76 April 2014 www.womanthismonth.com Farheen Ahmed gives us a peek into her experience at the International Women’s Conference held in Bangalore in February. The Art of Living LIFESTYLE Many of us have mulled over the buzz that surrounds meditation at some point in our lives. We have wondered if it can really perform the miracle of uplifting us from our lives to make us better, happier and peaceful human beings. Does meditation really enrich and enlighten individuals in a way that it helps us balance our work and day-to-day activities? If you are a sceptic like I used to be, then all you have to do is turn around to see what is in your life. You’ll see the ‘little’ stresses of life, such as tight deadlines, road rage, unreasonable people, insecurities, unpaid bills, things to do and children’s wellbeing — all of which dance in tandem. A window into inner calmness I looked for a way to find peace. Not that I had not been prescribed meditation by well-meaning friends and family. It seemed like I usually ran out of steam. I felt that meditation needed time that I did not have. One fine morning I received an invitation to attend the sixth International Women’s Conference in Bangalore to learn things which are often read, heard, advised and rarely followed through. I arrived at The Art of Living International Centre, along with 13 other women, with mixed emotions. I wondered if it would be a whole new ‘me’, who would be flying back after the conference was over. After all, it is just meditation. It has been around for ages. How much could have really changed? I would soon see that it was not ‘just meditation’. It is a concept, a journey, a way of life and an art of living — one that you learn and put into practice. It is a tool to help you take charge and find your nirvana.
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