Sri Sri Cons The Iraqis
File under: The Siddhi of PR and Sri Sri's Eyes on the Prize
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living org has brought 43 Iraqis to Bangalore for a 40-day sabbatical to learn AoL meditation techniques:
Instructors at the Art of Living Foundation, established by the spiritual guru in 1982, are holding lessons for the Iraqis on spirituality, yoga, breathing and how to lead a tranquil life even under difficult circumstances.Those Iraqis would have taken a 40-day sabbatical to the pit of Hell if they knew it was going to get them out of Iraq.
As is his custom, Sri Sri takes out his box of crayons and renders a complex socio-political problem as a child's pretty picture. All you have to do is add a few butterflies and flowers and presto! All the troubles and problems of the world are solved!:
'The basic task before us is to empower the Iraqi people and that cannot be possible unless we remove the stress and pain from their hearts and minds,' said Al-Rayes, who was a part of the committee that framed the new constitution.Don't pay any attention to those raping and murdering U.S. forces, or the horrific inter-sectarian civil war raging there. Sri Sri will solve all that with another of his pretty pictures.
Meanwhile, taking a cue from his former mentor, the Madharishi, Sri Sri is pushing his brand of meditation as a business productivity enhancer. And once again, the crayons come out:
"If we work in an atmosphere of pressure, tension with a lack of sense of belonging, can the work flourish? It is like driving a car with brakes on, said Sri Ravi Shankar.A few more pretty flowers and butterflies and his work here is done.
Emphasizing on spirituality, he said people should focus on cosmology, commitment to truth and compassion and suggested the people to have trust in others.
Sri Sri's ostrich approach (head-in-the-sand denial) is a very effective way to appear as a problem-solver in a world that sees avoidance as a superior strategy. Just sweep everything under the rug as a result of inner turmoil, all the hard social and political realities be damned. That is, until those Iraqis return to Bhagdad and have to duck bullets and bombs just to get a coffee on the corner. Then they will know just how effective their funny breathing will be in keeping them alive, not to mention all the peace it will be bringing to those around them.
posted by guruphiliac @ 9:21 AM
34 Comments:
Meditation can be a good way to enhance personal productivity and to help one maintain an inner core of strength and harmoney even amidst chaos and violence. I wonder why you're so angry with Sri Sri?
Well, it all began when Sri Sri turned tail in the face of a debate with a rationalist. And despite all his "peace" rhetoric, when he had the chance to call out a genocidal politican, he again pussed out. But as soon as he saw a chance to make some fame for himself when the Pope died, he took it despite the hypocrisy. Then there was that time he pretended he was Shiva for a mass-audience. And don't get me started on all his efforts toward self-glorification during his "silver jubilee."
Plus, taking an ancient yet common breathing practice, renaming it and patenting it and then using it as a trojan horse to get his name in the papers is not the kind of behavior a real guru needs to engage in. And there are all those comments by folks who have been close to Sri Sri on this site. You put all this together and a picture emerges of a man seeking to glorify himself by paying lip service to seva. It all comes back to Sri Sri in the end. That's why he is a target and will continue to be on this blog.
RE: http://www.defamer.com/hollywood/disney/that-thing-on-the-pirates-billboard-explained-184713.php#c177112 http://www.defamer.com/hollywood/short-ends/short-ends-brad-pitt-international-embezzler-184450.php#c176383
Sorry to post off topic on your site, but I can't post on Defamer.
How can you say that Shepherd Fairey did it first?
http://www.robbieconal.com/
How can you say that Shepherd Fairey did it first?
As far as I am aware, Fairey was the first to take an imposing-looking and very graphic face figure and wheatpaste it all over the place. Robbie gets major props for his postering work, yet his is more political and illustrative and less graphic than Fairey's. The Obey Giant figure got up everywhere and became a cultural phenom. Seizer is just biting that. Robbie was probably an inspiration for Fairey, but there are more differences between their work than between Fairey's and Seizer's, in my opinion.
I found this blog doing a search some time back and find it really interesting. The poster known as 'ontheotherhand' seems to have been involved in Art of Living. I'd sure love to get more info from that person.
And Jody, where could someone find sri sri's breathing technique for free? Do you know of any internet resources? Look, I'll admit that I've done the Sudarshan Kriya and the meditation practice the Art of Living promotes. Honestly it does work for me, but it has become really expensive in the last year or so. maybe they only want wealthy people to tap into. Who knows? Otherwise, getting past bullshit, it works for me. It sure as hell is better than anything else I've tried.
