What makes your life worthwhile? O Zone,STOI

Vinita Dawra Nangia 

Do you know the purpose of your life and are you actively contributing to it?

What is the most worthwhile thing in your life? How do you feel about the way you spend each day? What tangible or intangible difference do you make to people and the world? Do you feel worthy and important to those around you?

These are crucial questions that a lot of people are beginning to ask themselves.

Time was when leading a normal life in an honest and upright manner, imparting good values to your children and generally being a good human being was enough. Not anymore.  Today people realize the importance of leading a worthwhile life that rises above the mundane concerns of living, eating, working and procreating.

Recently I was surprised when a newly-formed acquaintance asked me, "Do you follow any spiritual practice? Any guru? Do you at least practice yoga?"  It was an eye-opener to have someone I had just met and who barely knew me ask these questions.

Adopting a spiritual practice or following a guru has become almost a calling card. It is one of the ways in which people seek to establish their own worth.  And it's not just a quiet religion either; people make a big show of their commitment, even obsessive attachment, to the guru or sect they follow. To an extent the 'I am Anna" phenomenon falls in the same category. Belonging to a sect or a cause seems to boil down to a search for self-worth, a need we all have to lead a worthwhile life and so avoid falling into the category of an "also was!"

So, if you have participated in a discourse on philosophical or spiritual issues in the day, had a heated discussion on the state of the nation, or stood vigil in the sun while Anna fasted, you feel you have done your bit and are a worthwhile cog in the wheel of life. Some others may get the same feeling after reading a good book or watching a movie that leaves them with some worthwhile thoughts and questions. Still others find solace in helping others -- be it with words of advice, food, money, education, work or shelter. Yet others find their worth in attempting to influence social, political, economic or environmental changes.

The choices are many and dictated by the personal urges and aspirations of different people. But if each of us were to locate our personal trigger for feeling worthy, it would have a positive impact on not just our own lives but that of communities and the countries as well. How can you figure out what is worthwhile to you in particular?

When entrepreneur and author Chip Conley was invited to speak at the TED conference in 2010, he echoed the thought being raised by some world leaders that measuring a country's growth rate by measuring its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is not a relevant benchmark. He reiterated the words of Bhutanese King Jigme Singye Wangchuk that why don't people talk of a country's 'Gross National Happiness' rather than GDP? Chip Conley left an appreciative audience with the question, "What is the intangible difference you make rather than the tangible work you do?"

Happiness, all would agree, seems to be the key of a life well-lived. A fair measure of what makes life worthwhile for us would then be what makes us really happy! But even more important than that is to believe that there is a reason and a purpose to life and you can contribute something to that purpose. If you did not believe that, you probably wouldn't be reading this column.

The purpose and what we can contribute to it is what makes life worthwhile. Some of us just seem to know the purpose of our lives and stride confidently towards it, while others dither on the edge. A colleague asked Aruna Roy what made her resign from the IAS at an early age and follow her dream. She replied that once she was sure of what she really wanted to do, she just followed her heart and has never regretted it to this day. To find the purpose, we have to be able to trust our hearts, our instinct and allow it to lead us.

If you get a general feeling of well-being and happiness most of the time when you think of your day, you have found your purpose and are leading a worthwhile life. A friend suggests that each of us write down five things that make us happy and try to follow at least three daily. After a while, he says, we would realize what really matters. It doesn't matter what the purpose is so long as it translates into making our lives and those of others worthwhile and happy.. As Albert Einstein said, "Not everything that can be counted counts. And not everything that counts can be counted."

So, what is the one thing for you that would make your life worthwhile? Think about it and let's discuss 

 http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/O-zone/entry/what-makes-your-life-worthwhile 25 Sept, 2011

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: 27 August 2011

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. -Helen Keller, author and lecturer (1880-1968) 

Om! Yoga therapy to remove all disorders (TOI)

Jayashree Nandi, TNN | Jul 1, 2011, 12.41AM IST

BANGALORE: Yoga is no longer a traditional fitness workout. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (Nimhans) not only has a 45-minute yoga package to treat psychiatric disorders like depression and schizophrenia, but has started comparing its curative effects with general medicine. 

