FW: [esatsang] Esatsang digest for April 14 2013

-----Original Message-----
From: esatsang@lists.artofliving.org [mailto:esatsang@lists.artofliving.org]
On Behalf Of Esatsang
Sent: 15 April 2013 11:31
To: esatsang@lists.artofliving.org
Subject: [esatsang] Esatsang digest for April 14 2013

Topics in this digest

********************

1. An Experience Not to be Missed for Anything ....!!Buddha Purnima Special
Advance Course with Swami Suryapadha ji (Shri Chhaya Anna ji) at Pune Ashran
(May 22-26)


2. BLESSING COURSES with Swami Jyotirmaya in Europe

3. Refresh - Reconnect - Recharge!

4. Cook needed in Bad Antogast

5. First Shakti Kriya with Sri Sri in Europe! Bad Antogast, July 2013

***********************

From: Vandana Daftari <vandanadaftari@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Apr 14, 2013 at 9:25 PM
Subject: An Experience Not to be Missed for Anything ....!!Buddha Purnima
Special Advance Course with Swami Suryapadha ji (Shri Chhaya Anna ji) at
Pune Ashran (May 22-26)


Be Still and You Will Know..

Silence Unravels The Truth and The Words Become Superfluous..

Inviting You All Dear Ones To Experience Profound Stillness Of Meditation
(Buddha Purnima Part 2 Course) Interlaced with Vibrant Vedic Chants and
Enthralling Satsangs with Swami Suryapadha ji (Shri Chhaya Anna ji) at Pune
Ashram from 22nd May to 26th May

Satsangs with Swami JI are most unique. He has a very deep knowledge of the
effect different sounds have on the mind of the listener, basically what
effect a Raga has.Swamiji has immense power in his rendering of the chants
which has an enormous effect on the whole nervous system .He is a gifted
musician and plays harmonium , keyboard , Veena .



Course Details-
Course Dates- 22-26 May
Reporting on -21st May by 8 Pm
Donation - Rs 4500 ( Inclusive of Stay, Food )
Venue- Triveni Ashram, Markal, Pune.

HURRY.!!! LIMITED SEATS.!!
KINDLY NOTE :- NO SPOT REGISTRATIONS
For any queries feel free to contact me on 9921132323 or mail me at
vandanadaftari@gmail.com

Looking forward to host you at Pune Ashram


Love
Vandana Daftari
9921132323

***********************************
From: Art of Living European Center <info@artofliving.de>
Date: Sat, Apr 13, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Subject: BLESSING COURSES with Swami Jyotirmaya in Europe

BLESSING COURSES with Swami Jyotirmaya in Europe

DATES AND PLACES

April 26th (6 am) - April 28th (2 pm) 2013 , Check in: April 25th, Borovets
resort, BULGARIA |Contact: reg@artofliving.bg, Tel. +359 899172015


May 16th (6 pm) - May 19th (2 pm) 2013 , Tallinn, ESTONIA |Contact:
info@artofliving.ee, Tel. +372 5657 2606

May 23rd (6 pm) - May 26th (2 pm) 2013 , Taraska, POLAND |Contact:
center.poland@artofliving.pl, Tel. +48 509 861 666, +48 44 756 90 18, more
details at the registration link: http://www.artofliving.pl/blessing/

May 31st (7 am) - June 2nd (2 pm) 2013, Check in: May 30th , Bad Antogast,
Germany |Contact: info@artofliving.de, Tel. +49780497390, more details at
the registration link: https://secure2.artofliving.org/courses

PREREQUISITE:
Completion of two Art of Silence courses

For more details and registration please use the respective contacts
mentioned above.

With Love,
Organizers

***********************************
From: Vinay Girotra <girotrav@shriamba.com>
Date: Sat, Apr 13, 2013 at 6:01 AM
Subject: Refresh - Reconnect - Recharge!

Transform Yourself

In this era of science and technology, we can be creative and productive,
and at the same time not lose the humanness that we are all born with. Just
material things or comfort alone do not make you comfortable. You may have a
good bed to sleep on, but unable to sleep because of insomnia or worry! You
need to get a broad understanding about yourself and your priorities.
Clarity in the mind makes things much easier-understanding your basic
emotions like love, your interaction with people around you, knowing about
your ego or what your intellect or mind is saying to you and introspection
will give you a few minutes of relaxation which is very vital. So, what is
most important is introspection about one's own life and how to improve the
quality of life-this intention itself will open many doors for you to feel
better about yourself.



First of all, find out for yourself whether you are healthy.



Health is...



A disease-free body.

A quiver-free breath.
A stress-free mind.
An inhibition-free intellect.
An obsession-free memory.
An ego that includes all.
A soul that is free from sorrow.

