Sri Sri Between The Lines
File under: Gurus Clockin' Dollars and The Siddhi of PR
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in a fawning interview today about his "Silver Jubilee":
“The celebrations went well, but I think there is always scope to do better,” says the man who unlocks life related mysteries of millions. The world’s largest growing NGO, one is amazed by the strength that binds millions of Art of Living followers together. “I really don’t know what unites them. I guess you will have to ask them,” laughs Guruji, as he is fondly known.
Sure he can do better. He knows there's even more money to be made. As to what "unites them", Sri Sri is being disingenuous. They are united in the search to escape the troubles of life. He knows and exploits this fact every day to gain his riches, name and fame–and that's the bottom line for Sri Sri. From the comments section of this blog:Sri Sri's "jubilee blow out" is just what he said he wanted to achieve when he spoke about his name and fame to me once in the 1990s: "One day you will see -- I will be bigger than Ammachi! They will come in lakhs (100s of thousands) to see me! You won't be able to have these private meetings with me anymore because I'll be so popular!"The whitewash continues:
With regard to his reputation of being a ‘Guru of the rich’, he says, “The very fact that so many people turned up for the silver jubilee celebrations, devoid of any such pre-conceived notions, breaks all these myths.”Sri Sri is a guru getting rich, and mostly on the backs of the poor. But we're not surprised he's seen as a guru to the rich. It's obviously the most fruitful vein to mine. But Sri Sri knows it's a numbers game as well, and his ambition to top Ammachi is currently paying off nicely.
But he don't got milk, and in the end will always look like a 20-watt light bulb next to the halogen searchlight that is Ammachi in the U.S.
posted by guruphiliac @ 5:55 PM
5 Comments:
What a turkey! Take that mustache off him and he looks just like a girl!
I read some of She She's interview and came away agreeing that he's quite a hypocrit.
'The gullible are being fooled in the name of religion'
He should know. He's a expert trained by an expert.
Also to say that India leads the world in human values, what crap! I was in India a few years ago: multi colored posters of She She on every pole and wall. You couldn't walk 15 feet without seeing another one. The rich and middle class Indians living as well as any American, but go outside their gate and you see thousands of their servants living and dying in plastic tarp-tents, often within spitting distance of major car traffic. The atmosphere felt much like the American South during the 50's. Whole populations discounted and ignored, while the well to do try to bribe God to keep it all going. India is one of the most obnoxiously materialistic places that could ever exist. The Guru market just makes it plain to see.
Roshit said,
"I feel sorry for you ignorant people. May God bless you."
Ain't it amazing how often these religious people say, "God bless you" when they really mean "God damn you for disturbing my sleep!"
I don't need or want the blessings of blind followers who believe hype and follow money.
Good luck to you, too, Roshit!
I hope OTOH, Chuck,dontbullme,facedog,falseguru,sri sri,aspirants and Rohit(uncharitably called Roshit)have the patience to (re)read this long valedictory by Jiddu K. Is it not surprising that the many godmen and venerated gurus who claim to be enlightened, NEVER tell the TRUTH about the futility of following them? These megalomaniacs claim to empower the weak. Divinity these Gurus boast, can ONLY be celebrated through their governance. Along with the much good they must be doing by the fraternity inculcated through satsangs etc, one needs Must Move On. Getting STUCK is ultimately disEmpowering. OTOH seems to have found out this for himself when sri sri would patronisingly dismissed his uncomfortable questions. That will be the day, when Gurus and Godmen demonstrate the integrity of Jiddu.
Following is the transcript of the speech by Jiddu when he rejected his Elevation by the Theosophical Society.
I find it useful to keep grounded in reality when in danger of being Suckered.
