As I roamed the narrow streets of the Blue City (Johdpur), taking snaps of passerbys & shopkeepers with the bright blue walls in the background, I noticed that the pillars throughout the city were filled with posters of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. I was thinking, “Damn, this dude is bigger than I thought.” I had heard he was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize, but seeing his picture everywhere put it all in perspective.
I first met Oso in a Latin American Literature discussion class that we had together in the Winter of 2003. I walked into the class early on the first day, looked around, and there was this red-headed Robert Redford looking fellow with a nicely trimmed goatee seated in the last row surfing the net on his labtop (Surprised?). So that’s where we met and that’s where he fell in love with the Grad student, Heidi, who was teaching the section part of the course. No, actually they despised each other with good reason.
From there on out Oso and I met up on campus and played hoops, he introduced me to some of San Diego’s quaintest cafes (starting with Clare de Lune in North Park), and I asked him if he wanted to go hear Sri Sri Ravi Shankar speak. He said “Sounds good,” so we inhaled some dollar fish tacos at Rubio’s one afternoon and went to the spot with our ears ready for some spiritual healing (Remember, this isn’t Ravi Shankar the sitar player).
Unfortuantely, it seemed a little cultish. You had the typical older Americans who are willing to believe any alternative Eastern thought. These folks absolutely worshipped anything Sri Sri touched. But this was an introductory seminar and Sri Sri was not willing to give out any details on his secret path to spiritual awakening.
I recall someone asked him, “Sri Sri, can you explain your breathing exercise that you are so well known for?”
“Just breathe,” Sri Sri answered.
Couldn’t I have gotten that advice from a TelepopMusik song?
Oso and I were sitting there laughing to ourselves. A beautiful, radiant older woman was sitting next to me and I knew I already had her intrigue based on my “alternative skin color.” So I started talking to her and she was fascinated that I was Indian.
“So are you Hindu or Muslim?”
“Well, actually I’m Zoroastrian. It’s the Parsee community that formed and emigrated from Iran to India after persectution in the 8th century (0r was it 6th century).”
“Really, so you’re Persian, too.
“Ummm. Yeah, I guess I am.
“Wow.”
Oso was slyly giggling to himself. The woman, along with everyone else, waited in a ridiculous line for a life-long blessing by the simple touch of Sri Sri, as Oso and I cruised out the double doors.
Around this same period of time, I saw a guy from my high school whom I had never spoken to before. It was at UCSD, we talked for a while. I have never seen anyone get so excited when I told them my last name.
“Ardesher? Ardesher? You are Zoroastrian?! Wow, I gotta call my father. That’s incredible! Let me get your email!”
You can say that this guy Kurosh is a very proud Persian and is one of those people who likes to stick to his own kind. I guess he had reason to celebrate.
The term “nationality” is one that became more baffling to me as the years have gone by. The question, “What is your nationality?” is one that I would normally answer with, “Indian”. But after taking two sociology courses with Professor Andrew Barlow at Diablo Valley College 4 years ago…I know this question has been asked and answered incorrectly. The person asking it meant “What ethnicity are you?”. In that way, it would be okay to answer it with “Indian.” But nationality? I’d have to say I’m American. It’s too bad coconut is not an option - brown on the outside, white on the inside.
I’d like to differentiate between the different terms courtesy of Wikipedia:
Ethnicity is the cultural characteristics that connect a particular group or groups of people to each other.
“Ethnicity” is sometimes used as a euphemism for “race”, or as a synonym for minority group.
While ethnicity and race are related concepts, the concept of ethnicity is rooted in the idea of societal groups, marked especially by shared nationality, tribal afilliation, religious faith, shared language, or cultural and traditional origins and backgrounds, whereas race is rooted in the idea of biological classification of homo sapiens to subspecies according to morphological features such as skin color or facial characteristics.
It is a term also used to justify real or imagined historic ties as well. In English, Ethnicity goes far beyond the modern ties of a person to a particular nation (e.g., citizenship), and focuses more upon the connection to a perceived shared past and culture.
Oso, talks about ethnicity and defines other commonly misunderstood terms briefly on a recent post:
Ethnicity is a social construct based on biological, cultural, and even religious differences. I think the best definition I’ve read of ethnicity came from a Nigerian writer who migrated from his home country to the U.K. and then to Los Angeles. He said his ethnicity has been called Yoruba, Nigerian, African, and finally Black even though his DNA has never changed.
Nationality is defined by where you are born or where you have naturalized. It’s also based on when you were born. For example, if you were born in San Diego two hundred years ago, your nationality would be Mexican, but if you were born in San Diego twenty years ago, your nationality is considered American.
