SriSri’s Petty Deception and Lies…Why every devotee should always question what he says !!!
by IO
Pay special attention from minute 20:56 to 21:20
SriSri openly claims on BBC that he graduated in Science (Physics, Maths, Chemistry) when he was 17. This means that it was the year 1973, since he was born in 1956.
Now follow this closely….
The Karnataka Education System —-
In the 1970s Schooling upto 11th standard, 1 year PUC, and then graduate (3 years).
School joining – Need to be 6 years to be admitted to the 1st Standard in School (As required by law)….And, a normally progressing child graduates 10th Standard when they are 16.
Hence for SriSri his 1st standard admission would have happened in 1962.
In India school admissions happen in April-May. With him being a May born child there is no way he could have joined 1st standard in 1961, as he would have been barely 5 years at that time.
Okay, he claims he got ONE “Double promotion” in school (this bit, as I was listening to it.. I felt he was lying…and it was made up…it was based on the body language…Anyways I suggest that we lets give him the benefit of doubt…….following on in almost the same breath he also says that he was never a rank student…then how come the double promotion ??… BTW Double Promotions are given only to academically brilliant kids who perform exceptionally).
Following this logic, assuming that he did get a double promo, then he would have graduated class 11 @ Age 16 (1 year lesser than other normal kids).
There were 2 prevalent systems and models of schooling and PU in the 1970s:
- 11 year schooling and 1 year PU. (Previous to 1977)
- 10 year schooling and 2 year PU (as is common these days)
Just know that either way he finishes PU @ 17 years. So, that’s 1973. However he claims he had already completed his Graduation by that time. Hmmmmmmmmmmm !! ?
Graduation, ie BSc has always been 3 years…or sometimes 3+ years program. Hence, he must have actually been at least 20 when he graduated and not 17.
So the million dollar question: Which year did he really graduate ???
- 1973 (When he was 17, as he claims), or
- 1976 (based on his explanation on BBC including Double Promo etc), or
- 1977 as per WIKIPIDIA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Shankar_(spiritual_leader)
Ravi Shankar was born to Smt. Vishalakshi Ratnam and R. S. Venkat Ratnam, who was then active in the automobile business. He was named “Ravi” (a common Indian name meaning “sun”) because his birth was on a Sunday and “Shankar” after the 8th century Hindu saint Adi Shankara, with whom he shares the birthday.[2] He received a Bachelor of Science degree at the age of 21 from St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore University.
- or any other year?
….WHAT IS IT ?
So, why then does he claim that he graduated at 17 ????? This is very important for each reader to ponder over. What was he trying to achieve ?
Just look at this glaring 4 years gap between the self CLAIMED fact on BBC and the published data in Wiki.
Now, look at the St Joseph’s Alumni website….it confirms that SriSri graduated from there (Look under Religious leaders section in the distinguished Alumni listing) . But, it does not say which year !!!
http://www.sjcalumni.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=39
Bottom line:
Is SriSri is really a Master. A Master @ what ?… well… is it in the art of living or lying ?. You decide.
He publishes deceptive content in his books. OPENLY. He continues with his business as usual, even after he has been called on his lies Publicly. Judge for yourself.
http://www.imanway.com/en/showthread.php?t=2417
If you are an existing devotee and you are on this blog now, then please know that you are lending your support, energy and strength to a leader that has got a very questionable character and is habituated to making things up on the fly.
Small kids make up things for fun….for play….however, as human being matures, one of the things we recognize as a necessity is that we share the truth in the best possible form and that there is no need to make things up unnecessarily. Is this what the Master meant when he said “I am child that never grew up !!!”….your guess is as good as mine.
If your child was a habitual liar what would you do ? Would you continue to be in denial of this fact or would you look into the matter and see that the child gets adequate counseling and help.
Dear AOL devotee and blog visitor, your child / master / buddy needs your help !!!! If you can’t help him, then leave him. Because, it is a dangerous game you are playing here. When the world realises what kind of a liar he was /is you will be tarred with the same brush. Doubt this ? Check with Nityanand’s devotees and teachers.
If you don’t have the courage and the guts to leave him…please know that he will most definitely drag you down with him….directly or indirectly…
I believe that you have been alerted enough. Now it is your call and yours alone. These above are clear hard facts. Not pieces of knowledge that can be twisted to mean anything at anytime. Surely, your Buddy/Master can be open and transparent with you on this one and for once would share the whole truth with you ??.
One could say …Let him produce his graduation certificate…..but then he is a world renowned Spiritual Master….I would expect his word to be more binding than some piece of paper.
This is yet another indication of how petty his thinking is…..If you have been around with him at those times…..the game was instantly up. I have personally experienced many such instances.
Dear AOL devotee : If you have dedicated your life to the Master, you have every RIGHT to ask questions and demand answers of anyone…especially your Master……otherwise why choose SriSri ???
Voicing your doubt/question is a matter of truth and dharma. To express sincere doubt is actually High Prana….. But, not doing so and burying it altogether is ADHARMA.
I have a question for all of you die hard AOL devotees ….if the man, without any qualm can in the face of millions viewers (BBC) lie without any remorse…what makes you think the rest of the time he is actually acting with any great integrity? He did the same thing with the assassination attempt in 2010. Dig deeper and you will find 1000s of such petty instances. If you choose to stay, you have surrendered your life and soul to a petty gangster.
Ignore the warning and message in this post @ your own peril.
Comments are closed.
Beyond The Art of Living 
Doctor,
Great post. Here’s what I know — Ravi Shankar told me himself that he was a poor student, didn’t care for studies, and left at 17, without any kind of degree (dropped out, as he said it) to be full time with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He told me he did not regret the decision, as he needed no degree. And he was waaaay past 21 when he told me this. I also know some people who went to school with him. One described him as “a rogue” and another as “a terrible student”. Those people told me he never finished school, and left at age 17. They are his peers, and were in classes with him. If he does happen to produce some piece of paper, it would either be purchased (yeah you can do that in Bangalore) from the school, or it was given to him way after the fact. In present day, he said he had no degree. This changed a few years back on Wikipedia with all these fabulous claims of a sudden physics degree. Maharishi had a physics. Not Ravi Shankar.
@Anonymous – it was IO who wrote the post, not me, so credit goes to him 🙂
Excellent post, IO. There’s a lot of irrefutable evidence on this blog — this post is a part of that — and hence — one of the most important posts on this blog.
In the aol books it is printed that SSRS got double promotion in school TWICE (not once). So he saved 2 years, let us assume that he saved another year by joining 1st standard in the beginning of 5 th year and not at the end of 5th year. So this can be a suitable explanation for completing his degree by 17 years age.
But why were we told that he completed an ADVANCED degree in physics as well as vedic literature by age 17. In this video he is coolly adding chemistry and maths and that it was a BACHELORS degree. Did he change his words after knowing the questions raised by this blog regarding his graduation and the year of graduation. When was this interview recorded?
@Anonymous PERMALINK June 15, 2012 4:08 pm
The date is evident right on the video (top left) 13-3-2002.
The man said 1 double promo himself ……but you want to give him two…..hmmmmmmm ….interesting…….Why ? Please explain. What is the idea ?
The how come Wiki says 21 years. All the Wiki contributions come from very CLOSE devotees and the strong influence/purview of the AOL PR unit ABC (Art of Living Bureau of Communications).
See the Wiki version in Nov 2006
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ravi_Shankar_(spiritual_leader)&oldid=90435785
Highlight : He is a former disciple of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Although his organization claims that he obtained an “Advanced degree in Modern Physics” by the age of 17. “Very little is known about his childhood, education and early career.”
I don’t want to give him two double promotions. It is printed in the book “The Guru of Joy” by Francois Gautier, second chapter – Glimpses of Childhood, (page no 37, line 5). After reading this i used to tell the kids in the art excel courses i taught, that SSRS was very intelligent and got two double promotions. I used to advice them that they should also study well taking him as the role model. Now i feel guilty of telling lies to kids.
Again in the ‘reprint 2010’ the degree is mentioned as Bachelors, but all the time we heard “Advanced” and “Modern”. I don’t know about ‘ancient’ physics.
Will SSRS admit that “two” was an error and he made the book in a hurry like he did for “Hinduism and christianity”.
He should soon start “art of lying” course. He has got the skills to confuse a lie detector.
I remember watching this interview live. It was early 2000s, I guess 2000 or 2001 At that time I was new to Art of living and I was enamored by everything I saw and heard there. Now when I put things to perspective, I am able to see the pattern which was always there – mixing worldly lies with spiritual truth to deceive people.
