QnA - 13

Here is an article i did for some magazine... They edited a lot of stuff... here it is in the original :)

Q: Why should a person who has been living his life happily need to do an art of living course?
Answer. The Art of Living series of courses are not only for people who have problems in life, they are also designed for extremely happy, successful people who simply want to know more and experience more in life. AOL courses will open up dimensions within you that you don’t even know exist.
The courses also provide you with breathtaking tools (pun intended) that will allow you to flush out daily stresses and allow you to consistently give peak performance.
Besides, the YES!+ course is just pure, unadulterated, challenging fun! So unless you are utterly allergic to having fun and learning something really worthwhile you should find the next course that's happening and go and do it.


Q: What are the most important qualities I should possess to make a positive transformation in society?
Answer. A deep yearning for that transformation to take place. The ability to quickly move from just making plans to putting them into action! The ability to inspire other people to join up with you. Finally to be able to relax and smile and move through obstacles.

Q: How do I attract people to me?
Answer. Meditation. Makes you to people like what an open pot of honey is to bees. When you regularly meditate, you will make heads turn when you walk into a room. The best part is that not only do you attract people, you attract the right type of people. People who will enhance your life by being with you (as you enhance their life by being with them).
Meditation cannot be learned off the internet or from a book, please make sure you learn from someone who is qualified to teach you. We would of course recommend the YES!+ course:).

Q: There is a guy in my life. How do I know that he is the right one for me?
Answer. When the question you are asking doesn’t remain, then you will know!

Q: Is it possible to get anything you want in life?
Answer. Yes. It is possible to get anything you want in life provided you make sure you help a significant number of other people get what they want in their life. Sooner than you think, what you want will plop into your lap!

Q: Should I believe in miracles?
Answer. Only if you want them to happen to you!!

Q: Can you tell me about a miracle?
Answer: Black cow, eating green grass, giving white milk!! :)

Q: How do I get out of depression?
Answer. The recipe for depression is asking the question: “What about me?”. Continuously thinking only about what’s in it for me? Very quickly you will get depressed. So the way out is to start thinking and doing things for others. Do some Seva, think about others for a change and you will see that depression just fades away...

Q: How do you from Art of Living see India 25 years from now?
Answer. Wise people don’t predict the future. Wise people MAKE the future! We invite you to join us and make the India and the planet of our dreams!!


Jai Gurudeva!
love
bawa  

QnA - 12

Today's post is delayed and i am really sorry for that... Here is a lovely photo from the Adv course that just got over to make up for the delay :)


Scroll all the way down for 2 more really cool photos! :)

Q: Bawa help me!!! These are my problems: My parents (especially my mom) are very attached to me and this creates problems .. sometimes as I have to accompany them on long trips against my will ... My dad is extremely anti-AOL and discourages my involvement in AOL seva (though he grudgingly allows it) - we've had a fight in the house because of this... I want to do seva but at the same time I don't want to hurt my dad's feelings ... how do I get out of the conflict ???
A: You will need to take some sort of action to help your mom get out of this... OR reach some compromise. Like ok I will come with you for this trip but then you have to allow me to do Seva whenever I want to or I come with you here, you have to come with me to Bangalore for Adv course! :)

Certain times to do what is right, you may need to hurt feelings. Even your dad’s or mom’s or close family and friends... Do you believe that doing Seva is right? If you do, then hurt their feelings and do it. Sooner or later they will start to feel proud about you, esp. When other people come to them and praise you! :)

Q: Somewhere I read that forgive and let go as it will liberate enormous amount of energy and creativity. But sometime forgiving someone makes the person feel that I am weak and he/she never changes for which the person is forgiven. So what should be done in situation like where your own so called friend betrays you, is he/she be forgiven?
A: Be nice not naive... Acche raho, kacche nahi!

Forgiving a person for what they have done doesn’t mean that you don’t tell them exactly what you think about them, esp. If they are thick skinned and may take you for granted. Being strong as well as sensitive is a skill that's worth developing!

Q:Hi Bawa, Maybe you will be disappointed in me when I say this, but of late I have been questioning my principles of living a totally "clean" life. I see people doing fine in school, some even better than me, or a lot better than me, when drinking alcohol, partying in the club, engaging in promiscuous activity, etc. in various degrees. Perhaps God blessed them with more innate intelligence than me. But then I think it is easier for them to get along in this world, with whatever superficial friendships that they form than someone who deviates from society and receives criticism for that.

A: Not disappointed, just surprised! Any intelligent person (and I thought you were one!:)) knows that getting Better grades, or having sex does not ever translate into being a better human being which the world desperately needs today! It is exactly these sort of people who are responsible for not only (slowly) degrading their lives, but also the environment around them...

Also, whether you drink or not, party or not, if you sincerely study you get good grades... Do remember that. You may do your Kriya everyday, but if you don’t study, you will flunk

Meditation and Spirituality make it easier for you to achieve your dreams. But if you just meditate and don’t work... For sure you are going to be left behind! :)

Finally, I would rather have 5 meaningful deep relationships than a 1000 superficial ones! Of course it's way better to have 1000's of meaningful realtionships, and those happen when you meditate and are surrounded by Sattva and Satsang!

So Breathe, Relax and then get out there and MOVE!

Q: I would like to know why is prostitution considered a wrong doing even now? When almost every act of human is untrue( like black money, corruption etc etc)

A: So you are saying that since there is black money, prostitution is alright? Have you ever thought that BOTH are wrong?! And that by participating in it, you are contributing to the wrongness?

There are many problems on the planet. And there are solutions too. Are you part of the problem or part of the solution? Choose well! :)

Q: Jai Gurudev Bawa I love the Grilled Sandwich in the Ashram canteen. I make them at home using Amul sliced cheese. So have around 2 slices of cheese and 4 slices of Brown bread daily. Is this alright for health. Also what makes mozzarella cheese different from sliced and spread cheese?

A: I hope you are exercising. 2 slices of cheese can add up to a lot of cheese. Mozzarella cheese melts beautifully and spreads out when heated and turns a lovely golden brown when baked... It’s what gives Pizzas that rich golden brown look... It also has quite a different taste from Cheddar Cheese (your normal cheese)

If you are going to have this quantity of cheese, please exercise at least an hour everyday!! or you will go from fit to pleasingly plump and the unapologetically fat very soon! :)

Q: Dear Bawa, I hope you will answer my question. I have been noticing that the moment things go wrong in my life, I start struggling a lot with the knowledge. As long as things go fine, I am ok...... knowledge seems crystal clear....... Guruji is beautiful etc. And then I lose a job or have financial problems or have some family problems etc, I become angry with nature, God, Guruji. I am fully aware that I am angry and fully aware that this is not the way I should be reacting but my ego refuses to bow down to Guruji at that time.

It goes "Guruji I have struggled so much already in life and you are giving me some more? I have had enough of this spiritual path and want nothing more of this life. Let me just die, dissolve, disappear.... there is no point in continuing life this way." Everytime, Bawa, my experience of pain is very very intense when I am through tough situations and I end up screaming and yelling (of course it is poor Guruji who takes it all coz no one else can take me!!!).

I just went through one such episode and I am wondering what is wrong with me. I am back to normal now as after a very tough situation that bothered me to the extreme for couple of months now seems to be getting over. But I am so tired of myself. Same behaviour over and over again. When will I change? All affirmations that next time I will not react like this gets thrown out of the window and for the last few years I see the same lack of confidence in the path when I am faced with a challenging situation. I am regular with sadhana, seva and satsang.... Guruji showers me with so much of love yet that goal of the Inner World remaining unaffected by the Outer World has been unattainable so far. I am fed up of myself.... really. What should I do Bau?

A: First off, dont be “fed up” with yourself. Spirituality is that which brings you closer and closer to who you are, to yourself... Can you be close to something you are fed up with? Impossible!

So for spirituality to work for you, the first thing to do is really love yourself :)

Being angry with Guruji is absolutely ok. Pointless but ok :) He is the one who can take your anger... Better you get angry at Him rather than people around you :)

Finally, this path is not about taking away your problems... It’s about giving you the tools and techniques to handle the problems more effectively... Each problem conquered brings about a new dimension in you, opens up a new skill in you... Look at problems as adventures!

Here is a tip: Instead of asking that the problems go away, ask for quick solutions! Coz the more you say problem go away, the more the problem will stay... What will do the trick is praying for solutions! :)

...And here are 2 photos of Guruji playing with Maheshwara our Ashram elephant!...



Jai Gurudeva!
Love
Bawa  

Rest and Activity

Q: I heard a beautiful knowledge sheet of Gurudev on Activity & Rest being read during the long kriya at Ananda Mai Bhavan yesterday.

I can't recollect verbatim... But one sentence said, "... Wise are the ones who finds Rest in Activity & Activity in Rest. While it appeals to my silly small mind/intellect about Rest in Activity (doing it with sense of purpose-not with hurry, feverishness, being in the present moment, giving your 100% etc.,), what is not clear to me is about "Activity in Rest"?

How is it possible to have Activity in Rest while the purpose of Rest is to do nothing & relax?