You can share the same nationality with someone despite not sharing the same ethnicity nor speaking the same language. In fact, this is the norm, not the exception. (take a look at a this list of languages by countries and this one of ethnicity and race by countries - this map of geographic origins of languages is also interesting) India is a prime example of one nation, many languages, many ethnicities, and many religions.
Finally, language is a form of communication that is often related to nationality and ethnicity, but just as often not. Spanish, for example, is one of four languages spoken in Spain. But it is also spoken - in various adaptations - not just in Latin America, but also the Caribbean, parts of Africa, the South Pacific, and much of Southern California and New York City. English is another example of a language which started as one of several in Great Britain, but is now spoken in countries around the world from the United States to Singapore and Malaysia.
I look forward to part II.
For the record though, the reason I was giggling to myself is that, according to my memory, the conversation went a little different at the Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Ravi Shankar sales presentation.
Said beautiful, older (was she Russian?) woman wearing a sort of embroidered Sari and hijab was straight up staring at Revaz throughout Ravi’s entire sales presentation. Finally, as she was probably pretty close climax with the prospect of kissing one of Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s toes, she says to Revaz, “what beautiful skin you have, may I touch.”
Revaz gives the patented wink and the patented million dollar smile.
Said woman: “You have such beautiful eyes. Are you Persian?”
Revaz: “Yes.”
Eva Gabor in Sari: “Really!!!!? Were your parents born in Iran?”
Revaz: “Actually India.”
Eva Gabor in Sari: “Wow!!!!!! So you’re Indian?”
Revaz: “Yes”
Eva Gabor in Sari: “Wow!!!!!!!!!!! Can I touch you?”
By this point I’m pretty sure I wet myself. After sufficient Revaz-stroking, Eva did her best to try to convince us to also kiss Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s toes, but you know how Mexican girlfriends are so jealous. There’s no way I woulda been able to explain that one.
Anyway my mayne. Really enjoyed the post and thanks for reminding me to put Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s “Breathing Exercises for Corporate Domination” course on my Amazon wish list.
This is a pretty funny article. Only people crazier than Sri Sri Sri Sri Sri Ravi Shankar worshipers are Catholics.
Hi.im a teen from india!i was actually surfing the net and came upon your article.i think you were quite awestruck by Guruji(Sri Sri Ravishankar)!i have already done the course which teaches the BREATHING TECHNIQUES taught by H.H.Sri Sri Ravishankarji.I would highly recommend you to do the course as well as Oso also to do it!!Experience the difference you get in life after the course.Tell me how you felt through the course.And yes,im also looking forward to Part II.i hope it includes your course experiences!Chao!bye.
Hi,
I also have done the course, loved it!
This is a highly recommended course, which u shld dive into… NOW!
just do the course dont go after anything or anyone and then reply..
Experience..
and reply but give the reply back with a smile
hmmm…
Interesting article.
I used to have crazier concepts about sri sri….cuz i thought i was the modern, intelligent, proud teenager…and that i knew everything….
but my friends were skillful enuf to push me to do the course….
concepts crumbled….life changed…joy overflowed…wudn’t want to write a poem with sugar-coated words, about how i felt…but in short…”Extremely Awesome. Unexpected ”
some people called it ‘cult’(Whew!!), ‘buisness’, ‘godmen’, ’srisrisrisri’….and whatever… just like i had done b4…but just giving definitions was easy…..
IO,do the course definitely…and u wud realise that some things are there which u never thought, existed…some things are not what we think they are… might be totally the other way round, in fact…
but definitely,the decision is all yours…either keep moving as one among the crowd or run an do the course and be part of the celebration..and mind you..’true celebration’. i am only too happy if u did..do write to me if u do…
lots of luv,
cheers,
Anand
Kerala, IndiA
Hi
You should enjoy the beauty of nature as it is and should not break your head asking, how did it come, how the mountain came into existence, how the sky came into, how the ocean came into existence, this will waste our time…. this is told my HH srisri and I truly adore it, sudarshan kriya is truly amazing and very useful. I am now a changed man totally and have done their advanced course on padma sadhana a cluster of over 13 yoga and breathing exercises. Now I found myself truly matured and fit. No one has the right to comment on something unless they experience it. I would love to touch and kiss the feet of HH srisri any number of times, because he was the one who taught the world… I belong to you….
Keep loving everybody, keep spreading the word of love worldwide and keep smiling always…
Janik from Dubai
OK, come on, this is obviously a cult.
Before even tasting the Pie… you have gone on to decribe its taste…!!!
: )
Before even tasting the Pie… you have gone on to decribe its taste…!!!
: )
I’ve done the course, repeated it often and it’s fabulous! I have met with Guruji and would stand in line to meet HIM - I respect Him so much and He has made tremendous difference in my life.
I think ‘cult’ is used too easily-
you need to take a deeper look.
