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Does God Exist? - Dr Pragati Mukhopadhyay Dr Pragati Mukhopadhyay is a Senior Principal Research Scientist in the Advanced Centre for Research in Electronics, IIT- Bombay. She was in TIFR as a visiting scholar. Pragati obtained her Ph.D from Chalmers Institute of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden in 1978. She returned back to India and joined IIT in 1979. She has been a very active volunteer for the Art of Living Foundation.

Art of Living: Introduction

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a renowned Spiritual Master from Bangalore, India is the founder of the Art of Living Foundation - an International non-profit, United Nations Non-Government Organization. The Art of Living courses, which are taught in over 130 countries, include both knowledge and practices to help reduce the stress, enhance creativity and achieve a sense of peace, belongingness and fulfillment by improving the mind, body and spirit.

Sri Sri, as he is lovingly called, has touched the hearts of millions all over the world. From an early age, it was apparent that Sri Sri was destined to lead a spiritual life - even as a very young child, he was often found absorbed in meditation. At the age of four, his parents were surprised to discover him spontaneously reciting the Bhagavad Gita. At the age of seventeen he had completed the traditional education in both Vedic Literature and Modern Science.

Bringing together people from different cultures, Sri Sri’s role in fostering human values and harmony in diversity are unique in the world. His love, practical wisdom and wholehearted dedication to service inspire people everywhere. As Sri Sri has said "Service is the expression of joy and love. Ask yourself ‘How can I be useful to those around me and to the whole world?’ Then your heart starts to blossom and a completely new level begins..." He has given a whole new dimension to spirituality, infusing it with a youthful sense of celebration and joy. Through him you can see the infinite. He is limitless compassion and grace. To know him is to be touched by his childlike simplicity and joy. In his presence one experiences a profound silence that is beyond words. Joy, love, playfulness, poetry, deep wisdom and a twinkle of mischief have all come together in the person of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. In Sri Sri’s words “Nectar of knowledge is so special and most sought in the world. Once you have tasted it; become a pot of this nectar and let it drip freely from you wherever you go”.

He speaks in over 30 to 40 countries annually, reminding us that the great spiritual traditions have common goals and values. Sri Sri has been the inspiration behind a phenomenal number of service programs around the world including: The Art of Living Foundation (and all its projects), the International Association for Human Values, the 5H Program, the Care for Children Program, the PrisonSmart Foundation, Vista India (a program for destitute girls that teaches them literary and trade skills). The Art of Living Foundation's vast pool of volunteers work in over 130 countries in the world donating time and enthusiasm on countless projects, which help their communities.

The only true security that can be found in this world, says Sri Sri, is in the very process of giving love.

We will be bringing the readers of SAWF pearls of knowledge from Sri Sri of various shades and norms every fortnight.

Sri Sri Pearl-1

If you have to question whether something is there or not, you must have a concept about it. And if events shake that concept, then the concept will have to change. If you know that God is love and you see that there is love in the world, then you won’t question God. But if you think God exists for your security, then when you are in trouble, when you have problems, this question will certainly arise in your mind. And when you have a limited understanding of your life- not knowing that the life energy in you is eternal, is indestructible, is a continuum – then , too, you may question whether there is God or not.

See that God is all pervading consciousness that alone exists, that nothing else exists. You never question whether atoms exist or not; you know atoms exist. Let that which is the basis of an atom , that field, that space in which every thing exists, every thing blossoms, grows and perishes, that basic substratum of this creation – let that be your understanding of God. Then you won’t ever ask if God exists. God is not the creator. He is the creativity itself !

~ ~ Sri Sri

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