Please help me with your thoughts.

A: Purpose of rest is to rest...

Not to do nothing!

For example I find playing the piano (which is doing something) really restful and relaxing!



Got it?

Jai Gurudeva!
love
bawa  

QnA - 11

Q: I have done Basic Course, Advance Course & DSN. However, I am too lazy to practice Kriya. I have got myself into a rotten state. I have a very good job, family, house. You name it and have all the worldly pleasures. However, I have one problem. I have become addicted to drinking. Just before I reach my home, I go to the bar and have a 4 pegs of whiskey every evening. Every morning I get up, I decide that I will not drink today, but end up drinking again.

Please help me.

A: You need to do the basic course, advance course and DSN again. And this time round, actually implement the Knowledge points into your life. The only cure for laziness is to stop being lazy, and how to do that? Well, Start to do some stuff on your to do list Now. Stop reading and do your Kriya now and then come back...
There is hope for you, coz at least you have accepted that you are in a “rotten” state... Only you can do anything about it... Please for your sake, get up and do it!

Q: I am staying away from home for almost a year now (I work away from home), Somehow i donno really how? I have developed a crave for sexual desires. I feel like sleeping with every beautiful women that passes by. This has now increased even more (After i had 2 one night stands with some Russian women, i dont even remember their names). Now, consequenses of these are i am attending more beach parties, pick up a drink in hand (to pretend that you are cool) and etc.., I go for long kriya and meditation sessions, I decide that I will not do all these things... now, this feeling lasts only for one day.... the beast in me unleashes himself the next day...!!!!

I really donno what to do..!! please help..!!

A: Remember AIDS? Your one night stand may become a last night stand... And to take a drink in your hand to pretend you are cool is just being cowardly... If you have to goto a party, why not stand your ground and say you DONT drink! Anyone who doesn't find that cool, is not worth hanging out with in the first place...
Physical activity (gyming, jogging, swimming, etc), Creative work, dancing to satvic music and cold water baths will help you overcome your craving for sex...

Q: I have become a full time vegetarian about 2 weeks back after I came to know that I was causing to the rape of my earth.
but my problem is that after becoming veg I don't seem to even be able to eat outside food even though the food is usually a bit more spicy, I am facing this problem not only in small restaurants but also in the five star restaurants(where the food is mostly bland). Can you help me out? Why is this happening? I am a great foodie, I will always remain a veggie from now on but I somewhat can't stop eating out.
by the way where are the 101 reasons to go veg on your blog disappeared?!!

A: Most restaurants and good hotels have separate kitchens even for people who are veg... Where do you stay? :) And if you are really a foodie, why not start cooking? :) I have put so many recipes on the blog to get you started :) and the reasons to go veg are very much there on the blog in the archives... Use the search or simply click here

Q: I am in a dilemma...There are times when i want to instinctively do things but my analytical mind jumps in and starts analyzing. So, there is more thinking than actually implementing. Being more specific...like wanting to dance when u feel like and not doing it because of what people may think...being even more specfic :- I have been placed in a firm and have a months time after exams before I start work, I want to ask for an extension because I want to go on a Himalayan trek for 15 days and want to do seva in the ashram for 15 days and spend time with my grandparents....but my analytical mind is holding me back!!!! can I trust my instincts ?If I could I would have sent this mail two days early!!!

A: Yup trust your instincts... And please dance and sing and laugh and cry... when you want to... Life is too short to bother about what other people may think...

Q:Why it is that almost all the Gods in the Hindu Religion have two or more wives and the goddesses have been given less importance. Sita was abandoned just because a dhobi had an objection, why was the same question not raised to check Ram's purity.

Women are not allowed into some temples just because they are considered impure for a period of 4 days every month when they get there periods (E.g Sabrimala temple restricts entry to women within the age group of 10 to 60.)

Other practices like the Sati (though reduced), women wearing white saree after the husband's death and women not allowed to sit cross legged in front of men are some of the things which disturb me.

All these things sometimes makes me feel that the scriptures where written with bias or are wrongly interpreted.

Bau how am I supposed to take these things, Ignoring does not work for me in these cases.

A: There are many reasons why some things are the way they are... For example, during periods a woman’s energy is very low... And in a place of worship, the energy is (supposed to be) extremely high... So when someone with very low energy goes there, it can be quite upsetting... So as a precaution, women are advised not to goto temples,etc when they have their periods...

I personally have always felt that in the entire Ramayana, that dhobhi was the main villian and I really have absolutely no idea why Ram had to forsake Sita because of what that dhobhi said... “Don’t be a football of other’s opinions” should have crossed Ram’s mind then...

Sati was started during the time of the small Kings... They were forever fighting battles and women of the losing King (who was usually dead) were raped, mutilated and then killed. To save themselves this dreadful inevitable fate awaiting them, women chose to kill themselves when their husbands (Kings) have died... To continue such a practice today is a crime! And any one who actually does it or supports it has not understood history and spirituality!

I don’t know about the white saree... All I do know is Guruji always tells widows to wear colour...

Finally the sitting cross legged in front of men, everyone sits cross legged for meditation... So that should not be a problem :)

You are absolutely right when you say that a lot of times scriptures are wrongly interpreted by the so called religious leaders and many times by politicians too... that is why a Satguru is of such paramount importance... and we are all so blessed and lucky to have Guruji!

There are a lot of traditions that have firm scientific basis, and are really good to follow, and quite a few that are outdated and simply not applicable... Wisdom is to know which is which...


Q: Yesterday as I was reading the news paper i came across a article that had tears in my eyes. It was the devastating earth quake that hit china, what I saw was dead people being transported in scooters to the morgue? also the hooch which killed lots of people...
What I am not able to understand his why i had tears
I don't even know who the people were...or I do Know Him?
It always happens if certain events are portrayed that way in my life
Please Answer bawa
Why?

You are connected with everyone... And everyone is connected with you. Its natural to feel what you did. In fact I would say, its unnatural NOT to feel it.

Pray for them, do whatever you can to help and then move ahead...

Q: I am 26Yr old IT professional. I have never lived to myself so far in life. Through out my life I have always thought so much even on the useless tiniest things and haven't converted them to actions. So I have started living in my thoughts only.. good or bad. I have never felt comfortable in that situation and

I could feel some part of my mind working detached from myself which is painful every moment. I don't remember if I have lived my life freely even as a child anytime.

Due to this I have developed some incurable skin diseases(According to allopathic doctors) which causes problems public ally and ultimately putting more stress.

My mental state is very negative , doubt every thing in my life.

I luckily got to AOL basic course 9 months back and felt great. Following the kriya almost regularly. Recently done my YES+ course with Ramnik bhaya. It feels great some times but I reach back the same state. Still my self says to keep on doing kriya and be with GuruJi even I have lots of doubts in everything.

Not sure what I am expecting from you in this message but there is a hope that things would be fine. Hope I am on the right track?

I am coming to you for Yes++ advance starting Jun 18.

A: You are on the right track... Keep moving!
Remember the intellect always doubts the positive...

Sadhana, Seva and Satsang is the best formula to get out of sticky situations in life... and not get into them in the first place as well! :)

Jai Gurudeva!
love
bawa  

Quickie QnA

Q: Jai Gurudev Bawa!!

Many of my friends enjoy drinking and smoking and currently they are not facing any problem as they say ... they say we do not want to live a life of 100 years even 50 is ok but we will enjoy this way and live.

how to make them aware that they are on wrong path...? I really do not how to help them out...

some of them are willing to come out but that state of mind remains only for few moments and they back to tamas....

any tricks?? or just say jai gurudev and pray and leave them until they themselves are eager to come out of their habits?

can you guide me?

A: Send them some condolence cards and ask them for approval... which one to send to their families when they die... that should wake them up!

:)

There was a conference where someone was presenting on habits to promote longevity and said if you want to live to be 90, you need to follow this lifestyle... someone in the audience shouted "who wants to be 90 anyways?!" the presenter promptly replied, someone who is 89!!

prayer also helps :)

Jai Gurudeva!
love
bawa

 

QnA - 10

Here is a very nice little real life story:

Hello Bau!

I work for the Clean Up! Mumbai program at Dadar Agar Bazar area. Even Mtv has covered our activity for the MTV Wassup program. It feels really great doing this Seva.

On the last Sunday, while doing the Seva, one fellow came to me and really thanked me for doing the Clean Up! But he was really pissed off on the BMC. He was very angry and stared abusing BMC. I was simply laughing on him comments. He asked me one question. He asked, "Is it your job to clean this city?". I answered yes. But he wasn't convinced. I told him that BMC is helping us in this program. All the material we are using is provided by BMC. But he wasn't convinced.

Then I thought let's convince him the BAWA WAY. The way you convince us, simply by giving some small, stupid but really wonderful examples. I told him, " If I will come to your place and will find your place full of dirt, I am not going to say HEY MAN! YOU HAVE REALLY LAZY MAID AT YOUR PLACE. I will say YOU ARE LAZY AND DON'T CARE FOR YOUR HOME."

And Believe me Bau, next moment that fella started cleaning up the road with me. Unfortunately we were not able to capture him on camera.

