‘Happiness depends only on your mind’
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What Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said today:
Bangalore ashram, Jan. 17:
Q: When everybody is sleeping, Guruji is awake. Don’t you face any problem because of that?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is a watchman in front of the house when you sleep. For someone with big problems, small problems don’t bother them. Yogis are not bothered about what people normally worry about. For yogis, anything is possible.
Q: Where should I go to have bhakti (devotion)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Bhakti – preeti – you don’t have to go anywhere to reach bhakti. With smarana (remembrance), you can do anything. Wherever you are, you can have bhakti. Can anyone stop you? While walking, eating, you can be devoted.
Q: The Art of Living has given me so much, I also want to contribute, serve? How can I do that?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You can come and serve in the Ashram anytime.
(The person then tells Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I’m very happy to have food with many people, with no differences between people and so much togetherness.)
Q: Guruji, my past disturbs me a lot. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let bygones be bygones. Forget even forgiving. Even to forgive you have to remember. Think it as a dream. Does anybody analyze a dream? Like that you have to let go of your past. One devotee astrologer said one day, “I got my leg fractured. I slept at night and dreamt of fighting with a tiger. I kicked the wall and got a fracture. The tiger was in my dream, I should have kicked in the dream.” Don’t stop for any obstacles, keep walking on.
Q: Wherever I go, I find unhappiness. Where do I go and what to do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Antarmukhi (going within). Outside is a bazaar, a market. In the city market, below the bridge, people will be sleeping! You can learn from them. They can sleep in the middle of the bazaar. You can also meditate and be calm. Come here otherwise. You get peace. There might be 20 bad problems yet there are 100 good things. The mind is still stuck with 20 bad problems.
Q: I could not follow the instructions on the meditation CD.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Do not try to listen to me in meditation, whatever happens, let it happen. Do it like you listen to advice. Listen in one ear and let it come out from the other! It’s enough if you simply sit.
Q: In society, everyone is living peacefully. Yet some people create disturbances. What should we do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Sometimes you have to, sometimes no. Asprushate (caste division) doesn’t help anyone. Don’t keep hatred towards anybody. In there is a dead snake and you keep beating it, your hand will get hurt. Yet, in some places, the stick is necessary. Don’t have dvesha (aversion) for it.
Q: I follow the principle of whatever you resist will persist. Yet, I find myself resisting some things.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The rule for the body and mind is different. What you resist persists in the mind, not so in the body.
Q: What is the definition for life? How to lead a happy life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That is what Art of Living is all about. Life is beyond definition. Much more than whatever you can capture or define. It is so vast, so big, it can’t be encapsulated in a few words. When defining life you are limiting the scope of life. Happiness is a factor that we have to consciously pursue. Unconsciously we all are happy, but somewhere in the pursuit of happiness we get stuck and miss the goal. That is what spirituality is all about - bringing that one smile.
Once you are able to see the light, you see the entire past as a dream, move on. Wake up and see the present, you will find happiness is there, unconditional happiness. Then you are happy and not dependant on others for your happiness. Happiness depends only on your mind. When the mind is free of past impressions and future cravings, happiness is there.
Q. God in his infinite wisdom made the world the way it is, I don’t understand why should I not eat meat? I am a born non–vegetarian and I am not able to leave non-veg.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Ok. What is it that makes you crave for non-vegetarian? (The lady answered smell and taste). What brings the smell and taste to the food is spices. Ok, forget all about taste and smell and spirituality. You know, what is the latest finding of non–vegetarian food? One kg of meat is equivalent to the meals of 400 people. If only 10 percent of the world population become vegetarians, the problem of global warming will be reduced.
On this count we have to save the planet. We will have to reduce the consumption of non-vegetarian food. For the sake of the planet, so that everybody gets food, for that we must be concerned. God has given us the sense to care for others and planet also! You have eaten enough, so consume a little less so that others who have nothing to eat can have a little at least, so that more and more people gets something to eat.