@ Doreen
According to you, what are Mr. Ravi Shankar’s educational qualifications ?
From The Guru of Joy by Francois Gautier, official hagiographer to his worshipfulness:
“When he was taken to the nearby school to begin his academic career, his teachers recognized his extraordinary intelligence and he was given two double promotions. And so by the time he was seventeen, he had acquired a fair amount of knowledge of Vedic literature, had completed his traditional studies and secured a Bachelor’s degree in modern science!”
So is it an “Advanced” degree, a Bachelor’s degree, a degree in modern science, in physics, in chemistry, or in Vedic literature? Or if he really was that extraordinarily intelligent, may it was ALL of the above?
Hmm, perhaps it’s because so little is known about his education that, well, no one really knows the answer. Not even him 😉
I used to think that SSRS was very intelligent while attending his satsangs. But after reading this blog and becoming an ex-aolite he appears a very dumb person while attending the same satsangs in VM.
double double promotion in a book, single double in an interview, may be a triple double or a triple triple some where. Master Liar.
Francois Gautier himself is a senior journalist..Don’t you think he must have done some research before writing his book ?
Also as someone pointed out, it could be ‘Vedic physics’.
Anyway doctor, I agree with Dr.Peter..It’s immaterial what so called modern education or paper degrees he has or he doesn’t have. For those who have experienced HIM it’s really irrelevant.
@ sadhana [June 17, 2012 4:51 am]
— For those who have experienced HIM it’s really irrelevant. —
What are you saying? Is it irrelevant that he — a mortal — insults Goddess Saraswati — the Goddess of Knowledge? Really ???
You have abandoned God to “experience” a “dhongi” and then you are insisting??? This is saddening beyond measure, Sadhana.
You may worship a “dhongi” who insults God. But please don’t begin to tell others what to do — especially true Hindus. No true Hindu will buy what you’re saying. True Hindus do not insult the Goddess of Knowledge. They worship her. FYI.
Francois Gautier’s original draft did not get RS’s full approval. Ravishankar himself made the editing. He writes his own story.
“It’s immaterial what so called modern education or paper degrees he has or he doesn’t have.”
Yes the paper degrees are immaterial. But his characters counts, his audacity to tell lies on national tv and cheat public.
” it could be ‘Vedic physics’ ”
It was widely publicised as modern science (physics) and vedic literature (at age 17)
Don’t morph it into Vedic Physics and modern literature. It is becoming hilarious.
Yes Francois Gautier is a senior journalist . And he did his home work.
He thought for several days, how can the “advance degree at age 17” be justified. As that myth was already in great circulation. And three double promotions would solve the puzzle provided advanced = bachelors. But he thought that ‘three’ would be too much and so he stuck to ‘two’, just like RS who thought that ‘three’ or ‘108’ SRI would be too much and adjusted with just two. Hence the name SSRS.
ps. five double promotions would solve the problem with out the condition that advanced = bachelors. but five is too much. Hence they took the assumption that advanced = bachelor’s to solve the problem.
For decades they have shown him with ‘advanced degree in Physics’ in all the videos and Wikipedia entry was also showing this for a long time.
Even the interviewer Karan Thapar mentions at 21:00 “”Your father says you got an advance degree in Science when you were just 17”. Even if RS has completed a Bachelors degree, it is not an advanced degree. Only Master’s and Doctorate is considered advanced degree. No one says that he/she has completed Bachelors in Physics because it has other subjects in equal weightage. Only a person who has done Masters or Doctors can say he/she has done his Masters/Doctors in Physics or any specialized subjects. RS is clearly implying that he has completed at least a Master’s degree.
RS is also lying about his single double promotion and so is his biographer Francois Gautier about two double promotions.
There is no doubt that RS’ completing Bachelors at 17 is a double lie.
First of all, it appears that he has not completed his graduation at all. St. Joseph’s College lists all names under Alumni which can also mean a former student. It does not mean that he has graduated from St. Joseph’s College. It is possible that he completed a two year P.U.C (Pre University Course) at 17 which has Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology as core subjects. (RS continues to utter other words in a very low tone after Mathematics. If you hear something sounding like Biology than it is definitely P.U.C because there is no Biology in B.Sc along with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics)
Look at the dramatic change in tone and expression of this liar at 21:20 when he fearfully says ‘Bachelor of Science’. This has all the classic signs of someone lying which clearly shows from his body language.
One of the best posts on this blog in recent times. Great work IO.
AoL’s answer # 1 to the perplexing issue raised in the main post may be found in Knowledge Sheet # 1.
http://riteshjgd.tripod.com/GuruGanga.html#b1
Beyond an event is Knowledge.
Beyond a person is love.
Beyond an object is infinity.
Knowledge is not in an event; it is beyond an event.
If you take one event and infer anything from one event — infer knowledge — it will be erroneous knowledge. Say Nancy gets angry and shouts at someone. You attribute anger to Nancy, but actually it was carried from someone else to her. Someone else got angry first and someone else and someone else and on and on like that.
When you go beyond an event, only then the truth dawns. One particular event gives you a false notion. So you have to consider the totality of events, the totality of all events infinitely. Beyond the event is Knowledge.
WHAT COULD THIS MEAN:
Just as Nancy’s anger can be traced to someone else, Mr. Ravi Shankar’s knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astrology, Vedic Literature etc. etc. can be traced to someone else.
For instance, his “guru”, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, had a degree in Physics. So, one day, silently, MMY passed on his “knowledge” to SSRS. This is possible because as per AoL logic, unless we can prove that this is impossible, it is possible.
Can anyone prove that MMY did not teach SSRS Physics silently one fine day?
I can’t. I can only say it seems rather unlikely that Physics can be taught silently.
I can also add that whatever seems rather unlikely to someone who has left AoL, seems rather likely to someone who is still in AoL.
Therefore, if this seems rather unlikely to you, then you’ve left AoL already. IMHO.
You may be going for various sessions, but your mind is not.
Now, you can either go where your mind takes you, or, your mind and you can travel in opposite directions.
So, what’s it going to be, dear fence-sitters ? That is the question.
@VSS,
I find your analysis reasonable enough and am tending to agree with it.
Thanks, SS.
There’s another explanation to be found in AoL’s logic for this perplexing post.
This is as follows:
Since all improvement is relative — such as in the case of the benefits of SK — {wherein the improvement is to be measured in terms of before and after — such as if someone was physically violent and verbally abusive before — the person stopped being physically violent and continued to be only verbally abusive after} — the acquisition of knowledge is also relative.
For instance, compared to what you knew about Physics at age 5 — what you knew at age 17 or 21 — was much more. So, one could say that your knowledge of Physics has advanced substantially. Therefore, perhaps what Mr. Ravi Shankar said was that his knowledge advanced — it grew — this is a natural human phenomenon. This is true for every human being. So, the question is — why did he say he has advanced knowledge when he should have said his knowledge has advanced ?
This is because he likes to say things he does not mean.
For instance, in the interview, he says people should not get into “the non-verifiable jugglery of concepts”. What he meant was “the non-verifiable jugglery of concepts” should get into people. This is what is done in AoL. The “non-verifiable jugglery of concepts” is made to get to people. They get confused and stop thinking — because thinking only confuses them more. This has been further emphasized by the concept of doing SK.
When human beings are stressed out, their pattern of breathing changes. So, if you don’t want to get stressed out, AoL says change your pattern of breathing. It doesn’t say address the root of stress. Then, it says control your breathing everyday to control your stress.
Please notice that the root of stress remains undisturbed all this while.
What people are taught is how to keep breathing in a certain way. This is like saying that if you get hurt, don’t look at the wound or try to make it heal. Watch a comedy instead. Then, make it a habit to watch a comedy every day. This way, even if you get hurt again, you will be in the habit of laughing. This is the core philosophy of AoL. Now, apply this to his educational qualifications. If it bothers you that he lied, don’t ask questions or seek the truth. Do SK and meditate — everything will be alright. The Art of Living is the art of distracting oneself from the source of stress. It is not the art of addressing / healing the source of stress.
Consequently, when someone is in AoL and something that is going on over there stresses them out, they are told to do SK and meditation. This is the solution to every problem — whether it is the stress caused by watching someone get abused or it is the stress caused by discovering serious financial irregularities. When this solution does not work — meaning people are not able to take their mind off all the wrong that is going on and concentrate on breathing — then they leave AoL. Those who stay are the ones that forget about all the wrong that is going on and focus on breathing.
