sri sri teachings

8/2/2019 Sri Sri Teachings

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Youhavingdesiresisnottheproblem,buttheproblemiswhendesireshaveyou!

Q:DearestGuruji,whatifsomeoneoffersmesomeothertechniqueforselfrealization?ShouldIacceptorreject?SriSriRaviShankar:Listen,therearesomanypeopletryingtogivesomanytechniquesandifyoutakeallofthem,youwillbeinconfusion,itwillbeamess.Itsbetterthatyousticktoonesetofpracticesandgodeepintothat.Ifyoudontgetanychangeorbenefitatallfromthistechnique,evenafterpracticingforagoodamountoftime,thenIwouldmyselftellyouthatthisdoesntsuityouandgotothat.Ifyouhavegotsomebenefitfromthis,Iwouldtellyoutosticktoitandgodeeperintoit.

Thatisverynecessary.Evenifyougettenpercentbenefitinanyonepath,youshouldcontinueforsometime.Itsnotthetechniquethatisimportant,itisyourattention,yourdedicationandyoureagernesstogrowthatisgoodenough.Collectingtechniqueswillnothelpyou,yeah!Todropeverythingandrelaxwillhelp.Yourgrowthhappensnotbydoingtoomanythingsbutlearningtoundoornotdoanything.Manypeoplewillaskyoutodothisorthat,IwouldsayRELAX.AndyouallknowthethreegoldenrulestoMeditation.

ForthenextfewminutesIwantnothing,IdonothingandIamnothing.Thisisthehighesttechniqueandanytechniqueshouldleadyoutothislevelofbeingnothing,removingallthelabelsweputonourselvesoftherolesweplay.Ifitdoesnt,thenitsnogoodatechniqueanditsonlyaverymediocre,somepre

liminarybeginningtechnique,maybejusttobringsomefocus.Ifyouunderstandthisphilosophy,Iwantnothing,Idonothing,Iamnothingrestisalldone!Yeah,sosimpleandyetveryprofoundveryprofound!

Q:DearestGurujiwhenwouldyougiveadvicetodroportochangeacommitment?Thankyousomuch.SriSriRaviShankar:Whenyoufeelyoucanneverachievethecommitmentorwhenyoufeelthecommitmentisstiflingyou.Whenyoufeelthecommitmentyouhaveundertakenwasdoneingreatignoranceandyouaregettingnowherethenyoumoveoutofthatcommitment,okay!

Q:Howtomaketeenagersdothecourse?SriSriRaviShankar:Thisyoushouldthink,howtomaketeenagersdothecourse

.Youthinkandcomeupwithsomeideas.Youallurethembyskillfullytellingthemthebenefitsofthecourse.Youcantellthem,Come,wewilltakeyouforaholidaysomewhere.

Q:HowcanIgetridofmysenseofguilt?SriSriRaviShankar:Whenyoufeelguilty,justchantOmNamahShivaya.DosomeBhastrika,somePranayama,Kriya.DoingOmNamahShivayachantingonehundredandeighttimesalsohelpsalot.Youchantonehundredandeighttimes,andthenrelaxandmeditate.See,newenergyhascomeinyouandyouhavebecomeanewperson.Thatpersonwhodidamistakeisgone,haspackedoffhissuitcaseandgone.Nowinsideyouisanewperson.Startbelievingintheinnocenceofthepresentmoment.Inthepresentmoment,theYOUinyou,theenergyinyouisinnocent,okay!

Q:HowdoIgivemorelovetomyself?SriSriRaviShankar:Youwanttogivemorelovetoyourself,IMPOSSIBLE.IfanoceansayshowcanIgivemorewatertomyself,whatcanbesaid?IfsugarcanesayshowcanIgivemoresweetnesstomyself,whatwouldyousay?Itislikesunsayinghowcanitgivemorelighttoitself?Itisimpossibleforyoutogivemorelovetoyourself.

Infactyouloveyourselftoomuch,andthatistheproblem,youreonlythinkingaboutyourself.Startthinkingabouteverybodyelse,andgivelovetoothers.Yo


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uarelovemydear,justrelaxandreduceyourwants.Yourwantsandyourdesiresareeatingyouup;yousimplyrelax.Youshouldhavewants.Thereisnoproblemifyouhaveyourdesires,butdontletthedesireshaveyou.Idontmindyouhavingdesiresattheinitialstages.Lateryoufind,beforethedesirearisesinyou,itgetsfulfilled.

Q:Canspiritualitysavetheworld?SriSriRaviShankar:Whatisdestroyingthisworld?Itsthegreed,jealousy,hatred,narrowmindedness,selfishness,andallthesenegativeemotionsandqualitieswhicharedestroyingtheworld,right?Becauseofgreedoffewpeople,angerandhatredoffewpeople,lackofawareness,lackofunderstandingormisunderstandingandnarrowmindednessofafewpeople,theworldisgettingdestroyed.Howcanthesenegativeemotionsbeovercome?Isthereaway?Yes,SPIRITUALITY.Itisonlyspiritualitywhichcanturnhatredintolove,angerintoawarenessandselfishnessintocompassion.Itisonlyspiritualitythatcansavethemindofthepeople,isntitso?!

Q:Whatsaspiritualleadergottodowithpolitics?SriSriRaviShankar:Whatispolitics?Itiscaringforpeopleandwhatdoesaspiritualleaderdo?Careforpeople.Politiciansruleoverpeople,spiritualleadersserveandcareforthepeople.Politicsandspiritualityaretwodifferentfieldsbuttheyshouldgohandinhand.ThatswhyspiritualleaderswereplacedthehighestinancientIndia.Anykingoremperorwouldgotothespiritualleaderandtakehisadvice.Emperorsusedtorunthekingdomontheblessingsandad

viceofthespiritualleaders.Aspiritualleadershouldnotgetintopoliticsbutshouldguidethepolitics.Thatisnecessary.

Q:DearGuruji,whenIfeeltoostressedanddisturbed,IdontgetmyselftodoKriya.Howtoovercomesuchdeepsmourns?SriSriRaviShankar:Well,Iwillgiveyousomeadvicenow.Whatistheguaranteeyouwillbeabletodoitthenalso?Fewweakmomentshavecomeinlifeinthepast;dontwelcometheminthefutureaswell.Andifyoucannotgetacrosssomeweakmoments,knowthatithascomeinthepastalsoandithasnothelpedyouinanyway.Soweshouldnotsitandexpectweakmomentstocometousfirstofall.Secondly,evenifitcomes,wewillhavethestrengthtoovercomethematthatmoment.Sobespontaneous,okay!

Q:JaiGurudev!Howtoeducatesomeoneaboutvegetarianism?Ihavetriededucatingandhavebeenignored!SriSriRaviShankar:Moreandmorepeoplearebecomingawareofvegetarianism.Here,IheardlastweekthatamajornewspaperinGermanycarriedthreefullpagesonthebenefitsofvegetarianism.Vegetarianismhasmanybenefits.Ithelpsyourbodysdigestion;ithelpstheenvironmentaswell.Youknow,eveniftenpercentofthepeopleintheworldbecomevegetarians,thegreenhousegaseffectproblemisgone.Wearedonewithit;wewillhavenomoreproblemsofglobalwarming.Thatswhatthescientistssay.Soweneedtopromotemoreandmorevegetarianism.Peoplechangealittleslowlyandweneedtohavepatience,Okay

Toomuchfeverishnessspoilsyourefforts!

Q:SometimesIthinkIliveinaworldsurroundedbyformalitiesandexchangingsuperficialwords.ButthequestionisIfeelthatthereismoretoit,lifecannotbejustbeingniceandlivinginthiscordialwaybutthereismorebecauseIworrythatwhenIdie,Iwouldntevenrememberwheretostartagain?SriSriRaviShankar:NowIunderstandthereisalonging,thereisemptiness,andthereisacravingforsomethinghigher.Right!Andthatgivesthatpain.So,thatpaintoattainsomethingveryfastisinawaygood,butwhatisneededalongwiththisisalittlepatience.

Q:AreyoumyGuru?ButtheysaidGurusfindtheirdevotees!


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SriSriRaviShankar::Thatyouhavetodecide!Yes,Gurusfindtheirdevotees,thisisusuallysaid.Youknowwhenwasthissaid?Inancientdays,whenchildrenwouldgototheGurukul,theteacherwouldcomeandtesttheaptitudeofallthechildren-thischildisgoodinengineering,thischildisgoodinmusic,thischildwillbegoodforthis,forthis,forthisThentheteacherswouldsay,Okay,youcomeandyoudoVeda,youstudyAyurveda,youstudymusic;soteacherusedtopickup.ThatwaswhenparentswouldbringtheirchildrentotheGurukulandthentheGuruwouldpickupwhichstudentwouldstudywhat.Onceyouarehereintheknowledge,onceyouareonthepath,yourheartwilltellyou,ThisistheplaceformeandIhavetogethere,andthatiswhenyouacceptsomeoneasyourteacher.NotthatsomeonecomestoyouandsaysIamyourteacher,IamyourGuru.Ifsohappensthendontbelievethat,okay!Nobodycanimposethat;itshouldcomefromwithin.Yourhearttellsyouthatthisisgenuine,thisisright,thisisgood.SoonceyouacceptsomeoneasyourGuruorteacherthenthisanguishdisappearstoagreatextent,andknowthatyouarenotalone!

Q:Whattodowiththedoubtsthatcomeinthemind?SriSriRaviShankar:Youknow,thedoubtisalwaysaboutsomethingpositive,ifnotthenthedoubtwillnotcomeatall.Thedoubtcomesbecausesomethingisright,somethinginsidesaysyesthisisgood.Sointheinitialstages,thattypeofdoubtcomes.Youmoveonandfromyourfeelingyoudecide,ohthisismyteacher,Irespectandlove,thenthatsit!UnderstandwhatIamsaying?!

Q:IfeelafraidattimeswhetherIwillbeenlightened.WhatshouldIdo?SriSriRaviShankar:Onceyouareonthetrain,youknowthatthistrainwillreach.SupposeyouaresittinginacarandthiscarisbeingdriventoKarlsruhe,youdontaskaftereveryminuteifyouaregoingtoKarlsruhe,no!Yourelax!YouknowthedriverisgoingtotakeyoutoKarlsruhe.Youwontbedroppedsomewhereinthemiddle.Thatmuchoffaiththatcomesfromwithinyouisthereinyou;otherwise,youwouldnotevencomehere.Theveryfactthatyouhavecomehereindicatesthatthereisfaith.Otherwiseyourheartwouldblockyou,butyourheartsays,no,gothere.Thatmeansyouaredoingtherightthing.Soonceyouarehere,yourelax.

Relaxandyouwillalwaysfindyourlifewillmoveintherightdirection.Notjusthere,lifeafterthisalso,definitely,becausethemomentwedie,thefirst

personwemeetisourGuru,ourteacher,secondpersonwemeetisourmotherandthenthepersonwhomwelovedmost.Thethreepeoplewemeetandthenlateronwemeeteverybodyelse.Sotherewillbethatassurance,youwillbefine,youaremovingahead,sodontworry.

ArjunaalsohadthisdoubtintheBhagvadGita,whatwillhappentome?Hewasinthesamepain,Imaynotsucceedinthesespiritualpractices,Imaynotgoanywhere,whatwillhappentomylife,IwillbeneitherenjoyinganythingherenorwillIgettheotherworld.Illgetconfused,Illgobackintothesamestuffinmyworld,KrishnawhatdoIdothen?KrishnasaysNahiKalyanaKritKaschitDurgatimTaataGachchati.Mydearyouwillnevergodown,youwillneverbemiserable,Iguaranteeyouthis.Youwillnevergodowninlife,andyouwillonlygoup.Whenyouhavedonegoodthingsinyourlife,whenyouareonthispath,inthiskn

owledge,youwillonlyprogressforwardandforward.Youwillonlygoupinlifehereandhereafter.Hesayssvalpamapyasyadharmasyatrayate,alittlebitofknowledge,alittlebitoflove,alittlebitofdharma,littlebitofitisgoodenoughtotakeyouawayfromfear.Sorelax.

