Reflections on 2010

2011 is here and as we celebrate new beginnings, let's pause a moment and reflect on our achievements this past year. Our Art of Living Center turned 1 on December 2010! and we have a lot to be proud of, thanks to the dedication of our volunteers. Here is this year's the main highlights:-

• Increased  teacher headcount from 4 to 8
• Started the Art of Living Austin Facebook page, and a very successful blog
• Taught/Hosted the following courses:
  • 14 Art of Living Courses
  • 5 YES+ workshops (3 of which were conducted by Austin teachers)
  • 3 Sri Sri Yoga workshops
  • 2 Know your Child Workshops
  • 2 Sahaj Samadhi meditation classes
  • 2 Refugee Empowerment workshops - one for adults, and one for teens
  • 1 Art Excel course for kids
  • 1 Know your Child Teacher Training
  • 1 Know your Teen Workshop
• Successfully completed a Health and Happiness Seminar Series, and launched a second one.
• Revived weekly knowledge sessions with ongoing sessions of the following series :
  • Ashtavakra gita
  • Patanjali Yoga Sutras
  • Bhakti Sutras.

• Hosted Swami Pragyapad. He taught the Art of Living, and Sahaj courses, and gave a public talk.
• Spent an evening in divine satsang with Swami Suryapada
• Spear-headed and led Sri Sri ashram activities and all ashram renovation work.
• Conducted weekly yoga sessions, and taught relaxation techniques to juvenile delinquents between age group of 11-17 years at Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center.
• Conducted free weekly yoga sessions for students at the University of Texas at Austin
• Organized a retreat for University of Texas at Austin Business School students at the Sri Sri ashram.
• Started Hindi workshops for kids and teens as part of center activities.

Light as a Leaf

I've been with the Art of Living Foundation for a while. In that time, I've attended who knows how many satsangs, from the intimate 2 person ones to ones that have filled stadiums and air fields. I've seen many super ordinary as well as super fantastic singers and performers both dazzle and fizzle. Satsangs with the Guru, satsangs *with* the Guru, and satsangs. It has been quite a trip.

Recently, Swami Suryapada visited Austin for one evening of satsang. It was raining rivers and the atmosphere was intense. Regardless, our center was full of people, and not just the usual suspects. A variety of people were present, many who I'd never even seen before. The room was choke full and the mood was suspect.

Swamiji breezed in and sat down. In the matter of a few seconds, He blew our minds off. I've never seen someone take such glorious charge of a venue with music. Here was someone who could do what the Guru does.

There were no concepts, He shattered them all. He was totally down to earth, rendered complicated bhajans with flair and the group couldn't but participate 100%. There were no limitations, no eastern/western bridges to build, no people to convince or impress, no need for complicated knowledge, people just experienced the moment. It was pure bliss.

In my earlier days, I put a lot of effort into satsang and I saw some of them go nowhere despite my contribution. I concluded that the group intention wasn't there and that it was impossible for me to overcome that. Here was someone who did completely the opposite. It was irrelevant what the group intention was. His intention was so potent and laser focused that the group became Him. And He became the group. So lovely, no limitations, no concepts, no barriers, total freedom.

It was a powerful lesson for me to do my 100% and not worry, nature cannot but support such intention. In fact, such intention becomes nature's intention, there is no difference, no separation.

He was the epitome of being in the moment, so much so that everyone else ended up there too. That night was wild and the memories still give me shivers. I've been with the Art of Living Foundation for a while and I'm still surprised by the possibilities. What a life!

Experience sharing from Swami Suryapada’s visit

Here is what people had to say about swamiji’s visit to Austin and Sri Sri Ashram.

Gayatri Jayendran

“The Satsang in Ashram was phenomenal and every cell still reverberates with music and grace. Swamiji was really rocking and each one of us truly immersed ourselves in the moment. My 2 1/2 yr daughter could not really stop dancing for the entire satsang even when it was 10.30 in the night. She was bubbling with energy and joy seeing every single person dancing. The Rudra homam and following Satsang was truly heavenly. I enjoyed every bit of the second I happened to be with Swamiji. I also urge everyone to be part of these joyous and graceful moments.”

Usha Sapuram

“The whole evening with Swamiji was so magical. Felt the true meaning of "One Consciousness" when all of us kept singing and transcendng  in his divine presence. Truly was a blessing to be with him. This flawless event would not have been possible without your kind efforts, my gratitude to you all. "Lets move together".

Shyam Gannavaram

“Words can't convey the richness and celebration we have all experienced in the presence of Swamiji these last couple of days! At yesterday's satsang at the ashram, the room exploded with joy, dance and true celebration. His one-pointed devotion to the Master is so apparent. Krishnaji was telling us that Swamiji is scheduled to visit 36 cities in 26 states in a matter of ~45 days on his current tour! What dedication, its truly inspiring!”

