WAYE to Go!

100008 Youth in the HAPPINESS QUEUE...

have you registered yet?

http://bawandinesh.name/100008/

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Testimonials? :-)

http://yesplusevents.org/?page_id=27

"Immortal Love is within Reach"

Deccan Herald, 8th February, 2010

H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Some say the purpose of life is to ensure that one doesn't come back to this planet because it is bereft of love. They feel if there is love then why is life so painful? All that one want in life is love. Every human being is longing for a love that doesn't die out, a love that doesn't cause pain, a love that grows and stands forever. By taking a multilateral view of life, one can see life in a different way and realise that the purpose of life is to achieve this kind of love and blossom in that ideal love.

Suppose you are immensely successful and have all the riches at your command but there is no love in your life, then life would not really be worthwhile; it would appear barren. But still most of the people lead a loveless life. Have you ever thought why this happens? It is your ego that prevents you from achieving that love. As long as there is ego, there cannot be love. And when there is love, there is no sign of ego. What is ego? Ego is simply being unnatural. Half knowledge brings ego but when knowledge becomes complete, ego drops and simplicity dawns.

The question arises that if the ego is so unnatural then why does every human being have an ego? We have the ego because it is necessary in some way for our growth in life. That doesn't mean it should not have been there from the very beginning. Ego is necessary, but with knowledge you can now grow out of it. In the Narada Bhakti Sutras one sutra says: "Knowledge is one of the aids to uncover the naturalness". Through observing oneself and deep into one’s self in meditation one can overcome ego.

Often, when someone shows a lot of love you do not know how to respond, you feel obliged and bound. This is because you are not natural. There is an ego coming in between. The ability to receive genuine love comes with the ability to give love. The more you are centered and natural and know that love is not an emotion it is your very existence, the more you feel at home with any amount of love expressed in any manner. A seed has a covering or shell over it, and when you soak it in water, it sprouts and then the shell peels off. Similarly, the ego is a necessary unnaturalness that develops as you grow. When you were a child of two or three years, there was no ego; you are in a state of total, innocent, blissful love. Then the ego forms a cover. Knowledge uncovers this shell and make you a child again; natural, simple and innocent. When you are natural, simple and innocent, there is no ego. The ego is not a substance; it is a non-substance, much like darkness. Darkness is only lack of light. There is nothing called an ego that has substance. Ego is just a lack of total development, a lack of total understanding. It is just a lack of maturity or lack of knowledge.

Jai Gurudev

("Maintain the innocence of the Gods and cultivate the Intelligence of the Guru")

150 Varieties of rice!

For the record, I didnt know that ...just the south of India grows more than 150 varieties of rice!

If GM crops were to enter India, it dangerously limit the delicate and myriad biodiversity of our eco-system...many crops could get EXTINCT!

The Indian culture has always been to grow multiple types of crops. And we have flourished at that, with rich varieties.

If one crop fails the other will flourish...farmers and their families, and the whole of country wont starve...but if GM crops are grown, failure of one type of crop will mean virtual suicide.

And India DOES NOT want another episode of Vidharba district's mass suicide calamity repeated ever in future, in this great country!

Neither do you, nor do I. So, every educated citizen ought to get the facts right, and condone "progress for progress's sake".

This country is sustained by its farmers and rural villages, let us not forget that...and give the farmers their right...to cultivate crops in the best and the natural way...

And we have seen always, organic crops, and crops grown by vedic methods of agriculture, grow FASTER than any damn fertilized crop, and are the HEALTHIEST too! I have seen first-hand experience of this.

For the rest of us, I encourage you to do your own research.

And protect the richness of this country, after all, it is this country that has created the foundation for so many more diverse cultures across this world.

...and by all means, restore its unbounded spiritual, scientific, cultural, natural and human wealth, India is a country of love, and progress. But do not mistake this love as naive, and do not generalize the greed of a few short-sighted politicians as progress.

Here are glimpses of wake-up calls:

http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/04/20/1500-indian-farmers-commit-suicide-are-gm-crops-to-blame/

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/gmProtestsIndia.php

Love!

Life is Beautiful....put on the right lens

By H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Happiness, peace and prosperity are wished for by every lip on New Year, but do we really know what peace means? Peace lies within us and we know it too. As we move beyond a year and enter new year, lets all take a resolution to become aware of this peace inside and allow our smiles to reflect the true sign of the prosperity that lies inside us. Here are seven ways to do it.

1. Give divine a chance, be grateful

This year, let the devotion flower to its fullest and give it a chance to work. Our love, faith & belief should be deep rooted, and then everything else moves on its own. The feeling that “I am blessed” can help you overcome any failure. Once you realise that you are blessed, then all the complaints & grumbling disappear, all the insecurities disappear & you become grateful, contented and peaceful.

2. Take out time for yourself

Everyday you are engaged in only gathering information and you do not take out time for yourself to think and reflect. Then you feel dull & tired. A few quiet moments are sources for creativity. Silence heals and rejuvenates and gives you depth and stability. Some time during the day, sit for a few minutes, get into the cave of your heart, eyes closed, and kick the world away like a ball. Taking out some time for yourself improves the quality of your life.

3. Know life’s impermanence

See the impermanence in this life. Millions of years have passed & millions will come and pass. Nothing is permanent. What is your life? It is not even a drop in the ocean.

Just open your eyes & ask; who am I? How am I on this planet? What is my lifetime? Awareness dawns & you will stop worrying about little things. All smallness will simply drop & you will be able to live every moment of your life. If you review the context of your life, the quality of your life improves.

