Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a famous spiritual leader of India. He is credited with being the initiator of a foundation, known as the Art of Living Foundation. His aim in life is to teach people cope up with the stresses of everyday life and be at peace with themselves. He is also the founder of a number of charitable organizations, like the International Association for Human Values. Read this biography on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar further, to
know more about him and his life history.
His Life
Sri Sri Ravishankar was born in 1956 in the southern part of India. It is said that at the tender age of four, he could recite parts of the scared Bhagwad Gita. By time he was 17 years old, he had already attained an advanced degree in Modern Physics. Some time later, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Kuvempu University of India. Other than that, there is very little information on the childhood and the early life of Sri Sri
Ravishankar.
Enhancing Enlightenment
It is believed that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar received Enlightenment in the year 1982. He had retreated into silence and on the tenth day of his silence, he became Enlightened. Enlightenment also bestowed Ravi Shankar with the technique of Sudarshan Kriya, a
rhythmic breathing exercise.
Establishing Art of Living Foundation
In 1982, the year he received Enlightenment, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar established the Art of Living Foundation. Thorough this foundation, he promoted the Sudarshan Kriya. Today, his foundation is considered to be one of the largest volunteer-based educational and humanitarian organizations in the world. In 1997, he founded the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), along with Dalai Lama and a number of other people.
Philosophy of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar teaches people to replace hatred and suffering with love and wisdom. He spreads the message of universal love, peace and brotherhood throughout the world. He aims at promoting spirituality amongst people and making them realize that there is goodness in every individual. He advises people to accept as well as respect each other.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Say "NO" 2 Plastic..... Bcoz Generation Awakens....
The plastic bags you bring home from the supermarket probably end up in a landfill. Every year, more than 500 billion plastic bags are distributed, and less than 3% of those bags are recycled. They are typically made of polyethylene and can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade in landfills that emit harmful greenhouse gases. Reducing your contribution to plastic-bag pollution is as simple as using a cloth bag (or one made of biodegradable plant-based materials) instead of wasting plastic ones. For your next trip to the grocery store… No to Plastic... Join Hands and "I Am Possible"
Our Lovely Plastic Bags is Spoiling OUR Life and Many More........
Consider the following shocking facts about plastic shopping bags:
Plastic bags are made of polyethylene
Polyethylene is a petroleum product
Production contributes to air pollution and energy consumption
Four to five trillion plastic bags are manufactured each year
Americans use over 380 billion polyethylene bags per year
Americans throw away approximately 100 billion polyethylene bags per year
Of those 100 trillion plastic bags, 1% are recycled.
It takes 1000 years for polyethylene bags to break down.
As polyethylene breaks down, toxic substances leach into the soil and enter the food chain.
Approximately 1 billion seabirds and mammals die per year by ingesting plastic bags.
Plastic bags are often mistaken as food by marine mammals. 100,000 marine mammals die yearly by eating plastic bags.
These animals suffer a painful death, the plastic wraps around their intestines or they choke to death.
Plastic bag choke landfills .
Plastic bags are carried by the wind into forests, ponds, rivers, and lakes.
There are alternatives to plastic bags. All of this death and pollution is unnecessary
Alternative uses:
Reuse plastic shopping bags and wraps.
Use wax paper instead of polyethylene products.
Utilize reusable shopping bags made of cloth or hemp.
Recycle your plastic shopping bags by returning them to the store.
If you forget your reusable shopping bag, opt for paper.
Minimize your garbage output by composting and recycling.
Write to your local and federal governments to demand environmentally-friendly bags (they do exist)
Tell others about the harmful impact of plastic bag usage..... Spread the Knowledge..
Plastic bags are made of polyethylene
Polyethylene is a petroleum product
Production contributes to air pollution and energy consumption
Four to five trillion plastic bags are manufactured each year
Americans use over 380 billion polyethylene bags per year
Americans throw away approximately 100 billion polyethylene bags per year
Of those 100 trillion plastic bags, 1% are recycled.
It takes 1000 years for polyethylene bags to break down.
As polyethylene breaks down, toxic substances leach into the soil and enter the food chain.
Approximately 1 billion seabirds and mammals die per year by ingesting plastic bags.
Plastic bags are often mistaken as food by marine mammals. 100,000 marine mammals die yearly by eating plastic bags.
