Glass Half Full .. !!!

Taming EGO !

2015-03-06T21:12:00.000-08:00

Understanding the ego can be a little tricky, so I will try to explain it simply! Your ego is your self-image, and it allows you to be aware of yourself as a person separate from everyone else. It is the “you” that most people typically relate to. It is not your soul, or your higher self, but rather the mask your higher self wears in this physical reality to identify itself as an individual. Because the ego is a mask over the all-loving higher self, it can block out lot of our inner love and kindness when it’s relied upon too heavily. While egos do serve an important service to us, an out of control ego can cause us to take actions that are unloving and unkind.

Being aware that the ego is not a true representation of your soul can help you let go of it a bit, and not feel the need to rely on it so much. If you can let go of your ego a little bit, it will be easier to follow the intuition and guidance from your higher self, and this will help you make more decisions based on love and compassion rather than separation and disconnectedness.

Here are a few signs of an out of control ego. Please realize, we all do these things from time to time, and that’s ok. However, it’s a good idea to be aware of these signs, so that when we see them we can recognize that we are letting our egos get away from us. With awareness an out of control ego, we can choose to drop the mask when it isn’t serving us. We can remember that the separation is just an illusion, and that we’re really all in this together.

An Out of Control Ego Will:

Complain frequently
Argue and fight with others
Be defensive whenever criticized
Be self-critical, and speak badly about itself
Have a hard time apologizing
Be very impatient
Be judgmental of others

When we see these behaviors in ourselves it is a sign that we are working with an out of control ego, and we are disconnected from our higher selves. Each of these actions occurs because the ego deeply believes that it is separate from everything else in the universe.

Because the ego believes it is separate from everything else, it often feels the need to justify its importance to itself and “others.” The ego is secretly afraid that what makes it different from everyone else might indeed make it “wrong.” This is why an out of control ego can be aggressive and hostile-it wants to prove that it is valid and “right.”

The higher self will not feel the need to defend or justify itself. It focuses on the inter connectedness between all of us, rather than the separation that appears to be “real” in this physical reality. As a result, a person who is highly connected will make choices based on compassion, patience and love, because it realizes that we are all one. It knows that to help another is simply to help oneself.

For those looking to have a healthier relationship with their egos, daily meditation is a great treatment. During meditation, one becomes aligned with their higher self, and can start to observe the ego’s thoughts from the higher perspective.

Meditation is all about quieting outside thoughts to connect more deeply with the oneness. When one becomes skilled in meditation, it becomes easier to see the ego as a mask over the true self. In time, much of the destructive chatter from the ego will lift, and the individual will be able to easily identify when he or she is making ego-based choices.

To be clear, the ego is not a “bad” thing. In order to experience ourselves as individuals, we must have egos that can perceive the separation between us. However, it is our interconnectedness that brings love, happiness and prosperity, so it’s important that we maintain a strong connection with our higher selves.

The point is not try to get rid of the ego or to punish it, but simply to give the ego less responsibility. To allow the ego to do its job of perceiving the world, but release it from the responsibility of making decisions on how we should think and act. By handing over the responsibility of the decision-making to the higher self, we make higher vibrational decisions that lead to more happiness, healthiness, and prosperity.

So, with meditation we can connect back to the “oneness” and our inner guidance. Then, we can begin to make choices and decisions based on the idea that we are all in this together. We can see others as extensions of ourselves and treat others as we would want to be treated. This is how we tame an out of control ego, and let the higher self shine through the mask.

About the Author: Andrea Schulman is a former high school psychology teacher and the creator of Raise Your Vibration Today, which offers daily Law of Attraction advice. To learn more about Andrea or Raise Your Vibration Today please follow her blog, Facebook page, Twitter (@Vibration1111) or Instagram (@andrea.11.11)
Read more at http://expandedconsciousness.com/2015/03/05/7-signs-ego-might-control-tame/#rcAIAqIb3eCpv2FT.99

Original Post at : http://expandedconsciousness.com/2015/03/05/7-signs-ego-might-control-tame/

Beautiful Bhajan :))

2012-03-19T11:17:00.002-07:00

Happy HOli . !!

2012-03-06T23:42:00.006-08:00

Excerpts from Guruji's talk on Holi

Life should be full of colors! And each color is meant to be seen and enjoyed separately, for if seen all mixed together, they will appear all black. All the colors like red, yellow, green, etc. should exist side by side and simultaneously be enjoyed together. Similarly, in life, different roles played by the same person should exist peacefully and distinctly inside him. For example, when a father continues to play his role of a 'father' in office, things are bound to go for a toss. In our country, a politician is sometimes a father first and a leader later!

In which ever situation we are in, we should play the corresponding role to the hilt and then life is bound to become colorful! This concept was called 'Varnashram' in ancient India. This meant - everyone, be it a doctor, teacher, father, whoever or whatever, is expected to play their roles with full enthusiasm. Mixing professions will always be counter productive. If a doctor wants to do business, he should run a business separately and secondary to his profession and not make business out of medicine. Keeping these 'containers' of the mind separate and distinct is the secret of a happy life and this is what HOLI teaches.

All colors emanate from white, and when mixed again, they become black. When your mind is white and consciousness - pure, peaceful, happy and meditative, different colors and roles emerge. We get the strength to play various roles with full sincerity against the background. We have to dip into our consciousness time and again. If we only look inwards and play around with colors outside of us, we are bound to find blackness all over again. Between roles we have to take deep rests, in order to play each role sincerely. Now, the biggest impediment to deep rest is desire. Desire means stress. Even petty desires cause high stress - the higher goals give relatively less botheration! Desire tortures the mind at times.

So what does one do?

The only way out is to focus attention on the desire and surrender it. This act of focusing awareness or sight on desire or Kama is called 'kamakshi'. With awareness, desire loses its grip and surrender happens and then nectar flows out from within. The goddess, Kamakshi, holds a sugarcane stem in one hand and a flower in the other. The sugar-cane stem is so hard and has to be squeezed in order to obtain sweetness, while the flower is soft and collecting nectar from it is so easy. This truly represents life, which indeed has a little of both! It is far easier to obtain this bliss from the inside than it is to try to extract pleasure from the outside world - which needs a lot more effort.

Lift Your Spirit with Joy of Color - By Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

There is a famous story associated with the festival:

The word purana comes from the Sanskrit word 'pura nava', which means 'that which is new in the city'. It is a new way of presenting things. Puranas are full of colorful illustrations and stories. On the surface they may appear to be mere fantasy, but actually they contain subtle truths.

