Simplicity, replies Arun Madhavan, the former StanChart honcho who now heads AoL's operations in India, when asked what it is about Sri Sri's prescriptions of age-old mantras that appeals so much to people. As the answers on the Chat show, there is no high-falutin' formula to him, or dire warnings about mankind's future.

A return to the roots, in other words, through healing practices like Pranayama, yoga, medication and chanting.

A return to the roots is what is going on at the Vedic School being run by AoL at the old ashram that initiates children from the region into the world of priests, and also teaches the Vedas and scriptures. "Children of priests today don't want to take up the profession, and this is an effort to ensure that there is no shortage of priests," says Mamta Kalkhura, media co-ordinator for AoL.

Sheikh Azad : What is the relation of Dharma and Yoga? Why your Yoga and other activities mostly revolves around Hindu Dharma ?

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : Hindu dharma is not a religion propounded by anyone. Yoga is part of that dharma. Hindus, Sikhs, all adapt meditation etc. It is a way of life that has come out of this ancient land, and so it has become part of it. You can't separate yoga from dharma. Dharma means righteousness. The first step of yoga is ahimsa, truth, compassion, charity, all necessary for holistic development. Dharma is not what you eat etc, but that which uplifts the spirit. You cannot separate yoga from mantras. Or from a separate lifestyle or exercises. It does not interfere with your honouring any other religion. A Muslim or Christian or Jew or Buddhist can practice yoga, because it only enhances. It became a religion much later since everybody had to be identified.

Balamurali Srinivasan : Namaste swamiji I have a feeling that there is a onslaught on Vedic Culture and Sanathana Dharma by intellectuals, western and local and neighbouring powers eventhough they preach universal love ,brotherhood and tolerance. why it is so?

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : Vedic knowledge is so powerful and strong. It won't disappear due to any onslaught. Have faith in Sanatan Dharma, its timelessness. And educate people in the benefits of it

Sridhar : There are many religions in this world and each religion is having a 'definition' of its own for God. But every religion says there is only one God who rules this world. Then who is the 'actual' God? There is no case where a Religion is said to have explained about other religion existing in other part of the world.How do you explain this? Thanks for the answer in Advance.

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : I think you have not studied scriptures. If you read Adi Shankara, he talks of what Jainists say, Buddhists say, Purva Paksha etc. Swami Dayanand also speaks of this. This sort of intellectual debate has been there for a long time. Same way, there has also been standoff between religions. All that you have to do is take the essence of the religions, as practically one cannot study all. If you want to see the commonalities, it is up to you. If you want to see the differences, it is up to you

Vikas Prabhu : With salutes to His Holiness. I believe that God controls everything that happens in this world. Even a leaf cannot shake without HIS consent. In that case, all the hatred and aggression that is prevanlent in today's world should be a handiwork of the almighty himself. Can you please tell me why he first creates such a wonderful world and beautiful creatures and then puts flaws in them? If he wanted us to fight and kill each other, why did he create us in the first place? Did he purposely make this happen or has the world gone out of his control? If this is the way he wanted it to happen, then should we make an attempt to change it?

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : Agreed that god controls everything that happens in this world. When you think god controls everything, then you get into theological mess. God is a field in which everything is happening. And even a question that comes into your mind, is coming from the same area. The instinct to do good is also from there. The whole universe is played and displayed on consciousness. The doctor is divine, the patient is also divine. The teacher is divine, student is also divine. They are part of the character. You need to understand quantum physics in order to understand this riddle.

A mere attempt to change the world, is also god's attempt. God is also changing thru you

Students at the Vedic school run by the AoL Foundation outside Bangalore