From: esatsang@lists.artofliving.org [mailto:esatsang@lists.artofliving.org]
On Behalf Of Esatsang
Sent: 27 February 2012 13:04
To: esatsang@lists.artofliving.org
Subject: [esatsang] Esatsang digest for Feb 26 2012
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Topics
1. New Feature: Get Useful Art of Living Info directly via your Chat!!
2. Take (and spread) the YOGATHON Challenge - 7th April, 2012 (World Health
Day!!)
3. Life time opportunity not to be missed - Blessings Course Early bird
offer closing on 1st March
4. Guruji coming to Bulgaria to rock entire Europe
5. DSN in Bad Antogast from March 15th to March 18th
6. Guru ji's Delhi visit from 23-26 February
7. Knowledge from Sri Sri... You should not ask proof of Divine's love for
you
****************************
From: Harshal Jadhav <harshalpjadhav@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, Feb 26, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Subject: New Feature: Get Useful Art of Living Info directly via your Chat!!
A new feature called ArtOfLiving HelpDesk is added!
This is an automated chat bot, which can share very useful information with
you.
This information includes Guruji's Tour Schedule, Tweets,Upcoming Live
Webcasts, Daily Sutras, Art of Living Course, Followups, Centers and many
more.....
To access this all that you need to do is add artoflivinghelpdesk@gmail.com
in your Gmail chat / GTalk.
The invitation to add will be auto accepted! So you just need to add and
start chatting!!
In case you do not have a Gmail id, no worries :)
You can access the same feature on www.artofliving.org/live-chat
Do share your feedback to improve this on the same chat window, there is an
option to do this.
Share this information with All!
Harshal
+91 7829068283 | skype: harshalpjadhav
***************************
From: Rachit Garg <rachitg@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Feb 26, 2012 at 1:13 AM
Subject: Take (and spread) the YOGATHON Challenge - 7th April, 2012 (World
Health Day!!)
Please share this on email with your friends in Art of Living who are
working with Corporates or others, if you consider it important enough!
Ask your company to participate / sponsor in this wonderful "Health"
initiative from AOL.."The Yogathon Challenge"!! a unique event to inspire
people to learn the "Surya Namaskar - the Sun Salutation" and participate
actively to check how many rounds they can complete. Surya Namaskar is an
extremely effective, all-round set of Asanas that improves our immune
system, tones muscles, energizes and relaxes the body, rejuvenates and calms
the mind and of course, helps prevent several diseases and stress!!
The event will happen across 38 cities in 29 states on Saturday 7th April
(World Health Day) at 2 timings, 6-7.30am and 5-6.30pm. Please join in!
An estimated 10 Lakh (1 Million) people are expected to join in. Are you?!
If you work for a Corporate that wishes to reach out to such large number of
interested-in-their-health people, send us your details at
inyogathon@gmail.com NOW!
www.yogathon.in
www.twitter.com/inyogathon
www.facebook.com/inyogathon
****************************
From: Suresh Krisshna <sureshkrisshna@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Feb 25, 2012 at 3:12 PM
Subject: Life time opportunity not to be missed - Blessings Course Early
bird offer closing on 1st March
Only 3 days left for the early bird offer. We would urge you all to book as
early as possible to avoid any disappointment as venue space and
accomodation are very limited. The course will be taught by Tanuja Limaye.
Tanuja Limaye has extensively taught in many countries and visiting europe
for the first time so dont miss this life time opportunity. Dedicating her
life for spreading the message of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, she has
been teaching for past 18 years extensively in USA, South America, Australia
and South East Asia. She is known for her unique way of spreading the
knowledge and bringing greater peace and joy into everyones lives.
The Blessing course is a fabulous workshop with some of the most amazing
processes and meditations, taking us into a different level of
consciousness. Each meditation is unique and makes you dive into infinity.
Very different from the normal advance course, it takes you into a different
level of meditation.
Each meditation is unique and makes you dive into infinity.
The kindness and compassion of our Master is beyond words.
Come do it and you'll experience the best gift you have ever received.