An asura king, Hiranyakashyap, wanted everyone to worship him. But his son Prahalad was a devotee of Lord Narayana, the king's sworn enemy. Angry, the king wanted Holika, his sister to get rid of Prahalad. Empowered to withstand fire; Holika sat on a burning pyre holding Prahalad on her lap. But it was Holika who was burnt, Prahalad came out unharmed.

Hiranyakashyap symbolizes one who is gross. Prahalad embodies innocence, faith and bliss/joy. The spirit cannot be confined to love material only. Hiranyakashyap wanted all the joy to come from the material world. It did not happen that way. The individual jivatma cannot be bound to the material forever. It’s natural to eventually move towards Narayana, one's higher self.

Holika stands for the past burdens that try to burn Prahalad's innocence. But Prahlad, so deeply rooted in Narayana Bhakthi could burn all past impressions (sanskaras) and joy springs up with new colors. Life becomes a celebration. Burning the past, you gear up for a new beginning. Your emotions, like fire, burn you. But when there is a fountain of colors, they add charm to your life. In ignorance, emotions are a bother; in knowledge, the same emotions add colors

Each emotion is associated with a color- Anger with red, jealousy with green, vibrancy and happiness with yellow, love with pink, vastness with blue, peace with white, sacrifice with saffron and knowledge with violet.

Knowing the essence of the festival, enjoy the day with Wisdom.

Interview with God

2012-01-31T07:25:00.000-08:00

I dreamt I had an Interview with GOD.

"So you would like to interview me?”, GOD asked.

“If you have the time.”, I said.

...

God smiled, “My time is eternity. What questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about humankind?”, I asked.

God answered...

"They get bored with childhood. They rush to grow up and then long to be children again.

That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health.

That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither in the present nor in the future.

That they live as if they will never die, and die as if they had never lived.”

God’s hand took mine and we were silent for awhile and then I asked...

"As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to learn?"

God replied with a smile...

To learn they cannot make anyone love them, what they can do is let themselves be loved.

To learn that there are persons who love them dearly, but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings.

To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.

To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.

To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love and it takes many years to heal them.

To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.

To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they must forgive themselves.

And to learn that I am here... "ALWAYS”....

Satsang Is The Shelter !

2011-12-03T00:36:00.000-08:00

Why do people need homes? Can they live like animals in the forest without shelter?
Even intelligent animals make their homes. Man needs protection from changing nature. So he builds a shelter for physical comforts. In the same way, for spiritual and mental comfort - Satsang is the shelter.

One who does not do Satsang is like a wild animal. Satsang alone makes one civilized. Satsang is the shelter from the changing times and its harsh influence on life.

Satsang is the nest in which you can rest.

If you are a taker of happiness, you get misery.

If you are a giver of happiness, you get joy and love.

(( Sri Sri ))

|| Jai Guru Dev || :)

Guruji In the Kitchen :))

2011-12-02T23:15:00.000-08:00

Lovely Video :) .. So True ! :)

2011-08-31T10:09:00.000-07:00

♥ Sri Sri ♥

Sanket's WOrld

2011-08-30T10:04:00.001-07:00

Sanket' s' photostream on Flickr.

H.H Sri Sri Ravishankar :)
Divine in sight.

Where is HE ?

2011-04-16T05:58:00.001-07:00

When God created man, man went to him for every small thing, asking him for favours, complaining to him about everything. Man would pray to God to come and if God came, he would say, ‘Don’t come now, come later. You have come too soon.” If God didn’t come, he would complain, “I have called you so many times and you have come so late.” God grew really tired of this. He wanted to go and hide somewhere, but that was not easily done. He knew man would go to the moon to find him. Then he met a wise sage who whispered in God’s ear, “Hide in the heart of man. That is where he never goes.” Since that day, God has hidden in the heart of man. Anyone who goes there will not be able to complain. All complaints will drop away. One person here and there in a million goes to his own heart and finds God. And when a person finds God in his own heart, he has no complaints.

Lipstick on the Mirrors !! ;-)

2011-03-08T08:19:00.000-08:00

In a certain private girls school in Brisbane was recently faced with a unique problem.

A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints.

Every night the maintenance man would remove them and the next day the girls would put them back.

Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man.

She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night (you can just imagine the yawns from the little princesses).

To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls just how much effort was required.

He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it!

No more lipstick ever happened on any of the mirrors.

This is the difference between teaching and educating!

Jai Gurudeva!

Love,

Guruji's Innocent MusiK :D

2011-01-26T09:31:00.000-08:00

Our Lovely Guruji :) .. Sri Sri Having utter fun On The PianO !

He is OMNIPRESENT

2011-01-14T10:24:00.001-08:00

I had a wonderful experience today and also learned a very important lesson.

It all started after I did my 3rd Advance course with Rishi Nityapragya few days back. I was mesmerized by the kind of knowledge that he imparted, especially OFS. It made a direct connection with the Guru. And then I was also a part of the Rishi Ji's 4 day event called the Gyan Ganga. Hmm.. So now the interesting part, Guruji just landed in Delhi today at 1:30 P.M. I stay little far from the place where He was going to stay, and so doubts about the distance that I have to travel started coming up in my mind. Also, I had my MBA classes from 3, so was feeling a little apprehensive about missing that. While all these 'kuturka' (wrong logic) thoughts were going in my mind, I suddenly became aware, and surrendered these thoughts to Guruji. Once Bawa had said that if you choose Guruji over anything else then everything will fall into place automatically. I decided to pay heed to that advice and left :)

So now I reached Vasant Vihar, and it was really hot. There were few hundred people inside the house, and I was happy to see the fewer crowds! But lo! After a short while the number just increased and increased. We were all busy doing satsang, and then the lights went off. The temperature seemed to have increased further. People started praying to Guruji for a nice weather and the thing that I am going to tell you guys is simply unbelievable. Just before Guruji was stated to come the weather suddenly changed, and it started drizzling. Clouds seem to have covered us as an answer to our prayer and the entire weather had changed. Things were fine, but as soon as Guruji entered there was total chaos. I was standing outside the room and was not at all feverish to meet Him. I had decided to give Him total freedom today, to meet whoever He wants to.

