Sue Hindle shares the challenges and incredible experiences from her unpredictable yet exciting life as a globetrotting Art of Living teacher
Changes in life
She has taken Art of Living workshops around the world; to the secular minded in all countries,into the Jewish culture in Israel, to Muslims in Pakistan and Palestine and into the Roman Catholic culture in Ireland.
From a life of structure and predictability as a wife, mother and high street solicitor in the UK, with 32 years of experience, Sue Hindle transitioned into a full time Art of Living teacher, travelling around the world. The transition had its own challenges recollects Sue, “Proceeding out of the comfort zone is not that easy – leaving everything that is familiar, travelling alone constantly, even just managing heavy luggage and living out of a suitcase on a day to day basis. Small things can be tough, for example simply getting up at 3 in the morning sometimes to scrape the ice off the car before driving several hours to the airport.”
Service to Society
But these challenges are unimportant to the 57 year old compared to the positive aspects of her new life style, and the real benefits her work brings to the course participants and society. An Advanced Course teacher, she was also proactively involved in the setting up of the International Association for Human Values (IAHV) in the UK. She is currently a board member of IAHV in Norway and Australia, which promotes humanitarian projects around the world, both with practical support and fundraising. She has actively facilitated the Ivory Coast project and supported projects in Haiti, Kosovo, Pakistan, Palestine, Norway and Sri Lanka amongst others.
With her life swinging between physical pressures and practical uncertainties, to joy, celebration and a sense of belonging, she has conducted Art of Living workshops around the world, such as the secular minded in all countries, the Jews in Israel, Muslims in Pakistan and Palestine, and Roman Catholics in Ireland. She particularly finds this work very rewarding: creating awareness worldwide of universal spiritual knowledge and making it accessible to everybody. “What I particularly enjoy is bringing the knowledge and an awareness of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (One World Family) to international groups from all cultures and religious backgrounds.”
Knowledge knocks at the door
“I am inspired by the breadth of his (Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s) vision, which is essentially to transform the world. I am also inspired by the fact that through his practices, his teaching and his presence he has brought me, personally, again and again to experience of the ‘mystery’ of life and who we really are.”
This spiritual knowledge knocked at her door at a time she had ‘had enough to do with gurus.’ Nagged by her friend, Sue did the course in January 1994. What inspired her was the fact that the techniques of the course worked. “They are effective tools to make difficult situations manageable, bring one to peace within oneself and experience inner transformation. The techniques are practical and they work! With them my life has become so much easier and more enjoyable.”
It was these techniques that helped her manage the challenge of bringing Art of Living programmes to Ireland. With just three telephone numbers she went to Ireland for the first time on her 50th birthday, and from there built a team which has developed into a thriving Art of Living group. Apart from this, she has also travelled around Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan, Australia, and New Zealand taking the Advanced Meditation courses to a variety of people.
Inspired to serve
But who was her inspiration? “Gurudev (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) personally inspires me by his tremendous example. In particular with regard to his level of commitment to the wellbeing of people worldwide, his relentless ability to keep going and maintain focused equilibrium, despite all the pressures upon him,” says Sue in her email. “I am inspired by the breadth of his vision, which is essentially to transform the world. I am also inspired by the fact that through his practices, his teaching and his presence he has brought me, personally, again and again to experience of the ‘mystery’ of life and who we really are.”