Thatiswhyitissaidyouneedateacheronthespiritualpath,youneedaGuru,andyouneedapersonalfeeling,connectednessfromyourside,notfromtheotherside.Why?Becauseotherwiseyouhavetheanguish,uncertainty,fear,butonceyouhavethatfeelingwhenyouhavethetrust,okaymyGuruisthere,hewillguideme,helltakemeontherightpaththenyouarerelaxed.Andthereisthatp


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eacethatdawninyourheartandmind.Evenifyoustumblealittlebithereandthere,doubtsmaycome,butthentheyjustvanish,theyjustcomeforafewhours,atthemostforacoupleofdays,andthentheydisappear.Sothereisthatassurancethatyouarenotalone.Seehowsoonthetearsareturningintoasmile!

Q:Guruji,WhatisBhakti(devotion)?SriSriRaviShankar::ListentoBhaktiSutrastalk,Ihavespokeninthat,yeah!

Q:Canyoupleasetalkaboutgreed?SriSriRaviShankar:See,thereisgreedinsideusthatwedontrecognize.Oneiswhenwewanttoaccumulatesomanythingsinlifeandthesecondgreedisforexperiences;ohIwanttoexperiencethisandthat,somanyspiritualexperiences.Thisgreedisokaytoalittleextent,littlebitbutifitbecomestoomuchthenwhathappens,itmakesyousounstable,makesyourunaroundandnotgodeepenough.Alittlebitofgreedtodosevaisokaybuttoomuchgreedtodoseva,isnogood!DoyouunderstandwhatIamsaying?Soalittlebitgreedforknowledgeisokay,butwhenyouwanttoknowmore,youwanttolearn,youwanttoquicklyattainthehighest,thatpropelsyoubutifitistoomuchthenyouknowyouarespoilingit,inthesenseyouareintoomuchofahurry,doyouseewhatIamsaying?

Whathappensyesterdaywhilecookingrice?Whathappenedwhenyouwereintoomu

chhurry?Riceremaineduncooked.Soithastobeputagainandsimilarly,weshouldactdynamically,quickly,butnottoomuch!Thatsalittle,littleatatime.Soyouhavetohurrytogettotherailwaystationbutonceyougotintothecompartment,nomorehurrying!Relax!Onceyouhaveboardedthetrain,dontruninsidethecompartmentwithyourluggageupanddown,yourenotgoingtoreachanyearlier;thenIwouldsayrelax,relax,relax.Dontworry;youwillreachattherighttime,okay!Skepticismisperfectlyalright,butnotcynicism

Q:Wehaveindividualizedourselvestoomuch,andhavecreatedseparationsaroundus.Wehaveforgottenourhumanbehaviorofbeingawakened.Howcanwegetbacktothatoneness?Therearesomanyways.Howisthiswayuniqueanddifferent?SriSriRaviShankar:Itisverysimpleandallyouneedtodoistoattendtothesevenlevelsofourexiste...ncebody,breath,mind,intellect,memory,egoand

thentheSelf.

IhavespokenextensivelyaboutloveintheNaradaBhaktiSutras,aboutawarenessandconsciousnessintheAshtavakraGeeta,andaboutmindfulnessinthePatanjaliYogasutras.

FromthePart1coursetothePart2courses,itisabeautifulstep-by-stepjourney,andyoucangettothatexperience.Notonlywhatyoureadinbooks,butitwillbeyourownpracticalexperience.TheYes!+courseforyouthbringsaboutamazingtransformation.

Q:Whatadvicewouldyougivetoaskepticalnon-believer?SriSriRaviShankar:Averygoodbeginningpoint.Seethatyoudontbecomecynica

landfrustrated.Skepticismisperfectlyalright,butnotcynicism.Thatdrainsyourenergy.OnecanbeskepticaltobeginonesjourneyandIwouldverymuchappreciateandwelcomethat.Becauseyouwouldhavegonethroughskepticism,thefaithwillbestronglybuilt.

Getbacktobeautyandpowerthatiswithin

Whenwebecomelikechildren,thenwerealizethatwehavegreaterpower.Itiswithineachandeveryone.Realizingthis,ismostbeautiful.Beautyisnotinclothes.Itisintheinnerquality.Appearanceisbeautiful,butifanger,jealousl


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yorgreedfindsaplace,thenitreflectsinthepersonality,andallthebeautyislost.Howtogetbacktothat...beautythatwearebornwith?Goanywhere,totheNorth,South,WestorEast,onefindseverychildbeautiful.Childrenradiatejoyandlove.Aswebecomeadults,welearnskillsandgainabilitiesbutwesomewheremissmaintainingtheinnerbeauty,thatsparkofloveinourlife.Canwemaintainthosepowerfulskillsandyetretainthatbeautywewerebornwith?Iwouldsayyes,thatiswhatTheArtofLivingisallabout-Makinglifeacelebration;dreamaboutastress-free,violence-freesociety,disease-freebody,confusion-freemindandsorrow-freesoul.Tellmewhodoesntwantallthis?Itispossible.Inthelast30yearsofTheArtofLiving,wehaveseenthateverybodyneedsloveineverycornerofthisplanet.Andthatiswhatwespread.

TalkingaboutthisRussiantour,Ifeelabsolutelyathome.Nicepeoplehere.Iwantthissweetnesstobemaintained.Butweseeitisdisappearingintheyoungergeneration.

Thereismorestressaccumulatinginyouth,andweneedtoseethatouryoungergenerationisfreefromstressanddepression.TheWorldHealthOrganizationsaysthat30percentofEuropeissufferingfromdepression!Letusalltakecommitmentthatwewillnotletithappen.Wewanttoseeahappyworld.Iwanteveryteartobeturnedintoasmile.Thatiswhyallthisyoga,pranayamaandkriyaaresoimportanttorelievethisstress.Intheballet,weobservethewholebodycanbalanceonthetoes.Onelegintheairandonefirmonthegroundmakesthedanc

e.Asolidmaterialandspiritualfoundationmakesadance.Spiritualexperienceishavingonefootintheairandtheotherfirm.Thatbalanceispower.Wefindourselvesintroublewhenwelosethisbalance.Theancientspiritualityalwaysunitedpeopleofallculturesandreligions.Dontyouthinkthisiswhatweneedtoday?Inthenameofreligion,somanywarsandterrorismarecomingintopicture.Onesolutionisthateveryonegetsbacktospirituality.Getbacktobeautyandpowerthatiswithin.Wecommunicatemuchmorethroughourpresencethanthewords.IhavesaidallthatIwanttosay.

SriSriinSaintPetesburg!

Q:WhatisthevisualizationofGodinancientIndia?SriSriRaviShankar:InancientIndia,theydescribedGodasbeauty.Adisciple

onceaskedwhatGodis.TheMasterrepliedTruth,beautyandlove.ThatisGod.IsGodsittinginheavengivingalittlefinger?No,itisonlyinthepainting.Godistruth,beautyandlove.Itisthatfieldandenergypresentintheentirecreation.Whencanyouappreciatebeauty?Andwhatdoesntallowyoutoappreciate?Whenmindisbombardedwithworry,anger,hateandtension,youcantevensmilefromyourheart.Thoughyouaresittinginaballet,butyoucantappreciateifyouareangry.Youcanonlyappreciatewhenyouareinthepresentmoment.

Q:WhatisthefutureofSt.Petersburg?SriSriRaviShankar:Itisinyourhands.

Q:Whatdoyousayontherumorsofdestructionoftheworldintheyear2012?

SriSriRaviShankar:Iwanttotellyouastory.In1999,whenIwasinNorthAmerica,therewasarumorthateverythingwillshutdownin2000.Peoplesoldhomesandstoredfoodforsixmonths-Milkpowder,dryvegetablesetc.OhmyGod!ThenalsoItoldthattherewouldbenodisasterandeverythingwouldbeasusual.Nowagain,Iamassuringyouthatitisonlyinthemovie.Theworldwillcontinue.Infact,transformationwillbetherefromgreedymaterialismtohumanism.Childrenwillbemoreawareofspirituality.Thereisabrightfuturefortheworld.Dontthinkofanydisaster.Adisasterisalreadyhappening.Thisisbecausewehaveexploitedtheplanet.Wehaveputsomanydynamitestotakeminerals,andhenceearthquakeshavebecomedominant.Theweather!Russianeverhadsuchhottempe


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ratures.SowehavetocarefortheplanetEarth.Planttreesanddoallthatisneededtoreducehumangreed.Whatdoyouthink?

Q:HowdoIfeelmoreenergeticrepeatingthesameoldroutineeveryday?SriSriRaviShankar:Firstlookintothemirrorandgiveabigsmiletoyourself.Ok?Thendobreathingtechnique,littlebitofyogaandmeditation.Givesometimetoyourselfeverydayandyouwillbemoreenergeticandbeautiful.

Q:Howtomakesomeonedeartoyouunderstandthatsomethingisusefulforthemandtheymustgoforit?SriSriRaviShankar:Keeppursuinggentlyandhavepatience,theywillallunderstand.Firstyoushouldhavetheconvictionthatthisisgoodforthem,andtheywillgetit.Howtogetathoughtoradesiremanifestedisverysimple.Firstintentionandkeepattentiononitandthenmanifestationwillfollow.

Q:YoutravelsomuchIfeelathomewitheveryoneandeverywhere.Idontfindanyoneastranger.IoftensaythatIamachildwhorefusestogrowup.

Q:Iamrunningafteradreamsincelong.Howtogetthatfulfilled?SriSriRaviShankar:Bepracticalintakingcareofyourdailyneedsandseewhattherealityisatthatpoint.Youhaveadreamandyouwanttoachievesomething.Butthatdreamorideamaynotmatchtherealitythatisrightnow.Sounderstandthepresentrealityandmatchitwithyourdream.Thisiswhateverybodyhas

todo.See,supposeyouareteachingmathematicstoastudent.Firstyoushouldknowthepresentstateofthechildsmind.Ifthechildcantcounttwoplustwoisfour,thereisnopointinteachingthemultiplicationtable.Doyouseethepracticalitynow?

Q:Howarescienceandspiritualityrelated?SriSriRaviShankar:Scienceandspiritualitywereneverinconflict;infacttheyareverycomplimentary.InIndia,itisalwayssaid,Beforeyoutrytounderstandthenatureofyourspirit,youshouldunderstandthefiveelementsofcreationEarth,water,fire,airandether.Soonceyouunderstandthefiveelementsthenyouunderstandintellect,egoandself.Allisthenatureofthespirit.SpiritualityisknowingwhoamI,thesubjectanalysis.Objectiveanalysisisscience,and

theygotogether.Scientistswerealwaysencouraged.

Q:Peoplearoundtheworldneedthesestressrelievingtechniques.Howcanwecontribute?SriSriRaviShankar:ThatiswhyIkeeptraveling.So,wehavetokeeppracticing,havetositingroupsanddosomepranayamaandsomemeditation.Wehavetorenewourenergytimetotime.Whenyoueat,yourstomachbecomesemptyagain,itisquitenatural.Likethatwhenyouarehappyandjoyful,sometimewhenbeingsobusyandengagedinsomanyactivities,youseemtocollectallthatdustandyourenergyseemstogodown.Thenitisthetimetorechargeagain.Sowewillmeditatenowforfewminutes.

