2008 - AOL Basic Course

8/21/2018 2008 | AOL Basic Course
AOL Basic Course
Archive for 2008
Third Satsang With Ravishankar
December 23, 2008 at 11:24 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, satsang, Sri Sri
Ravishankar
People have se led down now. I am si ing bang in front of Guruji Ravishankar. The bhajans start –
Om Namah Shivaya and then Om namo bagavathe Vasudevaya. Then we sing the other bhajans on
the Guru, on the Godess, Shiva, Rama, Radha, Krishna. Finally the singing stops with a sign from
Ravishankar. He begins to speak. He asks us how we are doing. I say we are doing great. Having a
nice time – laughing, singing and dancing. He says good and asks any questions. People are silent.
He says if there are no questions then we have either understood everything or knows nothing.
People laugh. One person asked a question that he is very confused in life and has become indecisive.
Guruji replied if you are confused then take a pillow and go to sleep. At this very moment Pitaji
enters the Kutir dramatically.
Pitaji is Mr Ratnam the father of Ravishankar and co-founder of veda vigyan mahavidyapeeth.
Ravishankar welcomes pitaji by standing up and doing Namasthe. Pitaji sits on the throne next to
Guruji. Ravishankar asks pitaji to speak. Pitaji is silent and he says let us all chant OM. We all chant
OM a few times. Pitaji leads and we follow.
Now Guruji Ravishankar speaks to me in Kannada and asks me specifically how I am feeling. I tell
him I am feeling great. The ashram is out of the world and its so serene and peaceful to be in his
presence. Ravishankar says ‘hmmmm’and asks me what do you do. I tell him I am studying
engineering. Then he says hmmm and ‘good good’. He turns his gaze to some other folks who have
come from Mumbai and asks them when did they come. They reply and Ravishankar says ‘hmmmm
good good’.
Some of the visitors from Bombay have brough chocolates and offer it to Ravishankar. He touches
them and it is kept near him. He puts his hand on the chocolate box and starts throwing the
chocolates around. People are catching the chocolates and are happy. He throws away all the
chocolates at us and we catch and keep what comes to us from the Guru. He threw a couple at me as
well and I kept it in my pocket.
THe bhajans begin again and go on for about twenty minutes. Ravishankar leaves the Kutir. Pitaji
follows. We the people are si ing here. The time is around 7:30 PM and it is all dark outside.
https://aolbasiccourse.wordpress.com/2008/page/3/ 1/19
Teacher now tells our group that it is time for Dinner. We go walking to the dining room. We have
dinner and wash our plates. Once again a nice light south indian vegetarian dinner.
I go to the dormitory with the other folks. A li le bit later I again go out for a walk and meet teacher
on the way. Teacher says at 9:00 PM he is going to take our group of fifteen people to Guruji’s Kutir
where we can meet Guruji in person. I am looking forward to it. I go to fetch the other people in my
group.
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AOL Course – Eye Gazing and Dancing
December 23, 2008 at 11:01 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged aol basic course, satsang, Sri Sri
Ravishankar
The time now is 5 PM and we have laughed our Asses off. We go in for a short break and gather in
the Kutir after 20 minutes.
Teacher says next exercise is very powerful. This is an exercise which will help us connect with other
persons.
The process is something like this. We sit facing a partner and look at their eyes with no judgement
and choicelessly. We live in a world where people shy away from looking straight at people and
where we build walls around ourselves. This exercise reduces our barriers and defences with people.
We spend about ten to 20 minutes gazing at our partner and later on move on to another person and
gaze at them. After about 20 minutes there is music and we hold hands with our partner and dance. I
had heard of the Gazing exercise as a very key exercise done in many of the tantra groups in Osho
Commune and elsewhere. But first time I have got to practice this.
The exercise of Gazing finishes at around 5:40 and we start dancing with our partners. At first some
folks are hesistant, especially the traditional people who have come to the course for some religious
merit. Some remain hesistant and bi er but those who lower their defences and participate enjoy the
whole thing. We are all dancing to a slow sitar music. I think I have heard this music before. Maybe
by pandit Ravishankar but not sure. I have a feeling that the music is a li le bit slow for dancing. But
slowly the music is changed to some high tempo bhajan of a raslila. We dance to the tune of radha-
krishna something. Its a celebration.
All of a sudden dramatically Ravishankar enters the kutirs and starts Dancing with all of us. He holds
hands with us and we dance. It is nice and surreal. It goes on for some more time maybe for another
half an hour. Some of us are sweating and having a nice dance workout. Finally we all se le down.
Ravishankar se les down and sits on his throne. There are many more people who have joined. The
whole kutir is full. Some folks have brought the musical instruments. The satsang starts.
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AOl Course – Group Laughter Theraphy
December 23, 2008 at 8:46 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, laughter, Sri Sri
Ravishankar
Saturday 3 PM – Veda Vigyan Mahavidyapeeth
About forty of us are back in the Kutir. Some folks are sleepy after lunch. I am feeling light and good.
I think it is because of the light lunch I had. I liked the lunch and its taste. Satwic food is good.
The teacher now says we tell some jokes. Teacher makes some jokes. One lady tells a husband and
wife joke. I think these jokes are very polite and school boyish. I suddenly remmber one joke I had
recently read. I think this is not very vulgur. So off I go.
In a convent the teacher who is a catholic nun asks young children in primary class – What do you
want to do when you grow up?. The Children start giving the answers – Lawyer, Scientist,
Cosmonaut, Doctor and so on. It is now turn of young Mary. Young Mary gets up and says – “When I
grow up I want to become a prostitute.” The Nun asks – ‘What did you say. Can you repeat”. Li le
Mary says once more – “I want to be a prostitute when I grow up”. Nun is very angry she goes and
complains to the Mother superior. Mother Superior comes into class and asks Li le Mary
again. “What do you want to become when you grow up”. Li le Mary replies “I want to be a
prostitute”. Mother Superior looks releived and she exclaims – “Thank god. I initially thought you
wanted to be a protestant.”.
Some folks laughed. But teachers don’t like this joke. Teacher had already proclaimed the guidelines
before the start of the session – no vulgar jokes. I am not sure whether it fits it into the category.
