Showing posts with label Time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Time. Show all posts
Thursday, December 10, 2009
‘Unless you know the principle of the universe, you cannot know the Self’
1:12 AM |
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Bangalore ashram, Dec. 8, 2009:
Today’s satsang was a beautiful glimpse into the secrets of the universe which is beginning-less and endless.
It began by celebrating Acharya Ratnanda’s (Guruji’s father) 86th birthday. He spoke a few words filled with love and enthusiasm to the several hundred currently training to become Art of Living teachers.
Pitaji: Today I am very proud and humble: proud to be seated next to a mahatma (an elevated soul) and humble because I am one of his millions of followers. All my life, I have said, “Life is for Living.” Today I know, “Life is for living ONLY.”
L.I.F.E – L is love, I is integrity, F is fellowship – a sense of belongingness with the whole world and E is enlightenment. For me, My Master is the cause, the reason and the result of enlightenment.
To progress in life, be young. Be receptive. Even a child can teach you.
You say, “I know everything!” We can be and should be young because we are following a young Master!
As the audience applauded, Pitaji’s birthday cake was cut. Then Sri Sri spoke:
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: “There are four levels of speech – para, pashyanti, madhyama, vaikari.
The language we speak is vaikari. It is the most manifest form of speech. Chatvari vak parimita padani – there are four levels of speech and the intelligence knows all forms. Human beings speak only the fourth level. Subtler than vaikari, is madhyama. Even before you say it, the thought form is cognized. When you catch it at that level, it is madhyama. Pashyanti is cognitive. There is no need for spoken words. Para is the untold, un-manifest knowledge that is beyond.
The whole universe is spherical. It was never born nor will it ever die. It is anadi, beginningless, and anantha – endless. Then what is the job of Brahma, the creator? They say there are many, many Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva in every yuga (age). In time and space this keeps happening. So what is the source of this creation? Parame vyoman – beyond the akasha (space). Knowledge lies beyond the akasha. Knowledge lies beyond the five elements.
Richo akashare parame vyoman
Vedas which were cognized are not vaikari. This cognition is beyond the space. All the Divine impulses are established in that field which is all permeating.
What is akasha? Akasha is described as vyoma, vyapti – it means all-permeating, all-pervading. What is it that is beyond akasha? It is unimaginable to think of something that is beyond space. Only a scientist can understand this. Everything is contained in akasha, all the four elements are in akasha. The most gross is earth, then water, fire, air and space. Air is finer, subtler than fire. Space is the subtlest. Then it is air-fire-water and earth. What is it that is beyond even akasha? That is the mind, intellect, ego and the Mahatattva. This is tattva gyan – knowing the principle of the universe. Unless you know the principle of the universe, you cannot know the Self. When you go beyond the akasha, it is an experiential field. The whole realm begins beyond the akasha.
The ancient seers have spoken about the Dravya guna sambandha or relationship between the substance and its quality. There is a very interesting debate if we can separate the quality from the substance. The whole philosophy is very interesting and the conclusion was that you cannot separate the quality from the substance. Can the sweetness in sugar be separated from sugar? Will it remain sugar still? Can heat and light be separated from fire? Will it still be fire after that?
What brings the quality into the substance? What comes first – the quality or the substance? There are many questions like this. The subtler you go is the paramevyoman. yasmin devaadhi vishwe nishedu. -All the devis and devtas reside there, in that space. Yattanaveda yati vaanaveda - What is the use of knowing the vedic hymns and mantras without knowing the parame vyoman, without understanding the principles of the universe?
Swarupa is the quality of that space. It cannot be fully translated in English. Swarupa is that consciousness. From the Swarupa happens the Sputa or explosion from which Svarita, creation flows and Sakaara – manifests with name and form. All the millions of beings in the creation were formed from the Swarupa.”
After this most astonishing revelation about the creation of the universe, was a presentation by Archana Sharma a Particle Physicist from CERN, Geneva, Switzerland who shared a few glimpses of their efforts to identify the god particle with the help of the LHC (large Hydron Collidor). Sri Sri has often said, “Spirituality begins where Science ends.” In today’s satsang we had the opportunity to hear about that which is beyond space, beyond expression and the attempt of science to know the unknowable.
