YES+

Happy Navaratri !!

2011-09-23T00:18:00.001-07:00

Come celebrate this Navaratri in Ashram (28 Sept – 2 Oct 2011) .

• ‘Nava’ means ‘nine’ and ‘ratri’ is made up of ‘ra’ which also means ‘night’ and ‘tri’ meaning the three aspects of our life – body, mind and soul.

• There are three types of botherations or problems that may affect a person – physical, mental and spiritual. That which gives you relief from all these difficulties is ‘ratri’.

• ‘Ratri’ or night relieves you of misery and brings comfort. The night relaxes everybody; whether happy, unhappy or miserable, everybody goes to sleep.

• The nine-day period of Navratri is marked by a series of Yagna and Homas.

• These Yagnas nullify all the misery, sorrow and pain in the world.

love,
Santhosh
Jai Gurudev

YES plus with Rashmin Bhaiya

2011-08-01T03:02:00.000-07:00

I had attended the Yes plus sessions after a long gap . The sessions were taken by Rashmin Bhaiya .
It was a wonderful experience watching Rashmin bhaiya’s expressions and his humorous talks .At the same time making us realize the importance of this precious knowledge and how we can enhance our potential in our everyday lives . It was a celebration during the course .
We had the others teachers from various centres Rohan and Sudharshan from Jeevanbhimanagar , KK and Vinod from HSR Layout and Jaydeep from Banaswadi . We had a great time with all the teachers explaining and giving us the precious knowledge in their own unique ways.
The final day was in the ashram and for us luckily Guruji was present in the Ashram . Finally attended satsang in presence of guruji . And we had a short 20 mins Guided meditation by Guruji .
It feels home again .. I want to volunteer for more number of yes plus courses and to make it accessible to more number of youths so that they can also come celebrate life .
Yes Plus Rocks … We love you Rashmin Bhiaya .

Love ,
Jai Gurudev
Santhosh

How can I Be Happy Always ???

2011-02-14T02:38:00.000-08:00

Always?

How to be happy always????

Forget about always, then you are happy.

In wanting to be comfortable always, one becomes lazy.
In wanting perfection always, one become angry.
In wanting to be rich always, one becomes greedy

When we do not realise that only life is for always, then fear comes.
This projection of the nature of self which is "always", on the temporal which can never be "always", is called Maya.
All ways do not lead you, only one way leads you.
If you remove always from your dictionary then everything is alright

Drop "always" and all will be right - that is intelligence.

love,
Jai Gurudev ,

Happy Valentine’s Day !!

2011-02-14T02:17:00.000-08:00

This Valentine’s Day, make the Divine your valentine. See the Divine in your valentine and make the divinity your valentine. Have the same love for everyone, with different flavours. You cannot behave the same way with everyone, but you can love all of them. Love transcends behaviour and etiquette.

Abiding in the Self, you become the valentine for the whole world. Spirit is the valentine of matter and matter is the valentine of the spirit. They are made for each other. If you hold on to matter and do not respect the spirit, then matter is not pleased. If you honour the spirit, then you will care for the world, and when you care for the world, it will take care of you.

Keep your heart in a safe place; it is too delicate. Events and small things make strong impressions on it. A precious stone needs a setting around it - gold or silver - to hold it; in the same way wisdom and knowledge are the settings that will hold your heart in the Divine. To keep your heart safe and your mind sane, you cannot find a better place than the Divine. Then the passing time and events will not be able to touch you; they will not create a scar.

Often, you do not know how to respond, or feel obliged and bound, when someone shows a lot of love. The ability to receive genuine love comes with the ability to give love. The more you are centred and know by experience that love is not an emotion; it is your very existence, the more you feel at home with any amount of love expressed in any manner.

There are three kinds of love. The love that comes out of charm, that which comes out of comfort and divine love. The love that comes out of charm does not last long. It comes out of unfamiliarity or attraction. In this, you lose the attraction fast, and boredom sets in. This love may diminish and bring along with it a fear, uncertainty, insecurity and sadness.

The love that comes out of comfort and familiarity grows, but it has no thrill, no enthusiasm, joy, or fire to it. For example, you are more comfortable with an old friend who is a familiar person rather than with a new person. Divine love supersedes both the above. It has an ever present newness. The closer you go, more charm and depth come to it. There is never boredom and it keeps everyone on their toes.

Worldly love can be like an ocean, yet an ocean has a bottom. Divine love is like the sky which is limitless. From the bottom of the ocean, soar into the vast sky. Ancient love transcends all these relationships and is inclusive of all the relationships. Let love be. Don’t give it a name. When you give it a name, it becomes a relationship, and relationships restrict love.

Often, one experiences love at first sight. Then as time goes on, it decreases, decays, turns into hatred and disappears. Ancient love never decays. Although its mortality rate is high, love dies very young. After a few days, weeks, months, or years, it dies. In society, you say love is never a tree, it is a seasonal crop.

When the same love becomes a tree with the manure of knowledge, it becomes ancient love that goes from lifetime to lifetime. That is our own consciousness. You are not limited to this present body, this present name, this present form and the present relationships around you. You may not know your past, your ancientness. But just know you are ancient, that is good enough.

Pain goes with love. Because you love someone, even a small action can hurt you. And in hurt, you feel very delicate, very deep. Love also creates the same sensation. Separation creates the same symptom. If you don’t love somebody, you will never feel hurt by them. Understand and accept this. Then that hurt will not turn into a sore feeling. Rather, that very hurt will take you deep into dispassion and meditation.

When love glows, it becomes bliss; when it flows, it is compassion; when it blows, it is anger; when it ferments, it is jealousy. Let love be. Don’t give it a name!

Surya Namaskar !!

2011-02-14T01:49:00.000-08:00

Surya Namaskar :
This is one of by best physical exercise to start my day with . I enjoy doing these postures with breathing in each step.

The term Surya Namaskaara means ‘salutation to Sun’. Surya Namaskaara is an exercise sequence, which has both the physical and the spiritual aspects. On the physical side, it involves a series of aasanas or yogic postures, which provide the body with a most complete exercise. Virtually all the parts of the body, including the thoracic and abdominal organs, are exercised and rejuvenated with vitality. Spiritually, the Surya Namaskaara is method of propitiating the Sun-god and enjoying his blessings. These include faster progress in meditation, a sharp intellect, a sound health, and acquisition of spiritual wisdom. Surya Namaskaara consists of three important elements each of which needs to be carefully attended to for maximum possible benefits. If proper attention is not given to detail, the results may not be attained in full.

1. Aasanas or bodily postures: Surya Namaskaara is an exercise sequence involving twelve different body postures, as if to signify the twelve signs of the zodiac through which passage of the Sun results in the formation of twelve months of a year. This exercise involves six postures, which proceed in one direction, and another six, which mark the return to the original position. It is virtually equivalent to the Sun traversing six signs of the zodiac to give rise to one ‘ayana’ of six months and returning through another six signs to give rise to another ayana, thus constituting the Uttaraayana (the northerly course ) and the Dakshinaayana ( the southerly course). The completion of a cycle of Uttaraayana and Dakshinaayana brings the Sun back to its original position from where the next solar cycle starts. Even as the apparent movement of the Sun through the zodiac is of importance to astrologers, so also is the practice of the Surya Namaskaara to them.

