I have observed that I feel better equipped to handle the challenges that life throws up from time to time and a general sense of security that things will eventually fall in place. The way I react to challenges and minor irritants are remarkably different now. Somewhere I have started appreciating the finer and subtle aspects of life and its purpose. It is like getting your own personal life coach. I catch myself smiling and generally feeling happy without any apparent reason. Since then I seem to have an invisible hand guiding me through the highs and lows of life. I came out of the program a completely changed man in terms of how I should look at life and how I react to situations. I also learned a breathing technique called the Sudarshan Kriya that has left a profound impact on me. I participated in a six day program that made me look into many aspects of life that we take for granted or simply fail to implement. The enthusiastic volunteers encouraged me to experience their course and see for myself. So I came to know that the founder of this institution is Sri Sri Ravi Shankar a modern day spiritual master who has touched the lives of millions across the globe. The name itself sounded curious and for a meandering soul like me I wanted to know more about it. Somewhere in my quest for better living I came across a group called The Art of Living.
Yet today we find ourselves confused and clueless about how to maintain a fine balance without comparing our lives with those of others or blindly following the latest fad…and if comes from the west the better. Orient civilizations have in the past thrown enough light on the philosophy of life. There is a small country tucked away in the Himalayas called Bhutan, which is the only country in the world that calculates GNP and not GDP.Gross National Happiness … isn’t that wonderful. I truly feel as though I am swimming in a pool brimming with grace, and I don’t need to worry, for there is an unseen force, the divine love, that is taking care of me.Īll our life as modern humans we do things that seems to bring us happiness yet after a certain point everything becomes meaningless and hollow. I have become happier, relaxed and hale and hearty. With my beloved Guruji’s grace, all my problems have been solved in time. Living certainly is an art, and your not fully living if you haven’t learnt the Art of Living We just need to realize that all these are passing clouds, some are dark, some are grey, but as they say – every cloud has a silver lining! We just need to learn to handle our mind, tame it the right way, it’s that simple! But implementing such knowledge is truly an art, and what better place to learn this other than the Art of Living. But with this course, people can learn how to handle stress and difficult situations with great ease and panache. In today’s day and age, dealing with the continuous hustle bustle of life can be quite demanding, leading to unavoidable stress and fatigue. Over the past ten years, from whatever personal experiences I have had with AOL, one thing I can say with certainty – it’s a must do course for one and all. I told him that the secret for it was nothing but my Guru, and since then even he is excited to come around and know more about the Art Of Living. One day, a person asked me about this sudden change in my attitude that I always seemed happy and jovial. With His grace, I have been able to endure it all, with my calm intact, always. I have always sailed through, with a smile on my face:) But I have always sensed a Divine hand on my soul. Since then, my life has witnessed various ups and downs, and other challenges. It’s like when you make a scrumptious dish, you need to know the right recipe, but it’s only when you taste the dish that you realize its value. That’s when the feeling actually started sinking in. I had read many of Guruji’s articles, books and watched His knowledge sheets in audio, but it wasn’t until 2006 that I met Him for the first time.