Have you ever thought what the purpose of your life is? What is the meaning
of life? What is life all about?
These questions are very, very precious. When these questions dawn in your
mind, only then your life begins! But, when these questions come into your
mind, don't be in a hurry to get an answer. Those who know will not tell you
and those who tell don't know! You can plug your ears and walk off! These
questions are the tools by which you can dig deeper and the answers come
from within you. Once these questions come into your life then you start
"living" life rather than just existing. To know for what you are in this
planet, find out what you are not here for!



You are not here to be sad.
You are not here to blame.
You are not here to be miserable.
You are not here to worry.
You are not here to show off.
You are not here to get stressed out.
You are not here to get irritated and irritate others.
The list goes on.

All our struggles in life are to know more. You are trying your level-best
to understand your feelings and emotions, and you get into more and more and
more confusion. This is what has happened with psychology today. It tries to
explain to you why you feel like the way you are feeling. The ''why'' arises
always when you are unhappy. You ask ''Why this problem to me of all the
people?'' Nobody ever asked, ''Why am I so happy?'' You want to understand,
''why am I not feeling good?'' or ''why am I angry?'', or ''why is this not
happening?'' The more you try to understand and try to dig it, you seem to
understand less and less. The mystery deepens, but an illusion comes as
though ''I know it''. But that is for a short while. We ourselves do not
know and we try to explain to others! Stop your explanations; your
explanations have put you into a soup and make other people also more
confused. You don't know what is happening in your mind. Mind is like a
roller coaster-it's a crowd. Just be in the simple and innocent state of ''I
don't know!''. This life is a mystery-beautiful-live it.



Living the mystery of life so totally is joy. Becoming the mystery is
divine. You are a mystery!



When you see life in this context, clarity dawns in your mind and your life
improves.



1 Review the context of your life

Look at your own life in the light of time. Millions of years have passed
and millions will come. What is your life? 60, 70 or 100 years? Span of life
is insignificant. It is not even a drop in the ocean. In terms of space you
simply don't exist! This understanding dissolves the ego. Ego is ignorance
of your reality, ignorance of your existence. Now, just to know this, do we
have to do something else? Just open your eyes: ''Who am I? How I am on this
planet? What is my life time?'' Awareness dawns in the mind, and you will
stop worrying about little things like, ''this person said this thing to me
and that person broke away with me and this happened



with that person and I am going to say this....'' All smallness will simply
drop away, and you will be able to live every moment of your life.


Your life reels around your context. You should be happy in life. All other
businesses involve ups and downs which is very natural. If there is a body,
then it will get cold, cough, fever or something else and it will go away.
But take care to see that happiness is always established in you. That is
known as purashaartha. Our love, faith and belief should be deep-rooted,
then everything else moves on its own. How many events take place in life!
Are you able to maintain your equanimity always? Not everything in the world
is sweet. If you are grounded with faith, like the husk with grain, you will
progress.


Take this decision: "Whatever happens I will be there. I will be grounded.
God's protection is there on me. Whatever happens, I will never go down. I
always have God's hand with me." Keep your mind in peace in all situations.
The rest will be taken care of. You have to take at least one step forward,
which is to be in peace and equanimity. "Oh! Nothing happened. Nothing of my
work happened." If you are able to laugh in such a situation, then
understand that you have protection with you! The world is filled with love.
Everybody has love inside them. You have to see that in your mind.



Your head will be in the mud in a few years; don't put mud in your head
while you are still alive! If you review the context of your life, the
quality of your life will improve.



2 Know life's impermanence

See the impermanence in this life. That is the truth. Turn back and see that
all that you did is like a dream. All have passed, the whole thing is
finished. Tomorrow will pass. Now and then, a pinch of unpleasantness comes.
It makes you aware of your pleasantness. Suppose you never had unpleasant
moments in life, you would never have pleasant ones. Your life would
stagnate in utter boredom and you would become like a stone. So, in order to
keep you alive, now and then, here and there, nature gives you a little
pinch. It makes life more lively. Accept it.



You don't have to be afraid in life. There is always support. So, every
pinch that you are having in life is for the best, to make your life more
lively and enjoyable. Day and night you work so hard. The whole week is
spent working, coming home tired, eating, going to bed. The same routine the
next day. Weekends have become another routine.


If you're awake, then you see there is so much foolishness! Just watch when
four or five people get together and have a gossip session. In a gossip
session, you can immediately change the topic of conversation. This is the
thing with a crowd. If ten people are talking about the weather and you
change the topic to stock markets, everybody will immediately talk stock
markets, whether they know about them or not. It is great fun.



Being aware of this impermanent nature of our life, you find that there is
something in you that has not changed. There is a reference point by which
you can say things are changing. That reference point is the source of
life. That is wisdom. With wisdom, your life improves.



