Back when I took yoga classes regularly there was one teacher whose classes were too early on a Saturday morning for me, but who was one of the best teachers around. She was great at explaining things, had really excellent form, was really present in the moment … oh yeah, and she was really hot.
Given how incredibly healthy she seemed, I was surprised to find out that she was 8 years HIV+ . There are a number of reasons for her health – she was an athlete before she was infected, she was on ARVs, but she gave a lot of credit to her yoga practice. She taught a class for the HIV+ which probably increased the quality and also possibly the quantity of their lives.
I concede up front that Yoga can be a very important thing for people whose lives have great challenges (as American PC-speak would put it).
Still, there’s a time and a place for everything. I’m a bit weirded out by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar‘s proposal to bring Yoga to the war torn Iraqi city of Najaf.
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That does look like Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I) to me |
Maybe I’m reacting a bit harshly. The Art of Living foundation does work in a number of different war zones teaching yoga as part of their “peace work.” It’s just that people’s needs are so large, and given the opportunity costs involved I would rather see efforts directed towards the base of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. In short, I can’t imagine teaching corpse pose to people whose main worry is avoiding becoming a corpse themselves, teaching the Art of Living to those whose worry is the Art of Dying.
On the other hand, I’m far more favorably inclined towards the Indian Army’s yoga classes in Lebanon:
In the village of Ebel es-Saqi, in the farm country of Southern Lebanon, a new subject is being taught at the local middle school: yoga. The instructors are from the Indian army, members of the U.N. peacekeeping force. Three times a week, Lt. Col. Rajesh Kumar of the 1st Battalion Punjab Regiment instructs about 50 students and their teachers at the school. [Link]
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p>There’s no substitution here – you have peacekeepers providing security already, so yoga classes are a bonus, a way to win over hearts and minds. They’re also teaching yoga in a post-conflict situation rather than a hot war.
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p>The philosophic impulse behind these two programs seems very similar:
Kumar pioneered the popular classes based on exercises he requires for his troops. “The man who is eternally at peace can contribute to peacekeeping much more,” he says. [Link]
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p>but the execution is far better in the second case. I’m happy to learn warrior pose from a warrior. Especially if they bring Mithai afterwards 
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Winning hearts, minds and stomachs Punjabi style |
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not a big fan of ravi shankar. but have to take exception to your comment. yoga(of which asanas are one element – asanas are wrongly called Yoga in US which is another discussion in itself) is one way and probably a great way to help individuals deal & come to terms with the carnage that’s going on around them. just that you don’t find it doing any help should not be the reason to cast doubts on an effort which might have great potential.
Only if, the $500B a year war machine would do “its” job….well,let leave it for some other time.
SSR teaches what he knows best. And if that helps what is the problem?
You have missed the bigger story – about the peacekeeping operations of the Indian Armed Forces. The Indian Army is the first force in the world to set up a training school for peacekeepers (it’s in Haryana) and now it is attracting the attention of many other Armies(?) There is a well developed strategy honed through years of dealing with troubled populations in India. The IA runs the largest network of craft and IT training centers in the Kashmir Valley, regularly organises recruitment melas, flower shows, craft melas etc., all with a view to returning the common folk to a more genteel way of life that war and terror always shatters. This has worked very well in Somalia (where the women in the interiors would not let the IA doctors and nurses leave for India), and many other parts of the world. I am not surprised the IA is playing out the same role in Lebanon.
apparently…you missed the point. $500B a year war machine is US army/navy/airforce!! only if!!!!
It’s about the hierarchy of needs – first take care of somebody’s safety, shelter, food and water before you do something else.
My guess is that “SSRS” probably feels that yoga will transform the entire situation and make peace more likely. I’m more of a skeptic and a materialist. If I’m going to take yoga in a war zone, I would rather be taught by somebody who protects me and brings me jalebi!
You’re right, it’s probably not harmful. The question is, is it as helpful as something else you could do with the money?
For example, I’m sure sending a team of pedicurists to Najaf would help raise self esteem, make people feel better. But it would be more appropriate to spend the same money on medical supplies than nail polish.
Never understood the battlefield practicality of the bright blue UN helmets/turbans. Probably symbolic of the UN itself.
This is interesting? What is it called and when was it founded? I’m not sure if it is the first such school though:
Not sure..why this heirarchy should stop SSRS to contribute in ways he knows & thinks is best. Least of all, it should not call your skepticism. Anyone, anyhow – can help people in distress should be welcomed & encouraged.
