Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living it Up.
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Even Gandhi waited for Tagore to confirm on him the title `Mahtama', however Indian Guru's don't need any such validations. Shankar went ahead and honored himself with the two Sri's.
( Ten years or so ago I spent a day with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and his followers on a road trip from Delhi to Agra. I wrote a tongue- in- cheek story on the high-flying lifestyle of Sri Sri who advocates `simple living’ to those who flock to him. Until the article was published I had not imagined his followers would be so intolerant of any criticism of their Guru. Industrialist Rahul Bajaj, an ardent Shankar devotee, and a major advertiser of my paper called the owner to complain. Is it any wonder then that interviews of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar are usually adulatory? Thankfully for me, my editor stood by the story. P.s. To put it in today’s context, I have made slight modifications in the original story)
“Guruji takes care of everything. You just come” says a middle-aged voice over the phone inviting you to the CII delegation at Agra where Art of Living Founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is to give a concluding lecture.
The bus leaves at 9am and the devotees saunter in the lawns and foyer of a sprawling farmhouse in Gurgoan (a Delhi surburb) where the Guru is staying. Amidst chants of Jai Gurudev- the greeting the disciples exchange on meeting each other- you try and pick the voice of the lady on the phone. “Hi , I am Maureen Motwani” she appears suddenly.
She says she is not sure when the bus leaves for Agra. “With Guruji one cannot say what might happen the next moment”, she says ominously. And apropos of nothing adds, ” I was Miss India. Did you know that”?.
Indeed, the devotees thronging the plush bungalow are mostly has-been beauty queens, aging socialites, media barons and stressed out CEO’s of companies- the latter having facilitated Ravi Shanker’s address to the CII delegates.
After a long wait, pregnant with expectations and emotions (few women weep with bliss at the very sight of ”Guruji”) a short, swarthy man donned in white, walks out of the house. Typical of an Indian guru, he has a long flowing beard and long dark tresses cover the shoulders of his unstitched robes.
The devotees suddenly break out singing a bhajan and escort him like a bride to a sparking Mercedes Benz waiting to transport him to Agra. Ravi Shanker slips in , slouches on the back seat, smiles and waves at the devotees peeping in through the car window, and is off.
All the high rank and file of the business world follow Shanker in a rickety bus to Agra. In the bus they remind you, that ”Guruji” is different. “Didn’t you see how in his presence all the stress and tension is dissolved?”, asks J. P. Gupta, a Company Director and owner of the farmhouse where Shankar stayed. I am not too sure . I am just perplexed why the beloved Guru went solo in a luxury car when there was so much room in the bus we were traveling in. Surely his adulating followers would have loved to have him in their midst? Except me and the other fellow journo, everyone in this bus had the power to own a couple of hot cars if they didn’t already. I am amused by the irony of a man who claims to own nothing, zipping by in a gleaming Mercedes while those who can actually afford one, bumping along the Delhi – Agra highway in the less than comfortable bus. I try to ask the followers about this but I am scoffed at for my `ignorance’. ” You will never understand the ways of our Guru”, they conclude.
Sri Sri gatecrashing into the Lolpal debate? Lot of people didn't like the idea of a religious person like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar meddling in the Lokpal debate. But he ultimately became one of the key negotiators between the Anna camp and the Government.
It is a long bumpy bus-ride to Agra and we are dropped off at the Jaypee Hotel- a deluxe five star hotel where the CII meeting is due. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s merc. had arrived almost an hour before and the guru is checked in a luxury suite. I ask the followers to let me interview him. ” It won’t be possible just now. Guruji just arrived from a long journey. He is tired and resting”, I am summarily told. I really won’t understand the ways of this Guru, I think to myself. We were the ones who had a rough bus-journey to Agra. He had had it smooth in a Mercedes didn’t he? We were the mere mortals who should be resting. Not the mighty Guru who could surely summon the reserves of his yogic- powers to de-stress himself.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar emerges from his suite only in the evening. At the CII meeting, he speaks for 10 minutes peppering his speech with truisms and repeating the lecture he gave at the Millium Peace Summit in New York. ” I am getting some vibrations from you”, exclaimed a visibly overcome CII delegate when offered the mike to ask a question. The lecture over, some of the top honchos of the industrial world sprawl at his feet.
Sri Sri is back in his plush five star hotel suite. The devotees sit on the floor while Sri Sri Ravi Shankar sits on a high sofa. There is silence and it is broken only to compliment on what a “tremendous success” his lecture was. Indeed Shanker has been successful around the world with his breathing technique, Sudarshan Kriya over which he has even obtained a copyright.
It is this technique which has lent to his growing popularity for his lectures are usually repetitions and full of spriritual cliches. But for his followers, even his off the cuff remarks are taken down as pearls of wisdom and repeated to the uninitiated. Critics say Sudarshan Kriya itself is nothing but rehashed Yogic exercise known to indian ascetics since antiquity. But Sri Sri was the first to market it to the modern world and its yours to learn provided you pay the price. Like most guru-seeking people, Shanker’s devotees, mostly the urban elite, come to him to get rid of their tentions and anxieties. And like many esoteric groups, his devotees attribute many miracles to him.
Art of living founder and Indian Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
You are finally ushered in for the interview. At the door you hear a visibly shaken devotee exclaim ” Guruji looks so much like Jesus Christ”. Its not hard to see how difficult it can be to ask any reasonable questions from a man so deified and protected by an adulating cabal. As I take my seat , I am suddenly aware that I am the only one besides the Guru sitting on a chair. Every industrialist worth his salt, sit crouching on the floor even when there are few empty chairs available.
For a few seconds I just look at the Guru waiting for something to happen. Maybe some sort of holy ‘vibrations’ to flow through my cynical veins, I hope. But the Guru looks away shyly. Unlike Osho, making eye-contact is surely not the way of Sri Sri I conclude . Esp. not if you ask him anything uncomfortable. When you do so he looks at his followers, who as if on cue, clap and cheer loudly on his half-hearted attempts at answering, drowning you out completely.
When you have touched that sensitive cord with the Guru you know your interview is over. Some of my questions are basic but these are questions Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has dodged all his life often with trite humour. Sample this- to the question why he gave himself the two Sri’s he says “because 108 Sri’s would be too long” or “there was already one Ravi Shankar so to avoid the confusion”. Where for anyone else awarding oneself superhuman titles would seem very arrogant and egoistic, for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar it is seen as a natural assertion of his so called ‘enlightenment’.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is also silent about his own guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, under whose tutelage he grew to prominence in the Spiritual supermarket.
