Sri Morari Bapu was born in September. 1946 in the sleepy village of Talgaajarda.
He had to walk a long distance to go to school.
His grandfather, Tribhovandasji was a great Ram Bhakta (devotee of Sri Ram). He would make young Morari memorize five couplets of the Ramayana on his way back and forth from his learning place.
In the evening the wise old man would explain to his grandson the meaning and interpretation of the couplets that he had memorised for that day.

Morari Bapu's grandfather saw the spirit of the Lord in all.
The personality of the grandfather and what he learned from him made a deep impression on the young mind of Sri Morari Bapu.

Today he considers his grandfather his Guru as it was the latter who taught him to walk on the path of the saints and sages.

Sri Morari Bapu's talks are based on the Ramayana.

What he teaches has a universal appeal and his simple style can easily tug at one's heart-strings.
The devotional hymns that he sings and the relevant narration of anecdotes make thousands of people sit enthralled for hours.

Though Bapu Is a busy man, always traveling. thronged by admirers, one feels like one has a private rapport with him. He seems to answer all your questions and doubts through his public discourses.

A disciple once told Morari Bapu that it was impossible to lead an ideal life if one were to survive in today's world. To this Morari Bapu replied: "Do what you like for eight working hours and live the rest of your sixteen hours by the ideals I give you, that is, from now on don't be aggressive with your wife, children and those around you and even with yourself. I am confident that these sixteen hours will prove to be so powerful that they will influence your eight working hours. In this way you will learn to survive In your so called today's world."

The question here would arise: Where have we gone wrong? Why can't we even live part of our life according to the Ideals laid down by the scriptures.

Morari Bapu says It is because we are ill - spiritually ill'

He believes that just like food is not appetizing to those who are physically unwell, similarly, the Scriptures are not enjoyed by those who are not healthy in the spiritual sense.

According to Morari Bapu, the scriptures, though they may be of ancient origin, offer a solution to our present-day problems and are an eternal light to mankind's future.

But then what does a modern man do? One who has not the time nor the inclination to read the scriptures and yet wants to get rid of his problems?

In such a case Morari Bapu feels that after one has analyzed the problem and taken the right measures to remedy it, pray and leave the results to the Lord.

According to Morari Bapu in order to eradicate a problem, three requisites are important.
The one who is willing to help. must understand the true nature of the problem.
He must have the compassion to try and eradicate the problem.
And he must have the capacity of getting rid of the problem.

When observed closely it will be noticed that one of the three points is mostly always missing in the personality of the helper. The one to help may know the nature of the problem. but he may not have the capacity to get rid of It. or alternatively, he may be capable of alleviating your problem, but he does not have the compassion to do so or he may have the compassion and the capability, but he may not understand the real nature of the problem.

Morari Bapu urges us not to put all our energies into the world to achieve happiness. Go to the Lord - Pray, he says. The Lord understands your problem - He has the compassion and is capable of getting rid of it.

When God listens to your prayer consider It His Prasad, His Grace; if he does not answer your prayer know that "NO" can sometimes be an answer.

In fact Morari Bapu implores his audience to stop making a choice. Make happiness and unhappiness your friend and there will be no problem. If happiness comes, consider it a laddu (sweet), given by your mother. If unhappiness, then the medicine given by the same loving hands.

We generally pray with folded hands. Morari Bapu has an interesting theory on why we do so. When we fold our hands we are saying: Our hands are tied. I am not capable, I surrender. O God, you take over.

How does one achieve peace of mind?

Morari Bapu says: Look for the peace where you have lost it. Don't be like the old woman who looks for the needle outside the hut, because it is brighter outside, even though she has lost it inside.

We do a similar thing: we lose our peace of mind because of our own wrong doings, and we seek it by escaping in the so-called bright atmosphere of the material world.

Morari Bapu loves to put across his point by Interesting anecdotes: so he also tells us about a man who was suffering from a wound and fever.

The doctor gave him an ointment to apply to the wound and some medicine to take internally for the fever.

The man made a mistake. The medicine that he was to apply, he took internally and vice versa.
Needless to say the man never recovered from his illness.

We are facing a similar dilemma. The scriptures and what they teach is supposed to be taken internally and the material benefits are to be used externally for our comforts - we are however satisfied with.. a few moments of prayer each day and yet spend our lives filling it up with useless things.

How can we be healthy? How can we have peace of mind, If we do not live by the right rules of life?

The fact is that material comforts can never be the only requisite for peace of mind as strangely it is for the men sleeping on the footpath, who sometimes enjoy a sound rest.

Does it mean then, that If we get interested in the scriptures and attend discourses we will know how to live life the right way and achieve peace of mind?

Morari Bapu believes that, Yatra sochne se nahin, chalne se hota hai. Translated it means that by merely listening to words of wisdom, one does not benefit, one has to start living according to them: just like by merely thinking of one's destination, one does not get there. Initially one would have to make an effort, but later it becomes a part of one's intrinsic nature. A person in love does not have to sit in a difficult position, or pick up the rosary to remember his/her beloved.

What precautions does one take when one is progressing?

Morari Bapu urges us to keep a constant check on the ego.
Bapu says after the pilgrim has reached a certain point, he must make sure to screw his head in such a way that it only looks in front, so that he may not look back to see how much good he has been doing to people or how many of them are following him.

Once Morari Bapu was asked whether he believed that his talks benefited humanity.
He answered with a smile. 'If nothing else, at least by coming to my lectures, I keep troublesome people usefully entertained!"
I believe that he does far more good than that.
Once Morari Bapu held 1008 simultaneous recitals of the Ramayana - at the conclusion he made Harijans (so-called untouchable caste) perform the aarti - a religious ceremony.