The responsibility of taking care of the hierarchy is morally upto Uncle Sam, who in the first place is the cause of such precipitation in hierarchy of needs in Iraq. ($500B remember that)
Suraj:
As I said above
If you’re giving money, why not give it the way it helps most? A gift that is more about what you want than what the other person needs (especially when they have pressing needs) is a selfish gift indeed.
ennis..
Firstly..an absurd comparison.
Secondly..you cannot be the judge of what can be the best way to give the embattled iraqis. US spends $1B a day with no tangible benefits. Why not try something different in addition to $1B a day of tax payers money?
Thirdly…its a cheap shot to express skepticism almost being on the verge of criticism,for something that is being done with benign intentions.
If you don’t like…either stay mum or let your actions speak louder.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. One could reasonably argue that Bush’s intentions were pure; if they were, would that stop you from criticizing his outcomes?
The question isn’t what does he intend (although I criticize that too in comment #8), but what does he accomplish.
My mom teaches yoga but unfortunately she is not formally trained and therefore not very good. I think Ravi Shankar is excellent, he sounds pretty awesome on my sound system..
But in response to this article it is kind of silly to take people who are trained to kill and tell them to teach yoga to young kids.
I think Ravi Shankar is excellent, he sounds pretty awesome on my sound system.. Ravi Shankar and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar are two different fellas…….one is a musician, and another is a yoga/ spiritual guru
I have always been skeptical of SSRS since I ended up at his ashram in Bangalore in 2002 (long story). I found their methods of being charitable very questionable. First, we (volunteers) sorted through used clothes donated to the ashram. Then we drove with their team to a slum where they gathered everyone to first sing hymns and bhajans in honor of SSRS (full cultish with his photo in a frame there). And then lined the slum dwellers up and basically counted to three and set them loose.
Five minutes later, the clothes were gone. It was pretty pathetic to promote that in the name of development. Plus in the ashram there are all these trainings which ridiculed members of our team.
They do have the place hooked up though. The rooms were nice, expensive looking and looking like they were meant for the foreigners who were going to give them $$.
As far as him teaching Yoga in Iraq- I am sketched out by it. Because of my bad experience with his group. But anything that could potentially help the PTSD that is probably hitting those folks would be helpful. {Although it may be hard to go to an ashram when there are bombs going off everywhere}
damn..another pathetic attempt to draw an anology..i have to admit a very specious one. your example/analogy falls short on many levels.
anyways..don’t limit the benefits of yoga(asanas) to your limited knowledge of what yoga(asanas) can accomplish. moreover, its upto iraqi’s either to embrace or reject it…based on their heirarchy of needs of the moment. with mayhem outside, an attempt to help them to attain a semblance of peace of mind within the recluse of their homes..is a laudable venture in itself.
do not try to frame what the needs are and which/what might be the best/right solution, from your perspective. give an alternative way, a chance.
I understand what you were trying to say when you referred to Maslow’s hierarchy, but you should know that there is very little evidence actually supporting his theory. It makes intuitive sense, but researchers have not really been able to find concrete proof that the world really works that way.
Sigh. Art of Living. To think that a debate on this “org” was reasons enough for me to lose a best friend over.
Ennis, usually I’m nodding my agreement when reading your posts, however, on this one I’m disagree completely. The only time Yoga is not useful is if you’re dying of hunger, or a bomb has exploded in your face, or you haven’t slept in a week or something like that. For most other situations it helps move your mind and focus so as to improve your mental state. I’d think that living in a place as Iraq where you’re not dying of hunger or thirst, but you’re being driven batty and paranoid of all the suddenly erupting explosions and violence, a couple of hours a week of Yogasan can help immensely to quite your panicked, stressed out mind.
As to why they don’t help with something else, who’s to say what will help now. Any foreign invasive intervention only seems to make the situation worse. Yoga seems to be the only program that’s focused on less aggressive, tension-easing aspects of life.
The thing that I don’t like about the ‘Art of Living’ is the secrecy of their methods. Before attending their very costly courses you have to sign a confidentiality statement prohibiting discussing any of the methods outside of the course. When I quizzed some of the AoL guys about it they claim that it is for our own safety etc etc. In some ways AoL reminds of the Scientology with the expensive courses and pushy volunteers and person worship.
Many sadhanas are meant to be kept secret in Hinduism because that increases the power of it.
Well, yoga, when perfected can have a two tiered effect;
2 ending the cycle of birth and death and attaining moksha whereby Maslow’s needs are obliterated forever.
The Indian Army’s training centre began in sept 2000.
