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here is a link to another article about sri sri's work in Iraq.
If any country's citizens needed de-stressing it would be those of Iraq.
Now India's Art of Living Foundation is bringing yoga, meditation and breathing exercises to try to soothe a people rattled by war and continuing violence.
The Bangalore-based foundation whose stated goal is to "eliminate stress, create a sense of belonging and restore human values" has added Iraq to its 140 countries of operation.
About 15 volunteers, including doctors, are running medical camps using traditional Indian alternative medicine, and meditation and yoga classes to ease the strain on Iraqis.
The initiative began in September when seven volunteers arrived in Dillad, a farming village near Saddam Hussein's home town of Tikrit, and began an introductory session for residents.
click the link for the rest of the article
Related link: Indian stress-busters target Iraq
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I liked this bit where the guy is talking about requirements for a successful guru:-"The essential requirement—the CORE—is that the answer has to be easy to comprehend. The masses are not brain surgeons. (They are more likely to need the attention of brain surgeons than be brain surgeons themselves.) Anything that would involve thinking is quite out of the question as a general technique." The only thing I found to disagree with was his ranking of some people as 'enlightened'. John.
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Re: his ranking of some people as "enlightened"....I put that down to the fact that he is Indian,and understood the idea in a different way to me. When I read the letter to his brother who had become an SSRS follower (clever of him to use just the acronym as it immediately sounds less reverent and more like a business), I wished that someone had been able to write to me like that in 1973.........but the writer is full of insight acquired from being part of the indian culture himself......and even if things had been explained as clearly as that ,I was so caught up from the beginning,in the fear aspect and regarding my "mind" as an enemy, and in the hope of eternal happiness, that I wouldn't have understood. 1973 was a bumper ,vintage year for GMJ before the family split burst the bubble in 1974.I think many social conditions conspired against us in the West at that time......and the vulnerable were sitting ducks as regards being lured into a cult. As for SSRS working in dangerous regions where people are suffering in fear and stress........they are obviously risking thier lives giving comfort and support and I don't feel inclined to criticise.
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One of the more intelligent appraisals of what motivates someone to get into the guru business. But I don't think it's all for monetary gain. I think these guys need to aggrandize themselves as well. I think they really do believe they're special and have unique qualifications to enlighten the rest of us. If they didn't I don't think they'd be able to convince others that they can. Their greed would be too transparent.
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Guess what? They use a swan as a logo. What, do they all read the same goddamn "how to be a guru" book, complete with logo templates in the appendix? Or maybe it comes with a CD with pre-made swan logos, sample speeches and dressmaker patterns for robes and exercises for perfecting the blissed out nirvana look.
How about using a Koala bear for a change. Their peaceful and cuddly. Personally I wouldn't want to meet a pack of swans in a dark alley. They be nasty. And stupid too.
Related link: art of living
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check out www.guruphiliac.org for lots of info on the guy - none of it good. He gets off lightly compared to Bhagavan Kalki though.
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Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is apparently doing serious propagation, unlike Malibu Prem.
http://www.mumbai-central.com/nukkad/jan2003/msg00476.html
Five years ago, his ashram in India was attracting about 5,000 overnight guests a year. Now, more than 25,000 annually check in for retreats at the 60-acre center that attracts up to 5,000 visitors a day when Shankar is there. Worldwide, more than a million people in 136 countries have taken his introductory course. He spends about 60 days a year at his ashram near Baden Baden, Germany, 40 days at AOL's ashram near Montreal, Canada, and 150-odd days on the road, giving satsang (spiritual talks), everywhere from Atlanta to Singapore. The Art of Living may be the fastest growing spiritual practice on the planet.
The organization is growing at such a fast rate," says Prashant Rajore, the administrator of Shankar's ashram in India. "In India itself, we have doubled in the past year. We have doubled the number of our teachers; we have doubled the number of our volunteers working in the villages."
