Then he told us a few good things about Sudarshan Kriya and assured us that with practice, we can pass the banana/monkey test, and get other great benefits. Finally, talking about fee for the course, he quickly and causally said "the deposit is two fifty". One of the guys from the back row asked "you mean two dollars and fifty cents?" He said "No, it is two hundred and fifty dollars" very casually. There was an awkward silence in the room with disbelief, and there were no further questions. All except us walked out of the room silently, thanking him for the presentation on their way out.
I think expecting $250 from students for an introduction (annual fee is extra) is a bit too much. I asked the presenter later why that course was so expensive. He basically said that Sri Sri travels to about 100 countries every year and that costs money! He also indicated that if it (the AoL) is accepted in the IITs, it must be good!
In later part of that year, Rama I went to see Sri Sri Ravi Shankar when he came to Austin. He was treated like the God. He was sitting high up, on a seat that looked like a throne. He could have refused all that pomp, as he kept saying that he was a regular Joe like us. Anyway, I thought of this experience on reading John Kelso's article on the AoL- here are some excerpts.
I'm getting a little worn out by these money freebies the City of Austin is giving out to just about anybody who staggers up and sticks his hand out. My favorite stunt so far is the $20,000 grant the city gave out to teach people how to breathe. What's next? A $50,000 program on how to nap?
I'm not sure it's a proper use of the city's money to teach people how to breathe. Talk about letting all the water out of the gene pool. If you can't figure out how to breathe without a PowerPoint presentation, I'm not sure you should be encouraged to continue. Seriously, the city gave the nonprofit Art of Living Foundation $20,000 to teach people how to breathe better. The claim is that the breathing exercises taught by this group in yoga classes help folks relax.
The Art of Living Foundation is a spiritual group that began in India, so naturally it has a Web page showing a photo of some bearded swami-lookin' dude in a white robe. The story I read about this said a Dell engineer credited the program with helping him quit smoking. Of course it did. The swami kept taking the cigarette out of his mouth....
I know what. I'll start a foundation and ask the city for $200,000 to fund John Kelso's Institute of Higher Sustenance. Under this program, we would teach Austinites how to eat lunch. This is your lucky day. I'll give you some free breathing instructions: Suck in air. Hold it. Now let it out. If your face turns blue, you're holding it in too long. Repeat five times and send a check for $19.95 to His Holiness the guru John Kelso . . .
9 comments:
Gopa,
Those were some sincere queries from you. I appreciate that. Maybe you are not aware that the founder Sri Sri was giving free classes in the beginning. It was observed that at that time people did not value the teaching nor had any commitment. Further maybe you are not aware of the thousands who are taught this free of cost in rural and tribal areas imparting an immense benefit in making villages for instance alcohol free.
Now if you want to teach this wonderful knowledge to all parts of the world how do you suppose it is going to happen without funds ? There has been a notion in our minds that spiritual..then oh has to be frugal...free but the the value of what is taught is limitless !
Additionally, how can it be a business when almost all the volunteers in the organization are voluntary without asking for any money, even the teachers.
Have you taken a sincere effort, just like your question in finding out where all the funds go, how much to service activities, how towards administration etc. Even former World Bank president Wolfensohn was pleased when told Sri Sri that looking at the meagre 6-8 % going towards administrative costs he would like to implement the same in WB projects.
Talking about Kelso's "Learning to breathe" is what makes me laugh...the course is about breathing techniques in the ancient Yogic tradition. Those who are ignorant completely have the right to remain in that state. Has he even taken the effort to find out what remarkable effects it has brought in the borough of Brooklyn, NY for inner city kids prone to abuse and drugs?
Their lives and outlook has changed and a new clarity has dawned in them. Armchair criticism: what use will it be other than entertaiment and the exposition of ones ignorance :))
If you have to make a difference in the world the key is to get up from the armchair and make one's hand full.
dude, when shoes can sell at USD500, watches at USD1000 and so many other stuff at obnoxious prices, why should we question what is the pay. Do it after paying and see for yourself. So many people cant be wrong.