SO I didn't mind when He didn't look at me when I was standing at the entrance when He arrived. I was patient yet firm in my mind, that He will definitely meet me, If He wants to. Guruji entered the room where 50 or so devotees were seated. The room was very small, and there was no light : ) But outside it was raining heavily, and the rain Gods of Delhi, were all welcoming Him : ) With a longing in my heart to meet me, and yes no feverishness I also entered the room. Soon hundreds of people stormed that small room, and people were falling on top of each other. I also happened to step on few people, and the situation was really bad. I totally surrendered that situation to Guruji as well.

Few minutes later after total chaos, I suddenly find myself in front of the Master. He was meeting people personally. I was completely awed by His presence, had no words to tell Him.

The only word that I could utter was "Thanks", to which He sweetly said "Jai Gurudeva" and handed me a box of prasad.

I was shocked to see the contents of the prasad, it had proper lunch and amazingly I was thinking of skipping my lunch as I was going to meet Him. He took care of it. And yes, talking about my MBA classes our Angel made sure that I reach the classes on time. In spite of so much chaos, heavy rains I was able to make it to my MBA class at 3 PM! All His grace.

Just have an intention to meet Him, and you will definitely. There's really no one between you and Him except your ego and small mind :)

Jaigurudev!

Sidhharth Jain

East Delhi, India

Sankalpa Always Pays off

2011-01-14T10:19:00.000-08:00

It was before Shivaratri* Celebration 2009, when we were starting for celebration. With everything falling in place as always, the day long awaited arrived, but we failed to arrive at the station on time. The Kochuveli Express headed for Kollam* was off the platform when we were on the crowded over bridge at the Bangalore station.

Madhuri was having double thoughts now, if this was an indication for her to stay back in Bangalore; I decided that I had to go. Madhuri agreed to come till the bus point to see me off. I called up the travel agency, they declared that the last VOLVO would leave in 10 min; a long speech in Malayalam* could get that from 10 min to 15 min.

We hopped into an auto, with one ear already at the travel agency and a mind already at the next day's Sudarshan Kriya. But again, it was not to be. This time it was the bus that we saw waving the second bye of the day. I know Guruji does this to people whom HE absolutely loves. Half disappointed that my Malayalam did not pay off and also at the fact that I let the person along down, but with much more assurance that I will get a bus, I walk into another agency. I asked him for 2 seats and he said – "seat indu pakshe bus poyi" means "There are seats but the bus just left." And then came those words "orappanenkil bus nirutham" - If you really want we can ask the bus to wait.

I rushed to the ATM, literally pull out the money out of the machine, this was enough stimuli to get Madhuri as well to an even active state, she also hopped into the auto, a few minutes of gratitude, the throat choked, and there it was a black shiny VOLVO parked by the side, with just 2 seats free.

SANKALPA always always PAYS OFF. If your intentions are good and you just have to do all that you can, then Guruji will make sure the rest falls in place. And now every moment we know for sure that we are all taken care of. We got to Kollam even before our first miss train got there, we caught the final minutes of the mornings Kriya session. Got some great shots of Guruji and had 2 days of absolute BLISS.

Srikanth Subramanian
Bangalore, India

How HE came in my life

2011-01-14T10:16:00.000-08:00

In the evening after work, when i came was thinking (as usual) and sobbing for the incidents, the pain and difficulties I m dealing with, pitying myself (WHY ME) being severe diabetic, last couple of days was hospitalised for severe rise in sugar count around 407, family issues, debts and all the thoughts going round and round (vicious circle) after getting totally drained still weeping.
I heard the door bell ring, thought will not answer, whoever it is they will go if i dont answer, but it rang for the second time,
i went to answer, there stood a couple from the Iskcon association, the lady introduced and told me we would like to do damodar arati at your house, i thought to reject their request, but instead i told them confirm for 8th October, they left suddenly i realised all my mind had cleared, and i was feeling better.
On a friends request i had promised to do the then something called AOL(art of living course) which solves all problems according to the friend who was of the AOL Family, due to medical expenses, i was not in a position to pay the course fees, but my friend offered to loan it to me, i agreed, but was feeling again adding loan to my existing situation, but i wanted to do it, the course was to start on 3rd Oct saturday 2009, i attended the course, the experience has been immense bringing a total change, improved health, total stress relief, happy and smiling me, ahhh (New Me)....just the last day 8th Oct [8 is Guru) of the course i realised krishna came, and took alll the sufferings away. Since then its only and only the best in my life, how evry step, the master is guiding with love and care. After the course never been to the doctor, for diabete(sugar is in control) regular with my kriya, met Guruji withexact 60 day strong sankalpa, spreading smiles, helping people to overcome stress, working towards the future, aspiring and with the intention to be a YES teacher soon. The (TEEN TEACHER) Guruji all with your blessings. JGD! Diabetic since 2005, no family history of diabetes, only because of stress, i had acquired.

--

Cheers Sarita

Who Saved My Sudarshan Kriya Tape?

2011-01-14T10:14:00.000-08:00

Why would an extinguished candle become mysteriously ignited after it was properly estinguished for approximately two and a half hours?

Dear Reader,
Please continue perusing this narrative as the mysterious incidents unfold.

As an Art of Living Teacher who adores her Guru or Beloved Master beyond measure, I would devotedly offer flowers and perform Aarti (devotional prayers) to my beloved's Guru's Jesus-like portrait.

My Aarti equipment consisted of a deya ( small earthen container ) with the interior encased in wax and a small wick in the centre of this wax.

In a room in our home referred to as the Puja room, there was a large wooden desk. On this desk, I placed the beautiful picture of my beloved Guru. On either side of this beautiful photo were the pictures of my two adorable children who had left home to further their studies in Canada. At the front of my Guru's picture were the deya, my Kriya notes from my teacher training wrapped in white silk material, the Art of Living Video cassettes - Nature of Enlightenment etc. the introduction to Kriya video cassette that I used when teaching the Part One course, several of my Arabic books which I occasionally read, and, most important of all, my most treasured gift, my Sudarshan Kriya tape wrapped in white silk material.

On this most eventful Saturday, I performed my Aarti early in the morning and extinguished the lit candle at approximately eleven in the morning.

On this memorable day, my husband and I left home at 1. 30 in the afternoon to execute our Seva at the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago. We were away from home for approximately four hours.

