May 31
Assassination bid on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
30th May 2010, Sunday evening at around 6:00 pm, after the public Satsang as Guruji was getting into His car, a shot was fired at Him by an unknown gunman. This shot hit one of the devotees, Vinay on his thigh.
Guruji is completely safe, and Vinay has some injury but is otherwise alright.
Even after this incident, Guruji carried on with His next programs which included appointments in Bangalore city, and another Satsang with the people doing the Ashtavakra Gita Course at the Ashram. It was a rousing, celebrative Satsang, almost no one had any clue about what had happened… until Guruji Himself talked about it.
He talked about it during Satsang and afterwards on the phone with various news channels.
He assured everyone that He was safe and absolutely alright. Also that Vinay was fine and is already walking around.
In response to who could have done this deed, He replied that we have no idea, we dont have any enemies really. The police is already on the scene doing their investigations.
But, He added that we (Art of Living) have done major amount of work in Bihar, Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, etc and many people who were treading the path of violence, laid down their arms and started to do social service there. This may not have gone down well with certain elements, and so some terrorist could have made this attempt.
He said it could have been much worse, that person could have fired several rounds and hurt many people, but by God’s Grace, he fired only one round and made off. When asked whether He would increase security around Himself, he replied that He didn’t like security in between Him and His devotees and almost dismissed off the entire event as a freak incident. He categorically said that He would continue to mixing and mingling with people just like always.
He said we shouldn’t only worry about security at the Ashram, but worry about the condition of our country. This will improve dramatically when many more people tread the path of Spirituality.
Many people have suffered because of violence. We need to drastically strengthen the voice of Non Violence.
He also had a message for the terrorists. He told them, I will welcome you here, sit for a few days in Satsang and see whether you still want to follow the path of violence.
(6 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
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Thank you Bau !
Why is “he” referred as “He” out here? He is NOT God. There is one God, although divinity lies in everyone and it should be kept that way.
Am glad he is safe.
Exactly, Divinity lies in everyone and everything, and in Him its manifest so you can see and feel it
As a mark of respect for that, i like to refer to Him as with a capital “H” on my personal blog
and i am glad you are glad
Jai Gurudeva!
bawa
What a wonderful answer Bhau.
Thanks for the detailed post Bawa ! Lucky VInay – took a bullet for the Guru !
May God give some sense to the ignorant who do something a stupid as this.
Jai Guru Dev,
Thank you Bawa! We were collecting all info from friends and all around twitter, Facebook and 50+ news from google, but you gave it all so clearly! a few things to add from other people who shared it with me:
guruji is fine. He said “where there is so much meditation and yoga, violence simply vanishes. we should encourage more people to do yoga.”
43 minutes ago via web
twitter.com/dkashikar
also guruji mentioned in satsang talk afterwords
A Sutra from Yoga Sutras says’ Where people practice Yoga, enmity leaves.’ Here the space in ashram is such that even the terrorist comes and his mind is changed. A person who came with intention of hurting people could not do so and his mind did not permit him to do any harm.
Amol (http://myspace.com/AmolShende ) via Facebook
I was waiting to hear from you Bau. Jai Gurudev !!
it good to know that Guruji is completely safe
Bawa, thanks for sharing officially what happened.
Everyone understands the message is to not live in fear.
On Friday, I stood up to three young gangsters who were blocking the subway access, they threatened me with physical harm. I remained unafraid, as living in fear is not really living.
I know where this strength comes from, divine source, always within me, brought out by Guruji!
Jai Guru Deva!
Renee (Yoga Rani) Knight
Toronto, ON
Canada
Sri Sri’s message of non-violence in response to attempted attack on his life
http://www.youtube.com/artoflivingtv
Jai Gurudev
JGD………………………… Hope the peace spread all over the world asap
Jai Guru Dev
Dear Bawa,
Thanks for posting details. I got an SMS last night and was worried and a little annoyed that someone would dare to do something like this, and in the ASHRAM!! How come the person is not caught I am wondering… Anyway… Keep telling us if it is safe to come to ashram now or not… Jai Gurudev.
