The Art of Being You

Judith Clark has patiently gathered the teachings of the living master, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and lovingly organized, amplified, and celebrated them. The result is a treasure of uplifting insight and inspiration, filled with practical answers to the questions of life and spirit. Her gift is that she has made his wisdom so accessible to us, so able to soothe, reassure, and enliven us. This is a book to be kept close at hand and dipped in regularly, a book as refreshing as a spring breeze.

—PETER STRANGER, Communications Executive and Environmental Activist

This surprisingly practical book reminds us that peace and strength are found within. It calms the mind and refreshes the soul. Pick it up, put it down and return to it often—it is a wellspring of helpful hints for living in our modern-day world.

—SCOTT SQUILLACE, Founder, Squillace & Associates, P.C.

This is not the kind of book I usually read, but when, by chance, I did pick it up, I read it straight through. There is something wonderful on every page.

—ALAN HEBEL, Founder, the Book Designers

Judith Clark has created a wonderfully accessible book presenting the life teachings of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. These teachings move beyond the boundaries of our separate faith traditions into a deep understanding that even as we all belong to God, so are we all in the process of journeying more deeply into God. This book is a gift which will help the reader do just that—simply, joyfully and peacefully.

—ALICE MINDRUM, Episcopal Priest

Illuminating and inspiring. The Art Of Being You is a profound yet accessible discourse on consciousness, and an invaluable guide on how to live the best life.

—EILEEN GREGORY, Co-Founder of Innergy, Documentary Filmmaker

Don’t miss this book—it will make every day a better day.

—AUSTIN MYERS, Motion Picture Costume Designer

THE ART OF BEING YOU

COMING HOME TO THE LOVE, JOY AND PEACE THAT YOU ARE

A PRESENTATION OF THE WORDS AND WISDOM OF

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi ShankarBy Judith Clark

SRI SRI PUBLICATIONS TRUST

The Art of Being You

1^>st Edition: October 2011

Copyright 2011 © All rights reserved.

ePub Converted by Verse Innovation Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage orretrieval system without prior permission in written form from the publisher.

eISBN: 978 9 351 06639 2

Sri Sri Publications Trust,

The Art of Living International Centre, 21^>st km, Kanakapura Road, Udayapura, Bangalore - 560 082 Phone: 080-32722473 Email: [email protected] Website: store.artofliving.org

For Addison, Jared and Nathaniel, and all the children of the world.

My deep appreciation to those who have supported the creation of this book from its beginning: Katherine, John and Chandler Clark; Peter and Camille Stranger; John Osborne; my friends and spiritual companions at St. Mary’s of the Harbor; and Birjoo Vaishnav. My appreciation also goes to Mary Gates and Janet Reinhart for their contributions to the text, to Terry Hiller and Hal Zina Bennett for their editorial counsel, and to Rejean FaFard and Patrick Milot, who recorded many of the words in this book. And lastly, my unbounded gratitude goes to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who has graced my life with his presence, wisdom and love.

Judith Clark

The object of spiritual life is to be amazed, to say, “Wow!” and wake up to the fullness of life here and now.

—SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

by Judith Clark

Some twenty years ago, at a time when few people in the United States or in the world knew who Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was, he offered to come to my home in Connecticut and gave a talk. I gathered some friends in my living room that evening to listen to him. When he had spoken for a while, he asked if anyone had a question. I did.

He had been explaining the importance of being with your feelings and that greatly troubled me. I was in psychotherapy at the time, where the guiding principle was ‘Be With Your Feelings’, but I had found that some feelings were too big and too overwhelming to allow in. I could not sit with them (I had tried!) and I did not want to. Now His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was sitting on my living room sofa and saying, “Be with your feelings.” When he asked if there were any questions, I raised my hand.

“What if that is hard to do?” I asked—putting it mildly. He responded by explaining—how to sit with feelings and go fully through them—exactly what I did not want to hear.

I was reluctant to press my point, but inside my question was still burning.

Sri Sri talked some more and then asked, “Are there any other questions?” Without a pause, he added, “Judy has a question.” He knew! Emboldened, I restated my question. “What if the feelings are so powerful— frightening actually— that you cannot let them in?”

He countered my question with another question: “How did you feel at that time?”