The mind is volatile, so is the society. And violence is one of the by-products of volatility. The environment is volatile too, so are the jungles. And life in the jungles of India, much like the life in its concrete counterpart, is surrounded and seriously affected by violence; the former only graver. Arms, ammunition, and weapons of annihilation and genocide are used—ironically- to restore peace.
Peace comes from within; the mind and the society. Srimanto, a tribal from Jharkhand experienced it, and he found it to be beautiful. Hands that didn't shy from striking a face that spoke up, would now rest on the lap looking to the sky in tranquility. His story is intimidating- in a positive connotation. His vision is to bring hundreds of hands to rest on their laps looking at the sky, in peace. Sushanto, another young tribal from Jharkhand, one among the few who initiated a mini war-of-land against the Naxals- who are tribals themselves- has experienced this peace too. Today, every morning at Sri Sri Gyan Mandir, he sits with his children with eyes closed for sometime, in that ten minutes of placidity which refreshes the 150 lovely kids and him for the whole day.
Srimanto and Sushanto are part of the indigenous community that spreads across the jungles of India. They are part of the community which lives, survives and dies in the middle of cross firing by the Police and the Rebels from the jungles. They are the part of the community that are used as human shields by weapons that attempt to bring peace. Could be very well termed as ‘weapons that bring pieces’ off a whole. Is there a weapon for peace? Is there a weapon that can cease this insane form of violence from our nation? I believe there is, so do Srimanto and Sushanto. All of us found that weapon when we closed our eyes and took our attention on our breath.
Breath, is the connection between the body and the mind, says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. When you are aware of your breathing, there is hardly any scope for disturbances. Take it to a further level, and you are in the beautiful space of Meditation. Meditation relaxes the body, and when the body is relaxed the mind expands. Clarity dawns, and any action taken from the space of clarity is conducive to life.
Violence comes from a stressed state of mind. The distortions and the disturbances in the mind rise because of stress. The actions of a stressed mind will always be stressed. It is as simple as that. How important it is for the mind to be completely free of stress? Very. Especially when it comes to the nation that is being ground with corruption, power-play, deceit, insecurity and violence.
What we need is clarity and a sense of belonging. This can only come when we transcend and look beyond the mind. Meditation does exactly that. It de-stresses and calms the mind. It makes us perceive life and the world from a point of oneness and love. It spreads across an unblemished smile on our faces which undoubtedly is one of the best weapons for peace.
Working towards Sri Sri’s vision of a stress free mind and a violence free society, thousands of teachers and yuvacharyas of The Art of Living are teaching thousands of people to meditate. Srimanto and Sushanto, icons in their own way are doing the same. It is absolutely beautiful and reassuring to see the shift in the environment in the remotest parts of India, which meditation brings. Slowly but steadily, people are understanding the importance of a calm mind. Our roots have been distorted by many who came to conquer, but the people are starting to see that where nothing seems to work, spirituality comes into play.
In a world where motives ascend service, manipulation ascends team work, power ascends politics and violence ascends love, spirituality and the power of meditation- that which our nation has lived and prides in- is the only hope for peace.
And it begins, when we close our eyes.
Peace comes from within; the mind and the society. Srimanto, a tribal from Jharkhand experienced it, and he found it to be beautiful. Hands that didn't shy from striking a face that spoke up, would now rest on the lap looking to the sky in tranquility. His story is intimidating- in a positive connotation. His vision is to bring hundreds of hands to rest on their laps looking at the sky, in peace. Sushanto, another young tribal from Jharkhand, one among the few who initiated a mini war-of-land against the Naxals- who are tribals themselves- has experienced this peace too. Today, every morning at Sri Sri Gyan Mandir, he sits with his children with eyes closed for sometime, in that ten minutes of placidity which refreshes the 150 lovely kids and him for the whole day.
Srimanto and Sushanto are part of the indigenous community that spreads across the jungles of India. They are part of the community which lives, survives and dies in the middle of cross firing by the Police and the Rebels from the jungles. They are the part of the community that are used as human shields by weapons that attempt to bring peace. Could be very well termed as ‘weapons that bring pieces’ off a whole. Is there a weapon for peace? Is there a weapon that can cease this insane form of violence from our nation? I believe there is, so do Srimanto and Sushanto. All of us found that weapon when we closed our eyes and took our attention on our breath.
Breath, is the connection between the body and the mind, says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. When you are aware of your breathing, there is hardly any scope for disturbances. Take it to a further level, and you are in the beautiful space of Meditation. Meditation relaxes the body, and when the body is relaxed the mind expands. Clarity dawns, and any action taken from the space of clarity is conducive to life.
Violence comes from a stressed state of mind. The distortions and the disturbances in the mind rise because of stress. The actions of a stressed mind will always be stressed. It is as simple as that. How important it is for the mind to be completely free of stress? Very. Especially when it comes to the nation that is being ground with corruption, power-play, deceit, insecurity and violence.
What we need is clarity and a sense of belonging. This can only come when we transcend and look beyond the mind. Meditation does exactly that. It de-stresses and calms the mind. It makes us perceive life and the world from a point of oneness and love. It spreads across an unblemished smile on our faces which undoubtedly is one of the best weapons for peace.
Working towards Sri Sri’s vision of a stress free mind and a violence free society, thousands of teachers and yuvacharyas of The Art of Living are teaching thousands of people to meditate. Srimanto and Sushanto, icons in their own way are doing the same. It is absolutely beautiful and reassuring to see the shift in the environment in the remotest parts of India, which meditation brings. Slowly but steadily, people are understanding the importance of a calm mind. Our roots have been distorted by many who came to conquer, but the people are starting to see that where nothing seems to work, spirituality comes into play.
In a world where motives ascend service, manipulation ascends team work, power ascends politics and violence ascends love, spirituality and the power of meditation- that which our nation has lived and prides in- is the only hope for peace.
And it begins, when we close our eyes.