This was way back in September 2011, when a silly conversation between two friends introduced me to a world of unknown. The conversation went something like this: Namita: “Prads, why don't you do the Art of Living (AOL) Part 1 course. You do this course now, and since I am in Bangalore, you come here in December and we will do the Advanced course at the Ashram. It will be amazing!” Pradnya (Me): “Ok Nami :)”
My name is Deepa Singh and I am a Yoga teacher. I stay in Mumbai. I have been into Art of Living for the past ten years and life has been a blissful journey since. However, there is only one sad feeling that kept bothering me, which was that I have never gotten to meet my Guru face to face and talk to him. In all these years, I was only able to have eye contact with Him, as there are always so many devotee’s waiting to take his blessings. I always complained to myself, that when will I get to talk to Him properly. A part of me kept thinking, if I don’t meet Him, will He even know me? Then one day, a relative of mine had come home and he told me that he had managed to get a meeting with Gurudev. He had sent an email to Him because he needed to talk about some important personal matters, and he got an appointment to meet Guruji in the Bangalore Ashram. While I was very happy for him, this made me even sadder.
Yesterday, as I walked from my room to the amphitheater for the evening satsang at the Art of Living Bangalore ashram, I stopped on the way as I noticed Sri Sri’s car parked outside a hall which was under construction. Two people were waiting for him outside. I peeped in to take a look – there he was, small in height as compared to the tall men he was surrounded with, but towering above them all in demeanor. After a rather unhappy and emotionally turbulent day, I did not feel like going for satsang. I just wanted to hide in my room and not bother anyone with the sadness and pain that I felt. But here I was, waiting for my Guru outside that hall.
Hello Everyone! I would like to share my story with Guruji, right from the scratch. Well, the journey started in the year 2009. I got into Engineering College. I then did the Art of Living Basic course, but couldn't continue doing Short Kriya on a regular basis. You know the engineering life. I would find it difficult to make time. But at the end, I knew I could if I really wanted to. As they say “Nothing is impossible!”
The story dates back to 2013. Not much time had passed, since I joined Art of Living. But, a short span of time had instilled an indelible faith. It took me no time to know that Gurudeva loves us immensely and is always there to make everything fall in place. I had to travel to Germany for business reason. The stay there was no shorter than 2 months and I have a small child who was then three and half years old. I had not left her alone even for a night and there was absolutely no way that I could be away from her for 2 months. I was worried and perturbed and could not find a way out. I could not imagine being away from her for two months. After giving it a lot of thought, I decided to take my daughter and my mother along. I hastily applied for Tourist VISA for both of them. But, to my surprise, VISA was rejected. The day it was rejected was Guruji’s birthday. I was upset, but the immense faith and love for Guruji made me visit Ashram for his Birthday Celebration.
Once I visited the Bangalore Ashram in August on Raksha Bandhan day (a festival in India where the brother promises to protect his sister throughout his life) . I had gone to meet Guruji and was eagerly looking forward to tying him a rakhi (a holy thread that the sister ties to her brother) myself. That enitre day I held on to my rakhi waiting for an opportunity but I wasn’t able to reach him or tie it to him. I was feeling a little apprehensive, but I kept telling myself it doesn’t matter; and I kept delaying passing on the rakhi, hoping that later maybe I’ll go inside his kutir or later at night I’ll get a chance. But the day passed and by evening I was quite restless to tie the rakhi to Him. In the evening we were all gathered at the Yagnashaala. Guruji was on the stage and just below the stage is a square area enclosed by a railing where some Swamijis and teachers were sitting
I was super excited as it was my birthday and Guruji will be in Mumbai to address the vote for better India convention. With Anuraag bhaiyas efforts I was part of security seva at the hotel where Guruji will be staying. I along with other volunteers was assigned for security at the 9th floor lobby. Guruji has not yet arrived and we were told that Guruji will come to the lobby and from there he will go to his room. But at the end moment plans were changed and Guruji took lift from the ground floor and went to his room. I was a little disappointed but was hopeful as i had the entire day ahead.
This is about the first time I visited the Art Of Living Bangalore ashram; I had gone there to do the advance course in the year 2000.