3 Make your smile cheaper

A research done in England found that a baby smiles 400 times a day, an
adolescent 17 times and an adult doesn't smile at all! The more successful
one keeps a very stiff face. Is roughness a sign of success? Is being
stressed a sign of prosperity, growth or dignity?
You should smile more. Every day, every morning, look at the mirror and give
a good smile to yourself. You know what happens when you smile? All the
muscles in your face get relaxed. The nerves in your brain get relaxation,
and you get the confidence, courage and energy to move on in life.



You know, your smile is so fragile! Just one telephone call is enough to
take it away! But what is the big deal about your feelings? Bundle them up
and throw them into the ocean! Once you are rid of your 'feelings' you can
be happy. Just see why your spirits go down? Because somebody said something
stupid to you. And why did they say a stupid thing? Because they had some
garbage they needed to throw out and you were there, ready to catch it! And
once you have caught it, you hold on to it so passionately! Come on! Wake
up! Don't let your smile be snatched away by anybody!



Usually, you give your anger freely and smile rarely as though a smile is
costly. In ignorance, anger is cheaper and smile costly. In knowledge, a
smile is free like sun, air, and water and anger is extremely expensive,
like a diamond. Make your smile cheaper and anger expensive! You are here
for a greater cause. Just remember that. Take a challenge: "Come what may, I
am going to smile today and be happy!" Smile more.



4 Be enthusiastic and praise others

Enthusiasm is the nature of life. We often have a tendency to put cold water
on other's enthusiasm. Reverse this tendency. Take every opportunity to
praise others and support their enthusiasm. If you put down other's
enthusiasm, the same may happen to you. As you sow, so shall you reap.
Recollect how much enthusiasm and joy you had when you went to the primary
school. Someone without enthusiasm is like a corpse. But as you mature, the
enthusiasm curve declines. As enthusiasm declines, we stop communicating.
How would you like to see yourself ? Happy and bubbling with enthusiasm or
dull and difficult to please? Often, you like to be pleased, appeased and
cajoled. So you put up a tough, upset face and act difficult to please. If a
person has to appease and please ten people all the time, it will be so
tiring. People who keep a long face and expect others to cajole and appease
them make others run away. Lovers often do this. They expend a lot of energy
in cajoling, and this brings down the joy and celebration of the moment.



If you feel down, appease and please yourself. Your need to be appeased by
someone else is the sign of grossness. If you want attention, all you get is
tension. It is not possible to attain Divine Love with a complaining face.
Become one whose enthusiasm never dies.



5 Make meditation a part of your life

The higher goals in life can only be realised through a few minutes of
meditation and introspection.
What is meditation?



Mind without agitation is meditation.
Mind in the present moment is meditation.
Mind that has no hesitation, no anticipation is meditation.
Mind that has come back home, to the source, is meditation.
Mind that becomes "no mind" is meditation.

Deeper you are able to rest, dynamic you will be in activity. Even though
deep rest and dynamic activity are opposite values, they are complementary.
Before the body leaves you, you learn to leave everything. That is freedom.
What are you looking for?

Are you looking for some great joy?

YOU ARE JOY!



I will give you an example. Have you seen dogs biting bones? You know why
they bite bones? Biting wounds their mouth. Its own blood comes out and the
dog feels that the bone is very tasty! Poor dog spends the whole time
chewing the bone but getting nothing out of it! Any joy you experience in
life is from the depth of your self, when you let go all that you hold on to
and settle down being centered in that space. That is called meditation.
Actually, meditation is not an act; it is the art of doing nothing! The rest
in meditation is deeper than the deepest sleep that you can ever have
because in meditation you transcend all desires.

Meditation is letting go of anger from the past and all the planning for the
future. Meditation is accepting this moment and living every moment totally
with depth. Just this understanding, and a few days of continuous practice
of meditation can change the quality of our life. The best comparison of the
three states of consciousness-waking, sleeping and dreaming-is with the
nature. Nature sleeps, awakes and dreams! It happens in a magnificent scale
in existence, and it is happening in a different scale in the human body.
Wakefulness and sleep are like sunrise and darkness. Dream is like the
twilight in between.



And meditation is like the flight to the outer space, where there is no
sunset, no sunrise, nothing! I am sure that deep within, every one of you
feel that you have not grown, meaning you have not changed, not grown old.
This indicates the soul in you, the depth in you, the spirit in you doesn't
change, doesn't grow old, it's not aging. The body is aging but something in
you is not aging. Getting in touch with that something that doesn't age
brings beauty in life. That is meditation.



6 Go to the most beautiful place

Only if there is alertness and presence of mind can your life improve. For
this, you need to cultivate the habit of listening. Most of us are not good
listeners. When you are listening to somebody, the speaker's very first
sentence triggers some conversation within you. You are constantly agreeing
or disagreeing with the speaker. Have you ever wondered whether you can
listen without any thoughts or pre-conceived notions? To cultivate the habit
of listening, you have to "go" to a place where everything is beautiful!



