FW: [esatsang] Esatsang digest for June 25 2012

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From: esatsang@lists.artofliving.org [mailto:esatsang@lists.artofliving.org]
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Sent: 26 June 2012 11:48
To: esatsang@lists.artofliving.org
Subject: [esatsang] Esatsang digest for June 25 2012

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Topics
1. Guru Purnima Special: Satsang and Sahaj Samadhi Course with Balvinder ji

2. Guru Purnima Advance Course in Mumbai

3. Save the dates: New course Pre TTC to be introduced in Europe

4. Great strength comes to you when you sacrifice

5. Guru Purnima: Webcast and Yagya Details

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From: Aribijay Bhaumik <aribijay@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 25, 2012 at 10:14 PM
Subject: Guru Purnima Special: Satsang and Sahaj Samadhi Course with
Balvinder ji

We are pleased to inform you that will be having Sahaj Samadhi Meditation
Course during Guru Purnima with Senior International Teacher Sri Balvinder
ji from 4th July till 6th July, (two batches) 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM
to 9:00 PM at Elite Ambience Hotel, Kalewadi Phata, Wakad Road, Wakad.


Sahaj Samadhi Meditation is a beautiful course designed by H. H. Sri Sri
RaviShankar ji to help aspirants seeking peace and joy, beginners as well as
advanced to experience the deep state of Samadhi in an effortless manner.

Everyone in this world is born with 'beej' mantra and only Guru can give us
this mantra. Practicing meditation using this 'beej' mantra erases our
karmas and makes us lighter in life. It helps us to dive into inner peace,
meditate on our own and cleanse our mind.

All the participants of Sahaj Samadhi Meditation course will be initiated
into their 'beej' mantra by Sri Balvinder ji.


Shri Balvinder Chandiok is a Program Director of the International Art of
Living foundation, and has been guided by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
ji for more than 15 yrs. As an instrument of his Master he teaches a variety
of Art of Living courses including the Part-1, Advanced Meditation, Sahaj
Samadhi Meditation courses across Asia, Far East and Europe. He is a much
sought after Trainer by corporates and conducts Thought Leadership programs-
APEX Program.

His programs are inspirational, empowering and have thus enabled thousands
to explore and unleash their inner potential. He has accompanied Sri Sri on
his travels across the globe and serves as an inspiration to many by his
selfless service.


Details of the course are as follows:

Timings: 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Venue: Elite Ambience Hotel, Kalewadi Phata, Wakad Road, Wakad, Pune.

Donation: Rs. 1500/-

Eligibility: Open for all above 18 years of age.

Registrations Contact: Naik ji @ 9960636315, Aribijay @ 9665096420, Gauri @
9096020402, Satyajit @ 9890146651

Also Guru Purnima Satsang on 3rd July, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM in presence of
Sri Balvinder ji. Everyone's Invited!

Do spread the message and invite your family and friends :)

Jai Gurudev!

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From: Bhaavin Shah <bhamash@gmail.com>
Date: June 25, 2012 11:41:56 PM GMT+05:30
Subject: Guru Purnima Advance Course in Mumbai

"GuruPoornima is the most significant day for a spiritual seeker to
establish a connectiion in blissful silence....."

With Gurujis blessings,

On this GuruPoornima we are organising a special Part2 Advance course with
Sangeeta didi,

Do spread the word so that more people would be able to benefit.

Date 30 June- 3 July
Time 7am- 8.30pm
Venue The Qube, behind Taj kitchen,near International airport, Andheri East

Donation 4000
Cantact -9820895629 / 9869146741
Also, RENDEVOUS with SANGEETA DIDI an evening with Knowledge & Blessings on
26 June 7- 9 pm at Punjabi Sabha Gurudwara, behind Hiranandani hospital,
Hiranandani complex, Powai

Love & Regards,

For
VilleParle- Andheri team of teachers & volunteers Bhavin

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From: Konstantin Dragov <kvdaol@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 25, 2012 at 3:18 AM
Subject: Save the dates: New course Pre TTC to be introduced in Europe


There is a new beautiful gift from Guruji - a program called Pre TTC. It
will happen for the first time in Europe 6-9th September 2012. The program
will be taught by a dynamic TTC teacher from India.

