Tera May 2011

We had a lovely time with kids at a home in Pune yesterday. We celebrated Guruji's BDay a day late but with the same fervour, love, masti and joy ! This has become an annual event for us now along with other festivities such as Diwali and Guru Poornima.

We started with bhastrika and Ram Dhyaan and 130 kids meditated with pin-drop silence. Then the kids put up a bhajan performance followed by a  lovely dance performance - something they had been rehearsing for many weeks now !  Then we distributed certificates for participants of a vocational trg course our seva team had sponsored. Then satsang started  :)

The kids sang and danced with unadulterated joy as volunteers joined them. Finally we all had prasad together.  Finally a child came up with a card (in photo above) that he had made for Guruji. He had been working on it for 4 days !

Everyone left with their heads empty, hearts full and hands, having been an instrument in bringing Guruji's grace to the kids.

Just one request Guruji : Keep us all in your service forever !

Jai Guru Dev,

Computer Trg Center - Seva Project

After 2 months of work, it all finally shaped up the way we wanted. Endless phone calls and emails, visits to various prospective donors, amazing experiences of grace, a couple of delays - HE finally pulled it off.

A beautiful Guru Puja, satsang preceded the inauguration and prasad was distributed afterwards.

A 10-computer training centre at a children's home in Pune with a lot of help from individuals and the industry. The seva team will start training courses for the children very soon.

UPDATE : Write up by Sakaal Times.

Jai Guru Dev,

Happy Diwali !

As has become our annual tradition, we celebrated Diwali this year with children from a remand home in Pune. They danced - we clapped , we sang - they danced - we had sweets together - everyone was in deep bliss and in gratitude to Guruji for this wonderful path, techniques and knowledge that can touch the soul of a king and an orphan equally.

Wish you all a blissful, knowledge filled, satsang filled, love filled, joyous Diwali 2010 !

Jai Guru Dev,

Guru Poornima 2010

Guru Poornima was a serene and blissful one this year unlike the last 3 ones filled with angst and pain at not being able to spend it with Guruji.

We had a beautiful Guru Puja, rocking satsang and a feast a day earlier i.e. Sat in order to allow for folks to enjoy the main Pune satsang on Sunday.

For many of us remand home volunteers however, it was a different affair - our first Guru Puja at the remand home followed by a serene satsang, distribution of certificates to kids who had completed various vocational training courses sponsored by AOL volunteers and finally a sneha bhojan with the kids. I can't post pictures due to sensitive reasons, but the above one with decorations was snapped by a volunteer using his camera.

Seva is Divine !

Jai Guru Dev,

Tera Main 2010

We had a wonderful time celebrating Guruji's Bday with kids at the Remand Home in Pune where a large seva group works consistently to bring peace and opportunity through Guruji's grace. Nothing was more fulfilling for the volunteers than celebrating the glorious occasion of HIS Birthday with the underprivileged (could they still lack privilege with HIS presence ?) kids.

Dance, music performances by the kids, a lovely rocking satsang, aarti to Guruji's photo, cutting Guruji's cake, distributing snacks to the kids...all made for a perfect evening !

Jai Guru Dev,

Jaago Re India

As you all know Guruji has asked everyone to come out and vote this year and inspire at least 10 others to vote. The Pune satsangs have been organizing a "Parivartan Padayatra". As part of this campaign, many AOL volunteers have been standing at traffic intersections, malls, under flyovers holding banners that say the Hindi/Marathi/English equivalent of "Wake Up and VOTE".

Picture of one of our volunteers standing under the University Flyover.

Yesterday was my first time. I started out with trepidation in my heart. Stand in public in front of hundreds that would drive past and smirk and smile derisively ? What if someone I know or knows my family sees me ? Blah Blah......

Turns out I was dead wrong. Little did I know I was in for an evening of fun and adulation. As I stood under the university flyover with a banner that read "Utho Jaago - Vote Karo", heart in a flutter, arms aching, eyes trying to avoid the direct gaze of commuters that whizzed by in bikes, auto rickshaws and cars, I became a witness to the mood of a microcosm of India today.

People - young and old alike - whizzed by with thumbs raised and a broad smile on their faces. One guy even whooped as he whizzed by :) An MBA student from Pune University stopped by to talk about who we were and what we were doing and why. When I said we were AOL volunteers, he was even more impressed.

Then it happened - my 2 minutes of fame :)

A group of youngsters in a car actually STOPPED in the middle of the traffic junction (youngistan - you have guts I'll say) , yelled out at me and - took a picture of me with the banner. Then yelling out "We will vote", they whizzed away ! LOL !

Ah - My Dear Aching Arms - This was so worth it :) :)

This is such an easy and fun seva. If in India, you should do it too. Its so important for us to take responsibility. Many drops make a mighty ocean.