Arun, Suren, Karen, Janik, Anand, & Oso -
I do think I was a bit hasty in my judgement. And I have heard from people first hand that his breathing exercises are life changing. I’ll hopefully have a chance to give it a shot sometime in the near future. If he doesn’t kill my pocketbook in the process!!! Haha, just kiddin’.
LOL…you said it right Karen. Challenge to Oso and his friend. First do the Basic course and then write about it. You cannot learn horse riding by watching it. You guys are too novice. You first will have to grow up by coming out of your shell.
My two cents– I’m an American, growing up with all our American schtuff and culture… live in the DC area… Art of Living is crazy fun though… the breathing techniques Sri Sri teaches are awesome!
Much love! -Sean
Hi Guys,
Karen said it right……
“Before even tasting the Pie… you have gone on to decribe its taste”
please do the course and experience the breathing techinique Sri Sri has to offer and the write what you feel abt…
Its wonderful !
Peace
James
You ask why people stand in a long line to see Sri Sri? Who is crazier, those standing in long lines to see pop stars and movie stars or those standing in line to meet someone who is working on improving other people’s life. He is my idol and I feel proud to say that. And if making a spiritual leader my idol makes the organization a cult, so be it.
Give everything a fair trial - Do the course and then pass your comments.
Maybe OSO and his friend should see the work done by the Art of Living and the transformation Sri Sri has made to the lives of millions around the world before judging HIM….
When somebody feels what is a pinch in life,and understands what is importance of life savier and life saving knowledge, and how much valuable is such divine person who is spreading this divine knowledge such questions and discussions will not arise.
In my eyes srisri is life savier with whom I will always stand to spread and save as much lifes as I can.
I did the course couple of years back. Life is not the same anymore.
The course opens a world of possibility and makes you “live” your “life” in totality.
Just do it!
It changed my life, it touched the millions of people world wide and it will change yours too!
re: DNA and race/ethnicity:
the Nigerian writer and a Caucasion might have more in common genetically than either might have with someone of his/her own “race”. Same for everyone…
Dear Friends..I did my first AOL course 3 years back,and believeme I had never thought that a simple breahing technique taught by srisri ravishankarji could bring so much joy,love,peace of mind in my life.! I did all the further courses and became a art of living teacher myself this year…cult is something which excludes who don;t follow their rules and practices,while aol is all inclusive its bringing whole humanity closer and together..going beyond differences in skin color,ethnicity,social status ,economical statusand educational beckgrounds..In last 3 years I have got very closefriends from all parts of the world,Japan to USA,Russia to Pakistan..I am proud to be a part of this beautiful organisition..I have been very lucky to travel and spend a lot of time with SriSri in India and have seen thousands of people from all over the world whose lifes are changed for good after doing the Art Of Living courses…So ma adviceis Just Do It..and see the wonders it creates in your lifes..
..Love and warm regards
MAhesh Digrajkar,Mumbai ,India
I’m pretty sure you’re missing a Sri there Mahesh.
Dear Friends,
I did my AOL course last yr and now i did all my courses in this yr .
it bring change in my life and others life 2 so plz oso and his friend do the course
Its nice to know how critical and overly judgemental you and oso are.I am rather shocked at your narrow outlook in life!
Its nice and easy to sit and pass judgements at people you don’t even know….or well i guess you just don’t have the depth to be able to fathom the finer things in life!!
God Bless you Poor deluded Souls!
Well said Anonymous, very well said. We were just discussing this the other day and I am proud to say that we have both enlisted in the AOL Introductory Breathing Exercises course. It’s really bringing peace to my life. Thank you everyone for the encouragement and helping bring me out of my dead end nihilism.
jgd…
the teacher comes - when the disciple is ready!
Yo Oso,
I’m here in New York.
The AOL Course Kicks ass!
Take it! You’ll love it!
You’re funny, with your multiple Sri’s
so oso..what’s the status now ?
if you are sincere about AOL, it would give you the best returns guaranteed.
sur, thank you so much for your compassion and caring. I have to admit, when I first heard about blessed Sri Sri’s online course, I, well, I hate to say it, but I thought he was just out to make money. Now I understand the true ephemerality of money in comparison to the eternal wisdom of this man, this prophet.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar … and yes, AOL … have changed my life forever. Inshallah.
This is amazing. Do these people just go around the internet looking for “breathing exercises” and “sri sri sri sri sri ravi shankar”? Could it be all one person?
Personally, I can only belong to one cult at a time and Scientology isn’t getting any cheaper.
I was intruiged by this because I have a friend who recently became a devotee of the sri sri. Those above who say “don’t criticize until you have taken the course” don’t add:
1. The course costs money. Sri sri does not share his enlightenment for free.
2. Those who take the course must sign a legal document pledging not to reveal any of the “secrets” they learned in the “course”.