Jiddu Krishnamurthy's valedictory:
"We are going to discuss this morning the dissolution of the Order of the Star. Many people will be delighted, and others will be rather sad. It is a question neither for rejoicing nor for sadness, because it is inevitable, as I am going to explain. You may remember the story of how the devil and a friend of his were walking down the street, when they saw ahead of them a man stoop down and pick up something from the ground, look at it, and put it away in his pocket. The friend said to the devil, “What did that man pick up?” “He picked up a piece of Truth,” said the devil. “That is a very bad business for you, then,” said his friend. “Oh, not at all,” the devil replied, “I am going to let him organize it.I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect. That is my point of view, and I adhere to that absolutely and unconditionally. Truth, being limitless, unconditioned, unapproachable by any path whatsoever, cannot be organized; nor should any organization be formed to lead or to coerce people along any particular path. If you first understand that, then you will see how impossible it is to organize a belief. A belief is purely an individual matter, and you cannot and must not organize it. If you do, it becomes dead, crystallized; it becomes a creed, a sect, a religion, to be imposed on others. This is what everyone throughout the world is attempting to do. Truth is narrowed down and made a plaything for those who are weak, for those who are only momentarily discontented.
\n \n Truth cannot be brought down, rather the individual must \n make the effort to ascend to it. You cannot bring the mountain-top to \n the valley. If you would attain to the mountain-top you must pass through \n the valley, climb the steeps, unafraid of the dangerous precipices. \n \n So that is the first reason, from my point of view, why the \n Order of the Star should be dissolved. In spite of this, you will probably \n form other Orders, you will continue to belong to other organizations \n searching for Truth. I do not want to belong to any organization of a \n spiritual kind, please understand this. I would make use of an organization \n which would take me to London, for example; this is quite a different kind of \n organization, merely mechanical, like the post or the telegraph. I would use a \n motor car or a steamship to travel, these are only physical mechanisms which \n have nothing whatever to do with spirituality. Again, I maintain that no \n organization can lead man to spirituality. If an organization be \n created for this purpose, it becomes a crutch, a weakness, a bondage, and must \n cripple the individual, and prevent him from growing, from establishing his \n uniqueness, which lies in the discovery for himself of that absolute, \n unconditioned Truth. So that is another reason why I have decided, as I happen \n to be the Head of the Order, to dissolve it. No one has persuaded me to this \n decision. This is no magnificent deed, because I do not want \n followers, and I mean this. The moment you follow someone you cease to follow \n Truth. I am not concerned whether you pay attention to what I say or not. I \n want to do a certain thing in the world and I am going to do it with \n unwavering concentration. I am concerning myself with only one essential \n thing: to set man free. I desire to free him from all cages, from all fears, \n and not to found religions, new sects, nor to establish new theories and new \n philosophies. Then you will naturally ask me why I go the world over, \n continually speaking. I will tell you for what reason I do this: not because I \n desire a following, not because I desire a special group of special disciples. \n (How men love to be different from their fellow-men, however ridiculous, \n absurd and trivial their distinctions may be! I do not want to encourage that \n absurdity.) I have no disciples, no apostles, either on earth or in the realm \n of spirituality. ",1]
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Truth cannot be brought down, rather the individual must make the effort to ascend to it. You cannot bring the mountain-top to the valley. If you would attain to the mountain-top you must pass through the valley, climb the steeps, unafraid of the dangerous precipices.
So that is the first reason, from my point of view, why the Order of the Star should be dissolved. In spite of this, you will probably form other Orders, you will continue to belong to other organizations searching for Truth. I do not want to belong to any organization of a spiritual kind, please understand this. I would make use of an organization which would take me to London, for example; this is quite a different kind of organization, merely mechanical, like the post or the telegraph. I would use a motor car or a steamship to travel, these are only physical mechanisms which have nothing whatever to do with spirituality. Again, I maintain that no organization can lead man to spirituality. If an organization be created for this purpose, it becomes a crutch, a weakness, a bondage, and must cripple the individual, and prevent him from growing, from establishing his uniqueness, which lies in the discovery for himself of that absolute, unconditioned Truth. So that is another reason why I have decided, as I happen to be the Head of the Order, to dissolve it. No one has persuaded me to this decision. This is no magnificent deed, because I do not want followers, and I mean this. The moment you follow someone you cease to follow Truth. I am not concerned whether you pay attention to what I say or not. I want to do a certain thing in the world and I am going to do it with unwavering concentration. I am concerning myself with only one essential thing: to set man free. I desire to free him from all cages, from all fears, and not to found religions, new sects, nor to establish new theories and new philosophies. Then you will naturally ask me why I go the world over, continually speaking. I will tell you for what reason I do this: not because I desire a following, not because I desire a special group of special disciples. (How men love to be different from their fellow-men, however ridiculous, absurd and trivial their distinctions may be! I do not want to encourage that absurdity.) I have no disciples, no apostles, either on earth or in the realm of spirituality.
