Forgetfulness

We are born with a fresh blank memory, thank god... to be able to live a fresh new start!

However in the process of life, we become forgetful again..

We forget that we are pure and innocent. We forget that everyone is part of us. But mostly forget our goal and get sidetracked with distractions.

Often we start a conversation about a specific subject, and then we start jumping from one subject to another, then before we know it, we forget what we were talking about. In the same way, with too many distractions in life we lose our goal. We forget it was there in the first place.

It could be any goal.

From wanting a good education in college, to ending up taking drugs.

From playing board games just for fun, to fighting over who's going to win.

From falling in love, to fighting over the TV remote :)

From wanting to help others, to complaining why others are not doing their job.

From embarking on a lovely journey of love, gratitude and service, to getting stuck with intellectual administrative tasks.

We have always wanted to be in love, live the best life possible. Love is the ultimate, but we have forgotten the ultimate and stuck with an average life.

What courage is needed to step out? I shout this out! How much courage does one need to come out? To step out and get back on track?

Time and again we have lost the goal.

It takes a tragedy, inspiration, great courage or mere coincidence to get back, to remember the goal. Not just remember intellectually but start walking again.

The goal is right here... within. Realize that perfecting the inner gives rise to perfection in the outer. However in the process of perfecting the outer shell we have forgotten our inner core. The only place worth looking at is inside! That inner beauty, strength, courage, joy, faith, wisdom and love, will all then reflect to the outer almost automatically.

If you water the roots of a tree, the water will go all the way up to the core of the fruit. But if you water the fruit alone, this has no value to its growth. It only makes it feel and look fresh... temporarily... then it falls off.

Please don't fall off like a dry fruit. Die fresh and ever new! Live life. Live love. Share it with passion. That's your only security!

Remember.

Yesplus Moves Kuwait

In September 2010 I was invited to teach YESPLUS course, the Art of Living course for youths and Young professionals in Kuwait. Greeted at the airport by 2 lovely bubbly smiling volunteers, I was immediately taken to meetings introducing Art of living. During the whole time spent there the energy was so high! Everyone was so excited and happy to be preparing for the first YESPLUS course ever in the country. I must say that Priya and Sreekumar were wonderful hosts. They hosted me in their home where I felt so comfortable. Family, laughter and delicious south Indian meals were all so warm and sweet :)
I can honestly say that the course was one of my best teaching experiences. I was so moved by everyone's sincerity and love which made all the difference. It was a Rocking start for Kuwait. A nice combination of fun, stress release, deep relaxation, empowerment and a nice party!

Then again to Kuwait in December for a rocking Xmas course. This time I was lucky to stay with the wonderful Meghna and Sunil who are both an inspiration to so many in Kuwait. The juice of the course was human connection. Everything else was an appetizer. The techniques, processes and games were all so great and brought so much love and unity between everyone. Deep human connection is what life is about and I feel proud to be part of a universal process of uniting hearts and minds with love and service. So for me it's all about being in knowledge, and inspiring others to do the same and to inspire others and so on...

AROSA 2010

All I can say is it was beyond words. The best of the best of a road trip / vacation / Scenery / Spiritual journey / Celebration & Fun! Nothing can beat this trip. The Germans are so sharp it's amazing how well it was organized by 90 volunteers catering a 5 star level to 500 people in Arosa and 2000 people in Bad Antogast for the Birthday celebrations. The 90 volunteers did not sleep and worked tirelessly keeping a smile... a genuine one actually!

I mean we did everything, we had great Yoga by the best teachers, The deepest Knowledge by the best Guruji, amazing trips and walk on 2600m high mountains and singing everyday!

So the Knowledge was on the 6th Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, a beautiful ancient text that's honored by east and west cultures. It was about the "Yogi". Who is a Yogi?

The best points that I can remember right now are: Not exact verbatim.

"A Yogi is detached. That means he is still interested in the fruit of action but not holding on to it. He/she has to be sincere. he can't say I'm not interested in the result. So he is interested but not so much holding on to the fruit."

"Every cell in the body is a complete you. It has the eyes, nose ears... just like the mirror with a thousand reflection of you, the body hold all these cells which hold the complete you. That's how you are to the whole universe." (Manaha, becoming Namaha: From mind to no mind)

"The proton (Positive) is always in the center, the electron (negative) hovering around. the distance between the proton and electron is as much as the distance between the galaxies. The electron can never join the center. So there's no need to run after negativity of identifying yourself with it."

"You think when you look at a mountain, it doesn't look back at you? It has eyes too. Prana feels Prana, You feel the air, and the air feels you too."

"You are abundant, and full."

"I am a Yogi, I am a Baby, I am lucky!"

Something he said on the side:

"For me the Now is always better!"

