Awesome Art of Living Advanced Meditation Program with Gurudev in Bangalore Ashram

Recently I attended the Advanced Meditation Program (Part 2) in Art of Living Bangalore Ashram. Just thought of sharing my experience here.

This is the 4th time I am attending this program. Every time I attend the program the experience is mind blowing.

Reached the Ashram one day before and made myself comfortable. Gurudev makes it special every time I attend the program. This time, since he was away, came in Skype and gave us knowledge live.

On Thursday morning the program started of with Yoga, Pranayama and Kriya session with Chicago.

Later that day we had deep meditation sessions with Dr. Nisha Manikantan. Had a nice food and stay in the ashram.

On the same day, during satsang Kashi Ji performed the Guru Pooja and gave us knowledge on the 9 obstacles in the path of yoga. Encouraged us to read the book "Commentaries by Sri Sri on Patanjali Yoga Sutras".

http://www.artofliving.org/yoga/patanjali-yogasutra/knowledge-sheet-25

On Friday, we had a nice darshan of Gurudev with Devi Pooja. Followed by deep meditation sessions with Dr Nisha Manikantan.

During satsang, people from Chhattisgarh performed various traditional dance performances. It's good to watch the cultural diversity of India from Bangalore.

On Saturday, there were some business delegates to the Ashram. Before lunch, Gurudev himself took a meditation session for all of us.

On Sunday, after the program got over. Gurudev gave darshan to all the course partipants.

To top it all, Rudra Pooja with Gurudev on Monday was an excellent experience.

Two of my room mates were attending the Part 2 program for the first time in the ashram. Throughout the course, I was guiding them to various places in the ashram. It was a nice experience helping someone new to the ashram.

Travel to the Ashram, Stay, Food, Morning yoga sessions, deep meditation sessions, silence, seva at various places in the ashram, Knowledge session with Kashi Ji, Traditional performance from Chhattisgarh, Gurudev's presence on all the days, Devi pooja and Rudra pooja with Gurudev. What an experience. Don't ever miss it.

http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/art-silence-art-living-part-2-course

Awesome Bala Chetna Shivir in Sengunthar Middle School Sholinghur

Recently I have conducted Bala Chetna Shivir program for kids in 7th and 8th STD at Sengunthar Middle School in Sholinghur. Just thought of sharing the experience here.

Actually, went to Sholinghur to conduct the happiness program. Since, there was not much response, thought of doing some other program.

Hence, approached Sengunthar Middle School HM to conduct the Bala Chetna Shivir program. She immediately agreed to it. What a grace!!!



















Since the hall could accommodate only about 150 children, both 7th and 8th STD children have joined the program for about 1 hr every day for 5 days.

On day 1 we had a nice introductory session about Art of Living, Gurudev. Then games, yoga, pranayama and satsang. The children enjoyed it throughly.

Rest of the 4 days, the program went of fine with high level of participation from the kids and support from the staff members.

On the last day, I had given a team work project to the kids to draw their favorite picture on a chart. They came up with some wonderful ideas. And it is displayed in their respective class rooms.

During the program, the staff members also participated and they were asking about other programs in Art of Living. I had explained about the happiness program and the enormous benefits it had had in peoples lives in Sholighur. Many of them agreed to do the program.

As part of the Shivir, I had distributed Lakshmi Taru seeds to the children and they meticulously planted them in their home.

It was a enriching program for the kids, staff and myself.

http://www.artofliving.org/np-en/balchetna
http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/bal-chethan-shibir-ahmedabad

How to make Enzyme from Kitchen Waste

Recently I attended the Art of Living TRM (Teacher's Refresher Meet) in Bangalore Ashram. During that time, Swami Brahmatej explained how to make Enzyme at home with Kitchen waste. I tried the same and explaining the details below:

It is better to understand the uses of enzyme, how to prepare it, before you start working on it. This website has more details: http://www.justlifeshop.com/turn-garbage-into-enzyme/

To prepare the enzyme we need 1 part Jaggery, 3 parts Kitchen waste (Vegetable and Fruit peels) and 10 parts water.

I am using 500gms Jaggery, 1.5 Kg of Kitchen waste, 5 liters of water filtered from Aquaguard.

Bought Jaggery from Nilgris, the same is shown below:

Smash the Jaggery into small pieces as shown below:

Put the Jaggery into 5 liters of water and mix it well. You can see the level increasing from 5 liters to 5.5 liters in the bucket.

I have only 500gms of kitchen waste (Vegetable and Fruit peels, measured the weight in a near by shop), put the same in the bucket (the level has increased to 6 liters)

I just kept the bucket aside with a closed lid (no silver or glass only plastic container). Will have to put 1kg of kitchen waste more to it later.

After about 2 days, I got 1Kg of kitchen waste (from our kitchen) and put the same in the bucket (the level has increased to 7 liters).

Now, the ratio is 1 part Jaggery (500gms), 3 parts Kitchen waste (1.5 Kg) and 10 parts water (5 liters). Hopefully, I will have the enzyme ready for the new year.