As the evening sun sets on the hotel in Agra, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar gets ready to rest for the day. On the train back to Delhi the words of the followers come back to me ,” You will never understand the ways of Guruji”. Amen.
Students of IIT Delhi practicing Sudarshan Kriya in their campus.
Loved the truth!!!
Thank you Sanjay!
You are so cynical Sanjay. Try to see the world from the eyes of his followers.
Thanks for your comment Manoj. I tried but I failed as you can probably see.
Sanjay,
Your comments smack of bias and a lack of proper perception. And who are you and I to sit in judgement over someone so much more enlightened……and popular…..
Mature journalism is at a premium these days…………
Ravi
Chennai
Hi Ravi, You are a believer and you think `someone’ is so much more enlightened. Thats your belief and you are entitled to it. As for me , I don’t agree that `someone’ is any more enlightened than you, me or the next fellow. Herein lies the rub. You obviously are taken in by that `someone’s’ popularity . Unfortunately I am not. I have not sat in judgement on Sri Sri ( Though i think anyone has a right to – he is a public personality after all and running a thriving spiritual/ commercial venture). I have only narrated my tongue -in-cheek encounter with him and his entourage. Mature journalism demands that. Singing peans to Guru’s is neither my forte nor journalism.
Loved it.
Keep up the Good word.
Its worth experiencing original and truth than going by the Popular perception.
You have an excellent style of the narrative, in the choice of words, and the brevity adds to the crispness of style. This is a wonderful article, and the tongue in cheek sarcasm adds a delicious touch.
Just as I too do not believe in Godmen, except Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix, who in my opinion are the only ones who can show us the True Path, these sort of people are inevitable in a world of insecurities, and mistrust.
Thank you for the writings, and may your tribe increase.
Hey Manjunath, Thanks a lot. I am glad you liked the piece. Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix.. now who is being sarcastic here
Thanks again.
Sanjay : coming on to a conclusion without relishing the depth is not a good idea .
As the saying :where there is contentment abundance flows.
Thanks
HI Madhavi , Thanks for your comments. I did not draw much of a conclusion really. Just wrote what I observed that day. In fact I was amazed at the followers who certainly have concluded something about Sri Sri and have somewhere stopped asking questions. Thanks
Great Article Sanjay, I never understand the Gurus of these times. As far as I’ve read and I assure you I’ve read more than most people on the subject of ancient Indian culture, spirituality and its roots (not being boastful here), the mark of a guru or sadhu or rishi was humility and denouncing of materialistic pleasures. They used to eat and live and were adamant on using the very basic necessities of life. This is just a business with I’d say some moralistic approach than other corporate cut-throat ones. Kudos for your editor too, he must be a person with a lot of integrity.
Thank you Manu. I guess what you mean. Once Saints went from Palaces to the jungles ( Vishwamitra, Buddha etc) now they come from the jungles and go into palaces ( Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Asaram Bapu etc). However I would disagree with you on your point that the mark of a Guru/ Sadhu is denouncing materialistic pleasures. Living a life of an ascetic is no proof is his holiness. My grouse, if you can call it that, with Guru’s like Ravi Shankar is that they hypocritically pretend they are above material pleasures when they are clearly not. I agree with you that now its just a business in the garb of spiritualism.
Hi Sanjay,
Spiritual business is better than any other business (including the one you are into)!! Take it easy man; world is not such a small place to get stucked up!!
Hi Ramesh. I agree completely. There is no business like Guru Business.
Perfect!
Guru Ji/Dev is like a Child so it was really rude of you to ask such difficult questions from him.
Himanshu lol
I like the article, it’s quite straightforward and well written; but you should use a more neutral approach when you write stuff like this .. with a very subtle inclination to your viewpoint.
Hi NC, Thanks for your comment. Will keep that in mind for my future write-ups. But in this article it was meant to be a bit sarcastic and tongue-in -cheek. Thankss
Hari Om Beta Dushyantji,Thank you so much for the Spiritual Knowledge on Ashta Lakshmi last evening, It was so itsnretnieg & Inspiring! And also for the Quality Time you gave me & my Family this afternoon, it was a very Beautiful & a Wonderful feeling to spend time with you & hope to learn more from you! Om Shanti Shanti Shanti!!! NeetaHarish-Aruba.
Hey sanjay…very well written!
Something that annoys me is the patent they have over their kriya.if you are out there to do good…why commercialise it? I have friends who have done this course and do not share what happens there coz they swear in not to do so! Plus this excessive belief that no matter what their ‘gurudev ‘ will help them…gurudev is not God for heaven’s sake!
Glory I know what you mean. I share your belief that yogic exercises / techniques should not be commercialized.
Personally recommend you to do an Art of Living basic course and an advance course if you really want to understand things better.
As for India against corruption, Sri Sri along with many others are part of the core committee of the organisation/movement and have been there since the very beginning. http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/aboutus.html
My take – Why i so strongly recommend the Art of Living
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=178478985519941
Parteek,
Thanks for the recommendation. I will surely do the Sudarshan Kriya one day but I wonder how that will answer the questions I have raised about Sri Sri ??
When some one suggest that you do the art of living course and then judge the Guru, what they mean is when you see/experience so called benefits of course you will tend to avoid the bad/uncomfortable part of guru. These people don’t mind Guru getting wealthy or arrogant until they get what they want, A quick fix to problems/Guilt. It is claimed that his course recharges you to go back in bad,ugly world when your charge drains out you are a course away from again getting recharged. It is like washing off your sins/mistakes in Ganga river and ready to do more sins/mistakes. He is “healing” people with some moral,philosophical,religious thoughts for their mental health and Yoga,sudershan kriya for healing any physical problems. There is a void in today’s lifestyle which is filled by such Guru’s for some money. It is like Fast food Guru’s. Do taste his offering i.e. do a basic course and your understanding will have another angle, it might be positive or negative I can’t tell you that. You will judge for sure. I had done basic course around 2001 and finally continued with my life. I am not supporter of this course. I would suggest live honest natural life and build a rational thinking with out any emotions then you won’t need help from such Guru’s or other exploiters (but it is not easy and quick fix). Do watch video of guy called U G Krishnamurthi on youtube, he is anti Guru and still a guru. very interesting.
Sanjay,
I am glad there is someone to question these new age Gurus! In HP and here in US also, I know groups of SRI SRI (what exactly it means even if we go by scriptures and address seniors as SRI, never learned about SRI SRI in school)followers who are just following with deep devotion.