He meets with presidents and world leaders and is not reduced to trying to appear legitimate by renting halls in UN buildings.
http://www.pranajournal.com/2004/05/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-comes-to.html
Why did Sri Sri come to Washington? He had met with congressional leaders and also with President Bush. Thursday was National Prayer Day.
He does serious charity work and is respected by the scientific and academic communities.
http://www.mumbai-central.com/nukkad/jan2003/msg00476.html
In short Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is doing very, very well. No vocal critics like Mr. Rawat. Seems like a nice guy. Jeez, even Muslims like him!
Maybe this is the way it should be done!
Modified by Steve at Thu, Oct 12, 2006, 20:28:58
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I don't know, Steve. I'm feeling something too. Do you think this could finally be the one? Oooooh this is getting so exciting! In a spiritual way, I mean.
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. . . is not your cup of tea.
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"Shankar's teachings are cherished by his followers, who marvel at the ease his methods bring them. "What Shankar is emphasizing is the experiential component of religion," says Michael E. Nielsen, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Georgia Southern University. "Its advantage is that you can have the results right away. Most Western religions, Christianity and others, have developed all these elaborate belief systems that try to explain things in a rational way and make people feel better." According to Nielsen, if you try to understand things through experience, the proof is in the pudding. "You do the practice and the stress leaves you and you feel better. It promises a very satisfying and immediate thing."
"You can feel better without relying on someone else to explain it rationally and without relying on the promise of heaven later. What Shankar is teaching is very appealing to people for this reason. Someone could be an agnostic or an atheist and still get something from Shankar's philosophy—that the individual has within them a greater sense of intelligence."
http://www.artofliving.org/courses/kriya.htm
I don’t mean to be facetious Jim but there is obviously a market for this kinda stuff - Sudarshan Kriya. It's like the yoga craze. People clearly benefit from it and like it. Watcha gonna do? Stand in front of the yoga center and stop them from going in? We live in a capitalist society.
Modified by Steve at Fri, Oct 13, 2006, 00:02:12
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I don't know how relevant this is but Eastern and Western teaching systems generally have some version of the idea that 'the experiential component of religion' as Dr. Nielson puts it needs some sort of discipline behind and around it or you tend to become...a raging religious egomaniac....hm.
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Whatever can transform a person, assist a person to reach the human potential we humans really have, can be beneficial. I wonder if he requests his devotees to kiss his feet? (Just kidding) Quoting someone, I forgot his name: "You will be what you are suppose to be or you will be nothing." Apparently, there is a human quest and not many get "it". Conquering one self. I liked that. I'm chosing my words, God forbide I angry someone and then I feel like I HAVE to answer the angry posts. LOL Curious: Are you considering his teachings? Axis, who refuses to believe we just live and die.
Modified by Axis at Thu, Oct 12, 2006, 22:35:23
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Curious: Are you considering his teachings? No I'm not. I've got my "Master's degree" and now do my own thing.
Modified by Steve at Thu, Oct 12, 2006, 23:23:04
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all this talk of a Nobel Peace Prize is just lobbying by his devotees. They are just the same as the premies who get Rawat his 'honours' except Sri Sri's people are better at it. The only genuine invitations to address the U.N. have been Chimnoy (now discredited utterly for his sexual abuse of devotees) and Amma, who does remarkable charity work and speaks volubly about the unity of religions. I personally think that Amma's compassion is genuine even if another Hindu Bhakti cult surrounds her. She gets things done and the $23m that she pledged for tsunami relief is being well-spent. She has the best example of how a marketing operation in this context can work. The fact that she is quite evidently humble helps, of course. No flash cars, no private jets, no fancy clothes etc. etc. Rawat must be green at the dosh moving through her operation and I am sure that his PR people have been imitating her methods with his Foundation's own well-publicised 'donations to charity - rice and eye clinics etc. A comparison - tsunami relief Amma - $23m and vast practical help too Rawat - $100k from a premie auction. At risk of being pilloried here, the thing that I like about Amma (with all my usual disclaimers) is her accessibilty. After the tsunami and her pledge of relief funds, she set up swimming lessons for the local kids and helped to teach them herself in order to help remove an enduring fear of water. Can you imagine Rawat swimming in a public pool with 'ordinary' kids!!!??? He disgusts me when I think about his attitudes to others and it is great when someone like Amma shows him up like this. Disclaimer (I suppose I have to)
I am not remotely interested in becoming a devotee of Amma or any ,including Dawkins. Freedom of heart, mind and body is my t'ing. Amma is a very useful comparison is all.