This 3.5-day intensive program empowers individuals with the knowledge and
confidence to become dynamic Introductory Workshop facilitators for the Art
of Living Course. Graduates will be given the tools and training to support
them in networking, organizing, and leading intro workshops. They will be
qualified teach Bhastrika and Nadi Shodana, and to lead the Pancha Kosha
Meditation. Each graduate will be presented with a Breath, Water, Sound
manual. This special program will greatly enhance leadership, teamwork,
organizing, public relations, and course-enrollment skills.

The program will cost as much as an Art of Silence course (Part 2 course) in
your country.

Plan to arrive in Sofia(airport), Bulgaria by 5th September evening and
leave evening 9th September.

Program start: 7:00 , 6th September
Program ends: 15:00, 9th September

For more information: reg@artofliving.bg or 00359 899 17 20 15

Art of Living Bulgaria team

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From: Vinay Girotra <vinay.girotra@aol.in>
Date: Sun, Jun 24, 2012 at 11:42 PM
Subject: Great strength comes to you when you sacrifice

Great strength comes to you when you sacrifice June 11, 2012 (Below is the
transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar)

Bangalore, India



What do we get upset with? We don't get upset with the birds, or the clouds,
or with Nature. We don't get upset with the environment. So, what do we get
upset with? We get upset with the people around us. Our enemies upset us and
our friends upset us as well. Our mind gets stuck either in our friends or
in our enemies. We either think about our friends or we think about our
enemies the entire day.

People become our enemies even when we have not done any wrong to them. Many
people have had this experience. We don't do any wrong to them; neither do
we misbehave with them and still they become our enemies. This is very
surprising! We think, 'Oh! Why has he become my enemy? Until yesterday he
was my friend.'
In the same way, we do not do any special favours for some people, yet they
become our close friends. That is why I tell you, this is some astonishing
and mysterious Karma - how some people become our enemies and some our
friends.
So what should we do? We should place both our friends and enemies in one
basket, and just become empty from within; be joyful. All these happenings
(people becoming friends and enemies) run by some law and we don't know how
and where it comes from. We just can't say when someone's feelings towards
us will change and whether it will be in our favour or not in our favour. We
just can't say. That is why we should place absolute faith on our Self, on
God, and not on friendship and enmity. We should not waste our time thinking
about friends and enemies.
What do you all think?

This does not mean you distance yourself from your friends, or that you stop
making new friends. That is not what I am saying. Friendliness should be in
our nature; love should be in our very nature. We are love after all! When
someone comes and sits beside us, we do smile at them and exchange a few
words. This does not mean you think, 'Anyways, who is a friend or who is an
enemy, there is nothing to share with anyone', and you walk around with a
gloomy face being angry with everyone - this is not a sign of wisdom. This
is ignorance and foolishness. We must interact with everyone around us and
at the same time be centered from within. Do you understand?
When we are centered, then we will not feel sad, angry or possessive. Then
we will not have disappointment of any kind. Otherwise many times what
happens, we become sad - 'Oh! Look, I made him such a good friend and today
he does not even talk to me. I did so many favours for him and he has turned
against me!'
By thinking all these thoughts we waste the time we have in the present. We
should not do this, Okay!

Life is short. And in this short life time do some good deeds! We need to
have Tyaag budhhi (An intelligence capable of sacrifice; letting go.)
Sacrifice gives us great strength. Nothing else can give you the kind of
strength that sacrifice does. Great strength comes to you when you
sacrifice. And everyone makes some kind of sacrifice, in some way or the
other - either big or small. There is not a single person in the world who
does not sacrifice something or another. One has to sacrifice something.
Where there is love, there is bound to be some sacrifice. A mother
sacrifices her comforts out of love for her child. Every mother stays awake
at night and sleeps less when her baby is small. All her attention is on her
child - day and night. She forgets all her comforts for her children.

Like a father works hard to earn for the entire household. Otherwise why
should he strive and work so hard? For what? He does not do it only for
himself. He sacrifices his own comforts for the comfort of his family. Isn't
it? A single person doesn't need to strive so hard for himself, after all
what are the needs of a single person? He just needs a place to live and
some food to eat. A little bit would be sufficient to take care of these
needs, for that one does not have to work very hard. And if he is an
intelligent person, he will be happy and content with a little. But one has
to work hard to fulfil the responsibilities towards one's family and the
society.
So every person does some sacrifice. And greater the sacrifices one makes,
greater is the strength that comes to him. Some people are ready to
sacrifice their comforts and luxuries, some are willing to sacrifice their
wealth, some are willing to sacrifice their relationships, and some are
willing to sacrifice their self-esteem and the respect they enjoy in
society. And if you look on the opposite side, some people cannot sacrifice
or let go of their self-esteem and respect in society. If someone insults
them they become so disturbed and upset that they collapse. That is their
weakness.
We must observe all this.