How one breathes, however, does not begin to address how one feels by watching someone get tortured — or — by discovering serious financial regularities. It is just a distraction. People buy it because Mr. Ravi Shankar said so — not because they think so — because once in AoL — thinking is something that Mr. Ravi Shankar does for everyone. Independent thinking has no place in AoL. Therefore, independence has no place in AoL. For everything, everyone is dependent on Mr. Ravi Shankar.
In the case of sincere seekers, they expect to learnt how to evolve spiritually. But they are told to keep finding more and more people who will surrender their independence (including large sums of money of course) to Mr. Ravi Shankar. For a while, they buy it. He uses the logic that it is good karma to get more people to depend on him. Then, they see how those who depend on him are treated or they hear of how he laughed at the people who depend on him or they hear about someone suffering because of SK — and true enlightenment happens — and they leave AoL.
AoL does not empower people or make them more independent. People join AoL thinking they will become more independent and leave when they realize they are losing their independence to Mr. Ravi Shankar.
That’s why people like Uttam and Sadhana and Dr. Peter keep saying “surrender” in one way or another. No one ever says that “I am in AoL and I don’t have to surrender.” It’s because “surrendering” is a given. They are being absolutely truthful. The only way to be in AoL is by surrendering one’s mind to AoL. No greater evidence is needed than the testimony of AoL members who have clearly said so over and over and over again. Being in AoL is about surrendering one’s mind and never ever letting it work independently again. It is not about empowering one’s mind and / or making it more independent and / or powerful. It is not about cleaning the metaphorical toxins of bias and prejudice from one’s mind and being able to rationally experience and exude compassion for each and every component of our universe — including the environment, human beings, and other beings of the natural world.
Being in AoL is about surrendering one’s mind to Mr. Ravi Shankar and abhorring those who don’t want to surrender their minds to Mr. Ravi Shankar. He has successfully convinced people that the human mind is a human being’s worst enemy. The violent resistance to any criticism is proof of that. The sheer venom on this blog that originates in AoL’s philosophy is almost palpable. It’s full of excessive negativity and cynicism. To think that the source of this is a quest for spiritualism is saddening beyond measure.
VSS said, “That’s why people like Uttam and Sadhana and Dr. Peter keep saying “surrender” in one way or another. No one ever says that “I am in AoL and I don’t have to surrender.” It’s because “surrendering” is a given. They are being absolutely truthful. The only way to be in AoL is by surrendering one’s mind to AoL.”
I don’t believe I have ever said “surrender”. You also can’t, through your own intention, surrender. To do so would be pure mood-making. But when the mind experiences something as profoundly charming it spontaneously surrenders to that charm. In that surrender certain things don’t bother you. This is the “transcendent element” that I experience in my relationship to SSRS. For example, this whole thing about his education in this thread is utterly irrelevant to me. I assume he is telling the truth and leave it at that. If there appears to be a contradiction or an inconsistency and it really mattered to me, I would follow up on it. Obviously it bothers IO, so he needs to do what he’s telling everyone else to do!
Peter, that it doesn’t bother you that RS outright lies about this and about a great many other things doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
In fact, it kind of explains why you, Harshal, Doreen and a great many others think that it’s perfectly acceptable to lie. After all, if your “enlightened” master does it, then surely lying must be a good thing and all devotees should follow his example.
The rest of us here on the other hand believe in integrity, ethics and above all telling the truth. Things which are obviously lacking in Art of Living, but I suppose this doesn’t bother you either.
Whether you surrender to charm or harm, you surrender.
That’s precisely the point I made.
As for IO, he has currently not surrendered his mind to charm or harm. Hence, when it comes to educational qualifications, he won’t assume anything. IO’s perspective is that educational qualifications are not a matter of charm or harm — they are a matter of facts.
In India, we don’t assume people are telling the truth about their educational qualifications. Hindus have a Goddess for education — her name is Goddess Saraswati. She is the Goddess of “Vidya” or knowledge. On Saraswati Puja, Hindus keep academic books at the feet of Goddess Saraswati and take a day off from studying as a mark of respect to her — and celebrate.
What Mr. Ravi Shankar has done — by lying about his educational qualifications — is an insult to Goddess Saraswati. Ask any true Hindu.
Though I am not aware if there is a similar reverence of education in other religions, I am aware that everywhere in the world, in the matter of educational qualifications, people don’t lie. While seeking an admission in an educational institution or a job in the professional world, information relating to educational qualifications is not left to assumptions. It is considered unethical if someone lies. It’s just not done. Nobody considers lying in the matter of educational qualifications a minor matter because it is not.
You do because you have surrendered your mind.
That’s precisely the point I made.
The Dr. said, “Peter, that it doesn’t bother you that RS outright lies about this and about a great many other things doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.”
We don’t know if he is lying about his education. I understand IO’s argument but it still is not evident that he is lying. I certainly would be disappointed to a small degree if he was, but I’ll take it as Guru-lila because it just isn’t that important to me. I know this might sound strange to react this way, but I lead my relationship with SSRS with my experiences, not my concepts. Put it this way, if SSRS is exaggerating in some way about his education, it certainly is far from a deal-breaker!
He VSS, this is one more post that shows you don’t even know ‘A’ of Yoga science , ‘Breath’ and AOL teachings…
Basis of your writing is only Anti-AOL mission and some logic based information and not knowledge.
‘Surrender’ is a beautiful state of mind that happens as Dr.Peter describes. It’s not what you interpret by word ‘surrender’.
Anyway, topic here was of Shri Shri’s ‘education’ and not ‘surrender’.
@ sadhana [June 17, 2012 4:37 am]
Please control yourself. It is a request. Do not — I repeat — do not expect a true Hindu to follow a lying and deceptive “dhongi” who insults Goddess Saraswati — the Goddess of Knowledge. Mr. Ravi Shankar is not a real “saadhu”. Do you think Goddess Saraswait would have blessed him with any Knowledge after he has insulted her thus? You’ve got to be kidding!!!
You have been fooled by a “dhongi”. Control your arrogance. If you cannot see his lies and deception, please worship Goddess Saraswati. If she forgives you for the manner in which you have behaved and are behaving, maybe you will be able to seek true knowledge. No Guru — who is mortal — is greater than God.
If you have abandoned God for a mortal who lies and deceives — and you have provided extensive details of that on another thread — which we’ve all read — then it is you who lacks any knowledge of any religion and spirituality — especially true Hinduism. So, please, do not lecture me about Knowledge for you have none.
And, who told you to “surrender” to a mortal ? God ? No. The mortal told you. You put your faith in someone who has no respect for God — because of the greed to achieve enlightenment — you wanted the easiest way to enlightenment — that is how the “dhongi” trapped you. It is your greed for greatness that has blinded you. Greatness is not achieved by greed — and that is why — all you ever display is arrogance.
Humility is at the heart of greatness — and guess what — there is no humility in Mr. Ravi Shankar, nor in you.
Go and think about who you trusted — was it God or was it a mortal ? Is that what true Hinduism is about — is it about trusting a mortal who insults the Goddess of Knowledge? You need to do some real sadhana, my dear sadhana. Worshiping a “dhongi” has destroyed you almost completely.
And, tell me something, are you aware that Mr. Ravi Shankar has any mystical powers ? Has God blessed him with mystical powers ? If yes, then what are they ? And, what are his educational qualifications, or, will you now pretend that you don’t know ? This is what happens when you worship a “dhongi” — you become a “dhongi” yourself.
@ drpetersutphen [June 17, 2012 3:47 am]
Do you recall Mr. Ravi Shankar ever telling you what the following means?
—
विद्या ददाति विनयं विनयाद्याति पात्रताम् ।
पात्रत्वाद्धनमाप्नोति धनाद्धर्मं ततः सुखम् ॥ ५ ॥
vidyA dadAti vinayaM, vinayAdyAti pAtratAM |
pAtratvAddhanamApnoti, dhanAddharmaM tataH sukhaM || 5 ||
—
You, Harshal, Sadhana, Doreen, and, of course, Mr. Ravi Shankar claim to have knowledge.
Then, how is it that there is no humility to be found in your words?
Why is it that you have indulged in temper tantrums on this blog?
And, why are none of you clearly stating if Mr. Ravi Shankar has mystical powers?
What are the mystical powers that Mr. Ravi Shankar has?
Which Hindu God / Gods has / have blessed him with mystical powers?
Please give clear answers.