Maybe the joke is a bad one on the catholics. No a acks on religion and beliefs. Jokes have to be
clean. I realize I have done a mistake. Li le bit embarrased. But more stale jokes follow and we all
forget.
It’s 3:20 now. Teacher asks all of us to sit in a circle. We all sit in a circle. Teacher says we all start
laughing. We can fake it in the beggining but lets all start. So we start. First there is a faking. But the
absurdity of the whole thing dawns and we see the joke, the humour and the real laughter takes over.
We laugh and laugh for minutes together. People roll on the floor and laugh. I am having a good
time. We finally are exhausted and refreshed from the laughter.
We all close our eyes, silence, lie down and relax. There are still some people giggling here and there.
Laughter is the greatest medicine. When I get up it is 4:00 PM.
AOL Basic Course – Moving around the Ashram
December 23, 2008 at 8:03 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, Sri Sri Ravishankar
I use the next one hour to go around the ashram. Ashram is very nice. I feel like staying here. But I
also have obligations towards my family. Finish my education, earn money and support the people
who have helped me. I am wondering how much money full time workers in AOL are paid. Some
folks had told me there is no fixed sum and they get a percentage out of the course fees for the
courses conducted by them. They also get a percentage from the donations that are given to the
ashram through their coaxing and other efforts. The main revenue of AOL is controlled by
Ravishankar’s family. His father, sister and brother in law. They also have many ex professionals who
are part of the Veda Vigyan trust. AOL seems to be a lucarative profession for many. It is also fun. No
need to think and work hard. Just spread knowledge of the guru.
It am trying to understand the organizational eco system of AOL. At the centre of the group is the
Queen Bee which is the Guru. The core circle around the Queen Bee is the immediate family and top
functionaries of the AOL organization. Many of the top functionaries are successful professionals
who have left their stressful and lucarative jobs / business to join AOL which is free of stress and
lucarative. These elite class of people at the top along with the Queen bee manage the propoganda
machinery, travel itenary, programs of the Guru and token social service programs. They have links
with the media, they publish magazines like ‘Rishimukh’, create the propoganda about the Guru’s
greatness and miracles. They rope in doctors from reputed organizations to publish researched
articles on the efficacy of the breathing techniques. They meet politicians and businessmen to
contribute to AOL.
Below the elite managerial group is the group of volunteers. Spaced out spiritually inclined young
men and women. Not very rich. Not very accomplished in worldly life. One main qualification is
required from them, they need to believe the Guru hundred percent. Guru is perfect. Guru is the
wisest of men in the world. Guru is the fountainhead of all knowledge. Some of these volunteers can
become teachers. The qualification of being a good teacher is Obedience to guru plus charishma and
good communication skills. A good AOL teacher is one who can imitate Ravishankar to the best
extent. The mannerisms, body language and meditative gestures. A nice thickset black beard and
dark long hair is a great asset although not a prerequisite. If the AOL teacher cannot grow a beard he
or she can grow their hair long. A partial fullfillment. There are some who have a regular hair cut and
look like professionals. They are also required. To conduct corporate courses. AOL teachers should
look cheerful all the time. They are the living demonstrations of the efficacy of the AOL techniques.
Singing and musical abilities are a major plus.
The third group is the temporary volunteers householders who can volunteer part time. Help in
organising programs. It takes a lot of effort to organise programs but the directions and the master
plan is avaialable and given from the top. The functionaries execute them. These people are also
helpful in word of mouth propoganda. They solicit new members. They are the ones who typically
stick posters in colleges, offices and libraries. They participation in Satsangs are key to success of
satsangs.
I found out quite early the most frowned upon thing in art of living is independent critical thinking,
individuality and a questioning mind. Questioning is allowed only within limited predefined
parameters. If I want to be part of AOL I need to curb and repress some of these faculties of mine.
Also develop love for Guru and start believing that he is the well spring of all wisdom and every
word he u ers comes from an unknown divine source. I feel I can fit in. I should talk to Ravishankar.
Opps sorry Guruji.
Its twenty minutes to three now and I walk back to the Kutir.
AOL Course – Lunch Time
December 23, 2008 at 6:50 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, Sri Sri Ravishankar
We gather at the dining hall. The rule is to eat the lunch with awareness and silence. There are the
brahmin boys from the veda school who are chanting the shanti mantras from the upanishads. They
are in the age group of 10 – 15.
We take out plates and wash them. I sit next to one of the teachers of AOL. I strike a conversation
with him. He is from some royal family from Kerala. He was also part of the communist party
student union like most of the youths in Kerala. But after he did advance course of art of living he
decided to dedicate his life full time to the organisation. I asked him since when he knows
Ravishankar. He says -‘ have always know him since eternity’. I was thinking good one with a nice
punch line. But I asked him since when he in his present physical form first meet and see the physical
body of Ravishankar. He said he met him some four months ago after he came for the advanced
course in the ashram. He tells me I should do the advanced course as it is out of the world. The basic
course is just that – basic. In advanced course you will understand what these practices are. I asked
him do they teach new breathing exercises in advanced course. He said not much except some
mudra pranayama and padma sadhana (which is a set of 12 traditional yoga postures in a specific
sequence). And in the advance course all the five days you will be in silence and practice non doing
and meditation. It is a tremendous course to connect with the Guru.
We finish Lunch. Lunch is good, nice and bland south indian vegetarian food. I feel nice and
fullfilled. I wash my plates. It’s 1:45 PM now. Teacher tells us we will meet at 3:00 PM in the kutir and
till then we can take a seista or go around the ashram and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the place.
AOL Course – Day 6 – Physical Toning Exercises and

