CANADIAN SEVA PROJECTS

Published in Canadian Art of Living Publication Jan 2012

CANADIAN SEVA PROJECTS


The Art of Living Mississauga community outreach service projects partner with the City of Mississauga
 
Tree planting is considered one the most effective ways to preserve and sustain our urban forest and it’s the best way to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Art of Living works with City of Mississauga on projects for tree planting and adopting urban forest woodlots.


Since 2008, Art of Living has worked with the City of Mississauga’s Parks and Forestry Division to help enhance, restore, protect and conserve the natural environment, in places such as Shelby Woodlot, Birchwood Park, Meadowvale Conversation and Applewood Park. Volunteers from the Art of Living have gotten out and planted more than 4,200 native trees and shrubs.

The City of Mississauga recognizes the participation and contribution of Art of Living to re-establish remnant woodland to improve our habitat, and looks forward to partnering with Art of Living again to reach environmental goals in the upcoming seasons.

“It’s the commitment and volunteering that makes this such a unique project,” said City Councillor Maja Prentice. She noted that the new forest will add a touch of greenery to rapidly-growing neighbourhood.

Mayor Hazel McCallion congratulated Art of Living volunteers, on behalf of the City Council members and residents of the City of Mississauga, for their tree planting project and “Don’t be a LitterBug” campaign achievements, helping to keep Mississauga clean and green.

Soody Thayaparan

Volunteer, Toronto

Terrorism, Fear and Spirituality

Best way Sri Sri Explained the issue we are facing.   We need proper education.  Art of Living offer the education to calm the mind and improve once life.   It helps and it really helps and I cannot live without it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/terrorism-fear-and-spirit_b_916494.html

YouthConnect 2011

Art of Living Mississauga volunteers represented the first ever City of Mississauga’s Youth Connect 2011 (City of Mississauga’s youth symposium) at the newly built Celebration Square in front of the City hall yesterday July 29th. It gave us a great opportunity to build relationship and networking with other youths and parents, and agencies in Mississauga.

Duathlon - Charlotte, NC - Oct 2003

Charlotte, NC – Oct 2003


McAlpine Duathlon

Bike for 10 miles – run for 5km – Bike again for 10 miles

My memory from the days working in Microsoft

My memories working in Microsoft has been fading away.  Just remember after searching my name in the Internet found some of my customers written well about me.  I no longer have my old badge, I had my non-blue orange badge lost during one of the snow storm bus ride to work.  I had some good times and bad times and all seem to be fading away.

Thanks to Google search on my name I found some memory back.


I worked as SharePoint Product support specialist. I was so lucky and till today I am so grateful for all those guys who helped me to succeed.

Thank you so much guys Dave (Manager), Iain, Roger, Robert, Rama and Chris .

Art of Living Foundation – Charity Challenge – 2010 Waterfront Marathon

Art of Living Foundation – Charity Challenge – 2010 Waterfront Marathon

Free Art of Living workshop in Mississauga Central Library

Since May 2008 I have been organizing free introductory workshop in Mississauga Central Library. This Art of Living workshop or seminar has been successful in many ways. Many Art of Living volunteers helped us to promote this workshop.


Link and photo from Mississauga.com

 
Meditation Workshop. Soody Thayaparan, a volunteer Art of Living teacher leads an introductory class in breathing and meditative techniques in a free session at the Central Library on Monday night.

Spring 2011 - Art of Living Mississauga Sevice Project Report

Spring 2011 is another milestone for Mississauga Center with Service projects. On behalf of Art of Living Mississauga we thank you for continuous enthusiasm and support. Your continuous commitment brings benefits in many folds.


Here are the summary of our activities in spring 2011

1) Mission Green Earth – Tree planting in 4 Days, 560 Trees!!!

Birchwood Park (Lakeshore and Clarkson) 350 Trees

 

Applewood Hills Park (Dixie and Bloor) 210 trees

2)

Maintain Art of Living Adopted Park in Windrush woodlot

What an amazing Team!!!

