Some people make trends, some people follow trends

Those who believe in themselves, have conviction, know that they are right and are not afraid of how society reacts to them, they create trends. They have a big vision and they take action. I am fortunate that my key teachers & mentors in life, from whom I have really learnt to have the right attitude in life are the trend setters, and not trend followers.

The trend setter may have to face much resistance in the beginning, but then many people start following what they do. My Master, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is an ultimate trend setter to bring spirituality into lives of millions across the world, irrespective of their language, culture & religion. He is a visionary who says ‘the whole world is my family’- a truth that I live today.  When I visited ashram (art of living international center), for the first time, I saw hundreds of people from Europe, America, Australia, and so many countries, learning vedic chants, understanding Geeta, doing disciplined yoga practice, meditating regularly. I was moved by their sincerity, & the fact that they are honoring this education. I had always learnt from our society, that this education is third grade, and not to be given much importance.  What was more important was to study science, physics, maths, engineering, cracking entrance exams, and after I crack exams and get good results, finally getting out of my own country to earn thousands of dollars, become an NRI- which many of my dear friends are already doing- this was a clear message, the society gave to me where I grew up.

A small instance that I still remember, I was so much willing to learn Sanskrit in my school. I was a consistent Sanskrit topper, and I was not allowed to take Sanskrit from grade 9^th onwards coz it was not an option in the school – in my country India where Sanskrit came from! I loved to study Hindi, but my so-called ‘modern batch mates’ in school collectively urged the school to keep Hindi, my mother tongue, as just a second language “Hindi B” – a formality to pass for all students. I and a handful of people , 14 of us fought to keep Hindi A till my grade 10. And we were the last batch to study our own mother tongue as first language till grade 10, in my school!. Growing up in the national capital of India, “Delhi”, I learnt from the society to not honor my own language, culture, religious heritage, in the name of “modernity”! – all this was very fashionably considered “old fashioned”.

I remember when I was growing up, when sometimes I truly listened to my inner voice, I loved to study our culture, would want to read and understand Bhagwad Geeta & ancient scriptures, learn Indian classical dance, classical Hindustani Singing, learn Sanskrit & hindi . But hardly we were given these opportunities. I am a fortunate one to still kept fighting to do what I really wanted to do & did many of these. I was a true patriot as a child.  And I wanted to grow spiritually. But there were hardly opportunities amongst our ‘society’. To all that I wanted to do, I am getting the opportunities now- after years later, when I decided to not follow the trends set by so called ‘modern people’ who consider themselves and by the society, as “intelligent intellectuals” but have missed their own basics.

When I took a strong decision to not continue as a software engineer – which I was not truly meant to be, not do the same monotonous IT job, not marry the guy who was so much interested in following American culture, not to be with my so called ‘friends’ who were more interested in making fun of my own country,-  when I followed what I really wanted always, for which I am born- initially I faced a lot of resistance from all corners, but now I am content to the core, blessed and happy, busy and stress free , ever smiling individual who loves herself and loves others. I am so fortunate, and eternally grateful to my Guru, and Art of Living teachers & mentors to have shown me the right path to follow my own inner voice.
May every one on this planet live a life full of this contentment – is the only prayer I can make.

NAVRATRI @ Bangalore Ashram

Navratri – The 9 days of intense poojas, yagyas, devotion, bhakti, singing , meditation..There is nothing more intense that I have experienced before.

This was my first full-navratri time in Ashram. Did the advance course when even Guruji is in silence, followed by 5 days of Homas & yagyas. Ashram was full to its capacity, sometimes even more. And I could see more foreigners, from all over the world, sitting in the poojas with stunning devotion & respect- something I found amazing..! The whole air was so powerful that it would shift something inside you, it just takes you a moment to go blank..close your eyes, and you are gone for some hours- an experience which you would not experience anywhere else! So amazing, effortless, inexplicable, blissful..out of the world.!

Navratri is a time NOT to be missed to be in this earthly heaven called The Art of Living International Centre, Bangalore. If you know people in Art of Living, you would find all those people at this place during these nine days J . Everyday would be a fresh day, and everyone would just look forward to the next pooja! I was wondering , how one cute-small human has changed the entire world..It seemed people from all across the globe have come here in India to attend these nine days of devi shakti..to experience the Goddess and her purity. Yagyashalla, which holds the capacity of thousands of people sitting, used to be so full that I would hardly find a place in case I am a little late! Women dressed up in beautiful saaries n ornaments & men in kurta pajama – with fragrance all over the place. I felt as if world’s most beautiful people were right here- beautiful both from inside & outside.! Everyone would wait eagerly for our Master to arrive.. and as soon as he is in, when the pooja or Homa starts, there would be pin drop silence amongst the crowd except for the mantra chants. The moment you close your eyes, the Sanskrit chants would seep deep down your system, and within a few seconds you would find it difficult to open your eyes! Deep state of meditation, experienced in a few seconds!- something that even the ancient Rishi-munis used to achieve after months/years of tapas!! – and this is the experience of each one sitting there in the Homa. The entire experience cannot be described, cannot be stated in words, cannot be written down.

The mind surely undergoes a lifetime operation..and the effect is not really understandable- but you know that after these 9 days, something in you has changed.. something is shaken..you are something different now…not really the same person. You are much better, you would feel like loving everyone. No situation seems powerful than you. You are a new you, you know J . I believe, the entire experience clears off so many impressions in the mind..you are off  so many evil feelings, you are a fresh new born- ready to get back to life with a new enthusiasm back again! You go beyond your cravings & aversions. You are totally in love!

A Guru life!

Writing my blog after a long long time! Sorry for this ;) I will do my best to be regular from now onwards!