What I learned:

• Seva Seva and Seva is the only way for a sane mind.
• Giving love is the only security.
• Being better is Being yourself.
• Give love more and more. That's real freedom!
• Everything comes to you. Everything. So relax. There is nothing to do here.
• I want nothing = selfless giving
• I belong to you = I am here for you

Great moments:

• Guruji went in with me in the rotating hotel entrance door
• Knowledge flowing in between the words.
• The attention Guruji gave to our Jordan group
• Offering Guruji our Jordanian made shawl at his birthday
• Meeting and spending time with Swami Sukhchaitanya
• Meeting great old and new friends
• Last morning in Arosa: Thick white snow falling.
• Train ride from Chur to Arosa up and around the mountain inside tunnels in a red Chu Chu train :)
• Magical view of Weggis from the river and seeing the dock where Guruji was photographed behind the swiss mountains. (Bhakti Sutras & Patanjali were recorded there)
• Delicious mango and raspberry dessert
• Waking up in Bad Antogast Ashram!

• 

Part 3 course in Bad Antogast, Germany

May 13 2009: Sri Sri Birthday celebrations (Oppenau)
May 14-19: Part 3 course (Bad Antogast)

Germany was filled with surprises one after the other. Like a child discovering life, everything was new, different, and pleasantly surprising!


I'll start with Oppenau which is a small town with a landscape so cute it can be a cartoon. As the train was coming close to Oppenau station, Art of Living people started popping up: In the train, on the street on the way to the hall where Guruji's birthday was taking place. It was such a wonder walking through town on the way to the hall–it's a 5 min walk. So we got to enjoy and get familiar with the scenery. The closer we got to the hall, the more joy we felt. And by the time I entered the Hall, Guruji had just entered too, and I was home.

I should say that I was very surprised by the German Art of Living center with it's charming beauty, location and staff! It's located in the heart of the Black forest with so many trails and tracks to hike and enjoy, and our own High in Mineral water spring.
In the main hall where large courses take place, is where people used to come to get mineral water for treatments. We're talking hundreds of years ago.

The center is a combination of 4 attached buildings. From the inside it looks like a beautiful old university campus. lots of hallways, many stairs and connections to other buildings, a maize where you'd like to be lost just for the fun of it.

The course was most intriguing, interesting, difficult, rewarding, , challenging, fun, an full of wonders, pregnant with knowledge and realizations! Cannot say more other than we were lucky that so many had participated from all over Europe and our teachers were a bouquet of Indian, American, and Europeans. Guruji's presence made the whole experience so magical and complete as usual. He answered everyone's questions whether asked or not and everyone had tears of joy and bliss on the last day including myself!

Writing this after a month's time may be a little late to catch the whole feeling but still that feeling is there, and it's here. It's like when someone falls in love they say he/she took my mind away (Akhadle Aa2le), He took my soul with him, She stole my heart... well in between meditations, just watching the river flow, you are so connected with the nature that you feel your Self getting pulled in the direction of the water. That connection is the Love we talk about and experience in so many ways. The experience, the knowledge and the energy from Bad Antogast is still here in between these words I write.

Just like nothing is lost or created, no experience is lost anywhere, even if "forgotten"... and Art of Living experiences are most precious because of the beautiful deep impressions they leave you with and the undesirable deep impressions they take away... at the same time :-)

The food was great! It was really tasty, light and very nutritious. We were lucky to have the head cook of Bangalore Art of Living center with us.
There were so many nationalities: Belarus, Poland, Greece, France, Italy, Israel... and Germany of course.

Walks in nature were very refreshing. I remember being amazed how tall trees were and how much green everything was: The leaves, branches, the ground and rocks. The scenery around the center was something in between a Heidi movie and a cartoon. Forests and plains, cattle and rivers, water everywhere and the open sky on top of it all!


I leave the rest for the pictures...
Love,
Chris

Dispassion, witness and courage

Dispassion means being in the center not taking sides. If you are not in the center, it means that you have taken a side, you have attached yourself to one of the sides. Just like Arjuna asked Krishna to take him to the middle of the battlefield to see what he is up against. He could see his side as well. If he was only on his own side he wouldn't have been able to take proper action, his vision would've been limited to his opponent only (Guruji's Bhagavad Gita discourse). So being dispassionate means being in the center and being a witness, "watching the Sansara and it's plays", witnessing life in its totality. Only then proper action can be taken.
--
Guruji on Buddha:
"Buddha got enlightened under the Bodhi tree. He then stood up and watched the tree from a distance for seven days. He took sixteen steps towards the tree and under each step, blossomed a Lotus flower. This is the legend.

The Bodhi tree is symbolic of both sansara (world) and Dharma. The Lotus flower symbolizes clarity, dispassion, love, beauty and purity.

