20 October_Hoshiarpur

We're on our way to Hoshiarpur where Gurudev will address the public at an event hosted by a local saint. We're driving on small bumpy roads in the middle of what can look like a jungle. 

We have no idea where we are now except for the driver and volunteers of course.  It's a great feeling not to plan anything and move with the heard! Total faith and being like a child moving with mommy and daddy ;). It's good we have these long trips so that I can take my time to write these notes. In half an hour we reach Hoshiarpur and Ralph is craving for Aloo parathas :)

It's 11:30pm and we only saw Guruji for a few seconds as he was visiting someone's home. We said we wanted to follow him to his evening event. He asked if we were hungry. We said no. Next thing you know we're out at a hotel having dinner. We did miss seeing Guruji at the event :( And now we're on our way to see him where he's staying tonight, some of us are tired, some frustrated, Bill is starting to recite a Rumi poem about failure and surrender. 

We're on Day 3 and so far we've been treated like royalty, all the lavish places we've been to extraordinary food, we have our own driver and volunteers with us, we get front row seats; but no personal time with Guruji. I have to say that some of us including myself are starting to get disappointed and frustrated. We were invited by Gurudev himself as his guests but somehow the volunteers find a way to keep us away from him, or at leaf this is how it feels. Perhaps it's all a game, perhaps a conspiracy, perhaps it's all in our minds but to quote Jeff: "it's all a mystery", a great way to look at the situation and not try to fix, change or understand what's going on. 

So today is Sunday October 20th and we're driving from Hoshiarpur where we stayed at Hotel Presidency, to Jalandar where we attended a Satsang at Guru Govind Singh Stadium. 

Ralph said why don't you go up on stage and take photos. I didn't think it was possible until he said it so I went near the stage with my giant Canon and stood there until someone asked me: "Do you want to go up take photos?" There were no sweeter words. I was up on a huge stage right in from to Guruji taking snaps for an hour. I filled up 16 Gb  of photos!! Most of them turned out amazing! Now we just arrived to another evening Satsang in Pathankot, 3h away from Jalandar.

Dr Manikantan and Richa Chopra have been hosting all the Satsangs on this your. They are just perfect signers, musicians and devotees. Guruji loves listening to them sing! So does everyone else. I got a chance to speak with Dr Mani in Chandigarh and got some interesting tips about flute playing. 

There was a mini Satsang after a very successful event where Gurudev addressed the public on many issues such as alcoholism, female foeticide, and vocational skills training that Art of Living provides. It seems that these topics are on his agenda during his tour in Punjab. He was asked in Bangalore a question about people leaving farming and going to the big cities to get an education.  It seems that more farmers are needed but also people want to secure their future with good education. He asked that people work together on this issue and find a solution.

Sri Sri also conducted his Punjab trademark meditation :) a beautiful meditation that starts with eyes open and ends with eyes closed with Om chanting! 

Later on we went to have our dinner at another gorgeous house.  Now I have to take a moment and describe what I mean when I say gorgeous houses. These are huge mansions with 5 to 10 bedrooms, beautiful antique furniture, amazing decoration, some are very modern and some old but the space in there is so big, high ceilings, and swimming pools, water fountains, rose petals everywhere and every house  with its own outdoor garden. We often had lunch and dinner in the garden and slept in the house or someone else's house. 

Right after dinner we followed Guruji while he just walked over to the next street where apparently there was a mini Satsang. He came in and sat and everyone as usual flocked around him like crazy; but this time it was different. There were tons of people sitting around him and behind him on a very small stage. It looked so intimate and sweet! He merged beautifully with the crowd. His whole expression and being changed. He was like a proud young man hanging out with his friends. 

Pictures coming soon!

Punjab-19 October-Chandigarh

Today our traveling coordinator/ volunteer is Romin Sanjeev. We are all traveling together in a13 seater bus... Oh what fun! We're headed to the inauguration of "Volunteers for a Better Punjab" in Hoshiarpur.

And how do I feel right now? I feel rested after a good night sleep in a giant bed, I feel serene and in deep gratitude for this opportunity to travel with Sri Sri and a great bunch of people. I am actually looking forward to my next meal haha! 

I just realized that cows in India are like dogs in Canada haha. 

The event was under scorching heat where I and many others had no choice but to fall into deep sleep. 

After the event we said goodbye to our dear +Sevag derghazarian  who had been traveling with us for only a day. The group is now 1 person smaller. Sevo you are missed!

Off we go to Himachal Pradesh to a guest house near Nangal damn, a beautiful picturesque area with high mountains and an artificial lake. This is where Gurudev has come for rest and lunch. The volunteers were really sweet and many of them were meeting Sri Sri for the first time in person. One young girl had an anxiety attack and started hyperventilating after speaking with him!

