Learning Archery...before the battle!

A few years ago, I was listening to recording after recording of Sri Sri's talks and Q&A sessions on Youtube. I was not looking for anything specific - just listening. I was, and still am, always amazed at the number of questions he answers, and how each question is somehow also my personal question - some are questions that I am consciously aware of and want to ask Sri Sri, and others are questions that I am not consciously aware of, but ring a kind of "wake up" bell in my mind :)

I remember that back in those days, my life (both personal and professional) was moving smoothly and was soft and comfortable like a bed of roses. I had been admitted to a prestigious Ph.D. program, where (I was told), I was considered a promising candidate. My personal life was beautiful (I had met the love of my life - my hubby - around that time :)) Yet, I felt very strongly that my everyday practice of yoga and Sudarshan Kriya brought a certain depth to my life and to the joy that I experienced in everyday things. I was very grateful to my mom and my friends who had skilfully "forced" me into learning and practicing Sudarshan Kriya every day. But the question that came into my mind every now and then was - how can I know whether the spiritual path, the practice of Sudarshan Kriya, meditation, the beautiful practical wisdom from Sri Sri that I loved listening to, was really helping me become a better, more caring, more centered, more calm and more skilful person? This question, I was not able to find any answer to.

So that day, as I browsed through various recorded talks of Sri Sri on Youtube, I chanced upon one in which a person asked - "Guruji, when I am in the midst of a rage of temper, no knowledge comes to my rescue. No breathing technique, nothing helps. In such situations, what can I do to prevent or immediately calm down my temper and my mind?" Sri Sri shook his head with a compassion and love that is ever present in his eyes: "You can do nothing. It is like wanting to learn archery in a battlefield." (meaning you will lose the battle :))

I realised in this instant that the regular practice of Sudarshan Kriya and meditation during the best and smoothest times of our lives is like learning archery well before the battle starts. It helps us become stronger and more skilled to face the hardest times that we might face (later) in life. And inevitably, in this life, we all go through rough and smooth patches. In fact, many a times, I have experienced that the awareness and calmness that the regular practice of these techniques brings to my mind, helps me avert situations that might otherwise have become really nasty and difficult.

I remembered another time when a senior teacher of the Art of Living said - when someone is drowning in front of your eyes, you can't give them sermons about "why didn't you learn how to swim?" At that time, you have to help them come out of the water in what ever way possible. You have to encourage people to learn swimming well before they reach a (possible) situation where they may be close to drowning OR after you have helped them out the first time over.

It is interesting that soon after I heard this piece of wisdom from Sri Sri on Youtube, my life's circumstances took many unexpected turns - I went through several years of difficulties - shocks at the personal and professional front, and long periods of extremely bad physical health. In fact, those of you who know me most closely are perhaps aware that it is only now that I am slowly coming out of this phase and reverting to a "normal" life. Yet, I suspect that many of you who know me a little less closely, might be surprised to hear that I was going through any type of hell the last few years at all - right? ;) It is during these last few years that I have felt the greatest and deepest sense of gratitude to everyone who is responsible for bringing, and lovingly holding me on this path and ensuring that I keep up my breathing practice, and through it my high spirits, despite all odds.

Today, as I experience "normal" physical strength and energy levels after what seems like an eternity, I write to tell you all my dearest friends - don't postpone learning archery. You never know when you might need to go to battle!


Recipe to learn archery effortlessly:

1. Go to www.artofliving.org
2. Select your country and a city closest to you from the drop down menu on the top of the screen
3. Register for the next Art of Living Happiness Course
4. Join the course and watch how your life turns into a joy ride :)

Recipe for more short term joy:

Mixed Vegetables in Peanut-Coconut sauce:

Ingredients

Vegetables and spices:

10 medium sized broccoli florets
2 carrots (medium sized) - chopped into medium sized sticks
150 grams tofu - cut into medium sized cubes
20-25 fresh green beans - chopped into two or three pieces each
1 tsp Thai Curry Powder (or, if not available, use 1/2 tsp each of turmeric, coriander powder, and ginger powder)
I tbs oil

For the sauce:

1/2 cup peanuts (roasted ones taste better)
1 cup coconut milk (not too thick)
Soy sauce to taste (about 1 tablespoon is what I use)
1 Tablespoon sweet chilli sauce
1 inch piece of fresh ginger - grated.


Method:

In a high speed blender, mix and make a smooth thickish sauce using the peanuts, coconut sauce, soy sauce, chilli sauce and ginger. Set aside

In a large frying pan or wok, heat the oil, add the spices, stir and cook on medium to low heat for 30 seconds (or till you can smell the fragrance of the spices rising from the wok/pan), add the vegetables and cook on medium to high heat, while stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes. Add the peanut-cobnut sauce and mix well to quote all the vegetables. Turn down the heat to a minimum and cook in a closed pan for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and serve immediately with fresh Basmati rice.