Keep a watchful eye on the helpless.

Today we read about the abduction of a four-day-old baby from the living room of his house by a wild monkey. It fled with the baby up the roof, bit the baby and dropped it to the ground where it died.

Such incidents may be rare but the possibility of it happening is always present. Nowadays, animals and humans present a danger to the helpless. There are always humans ready to pounce to profit from whatever is available. There are always desperate people who may just be looking for the opportunity to get hold of a few ringgit. As for the monkeys, their foraging area is getting smaller as man move further into the outskirts to develop areas which was once jungle, the home of monkeys and wild animals.

Up the hill near Taman Semarak where I have my daily exercise, more and more monkeys are seen, taking the fruits on the trees in that area. When the fruits are all gone, I wonder where they are going to get their food. With food exhausted, what would these monkeys do? They would venture into housing estates to get fruits planted by the residents and when those are no longer sufficient, hunger might drive them into kitchens and houses. So, the monkey which went into that infant's living room could have been searching for its much needed food and found the poor helpless 'creature' a possible meal. The cries of the infant upon being bitten could have frightened it to release him/her to have him/her fall all the way down to the ground.

It is time we think of the monkeys and other animals which have been deprived of their habitat. There must be some kind of plan to give sufficient space for them. We ought not to be too greedy, thinking only of humans only. In fact there are buildings that are not fully utilised. Do we really need those buildings. Perhaps some of the building could be built with multi-purposes in mind. Whatever it is, we should think of the animals which are also creations of God and make sure they have a place under our sun.

Do we ever forget the love that is ours to treasure always?

It was at a gathering on the death of a parent of one of our friends, that someone brought up the topic of feelings lying dormant in us, how behind that mask of sweet joy and happiness could be memories of some beloved person who had passed away.

There is so much truth in that statement that It instantly took me back to my beloved wife and two beloved friends. The two friends are still very much alive but my beloved dear is lost to me forever. What remains are the sweet memories of the time I was fortunate to share with her.

Although, like all humans, we had problems here and there from time to time, we sustained our love; nay, it grew stronger, especially during the last few months of her life. It was during those months that we really understood how much we cared for each other, how close we were, closer than any other person could be with her or with me. We realised that nothing can ever be as close as the relationship between a husband and a wife.

Looking back, those could have been the saddest, most painful moments of our relationship but it was also the most comfortable, most reassuring, most wonderful togetherness of our relationship. Although I had to sleep for a few months, sometimes in a chair with my head on my arms beside her hospital bed or a reclining armchair, those were moments when we felt our love for each other the most.

Sometimes we do not realise how much our other half meant to us until we know that we could be separated by death very soon. Time becomes so precious when we understand that the next second could be the last we have together.

Therefore, I am always saddened to hear of petty quarrels that often threaten to wreak a relationship or a marriage. If only those people know how much they should appreciate each other more. A little appreciation here and there each day could have brought a togetherness and love that can only bring more happiness into our lives.
There is so much to live for especially when there is someone to share it with.

Therefore it is not strange that true love never dies but forever remains in us, a private part of our lives, glimpses of which others may see from time to time when emotions overwhelm us. Even though such memories can be sad but they enrich and strengthen us for life to come.

From Sound to Silence.

daaaaaaaaaa





It was a night of music and songs with four international and some local AOL singers. Beautiful was this night of comradely, joyous, come-together fun for more than a thousand AOL members.

The four international singers were male lead singer Srinivas Piratla from Singapore, female lead singer Dolgion Tserendaava From Mongolia, Drummer Umesh Prabhu from Mongolia and talam (a small cymbal-like musical instrument)player Jayanth Narayanan from Singapore. Together with other local singers, they made the night of music and world peace meditation gathering a night to remember.

We were at Dewan Milenium, Kepala Batas, Butterworth on the last day of the year 2009. As one of the volunteers, I met the other volunteers well before the start of the evening's programme. We had our duties and we went off to get the 'Yes' teenagers ready for their 'peace' performance, put up AOL T-shirts and books for members to purchase, attend to food and drinks, direct vehicles to parking lots and the welcoming of members and the invited guests.

