19 Feb 2012 - QA 4

Guruji, farmers have been working the hardest since ages, and are becoming poorer day by day. What can be done for them?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: For one thing, the farmers have been adding these imported chemicals to the soil which has ruined the soil and also reduced production. Farmers should focus on chemical-free farming.
In our country there are so many types of wheat, and so many different native seeds of rice. We remain ignorant of these. In recent research it has been found that the wheat from our country, our ancient wheat; it is not so attractive to look at but it contains 12% folic acid. Folic acid reduces the chances of heart disease and heart attacks. But the wheat imported from outside does not contain folic acid in the same quantity; this is what is said. But we have nearly destroyed these native seeds and don’t want to use them because the hybrid seed look bigger, thicker, and more attractive. So we brought that, and lost our own seeds.
Recently, our Art of Living volunteers have taken up a major program to save our native seeds in UP, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. They are using the native seeds and the production has also increased. Three-fold more production will be there if we do organic or chemical-free farming.
I will tell you all a mantra today that we will recite before we eat food: ‘Annadata Sukhi Bhava’. Before eating food, you should say this once or twice.
‘Those who are providing me with this food, may they be happy.’ When you chant this mantra daily, it includes three: one is the farmer, the second is the trader who buys the grain and sells it, and the third is the lady of the house who cooks the food and serves it to you.
If there are tears in the eyes of the farmers, your stomach will not be able to digest the food. If the farmers are happy, our body will be disease-free. So bless the farmers, pray for the farmers.
If the lady of the house sheds tears, how can you be happy? That is impossible. The tears of women burn the earth. The tears of women contain fire, so don’t let their tears flow. If their tears flow due to lack of maturity, then there is nothing you can do about it. In spite of having everything, they keep crying and someone asks, ‘Why you are crying?’ They say, ‘I am not crying, my face is like that.’ Some people have grown into the habit of maintaining a weepy look. Smile, laugh and make others laugh; don’t get entangled and do not entangle others!