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I am not remotely interested in becoming a devotee of Amma or any ,including Dawkins. Freedom of heart, mind and body is my t'ing. Amma is a very useful comparison is all. As you very well know, that's quite the insult. Dawkins, like any good scientist, makes arguments and tries to persuade with evidence and reason. Amma is just another delusionist. Even talking about her is a waste of time.
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Even talking about her is a waste of time, to me. Unfair game you play. What is important to you is what REALLY matters, therefore, those who benefit from her teachings, well Jim, people do not have to buy 100% of it. Good is good and can be found in many ways. Servitude and blind devotion is WRONG and harmful. Jim, there is a family crisis in process. I want to respond to your e-mail nad haven't found the right time to do it yet. You got pushed by the need of my priorities. Be well! Love, Axis
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>and is respected by the scientific and academic communities.< Crap! There's no science of any scope been applied and that sure as hell doesn't allow invocation of the 'scientific community'. As for academic, one follower who'se a lecturer in some backwater and a psychologist who's made some bland observations do not count as the world academic community. Is Sri Sri (sounds like a panda) more 'successful' than Rawat ? Yes, but so what ? He's just another religious shyster on the make. Even if one allows that Sri Sri is motivated by good intentions his claimed ambitions are doomed to failure. The very nature of the guru/holyman stance undermines the possibility of either individuals or societies developing long lasting stability. Science, and academia in general have developed effective strategies for dealing with the harmful effects of the guru phenomena - basically everyone and everything is up for challenge. Having voluable critics is necessary - and far more so is having people who can sack you when you screw up. Who can sack Sri Sri ? N
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Steve, Maybe this is the way it should be done! What do you mean by "it?" Running a cult? Being personally worshipped by others? Hmmm.
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. . . running a successful meditation business. He has learned from the mistakes of Osho, Rawat, Sai Baba, Chinmoy. Definitely a heavyweight meditation champ, the Brad Pitt of yoga. There is also that Bikram guy but I don't think he has the charisma of Shankar. Very important in marketing.
Modified by Steve at Fri, Oct 13, 2006, 08:21:34
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"There was a moment when he just locked on, looked me in the eye, and stopped . . . and I went into that classic description of pure bliss, pure peace, just everything was light," says Nancie DiSilverio, who first heard Shankar speak in person at a satsang in Connecticut in 1992. "It
happens because he's established in being, and he runs around in unbounded space-time. In his presence, if you can let go, that's available."
Truman State University professor and Shankar follower Lloyd Pflueger explains that in the Hindu tradition the main reason people see an enlightened guru is not just to listen to words of wisdom but to actually receive the "radiation" from the guru's presence. "Whether or not you are noticing the sun, the sun's rays are permeating the skin and changing it. It's like that when you're in close proximity with the source of spiritual radiance. Just being in the presence of the master can touch something in
you beyond words, beyond logical discourse.
Pflueger says that Shankar's presence is a more valuable tool for transformation than what the guru actually says. "I feel Sri Sri has a very strong radiation. It's not constant. It's like a peacock. It's not all the time when the peacock spreads his feathers, but when he does, you can't
ignore it. I've been around Sri Sri when the feathers are spread in various degrees, but there are times when I've felt I would physically melt from the spiritual radiation I was feeling from him."