He is one of the very few living sages who has been conferred the title of 'Sant" (Saint), by a multitude, who admire and love him.

Let us then follow in his footsteps. Let us do what he bids us to do which is:
"Khud ki khoj karo,
Jag ki seva karo,

Prabhu Se Preet karo."

Which means:
Look deep into yourself
And find the Essence.
Do service unto Mankind,
And Love the Lord.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a spiritual guru and founder of the Art of Living movement to spread the knowledge of breathing, living and spirituality worldwide.

Early life
He was born on May 13, 1956 in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, India. Stories say that at the age of 4, Ravi could recite the whole Bhagavad Gita, and showed a gift for study of the ancient Hindu scriptures, the Vedas. At an early age his father, R. S. V. Ratnam ("Pitaji"), sought out a worthy spiritual master for his son, and entrusted him to the care of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Maharishi's first instruction was that Ravi (as Maharishi called him) should finish his education, leading to his attainment of a science degree. Subsequently Ravi joined Maharishi's entourage. He spent much time teaching Vedic Pundits at Maharishi's charity in Delhi, and organising Yagyas. Maharishi took Ravi to Switzerland where he spent seasons above Lake Lucerne. According to some, Maharishi would often not start a meeting without Ravi being present, and in the eyes of many elevated him to the level of 'favourite'.
In 1982 he went in to 10 days of silence. It is believed that he became an enlightened master around this time and cognised the Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique. Sri Sri then set up the Art of Living (AOL) Organisation to spread the Sudarshan Kriya and other related knowledge. The Sudarshan Kriya has acclaimed health benefits (as documented on the AOL homepage - see links below), and has been taught in over 140 countries. The Art of Living Organization has grown tremendously since then. Sri Sri and his delegate instructors also conduct the Hollow and Empty and Sahaj Samadhi Yoga advanced meditations that help create an awareness of inner silence and wellbeing.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has given discourses on widely varied spiritual topics, from Krishna to Christ and also conducts Satsangs (Literally, "company of the good people"), where people gather and sing in the praise of divinity. Though born in a Hindu family, he has followers from all religions.

His organization is actively involved in many service projects throughout the world.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar holds the distinction of currently being the only non-Western member of the Council of the Divinity School at Yale University in the United States. He was also a guest speaker at the Millennium World Peace Summit during the 50th anniversary of the United Nations in New York. He is cofounder of the IAHV (International Association for Human Values), an international nonprofit organization in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The IAHV's humanitarian service wing, 5H, focuses on providing health, homes, hygiene, human values, and harmony in diversity to needy communities. IAHV, 5H and the AOL have collaborated with several UN bodies in many humanitarian and social service programs all over the world.

Swami Ramdev Maharajji, as devotees call him, began his yoga programmes on Indian television in 2002. He claims that through Pranayama -- the yogic practice of breath control - all 'incurable diseases' can be cured.

Today, he is one of the biggest draws on Indian television. He can be seen not only on religious channels like Aastha, but also news and features channels like India TV and Sahara One. Millions around the country follow his programmes religiously and use ayurvedic medicines prescribed by him.

Extracted below is a paragraph from the biographical sketch on the yoga guru's web site:

'Rev Swami Ramdev, a celibate since childhood, is well-versed in Sanskrit Grammar, Ayurveda and Vedic Philosophy. A strong Proponent of Indian cultural values, his practical approach to Yoga, research in the field of Ayurveda and the service in the field of cow-breeding, won him several thousands of followers throughout India and made him a living symbol of Indian culture. His detachment from worldly happiness and devotion to social service has made him a phenomenal character in the saintly world.'

Swami Ramdev, according to his web site, is learned in the holy scriptures of Hinduism and has spent a considerable amount of time in the caves of Gangotri -- in Uttaranchal, from where the Ganga emerges.

In 1995, along with Karamvir Maharaj and Acharya Balkrishna, Swami Ramdev set up the Divya Yoga Mandir Trust in Haridwar, Uttaranchal, which sees a regular stream of devotees and is a multi-million rupee venture now. He also runs an educational institution in Haryana where, according to his web site, 'instructions are being imparted not only in Indian culture and philosophy but also in modern subjects like chemistry, physics and computer science etc.'

The outspoken Swami Ramdev is strongly anti-West, and advises people to use cola drinks as toilet-cleaning fluid. He strives for a 'medicine-free world' and firmly believes yoga is the cure for all illnesses.

His web site http://www.swamiramdev.info has a letters section, with testimonials from people who say they have benefited from his yoga programme.

The son of a poor farmer from Kalwa village, Narnaul district, Haryana, Swami Ramdev was born Ram Kishen. He went to the gurukul of Swami Baldev when he was four years old. When he was four-and-a-half years old, he wanted to become a sage. He has four brothers, one of who is in the army.

He says he was struck by paralysis when he was two-and-a-half years old, which he cured through yoga. He also says he was a fat child, and his knees would knock. He says he has never watched a movie.

Now, he says he has been on a diet of milk and fruits for the last two years.

Swami Ramdev reportedly had a portrait of the late Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologue Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar as the backdrop for one of his television shows, which are beamed live to 170 countries. For the Bharatiya Janata Party and its affiliates in the Sangh Parivar, Ramdev holds a special status.

In one of his camps, which are attended by hundreds of people, Swami Ramdev claimed Vice-President Bhairon Singh Sekhawat had asked him to hold a camp for patients at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

Among Swami Ramdev's countless followers are Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia and former Sikkim chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari. Delhi Industries Minister Mangat Ram Sharma insists the swami stay in his house when he visits the capital.

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room’s only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band - he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.
.
.
.
.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window.. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed

. It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’

Moral of the story:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Grief when shared halves the sorrow, but happiness when shared, doubles the joy.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.

‘Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.’