These animals suffer a painful death, the plastic wraps around their intestines or they choke to death.
Plastic bag choke landfills .
Plastic bags are carried by the wind into forests, ponds, rivers, and lakes.
There are alternatives to plastic bags. All of this death and pollution is unnecessary
Alternative uses:
Reuse plastic shopping bags and wraps.
Use wax paper instead of polyethylene products.
Utilize reusable shopping bags made of cloth or hemp.
Recycle your plastic shopping bags by returning them to the store.
If you forget your reusable shopping bag, opt for paper.
Minimize your garbage output by composting and recycling.
Write to your local and federal governments to demand environmentally-friendly bags (they do exist)
Tell others about the harmful impact of plastic bag usage..... Spread the Knowledge..
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Importance of Chakras
Seven cities in India correspond to seven centres or chakras in our body: Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, Puri drawaravati chaiva, saptaide moksha dayika.
Maya or Haridwar corresponds to the mooladhar chakra situated at the base of the spine. When the jadata or lethargy goes and enthusiasm begins, you commence your journey. Haridwar, the starting point, is the door to the house of the Divine.
Kanchi corresponds to the swadhisthana chakra situated behind the genitals, as the presiding deity here is Kamakshi, the goddess of kama or desire.
Ayodhya corresponds to the third chakra, the manipura, situated in the navel region, where joy, generosity, greed and jealousy manifest. All these emotions are connected to Ayodhya.
It was the jealousy and greed of Kaikeyi that made Rama take vanavas. Ayodhya is also known for the generosity of Rama. The joy of Rama's return to Ayodhya is celebrated as Diwali. Joy, generosity, greed and jealousy meet in the nabhi pradesh, Ayodhya. Ayodhya also means where there is no fight, where it cannot hurt.
Mathura is anahata, the heart chakra. The heart is associated with three emotions: Love, fear and hatred. Mathura symbolises the love and devotion of the gopis for Krishna, as well as of the fear and hatred of Kansa, all matters of the heart.
Avantika, also called Ujjain, is related to the vishuddha or the throat chakra. Ujjain is the city of art and literature. Poet Kalidas hailed from Ujjain. It is also the city of Vikramaditya, of grief and glory. We feel gratitude in the throat region - we get choked.
Kashi represents the ajna chakra situated between the eyebrows. Kashi has always been the seat of knowledge. That's why the ajna chakra is also called gyana chakshu, the third eye. Kashi is the city of pundits and scholars.
Dwaraka represents the sahasrara, the crown chakra on top of the head. Dwarka literally means: Here is the door? The door is irrelevant if there are no walls. Infinity has no walls. Krishna left his body in Dwarka. Sahasrara also means thousand avenues. It means the pathless path. The path to liberation begins at Haridwar and culminates at Dwarka.
The soul is called Purusha. Pura means a town. Purusha means one who lives in the town. The Purusha is unbound and infinite. But the Purusha experiences bondage with all the negative emotions. Positive feelings with knowledge are liberating. Positive feelings without knowledge create negative emotions which are stifling, hence one experiences bondage. When you observe the prana moving through different centres associated with sensations, the negative feelings cease to exist and one is libera-ted from bondage.
The microcosm and the macrocosm are interlinked. Planet earth, home to many organisms, is itself a large organism. It is not just a place for living beings; it is a living organism as a whole. This is what the Gaia theory says. Materialism considers everything as objects. Spirituality, on the other hand, discovers life in everything. So do children. For them, the moon talks, the sun smiles and the mountains hear. Everything comes alive. Chicken, cows, mice - all are perceived to be in communication mode. Even cities have collective consciousness. A street where unethical people conduct their business is believed to emit heavy vibrations whereas an educational institution or a place of worship emits positive and light vibrations.
The seven sacred rivers are the Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri.
Together with the seven sacred cities, they are linked to the seven sacred spots within you.
Maya or Haridwar corresponds to the mooladhar chakra situated at the base of the spine. When the jadata or lethargy goes and enthusiasm begins, you commence your journey. Haridwar, the starting point, is the door to the house of the Divine.
Kanchi corresponds to the swadhisthana chakra situated behind the genitals, as the presiding deity here is Kamakshi, the goddess of kama or desire.
Ayodhya corresponds to the third chakra, the manipura, situated in the navel region, where joy, generosity, greed and jealousy manifest. All these emotions are connected to Ayodhya.