Also, what is wrong in a business. Why are we having such a lopsided, hypocritical view of business.
By the way, I wrote an email to John Kelso and he apologized for the article. Here's the mail exchange:
From : John Kelso
Sent : Friday, March 23, 2007 4:59 PM
To : "Sriram Chandrasekarran" Subject : Re: Your article in the Statesman
| | | Inbox
Thanks for the note. It's a humor column. Sorry you didn't think it was
funny.
The argument that many people are taking part has never held much sway
with me, in part because Laverne and Shirley was once the number one TV
show in America. And then there's George W. Bush's formerly high approval
rating. A large participating audience is not necessarily a good thing.
Hang in there and have a good one. And keep smilin'. Perhaps I should say
breathing.
> Dear John
>
> I read your article in the Statesman with a sense of angst against
> naysayers
> and extreme sceptics, and their freedom to write anything they want
> without
> the risk of having a defamation suit filed against them by men of honor
> who
> do a good job.
>
> To set the record straight, let me begin by saying that I have nothing to
> gain from the foundation that you have mentioned, or the 'swami' as you
> have
> disrespectfully called an Indian saint. I work as a senior business
> advisor
> to an American IT corporation, among the largest in the world.
>
> Several thoughts crossed my mind when I read your article. Sorry if they
> are
> blunt, but here we go:
>
> 1. If you have the guts, start a John Kelso Institute of Higher
> Sustenance,
> persuade some bodies to fund you, make it a success and show. Nothing
> succeeds like success.
>
> 2. The whole world of science and medicine is seriously looking at
> breathing
> practices as a healing therapy to various physical and mental ailments. We
> organized a corporate program in our company that teaches such practices
> and
> found immense improvement in the productivity and creativity of the
> managers
> - I am inclined to go by these research and experiences, rather than your
> sceptical, subjective opinions shared, ironically, in a respectable
> readership forum.
>
> 3. What is USD20,000 when it comes to the health and wellbeing of a city's
> people - the most precious asset. How can you be so narrow minded, and how
> can you compare it to chewing gum - if you stop breathing, you die; if you
> stop chewing, you dont die!
>
> 4. How dare you speak about anyone, that too someone who appears to be a
> revered swami, in loose terms such as pulling out cigarettes from
> someone's
> mouth. Would you dare to make such remarks about the pope, without the
> risk
> of being ostracized from your near and dear; would you dare to make such
> remarks against the prophet or a muslim mulla, without the risk of having
> a
> fatwa issued against your head. What is it in you that makes less
> militant,
> more peace loving religious groups soft targets?
>
> So, get more objective in your writing, or quit! A lots of millions of
> dollars of our city's productivity is lost in reading junk stuff from
> subjective, unscientific articles such as these...
>
> Best regards!
> Sriram Chandrasekaran
Why should the course be free? Have you checked how much Yoga studios charge to teach just Yoga? Art of Living teaches way more than Yoga.
I have benefitted so much from Sudarshan Kriya - I think the course is priceless. It got me out of depression and today I take no medications.
BTW, the money is used to fund the many projects that Art of Living has around the world, esp. in India. Why don't you check out www.artofliving.org and www.iahv.org?
Please don't be so quick to judge an organization that has transformed millions of lives around the world.
Also, the same students who have trouble spending $250 on a life transforming course, spend 4 times that on entertainment and drugs.
Response to Comment #1
Thanks for your comments. I did not know that AoL has been helping the needy, and it is good to hear that. I agree that funds are needed to run this organization. Please note that I did not say that AoL is a business. I felt that it was being run “like a regular business” as I did not see any discounts to the needy students. If the money is sought from the wealthy and the poor alike, it is a business like practice.
Yes, I agree with you and believe that AoL is very beneficial as I mentioned in the blog. I think this is one good reason for making it free at least to the “needy”.
Wouldn’t it be nice if fees are collected only from the able and the employed? From the rest, perhaps seek volunatry donations? Aren’t many temples and churches being built this way? If you believe that you have a better mouse trap, you need not worry about funds – things will take care of themselves. Yes, I think that spiritual teachings should be free of charge.