2. Breathing: Yogic practices lay great stress on regulation of breathing which helps the yogi to gain control over the life force within the body as well as outside. Synchronization of breathing with physical postures is thus an important constituent of the practice of Hatha yoga. In Surya Namaskaara the different postures when correctly practiced appear rhythmical, one naturally leading to the other. The sequence of breathing, consisting of inhalation, exhalation or retention, has also been advocated as it would most naturally be during the various postures. It requires some extra attention in the beginning to be able to synchronies the breathing with the physical posture. With practice, the sequence of posture and breathing would get integrated and appear natural. Obviously, the best results from the practice of Surya Namaskaara can only be expected when the posture and the breath proceed in harmony.

Enjoy doing this great exercise !!

Love ,

Jai gurudev

Santhosh

Celebrating 30 Years of Art of living !!

2011-02-03T19:35:00.000-08:00

Yoga for Health and Happiness Workshop ...

Attended the first day of the workshop and it was amazing !! The course was held in Koramangala Indoor Stadium , koramangala , Bangalore.. Timings - 6 am - 8 am .

The Health and Happiness workshop provides practical tools to achieve mental peace and strengthen the body, in our modern, hectic world.

Attends to all levels of our physical existence - Body, Breath, and Mind
Suitable for all age groups and skill levels
Take-home techniques for greater peace of mind and well being

Benefits - By attending the workshop, you can

Experience profound healing and relaxation
Sleep better and smile more
Lose weight and increase energy
Increase focus and concentration
Reduce anxiety and depression
Maintain harmony in relationships
Improve your immune system and overall well-being

The values that enhance life are confidence, cooperation, compassion and love, enthusiasm, faith and knowledge. These values come only through spirit. We think we can find happiness or comfort through the material, yet we know that material comfort alone is not sufficient or complete. Happiness is a quality of consciousness. It does depend on matter, but to a far greater degree, it depends on attitude and understanding. Living the spiritual values makes your personality solid and strong.
~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Daily stress and worries affect not only our health and well-being, but also reduce our enthusiasm and joy in life. A central point in all workshops offered by the Art of Living Foundation is occupied by the breath, which is the link between body and mind.

However, we are seldom aware of our breath and use as an average only 30% of our lung capacity. Recent scientific research has confirmed that attending to the breath, yoga and meditation can significantly:

Relieve Stress
Strengthen the immunity system
Relieve anxiety and depression
Enhance brain function
Improve concentration and efficiency
Enhance well-being, peace of mind
Heighten awareness and bring clearer perception
Strengthen the immunity system
Relieve anxiety and depression
Enhance brain function
Improve concentration and efficiency
Enhance well-being, peace of mind
Heighten awareness and bring clearer perception
Heighten awareness and bring clearer perception

love,
Jai Gurdev ,
Santhosh

Really an inspiration !!

2009-10-16T04:43:00.000-07:00

love,
santhu

Ecological Footprint !!

2009-07-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

Humanity needs what nature provides, but how do we know how much we’re using and how much we have to use?

The Ecological Footprint has emerged as the world’s premier measure of humanity’s demand on nature. It measures how much land and water area a human population requires to produce the resource it consumes and to absorb its wastes, using prevailing technology.

"The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It compares human demand with planet Earth's ecological capacity to regenerate. It represents the amount of biologically productive land and sea area needed to regenerate the resources a human population consumes and to absorb and render harmless the corresponding waste"

Our current global situation: Since the mid 1980s, humanity has been in ecological overshoot with annual demand on resources exceeding what Earth can regenerate each year.

It now takes the Earth one year and four months to regenerate what we use in a year.

We maintain this overshoot by liquidating the Earth’s resources. Overshoot is a vastly underestimated threat to human well-being and the health of the planet, and one that is not adequately addressed.

By measuring the Footprint of a population—an individual, city, business, nation, or all of humanity—we can assess our pressure on the planet, which helps us manage our ecological assets more wisely and take personal and collective action in support of a world where humanity lives within the Earth’s bounds.

Conceived in 1990 by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees at the University of British Columbia, the Ecological Footprint is now in wide use by scientists, businesses, governments, agencies, individuals, and institutions working to monitor ecological resource use and advance sustainable development.

Calculate your Ecological footprint by clicking these links :

http://www.myfootprint.org/en/
http://www.ecologicalfootprint.com/

You can see for yourself and do some research in this field and you will realize that even a small step taken by every individual in this planet can make a huge difference in the growth of our planet .

Here are some websites which will be informative:

http://www.rprogress.org
http://www.footprintnetwork.org

Make a Difference in your life and also on the planet in which we are breathing !!

love,

santhu

Youth Empowerment and Skills Workshop (YES!+) Promo !!

2009-07-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

Transformation ,Celebration and Inspiration !!

Time to Go MAD - "Go Make a difference "

A very nice Promo by a group of YES ! + participants :

love,
santhu

Love Moves the World !!

2009-07-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Love is your very Existence !! You are Love , You are Peace , You are Beauty !!
It is said "When its time Your Guru Will Find You !! "

Guruji travels all over the world "Love moves the World " is snippets of guruji visiting various countries and spreading the beauty of Peace and Love in every soul .

Love You Guruji !! Thanks for Accepting me as your Devotee !!

Watch this nice video :

"Love Moves the World Tour" Bangalore :

"Love Moves the World Tour " All around the World :

love,
santhu

Vasudeva Kutumbakam !!

2009-07-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

A "Never Before Event" of 2.5 million people. In Silence and Celebration!!

love,
santhu

Melody Angel !!

2009-07-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

An angel of music in Art of living . You will just fall in love .I wanna introduce Vikram Hazra,the melody angel .He is art of living teacher . And i am a fan of his songs .

Listen to one of his songs :

love,
santhu

Meat consumption is the major cause for World Hunger !!

2009-06-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Please see this video and spread the awareness :

love,
santhu

Angels on Earth !! Bau 'n' Dinesh bhaiya !!

2009-06-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

I wanna introduce to you all my dear angels "Bau n Dinesh " !!
Bau n dinesh bhaiya are the angels and souls of my life.They are the Art of living YES!+ teachers

My first art of living course was with Bau n Dinesh bhaiya .I remember the dates also it was November 19th 2008 when the Yes!+ courses were goin on in LAL Bagh garden in Jayanagar 4th block ,Bangalore .It was an amazing experience that too doin your first course with the angels themselves .

Bau is an amazing cook,pianist,creative writer, guitarist and a lovely teacher .Bau is very jolly kind of person and is very humorous .Its assured that u will burst into laughter when he is around you and especially when you are attending his courses .
Bau is a IITian from Mumbai and specialized in Mathematics.
Bau is good in creative writing and i was inspired by the way he writes the articles in his blog .The reason why i am bloggin is coz of him . You will definately fall in love with his blog 'http://bawandinesh.name'....

Dinesh bhaiya is a quiet opposite of Bau .He is very silent and when it comes to physical fitness he is the fittest person you will see .He plays football.He is a guitarist .He teaches YES!+ .And interesting part is Dinesh bhaiya was the student of Bau in the Art of living .He was so impressed by Bau that he became a Teacher .At that time Dinesh bhaiya was the youngest teacher in Art of living .
Dinesh bhaiya is an IITian from mumbai .

