Vikram Hazra

... a life of shibumi

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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / I’ve been thinking…

I’ve been thinking…

July 29, 2009 by Vikram Hazra 15 Comments

…a lot lately; even more than usual. For over 20 years, I used to read at least 200 pages a day (600 on weekends) outside of my curricular reading. I literally swallowed a novel every two hours!

When I did my first AOL course back in 1994, it gave me the tools to introspect with utter honesty and without the worry that it had previously entailed. I also felt that I had been gathering data on so many subjects for so many years, without ever processing it properly!

So I took a sabbatical from reading (!!!) and actually didn’t read a single book for a few years; my goal was to translate all that I had read into my own real-life experience. I swam in Lake Baikal in Siberia, went on safari in Africa, ate sushi in a zen temple in Japan, stayed in a motel in Chicago, walked through eight inches of snow in Vienna, drove through Germany, and of course explored vast tracts of my own beloved country, India. Thanks to Guruji I was exposed to so many enriching facets of life, including attending the UN world peace summit, and meeting the world’s movers and shakers!

And now the wheel has come full circle; back to reading, writing, studies, teaching Part 1 courses, and experiencing Guruji’s knowledge as though for the first time. And each moment seems so new, so full of possibility, so that one never knows what each new day holds, but is guaranteed a treat every time! This is the best thing about teaching AOL — every day I learn how much there is that I don’t know, and all I can do is just wonder, and live the mystery ๐Ÿ™‚

Sent from my BlackBerryยฎ wireless device

Filed Under: Uncategorized

About Vikram Hazra

As Program Director of the International Art of Living Foundation, I travel, teach, sing, smile and serve, and strive to excel as an instrument of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose goal is to put the smile back on every face on this planet.

Comments

  1. Alpesh says

    July 29, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    mmmm… bhaiya thanks for yet another good post. You should keep writing for us as you should singing for us. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  2. Hiren says

    July 29, 2009 at 6:43 pm

    Vikramji,

    What u write is a reader’s delight.

    Give us more.

    JGD.

    Hiren Shah

    Reply
  3. Pratik Jagad says

    July 29, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    I have experience the exact same thing since doing the Part I course. I just dont seem to want to collect any extra data into my head which has made me not read a book in a long long time. Since becoming a Part I teacher, the learning through experience has increased manifold. And now only recently I started buying audio books…my ability to listen and learn has increased a lot more to the point that I prefer listening than reading.

    Reply
  4. Vikram Hazra says

    July 29, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    Thanks Hiren
    Promise to write more.
    Pratik, there are a few books I feel every AOL teacher must read; and of course the manual and kriya notes need to be learnt inside out! I resumed reading slowly, first magazines, then technical journals, and then of course full fledged books; though nowadays its heavily slanted towards leadership principles which is a prerequisite for the APEX course ๐Ÿ™‚
    JGD
    V

    Reply
  5. sherry says

    July 29, 2009 at 11:11 pm

    Hi Vikram Bhaiya,
    JGD
    I am a newbie on this blog…
    I am a writer, but its kind of funny that as I have started writing more, my reading has dwindled to a few books. I dont know why, maybe the research that I do for writing something compensates for it…dont really know! Anyways, I wanted to ask you something..something that I have not got an answer to.
    oflately Bhagvad Gita has really fascinated me. It makes a lot of sense in fighting for the truth etc and your right. However, from what I know of the new thinking which has evolved in this century…everyone talks about forgiveness and letting go…
    what is the right thing to do? Should you let go or should you fight for the truth? If someone has wronged you and does not realize it, should you move on or make that person realize it and correct it?

    What are your thoughts?
    Sherry

    Reply
  6. Ramakrishnan says

    July 30, 2009 at 2:44 am

    Vikramji,

    Can you please suggest some good books for youth…

    JGD.

    Reply
  7. Vijay says

    July 30, 2009 at 9:22 am

    Really nice Vikram. Would you recommend any books specific for people aspiring to be teachers?

    Reply
  8. Manish Bajaj says

    July 30, 2009 at 11:13 am

    Bhaiya,

    Words like these from an experienced campaigner like you, makes us wonder that we dont even know a tiny part of world explored by you. We have yet to travel a lot more and explore the unexplored. And that too when we ae not on the same path as you are, we feel enlightened that we know you and feel good when you share your experiences. Keep it going bhaiya,

    Jai Guru dev ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  9. neelam sharma says

    July 30, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    WOW!Awesome !!I always wait for the updates !!and always wonder what is coming next ….!!
    Jai Gurudev!

    Reply
  10. Vikram Hazra says

    July 30, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    Ramakrishnan, when you say books for youth, what age group are you referring to, and for what purpose? Shall share accordingly
    Thx
    V
    Sherry, great question, will pick it up in my Q n A this weekend!
    rgds
    V

    Reply
  11. Janaki says

    July 30, 2009 at 4:29 pm

    yes indeed. there is so much we dont know

    Reply
  12. Anonymous says

    July 31, 2009 at 12:41 pm

    aankhon se aansuon ki lakeer ban gayi,
    bin maange ye kaisi takdeer ban gayi.
    Humne to ghumaai thi ungli ret par,
    Jaane anjaane Guruji ki tasveer ban gayi..

    JAI GURUDEV bhaiyya…
    and thank you for another good post.

    Reply
  13. Ramakrishnan says

    July 31, 2009 at 10:58 pm

    Hi Vikramji,

    Am very happy to see your reply ๐Ÿ™‚

    I meant books for youngsters who are new to corporate world. Students entering professional life after completing their studies. Also for enhancing their leadership and entrepreneurship skills.

    of course, YES!+ helped me a lot :)…

    Like to know your suggestion on books..

    Have a great weekend !!

    Thanks.

    JGD.

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    August 2, 2009 at 1:37 pm

    Please tell me about the books for youth as well.

    something exciting.

    JGD
    Archit Aggarwal
    rikkugreat@gmail.com

    Reply
  15. Vikram Hazra says

    August 3, 2009 at 1:08 pm

    Dear Archit
    Try Amar Chitra Katha ๐Ÿ™‚
    JGD
    V

    Reply

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