3. Sri sri claims “intellectual property rights” to his “method”.
In my view, people who offer enlightenment for sale, ask you to sign legal documents, and claim intellectual property rights in such enlightment, are just charlatans.
I was intruiged by this article because a friend recently became a devotee of the sri sri. Those above who say, don’t criticize until you take the course, don’t bother to add the following:
1. Sri sri sells his enlightenment. His courses are only available for money.
2. Those who sign up must sign a legal document commiting not to share any of the “secrets” they learned in the course.
3. Sri sri claims intellectual property rights to his “method”.
So, even without taking the course, I know this is a cult, focused on power and money.
None of this soundm His cours t
Hey, OK, I have not taken the course but have been watching the thing pretty closely as my boyfriend got extremely involved. Lost my man to it a month ago. Yeah, the man I wanted to marry suddenly declared he no longer felt like having kids but preferred to be one of those Sri Sri on-call yoga teachers trotting the globe. And if I do not become Aol like him, I am out. Sorry to say, but I don’t have the money and have my own ways, my own spirituality, and my own places where I do volunteer stuff in my life- and I say a big “no thank you” to AoL. And then the man leaves me on the spot. Could it get any crazier? Why do those people want to be single or child-less? So that Sri Sri can have more money from them?
I took the course too, and it is fantastic.
As for wanting to be childless or single- I think for some, priorities change- and maybe your boyfriend was just going through a spiritual transformation and felt the best thing for him was to become a full time teacher- not all people who do the course would become teachers- and I don’t think there is anyone there forcing him to make this decision- it is something that arises from him- although, there are many art of living teachers who are married- and happily so…so I can’t say that all teachers are averse to long-term relationships. I think what happens with the course is that for many it changes the way we look at love, expectations and also concepts of attachment. Life becomes much bigger, fuller- and love is extended beyond the social definitions and expectations of what life “should be” to accepting life as it is-
I disagree with you on your last point. I would venture to say that many AOL people ( I do not say all… but I have met a bunch over many months) do not accept life as it is and their involvement in AOL is a way for them to run away from their problems and weaknesses. What it even more tragic is that they no longer believe that they have an intrinsic goodness and talents and gifts in them; instead, they learn to draw all their “goodness” from AOL and whatever the Guru says. This is sad, I don’t deny that AOL promotes things that are, objectively speaking, “good”, but people shouldn’t give up the good in themselves, their private good, in order to sacrifice themselves in the name of that second-hand Sri Sri- promoted goodness. I have way too much respect for myself and for anyone to say that AOL is good for you in the long run.
THIS COURSE IS MIND BLOWING. I AM NOW A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSON. I AM A DOCTOR BY PROFESSION AND NEVER BELIEVED THESE SPIRITUALISM. BUT NOW I AM A DEAD HEART FAN OF SRISRI . I JUST WANT HIM TO KNOW THAT I AM MADLY IN LOVE WITH HIM. FOR ME HE IS THE GOD. I THINK I HAVE LOVED HIM SINCE EVER. EVERYDAY MY BELIEF IN HIM IS GROWING. I AM A MUCH HAPPIER PERSON NOW. I AM HAPPY I KNOW HIM. HE IS DIVINE. KNOWING HIM HAS MADE ME A BETTER PERSON AND NOW I FEEL I AM SATISFIED. I AM HAPPY AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR ALL THIS.
I HAVE DONE THE COURSE & IT IS BEYOND WORDS TO EXPRESS WHAT I FELT. I JUST WANT SRISRI TO KNOW THAT HE HAS TURNED ME IN A BETTER PERSON. I LOVE HIM. I AM MUCH HAPPIER NOW. I LOVE U ALOT AND I AM BLAESSED THAT I KNOW U.
Shweta, I feel sorry for you and all people who think that they can put their life in the hands of just one person. Life is much more than “Art of Living”. Just open your door and see. There are good human faces there. There are doves stroking each other’s beaks. There are trees. There are churches, synagogues, mosques, people with values and hope radiating from their eyes, children playing, music. Love life and take responsibility. Your OWN responsibility. While you still may want inspiration from the guru, you will be YOURSELF and you won’t need him to be happy. Consider this.
Dear Friends…
Food without salt can be eaten too.
Food with a pinch of salt makes it tasty…
Spirituality is like that pinch of salt in life… makes your life more interesting…
It is said in many of the ancient scriptures in the world that ” to crique any thing in the world, first you have to know, what you wish to crisize, it thouroughly, you must go to the depth of it, even in order to become a good critique of that perticular field of subject…even to do so one should be open-minded, scientific-minded…
Like a good scientist, one shoud go into the depth of the subject matter. one should experiment thouroughly….