Doctors at Nimhans say their studies reveal evidence of biological changes in the body brought about by yoga. They prescribe yoga therapy along with medication in major ailments, while using yoga therapy alone for less serious disorders. 

Nimhans is currently doing rigorous clinical trials on the impact of yoga in treatment. Doctors are also measuring biological parameters in patients after yoga therapy. This project has been taken up as the scientific community has still not accepted the role of yoga despite even mainstream doctors prescribing it with allopathic treatment. 

"In all our investigations, there is a high degree of evidence that yoga in different forms does have a curative effect in diseases like depression, memory loss in elderly persons, schizophrenia and others. We worked out specific protocols for yoga for specific neurological problems. The degree of improvement is comparable to that of medicine," said programme director, Advanced Centre for Yoga, Nimhans, Dr B N Gangadhar. 

Benefits of yoga 

Nimhans worked out 12 hypothetical leads, and for some, experts have found evidence. 

* Yoga reduces cortisol levels (cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland. It's released in response to stress and low level of blood glucocorticoids) 

* Yoga increases brain derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF). The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the nerve growth factor family. Expression of this gene is reduced in patients suffering from Alzheimer's and Huntington. It may regulate stress response 

* Yoga helps reduce TNF alfa (tumour necrosis factor) 

"We found that chanting of `Om' reduces activity of sensors which have become hyperactive in patients suffering from depression. About 35-40 patients come to our centre every day. We've developed a 45-minute package that should be practised daily. We found certain biological parameters also change with yoga practice. It's not merely faith in a traditional therapy; it's much more than faith," Dr B N Gangadhar said. 

Case study 

The yoga university (Bangalore and Jigani) recently found evidence that it can reduce sugar levels and help control it in a case of juvenile onset diabetes Type 1 of 14-year-old Rakshith S. He suffered very high sugar levels and severe glaucoma for 18 months but now his sugar level has stabilized thanks to 21 days of intensive yoga therapy. It's a matter of pride for Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samstha University. 

Rakshith was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 12 after complaints of giddiness and tiredness and being very hungry most of the time. In September 2009, he was diagnosed with fasting blood sugar level of 340 mg/dl and post-prandial blood sugar level of 525 mg/dl. 

"Doctors asked me to take insulin. I used to inject it. Despite using high doses, blood sugar level didn't come to normal," he said. 

When he came to SVYASA, his insulin dosage was 24 units in the morning and 24 in the evening. A holistic approach that included asanas, pranayama, suddhi kriyas or detox methods, meditation and sattvic food was put in place. But Rakshith had glaucoma in which the intraocular pressure rises, so he couldn't do all the asanas. 

His therapist Rupali Ashok Zamvar said: "We saw tremendous improvement and stability in his sugar level after therapy. His insulin dosage was gradually reduced. We gave him instant relaxation, quick relaxation and deep relaxation techniques. Diet also played a major role." 

Treatment training 
Dr R Nagarathna: Yoga expert 
The department of AYUSH launched a country-wide Stop Diabetes campaign. In it, we train yoga practitioners to treat diabetes patients. Extensive research over 20 years reveal that blood sugar reduces with yoga and good cholestrol increases. It has a calming effect on body and mind. We have seen improvements in those suffering from hypertension, obesity, heart diseases and cancer. 

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Om-Yoga-therapy-to-remove-all-disorders/articleshow/9056009.cms?prtpage=1

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

Explained By Swami Ranganathananda

According to Swami Vivekananda "Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man." All knowledge, secular or spiritual is in the human mind. Man discovers it within himself, which is preexisting through eternity. Next it manifests externally.

Swami Ranganathananda's concept of education, on close analysis, appears to had its basis in the concept of education developed by Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda observes education in the following manner: "Education is the life-building, man-making, character-making, Assimilation of ideas".