The combination of these angels makes them even more cute . It feels like heaven when u see them together . Its like god has sent these two angels on earth to spread the knowledge of humanity ,spirituality and the sense of belongingness . A mission to spread that smile on every individual on this planet .

I love you angels .

love,
santhu

YES!+ formation !!

2009-06-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

love,
santhu

Langar and Kirtan in Bangalore Ashram !!

2009-06-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

"In this life
fuelled by fleshly pleasures
in the pursuit of
materialistic comfort
I sit on the floor and eat
humbly, with rows of my people
for today I am in my Guru's house"

"Vahe guruji ki kalsa , Vahe guruji ki fateh "

I was introduced to Punjabi Kirtan and yummy dinner called langar in ashram .It was a very nice feeling to me.The dinner was served by the Punjabi Advance cource participants .I really liked the way the participants served with care and affection.Everyone was wearing white cloth on their heads or some cloth to cover their head.

After langar it was time for punjabi Kirtan in Vishalakshi Mantap in presence of guruji . The kirtan started with a prayer and some kirtans .The songs were so touchy and i didnt know what the lyrics coz it was in punjabi , but it was a nice emotional feeling .The singers were from punjab and they were a team of around 10-13 and they were realy awesome .Guruji appreciated their songs and encouraged younger generation to learn classical music .Then the punjabi crowd applauded by saying - "Jo bole sonihal -Sasriakaal".

It was a night immersed with the magic of punjabi music and the presence of guruji .
It was one of the most beautiful kirtans i have seen .The stage was set and was fully immersed in joy and bliss and was merry all around .
Vishalakshi mantap was decorated according to punjabi traditions.
The punjabi kirtans happens every year but this year was special as guruji said that at the same time the punjabi advance course was goin on :-).

The kirtan ended with as usual "Jai jai radha raman hari bol".

I learnt one slogan its very nice " Jo Bholey Soooonihaaaaal ----- Sariyaaaakaaaaalla" .

jai gurudev ,
love,
santhu

Meat the facts !!

2009-06-24T07:39:00.000-07:00

love,
santhu

VEGAN - Make right choices!!

2009-06-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

Earthlings-Award winning Documentary !!

2009-06-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

love,
santhu

MEGA YES!+ with BAWA !!

2009-04-17T01:06:00.000-07:00

The Yes!+ workshop was filled with fun and celebrations !! It was a mix of great teachers to guide us through this beautiful process .. it was Bawa,Dinesh, and Rashmin bhaiya . The enthusiam of the group was awesome .We were aroung 340 souls completely immersed in bliss!! It was a journey of love,joy,entertainment and a light of knowledge .

Here are some of the memories of the workshop :

Love,
santhu

Introduction to my Guru !! My Inspiration !! His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar !!

2009-04-16T22:59:00.000-07:00

Born in 1956 in southern India.

Often found deep in meditation as a child. At the age of four, astonishes his teachers by reciting the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Sanskrit scripture.

Starts lessons with his first teacher, Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.

Becomes a scholar in Vedic literature and obtains an advanced degree in modern science by the age of 17 from St. Joseph’s College, University of Bangalore.

In his early twenties (1978-81), delivers lectures on Vedic sciences and literature all over the world on invitation from the Maharishi Europe Research University (MERU).

Establishes the Art of Living in 1981.

Cognizes the Sudarshan Kriya in 1982.

Conferred with:

Doctor of Literature Honoris Causa, Kuvempu University, Karnataka, India, 2004
Doctor of Philosophy (Holistic Medicine) Honoris Causa, Open International University for Complementary Medicine, Sri Lanka, 2006
Doctor of Science Honoris Causa, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India 2007
Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa, Maharaja Sayajirao University, India, 2007
Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa, Nagarjuna University, India, 2008

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a universally revered spiritual and humanitarian leader. His vision of a violence-free, stress-free society through the reawakening of human values has inspired millions to broaden their spheres of responsibility and work towards the betterment of the world.

Sri Sri is a multi-faceted social activist whose initiatives include conflict resolution, disaster and trauma relief, poverty alleviation, empowerment of women, prisoner rehabilitation, education for all and campaigns against female foeticide and child labour. He is engaged in peace negotiations and counselling in conflict zones around the world. His expertise in bringing opposing parties to the negotiating table in areas such as Sri Lanka, Iraq, the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Kashmir and Bihar is widely acknowledged.

In 1981, Sri Sri established the Art of Living, an educational and humanitarian Non-Governmental Organisation that works in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Present in over 140 countries, it formulates and implements lasting solutions to conflicts and issues faced by individuals, communities and nations. In 1997, Sri Sri founded the International Association for Human Values (IAHV) to foster human values and lead sustainable development projects.

Sri Sri has reached out to an estimated 300 million people worldwide through personal interactions, public events, teachings, the Art of Living workshops and humanitarian initiatives. Not since Mahatma Gandhi has one person united people of different traditions and faiths into a spiritual communion across the length and breadth of India. Amidst various threats to India by the misguided Naxalite and Jehadi forces, there is one name that emerges as a universally accepted ambassador of peace. To the Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Dalits, Sikhs and the minorities alike, Sri Sri is the only Hindu spiritual leader in whom people have reposed faith and confidence.

He has brought to the masses, ancient practices which were traditionally kept exclusive and has designed many self-development techniques. These practices can easily be integrated into daily life to calm the mind and instil confidence and enthusiasm. These techniques have helped thousands overcome depression and violent and suicidal tendencies. One of his most unique offerings to the world is the Sudarshan Kriya, a powerful breathing technique that facilitates physical, mental, emotional and social well-being.

Sri Sri travels to nearly 40 countries every year, exemplifying his call to globalise wisdom. His universal message is that love and wisdom can prevail over hatred and distress.

Jai Gurudev

Love ,

Santhosh

Health Benefits of Vegetarian Diets !!

2009-04-16T03:19:00.000-07:00

A Short Historical Perspective on Vegetarian Diets

In the past, many viewed vegetarianism as strange and faddish but appropriately planned vegetarian diets are now recognized by many, including the American Dietetic Association, as being nutritionally adequate, and providing healthful benefits in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases .

Choosing a nonvegetarian lifestyle has a significant health and medical cost. The total direct medical costs in the United States attributable to meat consumption were estimated to be $30-60 billion a year, based upon the higher prevalence of hypertension, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, gallstones, obesity and food-borne illness among omnivores compared with vegetarians .

A large body of scientific literature suggests that the consumption of a diet of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, nuts, and fruits, with the avoidance of meat and high-fat animal products, along with a regular exercise program is consistently associated with lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, less obesity and consequently less heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and mortality . In African-Americans, the frequent consumption of nuts, fruits and green salads was associated with 35-44 percent lower risk of overall mortality .

Distinguishing Feature

A vegetarian diet is distinguished from an omnivorous diet by its content of dry beans and lentils. These take the place of meat and fish as the major source of protein. And there are so many different kinds of beans you can choose from - kidney, lima, pinto, cranberry, navy, Great Northern, garbanzo, soy beans, and black-eyed peas. These can be served with rice, added to soups, stews, and salads or a variety of casseroles, and made into different ethnic dishes.

Tofu, or soy bean curd, can be used in dips and spreads, or served with pasta or stir-fried vegetables. Soy protein contains isoflavones, such as genistein and daidzein, that act as phytoestrogens and inhibit tumor growth, lower blood cholesterol levels, decrease the risk of blood clots, and diminish bone loss. These benefits clearly translate into a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and osteoporosis .

