Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Q: There have been trend of ear piercing and nose piercing. But nowadayspeople have been into piercing all over the body. Is it alright?

Sri Sri: Ear piercing appears to be scientific, because all the nerves thatcreate awareness in the brain end in the ear lobe. So, ancient peopleused to do so to create more attention. But I don’t know about theother piercings!

Q: What is my existence?

Sri Sri: The same question you would have to ask yourself again and again. Until you don’t get the answer, don’t leave the question. We will keep pushing you to get the answer. It’s a very precious question!

Q: Is education all about passing examination and getting good marks. Is it not about something more?

Sri Sri: What do you think?

(The person replies) I think it is because of our parents’ attitude that we think so.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, but you should also study. Any way, you have to flow with the system. Though, examination is not the only thing. If you fail also, then never mind. That doesn’t mean you should take some stupid steps. That is no good. At the same time, you should attend to your exams. Education is very important.

Q: In spite of spiritual inclination, some melodramatic tragedies keep on happening. Why is this so?

Sri Sri: Tragedy is tragedy when you are affected. There is no explanation forsome phenomenon. Why accidents happen, why do people die? It is thesemoments when you say “Why me?” You know, the ‘Why’ in the mind isassociated with misery and the ‘How’ is associated with wonder and joy.

Whenthe question, ‘Why this problem only with me?’ arises in mind or itarises in some other’s mind, better don’t say anything. Just be! Noexplanation, no reasoning of that will suffix. You simply have to leavethose questions for those moments. Time will take you across. Time willmake you sail from that situation. Our tendency is to answer them orconsole them, but smile or a moment of silence will be better. Noexplanation. No reasoning, no theories will ever do anything. That iswhat I feel.

Q: When can I be like the Divine?

Sri Sri: You are already now.

Q: What is the most important thing in a student’s life?

Sri Sri: A career is important, and along with that the development of the overall personality is very important. Both go hand in hand. Some are only into career, and some are only into personality development and no career. Lacking in any one, you won’t feel that satisfaction. So, take both along

Qualification as well as personality development. And qualification not only for certification but for gaining knowledge, and then that lightness of heart and smile that comes from the depth of your heart should be there, and a multi talented personality. Most of all, you have to come across as a nice person.

Nice doesn’t mean being goody goody, but being strong. Of course, your soft words have effect, but be strong at the same time. That is what happens in the DSN (program). It makes you so strong and unshakable from within.

Q: What is the golden rule of a happy married life?

Sri Sri: Well,I am not qualified to say anything, but let me think. Why don’t you sitwith those who are happily married? What I have heard is:

Before marriage: a couple is mad for each other.

During marriage: They are made for each other.

And then: They are mad at each other.

After while: They are mad because of each other.

Somebody has formulated this!

Onething I know, marriage is an institution of patience, sacrifice, caringfor each other and sharing. If one is upset, other should keep quietand wait for his/her turn to get upset. If both together get upset atthe same time, then there is a problem! But in front of kids, oneshould better be civilized.

Q: Human beings will always be imperfect, then how does one see Godliness in a human?

Sri Sri: Who says human beings are always imperfect? Inside human beings, thereis Godliness. Wake that Godliness up. Move from one perfection toanother and not from imperfection to imperfection.

Eitheryou can see fault with everything, like milk gets spoilt and becomescurd and then butter. You can see first milk gets spoilt and becomescurd, and then curd gets spoilt and becomes butter. You can talk aboutonly imperfections, or you can see progress from perfection toperfection.

Q: What is it that I should do in the future?

Sri Sri: Whatever you did in the past which was not to be done, don’t do it in future as well.

Do something that brings a smile on your face and that of others.

Q: Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus. But why is there so much violence where Jesus himself was born?

Sri Sri: This is something very interesting. The place had violence before Jesusand it has violence after Jesus as well. This is something to bewondered about. This place has continuously seen bloodshed violence.Why? There is no answer. At least, I don’t know any answer. But if yousee history, even before Moses and after Moses, thewhole region of the middle East and Egypt suffered a lot, and have beensuffering continuously. Knowledge is most needed in that region.