Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Miracles are a way of life when you are with the Master. On our flight from Bangalore to Germany  Suddenly the aircraft took a long deroute of over 40 minutes, making us wonder why? Gurudev was in deep mediation at that time, but suddenly He got up and went straight to the cockpit (by requesting the crew). The pilot informed Gurudev that the GPS signal was lost and it was showing wrong directions. Infact, the GPS system was hacked and the airplane was being directed towards the Russia Ukraine war zone.  They were doing their best to figure out some solution and were also in touch with other airlines. Gurudev asked them to show the screen of the GPS and the moment Gurudev saw the screen it started aligning. Taking our aircraft back on our route. In the images shared one can clearly see the de route taken by the aircraft.  We realised we are all safe in the hands of our beloved Master.   Guru Grace Gracefully experienced  *Alka Vishwas Mulk...

Many devotees were waiting in a que outside the hotel waiting for Gurudev's Darshan as He returns from COP28 session. Looking at the queue, an Iranian man passing by (also staying in the same hotel), asked a devotee: "is there a wedding happening?" Devotee replied: "No, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is coming" He walked ahead saying "Oh, alright" then saw some devotees ahead in the same line wearing t-shirts promoting the 8th Dec event with a big photo of Gurudev.  He stopped and asked "who is He?"  Devotee: "there's a grand meditation event happening with Gurudev, you have to come, our motto is One world one family" Man: "wow can I take picture?", He was in hurry to go somewhere else urgently but still he just stood there and joined the darshan line and started saying "this was the worst & most stressful day of my life, (tears started rolling down his eyes) I was searching for a window, if there wa...

Key message points, from *Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar* at the Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai. 8th Dec 2023. There is more and enough negativity in the world. Don't add fuel into the negativity. We should not shy away from negativity and stay isolated. Be like a doctor. He stays in midst people who are sick but doesn't get sick. It is easy to label people that they are negative and stay in isolation. That shouldn't happen. Let's go in midst of people who are not keeping well, depressed or negative and not get affected by it at the same time. Send positive message in social media. Sending negativity it is not going to help you or anybody. Generally we talk about our problems to everybody. We eternalize and generalize our problems. ( Everybody is like that.. I always makes mistakes etc. ) Practical steps 1. Spread positive message 2. Stop eternalize problems 3. When someone is not happy, it with a long face. Dont just walk past. Stop. Take couple of minutes to tal...

Weekly Knowledge 237 Bad Antogast 20 Jan 2000  Germany   EVOLUTION: NOT PART OF THE SELF Are you evolving? If you are evolving, you are not in the Self. And you are not out of the Self, because nothing can exist out of the Self. (Laughter) Broadly they can be put in these 5 catagories. There are six distortions that do not exist in the Self. 1. Expansion -- Prasarana. Expansion indicates there is already something into which something expands. That which expands cannot be the basis for expansion. 2. Contraction -- Akunchana. Contraction means something shrinks from something else. Self does not withdraw or shrink from anything, so contraction does not exist in the Self. 3. Evolution -- Vriddhi. Evolution is becoming something which it is not already. Self is the same, so it cannot evolve. 4. Decay -- Kshaya. There is no devolution or decay in the Self. It doesn't get old or stale. That's why, when you are close to your Self, you don't feel that you are aging. 5....

Weekly Knowledge 238 Dallas, Texas 27 Jan 2000  USA VARIETIES OF SPIRIT Why should you think God is only one? Why can't He also be many? If He has made man in His own image, what image is He? An African, a Mongolian, a Caucasian, a Japanese, a Filipino? Why are there so many types of man, and so many varieties of things? There is not just one type of tree, not just one type of snake, cloud, mosquito or vegetable - there is not just one type of anything, so why should God be only one? How could this consciousness that manifested this whole creation and loves variety, be monotonous? God seems to love different varieties. He must be of infinite variety Himself. God can manifest in many names, forms and varieties. Some schools of thought may not give God the freedom to appear in His many forms. They want Him in one uniform! You change your appearance to suit the occasion. When such is the case, how could you think there is no variety in the Spirit. The ancient people knew t...

Weekly Knowledge 239 Oslo 03 Feb 2000  Norway PROBLEM Guruji says: There is no problem that cannot be solved!!! Someone says: I have a few I can give you. (Laughter) Guruji says: When you have a problem and you think it cannot be solved, then you have accepted it then it is no longer a problem; it is a fact. For example: Suppose you think it is a problem that the ocean in Norway is too cold. Obviously, you cannot heat the ocean. If it cannot be solved, you accept it and it's no longer a problem. Only when you are searching for a solution is there a problem and so there is no problem that cannot be solved. (Laughter) The moment you realize there is no solution, a problem ceases to be a problem. The solution is the tail of every problem. Solutions come to you when :- You are calm and collected  You use intelligence You are not lethargic but active  You have strong faith in Divine law Kai says: If you don't want any problems, you can have a Guru. Sheila says: If ...