4. Do random acts of kindness

Make a commitment to make this world a better place to live. Do some acts of kindness without expecting anything in return. Service alone can bring contentment in life. It creates a sense of belongingness. When you bring some relief to someone through selfless service, good vibrations come to you. When you show kindness, your true nature which is love & peace comes to play.

5. Make your smile cheaper

Every day, every morning, look at the mirror and give a good smile to yourself. Don't let your smile be snatched away by anybody! Usually, you give your anger freely and smile rarely as though a smile is costly. Make your smile cheaper and anger expensive! When you smile all the muscles in your face get relaxed. The nerves in your brain get relaxed and you become peaceful within. It gives you the confidence, courage & energy to move on in life.

6. Make meditation a part of life

When we have higher goals in life it leads to stress & restlessness which can only be released through a few minutes of meditation & introspection. Meditation gives you deep rest. Deeper you are able to rest, dynamic you will be in activity. What is meditation?

Mind without agitation is meditation.
Mind in the present moment is meditation.
Mind that has no hesitation, no anticipation is meditation.
Mind that comes back home to the source which is peace & joy is meditation.

7. Be a Student always

Know that you are a student forever. Do not underestimate anybody. Knowledge may come to you from any corner. Each occasion teaches you & each person teaches you. The world is your teacher. When you are always looking to learn, you will stop underestimating others. Humility will dawn in your life.

...so what colour are your lens?

Life of an IT Professional

Ironic, yet true, isn't it :-)

M-A-G-I-C-A-L 2010

I had the best New Year celebration in town...and spent the whole evening till the wee twilight hours (until the yesterday's lunar eclipse waned), at the Art Of Living Intl. Foundation centre...at Bangalore (Kanakpura Road)...
the only words I can say is "M-A-G-I-C-A-L", when most of the world was lost in their television sets or getting hangovers..I had a blissful musical and dance evening with 2000 vibrant youngsters who had all come from different countries to reunite with the one-world-family, and to celebrate a truly global celebration at our international campus here...

When shallow-minded, media-herded people across the world dream of 3 BHK flats or just-another-tiring vacation to so-called tourist places, I am filled with a vision, that we shall all see a very very magical and prosperous 2010...and we'll live to tell the tale about "HOW SPIRITUALITY BECAME A FASHION, AND THEN A NECESSITY", thanks to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar-- The Guru Of Joy...........

And when I closed my eyes for a moment to soak in the moment of new year, I felt an immense contentment and abundance in my life, and a quick roll-back to my life four years ago, revealed the journey of many lifetimes which i amassed in just the past three years I spent with the AOLF...I feel immense gratitude today, and unfathomable contentment, for all the love, and joy and togetherness, and above all, this priceless knowledge that His Holiness has brought to us all, since His last visit 5000 years ago :-)

here is His message in His own words:

Every year, we begin the New Year wishing others happiness and prosperity. What is the sign of prosperity? The sign of prosperity is freedom, a smile and the willingness to share with people around you, without fear. The sign of prosperity is the trust and confidence that you will get whatever is needed in life.

Welcome the year 2009 with a smile from within. As we flip the calendar, we need to keep flipping our mind as well. Often, our diaries are full with memories. See that you don't fill your future dates with past events. Learn and unlearn from the past, and move on.
You want to be free from greed, hatred, jealousy and all such imperfections. If the mind is holding all these negative qualities, it cannot be happy or peaceful – you cannot enjoy your life. So the first step is to see that negative emotions are due to the past and not let the past affect your experience of life now. Forgive the past. If you cannot forgive the past, then your future will be miserable. This new year make up with someone with whom you are not on good terms. Commit yourself to dropping the past and starting a fresh life.

When the new year arrives wish everyone with a sankalpa (intention) for peace and prosperity for all the people on the planet. With the economic meltdown, looming terrorism, with floods & famine around, do more selfless service. Realize that our foremost priority is to check violence in the world, to free the world from domestic and societal violence. Make a resolution to do more good to society, help the people who are in need and bring solace to those who are suffering. Take responsibility for the nation.

The spiritual dimension of life brings a great sense of belonging, responsibility, compassion and caring for the whole world, for the whole humanity. The spiritual dimension in the truest form smashes the narrow boundaries of caste, creed, religion and nationality and gives one a broader awareness of life present everywhere.

This year, let your devotion flower. Give it a chance to work. We should experience the divine's presence, the divine's light around us. You should have a desire in your mind to experience this. Has such a desire ever risen in you - that you want the highest peace? The whole world is running by this divine light. When you sing or pray there should be total involvement. If the mind is preoccupied elsewhere then that is no prayer at all.

You are like a free bird. You are fully open. Feel that you are flying like a bird. Learn to fly. This is something which you have to experience within yourself. There is nothing else. If you consider yourself as bonded, you will remain bound here. Be free. When will you experience freedom? Become free right now. Sit down and become content. Spend some time in meditation & satsang so that your inner self becomes strong enough to deal with the challenges.

When the mind relaxes, the intellect becomes sharp. When the mind is loaded with small things such as ambition, feverishness and desire, then the intellect loses its keenness. And when the intellect and observation are not sharp, life does not express itself fully, ideas don't flow and abilities diminish day by day. With this understanding, step out of your little mind and that step will solve many problems in your life. Be natural. Be with love. Involve yourself in service. Celebrate your life

............ .CELEBRATE NEW YEAR - 2009