Swami Ranganathananda quotes this in many of his writings and explains the following:

Education so conceived becomes continual growth of personality, steady development of character, and the qualitative improvement of life. A trained mind has the capacity to draw spiritual nourishment from every experience, be it a defeat or victory, sorrow or joy".

Education is the training of the mind and not stuffing the brain, Character efficiency is the fruit of the former while the latter produces mental stagnation and its attendant character differences.

According to Swami Vivekananda the purpose of education is to develop personality of child in all aspects namely physical, intellectual and spiritual. Function of education is to bring about a harmonious development of all the aspects of human personality so that it can grow to its highest stature and serve the society as its best.

Let us see how Swami Ranganathananda expands the ideas of Swami Vivekananda.

Education helps the child to achieve vyaktitva and vikasita vyaktitva (developed personality). It is a continuous process.

At the level of vyaktitva, man puts oneself in the centre and wants the world to dance round him on or her; as a vikasita vyakti, he or she becomes humanized and learns the art of service and dedication to the people around.

All true education involves this spiritual growth from vyaktitva to vikasita vyaktitva. Vikasita means expansion not a mere expansion in body - weight and size, not a mere intellectual expansion in mastery of facts and formulae, but a spiritual expansion, through the assimilation of the values of tyaga and seva.

These values are the by-products of that spiritual growth in man. That is why it is called Vikasita Vyaktitva. When our children are able to live in peace with others, work with others, love and serve others, then only they have become persons, vikasita vyaktis, till then, they are only individuals, vyaktis.

This type of spiritual growth from individuality to personality, from vyaktitva to vikasita vyaktitva, must first strive for it and achieve it, and then help their students to achieve it. This is a great and basic step what we have to take in our education.

This is the very soul of value-oriented education, of human resource development; education helps the child to become a vyakti and vikasita vyakti; that is learning to be and joins learning to do. Thus it becomes complete and meaningful Education.

TO SUM UP :

Swami Vivekananda defines education as 'the life building, Man-making, character making, assimilation of ideas'. purpose of education is to develop personality of child in all aspects namely, physical, intellectual, and spiritual.

Following Swami Vivekananda, Swami Ranganathananda further elaborates it as 'Education is training the mind and not stuffing the brain'. Purpose of education is to develop 'vikasita vyaktitva' in child.

 http://www.geocities.ws/kpmiyapuram/rkp5.html

 

About your relationships TOI Speaking Tree

Jaya Row | Jul 9, 2011

Are you in conflict with the people you love most? Do you experience incredible highs followed by invariable lows in your relationships? Have the days of wine and roses become days of whine and neuroses? 

Love tainted with selfishness is 'attachment;' it is only about you. You expect a return for your affection, tangible or intangible. You make demands on people and bind them. You feel insecure, vulnerable and threatened. Your expectations never seem to be met with. The more people do for you, the more you want. The relationship thus becomes conflict-ridden. In the end, it breaks down and you lose the person. 

The age-old philosophy of Vedanta steps in with new ways of defining ourselves, others and the world around us -- ways that will appeal to the younger generation. It takes dedication, a leap of faith, and practice. 

Expand your mind. Get attached to a wider circle of people – community, nation, humanity. Work for loka sangraha, for the welfare of the world. As you get attached to the higher you get detached from the lower. True love is born and your relationships become free from the endless strife that prevails now. 

In order to fill the haunting sense of emptiness in your life you depend on people for your happiness. Thus the starting point is faulty. Only when you are happy within can you establish meaningful relationships with others. It is absurd to depend on others to fill the void. Vedanta says you are paripurna – totally fulfilled. You do not need anyone to make you happy. Gain knowledge of your fulfilled state. 

Love others for what they are, the good as well as the bad. Understand that people behave according to their nature. Do you hate a lion for its ferocity or a deer for its timidity? You love both creatures equally because you understand their nature and accept them for what they are. What prevents you from accepting people as they are? Why do you complain when a partner gets angry or a child is timid? 

