Trauma care for Mumbaikars:
In the aftermath of the terror attacks, the Art of Living Foundation is offering free trauma relief workshops for Mumbaikars from December 1st, 2008. These sessions will be conducted in South and Central Mumbai and are open to all.

The three day, one hour a day modules will focus on helping citizens of Mumbai to cope with from the after effects of the trauma and return to a calmer state of mind. If trauma is not released from the system, it can in the long run result in physical, mental and psychological disorders such as insomnia, hypersensitivity, hyper vigilance, fatigue, depression, increased dependency on alcohol, helplessness, anxiety, intense psychological distress and exaggerated startle response.

Trauma relief workshops conducted by the Art of Living have proven to be extremely effective in helping individuals regain mental and emotional balance and relief from these sorts of disorders.
 
Here is what you can do to help:
• Join hands with the Art of Living Foundation to organise these sessions.
• Send people who you know could benefit from these sessions.
• Organise an evening of prayers and meditation for world peace.
 
For more information contact: 9867313556, 9221838675, 25662360,  9820342276
 
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Online Counselling: Click here to post your question
 
Please find below some of your concerns
 
   
     
Swami Pragyapadji   Sangeeta Jani
 
Jai Gurudev! Does karma has any thing to do with the fate of people who died in this terror attack?- Divya
Swamiji: Sometimes things do happen inspite of our best intentions. Instead of asking this question, let us ask ourselves what we can do so that the seed of terrorism itself is wiped out from this planet. Our planet will be safe totally only when this happens. Jai Gurudev
 
There is a sense of desperation... much angst within the people and i am not sure what will really come out of it.. - Hari
Swamiji: I can understand the anger and sense of desperation in the minds of people. Most acts done out of anger and desperation end in regret. We need to learn to maintain our peace and do whatever is necessary to bring about more peace in society. That is the only solution. Keep on doing your sadhana to be able to maintain that peace.
 
I am new to Mumbai and after these blasts, I am afraid to travel. While I do travel, there is always this fear. I pray to remove this fear but somewhere it is creating stress within me. - Hobbes
Swamiji: What you can do...
• Practice some asanas, pranayamas, meditation and Sudarshan Kriya (if you have learnt)
• This is a period where one needs to trust oneself and the society at large.
• Smile as much as possible even if it appears difficult
• If nothing of the above works, then you can go for our counselling sessions.
 
I have been getting lots of dreams lately and so cannot sleep soundly. Can you please suggest something? JGD - Umesh
Sangeetaji: The mind is traumatised with this event and you are experiencing stress, which is causing disturbance in your sleep. No matter what I tell you right now, the best way is through techniques. In my experience, the best techniques are simple prananayama, breathing, Sudarshan Kriya and meditation. You may find if you close your eyes for meditation, you will be bombarded with thoughts, fears and anxieties. If you do some breathing exercises before, that will take you deeper into meditation.
 
If God is governing everything, what is it that he wants us to show by these terrorist attacks? And what lesson is there behind these attacks that we are not learning? - Rahul
Sangeetaji: If you have noticed every time, there is a negative event or a negative situation, it takes you deeper into yourself; we question the meaning of life , the purpose of our existence and it creates a need in us to take responsibility. When we move far away from ourselves and nature, then such events, even at a high price, help us to come back to our source and recognise the purpose of life. These events make us stronger, give us a sense of purpose, invoke in us a sense of compassion, solidarity, and a sense of caring, sharing and being useful to society.
 
What is the end of these terrorist attacks? – Yogesh
Swamiji: You decide what end you want to have. If you do not take responsibility to change then soon the terrorists will control your life. If you do take responsibility then do everything possible to prevent this. And soon you will be able to put an end to this menace. It all depends on what you choose to do.
more...
 
Broadcast PDP meditation held in mumbai 06 Dec 2008 Click here to view or download
 
AOL has held trauma relief programs post major natural and manmade calamities in India and around the world. These include the recent floods in Bihar, India (2008), the Virginia Tech Campus shootings, USA (April 2007) , Vidarbha farmers, India (2007),  Suburban Railway bomb blasts, Mumbai, India (July 2006) , Jakarta floods, Indonesia (February 2007 & January 2002), Post War Iraq (2003), 9/11 Terror attack, NY, USA (2001).
 
Here are some experiences from earlier participants:
 
It feels like breathing out all the stress of war and breathing in a new life. I felt really relaxed after doing the breathing exercises.” -Ahmed Hinoon  Iraq – Post War Iraq (September 2003)

 “Until we did the breath exercises my heart had not stopped pounding, not since the earthquake. Now at last I am at peace, I will tell my neighbours.” -Begum Azie, Shaalkot village, Baramullah, Kashmir, October 20, 2005, Kashmir Earthquake
Memories of the blast, the bleeding bodies and the screams haunted me for nights until my wife Pushpa finally forced me into attending this ... that has completely rejuvenated my entire being.” -Dinesh Tirodkar Mumbai  Railway Blasts 2006

Life is stressful for all of us these days, and a meditative practice not only helps people deal more effectively with stress and anxiety, it also aids mental clarity and focus - qualities Jane Applegate, CEO & Founder, SBTV. 9/11 Terror Attack New York, USA (September 2001)