I have learnt the style to make people listen and understand my point of view :)

Jai Guru Dev!

KOLA :)


and here is some superb Knowledge from Guruji... and a question as well...

Jai Guru Dev! Bawa
This is what Guruji said:

In Park City, Utah, when Guruji met about 70 of us from the Bay Area, he came out of meditation and with the backdrop of white snowy mountains, he spoke for some time on the last two questions, (from memory recollecting some of it below...)

Observe what is going on in your mind. The dialogue in the mind. Constantly there is dialogue in the mind. What somebody said, what you said, what you will say. Your mind is always busy - planning on what to say to whom...blah blah blah. Discard all the impressions that arise in the mind. Just discard all this. Discard your mind! Take some time every day to discard all these impressions from your mind. Take a walk - a nature walk. Be mindful. Discard the impressions. Every day spend about an hour consciously removing these impressions. It may be frustrating at first but continue. Don't get frustrated. Just calmly discard all the impressions.

Q: So are Sudarshan Kriya and meditation the vehicles to do this?
Guruji: I am giving you the goal and you want a vehicle! I am taking you to the goal! This is higher than Kriya and Meditation. This knowledge is good for lifetimes. Just discard all the impressions. Be free of your mind.

Q: If we are free of our minds, our impressions then will we connected to you?
Guruji: When were you not connected! What non-sense! (with a half-serious smile) You are always connected! Take some time, by yourself everyday - keep discarding all these impressions stored up. I'm saying in addition to the kriya and meditation. Some time to consciously discard all your past impressions.

My Question is: How to identify some thing as "Impression". For e.g. if I have Tea/Coffee Impression, I will only know it if I leave it and then all the head aches start and after few days I come out of it. But how would I know for the rest of the impressions?
How to identify impressions in me?

A: Everything is an impression ☺. Don’t try to figure out what is impression and what is not, because everything is an impression. So whatever experiences you have had during the day, simply go thru them, and kind of wash them off… As Guruji says "simply discard them..."

This is not something I can even begin to explain. You will know it when you do it. Don’t think about it, or rationalize it or anything. Here the trick is to be simple about it and simply do it.

End of discussion! ☺

Hi Bawa and Dinesh Bhaiya!

Jai Gurudeva!

How are you both doing? Bhaiya, I finished the basic course recently and now doing the sudarshan kriya regularly at home. It gives me a good feeling. I am happy.

I have something to share with you. Bhaiya, I am going out of Bangalore for higher studies. I have to stay in hostel. Till now I have never gone anywhere leaving my parents, brother and my pet. I have just been to my cousin's place for a maximum of three days. Now, I have to stay on my own leaving them for three years. It scares me. I'm very attached to them. I don't know if I can actually go there and study when my loved ones are away from me. My parents and brother are very supportive and tell me not to worry and study well. They say its just three years and it will pass soon. But I feel its THREE YEARS. They are my world. They are like my best friends. I am totally confused if I have taken a good decision. Bhaiya, I don't know how do I stay without them. Tell me something Bhaiya....What do I do?

Looking forward to heard from you two…

A: Hostel life is great fun! You will suddenly have a family MUCH bigger than just your parents and a brother and a pet. Go there with an intention to enjoy it and love it… and you will... i still very fondly look back at my time in Hostel 5 at IITB... and watch out for the ragging ☺. Dont get perturbed by anyone ragging you, join in and have fun with it :) that's what i did :)

Q:I am crazy about Guruji. I do lots of Sadhana-Seva-Satsangh, etc…Me, and many of my friends just wanna meet Guruji, wanna hug him, talk to him for sometime.

Its been a dream for us to see him. I would consider myself blessed even to meet him in my dreams. In short, meeting him is such a great thing for us, we consider it fortunate.

I sometimes feel low seeing how easily people meet Guruji, that too very often!

Big big people, corporate leaders, leaders of the world, etc. shake hands with him, talk to him, etc. without even completely knowing him. They don't even know who he is, some of them may not even respect him, and such people get to meet him that easily? I just feel jealous of such people. What can I do?

These people meet Him for few minutes. You meet Him everyday when you do your Sadhana. Close your eyes and He is there... He walks with you everywhere you goto do Seva. He talks through you everytime you speak Knowledge. For a sadhak, He lives in your very core! Wouldn’t you rather have that, than a few minutes smiling, shaking hands with Him and making superficial conversation with Him?

If at all, these people need to feel jealous of all of us! ☺

I simply feel utterly blessed!

Q: I am really frustrated with politicians. At times, i feel like killing them. Its irritating to see how they throw their weight around.

A; So instead of sitting there being irritated. Do something about it. Make many people do the course, so people can get together and be heard, become a good politician yourself…
Killing someone is never a solution… Use your intelligence and your strength to win over corruption. Understand that corruption happens not because the public service is corrupt, but because, we the public allow it to continue, by paying bribes, etc and encouraging the very corruption most of us claim that we are so disgusted with!
You stop. Make others stop. When many stop, corruption dies naturally!


Jai Gurudev Bawa and Dinesh Bhaiya,

I was a volunteer for Utsav Bangalore Act 1. Few of my friends participated in Utsav and have really liked it. To my surprise, I found that one of them went for party (pub) on the 4th day of the course with friends and enjoyed booze. I am not sure how to react or what to tell them.

Bangalore is hub of so many spiritual gurus and still it has so much of Pub culture. Though you have spoken something, that they are losers but what as youth can we to encourage them to have more satvic life.

Oh all the spiritual Gurus are very grateful to the pub culture of Bangalore. It very effectively separates out the weak and stupid from the sincere and intelligent!

If after the course, people still choose to go and get drunk, there is simply nothing that can be done. Like I always say, there is absolutely no cure for plain vanilla stupidity!


I have done Basic and DSN course in Nagpur. My question is, I already have my guruji (sant rajinder singh ji maharaj,Delhi) and I used to follow him and his practices before joing AOL. After joing AOL,my whole attention is on AOL and I am not following my guruji's practices and I am also not attending my guruji's satsang because in the local ashram of nagpur , there is the poor management though I like him.

I am very confused what should I do? if I attend to satsang of AOL , I think that I am not following my guruji and I attend his satsang ,then I don't attend AOL satsang. Sir, I respect both the guruji( sant rajinder singhji maharaj as well as sri sri ravishankar ji) I am much attracted by AOL as it has transformed my life but the same way i do not want to change my guru, please suggest to me what I should do to have success in this path.

See Sri Sri in Sant Rajinder Singhji and Sant Rajinder Singhji in Sri Sri. Why are you making differences where there are none?!

Any Guru will want His devotee to be happy… By doing all these mental gymnastics you are only making a mess of your own self!

And then with full respect and reverence you choose one path and follow it. We respect all and follow one! You cannot cross a river in 2 boats can you? Feel respect and love and adoration for all, follow one! And also see all in the one you are following so there is really no conflict at all!

Jai Gurudeva!
love
bawa  

QnA - 10

Q: What is Courage?

A: A story to illustrate it: (not mine, plagarised shamelessly from somewhere on the WWW)

A psychology professor at the University of Miami knew his students expected a terrifyingly long final exam. To play with their minds a little (what do you expect from a psychology professor?) he only put ONE question on the final exam.

He watched the reactions of the students as they all opened the exams and saw the one question. Initially they all looked relieved, but as the difficulty of the question began to sink in, those relieved faces sagged to confusion and consternation.

All, that is, except for one student. He read the question, tapped his pencil into his palm a few times, then jotted something down on the test paper. He walked up to the professor, handed him the final, and walked out. The professor blinked in surprise, looked at what the student wrote, and smiled. The professor wrote "100%" on the top of that student's test.

The question: What is courage?

The student's answer: This is.


Q:WHAT IS INNOCENCE? Jai Gurudev Bau .. Guruji sometimes keeps telling this - best combination is that of intelligence and innocence .. and always for innocence a child is taken as an example .. But I'm a 29 year old guy and I know and do all those that are expected of a guy of my age .. so what are the qualities that can be classified under this term "INNOCENCE" for ppl of my age ..... Thanks for your time .. waiting eagerly for your answer or something better :)

A: A child has innocence but no responsibility. An adult looses innocence as he gains intelligence and takes responsibility. Maintaining child like innocence while being intelligent and fulfilling your responsibility is quite an Art. That’s what Art of Living courses do for you. Bring back that wonder and amazement and curiosity of childhood… do not confuse with being childish ☺.


Q: Joy Gurudev! bawa... Hope you are doing good!I have 2 Qs
1. If i am good at something and terribly bad in some other thing should i continue trying to be better in a thing i am bad @??
2. Since when and y are you called Bawa Just wanted to know!? Do take care. say Hi to Dinesh Buddy!

A: 1. up to you. Depends on what those things are… its too general a question to answer.
2. Since my days in IIT. It’s a pet name for parsis (zorastrians) and its stuck since then ☺. WIll post a story about that sooner or later :)


Q: I go to college. Guru Ji says, make one friend everyday. How?