Nor is it the lure of money, nor the desire to live a \n comfortable life, which attracts me. If I wanted to lead a comfortable life I \n would not come to a Camp or live in a damp country! I am speaking frankly \n because I want this settled once and for all. I do not want these childish \n discussions year after year. One newspaper reporter, who interviewed \n me, considered it a magnificent act to dissolve an organization in which there \n were thousands and thousands of members. To him it was a great act because, he \n said: “What will you do afterwards, how will you live? You will have no \n following, people will no longer listen to you.” If there are only five people \n who will listen, who will live, who have their faces turned towards eternity, \n it will be sufficient. Of what use is it to have thousands who do not \n understand, who are fully embalmed in prejudice, who do not want the new, but \n would rather translate the new to suit their own sterile, stagnant selves? If \n I speak strongly, please do not misunderstand me, it is not through lack of \n compassion. If you go to a surgeon for an operation, is it not kindness on his \n part to operate even if he cause you pain? So, in like manner, if I speak \n straightly, it is not through lack of real affection-on the contrary. \n As I have said, I have only one purpose: to make man free, to urge him \n towards freedom, to help him to break away from all limitations, for that \n alone will give him eternal happiness, will give him the unconditioned \n realization of the self. Because I am free, unconditioned, whole-not \n the part, not the relative, but the whole Truth that is eternal-I desire \n those, who seek to understand me to be free; not to follow me, not to make out \n of me a cage which will become a religion, a sect. Rather should they be free \n from all fears-from the fear of religion, from the fear of salvation, from the \n fear of spirituality, from the fear of love, from the fear of death, from the \n fear of life itself. As an artist paints a picture because he takes delight in \n that painting, because it is his self-expression, his glory, his well-being, \n so I do this and not because I want anything from anyone.",1]
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Nor is it the lure of money, nor the desire to live a comfortable life, which attracts me. If I wanted to lead a comfortable life I would not come to a Camp or live in a damp country! I am speaking frankly because I want this settled once and for all. I do not want these childish discussions year after year. One newspaper reporter, who interviewed me, considered it a magnificent act to dissolve an organization in which there were thousands and thousands of members. To him it was a great act because, he said: “What will you do afterwards, how will you live? You will have no following, people will no longer listen to you.” If there are only five people who will listen, who will live, who have their faces turned towards eternity, it will be sufficient. Of what use is it to have thousands who do not understand, who are fully embalmed in prejudice, who do not want the new, but would rather translate the new to suit their own sterile, stagnant selves? If I speak strongly, please do not misunderstand me, it is not through lack of compassion. If you go to a surgeon for an operation, is it not kindness on his part to operate even if he cause you pain? So, in like manner, if I speak straightly, it is not through lack of real affection-on the contrary. As I have said, I have only one purpose: to make man free, to urge him towards freedom, to help him to break away from all limitations, for that alone will give him eternal happiness, will give him the unconditioned realization of the self. Because I am free, unconditioned, whole-not the part, not the relative, but the whole Truth that is eternal-I desire those, who seek to understand me to be free; not to follow me, not to make out of me a cage which will become a religion, a sect. Rather should they be free from all fears-from the fear of religion, from the fear of salvation, from the fear of spirituality, from the fear of love, from the fear of death, from the fear of life itself. As an artist paints a picture because he takes delight in that painting, because it is his self-expression, his glory, his well-being, so I do this and not because I want anything from anyone.
