Wisdom from Sri Sri

‘Education in human values of every religion will solve the problem of fanaticism’

Vilnius (Lithuania), May 31:
Q.: Why is love painful?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It's human nature to want to help others. And everybody wants love. Without love, life doesn’t seem worth living.
However love gets distorted, and turns into anger, greed, jealousy, hatred, possessiveness. Yet we all want love.

Q: What is crisis and how to handle anxiety?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Crisis is the mother of many inventions. A crisis makes us very creative. However the crisis should not go on too long, that is not good.
What can help anxiety is breathing techniques like pranayama which channelizes the life force energy in our body. We all float in a sea of prana (life-force energy). There is prana even in a stone.


Q. Is there any conflict between the Art of Living and any religion?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is no conflict between the Art of Living and religion. The conflict is in the small mind. For example, the goal of Christianity is to spread peace and love, to pray and serve. The Bible says: "The Kingdom of Heaven is deep inside", and "God is Love", and "Have the innocence of a child and you will enter the Kingdom of Heaven". These are all things that you have all read, but not experienced.

Every child needs to know about every religion of the world. A big problem of the world is fanaticism. Education about the human values of every religion will solve this problem. Chinese food is eaten all around the world. Yet, by consuming Chinese food, do you become Chinese? If you listen to Beethoven, do you become German? Do you become Indian by listening to the sitar? Why can't we also have the common wisdom from all religions around the world?


Q: What is the difference between being like a child and being responsible?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Take responsibility but with child-like simplicity. This saves your mind and helps you to fulfill your duties more effectively, and saves the trauma of worry.

© The Art of Living Foundation