Moments so Far ...

Volunteer for a Better India ( VFABI ) is a project for making a difference to our neighborhood, our country and above all to one's self. It is a Citizen's Action Plan. Old and young, rich and poor, urban and slum dwellers, school/college students, Corporate and Business Community, NGOs, RWAs, Hospitals, Leaders from Art, Culture, Music, Literature, Theatre would have an opportunity to participate. This initiative invites you to  Give 1 Hour to the Nation . Choose any Activity that you think will make a difference, under any of the 6 Themes -  Environment,  Education,  De addiction,  Girl Child and Women's Safety,  Senior Citizens and  Good Governance/ Voice against Corruption. VFABI is officially getting launched on  3rd feb in Delhi .  You can register  online  at  http://www.vfabi.org OR  via SMS  SMS  to 8080801010 vfabi Email NameSu rname and like this  page ...

Q> What is satsang? Left brain is logic. When people ask questions and Guru replies knowledge then it exercises the left brain. Right brain is thought. When people sing the same single song together as a group, a union of emotions and rhythm happens which lifts the spirits, makes you feel lighter. Sometimes the energy takes over. भाव मैं ऊर्जा भावी हो जाती है और वातावरण मैं तरेंगे उत्पन करती है, कुछ लोग कुछ अवस्था मैं बैठ जाते हैं जो समझ मैं नहीं आती है, यह उनको भी पता नहीं होता की उनके साथ क्या हो रहा है। Q> What would you be if you had not started Art of Living? If I were a cook then I would give 100% to it. Whatever else I would have been I would have given 100% to it. Be it any profession. Whatever profession I would have been I would have given 100% ? Q> I want to acquire all knowledge in world. What is the best way? You cannot get into depth of all. You cannot know Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and all at the same time in depth. It is not possible for us ...

His neck was bruised with all night struggle He ignored the pain to break the bondage futile attempts to set him free he was taken away from his mother they said he was infant easier to separate his eyes filled with tears eyelids had dried tears with humans around now he will only develop fear thick rope in neck pains his hurt only stays there trunk stretched to be fed by mahout hands washed and bathed in the Tunga visitors take photo kids say he is cute pity his conditions wonder his blood clots rest of Suryas family stood there near each other as exhibits in museum with name and age to disclose to curious visitors To pass some money from visitors to mahout hands in exchange put trunk  on their heads apparently a blessing from the cursed elephants for humans only care to domesticate the beast of wild freedom now slave to human brain ---- Met Surya at  Sakrebyle Elephant Camp, Shivmoga, Karnataka. Will YOU do somethi...

With a cushion in hand slipping below me As I squatted bent down to sit my eyes went for HIM HE was in nadi shodhan The other eye covered in the shadow of palm the one eyed SAINT looked deep into me HIS eyelids fluttered eyes rolling up the look pierced through me My movement stopped my glance was stuck HIS eyelids shut My eyes closed the rudra puja chantings had already begun Body lost Mind went down ages Outlines of emotions people and situations the sam veda chants took consciousness further away uncharted territories sometimes familiar om namah shivaye brought back the life to its present moment monday morning blues were set to begin Eyes went locking HIM with stare Every movement noticed Every gesture followed And then the eyelids seemed to move opened to give a glimpse the intense look sharpened something within just a fraction open with immense power HIS eyes went shut again Opened and closed a few times now only loo...

We are concluding another art of living part 1 course at RBI Layout, center. Thank you, one and all. I will be updating this blog with more updates, so keep coming back. Here are some videos. Here are some photos. Enjoy Sudarshan kriya. Have a fulfilling life. 

जल्दी उठो जल्दी हगो जल्दी मुंह साफ़ करो जल्दी स्नान जल्दी कपडे पहना करो जल्दी नास्ता जल्दी बस्ता भागो नहीं तो गाड़ी निकल जाएगी जल्दी बदलो कपडे जल्दी खाओ कुछ जल्दी जाओ खेलने जल्दी ट्यूशन जल्दी होम वर्क जल्दी रात का खाना जल्दी सो जाओ कल फिर जल्दी उठना है जल्दी मरो फिर जल्दी जिन्दा होना है इस भाग दौड़ मैं फिर चूहा बनना है

Swerving left swinging right sometimes down sometimes high the swift on four wheels was flying high even at eighty it seemed a stroll we were all eager to reach home the sun was hiding slowly on the horizon on my right open fields clear blue skies endless sight then the road rise on an incline no vision of other side from the corner of my eyes Saw him sitting as if beside remorseless focused only on overtake two cars on my right stunned, i gasped how did i miss the heads on collide then on on every high with no vision on other side I was honking mad to discourage ugly overtakes grateful to the grace of the divine the family survives another reason to be on art of living the path kept us alive