This is my second story, and as I have written in my previous story, the next and most miraculous story is about to come.
Although there are many miracles that have happened in my life however I would like to share the most memorable and an unbelievable Guru story.
Guru’s Miracles are truly beyond Time, Space and Distance! Nilesh Gupta did the Part-1 course in July; travelled to Perth in August to do the Advance Course with Chris Dale, and did the Sahaj Samadhi Meditation in mid November in Sydney.
I did the Yes+ course 5 years back, after a good 3 years of persistent insistence from my best friend. To give you a general idea about the kind of person I used to be;
On the 15th of April, I was in Rishikesh. My aunt Rekha was with me. We were there to take Gurudev’s Darshan.
Hi all, Just yesterday, my cousin sister asked me, “What do you get by following the Art of Living? What’s the point of following all this when you are still unsatisfied, unhappy?”
I had been to the Bangalore ashram for the first time, this year in January. My aunt had requested me to give her letter to Guruji.
My Art Of Living journey began when I was a 7-8 year old kid, and did the Art Excel course. Thereafter, at the age of 14, I did the YES!
I’m doing my Chartered Accountancy this year and on 7th May I had to appear for my Group One Cost Accounting paper in the second shift from 2:00 –
This is a story which rolls back to 2010, when I had just finished my 10th standard board examinations and was confused about what to study further.
In the year 2003, I went for my first Part 2 course (Advance Course) which was scheduled to happen in the Bangalore Ashram in the presence of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
We all are well versed with the way we behave when GURUJI is our town, right? And no matter how many teachers educate us on how to behave, we end up being just the opposite!
Guruji came to Delhi on March 18, 2014 and his flight was supposed to land at 4:00PM. As I couldn’t leave office before 5:00PM, I thought I would go to meet him after he reaches Vasant Vihar where he was supposed to be staying.
It was when I was 12. This crowd gathering was sitting in one corner, and it looked like everyone is meeting after ages, like a typical Punjabi family discussing about what each other’s children are upto!
Being part of the Art of Living family, we see miracles happening every day in our lives. Whatever we pray for in our hearts immediately manifests with Divine blessings.
I would not attribute any one particular miracle to Guruji – rather, my coming into the Art of Living, my meeting the great Master, my change in perspectives of life – all that would be called the greatest miracle.
Hi folks, here goes my Guru Story! It was the December of 2009. Having been associated with the Art of Living for just about 4 odd years, I was very keen to do an advance course in the presence of Pujya Gurudev at Rishikesh.
This is Vinay Gupta from Mumbai. I did my first AOL course in March, 2008 & since then, I have not missed the Sudarshan Kriya even a single day.
It was my 19th birthday. As most other people, even I had plans for the big day, and was looking forward to the celebrations.
After I did my Yes!+ course in March 2011, I was waiting to do an Advance course. I got the opportunity to do the course in December 2011 in Mumbai.
It was Holi and I had planned a celebration in the evening with friends. But when I returned home after work I saw a fire engine standing in front of my house.
JGD As I write this story, I truly hope that it inspires many more to do more and more Seva! I passed out of Stephens with sour memories –
This is probably my biggest Guru story after which my faith on Guruji has grown immensely. I was on my way back from home to SSU (Sri Sri University).
This is a very special guru story for me. I was in my 5th semester electronics and communication B.E under graduate course in Bangalore university.
When Sri Sri Ravi Shankar launched Volunteer for a Better India, many people asked, “So what is it for? It’s a good idea broadly, sure, but what is it specifically about?” This question dwelt in their minds, and there were some very sincere attempts at finding out answers through discussions.
You always see those surreal moments in the news and movies, where people survive near-death experiences. But it doesn’t cross your mind that it could happen to you one day.
Thank you so very much Guruji, love you the most! Out of the various instances of experiencing Gurujis grace this is one of them –
I was invited to be a part of the Fashion Show at the International Women’s Conference, Bangalore, this year. I have done Pageants in the past, however this one was very prestigious and close to my heart, for the obvious reason!
I was very fond and attached to my Nanaji ( i.e my maternal grandfather) for whom I felt that I was the luckiest to have such a beautiful soul in my life.
