Swami Sadyojathah speech on April 23, Alexandra Park at 7 pm
Advanced Meditation Programme April 19 to 22, Avondale
Venkat Raman
Auckland, April 17, 2018
If you are one of those who believes that there is more pressure and less pressure in life, you should then register your name for a free event at Alexandra Park (Greenlane, Auckland) at 7 pm on Monday, April 23.
Swami Sadyojathah, International Director of Art of Living Foundation, will speak on ‘Mindfulness in the Modern Times,’ a subject that dominates the minds of most people today, yet a solution so evasive that it is easy to give up.
Stress is the norm
“Stress and restlessness have become the norms of modern life and therefore people often believe that they are leading meaningless lives. People do not have time for quality action, caught up in a vicious cycle of disturbances. There is a simple way to rectify the maladies of modern life and become more dynamic,” Sadyojathah said, speaking to Indian Newslink.
Meditation is considered an important aspect of removing stress but according to Sadyojathah, the concept has further connotations.
Internal Purification
“Meditation is the opposite of concentration. It is a process of internal purification but that alone would not suffice. Breathing technique has proven qualities of cure, as well as improving quality of life,” he said.
He should know better than most, for as one of the closest associates of Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder-President of the Bengaluru based Art of Living Foundation,’ which has branches and centers in most parts of the world, he conducts Advanced Meditation Courses.
A globetrotter carrying the message of his ‘Gurudev,’ (a reverential reference to Ravi Shankar), Sadyojathah has been instrumental in establishing the activities of Art of Living Foundation in South-East Asia, Russia, Korea, Mongolia and Japan. As well as being the International Ambassador of his Master, he is the Director of ‘The Sri Sri College of Ayurvedic Science and Research’ located within the massive Art of Living Foundation Complex located at the 21st Kilometre stone on Kanakapura Road in Bengaluru.
Long Journey from Royalty
It has been a long journey for Reghu Raj Manakulam into a Royal Family in Kochi (then Cochin) in the South Indian State of Kerala.
Highly educated and politically active, people in Kerala are known for their proclivities towards communist ideologies and it was not uncommon for young people in the State to be attracted to Communism.
And so, did the young Reghu, who, like many of his peers, were atheists and ridiculed the so-called Gurus and God-Men as fraudsters.
In a country that believes in freedom of thought and expression, it was no surprise that non-believers had their own place.
As a student activist, Reghu became involved with the Student Federation of India and was involved in politics, community work, everything in fact that would stimulate youth movement.
Life-changing visit
It was the visit of Ravi Shankar to Thrissur (Trichur) ‘The Sacred City of Kerala’ in 1993 that changed his life and attitude towards it.
Captivated by the personality of Ravi Shankar and awed by the presence of more than 150,000 people to see and hear him, the young Reghu learnt the art of ‘Sudarshan Kriya,’ a breathing technique from the Grand Spiritual Master.
He also learnt that ‘Sudarshan Kriya,’ a powerful rhythmic breathing technique that facilitates physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being is an integral part of the Art of Living programmes. It is today universally acclaimed for its effectiveness in eliminating stress and bringing one completely into the present moment.
“I was inspired by Gurudev (a reverential reference to Sri Ravi Shankar). My concept of Gurus vanished. I was drawn towards ‘Sudarshan Kriya’ and enrolled immediately to attend the ‘Basic Programme,’ and the ‘Advanced Meditation Programme.’ Art of Living Basic course (now known globally as ‘Happiness Programme) was a life changer,” he said.
It was after that eventful meeting that Ravi Shankar christened his new disciple ‘Sadyojathah,’ which means ‘Born Now.’
This year marks his Silver Jubilee with Ravi Shankar, yet another milestone for a Royal who had the luxuries of Royalty but forfeited everything for the Art of Living.
Advance Meditation Programme
Swami Sadyojathah will conduct a Non-Residential, ‘Advance Meditation Programme’ at the Art of Living Building located at 93 Lansford Crescent, Avondale, Auckland from April 19 to April 22, 2018.
The Programme will be held from 630 am to 9 pm on all four days and would cost $400 per person. Booking is essential.
Please contact Nisha Angra on 021-2167446. Email: angra.nisha@gmail.com
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Photo Caption:
Swami Sadyojathah
(Picture Courtesy: Google Plus)