A: Umm… go upto someone introduce yourself, smile a bit, talk about yourself, ask them about themselves… most importantly stop asking dumb questions! ☺

Q: Who is your absolutely favorite US teacher?

a.) Patti Montella
b.) Miss Montella
c.) all of the above

A: so many choices. I just cant make up my mind!! :) :) :)

Q: YOUNG GENERATION TODAY Problem 1: It has been observed that young generation are addicted to computer games and cell phone to the extent that they do not know the time. They go on playing till 3.00 or 4.00a.m. They keep talking till middle of night. It has adverse effect on them. It has effected to the extent that they do not get sleep, they are irritated at every small thing. They get late for every thing and they also loose interest in studies.

A: The earlier younger generations used to be addicted to books and other hobbies with approximately the same effect☺

Q: Problem 2: They are readily available for seva at any call from any volunteer of Art of Living. But when it comes to do any work at home they avoid (including their personal work). It is really bothering me the attitude of young generation. Inspite of doing various courses and regularly doing kriya how they do not understand that what they do is wrong. How to handle them please guide. JAI GURU DEV

A: Instead of berating the entire younger generation, maybe you should be talking about a few specific examples of kids? And why does it bother you that your children are going out wanting to make a positive difference to the planet? They are not wasting their time in a pub getting drunk or senselessly partying… they are standing upto their peers to do something positive! You need to be more proud of what your children are doing… and possibly they might start doing what you would wish them to do too?

btw, younger generation please note... doing stuff outside the house and making parents freak at you is not a good idea... why not have a whole group of friends come over to one persons house every 15 days or so on the weekend and help with all household stuff in that house? good idea? Implement it!

Remember happy parents = better seva

Q:Hi I am trying very hard to get a job(almost for the past three years) but the result is zero. What should I do now ? My qualification is MCA (annamalai univ 2007 correspondence course passout, BSc electronics regular mode)

A: Why not start up some business? Or do some e commerce? There are plenty of options out there if you really want to get gainfully employed other than doing a job… You can email rashmin: rpulekar@rediffmail.com for more details if you wish for alternative sources of income and employment.


Q: Jai gurudev bhaiya, tell me how to get rid of fear of failure

A: by succeeding!


Q: i want to be the best. How is that possible?

A: Its impossible if you want to be the best. Just realize that you already are!


Q:Was reading Yog Vashishtha... everything it seems is conjured by my mind...so if I am experiencing you or Guruji or for that matter anybody or anything, is it my mind which has created you all? So where is the You? So whatever you answer would be what my mind already wants to hear and so I am conjuring it to come from you? So whatever you are(or anybody is), is it also my mind? SO when things dont happen the way I think I want them, it is actually that in my mind somewhere I didnt want them to happen? Then why I am feeling sad? Is it that the mind wants to feel sad? Then you seem to be things at your own will, I didnt see you become you - just read ur posts now (;-)) but all the while is it me who is creating you? And so Guruji? IF all is MY mind then what is YOU? (Dont take YOU literally :-)I mean what is the Other)

A: Read the Yoga Vasishtha again! And again and again… its not a book to be taken at its face value. Remember that it’s a dialogue between Lord Rama and the Rishi Vasishtha. It talks about very intricate and profound realities… Do your Sadhana and read it. It will slowly seep into your consiousness and questions like the one you asked above will simply drop away…

Q: TAKING OTHER PEOPLE'S KARMA I was thinking about this today - I have heard Guruji say that if someone "yells" at you or "criticizes" you then be grateful because they take away some of your Karma. How does it work? Any convenient explanations for the intellect :)?

A: Since He is in charge, He should know ☺
Just know this: There is perfect justice in the Universe. So if someone yells at you for no reason, he will face the consequence of it. It would not be fair for you to take another birth just so that person’s karma can get finished with yours… so they simply take your negative karma away. My extremely intellectual interpretation ☺

Q: JAI GURUDEV, bawa bhaiya,i have done part-1 course,did 2 advance course also,DSN,i do seva also(though not much,what i want to ),but from last 3-4 months i mt not at peace,i m doing Kriya regularly but one or the other thing keeps on troubling me,it seems as if i m forgetting the art of surviving in ups and downs,please help me what should i do? Also bhaiya i m engaged and most of the time my fiance never supports me to whatever i say, very recently i have made a decision of having a break in my career/professional life for 4-6 mnths as i m working for 6 years in bank and i m totally frustrated, and he is opposing this decision of mine, what should i do bhaiya, i m in a fix, coz i want to do my TTC-1 also in this time and get involved in spiritualism more. Please advise,m eagerly awaiting ur answer..please guide me and help me.

A: Look for a new fiancé?
If you are seriously interested in doing Art of Living work, and he is already opposing you and challenging you, married life will be hell for both of you… unless you can sit him down and explain your priorities to him and listen to what he would like from you and both of you can come to a mutual consensus…
It’s a tough decision that you have to take… but the sooner you take it, the easier it will be for both of you.


Q: Question on Faith I have one question on Faith. Firstly, I had a breakdown in US two months back and then followed a break in my faith in me and Guruji altogether..... So, somehow, I got to instill faith in myself..... Now, in one of the knowledge sheets, Guruji mentioned that God is not concept for your security or protection. Your faith should not diminish even if death happens to you. Your faith should not be based on events or happenings....And also it is told that you are being taken care of....since faith is based on a concept of security...can you pls explain in little detail....

A: You are being taken care of, doesn’t mean you will have no problems. It only means that problems that may be very difficult to go thru, will be made easier… Knowing that even when you are in deep deep trouble, Guruji is there… this is faith.

Q:QUESTION ON TTC I am a student and i want to become a YLTP teacher. I want to know if the eligibility for YLTP and YES!+ TTC are same or not. Age limit is there or not? I still have a long way to go before becoming eligible for YES!+ TTC itself! But i want to plan now itself for the money for the courses etc ! Thanks bawa...

A: No idea about YLTP. YES!+ TTC eligibility is on the application form you can download from www.yesplus.org

Q: QUESTIONS THAT IRRITATE ME I want to ask sometimes some questions irritate me and i have no ans those questions. about career, my parents are also worried for me but i have no ans. without art of living i do not like anything and this is the reason why i am upset. plz tel me solution

A: Make a career in Art of Living. Become a teacher! :)

Jai Gurudeva!
love
bawa  

QnA - 9

Q:I have everything in life. Guruji, wonderful parents, enough money, a nice job, Seva, Satsang...... But i feel something missing in this entire picture. I don't quite know what it is and so i cannot act upon it. It's as if there is some quest in my life. But i cannot understand what to do. This is not bringing me any un-happiness, but its playing on my mind for quite some time now. Do you know what it might be?

A: Sincerely do stuff for others, sincerely think how can I contribute? And then get out there and do it… this brings meaning and fulfillment… Also do as many Adv courses as you possibly can ☺
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Q: I face a lot of resistance from my Dad{ a non- Believer of God} against AOL and Guruji. He sometimes says nasty things to Guruji which results in Bitter arguments between Both of Us!! PLs. Help!!

A: Tell your dad that since India is a free country, he has a right to ignorance! And that you respect it… anytime he wants some Knowledge, he can come for an Art of Living course ☺

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Q: Bau most of my friends{ AOL and non- AOL both} come to with their problems. I try to console them or give them solutions according to whatever AOL knowledge I follow and which works for me!! But They remember me only when they are in Problem not when they are enjoying their lives!! I feel I have turned into some counselor who is always surrounded with people with negativity!! First, I used to get too involved in their problems and get sad at times but now with regular Kriya I'm safe!! Bau now I feel I should just stop giving them solutions and let them do whatever they feel is right. But then I feel this is my little Seva and I'm answerable to Guruji!! I'm a stronger Believer of Karma and aim at doing Good Karma always!!

A: Here is what I do:
Non AOL friends with problems: Their major problem is that they don’t have AOL in their lives… So, I patiently hear them out, usually this solves their issues and if it doesn’t, I gently point them in the direction of the nearest Art of Living course ☺…
AOL people with problems = Irregularity with Sadhana, or almost no Seva and Satsang… point them in the right direction ☺. Get them on an Adv course and/or involved in some Seva project or the other, could be as simple as organizing a course…
With both these types of people, usually just listening to them solves stuff for them ☺

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Q: I am a person of extremely Low confidence have a stammering problem. I need a girl friend. No one is interested in me.

A: Even you don’t seem to be interested in yourself! You don’t love yourself, and you expect someone else to love you?! Stop this I have low confidence and stuff like that… Look in the mirror every morning and say to the reflection I LOVE YOU!!!
And so what if you stammer?! Rashmin one of our best YES!+ teachers used to stammer a lot… now he is completely over it. No one would believe that he ever had that problem…
Repeat a few YES!+ courses, go on a DSN… Pray
Relax and Breathe…
Jai Gurudeva!