You are \n accustomed to authority, or to the atmosphere of authority, which you think \n will lead you to spirituality. You think and hope that another can, by his \n extraordinary powers--a miracle-transport you to this realm of eternal freedom \n which is Happiness. Your whole outlook on life is based on that \n authority.You have listened to me for three years now, without any \n change taking place except in the few. Now analyze what I am saying, be \n critical, so that you may understand thoroughly, fundamentally. When you look \n for an authority to lead you to spirituality, you are bound automatically to \n build an organization around that authority. By the very creation of that \n organization, which, you think, will help this authority to lead you to \n spirituality, you are held in a cage. If I talk frankly, please \n remember that I do so, not out of harshness, not out of cruelty, not out of \n the enthusiasm of my purpose, but because I want you to understand what I am \n saying. That is the reason why you are here, and it would be a waste of time \n if I did not explain clearly, decisively, my point of view. For \n eighteen years you have been preparing for this event, for the Coming of the \n World Teacher. For eighteen years you have organized, you have looked for \n someone who would give a new delight to your hearts and minds, who would \n transform your whole life, who would give you a new understanding; for someone \n who would raise you to a new plane of life, who would give you a new \n encouragement, who would set you free-and now look what is happening! \n Consider, reason with yourselves, and discover in what way that belief has \n made you different-not with the superficial difference of the wearing of a \n badge, which is trivial, absurd. In what manner has such a belief swept away \n all the unessential things of life? That is the only way to judge: in what way \n are you freer, greater, more dangerous to every Society which is based on the \n false and the unessential? In what way have the members of this organization \n of the Star become different? ",1]
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You are accustomed to authority, or to the atmosphere of authority, which you think will lead you to spirituality. You think and hope that another can, by his extraordinary powers--a miracle-transport you to this realm of eternal freedom which is Happiness. Your whole outlook on life is based on that authority.You have listened to me for three years now, without any change taking place except in the few. Now analyze what I am saying, be critical, so that you may understand thoroughly, fundamentally. When you look for an authority to lead you to spirituality, you are bound automatically to build an organization around that authority. By the very creation of that organization, which, you think, will help this authority to lead you to spirituality, you are held in a cage. If I talk frankly, please remember that I do so, not out of harshness, not out of cruelty, not out of the enthusiasm of my purpose, but because I want you to understand what I am saying. That is the reason why you are here, and it would be a waste of time if I did not explain clearly, decisively, my point of view. For eighteen years you have been preparing for this event, for the Coming of the World Teacher. For eighteen years you have organized, you have looked for someone who would give a new delight to your hearts and minds, who would transform your whole life, who would give you a new understanding; for someone who would raise you to a new plane of life, who would give you a new encouragement, who would set you free-and now look what is happening! Consider, reason with yourselves, and discover in what way that belief has made you different-not with the superficial difference of the wearing of a badge, which is trivial, absurd. In what manner has such a belief swept away all the unessential things of life? That is the only way to judge: in what way are you freer, greater, more dangerous to every Society which is based on the false and the unessential? In what way have the members of this organization of the Star become different?
As I said, you have been preparing for \n eighteen years for me. I do not care if you believe that I am the \n World-Teacher or not. That is of very little importance. Since you belong to \n the organization of the Order of the Star, you have given your sympathy, your \n energy, acknowledging that Krishnamurti is the World-Teacher- partially or \n wholly: wholly for those who are really seeking, only partially for those who \n are satisfied with their own half-truths. You have been preparing for \n eighteen years, and look how many difficulties there are in the way of your \n understanding, how many complications, how many trivial things. Your \n prejudices, your fears, your authorities, your churches new and old-all these, \n I maintain, are a barrier to understanding. I cannot make myself clearer than \n this. I do not want you to agree with me, I do not want you to follow me, I \n want you to understand what I am saying. This understanding is \n necessary because your belief has not transformed you but only complicated \n you, and because you are not willing to face things as they are. You want to \n have your own gods-new gods instead of the old, new religions instead of the \n old, new forms instead of the old-all equally valueless, all barriers, all \n limitations, all crutches. Instead of old spiritual distinctions you have new \n spiritual distinctions, instead of old worships you have new worships. You are \n all depending for your spirituality on someone else, for your happiness on \n someone else, for your enlightenment on someone else; and although you have \n been preparing for me for eighteen years, when I say all these things are \n unnecessary, when I say that you must put them all away and look within \n yourselves for the enlightenment, for the glory, for the purification, and for \n the incorruptibility of the self, not one of you is willing to do it. There \n may be a few, but very, very few.So why have an \n organization?Why have false, hypocritical people following me, the \n embodiment of Truth? Please remember that I am not saying something harsh or \n unkind, but we have reached a situation when you must face things as they are. \n I said last year that I would not compromise. Very few listened to me then. \n This year I have made it absolutely clear. I do not know how many thousands \n throughout the world-members of the Order-have been preparing for me for \n eighteen years, and yet now they are not willing to listen unconditionally, \n wholly, to what I say.",1]