It was the jealousy and greed of Kaikeyi that made Rama take vanavas. Ayodhya is also known for the generosity of Rama. The joy of Rama's return to Ayodhya is celebrated as Diwali. Joy, generosity, greed and jealousy meet in the nabhi pradesh, Ayodhya. Ayodhya also means where there is no fight, where it cannot hurt.
Mathura is anahata, the heart chakra. The heart is associated with three emotions: Love, fear and hatred. Mathura symbolises the love and devotion of the gopis for Krishna, as well as of the fear and hatred of Kansa, all matters of the heart.
Avantika, also called Ujjain, is related to the vishuddha or the throat chakra. Ujjain is the city of art and literature. Poet Kalidas hailed from Ujjain. It is also the city of Vikramaditya, of grief and glory. We feel gratitude in the throat region - we get choked.
Kashi represents the ajna chakra situated between the eyebrows. Kashi has always been the seat of knowledge. That's why the ajna chakra is also called gyana chakshu, the third eye. Kashi is the city of pundits and scholars.
Dwaraka represents the sahasrara, the crown chakra on top of the head. Dwarka literally means: Here is the door? The door is irrelevant if there are no walls. Infinity has no walls. Krishna left his body in Dwarka. Sahasrara also means thousand avenues. It means the pathless path. The path to liberation begins at Haridwar and culminates at Dwarka.
The soul is called Purusha. Pura means a town. Purusha means one who lives in the town. The Purusha is unbound and infinite. But the Purusha experiences bondage with all the negative emotions. Positive feelings with knowledge are liberating. Positive feelings without knowledge create negative emotions which are stifling, hence one experiences bondage. When you observe the prana moving through different centres associated with sensations, the negative feelings cease to exist and one is libera-ted from bondage.
The microcosm and the macrocosm are interlinked. Planet earth, home to many organisms, is itself a large organism. It is not just a place for living beings; it is a living organism as a whole. This is what the Gaia theory says. Materialism considers everything as objects. Spirituality, on the other hand, discovers life in everything. So do children. For them, the moon talks, the sun smiles and the mountains hear. Everything comes alive. Chicken, cows, mice - all are perceived to be in communication mode. Even cities have collective consciousness. A street where unethical people conduct their business is believed to emit heavy vibrations whereas an educational institution or a place of worship emits positive and light vibrations.
The seven sacred rivers are the Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri.
Together with the seven sacred cities, they are linked to the seven sacred spots within you.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Felt Like "Guru Boy" not Guru Bhai
All this started when I went to the YES!+ of Rohit bhaiya and Shilpa didi on the last day one the girl whom I had registered she said "kabhi bhi Guruji ayyegeh toh mujhe batana." I just thought in my mind "He just came recently in September. Tujhe pata nahi kab milneh millegah" and i was laughing..After sometime Sukeerti gave me a call and said "Tujhe pata hai Guruji aa rahe hai" and I was completely shocked......
Then as usual I spread this message to almost all the contacts which I had.....I send almost 350 messages. Then everybody started messaging me that when, where and what time is he coming...etc that night I didn't slept just bcoz of all this messages......... Then suddenly on 5th December, 08 I started remembering one of my friend from my advance course, she stays in pune. I was missing her so much that I had to call her, and then she told me that "Guruji is coming at gate no.8 at 11 am at domestic airport and He is coming by Chopper" then she messaged me the text and again I send that message to everyone so for in this process so that everybody can meet Guruji I send almost 800 text................
Then there is a beginning of a new day for me and for many people in Mumbai... I was very excited as usual Me, Foram, Mihir and Pankti. We met at around 9 am near Kandivali stn. And we reached airport at 10:20 am... There were hardly any people, and I had decided I will not make any outgoing calls from my cell phone bcoz everybody will call me and I need the battery to go on throughout the day... Then we came to know that the chopper has been delayed and He will land at 1pm by that time many people had gathered so we all were doing some time pass few of them were playing football and catch catch and few of them were singing satsang and I was busy making friends....As usual...then again we came to know that the chopper will land at 2 pm........ Around 1:30 pm the Ice Cream wala came and almost finished the stock..... We all were hungry as if we had not eaten food since past one week or so.... Then Defence minister who was a devotee he told us that the chopper will land at 2:30 and by that time we had already decided that we will stand in a line with discipline......... so that He can meet us properly........ Then Pooja didi came and told the YES!+ gang that we need volunteers to do seva at Priyadarshani Park (PDP)... then I told Pankti "jab seva samne seh aati hai, I never say No." Like everybody does it with Lakshmi.... Then the chopper landed at 3:20 pm, so as we had decided we all were standing in a line with discipline.... So while going he sat in the car and stopped the car where we were standing looked at all of us and then he went.........So I was overjoyed that bcoz of me people came to knew about Guruji and even He looked at me and then he went.........