When Guruji made the announcement at Satsang, he mentioned it as if nothing had happened and there was not an iota of fear in anybody’s mind afterwards. Guruji had a extra special glow and looked so happy
It’s quite amazing that we all are able to take an incident of this magnitude so lightly. There is just a sense of peace. I just told a relative that there was no need for any concern since nothing can touch us. Jai Guru Dev!
thanks for publishing.. sure made me feel better after reading this.
Thank you Bau for posting this. Was waiting to hear from you.
Dear bau,
Thanks a lot for posting the details.. knew guruji wud be safe but wanted to know what happened..
why wud anyone have a grudge against guruji? this question was haunting since last night.. anyway.. let His love spread…
Jai Guru Dev
I’m glad that everyone is ok. Guruji is the best!
It is very scary that something like this can happen!
I can’t but worry for Guruji.
I know He doesn’t want us to, but how can I not?
guruji is that absolute love Himself ..
we are enveloped in His divine love..and so we remain untouched , unharmed,,
lots of love,
jai gurudev
Dear Sir,
I just saw the news and was completely shocked read ur blog now feeling good to know that GURUJI is safe
THAnks a LOt
JGD
Sudha.P
jai Gurudev! Thank God nobody was seriously injured.
Thanks Bau for sharing this. What can we do to protect him more ?
This attempt is such a sign of weakness. But, as devotees what can we do to prevent this completely ?
love,
seemaa
Among other things, many more people should meditate and learn to meditate, so that this kind of things not only doesn’t happen to Him, but will become unheard of happening to anyone else either
Dear Bawa bhaiya,
I am very relieved to hear that Guruji is fine and Vinay is also fine.
I completely agree that more people need to meditate and that would lower crime rate. But that is something that may take a while. I mean it can’t be done in an instant. Don’t you feel that security needs to be increased for Guruji? These bastards(forgive my language) who have dared to do this may try again. PLEASE PLEASE do something to protect Guruji.
There is nothing you or i could do to protect Guruji.
But many of us have told Him that we don’t really want any more of these scares.
You write to Him and tell Him too
Jai Gurudeva!
bawa
Dear Bawa,
Thanks for the post . I got a sms last evening from Ashram and was worried. Am happy to learn that Vinay is out of danger and our beloved Guruji is safe and fine…
Guruji, we love you !
Jai Gurudev !
Kalyani
It was schocking to know about such event .How can a person ever think of harming such charming, ever smiling ,ever enthusiastic , moderator , liberal view educator (which we call lovingly as GURU ji). He has brought revolution in our lives and changed our way of thinking and taught us art of living in true sense. Since our Guru ji has blessed the culprit therefore I will not comment on it. But it is clear that we are going in the right direction which is not being liked by the rigid view people wishing to harm humanity and peace in the world.It has also given us a lesson that lot of work has to be done for the Sewa.
THANKS GOD GURUJI IS SAFE
JAY GURU DEV
Thanks for sharing the detailed news.
Jai Gurudev!
Thanks bau.. om namah shivaya!
Thanx bau. I knew about it through your tweets. Ashram is always safe. Guruji is the embodiment of love , peace & non violence. Nothing can happen to him. Our commitment to service should be much more strengthened by the incident. Jgd. Love . . . . . . Om
Bawa – How is it that with so many Devotees around Guruji, that guy got away? Did no one see him / catch him or try to catch him?
Everyone’s attention when we are around Guruji is on Guruji… No one there would be even looking anywhere else
Proud to have such a Great MASTER who is ready to forgive at such levels also!!!
Love u Guruji…
I love u
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was very worried but after seeing guruji speaking to times now in the morning after rudra pooja was relaxed seeing him safe.
Dear Bawu,
Thank you very much for this post. I am reading it at right time, I was scared and burst in to tears by reading the headline.
Batamai socha he is GOD, nothing will happen without his permission
Love You Guruji, you are my sweetheart
Jai Gurudev!!!