BESCOM (The electricity utility service provider for Bangalore) has recently changed policy to receive the bills. They have a full fledged office behind Brigade gardenia where they were receiving electricity bills till November 2012. I stood in queue to pay bill in December 2012 for more than an hour. The electricity was not there (Yes, in the electricity office ) and therefore the queue was not moving. They did not have backup power to run a simple computer to receive bill. Finally, when my turn the lady service agent, smiled and said, we don't receive bills anymore here, you have to go to their base sub-station provider namely division S6. So the 1000 plus households of Brigade Gardenia and many more in neighborhood now have to go to JP Nagar 1st phase office or seek alternatives. I went to their recently launched website which asked for account ID on BESCOM bill, I found none so could not register and pay online. So, my research i...

You come to me to say You lost the fire You lost the zeal You forgot Deep within the fire is eternally lit covered in ash our visions are blurred what we grab just burns Some satisfy the fire of taste and touch fire to see and hear that does not last long as you have known from own experience and history Greatest of all is the fire to dissolve the desire the lust the fury may look difficult to achieve pause to see in meditation you can feel,  touch breathe, smell gently as you become the fire your destiny listen... deep within the fire is a soft melody let the wind blow away the ash of ignorance, ego for the fire will glow forever and more You are fire a lamp long lit feel the warmth get insight what you see is not what you have become You are fire Move like one Dissolve differences burn small egos let all the selves you touch along enlighten, enflame in pure love unconditional, grace

Many have asked how to get the long sudarshan kriya tape.  Many want to blossom in this lifetime itself. Many want to know their true potential and self.  Many simply want to give back to society. Many just like to give. Many want to get enlightened. Many ask what sudarshan kriya is. So, if you are one of the many then follow the guideline below This is a 18 step guide. Do Sahaj Samadhi meditation course. Do a Art of Living Part 1 course. Practice Sudarshan Kriya regularly followed by Sahaj Samadhi. Do a Art of Living Part 2 course. Practice Sudarshan Kriya regularly and keep applying locks and Sahaj Mantra. Do a Art of Living DSN (Divya Samaj Ka Nirman) course. Listen to Ashtavakra knowledge tapes/CDs from  +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar  ji ( G uruji). Listen to Patanjali yogasutras knowledge tapes/CDs from  G uruji. Listen to Narada bhaktisutras knowledge tapes/CDs from  G uruji. Attend weekly followup regularly at a art of living ...

Where is all the water going? Today, saw tankers lining up in front of Brigade Gardenia, an apartment enclave in JP 3 waiting outside gardenia been there for a while another has been releasing water for a while now another comes in from nowhere What can you do to bring back water back into your life? How have you misused and wasted water today? How have you used the water today? Water for your children. Who cares?

Story begins in 2012. Payback will expire your accumulated points if unused for three years. I learnt it the hard way. So you better know it. Around 20th Dec 2012 , we decided to redeem about some points. After years of regular credit card billing and petrol pump updates we had some points to boast of. I thought of gift to the spouse, when you gift with points you don't peel the pinch of money leaving your wallet. The idea was good and the intention was right. Christmas and new year were on the horizon. Payback site has limited options for duvets, initial choice. Then we searched their partners and found futurebazaar.in interesting. So, redeemed the points for a Titan watch. Christmas came and went. New year came and went. Now lets talk about 2013. Roughly, around 7th January. I called payback.in customer center to have an idea of what's happening. They take the mobile number during the call and then ask for verification again. I argued why you were wastin...

It has been a collaborative effort from both  BSNL(Government led telecom giant in India) and SBI (State Bank Of India) to cause hassle to pay their landline and broadband bill. SBI had a nice feature to make online payments for utilities like electricity and phone. I was using it for a long time. Once they delayed payment of electricity bill (BESCOM) and BESCOM promptly cut the electricity disregarding years of timely payments and loyalty. Anyways, with lot of effort and a little pain the BESCOM guys did turn up late in night at about 11 PM to fix the line, I ended up paying the bill three times over three different mediums. On top of that, they were asking money for chai-pani , a common term for corrupted officials to get extra payments. Recently, the their office in RBI layout has stopped taking payments from 1000 plus residents of Brigade Gardenia. They were able to take payments till last months, now we have to find the nearest Bangalore one center or go to BESC...