Look at others as part of yourself and you will focus on their best qualities. You will see opponents as partners, competitors as comrades. You will celebrate others' victory as if it were your own. Thus your happiness multiplies a billion times! Today you are happy only when good things happen to you. In the end love turns Godward. You worship God in all beings. 

Vedanta says there is only One. If you see separateness, it is your delusion. Just as one ray of light refracts into seven different colours, you see distinctions and demarcations because you view the world through the prism of your body, mind and intellect. You see maximum separateness when you identify with your body. See the world through your mind and your circle of love expands to include your family. Rise to the intellect and you see oneness among your compatriots. Merge with Atman, the Spirit within, and all differences vanish. You exult in the experience of the One in the many. You see yourself in all beings and all beings in the Self, just as you admire your images in different mirrors. Only then will you be free from sorrow and delusion. And you will attain the exalted state of enlightenment. 

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/vintage-wisdom/About-your-relationships/articleshow/9151524.cms?prtpage=1

 

Expectation brings frustration TOI Speaking Tree 310311

Osho, Mar 31, 2011

If you expect too much, you will be frustrated. If you don't want to be frustrated, don't expect. Live without expectations and there will be no frustration.

But people go on expecting; then frustration comes in - frustration is the shadow of expectation. When you feel frustrated you think that existence is doing something wrong to you. Any asking is asking too much. Don't ask, be. And then you will be surprised - whatsoever happens is good; you have no way to judge it.

I used to stay with a rich family in Calcutta. Once i went; the family had come to take me from the airport. The husband was very sad. I enquired, "What is the matter?" He said, "There has been a great loss." Listening to this, his wife started laughing. She said, "Don't bother about what he says. There has been no loss - in fact, there has been a great profit."

I was puzzled. I said, "You both are here. Please try to explain this riddle to me." The wife said, "There is no riddle. He was expecting ten lakh rupees and he got only five lakh rupees. So he says, `Five lakh rupees' loss,' and I say, `You have profited' - but he won't listen, and he is very sad."

When you expect ten lakh rupees and you get five lakh you feel frustrated. If you are not expecting and you get five lakh rupees you are full of joy, thankfulness, gratitude.

Don't expect, and you see your whole life becomes a joy. Expect, and your whole life becomes a hell. Expectation is the cause. If you want to change, never start by the effect, start by the cause. Frustration is the effect. You can go on fighting with frustration - nothing will happen, you will become more and more frustrated. Whenever you are feeling miserable, go into it and find out where the cause is. If you want to drop the effect then avoid the cause; then become aware, more and more aware.

There are many people who enjoy frustration. There are many people who enjoy being miserable. In fact, they cannot tolerate happiness at all. When they are miserable they are happy, when they are happy they feel very miserable. Whenever you are miserable you gain something: sympathy, attention. Whenever you are happy nobody shows any sympathy - in fact, people become jealous. When you are unhappy everybody is a friend, everybody sympathises with you - even your enemy will sympathise with you. When you are happy even your friend will become jealous and inimical.

When you are happy nobody pays any attention to you. People avoid you. In fact, they start thinking you must be mad: Happy? Who has ever heard of anybody being happy! When you are unhappy they accept you. Then they think everything is okay, because this is how things have to be. And people enjoy your unhappiness, that's why they pay attention - because whenever you are unhappy they can compare themselves, and deep down they can feel good.

You love frustration? Then go into it. Become more artistic about it, decorate it a little more; make new possibilities, new doors to become more frustrated. If you don't enjoy it, then i don't see the problem. Just go deep into it, watch, and you will find some expectation hidden behind. Whenever you expect, you are asking for frustration. Drop expectations!

