As part of the 125th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramhansa Yogananda, several public talks are being organized by Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) across various cities of India. In one such talk organised by YSS Gurugram Kendra, General Secretary Swami Smarananandaji spoke on 'Meditation - Key to a Healthy, Happy and Successful Life' at Shiv Nadar School Auditorium in Gurugram (NCR).

Prior to the event, extensive outreach activities were planned and executed by volunteers from YSS Gurugram Kendra and YSS NCR. They employed various publicity methods to spread awareness about the public talk programme in the weeks leading up to the event. People were encouraged to register online using URL and QR codes available on publicity material, and as a result, 873 online registrations were received.

On the day of the event, volunteers got busy preparing for the evening programme and all arrangements were made to receive the guests for the talk. As registered participants began to arrive, they received a warm welcome at the school entrance where children put tilak on their forehead. 

A session of devotional chanting of Gurudeva's cosmic chants marked the opening of the evening programme. 

Swami Smarananandaji was welcomed by senior YSS devotees from Gurugram Kendra and felicitated with a bouquet of flowers. After the lighting of the lamp ceremony, a senior devotee Smt. Sreela Ghosh gave an introduction to the audience about Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, YSS and General Secretary Swami Smarananandaji.

Beginning his talk, Swamiji captured the attention of the audience which included 730 people. Around 483 of the attendees on this evening were new to YSS and not yet enrolled for YSS lessons for self-realisation. In his talk, Swamiji dwelt on how meditation can become a means to facilitating a healthful, truly 'successful' living that brings joy.

After the talk, Swamis Smarananandaji and Lalitanandaji engaged in an informal interaction with the guests.

Later, the guests were introduced to the objective and significance of YSS lessons. About 225 among those present in the auditorium got themselves enrolled for the lessons. 

Volunteers facilitated the enrollment process which was conducted inside the auditorium in an organised manner. An enrollment kit containing an envelope with the relevant pages of the Lesson subscription form, a notebook, a pen, an audio CD, a pamphlet about YSS, information regarding NCR meditation centres was given to each individual. The registration process was explained in an articulate manner assisted by the visual aids on the screen in front of the guests. Around 30 volunteers helped in the form filling process, while more volunteers sitting just outside the auditorium helped in the accounting process of enrollment. After the meditation class, an envelope with the accounts receipt, the balance amount along with the first four lessons was distributed. The enrolment process took around 40 minutes. 

In the meditation class for the new enrollments of the evening, Swami Smarananandaji explained the objective of doing Energization Exercises followed by a demonstration of a few of the exercises. He went on to explain the Hong Sau technique and led the group through a period of meditation. 

Following this class, an informal question and answer session was conducted. The programme which began at 5 in the evening, was concluded at 8.30 pm. Swamiji's public talk drew many seeking to know more about including meditation in their daily lives. The event was appreciated by all present. Refreshments were served after the event. 

A simultaneous programme for children on 'Introductory Life Skills and Meditation’ was conducted in another part of the school premises. It drew participation from 63 children. YSS literature and audio/video CDs could be purchased by guests outside the auditorium. Many of them bought the Autobiography of a Yogi, as well as 'How-to-Live' booklets, while many guests showed interest in the CDs of the cosmic chants that were sung in the auditorium. A discount of 25 per cent was offered on all the literature.