#Satsang notes by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji from #BangaloreAshram

#Satsang notes by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji from #BangaloreAshram Core Theme: The Power of Sankalpa! #Gurudev begins by explaining that while we all have intentions (sankalpas), we often give up too easily when faced with obstacles. The true challenge is to hold on to the sankalpa, even if it takes a long time to manifest. The rest of the talk illustrates this principle through stories and philosophical points. --- Anecdote 1: The Maharishi and the 10,000 Youth (1980) • The Grand Plan: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi planned to gather and train 10,000 young people in Faridabad to create a more spiritual society. Gurudev, then 24, was an organizer and had made extensive arrangements for food, lodging, and materials. • The Reality: On the day of the event, only 10 people showed up. • The Lesson in Spirit: Instead of being disappointed, the Maharishi’s immediate reaction was to reframe the situation positively, stating, “You got one in 1,000… Each one of them is equivalent to 1,000.” He proceeded with the program for the ten attendees. For his next event, he didn’t scale down his ambition; he planned for 20,000, demonstrating that the effort and the vision were what mattered, not the setback. --- Anecdote 2: The Akshaya Tritiya Challenge • The Impossible Task: The Maharishi declared that they should perform Bhoomi Puja (ground-breaking ceremonies) for new centers in every state in India on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. • The Obstacles: They had almost no land, it was a Saturday (banks were closed, so no access to funds), and flights were scarce. • The Action: Driven by the sankalpa, the team improvised. They collected cash from the handbags of women in their community and managed to send teams of people across the country. Gurudev himself worked until 3 AM to get a team their tickets at the Delhi airport. • The Outcome: The very team he sent returned in fear, having never been to an airport and being intimidated by a police officer with a dog. • The Principle: Gurudev emphasizes that the Maharishi’s focus was on fulfilling the intention through action, perfectly embodying the Gita’s teaching: “Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana” (You have a right to your actions, but not to the fruits of your actions). The key is to perform the required effort and then let go, which frees the mind. --- Then vs. Now: A Perspective on Progress Gurudev contrasts the difficulties of the past with the convenience of modern life to show the audience how fortunate they are. • Communication: He describes the arduous process of booking a “trunk call” which could take hours, versus the instant connectivity of today. • Technology: He humorously recalls listening to music on spool tape recorders that would frequently tangle, requiring painstaking effort to fix. • A Prediction: He shares a memory of walking on a beach in California, seeing people with separate torches, radios, and phones, and predicting that one day a small plastic device in your pocket would do all of it i.e Phone 📱 we use today 😮 --- Spiritual Guidance and Call to Action • Finding Perspective: He reminds the audience that our world is just one of 20000 planets, a perspective that should help us stop “beating the drum” over small, everyday problems. • True Liberation (Mukti): Liberation isn’t a destination. It is found in the present moment by surrendering desires, letting go of attachments (agraha) and prejudices (purvagraha), and becoming empty and content. • Call to Action: The talk concludes with a direct task for the audience: “Think big, come up with some brilliant ideas” for how to celebrate the upcoming 45th anniversary of the @ArtofLiving. He encourages them to hold their own sankalpa and keep moving forward without self-judgment.