Innerjoyandtruehappinessalonecanstopthefeverishnessinsocietythataris

esthroughdesires

Themostfortunateeventthatcantakeplaceinourlivesiswhenwefeel,Idonotwantanything,andIamhereforyou.Ihavebeenbestowedwiththegoodfortuneoffeelingthiswayrightfromthebeginning.Mywishistoseemoreandmorepeoplebeingabletothinkinthismanner.Imaginehow...societywouldbeifeachmemberofthesocietythinksthesameway!Thisfeeling,thisvirtueisalreadythereineveryone,butitisjusthiddensomewheredeepinside.Whentheleaderofacountryfeelsinthismanner,onlythenwillthecountryprogress;andwhenheisfocusedonthedevelopmentofthecountryanditspeople,i


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tisimpossiblethattheneedsoftheleaderarenotfulfilled.Butifwefocusonlyonourneeds,thenwedontgiveourselvesandourabilitiesachancetoblossom.Wemustalwaysbelievethatourneedswillbefulfilled.Thisdoesnotmeanthatwhenyouhavesomeneeds,yousuppressthemsaying,Idonotwantanything.Thisisafeelingthatarisesfromastateofcontentmentorfulfillment,andnotbyneglectingorsuppressingyourneeds,andfulfillmentcomesfromspiritualknowledge.Whenyoupayattentionandfocusonthehighestknowledge,thenyourneedsarefulfilledevenbeforetime.Innerjoyandtruehappinessalonecanstopthefeverishnessinsocietythatarisesthroughdesires.Thiskindofinnerjoyandhappinesscanonlybeachievedthroughknowledge.ItisamatterofjoythatTheArtofLivingisbringingtogetherthevariouscommunitiesoftheworld.Thecoreofeveryreligionandcultureislove,andTheArtofLivingisalsobasedonthesameprincipleofLOVE,IdonotwantanythingandIamhereforyou.Moreandmorepeoplearoundtheworldshouldbeabletodeveloptheabilitytosaythis.Ifeveryonestartstothinklikethis,thisworldwillbecomeheaven.Ifeveryoneonlythinksoftakingsomethingfromsomeone,thenwewillcontinuetoseethecurrentworldsituation.Wearedevelopingtheworldtomakeitaheaven,anditfeelsverygoodtoseeithappening.SoeverydaywemoveforwardwiththisbeliefthatIamyours.Love,action,funandcelebrationareallpresentinthisknowledge.Allofthiscomesfromtheknowledge.Consideryourlifeassacred!

JeevanajeevajagatnashwaraNothingstaysforever.Goodaswellasbadtimesgoaway.Behappy,remindingyourselfofthisagainandagain.Ourlifeasitis,isSadhana.Truesadhanaisrelaxing,deeprelaxation.Whatdoyouwanttoknow?Everythingisdestructiblehere.Everythingischangingyourbody,yourintellect.Everythingwilldissolve.30yearshavepassedl...ikeamoment*.Timeisrunningsofast.Ifyoufeelthereissomethingwhichisnotchanging,thatisyourconsciousness.Letussettlethere,whichisnotchanging.Makeuseofthistimeinthebestmanner.

Consideryourlifeassadhana,sacred.Whenyouputefforts,yougetsomebenefits.Yourbodyisstrengthened,yourmindisstrengthenedtosomeextent,andyougainskillfulnesstosomeextent.Forexample,yougetskilledinsitar,computerorexercisingwithsomeeffort.Butthesearelimitedbenefitsascomparedtothe

onesthatyoucanhavewithtruerelaxation.

Sadhanahappenswhenalltheeffortsaredropped.Whenyouaretotallyrelaxed,youexperiencetruebliss.Youcannotgainlovewitheffort.Truerelaxationgivesyouhappiness,kindleshumanvaluesinyou,sharpensyourintellect,andmakesyoucreativeandskillful.

Relaxationdoesnotmeaninertrestorbeinglethargic.Whytodoyogasanasinthemorning?Relaxationcanonlyhappenafterputtingsomeeffort,whenlazinessinyoudisappears.Thedesireshouldbetobefreefromlaziness.

Thecycleofdesiresandsleep,wekeeponoscillatingbetweenrajogunandtamogun.Thisisbondage.Satogundawnswithgenuinerelaxationandknowledge.Thesumm

aryofthewholeAshtavakraGeetaistobeabletojoyfullyrelaxwhilebeingawakesatvikrelaxation.Thatrelaxationistruerelaxation.Inthatrelaxationalltheattachmentsandbondageslosetheirgrip.So,consideryourlifeassadhana.

LordShivaiscalledMahakaal.Mahaisgrandandkaalistime.LordShivaisthefieldofenergythatdissolvesinittheeffectoftime.Timefollowssomerule.Ithasitsownrhythm.Sometimes,somethingdesirablehappensandatsomeothertimes,somethingundesirable.TimecontinuestoteachusthatoppositevaluesarecomplementaryRestyourmind&intellectintheDivineenergy


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Ourscripturesprovidethreemainphilosophies:Nyaay(Logic)VaisheshikaSankhyaAfterthatwehaveYoga.Nyaay:Whatwelearn,weunderstandandanalyzehowcorrectitis-Analyzingthedifferencebetweenwhatwehearandwhatweinfer.ThiswayoffindingoutthetruthisNyaay....IntheVaisheshikamethod,theobjectanditscharacteristicsareanalyzed.Ifsugarisnotsweet,wouldyoustillcallitsugar?Objectshavecharacteristics.Inthisway,placeandtimearealsoconsideredasobjectsbecauseoftheircharacteristics.Timeaffectsthemindandintellect.Ourmindfeelsandperceivesdifferentlyinthemorningthanitdoesintheevening.Theplacementofplanetsalsoaffectsthemind.Sometimesfaitharisesinthemind,sometimeshatredenvelopesthemind.Itisnaturalfordifferentwavesofemotionstoriseinthemind.Iamseparatefromallthis,IamAtma.Contemplatingonthisisthesignofintelligence.Onceyouhaveconsideredthechangingobjects,restyourmindinthatwhichneverchanges.ThisisSankhyaYoga.WhatisBhakti?RestingyourmindandintellectinDivineenergy.Thisisallthatyouneedtodo.Whenyourfaithisshaky,cureitbytakingblessingsfromelders.Doyoga.Friendliness,compassionandignoring.Tocalmthemind,befriendlyandcompassionate,andfinallyignoreifneeded.Ignoretheimperfectionandkeepyourmindcalm.Hatingsomebodyislikedrinkingpoison.Andmoreso,neverhatewisepeople!Patanjalisays,Awakentheoppositeemotion.Thisissadhana.Ifangerarises,awakencompassion,andanewchemicalprocesswillbeinitiated.Vitarkabadhane,pr

atipakshabhavanam.ThisiswhyweremembertheGuru-thechemicalprocesschangesimmediately,andenthusiasm,joyandnon-attachmentarisesnaturally.

Godisalivelyandlovingconsciousnessdeepinsideeachoneofus!

TheyouthofIndiahaveinheritedthisgreatcountry.Iwanttheyouthtotakeresponsibilityforthesociety.Wewantacorruption-freesociety.Thesecondgoalisthatweneedanintoxication-freesociety,otherwisewecanneverprogress.Youtharetheonlyhope.Itsverynecessarythatyou(theyouth)takethissteprightaway!Focusonstudies,workandknowledge,andleavetheresttotheDivine.Iamsohappytoseesuchanenthusiasticyouthgroupcomingfromthispartoftheworld.Youshouldknow,wehaveTheArtofLivingthroughouttheworldto

day.YougototheSouthPole,tipofArgentina,andyouwillfindTheArtofLiving.YougotowardstheNorthPole,youwillfindTheArtofLivingthere.Youhaveafamilywhichisspreadacrossthewholeglobe,andeachoneofyouisaveryimportantmemberofthefamily.Wehavesuchabigfamily,andwehavearesponsibilitytoo,toworkforahappyandcelebrativesociety,asocietywhichisfreefromviolence,andasocietywhichisspirituallyuplifted.Iwanteachoneofyoutomultiply100times,reachouttoschoolsandcollegesandmakelifeacelebration.Andbeassuredthatyourneedswillbetakencareof.YoudofortheSocietywhatSocietyneeds,andleavetherestonme.Youwillsee,yourneedswillnaturallystartgettingfulfilled.Whateveryouwish,willhappen.

Q:WhatisitthatIshoulddointhefuture?

SriSriRaviShankar:Whateveryoudidinthepastwhichwasnottobedone,dontdoitinfutureaswell.Dosomethingthatbringsasmileonyourfaceandthatofothers.

Q:Whatismyexistence?SriSriRaviShankar:Thesamequestionyouwouldhavetoaskyourselfagainandagain.Untilyoudontgettheanswer,dontleavethequestion.Wewillkeeppushingyoutogettheanswer.Itsaverypreciousquestion!

Q:WhenIdosomethinggood,eventhenmyparentssometimesdontletmedothat.


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Howtogoaheadinsuchasituation?SriSriRaviShankar:Takethisasanopportunitytobringoutthatskillfulnessinyou.Itislikeifclothhasbeentangledinabush,youneedcertainskilltograduallyremoveitfromthere.Youdontrun,butpatientlydealwiththemwithyourskill.Havesuchaskillfulconversationthattheygetagreetowhateverrightyousay.

Q:Whatisspirituality?SriSriRaviShankar:Beingabletofeelaconnectionwitheverybodyisspirituality.TheskilltofeelconnectedwitheverybodyandtoknowtheTruthisspirituality.Likethisflowerismatter.Butfromascientificperspective,thisflowerismadeupofmolecules,themoleculesarefurthermadeupofatoms,atomsofsubatomicparticlesandthosefurtheraremadeupofonlywavefunction.Inquantumphysics,theysaythisisonlythewavefunction.Similarly,tounderstandtheSourceandBaseofthewholeworldisspirituality.IntuitivelyknowingtheDNAoftheflowerisspirituality.

Q:Iseducationallaboutpassingexaminationandgettinggoodmarks.Isitnotaboutsomethingmore?SriSriRaviShankar:Whatdoyouthink?(Thepersonreplies)Ithinkitisbecauseofourparentsattitudethatwethinkso.SriSriRaviShankar:Yes,butyoushouldalsostudy.Anyway,youhavetoflow

withthesystem.Though,examinationisnottheonlything.Ifyoufailalso,thennevermind.Thatdoesntmeanyoushouldtakesomestupidsteps.Thatisnogood.Atthesametime,youshouldattendtoyourexams.Educationisveryimportant.

Q:WhencanIbeliketheDivine?SriSriRaviShankar:Youarealreadynow.

Q:Whatisthemostimportantthinginastudentslife?SriSriRaviShankar:Acareerisimportant,andalongwiththatthedevelopmentoftheoverallpersonalityisveryimportant.Bothgohandinhand.Someareonlyintocareer,andsomeareonlyintopersonalitydevelopmentandnocareer.Lackinginanyone,youwontfeelthatsatisfaction.So,takebothalong

Qualificationaswellaspersonalitydevelopment.Andqualificationnotonlyforcertificationbutforgainingknowledge,andthenthatlightnessofheartandsmilethatcomesfromthedepthofyourheartshouldbethere,andamultitalentedpersonality.Mostofall,youhavetocomeacrossasaniceperson.Nicedoesntmeanbeinggoodygoody,butbeingstrong.Ofcourse,yoursoftwordshaveeffect,butbestrongatthesametime.ThatiswhathappensintheDSN(program).Itmakesyousostrongandunshakablefromwithin.

Q:Whatshouldbeonesmainmotiveinastudentslife?SriSriRaviShankar:Themainmotiveisinlife.Butstudentsaretimebound.Mainmotiveinlifeshouldbetoseeabetternation,abetterworld.Whenyouhaveloveforyournation,achievementalsohappens.

Q:Ifeelsadandsometimesoutragedlookingatthecorruptionaround.WhenwillwehaveaDivinesocietytolivein?Whatshouldbedone?SriSriRaviShankar:Whenpeoplelikeyouwillcollectivelymoveahead,thendefinitelyitwillhappen.Butifcorruptiongoesonincreasinglikethisonly,thenforgetaboutthat,itwillnothappenin2060aswell.Thereisnoendtoit.Thatiswhy,onlynowisthetime.Thereiscorruptioninbureaucracy,thereiscorruptioninmedia,thereiscorruptionintheentertainmentindustry,andonlyawaveofspiritualitycancurethis.Youknowsomeofourchildrenwantedalicenseforafactory,andtheyrefusedtopayanybribe.Theysaidthattheyfollowspirituality,andtheyarenotgoing


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topayanybribe.Theyconfidentlyagreedtocomebackten,30,50timesifneeded,buttheygotthelicensetheverynextmorning.Ifpeopleofthesocietywillbeontherightpath,thenofficerswillautomaticallystartfollowingyou.Ifsocietyiscorrupt,theofficersarealsocorrupt,thenthatbecomesanacceptednorm.Whenyoumakeyourmindstrong,whenyoutakethisconvictiontobenotcorrupt,peoplealsochange.

