Kiran Sawhney

Doubt cannot come where there is a sense of closeness. Doubt needs a distance to appear. You never doubt something that is dear to you, close to you. The moment you doubt, it is no longer dear to you; a distance has come. You may doubt yourself, but you do not doubt that which is yours. Self-doubt is a lack of closeness to oneself, a sense of belongingness, closeness, intimacy are all the antidotes for doubt. - Sri Sri || Jai Guru Dev ||

The Art of Living is running many free schools in rural and slum areas all over India. An example is the free education given in Mohong (Assam). See the video on the initiatives by The Art of Living in naxalite and economical weaker areas, such as Mohong

The following two stories/ anecdotes, I have heard from Art Of Living Teacher. She was personally told about this following incident by Guruji's sister, lovingly known by everyone, as Bhanu Didi. The devotees of Guruji, offer Him presents. Now, however big or small a present, Guruji always cherishes it, if it is given from the heart and feelings. He would not throw it away.  So Bhanu Didi told that one such devotee gave him a cream- Fair and Lovely. (I know it seems a silly present to give. But His devotees give Him what they feel.) Now Guruji, although, did not use it but kept it carefully in his room. Bhanu Didi told that one day, when she was cleaning Guruji's room, she saw that cream and thought that Guruji never used it and it was old and probably expired, so she removed it from there. She said that when Guruji came to that room, without even looking around , He asked for that cream- that certain devotee had given that cream and where was it now. Bhanu Didi said,...

A doubt is a gray area. Gray is something which is neither white nor black. Now, how to solve the doubt? An event, knowledge, convention cannot help. Then what can help? Accepting it either as black or as white. Put it either as black and accept it or as white and accept it -- whether or not it is black or white. And see the gray as a shade of black or white. Either way you accept it. Honest or dishonest -- accept it. Then the mind is quiet. You are not in the gray area. See, the eyes are dark, eyebrows are dark, the thymus -- the most powerful organ of the body -- is black. Hemoglobin -- the main force of the body -- is black. You cannot survive without black. It is part of you. Or see it as white. Eye is also white. Bones are white; the structure on which the whole body stands is white. Put it in a category of black -- no problem -- accept. Put it in a category of white -- no problem -- doubt is not there. Have conviction. "I accept. They are dishonest and still part of me....

Prakirtee, Mauritius Auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers I was born in Mauritius, an island of an exquisite beauty in the Indian Ocean, where people of diverse religions and cultures live together in harmony. My immediate family consists of my exceptionally wonderful parents and my unique elder brother, who have been pillars in my life. I graduated in accounting and finance and I’m currently employed in the field of auditing by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Young and Inquisitve At a very young age, I would ask my mom who we are, who created us, who created the universe and she would tell me, in her own wonder, that it’s the creator – but then I would again ask, who created the creator! I had that innate drive to know more about the purpose of life. Later, the illnesses and death of some close ones intensified those quests about existence. Meeting Sri Sri in the Bangalore Ashram My mom and brother had done the Part 1 course in 2001 and the difference was so vivid. ...

AOL has been part of the training for NASA scientists and employees. It is part of the training for Miss India contestants. Teachers in a school in Basel, Switzerland get paid vacation to do AOL course.  Sudarshan Kriya has been acknowledged by All India institute of Medical Sciences based on its medical research.

Guruji's knowledge sheet Activity and rest are two vital aspects of life. To find a balance in them is a skill in itself. When to have what and how much to have is wisdom. Finding them in each other-activity in rest and rest in activity-is the ultimate freedom. More tiring than the work itself is the memory of hard work. Thinking you have worked hard itself interferes with the quality of rest. Some people take pride in working hard without any results. And there are others who crave for long rest not knowing the rest is in non-doership. It is the quality of rest, even if it is short, that recuperates. When rest is needed, your body will automatically take it. Resting, without thinking about the need for it, is more restful. Desirelessness, Dispassion, and Samadhi are the deepest rest. Question: Our work is very stressful. We don't get enough time for the family. What do we do? Answer: Do you spend quality time with your family? Even if you spend half an hour are ...