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Q:Jai Guru Dev,
I have passed my SyBscIT from Usha Pravin Gandhi College of management i.e in mithibhai this year Now the problem is in our third year we have option for subjects b/w advanced java and web designing not many are opting for adv java Becoz it is difficult to score but is in demand in the market and has a good amount of earning. The thing is that i want to opt for web design because it is quite interesting, creative and scoring of course. But whenever i share this idea with others people they suggest me to opt for adv java because market needs such candidates see i dont have much interest in the subject and money is not at all an issue .YES money is an imp factor to live , even to do seva we need money but what if we dont get satisfaction with our work at the end of the day? plz guide me to over come this turmoil situation plz ?
looking forward for your reply
JAI GURU DEV.

A: Do both!! Take the course in java for the money, and read up on the net, sneak into a few lectures on the course in web design and learn that as well!! Then you will have the qualification needed to earn good money, as well as the capability to do what you love to do, which also has the potential of earning money ☺

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Q: How do i handle my mind after hearing my mother telling me not to do various things (like traveling for seva)since she went to an astrologer(whatever he says happens ...we have experienced) and he said that it is bad time for me as i will fall ill and should not travel and be at home......i also wanted to know since Guruji is there with us can such negative things happen? please let me know

A: When it’s night, the stars shine and we can see and feel their light. But even though the stars are very much there during the daytime, can we see their light?
Same way, astrological stuff may affect you, when you are not on the path, not doing Sadhana and Seva, but when you are regular with sadhana, Seva and Satsang and the Grace of the Guru is strong with you, all the planetary influences have as much effect on you as the starlight in the afternoon!

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Q: I am very interested in working on one of my academic work
It is a big task requiring at least 2 months of concentrated effort.
I need to focus.
Although my mind does not wander, I am also not able to focus. I feel as if I my mind is "walking around the lake instead of taking a plunge into it". I am confident that I will be able to do the work, but I am not able to achieve that single-minded focus.
How to achieve that "meditative focus" or "single-mindedness" about this work?
Any light?

A: Do you love your work? Once you fall in love with something or are passionate about it, focus comes all by itself. There is nothing to do! and the decision to like something is totally yours… get it?!
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Q: Hi bawa, i am of 24 yrs old male, i started loosing my hair for few years. i am scared that i will loose my entire hair in a few years. When i saw both of u i was surprised to see u have long and dense hair. So i want to have hair as healthy as u. I will be happy if u share tips of having healthy hair, any yoga techniques, breathing exercise and diet.

A: The fear of loosing your hair makes you loose your hair… Who cares whether you have hair or not?! You just become a good human being and that’s enough… and you will be surprised how your hair fall reduces or vanishes completely once you just don’t care about it and focus on more important stuff like doing your Kriya and Seva and Satsang!

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Q: i am Harsha and i am doing my first year B.E in bits-pilani, goa. So i stay in a hostel and i have completely screwed up my sleeping habits here. i go to sleep at 2 in the night and get up quite since we don't have any attendance system here. so how do i get back to a healthier sleeping pattern? i have tried going to sleep early but it just doesn't work.

A: Get up every morning latest by 6:00 am. Regardless of when you sleep. You will automatically sleep earlier after 5-7 days of doing this… Don’t drink any tea or coffee.

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Q: Irritation while chanting OM. i have done my art excel when i was 13 yrs old in 2001, from then i had a problem whenever i chant om i just cant sustain the irritation. its everywhere in the body
Even during the utsav act one from 24 -28 apr in Mumbai, same thing happened. It happenes every time i chant it…
plz help

A: Doesn’t matter. You simply relax and do some alternate nostril pranayama before you chant and then again after you chant and it should become fine. Ask any Art of Living teacher to teach you the alternate nostril Pranayama if you don’t know how to do it… Before chanting do at least 8-10 rounds, you can do fewer after chanting.

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Q: A wish at least initiate call from my boyfriend Yogesh and i shall take care of the rest please for the last time initiate the call from him please help me Bawa i need my Love Yogesh please i want him back.

A: Whenever you ask for a wish from any Rishi or Guru or teacher or saint or the universe, always ask for what you want … or Better!
So your question should be let me get a phone call from Yogesh or better!!
Pray with your heart, and you will get it! ☺

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Q: i am in love with a girl for over 6 years who has recently become an AOL teacher. I have been her steady friend all along and have seen her move between relationships that has always brought more pain to her. She always shared her thoughts for those relationships. Clearly she sees me as a confidante and a good friend but she also knows that i love her. I have on my part always maintained myself as a good friend above anything else and have tried to be dispassionate about my feelings for her, though longing has always been the dominant feeling. It is through her that i got introduced to Guruji, AOL and subsequently YES+ so i am eternally grateful to her for that.

Last year when i felt a magical moment of Love, i proposed to her to marry me. However she had just come off a relationship (about 4-5 months) and she felt i was 'taking a chance' because i knew she was single. I felt so bad that i had thoughts of cutting off all relationship with her after that. But the moment she called again, all those 'parting' thoughts vanished completely. We are back to being good friends again although my Love for her has never died. I have never again uttered a word about the past. I don't want to convince her for convincing sake and i can't look at any other girl without comparison. The past few days have been troubling me a lot and i can't even fathom a reason for it. What do i do to remove any thoughts of loving her and have some peace of mind because i never get the feeling that she will eventually love me with thoughts of getting married. I am regular in my Sadhana, Seva and Satsang. I know it's a long personal question but i would really like to know your advice. I have stopped short of posting this question many times. Please help.

A; I would suggest, come clean. Tell her about your feelings for her, tell her you are not taking a chance or anything and ask her sincerely if she would want to commit to a long term relationship with you… Then if you clear that stage, both of you go to Guruji and ask for His blessings…
Things should work out, and like I mentioned above, when you pray, ask for her love… or better! ☺

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Q: bawa!! jai gurudeva!
i did my utsav act1 for the first time with u in mumbai in the month of feb,, as soon as my course was over i recommended all my friends to do the course with u,, anyways but there is this friend of mine who is really good at heart,, when i asked him to do the course first he started wid all bahanas tht hes an aethist and he doesnt believe in these things and all blah blah blah,,, then i told him taht u don’t know wats AOL then how cannot he believe in something about which he has no idea at all..??
finally he agreed to do the course.. and i was really amazed to see as the days were passing by he got more excited about the course and all..!! and i was like chal iska kaam toh ho gaya!! :D i was really happy to see his eagerness to do the course..
until one day wen i went to his place with the course form and to collect money, wen his sister in law who is quite dominating in the entire family straight away denied him to do the course saying its all rubbish and waist of time and fraud business... MY GOD!! there was so much of negetivity in her,, and she asked me not to "brainwash" him and myself and get involved into these things.. i told her that there’s so much of seva involved and other aspects, and AOL is not binded by any one religion its about learning good things from all the religions and is much more than that which one has to do the course to get that spectacular experience,,(though her problem wasn’t with AOL due to any religious issues..)
but it was all in vain,, i told my friend that I’ll pay for his course but his bhabhi has simply asked him not to talk to me and all..
its sad bawa that inspite of his willingness to do the course he isn’t able to do now.... and even more sad that people have such wrong stupid pre concieved notions about something which they don’t know at all... haa!! GURUJI SAVE THAT FEMALE!! lol heehee
but tell me bawa now what should i do to make my friend do the course? again he had a talk with his bhabhi but she simply refused and said no further talks on this issue..
damn!! tough people do exist in this world!! lol heehehe

jai gurudeva!! :)

A: I am glad you are laughing about it. Tell your friend to simply come and do the course. And say sorry to the bhabhi later! ☺Maybe then even she will come for the course... if she is as crazy as you make her out to be, God help the teacher!
Seriously though, He will have to take that step… how long is he going to listen to someone who is passing opinions about something that she has no idea about?!

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Q: Dearest Bau and Dineshanna,
Karnataka elections are around the corner. Guruji's pointer is to vote for candidates who uphold Dharma (best translation that I can come up with - the holistic good of society at large).
Now there's this candidate in my constituency, who has done a LOT of good work. Thanks to his efforts in and out of office, we have exceptionally good roads, sidewalks, parks and greenery, cultural events, museums, etc. It would be hard to find a politician with a comparable visible impact on a constituency. And to top it all, the guy ensured that we have a permanent place for AoL courses, and has directed his resources towards organizing our satsangs. So what's the problem?
He belongs to a party that does uphold Dharma. Divisionary policies and propagation of reservations are among a host of reasons why a vote for that party is not in the holistic interest of our nation at large.
This is a consequence of the funny 'indirect democracy' system that we have - are we voting for an individual? Or for a party? Until the system is transformed (it will, by our efforts), we are left with this: where does the compass of Dharma point? (I guess this is what they call Dharm Sankat!)
In my specific case, I'm not expecting a ready-made solution, but I'd love to hear your views on this. Plus, all your readers are going to face similar situations, sooner or later...
Jaya Gurudeva!