“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
© The Art of Living Foundation for Globalizing Spirituality
Today’s satsang was a beautiful glimpse into the secrets of the universe which is beginning-less and endless.
It began by celebrating Acharya Ratnanda’s (Guruji’s father) 86th birthday. He spoke a few words filled with love and enthusiasm to the several hundred currently training to become Art of Living teachers.
Pitaji: Today I am very proud and humble: proud to be seated next to a mahatma (an elevated soul) and humble because I am one of his millions of followers. All my life, I have said, “Life is for Living.” Today I know, “Life is for living ONLY.”
L.I.F.E – L is love, I is integrity, F is fellowship – a sense of belongingness with the whole world and E is enlightenment. For me, My Master is the cause, the reason and the result of enlightenment.
To progress in life, be young. Be receptive. Even a child can teach you.
You say, “I know everything!” We can be and should be young because we are following a young Master!
As the audience applauded, Pitaji’s birthday cake was cut. Then Sri Sri spoke:
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: “There are four levels of speech – para, pashyanti, madhyama, vaikari.
The language we speak is vaikari. It is the most manifest form of speech. Chatvari vak parimita padani – there are four levels of speech and the intelligence knows all forms. Human beings speak only the fourth level. Subtler than vaikari, is madhyama. Even before you say it, the thought form is cognized. When you catch it at that level, it is madhyama. Pashyanti is cognitive. There is no need for spoken words. Para is the untold, un-manifest knowledge that is beyond.
The whole universe is spherical. It was never born nor will it ever die. It is anadi, beginningless, and anantha – endless. Then what is the job of Brahma, the creator? They say there are many, many Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva in every yuga (age). In time and space this keeps happening. So what is the source of this creation? Parame vyoman – beyond the akasha (space). Knowledge lies beyond the akasha. Knowledge lies beyond the five elements.
Richo akashare parame vyoman
Vedas which were cognized are not vaikari. This cognition is beyond the space. All the Divine impulses are established in that field which is all permeating.
What is akasha? Akasha is described as vyoma, vyapti – it means all-permeating, all-pervading. What is it that is beyond akasha? It is unimaginable to think of something that is beyond space. Only a scientist can understand this. Everything is contained in akasha, all the four elements are in akasha. The most gross is earth, then water, fire, air and space. Air is finer, subtler than fire. Space is the subtlest. Then it is air-fire-water and earth. What is it that is beyond even akasha? That is the mind, intellect, ego and the Mahatattva. This is tattva gyan – knowing the principle of the universe. Unless you know the principle of the universe, you cannot know the Self. When you go beyond the akasha, it is an experiential field. The whole realm begins beyond the akasha.
The ancient seers have spoken about the Dravya guna sambandha or relationship between the substance and its quality. There is a very interesting debate if we can separate the quality from the substance. The whole philosophy is very interesting and the conclusion was that you cannot separate the quality from the substance. Can the sweetness in sugar be separated from sugar? Will it remain sugar still? Can heat and light be separated from fire? Will it still be fire after that?
What brings the quality into the substance? What comes first – the quality or the substance? There are many questions like this. The subtler you go is the paramevyoman. yasmin devaadhi vishwe nishedu. -All the devis and devtas reside there, in that space. Yattanaveda yati vaanaveda - What is the use of knowing the vedic hymns and mantras without knowing the parame vyoman, without understanding the principles of the universe?
Swarupa is the quality of that space. It cannot be fully translated in English. Swarupa is that consciousness. From the Swarupa happens the Sputa or explosion from which Svarita, creation flows and Sakaara – manifests with name and form. All the millions of beings in the creation were formed from the Swarupa.”
After this most astonishing revelation about the creation of the universe, was a presentation by Archana Sharma a Particle Physicist from CERN, Geneva, Switzerland who shared a few glimpses of their efforts to identify the god particle with the help of the LHC (large Hydron Collidor). Sri Sri has often said, “Spirituality begins where Science ends.” In today’s satsang we had the opportunity to hear about that which is beyond space, beyond expression and the attempt of science to know the unknowable.