You become a perfect instrument for the Master's Grace to flow through.
Prerequisites: You should have done 2 Part 2/3 course (Advance or Art of
Silence course)
When: March 15th Thursday 6.30pm - 10.00pm: check in and satsang.
16th & 17th Friday & Saturday 7am - 9pm
18th Sunday 7am - 4.00pm
Where: Mercure Hotel
A41 Bypass Watford
Watford
WD25 8JH
Map: http://g.co/maps/knh6a
Parking: Available
To Register:
International participants please contact Prashant or Suresh as below for
registration and for UK residents follow the link
http://artoflivinglondon.org/ePayments/home.php?id=104 - Non Residential
http://artoflivinglondon.org/ePayments/home.php?id=106 - 2 Sharing
http://artoflivinglondon.org/ePayments/home.php?id=107 - Individual
If you have any other queries please contact:
Prashant Manral - prashantmanral@gmail.com - 07960410467 Suresh Krisshna -
sureshkrisshna@gmail.com - 07809735574
With Regards
Suresh :-)
On behalf of the organising team
*****************************
From: Konstantin Dragov <kvdaol@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 2:03 AM
Subject: Guruji coming to Bulgaria to rock entire Europe
News spread quickly in the Art of Living family and you might have heard
that Guruji is going to be in Bulgaria for Advanced course (Art of Silence)
16-20th May 2012.
The course will be at beautiful nature resort in the Rila mountain, in the
ski resort of Borovets (http://samokov.com/)
On the day of announcing the course we broke all records with 150
registration for the first 24 hours just from Bulgaria.
It will be a beautiful celebration of joy, meditation, food, nature,
knowledge and Guruji.
Hurry to get the unique unbeatable early bird discount prices till 30th
April. For more info and the price for your country contact
reg@artofliving.bg or 00359 899 861 588.
The cherry of the cake will be a Mega Cultural Event with Guruji in Sofia
Arena on the evening of 21st May, an evening of celebration expected to host
more than 15 000 people.
Stay tuned for more info by subscribing to weekly newsletter from Bulgaria.
Just an email to info@artofliving.bg
We love you and will rock you.
Jai Guru Dev
Art of Living Bulgaria
Join our daily updated facebook site
https://www.facebook.com/#!/ArtOfLivingBulgaria
***************************
From: Art of Living European Center <info@artofliving.de>
Date: Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 9:56 AM
Subject: DSN in Bad Antogast from March 15th to March 18th
We are pleased to announce DSN course in the Art of Living Center Bad
Antogast in Black Forest from March 15th ( 7 p.m.) to March 18th (1 p.m.)
2012.
DSN is a unique program that trains one to break boundaries of the mind and
go beyond oneself to serve the Society. We all have personal barriers, old
habits that hold us back from fully participating in life. Yet we all have a
deep desire to be the best we can be- for ourselves, our families, our
communities, and the world around us. DSN empowers participants to break
personal barriers and self concepts. The rigorous, delightful and
transformational course provides the first opportunity to the individual to
take more social responsibility and experience the power of one's inner
strength.
The upcoming DSN will be conducted by an excellent Indian teacher Santoshji.
Please find the application form with more details attached.
If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact us - email
info@artofliving.de , Tel. 0780497390
We very much look forward to welcoming you in Bad Antogast!
Your Bad Antogast Team
*************************************
From: Namita Nainani <namitanainani@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 12:47 AM
Subject: Guru ji's Delhi visit from 23-26 February
All geared up to bask in HIS grace - Guru ji's Delhi visit from 23-26
February. All are welcome
1) Sankalpa for DEVI PUJA on 24th. FEB
2) YOUTH MEET @ Hindu College on 25th FEB
3) MAHASATSANG on 26th at Japanese Park in Rohini
***************************
From: Vinay Girotra <girotrav@shriamba.com>
Date: Tue, Feb 21, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Subject: Knowledge from Sri Sri... You should not ask proof of Divine's love
for you
You should not ask proof of Divine's love for you
February 18, 2012
(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar)
Q: Guruji, sometimes you tell us, 'Karmanye Vadhikaraste' (action) and
sometimes you tell us 'Vishraam mein Ram hai' (rest). Should I be resting or
should I be performing action?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Opposite values are complimentary. If you work, you
will be able to rest well; if you rest, you will be able to work well.