A: “Politicians are like diapers, both need to be changed often and usually for the same reason!” – Robin Williams
I think that pretty much sums up the answer to your question ☺. Don’t keep any one party in power too long, power corrupts… unless of course, that party has deeply ingrained spiritual values… but I don’t know of any such party in India (or anywhere else in the world for that matter)… soooo… read the line above again.
We need more and more good people to get into politics, so that more and more good can be done for the country and the world!
And people like us have better choices…

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Q: bau i think that though laziness can be a reason for not doing our work properly but i found that for me feeling disinterested came from meditation. when i meditate with an attitude of nothingness it kinda manifests in my general life. how to overcome this feeling after meditation. one of my friend who has done the course said that he doesnt feel like doing anything after kriya. i also agree to that. it brings such contentment that i like to be with myself for a while.

A: Definitely be with yourself for a while. Then get out there and do work! Do not make Kriya, meditation and any other spiritual practice an excuse for your own unwillingness to work and/or laziness!
The Knowledge on the course and the techniques taught can only increase your passion for life!

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Q: jai gurudev
i have done yes+ course n im in mental stress abt love n family n frienzs i didn't kwon what i do?am going to mad i think so. what i do?n im not so confident abt my carrier.

A: You know if you really want an answer to that, the least you could do would be write out the question with proper spellings, grammar and punctuation! Do remember that you are typing out a question in an email, not sending an SMS.
Please resend the question with correct syntax and maybe I will answer it!  

QnA - 8

Is it really possible that one can perform exceedingly well in his work which he has been doing for most part of his life but has been only a mediocre. I know some people do miraculous after a realization. But I don't know of any example where an average guy does something extraordinary in his field of work. Is their a limit for these things. How do I know if its my limit. How to transcend a limit.

Yes, its very possible, and like you mentioned it happens pretty frequently. A limit is something you have decided. If you want to transcend a limit all you have to do is decide a new one ☺. Its completely in your hands. The guiding principle here is that ignorance of your capability will expand you. The only thing you need to know is that you don’t know what you are capable of doing! And that’s it!


It's difficult to face death.
Because then we lose everything we earned during our lifetime.
Why then we spend our lives in pursuing great career and earning the maximum wealth and all??
Why we suffer a lot during the life in the struggle if we ultimately die?
(?) am confused.

Deep questions! You are right, struggling to get stuff which will hardly be with you seems quite silly doesn’t it? That’s why Guruji says that we are on this planet to give… not take!
Makes sense now?
Suffering happens mainly because you focus so much on taking not on giving… Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional!
BTW, not doing anything is also doing, coz you are not DOING anything… so action must happen. Let the action be such that it is beneficial to maximum number of people. Learn to start taking care of your corner of the planet. If everyone doest that, soon our planet will be taken care of!
Hopelessly optimistic? Maybe, but do you see that it can happen?! You start, I have already started…

HI Bawa,
I used to masturbate before joining yes+ , then I understood my stupidity in being involved in masturbate , then I never again voluntarily involved in masturbation again , but in my dreams I get to see images of sex and my sperms get poured out (night fall), I feel extremely depressed after that and feel that instead of my firm cousiousness telling me that " I should not involve in masturbate" and of opinion that "I should not be disturbed with thoughts of sex" night fall happens at regular frequency , I left non-veg completely, started drinking more water, doing kriya regularly, but something is missing in my honest attempts to avoid night fall, I wanted to share this with you... and lessen my burden , and bawa please suggest what I need to do so that the night fall won't happen again...

Night fall is a normal thing and nothing to bother about and make a big deal of. Do some creative stuff, take up a hobby. Go exercise. Do lots of physical activity. Take cold water baths. And you will see that this reduces, and if it doesn’t… don’t bother. All in good time.
Here is a lil joke:
Doctor: Do you suffer from wet dreams?
Patient: No doctor, I quite enjoy them!!

bawa please give me your number , I want to talk to you...

its easiest to write mail to me… Khurshed@gmail.com
I have the habit of leaving my phone all over the place, you want to talk to me, write email. Please no forwards and stuff… if you don’t have the time to type it out, I don’t have the time to read it, and if I consistently get forwards from people, they end up on my ignore list… all their mail goes into junk mail…
Any questions you may have, please post on the www.yesplus.org website. I answer almost all of them. And before posting, it would be a great idea to see if I have already answered ☺…
And then, PLEASE implement into your life…


My name is divya shree(24), I am from lucknow,i am pursuing MSc biotechnology from Ghaziabad{(i am living in a hostel here)i am a first year student}. I used to go in satsang here at Seema Rajvanshi ma'am she guides me. I want to connect in yes+ people. that will be my age group. please help me. I want to do seva in art of living, and make you empowered as much as possible.
Your's sincerely
Divya

Talk to Shavina in Delhi. I am sure she will help you find your place. Her email is shavinaprakash@gmail.com

Bhaiya I love animals a lot and a pure vegetarian.But I feel sad when I see people eating nonveg or something like that.I want to ask you there are pooja-prarthana and festivals in Muslims and Hindus,in those people kill animals and they call it "bali".So what can we do for these animals.

Yes… its an utterly misguided and disgusting thing that these people do. It’s a misinterpretation of the scriptures. By animal sacrifice, the scriptures mean, giving up your own animalistic tendencies and becoming pure. Not killing some poor animal. What God would be happy seeing His own creation being mercilessly butchered in His name?!
Its again lack of proper education and unwillingness to embrace true spirituality. We all have quite a bit of work ahead of us…

bawa I done the YES!+ course in LPU jallandhar, I'm regularly completing my homework given by u & Dinesh sir, in starting I feel some tiredness but now I m feeling very fine and very energetic after doing the Sudarshan Kriya.
bawa I want to know some yoga and food to increase my memory and concentration,to excel in every field of life and 4 success.
pls. reply!!!!!!!!!!!!
one more thing ,your formula to gain confidence is very useful and I am now using it in class during presentations!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we all luv u & dinesh sir.
jai gurudev.

Just do all that you have been taught. Eat good vegetarian food and exercise… some physical activity: jogging, swimming, gyming, whatever… Go on the Utsav II course, we deal with focus and concentration in more detail on that course…

BAWA my brother says I have ego problem because I don't accept my mistakes. In my heart I know I have ego and I have surrendered it to GURUJI many times and prayed him to take it away but still it doesn't go. Also many people have told me that the first impression they get for me is that I have got much attitude but after they meet me and come to know me they find that I was not like this. How to get rid of this ego problem and first impression problem. I am doing my sadhana and seva daily.

Being more in Knowledge will help. Read and Listen to Guruji.
Attitude is fine. But your attitude should be an inclusive one instead of an exclusive one.

jaigurudev bau....
this is anshuman from YES!+ Ludhiana,punjab....i have heard a lot about u from Paulomi didi, Rishi bhaiya and all but never got a chance to meet u....this time during utsav at Jalandhar I planned to have a session with u but unfortunately I had an exam on the 2nd day of utsav so was unable to attend the 1st day and then after that I was nt allowed to join it as I missed out my 1st day but will meet u very soon as we all r coming fr yes++ in june to banglore ashram…...I have also sent u friend request at orkut but it is pending since last 2 months and I m hoping that one day u will accept me in ur friend list…hope the day will arrive soon…
bhaiya I have a question in my mind of which I m not getting an answer so I decided 2 write it to u…I don't understand that when a boy/girl falls in relationship with girl/boy respectively and just after 3-4 months of relation they have such a strong attraction or u can say strong relation that they value their companion even more than that of their parents with whom the r in relation since birth..how such a strong feeling is developed between them in such a short period that the parents fail to develop in so many years ?? secondly I want to ask u that how we can develop such a relationship with guru whose love us beyond everything on this planet?? thirdly I want 2 ask that how we can help others to develop such a relationship with guru??

hope u will reply soon....

Strong feelings can be developed instantly. This is not the forst time you are on this planet. Neither is it the first time you are meeting someone… maybe its all happened before in another body, and you are just continuing the story…
Relationship with Guru, is doing Sadhana, Seva and Satsang. And remembering that Guru doesn’t want anything from you. If He did, He wouldn’t be Guru ☺!
As for others, you don’t bother, Guruji is there to take care of them, like He takes care of you!

Is art of living doing anything for trans genders?

Yes, we have been doing regular courses for them in the metros of India.

Jai Guru Dev, I'm Veena, I have done YES!+ course. I want to know why people say that YES!+ is a total money waste and some people say that is business.

People are entitled to their opinion. India being a democracy, everyone is entitled to their right to ignorance. When they want to get out of it, they can come to Art of Living!
And as far as Art of Living being a business is concerned, its true! Art of Living is in the business of doing Seva!  

QnA - 6 (v short for a change)

Q. Gurudev's vision is one world family... but what to do when in your won family, there is a lot of strife, tension, jealousy, etc, and it seems as if things will never be alright... How do i handle this?

All families have some problem or the other, and typically while you are in the problem, its going to feel as if its been there forever... and will go on forever... but remember circumstances and people do change over time, and something that you thought was a big problem may be trivial over time... and may even teach you new skills, and bring out new talents in you...