Weekly Knowledge 240 Bangalore Ashram 10 Feb 2000 India Worship Do not worship or idolize worship. Idolizing without a sense of belongingness is always futile. Such worship only causes fear and distance. And there are others who are paranoid about worship. They get irritated by seeing others worshipping. The modes of worship or idolizing may be different in different parts of the world. Some worship the pope ; others worship the pop stars. Some are crazy about the politicians. Look at all the children. They worship their heroes all over the walls. Just adoration makes you a fan. Having a sense of belongingness and seeing the Divinity in those whom you adore, makes you a saint. Raghu: You mean we can see Divinity in a pop star or politician. Guruji: If You can;..A Divinity that is distorted ( laughter) Those who worship without a sense of belongingness and those who are against worship are in the same boat as both are clogged with fear. In the Bible, it says, " I am yo...

Weekly Knowledge 241 Bangalore Ashram 17 Feb 2000  India FEEL THE PINCH A devotee asked Guruji: Please forgive me if I have committed a mistake. Sri Sri: Why should you be forgiven? You are asking for forgiveness because you feel a pinch and you want to be free from it, isn't it? Let the pinch be there. The pinch will not let the mistake happen again. Forgiveness removes the pinch and you keep repeating the mistake! Question: How do you know a mistake is a mistake? Sri Sri: A mistake is something that gives you a pinch. If it hasn't pinched you, it is not a mistake at all. It is the pinch that irks the consciousness and that pinch disallows the mistake to be repeated. Be with the pinch and not the guilt. It is a very fine balance. Question: What is the difference between guilt and pinch? Sri Sri: Guilt is about a specific action and pinch is about a specific result or happening. You can only feel guilty about what you did and not about what happened. But whatever ha...

Weekly Knowledge 328 Bangalore Ashram 29 Oct 2001 India   Drop Your Intentions   A strong tendency to keep doing something, whether important or unimportant, becomes an impediment to meditation. Doing starts first with an intention and then translates into action. Though intention springs from the Being, when it becomes doing it doesn’t let you settle down. All intentions, good or bad, trivial or important, need to be dropped for meditation to happen.   Vijay: But isn’t dropping all intentions itself an intention?   Sri Sri: Yes, but that intention is the last and necessary intention. Dropping the intentions is not an act – just the intention to drop the intentions itself serves the purpose. Dropping all intentions even for a moment brings you in touch with your Self – that instant meditation happens.   While you sit for meditation you have to let the world be the way it is. The repetition of meditation is to habituate our system to be able to stop a...

Weekly Knowledge 329 Bangalosre Ashram 31 Oct 2001 India Aishwarya and Madhurya In the world, usually where there is Aishwarya (Lordship), there is no Madhurya (Sweetness) and where there is Madhurya, there is no Aishwarya. Where life has blossomed fully, there is both Aishwarya and Madhurya. Aishwarya means Ishwaratva – Lordship of that which IS. Wealth, too, is referred to as Aishwarya because wealth does command a certain amount of authority. Can love and authority co-exist? Only in a fully blossomed Being, there is both Lordship and Sweetness. There was Aishwarya in Sri Rama, but only glimpses of Madhurya. Parshuram’s life shows only Lordship, but no Madhurya. Buddha manifested more of Madhurya – the sweetness, and less of authority. But Krishna manifested both Aishwarya and Madhurya. So did Jesus. There is Lordship when they said, "I am the way!" And there is Sweetness in their expression of Prayer and Love. 🌻Jai Guru Dev🌻  *Hindi translation* साप्ताहिक ज्ञ...

Weekly Knowledge 330 Taipei 09 Nov 2001  Taiwan Volunteer Who is a volunteer? One who comes to help, without being asked to help; one who is self-motivated, inspired, becomes a volunteer. There is the possibility of the inspirational motivation going down in a volunteer, which could bring frustration. Usually volunteers come from the space of demand rather than humility – this dilutes the quality. Another slack that could happen to a volunteer is that they could slip away from commitment, thinking there is no ‘boss’ – "If I like it, I do it; if I don’t like it, I don’t!" It is like the steering wheel of a car – if all the tires say they do not need steering, then the car cannot run smoothly. If you want to construct a building, you have to accept the authority of the structural engineer. All these can only be overcome by being more grounded in spiritual knowledge. A volunteer devoid of spiritual dimension is utterly weak. 1) A volunteer needs to stick to his commi...