Without doing any work, if you just lie around, you will not even be able to
rest, and if you keep working without taking rest, you will not be able to
do your work either. So rest and activity both go hand in hand.
Q: Guruji, does one attain knowledge according to his karma?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: For attaining knowledge the desire for knowledge
should be awakened. Now if you ask me, is the desire for knowledge based on
one's karma? Yes! But knowledge eliminates karma.
Q: Guruji, what all should be done to maintain discipline in one's life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: First thing is there should be a desire in the mind to
be disciplined, once that is there then consider it already done.
Discipline is there because of three reasons:
First is love. Although in love there is no need for discipline, but through
love, discipline can be achieved.
Second is fear. Suppose you say to someone, 'If you don't observe
discipline, you will fall sick,' then that person will become disciplined
out of fear of sickness.
Third is greed. Suppose you tell someone, 'If you don't observe discipline,
you will incur a loss,' that person will become disciplined out of greed.
So it is better to have discipline out of unconditional love; that is the
best.
Q: Guruji, it has often been seen that the very news of your arrival to a
particular city starts a fight. Why does seva instigate so much controversy?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: First a fight has to start, only then the Gita begins!
Yes, before my arrival in any city, a fight begins. I have also heard about
this before.
'Where will Guruji stay, in whose house will he stay?' And each one will
say, 'my place'. I will do like that and I will do like this. that is how it
all starts. What to do? I wonder!
There is no love without conflict and there is no conflict without love.
Somewhere or the other, the two must come together.
Q: Guruji, to retain the state acquired in meditation, what should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just keep doing what you are doing now. You have to
continue doing it, again and again. 'Baar baar Raghuveer samai': Again and
again meditate.
So do meditation, sadhana and satsang and talk about it as well. Anything
that is in your speech, the mind and in action gets firmly established.
If you do your sadhana and the rest of the time you keep talking about petty
things, whatever juice you got after your sadhana will start fading away.
That is why in speech also, let that state find expression. Whenever you
talk, talk about knowledge, talk about love. Then you will see it gets more
firmly established in you. This is the importance of satsang.
In satsang we talk about the good things, we talk about knowledge,
meditation and miracles.
You talk about miracles happening in someone's life - isn't this what you
discuss? How many of you talk like this, only about miracles? What happens
when you talk only about miracles? Every day something new happens in your
life and so many new lessons are learnt.
So the mind becomes strong with these kinds of discussions.
Q: Guruji can I be in silence whenever I want? I feel it will benefit me a
lot.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes! Ask others and see; ask your family members!
But do not keep silence that will cause inconvenience or suffering to
others. Speak less and speak only as much as is needed.
You must speak 'Meeta Bhaashi' (friendly speech), 'Geeta Bhaashi'
(melodious/pleasant speech), 'Priya Bhaashi' (loving speech)' and 'Satya
Bhaashi (Truth)' - speak less, speak beneficial, speak pleasant and speak
the truth.
Q: Guruji, what should one ask for from a Satguru? Is there a need for
prayer when a Satguru is there?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Whatever need arises, you ask, that is why it is
called 'need'. You can't sit and think what I should ask. Whatever is your
requirement, whatever is your need that will come as a question, as a
request, yes!
Q: Guruji, when consciousness is formless, should we have faith in the forms
also or just have faith in the formless?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If you have reached the formless, it is fine! Forms
are just part of the formless.
You can't relate to the formless, so you relate to the forms when your eyes
are open. But when you close your eyes and go deep in meditation, then only
you can relate to the formless.
That is how you begin, but later on you will find whether eyes are open or
closed, you are with the formless.
Q: Guruji, when I focus on my work or sadhna, my relationships suffer. I
want to focus on my sadhna, yet want people around me to be happy. How do I
achieve this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Skillfully! You have to do both. It will come
spontaneously.
