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Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has exuded confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be able to deliver the promises he made to the people during his election campaign. "That's what his track record says. In the past he has done like that," he said, hoping that Modi would take all sections of people together, work for the betterment of the country and make it stronger. "He (Modi) is taking the right step. He is working hard... We should give him enough time," Ravi Shankar, currently on a visit to Washington DC, told PTI at an event organised by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), an eminent US think tank. Ravi Shankar, whose Art of Living Foundation has centres in Pakistan also, said both India and Pakistan are wise enough to take steps towards lasting peace between them. "Both are nuclear powers. Both countries know that conflict is not a solution," he said adding that the leaders of the two countries know that co-operation is key to their prosperity and they can benefit from each other in a competitive world. "They know the only way forward is the economic growth, cooperation and cordial relation," he said. "One thing for sure, the leaders (of India and Pakistan) are not foolish to wage war against each other," he asserted.

Source: Economic Times

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Inner Truth: Getting High on Life

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The most basic trait of human nature to seek happiness. It is amazing to see what all man does to find happiness; the list goes on and on endlessly. In reality, happiness comes from within but most seek it outside. The senses can give pleasure but the soul craves for something more. When sense pleasures are not enough, one seeks an ethereal experience. This impulse of seeking is present in everybody and is the beginning of one’s spiritual journey. Unfortunately, many people are tempted to take shortcuts in this quest for joy and end up with drugs. Drugs seem to give a high and people do say they take one to an altered state of consciousness. However, the after effects leave the system totally shattered eventually. One’s aspiration to find freedom, love and happiness leaves them with bondage, despondency and misery. Having something is not joyful but not having it is painful – this is the state of addiction.

Spirituality has a big role to play in dealing with such a situation. Meditation, breathing techniques, pranayam and satsang have helped millions around the world to overcome addiction over substances and alcohol. Many people have shared that they feel the same high after doing Sudarshan Kriya that they used to feel after taking drugs but without their damaging consequences. Scientists say that psychoactive drugs are addictive because they cause a surge in dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with happiness and contentment. Research has shown that meditation increases dopamine levels naturally by an average of 65%. A session of group singing or satsang also leaves one exhilerated and energised for many hours. These practices build strength in the mind so that one doesn’t feel the need to rely on external substances to feel an inner high.

Another thing that is important in rehabilitation is developing an attitude of service. A ‘what more can I get’ mindset leads to obsession and depression while a ‘how can I serve’ attitude leads to joy and freedom. This shift in attitude brings a sense of purpose to anybody’s life, but more so for someone on the path to recovery. With a firm resolve and the right effort in the right direction, the old patterns of addiction begin to loosen their grip and true freedom begins to dawn.

Apart from its remedial effect in drug rehabilitation, spirituality is very effective in prevention of this malaise as well. Youth who have a spiritual bent of mind do not take to drugs easily. Spirituality builds a value-based character in a person which acts as a shield against unhealthy peer pressure.

Invariably, short term joy ends up as long term misery and it is spiritual education alone that gives the wisdom to choose a little discomfort in the short term that finally leads to long lasting happiness.

Source: DNA

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Sri Sri Ravi Shankar returns to Silicon Valley

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Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a spiritual and wellness guru from India, returns to Silicon Valley this week after his appearance drew thousands of followers last year.

Shankar disciples will offer workshops from his "Art of Living" courses at the Santa Clara Convention Center. He will speak about compassion at Stanford University later in the week.

Shankar travels the world delivering a nondenominational message and techniques that incorporate meditation, yoga and breathing exercises to reduce stress.

His appearance in San Jose last year attracted more than 8,000 to the conference.

A son of an auto executive, the young Ravi took a spiritual path, followed the Marharishi Mahesh Yogi and developed a rhythmic breathing exercise to help relieve personal stress.

Not to be confused with the famous sitar player who mentored the Beatles, Shankar founded the nonprofit Art of Living Foundation in 1982 to conduct programs for people of all religions and cultures.