Kriya time
December 23, 2008 at 6:33 am · Filed under Uncategorized
I am beggining to like the new teacher. He has a sense of humour and a rustic common sense. He also
makes some original jokes unlike the other teachers. The way he speaks his broken english is quite
humorous. And most course participants laugh at his words.
It is 11:00 am now. Time for the physical exercises. I remmember the basic course posters promised to
teach some ‘Physical Exercises which can releive stress’. I was wondering whether the teacher had
forgo en to teach us the exericses in the past five days. But now is the time.
The exercises which are taught are simple toning and stretching exercises. It is also called as Sukshma
Vyamama. It starts with
Eye Rolls, Neck Rolls, Shoulder rolls, spinal twists, hip rolls, knee rolls, feet roll, ankel rolls, cat-cow
pose, lion’s roar pose (Simhasan), rabbit pose (breathing like a rabit while bending forward in
vajrasana) and shavasana. In shavasana we tense all over muscles and then relax. These are the only
exercises taught in basic course. Teacher said if you want to learn advanced yoga asanas there will be
other courses where they will teach them. I thought I should check with the teacher and also ask him
whether the sequence of yoga asanas I have been doing is okay or not.
There is also a guideline that during the course we should maintain silence and only talk to teacher
not with the course participants. Most of the time this rule was broken. Teacher also mentioned that
since this is basic course it is okay. In advance residential course we will follow silence strictly.
After the toning exercise it is time for Pranayama and Sudarshan Kriya. We do the pranayama and
kriya.
The time is now 1:00 PM and I am hungry as are the others. Time for lunch.
AOl Course – What you resist persists
December 23, 2008 at 6:16 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, Sri Sri Ravishankar,
what you resist persists
A new teacher is now in charge of the flock. He is not able to speak english well but is quite energetic.
He was also a yoga teacher on his own before he came to Ravishankar and AOL.
He teaches us the final aphorism of art of living – What you resist persists. Which is also basically tied
to acceptance of everything and everyone.
‘What you resist persists’ was also one of the often repeated theme in Osho’s teachings. He even went
to great heights to live up to this teaching. But AOL is a toned down version of spirituality for urban
yuppies. Things are not so radical. You often find orthodox beliefs mixed with liberal priciples.
I am wondering at the implication of this aphorism. What if we take it to the extreme. Many things
we resist we ressist for good reasons and those things do they persist. But I do understand the
underlying tone of this aphorism it is basically to go with the flow and let go.
We have five aphorisms now:
1. Present moment is inevitable
2. Accept everyone and everything as they are
3. Don’t be a football of other’s opinion
4. Expectations reduce the joy
5. What you resist persists.
Five commandments. Be er than the ten commandments of the old testament.
I am ge ing bored of principles and aphorisms. Even if they are sign posts and indicatory words.
Now I want to go beyond words, aphorisms and commandments. I drop them all.
AOL – Day 3 – Don’t be a Football of Others Opinion
December 18, 2008 at 1:03 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, sudarshan kriya
Its 7:45 PM now.
We folks have finished Sudarshan Kriya. The most unique selling product of Art of Living.
Now begins the knowledge for today. The aphorism for today is ‘Don’t be a Football of Others
Opinion’. The teacher tells us that we are all the time shaped by other’s expectation of us. He also told
story of Aesop about a man and his donkey. How due to opinions of others he started changing his
stances and finally instead the donkey carrying him he was carrying the donkey. The teacher asked
us to review the situation in our lives where we have been the football of other’s opinion. We
reviewed. All of us have some thing or the other. Social interactions demands from us in many ways
to comply and dance to the tune of others. I am aware of it in myself how I have allowed other’s
opinion in my self and how it has shaped so many of my behaviour. Good learning.
The teacher recaptulated the AOL aphorisms once again – Present Moment is inevitable, Accept
everyone and every situation as they are, Expectations reduce the joy and Don’t be a football of
other’s opinion. The four aphorims are good. I think I should internalize these things. Its dinner time
now.
We start preparing our raw food, cu ing vegetables and of course the older folks have brought in
already prepared salads. We mix all of them together and have a feast. We also talk and gossip.
Teacher also talks about his Guru Ravishankar and his profound qualities and miracles.
Teacher says tomorrow is Thursday and time for weekly satsang with Ravishankar which starts at
6:00 PM and he asked us to come at 5:00 to do pranayama and sudarshan kriya. Then we can a end
the Satsang. He mentioned that Guruji is revealing secrets from the Saivaite text Shiva Sutra. He says
first time in history anyone is talking about these secrets. Obviously he does not know or thinks we
do not know. There are several commentaries on Shiva Sutras avialable. And from what I heard
Ravishankar speak last week his is not so original. The narration and structure of his discourse has a
clear and distinct influence from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Osho. Maybe they should add another
aphorism to Art of Living – Do not imitate. Or maybe I should accept them for what they are. So I do.
Day 3 is over and I walk back to my Hostel room. Sudarshan Kriya had been quite relaxing and I am
a smiling. Not much different from many of the breathing meditation techiniques I had done earlier.
When I had done the dynamic meditation of Osho I had gone ecstatic. Maybe Osho is my Guru and
that is my path. Expectations reduce the Joy.
AOL Course – Day 3 – Sudarshan Kriya
December 18, 2008 at 11:19 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, How to, long kriya,
short kriya, Sri Sri Ravishankar, sudarshan kriya
Wednesday 6:30 PM
Teacher now explains Sudarshan Kriya. There are rhythms in nature – day-night, seasons and so on.
In our body also there are rhythms. Modern life we have lost the naturnal rhythm and the best way to
come to natural rhythm is through practicing rhythmic breathing. In Sudarshan Kriya we breath in
different rhythms Long, Medium and Short. He says Kriya was devised by Ravishankar when he was
in silence for ten days in Shimoga district in Karnataka.
Teacher then asked all of us to sit comfortably and follow the instruction from the tape. The cassete
was wrapped in saffron cloth. To signify the sanctity of the recorded instruction.The cassete was put
inside the tape recorder.
We were asked to sit straight and relaxed and for people who cannot sit cross legged they can sit in