I was such a curious student right from my childhood… always want a proof…than i can accept things in my life…
Even the same thing happened for The Art of Living Course…
I argued with Nitin Limaye( Baroda, Gujart ) )the Teacher of the Art of Living Foundation… You know what ????
I told him, Look my dear…
For all these six days of the course, though only 3 hrs a day…
What you people are going to teach me… Breathing ??? that i have been doing for the years !!! And Meditation as the AOL people say; the art of doing nothig…just sit with your eyes closed !!!I said; see, i am not a fool… to do all this nonsense.. i am not going to pay you anything…i literally argued with them… you people have found the easiest business of making money… that too teaching people how to breath !!! rediculous…
I am an IT professional having two degrees with Information Technology & was persuing my Masters in Management…
But after an hour of Arguments & Rediculous Discussions… I have decided not to take up the Course… I was such a person who never used to bend down so easily…
I moved out of the AOL Course Premises and wearing my Shoes…thinking …No body in the world can make me fool easily… what this people understand !!!
When Stepping down on the staircase…
My Scientific Temper questioned me ; Are you really Open minded ??? You always experiment and go to the depth of any thing in the first place…my mind said.Then why you are going away without actually Experinecing…
Just because AOL People asked for money….
I came back to that teacher, Nitin Limaye…
My cunning mind played tricked…
I told him, you pay for me, last day i would return it…it was pure cunningness, really…
Now, I am a person who alwasy put 100 % in any thing I do….
I really put 100 % during the course…all the sessions with open mindedness and ofcourse lots of doubts and questions…
When i had experienced Sudarshan Kriya…
the experience is beyond words…rest of the course experience was really amazing…bcoz i had put my 100 %….
During the Course, i had this thought….
if the teacher of the course is so amazing…what it would be to see & meet
Sri Sri Ravishankar…
I did that also…My first encountering question ( in August 1997 )to Sri Sri was…
I have a doubt on you…
After he spoke on “Doubts”…He looked in my eyes straight away and said…
It’s good to doubt, keep doubting and make sure that you doubt 100 %
So i decided to attend all the coursed the Art of Living Foundation offers…of course, with doubts and questions…
And You know what… My Life has changed…
HE gave me completely new dimensions to life, to people around me, to the whole world…
And one of the beautiful things about
Sri Sri is : “He never ask to leave any thing” But what i found is “Whatever is not life supportive, gets dropped automatically in the due course of time, on the spiritual path” one more thing about HIM is ” He never say you should be single to be on this path, or you should do this, you should not do that, you should live like this…bla..bla..bla……..”
He just ask : Are you Happy ???
He says : Be happy, Peaceful, contented… and move towards your goals in life…be it money, fame, relationship…whatever…”
And when you are tension-free, Stress-free,
happy, peaceful, joyful…whatever you do …will be good for you, good for people around you…
Isn’t it amazing…
And you know…that doubting,quesioning, egoistic,scientific minded, IT professional and a management consultant become one of the best Art of Living Teachers…spreading love, compassion, knowledge, wisdom and teachings of Sri Sri Ravishankar ji, inspiring and motivating people to take more and more responsibility to make this world better place to live…
He still runs his Management Consultancy,
He is married to a beautiful girl, Raginee
He still soulder all the family responsibility of his home,parents, relatives, business, people around him…
And still…
He is inspired by
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar ji
to take one more responsibility of spreading the message of love, peace, joy, harmony, compassion, friendliness,happiness, taking more & more responsibility to make this world… better place to live…
One World, One Family
That amazing person is non other than Me…
Manish Mali
” Sri Sri ”
403, Sahnip View Appt,
Madhuvan Campus
Opp. Sri Ram Petrol Pump,
Anand Mahal Road,
Adajan, Surat,
Gujarat - India - 395009
Phone : +91 98254 51700
: +91 98982 09800
Email : gurumanone@gmail.com
Jai Guru Dev !!!
Thanks YOU Gurujee
for giving me an opportunity
to love you and this world
to be loved by you
to make my life worth living…
to be able to serve people in this world…
to be able to care & share…
to be so much grateful in life…
to be able to be on this path…
to be with YOU whenever i feel like…
FOR EVERYTHING IN LIFE…
I LOVE YOU GURUJI…
ALWAYS YOURS
LOVE…………….
Manish Mali…
Hey I read, debate, and think a lot of philosophy. I almost attended the AOL program several times but never got around to it.
Have been reading a lot about Sri Sri though.
Have a question constantly. Why does the human mind constantly forget the message and fall in love with the messenger.
I know people who pray daily to Ram, Rahim and Jesus. Few actually remember what they stood for.
That is IMO, the beginnning of a cult
My only prayer is that he keeps up the good work and does not get bogged or mired down in the mess that other Guru’s do.