On returning home at approximately six P.M. I entered the room to greet my beloved Guru. To my utter dismay, I confronted the entire picture of my beloved Guru and those of my dear children completely burnt. The charred remains were in a small mound on the table. The fire carefully guided by an unseen powerful Source burnt a certain area of the table but miraculously bypassed my Sudarshan Kriya notes, bypassed the Kriya teaching video cassettes, the Art of Living Video Cassettes, and, also bypassed my Arabic books. The fire travelled to my Sudarshan Kriya tape ( at that time, in the year l994, the only long Sudarshan Kriya tape in Trinidad ), and, burnt the silk covering and the ourter cassette covering. From the intense heat, the cassette covering was stuck or glued to my Sudarshan Kriya tape.

With trepidation and a pounding heart, I tremblingly picked up this treasured item. I recall repeating repeatedly,' I'm so very sorry, Gurudev'. I felt as though my Beloved had suffered immense discomfort from the intense heat.

Several minutes having elapsed, and having assumed some degree of composure and clarity of mind, I took my Kriya tape to my husband, Raymond. I explained what had transpired. Without any hesitation, he patiently and very carefully pried the casing apart. The outer case which was stuck to the Kriya tape broke during this delicate process. Once again, with trepidation and a pounding heart, I examined my Kriya tape. I observed the burnt areas on the tape and was certain that I would not be able to use it again. With a throbbing heart and agitated frame of mind, thoughts were racing through my mind. For instance, it would not be possible to obtain a Kriya tape from California, USA in time for our weekly Satsangh. It was late Saturday evening and our weekly Kriya practice was only a few days away.

Hesitatingly, I finally decided to place the damaged Kriya tape in a tape recorder to ascertain the degree of damage created. Miraculously, the Kriya tape resounded loudly and clearly. With a pounding heart, I rewound the tape several times and played it again and again.

It certainly was the most beautiful music that I had ever heard.

Such enchanting notes of my beloved Guru's voice flooded my heart and ears. An overwhelming feeling of deep gratitude welled up within me.

I know that my beloved Guru through God's grace saved my home, my Art of Living teaching material, my Arabic books, and, above all, my Sudarshan Kriya tape from the ravages of a raging fire.

Although this memorable incident occurred many years ago, I have conducted weekly Sudarshan Kriya follow-up practices with my somewhat damaged Keiya tape, and conducted numerous Basic Art of Living Courses using this indestructable tape. Dear Reader, to this day, this miraculous Kriya tape resounds ever so beautifully and clearly in my ears.

Numerous lives have been transformed by those who were fortunate to share this treasured gift - the Sudarshan Kriya.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude that my beloved's grace is constantly flowing in my life in great abundance.

A most grateful Devotee,
JAI GURU DEV

Aclima Daniel,
Art of Living Teacher, ( since 1993 )
Trinidad and Tobago.

Healing Experience Of Sri A.Sundararajan

2010-11-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

I am A Sundararajan, a retired Officer of the Public Health Department residing in Kovaipudur area of Coimbatore. During February, 1992, I suffered a heart attack and was in the intensive care unit of a leading hospital in Coimbatore, for more than 12 days. After the clinical Angiogram it was diagnosed that there were two blocks in my heart one in the left anterior descending artery which was 100%, leading to the dysfunction in my left ventricle. The right coronary artery was also blocked to an extent of 75% and because of this pumping of blood was just 35%. By-pass surgery was ruled out as the problem was at the origin of the LAD artery. The doctors also ruled out any other surgical correction for this disorder and advised me to take rest and just pray to god. I was also given an inkling that my days are just to be numbered. This was a major blow to me and my family.

It was absolutely a divine blessing that came my way in the form of an Art of Living Basic Course. In June 1992, I did the course at Coimbatore and within a few weeks, began to feel some recuperation happening in me. Gradually I was able to feel at ease and return back to my normal routine work. Within two months, I attended an Advance Meditation Course at the Bangalore Ashram with Guruji guiding us throughout the course. After the course Guruji blessed me and said all my problems will be over and exactly the miracle happened in my life. With his blessings I was able to get back to my work and retire from it gracefully at the age of 58 (normal retirement age). There was rapid progress in my health and I became an active member of the Art of Living Family of Coimbatore and completely stopped thinking about my ailment.

Recently, when I went for a Health check-up there was no trace of the blocks. It is so astounding to feel and experience the divine grace. I am indeed very fortunate to have experienced the efficacy of this amazing knowledge. Now, every day , I travel by two wheeler a minimum distance of 40-50 km, as part of seva commitments and celebrating life by being part of this great Art of Living Family. I am grateful to Guruji, for not only extending my life on this earth but also making it purposeful and significant.

Jaigurudev.
A.Sundararajan- Kovaipudur, Coimbatore.

[[ Sri. Kovaipudur Sundararajan is one of the three District Development Committee Members for Coimbatore and has totally involved himself in the Art of Living Activities for the past 14 Years. His profound devotion to Guruji and this wonderful knowledge has enabled him to reach out Art of Living awareness in this region. He is a great source of inspiration for others.
M.Gopalakrishnan , Web Seva Team. ]]

Another Escape

2010-11-26T14:16:00.000-08:00

It was early November when Guruji had come to Vrindavan to inaugurate an Ashram there. Like many other Guru-chasers, we decided to drive down from Delhi to have Guruji's 'darshan' there. We reached Mathura/ Vrindavan in the morning and the day that was to unfold brought us face-to-face with many miracles. Here I shall recount only one of them.
After being able to meet Guruji in person and having attended a Satsang with him, we started back for Delhi in the evening. I was driving a Maruti 800 and there were four of us in the car and we were doing a decent speed on the Mathura-Delhi highway as it was not too crowded at that time of the day.

We were about half-an-hour on the road when I was overtaking a huge trailer-truck, the type that are generally used to transport new cars from one city to another. The trailer-truck must have been about 40 feet long and I was half-way through overtaking it from the right when the driver of the truck suddenly started to move into my lane on the right.

Our tiny Maruti had nowhere to go, squeezed between the divider and the huge trailer. I braked desperately hoping that trailer will pass me before moving into my lane. That was not to be. We could only watch helplessly as the huge metal side-wall of the trailer moved closer and closer till there was a huge noise of metallic banging and scraping.

At the driving wheel, I could do nothing but wait for the moment when our tiny car would be toppled over the divider into the traffic on the opposite lane. Suddenly, there was silence as the huge trailer pulled away into the distance and we were sitting in the stationary car. I looked back – everybody was at least unhurt. I tried the ignition key, hoping against hope, while mentally trying to work out how to get help to tow the damaged car. Surprisingly the car moved smoothly and I could pull it up on the side of the road for an inspection of the extent of damage.