When Sri Sri was resting I took my ND filer out and took some long exposure pictures of the lake giving the water a smoother look!

Then off we go again, this time to a model village that the Art of Living had adopted. My understanding is that AOL makes the village completely alcohol-free and drug-free,  empower youth to take up community projects and take care of every aspect in the community. Sri Sri addressed the audience and there were 2 other saints there on stage with him. It was a very short address. I was moved by the sincerity of the women and children there. There was a beautiful feeling of love and devotion and I took the opportunity to take a few snaps of the kids there. I just love interacting with kids taking photos! They're the perfect subjects full of innocence and playfulness. They love looking a their own photos. It's a game for them. These kids touched me deeply. They stirred some hidden emotion in me and I feel light and sweet. Its 8:20pm and we have been driving all day. While many of us in the group are tired, I feel so energized and alert after my interaction with these kids. Gurudev asked everyone to wish for something tonight and that it would be granted. I wished for surrender. Surrender from my own mind, from fears and control. 

Punjab tour with Sri Sri- oct 18

8 months ago Ralph and I decided to travel to India and Lebanon for 6 weeks so we got our plane tickets and emailed a friend close to Gurudev asking him for pointers and tips about our travels around india. Next thing you know we get an email from Gurudev's secretary saying that we can travel with him during his tour in Punjab!! What a glorious and happy day it was when I read that email!

12 of us are traveling with Sri Sri: 4 Canadians, 3 Americans, 2 Argentinians, 1 Australian, 1 Russian, and 1 person from UK. We all met at the Bangalore airport early morning only to find out that  our flight got canceled so we got to hang out together for 5 hours. We had food together and got to know each other. What a great bunch of people!  It was so relaxing to simply hang out, walk around carefree, knowing that everything was going to be taken care of. 

We were welcomed by organized volunteers at Chandigrah airport. They even had a list of our names and where we were staying. 

First impression of Punjab! Big clean organized structured. We were told that in the state of Punjab 90% of the population is Sikh. Steel manufacturing and Agriculture are big here, people run and own businesses mostly, and the workers in the industrial area all come from neighboring states such as UP (Uttar Pradesh). There are lots of cycle rickshaws and the states is relatively rich. 

Now the food here is fantastic! To describe it In one word: Rich. Rich sauces, rich and oily curries, a large variety of breads and the desserts are fantastic. We had a super amazing dinner where Gurudev is staying and now it's the next morning and I can still feel it in my belly. Happy belly :)

So Gurudev arrived Right after we landed and headed straight to the advanced course then to where he was staying. The volunteers there, so organized and welcoming greeted us with so much love and Mr Ashwani hosted all of us in his lovely and fancy home. 

Good bye Lebanon, hello India

Today's D15 in Lebanon. I feel it's been beautiful enriching and eye opening.

Meeting with old friends and catching up, exploring amazing parts of Lebanese geography, history and culture, and getting to see my country from another perspective. 

Today we went Paragliding, first experience for me and Ralph! I was a little nervous for a minute before taking off but the rest was soooo easy, cool and safe! It felt safe to be up in the air gliding slowly above steep green hills filled with pine trees overlooking the sea. Totally peaceful and quiet except for the gentle sound of a cool breeze against my face. 

It seems to me that Lebanon is filled with a multitude of rich oasis all nestled in the midst of a chaotic landscape. It's a very interesting dynamic both familiar and irritating at times, enriching and exciting...

So that's my short summary; but I have a lot more to say, hopefully I'll make time for a few more posts about lebanon before India posts start taking over.

Getting a hair cut

George has been my barber since I can ever remember. I love getting my hair cut here when I come to Lebanon. I asked him today if he wants to come back with me to Canada. He said he loves his simple life here... Honestly he's the best at what he does!

Pictures from Lebanon

Driving in Lebanon

There's a lot to say about driving in Lebanon other than how upsetting and dangerous it can be. If you study the delicate art and craftsmanship of driving, road making, signage and communication, you'll be amazed how interesting it can be and how much you can learn about yourself and the culture!

First thing you notice is the Tetris effect where the objective is to fill in the gap. Any car can drive anywhere there's free space no questions asked. 

Then there's the warrior philosophy. You take what you can while you can and do it without hesitation. You move forward with total confidence and everyone will respect you for that. What people don't like is hesitation. A good long horn will prove it. 

Communication at its best:

It's amazing how cars communicate, actually people sometimes communicate better while driving! If you watch a busy intersection or roundabout real close from above, in fast forward, you see an fluid organic process of movement, cooperation, efficiency and communication. 

