CHICAGO: Yatra Tatra Sarvatra – here there and everywhere – wherever Indian spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar goes he is sure to get the warmest welcome and reception not only from members of the Indian community but also from mainstream Americans and elected officials.
This was more than evident when he decided to visit St Louis ahead of his trip to Chicago for Laxmi Puja and meditation workshop. St. Louis city council declared October 23 as Sri Sri Ravishankar Day in recognition of his immense contribution towards unity in the society and empowerment of women and youth.
Close to one thousand people including many officials in and around the area flocked to the St. Charles Convention Center where an evening meeting was organized by the local St Louis Facility of Art of Living. Officials from Webster University, Washington University, Compassionate St. Louis, as well as civic and community leaders besides the Mayor of Ferguson city, James Knowles, were in attendance.
Ferguson city has been in news recently in the wake of widespread riots and looting in the wake of killing of African American Mike Brown by a White policeman. Mayor Knowles came to seek blessing and advice from Sri Sri who had visited the troubled territories in Pakistan and Iraq “to bring together hostile parties caught in the hardest conflicts.”
The session was highlighted by a keynote address with Sri Sri talking about the roots of racism, stress and declining human values and outlining a path to removing these through culturing inner peace, and educating children to be part of a one world family.
He talked about the value of meditation in light of what’s happened in Ferguson, connecting the theme of inner peace to world peace. He then led a meditation with the huge crowd – many of whom who had never meditated before – that left the room of 1000+ in pin-drop silence
During the audience question & answer session that followed, Sri Sri explained, “It’s time we move from infant joy where we just want to get something all the time, to mature joy, where our concern is what we can give.”
He stated that there is much work to do in the community, and encouraged everyone to find how they can contribute in a positive way.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Guruji) was in Chicago from October 23 to 26 and one of the biggest draws was conducting Lakshmi Pooja on Hindu New Year day at Hilton Chicago. The Pooja on Friday October 24 was open to all and free of charge.
Attendance at the event was huge with the Hilton Pooja room jam packed. People from all walks of life such as political, entertainment, education, business, medical, IT (Information Technology), community leaders and most importantly students from universities and the US born second generation youngsters – participated in the event very enthusiastically.
Acharya Rohit Joshi of Northeastern Illinois University conducted religious Pooja ceremony propitiating Goddess Lakshmi following strict rituals. He pointed out that students, staff and community of Northeastern Illinois University have been fortunate to have Darshan of Guru Ji on campus couple of times in past. Nita Virani and Vinesh Virani also met Dean Murrell J. H. Duster for setting up Art of Living courses on campus of NEIU.
Addressing the gathering Guruji said, “Happy Diwali to all and Happy and Prosperous New Year to Gujaratis. Diwali is the festival of Light, Joy and Prosperity. Diyas are a symbol of real life joy which can be attained by banishing darkness of ignorance from your heart. Pooja renews our contact with divinity. Pooja is a process to awaken divinity.”
Acharya Rohit Joshi said that the festival of light known popularly as Deepawali means “that we must create the rows of enlightened persons. Guru Sri Sri Ji recommends that each one is supposed to light one lamp. When everyone gets enlightened, the entire universe will glow light dispelling the darkness of ignorance, he said.
Through his initiatives and addresses, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has consistently emphasized the need for reinforcing human values and recognizing humanity as our highest identity. Fostering interfaith harmony and calling for multi-cultural education as the remedy for fanaticism are significant parts of his efforts to achieve sustainable peace on our planet.
Lakshmi Pooja was celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm. Tiny divas were lit to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. Bhajans, devotional songs in praise of Goddess Lakshmi, were sung by a group of musicians and singers making the whole atmosphere spiritually uplifted. “Naivedya” of traditional sweets was offered to the Goddess, Annakut, comprising 108 foods and everybody had divine Darshan. Aarti was performed followed by distribution of packets of prasad.
There were people from different countries and communities of the world including lot of Americans, Japanese, Chinese, Mexicans who were not only present but took part in deliberations and danced to the tunes of Bhajans in the company of Guruji himself. This was a unique scene to witness.
Zankar Desai & Asian Media USA