One more thing Jody, what do you think of Pujiya Swamiji? He's in this short film called "A Day In The Light". I liked what he has to say. He says what many Indian saints say about life and spirituality. As far as I know he doesen't teach anything for a fee.
Please let me know what you think. Thanks.
where could someone find sri sri's breathing technique for free?
Just go with what you know already. Sri Sri cons you into thinking you need a gradation of meditation techniques, but in actual fact, just the beginning of the technique will work for you. Just be steady in your practice and you will receive all the benefits that you would have wasting your money with AoL.
Otherwise, getting past bullshit, it works for me. It sure as hell is better than anything else I've tried.
That is the whole reason Sri Sri is successful. Not because his technique is special or uniquely effective, but because any practice is effective when practiced sincerely. You could say your dog's name as a mantra and it would work provided you were serious and sincere in your application of yourself to your practice.
One more thing Jody, what do you think of Pujiya Swamiji? He says what many Indian saints say about life and spirituality.
That could be a bad thing if he's like any of the other self-aggrandizing con men there.
From what I can tell, he's a typical god man. His website is all about him and what he's doing, as if he were a minor Sri Sri.
These guys pay varying amounts of lip service to the higher ideals, but when you see their name over and over again on the website, the red flag goes up.
I'm wondering if you have made an effort at doing Sri Sri (Guruji's) practice for any length of time regularly. I invite you to try it, you might be surprised by what happens.
I invite you to try it, you might be surprised by what happens.
Instruct me here and I will try it.
Ha ha ha ha, I fell apart when I read this blog. God, I love it when religion mixes with politics! Iraq indeed! :-)
Thanks, OTOH. It sounds like straight up quackery to me. There are a variety of similar practices, beginning with Stan Grof's holotropic breathing. I'm sure many people feel helped by this nonsense, but then, they'd be helped by drinking their own piss if they were convinced it was good for them.
Ontheotherhand, Can you please elaborate on why the Sudarshan Kriya might cause health damage. (It works for me) So many scientific reports are being cited as evidence of the kriya being good for all-round health, also its being recommended by so many doctors.
Thank you for the details. Well, the endorsements by some reputed medical institutions on the Aol research website do look authentic. At one of the courses, I met some people who had problems like acute epilepsy and depression, and were feeling better after the practice. Also, my friend who is a doctor was initially skeptical about the kriya that she called a hyperventilation exercise, but she later started recommending the course unofficially to her patients as a stress busting technique. She tells me that some of her friends do the same, not as a cure for any specific disease but as a feel-good workshop. I have been doing the kriya for abt 4 years now. Initially I used to feel refreshed and energetic, but nowadays I feel tired after the practice.
I was initially surprised to read your comments on art of living on this website, but it seems to fit in with the values projected by the organisation that has been going down over the years. I found the basic course transformational, but moved away from the satsangs as things got too cultlike for comfort. They wanted maximum publicity and absorb max people to the fold. Still I bear no grudge towards the organisation or the guru, as it was of immense help at a difficult point in my life. If this serves as a framework for people to come together and do good work for the society, then why not?
Thanks, ontheotherhand.
This is a link that my friend sent me. Not sure if these papers were prepared by AoL's own researchers, or independent sources.
http://www.aolresearch.org/pubresearch.html
I have stopped recommending the course to my friends and family, don't want to take a chance with their health. I do not attending the tiring long kriya sessions, but continue with the short kriya and meditation, as it feels good.
It is sad to see AoL becoming more and more cult-like, it seems to have lost much of its once solid credibility. There is too much focus on publicity and collecting funds. The same courses are recycled to form new ones for which substantially high fees are charged. Stories of miracles and angels(!) are being spread and believed by highly educated people, presumably to lure more people to the fold.
I moved away when the focus shifted from spiritual knowledge and social work to more publicity and adding more people to the cult, but am still grateful as the course helped me at a very crucial point in my life.
I have a few close friends who are staunch devotees of SSRS. They are highly educated, extremely intelligent people who regard SSRS as a SatGuru and do not revere him as God. Suprisingly, they justify the cult-like practices of the organisation, including the excessive publicity and hype. They continue to spend a lot of time, effort and money towards AoL activities and for all their pains they don’t seem to radiate peace and joy as they initially did after first getting involved with AoL. They ask everyone if they are happy and ironically sound unhappy themselves, even frustrated at times. Their families are pained and worried with their dysfunctional lives.