Sathya- you have really hit it on the head. The breathing techniques and meditation are brilliant. This is what is life changing. You don’t need to worship a man or guru to benefit from these techniques (which by the way date back thousands of years and really are not “owned” by Sri Sri). I took the basic and advance course and while I love the teachings and the techniques, the cultish vibe is a big turnoff. It can be quite expensive to continue taking each additional course, as well.
If you want to read more about Sri Sri Sri Sri ad nauseum Sri Ravi Shankar, go to www.guruphiliac.org and do a search on his name (with only two sri’s). You’ll find lots of interesting stuff. He is a crook and a perfect cult leader. His people are obnoxious losers most of whom have run away from their lives. He gets their money and is happy. What perfect descriptions of his idiot following given by oso and his friend! LOL The group is brainwashed, like many other groups of that type in India. Ravi Shankar couldn’t finish school so he started an ashram business. Good for him. Don’t waste your money — it only goes to support his degenerate family.
Sri Sri Ravishankar is a child atheart.Like a days baby he only knows to love people truely & unconditionally.Like God he knows
us with true understanding and compassion and infinite love and doesn’t easyly reveal
that he can see thro the core of our being and when many of us in a time of crisis cry out for help silently to him in our house ,
miraculuosly a new way opens up. You have heard the words ‘Jesus heals’.so does Sri Sri. Its difficult to believe because he is
living with us now .
Any school dropout can understand that there are people who do Phds & get gold medals in this materialistic world. But it is difficult for a highly erudite person to comprehend that there may a possibility for
an extraordinary person to exist in this planet along with us ,who loves the world and make peole feel ‘I belong to you’.
when all people feel that they belong to all others, all conflict ends; acceptance, understanding love, sharing happens spontaneously and the world is simply transfomed to a heaven.
A lone man trying to make people know,and express their nobility, and their other good qualities and perceive those of others ;share with joy, share their joy,and
bring people to spirituality( irrespective
of their religion) is totally difficult to comprend with our normal faculties.
So it is easy to underrate Him. but in the
process of getting to know Him ,we also start growing in a different dimension and that could be mind boggling.
Try to know Him. I know very very little about Him. He is tooo big for me to comprehend.try to ponder over this.bye all!
Kathy -
“You don’t need to worship a man or guru to benefit from these techniques (which by the way date back thousands of years and really are not “owned” by Sri Sri). ”
You are correct. You don’t need to. Not everyone who has benefitted from the course is a “worshipper” of Sri Sri. And doesn’t need to be.
But most people start liking him. There must be some reason. I think this thing is inherent in us (More so in Indians or Easterns). We always have reverence for a Teacher. I still remember my teachers in my primary school. I still visit them when I go to my hometown. If I see any of my teachers, a feeling of gratefulness comes automatically. All this, in spite of the fact that all they taught to me was the same thing taught in every school. None of the teachings were “owned” by my teachers. But still I am grateful to them.
In older days, a disciple had to serve his master for quite some time before the teachings were given to him. It all had a purpose. Though you may not understand it.
May be I can’t explain it to you. May be you will feel it from within someday. It need not be to Sri Sri. The person is not important. The feeling of gratefulness is what is important.
Regards,
Rajesh
Hed -
“Shweta, I feel sorry for you and all people who think that they can put their life in the hands of just one person. Life is much more than “Art of Living”. ”
I understand your loss. I know it hurts. In this state, you would naturally have a feeling of hatred for AOL (whatever that is!).
You may not understand what your man felt. I would say not to blame it on AOL. It all depends on the person. I did attend many AOL courses but I still married and live a happy married life. I feel AOL has helped me in my married life too. But I have a batchmate who wanted to leave his studies and join AOL as a full time teacher. Sri Sri himself had told him not to leave studies.
Anyway, my point is, your boyfriend found what his destination was. You couldn’t have stopped him whether it was AOL or anything else. He found what gives him happiness.
There is no point now regretting and blaming it on AOL.
Regarding your feelings towards AOL, I would say don’t hate it or love it. If you want to know what it is, just do the course. No need to leave anything. Don’t form an opinion without giving it a try.
Regards,
Rajesh
By the way, I have noticed that the people who strongly criticize AOL and think they understand everything about AOL (that it is a cult, business etc.) are ones who have not even attended the course. I don’t know where such a strong opinion comes from!
But I find it really strange.
Why not give it a try and then comment? Afraid of anything?
I agree entirely with Rajesh. Then again, I’m now enlightened so I would. And check this out, you can get in direct contact with my master so he can explain to you how to give him the appropriate percentage of your savings to become as enlightened as I am.
Hmmm…
That is a genuine doubt. Why charge so much money? Is it a business?
Does Sri Sri like to hoard money like everyone of us?
I wonder what will he do with money?
Actually I wonder what can he do with money?
