From this moment....

Yesterday I sat in my Guru's presence- oblivious of the 5000 odd folks gathered around to celebrate Navaratri which was right around the corner.

I held a garland in one hand and some sweets in the other to give Gurudev. The occasion? Well, it was my birthday and I wasn't going to let an occasion like this pass by without getting pampered by my Guru.

I had reached the ashram quite early that evening- and found a good place in the large Yagnashala (a large, open place to conduct religious functions). I closed my eyes, taking in the wonderful aura of the place. I listened intently to a devotee sing in praise of Lord Narayana. Occasionally, I'd open my eyes to see if Gurudev had arrived.

He finally did arrive, and we all stood up reverently while He smiled that glorious, beatific smile. During Navaratri, a special dais is erected so that Gurudev can sit in solemn silence. So where he sat, he was quite unapproachable. Yet, we could feel his energy even from a distance.

I was holding my breath by then, wondering, will he call out for us folks who were celebrating birthdays? Or will he walk away as he sometimes did, when he was too busy? How would I be able to offer him the garland and sweets which I had brought?

He had two guests with him on the dais, both holy men. Gurudev asked each of them to speak. And they obliged, speaking about God, Guru and Faith.

Time passed on, and yet Gurudev was content closing his eyes and listening to the words of the holy men.

Finally he asked someone what the time was. Was he going to leave, I wondered? Should I just pass on the sweet parcel to one of the volunteers around him?

I was thinking about this when suddenly I could almost swear that Gurudev looked directly at me from where he sat. I smiled and waved the sweet parcel. 'Prasadam for you', I mouthed the words. I had to catch His attention somehow.

And then he smiled back at me and nodded!! Gurudev then gestured someone to hand over some garlands he touched with his right hand. Someone then took my own garland and gave me one which was blessed by Gurudev! There were a few other folks too, who got their birthday garlands as well. But I was ecstatic for my own!!

But my sweet parcel was still with me. I had got the offering from the Holy shrine of Tirupati. How could I give it to Gurudev, I wondered.

Gurudev then was addressing a volunteer. " Hah, some people also have some offerings. See, there is a hat over there for me. Please collect them.'

And so that was how Gurudev got my sweet parcel and blessed me this Birthday.

Nothing gets past the Guru's sight. I could now understand what Divine Connection could be like. If He could seek me out among 5000 people, now that's a Cosmic Force to reckon with...from this moment, Doubt had vanished.

I'm on cloud number nine!

What a sweet coincidence! I got my daughter visitin' us from Ho-Ho-Holland. I had a good friend look in on me from San San 'Frisco.

And then I discovered Jango...the cool social streaming radio. If you love pop, rock, jazz music, check it out. You can share music, rate music, and of course, he he, listen to music too!

I got these fantastic earphones too- so is it a wonder that I am on cloud number nine?




Like Bryan Adams says:
'We could watch the world go by up on cloud number nine...'

And by the way, a lil' bird told me that Bryan Adams met Gurudev...;-)

Let the Drums of Dasara calm those violent minds

Mysore Dasara Elephant

The enthralling spirit of Dasara festival is slowly setting in Bangalore. It starts on September 30th and ends on October 9, 2008.

The Dasara festival is celebrated for nine nights and symbolizes victory of positivity over negativity. Nine nights of festivities end in Victory to Goddess Durga over a demon. This is a metophorical interpretation of Good vanquishing Evil.

To be sure, no festival out here in India is complete without a riot of sweet-scented flowers- jasmine, roses, hibiscus, you name it. The festival of Dasara is no exception, and the doorway of each house is decorated with flowers of every color. The streets are lined with flower vendors, making a quick buck from their wares.

Pic from Kamat's Potpourrie

It is also a time for calming one's mind, and reflecting on one's goals.

At the Art of Living ashram, there are several Homas one can attend like the Chandi Homa which is happening on October 7. It is certainly an occasion where the Divine Vibrations strike a very strong chord in each and every one of us.

As always, I look forward to this Dasara and all the festivities that it brings.

Nevertheless, there is one shadow that has cast over this season. The violence and terrorism that is happening all around us in India is quite disturbing, isn't it? Faith is being challenged and the innocent man is being targeted in the name of 'belief' and 'social cause'. Whose belief? Whose cause?

