Shillong: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is on a two day visit to Shillong, addressed a large crowd at Polo Ground on Tuesday.
Pointing to the rich repository of medicinal herbs in Meghalaya, Sri Sri said rigorous research is needed to promote herbal medicines. He named seven herbs which he said are good for the nervous system and body.
Stating that the great knowledge of this country is not available to the common man, Sri Sri said it should be the endeavour of those who produce knowledge to disseminate their findings widely.
Sri Sri spoke about the fluoride present in all commercially produced toothpaste and said that the fluoride collects in the human system after a time and causes bone and joint problems and leads to osteoporosis.
“One spoon of white sugar reduces the immune system for the next two hours. In the West sugar is called white poison because it contains sulphur dioxide,” Sri Sri informed the gathering.
However, what should put the people of Shillong on alert is the spiritual teacher’s reference to Shillong as a city whose open drains filled with garbage have the potential to cause serious health problems.
“It is a bitter truth that I have to point out but not everything is rosy about this city. The planning and buildings have to be nicer,” Sri Sri said adding that if 100 people visit the PWD office and urge the minister and engineers and bureaucrats to do their duties better there can be improvement.
Sri Sri however urged the people not to depend only on government. He called on the audience to put up their hands and commit to spend two hours every Sunday to clean up the drains. He lamented that the city has been allowed to deteriorate the way it has. He said it was his dream to see a Meghalaya that is free from intoxicants. He wanted to see a peaceful, drug free, poverty free, healthy, happy and prosperous Meghalaya. I wish the volunteers of Art of Living could do a happiness survey and find out what makes people unhappy. “If we open communication with people around us we will transformation. After all we have such a short life to live on this earth,” Sri Sri observed.
Sri Sri urged people to remove the barriers created by religion, community and to be connected to the universal spirit. “I assure you that you can work miracles in your lives if you smile more often. A baby smiles 400 times a day; an adolescent only 17 times a day and if we enter a government office we will not even see a smile on anyone’s face,” Sri Sri said and reminded the gathering to have “Purity in Heart, Clarity in Mind and Sincerity in Action”.
Sri Sri was treated to some excellent performances such as the Drum Ensemble from Snap Paka, a Choir performance from the Assembly Institute of Music, a cultural fusion of tribal and Indian dances choreographed by Monica Chanda and songs from Serenity Choir. A welcome song was presented by the children of the Art of Living, Shillong.
Earlier the spiritual teacher took the audience through some breathing exercises and meditation. He said that meditation is imperative as it increases intelligence and improves intuitive ability apart from being an inspiration for innovation.
