New years message by Guruji!

Everyone wants to be happy in life, but usually are unhappy,” said Sri Sri to a 5,000–strong crowd at the satsang this evening. Held in celebration of the New Year observed today in many parts of India, the satsang took place in the ashram’s amphitheatre.

“There are three aspects which bring unhappiness:

1. Disturbance
2. Fear
3. Poverty

How can we remove these aspects?

An unselfish feeling removes any disturbance.

Detachment erases fear.

Removal of greed alleviates poverty.

The greater the feeling, the faster we can tackle these challenges.

Today, the New Year begins, Every year is given a name. This year’s name is Virodhi – year of conflict.

Sadhaks and seekers have to calm this conflicting force. A bad person is one who will increase conflicts. A good person will reduce it. This year will test your character.

We need to use skill to remove this feeling of opposition. In some cases, we can use proper understanding, compassion or knowledge.

Virudh is necessary in life. Virudh was started so that we stand up against injustice. Conflicts have a place in life. There are disease-fighting bacteria in our bodies – that’s how we stay healthy. One should not quell opposition to injustice. If we want to stand up against any malaise, this year is the best time to do so.

Elections are coming up in India. Oppose corruption. We should stand against every instance of injustice. Don’t think, “The fire is in someone else’s house - that’s why I won’t act.” It won’t take long for the fire to spread to your house.

There are 10 types of conflicts that can arise this year. The first one is doubt. Doubt could be self-doubt, amongst people, nations and religions. When you are aware of a doubt unfolding, then you know that it will pass. It is only a matter of time.

This year, people who meditate have a dual responsibility. Not only do we have to maintain our steadfastness but also help others who are in trouble. This is the right time to get into knowledge, service and devotion. The first thought in our minds should be: ‘I want to gain self-realisation.’

God is all-permeating. It is truth, beauty, consciousness. When God is inside you and in everyone, why can’t the individual experience it? There are 5 reasons:

1. Ignorance
2. Ego
3. Craving
4. Aversion
5. Fear

When these five aspects disappear, then you are moving towards divinity.

In this New Year, observe yourself: Has your ignorance reduced? Recollect the time when you did your first part one programme and advanced progamme:

Has ignorance reduced?

Have you become more natural?

Are you able to take insults?

Are you able to smile when others are frowning at you?

Has your fear reduced?

If not, meditate more. You will find that these aspects will reduce. Meditation, pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya, padmasadhana and seva will reduce these five aspects and bring you closer to knowledge.

The difference between God and an ordinary life is that these five aspects are absent in God. In an intelligent person, these aspects are present in small proportion. A foolish man has them dominant in his character.

Gauge each year by observing how much these five aspects have reduced. You will find that there has been definite progress.

Love,

Pramod

Karma and Everything is happening

Somebody asked Guruji, "We say everything is happening then what about our karma?"
Guruji replied, "The basis of our karma are thoughts, thoughts don't generate inside us, they automatically come, we have no control over them. So, our karmas are all happening.

But, a person who does sadhana, to him less vikalpas come against a thought, so his action on the thoughts are straight, but one who does not, many vikalpas keep coming to him. So one walks straight and the other walks obstructed, but both walk."

Jai Gurudev!
Shabari

RishiVidyadharjis titbits

When you are faced with a difficult situation, say "Wow!"; that will bring you in the NOW; and then you will know HOW to handle it :-)

But if you say, "Why?", you will keep doing "Hai hai" :-(

Jai Gurudev

Gyan Yagya by Rishi Nityapragyaji:OFS! Prem may Bane Raho

I just attended a week long Gyan Yagya by Rishij Nityapragyaji which was indeed a journey from the material outer world to the deepest core of our self!! I will be sharing some of the knowledge which he gave us in the Yagya.

This whole consciousness is made up of 5 elements ( earth, water, fire, air and ether) and it has 3 Gunas ( satva, rajas and tamas) and 3 Doshas ( vata, pitta and kafa). In this universal consciousness we are all small jeevas which has taken this present form after having a continuous journey from thousands of years. This life consists of all events and these events have two parts, one is the outer world which includes people, situation and objects and second is the inner world which consists of mind, intellect, memory and ego. What we perceive in the outer world is the reflection of the inner world into the outer world. The quality of our life completely depends upon the state of the inner world.

The inner world has two types of tendencies, clishta ( which pulls oneself down) and aclishta( which uplifts one self). To maintain the blissful inner world its necessary to get rid of the clishta tendencies (Rishiji had asked us to make list of our own clishta and aclishta tendencies). There is a three point formula to do this. Observe, Filter and Surrender(OFS). Observe the inner world, with the help of intelligence filter the clista and aclishta tendencies, and finally take a deep breath in, remember Guruji and with an outgoing breath surrender the clishta tendencies. This requires a practice. ( Rishiji advised to practice it regularly, may be at the start we may take help of alarms to remember ourself to do so!)

