Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
Ashwathama (from the Mahabharata) is supposed to be immortal. Do you know about his whereabouts?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
All the beings are immortal. The term ‘immortal’ could be used in two senses. One, as being alive in memory. Like Rama, Krishna, Buddha are names, characters and impressions in your consciousness. Two, if you take it literally it means that the spirit can never die.Kansa, Ravana, Krishna, Rama are all immortal in the form of Supreme Consciousness. When someone great dies, we say may they be immortal. Even when bodies die, their name is remembered for years. People are remembered for their bravery for centuries.
Q:
Today, the youth only think of themselves. Are family and society no longer important?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The parents must also be only thinking of themselves, that’s why the kids are the same. If parents think of others, then even the kids will think of others.This is Sanskaar (culture), which is passed down from parents to children.
Q:
Are you frustrated with what has been happening on Wall Street?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Wall Street has lost the trust of people, as have the government and the church. We need to bring spirituality, the type of spirituality that Mahatma Gandhi spoke about, into politics. We need to spiritualize politics, socialize business and secularize religion. Religious leaders need to worry more about people than their institutions. They should care for people more. At the same time politicians should think about the values that leaders like Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and George Washington had. This country had Lincoln. He was a great visionary. There have been leaders who have given their whole lives in service to the people rather than out of a desire to achieve something. There is the Lincoln Memorial here, but it was not Lincoln who asked for it to be built. He stood for justice, equality and truth. That is real spirituality. I consider the founders of this nation and also the founders of India, South America and South Africa as people who had zeal. They were innately spiritual in their nature. This indicates how spirituality relates to politics. The backbone of business is trust. If lost, it cannot survive too long. So businesses should practice corporate social responsibility. We should care for one another. Otherwise, when we lose love for people, when we have no friends, we think money brings us happiness. It doesn’t.Q:
Is astrology a science?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, definitely astrology is a science yet that doesn’t mean all astrologers are scientists. (Laughs)Q:
Another question on love. When you were here last time, you said not to say ‘I love you’ too much for too much expression of love destroys it all. Now, my husband never says it. What to do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Listen! I have no experience of all this and what husband and wife say to each other!May be, you should ask your husband why does he love you so much. May be he is waiting for you to say. This is a chance when you can say and look at his face.
Q:
I cannot think of moving away from the‘Art of Living’. Is it attachment or restlessness of soul?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Once you have learnt a language and started to converse in it, you cannot forget that language. Same way once you have acquired knowledge, there is no question of losing it. It gets solidified in you.Ancient people of India were so intelligent that they kept Laxmi(goddess of wealth) on lotus, and Saraswati(goddess of knowledge) on stone. Lotus does not remain stable on the surface of water and it moves as the water moves. But a stone is solid and stable. Once you get knowledge, it becomes part of you, not only for this lifetime but also for lifetimes to come.
Q:
I am bullied by friends I don’t know why. If I hit back it becomes worse. And if I keep quiet then I’m considered weak.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When there is no question, then what is the need of the answer? Drop your questions, your doubts.You all are extraordinary. Just bear one thing in mind, that you take interest in knowledge. Read a bit of knowledge. Everyone must read the Bhagvad-Gita, the Guru Granth Sahib and the Yog Vasishta. Read one-two pages of the Yog Vasishta everyday. Like you watch television everyday? In this manner, make it a habit to read a few pages of knowledge. When you wake up in the morning, read a knowledge book.
Just as water that doesn’t flow, stagnates, the mind needs to gain knowledge from books from time to time so that it doesn’t stagnate. If the mind is not polished with knowledge, it will not shine. So get a little bit of knowledge everyday.
Be in knowledge. Have fun. Knowledge, singing and meditation. Have these three aspects in mind. Spend some time to gain knowledge in the morning.Read two-three pages everyday. Read the Bhagvad-Gita, Yog Vasishta. And in the evening, sing some bhajans. Enjoy it thoroughly. Sit for some time in meditation. In satsang, it is important to sit for a while in meditation.
Practice meditation. Become a seeker. Walk the path of the seeker. You will get the best of everything the world has to offer. It is important that those on the path of knowledge consider themselves fortunate. They, in turn, should give this good fortune to as many people as possible. We shouldn’t limit the happiness to ourselves: we should extend and help everyone have a taste of the same.
So remember: singing, knowledge and meditation. Did you turn the pages of a book today or not? Did the water flow or not? Yes? Just as flowing water remains clean, when you turn the pages of a book of knowledge, your mind remains clean and pure. And meditate everyday for a little while. Do Sadhana. And remember that when you become a seeker, you will lack nothing. When you walk on this path, there will be no lacking in your life. And whenever you are in trouble, you are not alone. The Divine is with you.
Don’t scatter yourself too much. Be centred and collected. And walk with ease. You don’t have to put too much effort. Yes? See how easily we can collect flowers. Similarly, there is nothing difficult.
There is bliss in chaos. Bliss and chaos go together at home! We have to take everything and move forward.
Q:
What is difference between dispassion and indifference?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Well, in indifference there is a sense of apathy, rejection and disappointment. In dispassion there is joy and enthusiasm.Q:
Is criticizing anyone bad?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
In life we don’t want anyone to think badly about us. We don’t like if a few people say bad things about us. Do you also do same with people? Of course, you can't always say that all the apples in the basket are good. Sometimes you have to criticize. But when you criticize, let it come from your lips only and not from your heart. Don’t hold on to it in the mind. Don't hate anyone. It harms only you and no one else.Q:
How to know you have given 100 percent?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
100 percent - you will feel! You know! I will ask 10 people to feed you in kitchen. Will run away! You will know.
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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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