Keeping in mind that these days spiritual gurus seem to spring up ever so frequently, there are many who believe this commercialisation will not help them —and prefer to go it alone. What is his take ? “As you know every lock needs a key, likewise every question needs to be answered, more so when negative thoughts become barriers in the progress and upliftment of the human mind. That is where a guru comes in,” says the man whose spiritual discources have taken him to over 128 countries.

If one conceptualizes meditation and spirituality, they appear to be are two different theories, but Sri Sri stresses: “Though the concepts are different they are definitely connected and one can realise spirituality in the aura of meditation.”

Commenting on the hi-pace lifestyle of today’s youngsters Sri Sri adopts a holistic approach. “One cannot say that the youth today are not spiritual. It’s just that their definition of happiness and terms of having fun have changed, and these exactly are the concepts which need to be redefined. At The Art of Living, we have lots of fun but the ideology is well-defined.”

Considering that Gen X believes in de-stessing through active partying and socialising, where do meditation and quietude come in ? “Socialising is fine. But meditation is necessary to lend a measure of stability, and help erase negative emotions like impatience and violence,” he says.