Guru,Grace & Gratitude

Mahapadyaatra @Thane

The above three words summed up and best described the one unifying and motivating force behind the AOL enthusiasts coming together from areas in and around Thane, to be a part of the Maha-Pad-Yatra, the walkathon organized in raising awareness about our beloved Guruji’s visit to Thane in 2011.

The maha-pad-yatra started around 4pm at the New TMC office in Thane and concluded at the famous Koupineshwar Temple at Thane.

Throughout the walkathon, AOL enthusiasts and followers alike, went around spreading awareness about Guruji’s visit by informing the people along the padyatra's course about Guruji’s visit to Mumbai and the Maha Satsang at Thane.

People from all walks of life curiously looking on at the procession, were graced with Guruji’s beautiful pictures and card sized calendars. What was also worth watching was at one point along, Ram-Maruti road, even Santa Claus (cheering on , on behalf of an adjoining showroom) joined in the dance troop , adding to the fun !!

Ultimately, like most of the followers said, it was all for Guruji ! and until we meet next time and even after that, Sangachatvam –let’s move ahead together!

We leave you below with a few glimpses from the Mahapadyatra.

                                                    

 

navchetna at kokanipada thane

Jai Gurudev,


Is'nt it great to have 415 people charged up with Nav Chetna shibir in the span of 1 month in Kokanipada. All together 15 courses in 1 month-GREAT acheivement!!! A complete area of needful people were showered with Guruji's grace.

During the shibirs, residents of Kokanipada were made aware of the right wayof living life with respect to food, sleep, meditation and knowledge.

The Navchetna teachers informed the participants about hygenic food habits and were made aware about healthy living conditions. They were also informed how meditation adds to their body, mind and soul and helps them to face the day to day ups and downs of life.

 So now every day is a celebration for them and finally the efforts made by our super duper team of thane NavChetna teachers was fruitful.
The teachers who helped in these shibir are:

Group leader

• Manish

 Teachers

• Archanaji
• Minakshiji
• Anitaji
• Neeluji
• Karishma

 The biggest happiness is to see the participants glowing with their new found happiness... which will last them for a lifetime.

Freedom..Where the mind is without fear..

Dear friends,
It is India’s 63rd year of independence. Wow! It does give us a sense of pride when we look back on the country’s trials and triumphs over the years and realise how she has surged ahead in time despite her upheavals and darkest periods in history. Words cannot define the magnanimity and magnificence of such a nation, yet today let us take this opportunity to eulogise her glorious journey of 63 years. We are reminded of a beautiful verse by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore from his collection – Geetanjali. Here it goes.

"Where the mind is without fear
and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been
broken up into fragments by
narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from
the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches
its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way into the dreary
desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is lead forward by thee
into ever-widening thought and action-
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father,
let my country awake."

Guys, as the tri-colour unfurls in its full splendour on the 15th day of this August, there’s something more in store for you. Well, it is our pride and privilege to announce that Sneh Sanjeevani Abhiyan has completed one year. Yes, exactly a year ago, on Aug 15, 2009 we conducted our first medical camp. It was a great success that saw the birth of a new movement – The Sneh Sanjeevani Abhiyan. So it calls for a twin celebration? Isn’t it?
As we take stock of the earlier year, we must inform you that we have touched around 4000 human lives by way of various medical camps, healing camps, navchetna shivirs  ( sound, water & breath workshops), service projects and youth leadership training programs. Congratulations! New age dynamos for your painstaking efforts and teamwork. We have taken the baby steps, grown from strength to strength by our beloved Guruji's grace and have finally found our feet. There’s no looking back now. A lot needs to be done. Quality education, health care, water, power ...these are still accessible to a lucky few leaving hundreds of millions yet deprived. We need scores of cost-effective community solutions in these areas. Let us pledge ourselves to build a better India. Let’s introspect on to how we can together make a positive difference for the nation - whether through eco-friendly practices, energy-efficient measures, spiritual awakening, community service participation, financial contribution, advocating non-violence and empowering the rural and underprivileged section of the society. Guys, each one of us has the potential to translate dreams into tangible realities. Are you ready to take the plunge? Think about it. It’s never too late.
Jai Hind &Jai Gurudev!
Indrani Sarkar

Green Revolution

Dear Friends,
A big hi to all of you! Our second YLTP (youth leadership program), is in full swing at the Swami Vivekananda Ashram in Yeoor hills. And there is a lot of buzz happening. Participants are riding high on energy and are thoroughly enjoying the course. We will provide you with more updates once the program is over. But now it’s time to go green. Yes guys, we have taken the lead in doing some massive tree plantation around the periphery of Yeoor hills, with help and support from Hariyali, a Thane based NGO that espouses environmental concerns. You too can be a part of this initiative and contribute your bit in upgrading the environment and reducing the global warming in particular. It is a very enthralling experience and before the monsoon sets in, here’s what you can do with your family and friends to improve the greenery at the desired site.