the chair or even lie down. Tape Recorder Switched on. We breath in whenever Ravishankar Says
‘Sooo’ and for ‘Ham’ we breath out.
The tape begins:
Ravishankar in his effeminate voice starts the chanting – Sooo hum, Soo hum for which we breath
correspondingly.
Initially he chants the long breaths
Sooooooooooooo hum Soooooooooo hum …… after a few rounds he switches to a faster tempo the
medium rhythm
Sooooo hum Soooo Hum Sooo Hum after some more rounds of this he switches on to a much faster
rhythm
So hum so hum so hum .. this goes on for some time
them he goes back to the longer rhythm
Sooooooooooooo hum Sooooooooooooo hum and so on . Across all the three rhythms the exhalation
time was the same – hum.
This whole thing is repeated some 7 rounds of Long, Medium and Short Breaths. In each round of
Ravishankar’s chanting there were 20 long breaths, about 70 – 100 medium breaths, about 60-80 short
breaths.
This whole breathing exercise was about thirty minutes. Some of the folks couldn’t bear the deep
breathing and were coughing. Ravishankar inbetween the chanting of the So hums sometimes used
to exhort things like – ‘Continue Continue dont stop the breathing’, ‘ Breath in your own comfortable
rhythm’, ‘Whatever thoughts or emotions comes in breath it out’. Sometimes people says ahhh or
laugh or tell some gibberish.
After the end of the seven rounds of breathing Ravishankar asks us to lie down on our back and
relax. We lie down and there is a tingling in my arms as a result of so much of breathing in the last
half an hour. We relax for about 15 minutes. I feel very relaxed. Near about the end of fifteen minutes
Ravishankar starts giving instruction to focus and relax our feet, calves, thighs, abdomen, navel,
chest, arms, throat and face. He then sings a sanskrit sloka – ‘Vande om guru paduma paraga…’. I
think this is from Ramacharita Manas of Tulsidas but not sure. Maybe I should check it out Then
Ravishankar says from the recorded casse e that if we are ready we can turn to our right open our
eyes and get up. We all get up.
This was the long Sudarshan Kriya. The teacher now asked for our experiences. Some of the folks said
they felt calm and peaceful. Many felt the tingling in their hands and feet and the face becoming
numb with hyper oxegenation. The middle aged guy also said he saw his blue pearl again.
Teacher said good good. He also told that there is an enormous amount of mental, emotional,
physical and spiritual benefits to this breathing exercise.It was around 7:30 now.
I asked the teacher if I can get a copy of the tape. Teacher reacted sharply and said – no no no. This
tape can be owned only by the teachers of art of living. This is the long kriya and should be done only
at art of living centres. There is a Short kriya which he was going to teach which can be done by us at
home. The short Kriya is an abridged form of the long kriya where we breath the long medium and
short breaths for 20, 40, 40. That is 20 long breaths, 40 medium breaths and 40 short breaths and this
cycle is repeated three times. After the completion of this we can take a few long deep breaths and
then sit in silence for 5 – 10 minutes waiting for meditation to happen.
This was the short kriya which he asked us to practice at home starting from tomorrow morning.
I wasn’t surprised about this new revealed technique at all as I could trace the technique back to the
rebirthing holotrophic breathing excercises and the chakra breathing I had done earlier in the Osho
centre at Kumarapark in Bangalore. Swami Anand Swabhav the Osho Sanyasin and meditation
teacher had guided us into these cathartic breathing techniques giving us the rationale behind each
and every breathing rhythms. The breathing is done is a continous rhythm without stopping. There
were specific emotions and corresponding emotions which were expereinced in this. Osho had
spoken extensively in his works on the breathing rhythms and their cirresponding emotional and
physical states. In contrast to this I found the AOL teacher lacking basic knowledge of pranayama on
most occassions and on top of this the teacher was highly secretive and cultish about the breathing
techniques. The empahsis on the lack of openess in the Art of Living course with respect to the
breathing techniques (which in any case is not original but made to look like one) runs counter to
my sensibilities on ‘Art of Living’. I always hold the axiom of Rabindranath Tagore ‘A world where
knowledge is free’ in high esteem. According to me a great teacher is one who can impart
Knowledge in full. But in order to create a mystique around practices and wares they sell groups
like Art of Living make simple breathing techniques into patented knowledge. They also create a
dependency and a parasitic support for the organization by withholding information and make the
people come to their place to practice the ‘Long Kriya’. It is true that Yoga practices should be done
under expert guidence as there are indications and contra indications for every practice. But in
assembly line yogic courses like art of living we find the teachers main qualification is obedeince to
the guru and group and upholding the secrecy of the so called innovative practices. THis knowledge
in any case is common knowledge and available in the public domain.
AOL Course – Day 3
December 18, 2008 at 10:42 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, Sri sri ravi, Sri Sri
Ravishankar
I get up early in the morning did some yogasanas and then practice Ujjayi Sectional Breathing
Pranayam – 9 rounds in each section. Practice three rounds of Bhastrika Pranayama and Chant OM
three times.
I sit down and meditation and do the panchakosha meditation for 20 minutes. I am feeling calm and
peaceful now. I also did some yogasanas which I have learned earlier. I then go about to college and
also library. Spend the day as usual.
Wednesday Evening 6:00 PM
I reach Vyakti Vikas Kendra with my vegetables. Cucumber and carrot again. Teacher is already
there and he says ‘Jai Gurudev’. This is the standard greeting in Art of Living. Even on phone instead
of Hello they say ‘Jai Gurudev’. Instead of Goodbye they say ‘Jai Gurudev’ . Nice way to economize
our vocabulary. I decide to play the game as well. So I also say ‘Jai Gurudev’. I want to be close to the
Teacher, otherwise how can I become Sherlock Holmes.
Today Teacher says is a great day of our life. We will practice Sudarshan Kriya. Teacher is building up
the pitch and momentum. Our anticipation increases.
All the fifteen of us now start practicing the pranayama taught in the last two classes. Ujjayi sectional
breathing, Bhastrika and then chant Om three times. Now teacher tells us we can go to the Loo and
drink water as we should remain undisturbed for next 40 minutes. We will be learning Sudharshan
Kriya. I dutifully go to the loo pee and drink water. I come back quickly and sit down to receive
instructions. I do not want to miss out on anything. Its 6:30 PM now.

