The audience in Shah Auditorium had a unique experience on Sunday. Sister Shivani, as she is called by the members of Brahmakumari movement, explained how people could recapture happiness in their day-to-day lives. Drawing on her interactions with ordinary people, she felt that our ‘remote’ lies within our reach and we can control how we react to situations around us. It is normal for ordinary folks to suffer from a persecution complex and indulge in a blame game. Every one amongst us feels aggrieved in today’s world and takes it upon those who are thought to be responsible for our miseries. Shivani, in her characteristic style, interacted with the audience and made them admit that they had no control over others. However, they could surely choose the way they react to them. Urging them not to carry the unpleasant baggage of the past and use the ‘delete’ button daily, she showed how we can live happy lives and also spread happiness around. The joy lies within us. We have to discard our negative energy and accept those around us with love and understanding. Let us be joyous in spirit and behaviour. The best part of the program was the way she introduced the audience to the art of meditation. Silence reigned in the auditorium whenever she urged the participants to observe silence, look within, to be stable and at peace. When we are at peace within and without, this would automatically lead to world peace, she told a questioner towards the end.
As I strolled out at the end, I wondered if peace & joy were synonymous. The members of the organization, including Shivani herself, choose to clad themselves from top to bottom in spotless white - the colour of peace. Is it also the colour of joy, I wondered. Somehow one relates joy most with children who love colours the most. A child who insisted on saying hello to Shivani declared that she was not the one he saw on TV. ‘Which one is better, she asked him smilingly and he made no secret of his preference: ‘TV wali’.
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