Its called CUNPK
http://indianarmy.nic.in/arunpk.htm
Ennis, yoga can be a potent force for peace. Let’s see you kill somebody while in downward facing dog posture.
That’s a low, low. blow – v.v.low. SSRS charges a lot for his courses. But since he admits to following certain ancient Dharmic inspired traditions, you can always turn to the entire raft of Dharmic inspired alternatives, eitherr if you cannot afford it, or you simply don’t want to spend that sort of money. There are still a fair number of gurus who will teach you for free. SSRS is trying to build a new sampradaya and his own following, so it is not surprising he would look to charge for his services. If you take a guru like Baba Ramdev or Bangaru Adigalar (both of whom offer v.different traditions) their adherents come from all walks of life – the richest to the most humble. Hindu guru led groups in India have to walk a very tight line. The moment the group reaches critical mass or begins to take up larger issues that affect Hindus or offer social services on a large scale or the founder passes away, the Indian government steps in and tries to take over the institution. The Ramakrishna Mission, the Real Angel of Calcutta, at one time was so vexed with government interference in its affairs that it moved the Courts to be recognised as a non-Hindu institution. Because you see Hindus cannot run educational institutions to serve the interests of Hindus as minorities can in India. So while the Church of South India develops its properties into commercial space, and the Wakf Boards have unquestioned power to develop their properties, Hindu run institutions have no such powers. Now running a temple requires money and management. Hindus as a rule are struck by the intricacies of mandir management only when they visit these institutions outside India.
Then this might explain why it appears Hindu groups don’t do as much “charity” type work in India as non-Hindu groups. I thought it was under-reporting, but it appears that beurarcracy is more the cause than anything.
Why doesn’t the government free that up?
RIGHT!?!?!?!?
I mean, if we’re PAYING, why not pay a cheaper rate of $30 for a CUDDLE PARTY is ALL I’m saying!!!!!
Maybe AOL has high rates coz they use that money to finance all their programs for poor people.
Art of Living has many levels, there’s a sort of short-term course that works much like a relaxation/self-help program for busy execs, cliches and all, and there’s the longer-term cultish version that sucks in a lot of people who then devote a lot of time to the group and keep a picture of SSRS and do puja to it and pester everyone they know to join in, and seem to lose their heads about it. It’s sucked in some people I know, but I also have relatives who’ve done the two-week version and that seems harmless enough. You can read about it in this masters thesis.
I agree with Ennis about helping people in ways that focus on THEIR needs instead of yours. There’s certainly something to be said for yoga and relaxation or meditation of any kind in a conflict situation, but there are tons of NGOs and social workers and child psychologists who I think, with all due respect to yoga fans, are doing more important work. I’m not a fan of SSRS and his general outlook and culty methods and I find his “philosophy” to be a typical mish-mash of self-help cliches and eastern-spirituality catch-phrases. But hey, if SSRS wants to go out there and teach yoga, and if he does no harm, I have nothing against it.
Yes, that might true. But the idea that you need money to unlock such secrets makes me queasy. That reminds of all the charlatans/gurus that cheat the gullible folks out of their hard earned money with all the mumbo jumbo about God back in India.
PG: Then this might explain why it appears Hindu groups don’t do as much “charity” type work in India as non-Hindu groups. I thought it was under-reporting, but it appears that beurarcracy is more the cause than anything.
From what I keep hearing,Tirupati Temple gets cash/kind donations almost as much as the Vatican…while the Catholic Church has hospitals/schools/clinics/colleges in almost every major/minor town in the WORLD, Tirupati doesnt seem to have much of any charity work going except in Tirupati…yes,maybe it’s the damn Indian bureaucracy again!
On another note,why does this Ravi Shankar guy need to have two ‘Sri’s in his name? Even Gandhiji was content with one ‘mahatma’ title…he certainly didn’t see the neeed for people to address him as Mahatma Mahatma Gandhi while jumping and chanting his name…This SSRS guy has well documented links to the RSS in India who are like the Storm troopers of the Nazi Party…When Edward Luce, an american author who is based in India with his Indian wife wrote an article critical of this SSRS guy, an RSS functionary called him and threatened him that SSRS was displeased with his article…you can read more of this guy’s antics in Edward Luce’s book ‘India:Inspite of the Gods’
People who have ‘crossed over’ (read “who in early childhood – in India and elsewhere – had that burning desire to use foreign onomatopoeia* – eh, pah, huh, ouch ..instead of the spontaneous ‘baba go’, ‘ma go’ – these are examples … of spontaneous Bengali”) start trembling with rage (and confusion – not of the ABD variety, but of a more general conceptual kind) when they see buying and selling of age old experiences (which obviously are not patentable by the arrogant individual claims to knowledge) in the “free market”.