Cancer Protection

A major report published by the World Cancer Research Fund in 1997 recommended we lower our risk of cancer by choosing predominantly plant-based diets rich in a variety of vegetables and fruits, legumes and minimally processed starchy staple foods, and to limit the intake of grilled, cured and smoked meats and fish. These methods of preparing meat produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines which are carcinogenic .

Over 200 studies have revealed that a regular consumption of fruits and vegetables provides significant protection against cancer at many sites. People who consume higher amounts of fruits and vegetables have about one-half the risk of cancer, especially the epithelial cancers . The risk of most cancers was 20-50% lower in those with a high versus a low consumption of whole grains .

About three dozen plant foods have been identified as possessing cancer-protective properties. These include cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower), umbelliferous vegetables and herbs (carrots, celery, cilantro, caraway, dill, parsley), other fruits and vegetables (citrus, tomatoes, cucumber, grapes, cantaloupe, berries), beans (soybeans), whole grains (brown rice, oats, whole wheat), flaxseed, many nuts, and various seasoning herbs (garlic, scallions, onions, chives, ginger, turmeric, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, and basil).

These foods and herbs contain of host of cancer-protective phytochemicals such as carotenoids, flavonoids, isothiocyanates, isoflavones, ellagic acid, glucarates, curcurmins, liminoids, lignans, phenolic acids, phthalides, saponins, phytosterols, sulfide compounds, terpenoids, and tocotrienols. These beneficial compounds alter metabolic pathways and hormonal actions that are associated with the development of cancer, stimulate the immune system, and have antioxidant activity .

Heart Disease

Regular fruit and vegetable consumption reduces the risk of ischemic heart disease. A recent survey of 47,000 Italians found that persons in the highest tertile of vegetable consumption had a 21and 11% reduced risk of myocardial infarction and angina, respectively, compared with those in the lowest tertile of vegetable consumption .

A British study found that daily consumption of fresh fruit was associated with a 24 percent reduction in mortality from heart disease and a 32 percent reduction in death from cerebrovascular disease, compared with less frequent fruit consumption. Daily consumption of raw salad was associated with a 26 percent reduction in mortality from heart disease .

In another study, lifelong vegetarians had a 24 percent lower incidence and lifelong vegans (those who eat no eggs or dairy products) had a 57 percent lower incidence of coronary heart disease compared to meat eaters . Healthy volunteers who consumed a vegetarian diet (25% of calories as fat) that was rich in green, leafy vegetables and other low-calorie vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, celery, green beans, etc.), fruits, nuts, sweet corn and peas experienced after two weeks decreases of 25, 33, 20 and 21 percent in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total/HDL cholesterol ratio, respectively .

Various factors exist in fruits and vegetables that provide possible protection against cardiovascular disease. These factors include folic acid, dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, carotenoids, phytosterols, flavonoids, and other polyphenolic antioxidants. Typically, vegetarian diets are also somewhat lower in saturated fat and cholesterol. Vegetarians typically have lower blood cholesterol levels. Plant diets rich in soluble fiber (such as found in dry beans, oats, carrots, squash, apples, and citrus) are useful for lowering serum cholesterol levels.

The many flavonoids in fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains, have extensive biological properties that reduce the risk of heart disease. Flavonoids are among the most potent antioxidants. They protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation; inhibit the formation of blood clots; and have hypolipidemic effects and anti-inflammatory action . European studies found that those who had the highest consumption of flavonoids had 60 percent less mortality from heart disease and 70 percent lower risk of stroke than the low flavonoid consumers .

The yellow-orange and red carotenoid pigments in fruits and vegetables are powerful antioxidants that can quench free radicals and protect against cholesterol oxidation. Persons with high levels of serum carotenoids have a reduced risk of heart disease. The recent EURAMIC study found that a high intake of lycopene (the red pigment in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and watermelon) was associated in men with a 48 percent lower risk of a myocardial infarction compared with a low intake of lycopene . Cholesterol synthesis is suppressed and LDL receptor activity is augmented by the carotenoids beta-carotene and lycopene, similar to that seen with the drug fluvastatin .

Berries, Beans and Grains

Anthocyanin pigments, the reddish pigments found in fruits, such as strawberries, cherries, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, and black currants, are very effective in scavenging free radicals, inhibiting LDL cholesterol oxidation and inhibiting platelet aggregation. Various terpenoids in fruits and vegetables, and tocotrienols in nuts and seeds facilitate lower blood cholesterol levels, by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase (21). Garlic, onions and other members of the Allium family, contain a variety of ajoenes, vinyldithiins, and other sulfide compounds that have antithrombotic action and may lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

A number of studies have shown that legumes lower blood cholesterol levels, improve blood sugar control, and lower triglyceride levels. Since beans are good sources of soluble fiber, vegetable protein, saponins, phytosterols and polyunsaturated fat, consuming a diet rich in legumes will lower risk of heart disease.
In the Nurses' Health Study, the highest consumption of whole grains was associated with about a 35-40% reduction in risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. In the Adventist Health Study a regular consumption of whole wheat bread was associated with a 40 to 50% reduced risk of fatal and non-fatal heart disease.

Nut Studies

Epidemiological studies have consistently reported that frequent nut consumption is associated with a 30-60% reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease . A number of clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of diets containing almonds, pecans, peanuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, or walnuts to significantly lower LDL cholesterol levels by 7 to 16 percent, without much change in HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels .

While nuts are high in fat, they are naturally low in saturated fat and most are quite rich in monounsaturated fat. Nuts also contain a number of vitamins, minerals and other substances important for cardiovascular health, such as potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, folic acid, copper, and dietary fiber. In addition, most nuts contain phytosterols, tocotrienols, and protective polyphenolics such as ellagic acid and flavonoids .

Stroke and Diabetes

Data from two prospective studie supports a protective relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of ischemic stroke . Cruciferous and green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits were the most protective. Data from the NHANES study revealed that consuming fruit and vegetables three or more times a day compared with less than once a day was associated with a 27% lower incidence of stroke, a 42% lower stroke mortality, a 27% lower cardiovascular disease mortality, and a 15% lower all-cause mortality . In the Adventist Health Study, non-vegetarians had a risk of fatal stroke that was 20-30% higher than the vegetarians. Data from population studies and human trials provide evidence that vegetarian dietary patterns lower blood pressure . Lower systolic blood pressures in elderly vegetarians has been reported to be best accounted for by their lower body weight . Vegetarians living in northern Mexico, were found to have lower body weights, higher potassium and lower sodium intakes, and lower mean blood pressures than non-vegetarians .

Higher consumption of nuts and whole grains has been associated with lower rates of diabetes. In a large prospective study, fruit and vegetable intake was found to be inversely associated with the incidence of diabetes, particularly among women . Men and women who reported seldom or never eating fruit or green leafy vegetables had higher mean HbA_1C levels than those who had more frequent consumption . An increased consumption of fruit and vegetables appears to contribute to the prevention of diabetes.

Summary

The consumption of a generous supply of whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables provides protection against chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. A plant-based diet is rich in its content of health-promoting factors such as the many phytochemicals.

love,
santhu

Why VEG -II ?