Kindly name the power and kindly name the God who has granted that power. Kindly also name the ancient text in which the said God is attributed with the said power and the ability to grant the said power.
Please refrain from wishy-washy answers.
It would be an insult to God if you come up with wishy-washy answers.
If you intend to insult God again in the name of a mortal, then please don’t claim any spiritual knowledge because that would simply be a lie.
@peter
“disappointed to a small degree if he was, but I’ll take it as Guru-lila ”
All the misdeeds of gurus can be taken as guru lila. just like sexual escapades of nityananda are also guru lila. sexual offences, financial offences, cheating, lying are all guru lila.
He looks very uncomfortable in this interview. Though most of the times Sri Sri is a very smooth talker.
@ Dr Peter….
Classic Dr Peter. Once again, you ignore facts / content / issue. Close your eyes, declare it irrelevant. Dismiss it and it will go away. The original Ostrich approach.
I feel that this is relevant to possibly every other visitor to this blog…..but why would you care ? These nameless anonymous posters on this blog…..they mean nothing to you. They opinions and experiences are “irrelevant” to your view AOL….correct ?
From the little that I have seen and experienced, when people are indifferent to something they do nothing. Folks, invariably do things (align or oppose) only when we care about the issue.
Maybe, you do care ? And if you do, what would that be about ?…..
IO, it is relevant to you and anyone else who is “hooked” by the issue. I’m note hooked by it. Can I be hooked by anything regarding SSRS? Of course, but just not by this issue.
@ drpetersutphen [June 17, 2012 3:50 am]
You are ignorant. You don’t know what the “issue” is. No mortal is greater than God. No mortal should insult God. Your mortal master has insulted Goddess Saraswati. You obviously do not know much about true Hinduism, and are, therefore, trying desperately to reduce the gravity of Mr. Ravi Shankar’s actions. He is a mortal who is insulting a Goddess. This is not done. Lying about educational qualifications is not done in any society anywhere in the world because it is unethical to do so. In Hinduism, this is also a sin — a very, very, very serious offence.
@ drpetersutphen [June 17, 2012 3:50 am]
A real “saadhu” guides devotees towards God. Mr. Ravi Shankar is a “dhongi” — who insults God. The way to reach God is not by insulting God — ask any true seeker. It is foolishness to insult God — utter foolishness — there’s nothing even remotely spiritual about insulting God — it’s a sin — the worst spiritual sin. A mortal who cannot refrain from insulting God cannot achieve any spiritual milestones — let alone the ultimate spiritual milestone (i.e. enlightenment).
Dr Peter,
You may like to read this
http://www.myspace.com/universalmasters/blog/132281764
“The rest of us here on the other hand believe in integrity, ethics and above all telling the truth”
lol.Such a joke. Tell us the truth about your identity first and ethics-hitting someone behind their backs anonymously? and integrity-labelling everyone who doesn’t agree with you as liars?
You guys just look at the negatives. I don’t know about his education, so cant comment.
I do know that he has 10 honorary doctorates from 10 renowned institutions from the whole world- and I am hoping that at-least one of them did their homework before giving out the doctorate/s..
There is a remarkable difference between holding certain private information to one self which most of us on this blog do Vs lying and falsifying facts.
Well if you don’t know about your own Master’s educational history…Harshal…do find out. Ask him directly….I would like to know what the answers are.
Ask him clear and precise questions
Dear Guruji…
1. In which year did you pass your BSc from St Josephs college ? Please may I see your graduation certificate ? St Joseph’s also has a traditional graduation ceremony that they run every year. Perhaps we can have some pictures ?
2. Did you get 2 double promos or one ?
3. Which were the year/years of the double promo/s ?
4. Dear Guruji, what was the name of your class teacher at St Joseph’s the year you passed out ?
5. Dear Guruji what was the name of your matriculation school, your school principal and your class teacher ?
6. Our Art Excel kids would like to know the truth about your marks and what your teachers really felt about you when you were in school ?
7. Since you and Banu have always been close, did you both go to the same college too for a bit ? maybe if you are shy of asking him directly perhaps Banu di could give you some answers.
I am sure these answers need not be researched…..most of us will remember such data from our own lives easily and readily. Check out if this is the same with Banu and SS. Let me know of the answers were totally spontaneous or whether they were given thoughtfully.
I am not questioning whether he was educated or not. I am asking something even more fundamental. Why are you making so many differing claims on the same topic ? Why do you not present your data coherently in such a way that it eliminates all of these very basic questions that we have posted ? What is the need to keep the information on your education so murky ?
We have provided readers with hard facts (straight from the horse’s mouth).
Harshal / Dr Peter : If you feel that the above insinuations are not justified then please provide alternative facts to the above posted which are available in the public domain.
In the absence of any such information, your posts are what lack any relevance to the topic.
@ IO: Since you are so concerned about it, why don’t you do it? This doesn’t bother me and is not in my todo list.
@ IO
The fact of the matter is that you are absolutely right in stating and expressing your perspective. In the academic world, if one lies about one’s educational qualifications, one loses one’s admission and in the professional world, if one lies about one’s educational qualifications, one loses one’s job. One expects greater and not lesser ethical standards from someone who claims to be a spiritual guru. However, in the case of AoL, spiritualism is being used to downplay and justify a major unethical act. If very few people know this right now, many more will know this in the future. You have done a great job of revealing the truth — as you always do — whenever you write — whether it is about Harshal’s potential to be spectacular or about Mr. Ravi Shankar lying about his educational qualifications. I hope to read many more insightful comments and posts from you in the future.
Harshalbhau,
Tell us about your identity. Are you on Facebook? Where do you stay? There are lots of people who would like to know the real you (although everyone knows your character by the choice of your words ). You are as anonymous as anyone else on this blog except for your IP address,
So please stop your nonsense and start talking some sense. You are a typical Jai Maharashtra guys – big bloated ego who can only shout from the roof top but with no essence.
@meditator: I am happy to provide all the above information here on this blog, if you can also give all your information right here.
Alternatively you can just email the blog owner. He knows me well.
Now it is the question of having balls. Do you have them?
@ Harshal [June 17, 2012 9:51 am]
For the average reader, there is absolutely no difference between you or anyone else who is posting. (The blog owner is not the only person who is reading this blog. He may know many of those who are posting on this blog without the readers knowing anything about them.) That’s the point that Meditator made.
Revealing or not revealing has nothing to do with courage. We all want to err on the side of caution because foolhardiness is not bravery. If revealing one’s identity had to do with courage, then you would be the first to reveal everything about yourself to all readers without any prior barter agreements. Now, please don’t say that you lack courage. That would be a lie. You don’t. Nor does anyone else. So, chill. Don’t make an issue about a non-issue.
@harshal, Dr. Peter and Sadhana, I believe fully that Ravi Shankar has honorary degrees. But that’s all. He himself told me that he dropped out of school. I know people who remember him from school and remember that he dropped out without a degree of any kind. (They went on to become engineers). They also remember he had few friends, was a bit weird, and in one man’s account “a rogue” character. Why would this man tell one person he had no degree, then brag that he had not one but 2? Also, those who knew him are not elder to him, yet RS is claiming to have received double promotions?? How is that possible? I personally never cared if he had any degree, or ever went to school. To me, a true Guru needs no special certification in anything academic. But Ravi Shankar is simply a liar out to impress the world. And so he goes on lying about his education. It’s so strange that any intelligent person would call this ‘Guru lila’ or anything else slightly complimentary. It should give you pause….
2010 Atmajyoti Award, Delhi, India, Sept. 23, 2010
Culture in Balance Award, Dresden, (Germany), Oct. 10, 2009
Professor Honoris Causa, Szent Istvan University, Budapest, (Hungary), June 24, 2009
The Ball of Peace awarded by The Peace Doves,Norway,June 13,2009.
