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.