As for signage and road making... Well, the new roads and highways look nice and are so much better than before but the signage is still terrible, especially like putting a road sign after the actual intersection in question... What's that all about!?

One more thing about driving here, and I think some may agree, is that it's liberating to drive with less rules, where you feel a sense of responsibility and awareness, not only counting on lights and signs... It's actually an adventure, that could be tiring at times though!

But anyways I'll tell you how I feel after a few weeks haha!

Montreal students empowered

On May 19th Art of Living volunteers offered a YESPLUS course to Montreal full-time students at an 80% discount due to the student crisis in Quebec. This initiative was carried out specifically to support the students in a time of stress and tension where everyone is experiencing stress, anxiety and uncertainty about the future.

YESPLUS offers invaluable and practical tools to students that help them maintain a stress-free mind and body--including breathing, meditation and yoga. It also offers a toolbox of soft skills for personal excellence like time management, nurturing personal relationships and creative problem solving which are often missing from conventional education. The 22-hour workshop also places much emphasis on social responsibility.

"Students today are looking for a bigger meaning of life. They really want to be useful to society in any way possible. YESPLUS offers them a platform to expand their skills, connect with their inner power, discover their potential and put it all into action." says Christian Matta, a YESPLUS instructor who co-taught the workshop with Ralph Matta in Montreal.

"Over 30 students participated in the workshop in Montreal and they all felt empowered and more stress-free," says Ralph Matta.

''The energy, creativity, drive and enthusiasm demonstrated by the entire volunteer team was truly commendable. The team shared a vision to reach as many students as possible during this turbulent time and support them with developing their leadership, team work, sense of responsibility and life skills." says Poonam Kher, teacher and volunteer. All volunteers who helped organize this workshop were previous YESPLUS graduates.

YESPLUS is the youth wing of the Art of Living Foundation, an international non profit humanitarian NGO dedicated to serving society by strengthening individuals, mentally, physically and emotionally. Numerous ongoing projects can be found on the website, from women's empowerment to environmental campaigns, drug rehabilitation to anti-corruption campaigns.

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

Part 2 in the desert, Azraq Jordan

I already miss the desert. Living in Amman is not quite like living in the desert. Maybe I haven't felt the summer heat yet.


The course was one of the best I have experienced although I wasn't quite in silence since I was the one communicating with the staff, checking the food, the rooms etc...

4 nights, 5 days in open space. you can always see the open sky and the horizon. I remember the first morning I woke up and saw the horizon looking all red. I thought I had missed the sunrise. Later on I could see the sun peaking it's way up. And the sunsets are out of this world. The whole nature celebrates it. The wind, the birds... and of course the water buffaloes.

The reserve guides were very skeptic at first: "How can you be silent. I'd go crazy" and "why are they all so sad, I thought this course was supposed to help." On the last day they were very moved by our silence and by our loving presence and wanted to do the course themselves.

The first Satsang was horrific, at least that was my opinion. No coordination, too much shouting, people talking, no one wanted to go into silence or maybe release that last breath of energy before the Silence. The next day I was afraid to go into the session! wondering what could happen, how worse can it get :-) until I did come in, everyone was singing and there was this comforting feeling of peace and serenity, energy and enthusiasm, love and gratefulness. We were actually a very special group. We had 2 amazing singers, 2 instruments and a wonderful cheerful crowd which made sure Satsang was not only a deep experience but fun and light.
There was Chaos yes, however from that chaos, some became more humble, some less stiff, and everyone got to really enjoy the silence.

The place was magical it was all ours. It is anyways, but we were only a few 26 people along with the amazing staff to enjoy it.

We ate and slept at Azraq lodge, and the sessions took place at a beautiful hall in the reserve. Everything there is made from natural material, raw and simple but very comfortable and just enough to enjoy nature without too much spoiling, although the rooms were spectacular with a spectacular view.

Amazing walks in silence in the middle of tall yellow mazes under blue skies and water around us. The birds were in ecstasy and the buffaloes, well, roaming around eating grass and... dumping... :)

As for the food, exquisite Caucasian delicacies made with love by "Om Raad" the lodge chef.
I particularly loved the "Mantish", a steamed dumpling stuffed with vegetable and seasoned with yogourt sauce.

Participants loved the place and got so inspired that they went out and started a cleansing drive around town.


Our dear teacher Irena was just amazing! She was a living example of surrender and love, wisdom and playfulness. The course couldn't be more perfect!

The rest of the course details, I leave for you to experience...

There's something magical about the desert. Not sure what. The open space, the dryness of the air, it's amazing how life just sprouts everywhere. There is always life where we don't see it. Life is so abundant even in still rocks and sand... Life never deserts us, the desert is full of it.