I followed some journalist friends in HP to learn how the Guru treats them when he comes there. I learned that SRI SRI does interact a lot with local journalists, they are provided scheduled interviews, they and their papers are photographed exclusively with Guru Ji (:-)).
In a way they are just showered with all the pleasures of meeting this high profile guru (I am sorry Sanjay you did not get to travel in Merc
). And then starts the best PR by Guru’s team to utilize the local traditions and cultures (like in HP, dancers are brought with best dresses and rehearsals are done well in advance) and media provides best coverage because they got the best time with the guru who travels in luxury.
Now when I saw Anna ji belittling these new age media savvy Gurus, my belief just got more firmed that it is nothing more than high profile drama using all the means of this new world!
I am glad there is someone who agrees!
Avinash thanks. Talking of Himachal, many years ago when Sri Sri was visiting Shimla the Art of Living Foundation defaced a beautiful hill near Shoghi by carving out a welcome message for their Guru. I was surprised no one made any noise about it.
Same was the scenario at Dharamsala when they left the ground without cleaning. Issue is that voice even if raised is just too small in front of media limelight created by these gurus.
Avnish Sri Sri is virtually the in-house Guru of the Times of India group and many media house proprietors are his followers so who will publish anything against him??
Its not only about he being an in-house guru of the Times of India and many other publications and channels. Art of living like IIPM is also one of the biggest advertisers in the media. So the pressure for not writing anything against him not only comes from from the editorial side but also from the marketing and management side.
I think if a visibly simplistic Baba Ramdev can create a space for himself in the spiritual supermarket then why not someone as sophisticated as Ravi Shankar have crorepatis bowing at his feet. I have little understanding and even less respect for people who create a deliberate aura around themselves…
Lets not forget he is part of an ilk that circulates money through political and business circles…I mean everyone knows the babas of the world provide channels for money laundering so I don’t think those industrialists are there just for spiritual enlightenment…if previous Chief Justices of India were keeping the accounts for our late Sai Baba I wonder what goes on for this one…
Hi Medha,
Thanks for your comments. I share your sentiments on people who create a deliberate aura around them. However I won’t agree with you that Sri Sri Ravishankar is actively involved in money laundering and thats why the industrialists are there with him. There may be some people like that but most of them are indeed stressed out guys who have realized money won’t get them peace of mind. Sri Sri and Guru’s like him comes in handy to deal with all these insecurities. My problem with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is perhaps his pretense of being a larger than life figure who has answers to live’s problems. The only man I think he seems to have conned is himself , in thinking he has attained `enlightenment’ -if there is such a thing.
I think my problem with the jet-setting spiritual class is slightly more cynical. I can’t see them as outside of the political-social fabric. Sri Sri may or may not be in the same league as Sai Baba (who got a shocking two full page obituary in The Hindu) or as heads of those countless religious institutions in this country that amass fortunes from devotees (lay or otherwise). But I do believe that religious, social and political power is deeply interlinked in this country. I don’t know if that is the case with Ravi Shankar but I would suspect he would command enormous “respect” here. I find their personal aggrandizement by followers/retinue/devotees as a very mild side effect of their actual and very real position of power in society.
I so so agree…really swell write up That’s why i am always skeptical of godmen…
Thanks Sirjanu. I am glad you liked the piece.
Dear Sanjay,
Thanks a lot for sharing your article. I really liked it. Nicely written. Let’s hope it gets the message across to some people.
Warm regards,
Jonas
Thanks Jonas.. I am glad you liked my article.
I guess this was his redeeming moment…..
Perhaps Vinita.. or perhaps some more milage . The crowds were indeed huge at the Ramlila grounds. Well the cynical me.
very apt observation on your part Sanjay. I too felt like that when I went to meet him once:) I attended a basic course of Sri Sri Ravishankar as I was coaxed by a friend and somehow it did help me that time (about 5-6 years ago) .. But what made me sceptical of AOL is the circle of chellas/chamchas around him who will not allow ordinary ppl ( like me) meet him( he is tired! he is resting!) but if there are any celebrities dropping in they get to meet him instantly! and the whole aura of artificiality created by the so called devotees can be quite sickening!!
Papori you were perhaps stonewalled by the `Inner Circle’. Every cult has one. To be fair, sometimes the Guru himself has no idea what his followers are upto and is in many ways controlled by the coterie around him. Remember Ma Sheela the disciple of Osho and her dictates in the Oregon Commune in the 1980′s?
The two-fold problem with your yardstick is that you’re clinging to ideas from ancient times, and are confusing use of a luxury with attachment to it.
First of all, times change and nowhere is it written that the gurus have to live their material lives strictly according to the image provided by ancient texts. The yogis in ancient times, used a deer skin (mrig chaal) or tiger skin for their meditations. Yet, I don’t see you arguing that today’s gurus don’t use similar animal skins. In ancient times, the education system was quite different than what it is today, so it’s a moot point if the material lives of today’s gurus don’t resemble and agree with the idea you have in your mind based on gurukuls of yore. Besides, Hinduism is not static and doesn’t say that one has to live lives according to some standards practiced in ancient times, even for gurus. Hinduism is all about adapting to current times. I’ve come across similar expressions of shock – rather amusing to me – when some people see pictures of sadhus using cell phones. As if sadhus should still use fire signals to communicate.
The second problem is that you are confusing use with attachment. Your argument would be valid if Sri Sri Ravi Shankar shed tears if a car wasn’t available, or if he complained about living in a shed instead of a hotel room. There’s a famous tale of two monks traveling along a road, and coming across a young woman. She asked the monks if they would carry her as she was tired. One of the monks readily agreed, and carried her for some time. After dropping off the young woman, the two monks continued on their way, but the other monk was perplexed and after a couple of hours, couldn’t hide his curiosity anymore and asked his partner, “How could you carry a woman when we have taken vows of chastity?” The monk replied, “I dropped off that woman more than two hours ago, and you’re still carrying her?”
While other valid criticisms of AOL could be made, your post tends to get lost in the superficial and straw-man arguments.
BTW, would you so effortlessly write a similar post critical of Christian or Muslim clergy (equivalent of “gurus”) in India or elsewhere? Or would you think ten times before doing so? Would you similarly question why Pope wears ridiculously expensive and garish clothes? Or why does he use a silly title like “Pope”?
Hope you get the point.
Amrit I would effortlessly write a similar post critical of Christian or muslim clergy in India or elsewhere. In fact I already have if you read some of my others posts for e.g. `What’s Hair Got to do with it’ etc and my post on the “Satanic Verses” But last I checked Sri Shankar is not part of any Hindu clergy , though his posturing are more Hindu.
