not mean you become inactive and do nothing about it, saying, “Oh everything is done by a greater power, why should I do anything at all?”
That type of irresponsibility is also no good. We need to take a middle path. Not saying, “Everything is being taken care of, I don’t need to do anything,” or getting anxious about how things are happening, of which you are not in control.
Your anxiety is because you’re not in control. If you’re in control, you won’t be anxious. And you can’t control everything. That’s why you must remember there’s a higher power that is taking care of things.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ APD 65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Of the 24 hours in a day, use six for earning and spending, six for contemplation of God, six for sleep and six for service to others. Most of you don’t even have five minutes to truly contemplate on the Lord, and you are not ashamed. What a tragedy! Ponder over your present condition (sthiti), the direction you are heading (gathi), your capabilities (shakthi) and your inclinations and tendencies (mathi). Then enter upon the path of spiritual practice, step by step, so you approach the goal steadily and swiftly, day by day. Indian culture advises the control of the senses, not catering to them. The car is driven by means of a wheel which is inside it, so that when the inner steering wheel is turned, the outer wheels move. Trying to move the outer-wheels alone is a sign of ignorance! Inner concentration must be developed in preference to outer distraction. Cultivate quietness, simplicity, and humility, instead of noise, complexity and conceit. (Divine Discourse, Mar 16, 1966) |
-BABA |
When there are fruits in the tree you enjoy the fruits and you forget to water the roots. And then when the tree starts drying out then you water it again. This is how we do. Once, twice or three times you go through this cycle and then you become intelligent, then you make it part of your life. Once it is part of your life then you will feel so uncomfortable if you don't do your practice even for one day. Even for one day if you are not in knowledge, it throws you off, you feel as if you're missing something, or there is a lack of something.
So, you need to make these good practices part of your life, like brushing your teeth. One day you don't brush your teeth, do you feel comfortable? You feel so awful, isn't it? Just like dental hygiene, this is mental hygiene!
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The Human Body is designed for a Vegetarian Diet
The debate on ‘why is it good to be a vegetarian’ has been settled long back.
The internet is full of information on why eating meat is not good for both one’s own health or the environment. For example, according to US Department of Agriculture, 70 per cent of food poisoning is caused by meat, including exposure to arsenic. Another research says production of one kilogram of beef is responsible for as much carbon dioxide emission as by driving 250 km in a car.
There is plenty of disturbing footage also available on what treatment animals are subject to in slaughterhouses, like the documentary ‘Meet your Meat’. They are injected with hormones so that they grow faster and add more bulk. All these chemicals then end up in the bodies of people who eat this meat. But their system cannot take these chemicals and they eventually turn into cancers and other immune system disorders. The milk from these animals is also toxic and is rejected by the consumers’ biology. In fact, large number of cases of lactose intolerance and diseases among meat eaters was what gave birth to the vegan movement.
Our teeth are not pointed and our intestines are much longer than our bodies, very much like herbivores. Carnivores have short intestines through which meat passes easily. It passes through our intestines much more slowly and is very heavy to digest, sometimes taking up to 72 hours. In this time, it rots and ferments in our bodies. Vegetarian food, on the other hand, is digested within a few hours.
Ethically, environmentally and health-wise, it is a wise choice to be a vegetarian.
It is even better to eat organic fruits and vegetables, which have no chemicals and fertilizers.
The only reason that people still continue to eat meat is that they are driven by cultural habit or craving for taste.
The way to overcome this craving is to make small time-bound commitments in the beginning and then gradually increasing it, like deciding not to have meat for a week, then two weeks and so on. People have also found ways to use tofu and other forms of soya to cook ‘mock meat’ which tastes identical to real meat. We have also observed that with the practice of meditation and pranayama, one’s taste changes on its own and the body begins to ask for food that is conducive to keep it light and moves away from foods that make it otherwise. Many people have become vegetarian on their own after doing our workshops.
However, today with a massive global consumer base, producing meat is a highly profitable business. So, there is a big lobby that does not want people to be educated on the harmful effects of meat and become vegetarian. In India, the issue of vegetarianism also assumes religious connotations and therefore, becomes political.
Food being an essential part of any lifestyle, people would like to have the right to exercise their freedom in making a choice; arguing or forcing anyone will not work. The right way is to make people aware and then let them choose for themselves. It may take some time but everybody realizes sooner or later that short term gratification is not worth the long term troubles it brings. Quality of life is enhanced when we make choices that are life supporting.
Being vegetarian does not just help one’s own life flourish but also that of other beings.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ APD 65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Thursday, November 10, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Arjuna earned the Spiritual Instruction (Geeta upadesh) from the Lord Himself, because he experienced deep sorrow (Vishada), detachment (Vairagya), surrender (Sharanagati) and the single-minded-concentration on the Lord (Ekagrata). When the yearning for Liberation becomes intense beyond expression, you can set aside all social conventions, worldly norms, etc. which does not subserve that high purpose. Just as Prahlada gave up his father, Bhishma countered his Guru, Meera deserted her husband and Shankaracharya won his mother over with deceit. To develop that taste for liberation, Namasmarana is the best path. Let the sweetness of the Lord’s Name saturated with the sugar of His splendor play on your tongue and mind always. This simple but supremely powerful exercise can be practiced by all at all times, irrespective of caste, creed, gender, social or economic status. (Divine Discourse, 16 Mar 1966) |
-BABA |
Yes, it is true. It is at the time of death that the mind separates from the body. So at this time, whatever impression one bears in the mind become the reason for the next birth. This is a scientific truth.
You can see this for yourself. If you observe, the first thought on your mind when you wake up in the morning will be same thought that you had before you went to sleep.
Now, usually your mind is so consumed with thoughts of something or the other, that at the time of death, you may not even remember to chant Narayana. That is why the ancient people have said, keep remembering God all the time by chanting His name (Narayana). Remember him every night before sleeping; while you take a shower; even while eating your meals, remember him and thank him for the food you receive.
Before starting something new, remember Him to make it an auspicious beginning. The ancient people were very intelligent and they made it a custom.
So, whenever one opens a new shop, the first thing they must do is naam smaran (remember the name of God), and then they start the shop. If one buys something new, they must remember Narayana and then begin.
We all do this, is it not so? We do this even today.
If you are going to write an examination, you think of the Divine and pray that the questions in the examinations are easy, and that you are able to write the answers properly.
Everyone prays, whether kids, adults or old people; all of them pray. But they do it out of fear. I would say, don't do it out of fear, rather to do it out of love; out of a deep sense of gratitude.
When you pray with love and faith that is when you blossom.
What SRI SRI said
The Dance of Joy
Sun, 10/09/2016 Bangalore, India
There are two things that make you dance in life:
1. Your desires
2. Love
Desires make you dance all your life. When one desire of yours gets fulfilled, then you get another ten desires. This run to fulfil one desire after another keeps you going on the merry-go-round, or the misery-go-round (laughter). It keeps you on tenterhooks. If you just look into this dance that desires make you do in your life; you will be so amazed. And some desires are very subtle ones, they get into your heart and make you dance. That is how the world is.
Then there is another type of dance, that which comes out of joy and love. Deep love makes you dance. The dance that comes out of love does not make you tired. It is desire that makes you tired, and desires can be endless. When desires get fulfilled, more desires come, and also faith grows. When desires don’t get fulfilled, then faith gets shaken. But in love – you shake the world, you don’t get shaken. In fact, love shakes not just the world but the universe. Even the Gods and Angels stand up in the presence of love. That is why after the Chandi Homa you are supposed to dance. In many places, after people perform a yagna they make an effort to dance, but the dance looks very serious. Many times, if people don’t know how to dance, they hire professionals to come and dance. But the dance that people do over here is the real thing. How spontaneously you get that impulse to get on your feet; and then something makes you whirl around – that something is sattva; that is the positive energy, that is the truth. Here, everything is done so authentically, that the dance happens so naturally. It’s a spontaneous natural phenomenon.
You have come here and you have gotten everything that you want, so now, just be and radiate. When you just be, contentment and peace automatically gets radiated through you.
One more thing I would like to tell you. Many times, when we are very happy, we tend to lose our sensitivity, especially towards the people around us. This we must not do. Even when you’re very happy and joyful, maintain your awareness and sensitivity, this is a sign of intelligence.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ APD 65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst 7-12 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Friday, November 11, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Your home (griha) must resound to the name of Govinda; otherwise, it is just a cave (guha), where wild animals dwell. The soul needs a house, and your body itself is its house. In that house too, the Lord’s name must be heard, or else it is a mud pot (ghata), not a human being’s body. Then your homes will be immersed in the highest peace (shanti)! Obedience to the Lord’s command is the secret to your liberation. Once you decide that the orchard in your mind belongs to Him, all fruits will be sweet! Your seeking refuge for protection (saranagathi) will render all fruits acceptable to the Lord, so they cannot be bitter. And for water, what can be purer and more precious than your tears — shed not in grief, but in rapture at the chance to serve the Lord and to walk along the path that leads to Him! (Divine Discourse, February 8, 1963) |
-BABA |
It is said in scriptures that tears of love are so precious that even angels run to collect them.
Even on heaven, there are no tears of love.
The most wonderful thing on the planet, on earth is to have tears of love, tears of gratitude. That indicates that our life is glorious. That makes our life rich and fulfilled. Fulfillment in life is when you have tears of gratitude and that comes by luck. You can’t manufacture tears of gratitude; you can’t put glycerin and have tears of gratitude coming in. When you realize what all you have received in life, your heart opens up.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
RAPID FIRE Q&A with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q: Wisdom?
Essential in life
Q: Relationships?
Difficult to keep it harmonious. But you should try nevertheless
Q: Magic?
Always there in life, especially in The Art of Living
Q: SMS?
Keep it short and smart
Q: Sanskrit?
Mother of all languages.
Q: Environment?
Needs protection.
Q: Money?
Only a means, not an end in itself.
Q: Prayers?
When it is sincere, will be answered.
Q: Bhanu Didi(Gurudev’s Sister)?
Favourite to everybody
Q: Your Secretaries?
Very hardworking. It is a big challenge.
Q: Satisfaction?
Satisfaction comes from service.
Q: Blessings?
You have in abundance.
Q: Bangalore Ashram?
Heaven on Earth.
Q: Technology?
Meant to bring comfort.
Q: Ayurveda?
Medicine of the next century, and medicine of the past.
Q: Toys?
Remember you are one in the hands of the Divine.
From being a toy of your emotions, moves on to being a toy of the Divine
Q: Patriotism?
We need to kindle this now. It is high time. India needs it.
Q: Yoga?
That makes you intelligent, and the intelligent one goes for it.
Q: Ego?
If you find it, keep it. Don’t try to get rid of it
Q: Love?
Your very nature.
Q: Shiva?
All that is, that will be, and that was.
Q: Shopping?
Don’t bring it in the spiritual field, at least.
Q; Humility?
Behavior of the matured person.
Q: Consciousness?
Beauty, Truth and Knowledge.
Q: Art of Living?
The way, the goal.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross 25-27 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Monday, November 14, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Parents and children must join together and sing the glory of God. Embodiments of love, your life must be dedicated to God: as a first step, you must devote a few minutes everyday to the adoration of His glory and enjoying the depth of that glory. Gradually, when the sweetness of the habit heartens you, you will devote more and more time and feel increasingly content. The purpose of 'living' is to achieve ‘living in God’. Everyone is entitled to that consecration and consummation. You are the Truth; do not lose faith; do not belittle yourselves. You are Divine, however often you slide from humanity to animality or even lower. Cultivate Love; share that love with all. How can you give one person less and another more, when they are both the same as you? If you forget the basic Divinity, hatred sprouts and envy raises its hood. See the divine (Atma) in all. Then Love sprouts, and peace descends like dew. (Divine Discourse, July 4, 1968) |
-BABA |
People who feel that they want to have independence, they are also frustrated. This is because wanting independence is a frustration. Come on, wake up. When you were a baby, were you not dependent? No baby thinks 'I want to go back from where I came because I am dependent on my parents', no! Whether in the form of parents, or as children, or as friends, the help you get from anywhere is coming from only one source, i.e., the divinity. It is only the divine who took care of you as your parents, and it is only the divine who will take care of you as your nurse, or neighbour, or friends, or anybody else. Someone will always come and take care of you, you don’t have to worry at all.
This whole sense of insecurity that we build in us should simply be thrown out and burned down. Don’t think your children will take care of you. Maybe during your last breath, your servant or neighbour may come and help you, who knows? Whoever is helping you, it is not that individual that is helping you, it is God helping you in that form. Leave it to the divine energy to help you when you are in need, in whatever form. So you don’t need to feel obliged or burdened by anybody’s help. Got it?
This is a big problem. We feel burdened by somebody’s help. You don’t need to feel burdened by it; that is ignorance. It is only the divine who is helping you through other people. If you have this understanding, the Advaita knowledge, then nothing can restrict your blossoming.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Be Happy And Make Others Happy Too
Sat, 2016 Bangalore, India
Be happy and content!
We should think about two main goals for ourselves in life:
#1. What is it that you want to achieve in life.
#2. What do you wish to give or contribute to society before you leave this planet.
Both these goals should go hand in hand in life. See, you can have a goal for yourself, and you can also change it after sometime, if you like. But you should also think about what you would like to do for the world, and how would you like the world to be; how would you like society to be? Have that goal also in mind. This is Puja.
Pray for three things in life: Purity in the heart; clarity in the mind and sincerity in action.
The key to happiness in life is to not stay stuck in ‘I…Me…Mine’ (meaning one’s own personal desires or material gains). Dedicate your life to some larger goal, or to the service of others around you. Then you will find that only happiness flows through your life.
The second thing you need to remember at all times is this, ‘There is someone (the Divine) who loves me very dearly, and is taking care of me at all times. He cannot be without me and He is all capable of removing any lack that I have’.
Knowing this too brings such joy in one’s life.
See, when it comes to doing things in life, you cannot possibly go on doing something or the other all your life. Also, you cannot do something which is beyond your capabilities. So all your actions are limited by your capabilities and by time.
What you are doing now, is something you will not be able to do so well, after 20 years from now. So we are dependent on both time and our capabilities.
But when we remember this – that there is a Supreme power which belongs to us so totally, which is capable of fulfilling all our needs and wishes, and which is with us at all times – then this strong faith alone can keep us happy at all times.
It does not matter what you call this Supreme power, whether you call it the Guru Shakti, or the Paramatma (supreme soul or Consciousness), or God. When you have this faith in you, then you can be happy at all times; regardless of your capabilities. Then you will not feel weak and insecure in your old age also because you know that there is someone who is all-powerful who is taking care of you and protecting you at all times.
So just having this faith alone can make us so happy.
The strength we get from such a faith makes us glow with happiness, and our face lights up with a smile that never fades. This is why Spirituality is very essential in life.
It is spirituality that brings happiness, enthusiasm, intuition, self-realization and fulfillment.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross 25-27 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
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Pat Gounden
Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
An insidious disease is now rampant amongst most people, namely, disbelief. It sets fire to the tiny shoots of faith and reduces life into cinders and ashes. You have no criterion to judge, yet you pretend to judge. Doubt, anger, poison, illness — all these have to be scotched before they grow. Repeat the Lord’s Name, whether you have faith or not. That will itself induce faith; that will itself create the evidence on which faith can be built. You attach importance to quantity, but the Lord considers only quality. He does not calculate how many measures of ‘sweet rice’ you offered but how many sweet words you uttered, and how much sweetness was present in your thoughts. Offer Him the fragrant leaf of devotion, the flowers of your emotions and impulses which are freed from the pests of lust, anger, etc. Give Him fruits grown in the orchard of your mind, sour or sweet, juicy or dry, bitter or sweet. (Divine Discourse, February 8, 1963) |
-BABA |
Have this unshakeable faith that whatever is the best for you, that alone will happen in life. Nature will only give you that which will uplift you higher in life. Keep this deep faith.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The Power Of Peace
Mon, 2016 Paris, France
Comment ça va? Are you happy?
I don't expect an answer from you. Some questions are there just to connect, and some questions are to disconnect. If you want to disconnect from the whole world, then you ask, "Who am I?" "What am I doing here?" "What is this all about?" These questions disconnect you from everything else, and sometimes this is necessary.
Sometimes it's necessary to connect with everybody, and really care for everyone. Caring means asking ‘What can I do for you? How can I help you? How are you doing? Are you happy?’ These questions connect you to others.
Then there are a different set of questions that can make you miserable? “Why do I have to go through so much trouble?” “Why is this happening to me?” “Why does no one care about me?” These questions bring misery.
Then there are other questions for which you are seriously looking for some answers.
Questions & Answers
I was once at the metro station and I saw two people fighting. I was not afraid, I just went and stood in the middle of them and they stopped.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That is it! I think we can all do this. In patanjali Yoga Sutra it is said, “If you are established in non-violence, in your company and in your presence, people also drop their violence. But this is a long-drawn out process. You have to practice for a long time and then you exuberate those vibrations.
Whatever we are doing here, by sitting and mediating, discussing knowledge, we are definitely creating positive vibrations and these vibrations spread into the city of Paris. When you enter into the center, do you feel positive vibrations? How many feel like that? (Many in the audience raise their hands). Everybody! That is very good. Maybe you should even ask the neighbors, they may be feeling very good. That's why almost in every area we should have a center which can be like a lighthouse of peace.
When you were mediating for Peace in Columbia, initially the FARC were resisting, and then something happened? What brought about this transformation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That is meditation. We led them into short meditations for three days, and you know what they said, "We have heard of saints, but for the first time we are actually seeing a real one".
They also said, "You are the first one who understood us", and by the end of our visit, on the last day, they came with some stone and said, "Please touch this. Keep it in your room, put your energy and then give it to us”.
I said, “Once I touch it, it's enough, I don't need to keep it with me, you take it”. Then they said, “Please don't abandon us, consider us part of your movement. And please come back”.
Then they came to the press conference and said, “Yes, we adopt non-violence”.
See, it's easy for an atheist to get to know spirituality. The believers think they know spirituality, many times they don't. And, some people become very fanatic believers, who are not very open-minded.
I'll tell you about a bed-time story about Buddha. Lord Buddha never spoke about God because India was the land where everybody knew so much about spirituality, but mostly it was all in the head. So Lord Buddha used to announce the eleven questions that he would not answer. Eleven questions should not be asked, and even if someone asked him, he would not answer. God was one of the eleven questions.
He simply said that there is misery in life, but it is possible to get rid of misery because there is a cause for misery.
One guy came he said, "I believe in God, what do you say?" So Buddha said, "You believe in God, okay, good".
Another person said, "I don't believe in God, there is no God", and Buddha said, "Okay, good".
A third person came and he said, "Some people say there is God and some people say there is no God. I don't know but I want to know".
Then Buddha said, "Oh okay, you come be here and we will discover".
So other disciples who were there got so confused because Buddha agreed with everybody. When they asked him, he said, "You know, the first two people who came had a fixed idea in their mind, they were not open. But the last one was open to knowing and he can reach enlightenment. It's hard for people with fixed ideas to get enlightened". So that's the story.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross 25-27 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Select any name of His that appeals to you, select any form of His. Every day when you awaken to the call of the brightening east, recite the name, meditate on the form; have the name and the form as your companion, guide and guardian throughout the toils of the waking hours. When you retire for the night offer grateful homage to God in that form with that name, for being with you, by you, beside you, before you, behind you, all day long. If you stick to this discipline, you cannot falter or fail. Endeavour always to promote the joy and happiness of your fellow countrymen; gladly share their joy and happiness. Resolve to carry on the quest of your own reality. Resolve to live in the inspiration of the constant remembrance of God. Cultivate love and share love. I bless that you achieve success in this endeavour and derive great joy therefrom. (Divine Discourse, July 4, 1968) |
-BABA |
It is only what we share, that goes with us from this planet.
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Devotees are rare!
