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In June 2000, Brij Paul went to Fiji to conduct Art of Living courses there in the middle of the military coup!! Some were quite concerned about him going there while a coup was going on. But he was very confident it will be OK as Sri Sri had given His blessing for the trip. His faith & devotion to Sri Sri unshakable by a coup!
It turned out that many people were desperately needed Art Of Living course as they were living under very stressful situation and uncertain & sometimes frightening times. Under very difficult circumstances, while a curfew was on, Brij taught many AOL courses there. Many felt much comfort & felt this course was the answer to their prayers; for some it was truly a lifeline. And thus the foundation for AOL in Fiji was laid, through complete faith & devotion to Sri Sri.
In Aug 2001 First course was organised by Asheesh & Aparna Narayan at Shangri-la Fijian Resort in Yanuca Island. Asheesh at the time was Financial Controller of the resort. The course was recommended to them by Mr. Madhu Rao, a HongKong based devotee of Sri Sri, who is group controller for Global Shangri-La Hotels. Even though the country was no longer under coup, but still many people were suffering as a result of financial hardship caused by the coup & the atmosphere of distrust it had created.
The big growth for AOL in Fiji came about by arrival of Kashyap Vakharia, a young enthusiast AOL member from Valsad, India. In his short stay of less than three years in Fiji, with his sheer enthusiasm he co-ordinated many courses in Fiji, including the first Advanced course there in July 2004 with Dinesh Ghodke, followed by another Adv course in June 2005 with Iti Samal, followed by a DSN with Manisha Mehta in July 2005 & the first Art excel courses in Aug 2005 with Mandar Joshi in Nandi, Latouka and Suva & a refresher course in Nandi in April 05 with Simin & many basic courses.
To date nearly 500 people throughout Fiji have done the Art of Living course. And with some now ready for taking up their teacher training course in India, AOL in Fiji can only look forward to further growth in the coming years.
Early in 2005, Simin came from New Zealand and offered a one-day refresher course for AOL devotees in the west. As a result, regular follow-up Satsang sessions were organized in both Nadi and Lautoka. The Nadi group meets every Monday evening at the Soni Temple and the Lautoka group meets Tuesday at the Sai Centre for yoga & follow up kriya. Suva Group also regularly meets for yoga & follow up Kriya during weekends.
The prisoners(35 male inmates) were extremely receptive & participated fully in both yoga excercises & also breathing practices. Right from the first day they felt deep peace & relaxation & by each day they settled more & more & grew brighter & brighter. They started reporting sleeping better, feeling happy & positive & hopeful & some healing experiences also. In the first couple of days many guards were in the class, but as the course progressed & they saw how calm & relaxed prisoners were, this was reduced to one guard only. And quite often I saw the guard joining us in breathing practices & closing his eyes!!
Also officials came in inspecting a few times & they all commented on how relaxed & peaceful the prisoners were. Somehow they would always leave during Kriya, without anyone asking them to!! The day after the course finished, The Director of Education for Fiji Prisons Services, called saying they want AOL course in all Fijian prisons for all prisoners.
A nice vegetarian meal was provided for the inmates on the last day which was served by the volunteers & also a gift pack to each prisoner. So once again Sri Sri’s Grace touched many who were suffering & brought smile to their faces & peace to their minds & joy in their hearts.
Rosii C. - Co-director a handicraft business
"The course has helped me tremendously in my work. I’ve become a lot more focused & energetic. I have become a lot more patient & understanding with my family & employees. My breathing has become smoother too! Overall my mental, Physical health has improved tremendously. I have not taken any gastric tablets since I went on the course."
Hendry W. - Student
"Totally awesome. Have managed to lose the craving and urge to smoke, take alcohol & other behaviour patterns that were destructive. Inner peace & peaceful sleep. The entire nervous system feels flushed. Stamina has also increased."
Himmat L.
"I had a great time with the advance course. I think everyone came a better person. My personal health seems improved. I am finding that I am more tolerant to my own self these days. This means that I do not indulge into drinking and other bad habits as soon as I find time. I used to do that a lot before. And others think I have become brighter in my appearance."
Divyani Ben Mistry(12 years old)
"This course was very exciting. We learnt new games. It was educational. We learnt new breathing techniques. We also learnt to put 100% concentration on any thing we do. Overall it was an amazing adventure."
Brijal Ben(13 years old)
"My experience at this course was wonderful. This Art Excel tells us to be 100% in any work you do. This course is exciting, it tells us to put your 100% concentration, we learnt breathing techniques how to relax and get energized. It tells us to make friends and be responsible."
Nalibu, Savenaca
"The benefit of this program is great. I have experienced a change in my lifestyle. My breathing problem is getting better now. I am feeling fit. I’m also slowly recovering from mental stress and depression. I sleep well at night now. My health is good & I am feeling really well. I have reduced my smoking from 6 rolls to 2 rolls a day. Good progress. Thank you."
Soko, Jitoko jnr
"I could feel many changes in my life. For example having clear mind & also implementing good decision making, also cure some of my minor injuries & complete relaxation. Sleep earlier & also having good sleep. I will continue this course when released from incarceration."
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In Lautoka AOL members raised funds to provide sports equipment for the Sunshine School of Mentally Handicapped Children.
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Grass cutting, gardening and cleaning for the Lautoka Crippled Children’s School.
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In Suva AOL members have helped in gardening for various old homes.
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Seva projects for Lautoka Crippled Children’s School, such as cooking & serving Diwali special dinner for 130 children
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Seva projects for the Sunshine School for the Intellectually Handicapped in Latouka.
Eyes gaze into eyes Nervously at first
Unsure if one should or not, But continuing to gaze.
A stranger’s eyes, Now becoming familiar
Ever more beautiful As eyes reveal the inner self.
The gaze continues, The beauty grows
Love begins Blossoming from within the soul.
This person seen through the eyes
It is not the facade, It is the true self that begins to emerge.
Love is growing, the gaze continues
Eye into eye now the image changes,
It is no longer a person, God comes before you.
You are gazing into the eyes of God
Love overwhelms, Lips are smiling.
As the other person too, Is seeing the God in you
Eyes gazing at each other
Seeing God, Feeling love, Divine love.
-- Shalon and Radhika from Latouka |