Art of Living changes life of Russian interpreter

Sergei
Shaearenko, an interpreter of Russian working as Technical Assistant in
the department of Ore Blending and Bedding Plant of the Rourkela Steel
Plant is a changed person now.

“I am feeling physically fit and mentally at peace,” says 58-year-old Sergei, a native of

Belarus

who now begins his day after doing surya namaskar, pranayam, yoga and kriya.

The
change came about, Sergei says when he came in contact with Prasanta
Padhee, his neighbour, a devotee of Art of Living Guru Ravisankar, who
persuaded him to go to a bhajan session three months ago at the centre
here.

Sergei
joined the basic course in November 2009 with another foreign
participant Lucimila Shapkina. Both successfully completed the six-day
course, says senior course teacher Lalit Mohanty.

He then went on to complete an advanced course in meditation.

There
was a problem for the organisers to translate the course into English
from Hindi, but Sergei’s enthusiasm prevailed on them. Other devotees
pitched in to do the translation.

Sergei completed the course strictly following ‘mouna’ (complete silence) for a four day period.

Sergei also had no complaint about the simple food like chapati, rice with spiceless vegetables.

“I enjoyed the food, it was simple and very tasty,” Sergei, who has now turned completely vegetarian, says.

Sergei says he will bring his wife, daughter and son to

India

for the course and persuade them to change their lives.

A regular attender of bhajans, he has started singing in Hindi. “Bhajan is good, I feel like I am dancing with God.”

Sergei says “I salute

India

for its spirituality. I cannot forget you people and your great country.”

Advanced course teacher Percy A. Sunderia says of him “I am happy that he has followed every rule.”