“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
© The Art of Living Foundation for Globalizing Spirituality
Labels:
Creation,
Divine,
Enlightenment,
Intelligence,
Life,
Mantras,
Science,
Self,
Spirituality,
Time,
Universe
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
‘Be at ease, in your nature’
6:20 AM |
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Bangalore ashram, Nov. 29:
Q: Guruji, what should one do if one is going through an unfavorable time in their life?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Time creates events. Surrender to that time - that Shiva tattva (principle of Shiva) and Mahakaal (grand Time).
Q: I have love for people but I don’t laugh when others laugh and I don’t cry when somebody dies.
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don’t get into a dilemma. Be at ease, in your nature. Be the way you are.
Q: What do you do when you have free time?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Whatever I do, I do in my free time only (laughs). I read all your letters that you have written to me. (zeal in the audience). Although I do all this, I do nothing.
Q: The Art of Living Silver Jubilee celebrations were a huge function. When will we have another huge function again?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes we will have one, in another five years.
Q: What is the secret of life?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Life is a secret. If I tell you the secret it will no longer remain a secret (laughter). In this country we honor the secret. So we should do that. In the West, a secret is not revered.
Three schools in England have made Sanskrit a compulsory subject. After 20 years of research, they found out that when you speak Sanskrit your tongue rotates properly. Sanskrit is the best language for the development of the brain. It leads to overall development of the brain. We have been speaking Sanskrit in India since ages. Now when it is being uprooted from our own country, somebody else is embracing it.
“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
© The Art of Living Foundation for Globalizing Spirituality
Q: Guruji, what should one do if one is going through an unfavorable time in their life?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Time creates events. Surrender to that time - that Shiva tattva (principle of Shiva) and Mahakaal (grand Time).
Q: I have love for people but I don’t laugh when others laugh and I don’t cry when somebody dies.
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don’t get into a dilemma. Be at ease, in your nature. Be the way you are.
Q: What do you do when you have free time?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Whatever I do, I do in my free time only (laughs). I read all your letters that you have written to me. (zeal in the audience). Although I do all this, I do nothing.
Q: The Art of Living Silver Jubilee celebrations were a huge function. When will we have another huge function again?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes we will have one, in another five years.
Q: What is the secret of life?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Life is a secret. If I tell you the secret it will no longer remain a secret (laughter). In this country we honor the secret. So we should do that. In the West, a secret is not revered.
Three schools in England have made Sanskrit a compulsory subject. After 20 years of research, they found out that when you speak Sanskrit your tongue rotates properly. Sanskrit is the best language for the development of the brain. It leads to overall development of the brain. We have been speaking Sanskrit in India since ages. Now when it is being uprooted from our own country, somebody else is embracing it.
“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
© The Art of Living Foundation for Globalizing Spirituality
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
'Surrender both the negative and positive qualities to the Divine'
5:58 AM |
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What H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankarsaid today
India (Art of Living International Centre, Bangalore), September 1:
Q. Each one of us has a message for the world, but maya (delusion) covers it. How to uncover that message?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When we are peaceful, free of attachment, our message to the world will come on its own.
Q. What is the importance of sankalpa (intention) and how to strengthen it? Does the world move on sankalpa?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The mind is full of sankalpa and vikalpa (imagination, fancy). Each work gets done through sankalpa. Even the act of moving our arm is preceded by the sankalpa in the mind. If twenty sankalpas arise in the mind then nothing gets done. When the mind is peaceful and restful then our sankalpa is powerful.
The sankalpa of a weak mind is weak and that of strong mind is strong.
We can make our mind strong by sadhana (spiritual practices) and knowledge. Then the sankalpa will also be strong. The wise makes one sankalpa in fifty days whereas the ignorant makes fifty in a day.
Q. If opposite values are complementary, then am I good or bad or am I both?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:Why do you put a labels of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ on yourself? Take it off and be natural, be at peace. When we assume a negative quality as our own, we feel guilty and when we assume a positive quality as our own, then we become proud. Both of these are signs of being mentally unhealthy.