Phoenix Award, Atlanta, USA, 2008
Honorary Citizenship, and Goodwill Ambassador, Houston, USA, 2008
Proclamation of Commendation, New Jersey, 2008
Architect of World Peace Award, India, 2008
‘Light of East’ National Award, India, 2008
Honored by United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) for his contributions towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, 2007
Honored by the city of Washington DC by proclaiming the week of his visit as ‘Human Values Week’ in March 2007
National Veterans Foundation Award, USA, 2007
Leadership Award for Extraordinary Promotion of World Peace, and Harmony by Amity University, New Delhi, 2007
Honorary Citizenship by City of Baltimore, Canada, 2006
Honorary Citizen of the city of Calgary, Canada, 2006
Centennial 2006 Medallion by the Legislative Assembly of Calgary, Canada, 2006
The 2006 International Peace Award by ‘For the Love of Children Society of Alberta Canada’, 2006
The Humanitarian Award by the city of Brampton, Ontario, 2006
Order of the Pole Star, Mongolia, 2006
Peter the Great First Grade Award, Russia, 2006
Mongolian Prime Minister’s Award, Mongolia, 2006
Alberta Legislative Centennial 2006 Medallion, 2006
Dara Shikoh National Award for Harmony, New Delhi, India, 2005
Global Humanitarian Award, Illinois, USA, 2005
Bharat Shiromani Award, New Delhi, India, 2004
Mahavir-Mahatma Award India, 2005
The Illustrious Visitors Award, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2004
Phoenix Award, USA, 2002
Guru Mahatmya Award by Government of Maharashtra, India, 1997
Nominated to the Advisory Board of Yale Divinity School, USA, 1990
Title of Yoga Shiromani (Supreme Jewel of Yoga) by the President of India, 1986
But with no degree. Liar liar liar. Cheat cheat cheat. MONEY MONEY MONEY.
@Harshal, Who cares. He’s still crooked and lying. He’s simply fooled lots of people. If you don’t care what others think of his lying about his education, why did you bother to post this?
why did you bother to post this?
because someone on this blog asked me repeatedly.
Harshal (June 18, 2012 3:02 pm)
Good to see that the amount of time you spend on this blog has started making a difference to your life. You now seem to be listening and more importantly responding, to someone else other than HH,
some doctorates
Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa, Bangalore University, India, 2009
Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa, Nagarjuna University, India, 2008
Doctor of Science, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India, 2007
Doctor of Philosophy (Holistic Medicine), Open International University for Complementary Medicine in Sri Lanka, 2006
Honorary Doctorate from Kuvempu University, India, 2004
Do you really consider these as renowned universities worldwide?
without google you cannot tell where Kuvempu is. university in one state is not known in the neighboring state. renowned worldwide is a joke. the heads who make the decisions of selecting candidates for awarding the honorary degrees are impressed by the first impression of rs and aol. they don’t have the complete knowledge of untruths and exaggerated facts.
I know of many ceo s who are impressed by the apex course and want to make aol compulsory for all their employees. the courses are successful in giving an initial high in some people. while majority go back to their routine just like after watching a movie. the few that stay back, are responsible for all these, especially if they happen to be decision makers. while some get conned by the aol marketing.
@ Harshal [June 16, 2012 5:05 pm]
— I don’t know about his education, so cant comment. —
Really ? You’re going ballistic posting all this data about Mr. Ravi Shankar and you don’t know about the educational qualifications he is claiming ? Do you seriously expect anyone to believe that ?
He has insulted Goddess Saraswati and any true Hindu would be offended by that — seriously offended. It is not about negative or positive. It is about the truth. No mortal should dare to offend any God. This man has lost it. All true Hindus are too scared to say so — but in their heart of hearts — all of them know.
Not only is lying about one’s educational qualifications unethical in any society in the world — it is a sin in Hinduism. It is irreligious for a true Hindu to do so. This is simply not done by anyone who respects Goddess Saraswati. Look at the arrogance of this mortal — he is gushing and blushing as he insults a Goddess — on national television. He is a “dhongi” — he’s not a real “saadhu”.
Tell me something, dude — do you believe he has any mystical powers?
Do you believe that the Gods have blessed him with special powers?
If yes, then what are the mystical powers he has?
And, why are AoL members afraid of answering this question about mystical powers?
What will happen if you answer this question?
Why are you and Doreen not answering this question about “mystical powers” since the last several hours?
Not only is lying about one’s educational qualifications unethical in any society in the world — it is a sin in Hinduism
Where is this written in Hinduism? which book?
@ Harshal [June 17, 2012 12:48 am]
Have you never read anything about Goddess Saraswati and what she stands for ????????????
Do you know nothing about Saraswati Puja ????????????
Wow !!!!!!!!!!!! That’s shocking beyond measure !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please do some research and seek some true knowledge.
I refuse to provide you with links or the name of any other knowledge source.
You’d said “No links, please” not too long ago.
I have taken that to heart. No more links for you.
Do some work. Go and find out on your own. Knowledge is best gained when one works hard to earn it. I wish you luck. I’ll pray to Goddess Saraswati that she blesses you. Do the rest on your own. Become independent. Empower yourself. It doesn’t surprise me at all that your “dhongi” guru has taught you NOTHING ABOUT GODDESS SARASWATI.
And, when you are done, please provide me with detailed information about which mystical powers Mr. Ravi Shankar possesses and which Gods granted him those powers.
Please don’t think that I haven’t noticed the sheer number of times you and others have avoided stating what you know about Mr. Ravi Shankar’s mystical powers and which Gods granted them.
@ anyone who is reading
If you are a true well-wisher of Harshal, please do not provide him with any links or the names of any knowledge source. Please desist from spoon-feeding. Let him learn on his own. Let him become independent and empower himself.
VSS
Harshal belongs to the Jai Maharashtra clan. He does not believe in answering. Please stop wasting your time on idiots like him.
@ Meditator [June 17, 2012 4:53 am]
I understand your sentiments and appreciate your concern and support a lot. As you might be aware, I have been abused by Harshal inexorably on this blog. However, I have always known that he is in a state of profound distress. It has nothing to do with Maharashtra. I have lived in Maharashtra. It’s a beautiful state and the people there are amazingly friendly and warm. Harshal’s problem is something else. He’s indulging in idiocy but he’s not an idiot. It’s a temporary thing.
All of us have the potential to be spectacular human beings. So does he. I know that his behaviour is infuriating at times and so I understand your emotions and respect them — but let’s not be biased against people from a particular state. Let’s not be biased against anyone.
AoL is making Harshal behave in this strange fashion. IO was right when he said that Harshal has a phenomenal energy level. Mr. Ravi Shankar has tapped into that energy and is manipulating it. We’ll try and correct that. The important thing is to try — that’s the message of the Gita. We should focus on our karma — we shall leave the consequences of karma to God. That’s what I do and it works for me. I also pray for Harshal every day.
@Meditator,
you ought to be banned for that outright racist “Jai Maharashtra” comment.
You arebthe real one whos insulting Goddess Sarswati …. Do u have guts to talk face to face me about Hindu God’s … Bharat Mata Ki Jai
@ Anonymous [June 17, 2012 5:02 am]
How can you use the display name “Anonymous” and talk about guts?
You don’t even have the guts to use the initials of your real name.
Besides, this is not about guts.
It’s about poverty. I am too poor to take Mr. Ravi Shankar to court.
Mr. Ravi Shankar is a “dhongi” who has insulted Goddess Saraswati on national television.
I have never lied to anyone about my educational qualifications — in person or on national television. So, I have not insulted Goddess Saraswati.
So, please control yourself and don’t post lies. It’s a request.
– I don’t know about his education, so cant comment. –
Harshal doesn’t believe in SSRS. He doubts his own guru. His guru is so clearly telling that he did his bachelors in maths, physics, chemistry by age 17 and that he got one double promotion, on national television. Yet harshal tells that he doesn’t know about his education. Why cant harshal say the same thing that he heard from his master’s own words. Because harshal doubts his master’s words. Unless he verifies the words of his master with other reliable sources, he doesn’t believe the master, and he can’t comment.
The details of awards and doctorates posted by harshal might have been researched on internet. Harshal believes everything that is on internet with out any verification. But he has to verify personally the claims made by his own master.
Have you not listened to the advanced course talks harshal. in the talk ‘three types of doubts’ one of the doubts is ‘doubting the master’. How come you doubt your own master.
It is interesting to note that almost all the awards and doctorates were awarded before these blogs started. Are the recent once left out or is it a fact that these have stopped after 2010. I am sure Nityananda also would have bagged such awards and doctorates.
During the years when these awards/doctorates were given, I too was generously awarding my time and money to AOL and have stopped after reading about RS/AOL in these blogs.
These organizations may still be unaware of the ugly face of RS/AOL and some might even be regretting their awards. It is also possible that some of them have already withdrawn them. May be we should alert them to read these blogs and review their awards/doctorates.
Anonymous,
Please hold your comments. His Highness is trying really hard to get a Nobel Prize.