AOL Course – Day 2 – Banquet
December 16, 2008 at 3:39 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, Sri Sri Ravishankar
Its dinner time. Its also time for socialization. Everyone wants to be close to teacher. Talk about
themselves. Teacher also is trying to impress all of us.
We get together in the ground floor. I with my carrots and cucumber. Many people have brought raw
food preparations and juices. Fruit and vegetable Salads and Grape juice. I join in cu ing some
vegetables. The pre y girl also joins in. The teacher now says raw food has high prana and will give
us lot of energy and also very cleansing. He also asks us to eat slowly masticate the food and chew
every morsel.
We talk and gossip for some time. Get to know each other. One person owns an electronics company.
He is also very jovial. I think if I can impress him and get close to him maybe I can even get a job in
his company after I finish engineering.Thats another three years from now and too much in the
future. I should be in the present moment.
The teacher told me that tomorrow he is going to teach Sudarshan Kriya. I am thrilled. I liked talking
to all the people there. I feel so good meeeting so many new people. I walk back home feeling
pleasant and happy.
AOL course – Day 2 – Acceptance
Tuesday 7:10 PM
The teacher now imparts wisdom. The wisdom for today is ‘Accept everyone / every situation as they
are’. This is the third aphorism of art of living. I feel I am deficient in this and need to put this into
practise.
Teacher asks for our experiences. I tell the teacher straight that I can sometimes be judgemental and
not accept people. Many folks also shared their experiences. One lady mentioned that she cannot by
any means accept her mother in law who is nothing short of a tyrant. She has to live with her day in
and day out. She almost broke down while telling this story. Teacher said she should practise
acceptance. But lady was adamant. She says she can accept anyone except her monster mother in law.
Teacher told her just try and there will be magical transformation. I am also in the side of the teacher.
I think she should try out this technique. Her emotional storm ended she was silent. She also looked
embarrased having given voice to her personal feelings in front of complete strangers.
I feel I should meditate on this phrase. The need of the hour for me is to accept everyone and every
situation as they are. No anger, self-pity. Just peace. It was 8:15. Time for food. And Satwic food.
AOL Course – Day 2 – Bhastrika Pranayama
December 16, 2008 at 3:04 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art o, art of, art of living, Bhastrika
Pranayama, Sri Sri Ravishankar
Now teacher told us to go to the loo if we want to as we will be starting pranayama now. I go to the
loo and then drink water. A bit dazed after 20 minutes of meditation. I also happen to stike some
conversation with the middle aged guy. He is a Muktananda follower, practitioner of Siddha yoga
and also does pranic healing. No wonder he saw the Blue pearl.
Its 6:40 Now
We do the Ujjayi Sectional Breathing Pranayama si ing in Vajrasana
Teacher now asked volunteer to show Bhastrika Pranayama. Bhastrika means bellows. The bellows of
a blacksmith.
We all sit in vajrasana. Hold our hands at the level of the chest. With the fists clenched mildly and the
thumb in between our fingers. We raise our hands up on the in breath and bring it down during our
breath. This is done rapidly.
The teacher goes like this : Take a breath in. Breath out. In Out in out in out ..
This is done for some 20- 30 times
This process is repeated three times.
Bhastrika pranayama over. The volunteer is also practising the tri bands (the three locks) after each
round of pranayama. I ask what is it and can we also do it. Teacher said only after advanced course
we should do tribandas and this is not taught in basic course. I always liked Bhastrika pranayama. It
was invogorating and energizing.
He said this is finishes the pranayama for today and now we all can chant Om. We all chant OM three
times.
We are all peaceful and the time is now 7:10 PM.
AOL Course – Day 2 – Panchakosha Meditation
December 16, 2008 at 2:48 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, panchakosha
meditation, Sri Sri Ravishankar
Tuesday 6:10 PM
The teacher now tells us why don’t we all meditate. He says meditation is not concentration and you
can’t practise meditation. But it happens. The practices taught in AOL can lead us to meditation. He
said Guruji Ravishankar has taught a powerful meditation called Pancha Kosha meditation which we
are all going to learn now. I am happy I will learn one more meditation and add it to my ki y. I am
impatient what is this meditation with such a beautiful name.
Teacher explains there are five sheaths of our being. I immediately want to show off my knowledge
and said names of the Koshas. Teacher is not happy. He frowned at me. I feel bad. I think I should
control myself. When teacher speaks I should listen choicelessly. No need to show off your
knowledge otherwise teacher will never like me.
Teacher said yes you are right the pancha koshas are – Annamaya Kosha (Body), Pranamaya Kosha
(Prana), Manomaya Kosha (Mind), Vijnanamaya Kosha (Intuition-Intellect-Insight) and Anandamaya
(Bliss) Kosha. He explained the Koshas a li le bit sometimes forgot the names. Obviously he had
forgo en many things taught in his teacher training.
Now what is this Panchakosha meditation:
We sit and close our eyes
First we become aware of all the sound, noises around us and listen without judgement. Vehicle
sounds et all.
Next we are aware of our Body for sometime
Next we are aware of our breathing
Next we are aware of our Mind and thinking
Next we are aware of our emotions
Next we are aware of Silence
All in 20 minutes. I was wondersing how can i be aware of my emotions when I don’t have any in this
20 minutes. But I understand the purport of this meditation is awareness, mindfullness. Had
practised some of these from Vignana Bhairava Tantra earlier.
Meditation is over. I am also feeling calm. Teacher asks us to open our eyes. He asks us how you feel.
I tell I am feeling calm and peaceful. He says good. Another middle aged guy mentioned he was able
to see a blue pearl. Teacher did not know how to react. He became silent and then he says be aware of
it. I think I like this middle aged guy. He is intresting and cranky maybe I should talk to him later.
Its 6:30 now.
AOL Course – Day 2
Got up early in the morning today and I practised the Ujjayi sectional breathing. Ate li le food for
breakfast and lunch. Upma, Rice, Sambhar, Curds – typical south indian vegetarian food. Feeling a
li le bit guilty that I did not eat raw food. I purchased my quota of carrots and cucumbers. Not so
used to purchasing vegetables. Mom does it at home. New experience of the vegetable market in
Jaynagar 4th block.
Yesterday I couldn’t speak to the two girls except the ‘I belong to you’ stuff. I hope today I might be
lucky. I wonder if this right. But reason out it is what a 18 year old healthy boy should be thinking.
Osho had said you can get superconciousness from sex. I think he is right. Atleast he acknowledges
sex is normal. I had read yesterday an interview excerpt of Ravishankar where he claimed that he
has never had sex and he has so much love that there is no craving in him for sex. Strange for a 35