Where is this place? That most beautiful place is within you! When you come
to this place, then any place is beautiful. Then, wherever you go, you add
beauty there.



Learning something about our breath is very important. Our breath has a
great lesson to teach us: for every rhythm in the mind, there is a
corresponding rhythm in the breath, for every rhythm in the breath, there is
a corresponding emotion. So, when you cannot handle your mind directly,
through breath you can handle the mind. Neither at school nor at home does
anybody teach you what to do when you are upset or angry or depressed. The
first thing we did when we came to this planet is that we took a deep breath
and then we started to cry. The last thing we'll be doing: we'll breathe out
and make others cry! In between, the whole life, we are breathing in and
out, but, we have learnt very little about our breath!



No breath, no life... know breath, know life!


We need to learn a little bit about our breath. We need to know a little bit
about all the layers of our existence-body, breath, mind, intellect, memory,
ego and the self. This is what I call Art of Living, learning a little bit
about ourselves, the seven layers of our life. And that makes you be in the
present moment, and it helps us to maintain the innocence that we are all
born with, and feel at home with everybody, anywhere. What I would suggest
is, take one week off every year for yourself, like you take your car for
servicing. During that time, align yourself with nature, wake up with the
sunrise, do some exercise, eat proper food, just as much food as necessary,
some exercises, yoga, and some breathing exercises, a few minutes of
singing, and then some silent moments, enjoying the creation.


Book yourself on a trip to this most beautiful place in the universe. Then
you find that every day is a vacation and a celebration!



7 Communicate effectively

Learning to communicate effectively with everyone is a skill worth
possessing. Most of the time you find that you are out of place.
Communicating without prejudice is vital for success. If you are faced with
someone who knows more than you, be like a child and keep your ears and eyes
open for learning. If you are faced with someone who knows less than you, be
humble and strive to make them as good as or better than you. Play with a
small child as you played when you were a child. Talk with an elderly person
remembering that one day you will be like that. Communicate with a person of
your age group like you are his/her best friend. This world is varied beyond
our imagination, and there's always something to share, learn and teach.
When you are centered, you become a powerful communicator. And when your
communication improves, your life improves.



8 Take out time for yourself

If for the whole day you are engaged in only gathering information, you do
not take out time for yourself to think and reflect. A few quiet moments are
sources for creativity.
Some time during the day, sit for a few minutes, get into the cave of your
heart, eyes closed, and kick the world away like a ball. But, during the day
be 100 per cent attached to the work. Eventually, you will be able to be
both attached and detached. This is the skill of living, the art of living.


Renunciation refills your energy. Creativity cannot happen only just through
efforts. There is a beautiful story about Chhatrapati Shivaji. At one time
Shivaji became so frustrated about ruling his kingdom that he went to his
guru Samarth Ramdas and told him that he is fed up and that he just wants to
renounce everything. Ramdas told him that he can renounce everything.
Shivaji became so happy and relaxed at the very thought. Then Ramdas told
him: "Now I am the king and you are my servant. Will you do whatever I ask
you to do?" Shivaji replied: "For you I am ready to do anything." Ramdas
said: "Very good. Will you run this country for me?" Shivaji replied: "Yes,
I will run the country for you!" Total renunciation had brought zeal and
enthusiasm in him.



Creativity springs up when you are relaxed. You have to renounce all work
you have done the whole day, only then can you rest in the night.



Though many times pain, struggle and frustration have brought out creativity
in some people,



these are not the only reasons for a person to be creative. Millions of
people in the world are struggling or frustrated, but they are not creative.
So, taking out some time for yourself improves the quality of your life.



9 Better the world around you

A river needs two bunks to flow. The difference between flood and a normal
river is that water flow is regulated in a river. During floods, water has
no direction. Similarly, the energy in our life needs some direction to
flow. If you don't give direction, it is all confusion. Today, most people
are confused because there is no direction in life. When you are happy,
there is so much of life-energy in you; but when this life-energy doesn't
know where to go, how to go, it gets stuck. When it stagnates, it rots. For
life-energy to move in a direction, commitment is essential.
Life runs with commitment. If you observe every small thing or big thing in
life, they go with certain commitment. A student takes admission in a school
or college with a commitment. Needless to say, a family runs on commitment:
mother is committed to the child, child is committed to the parents, husband
is committed to wife, and wife is committed to husband. Greater the
commitment you take, greater the energy/power you gain to fulfill that
commitment. Greater the commitment, easier things are. Smaller the
commitment, suffocating it is for you. Smaller commitments suffocate you
because you have more capacity, but you are stuck in a small hole!



When you have ten things to do and if one thing goes wrong, you can keep
doing the ten things; the thing that has gone wrong will set itself right!
But if you have only one thing to do and that goes wrong, then you are stuck
with it. Usually we think we should have resource and then we will commit.
Greater the commitment you take, greater the resources will come to you
automatically. Whatever you are committed to brings you strength. If you are
committed to your family then your family supports you, if you are committed
to society, you enjoy the support of society.