NOTHING EVER CAN TOUCH THE LORD HIMSELF…NOTHING AND NOBODY REALLY CAN…
thanks a lot for the update … was hoping that you would put it in the right perspective , the news channel are really not so reliable .
one of the reporter actually ASKED Guriji if he or people around had seen the attacker !!!
Thanks for details bawa…I was bit shocked with the news of attack… But today morning on TV saw guruji smiling as always…
Long live guruji…I want to visit ashram ASAP 
come come!
Dear Bau, Firstly,hope the culprit does the course soon…and many such people…
JGD
jgd … Its good to know Gurudevji’s is calm and composed … He knows nothing is to be acheived … nothing has changed ..
Let the weak know the power of meditation and love know!!! I watched the videos and feel how his presence removed the fear of thousands around him!!
Whoever did this had showcased our Guruji’s power to the world that no once can touch him!!!
Jai Guru Dev
Harish
speechless! had no idea this has happened. So happy that guruji is alright!
Jai Gurudev !
Tu, also for the video .. love to all.
Feeling so relieved Bau….But the guy who shot the bullet doesnt know what he has brought upon to himself…;) and Vinay… he is totally blessed for life !!
as for me I feel like a total utter useless person, waste, good-for-nothing… there He is risking His life for useless people like me and here I am.. giving total nonsense excuses to stay away from sadhana and satsang and Him…. Totally useless !!!
Please dont say negative things about yourself, Guruji has repeatedly said saying negative stuff about yourself is like tearing up your own application form for Enlightenment
Feel Blessed, lucky and if you have not been doing Sadhana, then start doing and thats it
Jai Gurudeva!
bawa
Thank u bau, for such a clear view of the incident and the after events…..good to hear that guruji is safe and may vinay also get well soon…… as guruji said positive energies protect us a kavach and it has been proved……JAI GURUDEV….
felt very very good after reading your blog…felt at peace…
thank u bawu..n love u bawu
Jai Gurudev.. Usually if something like this happens, I say, Thank You Guruji. Was at a loss of words last evening. A Divine society will make things better. But ur blog is a relief. nothing should and will happen to Guruji.. Jai Gurudev
Bawaji..Thank you foraa detailed report.. TAhis has cooled down my fear and anxiety..I will mail your message to all my group members …Love…jgd
wow. Even during an event like this which could have become a source of negativity, Guruji has transformed it into a chance for a strong message of peace and inspired people to do more yoga, mediation and satsang. I truly understand the power of mediatation and satsang now.
Jai Gurudev Bawa! After the initial shock got relaxed when I got to know that Guruji is safe. Guruji is Beloved to all of us so for a short while I forgot that He is ‘GOD’ by Himself. There must be some wish or reason behind – which He is well aware of. (Unka Lila Wohi Jane) We should all put our hands together to bring an end to this violence, terrorism from each and every corner of the world. We His devotees are lucky enough to receive His guidance and should continue to do our Kriya and meditation regularly to keep such negative thoughts or energy away. Am mentally prepared to join His team, just need to wait for my son (who is 8 years) to grow up little more and His final Call. Warm Regards to each and everyone of our AOL family.
Love you Guruji!Stay Smiling Always…JGD..
“Rudra pooja tomo. morning at 7 am” … ha ha ha
… !!!!
Guruji is love, Guruji is shakti , i am blessed to have Guruji in my life….no one can harm my Guru…..
love & Jgd
ekta
Various AOL chapters can perhaps organise mega kriyas all over the globe. salutations to the Master.
The assailant must definately be a religious fanatic.
Must be having an absurd reason to attack a holy person like Sri Sri.
We have another Nathuram Godse here
Baws – was looking at your blog for very long time yesterday night hoping your post.
