Journalism of Courage
From pre-natal preparation to imparting the right values,this centre reaches out to youngsters and elders alike with its scientific approach
Three kilometers off the main Lonavla city center,enveloped in the jade environs of the Pune-Mumbai highway,is Manashakti Research Centre,which has been propagating a ‘new way’ of achieving peace of mind. In its over 50 years of existence,thousands of people from across Maharshtra have flocked here to participate in the over 35 courses conducted. The classes cover topics that affect pre-natal preparation to the understanding of life after death.
Some walls in the musty rooms inside the buildings are plastered with posters extolling the virtues of the different courses. “Everyone is running after happiness,but when we run after material happiness,only sorrow follows us. The aim of this centre is to teach people how to cope with stress and tackle their problems,and how to develop peace of mind,” says Chandane.
The centre covers topics like preparing expectant parents to cope with the demands of raising a child,helping improve concentration in children,inculcating values of respect and kindness in them,methods of peace of mind,curing diseases without medicines,protecting oneself from jealousy,improving focus in life,discussing life after death,and more. Each session often attracts close to 300-350 people. The sessions are augmented by ‘machine tests’ of stress and concentration levels,followed by counselling.
The teaching,administration and other work are kept up by 125 lifetime devotees,who stay in the premises and are paid minimal honorarium. Apart from them,about 8000 ‘sadhaks’ are encouraged to pledge one hour a day of social service or one hour worth of their income to the centre. The in-house book store has books by Swamiji and a monthly magazine. The sale of the books has been critical in the centre’s self-sustainability,as all classes are conducted free of charge,with a minimal amount charged for food and stay.
Aditi Lohot,23,is a Mumbaikar with a post-graduate degree in physics. She has been a resident at the centre for the past year,and is so impressed by the teachings that she wants to become a lifetime devotee. “The way Swamiji has combined physics and philosophy just blew me over. Everything that is taught here is scientifically explained,and that is why so many youngsters get attracted to this place,” says she.
The centre is overlooked by a trust that of 12 trustees,of whom Pramod Shinde is the most senior. “We also take up medical and other service camps for the adivasi communities around,” he explains. “Though 80 per cent of our work is centered in Maharashtra,we do take up workshops in other cities across India.”