There are 6 enemies which distorts the love within the inner world, they are Kama, Krodha, Moha( attachment to the people), Lobha( attachment to the objects), Mada( feeling of me, mine),Matsar( jealousy or feeling good if someone is suffering). These are all the negative or clishta tendencies of the inner world. If you are Prem may ( nature of the inner world) then these enemies are not there and if you want to get rid of these enemies you need to be Prem may! Use OFS to maintain or to return to your Prem may state of the inner world! To use OFS you need to have CIC!! You need to have a Commitment to be Prem may, sharp Intelligence to filter the tendencies and Connection with Guruji! ( Connection becomes more strong with Shraddha and Shraddha can be increased only by praying to have it more!!)

Love,

Jai Gurudev!

Pramod.

Five steps to get out of suffering - Sri Sri @ Kolkata, 14th Feb, 2009

1. First, you have to understand the time you are in.

2. Secondly, do some Yoga and Sadhana. Yoga will stop bad things from happening in your life.

3. Thirdly, think that you have overcome many a problem in your life and will eventually also overcome the problem causing your suffering.

4. Next, you must understand that there are people whose suffering is much worse than yours. Put yourself in the seva of that person.

5. Finally, have complete faith in nature’s law no suffering is perpetual. Suffering will come and go.

There are two modes you can be in: Participating and Witnessing.
We apply both wrongly and end up being unhappy.

You must participate in joy and witness suffering.


Whenever there is happiness, participate no matter whose happiness it is. When there is suffering, observe it. But what we generally do is that we only participate in suffering, whosoever’s it is. But when there is real cause of happiness, we become its mere witness.

Love & Jai Gurudev
Saleel

Rishi Vidyadharji - Uthte Baithte

Yesterday evening, Rishi Vidyadharji came to Delhi and left today morning for conducting the Art of Living Part 2 course in Jalandhar, which will culminate in Mahashivratri celebration. Ram and Kapil had the fortune of spending the evening with him. Sharing from the knowledge that flowed from the Rishi, who we admire so much.

Q. What is enlightenment?
A: Enlightenment is doing trivial things. Enlightenment is letting go, like a child. Choti choti baate karne se badi cheeze hasil hoti hai means when you do the small things you get big results. For e.g. your parents/school teachers taught you to read/write and learn the tables etc., and so you have the educational qualification that you have today.

Q. Too many thoughts and cravings come to my mind. How do I handle this?
A: Two prominent things that influence the mind are food that you eat and the company you keep. Sadhana, satsang and seva lead to perfecion at 3 levels:
a. Sadhana purifies the thoughts and feelings
b. Satsang purifies and cultures your speech
c. Seva brings perfection in action

Q. Rishiji, you look tired today!
A: How can I be tired? Because I am just a witness, I don't do anything.

Q. We are organizing The March Against Corruption and Terrorism on 1 Mar at Parliament Street, Delhi. How should we increase our speed and effectiveness in reaching out to more youth and enrolling them for the event? We are not happy with the results we have got so far.
A: Do you guys sit up till late in the night?...haa ...see thats not a good habit. What do you do till so late in the night? Discusions, planning? Why do you plan so much? Everything is already planned. You just have to do it! And whatever you plan in the night, will most likely not work out. Night time is not auspicious for making plans/sankalpas. Always do planning in the morning. Its more shubh (auspicious).

Q. Yoga Vasistha emphasizes a lot on self-effort. So if everything is planned then what should our effort be?
A: You effort is to keep the mind in the present moment.

Rishiji said your entire focus should be on increasing your satva. Satva badhao.

And while Ram and Kapil were soaking in the Rishi's presence, I was enjoying being a witness to Bawa answering questions by some IIT Delhi YesPlus students at our adda (A1-266 Safdarjung Enclave, South Delhi) of the The March core organizing team. Ya ya, I know you would like to defnitely hear what Bau said. You will see it soon on my blog.

Love & Jai Gurudev
Saleel

One line SHLOKA to get centered

Contributed by my friend Meenu: nunu_76@rediffmail.com
Jai Gurudev,
Saleel
www.themarch.in

Hello Everyone :-)

Just wanted to share this with u all..
I was listening to one of Guruji's talk Secret of Secrets....
In this talk, Guruji said:
Krishna said to Arjuna the following shloka and Guruji said we should keep this shloka in mind and even memorise it..
When Guruji said it for the first time, i could not remember the entire shloka but when he explained part by part, its not easy to forget it :-)

Anityam Asukham Lokam Imam Prapyam Bhajsamah :-)

Anityam: World is not permanent but we live as though it is permanent and as though we are going to live forever..

Asukham: World is not pleasurable. It is not bliss. If you look for joy in it, there will be craving for it and this will lead to misery...

So Anityam Asuhkham Lokam (world)

Imam Prapyam: Having attained this knowledge, Bhajsamah (remember me).... remember me means divine (not me :-))

So whenever you are miserable, just say, "oh!! i forgot Anityam Asukham Lokam Imam Prapyam Bhajsamah" and you immediately come to the centre...!

:-))))

Jai Gurudev
Love
Meenu
P.s. Now easy to remember? :-)