Take a Good Look at your Self!

A devotee asked Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: "How do you make everyone happy?"

He replied: "Become me."

Then another devotee asked Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: "How do we become you?"

Wisdom from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: “What stands between you and me is yourself image. Yourself image restricts you from being me. Self image whether good or bad causes misery.

When you think well about yourself in a very subtle manner you think bad about others. Then anger, jealousy, hatred - everything follows.

When you think bad about yourself you feel low and again you start getting angry and you hate everyone else. If you think good about yourself you are in trouble and when you think bad about yourself you are in greater trouble.

So drop yourself image, said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Be a Volunteer For A Better India

“It has been noticed that life-skills training techniques like Yoga and meditation can be extremely potent methods for personality development, enhancement of emotional quotient and employability and also stress related issues and depression in the youth.” - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Inspired by founder of Art Of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Art of Living along with UN Agencies, NGOs and civil society, launched Volunteer For a Better India (VFABI) on 5 December 2012.

"Give one hour to the nation. The country has problems because good people are apathetic. Youth must take charge and Volunteer for a Better India", Sri Sri Ravi Shankar appealed.

VFABI involved itself in many public activities, including the protest against the Nirbhaya Gang Rape Case of 2012, free health camps, and voter awareness and registrations in India.

In March 2013, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Guruji launched NONVIO - a nation-wide movement against violence. Individuals were requested to pledge one act of non-violence through different social and on-line media and adopt nonviolent principles in government, public health and media.

Clearing My Exams

I did my First Yes Course in May 2008 (after appearing for 10th board exams) I was an average student and after every exam my parents used to tell me same thing that if I would have studied then I would have scored much better marks. In the course my teacher, Swami Hardikji told us to give 100% in whatever we do in your life. I used to feel very bad that I did not gave my 100% during my SSC studies, so I was tensed and worried about the result all the time. On the day of my result, after Kriya I was sitting in front Guruji’s picture. At that time my mom came and said the same thing, if you would have studied then the situation would have better. I went to toilet and there I felt I could hear Guruji’s Voice in my mind. He asked how much I would like score in 10^th, 84% or 87% and I answered that 84% is enough and on my mark sheet my score was exactly 84.15%

The same happened during my HSC exam (12^th grade board exams). In that academic year I did almost all the courses, Yes!+, Yes!++, Yes!+

DSN and I was active in Kalyan Yes!+

I used to feel that if I don’t score good marks then I will spoil Art of living’s image. On the day of my result I was chanting the Guru Pooja in my mind, then I intuitively thought that the second digit of my percentage would be 8, so I was expecting 68 or 78, but 68 was too low and 78 was too high for me. I was praying to Guruji, and when result was declared my score was exactly 78%

I am in my final year of the CA course now. I appeared for CA entrance exam, IPCC, in May 2011. We have 2 groups in IPCC, 1^st group has 4 Subjects and 2^nd group has 3 Subjects to clear. During my results, I was in the same situation. I prayed to Guruji that I should at least clear one of the two groups, but the moment I prayed to him a I felt that I don’t know what is best for me. I said Guruji whatever is your wish let it happen, then Guruji’s reply (in my mind!) was, “I think you should do the groups”, and the same thing happened, I cleared both the groups.

Today, whatever I am and wherever I am, it’s just because of him; I can’t imagine my life without Guruji and Art of Living.

Jai Gurudev

Love,
Abhijit

As a teenager my life was as smooth as a breeze. But the year I wrote my 10th grade exam was different. I was nervous as I was not confident about my performance, I could have done far better had I put in a little more effort. Around that time I did my first Youth Empowerment Seminar (YES) course, conducted by the Art of Living foundation , for teenagers.

Art of living foundation was established by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. He is a great humanitarian and his compassion has won him followers all around the globe. Apart from the charity work that this organization does they also conduct meditation and self- help programs.

Teenagers are most vulnerable to emotional upheavals, confusions and peer pressure as a result they get into conflict with parents, teachers, peers and authority which may have long term effect on their psyche. Many have carried their emotional trauma to adulthood and lost their way.

But Sri Sri has thought about young adults and designed a program designed for us. Called YES! It is an empowering tool for teenagers. It gives us an opportunity to look deeply within us, face our apprehensions and concerns, and look at life on a larger canvas so it becomes less intimidating. During the YES program our instructor told us that to give our 100% to whatever we do. A small voice from inside said that I had not done my 100% and I was not sure if I would make up to good grades. 

I had just finished my meditation and was sitting in front of Sri Sri’s photograph. I was peevish about the thoughts of result when my mother impatiently commented that I should have put in little more effort in preparing for the exams rather than getting jittery now. After listening to my mom’s comments and my own nervous thoughts all I could do was to run to my room for some peace and quiet. I thought I heard Gurujis voice in my head asking me how much marks do I want to get in my 10^th grade. 84% to 87% is what I remember answering and to my surprise I got 84.15%. It could be a dream or a coincidence but if events repeat then you know for sure it is certainly not fluke. Something similar happened during high school.

When I was in high school I would actively participate in the YES activities and volunteer for organising and conducting YES programs. I blossomed as a confident youth and I simply loved being surrounded by happy and positive people.

