Q: How important is prana (life force energy)? One, of course, is it gives life. How does one improve one’s prana?

Guruji: Prana is present in everything. In fact, we are floating in air, in prana, an ocean of prana. When the unit of expression varies, it makes a difference. Stones have got one unit of prana. Water has got two units of prana. Fire has got three units of prana. Air has got four units of prana. Plants have got five units of prana. Animals have got six units of prana. Human beings are capable of holding from seven to 16 units of prana. The expression of prana is the whole universe. When prana is lower than one, that’s when you feel depressed. When prana goes further low then you feel suicidal. When prana is normal, you feel normal. When prana is higher, you feel enthusiastic. When prana is very high, you feel energetic and blissful. That is why when people are depressed, low just giving counseling doesn’t work, what needs to be done is to raise the level of prana. When prana is high there is joy, vibrancy, understanding. When prana is low, then the mind starts complaining, depression, lethargy, suicidal tendencies arise. All is play and display of prana.

Q: There are so many attractions and distractions but still youth are so bored?

Guruji: Youth are bored and it’s their fortune. If the

y were satisfied, then growth would have stopped. When they are bored, then the quest comes in them. They are not satisfied with the things available around. And this is the stage when they can take a step to look within, a leap in their inner journey, a step towards spirituality. And interest in higher growth gets kindled, when you are bored with things around. When you find the source of joy within, then obviously everything around is also reflecting the same source of joy, then you find interest in everything. Continuous bombardment of senses by stimuli can cause inertia. Inertia is boredom, is a form of boredom. Again, when prana level goes up, you move from inertia to enthusiasm.

Q: Why does the Divine answer and reward some while the prayers of others go unanswered?

Guruji: Well, I don’t know why some prayers get answered and some are not. I have no idea. Perhaps it is good for you. Perhaps you may change your mind about what you want. People go for shopping - this often happens at least in India - go for shopping and ask shopkeeper, ‘Can I come later and exchange it if I don’t like it?’

They go home and don’t like it and get it exchanged the next day. The most unreliable thing you have is your own mind because you don’t know what it likes and when it doesn’t like that. That is why bringing mind to its source is so important. Its centeredness is the most important thing in spiritual evolution. Understanding what is transient and what is permanent, what brings you permanent joy and what causes temporary convenience and long term misery, what causes temporary discomfort and permanent joy and what causes long term discomfort? That is what is called viveka, discrimination, wisdom – knowing this from that.

Guruji says"That is why when people are depressed, low just giving counseling doesn’t work, what needs to be done is to raise the level of prana. "

In our last YES+ course 22nd-25th Jan there was a 18 year old student who had contemplated suicide. From her face no one could ever say that what was going on inside her.After the Yes+ course she blossomed like a flower and was filled with energy and enthusiasm,all ready to share her happiness with the whole world.The techniques taught in the YES+ course helps in raising the prana level of a student,helping him over come his stresses and pains.

Kunal Mehta a Yes+ graduate shares his poem.

Before YES!+


अपने इरादों में उलझ जाता हु मैं
बहुत से रास्ते देख, डग मगा जाता हु मैं

चंचल मनं को संभाल नहीं पाता हु मैं
हवा के झोकों को तूफ़ान समझ, डर जाता हु मैं

वक़्त की कीमत भूल जाता हु मैं
उससे व्यर्थ कर पछताता हु मैं

सपने है मोती की तरह मेरे
उन्हें माला नहीं बना पाता हु मैं.


After YES!+


रास्ते की चट्टानों को तोड़ के दिखा,
मुश्किल के पहाड़ पर चढ़ कर दिखा

कदम उठा जहाँ मंजिल है तेरी,
अँधेरे में दिया बनकर तू दिखा

टेढ़े रास्ते दिखाने वाले बहुत मिलेंगे,
उन रास्तों पे सीधा चल कर तू दिखा!

Jai Gurudev! :)

The Five interesting Stages of Volunteering

The Five interesting Stages of Volunteering.

In the past 10 years of my life in the Art of living organization I have observed that the Life of an Art of living volunteer mostly goes through a few stages described below.

1st Stage is what I call as the ENTHUSIASM (or New born Baby ) stage- This person has just experienced Kriya and completed the course ,he feels elevated and High to go and share his experience with everyone. He feels like new born baby, ready to transform the world with his knowledge. His AOL teachers are like God for him and the volunteer’s are like angels. He wants to be like them.

2nd Stage is the LEARNING stage- He shortly realizes that there is more to learn than he thinks because his/hers enthusiasm is not being taken very enthusiastically by people of his world. So he becomes a perfect student. Ready to listen and do what his mentors want to teach.

3rd Stage is called the GRACE stage- This is the Best stage, when the volunteer experiences Guru’s Grace flow through him. He is in a constant state of wonder about how nice he feels while doing seva . When people actually listen to him with open ears ,and words which he has no clue of come out of his mouth. He feels on cloud nine when he sees a person he registered sitting on a course and thanks him for it.This feeling keeps growing as others start complimenting him and look up to him like a hero.

There are 2 kinds of people in the Art of living

1st are Those who have gone through the 3rd stage

2nd are Those who haven’t

For the 2nd kinds I have an advice, You are missing the most elevating experience of life. So quickly join the 1st category.

4th Stage is called the SVS (Senior Volunteer syndrome)stage- At this stage suddenly the “New Star” starts hallucinating. He in his own mind has imagined a position for himself and thinks himself superior now .He /she feels like a King or a lion/Lioness. You will generally hear such sentences from a SVS patient

‘ You know, when I give intro talks everyone listens”

or

“It’s a small talk ask a new volunteer to give it, I just give BIG talks”

or

”When I sing in satsangs people go so deep”

or

“In my last talk every single person registered, my talks are the best”

or

“You know, Bawa and Dinesh know me by my name”

or

“You know Guruji personally told me to sit on a TTC”

or

“For me a TTC is just a formality, I am ready to teach”

etc etc.

They have an air of authority around them and whenever they find a Bakra they grab their change to exhibit there seniority.

This stage can last Really Really long in one’s career in the Art of Living.

I think at this stage Master is having fun watching the show as he lets it continue for as long as he wants, until the 5th stage comes.

5th and the final stage is the Great Fall – One day you open your eyes to find that now you are in Ethiopia (A place where your existence means nothing more than a dust particle). No one knows you or your qualities here. And the harder you try the further you move from your goal of creating an identity in this place. This is the Great fall. Until you realize fully that you are only an instrument in the hands of the Master and he is the director of the whole show he keeps cooking you.

Our Master makes sure that we do not get stuck in any false identities and only aim for the highest and keeps giving us such experiences.

He is himself the epitome of humility and that’s for us to learn from. He even feels the thirst of a plant ,so very sensitive he is. His message of love is moving this world and as his messengers the 1st and foremost for us is to learn to be humble , polite , sensitive and loving to all.

If we have these qualities and none other, we are eligible to represent him but if the above are missing I think we missed the boat.

I shared the above with the volunteers in our weekly satsang .Both Siddharth and Virat suggested that I share with you. Hope you like it. Please comment☺

Vasudha.

Bad Antogast (31st Dec'09-1st Jan'10)

As promised some snapshots exclusively from SJ's(Sids) personal album just for you, straight from the German Ashram.

Even nature seemed to be celebrating the divine's presence

German Ashram -A home away from home.

The coolest Hero on the planet:)

Dont miss the cap.Super cool is'nt he?

And the celebrations continue....

A very Happy New Year to all our readers:)

In service

VJ