Weekly Knowledge 332 Bangalore Ashram 23 Nov 2001 India Seva There are five types of seva. The first type of seva is when you do not even know that you are doing seva. You do not recognize it as seva because it is your very nature - you cannot but do it! The second type of seva is what you do because it is needed in that situation. You do the third type of seva because it gives you joy. The fourth type is done out of your desire for merit - you do seva expecting some benefit in the future. And the fifth type is when you do seva just to show off, to improve your image and to gain social or political recognition. Such seva is simply exhausting, while the first type does not bring any tiredness at all! To improve the quality of your seva, regardless of where you start, you must move up to higher levels of seva. 🌻Jai Guru Dev🌻  *Hindi Translation* साप्ताहिक ज्ञानपत्र ३३२ २३ नवम्बर, २००१ बंगलौर आश्रम, भारत सेवा सेवा पाँच प्रकार होती है। # पहले प्रकार की सेवा वह है जब तुम्ह...

Weekly Knowledge 333 Rishikesh 29 Nov 2001  India Confidence with Humility: The Rarest Combination One of the rarest combinations in the human personality is the co-existence of confidence and humility. Often people who are confident are not humble and people with humility are not confident. Confidence blended with humility is most appreciated by everybody. Question: How can confidence be developed in one who is humble and humility in one who is confident? Sri Sri: When you see your life from a bigger context of time and space, then you realize your life is nothing. When you are humble you need to see that you are unique and dear to the Divine, which brings confidence, and when you realize you are insignificant, that brings confidence. When you have a guru, you cannot be arrogant. Your guru gives you confidence and also brings humility in you. The weakness in humility and the arrogance in confidence are removed. You are left with confidence and humility! 🌻Jai Guru Dev?...

Weekly Knowledge 334 Rishikesh 07 Dec 2001  India Dreaming the Impossible Question: Guruji, how can we control daydreams? Sri Sri: Dream in the night! (laughter) What is daydreaming? You have a desire but you do not have the faith that you can achieve your desire - that is what you call daydreaming. You can control daydreaming by having a strong goal and believing in it. Like the scientist who wanted to go to the moon and kept dreaming about it - for him it was the goal of his life but for others it was daydreaming. Either you drop that it will not happen or you believe! When you do not know yourself, your potentiality, you have no faith and confidence in your dream. Once you have faith and confidence in your dream, it is no longer a daydream! 🌻Jai Guru Dev🌻  *Hindi translation* साप्ताहिक ज्ञानपत्र ३३४ ७ दिसम्बर, २००१ नई दिल्ली, भारत असम्भव का स्वप्न प्रश्न- गुरुजी हम दिन के सपनों पर कैसे नियंत्रण पा सकते है? श्री श्री: रात में स्वप्न देखो। (हंसी) दिवा स्वप...

Weekly Knowledge 335 Bangalore Ashram 16 Dec 2001  India Respect and Ego There are two types of respect. 1. Respect that comes to you because of your position, fame or wealth. This type of respect is impermanent. It can be lost once you lose your wealth or status. 2. Respect that comes because of your virtues like honesty, kindness, commitment, patience and your smile. This respect, no one can take away. The less you are attached to your virtues, the more self respect you have. If you get attached to your virtues, you look down upon everybody else and they (the virtues) start diminishing. Non- attachment to virtues brings the highest self respect. Often one confuses ego with self esteem. Ego needs the other for comparision, self esteem is just confidence in oneself. For example, a gentleman claims that he is thorough in Mathematics or Geography, this is self esteem. But to say that I know better than you, that is Ego. Ego simply means lack of respect to the Self. Ego up...

Weekly Knowledge 337 Bad Antogast 27 Dec 2001  Germany Letting Go of Control Many have a problem of letting go of control. This results in anxiety, restlessness and it sours relationships. Wake up and see, are you really in control? What are you in control of? Perhaps a tiny part of your waking state! Isn’t that so? You are not in control when you are sleeping or dreaming. You are not in control of thoughts and emotions coming to you. You may choose to express it or not, but they come to you without your prior permission! You realize that most of the functions of your body are not in your control, and the same for your life and the whole universe. Similarly, do you think you are in control of all the events in your life or in the world? That is a joke! When you look at things from this angle you need not be afraid of losing control, because you have none! Whether you realise it or not, when you let go of your sense of control that is when you truly relax. Your identific...

