Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
How to quicken the progress?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you want to quicken the pace then keep listening to knowledge again and again. Read at least one page of Yoga Vashishtha, Ashtavakra daily. Keep doing satsang, seva, satsang, meditation.Maya has long hands and the pull keeps happening. With the help of the rope, one to has walk away from the pull. Satsang, sadhna, satguru are all there for this only.
Q:
If alcohol is obtained from a natural crop then why is it harmful and hazardous to health to consume it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
What I have observed is people who are into alcohol are very sad. Once the intoxication is gone, sadness dawns again and that too with greater amplitude. The aim of life is not to lose awareness but to live in awareness. To get rid of sorrow, awareness is needed. Intoxication will only stop it for a while and then it bounces back with even greater intensity. Alcohol spoils your health, makes your brain dull and gives rise to so many conflicts in the mind. It not only makes your life miserable but also the lives of those around you. If you want to lose your health and that too at your own expense then continue consuming alcohol.People in villages earn a good income but they lose 60 percent in alcohol, and remain in poor financial and health conditions. You have a much better source of enjoyment – satsang. It gives joy to everybody – you and to people around. All other types of intoxications will seem dull in front of the intoxication you get in a satsang.
Q:
What makes a child learn wrong language?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Every child is born innocent. But they learn abusive language from environment. Initially they only imitate their parents or people in their surroundings. But then it becomes a habit. Whatever you give comes back to you. That spoils your mind only.Q:
What are your thoughts on vegetarianism?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is so much research in the US on vegetarianism. I have always been a vegetarian; I don’t know anything other than being a vegetarian. Some people say you must eat fish and meat for protein but if you have the proper balance of protein you are fine without it. If you don’t, you should eat some. I eat a little yogurt at least once a week. Vegetarianism is very essential for spiritual practice.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:
Guruji, what should a devotee do if his faith is shaken?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Shaking of faith and devotion sends you a message about the strength of your faith. What is the need to be afraid of? Shake it as vigorously as you can. I would say only that faith is authentic which stays even after shaking. This is job of the master– to shake the faith and let it grow stronger. Guru doesn’t build your faith but he shakes your faith. This is the strategy moving from ancient times. When the faith shakes, it reveals that it can be made stronger. If it is authentic, anyway it will grow strong. In the whole process you realize, this is all mere a play of mind. Faith and devotion were always present. Devotion towards truth can never disappear. This is maya(illusion) of the mind which makes you feel it is shaken.Q:
Bali culture is connected to India, would you throw a little more light onto this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If go into the aboriginal culture all over the world you will find that they are all similar - in British Columbia, Australia, New Zealand, India etc. They all are similar to one another. They all honor the directions, the moon, the earth, the sun, the water, the mountains. They all honor creation. India and Bali are in Southeast Asia, and are of course connected. It’s good to find similarities, and celebrate differences.Q:
Does the master find disciple or disciple finds the master?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
How does it matter whether you find master or the master finds you? It is sufficient that both have met.Q:
Is physical distance a hindrance in feeling close to someone?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is no distance for the mind. When you connect with the feelings, all the distances vanish. If there are no feelings, then you do not feel the connectivity even if you are sitting next to the person. That is true for god, divine and all relations. When such a connection is established with the whole universe, you experience the Shiv tattva.Q:
How do you break an addiction?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
To begin, look at it in the short term. Say for the next one month I am not going to do it. What gets us over an addiction?Greed – you will get $10 million if you don’t smoke for one month. Greed will make you keep the vow.
Fear – fear keeps you out of addiction if you are afraid of sickness or death.
Love – if someone promises someone they love then they will not do it.
And of course, meditation.
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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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