I did not have the heart to look at it and let my wife get down and see it from outside. She walked from back-to-front and front-to-back twice in utter surprise as we sat inside waiting for her verdict. "Not a scratch" that was what she could report.

By that time, even without talking to each other, we knew exactly who did this miracle. We all felt so blessed and peaceful at our heart that, a little later, when I overtook the same trailer-truck, I did not feel any grudge against the driver and did not even give him a glare.

A few kilometers ahead we stopped at a road-toll plaza where quite a few other cars were already waiting to go through. In one of them was Guruji - he was also travelling to Delhi to attend a Satsang at Chhattarpur! His car must have been a little distance behind us when we had our "accident"!
Kishore

An Inmate's Tale

2010-11-26T14:14:00.000-08:00

"There are only selfish or bad moments; there are no bad people in this world. They are ignorant. Inside every culprit is a victim crying for help. Feel compassionate for such people." --- His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

My name is Veeru and I am 42 years old hailing from Thanjavur District of Tamilnadu. I am undergoing imprisonment for a 10-year term from 2002 and prior to this I was just a misguided youth pursuing the wrong goal.

It was in September 2002, an Art of Living Teacher came to conduct Prison SMART course at this Vellore Prison and I was in the batch of 30 inmates who participated in it. After the course I did my sadhanas and Kriya regularly and was able to realize the positive changes both physically and mentally. I gradually understood the meaning of human values, sense of belonging, love, compassion and care for the World. My anger and negative attitudes were getting erased from my system and I had the awareness about my ego and learnt to control it. My approach towards other inmates drastically changed and I started helping them in whatever possible way that I could. For a long period of more than 6 months there were no Prison SMART courses in Vellore Prison even during this period I was continuing with my daily sadhanas.

With Guruji's blessings and the help of Jail Superintendent Sri.Ramachandran the courses were revived. The Jail Superintendent, who takes keen interest in the welfare of the inmates, encouraged sports, education and of course made it compulsory for everyone to undergo the Prison SMART course. With his efforts courses were conducted continuously for 16 weeks and out of the 2300 inmates nearly 1600 took the course and are enjoying the benefits. The teachers were so humble and affectionate that on the last day of each course they left an indelible impression in the heart of the inmates. They gave us details about Gurudev's mission of bringing inner peace and transformation and his vision of seeing the smile on every face in this World. The various seva projects of the Art of Living and how it has reached people in 142 countries going beyond barriers of religion, caste, color, creed and nationality. The organizer of Vellore Centre was very much instrumental in coordinating with the teachers and the Prison authorities.

He along with the AOL volunteers of Vellore white washed the entire Dhyana Manatap inside the Prison.

At the end of each course all the participants unanimously without exception appreciate the course and share their healing experience with others. Some of the changes that were noticed in the Prison after every SMART Course were.

1. The number of People going to Prison Hospital has decreased.

2. Many of the Inmates who had taken the course and after their term in
prison had not come back again to the prison. We came to know most of them
have taken up good occupation and started living a good life.

3.Petty quarrels and violence inside the prison have drastically come down.

4.The sense of belonging and friendliness between the Inmates has been
bonded.

5.Most of the inmates have given up smoking and are looking healthy.

6.Creative talents like Artwork, drawing & painting, singing bajans, dancing
and writing poetry have all been developed.

7.Last but not the least everyone seems to be fresh in the morning after the
sadhnas and very energetic throughout the day and sleep well in the night.

Now coming back to myself, I had been attending all the courses without fail and the daily sadhanas and Kriya gave me so much of happiness that I could throw away all my bad habits. A smoker for 21 years I quit the habit effortlessly and I am a now a complete vegetarian. I had a worst enemy inside the prison who has become my best friend now thanks to this wonderful knowledge. Taking responsibility of keeping the course hall clean and helping the teacher with the audio systems etc makes me happy. My hobbies are mainly reading Guruji's books like "Sri Sri as I know him", "God loves fun" "Wisdom for the New millennium" and lots of stories from Pitaji's page in the Rishimukh Magazine.

When I sing "Hari hari hari hari Naryana OM Govinda Naryanan Om" other Inmates join me in singing. I have become a person liked by one and all and they call me Jai Gurudev. I owe this entire new life to Guruji. People visiting me from outside are astounded by my development and that gives me an opportunity to spread the awareness about AOL courses. My wife who used to visit the Prison every week noticed the visible changes in my attitude, which reflected in my smiling face, and it prompted her and her sister to join the AOL course happening near our house. I am fortunate that in spite of my bad deeds and misfortune leading me to prison Guruji has come into my life to liberate me from my negative bondage and show me the light.

Jai Gurudev

Veeru.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : Nature of Enlightenment !!

2010-11-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

Healing Experience of a Cancer Patient

2010-11-26T14:03:00.000-08:00

Some time back an Art of Living devotee came to me with his astounding healing experience, which I wish to share with you all.

Sri. P.Subramaniam aged 28 years, working in a small-scale engineering Unit. He earns a measly income just sufficient for him and his parents to make ends meet. The nature of the industry in which he is working is unpredictable and there are times when he has to strain himself for long hours to earn adequately to survive, thus resulting in the wear and tear of his health.
About a year and half ago he had persistent fever, body pain and had difficulty in eating and was diagnosed for Testicular Embryonal Carcinoma, a malignant germ cell tumor that occurs mostly in the testes. This type of tumor (cancerous) grows rapidly and spreads to the lungs and liver. He underwent Orchidectomy; an operation to remove the testicle and this was done to slow down the growth and spreading of prostate cancer. After the treatment, he somehow managed to carry on. After about a year, that is during April, 2004, he developed similar symptoms of fever, chest discomfort, multiple swelling in the neck and sleeplessness. He was admitted in a local hospital and on diagnosis it was found to be Testicular Tumor and Lymph Node Metastasis a type of cancer spreading through the blood. He was given chemotherapy first on 20.4.2004 and second on 7.5.2004 and third on 31.5.2004.
For the fourth chemotherapy he did not have sufficient money and therefore he approached Sri. M.Sendhilkumar, an Industrialist and a very devoted volunteer of AOL Coimbatore. Sri.Sendhilkumar not only helped him but also put him in the AOL Part I Course.
He joined the course on 14.6.2004 and on 17th after the first Sudarshan Kriya he experienced shocks and acute pain in the body and was disinclined to go to the course on the subsequent day, but with divine grace prevailing, he did the second Sudarshan Kriya which made him feel relaxed, energized and joyful. As he felt free from all the fears that were tormenting him, he wanted to shout and proclaim his happiness. It was a kind of rebirth for him and after so many months that night he slept very well. With Gurudev's blessings he experienced deep rest.
Within a week after completion of the course, he took a haemogram test and the results were encouraging. The Doctor asked him to come back after a month and he had another haemogram test on 19.7.2004, which showed vast improvement, and he had become normal. This was further confirmed with another haemogram test on 21.09.2004 and finally he was back to his work with an added smile on his face.
Normally the side effects of chemotherapy are frightening as it leads to loss of hair in the scalp and in other parts of the body. It creates anemia and the patient gets tired easily, there could be difficulty in breathing and overall pain in the body. In the case of Sri.Subramaniam, he was indeed fortunate that his doing the sadhanas regularly two times a day eliminated the side effects. He does not feel tired at all and works with full enthusiasm and last but not the least the hair in his scalp is growing very fast and this is certainly a sign of his returning back to normalcy. He is confident that only because of the AOL Course he has been able to overcome the dreaded disease called cancer and is willing for any scientific study on his amazing healing experience.
While I was listening to the miracle I could feel tears rolling out of my eyes. Gurudev has saved the life of the sole breadwinner of a family. Along with Sri.Subramaniam and his family I am also grateful to my Divine Master for strengthening my confidence in Him.