Q: Guruji, sometimes I don't have time to do seva. Is donation also
considered as seva?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes! That is also seva.
See, whatever is possible for you, that is what is seva.
Suppose, you cannot lift a stone, you don't need to do it. You shouldn't do
what you cannot do. If someone else can do it, you can make them lift the
stone that is also part of seva. In the same way, if you cannot go and teach
a student yourself, you can help through another teacher. They can teach.
So seva is that what you can do, yes!
If you have time, you can give time. If you have money, you can give money.
In whichever way you help, it is called seva.
Q: Gurudev, you have so many disciples. How do you keep track of each
disciple's spiritual progress?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That is my trade secret! (Guruji says laughing!)
Q: Dearest Guruji, any valentine in the world pampers his partner,
reciprocates the love, etc. How can we find the same satisfaction in the
Divine Valentine?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The Divine has already pampered you enough. Know that
you are already pampered so much. And it will continue.
Q: Guruji, how do we avoid 'Karma Bandhan' (bondage due to actions) in our
daily life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Karma Bandhan is when there is some craving or there
is some aversion. Both craving and aversion we call as 'Karma Bandhan'.
So when you do an action without aversion or craving, with a smile, with a
free mind and a clean heart, then there is no bondage. Such kind of action
brings that inner freedom too.
Q: Can you please say something for the people who are visually impaired?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes! Being visually impaired is not an impediment for
growth. You all should remember this.
Surdas, a great saint of this country was visually impaired. Dhritarashtra
was an emperor who ruled India and he too was visually impaired. So there
are many examples.
Swami Shraddhananda, one of the greatest saints of this century was visually
impaired. Just few decades ago, he attained his final abode.
Swami Shraddhanandaji used to go to Brindavan to see the temple every day.
Someone asked him, 'Swamiji, you can't see, and there is a big rush in the
temple, why do you go there? What do you see?' He smiled and replied, 'If I
don't see, at least the Lord is seeing me. He wants to see me, that is why I
am going there. So it doesn't matter if I cannot see. Do you think He is
also unable to see me? Let Him see me. He feels happy by my going there.'
So, this is the depth of devotion, depth of love and the confidence - that
the Divinity loves me. You should not ask proof of Divine's love for you.
You should never ask that. Always know that the Divine loves me, that is it!
Full stop! No question mark in front of that.
Same with everybody in your day to day life also, don't question others love
for you.
Does Guruji love me? This question should not be there at all. Similarly, my
friend loves me or not, my husband loves me or not, or my wife loves me or
not - don't put question marks in front of love. Simply believe they love
you and move on. Whatever their behavior is immaterial.
Q: Guruji, God is the operator of this creation and God is our Father. Then
why does misery, poverty and ignorance exist?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Someone asked a saint this same question, 'Why does
sorrow exist in this world?' The saint said, 'God has kept it for me. Why?
Because in spite of there being sorrow I am unable to renounce this world,
how would I renounce it if there was no sorrow? And if I don't renounce it,
how will I be able to turn my attention towards God?'
The attention never turns to God.
So the saint said, 'Sorrow exists so that I do not get caught up in the
world. Even after there being so much sorrow, I am so caught up here, and I
do not turn towards God. That is why God made this (world) sorrowful, so
that one can enjoy it for a little while, and then renounce it and turn back
towards God.' That is why it is said, 'Dukh mein sumiran sab karen, sukh
mein kare na koye, sukh mein sumiran jo kare, dukh kaahe ko hoye.'
Q: Guruji, what is the difference between Guru, Dharma Guru and Satguru?
The other question is, it is believed that in this universe, in any given
era, there is only one Satguru; so who is that Satguru, and if it is you,
please answer?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is said, 'Mere Guru hi jagat Guru hain - mere naath
hi Jagat ke naath hain' (My master is the master of this Universe) - this is
what one should believe, and this is the truth.
Dharma Guru, Jagat Guru or Sat Guru, these are just different names - what
is it that you need - take it and move ahead.