Interesting to see all the same old crap and so familiar! Thanks Steve for the web links ... Tim
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None of the people listed in the article to which you linked, won the prize, Auntie. The winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize is Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank he started 30 years ago, citing their efforts to create economic and social development from the lowest grass-roots levels. http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1492637.ece People don't need to feel relaxed or to "go inside," they need economic freedom and security. Anyone who buys into this Sri sri guy's crap is gullible. He's just another avatar/huckster looking for fake publicity, just like Rawat does and folks shouldn't buy into his brand of mind-f**king. Anyone who looks at Prem Rawat today could easily draw the same conclusions as those looking at sri sri (you know who you are).  Hey, Rawat is involved in humanitarian aid, too, and he has a free way to find inner peace, therefore, he must be real and good. Laugh out loud! But, I know that you know this, Bea. Cynthia
Modified by Cynthia at Fri, Oct 13, 2006, 06:47:57
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And he says he intends to spend his prize money researching better ways to help poor people set up their own businesses.
I am inclined to believe this fellow's humanitarian intentions more than those of Mr Obscenely-luxurious-indulgent-life-style-all-you-need-is-peace Rawat.
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Actually the BBC article was pretty misleading. Apparently Nobel nominations are kept secret for 50 years, for whatever reason. They claim on their website that such lists are only speculation, whereas BBC says the nominators themselves spilled the beans. So who knows.
Anyway, what interested me about the whole thing is that with the whole hype around Malibu Prem in the last years – leading voice for peace, humanitarian leader, UN emblems, all those stupid awards – really the ultimate goal must have been something like a Nobel Peace Prize, something that I would have dismissed as a ridiculous pipe dream.
Then all of a sudden there is a guy basically doing the same thing, only a lot better and with more credibility, and there he is in a BBC article supposedly up for exactly that Nobel Peace Prize. So first I was just plain shocked by that. Then I guess I thought it was kind of funny in terms of Rawat. I just imagined him smoldering about it.
The fact that Sri Sri probably never was really nominated and in any case certainly never would have won almost doesn't matter. The two BBC articles are coup enough. That is in itself shocking. It goes to show that the Guru business is still newsworthy if you market it well enough. Kind of scary actually. The articles weren't the slightest bit critical either, if I remember correctly.
That is why I wasn't sure myself if the guy was your run of the mill guru con artist, though as I said above, the name alone is suspicious.
It wasn't worth it to me to really research, but l did look at his website subsequently, and then it was clear that indeed he is just another Rawat, but probably with less emotional problems and more marketing savvy. His biography says it all, complete with godman mythology of childhood miracles.
I wondered for a moment if it wasn't high time for a truly enlightened 21st century yogi type, by enlightened of course I mean someone who dissmisses the whole personality cult and gets down to earth about his or her teachings
But then again, what do they have to offer concretely beyond the hype? I guess a run of the mill hatha yoga course covers the possibilities. Anything else, turning inward for more than a bit of morning stretching, is probably not healthy. So it is only right that the guru business be left to hucksters.
On the other hand, hype or not, there seems to be a continuing need for this kind of thing. If not a guru huckster, then what?
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.. human beings are not completely fulfilled by the material world..... Aghhh...
But the more you get out and enjoy it the better it looks.
Modified by Saph at Fri, Oct 13, 2006, 08:50:46
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People don't need to feel relaxed or to "go inside," they need economic freedom and security. They need economic freedom, security, peace - as oppossed to anxiety- etc. I have tried many meditations and some help ,more than others. I use one passed by my therapist long ago. Of course we need to be relaxed: Only when we are we can use our intelligence, only then we can think "properly". The choices me make always come out to be better for us, when we are able to see how we "work" better in our daily life, and knowing what our human tendencies are so we can make the right choices. Without PEACE life sucks, doesn't?