Wisdom from Sri Sri How would you like to see yourself happy and bubbling with enthusiasm or dull and difficult to please? Often you like to be pleased, appeased and cajoled. So you put up a tough, upset face and act difficult to please. If a person has to appease and please ten people all the time, it will be so tiring. People who keep a long face and expect others to cajole and appease them make others run away. Lovers often do this. They expend a lot of energy in cajoling and this brings down the joy and celebration of the moment. It is okay for you to show your upset mood or tendency once in a while, but doing it over and over again is taxing for you and people you love. If you feel down, appease and please yourself. Your need to be appeased by someone else is the sign of grossness. This is the root of ignorance. If you want attention, all you get is tension. Become one whose enthusiasm never dies, come what may. Fortunate Indrayani,gets to play with Guruji everyday and also He...

Check out video of my nephew dancing. He has his own blog here.

Beatriz V. Goyoga Art of Living Experience  Journalist, Foreign Correspondent, Former Competitive Horse Rider I am a journalist from Spain and a citizen of the world. My dad was the General Attorney Public for the Spanish army, and my mum a lady of noble birth. My partner was an Italian Marquis, and also world champion in horse show jumping. I worked in Latin America as a foreign correspondent and headed a press office with 14 major publications, specialized in politics and economics.  I learned also seven languages. For 25 years I was a successful competition horse rider. Since the dawn of my life God has blessed me with a fascinating life. Adventures around the world I started looking for something more in life since I was seventeen.  I left my parental home to live in England, then in France, Germany, the USA and Argentina.. There was something in me that told me that life was more than fun, work, challenges, gin & tonic and sex. For my 40th birthday I ...

Bhavna Talwar dazzled at 2010 Doha Tribecca Film Festival in this cream saree. And here is me at Bali. Yayy!!

Kirron Kher, besides having similar name as mine (Kiran), I relate a lot to her sensibility in choosing beautiful sarees, matching it with right jewellery and jholas. White and Gold Saree, Fuschia color, is my all time favorite.  Love Kirron’s style… almost always stays true to her own style aesthetic and gives us look after look that’s elegant and classic with a distinct stamp of her own!

Today Kettlebells were introduced in my studio. I have yet to shoot my own video/pictures with the same. But while doing my research, I found this interesting video on youtube.

Sri Sri Ravishankar is World's renoowned Spiritual Leader an ambassdor of Peace and Love.  Do you know : He has  been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. Here are some of His achievements and contribution to the Peace Projects in the World. "My vision is of a world that is crime-free, stress-free and violence-free." - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has inspired a global phenomenon of compassion and service. A spiritual leader and humanitarian, his programs have impacted more than 25 million people worldwide. In 1981, he started the Art of Living Foundation, an international nonprofit educational and humanitarian organization that works in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Its educational and self-development programs offer powerful tools to eliminate stress and foster a sense of well-being. In the United States, the Foundation’s programs are helping youth in inner cities turn away from g...

This has been my all time favorite. In fact, this was the one that inspired me to learn dance. Till date when I watch this, I feel........ I Feel............

Konakana Sen or her stylist definitely seemed to be inspired by my blog and my fashion. Sometime back I had featured this Saree on my blog. Notice our similar sarees, similar make up and similar style of keeping the saree simple and jewellery heavy. And here is also Polki which is similar to Konakana Sen.  Kiran Rocks!! (sheepish grin). 

 I t is often believed that glory and dispassion are contradictory and cannot co-exist. Glory and luxury without dispassion is a nauseating pomp and show. Such glory does not bring fulfillment for anyone… it is shallow. Alternately, the dispassion that is afraid of glory is weak. True dispassion is oblivious to glory. The glory that comes with dispassion is something that is true, that is permanent and authentic. When someone runs after glory they are shallow. Like movie stars, politicians and religious leaders who try to hold on to their status, to their glory, they are certain to lose. If you run after glory all you get is misery. When you are dispassionate, glory comes to you. If you are afraid of glory, that means you are not well-founded in dispassion. In India, the Sadhus run away from glory. They think they will lose their dispassion and get trapped in the web of the world, the circus. The dispassion is so blissful, they get attached to the dispassion. (laughter) They...