year old guy to claim he has no experience of sex. Maybe he could have tried at least once. Just to
experience. I am in dilemma now. Whether Ravishankar is right or my desires are right. I am also
virgin but sexual desire is strong in me. I also crave for female company. How can anyone teach art
of living if he has never had sex. Yes I am angry now. Maybe as the teacher later told me he had it in
his previous life and this life he has come only for the purpose of teaching Art of Living and
Sudarshan Kriya. But I feel even then he could have tried sex in this lifetime. Maybe I should take a
vow of brahmacharya like Gandhi and Vivekanada. I think I should pick up that book on
Brahmacharya by Swami Sivananda from the library. I am now wondering whether Ravishanar gets
erections. Isn’t it normal. I think he should be bluffing. He must have had sex. I did notice some very
sexy american, european women in the satsang last thursday. I think I should explore this more. I
want to become Sherlock Holmes.
Tuesday 6:00 PM
I reach Veda Vigyan Mahavidyapeet and go to second floor. Teacher has not yet come. The two girls
are there and we smile. Nice start. We introduce ourselves. The Girls are in pre-university and
studying hard. One girl wants to become doctor. I tell her you should get a huge cut off percentage to
get a seat in Bangalore medical college.
Now teacher comes in. This is time to learn Art of living, not loose talk with Girls. I try to become
meditative, come to present moment. Choiceless awareness. I notice everything. Teacher is wearing
white Kurtha and Pyjama. The three volunteers are also there. I notice Ravishankars photographs and
also the flowers.
Teacher sits in front of us. Closes eyes goes to trance. Opens eyes and smiles. He asks us how we are
doing and feeling. How the breathing exercise is treating our body. I told him I feel calm and good.
He said ‘hmmm’ it happens’. One lady was complaining that she has been feeling feverish since she
did the pranayama. He says just continue and everything will be alright. Okay the Day two of the
course starts.
Aol Basic Course Day 1 – Food
December 16, 2008 at 1:41 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, food, rajasic, satwic,
Sri Sri Ravishankar, tamasic
Its 7:30 now. We finish the Ujjayi deep breathing and Sectional Breathing.
The teacher now goes to the subject of Food. In the introductory class Teacher had told us to avoid
Tea, Coffee, Alcohol, Tobaccoo, Non Vegetarian Food and other stimulants.
Now teacher is talking about three kinds of food – Sa wic, Rajasic and Tamasic. Foods which brings
peace and calm is sa wic, foods which stimulate and make us passionate is Rajasic and foods which
make us lazy, indolent and slothful are Tamasic. Teacher gave examples of this. This was of course
cmmon knowledge for me. I assessed myself and found I being Brahmin and Vegetarian eat mainly
Satvic food. I also indulge many times in fried food which can fall into Rajasic bracket. Of course
Onion and Garlic are tamasic. I think I need a lot of Rajas and being too much Satwa is also not good.
Next teacher talks of Raw food and how raw food can cleanse us. He says tomorrow evening and all
the other evenings during the rest of the course we will consume Raw food. He asks each one of us to
bring some vegetables. I am supposed to bring 1/2 Kg of carrot and half a dozen cucumbers. A few
months back I had gone raw for two weeks and felt great. I am thinking of serve cooked food and
preparing it would be a big hassle. I am in conflict.
The time is now 8:15 and the teacher says Jai Gurudev and we part company. We will meet
tomorrow. I go back walking to my hostel room.
AOL Course – Introduction to Breath Day 1
December 16, 2008 at 11:48 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art, art of living, Sri Sri
Ravishankar
Monday 6:50 PM
Finally AOL teacher starts talking of the bo om line. The most advertised part of AOL. Always keep
the suspense.
Yes now we come to Breath. Breath and mind is related. Mind is like a kite and Breath is like the
thread which controls the Mind which is the kite. Breath has many rhythms. If you are angry one
rhythm, sex another rhythm, peace, joy, love another rhythm. Now AOL was created by Ravishankar
and he choose some breathing techniques which will bring peace, joy and solve all our problems and
the problems of the world.
The first technique is Deep Ujjayi Breathing:
Sit in Vajrasana. Relax and then place one of your hands on the abdomen and one on your chest. Now
take a deep out all the air. Take a deep breath in expanding your abdomen and later expanding your
chest and gently breath out by contracting the abdomen and the chest. No holding the breath. While
breathing make a small noise from the back of the throat. Something like ‘krrr’. This is Ujjayi breath.
Which we will use frequently in other coming pranayama. The deep breathing is the first exercise. We
don’t use our lungs to our full capacity. Most use only upper portion of lungs. This exercise corrects
the breathing pa ern. This can also be done lying down.
We practice this exercise a few times. The teacher asks how we feeling doing deep breathing. Most
people say good. One man starts coughing. I feel good. I am used to doing pranayama and breathing
exercises.
The next exercise – Sectional Breathing
The teacher now explains to us that breathing has four parts – Inhalation and Exhalation – this we all
know. The innovative yogis found the other two parts – Holding the breath while Inhaling and
Holding after exhaling. Now teacher says we will be doing this pranayama an dexercise different
sections. There are three parts to this sectional pranayama. We sit in Vajrasana and practise this:
Vajrasana
First Part – Ujjayi Breathing through Abdomen – Hold hands after the rib cage and beggining of the
belly. Hand is held loose palm facing down. Rhythm – breath in ..2..3..4 Hold .2..3..4 Breath out
..2..3..4..5..6..Hold ..2 Again Breath in ..2..3..4 and so on – Do this seven to nine times. Relax
Second Part – Ujjayi Breathing through Chest – Hold hands at the armpits almost at the end of the
chest. Hand is held loose palm facing down. Rhythm – breath in ..2..3..4 Hold .2..3..4 Breath out
..2..3..4..5..6..Hold ..2 Again Breath in ..2..3..4 and so on – Do this seven to nine times. Relax
Third Part – Ujjayi Breathing through Upper part of lungs – Raise your arms up your head. turn the
palms Backward. Touch the palms of the hands over your head to the back of the lungs. Rhythm –
breath in ..2..3..4 Hold .2..3..4 Breath out ..2..3..4..5..6..Hold ..2 Again Breath in ..2..3..4 and so on – Do
this seven to nine times. Relax.
This is the sectional breathing pranayama. The second breathing exercise. This enables us to exercise
and breath through the three sections of the lungs.
Teacher asks us how we feel. And teacher and volunteers also corrects hand posture while we are
breathing. Some of them hold hand at wrong positions. Some of them hold them too tight. Some not
breathing in proper rhythm. Teacher corrects them all. This is the first day pranayama exercise in art
of living. Some more will follow and of Course we have Sudarshan Kriya. Teacher says don’t ask
what is sudarshan kriya now. You will know later maybe third day. Teacher says Guruji has
distilled this practice for us and what was avaialable only to Himalayan Yogis is now avaialable for
the first time to we people in urban Bangalore and world over. Methinks the teacher is poorly