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I hate the word peace. I really do. Prem Rawat really fucked up that word for me for life. Two words I've reclaimed that I now love are: ego and mind. I just love my mind and my ego. I get more real comfort and peace from those than I ever get from anything else, every day of the week. If it weren't for my ego strength and the cleverness and brilliance of my mind I never would have lived through my childhood. That's a fact and I'm not exaggerating. When people are not hungry, have shelter over their heads that they can afford, can feel the dignity of doing an honest day's work, come home from work and be creative without fear, live free from domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse (and all kinds of child abuse) they will feel peace and calm. When people can feel safe to walk down the streets of their towns and can let their children outside to play without fear of them being abducted or killed, then they will feel much less anxiety, fear, and sadness, and pain than they listen to any one of the bullshit concepts that SriSri is passing off to people (which are very similar to the bullshit concepts Rawat passed off to us). Just another creepy belief system to me. Really, Axis, did you read the following page about SriSri's knowledge? Click on this link, then click on Knowledge at the left. The ideas are hilariously new age to me because they are so unrealistic to living a balanced life. http://www.artofliving.org/ It's rife with dumb concepts about living and don't offer much in the way of life skills to people. They only serve to offer up another screwed up belief system and give people reasons to feel bad about themselves when they fail. That's another thing cult leaders to: they set people up to fail by setting impossible goals based on their nutty teachings. SriSri's teachings also set people up not to doubt him because he's got some really, really, really REALLY fucked up ideas about service, love, anger, guilt, surrender, feelings in general, and especially the mind. Reading that page just mades me see want to vomit. That guy's not bringing peace to anyone, he's a cult leader who wants their devotion. He's teaching people to rid themselves of their critical thinking faculties. That's very bad for people, especially children. Of course we need to be relaxed: Only when we are we can use our intelligence, only then we can think "properly". I do some of my best work under pressure. I think that people work better when they get a good night's sleep, of course, but feeling a little edgy doesn't prohibit the brain from thinking and functioning. Having said all that, I've suffered from extreme anxiety all of my life. Adopting trite sayings like Rawat's and SriSri's by which to live my life has never, ever relieved the anxiety. Meditation has never done it and I was a strong meditator on K. Because of all of that, I have found my own ways of becoming relaxed and I don't use meditations nor medications to do it. But, that's just me...
Modified by Cynthia at Fri, Oct 13, 2006, 16:33:40
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It's rife with dumb concepts about living and don't offer much in the way of life skills to people. They only serve to offer up another screwed up belief system and give people reasons to feel bad about themselves when they fail. ( very good Cynthia )
Modified by Poul at Fri, Oct 13, 2006, 16:47:03
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Hello Poul, Nice to see you here. I hope you and yours are happy and healthy. Love, Cynthia
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Hi Cynthia Thanks , we are all well and healthy here . still i read here from time to time , its amazing , isnt it , what we did and who we are ? Love Poul
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I've suffered from extreme anxiety all of my life. Adopting trite sayings like Rawat's and SriSri's by which to live my life has never, ever relieved the anxiety. Meditation has never done it and I was a strong meditator on K. Because of all of that, I have found my own ways of becoming relaxed and I don't use meditations nor medications to do it. Why not share these ways you've found with other people. Write a book about it, teach a course . . . why not? That's what Shankar did. He found a new way of breathing (putting your arms over your head to expand your ribcage - something like that) and is sharing this method with other people. Everyone wants to relax. We all live pretty hectic and stressful lives these days. Just watching the news . . . You may even make a few bucks. 