These crossovers will consistently and repeatedly try to pass their dumb comments on the ‘supply side’ of these cultural practices, and educate the people on the ‘demand side’ what is a legitimate demand, thus revealing they are nothing but totalitarians, and will not let people be. They will constantly try to intrude. They will not let people have their way of life.
A sequel to Edward’s book needs to be written: “The strange rise of the white race” – and put the ball in the court of those who are enjoying the fruits of the bloody battles of their warrior forefathers. Edward, we are very surprised at the strange rise of your race. Please explain. (There is a demand for it in the free market)
First those donations are strictly voluntary. Second the head of the Temple is appointed by the state govt and always a politician or a close relative to a politician. Third they do some charity work around the state and maintain lot of educational institutes.
OK, so that’s where all the money goes…..
Jyotsana:
I am quite surprised, I didn’t know that. I had heard in the past vaguely something about unequal rules for religious orgs in India and how it was loaded against Hinduism, but I dismissed it as general cry-wolf. Do you know why this is? Why can’t Hindu orgs be simply left alone much like Christian or Muslim orgs?
OTOH, this really shouldn’t be surprising. A lot of Indian constitution and legislation is a mish-mash of artificial protection environments created for various slices of population. I guess what would be really surprising would be the govt not messing with affairs.
Protection of minorities?
Some historical perspective. Most of the temples were given large lands by the local kings/zamindars long before 1947. So a clique of Brahmins/Pujaris had the power to spend the revenue generated from these lands. Congress party decided that these Brahmins/Pujaris shouldn’t have this control as they are likely to abuse it for their own caste. Also there was the issue of not admitting lower castes into the temples. So govt and politicians wanted control over the temples to solve these issues and not to let one caste to control access to temples. Minority organizations didn’t have these problems as they are more homogeneous than the Hindus.
Whom should the govt give control of TTD to if they decide not to meddle with the temples? There will be 100s of factions claiming the right to control the temples and it will be a major mess than it is right now.
But such laws shouldn’t have been applied to modern Hindu orgs but once politicians get control of something they are not going let it go. Govt only expands never contracts unless there is some crisis (such as 90s Balance of Payments crisis resulting in liberalization).
Ravishankar’s org does Sudarshan Kriya, which is a modified form of Pranayama developed by Ravishankar. The technique seems to be pretty effective in relieving stress (just like any version of Pranayama) and is much more compact and easy to use for busy people in the modern world. Their organization is very publicity oriented and seems to promote Sri Sri’s personality more than would be considered appropriate. One way they promote themselves is by going into conflict areas and promoting Sudarshan Kriya and this Iraq thing is no exception.
I don’t know who came up first with the phrase ‘art of living’, but if you need a more profound, self-less, less pushy, non-personality oriented and more demanding Art of Living, then check out Vipassana. Unlike Sri Sri’s Kriya this is more demanding and not for everyone as they require a 10 days course for starters, without asking for money up front and is free if you choose not to give anything. This is a powerful technique and would recommend it to anyone with the time and inclination.
Kiran Bedi had introduced Vipassana in Tihar Jail with success. The word means ‘insight’. Reconviction rates of prisoners in many countries is proof enough that however much discipline is imposed by the state – Bentham’s panopticon, or Foucault’s surveillance – reformation has to be from within. Another of those weird mystic solutions. I don’t get it.
If the fundamental concepts of yoga are taught – transcendence beyond the body and samsara chakra, then that could help people in war zones immensely. To develop a sort of detachment from one’s body, ego, and ego affiliations such as family, country, culture, etc. When one is surrounded by death and suffering on a daily basis, being equipped with a sound philosophical detachment from it all can bring a sense of neutral peace.
“When one is surrounded by death and suffering on a daily basis, being equipped with a sound philosophical detachment from it all can bring a sense of neutral peace.”