It is nothing great to become God or be God. Whether you want or not, all are already Gods. A stone is also a God. You are also a God. Everything is God, God is already there, but it is great to become a devotee. Do you see this? Everything, whether you want it or not, is already God, but the love, devotion, has flowered somewhere. Where the devotion has flowered totally, the flower has blossomed, that is a devotee. Attraction is everywhere, love is somewhere, but devotion is again rare. Devotion is very beautiful. A student comes to a Master, Teacher, and Guru with tears in his eyes. There are so many problems, and when he leaves, he is carrying the same tears, but the quality of the tears is different, it is of gratitude. Still tears flow, but those are of gratitude, of love; it is so beautiful to cry in love.
One, who has cried even once in love, knows the taste of it, of surrender and of devotion and the entire creation rejoices it. The entire creation is longing for only one thing, the transformed tears, from salty tears to sweet tears.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross 25-27 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Thursday, November 17, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
All religions teach one basic discipline - the removal from the mind of the blemish of egoism, of running after little joy. Every religion teaches human beings to fill his heart with the glory of God, and evict the pettiness of conceit. It trains you in methods of detachment and discrimination, so that you can aim high and attain liberation. Believe that all hearts are motivated by the one and only God; that all faiths glorify the one and only God; that all names in all languages and all forms you can conceive, denote the one and only God; and that His adoration is best done by means of love. Cultivate that attitude of Oneness (Eka-bhava), between people of all creeds, all countries and all continents. That is the message of love I bring. That is the message I wish you to take to heart. Foster love, live in love, spread love - that is the spiritual exercise which will yield the maximum benefit. (Divine Discourse, 4 July 1968) |
-BABA |
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
What happens when you find it difficult to attain what you are attracted to?
Usually when we love something, we want to possess it. If you appreciate a painting, you want to buy it and keep it in your home. You find a beautiful garment, and although you know you will wear it only a couple of times, you buy it and put it in the closet. You have known only one way of loving — love it, possess it and forget it. When you try to possess love, you rob it of its beauty, and then that same love gives you pain. Whoever you love, you try to dictate terms to them. In a very subtle way you try to rule them. And whatever you try to control turns ugly.
You have never loved someone and not tried to possess them.
It begins in childhood. When the second baby comes, the first baby wants all the attention. “Why did you bring this baby home? Give it away.” Many children say,”You belong to me and me alone.” It is a deep samskara, a deep impression, this fear of losing our place in the heart of someone we love.
First comes attraction.
When it becomes a little difficult to attain whatever you are attracted to, then you start loving…
Have you noticed this? If you simply get whatever you are attracted to — just like that, quickly — you do not develop love for it. A longing must arise. That leads to love. But love brings the fear of loss. Yet, a love which has the fear of loss does not blossom. It leads you to other ugly sensations and feelings. Jealousy comes. There is someone you love very much — a friend, a boyfriend, a girlfriend — but his or her attention is on someone else. See what is happening in your stomach — it is churning. You try all sorts of gimmicks to deny what is happening within you. Much ugliness arises because there is fear of loss. You never love something that is big, that is enormous because you have not yet become enormous yourself. And as long as you stay very small, there is no joy, there is no happiness, there is no peace. Joy is expansion, becoming big in your heart. This can only happen in a situation where you are very much in love, but you cannot possess what you love.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross 25-27 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Friday, November 18, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Today the food you eat, water you drink and air you inhale are all polluted. People themselves are highly polluted because their minds are filled with negative feelings and worldly desires. No doubt, you can have desires, but they should be under limits. Many human hearts are a den of evil qualities like anger, hatred, greed, jealousy, pomp and show. Love alone can drive away these negative qualities. Desire, anger, greed, jealousy, etc., arise only out of body attachment and improper food habits. So control your attachment and desires. The letters that you write will appear blue when the pen is filled with blue ink and red when it is filled with red ink. Similarly all that you see, hear and say will be negative if your heart has negative feelings. Hence fill your heart with love. Then all that you see, hear, say and do will be suffused with love and you will experience a world suffused with love. (Divine Discourse, Aug 11, 2000) |
-BABA |
If you want to choose pain, you are most welcome, but I will tell you, choose the bigger pain as the small ones are of no use. Your love for the whole humanity, that’s what you should be concerned about. Love for the planets, love for the animals; animal rights (animals do have a right to exist). We have no right to take their life away. You worry about all these things.
Look into the eyes of the goats, or even the chicken, cows, dogs. Look into their eyes. This entire creation is filled with love, and how people can slaughter them to fill their little tummy. It is not even healthy. This is unfortunate.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Significance Of Devi Stotra
10/07/2016 Bangalore, India
(While leading everyone into meditation during the Navratri Pooja, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar elaborates on the meaning behind the Devi Stotra)
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Chetanety-Abhidiyate; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
O Mother Divine! (You are manifest) in all the beings as the very Consciousness, in you and in everyone around you
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Buddhi-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The intellect in you and in everyone is a manifestation of the Mother Divine. Honour the intellect in you. The Consciousness that is manifest in you as the intellect is none other than the Mother Divine, the Devi.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Nidra-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The Devi Tattva expresses itself in the form of Sleep. The Sleeping state in you is a form of the Mother Divine. As sleep, She is present in every being.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Kshudha-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
As hunger, it is the Mother Divine’s energy that is present and manifest in all the beings. Recollect your hunger and recognize it as the Devi.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Chhaya-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The Devi is present as Shadow, as a shade.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Shakti-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The Devi is present and manifest as energy within all beings.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Trishna-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The Devi is present within all beings as thirst, as craving for anything in the World. It is the energy of the Mother Divine.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu kshanti-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The Devi is present within all beings as restlessness, as frustration.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Jaati-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
It is the Devi, the Divine Consciousness that manifests as the multitude of particular (unique) species.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Lajja-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The Devi is manifest as shyness, as modesty, in all beings.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Shanti-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
It is the Devi who is manifest as the peace in you and in all beings. Anytime you experience peace, it is the Mother Divine.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Shraddha-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The faith that is deep inside you is of the form of the Mother Divine.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Kaanti-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
Wherever one sees radiance, shine and brilliance; it is none other than because of the Mother Divine.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Lakshmi-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
Wherever one sees beauty, abundance and prosperity, that is the form and manifestation of the Mother Divine.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Vritti-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
All the thoughts that pass through our mind are the manifestation of the Devi.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Smriti-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
Memory in you is also a manifestation of the Mother Divine.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Daya-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
Recollect the compassion that has arisen in you. It is all a form of the Mother Divine. The Deviis present as Compassion in every being.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Pushti-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The contentment that you have felt in your life is nothing but a form of the Mother Divine.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Maatru-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The sense of motherliness and motherly feelings that are present in all beings are a form of the Devi, the Mother Divine.
Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu Bhranti-rupena samsthitha ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The Mother Divine is present as confusion and delusion in every being..
Indriyanaam-adhishthaatri Bhutanaam Cha-akhileshu Ya; Bhuteshu Satatam Tasyai Vyaapti-Devyai Namo Namah.
Chiti-Rupena Ya-Krtsnam etad-vyapya sthita jagat ; Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha.
The basis of all the senses and the objects is the Consciousness and that is the Devi who is present in the entire Creation, on which everything is, was and will be. This entire Creation rests upon the Devi and is upheld by her divine power. The power and opulence of the Mother Divine is manifest everywhere, in all directions. Salutations and adorations to that Infinite Power, the glorious Mother Divine!
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross 25-27 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
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Pat Gounden
Date: Monday, November 21, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Students! Embodiments of love! Where the six qualities of zeal, determination, courage, intelligence, ability and heroism are present, there Divine help will manifest! In any field, at any time, for anyone who is endowed with all these six precious qualities, success is assured. They will ensure your all-round prosperity. However these qualities confront various difficulties from time to time. Just as a student faces various exams to graduate, these noble qualities are also subject to trials. Such trials should be regarded as stepping stones to one's high achievements. These trials are in the form of losses, troubles, pains, sufferings and calumny. You must overcome these troubles with courage and self-confidence and go ahead. Without self-confidence the six qualities cannot be acquired. Students should develop self-confidence and embark on the journey of life with faith in God. (Divine Discourse, Jan 14, 1997) |
-BABA |
I want to tell you a story. A white cat put a label on its head that said, ‘I am a black cat’, as it kept moving around.
Any amount of anyone telling, ‘Hey, come on, you’re not a black cat, you’re a white cat', it says, ‘No, I am a black cat.’
So like that, if you think you don’t have confidence, no one on earth can make you confident. Wake up! You have all that you need in your life. You are self-reliant, you are beautiful, you are a truth, you are beauty. That is what our spiritual path tells you.
As a child you’ve been told, ‘You’re no good, you’re no good, you’re no good!’ And we think we are no good! This is not the ancient culture. This is not the path of spirituality. The path of spirituality has always inspired you; it has always said, ‘You are great, you are part of the Divinity, you are love, you are beauty, you are truth!' This knowledge needs to be instilled in people, rather than saying, ‘You are hopeless, you are no good. You are a sinner, and you are good for nothing.’
Bombarding a child as no good has brought in so many problems. We should instead say, ‘You are a part of the Divinity. You are loved the way you are. If you have some weaknesses, point them out and know that you will grow out of it.’
Whenever you feel, ‘Oh, I can’t do it', then you can’t do it at all. But when you say, ‘I can get over this, I can do it’, then that energy, the courage, enthusiasm, zeal, and everything comes. If you are a smoker and you say, ‘I cannot but smoke’, hey, come on, get up and say, ‘No, I will not touch cigarettes’, and then see what happens.
Similarly, if you’re suffering from bulimia and you say, ‘Oh, I’m so weak. I can’t do anything!’ Come on! Wake up! You are not weak.
The spiritual path instills confidence. You’re in the right place. But don’t be in a hurry. If you want to walk ten miles, it won’t happen tomorrow. Practice. First walk one mile, then go to two miles, then five miles, and in two to three months, you can walk ten miles. Anything needs a little patience and a little practice. I can’t just make this bud into a flower right now. If I open it, it will simply spoil. I have to put it in water and it will happen automatically.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Anything Is Possible
10/18/2016 Paris, France
(As a part of Namasté France festival, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar delivered a lecture to the members of the French Parliament at the India embassy. Below is the transcript of What Sri Sri Said…)
Good Evening everyone. I am glad to be at the residence of our Indian ambassador who has passionately spoken about you know, the concept of India. I am also privileged to be here along with our Minister of State for Defence.
You know, this morning I was speaking at the Parliament when something came to my mind - if you are moving in the periphery without knowing what exit you should take, you can keep going forever because the journey is continuous. You need to exit sometime somewhere. I thought, the human race is in a similar situation. We keep going round and round in circles of violence and stress, with an aimless purpose of life, not knowing where we are heading. When we just take a little time to reflect on what is it that we want, where are we heading towards - one thing becomes very clear, and that is, we all want happiness. Isn’t this so? Anything anybody does is to have happiness, either for oneself, for the community, for the country, or for the world.
I recently read a survey which said, 30% of the teachers in Europe are depressed. If teachers are depressed, what would they transmit to the kids in the classrooms? You only give what you have. If the teacher is joyful, they transfer the joy. If teachers are depressed, they can only give what they have. So in this scenario, the exit point I would say is to look towards those techniques which are proven to help mankind from centuries.
India is a land of tremendous potential; at the same time, it also faces many challenges. It has 600 dialects, 24 languages and a population that is three times the population of America with one-third the land mass of America. The challenges are many, but what has kept the smile on people’s face is something that is worth noticing. Even if you go to the poorest of slums, you will find people dancing with a smile. So we can share with the world something that we have had from centuries, and that is Harmony in Diversity -- Accommodating the viewpoints of others and keep the spirit high to face any challenges.
I know Paris was under attack a few months back, maybe it’s already a year now. Brazil and Mumbai also went through such attacks. We had almost one terror attack every month in the year 2008. So in all these situations, what we need is resilience and confidence. We need something that can help us overcome trauma and keep our faith in humanity and human values. This is the Gandhian principle of non-violence.
As has been said, Mahatma Gandhi brought non-violence into our lives, though the concept was there for a long time. In Yoga, Ahimsa is one of the first rules. You need to abide by Ahimsa (non-violence) to practice yoga.
Now is it practical to have non-violence when there is so much violence happening all around us? When there are people who are senseless, who do not come to terms with anything that is humane. These are some of the very serious questions that we are posed with. But in my experience, I would say, yes. We can share something that we all have deep within us, and that is the human values.
Now there are practical tools and techniques which India can share with the world. One of them is Yoga. 35 years ago, when I would travel in Europe talking about Yoga, people would think that Yoga is only for those who are somewhere out there, normal people do not do Yoga. Yoga was through to be only for Sadhus with long hair and ash smeared all over their body. Weird people did Yoga. Over the years, this prejudice has reduced considerably and the understanding has come that Yoga means wellness – a healthy body and a healthy mind.
For this, we have to thank all those hundreds of Yoga teachers who have persistently kept spreading this wisdom to society.
Now, what can India do for the world? Of course, India can benefit from the modern defense technology that France has to offer. But India can offer the defense of soft power -- of mediation and of Yoga, which can transform the mind-sets of people. All around Paris, you will find many young people who are without jobs, and who are frustrated, angry and agitated. It is almost like we have created a volcano all around us (referring to the pent up emotions of the people). I am very sure that we can change this scenario of the youth of Paris by giving them a taste of inner peace, and a taste of what they can accomplish by being more creative and by getting rid of the stress and anger about the other that they harbor in their hearts and minds. I am confident that we can do this.
We have started with a couple of pilot projects with the youth. I am sure you will be thrilled to see the experiences of these youths. Many of them have shared how they have been transformed with these simple breathing techniques, and with meditation, and how they have become more peaceful human beings.
See, peace and prosperity go hand in hand. When there is no peace, there is no prosperity.
Having said this, I would also like to share my experience with the FARC. We have seven million people in Columbia who have been victims of violence, and around two million people who have lost lives. Our volunteers have been working with many of these victims providing them with trauma relief. The government of Columbia decided to award me with the highest civilian award. When I went to receive the award, I had a formal meeting with the president, which was a normal protocol. This five-minute meeting ended up becoming a 50-minute meeting. The president was very concerned about the situation in Columbia, and he said, “This peace process is going nowhere. What appears to be the next course of action is military action”.
I could understand his pain. If he goes with military action, almost 40,000 lives would be lost.
He said, “I am very worried about this situation, but I don’t find any way out”.
So I told him, “Why don’t I take a chance. Let me speak to the FARC. There is no harm in trying”.
So with his consent I went to Cuba. You know, the FARC Guerrilla are believers of the Marxist philosophy, and so with my attire and my name, they would have liked to keep me at a distance. But they were gracious enough to sit with me and talk to me. First they came to attend a public talk that I had at a university there. They found the talk interesting and different, and so they came and we had a conference with 18 of their commandos. It was a three-day deliberation that I had with them, and they even meditated with me.
I asked them, “What is it that you want? You want social justice? We are all for social justice. We are all working towards social justice. But the path that you have chosen of violence is what I do not approve. If you drop the path of violence and you are only for social justice, then we are with you. India, Europe and the whole world will be with you.” First they said, “You go and talk to the government and tell them to stop. They should do the cease-fire first. It will be hypocritical for us to announce non-violence as our strategy”.
To cut short the story, on the last day of the conference, they came and much to our surprise they announced unilateral cease-fire. They said, “We will adopt the Gandhian principle of non-violence but we will stick to our principles, policies and demands.”
In the beginning, neither the government not the press believed them. They thought it was just another gimmick. But I tell you, they stood their commitment, and on the 9th of July when I was in Switzerland, I had a telephonic conversation with them, and finally cease-fire happened from both sides.
So I strongly believe that there is humanness in every individual. If you touch the human being deep inside, anything is possible.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross 25-27 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Education is an ornament for you, it is your secret wealth that confers prosperity and fame. It is one's unfailing kinsman in foreign travel. More than wealth, this secures the respect of rulers. Education is the basis for leading a purposeful life in the physical world, in the realm of the mind and in society. It equips you with mental strength and steadiness to face the challenges in life and understand the myriad manifestations in Nature. Only when you understand the power of your mind, you can recognise the relationship between the world and society. Education should promote discrimination and humility, and enable you to recognise your obligations to your parents and others who have made you who you are today. Gratitude is a supreme virtue. Be grateful to your parents. Broaden your vision. Be aware of the Divinity that is inherent in every being. Cultivate the spirit of love and fill your life with joy. (Divine Discourse, Nov 22 1988) |
-BABA |
The word puja means that which is born out of fullness ( Pu – fullness, Ja –born out of). Just being grateful is also puja. Just offer a flower or even a smile. Seva is puja.
Jana seve Janardhan seve. Service to mankind is puja.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
How To Read The Signs From The Universe?
11/11/2016 Bangalore, India
Today, we have with us Maharaj Ji from the Nimbaarka Sampradaya from Vrindavana. He is the Mahanta (spiritual leader or pontiff) of the Nimbaarka Sampradaya and they have their own Ashram at the Vishraama Ghaat.
This thought came to me in the morning about the Vishraama Ghaat. The Vishraama Ghaat is the place where Lord Krishna took rest after slaying the evil king Kamsa. Just see how much deep knowledge is there in the way this place has been named. Kamsa represents ego, arrogance. One can find Vishraama (deep rest) only when the Ego is overcome. Otherwise ego does not let you rest in peace. Lord Krishna took rest after slaying the Ego (Kamsa).
We always say that all distortion and negativity drop off when we take deep rest. Deep rest can bring an end to the ego. Maharaj Ji resides and rests in the Vishraama Ghaat where his Ashram is also located. We can receive so much depth and knowledge even from the very trivial things in life. This is what happens when we are in awareness. When there is awareness, then we receive knowledge and wisdom from everywhere. The entire Earth gives us knowledge.
There is a story I have heard about Swami Ramteerth Ji. One day, he was walking along somewhere. A mother who had named her son as ‘Ram’ was trying to wake him up by saying, “O Ram, wake up! wake up! It is late in the day to sleep. wake up!” These words fell upon the ears of Swami Ramteerth Ji as he was walking by the house. He felt that the Mother Divine Herself was calling out to him and conveying this message to him. He was immersed in his own thoughts as he was walking along. In that moment when he heard these words, all those thoughts came to a sudden stop. He became so deeply alert that he went into meditation that very moment.
This is happening in your life too. It is not that it was something special that happened to Swami Ramteerth Ji only. When we become Sukshma-grahi (able to grasp the subtle or intricate details), then we effortlessly are able to grasp and receive messages and knowledge from everywhere. Our mind is able to receive all this very effortlessly and intuitively.
When you meditate regularly, this experience happens very spontaneously. You do not need to struggle and make too much efforts for this to happen.
At the same time, do not sit for meditation and think, “Gurudev had said that such knowledge would come into my experience effortlessly. What is it that I am grasping now? What is it that I am grasping now?”
Do not get stuck like that, or you may start having some illusions or hallucinations which may not be true – this is called Bhrantidarshana. You may get deluded and misled.
Once, when I was visiting France, an old couple decided to accompany me to a function. The husband may have been 80 years old then and the wife was 81 years old. But she did not appear to be as old as 81 years. On the day of my departure, they were waving me goodbye as I was just about to enter the departure gate at the airport. Suddenly, the wife held out her ring finger to me and asked, “Is this necessary?” I instantly replied back saying, “It is not necessary”.
What I meant was that when you have received so much love and joy in life, what is the use of a stone (referring to the gemstone of the ring). I left Paris and flew to New York. The next day, I got a call from the husband and he told me, “O Gurudev! I am troubled. Did you allow my wife to divorce me?”
I said, “No, not at all. I would never give such advice”. Then I asked him to call his wife to the phone. She said “Gurudev, just before you left, had I not asked you showing my wedding ring that whether this is necessary or not?”
I was so surprised. See, you think something but sometimes end up conveying or understanding something completely different altogether. I was in a great hurry that moment when she suddenly asked the question.