At 14:30 in the video, we hear another funny myth circulated by SSRS’s father. It seems the baby SSRS spoke to his mother from the womb during the eighth month… I suspect its the father who is the culprit here. He has been creating myths about SSRS to embellish the son’s minor achievements.
just 1 month ago yahoo CEO was fired for a similar lie about his credentials. scott thompson made a false claim in his resume about a non existent computer science degree –
http://news.yahoo.com/yahoo-ceo-scott-thompson-step-down-report-160825564.html
see the date on the article- he was fired on 13 may. coincidence?
the following quote from the ny times article captures the loss of trust and credibility-
“It was a very emotional situation for employees,” one person involved said. “They were saying, ‘How can I work for a company that has a C.E.O. who claims to be a computer scientist when he’s not? I can’t work here if that’s true.’ “
http://www.nyenrode.nl/News/Pages/Sri-Sri-Ravi-Shankar-ontvangt-eredoctoraat-Nyenrode-Business-Universiteit.aspx
@ Devotees of SSRS ,(blinded by RS’s charm)
People like I0, doctor and other in this blog who have stated facts in this blog, have spoken only after their long acquaintance with SSRS and their experience with him.
If so many people are having similar experiences about one man , and the organisation and its ways, then there must be at least some element of truth in it.
These people sharing their experience are not doing to just to have a good time , or have fun.
Please realize , that the words written in this blog will act like milestones in your life and ring in your mind when you personally relate to it , after your experience RS and AOL in close quarters.
Some where deep in your minds you all agree completely with the experience and statements of many people’s writing , but just keep denying it or overlooking it, cause it gives you a great deal of comfort in considering SSRS as god,.
But believe me you are better off without him in your life and if you want to donate or do seva, then it can be done anywhere in the society.
Think , outside the barrier of SSRS’s charm and words, you ‘ll see a repetitive parrot who says the same thing from the past 25 years. utterly boring.!!!
I’ll Wait ,till you have an experience with RS which will surely make you a supporter of this blog.
Until then, Keep making more money for RS !!!
“Doctor of this, doctor in that”… but NOT DOCTOR IN WESTERN MEDICINE; hence, any speech claiming SK healing properties – which haven´t been properly backed up by the scientist´s comunity- should be taken as ILEGAL MEDICAL PRACTICES. That´s a major crime in most countries, and therefore, the most critical of RRSS lies.
He got all those titles and degrees with lies! He lied about his education degrees, and everything else about himself and his work. Did noone mention he actually did not finish at St. Joseph? He is not even listed as an alumni. Did you not know one can buy those degrees?
Correct. According to some classmates, he dropped out without finishing. If he has that degree, it was not acquired in the traditional manner, as his classmates remember him leaving before graduation, incompleted.
“If so many people are having similar experiences about one man , and the organisation and its ways, then there must be at least some element of truth in it”
Thats what I am saying. It is just 2-3 of you vs thousands of people in140 countries. Like this
http://artoflivinglifestories.blogspot.co.uk/
These are the people with balls. Do you have them?Can you put your name/photo and start a blog?
http://artoflivinglifestories…
These are the people with balls
Careful Harshal, there are many women there who may not like what you are saying about them.
How do i know a name + photo combination is the real identity of the person posting there?
@rayster: last time I checked women had balls too. eyeballs.
How do I know that people posting here are real people? May be they are web-bots from vatican?
@ Harshal [June 18, 2012 5:29 am]
Does that link contain your story too ?
Has your incredible experience with AoL been documented anywhere ?
I’d be interested in reading it.
“These are the people with balls”
Yeah right!!
Except for the fact that those balls are in the hands of some one else to be squeezed and twisted to that person’s whims and fancies.
@Sadhana
“Francois Gautier himself is a senior journalist..Don’t you think he must have done some research before writing his book ? Also as someone pointed out, it could be ‘Vedic physics’.”
Francois Gautier is Ravi Shankar’s in-house journalist and he will write whatever RS wants.
It is very surprising that you haven’t heard that it is ‘Advanced degree in Modern Physics’.
and not ‘Vedic physics’. I have seen the videos many times which mentions this and on AOL web sites also.
Please visit the following San Francisco Bay Area link which currently shows that
“ By the age of seventeen, he had obtained an Advanced Degree in Modern Physics.”
Click to access SriSribio.pdf
This pdf file was created on 8/5/2005 and may have been on continuous display since then.
“Anyway doctor, I agree with Dr.Peter..It’s immaterial what so called modern education or paper degrees he has or he doesn’t have. For those who have experienced HIM it’s really irrelevant”
You are twisting the issue here. The issue is not whether his qualifications matter. It is whether he has those qualifications which he has been claiming.
Whether it matters to you or not , it definitely matters to RS to a great extent since he has been lying about this for decades.
@Harshal,
I had a look at the pro-AOL blog link which you posted.I was very disappointed with what I saw.There appears to be only 54 blogs in the last two years.The latest blog written on this blog site is on june6 2011,more that a year ago.This definitely seems to be a very sad response,considering the fact that AOL is apparently well ingrained in the lives of people across 140 countries
Well, we know there are, or were in June 2011, 54 people who were following AOL and Ravi Shankar. Of course, this blogspot got hundreds of thousands of hits in that time and thousands of postings. hmmmmm. 54 vs thousands………..Or could it be that that people do the SK, go to a few satsangs, then go about their business, forgetting about AOL, and there are new people coming daily, giving money, etc., to keep the ‘numbers’ up? That’s what I’ve noticed. Nearly nobody keeps up the practice or believes in SSRS. Only a core handful of losers or brainwashed fanatics.
here is a complete list
http://vivekbarunrai.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/art-of-living-blogs.html
sorry that there are not enough. May be they are busy doing actual work…busy making a change..
@ Harshal [June 18, 2012 3:01 pm]
Why aren’t you also busy doing actual work and making a change ?
Why do you waste your precious time on this blog ?
Don’t those people inspire you to stay busy doing actual work and making a change ?
It doesn’t seem to me that anyone has asked you to post here on behalf of AoL, so I’m unable to understand why you don’t do what they are doing and instead do what people who have left AoL are doing.
“so I’m unable to understand why you don’t do what they are doing and instead do what people who have left AoL are doing”
Just for Entertainment.
@ Harshal [June 18, 2012 3:21 pm]
So, these people don’t inspire you to stay busy doing actual work and making a change ?
What is it that they do that is so uninspiring ?
How is it that they fail in bringing about a change in you ?
Since when have they been failing — when did you join AoL ?
@ Harshal
When your fellow sevaks are busy doing actual work and making a change, you are busy getting entertained.
Harshal,
Looking quickly at that link, I see that of the first several 5 or 6 links, only one is current — B & D’s, and they are paid employees of Art of Living and make their living from it, so of course it’s current. The others appear to be a posting here and there, or or not posting in the last month at least, or advertising their music or something…..Are there some that are active like this blog?
of those 70 what percent are not active?
@ Harshal, Dr. Peter, Sadhana, Doreen and current AoL members
Have YOU ever lied about your educational qualifications at any stage in your life ?
If YES, then what were the consequences of your lie ?
I am guessing that if you lied to get admission, then your admission would have been cancelled when your lie was discovered — and if you lied to get a job, then you would have been fired when your lie was discovered.
Also, would YOU teach YOUR CHILDREN that it’s okay to lie about one’s educational qualifications ?
Hope you will answer these two simple questions honestly and not come up with wishy-washy answers.
@VSS: Why are you so much obsessed with lying? Have you never said a lie in your life before. You posted with a different alias and then refused to accept that it was you. Was it not a lie?
Personally I don’t have a problem with lying as long as it is serving my purpose and not hurting anyone else too much. Infact , I think lying has its own advantages—it makes your mind sharper and sharper. Because if you lie once, you have to lie again and again with lots of creativity and innovation.
Lying is also good because , it can help you to create a non-reality within the reality which itself is non-real. So you see its all good.
I don’t have any children but once I produce my children, I will teach them how to lie efficiently and effectively. Because you cant survive in this world without lying.
If you haven’t lied in your life even once, you should try doing it once. It feels good. One the other hand, If you have then you stop pointing fingers at others.
@ Harshal [June 18, 2012 3:18 pm]
That’s a wishy-washy answer. Please don’t twist my questions.
My questions are VERY SPECIFIC.
They pertain to EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS.
Here they are for you:
1. Have YOU ever lied about your EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS at any stage in your life?
2. Also, would YOU teach YOUR CHILDREN that it’s okay to lie about one’s EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS?
I have NEVER lied about my EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS.
I would not teach anyone to lie about their educational qualifications.