informed or he thinks we are poorly informed. teacher thinks we are all impressed by this secret
knowledge. There are Yoga teachers in every street corner in bangalore. Bookshops have sections of
books on yoga. I had learnt this sectional breathing pranayama in SSY and Vivekanada Yoga Kendra.
Im impatient to learn the most hallowed Sudarshan Kriya.
Teacher tells us we can practise the deep breathin while we sleep tonight. We can also practise the
Sectional breathing tomorrow morning and anyway in the evening we will be having Day 2 class.
I feel good after doing the sectional breathing pranayama. I have always loved pranayama. Makes me
calm. Its 7:30 now.
AOL course Day 1 – Expectations Reduce the Joy
December 16, 2008 at 11:14 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged art of living, basic, sri sri ravish,
Sri Sri Ravishankar
Monday 6:40 PM
Now the teacher finishes his talk on ‘Present Moment is Inevitable’. We have all acknowledged this
truth. No rebels. No devil’s advocates. The teacher moves on. There are still questions on what we
gain out of this course. SO teacher says the second aphorism of Art of Living – ‘Expectations Reduce
the Joy’. So we should not expect results. Expectations means future. We might or might not get it. We
need to be in the present. Remmember first lesson – ‘Present moment is inevitable’. So no future
expectation and no past worry only Present moment with the teacher in the Vyakti Vikas Kendra.
Of course these are my thoughts the teacher probably doesn’t understand all ramifications. He looks
dumb enough for me. Oh me and my superiority complex.
This aphorism ‘Expectations Reduce the Joy’ is repeated often in the course especially when
questions like the following are asked – ‘What will you teach tomorrow’, ‘Can Ravishankar heal me
of my Disease’, ‘Can Sudarshan Kriya cure Cancer’ etc.
AOL Course Day 1 – Present Moment is Inevitable
December 16, 2008 at 10:56 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged aol basic course, ravishankar, Sri
Sri Ravishankar
Monday 6:25 PM
We all sit down after the introduction. The sermon starts. The teacher asks us what we expect
from this course. A flood of replies follows. There was a man who told he has many emotional
problems and he wants to be relieved. The teacher is happy to hear his problem. The teacher was
Probably anticipating this. Why would people do AOL if they did not have
problems. Immediately the teacher makes a sound by snapping his fingers and asked him – ‘What is
happening NOW’. And the person says ‘Now’. Yes says the Teacher ‘NOW AT this moment’. He
says ‘Now I am listening to you’. The Teacher says ‘NOW do you have the problem’. The man
perplexed says ‘No’. So the teacher says ‘Where is the problem NOW’ and then teacher says ‘Thats
the first lesson of Art of living – Present Moment is Inevitable’. Having been exposed to Mindfullness
practices of Buddhism I could relate to this very easily. Also my guru Osho everlastingly talked about
Present Moment (Pregent Moment in Osho’s Hindi accented english).
This lesson is repeated throughout the course and is prescribed as a sure remedy for problems faced
by all. We need to focus our a ention to the present moment and come out of nostaligia, reverie and
worry. When we come to the incident which creates this worry then we can confront that as the
present moment which is NOW and thereby act to that.
I remember J Krishnamurthi now. JK used to say memory is the past and the past is dead and gone.
So memory is dead and not living. The present is living. Now I am wondering about JK’s words
si ing here. What is it to live without memory. Will I forget my way back to my house. What about
all my engineering studies. Worry. Or Maybe it is a romantic acceptance of the present moment.
Living without a care. Not to be probed too deeply. Again it is just the thought that probes. Thought
which is dead. So I come back to the present moment and look at the teacher and the rest of the class.
Okay I have learnt this first lesson of AOL. Used it many times before as well. Opps I am thinking
and going back to the past. Let me come back to the present.
AOL Course Day 1 – Ice Breaker – I belong to you
December 16, 2008 at 10:36 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged aol basic course, Sri Sri
Ravishankar
Monday 6:10 PM
The teacher now begins to speak. He was obviously trying to imitate Ravishankar in his body
language and tone. But the irony was this was an imitation to look spontaneous. I came to know later
that most AOL teachers suffer from this syndrome. There was lot of ‘umms’ and going into silence.
Teacher says first we should introduce ourselves. But not by shaking hands and talking about who
we are, our professions and so on. But we go to each of the participants and do a Namsthe and tell
them our Names and repeat ‘I Belong to You’. Okay so we get up and I go and tell fourteen of them
‘My name is Dhruva and I belong to you’.
This was a good ice breaker and we all felt familiar after the exercise. As I do not give much
importance to affirmations the term ‘I belong to you’ does not have much practical importance. Who
belongs to who. How can you belong to anyone. Can a rich man who said ‘I belong to me’ write off
his property to me. Can Ravishankar who belongs to me provide me financial assistance. What about
those two girls who told me ‘They belong to me’. The affirmation ‘I belong to you’ is indicatory of
some higher reality not known to lessor mortals like myself. It probably means I belong to you in the
upanishadic sense of the same atman in all and such stuff. It can create a good emphathetic feeling,
kinship and so on among people. It helps most people who suffer being lonely and outcasted from
social and family groups to feel at peace.
I understand this exercise. It is a good way to move around the room and get ourselves familiar.
AOL Day One – Introductory Trance – 1
December 16, 2008 at 10:22 am · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged aol basic course, day one, vinod
menon
Monday 6:00 PM
So I arrive at Vyakti Vikas kendra for the first day of the AOL basic course. I am quite excited and
also anticipating some new things in life. This is one of the reasons why I have gone to many self help
courses – Siddha Samadhi yoga and Landmark forum and so on. Apart from that I am also excited to
meet the four pre y girls. I am dressed in my best a ire. Combed my hair well. Also checked in the
mirror if I look spiritual enough.
So we are on the second floor of Vyakti Vikas Kendra. I only see fifteen people. It was obvious that all
the folks who a ended the introductiory session did not turn up. Out of the four only one girl has
turned up. Something is be er than nothing. But there is also another girl who was not present in the
introductiory session. I am happy.
The AOL teacher comes in dressed in spotless white. He sits in front of us and behind him is a big
picture of Sri Sri Ravishankar. There are also three other folks who have come with him. I came to
know later that they are apprentice teachers of AOL who have to go through being volunteeers in
courses run by experienced AOL teachers.
The teacher, Mr Menon has closed his eyes. Gone into a trance. Fifteen of us are waiting impatiently
for him to open his eyes. There is silence. Teacher opens his eyes and smiles at all of us.
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AOL Basic Course

