Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

🌷 Katho Upanishad 🌷              Chapter 5               Winning immortality      🌻 Day 40 🌻 ‘What’ – we discussed the Kena Upanishad. It comes in order. First is Isha, then Kena and then Katho – this comes third. Bodh mantra, just the knowingness, not knowledge or the knower. From objects of knowing to knowledge to the knowingness to the knower – these are the four steps to the Self. You can never make the Divine an object of knowing. This is what people are trying to do in the whole world. “Can I see God? Have you seen God?” When people ask these questions, it is so stupid. The Self cannot be an object of knowing. It is the knowingness itself.  It is in death that the knowingness is not there; just like in sleep your knowingness is absent. Liberation is exiting with the knowingness, like witnessing your sleep. You might have had one or two glimpses here and there, maybe in an adva...

🌷 Katho Upanishad 🌷                  Chapter 5                Winning immortality       🌻 Day 39 🌻 Basically Nachiketa has been instructed two things. One is put in your self-effort. You need self-effort so that you don’t become a slave to your senses, you become the master of your senses. Will self-effort alone work? Yama said, “No, it is only grace that works.” Since everyone is a combination of body and mind, matter and energy, the tangible and the intangible, the manifest and the unmanifest, you need two sets of rules to follow. One set of rules for the body, the tangible, the limited. It works only with effort. Then another set of rules to handle the mind, the abstract, the unmanifest. That works through effortlessness. Often we confuse ourselves and do the reverse. In the mind we put effort and for the body, we say, “Let it be, whatever happens.” You have to exercise...

I am associated and connected to Sri Sri since 12 years now. Since then I have been hearing from all the teachers, devotees and the Master himself – “Do My work and I will do your work.” But I never had this experience all these years and I really did doubt it. I have been travelling for Satsangs and Courses to nearby places while also looking after my business (Manufacturing Paints). Whenever I was out of my factory, there used to be some or the other problem that worried me. I once spoke to Gurudev in Teacher’s Refresher Meet about it, and He asked me to chant ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and do Ganesh Aradhana (chanting for good luck) . Although I started doing that, the problem still continued and I started doubting more. I was also going through lot of problems in my business and even on the personal front. Due to this I was continuously e-mailing Guruji about the issues but didn’t get any reply. This went on for 2 years. In between, I had recorded my album and had met Guruji t...

My Art Of Living journey began when I was a 7-8 year old kid, and did the Art Excel course. Thereafter, at the age of 14, I did the YES! course, following which, I did not miss the Kriya even for a single day in four years, until one day, when I felt a sudden, gripping pain in my stomach, and within minutes it grew so bad that I couldn’t even move my legs. And before anybody could understand anything, I started vomiting blood. I was rushed to the Doctor and was diagnosed with cancer of the ovary of second stage. The tumour had burst, leading to extreme bleeding. All this happened just a day before I was to appear for an exam, that too of a very difficult subject. Moreover, the doctors said that the only cure was to remove my ovaries. We were shocked!! I was unmarried and was only 22. It meant that it would ruin my future!! I was in a state of severe depression. Somehow, the doctors gave me an injection and a temporary medication which would enable me to give my exam the ne...

It all started about two months back, when my dad, who is a Bank manager posted in Bihar (India) and got stuck in a false litigation case. My dad is a very timid, nice hearted, and soft spoken person. Someone filing a false FIR against him, that too when only a 3 year tenure was left for his retirement, took him into a state of grave panic & sorrow. Every time I would call him, he would be just so sad and surrounded by negativity, that my support would only be like a stream of words that flow in from one ear and flow out from the other. Every time I spoke to him, I would get even more helpless and at the same time, thoughtful, as to what could I do from here (My bread and butter is in Mumbai) to improve the situation. I prayed a lot to Guruji to help me out. One Sunday morning, I gave a routine call to my family, to know if the new day had brought along with it some good news, but to my displeasure, my dad was almost in tears, and for me, this was the peak of my plight...

We all know that meeting Guruji is a great task and definitely an opportunity that we all seek. But He has his own ways. With a magician like him around, miracles are sure to happen and mine too was one such miracle. Meeting my life partner is only Guru’s grace. Ram is a wonderful person but I had made up my mind that I was going to do whatever Guruji said. As I was coming back with Guruji from Amritsar to Delhi in the same flight, I was sure that I would get a good chance to talk to Him. There would be less number of people on board and all would be well behaved and would not mob him. Getting a chance to speak with Guruji, I immediately asked Him whether I should get married. He replied saying “Yes Of course”. I told Guruji that He would have to meet the boy and take his interview. All along, my mind wondered how that would be possible. I also told Guruji my problems and setup. He yet told me to go ahead. Once again I repeated that I would do so only if Guruji met him and...