So, a person who makes great sacrifices attains great strength.
If a person has nothing to sacrifice, and says that I have sacrificed
everything - that too is not correct. Despite having everything and
fulfilling all duties and responsibilities, a person should have the sense
of sacrifice in his mind (Tyaag Buddhi). That is the best.
See, a saint can always say, 'I have nothing, not even a hut for myself. I
have made such a great sacrifice.' But I do not consider that as sacrifice
because he has no duties or responsibilities to fulfil. But on the other
hand, one who has to manage the responsibilities of a huge Ashram and run
such a large organization with so many people; and yet does all that with a
sense of sacrifice and detachment then that is the supreme way of all. This
is the way of Lord Krishna.
Arjun said to Lord Krishna, 'I am leaving everything and going to the
Himalayas. I do not wish to do battle against my dear ones and neither do I
want to enjoy the luxuries of the royal life. Why should I do all this?
Krishna, why do you force me to go to battle? Let me go. I want to go to the
Himalayas' Then Lord Krishna said, 'No, you should not do that. You must not
abandon your Dharma (duty), rather you must detach yourself from the fruits
of your action.'

Do everything. Fulfil all your duties and responsibilities and still stay
detached with a sense of sacrifice. Take the responsibility of the
leadership of the country and still have a sense of detachment and sacrifice
in your mind.

Saint Kabir sang a beautiful verse which said,'Krodh na choda Jhooth na
choda, Krodh na choda Jhooth na choda, Satya vachan kyo chod diya tune, Naam
japan kyo chod diya'
(You have not given up telling lies, nor your ange. Then why have you given
up speaking the truth and righteous words; Why have you given up chanting
the name of the Lord!)

One should only give up japa (chanting) when the consciousness completely
ripens with the chanting of His name. From Japa you should progress towards
Ajapa (practice of japa without the mental effort normally needed to repeat
the mantra). But if you leave japa beforehand, then that is wrong. For
example, you board a bus from one station and depending on where you want to
go, you get off the bus at that station. Now you can't say, 'Why board the
bus when I anyway have to get off from it.' Some people think like this.
They do not understand that where you board the bus from and where you get
off the bus are two different spots. You get on at one place and you get off
at another place. Similarly, your state of consciousness before chanting and
your state of consciousness after chanting is different. So, the flow of
life should always move in this direction.

So, sacrifice is important. Without sacrifice, one's mind becomes so heavy.
A person who is detached and has a sense of sacrifice does not get carried
away by any amount of praise given to him. Such praises do not enter his
mind. A Gyaani (knowledgeable one), Tyaagi (one who is detached and has a
sense of sacrifice) and Bhakt (devotee) do not get disturbed or carried away
by praise and admiration. Otherwise, the same praise and admiration becomes
a burden to one who is not detached and who does not have a sense of
sacrifice. Love and admiration too can become a burden. And when that
happens, they try to unburden themselves by running away from it. Many love
marriages have fallen apart because of this only. One partner expresses so
much love towards the other, and the other is not able to handle it. The
other person then feels like running away. And they do run away! How many
people have seen this happen? (Many raise their hands)