Commitment will always bring comfort in the long run. Make a commitment to
make this world a better place to live.



10 Nourish your emotions

A person without emotions is like wood without any juice. You need to make
your life interesting to make people be with you. This will happen when you
nurture yourself with music, prayer and service.


The way to expand from individual to universal consciousness is to share
others' sorrow and joy. As you grow, your consciousness should also grow.
When you expand in knowledge with time, then depression is not possible. The
way to overcome personal misery is to share universal misery! The way to
expand personal joy is to share universal joy. Instead of thinking "what
about me?" and "what can I gain from this world?", think "what can I do for
the world?"



Silence heals and rejuvenates. Silence gives you depth and stability and
brings creativity. Service leads to the dynamic experience of heart. It
creates a sense of belongingness. Lack of service can land a person in
depression. Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Pain is physical.
Suffering is mental. If you are not sensitive to others' pain, then you are
not a human being. That is why you need to serve. Service alone can bring
contentment in life, but service without silence tires you. Service without
spirituality will be shallow, and cannot be sustained for a long period. The
deeper the silence, the more dynamic the outer activity. Both are essential
in life.



When you bring some relief or freedom to someone through seva, good
vibrations and blessings come to you. Seva brings merit; merit allows you to
go deep in meditation; meditation brings back your smile. When you sing and
pray from your heart , your emotions are nourished and you become "lively".



11 Plan short and long-term goals

At any given point of time, our mind is oscillating between the past and the
future. Either it is angry or sad about the past or anxious about the
future. Whatever actions you do in this state of mind, you regret after some
time. This is how you get caught up in the same old cycle. Does it mean that
you should not plan your future? No! You should plan your short and
long-term goals. Then, and only then, life gets a channel, a direction to
flow. When the mind is totally in the present, the right planning happens.
Not only should you plan your goals, but plan the means and methods to work
towards them. Where would you like to see yourself after three years? After
20 years? After 40 years? Don't be feverish about the results. Give your 100
per cent. If you are feverish about the results, it will lead you to
disappointment.
Do not make a list of all the things you want to achieve. Select few things
that really matters.



Once a teacher brought a glass jar to the class and a bag with some big
stones, some small stones and some sand. He asked the students to put all
the contents from the bag into the glass jar. Some students put the sand
first, then small stones and by then there was no place for the big stones.
The teacher later explained that had they put the bigger stones first, then
the smaller stones, there was always space around the stones for all the
sand in the bag. This example teaches us an important lesson in prioritizing
things. If we put things that will give us maximum fulfillment in the long
term, smaller things will automatically fall into place.
Among all planets in the solar system, the earth is privileged to host life
in its many forms, and, among all the species, humans are most privileged,
for, they can host knowledge. Again and again you remember that you are
peace, you are love, you are joy and that you are hosting the creator. If
you do not realise that you are the host, you live like a ghost!



12 Prayer is a vital tool

Prayer is a vital tool to improve your life. It also nurtures values like
integrity and honesty. Prayer happens in two situations, or in a combination
of situations. When you feel grateful or when you feel utterly helpless. If
you are not grateful and prayerful, you will be miserable. In either case
your prayers will be answered. What you can do, you do. What you cannot do,
you pray for!



It is said the divine dawns in you when you pray for it, when you cry for
it, when you sing for it. The divine is only waiting for you to dig a little
deeper into yourself. Because, it can then fill you with much more nectar!
Divine wants you to create more space in you. Cry from your soul for help.
This is for those seekers who are weak. Those seekers who are strong-with
the power of knowledge-can sing with that joy of what they have achieved!
The moment you sing in gratitude, in glory of the divine, it immediately
dawns in you, and fills you up again. One type of people is grateful for all
their growth. The other type is helpless and weak. Both will be helped.



Spirituality is not some ritual, or doing something. It's a very pleasant,
uplifted state of being and seeing that the whole world is all spirit or
consciousness. Use prayer to bring integration in your personality.
Whatever you do, know that the higher power has the final say and it will
always be for the best.



13 Implement changes if needed

Sorrow simply means that viveka (discrimination) is overshadowed. Viveka
means knowing that everything is changing. Your body, your emotions, the
people around you and the world-everything is changing. Time and again you
have to awaken to this reality.



You are often fearful of change. Change is inevitable in many fronts though
security is hooked on to stability. You know there is a need for change to
improve your life, but you feel secure in the old pattern. You need the
courage to implement changes whenever it is necessary. You have to evaluate
the pros and the cons. You have to see whether that gives you short-term joy
and misery in the long run or short-time pain and joy in the long run.



Life is a combination of both change and non-change. So, use your
intelligence and courageously implement changes when you feel that there is
a need for change.