In the year 2009, I read about Art of Living and finally got a chance to take up Part 1 course in April 2012. Since Sri Sri has walked into my life, miracles have happened in so many ways. I have no words to express my gratitude to him.   In March 2013, during Shivaratri (festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva) I took up a Sankalpa (intention) and the biggest miracle then happened to my mother. My mother is from Pontianak, Indonesia. She met my father in the 70’s and and they reside in Malaysia. 40 years have passed since my mother last saw her family, she couldn’t go back to her homeland due to financial constraint and also transportation was not as advanced during those days. Her eldest brother visited her 3 times in those days but after we shifted to a new place we had lost contact with them. My mother helps in volunteering at a local Buddhist association. One day her fellow volunteer friends decided to organize a leisure trip to Pontianak, Indonesia. I had...

It has been quite a while since I’ve been wanting to write about my experiences with Art of Living and having Sri Sri as a Guru. I keep reading other stories and while it fills my heart with immense joy, I kept waiting for the perfect miracle to happen to me, so I could also one day share my experience, my Guru story.   Let me start from the beginning. I did my first course in October 2009. I am an only child so when I was younger, I was pretty shy and had trouble making friends and opening up to new people. Somewhere in my mind, I thought I was lonely, and I wasn’t truly happy. However, I always wanted to change this feeling. I had attended an Art of Living satsang and was mesmerized when I saw just how blissful and happy all the people there were. I did not fully understand the reason for this and was curious to know their secret. I always thought, though, that AOL courses only took place in the Bangalore Ashram so I gave up hope. Luckily, a friend informed me of a course taki...

This is not a very recent experience but it’s my favorite Guru Story so thought to share it. One fortunate day, I rushed from the office to the airport to see off Guruji but he had already entered the gate when I reached so I just leaned on the glass wall waiting for his last glimpse.   I could already feel his presence so strong and intense and as I stopped to look at him, he turned & waved at me and the time froze there and then. I knew that he turned just for me and he started walking, I walked with him. After a few steps, he turned again and to my surprise, he moved towards the exit door and came out. He came out for me, that’s all I know and we walked amidst others. I wasn’t walking just next to Guruji but I could see him all the time and keenly observing him throughout. Guruji looked towards me, pampered me and patted my cheeks. The moment froze and I couldn’t believe all of it while the rest is inexpressible. The way Guruji loves me, only he can do that as he has acce...

Being happy or sad, gloomy or excited, moody or stable… are options that are presented to you every morning. You just have to make the right choice. 

🌷 Katho Upanishad 🌷               Chapter 4           Beyond the layers of existence     🌻Day 38 🌻 विज्ञानसारथिर्यस्तु मनः प्रग्रहवान्नरः । सोऽध्वनः पारमप्नोति तद्विष्णो परमं पदम् ॥ With that scientific temper and subtlety of feeling, one attains that abode of Vishnu! Question: When you die will you recognize your friends and everybody? Sri Sri : Yes, when you die , the first person you meet is your Guru. Then you meet your mother, ancestors, father, and grandparents. They all shake your hands and welcome you. Question: why does the divine split itself into so many forms, make all this drama, and one day go back to its original form? Sri Sri : it does, by its own grace. It blesses “Ok, you are gasping for breath. You legs are tired, arms are tired. You have swam enough. Your skin is getting soggy.” Doesn’t your skin get soggy when you are in the water too long? Then you say, “Enough is Enough”, take a ...

One story while I was in Mongolia with Guruji. This was on Sept 9th(about a month and half ago). After the final session of Vignan Bhairav knowledge session in Ulaan Bataar (was attended by about 2500 Mongolians) they all rushed to the stage and giving flowers etc to Guruji.   It was too overwhelming to see their devotion for Guruji. I was on the stage collecting items from Guruji as He received them. At the end a famous Mongolian singer came and met Guruji and said he wanted to sing for Guruji. Guruji asked him to come to the hotel to sing. The singer came to Guruji's room. I was there with Guruji. He sang one song. It was very melodious. Guruji asked the Mongolians present there to translate. There were couple of Mongolian Art of Living teachers there who knew English but were having difficulty translating. Then Guruji starts off translating what he sang. The Mongolians go yes, yes. that is the meaning. Guruji coolly said, what to do, there are no translators. Then Guruji aske...

