IMAGINE ‘Om Namah Shivay’ being chanted by Pakistani Muslims in Pakistan! And no, this has got nothing to do with the month of Shravan. It has something to do with the ‘Art of Living’ that 18 Muslim teachers are busy teaching in Pakistan!
Sounds surprising? But that’s what Rishi Nityapragya, a chemical engineer and one of the senior teachers of the world’s biggest NGO—Art of Living—informed the august gathering comprising management experts, senior bureaucrats, industry people and mediapersons at the talk organised by the Lucknow Management Association (LMA) on ‘Personal Improvement for Managers Through Art of Living’ at Golf Club on Wednesday evening. “The change came about when Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji visited Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The warmth which the people in Pakistan showed and the manner in which they took to the Art of Living course was to be seen to be believed and that’s not surprising for, everyone wants to love and be loved,” the Rishi said.
But what exactly is Art of Living? Nityapragya explained: “It’s a way of leading life where in you remain happy, calm and composed irrespective of the outer influences. The Sudarshan kriya is the base of it all!”
And, call it coincidence or whatever, Nityapragya got to demonstrate what he had just preached. Shailesh Upadhyaya, an employee with the Health Department, got up and levelled a few charges at the managers of the Art of Living course. He threatened to stage demonstrations outside the venue of the proposed Art of Living courses in the city if he did not get a satisfactory answer. Upadhyaya’s tone was harsh and consequently, the entire atmosphere appeared charged with negative energy.
Nityapragya managed to sport a smile through it all. He invited the agitated person for a discussion after the programme. And, having said that, he proceeded through the talk, taking other questions and giving answers in a very calm manner. “There are processes through which it is possible to remain at peace amidst outside turbulence,” Nityapragya reiterated and this time, sounded even more convincing.
What’s more, it’s not just managers and leaders who are taking the Art of Living course. “We have a programme, Prison SMART (Stress Management and Rehabilitation Training Programme), specially designed for the prison inmates.
{{/usCountry}}What’s more, it’s not just managers and leaders who are taking the Art of Living course. “We have a programme, Prison SMART (Stress Management and Rehabilitation Training Programme), specially designed for the prison inmates.
{{/usCountry}}Nityapragya introduced two persons—one a senior bureaucrat and the other a prominent person from the industry—who took the Art of Living workshop for decision makers couple of days back and discovered a change in their lives. The bureaucrat was divisional commissioner, Lucknow, RK Mittal and the industry person, Jayant Krishna, head of Tata Consultancy Service’s UP and Uttaranchal regions.
“I must admit that though I am a hard nut to crack, the workshop changed my whole approach to life. It has made me a much better person,” he said. And Mittal spoke at length about the wonders of the course. What’s the feeling like? Nityapragya answered. “It’s like a Rasogolla! You cannot experience it until you have tasted it,” he said.