I wonder now, that a life with a Guru is so much different than a normal life.. where you have everything, family, friends, job/college, luxuries, boyfriend/girlfriend- everything to make  you happy, but there is a missing link somewhere..that sometimes you think that may be I am here for a different reason, may be a cause. Definitely my life has a purpose, what is it? Everything is good, but still there is something that I cannot see..something somewhere is hidden, which may be I need to find out.  That the happiness or sadness are just a part of life, there has to be something beyond this..what is it really?? I am happy with everything I have, but still some higher happiness is missing.. some fill in the blank.. May be I need to find something or someone to guide me in this direction? My dear, if such thoughts come to your mind sometimes, or every now and then, then many congratulations to you, that you are progressing subtly on a spiritual path. And that someone who can guide you on this path is no one other than your Guru!

Since childhood, I used to think that my existence has a reason, my friends used to chill out very often, but I used to get bored with them, I was not much interested in all time parties, or wasteful discussions, or boring friend gossips about here & there- someone or the other. I joined such gossips manytimes, but always felt that why am I here? I believed that whatever I shall do, shall be for a reason, a higher purpose. People used to term me as ‘highly ambitious’ or arrogant etc. But now when I have found my goal, I found my right place, I know why I used to get such thoughts. Probably, I was destined to be here, on this path, with my Guru!

People of my age, my old friends get scared of me, or mock or feel  a distance from me often that I will become a sadhu or I do this Guru-Guru business all the time, I have been hypnotized :P or  I don’t act my age!! :D I smile at them and somewhat agree with them that if I was at their position, probably I would have thought this way too! But you know what is my Guru for me ? I would like you to know! When I am in trouble, and don’t know what to do next & I don’t want to do anything wrong.. I get guidance from my Guru. My Guru is my smile, a place I can go and rest anytime, a shelter where I am a child back again, playful and innocent. Now I hardly face situations where I create trouble for myself and for my near & dear ones. I am no more so much selfish, I am much happier. My Guru is someone I can depend upon for any kind of help.. He is that strength which never lets me down. I realized that this lifetime of 60-70-80 years is a very small time of which already 25 years are gone..and each minute, our each act holds an importance. To be happy, live a life devoid of guilt or regrets , like a child- only a Guru can teach. He is the one who will show you who you are, and why are you here on this planet at this time! Yes, He is the love of my life. He is the one, who can accept any mistake I do, but still show me the right path. Yes, this life is entirely different from a normal life, where each moment you feel you are so lucky, everyone seems beautiful, everyday is a new day, and each day you rise in love!

Jai Gurudev!

HIS Birthday!

Finally I am starting my blog..with the note of HIS Birthday! :)

What a day it was! From my childhood I remember, the concept of Birthday party has been, a few friends, with birthday caps on their head, & the birthday girl/boy cutting the cake with claps and singing around her/him. But this day, 13 May was one day, we celebrated divine's birthday with not hundreds, but 'thousands' of people, singing melodious happy birthday tunes, dancing & having pieces of delicious 21 feet long cake in their watery mouths! :)

According to facts, there were 16000 people waiting in the Art of Living International Centre, Bangalore at evening 6pm to see Guruji cut his 55th birthday cake. There was satsang, and everyone was singing & eagerly waiting for him to arrive. I was sitting with my eyes closed during the satsang while there was a wave of different energy in the crowd, and I understood that Guruji is around ! He comes with a stunning charm, his sight from a long distance quenches thirst of many, his glimse can give you immense inner contentment & if he looks straight at you, just know that you are the luckiest one! :)

He came, waved us & sat in the King like posture as he does always. :) Since there was a live telecast, lot of formal book releases, & seva project accomplishments were announced. It took quite a while. We were all waiting desperately for Guruji to speak. His voice is so soothing, that you have to be cautious not to close your eyes while he is speaking, else you are asleep in a few seconds ..! And he said 'abhi thodi baat cheet kar lete hain '.. ( lets talk for sometime).."Na hum janme hain, na marenge, hum to bas yahin rahenge ( neither we r born, nor will we die, we will just remain here.. To live a happy life, there should be two things in life, dispassion at heart & service in action..Then life becomes a celebration. And if there is so much service happening around, then we can celebrate every single day! " He promised everyone to meet personally that day. A celebrity, live-telecasted on television, cut a 21 feet long cake, with 16000 audience physically witnessing the celebration & He said he will meet each one of us! so un-imaginable, isn't it ? He started with his darshan, & everyone started becoming restless. Satsang started, attempting to divert people from Sri Sri. :) Haha :) :)

We were made to sit in queues, and from in-between the two queues, Guruji was to pass by. Half an hour gone, he is still meeting people I could see from a distance, One-hour gone, people became more restless, and started dancing to channelize their energy. Those who met Him, proceeded for dinner. It was around 11pm at night now, He was coming towards us, and as usual, my heartbeat starts going up when He comes near. He came, looked at me smiled and looked around other people. After 3 hours of continuous darshan, in a messy crowd, everyone fighting to touch him, catch his attention in some way, climbing over him, trying to talk to him, His security people changed thrice during these hours, coz they were physically & mentally tired to handle the crowd hovering around Him, but he was as smiling as I saw him this Morning.. as fresh to see new faces, as if he is asking questions from his looks. He is trying to look over, who else has come to meet him. What have they brought on his birthday :) I was taken aback. Blown with the freshness & love that His appearance conveys. No wonder, why people run behind him and love him. He can't be a human for sure, no celebrity on his planet would meet each one of the thousands who come to see him. I was moved that night, to see Guruji "wanting" love from us. His eyes were there, on the devotees, without a blink searching for the LOVE that people carried for him. One thing I understood, even Divine needs love. Our love can make the Divine do anything, anything possible. :) Oh! We are so damn lucky! :) :) :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY GURUJI !!