What I had meant was that, when the couple had lived a full and happy life together, and their marriage was anyway going well, then wearing a ring after so many years was not as important as having a happy married life well into the old age. I never meant that she should divorce her husband. But she misunderstood what I said and decided to divorce her husband! (Laughter) And on top of it, she said that Gurudev has advised her to do so. I tell you, the games our mind plays on us is very strange and mysterious.
Please do not misunderstand or take away a wrong message when I say you should become Sukshma-grahi. Do not start building up wrong notions like, “Oh, once the coconuts start falling from the trees, I will change schools or join a new college” etc. Come on! Coconuts will keep falling every day. Do not misunderstand or get into wrong meanings. The essence here is that you should be very aware and alert in life; become Sukshma-grahi -- be able to grasp the intricate and subtler aspects of life. And remember that it happens very naturally. You do not have to put in too much effort for this. Now I have said not to put in too much effort, but a little effort and sincerity is definitely required, not too much.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross 25-27 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Embodiments of Divine Love! Everyone aspires for happiness and wants to avoid sorrow. But in this world, truth and untruth, righteousness and unrighteousness, justice and injustice pass and change with time. One should have faith in the ultimate principle out of which both good and evil arise. Everyday one experiences happiness and sorrow, welcomes affections and aversions and invites worries and misery. How can one be at peace under these conditions? The true man is one who believes in equanimity - in the same way as one welcomes happiness, one should be able to welcome sorrows also. You should trust the Divine and experience His love in your hearts. If you want to be respected by everyone, you should respect everyone. Whether rich or poor, noble or ignoble, everyone has self-respect. One should put in effort to safeguard one’s self-respect. One who has true self-respect respects all. There is nothing new that I can tell you today. Everyone should attain bliss and conquer sorrow; develop true love and experience Divinity. This is My principal message to you today. |
-BABA |
Inner journey and outer world events are complementary. If you are happy inside, you are able to work dynamically outside. The more dynamic you are, deeper and better is the rest and meditation. When you meditate the joy increases.
People who are lazy, they cannot be happy. And people who are dynamic, it is not necessary that they will be happy also. Dynamism should be combined with inner silence. So, time to time, one should take a few days off, learn how to go deep inside and meditate.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Understanding Chakras And Kundalini Energy
11/11/2016 Bangalore, India
(Below is a continuation of the post How To Read The Signs From The Universe)
Q: What are Chakras? How can we cleanse the Chakras?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Chakras are the nerve centres seen in our body. There are 1,72,000 Nadis(channels of metaphysical energy or life-force) in our body, and there are various nerve centres for these 1,72,000 Nadis. The human body actually has 109 nerve centres, but among those, nine centres are important, and even in those nine, seven centres (Chakras) are of primary importance. And when energy (kundalini) or consciousness flows through these nerve centres, there are different emotions, feelings or sensations that one experiences.
Muladhara Chakra: The base of spine or the sacrum is the location of the first centre called the Muladhara Chakra. When the Muladhara Chakra is activated, what happen? One experiences enthusiasm in life. When it is dormant, then one experiences dullness and inertia. One does not feel interested in anything. This is the first Chakra.
Swadishthana Chakra: The same energy moves upwards to the second Chakra which is located behind the genitals and it manifests as procreation or creation – meaning in the form of any creative activity or as sex drive.
When you are obsessed with sex, then you do not do anything creative. You forget about creativity entirely. When you are engaged in any creative activity, then lust does not trouble you. People who are obsessed with sex are not very creative. When the same energy manifests itself as creativity, then sex moves to the background. So here the energy could manifest as a creative or procreative tendency. You need not label the energy as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. That is just how it is.
See, it is the same energy (Kundalini) that is moving through the nerve centres. Kundameans ‘pot’ in Sanskrit. The body is like a pot, and the energy in this body is called theKundalini. In the earlier days, this subtle energy was portrayed as a coiled serpent, and was also called as ‘Snake Power’. This does not mean you should go searching for a snake inside your body. Nor do you need to look for a lotus. No, these are actually subtle sensations in the body when the consciousness manifests at certain points.
Manipur Chakra: The same energy moves upwards to the navel region and manifests in four forms or feelings. What are they? They are jealousy, generosity, joy, and greed. When people feel jealous they feel some sensation in the stomach region. Isn’t it so? You must have seen Santa Claus, the Laughing Buddha, or a Seth Ji (a wealthy businessman) – they all have a big stomach. So - jealousy, generosity, joy, and greed are the four flavours of consciousness that manifest in the third Chakra.
The base of the spine is associated with the Earth element. The second Chakra is associated with the Water element. The third Chakra is associated with the Fire element. But it is the same Kundalini energy that is manifesting itself in these different nodes. Here the energy is represented by a four-petal flower.
Anahata Chakra: From the navel region, the energy moves upwards to the heart region. Here, from a four-petal flower, the energy is represented by a three-petal flower. What do the three petals signify? They represent fear, love and hatred.
When people feel hatred or fear or love, the sensation is felt in the heart region. When someone’s heart is broken, it means that the love has become sour and turned into hatred. Love, fear and hatred are all the same.
When there is love, there is no fear. When there is fear, there is no love. At any point of time, only one of the three emotions takes the front position while the other two go in the background. It is not that they disappear entirely. People who feel fear also have love. When love is predominant, then there is no fear or hatred. When hatred takes the front seat, then love and fear are gone to the back. This is what happens to people. When they are so full of hatred, they have no fear at all and they have no love at all.
Vishuddhi Chakra: When the same energy moves to the throat Chakra, what is the sensation you experience? You feel gratefulness, and you have a sensation in the throat region when you experience grief. When you are grieving, your throat chokes. And when you feel very grateful, then also your throat chokes.
Ajna Chakra: When the consciousness moves to the centre of the forehead, it manifests as anger, awareness or alertness. Knowledge and awareness are depicted by the sixth Chakra. The same point is also the seat of anger, and is also said to be the region of the mystical Third Eye. You must have read or heard the story of how Lord Shiva opened His ‘Third Eye’ and burnt Lord Kamadeva into ashes.
This Third Eye is the seat of anger as well as the seat of knowledge and awakened wisdom.
Sahasrara Chakra: When the Consciousness moves to the top of the head, then one experiences only bliss. There is nothing else. You no longer feel any duality, any sense of conflict or separation. You feel totally connected and one with everything. You feel so blissful.
See this flow the other way around. When there is no joy in our life, then we come a step below and experience anger. From anger springs hatred and aversion. This further leads to a sense of fear. Fear as it grows gives rise to jealousy and envy, which in turn gives rise to lust, feverishness and obsession. And lust and obsession bring us into the trap of inertia and negativity. This is the downward flow of the same consciousness or Kundalini energy. It is called Adhogati (retrogression or degeneration). The opposite of this is Urdhvagati(upward rise or progression). What is the pattern of Urdhvagati? You experience enthusiasm, then creativity blossoms, there is generosity and contentment, which in turn give rise to love. Love takes you to gratitude, which helps to bring awareness and wisdom (Prajna) and ultimately leading you to Bliss.
This upward or downward flow of energy keeps on happening very naturally and spontaneously in life all the time.
Every Chakra is connected with a specific element or principle in creation. For example, the Muladhara Chakra is connected with the Earth element. The Swadishthana Chakra is connected with the Water element. The maximum amount of water resides around the Swadishthana Chakra. The Manipur Chakra is connected with the Fire element. The digestive fire here helps in digestion.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna has said, “Aham Vaishvanaro bhutva praaninam deham ashritaah. Prana-Apana-samayuktah paachami annam chatur-vidham.” Lord Krishna says, “I am manifest as the hunger in the bellies of all living beings. I am the digestive fire that helps to digest all food which is consumed”.
The Heart Chakra is connected with the Air element. Where is the greatest proportion or presence of air in the body? It is present in the lungs, in the chest region. Next we move upwards to the Vishuddhi Chakra. This Chakra is connected with the Space element. Moving upwards into the Ajna Chakra, the consciousness manifests as wisdom and awareness. Ultimately the energy moves to the top of the head into the Sahasrara Chakra. Even scientists today accept and agree to this fact.
These seven Chakras or seven nerve centres are connected with different glands in the body. In scientific terms you can say thyroid gland, or the adrenalin glands, pituitary gland, pineal gland, etc. Science also agrees how these glands are responsible for experiencing various emotions. This is something our ancient Rishis knew since thousands of years ago. They mentioned all this in the scriptures.
They depicted each of the seven Chakras in the forms of a lotus or different petal flowers. Why is this so? This is because when you go deeper in meditation, the consciousness becomes very subtle, and your mind becomes fresh like a flower. It becomes fresh, alive and soft. In such a delicate state of consciousness, you experience the rise of energy in the system.
Lightness is connected with subtlety. Grossness is connected with inertia and negative sensations; negative feelings. When you are negative, when you are rude or rough in your behavior, there is a certain inertia, a certain heaviness in the system. When you feel all the positive sensations, you feel a sense of lightness. When the energy moves upwards, then from inertia it transforms into enthusiasm, then creativity. From creativity wells up joy. When you are happy, you are naturally generous. Then the energy moves up further into the heart chakra where you only feel love for everybody around you. When you feel so much love, you feel so much gratitude and from gratitude comes alertness. It brings total awareness, and this awareness leads you to bliss.
But do not misunderstand this and try searching for some snake or some kind of flowers. People make so much effort to find something that they try to imagine something or the other to achieve this, and they go crazy in doing so. You should not do all that. For God’s sake, do not try awakening your Kundalini by force. It is a natural phenomenon.
You can meditate only when your Kundalini is awakened. Whenever you meditate, you find that scintillating energy flowing all over your being. That is what Kundalini is. When you do the Sudarshan Kriya, every cell becomes awake and alive. The awakening of energy happens very naturally. We should go through the natural manner only. Do not try all this by force, otherwise you lose sleep.
If someone approaches you and tells you, “I will help you awaken your Kundalini Shakti” , simply thank them with respect and move away. See, when a banana ripens on its own without any outward force, then it is naturally sweet. Isn’t it? If someone forcefully tries to ripen the banana, then it no longer remains fit for eating. Got it? So if someone tries to awaken the Kundalini Shakti by force, there are high chances that one may lose their mental balance. Only those who have years and years of practice of Yoga and deep knowledge about this are able to really practice these techniques properly without any side effects.
Unfortunately, today people do not follow this sanctity. Someone or the other learns a few techniques from here and there and they start teaching it to others. They try to awaken the energy by these techniques but it does not help; rather it creates more problems. Someone loses their mind, they become deranged; or they are unable to sleep. Such people are no longer able to function properly in society. We should not do such things at all. It is like how the fuse blows up inside a bulb (due to excess and unchecked surge of energy).
Today morning itself, a lady approached me and told her story. She had visited some sage or some mystic who told her to do certain things. When she did all that, she experienced a lot of difficulty and it became very horrible for her. She experienced great discomfort. She told me, “Gurudev, I am not able to go to the temple and my body is not in my control”. It should be the opposite way around. Even the involuntary system comes into our control when you do Sadhana. When you do wrong Sadhana without proper authenticity, or by just reading books and other materials, then even the voluntary and involuntary system get messed up. So, you should be careful about this. The key word is proper guidance and effortlessness.
The energy should be awakened very naturally and effortlessly. When energy rises naturally and through the proper technique, one experiences so much enthusiasm, joy, total belongingness. All these are signs of a true awakening of the Shakti (energy). It anyway happens spontaneously when you do the Sudarshan Kriya. Do you not feel as if every particle of your body has become so infused and full of energy? This is what the awakening of Kundalini is. There is no serpent or lotus flower as such within our system, so do not go looking or imagining such things foolishly.
The lotus flower is only depicted as an example, as a means of symbolism. In the olden times, one of the names of the Lord used to be Kamala-Nayana : means having eyes like a blossomed lotus. Now just imagine what it would be like if someone really grew two lotuses in the place where the eyes are. Everyone else would get scared and run away from them. See, this is just a symbolic example. In the same way, the energy has been symbolically compared to a serpent.
In the mythological stories, it is said that the Mother Earth rests upon the hoods of the serpent Shesha Naag. What does this actually mean? What does the Shesha Naag mean? It symbolizes the centripetal force and the centrifugal force. Our Earth is supported by two kinds of forces. These forces do not act in a linear direction. These forces act in a circular fashion. A snake also never travels in a straight line. A snake also coils in a near-about circular manner as it moves forward. The movement of the serpent is propelled by centripetal and centrifugal forces.
The Shesha Naag symbolizes the two forces that the Earth is supported by. It does not literally mean that the Earth is resting upon the hood of some giant serpent. No, it is not so at all.
India has recently completed the trip to Mars using the Mangalyaan space vehicle. There are so many artificial satellites around the Earth today. So there is no scientific evidence in favour of the Earth resting upon the hood of a giant serpent. This is a symbolic story. The Shesha Naag here is not some actual living being, it is actually a giant supportive force or power. No one today can refute the fact about these two kind of forces: the Centripetal and Centrifugal forces exist. It is these two forces that sustain the Earth in its revolution around the Sun. This same truth was expressed in the ancient days by our wise ancestors using such symbolism, and through the example of the Shesha Naag. This is a really important and unique aspect of our scriptures, and our heritage.
In the same way, when we say that there is a lotus flower within us, it means that when the mind blossoms and becomes soft and supple, when the mind becomes refined, only then can we experience the subtle consciousness in us. When the mind is stuck in inertia, then we cannot experience any energy or power in us. That is why our scriptures advocate the practice of Mittaahara – meaning exercising balance and restraint in eating food. They advocate proper rest for the body. Then the body becomes tuned and conducive to experiencing this subtle phenomenon.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross 25-27 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
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Pat Gounden
Date: Thursday, November 24, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Remember, there is no special merit in so-called spiritual exercises. Every act in your daily life must be sanctified by performing it as an offering to God. A farmer tilling his field should feel that he is tilling the field of his heart. While sowing seeds, he should sow the seeds of good qualities in his heart. While watering the field, he should think he is watering the field of his heart with love. In this way, everyone must pursue the spiritual path without the aid of rosary or going to the forest. Irrespective of physical and ideological differences, the Divine principle (Atma) is common to all. You must recognise that every being in the Universe is integrally related to society like different organs in a body. Humanity itself is a limb of Nature and Nature is a limb of God. If this integral relationship is understood, where is the ground for hatred? Hence conduct yourself in an exemplary manner.
- Divine Discourse, Nov 23, 1992
-BABA |
Offer everything to the Master.
Your anger,
Your frustration,
All your bad feelings
And your good feelings.
When you offer it all, you become free.
You become light like a flower.
You can again rejoice in the moment.
What remains in you is pure love.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Stop Beating Yourself Up Over Past Mistakes
11/11/2016 Bangalore, India
(Below is a continuation of the post Understanding Chakras And The Kundalini Energy)
Questions & Answers
I try to forget the mistakes I made in the past and move ahead. But the people around me keep reminding me of those past mistakes. What should I do? Sri
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Smile and move forward. If they are not able to forget the mistakes of the past, then that is their problem. You should forget the mistakes of the past, just drop it and move ahead. You are not the same person as you were in the past when you committed those mistakes, you have changed. When you came to the spiritual path, when you gained this wonderful knowledge, then your entire life has changed. So have complete and unshakeable faith in this fact.
In the ancient times, when people used to approach a Guru, then they would even change their birth names. Why was this done? It was to signify that you have taken a new birth altogether when you have come to the Guru. You have become a new person when you gained access to this knowledge. The mistakes you committed in the past out of ignorance do not exist anymore in light of the knowledge you have now received.
Ignorant people around you may sometimes do such things, but you should have compassion for them instead of feeling hurt or angry. Think that, “Oh, they are still stuck and do not know that I am a totally different person now. I have changed”. This faith you must develop in yourself. There is no need to fall into self-pity.
Gurudev, I have heard that meditation helps to unravel or unlock the granthi (knots representing energy centres or nodes) in the navel region. And when the energy centre of the navel region opens up, only then can the individual soul (Atma) rise to unite with the Paramatma (Divinity or Super soul). I wish to understand more about this. Please explain.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is correct. As we meditate, the knot or the energy centre in the navel region opens up. When the heart centre blossoms and opens up, we feel joy. We experience different sensations and emotions only when the different energy centres of the body open up. But it is not correct to say that only then does the soul unite with God. You are never outside God. There is nothing beyond the Divine. Even if you wish to, you cannot ever be outside or separate from God. That from which you are born, That in which you exist and sustain yourself, and That in which you ultimately dissolve back into is God. This is what is told in the Srimad Bhagvatam also:
Janmaadhyasya yatonvaya-aditaratascha-artha eshvabhigna-svaraat.
Tene Brahma-hridayaa aadikavaye muhyanti yatsurayaha |
Tejovarimrudam yata vinimayo yatra trisargomrusha.
Dhamna Sva-ena sada nirastakuhakam Satyam Param Dhimahi ||
(Srimad Bhagvatam, 1.1.1)
The verse means: God is omnipresent. You know, we often say, “I AM”. God is not separate from the individual soul; God resides within us. The soul is not separate from the Divine. Knowing this eternal truth, simply relax and just be.
See, there are some things that you should seek and know about, and there are some things that you should simply take for granted as the truth, and relax. You cannot possible understand everything, and you cannot simply assume or take everything for granted. Your mind and intellect is limited; it cannot comprehend the infinite Divinity. You cannot know the Divine; you simply have to take it for granted that the Divine is present in you, all around you and at all times.
If someone tells you. “My dear, this is poison”, then you do not say “No, first I will drink it and check for myself”. You would not survive to tell what happens afterwards. So, in some cases you simply need to believe and take it for granted. If you are told that a certain galaxy is so many light years away from our galaxy, or if the Earth is revolving around the Sun – then you will have to agree and accept that fact for certain. People have proved many facts scientifically. Now then if you argue and say, “No, I will check it for myself and only then agree”, then that is foolishness. But if someone says, “Oh! This is very sweet”, then you need not necessarily agree to it. You can taste it if you like to check for yourself. So you should try to know some things, and you should simply take somethings to be true, without a doubt.
I am a Roman Catholic from Europe and recently did the Vedic Wisdom Course at the Ashram. It is a really beautiful course. However, we do not have the concept of Gotras (unbroken line of paternal descent) in Christianity. During the initiation of the Gayatri Mantra they gave us a Gotra. Through some people I came to understand that only the Hindus have Gotras and Nakshatras (Birth star or constellation). What should I follow now? Please guide.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Nakshatra refers to the star in which the Moon was present on the day and time you were born. There are 27 stars and the Moon moves through each of these stars. Each star has four divisions. You must have studied this in the Vedic Wisdom series. According to your birth date and time, your star can be determined. It is not difficult at all.
You should speak to the Vaidic Dharma Samsthana Desk (VDS Desk) and consult the Jyotish department there. They will tell you the star under which you were born. And wherever you are studying, that is your Gotra. Gotra means the college or the group in which you are studying. If your whole family has graduated from Stanford or Harvard or New York University, then you take the name of that institution wherever you go, right? In a similar manner, the Gotras were formed in the Vedic tradition. By mentioning a Gotra, one could convey that he studied under so-and-so Rishi in so-and-so Gurukul, and then the whole family gets connected to that school or tradition.
When you are doing your Sadhana, then you belong to this Gotra. Your DNA definitely reflects the things that you do here. It has nothing to do with the religion you follow, and does not interfere with it at all. Religion is a very different thing. The Gotra can depict the impact of your Sadhana on your DNA. So people who do the Sudarshan Kriya, Pranayama and meditation – when they visit an Ayurveda doctor for a Nadi Pariksha (check-up), the doctor can immediately tell and will ask you whether you are doing these practices. So your pulse will tell that you belong to this system of practices. It gets ingrained in our DNA and that is what is broadly called as Gotra from the ancient times.
Gurudev, how can I know whether what I am experiencing is because of my Karmas from my past lives, or is it because of my actions in the present life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Whether the action is from a past life, or something done 10 years back, or done just yesterday, or even 10 minutes back – it really does not matter. Ultimately, all Karma is Karma, that’s it. That is why it is said that the ways of Karma are mysterious and unfathomable. One cannot understand it totally. That is why we say that you should not worry much about Karma. Just keep moving ahead.