Tina Hendley

“ A really wonderful evening.Was apprehensive about entering this room filled with people on the floor not knowing what to expect when a lady named Rochelle (maybe rocha) greeted me warmly at the door with a smile and a hug and invited me to go in with her.Swami G was such an endearing presence. He smiled the most beautiful smile throughout the event as we sang loudly while clapping, meditated, and intently listened as he offered up wisdom in the sweetest and most humorous way that we can apply to our lives here. I really did leave there feeling totally different than when I had arrived. I was extremely peaceful, happy, & centered and am still feeling this today. I am very grateful for the experience and will certainly be returning. ”

Patrick Van den Nieuwenhuysen

“ It was very nice. Certainly the most powerful "ohm" chant I ever participated in. ”

An evening with Swami Suryapada

On Friday September 17 2010, Art of Living Austin had the pleasure of hosting Swami Suryapada, a traveling saint from India. Since he was in town for a few hours we had to be satisfied with a satsang and nothing more.

I had heard about swamiji earlier through some senior teachers like Rajima and Commanderji but had never met him in person.  So, needless to say I was excited that he will be coming to town. By the time we managed to reach the venue he had already entered the hall and was working on his Harmonium. In the first impression I was blown away by the simplicity of his attire and in some aspects he resembled the guru himself, the beard and the long hair added to the resemblance.

The satsang (or as I usually refer to as Sat Sang) was very different, instead of starting with random songs, he started us off with an initiation mantra which he recited in sanskrit and then we sang a song in the praise of lord Ganesh, next song was in the praise of the guru or teacher and the very next one was in praise of goddess sharada (goddess of learning). At the end of each song he would recite a few more verses in sanskrit. His voice was so captivating and his pronunciation of the mantras felt so authentic that the whole room had gone into a trance. After these three we sang for a while and by then I had lost track of time.

At around 7:45PM or 8:00PM, he said lets meditate and I was expecting we would be getting all the kids out, closing the doors and dimming the lights but to my great surprise none of it happened. He just asked us to clasp our hands above the head and start chanting “Narayani Narayani” and after the continuous chant for a while he asked us to lower our hands and guided us through a small procedure and asked us to open the eyes. I felt  lighter, more energetic, I felt I had meditated.

After the meditation, he gave a small knowledge session. He was natural, dynamic, effortless, completely in the moment, spontaneous and had an awesome sense of humor. His talk did not feel pre meditated or targeted towards anybody nor did he have any specific agenda. I felt perhaps after sri sri himself, here was one person who could translate the complicated knowledge of spirituality into a concrete, tangible, practical wisdom. He had the audience captivated. When somebody asked if this talk were recorded, he said all it matters is it being recorded up here (he was pointing to the head). He had the breadth and depth of knowledge.

I would have loved to listen to him if he had spoken the whole night, but the evening had to come to an end and we ended with the kannada song “baghyada lakshmi baramma”. Many people in the audience couldn’t understand what he was singing but his voice, music and the tune made us all enjoy the song.

It was truly a pleasure hosting him and spending the evening with him. Thanks to all who made it happen. I only wish he were here for a longer time and had conducted a course or two. If you ever get a chance to be in his presence, do not miss the chance.

The post would have been more effective if I had posted some pics from the satsang, I do not have any with me and will post them once I get them.  

Swami Suryapada’s visit to Texas

Swami Suryapada better known as Chayanna is coming to Texas to spend time with us, we at the Art of living Austin are hosting a satsang on Friday September 17 2010. Here are the details for the same

Date: September 17 2010
Time: 6:30PM-8:30
Venue: Art of living Austin Center (5555 N Lamar Blvd  Suite C104 Austin TX, 78751)

If you want more of Swamiji you can follow him to the Sri Sri Ashram in Uvalde and take part in the Rudra Puja conducted by Swamiji himself on Sunday September 19 2010. Here is a little secret for you, this will be the first ever Rudra Puja performed at the Sri Sri Ashram.

Please RSVP for either or both the events by registering on the secure site.

For satsang follow the link here

For Rudra Pooja at the ashram follow the link here

If you are interested in the ashram event please register asap for the accommodation is limited and the volunteers really do not like last moment surprises.

About Swami Suryapada

Swami Suryapada embodies what he teaches. His blissful, open-hearted presence and beautifully simple exposition of yogic wisdom have inspired thousands around the world. He is one of the few Art of Living teachers who give extempore commentaries on Astavakra and Bhagavad Gita. He has traveled extensively in Australia, the Caribbean's, Germany, New Zealand, South East Asia, UAE and USA and his courses and satsangs are much sought after wherever he goes.

Swamiji has been with the Art of Living Foundation since 1991 and trains all of SSRVM (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir) school teachers. He completed his master’s degree in Physics from Bangalore University and has served at the prestigious R.V College of Engineering in Bangalore as Head of the Department in Physics. He is a gifted musician and plays the harmonium and keyboard.