It is good to know that AoL is purely being run by volunteers. However, I still think that it IS being run like a business. The sellers DEMAND money in exchange for the services provided. The method of production of goods and the intent behind the fees are irrelavent.
No, I have not made any efforts in learning about the workings of AoL – I was turned off by the introduction. Would you finish a 1,000 page book if you are not at all impressed by the first chapter? Though I am sure that the presenter is a nice guy, I sensed that he was not comfortable in telling a group of students to cough up 250 bucks to give his gig a try.
I wouldn’t get excited if the World Bank praises me for my money management skills. It would be like receving complements from Mike Tyson on my suavity! Having worked on a World Bank project, I realize that effective money management is not one of its biggest strengths.
I agree that John Kelso makes fun of anything and everything. I think news with entertainment value is a good thing. This way, people will know about things and start questioning. As a tax payer, I sure would like to know how those $20,000 are being spent. We can’t call John (or anyone we do not know) an arm chair critic as he probably is making a significant positive difference in an area that we have no clue about.
Response to Comment # 2
Compadre, read my lips! I am not questioning the efficacy of the AoL. I am just saying, give pigs (poor Indian graduate students) a break! If someone offers me Taj Mahal for INR 50 crores, that would be a great deal. I sure will appreciate his/her generosity. But it wouldn’t mean anything to me if I can’t manage to raise INR 50 crores. I remember winning (worthless) prizes for participating in Discovery of India quizzes, eons ago - two nights stay at Taj Residency at INR 900 a night! This was about 20 years ago. INR 900 is a lot of money even now (for 90% of we, the Indians).
When is the last time you saw students wearing $1,000 wrist watches? Re; majority rule, I too thought that so many people can’t be wrong, when I was buying Enron stocks! I think that spirituality trade is not an Indian tradtion. Even if it were, I don’t like it – it’s personal thing.
Now, please note that John K did not apologize! Read his message again! By saying sorry, he is pitying you for your inability to appreciate his humor. Please note that without a victim, there is no humor. Having some understanding of John K’s thought process, I think his message basically meant “chill out and shove it” – sorry.
I still can’t figure out why you mentioned that you are a Senior Business Advisor for an American IT Corporation. What has this to do with discussion on spirituality? Please realize that when we are in pursuit of materials, our spiritual capacities will likely get suppressed – this is my belief, right or wrong.
Response to Comment #3
Yoga schools like Yoga Yoga are telling us upfront that they are businesses – please note the difference. Personally, I think that spiritual instructions should be free (with donations will not be refused policy), since their value is priceless! I am very glad to hear from one more person that AoL is good. I sure will try it (on paying reluctantly) one of these days. You are telling me not to judge, while you are judging the students!
Dear Satya,
I feel pleasure to explain you that in rural area AOL volunteers organise courses called Nav Chetna Shivir and for your kind information it is totally free. In Prison too AOL volunteers takes courses and it is also totally free.
As you too agree and believe that AOL is very beneficial and fund is needed to run this global foundation to reach every corner of the world, Aol charge contribution from the participents.
And again for your kind info 20% of the total seats AOL reserve for those who can not able to pay contribution.
And I am very much sure you will be agree with me that there are plenty who can afford this contribution by their pocket but can not afford by their heart.
In the last one thing more I would like to add, without going deep inside the sea you can not see the wealth of sea. so just dive into sea of AOL and get benefit for yourself.
Dear Bhatnagar ji! Thank you for the information and encouragement!
Dear Gopa,
there are student discounts. When the regular course fee was $250 the student price was $125 and AOL does give scholarships in many instances when the people really want to do the course but do not have money to do it.
On the other hand there are people who do not think it is worth spending so much money and ask for scholarships. This is not encouraged. Many people have an issue with Art of Living charging money for courses. People say spiritual knowledge should be given free.
Well it was free was so many years.No body did anything. Even in India the land of spirituality people did not even know what it was about. We do not value anything given free. We take it for granted.
In ancient times students needed to prove themselves before they received a technique from a master.Sudarshan kriya is not just a technique to release stress. It is much more than that.
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