by Shawn Nowlin
Many have in their mind that a spiritual leader is one who only believes in fundamental Christianity. That is about as accurate as saying that only men can serve as strong, productive and successful leaders.
Born 67 years ago in India, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader, is not to be confused with the sitarist of the same name. To date, approximately half a billion people across 180 countries have been touched by Shankar’s words.
The Journey Within, a 26-city US tour created to spread a message of a stress, violence-free society via meditation, made a stop on Aug. 31 at the Jefferson Center. Hosted by the Art of Living Foundation, event organizers say the gathering was an “interactive and experimental evening of wisdom and education for all involved.”
Of all the questions broached, few were more important than, “Is the endless loop of thoughts keeping you from what you deserve?”
More than 500 people purchased a ticket for $25 to experience the powerful event. “I earnestly believe that the power of stillness and rejuvenation is something that everyone should experience. While it is true that there are certain inevitabilities that come with being an adult and no one gets to escape that reality, there are practical things that can be done to make a difference,” Stephanie Brockman said.
Two Gurudev quotes in particular stand out to Kelvin Rogers. “They are, ‘The only way to be in love is to take it for granted that you are being loved. Once you do this, you will start blossoming,’ and ‘See life as an adventurous game and play that game without worrying about the outcome.’”
The benefits of meditation have proven to be plentiful: increased self-awareness and reduced negative emotions, among many others.
It is impossible to perceive what actually exists beyond the known five senses, noted Gurudev, without spiritual wisdom.
While “Gurudev” is a nickname, “Sri Sri” is an honorific, meaning a title expressing high status. Seven years ago, he played a vital role in settling a half-century-long dispute in Colombia between the Marxist-Leminist rebels known as FARC and the government.
Gurudev once studied under the founder of Transcendental Meditation, the late Maharsishi Mahesh Yogi. Those teachings helped him write what would ultimately become his best-selling book, “Notes For the Journey Within: Essentials for the Art of Living.”
Gurudev’s bio, services and more can be found at srisriravishanker.org.