Trees are moving gently to the breeze Chairs are waiting for parents to seat Playground's corner is marked in white a sports day of local Montessori Traffic is rushing left right onto the street Towering eucalyptus going into the sky big apartment complexes covering the blue sky A city landscape is more and more buildings and streets Teachers are beaming waiting for games to start little toddlers coming in caretakers arms Parents have already said Goodbye as Papa has business meeting Mama needs to treat the house maid The Aya and the kid will only be on the sports fields listen to the first cut

भगवान् को पूजा की जरूरत नहीं उसने तो बहाना दिया है तुम्हे दिया जलाने का माहोल बनाने का घर संसार मैं उत्साह उमंग लाने का तुम्हारे घर उसके चित्रों की प्रदर्शनी न हो ओर ऐसा भी न हो कि  घर मैं स्थान ही न हो बस एक दो ही सही स्वछ और सुन्दर स्थान पर हो ऐसे भी नहीं की सिर्फ दिवाली को दिया जले और दो इंची धूल साफ़ हो घर मैं दिन मैं एक बार दिया जले तो संस्कार बनते हैं वहाँ बच्चे भी गुणवान और उत्साहित हुआ करते हैं आने जाने वाले भी एक वीरान घर मैं नहीं एक उत्सव मैं रुका करते हैं एक दिया की दिवाली हो कुछ फूलों की माला हो हलकी सी रंगोली जीवन मैं रंग और उमंग भरती है ध्यान सबसे बड़ी अर्चना है लेकिन थोड़ी बहुत पूजा भी घर मैं उत्सव बयान करती है ----------------------------------------- Inspired by talk by +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   ji during satsang at +The Art of Living   international ashram at kanakpura road, bangalore on 12th January 2013. Every day we have satsang from 6:30-8PM at ashram except on sunday from 4:30...

किस मन्त्र का  कब कहाँ और कैसे उच्चारण हो यह जानना जरूरी है आजकल तो शादी मैं श्राद का श्राद मैं शादी का मन्त्र पड़ा करते हैं यह पंडित यजमान के schedule मैं  fit हुआ करते हैं नारी को नर का नर को नारी का गुण बयान करते हैं ऐसी शादियाँ और शव इन पंडितों से भगा करती हैं तुम भी थोडा शरीर हिलायो डुलाओ न ज्यादा अल्सायो हर उत्सव या गम मैं सही मंत्रों वाला पंडित ढूँढ कर लाओ आर्ट ऑफ़ लिविंग की वैदिक पाठशाला मैं आओ और देखो पंडित कैसे बना करते थे और हैं खुद भी थोडा सीखो थोडा सबको समझाओ अपने मन को भी मंत्रों स्नान कराओ जो समां है उसके भाव मैं जाओ  --------------------------------------- Inspired by talk by +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar    ji during satsang at +The Art of Living   international ashram at kanakpura road, bangalore on 12th January 2013. Every day we have satsang from 6:30-8PM at ashram except on sunday from 4:30-6PM

तुम सद्गुणों की खान हो दुर्गुण तो सिर्फ राख है जो ऊपर से तुम्हे ढंके हैं निरंतर साधना फूं करती है राख उड़ाने को फिर तुम्हे दिखाने को वो छिपे अंगारे जो हर दिल मैं छिपा करते हैं बस थोडा सा ध्यान थोडा सा इंतज़ार निरंतर , रोजाना थोड़ी सी सेवा थोडा सा सत्संग सफा करती हैं दुर्गुणों की राख को बयां करती है सद्गुणों की दास्तान जैसे हवा तो सब जगह होती है पर आश्रम मैं वातानुकूलित होती है ठंडक देती है ठहराव देती है कम्पन घबराहट को रोकती हैं बेचैन मन को दिशा देती है भावों को केन्द्रित करती है ऊर्जा,उत्साह देती स्फूर्ति हमें साधना आश्रम मैं कभी कभी साधना संसार मैं रोजाना खुदी को खुदा तक स्वार्थ को अपनेपन तक मुर्दा को जिंदा तक धीरे धीरे मिलाया करती है साधना मुझे मुझसे मिला रही है कुछ कुछ ही सही पर रोजाना ---------------------------------- Inspired by talk by  +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar  ji during satsang at Art of living internation ashram at kanakpura road, bangalore on 12th January 2013.

A thread that connects makes me universal and universal mine is  +The Art of Living but for many its alien concept so we bring all isms patriotism,nationalism volunteer for better india volunteer for your neighborhood volunteer for better america volunteer for better australia volunteer for better africa now you too can become a nationalist, localist, anylist a chance for you to stretch your hands clean your lands address the issues that bother humanity at ground level you change you take responsibility to make current affairs issues a reality of past history all you need to do is give one hour instead of gossip and despair touch hearts and uplift lives it really takes very little to make a landslide so go out reach out shake off your fears and now shake your hands with your neighborhood ------------------------------------------------ The official site is http://www.vfabi.org/ , do not get carried away by spammers with similarly na...