2009-04-15T23:44:00.000-07:00

(I)Factory Farms

Many people believe that animals raised for food must be treated well because sick or dead animals would be of no use to agribusiness. This is not true.

The competition to produce inexpensive meat, eggs, and dairy products has led animal agribusiness to treat animals as objects and commodities. The worldwide trend is to replace small family farms with “factory farms”—large warehouses where animals are confined in crowded cages or pens or in restrictive stalls. Bernard Rollin, PhD, explains that it is “more economically efficient to put a greater number of birds into each cage, accepting lower productivity per bird but greater productivity per cage…individual animals may ‘produce,’ for example gain weight, in part because they are immobile, yet suffer because of the inability to move…Chickens are cheap, cages are expensive.”

Birds

In the United States, virtually all birds raised for food are factory farmed.Inside the densely populated buildings, where they are confined their entire lives, enormous amounts of waste accumulate. The resulting ammonia levels commonly cause painful burns to the birds' skin, eyes, and respiratory tracts. As reported in “Settling Doubts About Livestock Stress,” published in the March 2005 issue of Agricultural Research magazine (USDA ARS), "Farmers trim from a third to a half of the beaks off chickens, turkeys, and ducks to cut losses from poultry pecking each other." This causes severe pain for several weeks.⁸ Some, unable to eat after being debeaked, starve.² Professor John Webster, of the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Science, has said: “Broilers are the only livestock that are in chronic pain for the last 20% of their lives.

Egg-Laying Hens

Packed in wire cages (the industry average is less than half a square foot of floor space per bird),hens can become immobilized and die of asphyxiation or dehydration. Decomposing corpses are found in cages with live birds. Tens of millions (approximately 14%) of egg-laying hens die during production each year.

Those who survive are removed from the farms when deemed no longer economically viable. Some of these “spent hens” (the industry term for layers who have completed their egg production cycles) are sold for slaughter; the rest are rendered, composted, or destroyed by other means . By the time spent hens are removed for low production, their skeletons are so fragile that many suffer broken bones during catching, transport, or shackling.

Pigs

In the September 1976 issue of the industry journal Hog Farm Management, John Byrnes advised: “Forget the pig is an animal. Treat him just like a machine in a factory.” Today’s pig farmers have done just that. As Morley Safer related on 60 Minutes: “This [motion picture Babe] is the way Americans want to think of pigs. Real-life ‘Babes’ see no sun in their limited lives, with no hay to lie on, no mud to roll in. The sows live in tiny cages, so narrow they can’t even turn around. They live over metal grates, and their waste is pushed through slats beneath them and flushed into huge pits.”

On September 17, 2008, the Associated Press reported on a cruelty investigation performed by PETA at a pig farm in Iowa. The report stated in part:

The video, shot by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, shows farm workers hitting sows with metal rods, slamming piglets on a concrete floor and bragging about jamming rods into sows’ hindquarters.…

At one point in the video, workers are shown slamming piglets on the ground, a practice designed to instantly kill those baby pigs that aren’t healthy enough. But on the video, the piglets are not killed instantly, and in a bloodied pile, some piglets can be seen wiggling vainly. The video also shows piglets being castrated, and having their tails cut off, without anesthesia.

Dairy Cows

From 1940 to 2004, average per-cow milk production rose from 2.3 to 9.5 tons per year; some cows have surpassed 30 tons. High milk production often causes udder breakdown, leading to early slaughter.

It is unprofitable to keep cows alive once their milk production declines. They are usually killed at 5 to 6 years of age, though their normal life span exceeds 20.

Dairy cows are rarely allowed to nurse their young. Many male calves are slaughtered immediately, while others are raised for “special-fed veal”—kept in individual stalls and chained by the neck on a 2–3 foot tether for 18 to 20 weeks before being slaughtered.

(II) Transport

Crammed together, animals must stand in their excrement while exposed to extreme temperatures in open trucks, sometimes freezing to the trailer. Approximately 200,000 pigs arrive dead at U.S. slaughter plants each year; many of these deaths are caused by a lack of ventilation on trucks in hot weather.

Workers shock the animals with electric prods, which increases the incidence of “downers”—animals too sick or injured to stand. Downers are hauled from the trucks with skid loaders and forklifts.

fig :-Animal Protection Institute photographed this sheep in 108-degree weather.

Fish

Many fish are long-lived, have complicated nervous systems, and are capable of learning complicated tasks.Guyton & Hall’s Textbook of Medical Physiology (1996) states, “The lower regions of the brain [which all vertebrates have] appear to be important in the appreciation of the suffering types of pain because animals with their brains sectioned above the mesencephalon to block any pain signals reaching the cerebrum still evince undeniable evidence of suffering when any part of the body is traumatized.”

By far the most common farmed fish in the U.S. are catfish, around 2 billion of whom live in farms at any given time . In some catfish cage systems in the United States, one can find stocking densities as high as 17 pounds per cubic foot . As the average catfish weighs 3.4 pounds at slaughter , that’s 5 fish per cubic foot. As with other farm animals, increasing the stocking density of fish increases profitability but can reduce welfare. High stocking density in fish farms is associated with stress, aggression, injuries, and disease due to poor water quality and collisions with other fish or barriers , with mortality rates of up to 35% . Each year hundreds of thousands of dolphins and thousands of other marine mammals are snagged in fishing nets worldwide. Most die. Industrial fishing depletes marine food webs, seriously damaging ocean ecosystems

Wild Life

USDA APHIS Wildlife Services and livestock producers kill wildlife to protect farmed animals. Having eliminated native populations of wolves and grizzly bears,⁴ federal government hunters now kill about 100,000 coyotes, bobcats, feral hogs, bison, and mountain lions each year.¹⁵ They are shot, caught in steel-jaw leghold traps or neck nooses, or poisoned with cyanide

(III) Slaughterhouses

If they survive the farms and transport, the animals—whether factory-farmed —are slaughtered.

Animals in slaughterhouses can smell, hear, and often see the slaughter of those before them.

As the animals struggle, the human workers, who are pressured to keep the lines moving quickly, often react with impatience towards the animals.

Federal law requires that mammals be stunned prior to slaughter (exempting kosher and halal). Common methods of stunning:

Captive bolt stunning: A “pistol” is set against the animal’s head and a metal rod is thrust into the brain.Shooting a struggling animal is difficult, and the rod often misses its mark.
Electrical stunning: Current produces a grand mal seizure; then the throat is cut. According to industry consultant Temple Grandin, PhD, “Insufficient amperage can cause an animal to be paralyzed without losing sensibility.”

For ritual slaughter, animals are fully conscious when their carotid arteries are cut. This is supposed to cause unconsciousness within seconds, but because of blood flow through the vertebral arteries in the back of the neck, some animals can remain conscious as they bleed for up to a minute.Additionally, Temple Grandin, PhD notes “Unfortunately, there are some plants which use cruel methods of restraint such as hanging live animals upside down.” This can cause broken bones as the heavy animal hangs by a chain attached to one leg.

An article in The Washington Post noted: “Hogs, unlike cattle, are dunked in tanks of hot water after they are stunned to soften the hides for skinning. As a result, a botched slaughter condemns some hogs to being scalded and drowned. Secret videotape from an Iowa pork plant shows hogs squealing and kicking as they are being lowered into the water.”

