A Society in Turmoil
It was day 15 in Assam. Violence continued. Miscreants loaded in trucks, jeeps, and bikes; men and women with torches in hand, chased the villagers, looting their houses, and then charring them to ashes. Missing police and security, all adding up to a loss of sensibilities.
But, hope still prevailed. Amid unheard screams and trauma, love—persistent, devoid of the general mood—continued to heal and uplift the spirits of the traumatized.
Led by the soldiers of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a wave of compassionate action swept across the region. Armed not with weapons, but with love, they embarked on a mission to heal the wounds of the afflicted. Through the transformative power of meditation, music, and the grace of their Guru, they sowed seeds of hope that took root in even the most hopeless of hearts.
The Power of Music and Meditation
Swami Divyanand of The Art of Living, along with dedicated teachers, volunteers, and yuvacharyas (youth leaders), traversed the countryside, reaching out to those in need. Gathering the shattered fragments of communities torn apart by violence, they offered solace through satsangs (gathering where devotional music is sung), meditation, and trauma relief.
In the morning, the Art of Living team gathered the villagers and transported them to their camps where satsangs, meditation sessions, and games had been arranged for the villagers. At nightfall, the team ensured the safe return of the villagers to their homes. In cases where villagers’ houses had burned down, they were promptly brought back to the camp for proper care and attention.
With all the chaos and suffering, one might have questioned what can be achieved by satsangs, meditation, and games.
But the ways of satsangs and meditation are quite different from the ways of physical relief. While physical relief such as food, clothes, shelter, medicines are immediate necessities; satsangs, meditation, and blessings provide a deeper, more profound form of healing. Like a soothing balm for the body, they offered comfort for the mind and soul.
Swamiji recounted, ”A few minutes of meditation takes them away from the pain and trauma they are experiencing. And when they come back, they feel different. It works in wonderful ways. Inexplicable, but it does.”
The volunteers also actively engaged the children in various games. Despite their inability to articulate emotions like adults, the children remained highly sensitive to their surroundings. Their lack of expression did not diminish the impact of their experiences. These simple games filled them with joy, providing a reprieve from the violence they had witnessed.
In addition to meditation, music emerged as a potent healer in its own right. Engaging the villagers with uplifting bhajans, the Art of Living team provided a much-needed recreation, a respite from the harsh realities of their surroundings. Laughter rang out amidst the darkness, raising the spirits of the group.
The Triumph of Love
As the people of Assam embraced the transformative power of music, meditation, and blessings a new narrative emerged—one of healing. The combined efforts of compassionate individuals and dedicated volunteers paved the way for a future free from the shackles of a violent history.