Looking forward for next autumn 2011 season,

Next we are on our way to 30 year anniversary in Berlin with Guruji (World Cultural Event) and the Graceful Gurupoornima celebration in Ashram.

Looking forward to it

Applewood Hills Park (Dixie and Bloor) - 210 trees

Birchwood Park (Lakeshore and Clarkson) - 350 Trees

Art of Living Foundation Mississauga - Earth Day 2011 Celebration

Art of Living volunteers from Mississauga get together and celebrated the Earth Day Celebration 2011 in our Art of Living Adopted park in Windrush wood (Winston Churchill and Derry)

Awesome Team!!!!

It’s personally a fulfilling day by contributing to the nature and to the whole society we live in. It’s really amazing to see how much garbage you find in a small woodlot. Most of them seems like people in the neighborhood dump these garbage. We found printers, plastic chairs, tires, and lots and lots of plastic bottles and some others.

These are the amazing team of volunteers from Art of Living and they are such an amazing group to be with. I am so glad and proud to be part of them.

Thanks for all those who came and support this effort.

About Art of Living Foundation

Founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, The Art of Living Foundation is a not-for-profit, educational and humanitarian NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) engaged in stress-management and service initiatives. The organization operates globally in 151 countries.

The organisation's programmes are guided by Sri Sri’s philosophy of peace: “Unless we have a stress-free mind and a violence-free society, we cannot achieve world Peace.” help individuals get rid of stress and experience inner peace, The Art of Living Foundation offers stress-elimination programmes which include breathing techniques,meditation and yoga. These programmes have helped millions around the world to overcome stress, depression and violent tendencies.

The Art of Living Foundation has spread peace across communities through diverse humanitarian projects, including conflict resolution, disaster relief, sustainable rural development, empowerment of women, prisoner rehabilitation, education for all, and environmental sustainability.

About His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living Foundation, inspires thousands of people across the world. He plays many roles for many people – as a humanitarian ambassador, spiritual leader or a meditation teacher, as well as a peace advocate.

For three decades, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been engaged in:

• Promoting human values

• Fostering interfaith harmony

• Building communal unity

• Encouraging social responsibility

• Spearheading humanitarian causes

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has designed special courses which teach effective and practical techniques for emotional and physical wellbeing. He has rekindled the traditions of yoga and meditation and offered them in a form that is relevant to the 21st century

Mayor and Councilor of City of Mississauga awards Art of Living Foundation

Art of Living foundation volunteers in Mississauga over past 3 years we have been continuously doing service projects such as tree planting, city cleanup projects and adopt the park and comit to keep it clean for 2 years.


Its a great honor and humbled by this award, we are truely greatful for everything,

I thank all the volunteers who took part in the last 3 years and their constant commitment and hardwork. I personally greatful for such a great team we have,

City of Mississauga councilors and Mayor with Art of Living Foundation Project coordinators 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar body, mind and spirit in a health bal

Keep yourself busy with Seva - one of the key message from Guruji from todays satsang

Keep yourself busy with Seva,

• when your hands and hearts and busy and mind is empty
• unconditional love in action
• doing seva is seeing GOD in everything around you
• being connect with the present moment
• the journey is long yet the goal in the moment is complete in itself

these are some of the quotes from the great teacher Guruji,   he is awesome

Spring 2011 Service events - Released

Most important things to set a goal

Today Satsang someone asked Guruji what are the most important things to set goals,


Guruji answered,

1) Define the goal very clearly

2) Identify and evaluate its repercussion or the effect of the goal

3) Identify the means to achieve the goal

4) Be flexible with the means not all means will lead to the goal and be flexible

then he said you can add more to that,   

so I add one more "be patient and Perseverance", anyone else to add to this point?  please share with us

City of Mississauga's Certificate of Appreciation Presented to Art of Living Foundation

“Service is the expression of Love” - World Humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar


We have received the Certificate of Appreciation from City of Mississauga in recognition of outstanding volunteer service towards tree planting and stewardship projects in Mississauga

Thank you for all those who contributed during our 3 year continuous service and we are looking forward to do more.