The evening started with our sponsors lighting the candle of peace to start the evening. With the singers on stage, we sang bhajans which are sanskrit songs, allowing the music to move us to stages of joy as the relaxing atmosphere took us to graceful swaying of our bodies and clapping in time with the music.

Then, as the evening wore on, the mood moved the participants to dance among ourselves. Smiles, laughter and joy filled the Milenium hall as bliss and happiness permeates the air with the dance of joy.

Later, the people cooled down to sit, close their eyes and meditate for world peace. After the meditation, our teenagers went on stage to form the word 'PEACE' with candles as the song 'We are the world' filled the hall.

Eventually, reluctantly, we had to wish our AOL brothers and sisters "Good night and a Happy New Year." before moving out back to our states to spread the words of peace and joy and as well as create a divine society among our other brothers and sisters who have yet to become AOL members.

Once again AOL members came together as one to fulfill a worthwhile cause, this time in the name of world peace. Once again, we experience the love and joy of One World Family.

The Power of ONE

Here comes the early arrivals.


Food and drinks are prepared for those who come from afar.


The Sungai Petani volunteers have put up a screen to show Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, his vision and his work.


Waiting to start the long Kriya.


However, people keep pouring in and the numbers exceeded one thousand.


The more than a thousand people entering the hall.
The more than a thousand people focused their attention on the AOL teachers just before the 'Full Moon Meditation' The hall was packed with minds of one goal, meditate for peace in our world. After the meditation, AOL members renew their friendship before departing.
And it was time to call it a night.


The day was Thursday, the 6th of August 2009. Volunteers gathered early to make it to the Municipal Hall of Butterworth so as to ensure the hall was ready, food for those who were hungry after having to travel long distances to reach the place, a screen and a speaker system for disseminating information on the Art of Living were ready for the evening’s ‘A Thousand People To Meditate For Peace’.

Before that evening, there had been intermittent rain for the last seventy-two hours. It was a clear evening, with the moon appearing as the evening wore on.. Obviously, God is with us in our endeavour.

When everything was ready, at a little past seven, AOL members and their friends came, welcome by the enthusiastic, smiling, clapping volunteers who had gathered at the entrance.
Members of AOL went for their long Kriya while the non-members were entertained by the Sungai Petani people to dances and songs as well as information about our founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shanker and The Art of Living Foundation.

Then, at nine o’clock, everyone gathered in the hall to do a breathing exercise and the ‘Moon Meditation’.

The gathering was a great success. People from Kangar,Alor Star, Sungai Petani, Baling, Penang Island, of course Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam, Taiping, Teluk Anson, and even as far as Kula Trengganu came for the gathering for peace.

Success, in fact, is inevitable when it is done with a noble cause. It was a gathering for peace, a factor so desirable in the preservation of orderliness and calm, without which there can only be chaos in the lives of all. Without peace, there can only be uncertainty, restlessness and confusion. There will be suffering, pain and death, not just for ourselves but also for the very people we know and love.

With a worthwhile universally desirable goal in mind, it is easy to get like-minded people to be committed to the purpose. With the single purpose in mind, such committed people can even be selfless in consistently performing whatever tasks are necessary to achieve success. Every person in the group or organization would certainly give of their best to reach this goal.

In this kind of group, we see the power of unity in achieving an aim. When the goal is big enough, worthwhile enough, each member of the group or organization will strive to give of his/her best. The built up energy or force would gather momentum, gathering positive action, enthusiasm and a strong desire to work towards the particular goal.

It’s one of the greatest, most wonderful experience. to be engulfed in the positive attitude, the enthusiasm and the happiness of achievement. You have to be in it to understand and appreciate the force of many united as ONE.

Art Excel: The fun way to develop.

Between the 4th and 7th of June, The Art of living Centre in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia held the Art Excel course for children below the age of twelve. It was four wonderful days of knowledge, exercise, games and fun. The above video shows one of the activities which brought the children so much team-work, so much joy and so much happiness during a learning process.(The teachers, volunteers and children spoke in Mandarin and English.)