As for your other point you have misunderstood me. I have not said Gurus should live like ascetics of yore. In fact I just wonder why they insist on growing a long beard and wearing those unstitched robes that make them look like characters from the Ramayana. They are welcome to travel business class and enjoy five-star luxury etc. My only problem is they advocate simple lifestyles to others and pretend to be indifferent to luxury themselves. That I see as hypocrisy and convenience. For example Osho lived a life of luxury too but he did not shy from admitting he loved luxury.Sri Sri Shankar tries to pretend he likes simple things in life while enjoying the bells and whistles of a five star suite.
Correct!!! I Liked your reply
Dear Sanjay,
Read your article. I have done Sudarshan Kriya and it has only helped me in every way. Are you not being too harsh in your judgement? Like you have a problem with two ” sris” in his name. Its like asking why you name is spelled Sanjay and not Sanjai instead. As for his going in mercedez cars, I am confused as to whether your problem is that Sri Sri was going in a merc or that you were huddled in a bus.
Anyways, the equivalent of gurus in western and arab world own more than a few merc. Have you seen any bishop’s house in any part of the country?? Just a Bishop of a small congregations has an official residence that can put a minister’s house to shame. The big daddy of the bishop’s – our pope owns a country. People like I mam Bukhari dabble in policies so openly. Have you seen his residence?? Ayatollah, the spiritual leader of Iran… what luxuries does he lack?? and these luxuries come to them officially.
When it comes to Guru’s, you feel they should be wearing a lion cloth only. Why this double standard?? Sri Sri has never told his followers to go to jungle and attain Nirvana. So why should he do it? If he does not preach it, then why practice it? As for Sudarshan Kriya being an age old technique , when I did my basic course, it was told by the teacher that it is indeed a 5000 year old technique that has been repackaged to suit today’s needs. As for patenting it, it is a powerful breathing technique solely depending on the rhythm of breath. I do not know if you have ever been into sports in your life, the rhythm of breath does make a difference to how smooth or rough your activity is. The wrong kind of breath in Yoga or weight lifting can lead to grave injuries. if every T,D and H start practicing this thing on his own and something goes wrong, who will be held responsible?? It will become a major article for you right??
As for Art of Living defacing any hill or mountain, I do not know what is your definition of defacing. If it means that one hill had to be bulldozed for it then it’s wrong. But if a view is being obstructed for the duration of the visit, how does it matter yaar?? I have been to AOL courses and the first thing they ensure is that their campsite is cleaned thoroughly.
If you can find nothing right with Sri Sri, it just means that you are extremely prejudiced. You have a problem with his name, his cars, his yoga , his hotel…. is there nothing good in this man at all???? And you have not even done the course like AOL people said. Is is not a bit too much? All because you were not given the VIP treatment as a photojournalist?
Hi Abhishek
There are people in the world who keep us in balance by removing the negative factors around us. I bet most of the people here(including Sanjay) who are finding the great pleasure in scolding, have never attempted to find the reality. Most of them would be writing in the polished english and awaiting to take a deep in the running water. They would be doing nothing for the society and some of them are taking self pride by attempting to elaborate his profession (yellow journalism) as noble as social service. Instead they constantly try to create a ridge & furrow for the others and neglecting good deeds, they are more & ever interested to belittle them and by this way they are trying to become a hero in the eyes of the other blind people.
Hi Abhishek,
I will only be repeating myself if I say that I did not expect Sri Ravi Shankar to live like a hermit in a loin cloth. Kindly read my previous comments to know what I mean.
Regards,
thank you abhishek for your detailled reply to sanja augustus
he seems to be christian or catholic
when the country is in danger, he seems to blow over his
musical instrument like KING NEERO.
OUR COUNTRY IS ATTACKED BY SONIa ‘s paid army and instead of defneding
our fortress, people try to weaken ii and give it to the neo-invaders.(sonia and
her western papaal and industrial and political friends…
chanakya
thanks a lot to reply in a detailed way …this augustus is 100 percent sure is a paid congress media man whose mission is to target people like sri sri and but he does not know that now people can see clearly the picture behind the screen and they know who is paying whom to do what ..it is a pity good hindus turn to xtian sect for quick money but i think augustus is 100% chrisitan converted so he does this dirty work for cong boss pity such a good man like sanjay augustus should trick the whole country for some money…from SONIA ANTONIA maino etc
Ganesh I am not Sanjay Augustus. I am Sanjay Austa. Please get the name right if you can’t get the facts in order. And sorry to disappoint you. I am not a Chrisitian either. I usually reply to all comments but it will be comical to reply to yours. Take care.
I think i could be wrong about your religion may be you think
that by saying something unconventional about sri sri you may attract
attention of westerners and than you can become famous and that may help in
your photographic or documentary work..am i right ?
but we know you are intelligent but you lack the sixth sense that tells you what is important and what is superficial what to retain and what to reject…as they say in tamil that a mythological bird called “anna paravai” can drink milk containig water by taking only milk and leaving water ..in sri sri there is more than sri sri in him : they are last warriors to defend our fortress they are contemporary SHIVAJIS who continue to cling on to hindu values when mud is thrown on them as bullets from a gigantic machine gun…from the Italian cunning woman and her gang.but please do other thing to attract the western attention than this one…your sensitivity to tigers is nice i appreciate that but don’t throw mud on someone who does what he can perhaps he has ateleast the courage to do something to serve humanity in his way. WE CAN NOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT CONSIDERING KALA : is it good time now to do intestine quarrels ??? you know very well now it is dangerous to be hindou that demands a ton of courage because anti-hindu machine guns from cong gang are pointing to every hindu and hitting at them constantly…a man like Modi would have been president in another country in ours he is yet a chief minister …now with italian woman in power and her nexus with white people in the USA , rome and europe we should stop quarelling among ourselves and wait atleast until the BJP comes back.
I would like to share my opinion, from a non-indian point of view.
I really love your country! Is full of wisdom, history, spirituality and human values. Yet most of you don’t even realise it!
Most of you lost their capacity to see in dept into things!
You are sitting on a true gold mine and you don’t know it, distracted by silly, glittering and superficial things… Just like in Europe we do.
When I come to visit your country I see that you are getting more and more trapped in the west point of view.
Caught in the way you criticise, the way you think, in the emotions you express, most of you is losing their Royal origin… Forgetting the thousands of years of civilization you have behind of sages and enlightened kings.
You think Europe became a better place to live in with the economical development? If you think so, you are wrong.
If India (and other countries also) wants to reach a true wellness needs to integrate ancient wisdom with education and economics.
