Chalo Berlin

“I have told Guruji that we would be about 100+ people from YES!+ coming to Berlin”. I remember the day when Bawa told me these lines with a big bright smile on his face World Culture Festival. The Olympic Stadium has been booked for this grand ensemble. Only GOD(Pun intended) knows why on all earth he has selected such a venue! I was like…Kyun yaar, India mein Jagah ki kami hai kya? (Is there lack of space in India?). Bawa had also mentioned about the month long Euro trip after the event which was too irresistible. I mean it. You can read it here. And what about the money, honey? Roughly about 2 lacs! plus some thousands…Come on…you go there so far and you just cant just return empty handed right? Would be so stupid!

Can you imagine, the moment I heard that number, my mind was already on its way doing all mathematics with the money I had in my RDs, FDs, shares etc. but it would not sum up to it

The Olympic Stadium, Berlin

Saying YES to this trip took some time but once I did, arranging for the money was the biggest challenge! But as every salaried class person, there were many other hurdles for which I needed money. The next few days…the song – Apna sapna…money money…was humming in my mind. Thoughts of taking different workshops, courses, gambling in share market, take a loan etc bombarded my head for quite a long time…and I mean days together. I was not ready to risk anything. The anxiety and confusion rose to such an extent that I decided not to go and watch the event via webcast. Big deal! And what about the trip? I had already visited some of the places which were in the plan. So it was not all that bad either…I consoled myself. :’(
My appraisal had just got over couple of months back. Thoughts like – “Oh! I should have asked for a onsite trip that time itself. Probably they would have agreed.”, “Should I go and ask now?” etc were bombarding my head every now and then. All this was happening just before and during the Manavathe season

It was another regular Friday afternoon in office. I was in no mood to work. Whats new you might ask. But more importantly, now what has this to do with Berlin? It does!
That friday evening, my manager calls me and says – “We have planned travel for you to Germany for 3 months. You will have to leave in a month or so…” I coolly replied – “Ok.” and came back to my seat. Just browsed through the calender to check the dates. Taking passport,visa factors into account, I might mostly travel by May end. 3 months, so June, July and August. Wait a second! July?! Will I be there? For a minute(or little more) I didnt know whether to laugh, cry, feel grateful…absolutely stunned! Tears just brimmed in my eyes and a drop just trickled down from the right eye…

WCF Logo

Thats the month…July 2nd, 3rd the dates for the World Culture Festival which I badly wanted to witness. Can it get better?
Guruji had charted out a plan already and I was here doing all circus to be there and finally when I gave it up, he offered it to me in a platter. As i was driving back home that evening, i was thinking what had I done to deserve this? The answer was – Nothing! I had done nothing to deserve this. Probably this is what is called as GRACE.

JaiGurudev!

Suman Ramaswamy
(Art of Living Teacher)

Intention Manifest with Surrender

With full of gratitude, I am sharing my guru story with all of you.

Guruji says, Keep Intention and Surrender, Your intention would be Manifested!!! We have practically experienced this in our life.

In the month of February 2011, we had a live Webcast with Guruji in New Zealand. This was the time when we first heard about the World Cultural Festival in Berlin, Guruji told all of us to come and be a part of celebration of the 30th anniversary of Art of Living. I and my wife were so excited to hear about the festival.

That day my wife had a strong intention to go to Berlin, she told me that we should definitely be a part of this once in a lifetime event. To be there one should have a good amount of spare money for travel tickets, accommodation and other expenses. We kept this intention in our mind with a strong faith that we would definitely go but don’t know how, so surrendered this intention to Guruji.

Our country coordinator for this event sent us an email saying that 27th March is the last day to confirm for the event ticket booking and suggest us to send the confirmation as soon as possible.

On 25th of March our intention manifested with Guruji’s grace and guess what ???? We won a lucky draw of the amount that was sufficient for the trip. Not more nor less. Isn’t it unbelievable? By the way,for Art of Living People this is “mostly believable”.

We have just come back from the Berlin with lots of memories tocherish for our lifetime. Guruji We love you ..

Jai Guru Dev,

With Love,
Neeraj

Guruji's Birthday Message 2011

Jai Gurudev!

Happy Birthday to Everybody

Guruji, we love you! Wish you very happy Birthday.

Jai Gurudev!!!

Car in Whirlpool of faith

I’m practicing my DSN follow-up @ RTCC, Indira Nagar, Bangalore. I normally drive my 2 Wheeler for the early morning follow-up since I can zip thru 9kms in 15mins. On 23_april, I was woken up by a Heavy Thunderstorm which was much stronger than the previous Night Down pour. It was already 5.30am & I wished to reach the RTCC Centre about 9kms away from my Residence.When I looked out of my Apartment Balcony, I could feel the Intensity of Rainfall & the water logging around my Building.

Finally, I managed to drive my Maruti Esteem, a Low Ground clearance car into the Outer Ring Road. Then I realized that The Road was completely jammed with Cars, Buses & Lorries Waiting for Water Logged Cars & Buses to be cleared from the Railway under Pass near Marthahalli. I managed to Squeeze through the Jammed Cars & reach the entry point of Underpass when I was Shocked to find even a BMTC Bus broken down in the Water Pool. The Car in front of me was an ALTO & he was also stuck in the Water pool. Now, that I have decided to drive through this Route, I just looked @ Guruji’s Portrait in my Car’s Dash Board & Prayed that I’ve to clear this Wave Pool to reach the Centre for the Follow-up session. My Car was splashed up to the Bonnet and Side Window panes with the Waves from other Moving Heavy Trucks & was about to get Chocked. I somehow managed to Keep my cool & Restart the Engine & kept my faith & managed to cross the Water Logged Underpass when so many other Tall & Sturdier Vehicles were Chocked & Broken down.

In spite of my Ailing Car’s Health, I managed to swim through the Whirlpool & reached the Center to attend my Weekly Long Kriya. I feel car was not in logged water but in the whirlpool of faith that's why it could swim through.

Jai Guru Dev!

Aravind M.
Bangalore India.

Grace gave rebirth

Car that run on Grace

My name is Ravi. I am originally from Bangalore, quite close to Ashram. Currently living in Perth, Australia.

One of the most touching experience was when i driving between Sydney and Perth (2004). I had a job interview over the phone from Perth, which clicked and had to join in a weeks time. I had to make a choice to fly and get the car transported by road. I had 1 week and without a car its tough to commute to my new job. However, I had done only a basic course (1996) at that point in time. My younger brother who was in Australia was winding up for good, and had some bhajans from AOL. He left them all for me.

Between Sydney & Perth, its a distance between 2 tips of the continent (About 6000 kms). However for my journey i had very little time for major preparation. its a gutsy thing to make an adventure in a small car thru the desert. However, I started with a good feeling and the only music that was running thru and thru the whole journey was guru brhama guru vishu and few bhajans snug by bhanu didi.

I was just about to hit the Nalabore stretch the following day. As i was driving may be @ 140 - 160 kms/hr , listening to guru brahma, Ganesh om my tyre blew (Rear LH) into pieces, shaking my car as though its going to roll on the ground. I was astonished to see that it came to a slow stop without making a scratch on the ground, nor any major problem to my wheel.

No one to help as people rarely travel on that stretch. Got on the ground, may be which is 50° C + and replaced it with spare, which had low air pressure. Well, I had one song and one destination. When I reached the nearest town got the tyre replaced to a new one and continued my journey.

My journey began then and guruji is with me now and for ever. even a small peek to see him brings so much happiness and treat for the soul. His grace is with me always and I feel my car not run on tyre but run on Grace. love you guruji.

jai gurudev

Jai Gurudev!