14 Identify your limitations

Every time you are unhappy or miserable, you are just coming in touch with
your own boundaries! And what can you do? You can just feel thankful: "Oh,
I came in touch with my boundary, my limitation. This was my limitation."
You just turn the whole situation into a prayer: "Let there be peace, not
just in me but in everybody." Prayer is that moment when you come in touch
with your limitations, your boundaries.



You are peaceful, you are joyful, you are happy as long as you have not come
in contact with your boundaries. At that moment what can you do? You can
just say, "My Lord, my God, You made me become aware of my boundaries. You
bring peace. I am giving it all to You." That very moment you will start
smiling. However hopeless the situation is, you will walk through it, sing
through it, dance through it! This is love.



In Hindi, love is written with two-and-a-half letters. They say, "Who is a
master, who is a pundit, who is a wise person? Not one who has studied a
lot of scriptures, but one who has studied the two-and-a-half letters." And
this two-an-a-half letters is at this moment. It is a test of the moment,
when you come in touch with your limitations, your boundaries. You are
happy, peaceful. Are you in the boundaries? Or are you maintaining your
boundless and the innocent love in the heart? Is it remaining? If it is,
then nothing can rob you of peace.



15 Do not lose your friends

Mistakes keep happening all the time. Often you want to correct them. How
much can you correct? There are two situations when you correct others'
mistakes.

1 You correct someone's mistake because it bothers you. But even if you
correct it, this does not work.

2 You correct someone's mistake not because it bothers you, but for their
sake so that they can grow.



To correct mistakes you need authority and love. Authority and love seem to
be contradictory, but in reality they are not. Authority without love is
stifling. Love without authority is shallow. A friend needs to have both
authority and love but they need to be in the right combination. This can
happen if you are totally dispassionate and centered. When you allow room
for mistakes, you can be both authoritative and sweet. That is how the
Divine is, the right balance of both. Krishna and Jesus had both.



Don't make a mistake by pointing out mistakes!



Once a lady came to me and said her husband had lied to her. She was very
upset. I asked, "Why does your husband lie to you? Because he loves you, and
is afraid to lose your love or hurt you. If he did not love you, he wouldn't
lie to you!"



Do not tell a person a mistake he knows he has committed. By doing this, you
will only make him feel more guilty. A magnanimous person will not pick on
the mistakes of others and make them feel guilty; he will correct them with
compassion and care.



16 Don't look for perfection

Many a time, you become angry or miserable because of the feverishness for
perfection. If you are too much of a perfectionist, you are bound to be an
angry person.
In a state of ignorance, imperfection is natural and perfection is an
effort. In a state of wisdom or enlightenment, imperfection is an effort;
perfection is a compulsion and is unavoidable! Perfection is taking total
responsibility, and total responsibility means knowing that you are the only
responsible person in the whole world. When you think that others are
responsible, then your degree of responsibility diminishes. When you are in
total vairagya (dispassion), you can take care of even insignificant things
with such perfection. Perfection is the very nature of the Enlightened one.
When we are joyful, we don't look for perfection. If you are looking for
perfection then you are not at the source of joy. Joy is the realisation
that there is no vacation from wisdom. The world appears imperfect on the
surface but, underneath, all is perfect. Perfection hides; imperfection
shows off.
The wise will not stay on the surface but will probe into the depth. Things
are not blurred; your vision is blurred. Infinite actions prevail in the
wholeness of consciousness, and yet the consciousness remains perfect,
untouched. Realise this now and be natural.



In this world, everything cannot be perfect all the time. Even the best, the
greatest of actions, performed with the noblest of intentions, will have
some imperfections. It is but natural. Unfortunately, the tendency of our
mind is to grab the imperfection and hold on to it. And, in the process, we
end up making our moods, our minds imperfect and our souls reel with this
nonsense. It is imperative to get out of these cycles, and to become strong
and courageous from within.



17 Let us be unpredictable

We often behave like machines. A compliment makes us smile and an insult
makes us frown. We don't have to react in the same way always. You have the
freedom to respond differently. You don't have to answer all questions posed
to you. As people have a right to question, you have the right whether to
answer or not.



So, be unpredictable!



18 Have a sense of humour

You are endowed with certain naughtiness as a child. Keep it alive. Humour
will grease all tough situations. One who has humour can sail through any
conflict. Humour is the buffer that saves you from humiliation. If you
refuse to be humiliated, you become invincible. Humour brings everyone
together, while humiliation tears them apart. In a society torn with
humiliation and insult, humour is like a breath of fresh air.



Humour should be coupled with care and concern. Humour can keep the spirit
high, yet if overdone it leaves a bad taste. Humour without wisdom is
shallow. Humour without sensitivity is satire-it comes back to you with more
problems.