This is why i truly appreciate and support Anna Hazare And Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
And i suggest everybody to take the Art of Living course. Your mind will become prosper, sharp, clear and clean from sorrow and insecurity.
Kind regards
Emanuele,
Thanks for telling us how worthy we are. We have always had to rely on European’s like you to tell us how good we are- be it in our movies, our literature and now in our spirituality. The Gurus’s including our marketing savvy Sri Sri Ravi Shankar knows this very well and has been pandering to westerners like yourself for years for recognition before the Indian’s here took him seriously. Is it any wonder then that when Sri Sri decided to mark the 30 years of his Art of Living he choose Germany rather than India?
I personally think westerners have a very superficial knowledge of spiritualism. Why do you think most Guru’s insist of dressing up like museums relics? Thats because their long beard and long robes are enough to sway the multitudes in Berlin and Boston. In india thankfully, some of us know better.
Regards,
Sanjay
whether Saints went from Palaces to the jungles or come from the jungles and go into palaces, peoples in the world is getting benefits from them. That is the thing we should concentrate. Can you deny the fact that Lots of peoples are getting benefits from art of living
Hi Sreeraj, Am not denying the benefits. Meditation certainly has benefits but this article was not about it. It was around the public persona of Sri Sri .
Dear Sanjay,
reading your article made me realize all the more how awesomely lucky i’am to have a Guru in my life
All the best Srividya
oh..i forgot to thank you
Truth is always bitter!!!.
.
Sanjayjee, followers trying to justify sri sri here
Thanks for this post.
I have observed that Sri Sri’s core followers are mostly socially inept techies who use the organization as a social networking organization. These followers read self help books and restrict their social activism to hustling up more customers for their $800 a pop Sudarshan Kriya classes. This “life saving” technique is nothing but meditation exercises that have been around for eons in India. Any form of questioning is gently hushed by the followers who seem like ever smiling zombies with not a single intelligent thought in their heads. It is amazing how popular they have become among the Americans who seem starved for a sense of belonging to a social community that their culture so lacks. Sri Sri just laps up all the adulation of his adoring followers. Hope he doesn’t trip up on some sex scandal and thus abandon his emotionally charged fan following.
Ha ha thats an interesting observation Suzy.
I follow him on FB on suggestion of a friend and soon noticed that every quote of Sri Sri is accompanied by a photo of his face – daily never ending. How egoistic is that? If the remark is about a flower’s beauty, showing a pic of a flower would inspire much more natural joy. Instead we are blessed with the guru’s Omni present hairstyle. Far cry from the humble, towering gurus of Yogananda’s linage. So I searched to see what others think and ended up here.
Jasmine in my view no Guru is more `towering’ than the other. This article may be about Sri Sri but it applies to all Guru’s . (With an exception to Osho perhaps who actually advocated living a life of luxury if one could afford it.)
hello mr.sanjay!
now that you have TRIED to show the negative side of sri sri ,why dont you write next about the various art of living sewa projects undertaken??? the recent is the rehabilitation camp for riot victims in assam. also the 102 free schools run by aol, the vista program for empowering women,
may be while doing so you will realize your grave mistake.:)
the problem with people like you is that even if the truth is sticking on your face,u will not realize.u will just go by your own thinking and beliefs.i call people like you BLIND BY CHOICE.
and i agree wid srividya… im really grateful to have a guru in my life!!
jai gurudev!
Komal Sri Sri’s sewa projects and other social work is indeed laudable. But this article was not about what he does but about how he is venerated by his followers and about his lifestyle.
thank you for your comment sanjay seems intelligent and good but than somthing makes him speak like this i don’t know why but he has his won reasons or it is all just to defend his ego when he will let go that ego maya ?
Great write up, Sanjay !
I myself am a great advocate of meditation and its importance in the spiritual realm of life. However, I also firmly believe that a true leader walks with those he leads. This article is in no way an attempt to defame SriSri or to undermine the service his organisation has done to humanity in general.Therefore, I think every reader of this article would do well to read not just the article , but also the responses and Sanjay’s replies to them. I summarize the article in these three basic points :
1. This is not about whether or not AOL is good or bad. On the contrary , the writer wholeheartedly agrees with its virtues.
2. This is about the persona of SriSri that seemingly contradicts what it preaches.
3. If 1+1=2 holds as true with SriSri as it does with everyone else,why should he not make an honest attempt to shorten the distance between himself and his disciples that his organisation apparently puts in a lot of effort to maintain ? Mother Teresa , Baba Amte, Sindhutai Sapkal are but a few of the true modern day Saints who always believed in rolling up their sleeves and doing exactly what they preached.
If we keep the exchanges limited to these three points only and keep it simple, we would not veer away from the basic points that the article has aimed at making.
Sanjay you have touched a very important chord and you are absolutely on point. Ravishankar has a strong sense of business and has been able to market well. The franchisee system is working perfectly with him. He uses his poor deciples to telemarket and get new members. I wonder why a true Guru whould want to do that?? He is just another of those long list of Gurus who have been conning our poor public.
Sadanand thank you
Hi Sanjay,
I agree with you. My family is really fond of him. We also have an Art of Living teacher in the family. But as you rightly said we should not come to conclusions. Your encounter is not the first one. Me, You and many like us have gone through the chaos when he is around.
In one of his congregations where health was the main topic. People were happily throwing away plastic bags which were given by the devotee volunteers to cover their shoes just like the govt does at Taj Mahal and the arena after that was full of wasted plastic thrown on the grass. What healthy ways of the organising committee of the famous guru i must say. And all of the members were rich, educated and sophisticated people. We are not here to draw conclusions. Action are the ones which conclude what you do.
Regards,
Chetan
Chetan . I agree.
Hi Sanjay,
More than your artcle, it is the comments below that I liked. Do you realize that the way the supporters of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar have reacted. They did not get angry over your article. instead they are trying to explain you the benefits they have got by practicing the kriyas.
I know people whose life has changed after joining the course. And possibly the course do help in de stressing our hectic life. I believe you should start the course as suggested by many readers and then rewrite the article. May be we also want to see the change. You cannot be a movie critic when you dont believe the idea of watching movies.
And being a spiritual leader, and riding in a mercedes is ok dude. You cannot compare him with the stereotypes.
Regards
PMD
P.S. I am myself planning to start a basic course.
Pankaj riding in a Mercedes is perfectly fine of course. However its a bit hypocritical if you tell others to be happy with their beat up Maruti 800.