Q:Howtohavefocuswhilestudying?SriSriRaviShankar:Doatleastsomething.Sometimesalittlepainisalsogood.Likeifyoucannotwalk,butwhenyouparticipateinamarathon,youputinyour100percent.Isntit?Likeifyouarethrowninanocean,untilyoudontfindtheshore,youcontinueswimming.Wouldyouleaveinbetweenevenifyouaretired?So,evenifyoudontfeellikedoing,itisboring,takeitasachallenge,Iwillsomehowfinishthissubject.Evenifyoudontknowswimming,yougettolearnthatinwater.

Q:(Aboydiscussedsomepersonalproblem)Ifinditdifficulttohavethatsenseofbelongingnesswitheverybody.WhatdoIdo?SriSriRaviShankar:Havingasenseofbelongingnessdoesntmeantoflowemotionally.Useyourintelligence.Doonlythatwhatyoucando.Whatyoucannotdo,nobodywillexpectthatfromyoualso.

Q:Howtochangethesystem?SometimesIfeelveryoutragedandIdontgettounderstandhowtostandupagainstthat.Pleaseguide.

SriSriRaviShankar:Yes,youareright.Thatiswhyweallhavetoworktogether.Wecanachievealotwhenwedosomethingtogether.Whenyouknow,therearesomanypeoplewithyou,yougetthatconfidence.Comeupwithyourideas.Floatyourideas.Thosewhohaveinterestinspirituality,thosewhohavehumanvaluesshouldrunthecountry.Whensomemeanpeoplegetintopower,thenitcreatesproblemforthewholenation.Wewillhavetochoosetherightpeople.Thereshouldbeanindependentagency.Theagencywheretheycancheckanycorruption,anagencythatisindependentofthegovernmentsothatitcanalsocheckcorruptionatthegovernmentlevelaswell.Thepathislong,andyouwillallhavetoworkforit.Thepathislong,lotstodo,andIamconfidentthatyoupeoplecandoit.Thennobodywillbeabletopracticecorruption.

Q:IwasoncetoldthatYogisdonotmeetwiththeGod,haveyouevermetwithG

od?SriSriRaviShankar:Firsttellme,whoisGodaccordingtoyou?Somebodysittingupintheheaven!No!Godisthatfromwhichnothingcanescape.Whenthemindistotallyrelaxed,itmergesintheDivine,itrelaxesintheDivine.Thewholepointistorelaxthemindinthatsoothingconsciousness.Whenthewaveisonthesurface,itisawave.Butwhenitidentifiesitselfwiththedepthoftheocean,itbecomestheocean.Godisloveanditisinsideeachoneofus.

Q:Howdoesoneexperiencethatblissfuldivinitywithin?SriSriRaviShankar:Meditation,Seva/ServiceandSatsang.

Q:IsitoktoaskGodhelpingusinexams,togetusthroughtheexamination?D

oesithappen?SriSriRaviShankar:Whateveryouneedtowish,youcandothat,anditgetsfulfilled.Godisaverylivelyandlovingconsciousness.Thatiswhy,desiresgetfulfilled.

Q:Dotheoneswhohavedied,feelsomething?Isthereanythingafterdeath?SriSriRaviShankar:Yes,ithappensforsometime.Atleasttheeffectofworldlymemoriesremainuptooneyear,andthenitfadesawayslowlyinnexttwothreeyears.


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Q:DoeseverybodyneedaGuru?SriSriRaviShankar:Doyouneedananswer?Ifyes,thenyes.Ifsomepeopledonotfeeltheneed,thenalsoitisalright.Whenyouaskaquestion,andsomebodygivesananswer,theonewhogivesyoutheansweranywayplaystheroleoftheGuru.Youneedmedicine,andyougotoadoctor.Theone,whogivesyoumedicine,becomesadoctor.Similarlywhogivestheanswer,youaccepthimasyourGuru.

Q:WhydoIfeelde-motivatedsometimes?SriSriRaviShankar:Becauseyouareintosomuchoftelevisionandnewspaperreading.So,youneedsuchcompanywhichmotivatesyou.Inwrongcompany,onefeelsde-motivated.YoushouldtakeitasachallengeIwontbede-motivatedcomewhatmay.

Q:WhatisthedifferencebetweenspiritandtheUniversalconsciousnessorGod?SriSriRaviShankar:Likeanatomisinsidethemolecule,onethatissubtlethanthespiritisGod.Theconnectionisevenmoresubtlethanthatbetweenamoleculeandatom.Accordingtoancientscience,ifyoubisectonehairverticallyinto100parts,andyoutakeoneoutofthose,youfurtherbisectin100partsandthentakeoneoutofthose.Andevenrepeatingthesameprocess,whatyougetisamolecule.Evenmuch,muchsmallerthanthatisanatom.Evensubtlerthanthatisegoandthatwhichismoresubtlethanthatalsoisthemahatattva/grandelement.Theonewhoseegohasbeentotallydissolved,heiscalledMahatama.

Everythingiscenteredaroundwellnessofthesociety!

Imgoingtotalktoyouaboutanotherdimensionofspace,thatis,theinnerspace:thespacethatrulesyourlife,thespacefromwhichallthoughtsandemotionsemerge,ofwhichyouare,simply,apuppet.Theremayberules,butwhenyouremotionsrisehigh,youbecomeavictimofyourownemotions.Ifyourthoughtpatternsareprejudiced,arecaughtupinsomeUtopianornastyconceptsthenyoubehavethatway.

Thedifficultywithushumanbeings,normalhumanbeings,isthatweseldomtaketimetolookatourownemotions,lookatourownthoughtpatterns,atwhatshappenedinside.Weactbeforethinking;weactbeforeevenresolvingourfeelings.

Sowhenthefeelingsoverrideyouractions,yourconceptsandprejudicesoverrideyouraction,timetotimecrimesareboundtohappeninsociety,whateverrulesarethere.

Innerrulesarejustlikethewatchman,thedoorkeeper,buttheemotionsaretheownerofthehome.Sowhentheownerbargesin,thedoorkeeperjustgivesway.Andthisisexactlywhathappens.Ifyoujusttalktoanycriminalanywheretheywilleitherjustifytheiractionortheyfeelcompletelyhelpless,becausetheyfeelthey,themselves,arethevictim.SoIoftensay,Insideeveryculpritisavictimcryingforhelp.Ifweattendtothevictim,theculpritdisappears.Andthisisexactlywhatweneedtodo,whetheritsthecrimethatsbeingdoneeitherinKosovoandSerbiaorBosniaorSriLankaoranywhere.Itsthepeoplewhodothat,andnormalpeople,asthehonorablespeakermentionedjustafewminutesago.

Theyrenormalpeople,butwhatmakesnormalpeopledoabnormalcrimesisthelackofeducationabouttheiremotions.

Neitherathomenoratschool,areanyofustaughthowtomanageourgreed,ouranger,ourjealousy,ourfrustrationandourrage.Nobodyteachesyouhowtomanagethismindbywhichwedoallouractions.Wedonthavetogotoouterspacetofeelthattheearthisverysmall,thatweallbelongtoeachother.Wecanwakeupherewhenweattendtoourinnerspace.

Findout,observe,thatwhateverIam,everybodyelseis.So,weareallone,we


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areallpartofonehumanfamily,humanspecies.Thisawareness,thisawakeninghastohappenwithineachoneofus,withineachindividualontheplanetandthisiswhereindividualeducationwillleadtoacollectiveculture.Acultureinthesociety,itsallanindividualwhoformstheunitofaculture.So,itstheindividualwhoformstheunitofasociety.Soifindividualsareeducated,wehavealiteratesociety.Theresnothinglikeasocietythatcanbecomeliterate;literacyhastohappenthroughindividuals.Andsimilarly,educationinhandlingoneself,knowingoneself,hastohappenindividuallyandthatwillhavetoleadtoacollectivephenomenoncalledacivilized,culturedsociety.

Itssuperstitions,dogmas,prejudicesthatoverruleourcivilizationtoday.YouknowwhathappenedintheMiddleAges,intheMedievalperiod,eitherintheSpanishInquisitionorthewitchhunting,inthenameofsomedogmas,orthecastesystemintheEast.Theyallhaveprovedtobedisasters,adisastertosociety,andeducationwillmakepeopleovercometheseills.Similarly,corruption,whatwearefacinginthebusinesscommunitytodaysortoflowmoralsandsomehowwerelostwedontknowwhattodo.Sointhesesituations,anintrospectionandunderstandingabouthumannature,thenatureofmind,thenatureofouremotions,andinalargespectrum,thepurposeoflife.

Assomebodyrecentlysaid,thattheGDPofacountryshouldbenowmeasuredwithGDH,GrossDomesticHappinessfactor.Youshouldseewhichstateishappy,whichcountryishappierthantheother.Havingabigbankbalanceandbeingdepressedforthewholelifeisnotprosperity.Youshouldhavethemindtoenjoythat

prosperity.Youmayhaveenoughfoodandenoughthingstoeat,butyousufferfromdiabetesanddepressionandheartproblem.Thatdoesntcounttobeahealthysociety.Sowhetheritiseconomyorpolitics,socialentrepreneurshiporanyactivity,everythingiscenteredaroundonefact:welfareofthesociety,thatis,wellnessofthesociety.Ifthewellnessisatstakenootherfactorwillsufficeforthesocietytobeuplifted.Soweneedtolookintothat.

Andethicsformsoneofthebackbonesofwellnessandbusinessformsitswings.Withoutbusiness,wellnesscannothappen.So,weneedtoconsiderthis.Imhappythatwereallonthesamepagehere,butfromverydifferentfields,ponderingonsomethingthatwouldmakeabreakthroughinthecrisisoftoday.

Haveacombinationofbothsensitivenessandstrength!

Q:HowcanInotseeuglyfeelingsbehinduglywords?SriSriRaviShankar:Sometimespeoplesaywordsandtheyreallydontfeelthatway.Dontyoudoitsometimes?Aschildren,yousaythingsthatyoudontreallymean.Kidsusuallysaythingstheymean.Aswegrowolder,ourfeelingsandwordsgrowapart.Theyarenotthesame.Now,dontworryaboutwhatotherpeoplearefeeling.Feelingsarefleeting.Onedaytheyfeelgood,nextdaytheydont.Dontbotheraboutthis.Simplyacknowledgethatthatpersonisnotfeelinggoodandthattheyareheretoworkonit.Ourbeingangrythatsomeoneisfeelingbaddoesntmakesense.Sometimestheirfeelingschangebutyourfeelingsremainthesame.Someoneputsadoubtinyourheadandthentheyforgetbutyouholdontoit.The

sameiswithseniorcitizenswhocomplainbutthenforgetwhileyouholdontothecomplaint.Lookatthepresentmoment-now,now,now!WakeupNOW!Everythingelseisstupid.Allthathashappenedhasgoneintoemptiness.Everythingdissolvesintoemptiness.Yourentirepast-wipedout!Allthethingsthatyoufeltaregone.Goodorbad,theyaregone.So,wakeuptothetruthofthepresentmoment.Divinityisinthepresentmoment.Thisisyoga.Yogaisbeingestablishedinthemoment.Andmomentdoesnotmeanfleetingmoment.Themomenthasthedepthofinfinity;ithasallthepastandallthefuture.Whocareswhatyoufeel?Throwyourfeelingsintotheocean.Alittlesensationordiscomfortarises.Whocares?Areyoudoingwhatyouwanttodo?And,indoingwhatyouwanttodo,ar


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eyoukeepingthedelicacyofyourconsciousnessorareyoubeinglikeabulldozer(IwilldowhateverIwant)?Beinglikeabulldozerisbeinginsensitive.Beingoversensitiveandveryweakandbeinglikeabulldozerarebothnotcorrect.Thebestcombinationisbeingsensitiveandstrong.Thisiswisdomandthisiswhatwehavetoworkon.Theeffectofpastactionsislimited.Pastactionsdefinitelyaffectyoue.g.youdrivefast,getaticket,andyouhavetopay.Getthreeticketsandyouhavetosurrenderyourlicense,nodoubt.Butdontbroodoverit.Wakeup.Whenyouwakeup,eventheconsequencesyoufearwillnothappen.Youwillbeforgiveninthatmoment.Themomentweacknowledgeourmistake,weareforgiven.Soyouareinnocenteverymomentyouareawake.Now!Now!Now!Takethechallenge.Wheneversomeoneisnastytowardsyou,dosomethingsonicethatittakesthembysurprise.Youwillsuddenlyfindthereisashifthappening.Ifitdoesnothappenalsoitisfine.Atleastyouhavedonesomethinggood.Theworldisaveryfunnyplace,Itellyou.Eitheritisveryentertainingoritissuchapainandsomiserable!Youcanttakeit.Sometimes,youdosomuchforsomeoneandtheyturntheirbackanddothingsthatharmyou.Manyparentssay,Ididsomuchformychildrenandnowtheyaredissociatingfromme.Notjustwithparents,butsamewithemployers,friends,siblings,andevenspouse.Speakingofspouse,therearefourstagesofmarriage.Firststageismadforeachother.Secondstageismadeforeachother.Thirdstageismadateachother.Thefourthstageismadbecauseofeachother.