Then I left that place and Me, Arnav, Dhwani, Kanupriya and one of her friend we all went together to Grant road stn. While travelling I had called up Shivangi that Guruji has left from here so be ready...... Then we went to PDP and started setting up the divine shop and then me and Sourav were looking for Sunil Munshi bcoz He was going to allot the seva to us and do you want seva he alloted to the yes!+ gang... Security and I was so happy and I had an amazing time as a security in PDP...........Maximum people took my bad karma and I started feeling lighter from inside... Then some of the volunteer told me that give this chocolates to Guruji and I gave it to him and He blessed the chocolates and He gave it back to me.......So I gave it back to her ......Then I wanted to meet him and so me, Arnav and Suneet went to Birla House after wrapping up the whole event...... And we were the last one to leave from there.....
Next Mission Birla House: As soon as I reached there I came to know that the security was calling only those people whose name has been called by the people inside bcoz there were VIP's inside. I was giving my 100% kii bhaiya merrah bhi naam likho, kya pata mujhe bula leh.... Then when security called Raj at that point of time Suneet went inside.. I thought Iskkeh Nasib Achhe hai........ Then after some time a car came and the security opened half of the gate and He called us inside and told all of us to stand in a line and then suddenly he told all of us to move out..... So me and Mayank we some hoe went inside like the way we use to walk behind cars while playing Hide & Seek........Yaad ayyeh apneh Bachpaan keh din.... So this is how we went inside and then I met Vikram bhaiya the biggest celebrity of all time, Virat bhaiya, Manoj and many more...... then we had prasad and then we went inside one room and then the Legend arrived GURUJI...... He came and looked at everyone and said "Sab koh dekha na." He didn't loooked into my eyes so I thought Guruji kya yeda bana rahe ho, mujhe toh dekha hi nahi..... Then He said " Tumlog toh saberreh seh milleh ja rahe ho mujhe to baal bananeh kak bhi time nahi hai......" Then Mayank said to Guruji "chalta hai Guruji, We love U anyways." Then For 4 - 5 seconds he looked into my eyes and said something ...... which I dont remember bcoz I was totally mesmerized by the way He looked at me........ The best part was while going He gave me prasad as well....... Then i happily going back home then Breanesh stopped three of us me, Arnav and Suneet. Then we celebrated one of the volunteers birthday and we had a blast bcoz we met Guruji and on top of it the pastery was amazing.............
As soon as I reached home I messaged few of my friends that go to Birla House tomorrow morning at 11: 30 am Guruji will be meeting u all One on One..... and then I slept.......I Woke up at 7am and I thought time hai thodi der let me sleep......then i got up at 8 am and I had no choice but to rush to the venue for the long kriya........ I made an announcement over there as well that Guruji will be meeting everybody One on One at 11:30 am inside Birla House......... The Kriya was amazing and then Me, Roma and Mamta we went for a talk so mamta was telling me she wants to meet and Guruji, so as Roma..........Somehow the talk got cancelled and we were coming back and we dropped roma to Kandivali stn. so that she can meet Guruji...and she left to Birla house..... Then after reaching the venue I and Raghav went for snacks as we were very hungry......... Then Arnav gave me a call lets meets Guruji at Birla House...I said Ok.......I asked Raghav as well he said No.......Then I called up Mamta and told her to meet me Goragaon stn. She called up Vibhu and Prashant and she was co-coordinating with them....... Somehow when we met it was too late as Guruji had already left from Birla House, So we decided to go to airport....... Vibhu and Prashant were waiting for us in a cab and we reached airport and i gave them an idea of writing all our botherations in a letter and giving it to Guruji....... Prashant did that and Vibhu wrote a huge letter with his lovely hand writing at that point of time I was surprised looking at Vibhu's writing and then I decided to write something and I wrote a small poem which I had written for Guruji...........