And seriously - as Mahatma Gandhi said : Be The Change You Wish To See In This World ! As someone remarked in satsang yesterday, unless the educated middle classes make the politicians realize that their vote matters too, there is no way they will take their job seriously. And this change will only happen when India's vast middle classes go out and VOTE in large numbers. Until then votes will be bought by money/liquor/coercion/bogus voting.

So whether you are a member of Youngistan, Middle-Ageistan or Senioristan, come Your Voting Date, PLEASE COME OUT AND VOTE !!! And between now and then, please inspire others to do so too .

Guruji's article in the Times Of India Speaking Tree

Sri Sri Urges People To Vote

Guruji talks about the upcoming elections in this video .



Jai Guru Dev

Silence

My third visit to the remand home. This time it was different for a variety of reasons : more volunteers to control the kids, a warden to help us out - things flowed more smoothly. However I saw and learnt something this time that taught me to revere even more this precious knowledge I have and make me more committed to sharing it with others.

I was trying to gather a group of reluctant kids who refused to participate in the meditation and get them to join the rest of us. Among them sat this lean lanky kid who absolutely refused. I was intrigued and told him "Aao Aao bas kuch minton ke liye" (Come on it'll just be a few minutes). The other kids laughed and said "Ise kuch samajhta nahin" (He does not understand anything). The kid looked at me and gestured that he did not want to come. I thought he was being particularly difficult and was mocking me as some kids there do.

Then it struck me - He was mute.

I gestured to him to join the meditation and he agreed. Ah - i was finally talking his language - the language of silence. As the group sat down and closed their eyes, and the meditation started,I realized something else was going on. This kid was the butt of others ridicule. He was being pushed and prodded by others, some kids sat in front of him and imitated him. Small wonder he did not want to participate.

With the help of another volunteer I seperated him from the rest of the group. He finally settled down and closed his eyes. It was so touching - he could not chant "Ram Ram", but his eyes were closed throughout the meditation. Then he lay down. As the satsang started, he kept his eyes closed and began to clap. Even though he could not sing, he was totally immersed in the bhajans.

It was a touching experience for me as I realized how fortunate I was. Just having a place and environment to meditate is something to be so grateful for. I realized I had more than I actually deserved and comparing myself to people who have more would not get me anywhere. As a volunteer I realized I have to be more resourceful and tuned into the seva to be able to realize what is actually going on and how I can help.

Each time I go to the remand home, I learn something new - not just a new skill - but gain a new insight into life itself. Thanks Guruji for showing me the light !

Jai Guru Dev,

For a Few

I accompanied E again to the remand home about a week ago and it was another amazing tryst with the lives of some young souls in search of peace. As we arrived, a bunch of kids ran up and said "Not today please...we want to play...these folks never let us play". Seeing us come, the warden rounded them all up and sent them to the hall that serves as their sleeping quarters, TV room, and meditation hall. As we entered, a few kids ran up and wanted to be picked up and hugged. Seeing them others ran up and for the first few minutes, all we did was to hug them and smile at them. Ah...all the world wants is love and how many are out there just looking for a kind smile and some affection !!

This time despite having another volunteer ,M help out with controlling the kids, things were pretty chaotic. The warden was busy helping another kriya session that was on below that involved convicted criminals and could not help us out. The result - CHAOS. Kids disturbing each other, refusing to co-operate, nudging each other, shouting out loud. I have to admire E's poise as she led them through the bhastrika, OM and Ram Meditation. M and I ran about trying to get them to sit up, close their eyes and stop troubling each other. As it got done, we were in despair.

Then a serene E pointed out to 2 kids sitting up front. Among 80 kids who were creating a ruckus after the meditation was over, 2 sat still in padmasana, their eyes shut, completely oblivious of the chaos around them. So beautiful..........

Just as I was to conclude that this session had not been a success, more touching events were to unfold. One kid walked up and took Guruji's picture and put it into his pocket. Another one took me aside and told me in real earnest "Can you please bring Sri Sri Ravishankar here next Monday". I told him to pray each night for Guruji to come, but he was not satisfied :). As I turned to leave, 2 more kids ran up, said Jai Gurudev, suddenly touched my feet and ran away. I thought of Guruji and asked Him to bless them...I felt an immense gratitude that moment - Guruji all this respect - do I deserve it ?

As we left, E remarked : Bas un dono ke liya hua aaj ka session". (Today's session happened just for those two). All the drama just to reach out to those who are ready. Wow Guruji, Amazing are your ways.....

Jai Guru Dev,

A Visit to a Remand Home

Last week, E called and asked me to accompany her to a NCS (Nav Chetna Shibir) follow up at a remand home (juvenile home). A few seva warriors who conducted a NCS camp there some time ago, go there every day to conduct a meditation for the kids interned there.

I was totally reluctant given my own woes but was fortunate to remember what Guruji says "Give the Divine your most precious time". Also trying to look at family members for excuses did not work - they all said GO.