Resources and Contamination

It takes more land, water, and energy to produce meat than to grow vegetarian foods. It’s several times more efficient to eat grains directly than to funnel them through farmed animals. According to the Audubon Society, roughly 70 percent of the grain grown and 50 percent of the water consumed in the United States are used by the meat industry. A Minority Staff of Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry report states the beef in just one Big Mac represents enough wheat to make five loaves of bread

“The typical North American diet, with its large share of animal products, requires twice as much water to produce as the less meat-intensive diets common in many Asian and some European countries. Eating lower on the food chain could allow the same volume of water to feed two Americans instead of one, with no loss in overall nutrition.”

The Hunger Report 1995 from the Alan Shawn Feinstein World Hunger Program at Brown University illustrates that a vegetarian diet can feed significantly more people than a meat-centered diet:

Populations Potentially Supported by 1993 Global Food Supply with Different Diets

Almost purely vegetarian diet

6.26 billion people

15% of calories from animal products

4.12 billion people

25% of calories from animal products

3.16 billion people

World hunger is a complicated problem, and becoming vegetarian in the United States will not necessarily alleviate it in the short-term. However, being vegetarian is a positive step towards saving resources that can be used to feed people in the future.

According to Livestock & the Environment: Finding a Balance, a 1996 report coordinated in part by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations:

The industrial [livestock] system is a poor converter of fossil energy. Fossil energy is a major input of intensive livestock production systems, mainly indirectly for the production of feed.

As Michael Pollan reports in “Power Steer” (New York Times Magazine, 3/31/02):

[I]f you follow the corn…back to the fields where it grows, you will find an 80-million-acre monoculture that consumes more chemical herbicide and fertilizer than any other crop. Keep going and you can trace the nitrogen runoff from that crop all the way down the Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico, where it has created (if that is the right word) a 12,000-square-mile “dead zone.”

But you can go farther still, and follow the fertilizer needed to grow that corn all the way to the oil fields of the Persian Gulf.… Assuming [a steer] continues to eat 25 pounds of corn a day and reaches a weight of 1,250 pounds, he will have consumed in his lifetime roughly 284 gallons of oil. We have succeeded in industrializing the beef calf, transforming what was once a solar-powered ruminant into the very last thing we need: another fossil-fuel machine.

Also from “Power Steer”:

Cows rarely live on feedlot diets for more than six months, which might be about as much as their digestive systems can tolerate.…

What keeps a feedlot animal healthy—or healthy enough—are antibiotics.… Most of the antibiotics sold in America end up in animal feed—a practice that, it is now generally acknowledged, leads directly to the evolution of new antibiotic-resistant “superbugs”.…

Escherichia coli 0157 is a relatively new strain of a common intestinal bacteria…that is common in feedlot cattle, more than half of whom carry it in their guts. Ingesting as few as 10 of these microbes can cause a fatal infection.

Most of the microbes that reside in the gut of a cow and find their way into our food get killed off by the acids in our stomachs, since they originally adapted to live in a neutral-pH environment. But the digestive tract of the modern feedlot cow is closer in acidity to our own, and in this new, manmade environment acid-resistant strains of E. coli have developed that can survive our stomach acids—and go on to kill us.

“Dioxins have been characterized by EPA as likely to be human carcinogens and are anticipated to increase the risk of cancer at background levels of exposure.…

“Most of us receive almost all of our dioxin exposure from the food we eat: specifically from the animal fats associated with eating beef, pork, poultry, fish, milk, dairy products.”

A vegan diet can be very healthful. In fact, many people initially stop eating animal products to benefit their health.

Photo courtesy of USDA ARS.

“It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.…

“Well-planned vegan [pure vegetarian] and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits, including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and phytochemicals. Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer.”

Simply avoiding animal products, however, will not ensure optimal health. Like everyone, vegans should eat a well-balanced diet. Protein, vitamins B12 and D, omega-3 fats, calcium, and iodine are important.

Fortunately, there are plenty of nutritious and convenient options for vegans today, including various high-protein meat substitutes and fortified dairy alternatives.

love,
santhu

Why go VEG!!

2009-04-13T00:14:00.001-07:00

Why go veg ???

Switching to a vegetarian diet is arguably the most effective way to 'go green'. Not only does livestock production require more land, water, fossil fuels and other resources than the production of edible crops, the U.N. has also identified the livestock industry as 'one of the most significant contributors to today's most serious environmental problems.', including global warming, loss of fresh water, rainforest destruction, spreading deserts, air and water pollution, acid rain, soil erosion and loss of habitat.1
That's not all—70% of the deforestation in the once mighty Amazon; 64% of all the acid rain-producing ammonia; and 15 out of the 24 global ecosystems that are in decline can be attributed to the effects of livestock production.

Global Warming

The global livestock industry is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all the planes, trains and automobiles in the world combined. Most of these emissions are in the form of methane from livestock—a gas that is 21 times more harmful than CO2. In fact, senior NASA Climate Change modellers now think that controlling methane could be a critical first step in attacking climate change.
According to experts, 1Kg of beef is the equivalent in green house gas emissions as driving roughly 170Km in a large family vehicle.!!

Water

More than one billion people worldwide already 'lack enough safe water to meet minimum levels of health and income'. And worldwide water shortages are a growing threat.

The average meat eater's diet requires fifteen times more water than a plant based diet. That means that switching to a plant based diet can save roughly 5 million litres per year. That's more water than you'd use for showers in two lifetimes!

Land Destruction & Deforestation

In Australia, 58% of the land is used for agriculture and principally for grazing animals and the production of crops used in animal feed. Worldwide, livestock now use 30% of the earth's entire land surface. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), 'the number of people fed in a year per hectare ranges from 22 for potatoes and 19 for rice down to 1 and 2 people respectively for beef and lamb'

To create grazing land, trees and vegetation must be cleared, and habitats must be destroyed. Livestock trample or eat any remaining native vegetation

According to many experts on desertification, the Sahara Desert—a once lush and fertile region—was caused by slashing and burning, primarily for animal grazing—the same method used throughout the world today, and now being used in the Amazon.

Waste

Globally, livestock now produce 130 times the amount of waste that humans do. This waste is usually untreated and unsanitary, bubbling with chemicals and disease-bearing organisms.

A farm with 5,000 pigs produces as much waste as a town of 20,000 people and yet this waste remains untreated. This in turn pollutes the soil, surface water, runs off into oceans and pollutes underground drinking water.

Dead Zones

It's not only land that livestock effluent pollutes. This waste runs off into oceans and can destroy entire ecosystems, creating 'dead zones'.

Dead Zones are areas in the world's oceans where marine life cannot be supported due to depleted oxygen. They are primarily caused by increases in chemical nutrients in the water, such as from chemical fertilisers and livestock effluent. The U.N. has identified 146 dead zones in the world's oceans. A dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is 22,126Km2 in size and can be seen from space. This dead zone is at the mouth of the Mississippi where waste from most of the U.S.'s western agribusinesses waste drains off. The largest identified dead zone is 70,000Km2 (larger than Tasmania)

Emptying the Oceans

Trawling is one of the most common forms of commercial fishing in the world. As large trawling nets grind over the sandy ocean floor, hundreds of different sea animals are killed, including the destruction of hundreds of year old coral.

Non-target animals caught in indiscriminate trawling nets called 'bycatch' are simply tossed back. Of those that aren't already dead, many will die.