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-31/edit-page/29365596_1_frustration-listening-profit

Ek Omkar Satnam - Translation

ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ 
ੴ सति नामु करता पुरखु निरभउ निरवैरु अकाल मूरति अजूनी सैभं गुर प्रसादि ॥ 
ik-oNkaar sat naam kartaa purakh nirbha-o nirvair akaal moorat ajoonee saibhaN gur parsaad. 
One Universal Creator God. The Name Is Truth. Creative Being Personified. No Fear. No Hatred. Image Of The Undying, Beyond Birth, Self-Existent. By Guru's Grace ~ 

॥ ਜਪੁ ॥ 
॥ जपु ॥ 
jap. 
Chant And Meditate: 

ਆਦਿ ਸਚੁ ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਸਚੁ ॥ 
आदि सचु जुगादि सचु ॥ 
aad sach jugaad sach. 
True In The Primal Beginning. True Throughout The Ages. 

ਹੈ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੋਸੀ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ॥੧॥ 
है भी सचु नानक होसी भी सचु ॥१॥ 
hai bhee sach naanak hosee bhee sach. ||1|| 
True Here And Now. O Nanak, Forever And Ever True. ||1|| 

ਸੋਚੈ ਸੋਚਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਸੋਚੀ ਲਖ ਵਾਰ ॥ 
सोचै सोचि न होवई जे सोची लख वार ॥ 
sochai soch na hova-ee jay sochee lakh vaar. 
By thinking, He cannot be reduced to thought, even by thinking hundreds of thousands of times. 

ਚੁਪੈ ਚੁਪ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜੇ ਲਾਇ ਰਹਾ ਲਿਵ ਤਾਰ ॥ 
चुपै चुप न होवई जे लाइ रहा लिव तार ॥ 
chupai chup na hova-ee jay laa-ay rahaa liv taar. 
By remaining silent, inner silence is not obtained, even by remaining lovingly absorbed deep within. 

ਭੁਖਿਆ ਭੁਖ ਨ ਉਤਰੀ ਜੇ ਬੰਨਾ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਭਾਰ ॥ 
भुखिआ भुख न उतरी जे बंना पुरीआ भार ॥ 
bhukhi-aa bhukh na utree jay bannaa puree-aa bhaar. 
The hunger of the hungry is not appeased, even by piling up loads of worldly goods. 

ਸਹਸ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਤ ਇਕ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥ 
सहस सिआणपा लख होहि त इक न चलै नालि ॥ 
sahas si-aanpaa lakh hohi ta ik na chalai naal. 
Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end. 

ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥ 
किव सचिआरा होईऐ किव कूड़ै तुटै पालि ॥ 
kiv sachi-aaraa ho-ee-ai kiv koorhai tutai paal. 
So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away? 

ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ 
हुकमि रजाई चलणा नानक लिखिआ नालि ॥१॥ 
hukam rajaa-ee chalnaa naanak likhi-aa naal. ||1|| 
O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. ||1||

Courtesy: www.sikhphilosophy.net  

अनहद में विश्राम (The Art of Meditation) Sri Ravi Shankar Amar Ujala 18th June 2011