Giloy, scientifically known as Tinospora cordifolia (common names gurjo, heart-leaved moonseed or guduchi), possesses various medicinal properties and is often used in different forms, including giloy green tea.  Here are some of its medicinal properties and uses: Immunomodulatory Properties: Giloy is renowned for its ability to modulate the immune system, helping enhance the body's defense mechanisms against infections. Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects: It exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, making it beneficial for conditions involving inflammation. The antioxidant content helps combat oxidative stress in the body. Antipyretic (Fever-Reducing) Properties: Giloy is traditionally used to reduce fever and is considered antipyretic. Arthritis and Joint Health: Due to its anti-inflammatory nature, giloy is often used to alleviate symptoms of arthritis and promote joint health. Respiratory Health: It is used in Ayurvedic medic...

Avocado (Persea americana) has several important uses: Culinary Use: Avocado is primarily used in cooking and is a versatile ingredient. It's often used in salads, sandwiches, guacamole, and as a topping for various dishes. Nutrient-Rich Fruit: Avocado is highly nutritious, rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, vitamins (such as vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin C, and several B vitamins), and minerals (including potassium). Healthy Fats: Avocado is known for its heart-healthy fats, which can help reduce bad cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease. Dietary Fiber: It's a good source of dietary fiber, aiding in digestion and promoting a feeling of fullness. Skin and Hair Care: Avocado oil is used in cosmetics and skincare products for its moisturizing properties. It can also be applied to hair for shine and conditioning. Medical Research: Avocado extracts have been studied for potential health benefits, includ...

Mustard greens (Brassica juncea) are rich in nutrients and offer several health benefits, including: Nutrient-Rich: Mustard greens are packed with vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate. Antioxidant Properties: They contain antioxidants like carotenoids and flavonoids, which can help protect cells from oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Heart Health: Mustard greens are low in calories and high in fiber, which can contribute to heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and improving overall cardiovascular function. Bone Health: Their high vitamin K content is essential for bone health and may reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Anti-Inflammatory: Mustard greens contain compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties, potentially aiding in the prevention of chronic inflammation-related diseases. Cancer Prevention: Some studies suggest that the compounds found in mustard ...

Dendrobium densiflorum, a stunning Himalayan orchid, holds economic importance in horticulture and traditional medicine.  Its ornamental beauty contributes to the floriculture industry, while its use in traditional medicine is associated with potential health benefits. Some claim it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, though more research is needed to validate these health claims. As a valuable species, conservation efforts are essential to sustain its natural habitat and biodiversity. Reference  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100041945233936&mibextid=ZbWKwL Bhutan Flora

Weekly Knowledge 242 Bangalore 24 Feb 2000 India SKILL IN PRAISING Often, when you praise, you praise in comparison to someone else. In order to praise one person, we put down someone else and when we want to point out somebody's mistake we praise another. Some are stingy in praising, and some are shy. And some others are simply not used to. Some praise with motives, and some others just to elevate. Others praise themselves in order to hide their low self-esteem. The real praise dawns in a blossomed state of consciousness. The praise that comes out of an elevated state of consciousness is simply its nature and is quite different. Normally praise comes out of craving and pride. The praise from a heightened consciousness is always out of fulfilment. Praising can no doubt elevate the consciousness and bring enthusiasm and energy. At the same time it can also bring arrogance. Praising is a skill. When someone praises you, do you take it without shying away? Accepting praise...

Weekly Knowledge 244 Rishikesh 09 Mar 2000 India FORM AND FORMLESS, AND AGGRESSION AND INTUITION A: Form and Formless Life is a combination of form and formless. Feelings have no form but their expressions have form. The Self has no form but its abode has form. Similarly, wisdom and grace have no form but are expressed through form. Discarding the formless, you become inert, materialistic and paranoid. Discarding the form, you become a lost ascetic, a space cadet or an emotional junk! B: Aggression and Intuition Aggression and assertiveness overshadow intuition. Often, people who are sensitive tend to become aggressive in order to avoid being hurt. In this process, they lose sight of the fine intuition. Fine intuition needs sensitivity; sensitivity is often painful. In order to avoid pain one becomes aggressive and assertive, and in turn loses one's intuitive ability. Intuition is close to the truth. To be truthful, you don't need to be aggressive and asser...