Jaigurudev
M.Gopalakrishnan

Miracle in my life - with the Master

2010-11-26T13:52:00.000-08:00

I took my attention to my left hand, left shoulder…. Left thigh… I took my attention to my thoughts… my feelings..

NO I WAS NOT DOING PANCHAKOSHA MEDITATION!!! THE PANCHA – KOSHAS IN ME WERE COMPLETELY SHAKEN UP!!!
I Lay there in the middle of the road, wiggling in pain. At that moment all that was echoing in my mind was “ Guruji, WHY…. “ I was returning back home after assisting the Basic course in Jayanagar. I had just met with an accident and I was thrown off the bike. My BODY could not take the pain, my PRANA had drained, my FEELINGS, THOUGHTS and MIND were all over the place and I was in absolutely no state of BLISS!!!
I landed on my left shoulder and thigh and skid for about a feet or so on the wet road. My cousin who was riding with me was fortunate not to get hurt. He got me to my feet with great difficulty as I was expecting a dislocated shoulder and a badly damaged left side of my body!

My favorite white kurta now looked half BLACK thanks to the coal on the road, I looked no better than a Black & White TV broadcasting a Live DRAMA with the only cast of the show enacting a scene filled with agony and pain!! I was limping in pain from one side to the other like a caged Hyena as people on the road stood watching the whole episode. After a while, regaining my senses I thanked Guruji for saving me from a major disaster. But I still was in pain, unable to move my shoulder more than approximately 40% and could barely bend my leg – the thigh and knee refused to listen to me!!

I mounted the bike again and very carefully went back home. Thanks to my lovely wife I got medication on time with a proper balance of love & care! That evening we were supposed to take the participants to the Ashram as Guruji was there. I called my teacher Umaji and explained the unfortunate incident and told her I may not be able to make it to the Ashram. But In my sleep I remember saying these words – “ Im not leaving you Guruji” and then I got up. It was around 4 pm. The aching left shoulder reminded me to be careful with my movements. I carried myself and the uninvited guest – THE PAIN to the ashram that evening.

The Mantap was flooded with happy souls as always. Guruji was at his Majestic Best answering questions. I had flowers in my hand, wondering how to give the flowers to him, how to get past the crowd with an aching body, I sat there on one of the window panes right at the back, listening to his soul stirring answers!!

I closed my eyes and I said to myself – “ GURUJI CALL ME “ – Don’t ask me why I said it.. Because I really don’t know even now!!

Now this is where I felt Guruji heard my silent whisper and he reached out to me.. In between the knowledge session for no apparent reason he asked :

“ WHO ALL HAVE BODY PAIN HERE?? OR PAIN IN ANY PART OF THE BODY?? “

I felt the goose bumps all over my body!! I sprung up and raised my right hand, hoping he would see me. I wanted to wave both hands but my injured left shoulder did not allow me to!!
Many raised their hands, Guruji pointed to 2 foreigners and askd “ WHERE IS IT PAINING ?“ They replied – Headache. Now my INTELLECT started acting up!! I thougt to myself, how is he going to see me through this crowd especially when Im standing right at the BACK with hundreds of people in front of me.. Then Guruji proved me wrong –

HE LOOKED AT ME.. POINTED TOWARDS ME AND ASKED – “ WHERE DO YOU HAVE PAIN? “ . I screamed out saying – Guruji I met with an accident and my left shoulder hurts badly.

THE MASTER SAID – “ COME ON STAGE “. When the MASTER called, the body and mind forgot the pain and I walked towards the stage finding my way through the crowd who’s eyes were on me!! Slowly the line started to grow in length, people starting coming up on stage behind me. Of course who would not want to taste the medicine prescribed by the DOCTOR OF THE WHOLE WORLD!!!

He spoke to the 2 foreigners first and healed them and then as I could not sit down for long with my knees bent, I stood up waiting for my turn. MY TURN HAD COME – GURUJI STOOD UP AND LOOKED AT ME AND ASKED IN THE MIKE.. WHERE IS IT PAINING FOR YOU.. I GAVE HIM THE FLOWERS.. I TOLD HIM ABOUT THE ACCIDENT AND THE PAIN AREA ..

AFTER LISTENING TO ME HE JUST GLIMPSED AT MY LEFT SHOULDER AND ASKED – “ NOW? “. THAT’S ALL HE SAID !!

To my amazement, the shoulder that did not allow me to even lift my hand over 40 degrees was now 360 degrees in full swing!!! I ROTATED MY HAND THERE ON STAGE IN FRONT OF THE THOUSANDS SEATED THERE..

Guruji putting the mike towards me asked – NOW?? I was all smiles and I said – “ ITS GONE GURUJI!!!! “ Then he nodded his head as though to say – “ IM THERE WITH YOU AND I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED !!”

THE CROWD WERE AMAZEMED AND WERE ALL CLAPPING AT THE GRACE OF THE MASTER. After healing couple of more devotees he turned away saying “ TODAYS DOCTOR DUTY IS COMPLETE!! “ As though to say the whole setup was for ME!!! I felt so special and blessed.

