A unique food event organized by The Art of Living in Ahmedabad witnessed an ensemble of 5,600 Indian vegetarian items which were prepared and distributed among 35,000 underprivileged children.
The event marked the start of Art of Living Foundation founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's seven-day visit to Gujarat, the group said in a statement Thursday.
The food items, prepared in 280 kitchens by 1,600 volunteers from Ahmedabad, Kalol, Surat, Dholka, Nadiad and Dahod, were divided into 36 categories.
They included vegetarian delicacies of Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Kerala, Haryana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
Speaking on the importance of vegetarian food, Ravi Shankar said: 'If only 10 percent of the world take a cue, then several problems like global warming will be resolved.'
Pragnesh Shah, president of the organizing committee, said the event was being considered for the Guinness Book of World Records - for its vastness of variety and quantity offered at one platform.
Source: Sify
Showing posts with label in the press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label in the press. Show all posts
Sai with Sri Sri Ravishankar at rediff chat!
| "God is love" - H. H. Sri Sri Ravishankar Sai Suresh Siva Swami, managing editor from rediff was so excited about the whole experience of his meeting with Sri Sri Ravishankar as part of rediff's coverage of Art of Living Silver Jubilee Celebrations, I told him to share it on his blog.  Nikhil Lakshman (Vice President, editorial, rediff), Sai, Jewela and Shailesh (rediff journalists) were at Bangalore Ashram on Monday to facilitate rediff chat and an interview with our beloved Guruji. This chat was held in the Vishalakshi Mantap, (see the photo on my iland home.) while all the devotees were sitting in the auditorium. This is the place where I had done two of my advanced meditation courses including one with Guruji. The above picture shows the inside of the Auditorium. The following article is from Sai's blog Art of loving February 13-14 has a significance in my life that goes beyond words. Years ago, the period represented an end of sorts. In a paradox, the same time also meant a revival. And this year, it found me on the threshold, literally, of a new experience. In all my meanderings through life, even as I dipped my toe into many pools and some deeper waters, AoL was something I stayed off. This despite the many friends around who swore by the Art of Living mantra. Despite the visible presence the community had in publications. My first, and till yesterday the only personal experience I had of AoL was attending a satsang by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar somewhere in New Jersey in the year 2001. Let me see what the whole fuss is about, was my attitude. If he can conquer the firangs, obviously he has made it in the spiritual guru sweepstakes, I thought. So for the few hours I was there I kept an open mind. The session, if my memory serves me right, began with meditation, there was some chanting, and wound up with Sri Sri taking questions from the floor. I remember him emphasizing a lot on love and laughter, his quips keeping the gathering in good humour. The answers were not Theory of Relativity by any means; they were simple, down to earth, homespun wisdom. A sample could be like this. Q: Where can I find god? A: Look within yourself, not outside. Q: Why am I unhappy? A: Because you have not learnt the art of being happy. The crowd was mostly Indians, and I could see a few white skins, diehards for who India, anything about India, holds a mystical charm, I guess. On Monday, I was at the AoL ashram outside Bangalore in connection with the Rediff @10 chat, my first foray into the world. Exactly a year ago I was at the gates of another retreat, but unspurred by professional interest. Was it pure happenstance that brought me to the gate of another one now? The vision that greeted us as we entered the ashram was of Guruji emerging from his room. His mere sight is enough to reduce his followers to putty, or tears. Among the gurus I have seen or know about, he must easily be the most accessible. There is no barrier or gap between him and them, I could see. And through the most insistent request, he kept his child-like smile. Through the day, we had a chance to interact in detail with him and his followers who have congregated outside Bangalore and who have converted the landscape into a carnival. And there are some vignettes that won’t go away. Here are my thoughts on why Sri Sri is so immensely popular. KISS. Sri Sri keeps it really simple. Not for him high-falutin spiritual pap. This simplicity keeps him one among his followers, not above them. The human touch. Everyone talks of their channel to him. I am unable to figure it out, but he is on a one-to-one with his followers. Love. There is a transparent, simple love he radiates. Can there be a more positive energy than this four-letter word that must be the most misconstrued one in the world? Love heals, love cures, love sets right, is the mantra Sri Sri hands out. And, hey, if you believe the message too, it will work for you. So have you converted, too, is a question I have been inundated with since I got back. And there has been no change in my answer for all time. I am perfectly all right with the concept of guru; I have no problem with people seeking solace from a guru. We all have a vacuum in us, the need to be tutored, guided, yes. But personally, for myself, I am unable to elevate another human being to the status of god. Saying this is not to imply I am oh-so-strong that I don’t need a steadying hand at my rudder. Perhaps I am one of those meant to go through life always seeking, never finding. |
Sri Sri Ravishankar: Honor all religions - Rediff chat Part 1
When His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the spiritual guru and founder of Art of Living, consented to be part of the Rediff@10 Chat on February 13, 2004 - the yearlong online event that was kicked off by the hugely successful online chat with President APJ Abdul Kalam - it was a special moment for us, at rediff.