We are consuming 40 -50 percent more than we produce. Plant trees, be vegetarian, it’s part of being spiritual. Spirituality is not only meditation. India had 400 cows for every 1,000 people when we got independence. Now we have less than 100 cows per 1,000 people. In 20 years, there will be only 20 cows per 1,000 people. Children will not get the basic staple diet like milk, yogurt, ghee. We have to protect the animals, and save the planet.
Q: Guruji, man is always fighting. Will there ever be a world free of violence and which is all peace?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, that is what we should dream and work for. The whole world is one family. One world family is our ancient calling – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
“That which you cannot express is Love.That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar
© The Art of Living Foundation
For Global Spirituality
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‘Devotion is the zenith of Love’
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What Sri Sri said today
Bangalore ashram, Dec. 14,
2009:
A lady shared a beautiful
experience today in satsang. She had lost her son at the age of 14 yrs in an
accident 10 months ago. Her son had done the ‘Art Excel course’ a few months before
he passed away. The boy’s last words before he passed away were “don’t cry, nothing
is going to happen to me Amma (mother), don’t cry”.
As the lady recounted her son’s last words, she said - “Thank you so much
Guruji, for giving these children such wonderful knowledge that makes them so
strong.”
Q: Guruji, I read somewhere that after death, if you end up
in hell, then you are fried in a pan. I felt afraid after reading that. Please
explain.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don’t worry. When you are established in
the Self while you are here(in this planet), only then no fear is left. That
was a way adopted by our ancestors for making people follow the right path and do
good karma. It was said you will suffer a lot after death if you do wrong deeds
to set people on the right path. If you follow the wrong path, then wrong karma
will follow.
To some extent, this karma can be changed. If you can’t
change karma at all, than there is no use in doing Sadhana. Do your Sadhana and
meditation.
Q: How much freedom is to be given or restrictions are to be
put on teenagers?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You have forgotten because you have
crossed that stage and you don’t remember what turmoil they are going
through. There are so many hormonal
changes taking place in their body. Shake hands with them and gently guide them
through this.
Teenage feverishness is only for few years. Not only
physical but mental and emotional turbulence is so high in them. After the age
of three, children begin to experience all these emotions like jealousy,
possessiveness and these continue till teenage. Some people don’t come out of
teenage at all. Mental turbulence is huge for them.
Teenage is a tough time. It needs great patience to deal
with teenage children. So with great
patience, like a friend and philosopher, give them some space and at the same
time put your foot down and say ‘No’. Don’t be too loose at that time.
Q: Guruji, what is the difference between devotion and love?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Devotion is the zenith of Love. ‘Saa tvasmin panama prema rupa’ - Embodiment
of supreme love for the divine is devotion. You can’t posses God. In routine
love affairs, you love someone and you expect the same in return. You can’t
claim a right on God. Love for that infinite consciousness is devotion.
Sage Narad says, ‘Yoga
chitta vritti nirodha’ meaning ‘Yoga means silencing the tendencies of your
mind.’ ‘Tadha drustu swarupe avastanam’
which means ‘Yoga is the skill of being established in the Seer from the scene’
- To go within and be established in the seer. With this notion, meditation
starts to happen. Then Samadhi follows. Your mind is totally calm. For a moment
you experience that complete nothingness, emptiness.
Q: What is the meaning of ‘Pradakshina’ (circumambulation)?
Sri Sri: ‘Pradakshina’
means going around. ‘Dakshina’ means
that which is done with skill. The English word ‘dexterous’ has come from the Sanskrit
word ‘Daksha’. ‘Dexterous’ means skillful. ‘Pradakshina’ means ‘in a very special way, being skillful’, a
very skillful movement, that which is gained with skill, merit which you have
gained skillfully. ‘Pra’ is to go
around. ‘Pradakshina’ is qualifying
by going around skillfully.
There are three layers when you go inside a temple according
to the temple architecture. The first layer is herbal gardens, full of trees
and plants. The direction in which the tree is to be planted comes under temple
architecture. All plantations are done according to the directions and wind
flow. There are medicinal herbs, flowers and trees in this outer layer and when
you pass through this layer, you breathe in those herbal fragrances that cure emotional
and physical problems, and body imbalances. It used to be around one kilometer long
and while passing through it, your whole body circulation is improved. Essential
fragrances and oils needed by the body are absorbed especially those of the Ashvat (peepal) tree. It is the only
tree which emits oxygen all the 24 hours. All other trees emit oxygen half the
time and carbon dioxide rest of the time. The tree helps a person to overcome
many problems, especially infertility.