Art of Living TRM, Don't miss it!

Recently I attended the Art of Living TRM (Teachers Refresher Meet) at Bangalore Ashram.
Just thought of sharing my experience here:

Initially, I thought of not attending it, since I was not feeling well. Somehow managed to catch a train to Bangalore and landed in the ashram on time.

TRM started on Saturday morning with Yoga and long kriya. We had various processes, like discussing the challenges faced by the teachers, Gurudev came several times during the TRM and gave us solutions to all the problems.

A new process by Kashiji on Sunday morning was great to start the day. We have been given
an hands on experience, instead of simply talking about it. Learnt something new on the detoxification.

On one of these days, during Satsang Gurudev talked about Superbrain yoga and showed us a video from youtube. It's actually the Thoppukaranam that we have been doing for 1000's of years in India. Marketed as Superbrain yoga now.

During the TRM, I was fortunate to meet teachers from all over tamilnadu. Even teachers from outside tamilnadu.

On the last day of TRM, Swami Brahmatej's explanation on making Enzyme from Fruit/Vegetable waste was a wonderful session. Going to try that in couple of days. Found this website related to enzyme making on the net:
http://veganlogy.com/2012/06/09/make-your-own-garbage-enzyme-a-safety-multipurpose-uses/

Talking about the stay in the ashram during the TRM, it was excellent. The room, atmosphere, facilities everything was great.

Gurudev had arranged for excellent food during the 3 days TRM. It had some healing effect, I will explain that later.

Manikandanji's songs/music while Gurudev was coming in and going out was ultimate.

One miracle that has happened is, before coming to the TRM, I had a severed cold, cough, fever. Slowly the fever was settling down, still I had headache and sinus problem. After coming to the ashram also I had the problem. I just bought anu taila had couple of drops in my nose for 2 to 3 days, the environment, the food provided had some healing effect. when I came back to Chennai, the headache and sinus disappeared just like that. I have seen this happening many times even before. Some healing happens whenever I visit the ashram, I just don't know how it happens.

Excellent experience with Padma Vruksha Tax Consultancy in Kodambakkam, Chennai for filing income tax returns for AY 2015-2016

Recently I had filed my income tax returns for AY 2015-2016 with Padma Vruksha tax
consultancy in Kodambakkam, Chennai. Just thought of sharing my experience here.

For AY 2014-2015, I had filed it on my own. Due to some defect the processing is taking
a long time. Hence, I thought of making use of a income tax consultant this time.

Searched through google and came up with couple of tax consultants. Called up some of them,
found Padma Vruksha Tax Consultancy in Kodambakkam seems to be good.

Went to Padma Vruksha office and showed the income details for FY 2014-2015 to the CA.
He said it will take couple of days to prepare the draft.

I was busy for about 2 weeks and went back to them. By that time the XML was ready and
they sent it through email.

I loaded the same in the Java Utility.

Cross checked the details. There were couple of changes required. Conveyed the same to them
through email.

Meanwhile, I had linked my PAN with ADHAAR

They sent me the updated version of the XML file and I uploaded the same.

Verified it using adhaar OTP

Hopefully, my return will be processed this time.

WOW!!! Art of Living Part 2 + Holi + Devi Pooja + Rudra Pooja + Satsang + Knowledge + Blessing

Recently I attended the PART 2 / Advanced Meditation Program in Art of Living Bangalore Ashram. Just thought of sharing the experience here.

First time, attended PART 2 program in Boone, North Carolina, USA with Philip Fraser. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was present. There were about 500 people. The morning yoga, advanced meditation programs during the day time, nature walk, evening satsangs everything was a great experience. It was a blast!!!

Second time, attended the PART 2 program in Egmore, Chennai with Kishore Da. There were about 30 people. Kishore da in his own style added color to the program and made it an awesome experience.

This time with Swami Bramatej. The morning yoga, meditation sessions were simply awesome. Evening satsangs were just icing on the cake. Swami Bramatej with his years of experience made the program simply great.

Adding color to the program is the holi celebration with Gurudev. Here are some photos of the holi celebration.

Apart from the part 2 program we also had the opportunity to listen to Gurudev during satsang.

On Friday we had a great opportunity to witness Gurudev performing the Devi Pooja and on Monday witnessed Gurudev performing Rudra Pooja. Wow! what an experience.

After the part 2 program Gurudev met each of the course participants individually and blessed us.

Overall the travel, stay at the ashram, sattvic food, morning yoga sessions, hollow and empty meditations with Swami bramatej, wonderful course participants, Devi pooja with Gurudev, Holi celebration with Gurudev, Evening satsang and knowledge with Gurudev, Rudra pooja with Gurudev on Monday. Wow! what a great program.

Who wants to miss such a great opportunity!!!

Here are some photos I have taken during the stay in Bangalore ashram.

More about part 2 program is available in this link:
http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/art-living-part-2-program