Gurudev, all the great saints and enlightened Masters consider Tyaag (sacrifice) and Vairagya (dispassion) as the means to attaining Moksha (final liberation). Is the desire for Moksha not a kind of greed or desire after all?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, it is true that intense desire or greed for Moksha is also a kind of desire ultimately, but that is the final and the last desire that one has to let go of. One needs to cultivate or have this desire for Moksha to overcome and drop all other kinds of desires and feverishness. When even this desire (for Moksha) drops off, one experiences totality and bliss.
I do my Sadhana very regularly. How can I know for sure that my bad Karmas or their ill-effects are getting cleansed and removed?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I tell you, drop everything and just become a Sharanagati. Being a Sharanagati means to have this firm faith and belief that all your Karmas have been cleansed. There is no balance that remains to be cleared anymore.
Why are you still stuck with analysing your Karmas? Just become hollow and empty. In fact, you actually have become hollow and empty – so take this truth for granted and have faith. Many times other people will advise you to do this or do that (to get rid of past Karmas) and you will get carried away into thinking “Oh! I still have to do this; I still have to do that to clear my Karma” and so on. You will get exhausted if you go on thinking like this, and even those who give you such advice will get tired after a while. Come to the present moment and know that life is new and fresh every moment.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross 25-27 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Friday, November 25, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
You should make your own conscience secure, and you should have confidence in yourself. Your conscience is your guide and it should dictate your behavior. Either for the good or for the bad, it is your conscience that is responsible. The guilt in you causes the bad; the strength and confidence in you should, therefore, do such things which will promote your confidence in your own self. That is why I have repeatedly told you, that you should follow the four F’s. “Follow the Master” and that is your conscience. The second thing is to “Face the devil”. The third is “Fight to the end”. Then you should “Finish the game”. If you remember all these four injunctions such that they are resounding every moment in you, there can be nothing more sacred than this in your life. (Summer Roses on Blue Mountains, 1976, Ch 15) |
-BABA |
Consciousness is the Master, is the Divinity, is the Guru, is your Self. |
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day |
What SRI SRI said
We Belong To One Human Race
10/18/2016 Paris, France
(Below is a continuation of the post Anything Is Possible)
I recently had an interaction with one gentleman from the Muslim brotherhood, in America. He is a 27-year-old young man. Would you like to hear the interaction, and see what he says?
(An audio clip is played of an interaction between Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and this gentleman)
Gentleman: I have been incarcerated, going back and forth from jail for doing many things. Crime was my best outlet. I just wanted to live, and regardless of whatever I had to do to live, I was willing to do so.
Gurudev Sri Sri: That is natural and understandable. Since you were going through a lot of fear and insecurity, naturally you will take to defending yourself. And that is what you were doing, right!
Gentleman: Yes, but at that time, I didn’t understand that one can meditate and deal with any situation. I never knew that. And as part of the Muslim Brotherhood of America, you are taught to be radical.
Gurudev Sri Sri: So, you were taught that those who do not believe in the same belief system as your own, were not good people. That is what you were taught?
Gentleman: Yes. In actuality, we are taught to harm individuals. We are taught that people who believe differently than what we believe are the enemy. We are taught to do drugs and bring harm to individuals and to bring destruction to those who are not like us and who do not believe in what we believe.
Now that I have actually come here and learnt different breathing exercises, and learnt how to meditate and eat the right food, I am seeking for the right knowledge and wisdom. Being here, learning these techniques has made me a believer. I am now a believer!
We have met many such youth, who with a little bit of meditation and breathing exercises, could change their way of thinking -- from violence and seeing the other as the enemy, to thinking we are all part of a one world family. We are different but we are part of one human race. That sense of belongingness gets created. And all that it requires is a little bit of education.
I have an appeal to all the governments of the world -- You spend money on defense, and it is necessary for you to do so. With a fraction of what you spend on Defense, why not invest in Peace Education as well? Educating people in going deep within and discovering who they are, keeping aside their religious beliefs.
You can be a Christian, Jewish, Muslim, you can follow whatever is your religion, that’s okay, but apart from that, there is something that can help you to become peaceful, graceful and happy from deep within. Why not we educate them on these techniques; on the common shared values of all cultures of the world, i.e., peace and happiness?
Why don’t we teach them to accept and acknowledge diversity? You can’t just make the whole world homogeneous. It has to be heterogeneous. We need to celebrate diversity. We need to honor all the cultures and every language of the world.
Even within a country like Germany, Bavaria has its own culture and if you go to Schwäbisch Gmünd, it has its own culture. If you go to North Kiel, in that area, it has its own typical culture.
Same with France. North is not the same as South. You go to Bordeaux; it is very different from the South of France. While the differences should exist, harmony needs to be brought upon and India can help in this regard because it has lived for centuries with harmony in diversity. So these are some things I felt we can exchange.
Another thing I would like to tell you about is the ancient system of Ayurveda (Ancient Hindu System of Medicine). This is another aspect that India has to offer to the world. France can think of connecting with India for its Ayurveda traditions and medicine. Economically also, it would be very useful because it will bring down medical bills drastically, while also help the health of the society.
Ayurveda treats many ailments with the use of natural herbs, time tested for 5000 years in India. The Prime Minister of India has created a separate Department for the Ayurvedic System of Medicine. It is being documented today for many illnesses including cancer treatments. So I would welcome the French medical experts to come and do a study on this. France can have a hospital in India, and we can do lots of experiments. The Ayurveda System of Medicine can be tried and tested in the modern way of documenting it, proving it, and then making it available to the general population. This would be of immense benefit to the people of France.
Ayurveda and Yoga, these are the two soft powers! When we see the world as a one world family, we need to share what we have amongst each other. Of course, croissants (a buttery, flaky bread in the shape of a crescent. A staple of French Bakeries) are becoming more and more popular in India.
Questions & Answers
Q: Who are your main sources of inspiration?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Inspiration is always from within. When you have the commitment to do something in life, something in the world, give something to the world back, you can draw inspiration from everything and from everybody around you. You cannot decide, I want to be inspired by so and so. Inspiration is almost a spontaneous thing that happens to you. You see a child playing and something happens within you. You feel inspired. You see someone doing some good work and you want to do that.
I feel that when you are free from stress, everything can inspire you. But if you are clogged with stress, even the best of wisdom does not really enter into you.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross 25-27 November 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Monday, November 28, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Come out of the well of ego into the sea of Universal Spirit, of which you are a part. Force your mind to breathe the grander atmosphere of the Eternal, by reminding it of God and His Glory, every second, with every breath, when you repeat any one of His many names. Or engage yourself in some work, which will take you out of your narrow self into the vaster magnificence, where you dedicate the fruit of your actions (karma) to God, where you devote your time and energy to share your joy, skill or knowledge with your fellow-beings. Or keep yourself surrounded always by persons devoted to the higher life - those who will encourage you to move forward towards the goal. Through these means, attain Chitta Suddhi (purity of mind) and then the Truth will be reflected clearly therein. (Divine Discourse, 27 Mar 1966) |
-BABA |
You need to judge your company. Your company can pull you up or pull you down. The company that drags you towards doubt, dejection, blame, complaints, anger, delusion, and desires is bad company. The company that pulls you up towards joy, enthusiasm, service, love, trust, and Knowledge is good company.
When someone complains, first you listen, then you nod, then you sympathize, then you complain.
Robert says, "Join the party." Denise says, "I confess, you are absolutely right." (Laughter)
Your company can create Hell for you in Heaven -- or Heaven for you in Hell. Judge for yourself . . .
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
World Summit For Ethics And Leadership On Sports
09/16/2016 Zurich, Switzerland
(The 2nd World Summit on Ethics & Leadership in Sports,at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, was organized with the focus of bringing attention to the critical challenges related to sports governance such as match fixing, doping and human rights. The conference proceedings also highlighted the conferment of the Ethics in Sports Award, recognizing those who have demonstrated the importance of human values and ethics in life and in the sports arena. Below is the transcript of what Gurudev Sri Sri said at the event)
Good afternoon! It’s a pleasure to be with all of you here; with such great sports persons and with the lovers of sports.
A baby, even before it starts recognizing people and speaking, it starts playing. So sport is the first and foremost expression of life. In fact, I would say that sport is the purest expression of life, and so honoring sports is honoring our own source, and our own life. Today, when corruption and unethical practices have in-filtered sports on so many levels, it is high time we wake up and take the corrective measures.
Every village around the world has some or the other form of sports. In fact, even life should be taken sportively. If we don’t take life sportively, then there is a possibility of depression taking over life, and today that is one of the biggest issues in the world – people being depressed and engaging in violence. The way to remedy this is to engage people in creative and active sports, and not just computer games based on sports. This is a very important thing to do to maintain the health of society.
Whether it is politics, economics, music, art, religion or sports, there is only one aim of all these avenues, and that is to bring happiness to the individual, to the environment, and to society. And sport is one of the most important tools to create happiness, harmony and well-being.
Today, when we are ridden with so many conflicts around the world, sports can be that one thing that can bring people together. Now if this very important aspect of life is infested with unethical behavior, it is a matter of big concern. I think we all agree on this! So, it is high time that we take note of this.
I am very glad that some very prominent people from Europe and the rest of the world have formed a think-tank here to guide the field of sports, and to encourage people to walk the path of ethics.
What is ethics? It is not doing to others what you don’t want others to do to you. This is the base line of ethics. You don’t want to be cheated, and so you should not cheat others. That is ethics. And in sports, when people are watching something to uplift their spirit, they believe in it, they have faith in it because it is the religion of the modern day. What is religion? It is something that brings hope and uplifts one’s spirit, and that’s what sports is today. And when the youth watch sports, they want to believe that what they are watching is correct. They would not like to see that they are being cheated, and that there is match-fixing happening at the back.
Actually, though these unethical events are very few, they are being highlighted by the media.
As we were earlier discussing, there are many sincere players all over the world and the ones who are crossing the line are very few. But it is these few who have grabbed the attention of the media and the public. In a way it is good because we correct that 5%-10% of wrong that is happening.
Coming back to ethics, we all need to think – what is it that we can do to fix this. And what is it that we can go to encourage more of the youth to engage actively in sports; especially in regions where there in conflict. Whatever be the reason of the conflict – whether it is socio-economic, religious, ethnicity, language, etc., in all these situations, sports can play a major role in uniting the hearts and minds of people. And for the players of sports, we need to take care of their mental, physical and emotional well-being. Here, yoga, meditation, breathing exercises and encouragement towards developing a scientific temper can help sportspersons to sustain their energy.
There is another issue, which is of competition among the players. In the run for competition, there is a lot of anxiety, uncertainty, and fear of failure. Though these players are on the screen and people are watching them and clapping their hands, if you take a keen look at their faces, they don’t look exuberant, joyful and happy. It is our responsibility to bring that much needed happiness. We must not just bring happiness to the people who are watching but to the players as well – by instilling in them a sense of ease, a sense of comfort, and a sense of understanding that ‘sports is sports whether you win or lose – you still gain’.
I usually tell athletes that you have only two options – ‘Either you win or you make others win’. So if you have made another win then you should be happy. If sportsmen and sportswomen move ahead in life with this attitude, then they will not go through so much stress and they don’t need to go for drugs and other substances.
In India, in the ancient days, they always said that ‘Life is a game, don’t take it too seriously’. So have fun in life; whether failure or success, treat it equally. When you fail, that is a stepping stone to success. And when you succeed, then you need to think about how others feel when they fail.
Once, a little boy lost a running race and he was upset. I asked him, “Why are you sad?” He said, “I lost my race”.
I said, “Look, you lost the race, but the person who won the race, isn’t he your friend?’ He said, “Yes, he is”.
I told him, “Are you not happy that your friend has won? Suppose you won the running race, and your friends were unhappy that you won the race, would you like it?” He said, “No”.
I said, “Then why are you not happy when your friend has won?”
This one question made this little boy think differently, and he said, “I never thought of it like that before. I would not like my friends to be unhappy if I win”.
In a game, somebody is going to win, but that somebody’s win should be a celebration for everybody. If that is not the spirit, then it is not a game, it is a war, or business. So infusing this spirit in sports is important to uplift human consciousness. If this is not there, then we are missing something that is basic to sports.
Sports has this special dimension that – you can be happy just by playing, keeping aside the results. There result is not as important as the process, as how well you have played your role.
The same is with a drama or a movie, whether you are a villain or a hero, who wins is immaterial, what matters is how well you have played your role. That is what makes a movie a good movie.
Similarly, in games, your participation is most important, rather than the end result of a game. If we can bring this message loud and clear to the youth, then most of the soccer games around the world will have lesser violence, lesser problems and lesser work for the police forces.
Somehow the feverishness of winning has gripped the arena of sports which has become the cause of disturbance world over. You know, even between countries; when one country wins the other country gets so upset, and in some cases there is even a riot. These sort of things can be avoided if the true essence of sports is brought to light which is – to uplift the spirit and unite people and have happier societies.
With these few words I once again congratulate all of you who have been putting your heart and soul into this field. May truth prevail and may happiness be the language of today and tomorrow.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Youth and students should go to the four corners of the country, cleanse the place and keep away from doctors by themselves being clean. If the aim is to do good to others, then God Himself will take care of the selfless aim of doing good. This is the essence of Vyasa’s eighteen Puranas. To be able to do good to others is a great virtue (punya) and to be able to keep away from doing harm to others is also a merit. Therefore, even if you are not able to do good, just sit quietly and keep silent; but do no harm to others. You must take care to see that all the five organs are without any blemish. You should not see any bad with your eyes. You should not talk anything unworthy with your mouth; and you should not touch anything unclean. You should thus keep all your five organs in a sathwik (or sacred) state. (Summer Roses on Blue Mountains, 1976, Ch 15) |
-BABA |
Do something good in society
Don't think only about yourself, but do some service activity. Then you will see that whatever you want for yourself, you ask and it will come to you.
You have to do something first, then when you ask, you will get.
If you say, ‘I want only for myself, I don't want to do anything’, no, that will not work. You should do some good work in society, bring smiles on the faces of people and gain some merit. If you bring smiles on the faces of others then you have a right to demand something for yourself. Do you see what I’m saying? This is real currency.
See, if you have money then you can go shopping. If you have no money, no credit card and you go shopping, who will give you anything? You need to have some bank balance first, isn't it? So, when you do seva, your bank balance goes up. Then when you ask for whatever it is that you want, you will get it.
You can buy the whole supermarket if you have enough points.
So let us resolve to do something good in society, and let us have the confidence that whatever we need will come to us; will be given to us.
Our wish will definitely be granted. When we wish something, it will be granted.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Truth Cannot Be Hidden
10/16/2016 Bad Antogast, Germany
Questions & Answers
What is the difference between the self and the soul?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Soul is like the air in a balloon, and self is like the air in the atmosphere.
Why is it that sometimes we don’t trust in the Guru. Why do we have doubts that arise?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Should you follow the Guru? I am asking you. How many of you think that you should follow the Guru, raise your hands? (Everyone in the audience raise their hands).
If you are following the Guru, that means the Guru is also walking. He hasn’t reached the goal. See, the Guru is someone who knows more than you. So the Guru is standing up and he is giving a hand to the one sitting down. Guru is looking down and giving the hand down. If you also do that, where will you be?
Just imagine a ladder, where Guru is on the top and looks down and gives you a hand. If you follow the Guru, which means that you also look down and give your hand down, then what will happen to you?
When Guru looks down, you look up and give your hand up, and then you keep going up. If you follow the Guru, he looks down and you look down, you will never reach. So, don’t follow the Guru (everyone laughs loud as Gurudev explains a complete catch 22 situation).
Guru is looking down and giving his hand. You should do the opposite. You look up and give your hand. How can you reach if you do what your Guru is doing? Should you follow the Guru?
If you are following the Guru, it means the Guru is walking and you both are walking, which means you are not sure if the Guru has reached the destination. And if you say, that I don’t follow the Guru, then there is no Guru at all (Laughter). Like, if you say, I don’t take medicine means you had no doctor.
If Guru says something and you don’t follow it, then you have no Guru. If Guru says “Don’t follow me”, and you don’t follow the Guru, then you have followed. And if you follow the Guru, then you have not followed (laughter).
Devotee: Okay, so then we just drop ‘follow’. How about ‘trust’!
Doubt your Guru as much as you can. The Guru is not there to give you trust, in fact he puts a lot of doubts in your mind so that you bake and boil in the doubt, and become strong.
If you don’t trust the Guru, then he is happy; he is free. It is better for him if you doubt. If someone trusts you, then you have a responsibility. If no one trusts you then you have no responsibility; happy-go-lucky. So, why will the Guru try to keep your trust, he is happy to put more doubts so that you boil, work on it, and then walk. When they become mature, they will come back themselves.
The Guru’s idea is to make everyone strong, and all these doubts will make you strong, and if your trust remains after all these doubts, then that is the real thing.
If there are a thousand occasions to doubt and still your trust is there, then you are something! You are like a diamond. But if you keep doubting on the small things, then you are like a corn flake. How light is a corn flake? You blow a little and a corn flake will fly away. If you are like a dew drop, then with a little bit of sunlight, a dew drop dries away. Or you can be like a diamond, which stays the same. And when the sunlight comes the diamond shines more.
So why would the Guru help you hold on to your trust? Then it would be a weak trust, someday it will blow away. So doubt as much as you can, cook in your doubt, because truth is beyond doubt. Truth is something which can never be obscured forever. Everyone will discover the truth one day.
Suppose mist is there, will the mist make the mountain disappear? No! What will the mountain say, “Let the mist come and go, who cares?” When you wait for a little bit of the sun (of knowledge) to come, all the mist (doubts) disappears.
While coming here in the morning, there was so much mist, but nobody stopped driving. You doubted but you didn’t stop because something deep inside you made you keep moving. Even though doubts hang around, something makes us move, and that is our soul wanting the truth. Our inner will soul move in the direction of truth.
Once in Sweden, a journalist asked me this question, “Are you enlightened? Don’t beat around the bush.”
I looked at him and said, “No.”
He said, “You are kidding. Tell me the truth”.
I said, “What is that tells you that I am not telling you the truth? Your own inner voice. It is telling you that there is something different here. Trust in yourself and you will see that the trust grows.”
When a person doesn’t trust themselves then they start doubting others also. Doubting others is related to doubting oneself. Someone who has a lot of self-doubt will also keep doubting everybody.
Still, the journalist will not take the answer. He said, “I don’t believe what you are saying. Something in the heart know and can identify”
I said, “Yes, then you believe in that”.
So, if you say that ‘I don’t follow the Guru’, then that person is not your Guru at all. If you don’t take the medicine given by a doctor, then that man is no more your doctor. If I take medicine from you then you are my doctor. If I learn something from you then you are my teacher. If I say ‘I don’t learn anything from you’, then you are no longer my teacher. So if you say ‘I don’t follow the Guru’ that means he is not your Guru.
If you say that you are following the Guru, that means your Guru has not reached. If you say you are not following the Guru, then that person is not a Guru to you at all. So what is the answer to this question?
Devotees: We are confused!
See, Guru has reached the goal; he is at home and he is only welcoming you. There is no question of following.
Devotees: We are just chasing you wherever you go!
If you are chasing your Guru, means your Guru is also running (roars of laughter).
You once said that Guru is a presence, it is not a person, what does this mean?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, certain questions have no answers. If you have to say whether you follow a Guru, the answer is neither ‘Yes’ nor ’No’. If you say ‘No’, then the question has no meaning. If you say ‘Yes’, then it has no meaning.
You say, ‘Yes and No’. ‘Yes’ means you have a Guru. ‘No’ means you are not following your Guru because Guru has already reached and he is giving you his hand.
When the Guru is looking down, you don’t look down, you look up. When the Guru is giving his hand down, you don’t give a hand down, you should give your hand up. Got it!