One of his most popular disciples, Rajshree Patel, will teach a program on attaining happiness at the Santa Clara Convention Center June 27 to 29.

Source: Mercury News

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The Art of Winning

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Interviewed by Alok Kejriwal, CEO, Games 2win

In today's hypercompetitive society, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar exhorts young entrepreneurs to look at positive aspects because competition "will help you be more innovative" and "every competitor can inspire you to do more". To those envious of the success of others, Sri Sri's mantra is to recognise and honour their own uniqueness.

As this happens, he says, competitiveness will cease. "Jealousy is there when we want to possess things. When you know you are here only to contribute, how can there be jealousy?" Intentions should be pure and clear, he says, for nature to extend its support in unimaginable ways. Edited excerpts follow:

In successful start-ups, the first team members make or break a company. What did you do to form a team?

I did not base this on anyone or on volunteers. I based it on knowledge and wisdom. There is one power that is going to take you through — moving with passion and dispassion together. Praise, talent and adulation are things people aspire to see in their twenties, thirties and forties. I had seen all this in my teens. Time is only for caring and contributing. And then the path opens up.

Five out of 10 IIM -IIT grads want to start up and family members become cagey.

They should do start-ups. Thirty years ago, there was so much prejudice against India. When we started the Prison-Smart Program in Boston, they just gave us a small 10" by 15" cell. It was a dusty place with a small window.

But when we started the course it created a big breakthrough in the prisoners' lives, and the authorities said they were seeing a miracle. They then gave us a grant to do the course for 3,000 people in another place. So, wherever there is sincerity and talent, there will be people who recognise it. You have to have patience.

Most youth think a start-up means instant money. What is your advice?

When you are feverish about success you take wrong decisions. Realise that you have sown a seed and you have to let it grow. You have to have inner strength. At every step you have to ask yourself, 'Am I doing the right thing or not?' If you worry 'What about me' all the time, you miss out on ideas because you are self-centred. If your goal is clear, your aim is clear and you have the patience to move in that direction, nature is with you.

How do we cultivate intuition, how do we draw on it?

That is what spirituality is all about — taking that inner rest. That restful alertness of mind, meditation and seeing life from a broader context. Then you will not be so feverish. You will let things unfold.

Any formula for entrepreneurs to succeed?

They should keep their mind open and not be too anxious about success. Put in 100 per cent and be open to new ideas instead of being stuck in old ones.

Source: Economic Times

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Guru of Joy Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to Visit Bay Area

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His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a global humanitarian and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, will visit the Bay Area June 26-July 1. A world peace leader and a happiness expert, Sri Sri's travel marks a unique opportunity for the Bay Area residents to take the reputed Art of Living Happiness Program.

Sri Sri's vision of a violence-free and stress-free society has united millions of people. To follow up on his March 2013 launch of the Stress-free, Violence-free campaign in the Bay Area, he is now coming to lead several workshops to strengthen the local community. The Happiness Program teaches practical tools to manage the mind and emotions so that one can live life with greater purpose and fulfillment. This dynamic workshop allows an individual to tap vast possibilities within and discover one's unlimited power and freedom. The centerpiece of this program is the Sudarshan Kriya ®, a powerful technique that uses specific, natural rhythms to get unstuck with events of life. It is a time-tested technique based on ancient Vedic knowledge.

"Sri Sri has created waves of happiness across the globe. His visit offers a rare opportunity to experience profound meditations and peace with the skillful use of the breath," said Ashwani Dhall, Chairman, U.S. Art of Living Foundation.

Named one of the five most powerful people in India by Forbes, Sri Sri has inspired a global phenomenon of compassion and service through his initiatives which have impacted the lives of an estimated 300 million people worldwide.

The Bay Area has six Art of Living centers that serve community upliftment through its breathing, meditation, yoga, and knowledge programs.

Click Here to know about the courses scheduled during his visit!

