In a message dated 7/14/06 9:54:58 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Nonviolence will prevail, spiritual leader says
Shankar says yoga,
meditation can help eliminate hate at root of
attacks in Mumbai
By
Christine Morente, STAFF WRITER
SAN MATEO — The embodiment of peace and
tranquillity walked silently
into a room.
Long, black, wavy hair
framed his slim face, and a full beard traced
his genial smile.
But
his eyes held pain when he spoke of the death, devastation and
evil in
Mumbai, India, perpetuated Tuesday morning by terrorists.
"This should
not shake people's faith in peaceful means," said Sri Sri
Ravi Shankar
Tuesday afternoon. "We need to reassure people that the
whole world
unitedly condemns criminal acts."
Diminutive in his white traditional
Indian outfit and gold shawl,
Shankar is 50 years old.
Twenty-five
years ago, he developed Sudarshan Kriya, rhythmic
breathing of varied
frequencies, which is said to have helped legions
of people let go of their
stress, depression and even illness. In
1982, he established the Art of
Living Foundation, which has brought
food, clothing and education to many
Third World countries.
He compared his creation of the Sudarshan Kriya
to writing a poem.
"It just happened," Shankar said. "It just came from
intuition and
inspiration."
For seven days, he took his
teachings, and his yoga and meditation
series, to the San Mateo County
Event Center.
Shankar — deemed His Holiness by his followers — spreads
the message
of compassion, commitment to society, and a universal
understanding of
life.
This time, he is emphatic with his message
after the bombings in India.
Early Tuesday, some 200 people were killed
and hundreds more were
injured after bombs were planted on trains leaving
from the Churchgate
station in Mumbai. An Islamic terrorist group is
suspected in the attacks.
In the past, Shankar has met with
governments, religious organizations
and nongovernmental organizations to
get them to work together to stop
the violence.
"We need to nip it
in the bud," he said during a media briefing at the
Event Center. "We
need
Advertisement
<A TARGET="_top"
HREF=""http://ad.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=v6">http://ad.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=v6|3422|f|52|%2a|c%3B30085226%3B8-0%3B0%3B13030849%3B4307-300|250%3B15684361|15702256|1%3B%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp://servedby.advertising.com/click/site=0000709276/mnum=0000344239/optn=64?trg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.gametap.com/home/Home%3Fmcd%3DCMT03282006003855"><IMG
SRC=""http://m.2mdn.net/1155076/shoot_300x250_20k.jpg">http://m.2mdn.net/1155076/shoot_300x250_20k.jpg"
BORDER=0></A>
to
walk together, cutting across religious boundaries and barriers,
and uplift
human values and work for peace."
He said the scale of Tuesday's
attacks surprised him, but the threat
had always been there. He adds that
religious fanaticism and people
being immune to violence is the root cause
of terrorism.
"You have to bring everyone in the right direction,"
Shankar said. "To
them, it's like, 'Look at how much I can destroy, or how
much pain I
can cause.' That type of pride in being violent is the worst
thing.
(But) inside their heart, there is a victim."
He also has met
with violent individuals, especially in prisons, and
has seen them regret
the pain they've caused. So, education and yoga
and meditation are
essential.
"The (Art of Living fundamentals are) ... to realize the
human values
in life. We're a global family," Shankar said. "(And) with
simple
breathing techniques and meditation, (people's) whole attitude in
life
is changed. Breathing calms the mind and relieves the stress.
I
strongly believe transformation is a possibility."
His final
message on Tuesday was to the terrorists.
"I want to tell them that
non-violence will win," he said. "We will
adhere to our principles, come
what may."
Sam, from Hayward, has heard Shankar lecture in San Jose. He
took the
yoga and meditation series Tuesday night. He did not want to give
his
last name.
"I need calmness," Sam said. "I think he's a genuine
man of God, and I
think we're all searching for that part of us, who want
to connect
with the divine, and I think he can teach us. Help us."
I can't help but think SSRS is M's successor to implementing
the world plan while he focuses on India and bringing out more
knowledge.
__._,_.___
To subscribe, send a message to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Or go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/
and click 'Join This Group!'
![]()
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
__,_._,___
|