Hi Sanjay
Read your article. What you have said is almost universally true. All you need to do is change the name of the guru and you will have a fairly accurate story. I am Not running them down. I too have gone to them and adopted the practice they recommended. Maybe i was lucky that i am not fabulously wealthy. So i was not really marked out for addictive special favours. I went there to fulfill a need .which was a mix of trying to understand myself and also to deal with the world at large. I devoted myself to the recommended practice . And then left when I felt that the rest of it was more of the same. And did not feel the need to become a part of the hoopla.. I backed this with a lot of reflection on what I was really like as a person..and of course a lot of reading and listening…after a while I could, very comfortably ,at least tell myself the truth about myself…..why I am writing this is to point out the fact that the current guru is fulfilling a need and no amount of your pointing out anything is going to make any difference to the devotee.you are taking away the straw which he has found with great difficulty and you will be attacked with a vengeance. The best might be to write some sort of a fly on he wall account and leave it at that….the reader is astute enough to figure out things the moment you mention the merc and the bus….and the one who doesnt will only get to it when he is good and ready ,if ever. And look at the benefits no boss or devotee can complain and you have the field wide open to report all you want ….. Sorry this has become longer than expected. And I don’t mean to preach…but just a point of view….things exist because they fill a need…so do a story on this great need and you will fall in love with the gurus…lol….We deserve each other !
Hi Inder. I agree with you when you say Guru’s fill a need. As for my falling in love with any Guru’s – i highly doubt it.
Hi Sanjay,
The need of the hour is to understand that no one is perfect we are all humans after all, if you are looking for perfection than I am sorry you will be disappointed and anyways it is very easy to find faults. rather we should look for good vitues in people that can make our lives easy.
Look I am not Sri’s disciple or something but all I am saying is what matters is the end result, if he is able to make some difference in someones life wether rich or poor you got to give him credit for that. Lets take Baba Ramdev’s example maybe he is minting money, he may have power and manuplating things in his favour but he has been also able to revolutionized millions of people by giving them an healthy approach towards life absolutely free (Yoga). Atleast they are better than are politicians who claim to be public servants instead they are robbing their own people. Nobody is perfect neither me nor you. Rather than criticizing others lets give back something to our planet lets just not consume, I don’t see any difference between humans and virus anymore, so lets appreciate those who are making some kind effort to make this place a better place and pounce on those who are only consuming.
Ankush I won’t agree with you that we should look at the end results only. Especially in the case of Guru’s who claim to be holier-than-thou, we should be all the more vigilant in how they live their own lives.
I read your article with relish, and when I was scrolling thru the comments, I realized that I had commented on this article a year ago, almost to the day. I still maintain that Rock ‘n roll is the only path to true enlightenment and there is nothing better than a good guitar riff to set the morning on fire. Jai Jai Jim Morrison, all hail John Lennon.
Manjunath since you insist, I will try rock and roll for nirvana someday.
I have never met Sri Sri and do not desire to do so. I have a healthy disregard for all these high profile “gurus”. Most of them are frauds capitalising on the gullibility and insecurity of people.
`Healthy disregard’ . You said it Noni ji.
We the people have easy tendency to fall for and buy opinion from others and form ours. Very natural and human. But will it not be right to refrain from commenting untill we ourselves have known/seen the truth ? I honour & respect the freedom of speech and expression once a person has made his enquiry. Others simply follow the emotion of commenting simpliciter. I am not for or against anybody. With due regards to everybody.
Rahul in my opinion the pursuit of the so-called `truth’ is meaningless. You should as Noni ji described have a `healthy disregard’ for anyone trying to show you any `truth’.
I have always appreciated the article. Its all truth. I am always with you.
Cheers. And yes jai jim morrison.
Thanks Rajat
Brave, honest writing.
Thanks Justin
I did the AOL course as part of my training when I joined a company some 7 years back. It was relaxing as any form of Yoga is but beyond that I did not get any “divine visions” as many other people in that course were experiencing. I still don’t get it how people seem to blindly follow such Gurus. I should probably learn a few magic tricks and become a Guru. It seems like a profitable venture.
Vivek may also need to grow your beard real long
good piece and this holds true for all gurus, they live life king style and teach simple living
Thanks Jyoti.
But it holds true for people who run after them, why do we revere so much beyond our own existence.
Agree.
this is good stuff sanjay, keep it up mann,
Thanks Sourabh.
Laughed my head off at the responses and counter-responses. All of them very well answered by you
. Salaams for that. Have had some close encounters with Sri Sri and Co. and am quite inspired to write a piece too. But for me the most worrying part of the Guru business is the sheer number of deluded people around. We that question are very much a minority. Every second person has a Guru or a Ma of some sort (in fact i even have a few disciples of my own 
! ) . And each one of them is markedly arrogant and actually quite unkind to their fellow humans. Worrying because , judging by the sheer numbers , humans clearly have a spiritual vacuum that they are at a loss to fill – it is so shockingly easy to exploit that. And certainly it keeps people from true spirituality which is a very solitary and interior thing. Skepticism used to be an honored tradition in Hindu thought – it helped you arrive at spiritual enlightenment by sifting through mere vanities .
Bharati will be interesting to read your take on it. But it will be more interesting to see which paper publishes it. Most the newspaper owners and even editors are Sri Sri’s devotees
Good Job !!! I remember more than 10 years ago when I was in Shimla with you we had a debate about Rajneesh (still cannot remember why it started) but your point of view was different and evoked criticism from me that time. I had read this article when you posted it and and read it again today and can’t help but laugh at the responses you have got below. The article is pretty good but the responses from the “so called” devotees reinforces the fact that in today’s time people seek refuge in a concept or a “BABA”. BABA jee sab jaante hai (he knows everything) but a devotee cannot even imagine to know a fraction of it. They are so blinded by the faith of another man that they fail to recognize the scam their mind is playing with them. I am sure the kriya devised by the art of living concept would be helpful in someway but a blind faith in another man amazes me beyond comprehension, especially by men & women who have achieved great success in their professional lives … makes me believe that I am at a much better place than any of these followers. I have listened to quite a few of these BABA’s and read sparingly about some and at the end of it I realize that what the BABA say is what the person already knows but like a blind disciple they just need someone to tell them the basic truths about life again and again. Plus you are a brave man to open a can of worms which people stay away from with the fear of inviting wrath of the blind (otherwise intelligent) followers.
Maneck yes i agree. You are right that what the Guru’s says are basic things of life that we already know. And yes I am not denying that the Kriya or any other meditations have their benefits.
A well written and non-offensive piece Sanjay Austa. I agree with you when you say you could easily write a similar piece on Christian or Muslim clergy. I think the people getting agitated by your piece are somehow missing the point.