If you say you got it means you didn’t get it, and if you say I didn’t get it, then you got it (laughter). If someone asks you, ‘Do you follow the Guru?’ You can’t say ‘No’ and you can’t say ‘Yes’. Some questions you have to answer then differently.
Gurudev, we keep asking you questions. Do you have a question that you would like to ask us?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I am asking you this question, ‘Do you follow a Guru?’ I ask everyone questions all the time; I ask them ‘How are you?’ ‘Are you happy?’ Though I know the answer still I ask. These are the only questions I ask, and I am not looking for answer. I ask the question only to engage you. I am asking questions so that you feel good about it. My questions are not for myself, my questions are for you, to make you happy. This is a secret I have shared for first time. I never tell this secret to anyone.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Youth and students should go to the four corners of the country, cleanse the place and keep away from doctors by themselves being clean. If the aim is to do good to others, then God Himself will take care of the selfless aim of doing good. This is the essence of Vyasa’s eighteen Puranas. To be able to do good to others is a great virtue (punya) and to be able to keep away from doing harm to others is also a merit. Therefore, even if you are not able to do good, just sit quietly and keep silent; but do no harm to others. You must take care to see that all the five organs are without any blemish. You should not see any bad with your eyes. You should not talk anything unworthy with your mouth; and you should not touch anything unclean. You should thus keep all your five organs in a sathwik (or sacred) state. (Summer Roses on Blue Mountains, 1976, Ch 15) |
-BABA |
When you can do any action with mindfulness, you are aware of what you are saying or doing, this makes you a yogi.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Are Your Expectations Bringing You Joy?
11/08/2016 Bangalore, India
Questions & Answers
I want others to appreciate me.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Whenever you expect anything from others, appreciation or anything else, you are not being independent, and this is bound to bring you down. You must say, “I don’t expect anything from others, but whatever I need to do, I will keep on doing it.”
Gurudev, how do we handle a situation where one family member wants to convert to another religion?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: First of all, honor all religions. The real problem is that they don’t know their own religion completely. Tell them to first understand their own religion, study and go deep into it and then decide.
When you are converting religions, you are implying that this religion is not good, which is why I am taking another one. If you go into the root of any religion, you realize that all religions are one. And so you honor, learn from everybody and grow spiritually.
Conversion should be from the head to the heart, from badness to goodness and not from one religion to another.
Gurudev, India is a rich country with poor people, and I feel that this is the case because of corruption. What are your thoughts on this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: India was under foreign rule for many centuries. After going through all that, with a population that is three times that of America, with only one-third of their land mass, with 600 dialects and 28 languages, the country is the equivalent of a continent, and yet, it is progressing. Why don’t you see this positive side?
If you go to any village today, even in the slums, they have televisions. When we came to this area in Bangalore, there wasn’t a single tiled roof. Everywhere, in all the villages, there were only thatched roofs. (I also liked the thatched roof but when it rains, it would leak.) Today, do you see any thatched roofs at all? No!
India is growing very fast. In spite of seven religions in this country and so many languages, yet there is harmony. We have relatively less number of mental hospitals or even cases of depression. Of course, we have our negative side; there is corruption, uncleanliness, lethargy and indifference.
Last year, there was this huge cry of India being intolerant; I would say that India is not intolerant, it is indifferent. We should have some more intolerance towards corruption and injustice, but we don’t do that, we take it all in our stride. This is where we need to wake up.
At the same time, there are many positive things. There are so many large-hearted people in this country. If you go to a village, they may have only one glass of buttermilk, yet they will share half of it with you. There is still that feeling of caring and sharing in every village here. It may not be the case with urban cities; they have become the same all over the world.
If you see only the negative side, you will feel there is no hope. Then you will say, “This is so corrupt, let me also become corrupt.” Your motivation to stand up against corruption will die. But if you see the positive side, then you will have the motivation to stand up. Whenever you see the negative, you should see the positive side also. If you had these problems anywhere in Europe, India would have become like the former Yugoslavia or the Balkan States and broken up into pieces. What is it that unites the whole country? It is spirituality!
Gurudev, my children have brought home a puppy, and every time I touch the puppy I feel I have to take a bath before I say my prayers. I am now fed up with having to bathe so many times. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: (Laughter) It is not necessary to keep on bathing like this. You need to be clean but you can just wash your hands before you say your prayers, that is good enough. Dogs are also a part of God. We don’t bathe for God, we bathe so that we are clean, God will accept us as we are! It is only the neighbors who will have a problem if we don’t bathe! (Laughter)
Even with regard to fasting, people misunderstand it to be something we are doing for God. You are not doing it for God. God is like your mother, or your father; would they like it if you stay hungry? Or if you bargain with them saying that you will fast until they accept your demands? Parents know when to give what to their children; They know better than you. Similarly, God knows what and when to give you, so don’t fast for God; fast to cleanse your body and mind.
Ekadashi (eleventh day of the fortnight) fasting has a very scientific reason; it is done three days before the full moon or new moon day, to cleanse the body. It is said one should eat only fruits or drink fruit juice. This change in your food intake eliminates the toxins in the body, which could otherwise cause diseases. These toxins in the system get aggregated during full moon and new moon, so to keep the body healthy it is suggested that we fast, and not to keep God happy.
In India, there are so many temples but unfortunately there is ill maintenance of our temples. The people who visit these temples behave badly and mess up the temples. As a result, a lot of our children do not want to go to temples anymore. What is the way forward?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, this is true especially in Tamil Nadu, but not in Karnataka. If you see the temples in Karnataka, they are kept very neat and clean. We need to teach the people in Tamil Nadu to maintain cleanliness.
Often people come to the temple, break a coconut and spill the water all over and then leave in a hurry. This is because the people are too caught up in rituals in Tamil Nadu. In North India that is not the case. In the North, they sit and sing bhajans, and the temples are kept fairly clean. Of course, there are some temples there also which are dirty. We need to educate the priests of the temples to keep temples clean.
The thevarams (hymns) that are sung in the temples are so beautiful. They address God saying ‘You are my wealth, you are my honey, my eyes, my everything’. This is a very unique way of addressing God as my beloved. When these songs are sung, the meanings should also be explained to people; otherwise, they chant in some language that nobody understands, and people don’t connect. They just go to the temple, do some rituals and leave the temple.
Actually, when you go to a temple, you should sit there for some time and then come. But what do people do? They do an act of sitting down and getting up in 10 seconds or less, they pretend as though they sat. Why? Because it is part of the rules that if people don’t sit in the temple, then they won’t get any benefits. This is written in the temple’s rules and regulations. That won’t help; sitting means what? They should sit in meditation. There are a thousand pillars in many of the temples in Tamil Nadu. These pillars are meant for people to sit and meditate, and go deep inwards, but nobody does it.
Even the aarti that is done, nobody understands why they do it! In aarti, you light a camphor and say to God ‘Let my life keep going around you only, and not away from you. Let your thoughts linger on in my mind all day and night’. This is the prayer. Our life is like a flame. If you light a candle and turn it upside down, the flame still goes up. Like that, you pray, ‘Let my enthusiasm, my life and values always go up, and let it always be around you’. This is the feeling behind the aarti, but we don’t understand it.
Why do you break a coconut in the temple? Our body is compared to a coconut. Body should be strong like the shell. The mind should be like the white kernel inside, and your heart or feelings should be like the sweet water. So by breaking the coconut, you say, ‘I keep my emotions and feelings, like the sweet water, in front of you.’
You need some rituals to express your feelings, e.g., when someone dear to you comes, you greet them with flowers. In the ancient days, they did these rituals. Whatever God is doing to you, you say, ‘I am going to replicate, do the same to you.’ Like when children play, they say, ‘I have become a doctor, and I am going to test you or I am making coffee and you should drink!’
There is a joy in playing like that; puja is the same (concept). God has given you rain, so you offer him water. He has given you rice, fruits so you also offer rice and fruits. Such practices are also there in Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism and Sikhism. This has been developed in the East and is also done in Islam and Christianity; you offer candles and flowers in Christianity. In Islam, you go to the Darga, spread a sheet, offer prayer beads and flowers. If these rituals are not done with feelings, then there is no purpose in doing them, and it is not compulsory that you have to do it.
In the olden days, temples were not just places of worship; they were centers of culture where dance, music and poetry would flourish. It was a meeting place for community people to get together, there were no separate community halls those days. Weddings happened in temples, there was art and architecture. You see the Meenakshi temple in Madurai, see the amount of paintings and carvings there, it is unbelievable.
When I was in Hyderabad, they took me to this 1,000 pillars temple, which was dilapidated. The beauty was that you could pass a fine thread through those stone carvings. It is a wonder as to how they carved such needles without breaking the stones, where only a thread could pass through; we had some amazing workmanship then. Temples were the kind of places where all this was exhibited, so we definitely need to keep them clean. We need to educate people; knowledge of all this is necessary.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Thursday, December 1, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
The human heart is very soft when it is young. It responds to grief and pain in fellow beings. It is the example of elders, the lessons they receive from parents, the company they get into and the training they get in school and society that harden these hearts into stone! Keep those hearts soft. Share with others their grief and their joy. Do not be jealous when others are happier or appreciated or rewarded with prizes. Emulate their hard-working nature, pray for a higher share of intelligence or a sharper memory, but never give room to envy and malice in your hearts. Envy is a deadly poison, it will contaminate your character, ruin health and rob you of peace. Like a pest that destroys growing crops, envy enters slyly and spreads quickly causing rampant damage. So, even in small matters, be vigilant to ensure you do not fall a prey to envy. Be unaffected by envy (anasuya) and you can please God. (Divine Discourse, Apr 18, 1966) |
-BABA |
Imagine that we are all going to die in another ten days, then who are you going to be jealous of? Who are you going to be angry with? What is it that you will want? All that you have earned and all that you have done will remain here, and you will be gone.
The small mind which is irritating us everyday suddenly loses its grip over our life and we start blossoming. It will bring a smile, confidence and intuition that nothing else can give you.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
There Is No Escape From The Guru
07/19/2016 Boone, United States
You can’t escape from having a Guru, or being a Guru. Everyone has to realize this, that there is no escape, or no way out.
There is a proverb in Sanskrit that says, ‘I first salute the wicked because he is teaching me by falling into a pit. He has warned me. Then I salute the one who has shown me the light’.
See, the one who is showing you the light is not doing so at his own cost. But the one who is falling, is teaching you at his own cost.
So by default everyone is a Guru because you are teaching someone something. You may not be moving people from where they are stuck, or granting them what they want, or bringing them freedom (as that requires a higher qualification), but you are definitely teaching them some wisdom. At least one of the four functions of the Guru everybody has, i.e., knowledge, progress, achievement and liberation.
So there is no escape from having a Guru or being a Guru. By default, someone or the other will learn from you.
The four benefits of having a Guru:
1. Wisdom
2. Progress in life
3. Achievement
4. Liberation
Without knowledge there cannot be organization, if organization is there, that means that there is knowledge because knowledge has organizing power. This is what has been said by the Ancient Seers, ‘Knowledge has organizing power’.
There is a verse in the Vedas that says, ‘Wisdom and knowledge lies in the imperishable sounds and letters which are embedded in the space beyond the physical space, which is the abode of all the angels.’
This space (which the Vedas refer to) is the inner space in which all the Devas are imbedded, and if you have no access to this space then what is the point of all of this knowledge. And one who has access to the inner space is just full of bliss, and nothing can shake him or her. These four things come from that inner space – wisdom, progress, achievement and liberation.
This is all very interesting! In this era of technology, it is so easy to comprehend. Several decades ago, people would not comprehend this. It is very difficult for many to comprehend this, of course, not those who have meditated deeply. But those who just read this, it is very difficult for them to comprehend that there is a space in which all the knowledge is embedded.
Do you know, when you sent a text message what happens? The text travels through the space and in a fraction of a second, it enters into the other cell phone. In between two cell phones, where is the text? Have you ever thought about it? I think many people have not even thought about it. That space through which the text message travels is already there.
Supposed you type something, and the receiver gets something else; just imagine if there is some mismatch. You type, “Honey, I love you”, and the person receives a message from you that says, “You’re a stupid guy”. Nothing happens like because that Parame Vyoman is so structured. There could be an error in tying but not an error because of the space because the space is so perfect.
Angels are not figures, they are just energies. When we use the word energy, it feels like some dead inert substance, but if you use the word angel it feels alive and lively. If you say, ‘The human body is carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins’, or you say, ‘A living human being’, it makes a difference somewhere. In the same way, the energies are called Devas.
The word Deva has many meanings, but one of the meaning is ‘Light’. Another meaning is ‘Playful’, one who loves to play. Deva also means ‘Perfection’. Perfection,
playfulness, light and positivity – this is what Devas are. It is a very interesting analysis.
We are so fortune to get all this knowledge which has been maintained from thousands of years. Without any scriptures and books also, you can realize this knowledge. But the authenticity of it is when you know that the same knowledge has been there for many years (scriptures). So, the authentication is essential.
Perfection, authenticity, simplicity, clarity, universality and reality – this is what we have in The Art of Living. It is all very sure and very clear. And this knowledge is also practical, it has a utility to it.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
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Pat Gounden
Date: Friday, December 2, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
A person is judged by actions. Good actions reveal a good person and bad actions reveal a wicked person. Your qualities and actions are interdependent as actions reveal your inner qualities and your inner qualities drive your actions. Strive to reform yourself by developing good qualities. Merely listening to spiritual discourses or living in sacred places or in sacred company is of no use, unless an effort is made to practice a few of the noble teachings. Qualities like forbearance (kshama), compassion, truth, love and empathy are not restricted to any nation, race or faith. These are spiritual qualities and are essential for people everywhere, at all times. Propagation of Righteousness (Dharma) does not mean spreading knowledge about something that is unknown. Knowledge of Dharma is acquired only to promote its practice and only those who practice righteousness are qualified to propagate it. By practicing in daily living alone, you learn its true nature and realise its full value. (Divine Discourse, Jan 7, 1988) |
-BABA |
When you can do any action with mindfulness, you are aware of what you are saying or doing, this makes you a yogi.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Don't Get Stuck In Small Things
07/19/2016 Boone, United States
Below in the continuation of the post There Is No Escape From The Guru)
There are many dimensions in life. Let’s work with this dimension properly, when you are totally relieved from this dimension, or fully satisfied in this dimension, then the other dimensions will open-up.
You want a this, you want that, you want a car, you want a job, with so many wants, the other dimension will say. “We will wait, you first finish all of this”.
Questions & Answers
Gurudev, why there is pain in longingness?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The pain is good will make you very creative. It will bring out the poet from within you, or it will make you an artist. It can also bring out the sevak in you. It can bring out the warrior in you. You have so many good qualities, and longing will bring them all out.
There was one generation of Masters who were very tough. Tough in the sense, if you desire something, that will not happen. They would nip desire in the bud.
If the you would say. “I want to go to California”, then forget about it, you will never go to California. To come to a state of no-mind, they would use this tactic of crushing every desire that would arise. At some point of time you would have to give-up, and then you go to the no-mind state when you are unconditionally happy.
If you would go to them and say, “Oh, I have this problem”, they would say, ”It’s your karma, bear it. You must have done something terrible, so experience it and finish it off”. That was the attitude – no compassion. Just imagine if there is no compassion, then what do you need to do? You have to stand up.
A creeper needs a tree to stand up, but a tree doesn’t need another tree to stand up. So, they would completely destroy all that is delicate in you. If you are emotional, they would take a hammer. If you complain, they would say, ‘Let it be’. If you say, “Some people are blaming me”. They would say, “Yes, more people should blame you”. They would push all your buttons and make you so numb to everything in the world, till you realize that everything is nothing. It was a very tough journey. I don’t think anyone of you can survive for even one day, it was such a tough atmosphere.
All that you identify yourself as would be simply ripped off. It was a long and tough journey. which very few could survive. And there would be a millions chances to doubt and run away, only the very strong could survive such conditions.
In The Art of Living, we have taken a complete 180 degree turn and adopted a completely different route. Here we say, “What is your desire? Okay, let it be fulfilled”. Sometimes I wonder, “Am I making everyone weak?” But there is no option. At least this has put you on the path of knowledge.
I see you all are growing. Everyone is growing but I tell you, don’t get stuck in small little things. This world is Maya. There are always some issues that will prop up in life. You will have some excuse or some incidences to worry about. When such things come, you have to remember that this is all Maya, this is all ephemeral, this is all impermanent and stand up.
Your wants and desires are getting fulfilled. For some people it takes longer time, for some people it happens in a shorter time, and for some people it happens immediately. Many times, we only have put thought-constraints in our own mind. We put the sankalpa and we put the vikalpa as well. And to come out of this mess I don’t see any other path which is as effective as ours right now. If I find something better, I will myself ask you to do it. But the other generations of masters were very different.
When everything is changing then how can it still be meaningful.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Everything is changing and that change is meaningful. Everything is changing, and there is something which is not changing. And the changing and non-changing are two sides of the same coin. The non-changing has become the changing, that is the meaning of it. If you are confused, that means you got it (laughter). If you feel you have understood it, then you have not got it.
Keep the aspiration for higher knowledge. Be content, happy and yet have aspiration for higher knowledge. These are two opposite things – one side is contentment and on the other side is longing for higher knowledge.
If you are simply longing for higher knowledge without any contentment, then you will go all over the place, you will go spiritual shopping and hear and do so many things and get thoroughly confused.
If you have only contentment and you feel ‘I have learnt it all’, then you will allow the passion for knowledge to die out. The skill that you need to develop is to keep the passion for knowledge, and at the same time maintain the contentment; a balance – this is the bicycle that you have to ride!
Longing or craving with frustration will do you no good. The scriptures very clearly say this. If you are longing, craving and running with frustration, you will get more frustrated. You won’t get anywhere. At the same time, if you are contented, inert and laid back, and you think, ‘Anyways whatever has to happen will happen. Anyways it is all karma’, then too, you will not get anywhere.
In India this is what has happened. When it comes to doing something good, people say, “God willing, it will happen”. To do anything wrong, we don’t say, “If God is willing let it happen”.
When I was in Israel, they showed me two groups of people – one group of society are working hard. The other side of the society keeps saying,” If God willing it will happen”, and they haven’t ploughed the field at all. Nothing is growing on the field.
On the other side, the people are finding innovative ways of farming through drip irrigation, and other things, and they are growing.
In India also, it is like this. People say, “If God calls me to do meditation, then I will come.” You think God is going to call you, “Come, do meditation.”
So this is a sense of contentment with no passion. And there are some who have passion with no contentment. Both are two extremes. But the one who succeeds will have passion and contentment, together.
If you look at Mahatma Gandhi’s life, this was there – he was content at every step and he had passion as well. He would do satsang every day, meditate, listen to the Bhagavad Gita. Contentment and passion was both part of his routine. You will also see this in all those who are successful.
(To the crowd attending the satsang): Keep in mind, that you already have both contentment and passion. I see the contentment in all your faces, and it is because you have passion that you are all here. So, don’t doubt yourself. If you have no passion, you wouldn’t come here. You have all the virtues. You don’t have to cultivate any of these. Go with this confidence!
Gurudev, is there an intelligent life outside the planet earth?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You can’t say no, there isn’t. To say no, you have to explore everything. If you can’t say no, it means yes.
Gurudev, what is fear and what is fantasy? Many of my fears in day to day life are baseless; things that will never happen. Why do I picture the worst scenario?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Fear is love upside down. If you have fear, then know that you have the ability to love. So, when you fall in love or raise in love, your fear will simply dissipate. Fear is nothing but another way of love.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Monday, December 5, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Culture lies in seeing unity in diversity, with a deep-seated faith in the unity of life. Nourish faith in the feeling of the caste of humanity and the culture of love. Here love does not refer to the bodily affection that marks the relationship between a wife and husband, between children and parents, or between friends. The son, though he loved his mother with all his heart, flings her body onto the burning pyre and consigns her to flames without any mercy after her death. How can such love be called true Love? All such relationships can at best be termed ‘attachment’! Attachments, like passing clouds that sail away, come in the middle and pass off in the middle. But Love existed even before birth and will last after death. There is no love between husband and wife before their wedding or between the mother and the child before its birth. Only Divine Love exists before birth and lasts after death. (Ch 1, Summer Roses on Blue Mountains 1996) |
-BABA |
Our life is very important. In this very life we can attain That through which everything in this creation has manifested and is in motion. It is important that we recognize that one supreme power which is making everything happen in this world. Once you realize that, then no one will be able to wipe away your smile, nor shake that deep love within you.