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As I said, you have been preparing for eighteen years for me. I do not care if you believe that I am the World-Teacher or not. That is of very little importance. Since you belong to the organization of the Order of the Star, you have given your sympathy, your energy, acknowledging that Krishnamurti is the World-Teacher- partially or wholly: wholly for those who are really seeking, only partially for those who are satisfied with their own half-truths. You have been preparing for eighteen years, and look how many difficulties there are in the way of your understanding, how many complications, how many trivial things. Your prejudices, your fears, your authorities, your churches new and old-all these, I maintain, are a barrier to understanding. I cannot make myself clearer than this. I do not want you to agree with me, I do not want you to follow me, I want you to understand what I am saying. This understanding is necessary because your belief has not transformed you but only complicated you, and because you are not willing to face things as they are. You want to have your own gods-new gods instead of the old, new religions instead of the old, new forms instead of the old-all equally valueless, all barriers, all limitations, all crutches. Instead of old spiritual distinctions you have new spiritual distinctions, instead of old worships you have new worships. You are all depending for your spirituality on someone else, for your happiness on someone else, for your enlightenment on someone else; and although you have been preparing for me for eighteen years, when I say all these things are unnecessary, when I say that you must put them all away and look within yourselves for the enlightenment, for the glory, for the purification, and for the incorruptibility of the self, not one of you is willing to do it. There may be a few, but very, very few.So why have an organization?Why have false, hypocritical people following me, the embodiment of Truth? Please remember that I am not saying something harsh or unkind, but we have reached a situation when you must face things as they are. I said last year that I would not compromise. Very few listened to me then. This year I have made it absolutely clear. I do not know how many thousands throughout the world-members of the Order-have been preparing for me for eighteen years, and yet now they are not willing to listen unconditionally, wholly, to what I say.
As I said before, my purpose is to make men \n unconditionally free, for I maintain that the only spirituality is the \n incorruptibility of the self which is eternal, is the harmony between reason \n and love. This is the absolute, unconditioned Truth which is Life itself. I \n want therefore to set man free, rejoicing as the bird in the clear sky, \n unburdened, independent, ecstatic in that freedom . And I, for whom you have \n been preparing for eighteen years, now say that you must be free of all these \n things, free from your complications, your entanglements. For this you need \n not have an organization based on spiritual belief. Why have an organization \n for five or ten people in the world who understand, who are struggling, who \n have put aside all trivial things? And for the weak people, there can be no \n organization to help them to find the Truth, because Truth is in everyone; it \n is not far, it is not near; it is eternally there.Organizations cannot \n make you free. No man from outside can make you free; nor can organized \n worship, nor the immolation of yourselves for a cause, make you free; nor can \n forming yourselves into an organization, nor throwing yourselves into works, \n make you free. You use a typewriter to write letters, but you do not put it on \n an altar and worship it. But that is what you are doing when organizations \n become your chief concern. “How many members are there in it?” That is the \n first question I am asked by all newspaper reporters. “How many followers have \n you? By their number we shall judge whether what you say is true or false.” I \n do not know how many there are. I am not concerned with that. As I said, if \n there were even one man who had been set free, that were enough. \n Again, you have the idea that only certain people hold the key to the \n Kingdom of Happiness. No one holds it. No one has the authority to hold that \n key. That key is your own self, and in the development and the purification \n and in the incorruptibility of that self alone is the Kingdom of Eternity. \n ",1]
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As I said before, my purpose is to make men unconditionally free, for I maintain that the only spirituality is the incorruptibility of the self which is eternal, is the harmony between reason and love. This is the absolute, unconditioned Truth which is Life itself. I want therefore to set man free, rejoicing as the bird in the clear sky, unburdened, independent, ecstatic in that freedom . And I, for whom you have been preparing for eighteen years, now say that you must be free of all these things, free from your complications, your entanglements. For this you need not have an organization based on spiritual belief. Why have an organization for five or ten people in the world who understand, who are struggling, who have put aside all trivial things? And for the weak people, there can be no organization to help them to find the Truth, because Truth is in everyone; it is not far, it is not near; it is eternally there.Organizations cannot make you free. No man from outside can make you free; nor can organized worship, nor the immolation of yourselves for a cause, make you free; nor can forming yourselves into an organization, nor throwing yourselves into works, make you free. You use a typewriter to write letters, but you do not put it on an altar and worship it. But that is what you are doing when organizations become your chief concern. “How many members are there in it?” That is the first question I am asked by all newspaper reporters. “How many followers have you? By their number we shall judge whether what you say is true or false.” I do not know how many there are. I am not concerned with that. As I said, if there were even one man who had been set free, that were enough. Again, you have the idea that only certain people hold the key to the Kingdom of Happiness. No one holds it. No one has the authority to hold that key. That key is your own self, and in the development and the purification and in the incorruptibility of that self alone is the Kingdom of Eternity.