@ Harshal [June 18, 2012 3:18 pm]
— You posted with a different alias and then refused to accept that it was you. —
At no point have I commented on the said post. I have reserved my comments on the question asked by IO about that post.
PLEASE DO NOT LIE.
YOU SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT POST AS I HAVE NOT COMMENTED ON IT. THAT IS A FACT.
It is my right by law to not comment on that and I haven’t. Just because you feel like a temper tantrum doesn’t mean you make false allegations. You better get that straight, sir.
Similarly, it is your right by law not to comment on the two questions I have asked about EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS.
Just say “I won’t comment.” Simple.
So, what’s it going to be — “no comments” or real answers.
You have the same rights as me. I thought you knew.
Harshal, June 18, 2012 3:18 pm
You have brilliantly summed up what you have learned from AOL. Any sane person would stay away from such an organization which is nothing but a bunch of lies and all that it teaches is brilliantly summed up in your comment.
@ Harshal
“Lying is also good because , it can help you to create a non-reality within the reality which itself is non-real. So you see its all good.”
What if your wife is cheating on you and telling lies to avoid getting caught. Her lies would not hurt you, so you would accept that situation.
Have YOU ever lied about your EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS at any stage in your life?
Yes I did. Some time back I told these people that I was a doctor. They all believed it and started taking me seriously- only for a while though. No one was hurt you see….And I got all the attention I wanted. So it was useful.
Also, would YOU teach YOUR CHILDREN that it’s okay to lie about one’s EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS?
This is a hypothetical question. Who knows what will happen to me after I get children. May be I will become like you and tell them that it is not ok to lie about EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, but its absolutely ok to lie about other things.
@ Harshal [June 18, 2012 4:07 pm]
So have you been lying about Sri Sri and AoL too?
Are you into posting abusive and contemptuous comments to actually make AoL look bad?
You don’t seem to be inspired by AoL volunteers to be busy doing actual work and making a change.
You seem to be inspired to do the exact reverse — you bring AoL’s adverse effects to the fore with your presence — each and every time you post.
Why do you do this? What do you get out of harming Sri Sri and AoL?
“You have the same rights as me. I thought you knew”
No I dont. Your comments are posted on this blog without any moderation…mine go through a rigorous screening.
@ Harshal [June 18, 2012 5:10 pm]
What are you saying, dude?
You’re not able to focus. I hope you’re well. Seriously. If you’re down with fever or something, please get some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.
You have the same legal rights as me by virtue of being an Indian citizen.
How can you not know that, dude?
Do you think this blog is India? I don’t think you’re able to focus. I’m guessing you have fever or have had a long day. Take care.
P.S. As far as this blog is concerned, why do you think your comments go through rigorous screening? Please don’t pretend. How abusive have you been — how much profanity have you used — and — how often have you been utterly morbid and derisive? You still talk down to people. You’re not making any sense. You’re behaving as if you haven’t abused anyone. I think you’re not well. Get some rest.
When you are well rested, think calmly, and then tell me why AoL volunteers are failing to inspire you. Right now, you’re not making any sense.
You’re bored on this blog. You feel there is no reason for your comments to be screened. It seems you have completely forgotten all your profusely abusive posts. Freedom of speech does not include the freedom to abuse and you know this. I don’t why you’re saying what you’re saying. You don’t sound well at all to me. Please get some rest. It’s a request.
You have the same legal rights as me by virtue of being an Indian citizen.
I am not an Indian citizen and I have never abused you. I dont even know you. How can you abuse someone who you don’t know?
that is a very generous moderation I would say…remembering the venom you spewed last month…maybe you should go back and read Ravi’s “6 distortions of love”
@ Harshal
Because of the filthy language you use sometimes, they have to be screened.
well… you know… I have being in the art of living for the last 18 years of my life (probably!! ).. I consider myself a devotee… I was close to all the people who is close to Guruji and close to Guruji too, swamis, teachers, his sister, etc… of course there were many times in which I question myself and him about some things I didnt understand and I felt disappointed… but at the end of the day, If I close my eyes and I be totally sincere with me, there is not joy in my life that can be comparable to be with Guruji… the most sweethest moment of happiness, entusiastic, fun were near to him… Those moments in my life when I felt my heart melted totally, until became a ball of nothing but joy, were when I was with him… if he graduates at 17 or at 21 age..it does not mean anything to me… what he gave to me, is bigger than this… If I die tomorrow, I will die confidently that he will protect me the same way he always did and that everything will be ok… and all the times he didnt fulfil my wishes, after a time I realize it was the best…. I can say, without hesitation, that what Guruji bring to my life was positive and made me a better person.. and wherever I go, I reflect this and people are nice and sweet with me and all doors open… what can be better in life than being joyful and felt this gratitude and living with this confidence? I travel to so many places, since alaska to India, wonderful places… I ate the most deliciuos food, I had the most amazing boyfriends… some of them stupids.. some rich and elegant…I had all I wanted.. . I experience the sublime love and I spent so much tears too, this is life.. and of course there were terrible teachers in the aol who did my life miserable, humans beings trying to be better too but for me at the end of the walk I consider absolutely nothing in this world can be compare with the feeling of be a devotee, of being near guruji… there is not feeling in this universe or joy that can be compare with this…
@Anonymous,
I’m curious: what makes you think that all the good experiences you had in your life were thanks to Guruji? If that really is the case, then surely all the bad experiences you’ve had in your life must also be due to him, no?
Can the RTI be used to know the educational qualifications of RS.
Emotional girl! People like you are milking cows for AOL.
From this last exchange it is quite clear that harshal is a psychopath needing attention (he even admits saying he was a doctor to get attention). Why bother even answeing him any more. The dude is sick and needy and has no life and needs this blog for “entertainment”. To me this blog represents something more than his foolishness. He cant possibly understand. Just ignore him please.
@ Anonymous on June 18, 2012 at 5:12 pm said:
My dear, I was the same ….felt and experienced life as u r doing….for over a decade. Then I woke up.
“You don’t need anybody’s protection for anything ….EVER!!!!!!”. There is nothing that you don’t have that others have got. Even your Guru.
Clearly, you are in love. That is an awesome feeling. I wish you well. Admittedly, you yourself are saying you can’t understand him. Also, after 18 years, you are ONLY in love with your idea about him….because you really cant love something that you have no clue about….now, can you ? (to love something is to know it well….very well…can you understand this ?).
It is only your belief that he loves you. He just uses you. So that you don’t feel bad he will somehow plug it into your head that he loves you uniquely. So you don’t compare with others. And you always feel special. Every seduction artist specializes in this. Hey, its not bad to be seduced…it feels heady. However, in every seduction the charm starts to go….and after that happens it is usually abuse (ie the seducer takes the seducee for granted…….look at your own relationship with him…..he knows you fully and can anticipate every move you make…..and you in turn are so awed and in love…..yet, you cannot make out what he will do next !!!). You are in love with a mystery.
The food and the boy friends and the sublime love feelings all happened when he was around….but they also happened when “YOU” were around. How do you so easily eliminate yourself from the loop ?. I realised way back that without “YOU” none of that would have happened….
“YOU” called forth that experience in your life. You co-created it with all of the people around you at that time…….SriSri was also a Co-Creator along with you. To credit him TOTALLY and ENTIRELY for your entire experience is actually a discredit to yourself and to the many other people around you at that time. If you can discredit yourself so easily…..then you are blind to the value that other people (read divine beings) are bringing to you all the time (your immediate family, some dearest friends)….You would have discounted many of them, like you have done yourself…..attributing everything to the Master. This will make you lose all your close friends (the ones that genuinely loved you for who you were…..just as you are) …..and the only one you will have left is him……and trust me …..thats exactly where they all want it to be….
Him the ruler of the universe……and you at his feet……
In the beginning, this is OK. You are in love. Even this is fun and bliss. It will not stay that way for ever.
Remember, Guruji’s Promise. I will love you more than a mother loves her infant ? Think its really happening ? He is using you babes, just as he used me……it took me many years to see through how skillfully I was seduced by the man and the system. I know it so well. The pattern is there for all to see. Anyone who has loved and lost a few times can see it easily.
You are going to feel good as long this whole notion that he loves you is on display. Soon it will not be there. Less great food. Less Bliss. Less relationships. Even less money. The joys in your life will keep diminishing. And you will be told, cycles are getting faster, times are taught and difficult. Do more advance and blessing courses. How about if we test this. Test his love. Ask him that for just 6 months that you be allowed to do the advance courses for FREE…..Tell him, “please do this for me”….I want this so I can be closer to you Guruji. In your case, that would be the truth. See what happens.