PG: You know this how ? We’re talking about mothers in war zones concerned about the welfare of their babies, not samurai or old school Malayalee chaver squads
I think the Lebanese effort by the Indian peace keepers makes sense, it does not appear as if the class is at the expense of something else. Furthermore the participants seem to enjoy it. AoL in Iraq on the other hand….hospitals in the US Red States must recast their yoga/meditation into “mindfulness” or insight practices to avoid offending the religious sensibilities of the local populations and these dudes thought it would be well received in IRAQ ?! Sometimes well intentioned people project their need hierarchy on others. I have volunteered with food kitchens where the other volunteers were hung up on “organic” vegetables
If you want to learn about why large Hindu temples (note: the large ones, not all, as the us-poor-Hindus-oppressed-in-our-own-land crowd would have you believe) come under government supervision, read Donald E. Smith’s India as a Secular State. The general idea is that many of these temples were seen to have a public role, which is why people would donate to them and local bigwigs and rajas would serve as their patrons, so when there were complaints of mismanagement or graft, people would approach the local ruler, and then later colonial government and law enforcement to mediate; the British colonial administration took over many of the responsibilities of rulers for large festivals and processions and temples, and the Indian state has continued this to some extent (cf. staggering amounts spent on logistics and housing for sadhus and security for Kumbh Melas). There were also some celebrated cases triggered by the denial of entry into temples for lower caste folks, which led to the passage of the Temple Entry Laws. It’s a subject of endless debate, this question of whether the state has a responsibility to treat religious institutions that frame the lives of its citizens in very important ways as “public interest” spheres and therefore liable to state intervention. And of course, the large pots of money available in the large temples are very tempting indeed for our dear babus.
The Uttar Pradesh government spent Rs. 170 crores for the `Ardh Kumbh Mela’ at Prayag in January 2007 (it was started by King Harshavardhana of Ujjain). Number of people attended: more than 1 crore. The stagggering amount spent per person: Rs. 170 crore/ 1 crore = Rs. 170 [Link]
Amount spent by Indian government on Haj pilgrims: Rs. 300 crore for 1 lakh Hajis. Miniscule amount spent per person: Rs. 300 crore/ 1 lakh = Rs. 30,000 [Link]
There are two solutions:
To be at par, lower the denominator in 1 (not only from the sample going to these Melas, but from the entire population)
For the miniscule amount spent in 2 to match the staggering amount spent in 1, increase the denominator in 2 (not only for the sample going for Haj, but for the entire population)
These Hindutva people at BJP, talking of Uniform Civil Code, are the culprits.
Law and order is a state subject. Stating that the GOI is doing Hindus a favour by making sure of law and order is silly. Coming to logistics- how many Hindu temples across India have the GOI on their board, with a more secular than thee babu on the board deciding where the funds go? Compare that to whats spent on these jamborees and it becomes obvious, that the dice are loaded. My dad, FYI, was a major rep from the civil admin during one of the Melas from the GOI side- simple point is that the admin does what it does not out of some sense of responsibility, but because it doesnt want the elections to be affected. Similarly, the Haj, the quotas are all directed towards votebanks. All these days in the BIMARU states, the Muslim community, the SC/STs and the Evangelical orgs voted as distinct groups. Hence they were targetted. When i refer to SC/STs – I mean the arbitrary divisions created by the Brits and followed by the GOI. When the BJP/RSS started playing the same game and targetting the tribals, it was deemed communal. But till then, if any evangelical Dayal type openly supported “secular forces”- euphemism for the Congress, hey thems the good things folks! The funny thing is that all this blatant opportunism directed against the majority community- telling them that they arent a majority but “castes”, by playing 1 group against the other, is merely causing a revival of religious based identification amongst hitherto liberal hindus. Good job GOI.
“Then this might explain why it appears Hindu groups don’t do as much “charity” type work in India as non-Hindu groups”
You are on a slippery slope here. Combining religion with charity is only marginally better than combining religion with politics—this is the criticism levelled at evangelists.
The Art of Living/Sri Sri is not teaching asanas in Iraq except as part of a larger program. There are many relief groups in Iraq, but Art of Living is offering trauma relief. THey studied the effect of the programs when they were given to tsunami survivors and found relief from PTSD in as a few days. Same with Vietnam veterans. The National Veterans FOundation gave Art of Living an award for the benefit that Iraq veterans have received. Most of these programs are offered for free. Because of the huge widowhood problem in Iraq there has been a focus on women, giving them not only trauma relief techniques but also skills and community training. Sri Sri went to Iraq last spring and met with its leaders. He was asked to bring his programs into the Iraqi prisons and the government sent about 50 young adults to India for training. Sri Sri also went into the Red Zone, with the sound of gunfire and smoke around and talked to the people there. Last month an NGO meeting that included media representatives voted the Art of Living among the top 25 most beneficial NGOs in Iraq, of about 2,000 that are there. They are still in Kosovo, where the mental health department has seen tremendous benefit for the last several years for people who have taken the programs since the war. In New Orleans,the people who felt relief from the programs were not only Katrina survivors but about 500 people from other relief groups. This organization is doing great things around the world.