Everyone chooses to live life his own way, so I guess they must be finding satisfaction in what they do.
As a devotee in AoL, I had once felt a wonderful sense of belonging, as being part of an 'One world family' as was touted in the silver jubilee celebrations. Perhaps this disillusionment is also a milestone on the spiritual path.
I did two courses, the basic and the DSN course. Uptil the first course it was all fine but as soon as I finished the DSN my back pain has increased and has become a permanent feature and so has sluggishness in my system. I feel more sleepy, even depressed at times.
And in the name of giving you more in life they take money from you and spend the time you have already paid for to pitch new "products". Its pityful.
I thought it worked in the beginning because it gave me a high feeling after the SK but rest of the day was spent feeling miserable and was like a drug addiction. Without doing SK the next day you would have withdrawal symptoms or guilt pangs.
Wonder if many saw it as that?
ultimately it's about knowing yourself. whether he's a crook, a holy man, whether the breathing is bad for you or the best thing in your life, it's about your inner voice as it always will be in every area of living. Who to vote for, who to marry...yes, the dark side exists yet a flawed person can also be a great teacher nonetheless. as always, it's in your hands to take what works & throw the rest away. if it isn't working for you, stop.
I did my basic course in 2002,was the most regular in irregular in practising.dsn followed in after 4 yrs but was left out. well i left out my self but looking back all that happened was because of u dear gurudev i could not have been soo happy and carefree without you being with me no wonder i let my self out.it is truly said that gurudev never leaves you , you instead leave yourself.thank you soo soo much for support such a person who could not even support herself in life. thankyou feels so small. i surrender my enternity to you dearst gurudev.love you wholeheartedly
it is truly said that gurudev never leaves you , you instead leave yourself
Too much Kool-Aid for you, so now you are drunk with delusion.
All of you guys are just talking about Sudharshan Kriya, the originality and rights, etc. I too was thinking that what the heck is AOL, why some of my friends were asking me repeatedly to do this course. I felt sometimes that it is really annoying. I was in this illusion for almost 3 years and then finally was convinced by one of my close friend who told me to try the DSN course which really changed his life. I finally wanted to give it a try and as AOL part I was a pre-requisite, I did AOL part I in Mar 07. AOL partI course: Did it, thought most of the principles I already know were repeated there. Didn't happen much but came to know about many new things. After this did DSN: this is really a life changing course. I have changed my opinion on many things after that. My anger calmed down a lot. My view towards the world became more friendlier. Now, I started wondering how come others are ignoring this wonderful course.
I stated proposing this course to all my friends. I know all may not experience the same way. But here is something I know. If you just do AOL part I and stop there, you may not experience much. But, if you do one more advanced course like AOL part II or DSN, then you start feeling the bliss and your view towards the world and atmosphere will totally change. I think unless you try it, you may not feel it. Like Yogi says, your time has to come to experience it.
Who knows! When is your time!!.
I think unless you try it, you may not feel it.
Anything you feel are the effects of the Kool-Aid. It's the same placebo effect as you get from any other such practice. It's Sri Sri's version of TM™. It works because you believe it works. There's a billion things you can do instead of the Sudharshan Kriya which would have the same positive effects.
ontheohterhand: before taking the AOL Course people sign a promise not to try to teach or divulge knowledge or techniques from the AOL Course until approved by the AOL as a Teacher. Do you recall this? What is your promise worth?
Jodi, it is not a placebo effect and there are many I have talked to who were not "believers" and who benefitted. It is also not Sri Sri's brand of TM. I have heard this from many TM Teachers who do the Sudarshan Kriya. I believe as Guru and disciple, Maharishi and Sri Sri loved each other very much and that never stopped and all the rest is speculation from others. Sri Sri continued his Master's work in the Art Of Living, this is commitment and dedication. Why is it necessary to keep trying to cast negative darkness on all this? What is this? What is uplifting about these negative assumptions given out like acidic vomit? Sounds like just a lot of negative projections.
Jodi,
Thanks for the criticism. Can you offer any better solution to help iraqis? Making comments from the comforts of your chair does not help anyone either.
Thanks for the criticism.
You are welcome.
Can you offer any better solution to help iraqis?
Sure. Stay out of their business.
Making comments from the comforts of your chair does not help anyone either.
It might help folks be able to recognize when false gurus are fame whoring in Iraq.