जब कामनाएं गिर जाती है तो कोलाहल बंद होता है और चारों ओर शांति बिखर जाती है।
हम सब ऐसा गहरा विश्राम चाहते हैं जो हमें तरोताजा कर दे ताकि जागने पर
हम उपयोगी हो सकें। लेकिन तुम कब विश्राम कर सकते हो? तभी जब तुमने अन्य
सभी क्रियाकलापों को बन्द कर दिया हो। जब तुम इधर-उधर घूमना, काम करना,
सोचना, बात करना, देखना, सुनना, सूंघना और स्वाद लेना आदि सभी ऐच्छिक
क्रियाकलापों को बन्द करते हो तभी तुम्हें विश्राम मिलता है या नींद आती
है। सुषुप्ति में तुम्हारे साथ केवल अनैच्छिक क्रियाएं ही शेष रहती हैं
जैसे सांस लेना, हृदय धड़कना, पाचन क्र्तिया और रक्त संचार आदि। परन्तु
यह भी पूर्ण विश्राम नहीं है। पूर्ण विश्राम ध्यान में होता है। और ध्यान
तभी होता है, जब मन स्थिर हो जाता है।
इस मन को स्थिर कैसे करें? जीवन के उद्देश्य को समझकर और पूरी तरह
केन्द्रित होकर। केन्द्रित रहना यानी हर पल में तृप्त रहना, तटस्थ रहना।
यदि तुम्हें अपनी वांछित वस्तु मिल जाय तब भी तुम व्यग्र रहते हो और यदि
वह तुम्हें नहीं मिलती हैं तब भी तुम व्यग्र रहते हो! प्रत्येक इच्छा मन
में ज्वर उत्पन्न करती है। इस स्थिति में ध्यान नहीं हो सकता है।
जब तुम ध्यान के लिए बैठना चाहते हो, तो हर चीज को छोड़ दो। तुम जिस भी
आनन्द का जीवन में अनुभव करते हो, वह तुम्हारे अन्तरतम की गहराइयों से
आता है। यह तभी आता है, जब तुम अपनी सारी पकड़ छोड़ देते हो और स्थिर हो
जाते हो। यही ध्यान है। वास्तव में ध्यान कोई क्र्तिया नहीं है; यह कुछ
भी न करने की कला है। ध्यान की विश्रान्ति गहरे से गहरे नींद से भी गहरी
है, क्योंकि ध्यान में तुम सभी इच्छाओं से मुक्त हो जाते हो। जब तुम गहरे
ध्यान से बाहर आते हो, तब तुम बहुत गतिशील होते हो और बेहतर काम कर सकते
हो। तुम्हारा विश्राम जितना गहरा होगा, तुम्हारे कर्म उतने ही अधिक
गतिशील रहेंगे।
ध्यान भूतकाल तथा भूतकाल की घटनाओं के सभी क्रोध या तनाव से मुक्ति पाना
है और भविष्य की सभी योजनाओं और कामनाओं का त्याग करना है। योजना बनाना
तुमको अपने अन्दर गहरी डुबकी लगाने से रोकता है। ध्यान इस क्षण को पूर्णत
स्वीकार करना है और प्रत्येक क्षण को पूरी गहराई के साथ जीना है। केवल इस
बात की समझ और कुछ दिनों के निरन्तर ध्यान का अभ्यास तुम्हारे जीवन की
गुणवत्ता को बदल सकता है।
जीवन चेतना के तीन अवस्था - जाग्रत्, सुषुप्ति और स्वप्न का सबसे अच्छा
उदाहरण यह प्रकृति है। प्रकृति सोती है, जागती है और सपने देखती है!
अस्तित्व में यह एक शानदार स्तर पर हो रहा है और मानव शरीर में एक अलग
स्तर पर। जागृति और सुषुप्ति सूर्योदय और अन्धकार की भांति है। स्वप्न उन
दोनों के बीच में गोधूलि बेला के समान है और ध्यान अंतरिक्ष में एक उड़ान
की तरह से है, जहां कोई भी सूर्योदय, सूर्यास्त नहीं है, कुछ भी नहीं,
सिर्फ बोध है।

http://epaper.amarujala.com/pdf/2011/06/18/20110618a_014169.pdf

Baba Ramdev: India's campaigning guru battles corruption bbcnews.com

By Mark Dummett, BBC News, Haridwar

The key to healthy living, according to Baba Ramdev, is knowing how to breathe.

It is a simple message that has won the yoga teacher, or guru, from a poor north Indian background, fame, fortune, an extraordinary self-confidence, his very own Scottish island, and a platform for some strong and controversial opinions.

He has now embarked on a campaign against corruption, the big issue in India at the moment, and he says he will launch his own political movement in June to contest the next election.

He may not stand much of a chance of actually winning anything, but as I discovered on my trip to his headquarters near the Hindu holy town of Haridwar, he is not a man to ignore.

He claims to keep no personal wealth for himself, but the organisation he runs is hugely rich.

