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Guru of JOY
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When you are free from stress, your perception of life will be different, says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in conversation with MetroPlus
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CALL HIM a guru, a teacher, a spiritual master or what you will. Without doubt he is known globally as one who has initiated people into the Art of Living popular with the young and the old.
There are some votaries who endorse his AOL with zeal while being steeped in it and others who are perhaps trying to figure out the secret of his success. But this guru of joy with a cheerful demeanour (sans a divine aura) holds the torch of spiritual tradition and learning alive.
He is at home equally at a gathering of religious leaders as he is in a World Economic Summit. It is this along with his affability that imparts the magnetic quality in him.
Dressed in pristine white (his dhoti is worn in a very unconventional manner) with his flowing hair and beard, this `young' guru has created a `phenomenal' impact as his AOL has gained momentum and grown in strength.
Gurudev, as he is fondly known, advocates a disease-free body, a quiver-free breath, stress-free mind, inhibition-free intellect, obsession-free memory, an ego that embraces all and a soul that is joyful and sorrow-free. His simple words, songs and satsangs along with the sudarshana kriya endear him to the people.
On a visit to Hyderabad to inaugurate the Vyakti Vikas Kendra (the ashram) at Gandipet, Gurudev participated in satsangs, addressed the Chief Minister and bureaucrats at Jubilee Hall and interacted with many on a personal level too. In this short interview to the Metroplus, Gurudev answered some questions ranging on himself and spirituality in general.
Why are people drawn to you? What is the secret of your charisma?
I have no idea (laughs). Perhaps I am just a child and I refuse to grow up and children are attracted to everybody.
Is there any distinction between being a guru who is a teacher and a spiritual master. Many people think you are both.
I give total freedom to any one to call me whatever they want to.
You are advocating a joyous state of being all the time. How does one bring oneself to experience it?
If not all, at least for some time. It can be experienced with all your efforts - knowledge, education, meditation.
Are you religious? Do you pray everyday?
Yes.We do the rudra abhishek every Monday. We celebrate all the festivals and conduct homams (havans) as well.
This phenomenon of gurus is a dominant trend in today's society. What do you have to say about this, the so-called `cult' culture that is so widespread?
Cult is different. It is exclusion. This word doesn't exist in India. It means you belong only to one and everybody else is an outsider. Spirituality is not a cult at all. It says the whole world is your family.
Every religion could be a cult, but spirituality demolishes the boundaries of cult or religion. Spirituality says all belong to one. Take the example of Mahatma Gandhi. Everybody came to him. Do we ever say Mahatma Gandhi cult or Gandhi Cult? We don't, because it doesn't exclude anybody, it includes everyone. Spirituality includes everyone.
Do you call Guru Nanak a cult? No. Why? Because in Guru Nanak's darbar there were Hindus and Muslims. Where everyone comes together with a universal message of harmony and peace, it cannot be called a cult.
Why are people going to gurus these days? Is it a belief or a need?
Going to a guru is like going to a doctor. Why do we go to a doctor? Why do people go to a teacher? Why do people see a movie? Why do people watch cricket - for entertainment, knowledge and health. They come to a guru for knowledge - as their minds are full of confusion and they want to know something more.
Life is not just eating and sleeping. Books cannot give a sense of belonging, truth of love and experience. Merely by studying books one can't gain experience - interaction with people is necessary. It's quite natural to have a guru.
Every province in India had a saint. When the British came, they did not understand this. They thought all the swamis and gurus were cults - that word doesn't exist here - it means a narrow-minded approach where people don't have freedom.
In Hinduism, there is freedom of expression - there is no ex-communication from Hinduism - it has never done so.
Your sudarshana kriya is known to be a de-stressing technique. Does it bring about a change in people in terms of their perception of life?
When you are free from stress, your perception, observation, expression will be different. When you are stressed, it will be different.
What are the chances of youngsters spending some time with the Art of Living when their senses are assaulted from all directions?
The Art Excel course imparts all-round training to youngsters. Why is one looking here and there? It's only for happiness after all.
In a society where a large number of people are poor and suffering, do practices like meditation only enrich the individual distracting them from social work?
In fact not. Spirituality and meditation helps the rich to open up their hearts and serve. It helps the poor to gain confidence and become entrepreneurs. The poor normally don't do anything to develop themselves. With spirituality they will stop pointing fingers at others and empower themselves.
How would you describe the essence of your life?
A smile that's not fragile, a love that embraces all and truth that leads to progress.
That answer, perhaps, sums up the personality of a guru who is truly a global phenomenon.
World notes
FOR THE six people of the Group Study Exchange (programme of Rotary) from Chicago, it was a spiritual experience of a kind - one, where they were exposed to a six-day session on the Art of Living and two, when they met and interacted with Sri Sri Ravishankar. These were a group of young professionals in the age group of 25-40 from diverse occupations (psychology, fashion photography, journalism, real estate and the performing arts) on a month's tour of India sponsored by the Rotary Foundation.
Their trip exposes them to Indian life and culture - they experience living with Indian families, interacting with people from their own professions and others and learning about culture and spirituality. Their interaction with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was an informal one where he fielded questions on various issues ranging from terrorism to Indo-Pak relations and was at his cordial best.
"Terrorism has created panic and fear in the minds of people. Exploitation and corruption are the other international problems today". He expressed concern about the violence in the schools in the United States. "I can't imagine this. In India there is so much poverty yet respect is shown to the teacher and the student-teacher relationship is a little more cordial - that should be prevalent in U.S. - I am not harbouring for religious education but spiritual education. "
Replying to a question on stress he said "stress can even drive a person to violence." When asked whether he gets stressed, he said `I don't go the extent of getting stressed'." On evangelism, he said, "religious conversions are not good because it underlines the superiority of a religion. I feel religious conversion is harming the culture of the country because innocent people think that a conversion would improve their standard of living. This is wrong and is of concern. I think one should study all religions and know a little bit about each. But condemning one religion is not healthy. It shows ignorance."
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