Many people come to me and say, 'I am in love with this person. Yet
whomsoever I love, they run away from me.' I tell them, 'Oh! Don't express
so much love day and night that they get bored and irritated with it.'
In countries abroad that is what they do. One goes running after the other
saying, 'Honey, Honey', all the time. And then what happens? They suffer
from diabetes!
Every now and then they will say, 'Honey, Honey', and then one fine day they
get fed up and say, 'I can't stand you.' One should not go overboard in
expressing their love.
In India, it is the opposite. The people never used to express love. If you
would go to the Indian villages, you will find that they don't express love
at all. They keep it in their hearts but they don't express it. And abroad
they express it so much that love just vanishes! It just doesn't stay.
Love should be planted like a seed. If you sow the seed too deep into the
earth, then it won't sprout. If you plant a seed ten feet deep into the
ground, it will die. This is the situation in the villages in India. There
are couples who spend their entire lifetime staying together, yet they never
express their love for each other. And the situation is exactly opposite in
the cities and abroad. There they keep on saying, 'I love you', every now
and then and because of this, love fails. Then the relationship becomes
formal, like saying 'Sorry' or 'Thank You'.
Someone just simply offers you a glass of water and you say, 'Thank you so
much!' What is the point of saying thank you so much? The glass was on the
table and they picked it up and gave it to you and you say, 'Thank you so
much.'
Yes, had you been in a desert for three days without water and then someone
came and gave you a glass of water and you said, 'Thank you so much', then
there can be some honesty in that.
We are so formal in our own house. If someone in the house offers us a glass
of water or something to eat, and we say, 'Thank you so much!' then there is
no meaning in that Our words should aim to honestly express the depth of the
feeling. Words cannot completely express the depth of feelings, but feelings
needs to be wrapped with the precise words and then expressed. Otherwise, it
is very difficult to convey one's true feelings. That is why the words we
use are important, and this is how language should be put to use.

In Kannada, there is a very beautiful verse which says, 'When you speak,
your words should be like a necklace of beautiful pearls. It should be pure
like the white pearl, it should shine like a diamond, and it should be
transparent like a crystal. And the effect of your speech should be such
that even Lord Shiva should nod his head in agreement.'
Lord Shiva is generally very calm and quiet. But your speech should be such
that even Lord Shiva should nod and say, 'Yes, that is true! That is
correct.'
Your speech should appeal even to Lord Shiva.

Q: Q: Guruji, if love resides at the level of chetna (consciousness) alone;
then what is the need of relationships?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Consciousness expresses itself through the person. And
relationships happen among different persons. If you do not feel the need
for any relationship, then you cannot establish any relationship by force.
The fact that you are asking a question about the need for relationships
means you feel the need for relationships somewhere. Otherwise the question
would not have arisen in the first place. You are struggling with yourself
and feel the need for relationships, yet your ego comes in between and you
feel, 'Oh I don't need any relationships.' Or you are not sure whether you
need or do not need relationships. That is why I say that whether
relationships stand or fade away, you should not get affected. You just
relax within your Self. When you meditate, keep everything aside and just
repose in your Self. And while dealing or interacting with others in the
world, form good relationships with them all.

Q: Guruji, how to save oneself from attraction?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The very thought of saving oneself from attraction
itself applies the brakes on it. Understand it this way. It is good. There
should be brakes in a car; otherwise you will land up in trouble someday,
okay. And have a firm belief that life is full of love. We cannot make an
effort to increase love, but the moment you become stress free, love
manifests itself within us. Two things need to be there for this - freedom
from stress, and relaxation.

Q: Guruji, sometimes I wish that when I answer the doorbell I see you
standing outside my door. I wish that when my phone rings it is you calling
and I hear your voice. For someone who does sadhna regularly, everything is
possible. So shall I wait for my wish to come true?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, absolutely. I will tell you something. One day, I
left the Ashram and only one person accompanied me. We just left quietly and
nobody knew where we went. So, we drove to a faraway village. On the way I
asked the driver to stop the car outside a small house. I went inside the
house and there was a man sitting inside. The man was a simple farmer, who
had just a small farm to himself. He had a small television on which he had
watched my programme. And after watching that programme, he had such an
intense desire to meet me. He would think, 'How do I meet Guruji? I can't
afford to travel to Bangalore. I have to meet Guruji some way or the other.'
And I went and stood at the door of his very house! He got such a shock. He
fell on his knees and started crying. He was a simple farmer; he only grew
tomatoes in his farm. His farm was less than half an acre in area. He had a
small family. Similarly, one day I went to this one school and I took
classes for both the teachers and students there. For about one to two hours
I spoke to them. They all got so excited and filled with enthusiasm. It was
a small school in a village, and the teachers were all looking so serious.
So I spoke to them, encouraged them a little and they all started smiling.
This is what knowledge does. Listening to knowledge and implementing it in
one's life automatically brings enthusiasm and joy. So anything is possible
at any time! Once Kishor Da and I were travelling to Arunachal Pradesh from
Assam. As we crossed a village in Assam, I asked the car to stop outside one
house. I went inside the house with Kishore Da and I asked him to pay Rs.
700 to the lady who was in the house. That lady's husband was to undergo
some operation for which she had to pay Rs. 2100, but she had only Rs. 1400
with herself. She didn't have enough money for the operation. So she was
sitting in her temple, praying and asking God for money. She had a small
temple with pictures of Kali Maa (a form of Goddess Durga) and Sri
Ramakrishna Paramhamsa. So she was sitting before them praying and asking
God for money. She got the money that she needed. I also met her and spent
some time with her. What I am saying is - this entire Universe is created
and driven by One power. It is made up of the One Tattva (substance). I am
made up of that same substance and you are also made up of the same
substance. So whomever you bow down to, or pray to, it reaches the same
source. Now that lady did not know me, and this incident happened around 20
years ago. We were just four to five people in the car at that time. When we
met that lady, we could see that she was so strong and deep in her devotion.
So when we call upon the Divine with a true heart, everything we wish for
starts to happen. This must have happened with so many of you. Has it not?
So many miracles have happened in so many people's lives. See! It has
happened with everyone here (pointing to the audience). This is not
surprising. It keeps happening; it is not a big thing. If it doesn't happen,
then that is something surprising. If a miracle doesn't happen sometime then
it is wonder actually! Yes, some miracles happen instantly and some take
time.