And, I liked your comment for HE with a wink. It was so typical you – Fierce and neutral as well
Nathan
Jai Gurudev
Im very much relieved after reading the explicit description of wat happend…
Many thanks for that
Guruji is safe and sound….wat more we can want….Blessed is Vinay who took a bullet for Guruji and was so close to him to protect him….All my gratitude to you Vinay…I dnt know u bt we r connected in this one consciousness and im grateful that you protected the One who guides us on this spiritual path…
Jai Gurudev and Long Live OUR BELOVED GURUJI…
Guruji is the Sun of the all universe.Nobodys cant blowout the sun..
We love love love love love you………Guruji
JaiGurudev.
Sasi.K.N
In this whole episode, one learning that has come out very strongly and clear for us seekers from Guruji is how to be equanimous in dire situations.Here is this Man who does not only preach equanimity but has shown the world what it means to be equanimous and peaceful even when someone is out there to use violence against Him. We panicked, media (as always) panicked, everybody around Him, I am sure must have got a lump in their throat for few moments when they heard the news or witnessed the incident ,but He very calmly and peacefully went through the entire situation…Hats Off!!
Our Guruji is more brighter than before isnt it?
“Madhuban ki lataom mean Gurudev thu mea deekha.
With love to all AOL .
Jai Gurudev.
Jai Gurudev Bawa,
Who can harm our GURU. No one.
Still, Bawa why does such things happen ?
Love u Guruji
Jgd
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May the divinity prevails…… Jai Gurudev…
Thanks Bawa for the update. Was so happy and proud of our Master. The sweet innocent smile , the compassionate attitude and a forgiving heart. We are so truly blessed.!! Nothing will happen to our Lord God.
Anita Mohan
Hi Bau
,
If according to Sri Sri ‘For one who is established in non-violence, all kinds of hostility ceases’ why was he shot at in the first place… isn’t he a hypocrite? or is the definition of hostility according to him different from the dictionary meaning?! He claims that nobody suffered much from the shooting and only one round was fired because of the meditative, satsang environment in ashram but even that single shot is an act of hostility right?!
In Ashtavakra Geeta Sri Sri claimed that Gandhi was violent with himself so he suffered a sad fate…. What about this shooting? Sri Sri may not have died but isn’t this similar, a beginning? Now what is he going to take back all those words, or continue to be a hypocrite or have I misunderstood him totally?
Please answer my question with a prejudice free intellect…..
Maybe you should start asking questions with a prejudice free intellect?
Maybe you should come for an Art of Living course and learn to meditate, then meditate for an appreciably long time to see exactly what Sri Sri and Art of Living is.
Maybe you should listen to the discourses of Ashtavakra Geeta and learn from the deep wisdom in them to go towards Enlightenment, instead of doing what you are doing.
You have been commenting on this and other Art of Living blogs anonymously, all the time using all sorts of really twisted logic and words to defame Sri Sri, Art of Living and many, many people who are working here. I have patiently dealt with many of your ridiculous questions, and just deleted some of your more tiresome rants.
I don’t take the step of permanently assigning an email id to the junk folder lightly, coz i feel sometime you may actually need help in your life and i will not get to read that post/comment of yours and be able to help you… But after this utterly insensitive comment, i am tempted to do exactly that.
Have you ever had a person you love very deeply, your father, mother, wife, daughter, son, best friend shot at? The day after the incident, what would you yourself do to someone who asks a question like the one you have asked?
If you dont have good things to say, dont say them. Or go elsewhere to say them.
Jai Gurudeva!
bawa
In Ashtavakra Gita, Guruji explains “Don’t waste time with too many questions of why things happen. It is part of a big Universe. Simply accept that they do happen”.
If we apply it in this case …. there are different human beings at different levels of knowledge. Instead of asking why this person (the one who shot) did it, let us accept that there are many such people, and we need to bring all to the path of knowledge.
Guruji has already forgiven him and has invited him to join a Satsang. Can we all pray that he is found, brought to a Satsang and transformed? That would bring in a HUGE change to how such events are dealt with. How marvellous that would be! JGD
great idea!
it felt so nice to see The other Spiritual Guru’s, Saint’s and Maulana’s coming together in support for Guruji.