भगवान् आंगन मैं बंद हैं पट खोलो झरोखा देखो मन आने दो हवा को सींचे मन पलट के नज़रें देखो मन इधर उधर नहीं भीतर  अन्दर झुकी नज़र उठती पल सामने बैठें हैं अभी इधर भगवान् अन्दर फिर क्यों खोजे हैं भटके मन गुजर न जायें बीतें पल सारे के सारे बिखरें क्षण एक मिलन की आस मैं बैठें हैं लेके भीगी पलकें बेचैन मन हर पल तत्पर तत्पर तत्पर

So much have passed So much have happened Life has been a routine running through thick and thin mundane Time has flew Moments have passed I was glued to events outside Ignored the rhythm closed the heart searched for fun spent outside Another day of great rush Why dont you try? Learn simple breathing and meditation techniques Interrupted, paused a soft rhythmic breath sudarshan kriya blew me apart unlearning had begun She touched and whispered gently from the heart I am evernew, ancient here and now flowing through in and out Notice me and you will see deep secrets life mysteries unravelled, revealed Another Sahaj Meditation sitting created moments to marvel and intrigue flowing with gentle stream exploring on gentle adventure exploding jolts of energies A vacation of bliss and rest active unending eternal courtesy my simple breath Now I can breathe Life is no more a full stop

praying mantis - [ Source ] P ing pong ball R ising across green A ttacked or defended Y ielded sometimes I nto the middle of bat N ot going anywhere G ood match M esmerized, the swinging head A nticipating the next swing N either defense nor attack T ill the last point I n win or loss S tood like GOD

Sing along with plate full of rice a little spoon and 100% smile start --------------- chew chew chew mama chew pari chew papa chew chew chew chew open your mouth spoon full of rice floats on the tongue chew chew chew mama chew pari chew papa chew chew chew chew open your mouth spoon full of rice floats on the tongue chew chew chew mama chew pari chew papa chew chew chew chew ----------- repeat - till you are satisfied that the child is overfed !! --- have a glimpse of rendition - I know your  attempt will be better than mine

Its simple. Just work on your संकल्प शक्ति ( roughly translated as thought power). I know you got it. Now, How do you develop your संकल्प शक्ति? Its simple. Just get into a spiritual path and focus on it, single path, single vision. Now, you would want to know which path will cross lines? Its simple. +The Art of Living Now, they say success is not overnight. It took 10 years to reach the morning when overnight success happened. So where do the 10 years of life go. Here's the step by step guide. Do a Art of Living Part 1 course. Practice Sudarshan Kriya regularly. Do a Art of Living Part 2 course. Practice Sudarshan Kriya regularly and keep applying locks. Do a Art of Living DSN (Divya Samaj Ka Nirman) course. Listen to Ashtavakra knowledge tapes/CDs from  +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar  ji. Attend weekly followup regularly.  Volunteer and organize courses in your neighborhood. You need the energy of others who come into the path DUE to you. Its a...

Thank you Brigade gardenia apartments owners association and officials from BBMP for organizing the Aadhar Card Enrollment drive at brigade gardenia. I think you can also request them to do same at your apartment enclave or layout. Its free unlike the time when the drive to collect property tax is organized by some officials BBMP wherein they collect self-service fees. Day 1 I went there in the afternoon. There were few people in the queue so took the form, asked a few as is this the only requirement and they said yes. Then in the evening, armed with filled forms entered BMS hall (where the drive is currently stationed), the verification official said I needed a token. I stood in the queue from 4:45PM and this was told at 5:10PM. Went inside requesting for token. Another replied in Kannada, I said please explain in Hindi/English. He passed on the enquiry to another. In sincere, broken Hindi he said token cannot be given as it was already 5.  Then he said you ...

Whenever you go to a conference you get doubts. Questions like the following arise Will it be worth the drive? Will I learn something new? What will be the quality of speakers? Can time be spent in something more useful?  But still the open mind pushes you along and tells Just go and chill If nothing more you will breathe the ashram air So I do arrive on a beautiful Sunday morning wading through the kanakpura traffic. There were few traffic snarls as one bully mini-truck brushed the back of a poor motor biker. At the ashram gate, waving the teachers card, swooned inside. After lots of pain and with support from spouse and kids I found the printers power cord. The invitation to the international bloggers conference was printed. At Vishalaksmi Mantap, the reception simply ignored the printout and waved for me to jump in inside. +Khurshed Batliwala  (Bawa from here on) was already on the stage. I just dropped the body and glued m...