Baba Ramdev's base, immaculately clean, decorated with ornamental trees and filled with piped religious chanting, is spread over 500 acres.

It is home to a university, a hospital, an Ayurvedic medicine factory, modern apartment blocks to accommodate 10,000 devotees at a time, and an auditorium so vast you could park a couple of aircraft inside.

"He's doing a wonderful job for the country. He's brought yoga to everyone," say Mr and Mrs Khokar Baba Ramdev devotees.

Just after dawn, on the day I visit, it is filled with a loud humming sound as about 3,000 people, all sitting cross-legged on the floor slowly exhale the word "Om" .

The guru is sitting on a raised platform, wrapped in orange robes. Behind his thick black beard, he is youthful looking, with a lopsided grin.

Television cameras are filming the whole three-hour lesson, and it will be shown, his people tell me, in 200 different countries to a global audience of 100 million viewers.

That figure sounds suspiciously high, but there is no doubt at all that Baba Ramdev does have a large, and devoted following from across Indian society.

'Oxygen medicine'

"I watch a lot of TV at home and that's where I first came across this swami. We have even shown our children how to follow his breathing exercises, and he has changed all our lives in a nice way," Sunita Khokar, who travelled from her home in a wealthy Delhi suburb to attend a week of yoga classes, told me.

"He's doing a wonderful job for the country. He's brought yoga to everyone," her husband, OP Khokar, who works for an oil company, agreed.

The guru claims, and his followers believe, that his breathing exercises can have a profound effect on a person's body.

"Oxygen is the supreme medication - a medication for every human being," he told me.

"When you do my breathing exercises you are giving extra oxygen to the body and this oxygen can treat your cells, can even correct the structure of your cells," he said. "This is beneficial to asthma, bronchitis, allergies, general weakness and auto immune disorders."

In the past Baba Ramdev has also said that his exercises can treat cancer and help treat HIV/Aids. He has even filed a case in India's Supreme Court challenging the recent decriminalisation of homosexuality, arguing that it too can be "cured" with yoga.

Views such as these make him a dangerous man, argues Sanal Edamaruku, who heads the Rationalist Association of India, which sets out to expose the bogus claims of India's many gurus and other quasi-religious figures.

He says that Baba Ramdev exaggerates the beneficial properties of his various health treatments as well as his television viewing figures.

"Baba Ramdev stands against progress, and he stands against the medical knowledge that we have acquired," he told me. "So if he becomes a politician and is taken seriously then that will become a danger for India."

Corruption touchstone

But while some of his views might be extremely eccentric, to say the least, Baba Ramdev has certainly entered the mainstream in picking corruption as the issue with which to launch his political career.

The government's popularity has been ebbing away since its former telecoms minister was accused last year of presiding over what could be the country's biggest ever fraud, which the government's own auditor estimated had cost the state about $40bn (£24.5bn).

Baba Ramdev was one of the high-profile supporters of a nationwide protest in April which forced the government to change the way its new anti-corruption law was being drawn up.

Other protesters went on hunger strike and talked about Mahatma Gandhi, but Baba Ramdev called for corrupt politicians to be hanged and said their corpses should mummified, and then hanged as well.

In some ways he is the Indian equivalent of an American TV evangelist or right-wing "shock jock". He says he is a patriot and that the country has been let down by its politicians.

"These corrupt crooks, these cheats, these traitors rob us of our own wealth, and that really pains me," he told me. "We should be 50 times richer than Britain, but why are we poorer?"

Baba Ramdev disapproves of a lot of things to do with the modern world, for example, saying that Indians should reject the English language. But his own rise has matched India's own recent economic success story.

He says his father was an illiterate farmer and I spoke to shopkeepers in Haridwar market who remembered him roaming around on his bicycle speaking about the benefits of yoga just 15 years ago.

"But today, look at me!" he says, "billions of people love me, they have faith in me, and I too have faith in myself.

"That's why I am confident of the things that I say - and yes I am confident of changing this corrupt system."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13219273?print=true