As world celebrated surviving Y2K bug my own internal operating system was locked in rigid grid.
It was year 2000. Technology was new religion. As young software engineer in India’s booming IT corridor my world was governed entirely by laws of logic data points and C++ syntax. If I could not test it measure it or debug it then it did not exist. I wore my skepticism like badge of honor.
To me anyone who traded in intangible especially traditional Indian gurus with flowing beards and long hair was selling nothing but beautifully packaged placebo. When I met Guruji first time in the Institute in Bombay, that was my justification. I don’t believe in the psuedo stuff like spirtuality and Art of living programs was not for me. But something at the remotest back of my mind left some impression on me. This man was something. His level of acceptance of my point of view was something totally unexpected and that with his trademark smile. He simply said, everything has its time, just like the science that you believe so much in. We will meet again soon in Bangalore.
I considered my mindset scientific which itself was myth used as shield against anything my intellect could not immediately categorize. Then relentless pace of new millennium caught up with me. Thrill of coding for global clients quickly translated into burnt out nights caffeine addiction and mind that refused to shut down.
My entry into Art of Living Basic course was complete accident. My then boss had just qualified as Art of Living teacher. Out of mix of corporate courtesy and mild pressure I found myself sitting in that hall. My arms were crossed as classic engineer waiting for logic to fail. What kept me from walking out however was unique draw of those early days. Last two days of program were taught by Guruji himself.
Before he even arrived I was introduced to breathing technique called Sudarshan Kriya. I expected esoteric philosophy but what I got felt remarkably like hard system reset. It was not about blind faith. It was experiential process. For first time in years relentless mental chatter stopped. There was no argument to be made because data was right there in my own nervous system. Then came final two days and I met Guruji Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in person for first time. I had prepared myself to be completely unimpressed once again but with much more open mind. I still expected grandiosity that my skeptical mind always associated with spiritual figures. But when he walked into room to teach us there was no heavy air of self importance. There was just lightness effortless presence and genuine sense of joy that felt entirely grounded. When I looked at him my rigid definitions began to crumble.
He was not demanding my belief or asking me to abandon my intellect. He was simply offering different way to experience life. I realized then that true science is about exploration not dismissal. Restricting my worldview only to what I could measure on monitor was least scientific thing I could do. I had entered that space as born skeptic locked in digital grid of year 2000. I walked out as someone willing to explore vastness beyond numbers. I am still engineer. I still love logic mechanics and data. But now I also understand mechanics of breath logic of silence and profound science of simply letting go.
What I learnt that day was how hollow the so-called science itself was. I realised science as we come to believe was restricted to knowledge of that time and that truth was never constant. Plastic at one time was considered a boon to mankind just as Anti-biotic was. Chemical Fertilisers was supposed to eradicate hunger from the world. Looking back everything was true at that time, but truth changed when world discovered the ill-effects or better options. But Spirituality was eternal science. True always, in every context and at all times.
PS: Found this article on my Blogger account and thought it should be here. It is reproduced verbatim and only the photograph is added