Q:SomedaysIfeelsomuchlovefortheDivine.Otherdays,Ifeellikeprayingfordesires.

SriSriRaviShankar:Justbenatural.Whenprayerishappening,dontcreateaconflictandconfusioninyourself.Dontsay,Ohitwillhappenanyways!Butprayerdoesnothavetohappenbycompulsion.

Q:Pleasetelluswhatissospecialaboutthetipofthisnose?SriSriRaviShankar:Allthesensorynervesendinthetipofthenose.Therearetwopointsthatareimportantforalertnessandfocusofthebrain-theearlobesandtipofthenose.Theyarethemarmapoints.Thesearethesecretpoints.Ifyoukeepyourattentiononthetipofthenose,yourfocusimproves,especiallyforchildren.IntheJaintradition,theycanmultiply100numbers(avadhan).Theyfocusonthetipofthenose.Itsamazing!Theyarefasterthancomputers.Shathavadhanis,astheyarecalled.Avadhanisthetechniqueofholdingmemoriesinyourconsciousness.Itislikeaphotographicmemory.Peoplewhofollowth

istechnique,Avadhanis,cantellyouwhatdatewasTuesdayin1700.Thisknowledgewassystematicallyerased.Thatistheunfortunatepart.

Q:Whatdoesayurvedahavetodowithmeditation?SriSriRaviShankar:Ayurvedaisacompletescience.Itdescribesdincharaya(dailyroutine)andritucharya(seasonalroutine).Dinacharyaincludesmeditationforbalancingofthethreedoshas(mindorbodytype).Themindhasanimpactonthebodyandallitsdoshasandgunas(threequalitiesofnature:sattva,rajasandtamas).So,themind,breath,herbs-theyarealllinked.Similarly,ayurvedahelpsonetomeditatedeeply.Toomanythoughtsindicateshighpitta(oneofthethreedoshas).Sopittamustbetreated.Inayurveda,combinationsarereferredtoasyoga.Forexample,whentwoherbsareputtogetheritiscalledyoga.Sothatconceptofyogaissimilartomeditationandtoayurveda.

Q:WheredoyouseeTheArtofLiving25yearsfromnow?SriSriRaviShankar:Ileavethatvisiontoyou.NoweachofyoumustthinkabouthowyouwantTheArtofLivingtoblossom.Itsforyoutothinkabout.Today,TheArtofLivingisallovertheworld.Seeitwasnottoolongagothatcellphoneswereintroduced.Butithasreachedallnooksandcornersoftheworld.Why?Because,itisuseful.Similarly,theknowledgeofhowtoconnecttoonesmind,howtohandleonesemotions-thisknowledgeisusefulanditwillspread.

Q:Howdoyouinitiateyourdisciples?Doyouchooseyourdisciples?


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SriSriRaviShankar:Dontlimitourrelationship.Letlovebelove,dontgiveitaname.Foramaster,nodisciplesexist.Butforadisciple,theMasterexists.See,ifyoudotheSudarshanKriya,youareinitiated.

Q:Doesonehavetobecomeateachertoprogressonthespiritualpath?Knowledge,experienceorfaith,whichcomesfirst?SriSriRaviShankar:See,fromalittleexperienceknowledgedevelops,andthenfaithhappens.Theyareallintertwined.InTheArtofLiving,wesayfirstexperienceandthenyougoup,stepbystep.Itsgoodtobecomeateacherbecausethenyoucanteachothersandthereissomuchjoy.Butdontthinkyoumustbecomeateacher.Youstillholdthesamestatuswhetheryouareateacherornot.Dontthinkthatyouaremoreevolvedbecauseyouareateacher.

Q:Howdoesonecometoembracenature?Especiallytheterriblerain,snowinthiscountry?SriSriRaviShankar:Ienjoythisweather.MaybeyoushouldgototheSaharadesertandseehowniceitistobeinsuchacoolcountry.Itisinyourmind.Acceptit,ormovetoFlorida!

Q:Ihavebeenonthepathforsolong,butIstillgetattractedtoviolentandnonsattvicpartners.WhatcanIdo?Theattractionisalmostirresistible.SriSriRaviShankar:WhatcanIsay?Goforit!Itwillbebeneficialtothenearbydoctorsandhospitalsifyoukeepbreakingpartsofyourbodywithviolentpartners!See,itsaboutpatternswhenyourecognizethatthisisyourpattern,wa

keupandsay,Iwillnotbeavictimofthispattern!Youhavethatstrength!Youwillbegiventhatstrength.

Whenyouareconfused,justrelax.Intuitionworksinrelaxation!

Q:Ifonefacesfailureinsometaskagainandagain,shouldIcontinuetodothesame,orshouldIdropthat?SriSriRaviShankar:ThereisoneproverbinIndia,TaskgetsaccomplishedwiththeSattva,andnotwiththematerial.So,inordertogetsomethingdone,sattogunshouldrise.AndwhatdoesonedotoincreaseSattogun?Withrightfood,rightconduct,andrelaxingyourmindforsometime-Thisisfirst.Secondly,evenifyoufacefailureinspiteofthat,sattogundoesntletyourenthusiasmtoshatter,andwhenthatdrivingforceisstillthere,youdonteventhinkofdropping.Lik

eifgamblerwinsonce,hedevelopsthattastetowin.Andthenhecontinuestoplayagainandagainwiththewishtowin,andevenwhensomefailureisencountered,hedoesn'teventhinkofdroppinginbetween.Evenduringsomefailure,thatstrongconvictionofachievingsomegoodisthere,andthisconvictionwillbetherewhenyouhavethatdedicationforthetask.Like,withenthusiasminactionandpeaceinheart,peoplekeptfightingforfreedomfortwocenturies.Theoneswhowerefightingforfreedom,theydidn'tgetanymoney,theydidntstealanything,butdidtheyleavethedrive?Andthirdfactor,lookforthereasonoffailure.Everyfailureisasteptowardssuccess.Onereasoncanbesomeweaknessinoneselforsomeweakpointinthesystem,arrangements.Selfweaknesslikesomeoneisnotabletopresenttheworkproperly.E.g.ifyougoforinterview,andsaysomewordshereandthere,theninterviewerdevelopsadoubtifyouwouldbeabletodothatornot.So,onedoesn'tgetjobbecauseofonesweakness.Toget

ridofonesweakness,enhanceyourabilities.Eachfailureisasteptowardssuccess,soanalyzewhatdidyoulearnoutofthis?Didyouflowwiththeemotions?Youdidn'tconsultthosewhoarealreadyintothatprofession?Youdidn'ttrustthem,oryoudidntkeepfaithfulpeoplewithyou.Allthesereasonscouldbethere.So,togetridofanyweakness,enhanceyourability,andgointothedepthofknowledgeofthefieldinwhichyouwishtomoveahead.Secondistoamendthesystemorarrangements.Now,thisisnotinhandsofasingleperson.Likeifcorruptionistobechecked,canyoufightalone?Bewiththegroup.Awakenthatintelligenceinpeopleforthat.Getpeopletomoveaheadwithyou."SangheShaktiKaliyuge"Inkalyuga,thepowerisintheteam.Peoplesaythatitisthepeakofkalyuga


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,anditisasiftruthhastakenabackseat.Ifyoufeellikethat,thenworkinateam.Takesomepeoplealongandthenseeifthetaskgetsaccomplishedornot.Toenhancecapability,youwouldhavetodosomethingyourself,gowithinyourself.Beintheworldtogetmorepeoplealong,andbewithyourselftogainabilities.Takingalongboththefields,youwilldefinitelygetsuccessinyourtasks.Ifyouhavegivenallyourtrials,putinyour100percentandif,eventhen,youdidn'tgetsuccess,thenitisOK.Takesomeotherworkinyourhands.Butdontrunawayifyoufacefailureforthefirstorsecondtime.

Q:Whatshouldwedotoalwaysbehappy?SriSriRaviShankar:Firstbemoreandmorehappyandthenifsomemomentsofunpleasantnesscreepinlife-acceptthem.Dontgetupsetbecauseyouwereupsetsometimesinthepast,andthenyouwillalwaysbehappy.

Q:ThereisabigthreattoUsourlivesfromsomepeoplewhohavetheirownconceptsforwhichtheyarereadytodieandkillotherpeople.Whatshouldwedoandhowshouldwedealwithsuchpeople?SriSriRaviShankar:Ya,weneedtodealwiththemwithpatienceandwillhavetoeducatethem.Itisnotaneasytaskbutperhapsweshoulddoitbyinvitingthemandwhenoneamongthemjoinstospreadpeace,itwouldbeeasy.

Q:Whenpeopleadoptviolenceforsurviving,howtodealwithit?SriSriRaviShankar:Itisquietnaturaltogotowardsviolenceforsurvivalitisanaturalinstinct.But,ifselfconfidenceandvisionisinstilledinsucha

person,thenyouwillfindthatthepersonwalkswithavisioninselfconfidencewithoutthefearofsurvivalproblem.IhavespokenaboutalltheseinabookcalledCelebratingSilence.Youcanreadthatifyouwishto.

Q:ShouldwefollowBhagatSinghorMahatmaGandhi?SriSriRaviShankar:BhagatSinghwasalsosupporterofnon-violence.Buttheywereencounteredwithonesuchsituation,thattheyhadtotakesuchsteps.FollowSriGuruGobindSingh,beaSaintSipahi.Havepeaceofsaintinheartandstrengthofwarriorinaction.ThatiswhySriKrishantoldArjunatobeaYogiandthenfight

Q:WhatisthecruxofLife?SriSriRaviShankar:Whatisthecruxoflife?Atleast,firstyoustartexplor

ingwithinforthatadventure!WhatshouldItellyoubeforehand?Thewholelifeisinsearchofsomejuice,somehappiness.Whereyoufeelhappiness,solaced,beatpeacethere,relaxthere.Andyougetthatjoywhenyoulookwithin.Meditationissuchajoy!Whenthetirednesscracksaway,yougetthatrelaxation,thatjoyyouarelookingfor.

Q:Whatshouldonedowhenoneisfacedwithconflictingchoices?SriSriRaviShankar:Everyconfusionisasignofgrowth,everytimeapatternisbroken.Insuchcase,justrelax.Inrelaxationyourintuitionworks.Relyonit.

