A journey from Head to Heart. Review on Artofliving

My first reaction was that of denial. It was just out of question. No, I do not need any spiritual or even a self-development program. It is for my grandparents or anybody who is retired and has nothing better to do. Or maybe for the people who are depressed or suffering from inferiority complex. There is no chance that I would go for the ‘Art of Living’ course. Period and there is no further argument to it.

Ever since my mom did the course, she was constantly after me to go and attend this course. But I successfully avoided it for 2 years with different excuses. Later, I went abroad for work and I thought that was an end to the Art of Living chapter. But the destiny rules and it so happened that art of living is spread all over the world. There was no one to coax me there but then I went for the course, as there was no plausible explanation to avoid it. I had no chance to escape, as I was one of the organizers for the course !!!

I was still adamant and went for the course with a determination to prove that I was above the level of all these courses. They are good, but they are not for me. I had attended Tom Peters and Deepak Chopra’s workshops because I considered them at par with my level of understanding. I was working with a Management consultancy and I was myself taking certain management workshops. Hence I was sure that I would be able to give some tips to the teacher after the course was over.

I was constantly judging the statements made by the teacher and trying to refute them as vehemently as possible. But then that was the reason I needed the course. It was much later that I realized that people who need it the most resist it the most.

‘Art of Living’ course is a very very simple and lucid course, which takes you back to yourself. Its simplicity makes it one of the most powerful courses that I have ever come across. And it is for everyone. All of us need peace, happiness and sense of satisfaction. It is the basic nature of our soul. And hence everyone would love this course.

Let me tell you that Art of Living course does not teach us anything new. It only reminds us and makes us AWARE about the things we already know. That ‘Awareness’ sometimes takes years to come. And once you are become alert and aware about your own mind, body and soul, other things come naturally.

It was the third day of the course and I was trying my best to show that I was completely bored. I had already acquired the so-called knowledge and wisdom. I was also thinking about serious excuses to bunk the course from the next day onwards. But BOOM……and I was totally bowled over. This was the day for ‘Sudarshan Kriya’ the most powerful process that I have ever experienced in my life, emotionally as well physically.

I have been an athlete and hockey player for years. I have played at national level for many years. Sometimes we practiced for more than 12 hours a day. These were the days of most intense and gruelling physical exercises. We use to run approximately 30 Kms a day. However I have never before experienced stronger physical experience than ‘Sudarshan Kriya’. I was stunned. I had no answers, no explanation. This was totally beyond my logical mind to explain. It was the day of transformation.

I understood that there are many things, which I still have to learn. This was the day I realized the importance of Art of living course in my life. I did not even realize that I had crossed the boundary and become a believer. Till date I remain one.

‘Sudarshan Kriya’ is a simple breathing process with unlimited grace and blessings. We have to understand that there are four main sources of energy in our life i.e. food, sleep, breath and knowledge. Breathing is the most important of this four and also the most neglected source of energy. We can do away without the first three for days but we cannot stop breathing. It’s the main source of energy and life.

And little do we realize that all of our emotions are related to breathing e.g. if we are sad, we breathe slowly, if we are angry we breathe fast, we breathe normally when we are very happy. However it has been a one-way street till today. Our breathing pattern changes along with our moods and emotions. But we can also reverse this process !!! If we learn to control our breathing pattern, we can control our emotions. Isn’t that wonderful ? Most of the problems start when we cannot control our emotions i.e. anger, frustration, guilt etc. So controlling breathing, in turn helps us to control the emotions, situation or people we are dealing with.

This course is also known as ‘Healing Breath Workshop’ in many countries. What I have said here is one of the thousand other benefits of ‘Sudarshan kriya’. It’s a magical process and words are not enough to describe it. It washes away all your negative emotions and also your bad experiences of past. It brings you in the present tense, which is always full of happiness.

I go through a different wonderful experiences, every time I do this process. It has helped me to meditate and go into the blissful world of thoughtless ness. A divine experience. A dose of it in the morning makes you ready to face anything in the world. It’s a must for everyone. However Guruji says that it only the blessed ones will be able to do this process. Yes, whom we lovingly call Guruji is Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is the founder of this process and the Art of Living course.

Subsequently, I went for the advance course to Rishikesh and also for the DSN course. I also plan to go and stay in ashram for a few days every year. This course is journey from head to heart. A journey, which takes you back to yourself. Guruji says that life is like a festival. So enjoy and celebrate it everyday. I would also like to invite all the readers to this wonderful celebration.

Six day ‘Art of Living’ basic course (3 hours a day) is offered in almost all the cities in India and in 110 countries worldwide. You can visit https://artofliving.org or write to me if you need any specific information. The website talks about different social projects conducted by art of living foundation, worldwide. I know that I am suppose to evaluate the website here but then AOL course is at the heart of it and hence my personal experience.