Surrender both the negative and positive qualities to the Divine.
A person who is surrendered will be good. Surrender brings focus and character in life. Without the development of these two, life is directionless.
Even a little bit of sacrifice helps an individual to blossom. Without sacrifice, the glow does not come up. Sacrifice does not lead to a long, sorrowful face. Renunciates are joyful, whereas the kami (one filled with desires) feels burdened and sad.
Unburdening the Self is surrender, is sadhana.
Q. Is one hour of daily sadhana sufficient for being established in the self (atmasakshatkar)?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Twenty four hours is not sufficient and even ten minutes or just two minutes of total samadhi (meditation) is enough. Sadhana is not samay saapeksh (bound to time). Make your entire life sadhana but don’t turn this into an excuse for not doing sadhana. Also, don’t think that the one hour of sadhana you have done is enough and for the rest of the time you may do as you please.
Q. I am centred on the Divine, yet there is restlessness, though on the outside everything seems perfect.
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: In every seeker’s life there comes a time when the heart is at unease, and there is restlessness. In the West, it is known as the “dark day of the soul”. There comes a time when satvik shakti (positive energy) is less and rajogun and tamogun are high, that leads to the restlessness. There are three kinds of taap (penance) and one such taap is known as adhyatmic taap (spiritual misery). Yet it is for a short while. Therefore satsang is very important, especially when you don’t feel like doing it.
Once in twelve years a lack in spirituality comes up. There will arise a doubt on the self, the path and the Guru. This is what the Scriptures say.
Therefore the Kumbh festival takes place once in twelve years and all the saints get together to clear all their sins. This tradition is very old.
A place where seekers do satsang and where Vedas are recited - kalyuga* never comes there.
Q. What is the importance of the understanding of the effect of time when doing some work?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Astrology is called the eye of knowledge but you cannot rely on today’s astrologers. Don’t run after astrology. It is a field of knowledge, shastra (traditional science) and is true, yet the everyday forecasts are not taken seriously by anyone. Sadhana is effective and powerful. Shivji is Mahakaal (One who destroys time). Whatever is the kaal (time) just say Om Namah Shivaya, as it contains all the five elements and there is nothing outside of it. This is a very powerful mantra.
When you chant, do not imagine Shiva with bhasma (ash) all over his body and a trident in his hand, that is just the imagination of a painter. Shiva is the Chaitanaya Tattva (consciousness), our soul, present all over, it is an energy field.
Do you know why we apply bhasma on the forehead? There are three kinds of mites on our forehead, unique to every individual like the thumb imprint. To keep the mites in their area, we put three lines on the forehead.
An experiment in Russia revealed that a place which was covered with gobar (cow dung) or had Agnihotra bhasm (ash from the Vedic ritual of Agnihotra), was less affected by the radiation from the Chernobly disaster.
In ancient times, sandalwood paste or ash was applied on the forehead to prevent the effect of radiation since the head is a sensitive place. The ash would also keep the mind cool.
Also, putting ash on the skin was a reminder that the skin that we see today will turn into ashes tomorrow. With this knowledge one cannot do any wrong.
The end of life is in ashes - if this is remembered then no mistakes will be made. Others are also going to turn to ashes - this realization can cleanse the system of all the negative emotions. Dispassion arises and anger, jealousy etc dissolve.
The reason for the tradition was wonderful. Today people know nothing behind bhasma, but apply it out of pride. To understand the underlying meaning is important.
Q. I feel very secure in the ashram and fear going back to the outside world. What can I do?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Ok, have fear. Awaken enthusiasm, whatever happens let it happen. At least believe that you are not alone, the Divine is there. Observe where the fear sensation is – heart, throat and other parts of the body. Do pranyama, bhastrika and Sudarshan Kriya. Keep yourself busy, do not give yourself a lot of time to think, then where is the time to fear?