SriRaviShankar'sDailySutrasandKnowledgeSheetsWhenourneedsarelessweareabletotakeupbiggerresponsibilities.

Q:IntheIshaVasyaUpanishaditissaid,tenatyaktenabhunjithaenjoytheworldbyrenouncing.Howcanwedothis?SriSriRaviShankar:Thisisaskill!Ifthereisnofeverishness,ithappens.Haveyouseenhowachildbehaveswhenheseeschocolates?Heeatsacouple,thenstuffssomeinonepocketandtriesstuffing...moreintheother.Thechildisinafrenzy.Anadultdoesnothavethisfeverishness.Whensuchfeverishnessfortheobjectsismissing,thenonlyyouactuallyenjoytheobjectofsenses.


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Youexperience,youenjoy,butwithoutcravingforit,knowingthatthejoycomesfromwithinyou.Theobjectisonlyareflection.Whenyourealizethatjoyiswithinandnotintheobjectoutsidethenonlyyoucanenjoy.Thisislittleprofoundanditclickstoamaturemind.

Q:KrishnatellsArjuna-Dontthinkyourekillingthem-theyrealreadydead.Ifaterroristalsogivesyouthesamereasoninthenameoftheirfaithorreligion,whatwouldyousay?SriSriRaviShankar:Thesearecompletelydifferentsituationsandyoucannotmixthemup.Aterroristdoeswithhatred,withignorance,right?Youcannottakeapolicemanoranarmymanandaterroristassame.Theybothshootwithguns,butapolicemandoesitforadifferentreasonandaterroristdoesitforanentirelydifferentreason.Theintention,thestateofmind,istotallydifferent.ThatiswhyArjunawastold,Fightthewarforjustice,butnotwithanger,hatred,jealousyorgreed.Doittoprotectthedharma,therighteousness.

Q:Theysaywemustdaretodreambig.Butwhatfollowsisdesire.Howdoesonehandlethisdesire?SriSriRaviShankar:Withdiscrimination!Desiresjustcomeup.Youshouldhaveyourdreamsbutremaingrounded.

Q:Isthereamasculineandfemininesidetoeverything?Thenwhydowecategorizethingsasmaleorfemale?SriSriRaviShankar:Yes!Thereisaneutralgenderalso.Thereare3genders.S

omethingsfallundertheneutralgendertoo.Infact,thereisawholescriptureonthegenderofstonesaswellastrees.TheShilpaShastraorBookonSculptureselaboratesonthis.Hawaiiansalsosaythatdifferentstoneshavedifferentgenders!Theycanidentifythose.Butitdoesntmatter.TheSelf,ortheSpiritisbeyondgender.

Q:Shouldthestudenttakethewholeresponsibilityfornotscoringgoodmarks?SriSriRaviShankar:Itisbetterifhetakesfullresponsibility.Youcouldblametheteacher,theenvironment,theparentsandeverythingelseandfinallyyoublameyourself.Itsbettertotakeresponsibilitythangoonablamegame.

Q:Whatsthevalueofsacrificeonthespiritualpath?SriSriRaviShankar:Itisessential.Onthespiritualpathyouneedtohaveth

atzealandenthusiasmforsacrifice.JusttodayImetseveralswamis-allyoungpeople-computerengineersandhighlyqualifiedpeople.Theyvesacrificedtheirwholecareer,life,everythingtobringeducationtopoorpeople,todoserviceinsociety.Theyredoingservicedayandnight.Theyrenotwishinganythingforthemselves.Theyrenotthinking,Oh,whatwillhappentome?Theyhavededicatedtheirlivestobuildschoolsandcollegesandtobringeducationtomillions.So,itisnecessaryforabiggercause.Sacrificebringsabiggerjoy!Itdoesntreduceyourjoy.Whenourneedsaremore,ourresponsibilitiesareless.Whenourneedsarelessweareabletotakeupbiggerresponsibilities.Thatisthehappiestlife!

Q:Guruji,howcomeyouradiatesomuchpeaceandserenebeauty?SriSriRaviShankar:Becauseyouarebeautifultoo,thatswhyIappearpeaceful

toyou.Ifyouwerenotbeautifulthenyouwouldknownothingaboutmybeauty.Whateverqualityyouhave,onlythatgetsprojectedontotheworldoutside.So,whatyouseeinme,takethatasyourown.Ifyoudon'tfeelbeautiful,becomebeautiful.Whatisstoppingyou?Becomethat.

Q:Doesthecycleoflifeanddeathneverend?SriSriRaviShankar:Thewholeworldislikethat.Itsallspherical:everythingmovesincycles.Youhavetocomeback,butyouhaveachoice.Ifyouarebornoutofcompulsionthenit'sthesameoldstoryagainandagain.Butifyougetliberated,thenyouhavethechoiceandthewilltobebornwhenyouwant.Wheny


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oucomebackliberated,itisjoyful.

Q:Isittruethatsomeplaceshavenegativeandpositivevibes?Ihaveexperiencedthatourgroupworkinginoursuburbdoesntgetthesuccessitdoesoutside.Whatshouldwedotoincreasethesattwaofaplace?SriSriRaviShankar:Keepworking,keepdoing.Everywhereitispossibletomakeachange.Itsjustamatteroftime.

Beautifulscienceofmind,moodandtime

Q:Guruji,doeschoosingaGurumeansonecantfollowtheteachingsofothermasters?CanonehavemorethanoneGuru?SriSriRaviShankar:Oh!ItssohardtomanageoneGuru,howcanyou!(laughs)Itsnoteasy.Respecteverybodybutfollowonepath.Honoreveryoneandyouwillsee,allthemastershavesaidthesamething.Thereisonlyonetruth,so,th...eyhavesaidthesamething,butthemethodsaredifferentaspertheneedsofthetime.Youdonthaveconflictwhenyouareonthispath.Whicheverpathyouwerethere,theyhaveblessedyouandthatshowyouhavecomehere.Youhaveservedthosepaths,thoseteachers,thosemastersandtheirblessinghasbroughtyouhere,withthisconvictionyoumoveforward.Ok?Itsjustthatifyoukeeptryingeverything,yougetsoconfused!So,Iwouldsay,seeoneinallandallinoneasaprinciple.Honoreveryoneandfollowonepath.

Q:Guruji,isthereanyconnectionwiththemoodandthetimingoftheday?Whydowefeeldifferentatdifferenttimes,likeonefeelslowinnighttime.SriSriRaviShankar:Ya,ya!Timeandmindareconnected.Youshouldknowthis.Timeandmindaresynonymous.Thereareeightsubstances:Vaisheshika,Kanadaallthesepeoplehavesaid,Desha,Kala,Manah.Deshaisspace,Kalaistimeand,Manah-themind.Theyarealltatvas,principles.Andalltheseprinciplesareconnected.Deshaandkalaareconnected.Spaceandtimeareconnected.OnedayonthisplanetEarthisalreadymanydaysonanotherinthemoon.Inmoon,itisdifferent.So,ifyouareonJupiter,onehumanyearisonlyonemonth.InJupiterifyouhavetoexperienceoneyear,thatis12yearsofearthlytime.Jupitertakes12yearstogoaroundthesun.SimilarlyifyouareontheplanetS

aturn,30yearsisoneyear!Similarly,pitras,peoplewhohavedied,ourhumanoneyearisonedayforthem.Sooursixmonthsisonlyonenightandsixmonthsisoneday.So,forasoulwhichhasdepartedourwholeyearisoneday.Therearedifferenttimesanddifferentspaceindifferentdimensions.So,timeandspaceareconnected.Itscalledthetime-spacecurve.Thesamewiththethirddimensionthatismind!Themindless,transcendentalconsciousnessiscalledMahakala,theShiva,thefourthstateofconsciousness.ItscalledMahakala,meansgreattime,andtheno-mind.Thenomindisgreattime.So,morningfrom4.30to6.30,justbeforesunrise,beforedawn,itscalledthemostcreativetime.Brahmamuhurta!Andthen,everytwohoursitscalledalagna;whichmeans,oneunitoftime.Andthisunitoftimecorrespondstothestateofmind.Andagainthis

isconnectedwiththemoonsposition,thesunsposition.Therearesomanyaspects!Tendifferentaspectsinfluencethemind.So,notonlythetimeorhourofthedayaffectsthemind,alsothequalityofthedaysaffectsthemind.Everytwoandahalfdays,themindchanges!Themoodofthemind!So,ifyouareupset,itcancontinuefortwoandahalfdaysatmaximum;itdoesnthavetobetwoandahalfday.Itrisestoapeakanddrops.Butaftertwoandahalfdays,youcannothavethesameemotionwiththesameintensity.Impossible!Itchanges.Switches!Itisagreat,greatscience,howmind,moodandtimeareconnected.Jyotishshastrahasalotofinsightintothis.Youknowtheastrologers,usually


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,alltheseweeklycolumnastrologerssay,Oh,goodforrelationships,goodformakingmoney,thisandthat!Theywritethosethings(laughs!).Theygeneralizethosethings,Ifyouarebornonthistimethenthisisgoodforyouandyoudothis.Ofcourse,itstoogenericanditsjustamoney-makingthingthattheydo.Butitisnothoax;thereisaniotaoftruthinit.Theunderlyingbasehastruth.Theprinciplethatthemindandtimeareconnectediscorrect.

Mindmeansmoods,thoughts,opinions,ideas,allthesethingsthatwecollect.And,nomindismeditation.Dawnandduskareconsideredverygoodformediation.So,wheneveryoumeditate,orwheneverthebadtimeisthere,youmeditate.Whenyoumeditateyougoofftheinfluenceofthemindandgointotheself.TheselfisShivatatva.Shivatatvameans,alwaysbenevolent,caring,loving,uplifing.Thatconsciousnessdeepwithinyouwhichiscaring,loving,upliftingandbenevolent,willnullifythenegativeinfluencesofthemindandthetime.So,inIndiaitisaverycommonbelief,wheneverthereisbadtimejustsay,OmNamahShivaye,anditsgone.Allthatbadtimeisgone.Manah,whenreadfromtheotherside,itbecomesNamah.Manahiswhenconsciousnessgoesoutsideintheworld,andNamahiswhentheconsciousnessgoesinward.Shivaye,towardstheShivaprinciple,thefourthstateofconsciousness,thesubtlestaspectoftheexistence,theShivatatva!So,Namah,whenthemindgoestowardsthebasicsubstratumofcreation,thenitcanchangeallthatintomorebenevolentexperience.

Consciousnessisstrongerthanmatter

Q:ThemoreandmoremyloveblossomsfortheDivinetheharderIfindittogiveawaymypainsandworries.Howcanwegivegarbagetothemostpreciousones?SriSriRaviShankar:Nevermind.Divinewilltakeit.Hellsnatchitfromyouifyoudontwanttogiveit.Aslongasthereisconnection,thereisattention-thereisalwaysgiveandtake.Youwill...alwaysreceiveblessings.Youwillalwaysreceiveblissandunwantedthingswilljustdropoff.Anditisniceofyoutothinkthatway-italsoshowsthelevelofconsciousness.Inthislevelofconsciousness,dropthisidentityofgarbageaspartofyouoryours.Youfindsomethingprickingthemind,justseeitasgarbage,notyoursorsomeoneelses.