Around this time I had written my high school exams. I felt a sense of responsibility that if I did not do well I may be spoiling the name of Art of Living. On the day of the result I was meditating when I intuitively go a number 8 in my mind, I thought my marks will be either 68% or 78%..68 was too low and 78 was too high for me. I prayed to Guruji and when the results were declared my score was exactly 78%!!. It was a miracle and it happened for the second time.

I have learned that a sincere prayer and total faith can move mountains… I have a sense of security that someone is taking care of me. I have also experienced that whatever you do if it is done with 100% commitment the results are always favourable.

 I am completing my studies and soon will be employed and I know that Sri Sri’s blessings are always with me.

I have felt the real empowerment that Art of Living courses have instilled in me over the years. I have matured to accept favourable and unfavourable situation and keep a balance of emotions and get back on my feet when things have not gone my way. Eventually everything falls in place. I endorse the ancient principal of having a guru as a guide in your life. Yes and in today’s time Sri Sri seems to fulfil that role for me and so many others. I wish these numbers keep growing. Art of Living has a presence in 105 countries. It never seems to amaze me how Sri Sri Ravishankar is accepted universally.... everyone seems to get connected to him in their own personal way. 

Corporate Ethics :

  " A good leader creates leaders. And then chain action happens. A leader should delegate responsibility."

Management Mantras for the Global Village by H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Management begins with the mind, it happens in the mind and when the mind manages itself better, it can manage anything. There are three ‘C’s’: Cosmology, Commitment and Compassion. Cosmology is seeing mind as a part of the cosmos. In Hindu mythology we have the concept of Sankalpa. In Sankalpa, we  remember the cosmos, the billions of things in this creation. Seeing life in a bigger context expands
the mind, broadens the vision and inculcates  commitment.

Spirituality is in harmony with science, it does not contradict science. In this part of the world, spirituality and science go hand in hand. It was discovered very late in the other parts of the world that the earth is spherical, but we always knew this fact. Earth was referred to as Khagol. Khagolshastra,i.e. the knowledge of the spheres, is an ancient science in India.

Human life is very complex: it is a combination of the concrete and the abstract. Our body is concrete
and mind is abstract. An orderly and a disorderly, or a chaotic, thought emanates from the same brain.
We know very little about ourselves; knowing more about ourselves helps us to understand our life
better. So cosmology is the understanding of life. Have you observed the state of your mind when it is waiting? Waiting can lead to frustration or to meditation. When you are not waiting, your mind is racing with thoughts. When you are waiting, your mind is stationary. We have never taken a look at our
minds. What is your mind doing right now? Reading? What are you reading with? The faculty with which
we hear, we see, etc. is the mind. As you read, you are simultaneously agreeing or disagreeing. What
is that faculty that is talking along with me? It is intellect. Do you remember what you read a few minutes ago? That is memory. There are seven layers to our existence: body, breath, mind, memory, intellect, ego and self. When we get to know even a little bit about each of these layers, a transformation appens. Mind always longs for something new, heart longs for something old.

You always take pride in, and feel an attachment for an old friend, as compared to a new acquaintance.
Similarly, even in love, the two hearts want to believe that there has been a bond for lifetimes together.
Every day life is a combination of the mind and the heart. The skill that is required in life is to manage
both mind and heart. In private life and service, the heart should take the front seat. When it comes to
business, the mind should dominate. Of course, the sign of true success is an undying smile on the face. When are you successful? When you are compassionate, cultured and committed.

Education needs to provide all these values. And we should not see these values as goals to be achieved in the next five or ten years, or in the next life. Human life is structured similar to an
atom; the center of an atom is the proton and it is surrounded by a field of negative charges. Similarly,
we too have virtues in our very center, but if we have not yet seen these virtues, we are roaming around
outside in the orbits. This is what the word ‘Bharat’ means; in Sanskrit, ‘Bharat’ means brilliance, intellectual. So, take it for granted that you have these virtues.

Always remember that you are a global person, the whole world belongs to you. See, there is some
virtue to be learnt from every part of the world. You will find good, special qualities everywhere in the
world. Teamwork from the Japanese, precision from the Germans, marketing and negotiation skills from
the United States, courtesy, decency and refinement from the British and Human Values from the villagers of India. You possess all these qualities too, they just need to be nourished.

Another very important part of management is creativity. All C.E.O.’s, all chairpersons want to better
their business but they sideline the research and development, the creativity, this is assumed to be
for scientists. Creativity can come only from silence, just maintain two minutes of silence and a whole
new dimension of life opens up. If you all commit yourself to doing something to uplift life around you,
to compassion, to creativity, the world would be a wonderful place. We are more often than not stuck to
our goals; we have to step out of our shoes, and see the other point of view. We need to keep changing
our roles, to attempt different roles.

After you read this, either your mind is calm and quiet, or there is a chain of thoughts. Are you aware of what is happening in you, when you are interacting with people, the inner dialogue that you are having with yourself? This awareness is very important, it creates health and you become healthier. So, we need to look at ourselves, our life, the role we are playing. When you are a guest at somebody’s house, are you totally comfortable or you tend to feel inhibited? But when a guest comes to your house, do you want them to feel uncomfortable? No, you want your guest to be absolutely comfortable and relaxed. You want your guest to feel at home and to be in complete harmony, but you will not be at home at somebody else’s place! Have you ever thought of this before? Everyone belongs to you, no matter what the background, social strata, etc., they belong to you. That is the dream of India: Vasudeva kutumbhakam, ‘one world family’.