Knowledge is one of the greatest thing on earth. With it, the future is ever so much brighter. Ignorance is swept aside. Knowledge improves relationships between peoples, countries, religions and cultures and they fall victim less often to fears, doubts and misunderstanding which are the results of false beliefs and presentation.

In Art Excel, children are taught breathing techniques which help them to overcome stress and depression.There is so much stress in the home and schools.

In an increasingly competitive world, competition for marks and grades in examinations puts great stress on young minds, with disastrous results. Yet, they seem to have become an undesirable necessity as examination certificates ensure our young children of places for tertiary eduaction. As stress become more and more unbearable, it's only right that parents give their children a way to relieve stress.

There are many ways to remove stress and one of them is through the breathing techniques taught in The Art of Living which has centres in more than 140 countries throughout the world.

In the course they are taught, through many interesting, enjoyable situations, ways to tackle life's problems. They learn to play and work as a team. They are given the ability to express themselves as individuals as well. They are given the opportunity to discover fun in learning. They are encouraged to discover the usefulness of knowledge.

On the night before the last day, they slept away from home. It was a kind of initiation into independence. They had to cooperate with each other to clean up a place and get themselves clean and tidy for the night without a mummy or a daddy to run to for anything necessary.

Besides all that they have learned, that which is even more important is the stronger, better and happier persons they have beome in those four days.

The power of togetherness.

Take a look around your area and you see people gather in groups in churches, temples, mosques, association premises and societies to act, practice or perform together. All these people understand the power of the group, the power of togetherness.

Take a meditation center where a group of people sit cross-legged on mats to practice. Why do they gather away from the comfort of their own homes? Imagine the inconvenience of having to dress up, travel a certain distance and wait for all members of the group to come together for the practice. It’s time consuming! Right? No. The togetherness, the vibrations and the cosmic energy generated are worth all those efforts and more. Sorry. Maybe, you do not understand what I am rambling about if you have not done meditation before.

Then, perhaps, we could go into a church or a temple or a mosque or any other religious prayer hall. As for me, I have had my experiences in many places, entering whichever prayer session I am allowed to attend. I feel His presence wherever I go. I feel the powerful cosmic energy in the many places I have been to. And the vibrations of such forces resonate beautifully as I sing hymns in churches, follow chants in temples and sing satsangs in The Art of Living. You see, I am a monotheist. I belong to God. In Him I believe.

Of course, when it comes to association meetings and society gatherings, there is usually only the togetherness, a collective consciousness, felt. The energy is still there but it is not as vibrant as that which is felt in holy places or in meditation. Togetherness is important. The energy is stronger. Without it, no proposal can get off the ground. Nothing can be achieved. It will just die a failure. However, when two or more persons decide on a course, things start to happen.

Take your own marriage. If merely one of you had wanted to marry, no marriage could have taken place. You will end up a frustrated lover! Like they say, it takes two to tango.

For proposals to be put to a vote, you need two members. For action to happen, you may need more than two. For success in any action, the whole group has to agree.

Gangsters abound in quite a number of towns. They are able to exist because of their number. The courage to do wrong is difficult to generate. The guilty conscience in everyone is too strong. Only when there is a group, can they be bold enough to commit sins and wrongs.

Next, we ought to think of using togetherness to generate a reading habit or a studying habit. (Or any other useful activity.) The library has an excellent conducive atmosphere for reading and studying as it is where people enter individually but when seated at a place, they form a group. When others are reading and studying, the desire to read, the urge to study are greater. The atmosphere exists.

Even in your own home, although the number may less, the same atmosphere can be created for the children to study if parents sit down to read or study too. Thus, the family that works together improves the chances for success.

Let us face it! Who is going to study if papa is watching television and mummy is cooking? The sound from the television will lead the children’s vision to the tele-. And with the aroma of some delicious food distracting the children’s attention, how can there be any studying?

So success in all things is greater when everyone moves together as one.