Practicing Art of Living techniques and Knowledge doesnt eliminate problems from our lives, it simply gives us efficient ways to cope with them... We, through our actions (which are now much more dynamic and effective) manage to handle the problems in our lives... of course Guruji's Grace does bring us that unseen, unfelt good luck and great timing... but thats another story :)

So Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or a One World Family is possible, and we can all make it happen, even if there are problems in our own family... we just need to expand the definition of family :)... and in my personal experience i have seen, when i take on bigger challenges, bigger problems, then the ones i have pale into insignificance and almost manage to solve themselves :)

There was another question about a person having trouble doing Kriya in a small room with lots of people... for that person, i would say dont worry, some people have very low tolerance for this type of physical conditions, and you leaving before the Kriya starts is absolutely fine... Do find a bigger hall, or a better ventilated place for all the people there, they will surely thank you for it :)

There was also a question about viewing the TV episodes if you are outside India... i really dont know if its possible, i think ETV is a subscription channel... but we do have people taping the programs and should soon have a DVD/VCD with all the episodes which you could get for yourself :)

Jai Gurudeva!
love
bawa

ps Sonia, you said there was a poem you sent about Curious Lives and i didnt publish it, and so you were scared to comment more... you could have thought about the possibility that i didnt recieve the poem :)... btw, if its bad, i wont publish it :) :) :)!!  

QnA - 5

Q. I was to meet my friend and when she told me her cousin was going to be coming too i cancelled out cos her cousin was my classmate in school and i don’t much like him. I guess she told him and he sent me a very very vulgar message in yahoo.
I cant get it out of my head. Its keeps haunting me over and over..
How do i cope?
And also how do you know so much?!!

Vulgarity of any sort should simply be ignored, it shows an immature, unsophisticated consciousness... take it as spam and just forget about it and feel good that you didn’t go to meet your friend!
Move on... relax and smile :)
Jai Gurudeva!
love
bawa

ps i know so much, coz i have a terrific sense of curiosity and i love to learn more and more about many many things :)... And I love teaching things to others about all I know, so the knowledge stays with me fresh...

Q. Until now, till I did YES!+, I have been quite a shy person. Probably I would have never asked you this question before. I am well educated, have been a studious person through my life, did MTech from IIT Delhi and now working in a good company.
See, I like this girl, but I don't know her name or any other information about her. We did Seva together in the ashram during the advance course but as the silence was broken she had to leave and I never ever got a chance to talk to her…another reason was, that I was a bit shy. I just want to talk to her and find more about her and keep in touch. I don't have any lust or any bad feelings about her but just wish toto talk her. What should I do?

Do another Adv course! And another and another, she is bound to come back for one :) and next time if you like someone on a course, open your mouth and go and introduce yourself and exchange info :)... Just observe how throughout your life, this shyness of yours has cost you so much. I would say drop it! You have much to say to the world...

Q. Good afternoon sir, i m doing my b-tech (2nd yr) from nit-trichy. but am not at all interested in my core subject or getting into any software company. so its no point wasting 2 more years for this degree, and i have no reason why i should go for an mba.
i have never attended ny aol course, but am very sure that i m very interested in such things (spiritual n all n serving others) and i do believe in them......
Now, i want to know bout having a future in it. i mean means of living as a volunteer with some monthly income. actually money is no great deal 4 me but i will have to send something to my parents. i am in no hurry. its ok if i dont earn anything for 2-3 yrs(full service without income). i m ready to devote all my time to aol. i m ready to do seva n serve all day as my payment 4 aol courses, coz i dont think my parents will pay 4 it. unless i assure them of my future security,they wont allow me to chuck my college n go for aol n all...and i m quite sure tat this is d only way i can b happy in my life....
i want to b a part of ur institution....n only u can help me find some way......
waiting 4 ur reply very eargerly.......thanks a lot......

Hi varun and Jai Gurudeva!
First off, please do a YES!+ course... You say you are “interested”, well then go ahead and do something about it! If you feel your parents will not give you money to do the course, earn it! Please dont ask me how... Use your intelligence and skills... There is always the market research bureaus, thats how I used to earn money during the time I was studying... That and giving tuitions...
Next, giving up something simply because you dont ”like” it, is an attitude of a loser. There are going to be plenty of things in life that you may not like, but that you have comitted to do! Its your job to see to it that you finish what you have started. Guruji had beautifully put it, Move from success to success, not from failure to failure! However uninterested you are in the degreee you have chosen to do, first finish it before starting anything else. You also say you want to give up your degree, my friend, how can you give something you dont have?! Cmon finish it off... While you are doing it, you can organise YES!+ courses in your campus... Get into some hobbies, whatever, but see to it that you have completed what you started.
Do not join AOL to earn money. If you want to earn money there are millions of other options available. At the same time, if you are working with AOL, you will be taken care of financially... I like to put it this way, your needs will be taken care of, and maybe some of your greeds :)
According to me, AOL can be a viable career option, if your intention is to be happy, make others around you happy and not bother too much about finances... In time, money does come...

Q: When ever I tell my friends(who haven't yet done YES!+) about the seva activities happening in AOL, and ask for their contributions, they ask me how do I trust this organization ? And they reason out that in every NGO, lot of money gets wasted in the middle tracks and what reaches the needy is not even 40 %... I believe the money will reach the right people at right time in AOL. How do I make them believe ?

Take them to the places where Seva is happening. Our school in the slums of Dharavi and other places, villages where stuff has been put into place... Bring them to our Bangalore Ashram school and let them interact with the children studying there, Take them to jail courses and let them see for themselves what happens. Also, note that AOL is not liable to do Seva with the money collected on the courses. Thats the money we have earned! Its not a donation.
But Guruji is truly a philanthropist and so a huge percentage of even this money is ploughed back into society for reform where it is needed.
Finally, understand that there are a few people who will see flaws and defects everywhere... They have corrupted minds :) and there is just nothing you can do about it, other than bring them on a course and pray :)

Q:I am single and not married, working in a software company. I used to see gals who are very bad in behavior. I have seen gals who get engaged with one guy and have physical contacts with some other guys even after their engagement. I am very afraid that the gal whom I might get married to will also be of same character. Please help me to overcome this.

Not all women (or men) are like that. Also, once a woman (or man) is in a steady relationship, she may completely change her ways... Get out of this mind set that all women (and men) are unfaithful. Some definitely are, but most are not. Do be careful in selecting the one you want to get married, and treat her as she has a great character. Dont already assume she is not nice, simply because you know many women who are “bad”... Whoever you are going to get married to, make her do the YES!+ course and the Adv course :) and treat her with respect, not with doubt...

Q:The youth in the north east region of our country are in total strife. There is communal and spiritual discord. And the fact remains that there are many who want to be different and who want to make a difference. If i were to initiate action in the north east with your help do you think we could make it happen...?

Definitely... Things have been looking up now in the NE of India. There have been 3 YES!+ courses so far and many more will happen. Deepak Sharma is our teacher who is in charge of bringing about a miracle over there... Do contact him, his email id is d_s@email.com

Q: I am a 'fresher' in this world of AOL...and like everyone else even I am so inspired by you and especially by your speech. Its difficult to match the amount of knowledge that u have, but i surely want to have a vocab like yours. I am good in talking but i fall short of words...can u please suggest me how to get over this.
I have recently incorporated the AOL in my life and i can already see the difference n hope to make some contributions too.
Now that I am about to enter this world with my engineering just getting completed, I am a bit confused about AOL, Infosys, MBA n wht not...
I just dont wnt to get disconnected with AOL but at the same time worried about carrer. I know guruji will d der behind me..
Also all my good wishes to your mom. I hope she gets alright soon.
It was nice to write to u for the 1st time.
If u found it a bit boring....Just accept people as they are :)

Hi Rishab... Jai Gurudeva! And no, your question was not the least bit boring :), and i do accept people and emails as they are!!
and thanks for your wishes to my mom. She is still not completely alright, keeps going up and down, but these days it much more up than down, so I am pretty sure she will be absolutely fine soon! (She has already started sending her crazy SMSes to everyone she knows, thats a great sign:))
Being confused about what to do is perfectly natural... If you ask me, get the job while you decide what to do...
Come and meet up with me or any YES!+ teacher and talk about it... Like I said earlier, Art of Living and teaching YES!+ can be considered as a very viable career option... We do need many young and dynamic people to take Guruji’s special message for the youth all across the planet. So if you like being happy and making others happy and travelling all over... And not worrying too much about finances, believe me the money will come, then becoming an Art of Living teacher is perhaps the most satisfying and fulfilling job in the world! :)
You touch so many lives... So many smile because of you, so many are healed through you... It is a really wonderful and meaningful way of living. Dont get me wrong, there are challenges and problems, and its not all roses, but in the end, I personally would not do anything else :)


Q:I wanted to ask you about the Latest world summit held to anticipate different views given by Scientists in various countries. They have given very frightening declaration regarding the consequences of the Global Warming. Is it really happening?