Weekly Knowledge 247 Delhi 29 Mar 2000  India HOW TO HANDLE FEVERISHNESS When you're in the grip of feverishness about the result of your actions, what do you do? Faith: Have faith and confidence that the result will be much better than you can ever imagine. With faith you can get rid of feverishness of action/achievement. Feverishness can also be a hangover from overactivity. Then sleep, listening to flute music, cold water baths, etc. can help. Dispassion: Know the whole thing will be over one way or the other, and it doesn't matter. Meditation and breathing can calm you down. Drop whatever you are doing and do something completely irrelevant, e.g. while decorating your house, take a moment off to cut grass, or go shopping! When you are doing something very important, take a moment off to do something totally irrelevant and insignificant. This enhances your creativity. Relevant action keeps you bound to the action. Irrelevant action makes life a game! 🌸Jai Guru D...

Weekly Knowledge 249 Bangalore Ashram 13 Apr 2000  India RAM NAVAMI "Ra" in Sanskrit means "That which is Radiant" and "Ma" stands for "Myself". That which shines forth within me, is Rama. That which is radiant in every particle of the Being is Rama. Rama is born to Dasharatha and Kaushalya. Dasharatha (In Sanskrit this means "the ten charioted one") signifies the five organs of sense and the five organs of action. Kaushalya (Sanskrit for "skilled") stands for skill. The skillful reiner of the ten chariots can give birth to Ram. When the ten are used skillfully, radiance is born within. Rama was born in Ayodhya (Sanskrit for "the place where no war can happen"). When there is no conflict in our mind, then the radiance can dawn. Lakshmana, the brother of Rama, was born of Sumitra the good friend. When the ten are cooperating with you then Awareness is born. Often we try to look for radiance within. Just re...

Weekly Knowledge 248 Dharamshala, Himachal 06 Apr 2000 India HOW DOES A DESIRE ARISE? 1. A desire arises with the memory of a pleasant experience and past impressions. 2. A desire might arise through listening. 3. A desire can be triggered through the association of certain people and a place. 4. Someone else's need or desire may manifest in you as your own desire, e.g. when someone is hungry, you get a desire to feed them or someone wants to talk to you and you get a desire to talk to them. 5. The destiny or a happening in which you have a part to play may trigger a desire of which you have no idea. For example, a gentleman in Quebec, Canada kept making roads and working on a farm for 30 years, not knowing for what -- for it was destined to become our Canadian Ashram. 🌸Jai Guru Dev🌸 साप्ताहिक ज्ञानपत्र २४८ ७ अप्रैल, २००० धर्मशाला, भारत इच्छा कैसे पैदा होती है? किसी सुखद अनुभव की स्मृति या पिछले संस्करण के प्रभाव से इच्छा पैदा होती है। कुछ सुनने से भी इच्छा जागृत...

Weekly Knowledge 250 Bangalore Ashram 26 Apr 2000 India A DESIRE KILLS JOY AND ALL DESIRES AIM FOR JOY This couplet needs to be pondered over and over; for a whole lifetime is not sufficient enough to digest this knowledge. Whenever happiness has disappeared from your life, look deeper and you will see it is because of the desire. And all that we desire is happiness! No person, animal or creature desiring unhappiness is ever born, never has it happened before and never will it happen in the future. When your small mind gets tired of running here and there, of wandering everywhere, it reaches a conclusion, "My desires have killed my happiness". Thus a person who has conquered his desires in called "mahavira". 🌸Jai Guru Dev🌸 साप्ताहिक ज्ञानपत्र २५० २७ अप्रैल, २००० भारत इच्छा आन्नद को नष्ट करती है और सभी इच्छाओं का लक्ष्य है आनंद इन पंक्तियों पर बार बार चिंतन करना है- इस ज्ञान को आत्मसात करने के लिए पूरा जीवन भी पर्याप्त नही: इच्छा आनंद को नष्ट करती है औ...

Weekly Knowledge 251 Bangalore Ashram 04 May 2000  India YOU ARE NOTHING! Each experience completes. Completion means leading to void or nothing. In the progression of life, you will leave behind every experience saying, "This is nothing." Anything that is completed loses its importance. That is to say it leads you to void - this is nothing. A sign of intelligence is how soon you arrive at this understanding. Examine everything in life and say "This is nothing" and what remains after all that is Love, and that is everything. When "This is nothing" does not come out of knowledge, it comes out of misery. Either through knowledge or through misery, you come to the point of "This is nothing, this is nothing". The choice is yours. If you got this, it is really NOTHING, If you didn't get this, never mind - this is nothing. (laughter) 🌸Jai Guru Dev🌸 साप्ताहिक ज्ञानपत्र २५१ ४ मई, २००० भारत तुम कुछ भी नही हर अनुभव समाप्त होता है। समाप्त ...