I walked back with gratitude and joy that I was lucky to be healed by the MASTER himself. I went back sat down again with my eyes closed thanking Guruji for what had just happened. As I had my eyes closed, Guruji appeard to me with a crown and a peacock feather on his head like KRISHNA himself!!! To my amazement when I opened my eyes –

GURUJI WAS SINGING – KRISHNA GOVINDA WITH A CROWN WITH A PEACOCK FEATHER BEAUTIFULLY PERCHED ON HIS HEAD.. ONE OF THE DEVOTEES HAD CROWNED HIM, HE NOT ONLY HEALED ME, HE GAVE ME DARSHAN AS KRISHNA AS WELL.. JUST THE WAY HE HAD APPEARD TO ME WHEN I LOOKED DEEP INSIDE WITH MY EYES CLOSED.

Today a day after the accident, I don’t even have any signs of any accident. I am 100% mobile and in shape J Thanks to MY MASTER!!

KRISHNA IS HERE.. LOOK NO FURTHER .. KRISHNA IS LIVING WITH US.. IN THE FORM OF THE MASTER HIMSELF..

With Infinite Love and Gratitude – Jai Gurudev.

- Sathya -
(seekersats@gmail.com)

Keep your house Neat and Clean - Guruji ;)

2010-11-26T13:45:00.000-08:00

Guruji : You know what happened when we were coming to Surat* from Mumbai in train for Mahasatsang. There were two ladies in the same train as we. They were longing to meet me.. They couldn't meet me in Mumbai and thought it would be almost impossible to meet in Surat.

Few devotees were scheduled to meet me at Valsad station. Before we could finish the train started. Me and Rishi Nityapragya ji (Nitin Bhaiya) ran and jumped into one of the bogies. It was a ladies coach [Huge laughter]. The two ladies were sitting in the same bogie. They started crying like anything after seeing me. Then I sat with them for half an hour and spoke to them. Longing always increases but never gets completed. Love increases but never completes. During my agyatwas*, I asked our driver, to drive the car in some remote village. I asked him to take left and right, here and there. Then I asked him to stop in front of a small house. It was a farmer's house. Once I entered the house, everybody saw me. The whole family was so happy to see me. The farmer said he wanted to see me since such a long time but never knew how to reach me. Then I also visited a few farmers near by, they also wanted to meet me since long but would never get a chance due to their duties and work. I spent some time talking to them. They all became very happy. So you never know when I'll go where. I can come anywhere, anytime.

"So better keep your house neat and clean."

Jai Gurudev!

* Surat largest city in western India and second largest in the state of Gujarat. Surat is mentioned in the historical epic, the Mahabharata when Lord Krishna stopped there en route from Mathura to Dwarka.

*Agyatwas is living in unknown place? It's a common practice by spiritual Masters & seekers for rigorous spiritual practices.

By Dinesh

A Divine Dive Before Suicide

2010-11-26T13:34:00.000-08:00

One of the teachers passed this along ...

"One afternoon in Bali, Guruji picked on this girl amidst 700 peop le doing the course and asked her to meet Him later. It turned out, that girl was planning to commit suicide right after the course (she was forced to sit through it). Guruji "tried" cajoling her to change her stupid thinking and when nothing worked.....His voice became stern!

HE said "do you know how many times have you been on this planet.....18 times as a donkey...14 times as a dog....do you know how precious is this human birth haaan....and in this birth you get to see ME...do you even realize this is such a BIG blessing.... you get to sit in My satsang and it's only because of MY GRACE!" Nothing moved after that....the air was still and the room went beyond the realm of time and space!

I sat there in one corner with goose bumps all over my body and tears in my eyes! I realized we haven't chosen this path..... this path has chosen us!
With all my innocence and love, I bow down to the Master of the Universe!!!

Jaigurudev

Anonymous

A Relationship which is above everything

2010-11-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

My friends, every moment I feel the grace of Guruji! There are innumerable experiences and incidents. But in a very brief I'll tell how he is always present in my life and changed me.
I met Guruji for the first time at the Bangalore ashram in September ' 06 during my first advance course just one month after my first basic course. At that time I didn't know much about Guruji or Art of Living and whatever I had heard about Him and Art of Living I didn't care for.

HE came to meet us during the course. And For the first time when I saw HIM, I told my friend that though I don't know who HE is and what HE is for but one thing is sure that I am with HIM ineverything in every way and I am are going to have a long long relationship with HIM and Art of Living. My friend told me why you are saying like this and I said, "This is what I feel after seeing HIM".This is how our relations

hip began.

Before meeting HIM, other than my parents and the unknown almighty divine there was no one in my life who can be revered or worshipped. There was never ever anyone in my life that I can emulate or see as an example to follow. In every kind of heroes or personalities I have always found something or the other lacking. And for me Krishna, Rama, Hanumana were just a Myth. It is only after meeting HIM that I knew the unknown Almighty Divine and Lord Krishna, Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman became a reality for me. This is strange but true.

During the course we were asked to surrender all our wishes and worries to HIM. I prayed to HIM, "Guruji, I have lost my Great Beloved parents and if you are with me now then I should never feel their absence". And I'll say Guruji has fulfilled my wish more than 100%. My well being in every way whether it's emotional, financial or anything is very well taken care of. In the very same way HE also keeps me happy by fulfilling my wishes even if they are silly, petty or naughty. And sometime in a way more than my Beloved parents would have done for me. I feel that relation with HIM is relation above all relations. Naturally the prayerfulness and gratefulness fills my heart and I sing

With Love
Deepak Kumar

Bangalore India

Aurwan Tand - By Rajesh Jagasia !!

2010-11-26T13:25:00.000-08:00

Guru Story - A Story Of Commitment To Seva

The below story is an Inspirational Story for all the AOL Volunteers , Teachers and the entire world - I have just collated it for you Guys. Its a verbatim of what Rajesh Jagasia felt and wrote on his Blog. Its a story of sheer Seva and committment...!!!!

Here it is..... Written by Rajesh Bhaiya ( Jagasia)

Many moons ago, it was yet another broiling day in Benaras Hindu University and I went to meet a professor to acquaint him about the AOL activities in the campus. The professor completely in agreement with Guruji's work and His vision told me to accompany him to a tribal village nearby. I acceded to the request immediately, but little did I know that I had signed a bond of love for many many years to come.

We fixed a Sunday evening, now four years ago, placed ourselves into a vintage Mahindra jeep and it sped past the beautiful Kashi Nagari in no time. The Naugarh district pathways are very beautiful with paddy fields on both sides and ancient trees to ogle at. I was deeply mesmerized with the nature heralding herself to me after every rise and fall of the roads.