Yes, It is really happening, and many people because of the immensity of the problem choose to just ignore it or shiver about it. You dont make that mistake. Take it up, and start talking very loudly about it wherever you go. Its our planet. We do need to fight for it!
More people learn to meditate and regularly practice meditation will automatically help them take responsible, intelligent action, instead of the thoughtless environmental rape that they are propogating... I had read in a journal recently, that 27% of global warming happens because people eat non veg food! Thats something we can all cut out. Its more than all the pollution caused by all the vehicles and airplanes all over the world!
So some of the solutions to this mega problem are fairly basic... And something each person can right away implement, if they only cared enough... And I am very proud that Art of Living is actually showing people a better lifestyle, than simply making a movie about it and ignoring the most important cause of global warming in it :)

Q: i m feeling very alone nowadays....i dont have a single person by whom i can spend time when i m bored.....does this life need a companion to go along.???......i keep feeling as though i m being let out by my mates.....a sense of being alone in this world constantly surrounds me.....i keep feeling as though this life is very dull....i m uselesss fellow....as though i m missing a lot of fun....

For sure this is going to happen, when all you can think is only about yourself... Poor me, poor me. Cmon, stop this! Get out of your shell and take a deep breath and get interested in life! Do some Seva, go on an Adv course at Bangalore Ashram, attend some swinging Satsangs, take up a new hobby, and maybe find some new mates! :)

Q. Bau I recently did the UTSAV ACT II with you and Dinesh bhaiya in Mumbai. First of all thank u sooo much for all those wonderful moments. Well I used to come there for the course on my bike due to which I missed a chance to have the cake n soup which u prepared, fortunately my friend did get a chance to have it n he was with full of praises which made me feel all the more jealous, Bawa when will i get a chance to meet u in person and have food with u (something which u have prepared)??? n Dinesh bhaiya man, he's too good.. Please do convey my special thanks n regards to him also...... Really looking forward to meet u both. One small question why is it that whenever I feel like asking u somethin' I go blank? (kaan mei batana kissi ko nahi bolunga)...jgd

You can come and hang out with us... But be warned that you will suddenly find yourself neck deep in some work or the other. Both Dinesh and me are extremely busy making a difference in people’s lives wherever we go and having loads of fun in the bargain :)
Going blank when you are in the vicinity of any person who meditates regularly is normal... For years I couldnt ask Guruji anything meaningful, then I started writing out the questions on paper before going to see Him... That worked until I started loosing the paper... :)

Q: I have done my first yes plus @ varanasi last sept. I have a problem - whenever any body approaches me for any work, though I know that I will not be able to complete that work I still take commitments ....(and as being a medical students more n more ppls approach me with their works:)... now the problem arises when even from deep inside I wanted to help all of them ...it all just results into UNMET COMMITMENTS .... n that gives a guilt feeling ..... how to get out of all this???

Very simple. Learn to say NO once in a while. Another way is to learn to increase your capacity to do stuff. Sudershan Kriya, Meditation, Pranayama, Satsang and Seva do just this!

Q: Bavuu!!!!!
Distress here in chennai..My very close friend Shiva has a younger brother...Swami. Swami is mentally imbalanced..has fits of anger..and delusions and breaks stuff at home. He even beat up his mother when Shiva was not at home. Shiva and swami had lost their dad some time back. Shiva is married and is even more distressed in not being able to do anything about his brother's behavior. Psychiatric treatments of no avail..they even took him to Kerala for mystic treatment. Those people have "diagnosed" him to be possessed.
P.S. both of them haven't done the basic course.
Please help

Really dont know what to say, other than beware of quacks... And maybe bring them to Bangalore Ashram for some treatment. A good homeopath or Ayurvedic doctor could also help a lot... Make all the people in the family do the course. Chanting Om Namah Shivaya may also help... And finally tell them to pray that things sort themselves out...

Jai Gurudev Bawa!!!!!!
Bawa we are all eagerly awaiting for utsav1 which will take place in mumbai from 24th!!
oh baau i cant explain it feels so great to see our friends getting into this amazing, superbly fantabulous "roller coaster"ride for he first time which they would be enjoying throughout their life thereafter! i have pulled in 7 of my friends in just one day to do the course!and i ll get as many as possible!! i dont coax them i literally force them(ofcourse in a friendly manner :)) to get themselves enrolled for the course) lol
its simply feels wow to gift someone such a miracously beautiful experience and make them aware tht an outstandingly amazing loving and caring Guru is always behind them!
on the other hand clean up mumbai is in full swing!! its so damn fun and cultivates a sense of responsibility to work for society n mother earth and by he end of tht day brings tremendous satisfaction!
bawa it feels great to read ur blog everyday!
do keep posting everyday!
jai gurudev! (let the victory of the big mind prevail forever!! :) )

Thats not really any question, but its written so well, and reflects so accurately what a lot people who do Utsav feel, that I felt it should be included here :)
Jai Gurudeva! May many many people come to this superb Knowledge through all of you... I mean all of us! :)

Q. I was working in company it was life insurance company since december 2005. There is lot of politics which was being played with me I mean I am being tortured mentally mostly. I have won all rewards and recognitions of the company but they still want more business. Since 28th march 2008 Iam not going to office. I feel suffocated there. I had given my resignation to them but they did not accepted it. What should be my next step how to react to them am very confused now. our office timing are rubbish it starts at 8 in morning and ends at 12 or 1 in night with standing Cextending for 2 hr regularly. I am not even getting leave to do course. so at end of day I feel very tired and depressed. I am eager to do seva but because of our office timing not being able to manage it.. we have very untimely meetings and we are tracked every hour. where we are what we do? Even calls go to customer asking if we have visited them or not?
i had happen to attend your session at nasik during pds and i am almost fixed to start a business in financial consulting but still i need your guidance as this is first time am thinking of business and need guruji's blessing we are starting business in name of mudra.
but please do guide me how to solve my office problem.
the impact of office work has increased lot of personal problem in my life.
now as am not going to office am also volunteering for utsav nasik may course

Just quit! Dont bother to go to such a place. Talk to rashmin (rpulekar@rediffmail,.com) about alternative sources of income. Believe me there are plenty! :)

Q. Bawu, I am looking forward this as an opportunity for me to communicate the thoughts in my mind. Please read through.

Bawu, Inspite you being a great inspiration for me and the respect I have for you, there is a factor fear in me towards you. This fear factor pulls me back from raising any question in your presence and clearing my doubts.

The fear may be started because initially I did not have complete faith in the activities of the World which I belong to now, i.e. Art of Living. In the earlier days of my involvement in the activities of Art of Living, an incident occurred in which I sensed that you were aware of these negative thoughts in me. Now in spite me having full faith, the guilt has remained within me in the form of fear. I am sure when you were able to recognize the negative thoughts in me, you will also be able to bring me out of this situation.

Dont bother about feeling negative or fearful or whatever... Relax, take a deep breath, smile and you are fine! :) :) :)

Q. Bawu, here is another issue which I am facing at my work place. There is a small conflicting idea between my Manager and me. Wherein I am not satisfied with what my manager is offering for me (Process), as I feel there is not much scope. This offer was also rejected by one of my colleague who is a new joiner (I don't know if this is ego). At the same time my manager is ready to offer what I am looking for keeping in consideration that my colleague (new joiner) accepts his offer.

I am in a perplexed state, between my manager, my colleague and my aspirations. Should I go ahead and accept the offer given?

Bawu, advice me.

You have to decide. Only you can decide anyways. Do you see that even if i give an answer, you have to make up your mind about taking it or not... so only you can decide :) Also know that there are lot of alternative ways of earning money... Maybe I should start up a blog on that :)... Meanwhile do talk to rashmin about it. His email is rpulekar@rediffmail.com

Q: I have a strong intention of helping my friends and other people, but hardly have any influence over them which makes any advice of mine to them useless. Till my high school I used to be the kind of guy who is silent, sitting in a corner totally cut off, helping my friends who are weak in studies, hoping they would progress and knowing that it is best to share knowledge.Should I give advice or knowledge which has helped me in solving a problem without being asked for, though I know that it is most likely to be ignored?

Start being a bit more assertive... Take leadership is some Seva project like organising a course... You will see people will start to take you seriously when they see that you are a “doer” not just a “talker”

Q. I'm from Punjab, was moved to Nottingham in UK for my LLM since then missing my AOL family. I realize that AOL will not only bring me back to my family but the youth here need it as well.

Nottingham is a city full of youths from different countries, as there are 4 universities so, there are number of youth here doing their graduation and post grad..........
Why not give your magic to them. so, they all get do well away from their home and lead a stress free life.........

Looking fwd for your reply


Please talk to Dr. Kapil Mathur (kaps108@yahoo.com) in London for courses in Nottingham. Get a big enough group and maybe me and/or dinesh will come there to teach it... London is one of my favourite cities in the world :)

Q. Which Olive oil should I use in my cooking? There are so many types, I get confused about which to buy...

Look out for Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed Olive Oil. It's is my favourite...
Any Brand is fine, i look for which bottle will go best with my kitchen decor :)

You can also buy a bottle and put some basil leaves in it. Leave to stand for more than a month. and you will be surprized at the taste. You can replace basil leaves with red chillies, fresh rosemary, a mixture of fresh herbs... whatever for a very different flavour to your Olive Oil.

Finally, do drizzle a little bit of olive oil on salad (even our simple indian kachumber is fine) and on pizza for a very different taste...

Experiment with different types, they do have different tastes, sometimes quite subtle, sometimes very obvious...