The wise use humour to bring wisdom and to lighten situations. The
intelligent use humour as a shield against humiliation. The cruel use humour
as a sword to insult others. The irresponsible use humour to escape from
responsibility. And fools take humour too seriously! How does one cultivate
a sense of humor?



Humour is not just words, it is the lightness of your being. You do not have
to read and repeat jokes.



Taking life not too seriously (because you will never come out of it alive)!



Having a sense of belongingness with everybody, including those who are not
friendly.
Practicing yoga and meditation.



Having unshakable faith in the Divine and in the laws of karma.

Being in the company of those who live in knowledge and are humorous.

A willingness to be a clown.


19 Don't be afraid to make mistakes

Whenever a boundary is broken, it creates some fear. The fear creates
dislike. This dislike puts us back in the boundary. And to keep yourself
in the boundary you put forth defenses. When you try to defend your
position, it is such a stress. Every time you try to defend your position,
it makes you more and more weak. Drop all your defenses. When you are
totally defenseless, that's when you'll be strong.



Your knowledge of a mistake comes to you when you are innocent! Whatever
mistake has happened, do not consider yourself a sinner because in the
present moment you are again new, pure and clear. Mistakes of the past are
past. When this knowledge comes, you are again perfect. Often, mothers scold
their children and afterwards feel so guilty. Okay, you got angry at your
kid once or twice. Why? Because of a lack of awareness! Awareness was
missing, so the anger came up. Knowledge of the self, truth and skills can
bring out the best in you. So, don't be afraid to make mistakes, but not the
same mistakes. You have got to be innovative even in your mistakes!



20 Overcome your prejudice

Your prejudice against gender, religion, caste and class does not allow you
to mingle with everyone around you. Often, you don't sit with people who
are not economically or socially at par with you. You have to learn to break
that barrier. Also, there is age prejudice. Teenagers don't like to have fun
with elderly people and vice versa. Gender prejudice is more prevalent in
rural areas. Caste system is present even among the royalties of Europe, the
UK and Japan.
Religious prejudice is well known. There are good people and bad people in
every community, religion and every section of society. Don't be prejudiced
against them. At the same time don't be shy about your identity. When you
overcome prejudice, you will be very natural, and your quality of life will
improve.



21 Feel that

"Iamblessed" There is so much talk about success. Have you ever thought
what success is? Success is simply ignorance about one's capabilities.
Success is ignorance about the power of the self. Because you assume you can
do only this much. If there are obstacles, you are clear about your
objective. With a calm and serene mind, think of many possibilities. Know
that failures are stepping stones for greater success. Actually, there are
no failures in life. All the seeming failures are only stepping stones for
greater success. If you feel the obstacle is too much, deep prayer can work
miracles.



The feeling that "I am blessed" can help you overcome any failure. Once you
realise that you are blessed, then



All the complaints disappear.
All the grumbling disappears.
All the insecurities disappear.
A sense of not being loved disappears.
Wanting love disappears.

Ego is always ambitious and wants to do tough jobs like climbing Mount
Everest. Whereas in a simple act like watching a butterfly, watering the
garden, watching the birds or the sky, can bring deep relaxation, and
relaxation connects you with your source. Seemingly trivial actions open a
new dimension and bring in immense peace and rest. Just come out of your
little shell and feel free.



There is a saying: Behind every successful man is a woman. I will modify
this: Behind every success there is the Divine saying "I am behind you".



22 Do random acts of kindness

Abiding in the self you become the valentine for the whole world. Spirit is
the valentine of matter, and matter is the valentine of spirit. They are
made for each other. They uphold each other. If you do not respect the
spirit, then matter is not pleased. If you honour the spirit then you will
care for the world, and when you care for the world it will take care of
you.
You are the Christmas tree. At the time of year when no tree bears anything,
it has many gifts to offer. A Christmas tree bears the gifts and the lights
not for itself. Similarly, all the gifts you are carrying in your life are
for others. Anyone who comes to you, you offer them your gifts. When you
show kindness, your true nature comes into play. Have you ever done acts of
kindness without expecting anything out of it?



Our service should not be mechanical. Once some boy scouts were at a Sunday
service, when the priest said, "You should serve." They asked, "What is this
service? Could you give us some example?" He said, "Suppose an old woman
wants to cross a road, go and help her cross the road."



So the boys went and looked for a whole week, but there was no old woman
trying to cross a street. Finally, four of them found a woman walking on a
footpath. One of the boys went and asked her, "Madam, would you like to
cross the road?" She turned and said, "No." He was disappointed. So another
boy went and asked her again, thinking, perhaps, that the first boy hadn't
asked properly. The woman was now a little bit confused. She wondered why
she was being asked this. So, she said, it was all right for him to take her
across the road. Once they had reached the other side, a third boy came and
asked her, "Would you like to cross the road?" Now it really bothered her.
When the fourth one approached her, she almost screamed and ran away!



