Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
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:
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:
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:
This morning, during meditation my head was falling forward innumerable times. Thoughts didn’t bother me during meditation but my head moving bothered me. Does this mean I was not meditating?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
No, no it’s fine. You know, when you are meditating sometimes the head will come down, or your body will rock. This is all normal. Different types of stresses when they get released all these different reactions can come up. That’s ok, nothing to worry about.Q:
Guruji, these days when we are talking of saving the planet from pollution including our water bodies, is it wrong to throw the puja materials in the water?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you put natural things, then there is no pollution. They are bio degradable. If you put soap or plastic, it harms the water. Since centuries, in the forest so many leaves and fruits fall in water, but the water is not contaminated. But when we throw artificial things, the water gets contaminated.When we put bowls made of leaves, and garlands made of real flowers into water, it doesn’t get polluted.
It is interesting , one who is familiar with the real stuff, to him even the fake thing seems real.
And to the one who is familiar with the fake thing, even the real appears as fake. This is maya. What is real and what is unreal has to be found out. Therefore you need an inward eye (antar drishti). This is possible through yoga and meditation.
Q:
When will my family come on this path?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t worry. Everyone will come to the path slowly.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.
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