Q:Couldyoupleaseexplainhowconsciousnessisstrongerthanmatter?SriSriRaviShankar:Well,inthepressurecooker,whenyouarecooking,whenth

ereismorepressurehowisitbuiltup?Watervapor!Andisthatmorepowerfulthanwaterornot?So,subtleryougo,themorepowerfulthethingsare.Now,thisthing(Gurujishowsthesmallsilvercymbalsinthehands)hassilvermolecules.Whenyoubreakthesilvermoleculesdown,yougetintoatomicparticles,and,whenyoubreakthemyougetsub-atomicmolecules,whichisminuterthantheminutest.Aretheynotpowerful?Whichispowerfulthiscymbalispowerfulortheatomispowerful?Atomispowerful.Thesubtlerwego,itbecomesmoreandmorepowerful.Though,everythingismadeupofconsciousness.Thisentireuniverseismadeupofconsciousness,whenyoubecomesubtlerandsubtler,theybecomemorepowerful.TodayIwaswatchingaresearchdonewithwaterinJapanbyagentleman.Hekeptalittlewaterinabottleandtookaphotograph.Laterhehasusedthesamewaterforprayerandthenafterprayerhehastookaphotograph.Youcanseetheimpa

ctofprayer-thesubtlethoughtvibrationhasgoneintothewater.Itsobviouslyvisible.Hetookabottleofwaterandkeptblamingitandthentookamicroscopicpictureofit.Withanotherbottle,hesaidsomepleasingwordsandyoucanseethedifference.InIndia,thisprocessiscalledAbhimantra.Youtakeapotofwater,placeyourhandontopandthenchantmantras.Themantrasaresupposedtobeabsorbedintothewater.ItisanoldtraditioninIndia.Whenyougotoanyholymanorsaint,youtakeapotofwaterandaskthemtoblessthewater.Amongthesindhicommunity,theydothisalot.


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ThisAbhimantra-mantrachantingonthewater-hasahugeimpactonthewater,because70%ofourbodyiswater.IntheRudrabhisheka,waterismadetofallonacrystallingamwhileaparticularchantingisbeingdoneandthenitflowsdown.Thatwaterisverychargedandithelpstouplifttheatmosphere.Nowitisvisibleinthemicroscopicimages,thechangesthathappenbythesepractices.SimilarlyagentlemanfromRussiacameandconductedanexperimentinMahabalipuram,TamilNaduwhentheyweredoingtheAarti.Hetookthepicturesandfoundthatallthenegativeionsintheatmospheresuddenlydisappeared;theyturnedintopositiveions.Itisthepositiveionswhichbringchanges.Allthesethingsaremeanttocreatethepositiveions;tobringtherequiredchanges.Thesameisthecasewiththeuseoffire.Duringfireceremonies,whentheyputthemantrawiththeintention,thereisaqualitativechangethathappensintheatmosphere.

Q:DearGuruji,Ibelieveinthis:Aswesow,sowereap.Butmanyinstancesweseethatapersonisgoingthroughbadtimes,evenifwedontseeanymajorfaultdonebyhimorher.Whyithappens?SriSriRaviShankar:Karma!Thewaysofkarmaareunfathomable.Karmaislikeanocean.Thisisnotonelifetime.Inmanylifetimes,wehavedonesomanyactionsandtheyallhaverepercussions.Whichkarmahassproutedfromwhichseedandwhatfruitthiskarmawillgiveisverydifficulttopinpoint.Thatiswhyitissaidgahanakarmanogati.Unfathomablearethewaysofkarma.Becauseitisnotjustonelifetime,manylifetimes,wehavedonemanythingsandwedontknowwhichkarmasproutswhen.Thatswhydon'tworryaboutthekarma,justbeactiveandfollow

yourconscience.Actwithconscience!

WorldisaplayanddisplayofPrana/Lifeforce

Todaywewillnottalkaboutstressandstressrelief.Neitheraboutrelationshipsbutsomethingmuchdeeper!

Rememberyourage?Whateveritis25-30years!Wherewereyoubeforethese25-30years?Wherewouldyoubeafter50-60orsay100years:)Mumbaiexistedbeforeyouwereborn,thisOceanexistedthentoo....Doyourememberhowyouenteredyourmotherswomb?

Doyourememberhowyoucameoutinthisworld?Untiltheageoffivethechildremembershispastbirth.Thechildrecognizescolorsorsayscertainthingsbutelderstendtooverlookthat.Youknow,thiswholeuniverseisaplayofPrana,thelifeforce.Everythingherehassomelifeforce.However,theunitsofPranadiffer.

Stone(Pathar)has1unitofPranaWater(Pani)has2unitsofPranaFire(Agni)has3unitsofPranaAir(Hava)has4unitsofPranaEther(Akash)has5unitsofPranaAnimalsandtreeshave6-7unitsofPrana

HumanBeinghas8unitsofPrana.HenceheiscalledasASHTAVASU.Buthumansarebornwithapossibilitytoblossomintoafullyblossomedstate.LordKrishnahashighestunitsofPrana16.ThatiswhyHeisreferredtoasfullyblossomedbeing

YouoftenseethateveryGOD/GODDESStravelsonananimal.GoddessDurgaridingonatiger!Itseemssoimaginative.Itdoesntclicktotheintellect,butthisissoscientific.Eachanimalbringscertaincosmicvibrationsontheplanet.E.g.PeacockdescendstotheplanetthevibrationsofGoddessSaraswati(TheGoddessofknowledge),Bull'sbodyradiationbringsShivaConsciousness(Thetransfor


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mationalandmeditativeaspectofnature).RightnowallDevtasarehereinthisconsciousness;alldifferentenergiesareinthisconsciousness.Allthemantrasinvitetheseauspiciousvibrations.

Doyouknowthemeaningsofthemonths?

January,February..November,December.Youallkeepsayingthemonthsandyoudon'tknowthemeaning!SEPTEMBER(SAPT+AMBAR):7thskyNOVEMBER(NAV+AMBAR):9thSky

Doyouknowwhichlanguagesthesemonthsbelongto?Audience:English

SriSri:No,theyareallderivedfromSANSKRIT.SanskritwastheONLYOriginallanguagethatwasprevalentintheuniverseinthestart.Febisreferredtoas"FagEnd"Marchmeans"ToGoAhead".Iraq,Iran,KurdistaneverywheretheycelebrateNEWYEARinthemonthofMarch.InsomelessaffectedpartsofIndiaaswell!SoDecember(DASH+AMBAR:10thsky)makesthe10thsky.Youareolderthanthenamesofmonth.Godeepinmeditationtoexperienceallthis.ElsekeepitinbackofmindthatIammucholderthanmyage.Sometimeinlifeitwillcometoyou.DoyoupermitMEtoremovethecapnow?(GURUJIwaswearingabeautifulcapatt

hestartofthetalkandlotsofpeoplehadobjected/requestedHIMtokeepiton)(TheSatsangendswithajoyful1015minutesofmeditationvaporizinginfewsecondsandconcludingsoothingbhajans)

Wisdomoncelearntremainswithyoulikeasolidrock

Q:JaiGurudevGuruji.Whyisitthatnaturehasmademanandwomansodifferent?Ifitissoimportanttohaveequality,isntitjustanotherstepawayfromnatureslaw?IamamanandIwouldliketotreatawomanasawoman.AndIwouldliketobetreatedlikeaman.Myrulesaredecencyandrespect.Isnteverythingelseobsolete?Ofcourse,thereshouldbeequalrightsandIknowinsomepartsoftheworldeducationisneeded.Butinthewesternworld,Ithinkthatdebateis

abittwisted.SriSriRaviShankar:Youknow,thewomenrightsactivistssometimesforgetthattheyhaverightsandtheyfightforthatwhichtheyalreadyhave.WhenyouareaskingthisquestionIthinkwhatsbotheringyouisthefeministmovementwheretheythinktheworldisdominatedbyman.Theyarenottotallywrongalso.Mostofthetimes,itiscorrect.Buttheyaredemandingrights.Theyareaskingthementobetreatedequally.Iwouldsay,whoistogiveyourights?Youhaveit.Youtakeit.Dontaskamantogiveyourights.Whenyouareaskingforit,youarealreadylosingit.Assumeyouhaveitandyoumoveon.

Q:Hownottolosemymindandstopcomparingmyselfwhenmypartnerisattractedorinlovewithsomeoneelse?Iamlosingmyselfcompletelyinthiskindofsituationanditfeelssopainful.HownottolosemycommitmentwhenI,myself,a

mattractedorinlovewithsomeoneelse?Pleasehelp.Withloveandthanksforeverythingyouaredoing.SriSriRaviShankar:Justwait.Timewilltellyou.Rememberwhatyourageisnow.Whenthenumberschange,youllnotchange.Gotit?Whenyoubecomeolder,youllgrowovertheseattractions,theserepulsions.Dontblameyourselforblameyourpartner.Seefromthisangle.Okay,youaregettingattracted,sowhat?Thenthatattractionisnotgoingtodestroyyourcommitmentandyourrelation.Thismuchyoumustmakesurebecausethemindalwaysgoesforsomethingnewbuttheheartlongsforsomethingold.Youalwayswantnewfashion.Whatisthelatestfashion,youask.Butwhenyouareinloveyousay,OhIknowthemsinceages.Thats


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myoldlove,myancientlove.Youalwaysconnect,gobacktotheagesbecausetheheartlongsfortheoldandthemindwantsthenew.Sowhenyouaregoingfornew,knowthatitsonlythemindsworkbutyourheartknows,heartalwayslongsforthatoldconnection,oldlove.

Q:IwouldlovetobecomeanArtofLivingteacher.ButIamnotsureifIamready.WhenisonereadytodoTTCandbecomeateacher?WithLoveandGratitude.SriSriRaviShankar:Youareready.Dontdoubtyourselfwhetheryouarereadyornot.Youareready.Evenifyouarenotready,youwillbecookedverywellandmadeready.Theprocessesaresuchintheteacherstraining.Itisamazing,ablossomingofyourpersonality.Sodontworry,justgoforit.

Q:TherearequiteafewquestionsabouthowdoIfeelmoreconnectedwithyouorhowdoIfeeltheconnection.Sometimes,Idontfeeltheconnectiontoknowledgeortoyouortomyself.Thesetypesofquestionsarethere,coupleoftheminmymind.SriSriRaviShankar:Certainthingsyoushouldtakeforgranted.Youshouldfeelthatyouareconnected.Areyouconnectedtoair?Doyousay,againandagain,isthereairaroundme?AmIbreathingornot?Isthereairaroundme?Mydear,thereis!Isthereasunintheuniverse?Thereis!Idontseethesun.Ifthereisnosun,theearthwouldnotexist.Ifitisnotvisiblenow,itisvisibleanothersixhourslater.Oreighthourslater-itwillcometothehorizon.InNorway,youllnotseethesunfortwomonths.Thatdoesntmeanithasdisappearedfromthesurfaceoftheplanet.Similarly,yourconnection,yourloveisalwayst

here.Sometimesyoufeelit.Whenacoolwindblowsonahotsummersday,itgivesyoucertainelevation.Itgivesyouacontrast.Youwerenotconnected,suddenlyyoufeelconnected.Sothisfeelingofbeingconnectedoftenhappensincontrast.Especiallywhenyoudidntfeelconnected,suddenlyyoufeeltheconnection,youfeelthatcontrast.Forknowledge,youhavetohavetheopposites.Whenyoudontfeeltheconnection,knowthatyouarealreadyconnected.Dontlookforit.YouseewhatIamsaying?Okay.MoveawayfromalltheprinciplesoftheArtofLiving.Dropyourpranayama,meditation,singing,everythingforoneweek,10days.Thenyouwillsee.Youwillfeelthethirst.Allthisknowledgewillpopupinyourlifetimeandagain.Wisdomoncelearntremainswithyoulikeasolidrock.Youcantgetawayfromwisdom.Stilltrytogetoutofitforsometimeandsee.Thenyoullnoticetheconnection.Sometimesastrologically,cosmologically,thesenseoflackofenthus

iasm,interestorspiritualityorsortofdullnesscreepsinlife.Vedicastrologyspeaksaboutaparticulartimeinone'slifewherethiscouldhappen.Butitisonlyforashortperiodoftime.Especiallytheysay,whentheJupiterisatthelowestenergy,thespiritualenergyintheworldgoesdownandpeoplebecomemoregross.Youdontfeeluplifted,elevated.Butitsonlyashortperiodof11monthsorevenshorter.TheChristiantraditionspeaksaboutthedarknightofthesoulwhereaspiritualseekersuddenlyfindsthatallthathehasbeendoingisuselessorhasnottakenthemanyfurther.ThistypeofafeelinghaddawnedinMotherTeresaalso.