OK I said - Guruji this time is yours and off I went.

Walking into the center was an experience itself. E said "We are from Art Of Living" and we were greeted with "aaiye" / "haan haan aap jaa sakte hain" ( Please come / You may go on). Speaks volumes for the kind of respect the work of Art Of Living had generated at this place.

Walking up to the hall was gut wrenching. Young kids, mostly less than 10 years of age were lined up on the staircase. E told me that they had either committed crimes and were too young to be jailed or were put here since both their parents were in jail and there was no one to take care of them. Swallowing this bit of reality I entered the hall.

At the far corner a large group of kids sat - their eyes glued to a television set. Upon seeing us a few kids ran up and greeted us. As an official set up the mic and speakers, one of them espied my helmet. With great fascination he put it on. That attracted the attention of a whole bunch of kids who ran up and took turns putting it on. I began to feel connected to them.

It was time to start. Most kids sat down but a few started creating a ruckus. E asked me to call their "sir", a burly looking man with a stick, whose very look scared the jeepers out of these little ones. They all settled down and E started bhastrika. I was tasked with making sure the kids closed their eyes. In the next few minutes I was witness to so many facets of life. It was a touching and moving experience.

Some closed their eyes tight and followed the instructions. Some merely ignored the process. Others did bhastrika with their eyes open and I went around gently asking them to close their eyes. Some complied, some ignored me, others stared back coldly. Some "little krishnas" were full of masti. They were deliberately making funny sounds to disturb the others :)

For me playing "cop" was quite an exercise (pun intended).

As the bhastrika ended, more eyes were closed and they all chanted OM. Finally as the meditation started, many settled down. It was a touching sight to behold. Some faces peaceful, some contorted, some disturbed, others disinterested, some angry, some confused, some curious, some playful - all striving for the same peace they had been denied at this tender age.

Then satsang started. I mean WOW....7 1/2 years in Art Of Living ....my most fun satsang. Kids singing along to Achutam Keshavam, standing up and dancing, asking for the mic, correcting E when she said "sote nahin" instead of "khate nahin".....man it was fun. I danced with gay abandon too...mind you this comes from someone with 2 left feet who would not dance if his life depended upon it.



E then asked them to keep faith and told them that they needed to study and listen to elders if they wanted to get ahead in life. She reminded them that Guruji was there for them. It was time to leave. We said our goodbyes saying we would be back next week.

Guruji says that seva is its own reward. That beautiful feeling of love, bliss and gratitude that I was floating in was a stark reminder that life is not always painful, that there are others who have nothing and that if I accept and move through life, giving the highest priority to seva, sadhana, satsang and the pursuit of truth, no sorrow can overcome me.

Deep down a prayer went out for all these kids. Happy that through their troubled times, they had the company of the knowledge and the blessings of a Guru. A reaffirmation that "Having a Guru does NOT mean there will be no storms, just that the boat will NOT sink"

For the next few hours, there was no pain - just bliss.

I pray I can go back there often.

Jai Guru Dev,

Mission Green Earth Pune - August 3rd 2008

Another day in paradise - or rather baby steps in trying to make one .


Art Of Living Pune and the Bomb Disposal Co at Pune collaborated in yet another leg of the Mission Green Earth tree plantation drive. We arrived there at 11:00 am ish. right after Long Kriya. The commandant of the unit welcomed us into his office where we all congregated before setting off to the vast sylvan expanses of the army estate to plant trees. As N said, this is already a green campus - we're here to make it even more green .




It was pretty amazing to see the kind of arrangements the commandant and his unit had made for us. Pits had been dug, saplings were neatly set bedside the pits. Both the commandant and his men accompanied us on foot for the entire three hours that we would be there, dirtying their hands along with us, planting saplings, digging pits, collecting plastic bags and garbage. Truly a lesson in leadership - by example !




All age groups of AOLites were represented, the youngest to the senior most. A common running thread was the smiles, a strong sense of camaraderie and bonding ever growing as the morning progressed .



I ran into little S who told me she had done - 8 Art Excel courses - that's right 8 ! Considering my recent woeful record in doing courses, I momentarily wished I had never asked :). And she wants to join the army when she grows up ! Its little ones like her who are truly going to make a difference in tomorrow's world.

As the morning ended, it was time to stop and take stock of what had been achieved. 300 - no less - trees had been planted by this wonderful group ably assisted by the commandant and his staff. It was a pleasure working with the folks that guard our borders - seeing their commitment to making this planet a beautiful place was heart warming.

We ended the plantation with a impromptu bhajan !!! The commandant sang along with us. With a song on my lips, bliss in my heart, rain drops on my head I started back home.

Once again I had the experience of pure joy - one that only seems to come up after an act of seva.

300 done, thousands more to go. Will you be part of the bliss ?

MAKE PUNE GREEN ! PLANT A TREE TODAY !

Jai Guru Dev,