Amazing Guru Story by Beatriz on what Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji has done in early 2000s ‘Once, in 2005 or 2007, a small group including me, were travelling with Gurudev in Kenya. We had flown to show him the wild animals in the jungle. He was in a car ahead of us. Driving at a slow pace behind him, what we saw was quite mesmerizing. A pack of lions surrounded his car and were walking around it. Just like your pet dogs and cats welcome you when you come home, the lions were walking around his car as if they were his pets. They hardly came near us; they were with him, surrounding him and walking with his car. It was quite a sight. Even the wild animals took to him like he was their master and friend.’ “Soon after the jungle tour,” she continues, talking with her bright eyes, “Gurudev said that we will meditate in the wild. It was evening, and we went to this watch tower, where we would see the hippos come out of the river. We sat on the deck of the tower and he said tha...

When I started the part 1 course, my main purpose was weight loss but I got much more than that. From my 1st day to the 6th day- I was washed every minute. My love and compassion for my Guru was so deep that I wanted to spread the awareness all around, so I immediately became a volunteer and started organizing courses for my teacher- Dinesh Bhojwani.   Many miracles were seen in my day-to-day life as he made me realize his presence in every passing day. I use to talk to him every day, bothering him, kept asking him questions till I got the answer and I always did at its right time. One of the miracles that shook me was when one of my friends wanted to take our friendship to the next level. I had lost all contact with him for nearly two years because of his wrong intentions- and I kept asking Guruji why now? Why again? As taught by Guruji people change, so I dint know had it or not for him. I told Guruji, take 15 days and please solve this for me- LET THE RIGHT THING HAPPEN FOR B...

I don't know how to show my gratitude to Gurudev for all the blessings He has poured on me and my family. This is one of the most wonderful incident that I want to share with you all. It was 28 th of April 2016. Morning when I woke up I could not move my left hand and left foot The left side was paralyzed (I knew it only later). Till the previous night I was normal, did all the work and also finished 90 percent of the packing to go to Ashram to attend the AMP for teachers from 1st May. But now all of a sudden I am unable to move. Quickly my husband and daughter took me to the nearby hospital and immediately medical help was given, starting from MRI scan which showed a clot in my brain and doctors had to decide on the line of treatment. Waking up by 6 and finding myself in the ICU in an hour - I could not comprehend anything nor accept the situation and was resisting everything that was being done by the nurse staff. Suddenly after a few minutes of resistance it dawne...

I did my first Art of Living course in 2010. I want to share a story that shook me from inside and instilled my faith in Gurudev. I am currently pursuing a Masters Degree at a reputed university in United States. During my previous semester, I had taken a course under a very challenging professor.  He was a scholar and expected his students to perform at par with him. I soon started to regret taking his course.  I was performing very badly in his assignments. Despite working hard consistently, I almost failed the first mid-term exam. I was frightened at the possibility of failing the entire course as it was a mandatory requirement for graduation.  Everyday, I prayed to Gurudev to help me clear this course. On the day of my final exam, I was terrified. My hands were trembling out of fear.  My fellow classmates were equally tensed. I decided to completely surrender to Gurudev and wrote the exam. After a few days, the exam results were declared. Out of the t...

Here's one of my dearest stories! Eversince I heard experiences from people who did an advance course (Advance Meditation Program ('AMP')Art of Silence course at Triveni Ashram in Dec 2019 wherein Gurudev met everyone and conducted some sessions, I had been really very jealous and was super desperate to experience Gurudev's session at AMP. Soon after this, an AMP got announced at Vasad Ashram, new year special where Gurudev was going to come for a session too...in first week of Jan... Gurudev was going to be in Germany and then in Gujarat...I immediately took the first step of enrolling and little did I know, it was just beginning of enhancing my longing to meet Him. Things weren't working out well at office and I couldn't seek leave for the course and told Gurudev, even if you come, how will I speak to my senior for leave since my senior got an idea of my resignation thoughts. Well, Gurudev extended His stay in Germany and couldn't come to Vasad...

Chapter 1 - A Bridge To The Divine  Day 4 It cannot be an object of desire. When the desires cease, then love can be felt, experienced. Don’t make love an object of desire. Desire means what?  Not now, not this, something in the future. Desire simply means, ‘not now, not this-that and then’. Desire causes such feverishness, love is such a cooling impact, don't make love an object of desire, the goal of your desire.  When the desires calm down, you realise that love is right here-Now. That is why Buddha said that desires are the cause of sorrow and misery. Love is the goal of all desires and when you cannot have, when you cannot experience or achieve that love, then hatred and anger come.  The desire for love brings all other imperfections, for e.g. frustration. Whether fulfilled or unfulfilled, desire brings frustration. This is the nature of desire. Love cannot be achieved by just desiring it because it is the cessation of desire.  It is the source ...