Probably 21 to 22 hours of a day he is outside, with people. With devotees, with AOL volunteers, with people who are eager to just get a glimpse of him. Attending satsangs, giving talks etc. And most importantly, traveling. He could easily get the Guiness entry for his number of travels!
And travel doesn’t mean sight-seeing. His routine will be similar irrespective of where he is. But the amount of traveling he does, I am sure most of us will say “Enough” of it. But he continues. Do you think he does it for his pleasure? What does he get?
Anyway, my point is, what will he spend money on?
Clothes? He doesn’t need more than two pieces of it.
House? The entire world is literally his home!
Food? Cars? What else? He doesn’t even need to have money for these. If he asks once there will be a line of people to offer these.
What can he do with money? Does he even need money?
So where does the money go?
The best way to find the answer is to become a volunteer in AOL. Just volunteer to do some service activities. If I say, you may not believe it. Why not do it. Once you actually do something you will come to know how limited resources are and how much the needs are. It takes money to run schools. It takes money to provide food. It takes money to adopt the villages. It takes a lot of money. But don’t take my word for it. Try it yourself. Unless you have first hand experience, you won’t realize it.
Now, Why take so much money?
I ask, why not? Don’t you pay a few hundred bucks to listen to your favorite band in concert? You probably spend more than that in many things. You probably spend a 1000 bucks every year on your car. Can’t you spend 300 bucks on yourself? You don’t consider yourself worth spending 300 bucks? But you probably spend more than that on your looks anyway. Why does spending money on a thing which changes your life positively, bother you so much?
Have you considered what are you getting for your money? Do a sincere analysis yourself.
And let us know.
To Percy,
1. The course doesn’t come free.
I think it should not come free. Whatever comes free is not valued by people. The most important things people need is free. Air is free, water is free. If they are free, they have been abused by the humans. If people have to pay for it, people value it. I know of a few people who didn’t want to do the Kriya practice regularly but did it just because they spent some money learning it. After doing it for some time, they themselves started observing the benefits.
I think the course should not be free…
2. They have to sign that because the course is a package. It is not just a set of techniques. It’s not that you teach someone the techniques and the course is done. Again, you can’t appreciate this fact unless you do the course.
3. Claiming IPR means it is a cult? Is this statement correct? Don’t you think you are coming to conclusions too early? Give some solid reason if you are making such a statement. With so many people telling with their experiences that it is not, how foolish you seem making such statements without knowing what it is!
Regards,
Rajesh
Facinating discussion. Wow… Identity vs. Sri Sri worship. Where should I go with this one? Let’s begin with identity: I’m a 26-year-old white American female–born in Texas, grew up in a mobile home, yet attended a Catholic girls high school (but never was Catholic) in the SF Bay Area, now living in Chicago–persuing a masters degree in social work, and specializing in working with inner-city youth who have committed serious offenses, kids in gangs, and people in prison.
I spent the summer volunteering in New Orleans with the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), the service-based sister organization of the Art of Living and the organization to which much of the revenues generated by AoL course fees goes to support service initiatives. In addition to the intense hard-labor of gutting buildings and the soft-labor of facilitating the very popular (especiallyl on this discussion board) AoL stress/trauma relief breathing courses, we began a day camp at a housing project providing free breakfast, lunch, supplies, and camp activities for kids–by the way, there are kids in this country whose only meal is the hot-lunch the state has granted them at school, and when school is out for more than a year, their nutrition suffers tremendously. I personally spearheaded a series of workshops for incarcerated teens in Louisiana at the Juvenile Detention Center to offer these kids some hope and an alternative perspective in life to give them CHOICES about how they wish to conduct their lives.
All of this work was done free of charge to the community. The hard-labor, the soft-labor, the day camp, the detention center workshops. But guess what! It wasn’t free for the organization. Nope, gas prices alone would see to that. Indeed, it costed money to feed volunteers, to rent a space to house volunteers, to get volunteers from the residence hall to the various sites, to purchase supplies and food for kids at camp. Right now we’re raising money to renevate a community room at the housing project, as we conducted camp in a room with no running water or electricity (yes, this is the United States we’re talking about)–we had to pour buckets of water in the toilet to make it flush–and outside was littered with broken glass, used condoms, and hypodermic needles, not to mention gunfire due to neighborhood feuds.
And the response from the community was absolutely amazing. Parents of the children at camp told us of their grattitude for giving their children the opportunity to get outside and play with other kids. They told us that they had not even let their children outside for 6 months due to the dangerousness of the neighborhood, and many of them did not even know there were other kids living there. The kids at the Detention Center wrote such positive reviews of the workshop in their course evaluations, and even sent me cards and letters afterward because they were so touched, that I get a little teary thinking about it.
