Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
Guruji, there is so much corruption in politics, should Art of Living enter politics?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Reform and administration are two different streams. It is essential for both the streams to flow. If the ruler becomes reformer and reformer becomes the ruler then both works will stop.But spirituality will have to be brought into politics. Corruption will have to be dealt with. Though thousands of crores of rupees have been allocated under different programs, it is not reaching people at all.
I would say that you sadhaks should take part in it. Good people have been running away from politics as if it’s a dirty drainage pipe. With so many dirty drains flowing, Gangaji has disappeared. New direction will have to be brought to politics, we all have to work towards it.
Q:
Is it necessary to be competitive?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
With yourself. Compete with yourself.
Q:
How can we know if our devotion has fully matured or not?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t worry about if your devotion is matured or not. Know that devotion is there. Never think that you don’t have devotion or you lack devotion.Q:
Good and bad thoughts come and go in the mind. Do these form karma?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
No, when you are a witness (sakshi) to the thoughts coming and going, no karma is formed. When you feel sad thinking that your thought is bad, it is then when your mind gets affected.Q:
Why is not every human being pure?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Every human is pure but filled with dirt. Every human being is like a diamond. The fact that the diamond is in mud, does not make it mud. You simply have to pick it up and wash it. And it shines again. The shiny nature of diamond is always there but covered with mud and slush.Q:
Guruji, with your grace I got a new car but if you don’t sit in it, what’s the fun of having the car?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Your body is the car of which the heart is the motor. It’s enough for you to have a seat for me there. What’s the fun of sitting in the other car! Make me reside in your heart.Q:
I want to trust everybody but when I begin to do that something stops me. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Doesn’t matter. Step by step, you will reach there someday. At least you are now aware that you doubt everybody. Doubt won’t stay for a longer period. And when doubt is not there, faith naturally happens. It will happen on its own.Q:
In your discourse on Narada Bhakti Sutra, you say everything is illusion. Then if everything is illusion, does that mean there is no need to do anything?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
First you hear the full talk. Making concepts after hearing half or one tape is not advisable.Q:
We heard that Abhimanyu learnt one of the difficult and tactful war act called ‘chakravyuh’ while he was in his mother’s womb. So, is it possible to learn something while in womb also?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, it is true.Q:
How can one find the purpose of life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Become calm and listen to your inner self. Do you all have cell phones? What do you need for the cell phone to work? If there is no SIM card, will it work? If there is a SIM card, but you are far away, will it work? You need a SIM card, signal and the battery must be charged. So all three are required: battery, SIM card and closeness to the tower.Even if you have all three but you don’t dial, will it work? You need to do that much. The spiritual connection is the tower. Self-effort is that little dialing and meditation is charging. Then our prayers will be answered. Sometimes the prayers are not answered. Why? Because there is no SIM card. You have the ability to bless and grant others’ wishes when the mind is serene.