You are pretty presumptious in your conclusions. There is hardly any class one would expect in a criticism of people let alone celebrities.
Your criticism is based on your personal definition of what a Guru or a spiritual person should be. However, the same lacks of an in-depth understanding of Indian philosophy, direct experience of the truth or an understanding of the esoteric principles although you are freely giving out advise to people about meditation and techniques related to the same.
If you had a deeper understanding of India and of Indian philosophy and its approaches you would understand that Sri Sri's "turning tail" was actually an intelligent and highly appreciable move not to divide people on the basis of religion but to take the beating at such a prestigious forum in the hope that sanity would be maintained. The anger among people on his silence is itself a vindication of Sri Sri's act. It was Buddha who first divided the nation on the lines of organised religion despite the fact that he had nothing new to offer. His creativity to apply the empirical knowledge was hampered by his own suffering. Shankara routed out the same philosophy from its country of origin when the time was ripe. Our times dictate the need for harmonisation and not a split. Hence the silence was justified.
If you knew the experience of the Atman and its secular nature you would understand the difference between the judiciary, ordinary peope and saints. The saint is the last refuge for a "criminal's" reform.
It is interesting to note that you dont have a plan. It seems that you understand the importance of spirituality, but you fail to have a secular eye in judging others. You also betray a lack of proper understanding of Indian philosophy and its ancient texts aka "scriptures". It is my belief that this coupled with a direct experience of truth would have channelised your efforts into more productive engagements.
I regret the tone of my response but your ciriticism is also of an individual and is in poor taste as well.
Best regards,
Anand Mathur
There is hardly any class one would expect in a criticism of people let alone celebrities.
So, no criticism of politicians (which is what Sri Sri is operating as) is allowed? You live in a world made only of cake and sweets, sir!
However, the same lacks of an in-depth understanding of Indian philosophy, direct experience of the truth or an understanding of the esoteric principles although you are freely giving out advise to people about meditation and techniques related to the same.
Your assumptions about my understanding have been noted.
If you had a deeper understanding of India and of Indian philosophy and its approaches you would understand that Sri Sri's "turning tail" was actually an intelligent and highly appreciable move not to divide people on the basis of religion but to take the beating at such a prestigious forum in the hope that sanity would be maintained.
Your Pollyannaish notions, only serving to paper-over abject hypocrisy, are also noted.
It was Buddha who first divided the nation on the lines of organised religion despite the fact that he had nothing new to offer.
Your Hindu nationalist notions are noted as well.
Our times dictate the need for harmonisation and not a split. Hence the silence was justified.
More Hinduvta Kool-Aid to justify a complete abdication of Sri Sri's proclaimed goals is once again noted.
If you knew the experience of the Atman and its secular nature you would understand the difference between the judiciary, ordinary peope and saints.
More assumptions about what I know are noted.
It is interesting to note that you dont have a plan.
My plan would be for Sri Sri to stand up for peace by calling Modi and his gang what they are, murderous thugs.
You also betray a lack of proper understanding of Indian philosophy and its ancient texts aka "scriptures".
You are as full of assumption as Sri Sri is of his own self-importance.
I regret the tone of my response but your ciriticism is also of an individual and is in poor taste as well.
He says as he criticizes me.
You accuse me to be full of assumptions but you yourself are assuming me to be a hindutva-monger.
I would appreciate a more rational answer than pure rhetoric.
I would appreciate a more rational answer than pure rhetoric.
Then practice what you preach.
The Upanishads make it exceedingly clear – Brahman is immanent. This means that there is no concentration of Brahman anywhere. Brahman can be said to be equally distributed – in the realized and ignorant – with no more concentration in one over the other. Thus, the idea of the saint – with regards to the establishment of nondual truth – is nothing more than a construction of Hindu myth and superstition.
Sri Sri claims to want peace, but when he had the chance to make some by censuring a murderous politician, he balked and came up with an exceedingly lame excuse, to wit: "I don't comment on individuals because individuals are a part of the wholeness." Only a few short weeks later, Sri Sri did comment on an individual, Pope John Paul II, who had just died. This hypocrisy was politically expedient on both ends. He got to keep his nationalist base by not calling out Modi, and he got to suck up to the world by commenting on the passing of the Pope.
Your defense of Sri Sri's failure to censure Modi for killing hundreds of Muslims makes my assumption of your Hinduvta-leanings reasonable.