Thanks Jamal.
Loved the piece…but it is not one that will convert the devout into cynics….we remain entrenched on either side of that fence!
Thanks Mukta. Oh no I am not hoping nor want to convert anyone to this view of the other.
Liked what you have written, I believe it is the people behind guru who make him this bi
Thanks Swantantra.
Reminds me of Dylan ….You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody .
Thought many times to become ‘guru’
. lol…few tricks of yoga, mixture of religion and some new form to get high….wow I can be pretty successful in this trade….and then to get people follow me (who cares about Facebook likes 
) worship …pretty flourishing idea…
Sanjay this article needs more exposure. Wonder if Times group has balls to publish it !
Avinish maybe you should give it a try and maybe I could become your first disciple.
Nice article Sanjay ! Had a chance to meet Sri Sri hat The Hague in June this year and he did seem to be an expert at dodging questions through humorous replies !
I asked him what triggered him into spirituality for life and he said he was born like that .. another guy asked him about why he had decided sri sri into his name and he replied somethings are just meant to be 
But yes i did kinda hear on why people like him so much from a lady who follows him closely .. as per her ,he has this sing song voice which makes people with worries and problems feel like they have a virtual ” listening shoulder” even though he doesn’t really listen to people’s problems .. he acts like a virtual walking stick for support to those who think they cant handle things on their own .. As for my own opinion on him .. I wudnt care less if he did or did not exist (i know its mean to say that)
Thanks Deepika. And I thought he only dodged questions from skeptical journos.
As P.T. Barnum once famously said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” Period
What is ths Sri Sri ….. Who is this .plz
I am reminded of words of my late sister . ” ALWAYS REMEMBER THESE PEOPLE NEED YOU MORE THAN YOU NEED THEM” hr thoughts and mine : we all know our own answers but are scared to listen and follow our own heart
Malcolm you said it.
I have by intent been on the “spiritual” path for over a dozen years now (and yes the Universe does look after you), and have gone through all sorts of situations. I am a Reiki master, Tarot reader, graduate of the Silva Method, Level 3 Esocen Energy Medicine, Shivananda Yoga, Vipassan meditator and New Ager. The reason I give a string of “qualifications” (and there are others more along the Path), is only to share that I have and continue to go through the “grinder” intentionally. I have also done the Sudarshan Kriya “Soh Hum”. Irrespective of what anyone may “think” of Ravi Shankar, he is successful. I have a friend – a master of Kashmir Shaivism – who knows Ravi Shankar when he was working hard to establish himself – yes like any field being a Spiritual Guru is a career choice, and like any “consultancy” has a price, it costs, and like any profession has a certain “attitude” associated with it. We see the world through the “specs”/conditioning (social and personally experiential) we accept – and as such there are certain things we all share and grow into and out of (eg kissing in public, being vegan, etc), hence Sanjay looked at Ravi through this conditioning, as I do through mine – and each of you who read this will have their own take. One of the essences of the “spiritual path” is that of cleansing, and Sudarshan Kriya does that in less painful way – You cannot fill a glass that is full ! My question to all of you who hold some sort of a “grudge” against Ravi and life situations, is How long are you going to allow yourself to remain imbalanced with ignorance ? The way I see it as now, is that Spirituality is the only activity that stands before Pornography and can guarantee an orgasm …. Sat Chit
Vir Rawlley. Thanks for your views. However why do you feel this piece is against Spirituality? This piece is not even `against’ Sri Sri and there is no grudge. Its just an account of a day spent with Sri Sri by a skeptic, if that’s what you want to call me. As for spirituality I don’t agree that you need to go through the ”grinder” (all the spiritual practices and the Guru’s) to get there. I am all for spirituality but spare me the ”grinder” please.
I don’t care much about spiritual leaders etc.
But Sanjay you seem to be very biased and the way you are reacting to criticism; well I suggest that you take up a course in Yoga or better a psychologist.
I would appreciate if you can define simplicity to me.
And trust me I’ll show you the mirror.
Hi Rajesh. I think if these are the only two options, I will still go with the psychologist.
Jokes apart, a very close friend of mine was diagnosed with some ‘disorder’ by the shrinks so I have actually also seen how the psychologists function. And believe you me there is hardly any difference between a shrink and a guru. Both pamper you and prey on your insecurities. Will be writing something on this particular issue soon. So watch this space. 
Hi Sanjay,
Thank you so much for finally posting an honest piece of writing on the new-age Guru. I have done the first level twice. While it relaxed me, I didn’t experience any visions or miracles in my life.
In fact, all the miracles in my life have been a result of my hard work and perseverance, and yes, luck. Doing the Kriya did not impact my ‘luck’ only made me more focused (which I’m sure any meditation would do).
Both times, my practice of the Kriya extended only about a week beyond the workshop. I found it to be tedius and not so useful. Plus the emphasis during the course on the deification of Sri Sri and the hype around him, and the “rules”, just put me off.
I have found pranic healing – the twin heart meditation – to give me the same results without any of the hype.
Once again, it’s nice to read someone raising very pertinent questions. Rest, it’s belief. And I question no man his belief, and I allow no man to question mine.
Hi Asheeth,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I am glad you liked the article. Thank you.
Its a interesting discussion on faith versus experience.
Most people want to experience first before the faith, but usually it has to be other way around. We need faith to look beyond the limitations of logic
So, if we look beyond the obvious observations like luxury car and sitting down before master….it is a deeper experience.
What we observe always is not the truth
Thanks for sharing your view Rohit. I would however say Trust is a much better word than Faith. The latter is an abstract word unlike Trust. Faith is usually blind.
Sanjay,
.
Well ur narrative skills are good . U should be a novel writer man u will really sell better
And Secondly what i have heard is that a guru is like a mirror . He just reflects u in multifold . U Means ur current state of mind .
“I am amused by the irony of a man who claims to own nothing, zipping by in a gleaming Mercedes while those who can actually afford one, bumping along the Delhi – Agra highway in the less than comfortable bus’ – I have a question for a person dear to you , will you not do things which is way out of reach for u ??? its the same way for the devotees of him , whats wrong in that ?? only thing is that he dint give much of air to you right ??? he din’t bother to give you that kind of respect which you were expecting which has made you to write like this . Basically you are pissed of with the way you have been dealt with .