Two things are most important for life to run smoothly. The first is Love. Would you be able to live if everyone around you told you that they do not love you? No! We want that everyone should love us. But then you must also ask yourself that how many people have you loved unconditionally?
You know, at the time of death, only two questions will be before us: how much love have we shared, and how much knowledge have we gained in our lifetime?
We often do the exact opposite of this. We are more inclined to get love from others (rather than giving), and we stay stuck in giving knowledge to others rather than receiving.
True spirituality is that knowledge which maintains an unshakable happiness in you, and which helps bring happiness to others around us by your very presence.
Spirituality is that which takes you deeper within yourself and also enables you to bring peace and happiness to others around us. Life is so dry and juice-less without spirituality. A life that is dry is the surest way of sinking into negativity. We tend to get angry quickly and more often, we get stuck in cravings and aversions, we feel disturbed. The root cause of all this is having a dry and juice-less life.
So how can we make our life juicier? There are two ways:
1. Deep faith and
2. Deep rest
Have this unshakable faith that the creator of the world loves you very dearly. Believe that 'God is in me, and I in Him'. This single faith alone can take you to great heights.
God’s love is 1000 times more intense than the love of your parents towards you. You may call that supreme power by any name that you like, you can call it Mother Divine, Lord Shiva, or God, etc. It does not matter. God loves you very dearly all the same.
So this faith you must have. Just do this once and see how your life changes. Then whatever you wish for will start to happen. Have this faith in your heart and just relax and repose within yourself.
So first you must have faith in God. Then have faith in the fact that there are many good and noble people in the society. There are some people who have gone astray, but the number of good people is far greater even today. Have faith in the goodness of the people around you.
Then you must have faith in yourself. It is very important to have faith in yourself. And along with that faith, you must also rest – and this rest can only come through meditation. We just meditated now. It was good, isn’t it? So you all must meditate and learn a few pranayamas. Then you will have no reason whatsoever to be sad or dejected in life.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
3 Things Everyone Looks For
10/19/2016 Paris, France
I am very happy to be with all of you this evening!
So what shall we do now? Let’s do something different today, shall we? Let’s not discuss stress relief, relationships, peace and all the usual topics. Let’s think of something bigger and something beyond. Are you ready for this?
What I want to tell you today, I can’t only tell you in words. That’s my difficulty. Life has a new and much bigger dimension that what we think. Eating, sleeping, talking to people, being happy one day and unhappy on another day, going out, etc., is all nothing. There is much more to life. There is a mystic aspect to life.
Do you know who you are? I tell you, you have no idea. We have to keep aside all our identities and take a look at life. You are consciousness; scintillating, sparkling light. Just for a moment, think you are nothing but fire, you are a glow attached to the body. A whole new perspective comes up in you. And you find everybody here is nothing but light, and that light is part of you.
See, in our body, there are millions of cells. Many are being born every day and many are dying. But in some sense, those cells don’t know you. Like that, the light that you are is what is enveloping the whole planet, but you don’t see this. When you begin to see this, that is the first step towards another dimension (that we can peep into). When you see that you are light, and when you peep into that other dimension – you find that there is no death of anything. You find that all those people who lived in the past, your relatives, friends are all there. And those who are going to come back into the body, they are also there. It is like people who are exiting the periphery and people who are getting into the periphery. You know, when you are in a traffic jam, you see people coming in and you see people going out. It is like that!
Whatever events that happen in life, we generally think ‘Oh, this person is responsible for this’, or ‘That person is responsible for this’. This is all an illusion. It is true in one sense, but on a higher plane, it is all very different.
See, there are two levels of understanding. One is where I can say – everything is wood, the ceiling, the flooring, the doors, the chairs are all wood (and they are all the same). On another level, the door is not the ceiling, the ceiling is not the floor, and the floor is not the pillar (they are not the same). So I want you to look further – from thinking the floor is different, the ceiling is different, the door is different, to, it is all wood. This is the second step.
The first step is, you are light. The second step is, it is all made up of one substance.
Whenever an incident has happened, you made new friends, or friends became enemies, or enemies became friends; hasn’t this happened to you?
How many of you have had this experience, that you had only done good for your friend, but for no reason, your friend became your enemy? (Many in the audience raise their hands). The reverse of this situation is also true. Someone who you didn’t like, or who was your enemy, suddenly became very helpful towards you. And another situation is, you got help from someone whom you didn’t even know.
All these happenings, of friends becoming enemies and enemies becoming friends operate from a different law, and that is the law of karma. So instead of holding that person responsible, look up and realize that it is karma that made people react like that. When you realize this, your mind becomes peaceful, and then you are able to look at something beyond the apparent cause.
For every incident or event, you find a cause. If you are late, it is because of so and so reason. If have succeeded, it is because of so and so reason. And if there is failure, then too it is because of so and so reason. If you are a little knowledgeable, you will look at all this and laugh because all these apparent causes are not the real cause. If you go a little beyond, that cause is also an effect, and there is another cause. And if you explore every cause of an effect on this planet, it will lead you to another cause, and the ultimate cause leads you to that point where you are the light. And once you realize this, I tell you, you get so happy, so satisfied, so complete and feel so invincible. Nothing whatsoever can shake you, tempt you, disturb you or make you unhappy. This what is what the human race is looking for.
The goal of the human race is to find a peace that can never be shaken, a joy that can never diminish, and a love that can never die. Isn’t this what everyone wants? This is what is spirituality. Every human seeking spirituality is because they want these three things, but they are looking for it where it is not to be found.
If you go and look for clothes in a restaurant, you will only find napkins. You have to go to Champs Elysse to look for clothes, and not to a restaurant. Can you go to a restaurant and ask for shoes? No! I can’t go to a shoe shop and ask for croissants. So we are looking for things where they are not.
I am not saying that you should renounce the world, leave everything and run to the Himalayas. Do whatever you are doing, and be successful. Do your business, have a family – do all that, but do not miss something that is your birthright (spirituality).
In fact, when your awareness is expanded (through spirituality) and when you have a higher goal (which includes service to society), you will find all the small things (desires) happen effortlessly. So it is not worth worrying about what you are worrying for. This is the summary. What do you say?
Give me all your worries. It is useless worrying about somebody, worrying about your job, or worrying about this and that. By worrying you are not going to get anything. Move ahead with the confidence that I will get what I want in my life. Challenges come in everyone’s life, but just move on and see, everything will fall into place.
Yesterday, making this program possible was a challenge; do you know this? Yesterday, we came to know that the hall where the program is to happen is flooded, and so they have closed down the hall. But the organizers did not have even a minute of doubt on whether they would get another hall, or what they would do… they did not worry.
And I too told them, “You will get a better place in the same area”. And we got this place, and we are all here.
So challenges come to everybody, but we must know that we have a higher power with us, and so we can get what we want, and we can do what we want, and whatever happens, happens for our highest good.
Challenges come, losses happen; things happen the way you don’t want them to happen, but ultimately, it makes you stronger, it uplifts your spirit and you become much wiser.
Questions & Answers
Love or reason?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Both are part of life. You should not choose between them. It is like asking someone ‘Should I watch or listen to television?’ You have to do both.
When you do business, do it with reason. When you relate to people don’t do it as business, do it with love. If you do business with your heart and live your life with your head, it will be a disaster.
How to go beyond physical suffering?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When you sleep, you go beyond the body and beyond pain. But if you meditate, you can consciously go beyond pain.
What is the way of life of Art of Living?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Art of Living is to live life with wisdom and with a broad vision. The Art of living is to create a violence-free society, disease-free body, confusion-free mind, inhibition-free intellect, trauma-free memory and sorrow-free soul.
Do you represent religion?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I represent spirituality which is the essence of all religions. I represent humanism which is the essence of all religions. I represent love and wisdom which is the goal of all religions, and I represent multi-religious dialogue and multi-cultural festivals.
I feel at home wherever I go. Not once I have felt homesick or I felt I belong to only this place or this culture. I always feel the whole world is my family and everyone is part of me.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Tuesday, December 6, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
To develop kshama (forbearance), you must practice four kinds of purity – 1. Dravya Soucham (purity of materials); 2. Manasika Soucham (purity of mind); 3. Vak Soucham (purity in speech); 4. Kriya Soucham (purity in action or purity of body). Purity of materials covers all things used by a person, from clothes, food and cooking utensils to houses, and all the varied things used by a person. Everything that is in daily use should be completely pure. Purity of the mind calls for total elimination of attachments and aversions from the mind. Purity in speech implies avoidance of falsehood, and avoiding abusive language, slanderous gossip and speech that causes pain to others. A vile tongue fouls the mind and dehumanises man. The body has to be purified by performing Achamana with water (this ritual involves uttering the names of the Lord thrice and drinking three spoonfuls of water from the palm). (Divine Discourse, Jan 7, 1988) |
-BABA |
Tapa helps to purify all the organs of the body and rid them of impurities. The entire body gets cleansed and all the sense organs become stronger with tapa.
Tapasya is not done to please God, or to attain self realization, but it is done to make the body and mind stronger.
You must have seen that so many saints do very austere penances (tapasya), especially among the Jains. The Jain saints are able to walk bare foot for long distances. They do not feel very cold in the winters, or too hot during the summers. They develop a resistance towards extreme climatic conditions because of their tapasya. So this is one of the benefits of doing tapasya.
But you should not stretch or overdo this at all. Doing too much tapasya and troubling your own body is not advisable at all. It is wrong to do that.
There are some people who sit with four fires burning all around them, and one on top of their head and do meditation. It is called Panchagni tapasya. All this is not necessary. Torturing the body like this is wrong and should not be done. But a little bit of tapasyais necessary.
It is said, ‘Tapovai dwandva sahanam’, which means forbearing the opposites is tapasya.
Suppose you are travelling somewhere in a bus, and it is a 12 hour long journey for which you have to sit. Then that also is a sort of tapasya.
Being in a state of equanimity, and enduring whatever come, whether it is hot or cold, good or bad, praise or criticism, is tapasya.
Can you listen to an insult with the same equanimity as when you listen to compliments? That is tapasya. When someone praises you, you listen to it with a smile. When someone criticizes you, can you listen to it with the same smile and equanimity, and watch what is happening inside you? That is tapasya.
When you do not like something but are able to undergo that, then that is tapasya.
If you can like something, can you be a witness to it and not be feverish about it, then that is tapasya.
Forbearing the opposites is called tapasya, and it is essential in life.
The extent to which we follow tapasya in life, to that extent we become stronger and stable.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
To Err Is Human, To Forgive Is Divine
Wed, 12/10/2014 Bangalore, India
When you have that deep urge to get rid of any bad habit, deep prayer will can change it. How many of you have experienced this? (Many in the audience raise hands)
Questions & Answers
What is the relevance of morality in the real world when divinity is considered beyond morality, like in the case of Krishna?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The basic principle of morality is, do not do that which you would not want someone else to do to you. If you don’t want your husband to flirt with someone, you should not flirt with someone else, that is it!
There was a boy who was going around with a married women, and he didn’t feel it was wrong. He said, ‘We did it on mutual consent’.
I asked him, ‘If someone goes around with your brother’s wife, what will you do?’ He said, ‘I will break his leg’.
When you want her to be loyal to your brother, then how can you do it to someone else?
I said, ‘If there is a future in the relationship, it is a different thing. But, there is no future. Then why should you break someone else’s family?’
It struck a chord in him and he realized what he was doing was wrong. That is morality.
What you do not wish to be done to you, or to your near and dear ones, you should not do to someone else. If you don’t want someone else to misbehave with your daughter or son then how can you do that with someone else’s daughter or son. If you don’t want someone else to be drunk while driving, then how can you drive when you are drunk?
If you don’t want someone else to rob you of your wealth, or cheat you, then you should not cheat someone else.
Suppose someone forges your signature, you cannot think, ‘Oh we are spiritual, all this is mundane. So what if someone has forged my signature? It is all maya anyway’. If someone puts his hand in your pocket, would you say, ‘Oh, we are all one. Why should one have this ego?’ No. Then this is misuse of knowledge.
If knowledge is used to shield immoral activity then that is misuse of knowledge. Morality means not doing something which you don’t wish to be done to yourself.
If someone has done something wrong, don’t hold on to it. If a mistake has happened through you, like you forgive others their mistakes, you should also forgive yourself. Forgive yourself and forgive others; don’t chew on other’s mistakes or your own mistakes.
When you chew on the mistakes of others, you get angry. When you chew on your own mistake, you will feel guilty and you will drown in your own depression. Both are no good. Spirituality takes you away from all this.
As it is said, to err is human. You make mistakes, but don’t sit and chew on your own mistake or someone else’s mistake. If someone has made a mistake you should forgive and forget. If you have made a mistake, you should ask for forgiveness and move on. Don’t get stuck; feel free!
If you are upset with yourself, you can get angry with others very easily. And if you’re angry with others, you will get upset with yourself. Both these positions are not favorable.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
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Pat Gounden
Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Culture is universal in its scope and significance. We should not claim and contend that Indian culture is superior to all the other cultures of the world. Instead, we should have firm faith in the injunctions like: a) “All are one. Be alike to everyone.” b) “Together we shall live. Together we shall move. Together we shall grow in splendour. Together we shall live in amity and harmony, without conflict and skirmish.” We should foster the noble sentiments expressed in vedic statements of this kind. Unfortunately, the educational institutions of today do not nourish these noble sentiments in students. They are purely academically oriented and disregard the finer values of life. Secular learning should be coupled with spirituality. It is only such a harmonious blend of the secular and the spiritual that would lend beauty and radiance to life. We should not learn merely to fill our bellies but also to fill our hearts with bliss. The food eaten fills only the stomach but does not fill the mind, but spiritual food fills the mind and gives eternal Bliss. (Ch 1, Summer Roses on Blue Mountains 1996) |
-BABA |
Education reform should include innovative strategies that empower teachers to improve student outcomes and nurture their growth. Today, media, Internet, movies and video games bombard children with information. This information overload affects the brain's capacity to digest and analyze data, and often results in health problems like Attention Deficiency Disorder. Creative methods of teaching can help combat these issues and help children build healthy personalities. In addition to intellectually stimulating children, education systems must also include physical activities such as sports as well as ancient techniques such as meditation, yoga and pranayama as part of a child's learning process that will teach them how to manage their emotions. True education means more than pursuit of a certain course of study. It means a preparation for achieving life skills to attain not only one's dreams but also build a safe and strong community. When a child grows up with a sense of belonging towards everybody, he or she is ready to engage with the communities in a meaningful way. And by the time young graduates pass out of college, they learn well how to embrace their duties towards themselves, the nation and the world.
It is time that we came together to identify ways and means of restoring the respect, honour and dignity that education has had historically. The need of the day is a broad-minded education accompanied by a warm and caring heart. The function of education is to teach one to think critically - where intelligence comes with character. It is of no use if one acquires good education and then begins to look down upon others - or just engage in building wealth for oneself. A well-educated person is one who is friendly and compassionate, and is capable of selfless action. A complete education is one which empowers an individual to play the role of a global citizen in making the local community stronger and the world a safer and happier place to live.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Touching That Level Of Meditation
10/23/2016 Kharkov, Ukraine
Meditation is not concentration. How many of you think meditation is concentration? (Many in the audience raise their hands) You'll be disappointed because Meditation is not concentration. Meditation is a deep relaxation, and it is happening to us many times but we don't realize it. Little meditations have happened to all of us here and there, now and then when we felt some happiness. Every time you felt a deep sense of happiness, fulfillment or satisfaction, know that you have somewhere touched that level of meditation.
Questions & Answers
With the culture and education system of today, how do we nurture that childlike quality in us?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: They are not contradictory, in fact they are complimentary. If you talk to any accomplished scientist, you'll find in them this quality of innocence, like a child. Any genius in any field for that matter, if you sit and talk to them, you will feel that there's a genuineness and a childlike simplicity in them.
Somewhere people think that childlike simplicity is contrary to being intelligent. I usually say that intelligence which is accompanied with cunningness is good for nothing, and child-likeness which is full of ignorance is good for nothing. We need that perfect combination of innocence and intelligence. A pure heart and a clear mind is a part of intelligence.
How do we find balance?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Through Meditation. Today scientists say, if you meditate even for eight weeks at least once a day, the grey matter in the brain increases and the structure of the brain changes. That's what I have been saying for the last 35-40 years. Today scientists have said the same thing, they have authenticated it in some way – that meditation does so much good to your nervous system and it does so much good to your brain. It creates a positive energy around you, it uplifts your spirit and alters your behavior pattern.
World Health Organization says that the biggest challenge that mankind is facing today is depression, and by the year 2020 depression is going to be much more prevalent. If half the population are on anti-depressants, then that is going to be terrible. Even anti-depressants work for some time and then they stop working. So, we need to bring a lifestyle change in people by making them understand how they can handle their own mind, their energy and their vibrations.
We live in era of quantum physics and today quantum physics says this is all about vibration. The whole world is nothing but vibrations, and this is what spirituality also says – it's all vibration. So, we need to teach people how they can shake off all the stress that accumulates on a day-to-day basis.
30 years ago, when I would talk about yoga or meditation, people would say, “Wow, that's not the normal thing to do. Someone who is crazy would go for all this”. That was the paradigm, that was the assumption people had. Today it has changed. Today, big companies like Daimler Chrysler, Benz, etc., show someone in a meditative pose to depict happiness in their advertising. Relaxation and happiness has become synonymous to meditation. I feel there's a big change in the mindset of the people.
A lot of people still hide and go for meditation and yoga practices in Norway. How do we work around this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There are different types of prejudices in different places in the world. A progressive society should just do away with prejudice.
In Norway, I am sure many people meditated. The others (who are not for meditation) are either misinformed or not well-informed about meditation. When doctors are telling you that with meditation your BP becomes normal, your blood sugar becomes normal, your heart rate becomes lower, then it must be good for you. Paradigms keep changing in the world and the intelligent people take to it faster than the others.
You travel all around the world. What do you see when you travel? Is there progress, and is there peace of mind?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: More and more people today want peace of mind. They want conflicts to be resolved. There are other people who are just struggling to make their ends meet.
There are two different aspects:
1. The physical requirements of people.
2. The mental requirement. Many people want solace.
People continue to feel lonely, after 40-50 a sense of depression dawns in them, and they feel they're not wanted by their family, people and society. This sort of anxiety has taken over some parts of the world.
We need to work on both levels. We need to give opportunities to people who are struggling to make ends meet. The Art of living is making some efforts in this direction by educating children, bringing education to unskilled people and unemployed people and giving them some hope to live. At the same time, those who have enough, we give them inner solace and make them see what life is all about. And we tell them that there is no point in crying and being worried all the time.
What do you think about Donald Trump?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I know Americans are very intelligent people. I will let them decide what they want. I shouldn't be imposing or influencing them directly or indirectly about my opinion. There are very different people on this planet with different mindsets and ideas, and you never know what works, when and where.
What do your teaching hold for me as an atheist? I really struggle with this concept of God.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I would like you to be a sincere seeker of truth. Don't label yourself as a theist or an atheist. It's very difficult to be an atheist, do you know why? You say that something is not existing. When you say that something doesn't exist, you should know everything about the universe to be able to say that, and it is impossible to know everything in the universe. The same is with a theist also. Believers or non-believers, they are on the same boat because both of them think they know it all. I would say, it is better to be a seeker of truth. If you are a seeker of truth, you don't have to believe things that you don't know.