Source: Yahoo

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Goa should ban alcohol like in Gujarat: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

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World spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Wednesday hoped that the new government at the centre would rid the country of the scams and slums even as he favoured a ban on alcohol on the lines of Gujarat.
“Everybody worked hard to create awareness amongst voters, because of which there was unprecedented voter campaign and the result is there to see where people have voted for a strong and stable government. Let’s now hope that the stable and strong government would rid the country of the scams and the slums”, he said, while expressing his views on’ My India My views’ during an interaction at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on the occasion of launching of the Save Life India project.
When he was asked to reply to a question on alcoholism in Goan society, he said “Gujarat is the first state where beef and alcohol are banned. Slowly and similarly, every province should start banning alcohol. At the same time, we should start teaching happiness programs in every village and slum. All this will definitely keep a control on the vice”.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that he would like an India which would be free from slums, corruption, violence and injustice. “India is torn up by religion and caste differences. I would like to have an India free from injustices, corruption, and violence, where farmers and the youth are happy”, he said.
Asked for his comment on the laws governing the country’s prisons, he said the country has to improve upon laws in many spheres. “We have to improve the law in Manipur state where majority of the people owns only a small percentage of land. I am confident that the new and strong government at the centre will change the law. Likewise, there are many laws that need to be changed in the country”, he added.
When a question was posed to him about people turn against one another for no reason, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said one should not worry too much when people turn against you. “Such things do happen. See how much Narendra Modi was bashed up and was accused of so many things he had not done, but he came out of that. People who turns against you are in a miniscule minority. They have even alleged that Art of living has grabbed land admeasuring 50 acres at Mandia”, he said.
Earlier, he launched the Save Life India, an all India blood donors club at the Ravindra Bhavan.

Source: Herald Goa

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Time to rethink : Saffron surge and the secular debacle

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“What appears is not and what does not, is” This ancient saying aptly describes the Indian political scenario. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) claims to be secular but just peel a few layers and you will find that it is steeped deep in communalism. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), on the other hand, which is accused of communalism, does all that it can to get rid of this label and walk that extra mile. No doubt scams, price rise, all pervading corruption, negative industrial growth (from +10% to -2.5%) and unemployment played a major role, but above all it was the communal attitude of the party and its overt tilt towards the Muslim minority that derailed the UPA.
India in general and Hindus in particular are largely secular, yet in this election they voted out all those parties who espoused secularism. People did not buy into repeated fear psychosis of the communal bogey. Perhaps, the Congress did not expect the Hindu majority to join together as one voice since they have always been divided on linguistic and caste-based lines.
Soon after assuming the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Manmohan Singh openly declared that minorities had the first right on India’s resources, driving a dagger through the hearts of Hindus, who had stood by him. Not once, during his entire tenure did the Prime Minister even acknowledge the magnanimity of the majority community. While many complained that they were not treated with dignity, sops were doled out for minorities to the tune of thousands of crores.
Principals were asked to identify minority students and open bank accounts through which scholarships were given. In some states ruled by UPA allies, a child gets Rs. 30,000 just for being from the minority community. This created a wedge in the classroom psyche and caused heartburn to other poor students from the majority. However, no such facilities were extended to the Hindu minority in Jammu & Kashmir and the North East. Poverty and illiteracy have no religion – every religion has poor people. Giving benefits based on religion is unconstitutional and such practises by political parties angered people. ‘The Majority Report’ a thorough research document written by two retired IPS officers (Shri Ram Kumar Ohri and Shri Jai Prakash Sharma) makes an interesting read on the subject.

Click Here to read the complete post on Sri Sri's blog.....................

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Download Sri Sri Calendar - JUNE 2014

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Dear ones,

Download JUNE 2014 Calendar with beautiful picture of Sri Sri (Gurudev), by visiting the Art of Living Universe website : www.aoluniverse.org/SriSriCalendars

PS: Send us a blank email to calendars@artoflivinguniverse.org and get notified as soon as the new calendars are uploaded.

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