‘Pradakshina’ is not done for the sake of the divine or some other
purpose but for health benefits.
Then there is a second circle in which statues of many men
and women are kept. One was asked, in earlier days, to sit and meditate there
for a while.
This way first circle makes you physically fit, vatta-pitta-kapha balances happens by inhaling
the air. The second circle frees your mind from all fantasies. Then finally you
move on to central part - ‘sanctum sanctorum’ - where you sit with your eyes
closed and experience the nothingness.
Q: I don’t know what is good for me and what is bad?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Drop that which gives you short term
happiness and long term suffering. Just keep this in the back of your mind.
“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar
© The Art of Living Foundation
For Global Spirituality
‘Love is that which cannot be expressed or hidden fully’
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“If you keep trying to express it, then it will become just a sound and the feelings are lost. Saying “I love you” everyday and every time, it eventually turns into, “I can’t stand you!” Too much expression spoils things. If you don’t express at all, that is also not good. There needs to be moderation. Just like a seed – it does not germinate if you scatter it on the surface nor if you bury it too deep. It needs to be sown at just the right depth. In the same way, moderation is necessary.
Q. What is the importance of lemon in aura cleansing?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Have you see lemon juice under the microscope? It looks like the rays of the sun. When you see vitamin C under the microscope, it looks like a sunflower. Some substances like salt, lemon, chilies etc, have the potential to remove negativity. In the west, bathing in the ocean for rejuvenation and improving health is popular. The burdens, the worries in the mind, harmful influences are reduced in this way. Faith also works here. Even when you take regular medicines, if you don’t have faith in the doctor or the medication, it may not help you at all.
Q. How does one achieve strength (Shakti) and devotion (Bhakti)?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: With rest - you achieve devotion. When you put in effort along with rest you get power or strength. Effort and prayer, both, go together. Either is incomplete without the other. For completion of any task both are required.
Normally women only pray and men only put in effort but both should do both.
Q. I don’t know whether I should give importance to family or to my career.
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You have to look out for your career. Your parents will be happy when you have a career. If you have no job and you sit at home, will they be happy? No! Then they (family and career) have both come together.
Q.I have never been successful in life. I consider myself to be a load on my parents’ shoulders.
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Drop your laziness and don’t be too choosy. Whatever work you get, take it up and do it. Do not think it is beneath your dignity. Do not think you are not successful. Every work is attached with honor and dignity.
Q. Guruji, there is lot of confusion in family because one member follows Art of living and another member follows some other spiritual path, pranic healing.
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Both just stick to your own path.
Q. During meditation, the mind wanders to so many places. Once you said, “Let the mind go wherever it wants to”. Does that mean me and my mind are two different entities? If yes, then what is the mind and who am I?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When you try to keep hold of your mind, it runs here and there. When you become aware of the wandering mind, then you realize you are bigger than the mind. When you find you are not this mind, not this body, not anything else, whatever remains is the Self. Knowing your Self, recognize the Supreme Self. Then you find you are everything. You are the mind, the thoughts, you are the whole world. But that happens at the second level. When you know your Self, you know the Divine. Sarvam Kalvidam Brahma – Everything is One Divinity. Knowing this, become established in this knowledge.
Q. Guruji, you once said desires come and go. Those which need to be fulfilled stay and others simply vanish. But what about those desires which stay and are not fulfilled?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Have patience & perseverance.
Q. Why am I so crazy to be here!!
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Because I am also like that. Only a rich can make others also rich. Only a liberated one can bring freedom to others. Only a devotee can evoke devotion in others. A person in love with the Divine makes others also like that. Whatever is there within you that is what others receive and that is what you perceive in others.
Q. What is a soul mate?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: First you meet your soul, then you can find out about soul mate.
“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
What Sri Sri said today:
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© The Art of Living Foundation