So you will see how absurd is the whole structure that you have built, \n looking for external help, depending on others for your comfort, for your \n happiness, for your strength. These can only be found within \n yourselves.You are accustomed to being told how far you have advanced, \n what is your spiritual status. How childish! Who but yourself can tell you if \n you are beautiful or ugly within? Who but yourself can tell you if you are \n incorruptible? You are not serious in these things. But those who \n really desire to understand, who are looking to find that which is eternal, \n without beginning and without an end, will walk together with a greater \n intensity, will be a danger to everything that is unessential, to unrealities, \n to shadows. And they will concentrate, they will become the flame, because \n they understand. Such a body we must create, and that is my purpose. Because \n of that real understanding there will be true friendship. Because of that true \n friendship-which you do not seem to know-there will be real cooperation on the \n part of each one. And this not because of authority, not because of salvation, \n not because of immolation for a cause, but because you really understand, and \n hence are capable of living in the eternal. This is a greater thing than all \n pleasure, than all sacrifice. So these are some of the reasons why, \n after careful consideration for two years, I have made this decision. It is \n not from a momentary impulse. I have not been persuaded to it by anyone. I am \n not persuaded in such things. For two years I have been thinking about this, \n slowly, carefully, patiently, and I have now decided to disband the Order, as \n I happen to be its Head. You can form other organizations and expect someone \n else. With that I am not concerned, nor with creating new cages, new \n decorations for those cages. My only concern is to set man absolutely, \n unconditionally free.\n\n\n",1]
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So you will see how absurd is the whole structure that you have built, looking for external help, depending on others for your comfort, for your happiness, for your strength. These can only be found within yourselves.You are accustomed to being told how far you have advanced, what is your spiritual status. How childish! Who but yourself can tell you if you are beautiful or ugly within? Who but yourself can tell you if you are incorruptible? You are not serious in these things. But those who really desire to understand, who are looking to find that which is eternal, without beginning and without an end, will walk together with a greater intensity, will be a danger to everything that is unessential, to unrealities, to shadows. And they will concentrate, they will become the flame, because they understand. Such a body we must create, and that is my purpose. Because of that real understanding there will be true friendship. Because of that true friendship-which you do not seem to know-there will be real cooperation on the part of each one. And this not because of authority, not because of salvation, not because of immolation for a cause, but because you really understand, and hence are capable of living in the eternal. This is a greater thing than all pleasure, than all sacrifice. So these are some of the reasons why, after careful consideration for two years, I have made this decision. It is not from a momentary impulse. I have not been persuaded to it by anyone. I am not persuaded in such things. For two years I have been thinking about this, slowly, carefully, patiently, and I have now decided to disband the Order, as I happen to be its Head. You can form other organizations and expect someone else. With that I am not concerned, nor with creating new cages, new decorations for those cages. My only concern is to set man absolutely, unconditionally free."
Cheers from one like you struggling to be Unbound.
Haha, too much jokes.
I know myself how the AOL works -
because I'm an AOL volunteer travelled across various villages, interacted with people (labelled as so called 'poor people or backward people'), and helped them to find their real potential and their ability - to start industries and co-operative movements to make a life, and to find self contentment.
AOL is providing Basic Courses and Corporate courses - but it also provides courses like NavChetahana Sibir and Prison Smart Courses which are totally free of cost - and the purpose of everything is to help people realize who they are.
Why don't you get involved and see how AOL is uplifting people. Why don't you come to the AOL ashram, to see terrorists dropped their weapons in front of love. :)
Thanks a lot,
Anoop
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