The Hindu : `Art of Living' guru invited to Pakistan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Guntur

`Art of Living' guru invited to Pakistan

By Our Staff Reporter

GUNTUR, JAN. 17. Sri Ravi Shankar, the spiritual guru of `Art of Living', has said that he has received an invitation to conduct the course in Pakistan.

Giving a discourse on `Art of Living' at a well-attended meeting here this evening, he said that as he landed on Guntur, he received a communication that he had an invite from Pakistan to give a discourse there on "yogam, dhyanam, etc''. He said that his receiving an invite from Pakistan could be the greatness of the soil of Guntur. In fact, two teachers, who had learnt the `Art of Living' conducted classes there.

He said when he was taking classes in Srinagar in September, he was asked by the people there as to when peace would descend on the State. He told them that it could be in three months. He said people were apprehensive about it. He, however, went on to say that total peace would come within six months. The goings-on on this front were indicative of what he foresaw.

He told people there to do yoga and meditation so that they could achieve peace. Everyone should know his inner-self and recognise the inherent energy.

Sri Ravi Shankar underscored the need for a positive thinking among all humans to attain happiness. Every one should live in the present moment. "If you observe your mind, either you are angry with the past or anxious about the future. How to keep a smile on your face that nobody can take away?''

Meditation could annul the wants. The essence of life was love and on how much love we had experienced and how much could we give to others,'' he said. The pleasant state of mind was a smile on the face, which was a sign of success.

He said the best way for one to pray god was like a child who didn't have any inhibitions. For a moment, one should let go all his worries and botheration. Every one needed to look at their quality of lives. "By breathing in, you started crying. By breathing out (death), you make others cry. If one cannot do this, his life is purposeless.''

The swamiji conducted an interactive session with participants. The elite of Guntur enjoyed the evening attending the discourse.

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