Babes, so far, you have had a dream run….18 years. But, all good things have to end. …For even better things to come your way. But, at that time, whenever it ends, it is so painful we won’t usually be able to see it. Many times, we are in denial even after it has ended. Be watchful of that.
The ONLY common denominator in all of your life’s experiences is you…..NOT HIM.
To Harshal, Dr Peter, Anonymous, Sadhana, Doreen….
A simple question really based on his Master’s knowledge
Q: How do I handle criticism?
Sri Sri: When someone criticizes you, they are taking a risk. Who wants to take the risk of making enemies! When they are doing that, you appreciate them. Stand up to criticism. Also have the courage to criticize for their improvement. But if someone is criticizing you out of jealousy, smile. It is their problem.
My “qns” to you all —-
The folks that write on this blog, other than yourselves …..are we jealous of SriSri ?
Can we narrow it down to just a few lines? As simple as this: RS did not get a degree in anything at the age of 17, 18, 35 or 54. His colleagues at St. Joseph did not see him graduate. In fact, he did not. In India, unfortunately, even degrees can be bought (told by an Indian). The titles and prizes he’s gotten eventually were all worked by devotees, all more intelligent and capable than him, most of them with real degrees (and many brain-washed brain cells), all based on lies! Lies about his degrees, about his childhood stories, about his achievements. Francois Gautier, though a journalist and a good man is, unfortunately, another brain-washed devotee who sees all the dirt around and in Sri Sri, but, having lived in India too many years, and married to a hindu, he believes all the superstitions around a “guru”, so he does whatever he is told, with the belief there is a reason, or a lesson behind it all, maybe even believes he will get enlightened with this guy. RS, instead, tossed his original draft away and edited it HIMSELF. He has no problems with lying. In fact, that is how he makes his living. And by the way, as a child, in school, he was not everyone’s favourite, like he says, neither did he say, “the whole world is waiting for me”. He was made fun of for being “weird”, as in “gay” and ignored and avoided by everyone in school.
@ Harshal [June 18, 2012 9:07 pm]
Well, then, you have the same rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of your country. You have the same rights as any global citizen. You have the right to say “No comments” to any question asked of you.
I don’t know why you don’t know this. Everyone knows this.
And, of course, you can abuse someone you don’t know — and you have — profusely and horribly — you’ve abused not one but several people on this blog. You’ve caused me suffering because of your abuses. And, you continue to cause suffering each time you talk down to anyone.
Have you not heard about people who abuse other people on the internet?
This is very odd, dude. I’m sure you have but for some reason you’re unable to process what you know and incorporate knowledge for your own evolution.
Who has told you that you can’t abuse and talk down to someone you don’t know, dude?
Whoever has told you this has messed up your mind badly. Your thought process has gone awry.
You need to get some rest. Seriously. Then, when you are calm, please re-read your posts. Identify instances when you’ve talked down to people and abused them — you have used all sorts of profanity and morbidity. Take responsibility for your actions. This is the problem with AoL. It does not make a person responsible and independent.
It seems that you cannot make a true distinction between the freedom of expression — and — outright abuse and derision — even though this distinction has been imposed and you have been compelled to desist from outright abuse. Your understanding seems fragmented.
That is why I had asked you if you realize that this distinction has been imposed and if you feel grateful for it.
When you use phrases like “rigorous screening”, do you not know the purpose behind that “rigorous screening” ? Do you not recall your own track record ? That’s bizarre beyond bizarre.
Get some rest. Please.
Then, think about why AoL people are not able to inspire you to be busy doing some real work that makes a change.
When did you join AoL ?
Why is AoL continuing to fail to inspire you ?
There’s a serious lapse somewhere, dude.
You’re not making any sense. I sincerely hope that you’re sleeping well and surrounded by people who care for you. You seem to be in a worse condition than I thought — it seems to me that you’re so exhausted that you don’t know what you’re saying about anything.
Take a break. Spend some time with nature. Pray to God — not to a Guru — not a mortal — but God. Actively respect people around you. Cherish the tiniest of joys. Be discerning as opposed to being judgmental. Exude compassion from within when you see a being in pain. Pursue excellence.
These are some of the things that empower people so that they’re not abusive and so that they don’t talk down to people. These are some of the things that help people respect creation and not self-destruct. You are on a self-destructive binge, dude. This blog irritates you, annoys you, and bores you. You read the comments of people you detest. You succumb to rage almost every day. And, you harm the very organization and person you claim to protect — the sheer damage you have caused to Sri Sri and AoL by posting on this blog — is colossal. Please look into that. You are doing the exact opposite of what you think you are doing. You have brought such utter disrepute to Sri Sri and AoL that if I was them — I would rescue you from this destructive binge — or, at least try to.
I am aware of only one valid expression of rage — and that is artistic expression. That is why Lord Shiva did the tandava — to express his rage. But it was a dance — a dance that is celebrated for its aesthetic beauty all over the world. There’s nothing aesthetic about the way you express rage. And, ultimately, that rage is negative energy that needs to turn into positive energy and it needs to inspire you to become more compassionate — you are stagnating in a state of rage instead of transcending it. Please introspect. Please reflect.
There should be so much compassion in each one of us that we are able to experience it and exude it for all beings and the environment.
Yesterday, you said in one of your posts that only a few people have suffered because of AoL or something to this effect. This shows that you think it’s okay for a few people to suffer. Can you imagine what would happen to the law and order machinery of the world if people everywhere proceed with this notion? Can we think that it’s okay if one or two trains collide every day, or, if one or two planes crash every day? That it happens in one place or the other in the world is because of this mindset. If people strive for 100% compliance, they will achieve it. Those who do — have achieved excellence. Compare the track record of different airlines and you will see why some don’t have a track record of accidents and others do have a track record of accidents. Take a look at Vishwanathan Anand’s performance and track record.
Do you know the concept of a bonsai?
These cults make human beings a bonsai version of themselves.
They trim human aspirations. They mess with the pursuit of excellence. The pursuit of excellence is not easy so we encounter pain. However, the distress that pain and suffering cause must not lead us to a place from where a cult that turns us into a bonsai starts appearing to be the only solution to world peace. This is disastrous for any human being. Accepting people does not mean accepting lies and deception.
Let alone world peace, even inner peace cannot be achieved through a breathing technique. And, look at the effect of that breathing technique at a practical level — it has caused such intense suffering to people — (it may have started with a few people but in over thirty years, it includes several hundred people) — that people are pained by it.
Read the AoL advertisement that Anoop has posted. There’s plenty of space in it to add a note and say that SK will not work for such and such categories of people.
Sri Sri doesn’t know all SK practitioners who have suffered personally. Does that mean he did not abuse them ? You’ve got to be kidding, dude.
Lying about something as sacred as education and deceiving people by keeping them in the dark about the side effects of SK in whatever situations they might manifest — however rare or uncommon — is completely unacceptable at a purely humane level.
Think about the definition of the word “humane”. Apply it to yourself. Do you think you are a “humane” person? Figure out where you’re at and where you need to go. Work on that. You have the potential to be as spectacular as any other human being on earth.
God bless you, dude. I’ll continue to pray for you every day — not to a Guru — not to a mortal — but to God.
@anonymous June 19 1:49am: Yes, you are right in this post. Everything you’ve said is true. RS himself admitted that he was unpopular in school, until, I guess he decided he should have been popular, and so started lying about that as well as so many other things. Others I know who knew him (not well, as he had no friends) said that students avoided him because of his behaviors, and that he dropped out before graduation. These are educated people, living in Bangalore, who got their degrees. They are amazed that educated, sometimes intelligent people, would follow someone who makes up such lies about his background and lies, through dress and stage conduct, about his nature and habits in life. They just can’t understand it, and they took me to task when I followed him and Art of Living. The most amazing thing is that people in Bangalore don’t take even a little time to find out about him and his family, their background, and how they acquired their fortune. Even good, educated people don’t seem to know or care. Totally brainwashed. My take on it is this: peoples’ lives are so empty and devoid of any excitement or happiness, they will resort to anything, even fake happiness, promised by a liar, to get rid of their fear and sadness. I doubt seriously if most locals are seeking enlightenment, but, rather, happiness of some kind. They are fooled into believing that Art of Living and Ravi Shankar will provide these things. I was fooled into thinking there was enlightenment from knowing him. But when my eyes were opened, getting close and seeing what was really happening, I had to leave.