Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
On my spiritual path I passed through different traditions. Last year I started to practise Kriya Yoga, and I thought I found my way. Now I am here practising the Sudarshan Kriya, and I found this is difficult to continue with Kriya Yogas as well. Can I do both practices or should I choose only one? How can I meditate without using the technique from another tradition if I have not done Sahaj Samadhi course yet? Finally, I would really love to stop seeking and changing spiritual practices, and know the spiritual path of my life. How can I know it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
All practices you did in the past led you here.Don't mix practices. When you are in this path, stay. When there is no progress, I, myself, will tell you to move on. It is impossible not to progress here. Continue. Here you have silence and music, seva and fun, wisdom. Every aspect of life is covered, it is so beautiful.Q:
In a relationship, if one doesn’t keep their commitments, what should the other do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Forgive them! Forgive them once, twice, thrice, four times. Then bark. If that doesn’t work, walk out.Q:
It is said that women cannot study Vedas (scriptures). Why is it so?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
At some point of time some selfish people said this. Some Brahmins made this mistake. Women from all castes can studythe Vedas. But you must convey it properly. Traditionally, if the rituals we follow are useful, then continue them. If they are foolish, drop them.Q:
People are being fired, and new jobs are hard to get. What should we keep in mind when choosing a new job?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t be too choosy. Just see how much you need to support a family. There are many choices, and there are many negative thoughts. Meditate, keep your mind calm, and then choose.But not during meditation! Do it after meditation, otherwise meditation won’t happen. You will just keep thinking.
Q:
Are there different techniques to achieve different siddhis(perfections/powers)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Ek hi saadhe sab sadhe, sab saadhe sab jaaye, if you follow one thing you will achieve all, but if you want everything, you won't achieve anything.Q:
Once you said that by doing seva all our problems are solved. I have come here for seva, will my problems be solved?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, definitely they will be solved. For all our problems to be solved, two things are needed: one, is our effort (purushartha) and the other is Grace (krupa). God is within us. We are the embodiment of absolute consciousness (chaitanya swaroop). There is nothing separate from us. It is within us, in our form. What we do outwardly, to do pooja, is to create an atmosphere. But the purpose of all this is to be bring the vision inwards to the self.Q:
What is Art of Living doing in the Islamic world?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Islamic world is an integral part of the Art of Living family – we have projects in Iraq, Pakistan, and Turkey too. The responsibility is much more on all of you who are coming from the Islamic world to educate people in inter-disciplinary, inter-faith knowledge.We must move from extremism, and fanaticism to the center – change the image of countries like Lebanon, and Afghanistan from being war zones to places of peace.
Q:
What is the essence and secret of life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Essence and secret! It will be whispered into your ears when you go into meditation. Do (Sudarshan) Kriya and meditation.Q:
People say that we should worship only one God like Krishna or Ganesha so that we know who to call for when we are in trouble. If God is one then why are there so many names and forms?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
These are different names for the one Divinity. Like you wear a different dress every day. Today you are wearing black, tomorrow you will wear something else.Even when you change your dress tomorrow, you will remain the same, right? Same way whatever names and forms, it is the same Divine.
Q:
Why do bad thoughts keep flowing in the mind?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Because you want to chase them out! Give them a hug and a little place, they will disappear.
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Founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,The Art of Living is an educational and humanitarian movement engaged in stress-management and service initiatives.
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