The terrain quickly changed from plain lands to thick forests, passing by us were armed posts of CRPF. Men in khakhis standing tall with Kalashnikov rifles and the eyes of a hawk. I totally unaware of any facts and figures then, only wondered why would the government spend so much money to have a vigilant CRPF post in the middle of the forest. The journey unrevealed many skirts of happiness in shapes of trees, flowers, villagers eyeing our jeep and small children shouting, playing and frolicking to mother nature.

The path had become thinner but the bushes were getting thicker. The air was fresh but there was something which whispered the rancidity of life. The Jeep stopped at a village called Aurwan Tand in front of a small hut and my mind started its journey to think – Does human life exist here? I was introduced to a very feeble, scrawny woman who was the head of the village. My refreshments included water, rice water and some sliced onions to quench my appetite.

Still oblivious to the purpose of my visit, I goggled the village with my eyes. I was totally unaware of what I was getting into. The village with 100 families wore ornamental look amidst thick trees, mountains and I like an inquisitive bird warbling away, didn't know that love at first sight had again become a reality in my life!!

The entire government seemed to be suffering from collective laryngitis and a bold initiative was required to get a small town with Kharwar, Musahar and Chero tribes out of their habitual dolor. An abject failure of policies, leadership and projects had dehydrated this tribal land.

The children wanted to be naxalites, with 400 operative naxalites amidst them, whose needs were dictated on the people around the villages. Water was a luxury and the inhabitants existed on onions and rice for life. They wept. They waited. They survived. I sat outside the hut and could not comprehend why thousands of crores of taxpayers money would not reach here. The reason was they were unaware of their rights, unaware of democratic strength and unaware of the power of prayer. The small village with many more around it seriously grieved. It was wounded. It wanted a rescue. It was waiting for a master to save it…

I immediately decided to act and do something amidst the busy traveling that I was scheduled to do for months. I wrote to Guruji asking Him for His guidance and within minutes there was a reply as short and strong as possible. He replied "Start a school there.". is words were final for me, I knew there will be a new lease of life.

With spirited encouragement and blessings of the master, I decided to take up a dilapidated school in the premises and reopen it with a new name and committed vivacity – Sri Sri Vidya Mandir. A place where education will be worshiped and where worship will be part of an education system.

Integrating an education system amongst the tribal's is a challenging and humungous task, as no one is educated, neither are they logged on to the world through the internet or the idiot box to compare, to know the laser effect of schooling. The school was quietly started with a Guru Pooja and blessings of Guruji with no funds at hand, neither any students committed to learn.

The impetus that the children had was mid day meals as many suffered from malnutrition. The delicious baked rice with some jaggery and pulses were never eaten by the children at school, however hungry and deserted their stomachs were, they took it home to share it with their parents and juniors, so that they also could breathe, for one more day. Live for today. There were many hunger deaths in that year in the village.

The school started. These three words are so easy to write now, but there were many comma's, question marks, semi-colons sometimes exclamatory mark s but never a full-stop between these three dreamy words. These days there are classes which teach how to-be a mother, how to tie a diaper etc etc, but my experience in running a school was that of a baby looking at three twin sisters, and deciding which is his real mother. The decisions had to be quick and correct, involving the village, the children, the society and the education system.

The village was riddled with Naxalism and just meters away the government had pumped in money to the tune of 100 crores to fight naxalism, cutting the branches of the problem not uprooting it. The peaceful words of the Guru carry high voltage of truth and the nature attunes itself, bows down to His eternal verities to align itself to His utterances. It happened. I saw it happyning...

With two committed teachers who decided to dedicate years of their life for this school, the school re-commissioned, the children slowly and steadily gained interest in different subjects, including chanting, Sanskrit, and we affiliated it to the National Open Schooling under the ICSE arm. Small girls and boys would wake up early morning and begin their journey, their destination some 4-5 kms away, but the dedication was deep and intense, the faith tremendous.

The day would start with folded hands to convey gratitude to the Lord, progress into the depths of science and floated upwards with spirited enthusiasm of football and volleyball. Within months 64 children were being reborn and induced with doses of maths, geography, science and our great valiant history. They wanted more, and soon there were small Dhoni's and Bhutia's giving brief appearances of hitting a four or a penalty corner on the mountain terrains of Aurwan Tand.

The blue school dress provided uniformity amongst the different caste systems prevalent, the prayers injected faith and sanskaar, the studies established the information, attitude, concepts and the love, instilled survival, care and trust. The school with no electricity, no water initially, became the great gesture of returns and seva that the society gifted to Aurwan Tand. They had dreamt. Now it was a reality.

Naxalism evaporated from this village, with many joining the mainstream, the water tap tapped our doorstep minus the water though, the CRPF took regular breaks in the evening over chai and mari biscuits and there has not been a single hunger death in over 4 years. Malnutrition melted away and we have muscular men and women in their early years to success. Set amidst the forests, the innocence of the villagers carry grace and humility. To reach this non-existent village, one has to travel 90 kms from Benares and if you can withdraw your attention from the scenic landscape, you might reach this tiny place.

With every single day, proving to be a challenge to the core yet the pillar of prosperity had been established and the sordid saga of this village and villages adjoining it, was vacuumed off by the great Guru. There are many real characters who made this sentimental series into a funny flicker. Shruti the principal, Ramavatar, Ramlal the teachers, Pavan, Anoop, Ruchi to name a handful. They were determined. They were undeterred. They were patient. Love Prevailed.

The school which we started in the Naxal prone tribal belt of Naugargh district completed its 7 years and 7 students completed their 10th Standard. Out of them 2 came first in 9 villages and a first class in UP Board. They have decided to take up science in the college in the city. A task which looked impossible some years back, with HIS grace has been so soft and easy that now we can say "it happened". Walking a step towards seva, Working for it, Worshipping and then Waiting to see the results. It works.

This was the success story of the Transformation of the Village called Aurwan Tand and the School is up and running. The School is funded by Ashram and contributions from people who wanted to make a difference in life of others.

------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------

**Rajesh Jagasia is an IIT Mumbai Passout and is a Full Time International YES + and DSN Teacher.

His courses are not courses but magic which leaves you spellbound with enthusiasm, zing and vigour.

rajesh.jagasia@gmail.com

http://rajeshjagasia.com/

http://aurwantand.org/