Spring Break
'Modern-day sage' calms the crowd with talks of inspiration
Angelo Lanham
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: News
About 35 students gathered in the Engineering Building Room 189 to see an empty plush chair center-stage with a large vase filled with large flowers. The students were waiting to hear Rishi Nityapragya, a "modern-day sage," speak.
A slide show rotated pictures of the SJSU branch of the Art of Living community as the Beatles' song "Across the Universe" played over the public address system.
Club founder Sachin Bhatia, a 2006 alumnus, climbed on to the stage.
"What is the difference between inspiration and motivation?" he asked.
After the audience sat silently for a few moments, he answered for them.
"Inspiration comes from within. Motivation cannot last alone. Inspiration lasts forever."
Bhutia said he first organized the club in 2003.
The club then played a video expressing the benefits of a particular breathing technique. Interviewees on the video cited it as calming, like a weight being lifted.
Next, Ashwani Dhall invited the audience to participate in a breathing exercise that involves inhaling while raising the arms and exhaling deeply through the nose while bringing them back down.
He compared the technique as "natural coffee."
"Typically, you have that cup of coffee in the morning," he said. "You have the ability to substitute it."
He also led a quick meditation.
Nityapragya showed up an hour into the event and greeted the audience. He sat on stage in the plush chair, scanning the crowd and smiling for almost a minute before speaking.
"Nature has given us tremendous abilities," he said, noting that somehow in our education, social and religious systems, the training of living life to the fullest is never included.
"We become good engineers and businessmen," Nityapragya said, "but being good people, this isn't taught."
He explained that people are walking energy bombs but that they're made up of different types of energy. He went on to explain that some people are willing to connect with him, but some resist.
A slide show rotated pictures of the SJSU branch of the Art of Living community as the Beatles' song "Across the Universe" played over the public address system.
Club founder Sachin Bhatia, a 2006 alumnus, climbed on to the stage.
"What is the difference between inspiration and motivation?" he asked.
After the audience sat silently for a few moments, he answered for them.
"Inspiration comes from within. Motivation cannot last alone. Inspiration lasts forever."
Bhutia said he first organized the club in 2003.
The club then played a video expressing the benefits of a particular breathing technique. Interviewees on the video cited it as calming, like a weight being lifted.
Next, Ashwani Dhall invited the audience to participate in a breathing exercise that involves inhaling while raising the arms and exhaling deeply through the nose while bringing them back down.
He compared the technique as "natural coffee."
"Typically, you have that cup of coffee in the morning," he said. "You have the ability to substitute it."
He also led a quick meditation.
Nityapragya showed up an hour into the event and greeted the audience. He sat on stage in the plush chair, scanning the crowd and smiling for almost a minute before speaking.
"Nature has given us tremendous abilities," he said, noting that somehow in our education, social and religious systems, the training of living life to the fullest is never included.
"We become good engineers and businessmen," Nityapragya said, "but being good people, this isn't taught."
He explained that people are walking energy bombs but that they're made up of different types of energy. He went on to explain that some people are willing to connect with him, but some resist.
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Aparna Atmaram
posted 4/30/08 @ 12:27 PM PST
Video of Rishiji's talk at SJSU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYMZtAImVAE
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