* kalyuga – Iron Age, Age of Darkness
(From the Office of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar)
© The Art of Living Foundation
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
'A promise made in ignorance has no importance'
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What H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said today:
'A promise made in ignorance has no importance'
India, (Art of Living International Center, Bangalore), Aug. 17, 2009:
Q. What is the benefit of Mantra japa?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Mantra japa definitely benefits you. Mantra increases mental power and energy. The seed mantra 'Omkar' is common in all Indian religions- whether it is Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism or Sikhism. You may chant Om Namah Shivaye.
Q. Duty whether towards the parents or God is equal for everyone. But why do only Brahmans wear Janeyu*?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Janeyu was a symbol representing that one has three kinds of responsibility- towards one's parents, guru and the society. Janeyu was there to remind one of his duties. Then after marriage it would be doubled, symbolizing the duty towards the wife as well. This is how it was- it was meant for everyone whether Brahman or Kshatriyas. But somewhere down the line the practice got discontinued. One should keep alive the intention of taking responsibility in one's heart, wearing janeyu alone is not sufficient.
Q. Guruji you arrive and the entire atmosphere changes. What can we do to achieve the same?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is your responsibility to transform the atmosphere wherever you go. You can do it too. By doing meditation and practices, our body produces such vibrations that everybody around us gets the benefit, not just us alone.
Q. It must have taken Krishna three hours to give the knowledge of The Bhagwad Geeta to Arjuna. What were the others doing all this while?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is said that it took a lot of time to recite The Bhagwad Geeta but what Krishna told Arjuna while giving the knowledge of The Geeta, for that it did not take that long. He gave the knowledge through his vision (drishti) and it started manifesting within Arjuna. Time is unbounded. To recall what you did in the last five years, won't take you five years. It will take you less than half an hour.
Similarly, there is no time in consciousness.
The knowledge in our consciousness is beyond time. So to recall and remember that, does not require time.
Q. How to attain the power of vision that Sanjay had in The Mahabharata?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: By being centred. When you experience the depth of meditation then naturally you get knowledge. There is no effort involved, no roting of scriptures is required.
Q. How much should you trust a person? If someone breaks your trust what is to be done?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Educate them and forget about it.
Q. I made a promise to someone but now I know that it was not right. How do I get out of my promise?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If the promise you made gives peace to someone then you must fulfil it. If it causes pain both, to you and the other person then just move on. A promise made in ignorance has no importance.
Q When will India have a good government and when will we be free from terrorism?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: All of you take interest in that, usually people say that once you are in the spiritual world you should not get into politics at all, it is not like that. You should work towards providing justice to the society. Atheism and communism increased in our country because the spiritual people did not work against the injustice. They kept quiet.
Therefore, people lost their faith. In big states like Tamil Nadu, atheism spread because of the inaction on the part of the believers. There was a lot of injustice that happened against the dalits but the spiritual, religious people did not do anything.
Q. In Sanskrit, each word has the meaning hidden in itself. So what is the meaning of Akshar?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:Akshar means something that cannot be destroyed. Rice is also called Akshat because it cannot be destroyed. You eat rice and it transforms into the life energy and that leads to jeev (being) which again leads to life energy. It is always there in the body. That is why even a grain of rice is not destroyed.
In physics it is said that an atom can never be destroyed. Our ancestors brought this truth to light millions of years ago. Then they said that not even a grain is destroyed. It may lose its form but is never destroyed. Shar means destruction. Akshar means that which cannot be destroyed. Like a seed we sow is never destroyed, it takes different forms and exists in space. Its vibrations are never destroyed.
Q. How to be an instrument of the grace of the Guru (Gurukripa)?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: By being more grateful. The one who is always complaining gets a little away from the Grace. When we are grateful for whatever God has given us, then we never lack anything and the grace continues forever.
Q. Even after doing Seva, Sadhna and Satsang regularly why does doubt arise in the mind?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Our doubt is always about the good thing. We don't doubt someone's dishonesty but his honesty. If someone is honest we question if he is really honest. We don't ask is he really dishonest? We don't doubt a thief, we doubt a good man. Then we doubt the existence of God.
*White string worn around the body
(From the Office of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar)
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