Archive for 2008

Third Satsang With Ravishankar

AOL Course – Eye Gazing and Dancing

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AOl Course – Group Laughter Theraphy

Saturday 3 PM – Veda Vigyan Mahavidyapeeth

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AOL Basic Course – Moving around the Ashram

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AOL Course – Lunch Time

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AOL Course – Day 6 – Physical Toning Exercises and

December 23, 2008 at 6:33 am · Filed under Uncategorized

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AOl Course – What you resist persists

We have ﬁve aphorisms now:

1. Present moment is inevitable

2. Accept everyone and everything as they are

3. Don’t be a football of other’s opinion

4. Expectations reduce the joy

5. What you resist persists.

Five commandments. Be er than the ten commandments of the old testament.

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AOL – Day 3 – Don’t be a Football of Others Opinion

Its 7:45 PM now.

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AOL Course – Day 3 – Sudarshan Kriya

The tape begins:

Initially he chants the long breaths

So hum so hum so hum .. this goes on for some time

them he goes back to the longer rhythm

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AOL Course – Day 3

Wednesday Evening 6:00 PM

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AOL Course – Day 2 – Banquet

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AOL course – Day 2 – Acceptance

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AOL Course – Day 2 – Bhastrika Pranayama

Its 6:40 Now

We do the Ujjayi Sectional Breathing Pranayama si ing in Vajrasana

This is done for some 20- 30 times

This process is repeated three times.

We are all peaceful and the time is now 7:10 PM.

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AOL Course – Day 2 – Panchakosha Meditation

Now what is this Panchakosha meditation:

We sit and close our eyes

Next we are aware of our Body for sometime

Next we are aware of our breathing

Next we are aware of our Mind and thinking

Next we are aware of our emotions

Next we are aware of Silence

Its 6:30 now.

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