You know you exist and you believe you exist, then explore who you are, forget about God, keep God aside. Let's just go with this self-inquiry ‘Who am I?’
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Thursday, December 8, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Your life should be marked by discipline and morality, wherever you live. Lead your life in consonance with the command of your conscience. Your actions should remain the same, whether observed or unobserved, noticed or unnoticed. Though it is hard to restrain your mind, it can be diverted. When the mind steeped in the secular world is diverted toward Divinity, it gains in moral strength. The mind steeped in the worldly matters makes you a prisoner of the world, whereas a mind steeped in God liberates you. Your heart is the lock and your mind is the key. When you turn the key to the left, it locks. But if you turn it right, it unlocks. It is the turning of the key that makes the difference. Hence your mind is the cause for your liberation and bondage. What then is liberation (moksha)? It is not an air-conditioned mansion, but a state devoid of delusion (moha). (Summer Roses on Blue Mountains 1996, Ch 1) |
-BABA |
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The 5 Causes of Conflict
12/25/2016 Oslo, Norway
(A ‘Peace Conference’ was help at the European Parliament at Oslo, Norway on the 25 October 2015. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addressed the gathering with his wisdom and ideas on making a more peaceful world through multi-religious and multi-cultural education. Below is the transcript of what Gurudev said).
I am a very simple person who believes in the oneness of mankind. When we see our life from a broader perspective, we realize that we are on this planet for such a short time of 60-70 years. There is not enough time to get to know each other and love each other, and getting in conflicts appears to me to be absolutely foolish. Having said this, I want to talk about practical things that we need to do.
What is the root of conflict? If we analyze this, we see that stress is one of the causes of conflict. A stressful individual creates stress all around him or her. Whether it is a family situation, or in a community, or in a nation, it is the stressed individual who creates conflict.
This being a ‘Peace Conference’, I would like to speak a few words on peace before we get into the topic of ‘conflict’. To me, peace is not just the absence of conflict, peace is a positive state of human life. Peace is a state where you are creative, happy and joyful. Peace is a state from where you think of innovative and creative ideas. So, peace should be seen as a positive state of one’s existence, and not as just absence of conflict.
We all know that a baby smile around 400 times a day. By the time the child reaches college, we see that the smile disappears.
If you ask a child, “How many friends do you have?” You will see them count on their fingers. I have a question, “If a child can’t be friendly with 50 kids in his or her classroom, how are they going to be friendly with the whole world?”
So somewhere we need to inculcate an attitude of friendliness and open a channel of communication with each other though we are from diverse groups.
Coming back to the topic of ‘conflict’. Conflicts arise because of 5 reasons.
1. Lack of communication.
2. Lack of trust towards the other, with whom there is a communication break-down.
3. High levels of stress, and an inability of perceive or listen to the other’s point of view.
4. Religious indoctrination. If a child grows up believing that only he is going to heaven, and everybody else is going to hell, he is going is create hell for everyone around him or her. We need a de-radicalization. Radicalization is one of the main issues in conflict zones.
5. Vested interests of certain people. When conflicts become a cash cow because of the vested interests of certain people, then any amount of sense or wisdom does not work because all that appears to such a person is ‘There is a conflict, and I am getting money from this conflict, so I want to keep the conflict going on’.
Non-violence is a principle which is most needed today. Sometimes it appears to be a utopia. We are all here in Norway which is so peaceful and non-violence. Human rights and acceptance of diversity is so high over here. We need to see what we can do to bring these principles to the rest of the world; how we can promote and establish them! This is something that the intellectuals and decision makers of the world have to come up with.
Coming to the topic of Terrorism. We need to educate all those children who have been wrongly indoctrinated with the idea that ‘Only I will go to heaven, everybody else is going to go to hell’. We need to give them multi-cultural and multi-religious education. This is essential! UNESCO must take up this project of providing all children with multi-religious education. Children should know a little bit about all the religions of the world so that they grow up with a broad perspective and with wisdom, rather than having a narrow mind-set.
India has been a victim of terrorism for several years. The same is the case with Pakistan. Unless we all unite and fight against terrorism and poverty, there is no hope for the world. On this note, people all over the world, anyone who is sensible, who believes in justice and freedom, has to raise his voice against terrorism and fight terrorism.
The reformers and rulers have to move together. Being a reformer is the role of spiritual leaders, religious leaders and NGOs. There are a lot of NGOs in the world who can play a big role in all the conflict zones. We can go and meet people in these areas and speak to them; they are all part of us, they are not a different species, but just victims of misunderstanding, with lack of a proper understanding of the others and ridden with fear. Inside every culprit there is a victim crying for help. If we can reach out to them, we can have a better world.
A two-way approach is needed – humanitarian approach along with political dialogue. The humanitarian approach is needed to help them get rid of stress and tension, look at life from a broader perspective and realize that the peace you are looking for is deep within you.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Friday, December 9, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
A game of football is played by two teams, with each team striving to score a goal by shooting the ball to the goal post. Life is also a game between the two goal posts of secular and spiritual education. While playing football, one kicks the ball as long as it is filled with air. Once the football is deflated, no one will kick it. The air in the football signifies the presence of ego. A person swayed by ego would have to receive blows until they become devoid of ego. Only a deflated ball is picked up by the hands, whereas an inflated ball is kicked mercilessly. Similarly, a person who has destroyed the ego is well respected, whereas the person who allows free sway of ego becomes the target of all sorts of attacks. Only when you are free from ego can you transform yourself into an ideal person. Secular things come and go, whereas spiritual gains stay forever. (Summer Roses on Blue Mountains 1996, Ch 1) |
-BABA |
If you find that there is ego, then let it be. Even ego belongs to the divine. Don’t try to surrender, don’t struggle. If you say that I have surrendered my ego, then it is bigger ego. It’s like saying, "I am the most humble person in this entire world!" That doesn’t show humility. Just be Natural.
The more you grow in knowledge, you see that ego goes away. You know, around the seed there is a membrane. When you soak it in water, the seed bulges, sprouts and automatically the membrane breaks away. But if you try to peel the skin, the seed itself will break. Same way, when you soak yourself in knowledge, in devotion, in love, and in wisdom, you automatically find the ego going away.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
What Is The Solution For Ego Clashes?
11/18/2016 Odisha, India
Questions & Answers
What is the solution to an ego clash?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When egos are there, they do clash. There is no way out. When there is wisdom, you will rise above any small-minded attitude, bickering and judgements.
You judge people all the time, and if you turn back and look at your own judgements, I tell you, 80 to 90% of the time, they will be wrong. Sometimes people send some messages and before the other person gets it, they retract it. How many of you have done that? You type a message to send to someone, and something tells you that this is not okay and so you retract it. How many of you do this? This shows how poor your judgements are.
We create a huge cloud around what is not even close to truth, and it has happened to you so many times in the past. You hold grudges against people, you have concepts about people and you get yourself trapped into it. You must wake up from this. You know, if your time is good, your worst enemy behaves like a friend, and if your times are bad, your closest friend behaves like an enemy. So, your luck or time is totally responsible for your friends and enemies. Your karma is responsible for what you go through. So, you should take your mind away from judging others and bring it to yourself.
Often people who complain that others have a big ego, have a big ego themselves. Often those who complain others are rude, you will see somewhere inside, they are rude. You should reflect on yourself. See, you can’t correct others but others give you a chance to correct yourself.
Is it necessary to fast every week?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: We fast not to please the Divine, but to cleanse our body. You overwork your liver, stomach and pancreas so much. If there was a labor court for the body, all these organs would have complained against you in that court. We don’t allow them to rest at all. We drink and eat the whole day until night, and we overwork our system. They do need some rest and for that you need to fast.
God is not going to be pleased by your fasting. It is more to detox your own body. And why fasting is combined with prayer all over the world and in all religions, is because when you are fasting, you are detoxified and your prayer becomes authentic and deep. Your meditation happens best when your stomach is empty. Isn’t that your experience?
If you meditate on a full stomach, you will fall asleep. That is why it is said, you can say your prayers when you are fasting as your body is detoxified and your mind is rested and alert.
Just think of your own classrooms. In which period do you feel very alert? First few sessions, or just before lunch. If you have had a heavy breakfast the first session can be boring. And when do you feel heavy and dull? Right after lunch!
When I was in college, I also used to sit and sleep because I had had some nice food, and that too with yogurt. At that time, classes are like a burden. Nobody taught us in those days that food has an impact on our mind. Nobody taught us not to eat these particular things during the day.
Do you know what is the worst punishment? Give someone curd and rice, and don’t let them sleep. It is so difficult. So, our fasting has an impact on our alertness, and our mind which is why in all the religions of the world, be it Islam, Christianity, Hinduism or Jainism, fasting has been followed. But it is only for the body not to please God.
When I read the books and listen to knowledge, I really want to implement it. But when the time comes to implement the knowledge, I am unable to do it. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Knowledge gets implemented automatically; it is spontaneous. It is there at the back of the mind. What is it that stops you from implementing knowledge is small temptations. Small temptations go with three things: Love, greed and fear.
Suppose you are drinking alcohol or doing something that is not right, then the fear of disease, or fear of losing your reputation, or fear of losing a loved one can stop you. Fear as well as procrastination can stop you.
The second thing that can stop you is greed. If someone tells you, “If you drink alcohol, you will lose 10 million”. Or if you are a smoker and someone tells you, “If you don’t smoke for 30 days, you will get a lottery for 1 crore rupees”, I tell you, you will not touch a cigarette. You will say, instead of 30 days, let me make it 33 days just to be on safe side.
The third this is love. If you promise a loved one, you will keep it up.
Gurudev, my best friend is always angry and irritated with me. What should I do so that she is always happy with me?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Simply drop the ‘always’. Firstly, if your best friend is always angry, you will not even notice that she is angry. And this ‘always’, is a big issue. Accept her the way she is! And know that you don’t have to try to please everyone. If they are upset, accept that, be centered and strong and keep moving ahead.
Gurudev, I have not been doing my kriya for some time now and I feel I am taking you for granted. Please guide me. I am scared as I can’t afford to lose your love.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You know my love is unconditional, but I will tell you something. If you at least sit and meditate for some time, you are not doing it for me, you are doing it for your own good. Whatever you can do, you do. Take out a little bit of time for yourself. Tie up your sadhana with your daily routine.
Every day you have food, you don’t skip or miss any meals, right? Like that, do your pranayama and meditation. Even if you can’t do your pranayama, just sit and meditate. Have you noticed how you feel when you meditate and when you don’t meditate? There is so much heaviness when you don’t meditate, have you felt this?
How to express now when words itself are misinterpreted and I am not understood?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don’t bother. If people misinterpret, it is their problem. You meditate and you improve your intuitive ability, then you will say the right words at the right time.
Gurudev, I would like to be amicable with everyone but there are some people who always treat me like their enemy.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let them behave however they wish. Nothing in this world stays permanently anyway. People’s opinions keep changing all the time, and no emotions stays with the same intensity. Everything changes over a period of time. Let them be as they are.
You have seven billion people on this planet. If someone is holding a grudge against you, just let them be. Don’t rent out your upper chamber (referring to the mind) to anybody. Normally you rent it out to whoever you like the least, and they then start living there.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross : 23-28 January 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
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Pat Gounden
Date: Monday, December 12, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Remember, if you pray to God with a pure heart, God will use someone to respond to your prayer. It is indeed small-mindedness to ask questions such as, “Where is God”, “How will He help me?” and so on. By raising such inappropriate questions, only our faith is weakened. That is the reason, the great sage Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said, “If you want to pray to God sincerely, you must be like an innocent child.” Lord Jesus also gave the same message. He used to say: "Even if I am like a child for even a brief moment of the day, how pure can I become!" It is such innocence and purity that we must possess in our hearts. There is no use in preaching to others, if your own thoughts and conduct have not changed. Engage yourself in Sadhana to cleanse your heart and mind to fill them with pure thoughts and loving feelings. (Divine Discourse, Jan 7, 1988) |
-BABA |
When prana level is low - you feel upset, angry, dejected and not so good. When prana level is even lower - you feel life is not worth living. When prana level is normal - you feel yourself, like a normal human being. When prana is a little higher than normal - you feel more creative, enthusiastic, and joyful. And if it is even higher, you realize something much deeper.
Sadhana is meant to increase this prana level in you. If your prana level is constantly high - then you don’t need to do sadhana - that is what is enlightenment; your optimum prana.
I remember an elderly gentleman, some 40 years back, asked me, "Are you tired? You must be tired!"
There was an 86 years old gentleman with me, he pounced on the person, suddenly saying, "Come on! A yogi will not get tired!" That is true! Tiredness is when our senses go outward; the moment the senses start turning inward, we are tapping into the eternal source of energy.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The Quest Of Human Life
11/07/2016 Bangalore, India
Message from Iraq:
My Gurudev of peace, before I say Babashed's (the spiritual father for the Yazidis) message to you who is the spiritual leader of Yazidis, we thank you for welcoming us and for getting us here. You have collected us together from all the sectors, religions, and background of Iraq - the Sunnis, Shias, Christians, Yazidis and we are all united and together today. We will take the peace which you have given us to spread in our country.
Babashed's message: Peace and gratitude to all of you in India. You have gifted us with spirituality and we are here to learn from you. We are proud to be here and learn peace and patience from you.
Today, my city has been liberated. For more than two years and three months, the ISIS had been killing, torturing and treating all of us badly. We hope that all our Yazidis's girls who have been taken by ISIS come back to us. Thank you, Gurudev. Thank you, everyone. Thank you for helping and supporting us. Thank you for giving us all the support and peace so that we can live. Jai Gurudev!
Questions & Answers
(A member of the audience asked a question relating to a talk given by Gurudev on 29 October 2016 which was inaudible)
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: What is a lie? Something which keeps changing is called a lie. If you said something yesterday, and today you say something else, then that is called a lie.
Now what is truth? Truth is that which is unaffected by time. Something which remains constant and unchanging through the three phases of time (past, present and future) is what is truth.
If you look around and see, everything is changing. The way you were yesterday, or ten years back, you are not the same today. In a year’s time, every cell in our body changes.
So, when I say ‘Everything is a lie’, it means everything is changing.
Now, when you understand that everything is changing, then there must be some reference point which doesn't change, through which you can know that everything is changing. And what is that reference point? That reference point is you.
If everything in you changes, then how can you say ‘I have changed’? If everything in you changes then you have become another person itself. So, you need some reference point for change to be observed, otherwise you can't even know change. There is something in you that is not changing, but what is this that is not changing is not very clear.
We usually say, ‘I went to this school 20 years back’, or, ‘I did this job 25 years back’, but who was that person? Even if you look at a picture of you taken around 20 years back, you will not find much resemblance. Your body, mind, intellect, thoughts, feelings, everything has changed. But certainly, there is something which has not changed because of which you can notice this change. That is why I say, first identify the changes that are happening within you. Once you identify these changes, then slowly you will be able to identify that what is not changing. And once you identify that which is not changing, then you will realize ‘This is what I am, this is what I have been searching for.’
How to face Rahu and Shani Mahadasha (astrological planetary positions that bring forth a very hard phase of time)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don’t think that Rahu Dasha or Shani Dasha are bad. If you are on the spiritual path, and if you practice meditation, all these Dashas will do only good things to you.
People think the Shani Dasha is very bad. Shani Dasha pushes you towards the spiritual path. If you are stuck in small things, it relieves you from there and puts you on the spiritual path. If you are already in knowledge and wisdom, Shani Dasha doesn't do anything wrong.
In life, there are ups and down. Some good thing happens. Something which you don't like happens. But every incident is an opportunity for you to grow stronger. So, don't worry about Rahu Dasha or Shani Dasha.
Gurudev, when we chant a mantra continuously, will that mantra effect our body and life ?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Definitely! But we should not keep chanting continuously, this is not correct. Do you keep bathing continuously? When you chant the mantra for some time, your mind will become stronger. That is why it called mantra. We can do it for 20 - 30 min. If you keep doing it continuously, your intellect will become dull. We should not do it too much. If you stay a lot in water, you will become a fish (laughter). That is why it is referred as mantra-snaan (bath).
If someone keeps listening to music, his intellect will stop working. Similarly, someone who keeps doing math and never listens to music, his personality will also be unbalanced. These things are there to balance our left brain and right brain. We should look it from a scientific perspective. From a scientific perspective, we should listen to music for some time, we engage in some discussions for some time, and we should think for some time. Afterwards, you will experience an all-round development.
Sometimes our elder in our homes asks us to do wrong things. How should we say no to them?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Respecting elders does not mean that if elders tell you to do something wrong or ask you to steal something, then you do it. You should say no to it. Just say sorry to them and tell them that you can’t do any such wrong tasks.
When you say, “I can't do it”, they will not force you. You should keep your energy in good work and not invest in wrong things. If you involve in a wrong doing, you will not be able to sleep peacefully.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross : 23-28 January 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
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Pat Gounden
Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
A true human being is one who follows and practices the principle of righteousness (dharma). Burning is the nature (dharma) of fire. Coolness is the dharma of ice. Fire is no fire without burning. Ice is no ice without coolness. Similarly, the dharma of a human being lies in performing actions with the body and following the commands of the heart. Every act performed with thought, word, and deed in harmony is an act of righteousness (dharma). A righteous (dharmic) life is a divine life. We say the word dharma without knowing its true nature and majesty. Dharma is of various kinds: dharma of a householder, a celibate, a recluse, and a renunciate. But the dharma of the heart is the supreme dharma. This dharma of the heart is verily the dharma of life as well. The Ramayana enshrines in itself the very essence of the dharma of the individual, family, and society. In fact every human, who embodies the ideals of Rama, in a way, is Rama Himself. Hence, it is imperative on the part of every individual to cultivate the ideals of Rama. (Summer Showers 1996, Ch 2) |
-BABA |
Any action of yours that goes against Dharma will prick you inside. It will keep troubling you from within and you will feel, ‘Oh, I think I have done something really wrong’. Your conscience will tell you this. But when you act in accordance with Dharma, then you feel relaxed and at peace.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Taking The Decision To Retire
Fri, 09/11/2015 Bangalore, India
(Below is the continuation of the post Selfless Service Is The Key To Joy)
Questions & Answers
My children have gone abroad for higher studies and I am now alone at home. I often do not know what to do, and feel a sense of emptiness.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, until now, your whole world was limited to your children and their wellbeing, isn’t it? Your world was restricted to a small boundary. You only thought about 'My children; me, mine”, etc. Now that you have more time on your hands, I would suggest you to involve your neighbours and dear ones and conduct satsang regularly. Get engaged in some social service projects, and work for the society. There is so much you can do.
If you know children who are in need of a loving parent or grandparent – then make yourself available for them and take care of them. Engage yourself in some service project. Or, you can sit and read the scriptures and other books. You can take up writing as well. Today you need not even go anywhere, just by being at home and writing, you can reach out to so many people. You should always share knowledge with others.
This kind of social arrangement or framework has been in existence in India since many ages. This stage of life is called the Vanaprastha Ashrama (the third phase of the Vedic Ashrama system which starts when a person hands over household responsibilities to the next generation, takes an advisory role, and gradually withdraws from the world).
Once your children have grown and become independent, hand over the keys and responsibilities of the household to them. This is the way to be happy. If you cling onto the keys of the house till your last breath, then you will become miserable and also make others miserable around you. You should not do this. As time progresses, you should hand over the responsibilities to the next generation and let them lead their lives independently. Do not become like the Queen of England. Her son has turned 65 years old, yet he is still a prince, he has not become king and taken the throne. He often thinks whether or not will he ever become king. The mother has turned 85 or 87 years of age, but she still hangs on to the throne instead of letting her children take up the throne and come forward. People feel quite disturbed by seeing this.
