SHARING INCREASES YOUR JOY
Swami Sadyojathah
For some, life is a constant battle of ups and downs. For others, life is an art. According to Swami Sadyojathah, International Director at the Art of Living Foundation, it is easy to find the art of living. The Foundation is a nonprofit, educational and humanitarian organisation founded by world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual teacher Gurudev Sri Ravi Shankar specialises in familiarising the Sudarshan Kriya Yoga technique among its followers. Although he was born to the Kochi Royal family, Swami Sadyojathah, fondly know as Swamiji was interested in learning how to find the ultimate joy and happiness in life. At present he is also involved in training teachers at the Foundation and teaching advanced meditation courses.
During a recent visit to Sri Lanka, he conducted a spiritual discourse coupled with music and meditation in order to promote peace in the country. In a brief conversation with Daily Mirror Life, Swamiji shared his thoughts on why he wanted to become a Swami and how our breath and emotions are interconnected.
Q WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A SWAMI?
When I experienced this programme myself I realised that these aren’t just concepts but they are practical realities. They were about how to live life. When you appreciate something it becomes an art. For example if you’re watching a dance programme and if you like it, it becomes an art for you. Similarly when we begin to appreciate our own life, life becomes an art. But we are not able to appreciate our lives because of stress. When we are able to overcome this stress, we experience joy and happiness. When I experienced this total relaxation and found joy and happiness in me, I thought I should share it with other people. Sharing increases your joy. If you want to be happy and joyful you should share it with others. This is how I started and for the past 27 years I have been travelling to various parts of the world and have met people in various cultures.
Q SO YOU WEREN’T DISTRACTED BY THE LUXURIES YOU HAD?
I feel that I have a global luxury now.
Q WHY DO YOU FOCUS ON COMMUNISM IN YOUR CONCEPT?
Kerala is the first place in the world where a communist party came into power through an election. Still, the communist party is ruling in Kerala. Somehow I got inclined towards that ideology where it would be good to have a world where everyone is equally treated and where everyone is happy and joyful. That was my attraction towards communism. After many years when someone asked Guruji if communists could be spiritual he said, “When communism originated it had three goals; to check the fanaticism in religion, to check the greed in capitalists and to care and share.” These are ideal goals but only a spiritual person can be a true communist.
Q WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING TRAUMA, WE THINK PSYCHOLOGY IS THE ONLY WAY OUT. WHY SHOULD PEOPLE ALSO OPT FOR SPIRITUAL DISCOURSES SUCH AS ART OF LIVING?
If I have a problem and you have given time for me, naturally I will feel some calm. But it doesn’t sustain. This is where we need some technique to sustain this calm. Breathing is the connecting link and that is nothing new. When you’re happy and joyful, inhalation is longer; when you’re sad, exhalation is longer and when you’re angry you breathe fast. So this is a clear indication that breath and emotions are connected. As of now it could be a one way traffic but it could be made two-way traffic by controlling the breath and handling the emotions.
Q WHY SHOULD PEOPLE INCORPORATE THIS TECHNIQUE IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES?
Even 20-25 years back, meditation was considered as a luxury. But now the situation is such that meditation and yoga have become a necessity. When people say they don’t have time to engage in it, I don’t accept it as an excuse. This is not extra time. It is an investment. The deeper you rest, you can be more dynamic. When you’re able to relax for a few minutes you will be able to do more work. To shift from working hard to working smart, this relaxation is required.
Now the situation is such that meditation and yoga have become a necessity. When people say they don’t have time to engage in it, I don’t accept it as an excuse. The deeper you rest, you can be more dynamic. When you’re able to relax for a few minutes you will be able to do more work. To shift from working hard to working smart, this relaxation is required