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Story of Sujatha
Freedom from Cancer |
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AN INMATE'S TALE
"There are only selfish or bad
moments; there are no bad people in this world. They are ignorant.
Inside every culprit is a victim crying for help. Feel compassionate for
such people."
--- His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar
My name is Veeru and I am 42 years old
hailing from Thanjavur District of Tamilnadu. I am undergoing
imprisonment for a 10-year term from 2002 and prior to this I was just a
misguided youth pursuing the wrong goal.
It was in September 2002, an Art of Living Teacher came to conduct
Prison SMART course at this Vellore Prison and I was in the batch of 30
inmates who participated in it. After the course I did my sadhanas and
Kriya regularly and was able to realize the positive changes both
physically and mentally. I
gradually understood the meaning of human values, sense of belonging,
love, compassion and care for the World. My anger and negative attitudes
were getting erased from my system and I had the awareness about my ego
and learnt to control it. My approach towards other inmates drastically
changed and I started helping them in whatever possible way that I
could. For a long period of more than 6 months there were no Prison
SMART courses in Vellore Prison even during this period I was continuing
with my daily sadhanas.
With Guruji's blessings and the help of Jail Superintendent Sri.
Ramachandran the courses were revived. The Jail Superintendent, who
takes keen interest in the welfare of the inmates, encouraged sports,
education and of course made it compulsory for everyone to undergo the
Prison SMART course. With his efforts courses were conducted
continuously for 16 weeks and out of the 2300 inmates nearly 1600 took
the course and are enjoying the benefits. The teachers were so humble
and affectionate that on the last day of each course they left an
indelible impression in the heart of the inmates. They gave us details
about Gurudev's mission of bringing inner
peace and transformation and his vision of seeing the smile on every
face in this World. The various seva projects of the Art of Living and
how it has reached people in 142 countries going beyond barriers of
religion, caste, color, creed and nationality. The organizer of Vellore
Centre was very much instrumental in coordinating with the teachers and
the Prison authorities.
He along with the AOL volunteers of Vellore white washed the entire
Dhyana Manatap inside the Prison.
At the end of each course all the participants unanimously without
exception appreciate the course and share their healing experience with
others. Some of the changes that were noticed in the Prison after every
SMART Course were.
1. The number of People going to Prison Hospital has decreased.
2. Many of the Inmates who had taken the course and after their term in
prison had not come back again to the prison. We came to know most of
them
have taken up good occupation and started living a good life.
3.Petty quarrels and violence inside the prison have drastically come
down.
4.The sense of belonging and friendliness between the Inmates has been
bonded.
5.Most of the inmates have given up smoking and are looking healthy.
6.Creative talents like Artwork, drawing & painting, singing bajans,
dancing
and writing poetry have all been developed.
7.Last but not the least everyone seems to be fresh in the morning after
the
sadhnas and very energetic throughout the day and sleep well in the
night.
Now coming back to myself, I had been attending all the courses without
fail and the daily sadhanas and Kriya gave me so much of happiness that
I could throw away all my bad habits. A smoker for 21 years I quit the
habit effortlessly and I am a now a complete vegetarian. I had a worst
enemy inside the prison who has become my best friend now thanks to this
wonderful knowledge. Taking responsibility of keeping the course hall
clean and helping the teacher with the audio systems etc makes me happy.
My hobbies are mainly reading Guruji's books like "Sri Sri as I know
him", "God loves fun" "Wisdom for the New millennium" and lots of
stories from Pitaji's page in the Rishimukh Magazine.
When I sing "Hari hari hari hari Naryana OM Govinda Naryanan Om" other
Inmates join me in singing. I have become a person liked by one and all
and they call me Jai Gurudev. I owe this entire new life to Guruji.
People visiting me from outside are astounded by my development and that
gives me an opportunity to spread the awareness about AOL courses. My
wife who used to visit the Prison every week noticed the visible changes
in my attitude, which reflected in my smiling face, and it prompted her
and her sister to join the AOL course happening near our house. I am
fortunate that in spite
of my bad deeds and misfortune leading me to prison Guruji has come into
my life to liberate me from my negative bondage and show me the light.
Jai Gurudev
Veeru.
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