In the airport there were hardly 20 to 25 people and we waited for 20 to 25 minutes and then Guruji arrived.......Again i was very happy that bcoz of me few people are able to meet Guruji....
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Rally Against Terrorism
Well the rally was on 3rd of december, 2008. I had made up my mind as soon i had received a message from one of my colleague...
That day i was at my friends place in goregaon and i received a call from my friend that we will meet at this place and then we will go together, i said 'ok. Thats Great'. I had kept my cell phone on charging because of this i told him we will go a bit late, he agreed to me. Then after half an hour he called me again and said we will meet directly at Churchgate stn. I said OK.
Then my friend was going to her dance classes in Kandivali so she dropped me at Malad stn. I reached stn. at around 5:45 pm and I had decided that i will go by fast train.. and I left as it was an empty train.. I just said in my mind 'Thanks Guruji' for this train.. I reached Chuchgate stn. at 6:50 and i didn't had enough change to goto Gateway of India. So i asked one uncle 'Uncle, aap keha ja rahe ho?' He replied 'Gateway of India' Then me and Uncle went walking towards Gateway of India as the whole road was jammed pack bcoz of traffic.. We reached near Regal Theatre and we started feeling that we are fighting for our independence. I got the same feeling once more which i generally get whenever i think of my past lifetime 'That i was there during Independence as well and I started feeling that I am getting this opportunity twice.....'
As soon as I reached there i started looking for YES!+ people But as usual They say a lot and hardly few people act.. Then with uncle I also started living in the present moment... We also started shouting Vande Matram, Vande Matram.... Bharat Mata kii Jay, Bharat Mata kii Jay... Then suddenly I met Manav and Mansi and got pumped up kii 'Koi toh ayya hai.' Manav and Mansi had made few charts and I liked them a lot........ then we all were going back and then i bumped into prit (another YES!+ Friend)... We all were going back and prit was coming there to see and even I was not satisfied I wanted to stay there for some time... So i went once more time with prit.. and I just Loved It.......It was the feeling of Belongingness towards Mother land and People over here..... That was the day it shook me from Inside that Only one thing will work that is "Stand Up and Take Action"... That is what I have decided and I want more and more people to do the same and You all including me have to take an oath that we will practise is as a Sutra..Throughout our Lifetime.......
That day i was at my friends place in goregaon and i received a call from my friend that we will meet at this place and then we will go together, i said 'ok. Thats Great'. I had kept my cell phone on charging because of this i told him we will go a bit late, he agreed to me. Then after half an hour he called me again and said we will meet directly at Churchgate stn. I said OK.
Then my friend was going to her dance classes in Kandivali so she dropped me at Malad stn. I reached stn. at around 5:45 pm and I had decided that i will go by fast train.. and I left as it was an empty train.. I just said in my mind 'Thanks Guruji' for this train.. I reached Chuchgate stn. at 6:50 and i didn't had enough change to goto Gateway of India. So i asked one uncle 'Uncle, aap keha ja rahe ho?' He replied 'Gateway of India' Then me and Uncle went walking towards Gateway of India as the whole road was jammed pack bcoz of traffic.. We reached near Regal Theatre and we started feeling that we are fighting for our independence. I got the same feeling once more which i generally get whenever i think of my past lifetime 'That i was there during Independence as well and I started feeling that I am getting this opportunity twice.....'
As soon as I reached there i started looking for YES!+ people But as usual They say a lot and hardly few people act.. Then with uncle I also started living in the present moment... We also started shouting Vande Matram, Vande Matram.... Bharat Mata kii Jay, Bharat Mata kii Jay... Then suddenly I met Manav and Mansi and got pumped up kii 'Koi toh ayya hai.' Manav and Mansi had made few charts and I liked them a lot........ then we all were going back and then i bumped into prit (another YES!+ Friend)... We all were going back and prit was coming there to see and even I was not satisfied I wanted to stay there for some time... So i went once more time with prit.. and I just Loved It.......It was the feeling of Belongingness towards Mother land and People over here..... That was the day it shook me from Inside that Only one thing will work that is "Stand Up and Take Action"... That is what I have decided and I want more and more people to do the same and You all including me have to take an oath that we will practise is as a Sutra..Throughout our Lifetime.......
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