Over fishing can lead to a dramatic reduction in marine populations, destroying the balance of marine ecosystems, the effect of which can be devastating. The CSIRO expects fish catches to drop by 70,000 tonnes per year (around 35%) by 2050 due to overfishing in the 1980's and 1990's.11 Fish farming or 'aquaculture' is having a similarly devastating affect, due to the need to catch masses of fish from the oceans to feed captive fish in farmed enclosures

World Hunger

The World Health Organisation estimates one in three people are affected by malnutrition—a factor in at least half of the 10.4 million child deaths each year. Yet, between one third to one half the world's edible harvests are fed to livestock.

Worst of all, land in developing countries that could be used for production of crops for hungry humans is instead used to produce and export crops to feed to farmed animals in developed countries. At the height of the 1984 famine in Ethiopia, they were still exporting feed crops to Europe. During severe food shortages in North Korea in 1997, they still exported 1,000 tonnes of maize to Japan for poultry feed.4 And Brazil (the world's main agricultural exporter) clears vast expanses of rainforest to grow soya beans to feed to chickens in Europe and Japan. Meanwhile the FAO reports that 16.7 million people in that country are undernourished.

Conservative estimates predict that a 50% reduction in meat consumption in developed countries could save 3.6 million children from malnutrition.When these estimates are projected to all people in extreme poverty (not just children) it is estimated that 33.6 million people could be saved from malnutrition

love,
Santhu

Our YES+ Satsang TEAM !!

2009-03-26T01:15:00.001-07:00

-Vivek Barun

I wanna introduce one of the cutest souls of Art of living ,Bangalore.He is an engineer.He sings and plays guitar . I love his songs .He is part of Satsang team.
A very nice person .He writes nice articles in his blog ..... http://vivekbarunrai.blogspot.com

Wait for the next post for other cool souls :-)

love,
Santhu

My country My valentine !!!!

2009-03-25T00:26:00.000-07:00

My Country My Valentine:

First and foremost i wanna introduce to you on of the most inspirational speakers of Art of living who was invited for the talk .
His name is Rashmin Pulekar!! (in above pic Cute na ?? ) . He writes amazing articles in his blog ... http://rashminp.blogspot.com .. Amazing energy and a very humorous person i have seen .

Wow what an evening !! Amazing experiences .I was out of words.The topic of the program was My country My valentine .
The speaker was my favourite Rashmin bhaiya .The program started with devotional song.Then rashmin bhaiya took over the stage.The presentation was awesome,we came to know more and more about our motherland,India.It was a journey of indian culture mixed with some technology .So we enjoyed rashmin's presence.He is so simple,inspiring and at the same time humoruos.Initialy the crowed was bored but rashmin's speech was so inspiring that each and every person sitting in that audi was overwhelmed.

Rashmin explained that how people get miserable.He said that if a person thinks about himself like , "What about me ? What will happen to me ? What is good for me ??" ,then that person is always in misery .Then how to get out from this misery?.Then he explained instead of saying "What about me?" the person should say "What can i do for others?? how can i contribute to others ?? " then that person is in total happiness .This is the shift we should bring in our thinking .

Then Rashmin's message was clear "Vote for change" as a responsible citizen.He further said that good people think,and think,they again think but dont do anything .But the bad people think as well as act .Bad people are Shameless to do any kind of work .So he said good people should also act and be shameless(Then the crowed applauded ..it was a jam packed audi in JSS college auditorium in jayanagara,Bangalore) .U know all the good people are critisized .The same with Jesus Christ.he was crucified,but later the entire mankind worships him . Same with Mahatma Gandhi.So thats the energy in satwa(Truth).The true meaning of satsang is "Company of the truth"..

He shared a story with us that during the British rule Mahatma Gandhi used to read second chapter of Bagavath gita every single day and attend satsangs twice a day . This made mahatma gandiji more stronger and made him more equanimous .Then the whole nation followed him.Initially he was critisized .This is one of the secrets how our motherland got freedom.
Rashmin said " Albert Einstein said that all the scientified inventions that has been made gets the inspiration from Bagavath gita" .

We as youngsters have the potential to unite and spread positive energy and make this planet a nice place to live in .To be in peace and harmony.So he urged the youngsters to join hands and make the difference in each and every individual in this planet.To bring that lovely smile in their faces .

Then the final part of the program was for fun ,masti and dance.Our AOL Satsang team including Vivek(very cute looking ,plays guitar very well) u can read his blog http://vivekbarunrai.blogspot.com,then a bunch of cute souls took the stage for the bhajans.The atmosphere was awesome .

Then the entire audi was in total bliss and our YES+ gang were awesome .It was total fun & dance!!. Everyone were out of their seats and were dancing with joy with tunes of our satsang team .Thanks Satsang TEAM.:-)

Then it was time for some short meditaion guided by our dear Rashmin Bhaiya .Everyone were in peace after the meditation.

It was like a gettogether for all of our YES+ gang in and aroung bangalore.We met our old friends and made lots of new friends .

I would personaly like the same kind of programs arranged in future so we will gettogether and will have a blast :-)

jai gurudev :-)

love,
santhu

What is YES+ check it out ????

2009-03-20T04:44:00.001-07:00

YES- Youth Empowerment and SKills Workshop

YES!+ provides young adults between the ages of 18-30(and who are very young at heart ) with tools to achieve their ideal life with ease, creativity, energy, and inhibition-free. This program challenges young people to reach their highest potential and has made a difference to thousands across the world.

Program Overview:

YES!+ is an innovative and dynamic educational and life skills program for young students and professionals. YES!+ empowers young people with tools to eliminate stress, rid the system of negative emotions, develop strong social and leadership skills, heighten awareness and increase mental focus. This intense 26 hour program (spanning 6 consecutive days) also includes practical sessions on entrepreneurial skills, maximizing individual potential and physical, mental and emotional health.

Main Aspects of the Program:

1) Physical – Challenging body exercises, yoga and innovative breathing techniques.

2) Mental – Practical knowledge and interactive processes to improve memory, concentration & focus.

3) Social - Experiential processes to develop problem solving strategies and social skills; Interactive processes to develop leadership and life skills; Teamwork exercises to teach cooperation and conflict resolution.

4) Emotional – Group discussions designed to help one feel at ease in challenging situations, and increase confidence and inner strength to better handle criticism and peer pressure.

Format:

YES!+ is divided into six sessions of 3–4 hours each and is held over six days with additional 2-hour weekly follow-up sessions. The format can be adjusted to the particular needs of any group or class.

Follow Up Sessions:

Upon completion of this six-session program, YES!+ graduates participate in three Upgrade/Follow-up sessions during which students go deeper into the techniques and refine their professional and life skills learned throughout the 6-day training.

Benefits:

Opens the mind to innovate and become dynamic, so as to fearlessly take on additional challenges and responsibility.

Ensures improved performance through heightened awareness and a renewed sense of enthusiasm and commitment.

Establishes vibrancy, dynamism and readiness to change.

Explores the secrets of the breath that can bring a fundamental transformation in interpersonal relationships, both at school and in private life.

Stimulates the intellect, triggers the mind and stretches the body.

Increases physical energy by bringing about greater overall balance in the system.

Improves self-esteem and reduces stress through techniques that can continuously be utilized after the Course.

jai gurudev

Keep Smiling .:-)

love,
Santhu

Picnic masti .....!!