GO GREEN AGENDA OF NEW AGE DYNAMOS
On Saturday, May 29th, there will be seed collection and training in seed sowing. Training at site shall be given by Hariyali.
For YLTP group:
Venue: Yeoor Hills Gate, Thane  Time: 8:00 am-12:00 am (Reporting: 7:45 am)
For non-YLTP group:
Venue: Nature Center, Tikujini Wadi, Thane  Time: 7:00 am - 9:30 am (Reporting 6:45 am)

Participants would be required to arrange for their drinking water and refreshments and an extra carry bag. Members are advised to wear sports shoes and caps.

Those who want to know more about it can contact
Dinesh Prabhu: 9821172655 / Manish Patil: 9322596283 
Seeds sowing / planting program around the periphery of Yeoor hills will be during some of the weekends starting from later part of June till the end of monsoon. The dates for planting would be announced later.


FACTS ABOUT TREES THAT WILL SET YOU THINKING!

• Planting 30 trees each year offsets greenhouse gases from your car and home. 
• Three trees located strategically around your house can cut air conditioning bills in half.
• On a larger scale, the cooling effects of trees can save millions of energy dollars. Trees create buffers to reduce noise.
• Trees provide green scenery that has been shown to speed up patient recovery in   hospitals and reduce stress. 
• One acre of trees removes up to 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide each year. 

The highlight of this event is that youths from the slums areas who underwent our first YLTP have volunteered to join our Go Green campaign. This is their first meaningful contribution to society after YLTP. We wish them good luck. 
God bless!
Indrani Sarkar

The beginning of a journey… unto eternity…

Hi All!
Feels nice to catch up with you after a long break! And that too on a day when our beloved Guruji (H H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) is celebrating his 54th birthday. The New Age Dynamos are rocking like never before and take this opportunity to extend their heartfelt wishes to Him. And now here’s a quick update on what we were up to, in case you thought, we had disappeared into thin air.

Well ,our lives were chock-a-block with events. We were doing seva on a war footing, meeting people in the slum areas, giving them a helping hand, organising camps and workshops and finally managing to yield some amazing results! Yes, guys, we have finally broken the ice with many of the marginalised people in the interiors of Thane city. With a close-knit team of 20 spirited volunteers and teachers, we conducted 6 Navchetna Shibirs, (a special spiritual workshop and better known as sound-breath and water workshop), a Medical Camp and a very unique residential course for youths called as YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM (YLTP). After doing the workshops, people have found respite from problems as serious as arthritis and breathlessness. Some of them have been relieved of their chronic back pains, yet others have got rid of their stress and mental anxiety. However YLTP turned out to be a big hit with the youths! Yes, for the first time in Thane, in the Swami Vivekananda Ashram in the Yeoor hills, an 8-day intensive training program was conducted for the youths, in which 34 youths from the slum areas of Thane and Mumbai underwent a life-transforming experience. If some of them have given up on drugs and alcohol, others have got a new lease of life. One participant, who was from a Thane slum, has resolved that he will never get involved in anti-social activities again. Mind you, he was a small- time goon, but was perhaps a big criminal in the making. He has put behind his past firmly behind him to build a dignified life for himself. He now wants to associate himself with the Art of Living activities and reach out to other victims with his incredible experience. It is hard to believe that only a month ago, these youths were so noisy and unruly, resorting to drugs and alcohol, whiling away their time in gambling and anti-social activities and wandering aimlessly in search of a goal. Today you find them singing, meditating, doing satsangs and more. The youths have become calm, composed and have even expressed their desire to do something worthwhile for society. We are currently helping them to take the baby steps! Thanks to all the volunteers and the Ashramites who took special efforts in housing the 34 participants in the Ashram for free. 
YLTP Experience Video

What next?

Inspired by the success of our first youth program, we have decided to organize the second YLTP course from May 22- May 30 at the same venue: Swami Vivekananda Ashram, Yeoor Hills. If you are interested in doing the course you may write a mail to us at snehsanjeevani@gmail.com or you may also recommend this course to youths who are seeking personal growth or are looking to make a difference in society.
Cheers,
Indrani Sarkar

Thumbs Up....

Hi Friends,

Thumbs up for visiting us! You have entered the world of new age dynamos. Yes that’s how we identify ourselves - the New Age Dynamos. Driven by passion, zeal and determination to make a difference to society, we have taken on the herculean task of changing the prevailing scenario in slums based in and around Mumbai. Currently, we are studying the dynamics of the slum areas to understand the ground realities and get insights into the core issues that need to be addressed seriously.
If you are passionate like us and feel strongly, then join the Sneh Sanjeevani Abhiyan and be a part of this noble initiative. You can use your skill, experience and talent to be a part of groundbreaking thinking and visionary goal. Make use of every opportunity to be a new age dynamo.
***Immediate help is needed ..
1.) As a first step we want to raise a committed workforce of volunteers and require around 200 volunteers for our drive to work in the slum areas of Thane city.We want to organize medical camps and are looking for doctors, physicians and good samaritans to contribute for medicines and other expenses.
2.) Looking for accomodation in thane to lease out for a year, for Art Of Living, YLTP (Youth Leadership Training Program) faculty who is experienced in conducting leadership training camps.
Cheers
Indrani Sarkar