I would like to share with one and all a sweet story of my life. I am a Hindu girl who married a Parsi boy, in the year 1995.
Jai Gurudev, It’s been quite a while since I wanted to write about my experiences with the Art-of-Living, but I was waiting for that one great miracle to mention over here.
Art of Living came into my life at a time when I was in a totally miserable condition, when I needed a helping hand from the Divine, as I had given up all hope.
At the age of 44, I happened to be an unfortunate victim of the deadly disease named Leukemia. Its treatment with modern day medicines had made me a 90% dead man.
I am Devendra working with an MNC in Mumbai. I did my basic course in 2008 and have done six advance courses until now.
Jai Gurudev !!! My name is Sachin, and I have been a part of the AOL family since a while now.
The best thing that has ever happened to me is my first Art of Living course. I did the course in 2005 and fell in absolute love with Gurudeva and Kriya on the second day itself.
There’s a magician that knows how to make me glow; even when I have been grilled in the day, as much as Mumbai would grill me in 1 month, with just 2 hours of sleep the previous night.
Jai Gurudev! This incident is of the time when we participated in the Mission Earth Green Project of AOL. By the time my husband and I had started planting trees in our city, it was already March, and the monsoon season had almost come to an end.
I was 21 when I fell in love and at the age of 22, I decided to take the relation to the next level and get married.
Though there are many miracles happening with Guruji’s presence in our lives, I would like to share something which I recently experienced.
It was my birthday the next day when my Art of Living friend Uma called and asked me to come to Ankit bhaiya’s place (Aol volunteer).
This was in March, 2010, when myself along with our Part 1 teacher – Miss Smriti Thakur, her sister Kiran Pardeshi (also Part 1 Teacher) and Mr.
My name is Lakshmi and I am an AOL teacher from Bangalore. I would be pleased to share one of the miracles that occurred in my life, and truly made me realize the power of the Divine.
This was on the day after finishing the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the ART OF LIVING at Jakkur aerodrome in Bangaluru.
My husband and I are Basic course teachers, currently living in Bangalore. We’ve been part-time, then full-time, then part-time again, and we’ve had our share of a roller coaster life.
Jai Gurudev! I had posted a story few months ago, that was of the miracle that happened with me on Guruji’s Punjab tour.
This is my first ever Guru story, and I am truly grateful to Gurudev for giving me this beautiful experience. I had to appear for an exam, on clearing which, I would qualify for a government job for which I had recently applied.
At every step Guruji holds my hand and guides my way. He takes care and He’s always there. I have had so many experiences of Gurudev’s Grace in my life, that I feel really blessed, just like you all.
JGD! My family, including my parents and my sister, happened to visit Bangalore in early September of 2010. They were visiting the Bangalore Ashram for a Panchakarma treatment.
The story dates back 3 years. I had gone to Rishikesh to do an Advance Course with Gurudeva. It was scheduled just after Holi;
Jai Gurudev, I would like to share one of my Guru stories with you all. This was when I went for a trip, with my husband, my daughter and one of our family friends, to Malaysia in October, 2009.
I had heard Guruji saying “If we take one step, then the nature will take ten steps”. I have seen the knowledge given by Guruji becoming reality in my daily life many times.
I did the Art of Living course in November 2003 in Mumbai, under the dynamic teacher Ramesh Menonji. I still remember those six beautiful days of my life, which despite the many years that have passed by, still seem just like yesterday.
We all have been and are really lucky to have Sri Sri in our lives. I simply cannot put in words for how grateful I am to Him for everything!
One often wonders; if the Master is watching over us all the time and if he is monitoring each and every second that is passing by in our life?
It is said that in the presence of a Guru, five things blossom. One of them is that all talents in a person manifest.
JGD Being in the software industry, I used to work late hours, eat lot of junk food, have meals at irregular timings and would not even do any kind of physical activity or exercise.
I was looking for job opportunities in Bangalore and went home for a few days as I was feeling home sick.
Jai Gurudev! My Guru story goes as follows… There was this one late evening, me and my mother were going back home from a meeting at the Art of Living center, Jaipur.
The story I am going to narrate happened on 31 Oct 2013. I was going home after ten months, from Bangalore.