‘When you have touched that sensitive cord with the Guru you know your interview is over. Some of my questions are basic but these are questions Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has dodged all his life often with trite humour. Sample this- to the question why he gave himself the two Sri’s he says “because 108 Sri’s would be too long” or “there was already one Ravi Shankar so to avoid the confusion”. Where for anyone else awarding oneself superhuman titles would seem very arrogant and egoistic, for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar it is seen as a natural assertion of his so called ‘enlightenment’ ‘ – This is like you are absolutely pissed off with him and asking this . Simple question Why your name is Sajnay Austa if i ask you this question what is your anwser ??? and if answered in simple terms you feel its arrogant . I think till now he has never mentioned that he is ‘enlightened’ . May be ur special that he told you this .
with my humble humaness i tried to answer . Moral of the story : You are mightily pissed off as your EGO was hurt .:) god bless take care
Generally anyone if the ‘Journalist’ tag is there they try to be extra polite with ppl , give little more prominence , where as it was not visible in your case.
‘For a few seconds I just look at the Guru waiting for something to happen. Maybe some sort of holy ‘vibrations’ to flow through my cynical veins, I hope.’ – Well simple explanation . you dont have any set top box to connect your tv to the satellite network but you expect to connect to that network , which is humanly not possible . I hope you are intelligent enough to understand this , this is the simple possible explanation.
Sanjay u hav been blessed by guruji….i wait for d day he calls u for courrse..nw to u cant avoid him…he wil cl u definately…
Thanks Rohit
Got here from steve mc curry post to kumbh post to this post.. wholeheartedly agree! Most of his followers come across as brainwashed people (that includes some of my relatives), who, when it comes to it won’t refrain from harassing you to protect their “guruji” from any remotely cynical remark – experienced by me on twitter! For the life of me, I don’t get how the students who are supposedly taught that “you are not here to fight” (one of this commandments) do exactly that all the time and worse!
Thanks Priyanka.
Sanjay – I have had same thoughts as you. I have done art of living course and many other courses.
I wish to make few points(will be little direct):
- If Sri Sri did not have larger than life persona, would you have paid attention to him? I mean you did not write about me. why did not you?
Because you know most of the readers will NOT relate to it and will not even read your article.
So corollary is you have to have larger than life persona to get mind’s attention(be it positive or negative). Yours is negative.
- Your article does not help anyone. You are putting doubt against Sri Sri. Sure. Then who should I or anyone lookup to? You are not providing that solution. You are taking away the stick people are hanging on to float but you want to take away that from them and not provide alternative. How is your journalism helpful to me? If people follow him, there is a reason. Just because you have not experienced it does not mean, the reason does not exist.
- Lastly, have you observed that our minds always doubt the positive. We doubt honesty of a person and not dishonesty.
- have you wondered why there is no value in the news: “10000 flights landed safely today” instead this negative news gets attention: “1 crash happened”. Mind’s tendency is to put attention on negative(that’s why some journalists write negatively).
But Reality is there 1000′s of people getting benefit from Sri Sri. He does not want to go in Merc, it’s people who want him to go in Merc.
May be something for you to think and observe about ….
NK.. the answer to your question is very simple. ”Who should I or anyone lookup to?”- No one. Look up to yourself. Be a light unto yourself. Why are you looking for a crutch. Why are you treating yourself like a handicap? Its because of our insecurities and our tendency to lean on others that these Guru’s from Sri Sri to Asaram Babu mushroom.
Yeah we live in a stressful world(and you can see that – people are not happy(full of negativity, with insecurities), our thought process gets muddled so one looks for help(to get clarity). And whoever helps/advice you at that time becomes your guru(be it from best friend, parents, teachers)
.
Some go to spiritual gurus. Although not all Gurus are of same quality and your heart will tell you if he is for you.
But some of Gurus are full of wisdom(not ideas) and their guidance can help you become stronger person. That has to be experienced and cant be explained in words. It’s like you asking me how does “Gulab Jamun taste” and me explaining it to you(when you have not tasted it). Would not work. My explanation would only create concept and you will forget.
NK I believe if you look upto yourself you won’t ned to look upto other. Looking for crutches has helped no one.
I love my crutches…I like to help others and others want to help me when I need them. We all need and have gotten them(in form of parents, teachers, wife, family, employer, clients).
Anyways be happy…and keep writing…
All the best to you NK.
Quite interesting & expected too. Those who wish to open their eyes would clearly see what you have seen & those who prefer to remain blind cant see the truth. This man & his foundation is really cheating (well almost) the people at large. His followers are now trying to make him God. Look at the various miracles they are trying to attach him. Its really sad……..I am sure one fine day everything would be clear but alas it would be too late….rather its already late. Like many before him he is out to make a mockery of the so called spirituality & make a bad name for India. Just read the reports about child molestation by Sathya Sai Baba & you would agree with me. Sri Sri is on the same path but is a better businessman & hence is driving skillfully unlike the past babas\gurus. Just a last note of humour. Here he is saying that his photograph can replace a mobile phone battery charger.
http://www.webcitation.org/6EOQTaigV
Thanks Vijay for sharing your views.
Sanjay,
I don’t know if you have written this artical with a vested interest or generally from your ignorance. If the latter then I really feel sorry for you. I am not advocating Sri Sri here but advocating the truth. Being a Major in Assam Rifles I ve seen the AOL volunteers have transformed thousands of militants in Manipur, Assam and Jharkhand just with the power of Sudharshan Kriya. For that they use to put their own life at risk. I remember when we were talking about creating a rehabilitation policy for surrendered militants we contacted 56 vocational training providers and NGOs and no One came forward except Art of Living. Their unwavering devotion for service be it for a guru was something heartening to see. Even if an individual is brainwashing people but getting them to do something good then we should support. Good that youths are getting brainwashed and going for satsangs and places like dharmsala for meditation camps instead of goin to pubs and to goa and raping women..
People who are doing even a little good should be supported. You have not mentioned any good points in your article and this clearly reflects the lack in your life. And you have made such strong judgements in just a day… God bless your intellect… Love.
Dear Major. No one is contesting the work of AOL. Also please get out of this medieval mindset that going to pubs and to Goa is bad and a potential rape scenario. Don’t get me started on so called Holy men systamatically abusing their followers including little children in the guise of spiritualism. You obviously have not been reading enough.
No doubt they have done some good work but that does not mean we have to ignore all the wrongs they are indulging in. Brainwashing of any kind is not good. Humans are not machines. AOL brainwashes their volunteers to look at Ravishankar as if he is God. I am a former volunteer & have seen from close quarters what actually they are into. They want to make their Guru so famous that the Nobel committee wont be able to ignore him. In the name of Spirituality no one should be allowed to swindle people of their emotions & money.