Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Mankind

Q: Guruji, Man is intelligent, but why animals lead a more healthy life? They do not suffer diseases and they are in harmony?
Guruji : You want to go back to animals!?!?! ?(Laughter) , but you are correct. Animals don’t go to the restaurant in the middle of the night and eat fast foods. Animals sleep at the right time and gets up at the right time. They go for prey every day. They don’t store like man does. Mankind is exploiting nature so much. You know in Bangalore, we grew up with so many sparrows It is almost disappearing now.
(Someone from the crowd): But Guruji, ashram has sparrows.
Guruji: yes, yes, Ashram has sparrows, peacocks, elephants, rabbits;
Someone prompts from the crowd: Guruji, monkeys also.
Guruji (laughs): Yes, yes, some in the human forms. We need to preserve the nature. We need to attend to the nature. Too much of this electro magnetic wave, high towers are destroying the harmony in nature. The air, water andland are consistently getting polluted.I was just in Iraq a few days back, you should see the kind of air pollution! It’s tremendous! It’s all a man made disaster. Human beings create fanaticism. Wisdom alone can unite people. Wisdom alone can uplift you and that’s why spirituality is so important.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Happiness

Q: Guruji, why bad people are happy and good people are suffering?

Guruji : This is an illusion. It appears that the bad people are enjoying. But I tell you it is temporary. Good people need not be foolish. They can be intelligent. If someone says I put my finger in the fire because I was so good, I tell you it is foolishness. Good merits will give good result one day be sure of that.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual guru

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual guru and founder of the Art of Living movement, believes in spreading the knowledge of living a healthier life through his message of compassion, commitment to society, and a cosmic understanding of life.
Birth & Childhood: Born on May 13, 1956 in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Ravi developed an inclination and an amazing acumen for the study of the ancient Vedic scriptures.
Education: By the age of 17, he obtained an advanced degree in Modern Physics, and later received an Honorary Doctorate from Kuvempu University, Karnataka, India.
Training Under Guru Mahesh Yogi: At an early age his father, R S V Ratnam delegated him to the care of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a renowned spiritual master. After attaining his degree in science, Ravi joined Maharishi's entourage, taught the Vedic pundits at Maharishi's charities, and soon became the Maharishi’s favourite disciple.
Enlightenment & Vision: In 1982, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar went into ten days of silence and emerged as an enlightened master. It is believed that during this time he cognized the famous Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique. In order to spread the kriya and other related knowledge, Sri Sri subsequently set up the Art of Living (AOL) Organization in 1982.
The Art of Living: Today the Art of Living Foundation is the world’s largest volunteer based Non-Governmental Organization, active in over 140 countries. Its service projects, programs on yoga, meditation and stress elimination have benefited over 20 million people representing all walks of life, religions, cultures and traditions with its 5Hs program in the areas of Health, Homes, Hygiene, Human Values and Harmony in Diversity.
International Association for Human Values: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founded the International Association for Human Values (IAHV) in 1997, which undertakes development projects in thousands of villages, bringing self-reliance to millions of people from Afghanistan to Bosnia, Iraq to New York.
Distinctions: Sri Sri is the recipient of numerous honors including the “2005 Global Humanitarian Award” by the state of Illinois, “Guru Mahatmya” award by Government of Maharashtra, India, the title of “Yoga Shiromani” by President of India, the Phoenix Award from the Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, only to name a few… He was a guest speaker at the Millennium World Peace Summit during the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. Sri Sri is also a member of the Council of the Divinity School at Yale University.
His Message: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar travels extensively across the globe to inspire youth to work together for a better society. As he says, “Religion is the banana skin and spirituality is the banana. The misery in the world is because we throw away the banana and are holding on to the skin.” Sri Sri believes that all religions and traditions have a common value system, and these shared values have to reach every corner of the world in order to make it a better place for all.