Chapter 1 - A Bridge To The Divine Day 3 The Rishi addresses all the 3 levels. Emotionally you get intoxicated, intellectually you are wonder-stuck and you repose in the self. The 3 layers of our existence are the spirit (self), the mind (intellect) and the emotions.  How does love have such a profound impact on all three layers? Cravings, desires and aversions arise in the heart. Curiosity, inquisitiveness, enquiry are in the intellect.  Joy comes out of intoxication. That is why many people get into intoxication or curiosity when they read all sorts of magazines or watch television.  Everything is for the intellect-to calm it down and satisfy the urge of the intellect to know. There is nothing so wonderful, so awesome, as this deep devotion.  Is this just an emotional exercise or will it take us further towards the ultimate reality, the truth to Self realisation? The Rishi says, “It takes you to the Self. Such is the glory of Bhakti.  Knowing which...

Chapter 1 - A Bridge To The Divine Day 2 It is immortal, undying, because it is unconditional, it is not attached to some strings. When you love somebody, you don't care what they do with you, how they behave with you. You simply love them.  Even in the case of the child and the mother, you have had many such examples where the children are not so kind, but the mother is always kind. You know, I heard about an instance in a train at a railway station, where a son had an argument with the mother, an elderly lady, and he really beat her up.  She was all bruised, but when the police came to catch the son, she said, “No no, don’t do anything to my son.” She prevents the police from taking action on her son, who has been very brutal.  Getting angry she says, “Never mind, he’s my son.” The police is trying to discipline her son, but she doesn’t want that to happen. Love is unconditional. Such unconditional love is amrit swarupa-undying, immortal, it makes you immort...

I did the Art of Silence Course (19 to 22nd March, 2015) with the absolutely brilliant and awesome teacher Percyji. The course was simply liberating, as everyone already knows. What I am about to share here is the Nature Walk exercise. On the second day of the course, we were asked to go and enjoy the beauties of Mother Nature for an hour. Just outside the course venue (Sanyaas Ashram, Ghatkopar, Mumbai), there is a small lane where 4-Wheelers are often parked on both sides.  There must have been a 4-wheeler parked the previous day as well, because I had failed to notice the usually noticeable few potted plants bang opposite the course venue's gates, on the sidewalk. My eyes noticed these plants and the poor state they were in. It so happened that there was a construction site just behind these plants and the site spewed cement and asbestos and what not into the air and this dust had formed a thick layer on top of these plants leaves and pots. Now,cement absorbs water ...

Basil   Botanical Name(s): Ocimum Sanctum Family Name: Lamiaceae Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Ocimum Species: O. basilicum Popular Name(s): Basil, Common Basil, French Basil, Garden Basil, Sacred Basil, Holy Basil, Tulsi, Royal Herb, Luole, Sweet Basil. Parts Used: Leaves, Seeds. Habitat: Found throughout India Description The term ‘basil’ has been derived from a Greek word ‘basileus’, which means ‘king’. It is a tender, low-growing herb that reaches a height of 1 to 2 feet. The stem of the plant bears many leaves, having a characteristic purple hue or coloration. The flowers are peculiar, in having two lips. The flower color can vary from pure white to pure red, with a slight purple tinge in some flowers. Basil is native to India, Iran and other tropical regions of Asia and has been grown there for more than 5,000 years. It is now cultivated throughout the world, as a flavoring herb in many cuisi...

Sanjeevi Mooligai in Siddha Maruthuvam  Mooligai maruthuvam in Tamil nadu is a very popular disease treatment method with out any side effects. Sanjeevi Mooligai is a type of Nalam tharum mooligai kayakalpa medicine used to treat many incurable diseases. It stands first in the list of mooligai Ulagam. Sanjeevi Mooligai Siddha Maruthuvam gives treatment to all types of demonological, bone and muscular diseases. It gives strength to the brain nerves and protects the brain from danger. It prevents unnecessary tension and stress, improves blood circulation and digestion. Sanjeevi Mooligai Tips It is denoted in Mooligai books that Sanjeevi Mooligai has great powder to absorb more carbon dioxide and release the life gas oxygen. When in contact with the miraculous mooligai leaves all the poisonous germs are killed immediately. If you smell the pleasant odor of Sanjeevi, the cold and cough never attack you. It is one of the best Siddha Maruthuvamto treat the life threatening ...