Such dastardly acts are certainly not in harmony with the principles of Universal Love and Brotherhood.

Goddess Durga or Shakti

Let us all pray to the Universal Shakti to stop the violence has gripped this nation with demonical ferocity. It needs Divine intervention. And collective Faith...

Photos taken from the web.

DSN Course in Sanjaynagar

Having worked at companies like Digital, HP and Sun, I got to enroll into several self- development courses.

Companies usually have their training targets so we usually get coaxed into joining one training program or another. So I had attended stuff like 'Leadership course for software professionals', 'Coaching for performance' and stress management workshop. I enjoyed attending most of them, especially the stress management workshop. This workshop had some yoga, meditation and chat sessions. It was pleasant. The other courses also helped us understand our team members better and interact with them.

But I have yet to come across a course like DSN, which is offered by the Art of Living Foundation.


Folks just wanna have fun, in DSN!

DSN, or Divya Samaj Ka Nirman essentially means to 'build a Divine society'. It is a powerful self-development course designed by Gurudev. By going through this course, a person is brought to a state of inner calm and outer dynamism. It is only in this state that one can build a divine society through community service. The guiding principle is that one helps oneself first, and then others.

Unlike other courses which teach you how to 'manage people' or 'manage anger', or 'manage change', DSN introduces you to YOURSELF. And when that happens, it is simply a MIND BLOWING EXPERIENCE.

Have you ever had the gumption to 'talk to a tree' in front of curious onlookers? You never really know what you can do, if you do not breeze into a DSN course. I 'found' myself last year when I enrolled. I have changed, am changing and wading through a sea of change- with a smile.

The DSN course is happening in Sanjaynagar on October 9- October 12, 2008. The course is being conducted Anandji, a world renowned DSN teacher. Earlier on a senior software engineer working in New York, Anandji willingly transformed himself from an IT professional to an IT guru. This time his 'IT' stood for INNER TRANSORMATION.

Check out this video on DSN. It has details of the course venue and other relevant stuff.

If you have completed your Art of Living basic course and want to move a notch above into the socio-spiritual realm, just enroll into DSN. Anandji is always traveling overseas and it is indeed fortunate for us to have him in India during this Dasara.

The ever dynamic Anandji

If you want your journey of life to get that much more interesting and intriguing, just enroll into this course.

Contact me on: kandula.manjula@gmail.com

Life is difficult for these women

Yesterday evening, my friend Dr. Vasantha (who is also an Art of Living'er herself) invited me to visit the Mahila Dakshata Short Stay Home, situated in the outskirts of Bangalore. Dr. Vasantha gives free medical consultancy for the women inmates of this Home.

I joined her yesterday to conduct a short Shivir (mostly a program of stress relaxation techniques and some spiritual counselling) for these women inmates of this Home.

Meditating to calm the mind- Dr V is also seen meditating in the top right hand corner

Our bumpy ride to the sleepy town of Tindlu was no match for the bumpy lives of these women. These women are mostly from Karnataka state but a few have also come from parts of India. Many of them are victims of rape, dowry harassment, domestic violence and some of them have children of their own from hurtful marriages.

Unlocking hidden pain through group discussions
Stand up and speak out- a group leader

The Mahila Dakshata Samiti is a Non Governmental Oorganization which runs this home along with conducting other activities such as running Primary Health Care Centers, aiding village development, and empowerment of women through education.

The main aim of this shelter is to lend some emotional and financial support to women who have run away from their homes to seek some peace and dignity in their lives. The Home gives them training, medical help, and much needed counselling. The Home also tries to place them in jobs such as garment factories and other manufacturing units. Since this is a short stay home, women often return to their families or are rehabilitated elsewhere.

I could only spend a few hours with these women, but I learnt more than I could ever teach. Some singing, some group discussion, some meditation and some dance was what I had on my agenda. On their part, I could see eagerness to learn new things that can ease some of the pain that was so evident even through their smiling eyes.

Dancing away their blues

I hope to conduct a full-fledged Nav Chetan Shibir as soon as I possibly can. Mahila Dakshata Samiti runs partly on the government funds and generous donations of compassionate citizens. They can be contacted at: 080- 23512543

True heros: L>R: Kusuma (warden of the Home), Lijjy and Melanie (counsellors)