One who speaks about the truth is Satguru. Satguru cannot be someone's name.
Who is a Satguru? One who shows you the truth.
Just as there is a Sangeet Guru (music teacher), there is a Satguru (Guru of
truth). Satguru is one who makes you aware of what is truth, what is
untruth, what is this world, what is the soul. The one who teaches you to
understand these distinctions is called Satguru.
Q: If everything is pre-destined then why does a human being need to do
anything?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Though everything is destined, man has to make efforts
to get what he likes and what he wants. For example, if you want sunlight in
your house, you need to open the windows and doors to see it. You cannot
shut the windows and expect the sunlight to come into the house. At the same
time you cannot open the windows and doors at midnight and expect the
sunlight.
So you need to make efforts towards your goal and what has to happen will
happen. Your efforts and destiny, both go together.
Q: Dear Guruji, no matter how much I meditate, I cannot control my temper.
What do I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Do not try to control your temper, do pranayama
regularly. Try to accept people as they are in this world, never try to
change them but accept them.
Keep meditating, if you cannot control your temper even after meditating,
imagine the kind of temper you will have without meditating. So meditate and
do pranayama and it will gradually decrease.
Q: Guruji, I am following you with all my heart for the last 4 years and I
have started growing a beard and wearing white clothes. My parents and wife
are very unhappy with me.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You don't need to do all that. Shave off your beard
and wear normal colored clothes and be normal.
Role model does not mean you have to wear the same type of clothes and
everything. No! Be compassionate, be loving and do all the good work you
need to do.
Q: Guruji, could you talk on Shivratri and its importance?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Mahashivratri is the day when the Shiva tattva touches
the ground, touches the earth. The consciousness which is always ten inches
above the material ground; the aura, the ethereal world which is ten inches
above the surface, touches the earth element on Mahashivrathri day.
So, it is very useful for people to keep awake and meditate on that day.
Do not eat too much, eat very light and do more meditation, then it helps in
fulfillment of desires. This is the ancient belief. It helps you to grow
stronger in your being. It is like a new year for a saadhak (seeker), for
spiritual growth, spiritual attainment and worldly attainment, so it is
considered auspicious.
The night on this day, when the constellations are in some particular
position, is very auspicious for meditation. That is the ancient belief.
That doesn't mean it doesn't happen on any other day. Any time your heart is
open, your mind is calm and steady, prayers do get answered. But Shivratri
day is celebrated with the singing of the ancient vedic chants and a
ceremony is done, and it is considered a very auspicious time for a
spiritual aspirant.
It is the wedding of the material with the spiritual.
The material which is eight fold came close to the ethereal which is also
eight fold.
So what the eight fold prakriti (nature)? Earth, water, fire, air, ether,
mind, intellect and ego; all these come in contact with the subtle eight,
i.e., the Shiva Tattva.
People usually eat very light, some fruits or something and fast. I don't
recommend you fasting without anything. Take some fruits or some light
easily digestible food and spend the day awake and at night meditate. You
don't need to do meditation all night. Meditate for some time.
We will have satsang and some celebrations. That's it!
In fact every day is a very auspicious day because we do satsang every day.
In ancient times, people used to say okay, if you cannot do every day, at
least one day in a year, on Shivratri day, do meditation and keep awake.
Wake the Divinity that is deep within you. That is the message. The Divinity
is within you, let it wake up!
Q: Is there any significance of not sleeping the whole night? How long
should we stay awake?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No, don't strain yourself. Be natural.
Q: Why is Mahashivratri called as Mahashivratri (night of Shiva) and not
Mahashivadiwas (day of Shiva)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, I have spoken about it. Read the book. Raatri
means that which gives you comfort, gives you rest; from what? That which
gives us rest from the three Taapa (miseries) is Raatri: Aadi bhautika
(Physical), Aadhyaatmika (Spiritual) and Aadi Daivika (Ethereal).
Taapayitra refers to problem/suffering; that time which takes us from misery
towards relief is known as Raatri.
*********************************___________________________________________
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