Q: Guruji, you said that sacrifice brings great strength to a person. But
doesn't one need inner strength in order to be able to sacrifice?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, sacrifice brings great strength. And the inner
strength needed to be able to make sacrifices comes from knowledge.
Ignorance cannot give you the strength to sacrifice. That can come only
through knowledge. Just observe this. You heard this knowledge point a while
ago and found strength and courage. Isn't that so? This happens immediately,
almost instantaneously.

Q: Gurudev, there have been a lot of changes in our area through the YLTP
programme. What is the aim of this movement? What mission or aim should I
keep in my work as a Yuvacharya (youth leader)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: : Shreyas (one's own progress) and Preyas (progress of
others in the society). Your own progress and the progress of society, both
have to happen together. They cannot happen one after the other. They have
to happen together. That is the aim of the YLTP. You should give one year or
one and a half year of your life for the country. Then you will find that
your progress happens even more! The higher we want to build a building, the
deeper we will have to dig to lay its foundation. The higher the position
you aspire to reach in life, the greater will be the sacrifices you will
have to make. Sitting idle and relaxing will not bring you to the top. You
will have to put in some hard work. And that hard work will surely yield
fruits.

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From: Amit Haryani <haryani7@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, Jun 24, 2012 at 7:11 PM
Subject: Guru Purnima: Webcast and Yagya Details

A few more days before the celebrations begin. The celebrations would not be
complete without each and everyone of you. As such, the Guru Purnima team
has made arrangements for a webcast of all the days for those who cannot
participate in this historic event in person. Please share the information
below with everyone on your distribution list.

1. EVERYDAY: Webcast of Evening Satsangs, Inauguration, Yagya and GP
Celebrations
TIME: See details
WEBCAST LINK: Register at http://webcast.artofliving.org/ to obtain the
webcast link.
2. JUNE 29: Special Pooja and Yagya to Commemorate International
Center for Meditation and Well-Being
TIME: 8:00am EST.
VENUE: International Center for Meditation &
Well-Being
SPONSORSHIP: $108 Sponsor Here:
http://secure.artofliving.org/event_details.aspx?event_id=103040
3. JUNE 30: The Grand Inauguration of the International Center for
Meditation and Well-Being
TIME: 11:00am - 12:30pm.
VENUE: International Center for Meditation &
Well-Being
RSVP: Required to reserve your space (not required
if registered for a course).
RSVP Here: http://secure.artofliving.org/event_details.aspx?event_id=102909
4. JULY 3: The Grand Gurupurnima Celebrations
TIME: Seating begins at 2PM
VENUE: Appalachian State University Convocation
center (Holmes Center)
RSVP: Required to reserve your space (not required
if registered for a course).
RSVP Here: http://secure.artofliving.org/event_details.aspx?event_id=103141
5. Few more spots available for the Art of Silence, Sri Sri Yoga 2 and
Blessings Courses. Register today! More information available here
(http://www.artofliving.org/intl-meditation-center-usa/gp2012-courses)


In Wisdom. In Meditation. In Celebration
Join the Guru Purnima Celebrations this Summer at Boone NC ~ June 28th-July
3rd
http://www.artofliving.org/gp2012
https://www.facebook.com/SriSriGuruPurnima

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