For Sri Sri Ravi Shankar transcends boundaries and narrow limitations imposed by man-made thoughts and concepts - much like the Internet medium we work in. "I belong to the whole of humanity," he told us in a separate conversation.
With AoL, said to be the largest volunteer based NGO in the world, marking 25 years of its founding, lakhs of followers are expected to converge on Jakkur airfield outside Bangalore, venue of the Art of Living Silver Jubilee celebrations. For the throngs of his devotees nothing less than quality time - it could be just a glance, a smile, a wave of the hand - with Guruji will do.
Naturally, being confined in a room for an hour for the Chat at such a time would be depriving them of time, and His Holiness kindly suggested that while he was amenable for an interview in private, could the Chat please be done at the ashram's Visalakshmi Mandir, in the presence of his followers.
Over 6000 questions had poured in from our readers, and Francois Gautier, rediff.com columnist and a Sri Sri devotee suggested we forward a shortlist to His Holiness from which he would choose the questions to be answered. The questions ranged from job tensions to matrimony, and the future of religion and spirituality.
Kamatchi : Dear Guruji,Nameste, Should we follow certain religion or God is only one? Is it ok if we follow more than one religion?
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : Adopt spirituality, be faithful to your religion, and honour all religions
Basanth Lalchand : Guruji, Even people who have progressed on the spiritual path ocasionally tend to be drawn back into materialism and small-mindedness. Why does this phenomenon happen? Can't the progress be like a flight?
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : It totally depends on you. For some it may be a flight, for some it may be a crawl, or a walk. It depends on you entirely. The learning ability, adapting ability depends on the individual, and even that changes from time to time
Nilesh Parihar : Dear Sir, I have some very simple question. In India we see so many Gurus,Gods, faith etc. I am very much confused. Hence I want to know (1) Who is God (2) Who am I ? and (3)What is my relationship with God ? This will make things very clear to me. I will be very thankful if you can clear my confusion. Thank in advance. Nilesh
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : Why don't you start with the second question first? This will take you to deep meditation, do pranayam, meditation, you will find the answers.
Courtesy: rediff
For Sri Sri Ravi Shankar transcends boundaries and narrow limitations imposed by man-made thoughts and concepts - much like the Internet medium we work in. "I belong to the whole of humanity," he told us in a separate conversation.
With AoL, said to be the largest volunteer based NGO in the world, marking 25 years of its founding, lakhs of followers are expected to converge on Jakkur airfield outside Bangalore, venue of the Art of Living Silver Jubilee celebrations. For the throngs of his devotees nothing less than quality time - it could be just a glance, a smile, a wave of the hand - with Guruji will do.
Naturally, being confined in a room for an hour for the Chat at such a time would be depriving them of time, and His Holiness kindly suggested that while he was amenable for an interview in private, could the Chat please be done at the ashram's Visalakshmi Mandir, in the presence of his followers.
Over 6000 questions had poured in from our readers, and Francois Gautier, rediff.com columnist and a Sri Sri devotee suggested we forward a shortlist to His Holiness from which he would choose the questions to be answered. The questions ranged from job tensions to matrimony, and the future of religion and spirituality.
Kamatchi : Dear Guruji,Nameste, Should we follow certain religion or God is only one? Is it ok if we follow more than one religion?
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : Adopt spirituality, be faithful to your religion, and honour all religions
Basanth Lalchand : Guruji, Even people who have progressed on the spiritual path ocasionally tend to be drawn back into materialism and small-mindedness. Why does this phenomenon happen? Can't the progress be like a flight?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar conducting the Rediff@10 Chat among his devotees
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : It totally depends on you. For some it may be a flight, for some it may be a crawl, or a walk. It depends on you entirely. The learning ability, adapting ability depends on the individual, and even that changes from time to time
Nilesh Parihar : Dear Sir, I have some very simple question. In India we see so many Gurus,Gods, faith etc. I am very much confused. Hence I want to know (1) Who is God (2) Who am I ? and (3)What is my relationship with God ? This will make things very clear to me. I will be very thankful if you can clear my confusion. Thank in advance. Nilesh
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : Why don't you start with the second question first? This will take you to deep meditation, do pranayam, meditation, you will find the answers.
Courtesy: rediff
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