Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
Gurudev, at one time the farmers in this country were rich and dignified. Those farmers who feed the country are now sleeping empty stomach, what have they done wrong and how to we improve this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The minister, who is sitting on the farmers needs to either get some intelligence or needs to be removed from his position, even I have been thinking about this. Since he has taken the position of the minister he has done useless work which resulted in drought and scarcity; drought not because of nature. Either they have no heart or no brains or something is wrong with both. They are not bothered, no matter what happens, they are only concerned about their money. They have sent millions out of the country and have set up relations with terrorists; they have plundered this country. It’s very essential for us to stand up and speak against it.Q:
How can I offer both positive and negative to God?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Just let go. If you find it difficult, just live in the present moment. Now, now. The past is gone. The future is yet to come.Q:
Guruji, I don’t believe in God, is that bad?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
No never mind, at least you believe in yourself. You should know who you are. You believe in truth, honesty, love, compassion; these are the qualities of God.Q:
Guruji, music is my life but most of the people around me do drugs and have bad habits. How can I keep playing while being affected by all this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Stand your ground, it’s good.Q:
Guruji, when I took the course all the other kids shared that they had amazing experience but I did not experience anything. I am very curious about it and I also want to experience it. What do I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The fact that you are participating, you are already being benefitted otherwise you would not even ask this question. Yes, don’t compare yourself with other’s experiences. That person says he saw light and another person says I feel like this; then you start doubting your own experiences and questioning yourself. You should never do that, okay.Q:
This is my first meditation course. So far, it’s much better than I expected. I am worried because I would like to meditate all the time. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You will get going home instructions. Have fun. Take life lightly and seriously too. If you take life all serious, it is very boring. If you take it as all fun, it becomes frivolous, superficial. You should have depth. Life should be silence and celebration, a combination of both. Be dispassionate, totally centred and totally passionate to bring transformation. Passion for transformation and dispassion for momentary pleasure – these two can make you a very, very deep person. If you walk this path, you will have no dearth for anything, all will happen at the right time.Q:
o many people think of you as their Guru. How can you be the Guru of so many people?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, I am doing my job properly right.Q:
Can meditation happen if the person next door snores a lot? (laughter)
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Many options. Poke them. If they continue, accept it. If you find it is irritating you more and more, get up and sit somewhere else.Q:
Guruji, the whole of North Africa and the Middle East is in turmoil these days. People are fighting against the rulers and so is the case in India also where people are fighting against corrupt rulers. Is it the design of the Divine that it should happen in this way and what is its future? Can you kindly enlighten us?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes it looks like that, the design of the nature wants to bring more righteousness in society, and it looks like that. Time is very right to voice against the corrupt people.Q:
You have said in one your talks that three things destroy the planet: misunderstanding, miscommunication and misuse, how do we relive ourselves from this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, improve communication, have better understanding and don’t mistrust.