One positive thing that has come out of all this is that now more and more people know about the service activities (like in Jaharkhand, Kashmir etc) being undertaken by the Art of Living Foundation.
Also, it was so nice to see Guruji smiling throughout all the tiresome interviews. I am sure He has spoken to atleast 10+news channels. Even Rajdeep Sardesai the editor-in-chief of CNN-IBN has written that to whatever ‘difficult’ question he asked G, Guruji was always smiling and he said that, that is the power of meditation.
My faith has increased much more after all this saga
love and more love
Bawa,
Why are there so many versions of what exactly happened?? It is annoying that everyone gives different information. The official news is that Guruji was not present when the bullet was shot! The bullet was’nt aimed at Gurujis car at all , that is the official report.. Do have the inside scoop?
please let us know because Guruji himself said that he bullet was fired at his car! I am rather disappointed as many people are calling it a publicity stunt! And that the shot was a result of some misunderstanding between devotees?
The Media is having a field day! Capitalizing on a small incident like this , it shows Guruji and Aol in bad light , honestly. I could never think of Doubting our Guruji but I need the real truth.
The incident is now being portrayed as being born out of Rivalry between Congress and BJP..
Well, what happened exactly is what i have written out… i personally dont really care what media etc stays, we all know how everything is mangled, twisted so that it can be sensationalized. I am just supremely glad no one got hurt, time to move on…
Completely agree – media can mess up. We need to “Keep the faith”:
True .. sensationalization and media go hand in hand ..
if the report read .. “sri sri shot at” and simply closed the next day .. u wudnt care much ..
but if u questioned everything .. including the truth .. and then get theoritical answers .. make ur and other grey cells churn .. without reasonable logic .. now u got some sensation .. people get something to talk about .. and yes .. they talk about it after watching ur news channel and reading ur news paper .. so well .. i guess .. these are the persons who need the company of sadhana, seva and satsang ..
Jai Gurudev!
Jai Gurudev!!
i was bit worried when the incident happened on 30th that hereafter security will be tightened and cant meet Guru Ji that easily like before. but Guruji made a clear statement that there shud not be any wall between me and my devotees ( public).
that’s Love. unconditional……………… Love…….Jaigurudev..
LOKA SARVA SUKHINO BHAVANTU…JGD
Dear Bau,
Chidambaram says that it was a case of brawl between two devotees. He’s clearly using this incident to defame AOL and Guruji by suggesting that devotees carry guns with them.. why are such people in power at all? and when will they be thrown out?? what is the time frame?
JGD Bhaiya
After so much happened in Ashram –I agree with Baba Ramdev and other spiritual guru’s that our Guruji is our Rashtra ki Sampati” and should be given more protection but our Home minister is giving irresponsible statements…. whats AOl and your view on that
Bau,
Thanks so much for posting this! When I read the news article, I wasn’t shocked that Guruji is absolutely safe and fine; He is divine and He will always be absolutely safe. I was shocked that someone could actually think of committing such an act. But after reading your post, I realized that there could be some people who did not want the positive changes that Guruji has been effecting in certain parts of the country. I strongly think we should pray for such people so that they participate in satsangs and meditation and view the world with a different outlook. Post my saadhna today, I shall do the same.
Love,
Jai Gurudev!
Archit
Its amazing how Guruji can forgive people with such ease. As for me i feel pity for the person who has so completely been twisted by violence. Even when I heard the news I didn’t find it surprising that no one was seriously injured. I don’t know whether it was me being insensitive or I had total faith that while Guruji is there no problem can be severe
Jai Gurudev….. LOVE Ellen
Dear BAU,
Thanks so much!!! But by now, media has twisted this incidence a lot…. What is ur opinion about it?
JAI GURUDEV
Great to hear from you Bawa. Guruji’s love is immense. Blessed is that soul who came with some dangerous intention and got transformed after attending satsang with Guruji. He must have become an ardent follower of Guruji. We all are thank ful to you for posting full details of the incident