It is only when you are detached in life can you watch the sansara and all of its plays. When you witness the sansara, every step you take is benevolent and impeccable. When every action of yours is preceded by witnessing then every move you make in this sansara becomes perfect and significant."
--
What is every action we take preceded by? What drives our actions. Desire, hunger, memory, ego, a combination of that? Certainly not witnessing. At least not all the time.
So how do we witness? Is it an exercise? Is it a state we get to be in and when will we? Is there a trick to it?
Being totally involved in whatever we do, being 100% in the Sansara, in the Maya is the only way out, or in to the Self. The only way to the center where one gets to witness. Avoidance is certainly not the way, it will only make you dull, weak, fearful and a coward. It takes courage to step into courage and face life totally just like jumping from a high cliff into the river. You feel so alive and you want to do it again! And gracefully flowing with the events without any resistance, being 100% angry, 100% happy, 100% playful, creative, sad... knowing that any action will either nurture you or will make you strong. It's a win/win situation. The good will nurture you and the bad will make you stronger. You have to learn from the bad ones otherwise it's a waste of life's gift. And moving on to the next moment with enthusiasm and total involvement.
So the only way to the self is through total involvement in the world. Total acceptance, whatver happens I'll move through it with a smile. Then you can play. You can only play with friends whom you accept. So let the world be your friend and enjoy its play. be in the center of the game, watch the play, the ball is in your hand ;)
--
So beautifully said, Guruji's message for new years in 2007:
"Make sure no event no instance no situation can put down your enthusiasm, your joy, and your commitment. Many events may try to put down your spirit, you refuse, like a candle when it's lit it keeps its spirit always up even if you turn the candle upside down the flame will always go up.
Like that don't hold any grudge against anybody, be flexible, flow with the events, pleasant unpleasant things happen in life. So let the new year bring to us whatever lesson it wants to teach us.
One thing we're not going to loose is our strength our enthusiasm our commitment to truth and knowledge. with this Sankalpa (intention) we will move ahead."
Jai Gurudev

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's message for the new year

The last hour of 2008.
The time on this planet for us is a gift. Time is a gift to our Self. When we consider time as a gift our whole outlook towards life shifts. Like every year 2008 also has offered u many gifts . With it's thorns it has made u strong, with its petals it has given you joy.

Any event has the good and not so good. The not so good has made u strong and realize u can handle it. Good part gives u peace and tranquility. This Last hour is good to reflect how u welcome 08 when it came and how it swept u and swirled u and passed u on to 09. 08 has made many rich people poor. those who never thought they could come down from their ivory towers had to smell mud. Many who have cheated got exposed. The flaws of capitalism laid bare before our eyes in 2008; like 20 years ago, in 1989 the bubble of communism burst.

Through all this time we learnt one lesson- we should never compromise on human values. Love, compassion, sense of gratefulness and vision for everyone has to dawn in our life.

08 also saw terrorism, loss of life, Sudan, Iraq, Gaza, India had the worst ever terror attacks.

People have asked me -- that they are feeling guilty to celebrate. Barely two months after economy fell, one month after terror attacks -- how to celebrate?

Yes, you will feel guilty when your celebration is aimed at gratifying yourself. But if the intention is to uplift everyone in ur area, just do it. Don't delay it. We will never feel guilty if we do celebration to take people out of gloomy mood. This celebration becomes service and then there is no guilt. And when your service becomes celebration, there is no ego and pride in it.

Got this. When celebration becomes service, there is not guilt. And when service becomes celebration, there is no pride.

Let us celebrate with this one intention that let's bring home the knowledge to everyone -- that life, events are impermanent. What is permanent is our spirit, our consciousness. It has no birth and death. Life at a higher plane is eternal and celebrate every moment knowing that every moment is a gift to us.

2009 we have a great responsibility to uplift from ashes of the disasters of 2008. New hope, new creation has to made.

It is easy to get swept away in a negative mode. It takes courage to move out of it. I am sure all those who arr here have this capacity.... And all those who are listening also have the capacity.


At 11 pm, make 2 wishes
1- Personal - What u want for yourself in 2009
2- What u want for the world (ie: peace in Sudan, peace Iraq, stronger economy in the US...)

And if there is no diff bet these two wishes, then you are enlightened!!!

Last year there was a concern that there would not be enough food on the planet to feed everyone. This year I feel there will be plenty of food on the planet for everyone (lot of yield will come through). Later this year economically Europe, USA will become strong. Don't have the concern. It will become better and better .. second half of the year.

HEAVEN or HELL: Remember to share your spoon

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'

The Lord led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell.'

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well
nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, 'I don't understand.'

It is simple,' said the Lord. 'It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.'

Remember that I will always share my spoon with you.... :)