Sri Sri hides behind the idea of nondual truth as described in the Upanishads when it suits his purpose, all the while shitting all over the Upanishads by allowing himself to be held up as a saint. The man gave himself the title "His Holiness," for Christ's sake! Shankara's ashes roll a thousand times for every time someone regards the man as a beacon of spiritual truth, when all he appears to be is a man with a burning desire to be adored, all at the expense of his devotees' self-understanding.
As per you if "Brahman can be said to be equally distributed – in the realized and ignorant – with no more concentration in one over the other" then why do you want peace in Iraq? Then why do you find someone a murderous butcher and why do you balk at politics?
Your statements are argumentative and wallowing in confusion.
Find some clarity please.
The basis of spirituality is recognising the same spirit in all. A spiritualist cannot reject anyone. He can call for a dialogue. It is the fundamental principal of Non-dualism. You cannot fight with your own SELF. You cannot distance yourself from yourself you can only speak to it.
Your statements are argumentative and wallowing in confusion.
The confusion is all contained within your own mind. Your glasses are dirty, sir. They need to be cleaned. In fact, I suggest you throw them away altogether.
The basis of spirituality is recognising the same spirit in all.
Opinion noted. In mine, the basis of spirituality is to recognize within yourself that which is common to all, although you may not grasp the subtlety of the clear difference between our two statements.
A spiritualist cannot reject anyone.
Another opinion noted. Vivekananda found much to reject in Western spiritual culture, namely the fundamentalist Christians who attacked Hinduism. He kicked their ass in debate all over America and Europe, something Sri Sri could never hope to emulate.
It is the fundamental principal of Non-dualism.
Yet another opinion noted. The only principal of nondualism that I recognize is that we are all the Self, equally. Unfortunately, this doesn't stop people from being assholes – or being name and fame-lusting fauxrus.
You cannot fight with your own SELF.
But I can point out those individuals who are in it for the fame and money rather than to actually enlighten. We may all be the Self, equally, but we are also all individuals making our way through the world, paying our bills, etc. Please don't bore me with any hypocritical denials of individuality like Sri Sri.
You cannot distance yourself from yourself you can only speak to it.
Correct. I am speaking to self-aggrandizing fauxrus looking for dupes to keep building a pedestal under them. Sri Sri is the same Self as the rest, nothing more, regardless of what he's got his people saying about him.
Jody..Excellent..Keep up the great work..I wish people realise the power within themselves , rather than following a "Guru"..enough of herd mentallity...
I was often called for these courses. They are expensive and stupid. Jog each day in the morning, Eat a healthy meal and u will be fine. In short use your brains and the education you recieved to know good from bad.
Wonder why AoL has become a money-spinner. Ravi Shankar (I refuse to call him Sri Sri) has a huge ashram and travels on planes. He certainly has a good PR which many other swamis lack. I'd support his work if he lives a much simpler lifestyle.
A poor man on the street only cares for his next meal and not SK. Mahatma Gandhi did not earn money by TM-ing gandhigiri. Spreading Spirituality/Yoga should not involve money in any way.
I'm sorry, Ravi Shankar is not a "Guruji" in my opinion. He is just a smart guy playing on spritual needs of the common man.
DEar all,
study 1) normalbreathing.com
2) bohrs effect3)partial pressure
in order to understand that sri sri brething technique is hyperventilation.
this technique reduceds the optimum level fo co2. co2 is not a waste gas.
There is place for everything in the jungle, a lion, a deer, a snake, a bird and so on... and there is place for people like you too. Wake up and see where you guys are putting your energy to... Learn from the famous doha from Saint Kabir Dasji..."Boora jo dekhan main chala... boora na miliya koi.. jo main dekha aapnu... to mujhse boora na koi"
such a bunch of saddists and shallow people... with high trust issues... did u doubt ur mothers milk having water too? i can surely imagine ull doing that... God bless ul ! :D
Hi All,
Thank you for your comments. I once again realised something very important reading this: spirituality has nothing to do with "feeling good". Of course hyperventilation, standing on your head and any number of things may (or may not) help you to feel good, but that is not spirituality.
Spirit is something beyond the physical, emotional and mental realms entirely. A genuine spiritual experience is not "nice" because it destroys your illusion - always a painful experience. Trademarking techniques and selling them to the public is a strange practice and in my humble opinion shows a culture in decay - but labelling these techniques as spiritual is very dangerous.
All in all - I love you guys in the same way I love myself: immensely! Peace to all of you in the joy of infinite oneness. May you all find your way to realising who and where we are right now!
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