There are many industrialists who are like this. They have grown so old, they have become hard of hearing, they are not able to see properly, their mind is no longer as sharp as it used to be, but they still do not pass on the reins and responsibility of their business to their children. The children keep waiting and thinking, “When will I be able to take charge of the family business and contribute?” The concept of Vanaprastha Ashrama is such a good arrangement for life. After reaching a certain age, one should simply hand over everything to the children to take forward and lead their life freely thereafter. Often the children live in fear or insecurity that they will have to constantly remain dependent and accountable to their parents. This is the greatest insecurity prevalent in society today. Even after becoming grandparents, people have this constant fear whether or not to give the charge of the house and business to the children. They fear whether the children will look after them in the old age after handing over the property to them. And we have seen many incidents like this in the society. This is one side.
On the other side, there are also some children who turn out to be so irresponsible and unworthy even when they grow up. Why does this happen? It is because they never had to care for much, other than food, shelter and clothing. They never got any spiritual knowledge and understanding of human values and so they become so irresponsible. When people see such kind of incidents happening around them, then they also reserve some things for themselves till the very end (instead of letting go and handing over to the children). In recent times, we have seen an increase in the number of such unfortunate incidents. Children go to any length to wrongly acquire their parental or ancestral property by wrong means. Some children wrongly accuse their parents of mental imbalance or insanity to claim their property. I tell you, if you call your parents mad, are you also not behaving equally mad by trying to hoard their property in this manner? Often the children produce false certificates to prove their parents are of unsound mind.
Such incidents have been on the rise on society today. Why is this so? It is because we have not inculcated right values in children and have not educated them properly. It also happens because we have not led our lives as per the cultural values and norms of our society.
The essence of the Vanaprastha Ashrama is that after reaching a certain ripe age, one must share all that one has received in life with others. Whatever wisdom you have learnt in life till that age, you must share it with others. So after reaching the age of 50 or 60 years, one should act in accordance with the Vanaprastha Ashrama. By this age, you have had enough running after “Me; mine; my life”, etc. Now you must dedicate your life to helping and uplifting others. You must now expand your boundaries of care and concern for others, rather than limiting it further. This entire framework of theAshrama System has been so intelligently conceived and put in place in our society.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross : 23-28 January 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
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Pat Gounden
Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
An individual, according to ancient scriptures is not merely a coordinated collection of limbs, senses and sensations. He is all these, and is governed by intelligence, which is sharpened by the modes and memories earned through many births. That intelligence in itself is an instrument with a limited range of efficiency; there are many goals it cannot achieve. These precious goals can be reached only through the descent of the Grace and Power from above. Complete surrender of the ego to that Divine Power will win grace for you in bounty. Vibheeshana was capable of that surrender and so he was immediately accepted and he received the Lord’s Grace. Sugreeva took much longer to reach that stage, for his faith to Lord Rama was clogged by doubts. He thought: ‘Does Lord Rama have the skill He professes to possess? Can He kill such a formidable adversary such as Vali?’ He surrendered only when his doubts were cleared. (Divine Discourse, 17 Mar 1966) |
-BABA |
You never doubt your anger, your depression, your sadness, your sorrow, your misery; but you doubt all the positive qualities that you have. You doubt in your capabilities - you don't doubt your incapabilities. Doubt the incapability in yourself, doubt your limitations, then the faith in your capabilities grows.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Once God decided to go to a temple - A story about devotion
There is a very nice story. Once God decided to go to a temple, which He rarely does. So He gave a dream to the priest. He said, “I’m coming into the temple tomorrow.” So the priest, for a change, started cleaning the temple. If it’s a Hindu temple, it is a little messier than other temples. They throw water everywhere, prashad everywhere, here, there, and flowers will be lying down here and there and some dried flowers will be found. So he said, “Okay.” He kept cleaning. And he told all the people, “Today God is going to come to the temple.” Even the people who come to the temple did not believe. Say, “Oh, what has happened to the priest?” They felt sorry for him. “He may need a psychiatrist. Today he’s saying something very weird, like ‘God is going to come to the temple.'” They also had no faith. Some people had compassion for him. Some people phoned a psychiatrist but somehow the priest made all the arrangements. He brought flowers. He arranged the temple. And then he waited, waited, waited, waited. After evening, five o’clock, six o’clock, seven o’clock…. There was another co-priest. He said, “Oh, you are crazy.” He started discouraging him. “What? What do you think? Has something gone wrong with you?” The first few moments people have some hope and then as time went by, everyone, even those one or two other crazy people who could accept his idea, also started discouraging him. And since everybody was so discouraging, he thought, “Maybe.” He started doubting himself. “Maybe I had a hallucination or an illusion. It’s not true.” So he waited up till eleven o’clock. Somehow tried hard to keep awake, drank some Indian tea. So he kept awake up ’til twelve o’clock, then he fell asleep. And then in the middle of the night, he heard somebody knock on the door. God is also afraid to come in the daytime. Somebody may arrest Him and punish Him, court-martial Him. “Why did You do this thing to me? Why did You do this thing to me?” A number of questions. So He preferred to come in the middle of the night. He heard a knock on the door. And then the priest wanted to get up and say,
“See, I hear a knock. Maybe God has come.” The co-priest who was with him there, sleeping in the same room, he just scolded him and made him go to bed again. Sleepy he said, “Just drop these funny ideas and go to sleep. If not, I’m going to call the mental hospital now. This is too much.” So hearing this, the man slept. And in the morning when he opens the door of the temple, he finds the footprint and finds the wheel of the chariot. He was so sorry. God had really come and had really knocked and here he had missed. He felt so sorry, so miserable. This is a nice story. That is what happens. God is calling you every moment. He’s singing through you. He’s waking you up through those sounds of the birds, through that little, little animal, creature, its voice, see how beautiful, “Coo, coo,” something it says. It fills the whole atmosphere. If you listen to it, your heart starts glowing. Something happens in you. You start becoming more alive. Love flows in your life. In the morning, have you heard the birds singing? He is singing in the voice of birds to you. He’s waking you up every morning. But we miss Him. We have missed in this crowd, in our mind, in our concepts, in our ideas. We want God to fit into our costumes. Say, “You should come with such-and-such a costume.” Fit into our concepts, our ideas, what God should be doing. We are not ready to accept what is. In the very presence of a devotee…. See, God is omnipresent, but a devotee is rare. Whether you want or not, God is all over. God is in the stone. God is in the flowers. God is in the garbage can. God is all over. But a devotee is not all over. So God runs behind His devotees. To God, devotees are very dear, so dear. The ancestors rejoice when a person blossoms fully on this planet in Divine love. All the people who are dead and gone, their souls, their Beings, they are filled with joy and grace and happiness. They enjoy. Every drop of gratitude in you brings great joy to your ancestors. Do you think about all those people who have gone? Your grandparents and great-grandparents and great-great-great-grandparents. The whole family tree of yours rejoices when you experience, when you live this love, when you are a devotee. All of them are liberated. It says the seven generations in the past and the seven generations in the future get liberated, if you get liberated, if you become free.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross : 23-28 January 2016
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
To get happiness and peace, you must develop a pure and unsullied mind, free from egoism and its progenies – lust, greed, anger, hatred, envy and the rest. For this, you must seek noble company (satsanga), perform good deeds (satkarma), entertain only good thoughts (sat alochana) and read only noble and elevating books (sat granthas). You may see a thousand good things or listen to a thousand inspirational speeches or read a thousand good books, but unless you put at least one of their teachings into practice, the blemishes in the mirror of your heart will not be wiped off! The Lord cannot be reflected if the mirror of the heart is not clean. Remember, you are but a wave of the sea. Know this, and you are free. Constant practice with full faith will transmute a human (Nara) into God (Narayana), for Divinity is your real nature, your real essence! (Divine Discourse Mar 17, 1966) |
-BABA |
Divine love is not somewhere far, it is with me right here. If we have this faith, then we can never feel separate from Divine love. I have come to tell you that you can never be far from God. If you understand this today then I will consider my work done.
In the rush of our daily lives, we forget that Divinity is within us.
Let us all take this sankalpa - Remembering again and again that the Divine music is within us, my family and I take this commitment that people all over the world should stay happy.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What Sri Sri said
The 4 kinds of attitude you can develop to handle your own mind
1) Friendliness: Be friendly with people who are happy. If you are not friendly with happy people, you will be jealous. This is because you think that your enemy is happy, and you cannot tolerate your enemy being happy. So, shake hands with happy people. Such an attitude does a lot of good to your mind.
2) Compassion: Do not be friendly with people who are miserable, instead, have compassion for them. If you are friendly with unhappy people you will become unhappy. And if you become unhappy, you can never help them to come out of their misery.
Many people have gotten into trouble by being friendly with unhappy people; both become miserable. It is like a doctor going to a patient who is sick, and the doctor also becomes sick. If the doctor also thinks, ‘How can I alone be healthy? Let me also share the patient’s misery’, then who will help the patient then?
So, what should be the attitude with people who are miserable? Compassion, not pity.
3) Happiness: For people who are doing good work or who are successful in the world, you should feel happy as though you are doing it.
For example, someone is a good singer, singing and bringing joy to everybody, seeing him you should think, ‘I feel so happy that this person is singing so well, and making everyone happy.’
If someone is a good entertainer and he entertains everybody you should feel happy about it. If someone is a great architect and builds beautiful buildings you should feel happy about it. Whenever someone does a good job, share that happiness with them; we need to have this attitude.
4) Indifference: For people who are doing horrible things in the society, destroying themselves, we usually get angry at them. When you are angry, your mind suffers a huge loss. You lose so much energy, you lose your mood, and your enthusiasm. When energy and enthusiasm goes away from you, you become angry and are no better than the other person. You do not know what you are doing. So, what should you do in such a situation? Have a sort of indifference in your mind.
For example, there are thieves in the world, they are there, what can you do about them? First accept, be indifferent. However, this does not mean you do not take any action. Your mind is indifferent (unaffected), but you act on it.
These are the four attitudes that will help us to save our mind. This is what we need to do, save our mind at all costs.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross : 23-28 January 2017
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Monday, December 19, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
It is not enough if your home budget is balanced; you must learn the art of having a balanced view of life, which will not be affected by triumphs and troubles, gains or losses, victory or defeat. This balance can be got only by reliance on God and faith in the indwelling God. You must learn to steer clear of hatred, malice, greed, anger, anxiety, pride and other obstacles that come in the way of your inner peace. Education must render you a monarch of your talents and your tools for acquiring knowledge. The eye, the ear, the tongue, etc. are like wild horses that have no bridle between the teeth; learn the art of meditation (dhyana) through which the senses can be controlled and the will directed inwards towards the mastery of feelings and emotions. You must heed one discipline - controlling of your senses; if you give them free rein, they will drag you into calamity. (Divine Discourse, July 26, 1969) |
-BABA |
Meditation is the best among all practices. If there is love, meditation and a sense of surrender, then everything else simply follows.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
What should I do if people hurt me?
It is not people who hurt you. It is your own foolishness, your own mind, your own vulnerability and your own emotions that entangle you, and make you feel hurt.
Do you think people have no other business, that they want to come and hurt you? What can hurt you? Somebody’s words, somebody’s selfishness, somebody not caring for you. You love somebody and you think they don’t care for you, or you have helped somebody and they do not talk to you, and that hurts.
My dear, wake up and see, is there an intention in them to hurt you? You need to see things from the other side as well.
Place yourself in their position. Many times it happens that you never intended to hurt someone, yet they felt hurt by your action. What do you tell these people who feel that you have hurt them? You say, ‘I did not mean it, something happened through me. I did not mean to hurt you, but an incident or event happened that gave you an idea that I hurt you’. Now if you really intended to hurt somebody, then it means you have a deep hurt inside you. Even then, you are worthy of being excused, and you have to excuse the other person as well.
If someone has hurt you intentionally, you should know that they are sick. What should be your attitude towards someone who is sick? You should be compassionate towards them. If someone has not intended to hurt you, it is an unintentional act, then it is your own mistake. You can only blame your own perception, and not them.
If someone has scolded you or used harsh words that have hurt you, and they have done it with a very good intention, then you can only thank them. Then the friendship grows.
If a friend has insulted you, knowingly, you can only thank them.
This is because they have had the courage to give you their piece of mind, what you needed, otherwise why would they do it? Why would anyone want to hurt you at their own cost? Nobody wants to risk their friendship. What should your attitude be? ‘Thank you! You did something good to me, it has made me strong.’
It is all in your hands, how you view things; what type of intention you put out there, that will come back to you.
If you think that everyone is hurting you, then your own intentions will create similar situations .
Wake up and see that there is none other than the One, and the One comes to you in many forms. It is all for your growth, well-being, and happiness. The universe is so loving, and compassionate towards you. If you can keep this wisdom in your heart, nobody can hurt you.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross : 23-28 January 2017
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
Desires that cling to the mind are the blemishes that tarnish the inner consciousness. Control your senses; do not yield to their insistent demands for satisfaction. When a corpse is placed on a pyre, and when it is lit, both the corpse and the pyre are reduced to ashes. So too, when senses are negated, mind too disappears. When mind disappears, delusion dies and liberation is achieved. Faith in God is the best reinforcement for spiritual victory. When you revel in contemplation of the Lord’s splendour, nothing material can attract you. All else will seem inferior; the company of the godly and humble alone will be relished. When you act with faith and surrender, grace flows through you into every act of yours. Then they will no longer be yours, they are His, and you will have no concern about the consequences thereof. All words, thoughts and actions emanating from you will be saturated with love and conducive to peace. (Divine Discourse, Mar 17, 1966) |
-BABA |
Every time your faith shakes, your devotion will be renewed from within once again. Truth never fails or gets shaken. True faith remains unshaken regardless of everything that happens. That which shakes is just some small belief at a very superficial level. It is your own expectations and desires which shake you.
We often mistake our intense craving for our intense faith and try to manipulate the divine to fulfill our desires and get our work done. If you have faith in God only for the sake of having your desires fulfilled, then that will simply not work.
Which is greater: God, or your desire? Just think about it. You want to use God like currency for transactions, and you want to do the same with your Guru. Faith and devotion are needed to help you rise higher in life and go deeper within yourself.
Difficulties and unpleasant times come in everyone’s life. Is there anyone who does not have problems in their life? Lord Krishna faced so many obstacles during his lifetime. Lord Rama also faced many problems in his life. Mahatma Gandhi also faced many hurdles in his life. So difficulties come and go in life. When your faith and devotion remain intact and unshaken during those turbulent times, then you do not feel the unpleasantness of those situations. Faith becomes your anchor during these difficult times and keeps you steady.
On a completely dark night, even a flickering lamp can help you find your way and keep walking forward. But if you try to extinguish that very source of light, then it is no good. People who do this then try other ways to handle difficult situations, such as drinking alcohol, etc. Faith is a great wealth and gives you strength. Just because a few small things did not go in your favor, it does not mean that you should make your faith so fragile and delicate that it breaks every now and then.
That is why I said that it is good that you feel your faith is becoming weak and failing because something you wanted did not happen. It is alright. Eventually you will put your faith into someone or something.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
Your karma is responsible for what you go through in life!
Question – Gurudev, how do we handle ego clashes?
Gurudev: When egos are there, they do clash. There is no way out. When there is wisdom, you will rise above any small-minded attitude, bickering and judgements.
You judge people all the time, and if you turn back and look at your own judgements, I tell you, 80 to 90% of the time, they will be wrong. Sometimes you type a message to send to someone, and something tells you that this is not okay and so you retract it. This shows how poor your judgements are.
We create a huge cloud around what is not even close to truth, and it has happened to you so many times in the past. You hold grudges against people, you have concepts about people and you get yourself trapped into it. You must wake up from this. You know, if your time is good, your worst enemy behaves like a friend, and if your time is bad, your closest friend behaves like an enemy. So, your luck or time is totally responsible for your friends and enemies.
Your karma is responsible for what you go through
So, you should take your mind away from judging others and bring it to yourself.
Often people who complain that others have a big ego, have a big ego themselves. Often those who complain others are rude, you will see somewhere inside, they are rude. You should reflect on yourself. See, you can’t correct others but others give you a chance to correct yourself.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross : 23-28 January 2017
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.
Pat Gounden
Dear Ones - There will be an interval for Daily messages. However depending on availability, there may be random postings. Regular messages will resume again on 9 January 2017. Blessings for a joyous festive period and a happy 2017 - Pat
Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2016 |
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY |
The centre of every home must be the shrine room; the fragrance of flower and incense emanating from there must pervade the home and purify it. The mother must set the example in making the shrine the heart of the household. She must enforce discipline over the children in personal cleanliness, in humility and hospitality, in good manners and acts of service. She must persuade the children by example and precept to revere elders and to allot some time both in the morning and evening for prayer, and silent meditation. The shrine room must be clean and consecrated; special festival days should be observed, so that their significance will impress the young minds. However self-centred and haughty the husband is, by systematic regulation of the domestic time-table with worship of God as its focal point, he will soon realise how a God-centered home is a home of peace and joy. He too will follow soon and be a pillar of faith. (Divine Discourse, July 26, 1969) |
-BABA |
It is always good to say ask the divine, but you can also say, ‘If there is anything better that you have planned for me, then let that happen.’
There is nothing wrong in asking, ask and it shall be given to you. This has also been said in the Bible.
In Sanskrit it is said, you pray for what you want, but this prayer is a deep sense of need. And, you pray for what you think is usually not in your ability to achieve.
You don’t pray for a glass of water, unless you are in a desert where there is no water. What you pray for is what you think you cannot achieve with your limited resources, skills, or your effort. That is when prayer happens. Then you say, ‘I need this, but I don’t think I can do this. Please grant me this’. While asking, you also can add, ‘If you think there is something better in store for me, then let that happen!’
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Blessings for a GOoD day
What SRI SRI said
The dance between formality and spontaneity
Dec 20, 2016
Every organization has its own energy or culture. Certain organizations tend to be more conservative eg.formal dress code, set protocols. For instance, in a defence establishment, there are more norms of what is acceptable behavior and what is not. In a manufacturing firm, the standard operating procedures are followed quite rigorously. On the other hand, in startups, people are on first-name basis and there are fewer rules. There are often discussions and debates on which is better and why?
A certain amount of formality is needed: it has to be given its place. It’s like the bones in a body; without it, the body cannot hold itself up. It gives form, helps maintain orderliness which is essential for an organization, any institution. It improves communication and brings clarity to what is expected from people. For example: knowledge of what role one is playing in an organization helps one become clear about expectations others have from them.
Too much structure can reduce the agility and responsiveness to external changes
Typically larger, older organizations tend to have higher degree of formality. While it has its advantages, too much structure also can reduce the agility and responsiveness to external changes and new developments.
Hence to balance this, a certain amount of spontaneity is also essential to improve a sense of communion, belongingness and to create space for learning. Some workplaces have play-zones built into their design and are bright, colorful in their appearance. In others, there are opportunities created to have fun and connect with others as humans and not just role-holders. This is absolutely essential if we want to create a culture of continuous learning and sharing. The phenomenon of inspiration, the kindling of a spark within a person is spontaneous as is the birth of an innovative idea or the appearance of an intuitive thought.
However just spontaneity is not enough to build a sustainable organization; it must be blended with formality too. Spontaneity is the core of one's existence, formality is the outer shell. When the outer shell is thin, it can reflect the inner light.
Similarly, organizations can have norms to bring in formality; and people can follow norms externally without losing their internal sense of freedom and spontaneity. Norms need to be revisited periodically; they are created to meet a purpose and over time, that purpose tends to get diluted as the original context changes. Leaders must be able to sense when a norm has outlived its purpose and renew it!
How can leaders do this? By tapping into their Intuitive Quotient, by going deeper into themselves, by meditating regularly.
How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?
Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, night follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.
“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”
-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
1.1 Happiness Program (6days – day course) @ Heidi Pre-school, Cnr Pyrenees & Andes Street, Shallcross : 23-28 January 2017
1.2 Meditation course (Sahaj) @ Heidi Pre-school
1.3 AOL YOGA course (5 evenings) @ Heidi Pre-school (Shallcross)
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Eternity Process & Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.
To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.
Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za
Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za
Follow us on twitter 
@PatGounden
Should you wish to unsubscribe, please forward this mail to p...@pgco.co.za with “unsubscribe” in subject line.