2009-03-17T02:35:00.001-07:00

A trip to bhimeshwari (OM Shanthi Dhama ) !!

We went for a trip to bhimeshwari with our YES+ gang . The trip started with me ,gaurav and rohith getting up early around 4 am and then coming
towards Woodys Restaurant , near ragigudda.This is the place where bus would come and pick us up.Then we waited for everybody to come and finally
we were around 33 bunch of YES+ friends ready for the excitement . The bus came late aorung 8.30 am and with full enthusiam we got into the bus .
The journey started with some songs abviously antakshari .Then Milind (Yes+ teacher ) took charge of the proceedings to entertain us !!. Milind came up with a new game and he explained about the game .We were divided into groups Team A and Team B.So anyone from Team A should act like some famous personality only with actions ,then it was fun all the way with someone actin like Himmesh Reshammiyya,Umpire Billy bowden,Dillip kumar,Sourav ganguly,
etc....Then it was time for some solo performances. Milind was scintilating and was awesome with old romantic songs of Kishore da ,Md rafi .Then it was ramdom songs like rock,pop,new film songs,album songs we were totally crazy i tell you .Finally we reached Bhimeshwari at around 10 30 am .
We had butter milk and we we again divided into groups for trekking . Our adventure was cool,everyone was charged up and enthusiatic iin the beginning but when we reached at the top of the mountain we were totally exhausted and everybody was craving for water :-) . Then we had rest on the mountain top .There was a small idol of Lord Hanuman and we took the blessings and we continued our adventure . Finally we reached on of the most beautiful spots River Cauvery.We could hear the gushing sounds of the river when we were approaching closer towards the river.We finally found a spot near the river bank and everyone was excited to take a plunge into the river . Then in few seconds almost everybody was in the water .The river was surrounded by mountains from all the sides and lots of trees .Then we had lunch near the river bank . And then we came towards the gurukul to take some rest.Then we had some gyan from the teachers of the gurukul about Vedas.We learnt new things and we had fun also .

So in all the picnic was awesome and also informative .It gave us insights to go deep into our culture .

love,
Santhu

A day out in the Ashram !!

2009-03-11T04:43:00.001-07:00

It was Sunday and our teacher planned for small get together for our DSN group in the Art of living Internatoinal Ashram to see our beloved Guruji his holiness Sri Sri Ravishankarji .We finished our sadhana and kriya in the morning. We got together at around 1 o clock in the noon near our sadana center in jayanagara .Then we as a group moved towards the Ashram .We reached the ashram at around 2 o clock .Then we finished our lunch in the kitchen.Then it was time to have some rest.So our teacher guided us with meditations and we rested inside radha kunj in the ashram - one of the most beautiful places to take a stroll and admire the beauty of the nature . It was like as if though we had gone past some ancient times .It was truly beautiful place .
Then the real fun started with some games to woke us up from sleep:-).We started with "Fire on the mountain Run run run !! " ,then " Do u like Me ? " .
Then the most funniest and the most loviest game we played was "Catch me If u can !! " . We were divided into two groups ,Team A and Team B,
and our teacher was the judge .I was heading Team 'A' .The first round was charged up and our Team A won the match by a margin of 16-5 . The first roiund was lots of masti,and both the teams were enjoying the moment .The Second round Team B won and then we congratulated each and everyone for the wonderful game !!
Then we were totally Exhausted and we were desperate in need of water !! Every one was so tired playin the game that we didnt realise that we were thirsty.
But when we finished the game the urge for water was mind blowing !! There was no tap nearby Radha kunj so we needed to walk a little bit .
Then we as group went and had our real souce of happiness "WATER" . That day we as a group realised the importance of water :-)

Then we were eagerly waitin for guruji with flowers and sweets near Ganga Kutteer . We waited nearly half an hour and then we got a glimpse of guruji comin
towards us .It was so touching that we could see guruji with such close distance and... u know what ? We were totally blank and didnt know wat to do We were just admiring the lovely,humble and the most simplest person on Earth that was his holiness Sri Sri Ravishankarji !!
It was a great treat to our group we we happy :-) .
Then the time for masti again with Satsang . Then guruji addressed everybody with Q&A session .And also guruji guided us towards a short meditation of
"Hari Om ".

We winded up havin prasada and everyone was happy and were in total bliss.
That day was one of the most gifted days of my life :-)

It was a picnic of joy,fun,gratitude and love towards our master :-)

Jai gurudev
love,
Santhosh

Morning Group Sadhana !!

2009-03-11T04:08:00.001-07:00

Morning group Sadhan with DSN friends :

Every morning getting at 4 am and getting ready for the sadhana is amazing .It makes my day .Its a sankalpa by our teacher we as a group come together for the sadhana everyday without fail .Our sadhana starts at 5am and ends at 7.30 am which includes knowledge sessions of guruji .The bond which we have among the group is fantastic .we are moving as a group with guided direction of our teacher towards acheiving a goal.The journey towards that goal is the sweetest,hardest,and its a mixture of both.Everyday is a new learning experience.Everyday one friend has to bring prasada to everybody.And every day we get new types of prasadas like Son papudi,Dharwad peda ,etc....Its a nice way to greet each other with sweets like that . Then the sadhana ends with Knowledge tapes of guruji .Then we wind up the day by wishing all of our friends a nice day ahead and a sense of love and gratitude towards guruji for giving us the knowledge :-)

jai gurudev !!
Love
Santhosh

Dont Say No !!!

2009-03-11T03:46:00.001-07:00

DSN - Dont Say no !!

An amazing course i did it recently with Ramprasadji !!
It was one of my first DSN courses in Art of living .The energy of the group was amazing .
The course was in Manandi Sanskrithi Sadan , Jayanagar 5th block,bangalore.The course was scheduled for 3 and half days.
The three days were one of the most beautiful and memorable days of my life .I enjoyed each and evrery moment of the course .
The course helped me to come out of my 'comfort zone' :-) .Before the course i was too lazy to get up in the morning .Then after the course i am lively ,
energetic and i get up early in the morning . And for the record i woke up at 4.15 am every day during the course schedule and i am continuing the same timing's .
I found a new way of living dynamically starting ur day early and having enough time to explore your talents . So changes are necessary in one's life which i neede the most in my professional life . It was just the beginning of my blossoming like a flower with the grace of guruji. Then it made me tougher inside as well as from the outside.It made me think out of the box.
The core thing is that we must have a YES mind in our life in any situation .The YES mind is the only possible solution to any problems we face in our life .
YES mind is an open mind otherwise our mind is closed and we think that everyting is over but its not true .If u ask definately u will be given.
I was able to identify my barries in my life which made me stop doing things which i loved to do .Now i Do things without any barries, it just happens !!

Jai gurudev :-)
Love
Santhosh.

santhu

2009-03-11T03:15:00.001-07:00

santhu
love,
Santhu

DSN

2009-03-03T00:23:00.000-08:00

2008-11-30T20:58:00.000-08:00

give 100%
be enthusiastic
The limits that we set are those which we set ourselves.
The purpose of life is a life of purpose .
Kindling ur inner fire

2008-11-30T20:52:00.000-08:00

The rituals of radiant living :-
1. Ritual of Solitude.
2.Ritual of Physicality
3.Ritual of Live Nourishment.
4.Ritual of Personal Reflection.
5.Ritual of Abundance of knowledge .