You don't have to plan acts of kindness. Just do something spontaneously.
When you do random acts of kindness, you come in touch with your true
nature.



23 Be a student, always

Know that you are a student forever. Do not underestimate anybody. Knowledge
may come to you from any corner. Remember the ancient saying "let knowledge
flow to me from all sides". Each occasion teaches you and each person
teaches you. The world is your teacher. When you are always looking to
learn, you will stop underestimating others. Humility will dawn in your
life.



There is a nice story. A man earned a lot of money and then gave all his
property to his son. The son then built a small house behind his big house
and told his parents: "Now you have to stay there."



So the old couple stayed there, while the son and his family lived in the
bungalow. One day, while playing, the grandchild came to his grandfather's
home, where everything was in pathetic condition. The grandchild said,
"Grandpa, be careful with your plate and chair. Don't break them." When he
asked why, the child said, "Because tomorrow, my father will need them." One
does not realise this fact. You are also going to be old one day.



24 Dream the impossible

Unless you have a dream, you cannot realise it. Every invention has come out
of a dream. Dream the impossible. Obviously, dreaming employs something
which is beyond your perceived capacity. Consider the faculty which is the
preceptor of the dream. Some dreams have impacted your daily living and
others have not.



Some dreams you remember, and others you have forgotten. We are all born in
this world to do something wonderful and unique; don't let this opportunity
pass by. Give yourself the freedom to dream and think big. Have the courage
and determination to achieve those dreams that are dear to you. Many a time
people who dreamt big were ridiculed, but they remained strong to achieve
their goals.



Do something creative. Not a year should pass without doing something
creative.



25 Compare your performance

As we flip the calendar, we need to keep flipping our mind as well. Often,
our diaries are full with memories. See that you don't fill your future
dates with past events. Allow the space for creativity to dawn. Celebration
of the New Year allows you to be wise. Learn and unlearn from the past, and
move on.



In the past year, how many days were you in sanyas? How many days were you
struggling, being caught in maya? Turn back and remember the whole year. Do
not run away from anything. Do not reject anything. Do not go away from
anything. At the same time, let your attention be on the self. This is a
delicate balance. That balance is yoga.



A poor man celebrates the New Year once a year. A rich man celebrates each
day. But the richest man celebrates every moment.



How rich are you? If you celebrate every moment, you are the Lord of
Creation. Review the year while you celebrate. This is your homework.
Compare your performance in the year before last and smile.


When you let time celebrate you, you are a witness amid celebration. The
heart always longs for the old, the mind for the new. Life is a combination
of both. Let the New Year bring into our life ancient wisdom and modernity,
as life is incomplete without either of them. Don't feel shy to speak about
human and spiritual values. The time has come now to call the whole world!


Be ever new, happy you!!!!

You did the Art of Living course? You liked it very much? Remember all your
AOL buddies?

Call them all and come together to have fun...
Refresh - Reconnect - Recharge!
Join the Long Kriya Follow up in your area!

*********************************
From: Art of Living European Center <info@artofliving.de>
Date: Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 6:47 AM
Subject: Cook needed in Bad Antogast

VACANCY: COOK SEVA

European ashram Bad Antogast in Germany is looking for an (ayurvedic)
vegetarian cook. Are you the one we are looking for?


We offer:

- every day sadhana, meditation and satsang
- once a week long Sudarshan Kriya
- delicious vegetarian food
- beautiful nature of Black forest for nice walks
- free food & accommodation
- free Aol course after 2 months of good seva
- 2 months of seva

Requirements:
- experienced in cooking (ayurvedic) vegetarian meals
- done at least 1 Art of Silence (Part 2/3) course
- physically and mentally healthy
- recommendation from an Art of Living teacher
- speaks English


Period of time: as soon as possible for the duration of 2 months
Contact: lucia.vieira@aofl.nl

*****************************
From: Art of Living European Center <info@artofliving.de>
Date: Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 3:48 AM
Subject: First Shakti Kriya with Sri Sri in Europe! Bad Antogast, July 2013


Dear Friends,

We are delighted to announce, first in Europe and very much awaited, Shakti
Kriya courses conducted by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar himself in Bad Antogast.

Dates:
July 2nd (7.30 pm) - July 5th ( 1 pm)
July 5th (7.30 pm) - July 8th ( 1 pm)

Prerequisites:
Completion of two Art of Silence courses

Please kindly note that due to a special character of Shakti Kriya courses
and the necessity of providing a quite environment and space for the course
participants, this time, Bad Antogast will host the course participants only
and guests are most welcome to visit on other occasions.

Registration and more details (accommodation, prices etc.) at
secure2.artofliving.org/courses
Contact: Tel. 0049780497390, email: info@artofliving.de


As usual, we very much look forward to having you in Bad Antogast,
With Love,
Your Bad Antogast Team

***********************
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