2,000+ Gen Z Seekers Turn Up the Energy at Art of Living International Center, Take on Life, Love, Ambition & More with Gurudev
Bengaluru, August 23: What do you do when you’re scared but still have to take a stand? Can you chase ambition without getting caught in the achievement race? How do you explain yourself to parents who just don’t get it? And can you want money, luxury and a successful career and still be spiritual?
For 2,000+ Gen Z youngsters who gathered at the Art of Living International Center in Bengaluru on Saturday, these were some of the real-life dilemmas they shared with the global spiritual leader and, as one of the participants called the 'Cool Guru', Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who had some refreshingly direct, witty, yet deeply reflective answers, that left them with a smile in the end.
The atmosphere was anything but a conventional spiritual gathering. There was singing, cheering, laughter, music, fashion and a steady stream of questions ranging from consciousness and relationships to ambition, money and finding one’s footing in life.
On taking a stand while being afraid, Gurudev offered a lesson in holding strong without becoming rigid: “You have to take a stand. At the same time, be flexible.” He pointed out that our logic is shaped by our knowledge-and our knowledge is always limited. As knowledge grows, perspectives change. The balance, he said, is to stand for what you know while keeping the mind open enough to evolve.
For a generation constantly navigating the pressure to achieve, his answer to staying ambitious without losing inner peace was characteristically succinct- “Meditation.”
The parent-children equation inevitably also came up. Asked how they could communicate their intentions without hurting their elders or losing their confidence, Gurudev suggested a little give-and-take rather than an all-or-nothing battle. “Sometimes theirs, sometime yours,” he said, suggesting that youngsters could even tell their parents, “Last time I agreed with you, this time you agree with me.” His verdict? “That is your brownie point.”
On the perennial questions around love and relationships, Gurudev turned the conversation on its head with a simple question- “Do you know how to ride a bicycle?” The message was to stop overthinking old templates and learn to navigate life for oneself- “You just be who you are.”
And spirituality versus success? No conflict there, according to Gurudev. Spirituality, he said, can actually strengthen professional success by building resilience, intuitive ability and the capacity to bounce back from setbacks. It also brings an ethical compass to ambition. “You don’t want someone to cheat you, right? So, you don’t cheat others.”
On the very Gen Z dilemma of passion versus a high-paying job, his advice was refreshingly practical- “Nobody can take away your passion. But to get a high-paying job is difficult. So, better you take a high-paying job and keep your passion and keep doing what you want to do.”
The conversations soon spilled into celebration. A fashion show brought colour, creativity and unmistakable Gen Z energy to the campus, followed by an evening of Bhajan Clubbing with Nirvana Station, where devotional music met contemporary beats and the crowd sang, danced and celebrated together.
It was a day where seemingly opposite worlds met effortlessly-spirituality and pop culture, ambition and inner peace, questions and celebration.
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