InPatanjaliYogaSutras,itisexplainedhowtoovercomesuchobstaclesinthepathofYoga.Thesearethenineobstaclesyoucangetdoubtswillcome.Selfdoubt,doubtabouttheteacher,doubtabouttheknowledge,thepathandthensome

ortheotherailmentscome.Youllbefine.Whenyouwanttodoissomepracticeyoullgetcold,cough,fever,thisandthat.Somephysicaldiscomfort,diseaseormentaldullnesscancomeoveryou.Thesesortsofninedifferenttypesofobstaclestogetperfectionarealsopartoftheknowledge,partofthepath.Butnoobstaclescanstayforever.Theyallcomeforashorttimeandtheygo,theydisappear.SodontkeeplookingwhetherIamconnectedornotconnected.Whenyoufeelasortofvacuum,lackoflove,lackofenthusiasmortheinitialhighorjoyyoufeltsuddenlydisappearingsomewhere,justsmileandbecentered.Youwillseethiswindjustblowsandthenthesunrisesbackagain.Thesunisalwaysthere.Itwillbevisiblejustinthematteroftime.Inthesameway,yourconnect


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ionwithyourSelf,withtheteacher,withtheuniverseisallintact.Itwilljustblossomonceagain.

Q:HowcanIstophurtingmyselfphysicallywhenIfeelguilty?SriSriRaviShankar:Whenyoufeelguilty,justsinganddance.Dosatsang,dobhastrika.Maybethreetimesyoudobhastrika.

Q:Thereisalotofinformationaboutthetransitionofhumanconsciousness,whichispartofevolution.Theysayitwillhappenin2012.Canyoucommentonit?SriSriRaviShankar:AsIsaid,theevolutionofhumanconsciousnessisacontinuousprocess.Itishappeningevennow.Theyareright.Inthenexttwoyears,2012,thatswhenJupitercomestoAries,thefirstpointofAries,peoplewillbemorespiritual.Theywillbeinclinedtowardsspirituality.Spiritualitywillbethefashionanditwillbecomethenecessity.Peoplewillstartwalkingthepath.Irememberin80sand90speopledoingYogawereconsideredtobelittleoutthere.Notnormal.Itwasnotadignifiedthingtositinthelotuspositionorstretchyourlegsandhandsandkneesandsitonthefloor.Todaymanycompanies-whentheywanttodepictrelaxation-theymakesomeonesitinayogaposture.Todaysadvertisementsshowpeoplesittinginthelotuspose.

Paradigmshavechanged.Peoplesthinkinghaschanged.Prejudicehasreduced.Iwontsayithasgonetotally,buthasreducedtoagreatextent.Interfaithdialogueisthetalkoftheworldtoday.IwasrecentlyinAustralia,intheParliament

oftheWorldsReligions,andtherewerepeoplefromallovertheworld,ofdifferentfaiths,600people,startedrespectingeachothersfaith.ThistimeIreceivedagreetingsletterfromthePope.HesentmeDiwaligreetingsandIsenthimChristmasgreetings.Headdressedmesaying,Holiness,weallhavetoworktogetherintheworldtodoagreatjobtoupliftthehumanconsciousness.Todaytheyhaverecognizedthereareallotherfaithsandmanyways.Sotheworldischangingalready.Isntit?

Q:Ireallywanttofindandgothewayoftruth.Pleaseteachustoseeit.SriSriRaviShankar:Whenyouareinthetrain,youdontkeeprunninginsidethecompartments.Justimagineyouhavetoruntocatchthetrain.Butonceyouareinsidethetrain,dontcarryyourbagonyourbackandkeeprunningthinking,Iwanttorunfasterandfaster.Youllnotreachanyfasterrunningtothefrontcomp

artment.Justsitandrelax.Haveyourtea.Youwillreachyourdestination.Thisisapromise.Justrelax.

Youareintherightpath.ReadandstudyAshtavakraandYogaVasishta.Whatsgoingtohappenin2012?Sillyquestion.Theworldisnotgoingtocometoanend.IamrepeatingthesamethingwhatIsaidin1999.In1999,wewereinItaly.WehadthebiggestcourseinEuropewhere2000peopleonthebeachesofItalywerewelcomingtheNewYear-10yearsagoexactly.Thenpeopleaskedmethesamething.Worldisgoingtoendin2000?InCanadapeoplehadstoredmilkpowder,rationeverythingintheirbasement.Cellarandbasementswerestuffedwithfoodstuff.Becausetheworldisgoingtocrashandtherewillnotbeanyfooditemsfornextsixmonthstillpeoplefindawayout.Thiswasthefear.WhereverIgo,everybodyaskedthesamequestion.Whatwillhappenin2000?Isaideverythingwi

llbebusinessasusual.Therewillbenochange.Justrelax.Really!ManypeoplesoldtheirhomesandpropertyfromtheWestbecausetheysaidtherewasgoingtobeabigearthquake.Californiaisgoingtogounderneaththewater.Letusbemoresmart.BeforeitgoesdownandwehavetogetintotheboatstocomeuptoColorado.LetsgonowtoColorado.Letusbethewelcomingpartyforthesinkingpeople.Thiswastheidea.Manypeoplesoldtheirhomes.TheywenttoColoradoandbuildtheirhomesthere!

Nothingisgoingtohappenandwellcontinue.Yes.Someearthquake,somecalamityhappensallthetime.Itsacontinuousprocessonthisplanet.Birthanddeathi


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sasimultaneousprocess.Todaysomanypeoplearedyingandtodaysomanyarebeingborn.Itsnotgoingtobeonedaythateverybodyisgoingtobebornandonedayeverybodyisgoingtodie.No.Thedoomsdayorwhateverdayisnotgoingtocome.Dontworry.Everydayisadoomsday.Everydayisadayofresurrectionbecausetheworldisspherical.Thereissuneverymomentonthisplanetsomewhereshiningandthereissunsethappeningallthetimeandsunrisehappeningthewholetime.ThisiswhattheancientVedicsciencesays.WereadthatGalileowastheonewhosaidtheEarthisspherical.No.AncientVedictimes,theyhavesaidit.

Bhugola-Earthisspherical

.Khagolatheuniverseisspherical.Andmillionsofuniversesarethere.Thereare14earthslikeourearthinourGalaxy.So,thisuniverseishugeandunfathomable.Sohavingattainedthis,relaxinthepeaceofyourheart.Content.Tonightgotobedwithasmileonyourface.Withafeelingofcontentment,notwithlack.

IhavehadeverythingIneedtohave.Ihavehadenoughfood,Ihavehadallthepleasurethattheworldcangiveme.Whateverisneededforthebody,naturehasgiven.Iamhappywithit.Ifmoreisneeded,natureisgoingtogiveme.Ifthisbodyneedsanythingmore,itwillbeprovidedinthefuture.

Withthisfaithandwiththisunderstanding,justreposeinyourSelf.

Whenbelongingnessexpandstoincludeeveryone,spiritualityhasgrown!

Q:Howtobringupchildreninacompetitiveworld?SriSriRaviShankar:Theworldhasalwaysbeencompetitive.Inthepast,competitionwaspresentonasmallerscale.Itismuchbiggernow.Weneedtoinstillvalues.Eveninthesatyuga,therewererakshasas(demons).Sodon'tblametime.Youdoyourpart.Instillvaluesinchildren.

Q:Whatisthedifferencebetweenjeeva(individualconsciousness)andbrahma(infinitecosmicconsciousness)?SriSriRaviShankar:JeevaisapartofBrahma.

Theballoonhasairoutsideandinsideit.Insideavessel,thereisspaceandoutsidethereisspaceaswell.Theinsidespaceisjeeva,theoutsidespaceisbrahma.Thejeevaisdesire,aversion,craving.Allthisistheballoon.ThatiswhytheLordisnotsomebodyseparate,butitis,whatIam.Ifthewaveasks,Whereistheoceanthenwhattosay?Thewaveitselfistheocean.Youhavetoonlyrealizethis.Thatiswhyitissaidthatwhileittakesamomenttobreakaflowerstem,theDivinecanberealizedinafractionofthatmoment.

Q:Icannotacceptcriticism.SoIgetdisturbed.SriSriRaviShankar:Forhowlongdoesthishappen?Forsometimeright?So,itsalright.Ifyouthinkyoushouldn'tgetdisturbed,thenyougetmoredisturbed.Thedisturbancedoesn'tstayforalltime.Ifthereissomepointintheircomment

s,takeit.Welcomethecriticism.Isitforyourimprovementorisittheimpressionthatyouhavecreated?Youdoubtcompliments.Sodoubtthecriticismaswell.

Q:Ifeelunhappyveryoften.HowcanIgetoutofit?SriSriRaviShankar:Rightnowareyouhappyorsad?Justbehappy.So,theansweriswithinyou.Once,awomanwenttoasaintandasked,Whyistheworldsosad?Ifyoucantleavetheworldwhenthereisunhappiness,howwillyouleaveaworldfullofhappiness?


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Youwillbeinagreatlossifyoucantletgooftheworld.JustturninwardstotheSource,thereisnosadness.Onceyoulearnhowtogoinwardstheworlddoesn'tseemsad.Justlookattheworld,whereisthesadness?Birdsarechirping;theriverisflowing.Whereisthesadness?Ionlyseebeautyintheworld.Justlookatallthefaces(here)theyaresohappy!Inlife,theres20percentsadnessand80percenthappiness.Butourmindmakesthe20percentinto2000percent.

Q:CouldyoupleasecommentontheNaxaliteissue?SriSriRaviShankar:TheNaxalproblemisnotofpoverty.Apoormancannotliftagunormakeabomb.Thesearepeoplewhohavewrongeducation.Theysay,Ifpeoplecanelectus,theycanbringusdownalso.DidNapoleonaskanyoneforavote,didMaoorStalinask?Theyfeelthattheyshouldcometopowerontheirownpower.Thiseducationturnspeopletowardsviolence.Peoplewhowalkthepathofspirituality,whoknowhistory,willnevergointoNaxalactivities.Theyareignorantofspirituality.Thatiswhyspiritualityismostimportant.ThatiswhyIoftensayKrishnawasthefirstcommunist.Krishnasaid,SeeMeinallandallinMe.Thisistherealcommunism.

Q:Thereisalotofpoverty.Howdowefindasolutionforthat?SriSriRaviShankar:Oneofthemainreasonsforpovertyisalcoholism.Manyvillagersspend60percentoftheirearningsinthetoddyshop.Ifyouthin

ktheyarepoor,thenfromwherehavetheygottoddy?Villageshaverisenabovethepovertylinejustbyclosingthetoddyshops.Thepoorestofthepoorcanearnandnotstayhungry,whereveralcoholhasstopped.Youngstersinruralareasarenowdealingwiththisproblem.Peopleofallcastesshouldcelebratetogether.Everyoneshouldcometogetherforonemealinaweek.Whenpeopleinthevillagewillcometogether,thenthefeelingofDalitandnonDalitswillberemoved.Ineveryvillage,askthosewhocantocontributeforthosewhodonthaveenough.Suchdevelopmentcannotbedonebythegovernmentalone.NGOshavetoinitiatethischange.

Q:Whatcarriesthesamskaarathroughdifferentlifetime?Thebodydiesandtheconsciousnessispure.SriSriRaviShankar:Themindcarriesthesamskaaras.

Q:Whatisspirituality?SriSriRaviShankar:Doyoufeelbelonging?Thatisspirituality.Whenthisbelongingnessexpandstoincludeeveryone,thenspiritualityhasgrown.(Agirlfromtheaudienceasks)

Q:Howdoyouknowifyoureallylovesomebody?SriSriRaviShankar:Supposeyousitforfourfivehours.Doyougetapaininyourleg?(Thegirlnodsherhead.)Howdoyouknow?(SriSriaddressestheaudienceingeneral)Ourdoubtisalwaysaboutsomethingpositive.Someoneasks,Areyouhappy?Andwesay,WellIamnotsure.Youhaveneverdoubtyourdepression.

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