Sri Sri University Update!

Dear One

Jai Gurudev

It is our great honour to share with you that the Sri Sri University is taking majestic strides towards its launch in the academic year 2010-11 in August this year.

In its inaugural year the following programs are being launched
1) Post graduate program for MBA in Agriculture
2) Undergraduate program for Bachelor of Science in Agriculture/Horticulture
3) Post Graduate certificate program in Osteopathy
4) Certificate program in Training for Ayurveda Therapy
5) Centre of Excellence in Vocational Training for rural youth

-All the above are handpicked based on a number of wide ranging criteria. There is a robust plan to launch programs in medicine,engineering,management, vedic sciences, governance & law etc in the coming years

-For the programs being launched this year, subject matter experts have begun to craft the curriculum. We have also begun filling key positions with best in class talent.

-A leading architectural firm has been identified to conceptualise the master plan for the grand SSU grounds. Construction is 85 % complete for the facilities required for the programs this year

All these efforts are getting further catalysed by the upcoming 4 day Orissa state visit by Gurudev starting on 30th of Jan.

This is a mammoth project and huge work still needs to be done to ensure that Sri Sri University becomes a truly world class university!

Your active engagement and involvement is critical to the success of this project. You have been a great supporter until now and we are confident of it in the times to come too

You can participate by,
- recommending professors/faculty/experts for the courses being launched this year
- raising funds, identifying grants , looking for support in kind ( eg computers)
- offering your time on a sabbatical /permanent basis towards the set up/as a lecturer/as a domain expert etc
- any other ideas/information/advice/suggestions

Write to us about your interest and we will share more details with you. Whatever you can do and how much ever you can do, is important and significant. So join in right away

Look forward to hearing from you

Let us create History together!

Please share and contribute by sending me an email @ pcrathi@gmail.com

Jai Gurudev!

Piyush

Everything is Possible!!

Here's a Guru Story that's been one of my favorites.

This was a few years back, at a time when I used to frequent Bau's residence @ Parsi Colony every few days. I used to land up in the evening and all the old timers (Upasana, JD, Anjana, Nihar, Rashmin, Manisha, etc) used to be hanging out there.

Once I was there and at 12 midnight, Bau had a sudden urge to eat Shrikhand. Me and Hetang very eagerly ran down to the nearest shop and came back empty handed in 10 mins. Seeing us return so soon was enough for Bau to use his discretionary veto powers. He simply asked us to go search again and not come back until we had Shrikhand in our hands! With a big sigh, and an even bigger sleepy look, we headed out to King's Circle to search for our sleep-saviour - the Shrikhand!

We searched and searched and searched and kept searching for at least a couple of hours. With Bau, Failure was simply not an option! We simply dreaded returning home without being successful!

We asked every person on the road about the clue as to where we could find Shrikhand at this late hour in the night! Driving from one place to another, we kept our eyes wide open to see if there was any dairy shop open at all!

We came across at least three dairy shops which had milk in them but no Shrikhand. The search continued....

Finally, to our surprise (pleasant one that is), we happened to cross a half open shutter in Dharavi! I suddenly put the brakes on and the car came to a screeching halt. We looked back and saw that it was indeed a dairy shop. We drove back and asked the shopkeeper if he stocked any shrikhand. Much to our delight he said "YES"! We screamed a big "Yeee!!!" and felt a big lift in energy!

We couldn't contain our excitement and bought two packs of Shrikhand and rushed home. We felt we had climbed mount everest and felt completely on top of the world!

I realized four things in the process:
1. With Patience & Perseverance, Everything is possible!
2. Overcoming a challenge brings enormous energy and confidence!
3. When Failure is not an option, you end up finding ways to become successful!
4. When you have a task at hand, all inhibitions break and you break out of your self-limiting boundaries!

The anti-climax to this episode however, was that Bau, had gone off to sleep by the time we reached home with the Shrikhand!

We did feel a bit disappointed, but, the lessons were learnt nevertheless!!

BATIQ (Beautiful Answers To Interesting Questions) Part 2

Q: Can we chant sanskrit mantras without knowing their meanings?
A: Yes, something is better than nothing. Initially one uses mantras, then one progresses to meditation, kriya etc. Ultimately, one needs only silence to realize the divine.

Q: How does God appear?
A: How does the sun rise? Have you seen a sun rise? No? Then you must get up early & see how the sun rises. The universe is a complex thing, full of mysteries...

Q: There are people who are in the wrong path. How can we change them?
A: If you want to change them because you get hurt, you cannot change them. If you want to change them because they will get hurt, they will change automatically. (Thunderous applause that kept resonating for a long long time. People were lifted straight to the heaven with his reply)

Q: If God resides inside our hearts why should we go to the temples?
A: When God resides in your heart you can take God along with you and show him the outside world including the temples. There existed a practice of sitting in the temple for some time after the darshan. This is mainly to close ones' eyes and spend time with the Lord inside.

Q. What does one do when spirituality starts disturbing your social life?
A. Spirituality can never disturb social life, it is a matter of managing your time skilfully.

Divine Wit & Humour - Part 2

Q: You are so full of knowledge that is equivalent to gold.
Where does it come from?
A: I have a mine with me.

Q: Have you ever had a question that you didn't have the answer to?
A: Yes, this question! (Laughter)

Q: I keep forgetting you. What should I do?
A: See when ever you know you have forgotten me, you are reminded of me and that's good (Laughter)

Q: Guruji who are you? Mahatma or God?
A: I am your servant. You make me run for all your small small works. (Laughter)

Q. Guruji kya aapke man mein hamara hridaya hai?
A. Sirf man mein hi nahin tum poore ho mujhme! Ab agar tum apna man kahin aur rakh aaye ho to alag baat hai (Laughter)

Q. Guruji main apne Aham (ego) ka kya karun?
A. Kuch mat karo usko apne paas rakho , wo meri hai. kyunki agar aham ko chod doge to aham chodne ka aham ho jayega (Laughter)

Q. Guruji do u have any worries?
A. Do I look like worried man to u?(Laughter) My only worry is that you should not worry.

Q. I want u to be forever with me
A. There is no choice for you !!!

Q. Guruji I want to get God
A. Do u have nothing else to get? (laughter). Good to have this thought- how much u want - how intensely u want God which matters.

Having fun with your Guru?