My son is very sweet and creative. He has a rare combination of interests. He had completed his post- graduation in Design management in 2010 and searched for a job in the same field, but did not get it.
Jai Gurudev. Below is an incident which changed the direction of my life and showed me the right way. I dragged myself through my SSC (10th standard exams), just dreaming of getting into the best possible college in Mumbai.
The day was August 23, 2013. It was supposed to be just another ordinary Friday at work. Just as I was about to leave for office, I decided to go for an Ultrasound test of my stomach.
Jai Gurudev! I did my basic course in December 2003 at Chennai, greatly inspired by Guruji’s visit to Guindy Engineering College, shortly before the course.
JGD Since the past 5 years I had been suffering from depression. I was on Homeopathic treatment for more than a year.
It was December 2004 when we were in Rourkela (a place in India) , we planned to visit Andaman and Nicobar for Christmas vacations with the help of a travel agent.
JGD! This story that I’m about to share, is still fresh out of the oven! It happened on the 6th of November, 2013.
I’m a first year B.Tech (Biotech) student. I stay in the college hostel itself. It’s the first time I’m staying away from home and everything seems so new!
I am with the Art of Living since January, 2007. With Sri Sri in my life, I have experienced many miracles.
Well, well, well… My Guru story is finally here. As most of them have experienced His miracle moments, and I did too.
It’s been exactly one year and seven months now, since I first did my Basic Course! In this duration, I have seen and felt many benefits of the “Sudarshan Kriya”.
JAI GURUDEV… I had done my Part 1 Course in 2006 at Mumbai. After the Part 1 course I did a Part 2 Course and the Sahaj Samadhi Course thereafter.
I am an Assistant Professor and I am pursuing my Doctorate degree. I had a doubt whether I will be able to complete my Doctorate Degree or not.
I work with a private sector bank and life usually is quite hectic. Typically on Sundays, I like to stay home lying around, or go for outings such as a movie.
Hi all, JGD! I had done my Yes+ Course in 2011 and since then, I wanted to go to the AOL Ashram in Bangalore.
Jai Gurudev to all the beloved Devotees… I am into Art of living since 2002. My life has changed for the best since I have met GURUJI.
I want to share a recent incident that happened with me on the 11th of July 2013. I work in an Oil and Gas company, so I am required to travel a lot for professional reasons.
Jai Gurudev I am a Homeopathic student. I did my Part 1 Art of Living course during my semester break. After doing the course and becoming a part of the AOL family, I became crazy about Gurudev.
Jai Gurudev! I have experienced several miraculous and wonderful moments, but this is the first one that I could pen down.
Dear Sri Sri, You have been so Great and Gracious, Magnanimous and Kind towards all of us. How can I express my Gratitude!
I was visiting Avon, a small town near Paris (France) but my flight was from an airport on the outskirts of Paris city.
My mother stays in Bangalore and she is seventy years old. She is highly diabetic. She had gone to Bangalore Ashram (International Art of Living Center in India) to serve the cows on 20th August.
We were in UAE and had to be in India for the funeral of a close relative. By evening that day, my husband had a massive cardiac issue, with all systems failing.
I had done my Yes Plus Course recently in July 2013. I enrolled for the Advanced Course the day I completed the Yes Plus.
JGD, My name is Divesh Sharma and I am from Mumbai. I am a devotee since 2005. I would like to share a lovely miracle which happened with me recently.
Life was going great being a kid – no worries & tensions, until a kind of sensitivity started invading along with the onslaught of adolescence.
Jai Gurudev If I say that I am grateful, I am thankful or anything else for that matter, it does not suffice.
Sri Sri has once again gifted me with yet another beautiful Guru story – a memory for a lifetime. Well, it had been more than 4 years since I had done my first course.
I had shifted from Ludhiana to Mysore about two months back to pursue an MBA. As the Bangalore Ashram is close by from Mysore, I was eager to meet Sri Sri as soon as I could.
As most people who are connected to Sri Sri through the Art of Living are, I am also undoubtedly and one hundred percent convinced that I am totally taken care of by His Grace at all times.
It all started about two months back, when my dad, who is a Bank manager posted in Bihar (India) and got stuck in a false litigation case.