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I have this thing called a moral compass that prevents me from selling ideas to vulnerable people, even though it would be very easy to become a guru/cult leader because that's not rocket science. Why not share these ways you've found with other people. Write a book about it, teach a course . . . why not? That's what Shankar did. Shankar is a cult leader. Don't you get that? Mainly though, there isn't a "one size fits all" panacea for feeling anxiety-and-pain-free. Life isn't anxiety and pain free, and that's one of the delusions that got me sold into a destructive personality cult like Rawat's and SriSri's. I think that this idea of a "panacea for inner peace" is a huge misconception brought about by new age juju gurus and religions that think they've found a solution to everything for everybody. It just ain't so. If it were true, then the world wouldn't be such a god-awful mess, while all those best-selling hucksters' "guide-to-living" books fly off the book store shelves. If it were true, then Rawat/Knowledge would have provided me with the pain-relief I so much needed all the way through my involvement with Rawat. The fact is that being a premie was the worse thing I could have done, and the meditation served only to cause me to dissociate more, which for myself, was a personal disaster. Practicing K caused me to dive into the deepest pit of denial -- and sure I felt good on the surface, but down below everything in myself was miserable and in a world of hurt. That's not what life is about to me. What I personally discovered is that in order to get well, and learn to feel well and anxiety-free, I had to put in years and years of gruelling, gut-wrenching hard work to make myself better. I made a promise to myself to heal at any cost and I did it, to the amazement of many of my healthcare providers. Sorry, that cannot be put into a book. Why is it folks always want to find an easy way as if one really exists?
Modified by Cynthia at Sat, Oct 14, 2006, 07:28:18
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I hear you. I had written a long response and lost it when I scrolled. I must go to bed. I will respond the best I remember. One thing discussed here before: Guruli corrupted many words. I was scared to breathe for a long time because it reminded me of him. You and I talked on the phone about it. Peace is a good word and he doesn't owe it. I still feel funny at times using some words he exploited too. As time goes/went by, it gets easier. But I understand that the subconscient mind must have alot stored. You left long, long ago. Can you imagine those who were in the cult about 30 yrs.? WE WON!  Regarding "the people", yes, I understand that there are many unfulfilled needs and I got it the first time. I reacted to "we don't need relaxation" , of course we do.  I do some of my best work under pressure.? I?think that people work better when they get a good night's sleep, of course,?but feeling a little edgy doesn't prohibit the brain from thinking and functioning. We are moved by the same emotions but not everybody reacts the same way. Not everybody can do it like you. Some people are in such a sad situation, they need support and comfort of any kind. And no, by no means I am promoting other guru, or any guru. This is how we work at times and that is why being AWAkE/AWARE we can perceive different states in others. We live in such a world and not all cope well with it. Devotion and bondage is never good. Right now, today, I can feel comfortable around people with different religions or belief system because I try to see the "common denominator" not the differences. At the end, we are speaking about the same, we just say it in different words. I trully know there is such a thing as "the heart" and my past - guruli- will not ruin any more of my life. He did enough harm. Love or hate. Tow forces at work and love is truly awesome! Did you see the photos LP linked us to? It blows my mind! We all have to find our "reality". What works for you is good! Being naughty feels very bad when one is aware. I dislike myself when I let it happen. Peace Â
Modified by Axis at Sat, Oct 14, 2006, 00:23:43
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Peace is a good word and he doesn't owe it. Yeah, I do know that peace is a good thing, but it's not one of the many words that both Rawat and my father bastardized for me, so maybe when it's important to me to reclaim the word "peace" I'll do it. I think "love" is a much more important word to reclaim than "peace." I can't peace anyone, but I can certainly love them, and do. I also can feel comfortable with people, regardless of their religion and faith. Sometimes the biggest problem is that they don't feel comfy with me because I don't have (nor want) religion and faith. I think those folks are sometimes unfair to me, because for instance, I'm apparently supposed to be all so open-minded to the religion/faith people, but they jump all over me when I reject their beliefs. It can become awkward, but I think I have a right to speak too. I think I've finally figured out who you are!
Modified by Cynthia at Sat, Oct 14, 2006, 10:37:17
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I wonder if this Sri Sri guy is the exception to the rule and not just another carpetbagger. I suppose there must be a few Gurus on the up and up. I don't think any of them are on the "up and up". I think they're just egomaniacs who need followers, probably to, what's that term, self legitimize, or verify, themselves? Something like that? I don't remember. But that's what I think it is.
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