That said, one particular AoL teacher always tells participants that Sri Sri and the Art of Living are like the ocean. You can give or take as much or as little as you want. You can look upon it and appreciate its vastness, you can dip your toes in it, you can dive in, or you can turn away and go hiking in the forest instead, but the choice is up to you. Nothing is compelling you to give or take more than you wish. This is what I have come to realize.
As a skeptical westerner, it was a bit hard for me to take at first, seeing what seemed to be a “cultish” vibe that many of you have remarked upon. Watching people literally follow this man around to get a glipmse or to touch him. I wondered, is this guy some kind of imposter? What I came to realize is that he has asked nothing of me. He has asked nothing of these people who want so much to touch him. Indeed, these devotees are simply having the relationship that THEY seek with Sri Sri. That is not my way. And that’s fine. I thought about my question some more: is this guy just an imposter? Then I realized, you know, I’ve learned a lot from his courses–which, by the way, I never had to pay for my first basic course, and I found immense value in it, despite what some may argue–and I see the value in the work he is doing by bringing these workshops to people and encouraging them to materialize the dreams they have for their community (like the day camp or, in my case, prison reform and gang intervention). From that, I’ve really come to respect Sri Sri and to be grateful to him. I feel inspired. I feel a renewed enthusiasm for my own life and the lives of others. I want to affect the course of this world.
I don’t pray to Sri Sri. I don’t fall on my knees at the sight of him. I do get a warm feeling in my heart, however. A deep sense of grattitude. And I do my absolute best to live by the teachings that he echos–the same teachings of Jesus and the Buddha and of my own heart. Sri Sri doesn’t have a monopoly on this knowledge; it’s in everyone. But he sure does help us allow it to arise in our own lives through very practical means, like the breath and community service. For that, I’m thankful.
A’ho to life! A’ho to the great skeptic! It’s all a part of the process…
Angela
I did the AoL course quite a few years back and was deeply impressed with the course and the values projected by the organisation. The AoL course stresses on empowering the individual through personal growth and development. The organisation is doing a lot of good social work, providing a framework for likeminded people to come together and contribute towards making the world a better place. I have seen the transformational effect it has on people, and have also experienced it myself.
But over the years, the organisation seems to have lost much of its once solid credibility. There is too much focus on publicity and collecting donations. The same courses are recycled and remixed to form new ones, for which substantially high fees are charged. Stories of miracles and angels(!) are being spread and believed by highly educated people, presumably to lure more people to the fold.
I moved away from the activities of the organisation when the focus shifted from spiritual knowledge and social work to publicity and adding more people to the cult, but I have no grudge towards the Guru or the organisation. Rather I am grateful as the course helped me at a very crucial point in my life.
I have a few friends who are staunch devotees of SSRS. They are highly educated, extremely intelligent people who regard SSRS as a SatGuru and do not eulogize him or revere him as God. Yet they justify the cult-like practices of the organisation, including the excessive publicity and hype. They continue to spend a lot of time, effort and money towards AoL courses and activities and for all their pains they don’t seem to radiate peace and joy as they initially did, after first getting involved with AoL. Ironically they sound unhappy, even frustrated at times and their families are pained and worried with their dysfunctional lives.
Everyone chooses to live life his own way, so I guess they must be finding satisfaction in what they do.
Jai Gurudev!!
I am 19,just recently done with the YES+ course!
People…whoever think….all this is simply of no use …a business..n…(whatever….goin against AOL)…I would just like to tell them that…My Dear people.. AOL is a business!!! A business that just teaches you to actually live life!! Think again….about your life…do you even smile when its necessary…where here…you keep smiling when its not required! Believe me….everything is beautiful then!! If not me…atleast give it a try…and i guarantee you…ITS WORTH IT! The main new thing which enters your life is ..LOVE!!! YES!! Realize the actual meaning of LOVE!! And you will see it everywhere -around you!!
YES,ITS TRUE….OUR EXPERIENCES CANT BE EXPRESSED… BECUASE ITS TOO BEAUTIFUL,VALUABLE,LOVELY,……………………….-short of words!!
GOD BLESS YOU WITH IT!
JAI GURUDEV!!!
My comments are on the teachers of the Art of Living course who don the semi-guru garb.
From what I have seen, they counsel people on the many problems that ail the human race and act as “personal sages”. Question- Are they trained therapists to deal effectively with people’s problems and provide concrete solutions? Or does the Art of Living teacher title bestow them with great wisdom?
I have encountered highly egoistic AOL teachers who gossip about thier “followers” problems- a real NO-NO in my books, and criticize one and all of them. Demi-holy man? Shame on you. Even I, an ordinary citizen have the integrity to not “spill the beans” on my confidants.
My advice- don’t display your weakness and seek advise from these so-called demi-sages. The meditation and breathing are great outlets but let the problems be resolved by yourself, a family member or trusted friend, or a trained counsellor.
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