When the world sleeps snoring in contrast to the chirping birds with tonnes of alcohol down the throat giving excuse of new years eve drunk and lost some in gutter some on street some good souls carry them home some ugly ones get together and gang rape the refreshing new year sun's rays seek sober human souls They can only trickle through rotten streets and curtained window panes only the rarest few are up and awake embracing the sun soaking in the fresh morning chill in the new years morning ==== inspired by HH  +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar  during the interaction at INTERNATIONAL BLOGGER’S CONFERENCE   in response to his poem THE NEW YEAR . Thank you @ijustconnect #AOLIBC

Even the snakes have tongues to spit venom lure  lust The snake hood flashes in the eyes before the blink strikes and blinds slowly taking away the moment of life In some lifetime when he had pride oozing with venom spitting left and right now the cycle reversed pride crushed by recurrent moments when the chest goes tight throat chokes navel wrenches inside to cause him tongue tied Even the नील कंठ has venom that neither goes to heart nor comes out in words is eternally held back Some days the mind is light and the sun is warm he raises the hood and slithers outside wading through green grass bathing through melting dews with human name and might A dead wood falls simply from the sky his head sinks into the dirt another moment of disappearing life 

One smile Some smile with insight lost in their world Some smile with out-sight wondering at the world around Some smile to pinch Some to spread pure delight Some just smiles known sometimes as mysterious smiles hidden smiles or crazy smiles An expression of God is just a smile effortless endless Its only when you hold it back that fist clench and jaws jam let it flow so that you glow in serene basking the warmth of smile

Pure white the water falls near sringeri in the western ghats the road is thin the scenery is thick lush green tropical sometimes engulf sometimes on right sometimes on left sometimes the plains stretch on both sides Few little steps take you near loud noises and lots of cheer Your heart thumps to हर हर महादेव !! बस शिव की पुकार हुए जाये बारम्बार The white spread inviting clear the clothes drop shamelessly the body rushes civilization just crushes embraces the mighty waterfall Thundering on the back a gentle massage few trickles pour into the mouth divine taste The hand on eyes protecting the shine as eyes go up to catch a glimpse of all whites roaring streams of waterfall What was perceived as cold and calculated is utter bliss and delight the body soaked the mind clear the steps are heavy as you clear away from the waterfall A longing look dragging feet another glimpse heart stops moment still Its all...

In the beginning there was open space open air and clear eyes Then the mud formed the bricks the bricks stacked first in front then on all sides Vision blurred Ugly walls needed cover an idea called paint was born The muddy bricks, hid only the bright colors, lit The imagination was happy She worked hard toiled day and night held the family threads tight He was overboard pointing mistakes, galore The lights are not off The remote is on sofa The tap is leaking and faking colors as his protectors I am white and spotless proclaimed he. You are tainted and unclean I am sensitive and sensible You just live in your own world endless tirade , went on for a while Until the head banged the wall removed the paint and exposed the wall the bricks were his and were hardened stone He paused and gained insight Into the world of walls that he had built separated and aloof cornered and tensed his nerves convulsed searching for the Master He gained so...

He said yellow She said no She recalled something some years ago He tried to build a relationship between that and now He said white She said no She smirked and smiled He felt dumb said a little prayer He said violet She said no She got up and went to other room He thought hard Put on a simpleton smile and gathered courage to say, Is it black? By now the eyes had welled and request to leave alone was floating in the air He was clueless but he cared He scratched the corners of his brain to find something new and came out with blue. Her body shivered The convulsions real She went to the restroom His heart fluttered wondering about the next moment What could happen? What could not happen? The darkest hour and half felt like eternity His heart was heavy and still there was no clue The guesses were over the restroom was over now was the time for silence a little introspection a little ignorance two worlds in between the same walls pai...

The night went by The dances subside The ear deafening loudspeakers went quite Only few plates chairs and the stage leftovers from modern civilized enclave dwellers were scattered around Aho!! A loud thud of voice Coming back with breakfast in hand I woke up to see two elderly women beside the fountain One hand was up and waving other was somber and quiet I followed her gaze It went past me sensed two more elderly women behind They smiled HAPPY NEW YEAR!! came the scream piercing through the wind a spontaneous smile spread over my wings The ladies behind reciprocated to the ladies ahead They must be in eighties or could be more but still they welcomed the new year with aplomb and gaiety Each day is a new beginning for them and us Sun brings new rays The wind is fresh Every moment is born anew Every moment dies too soon Does not matter if we are young or old we are anew and ancient too Welcoming you all to a new beginning 2012 d...