Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
The ‘Art of living’ is full of inspirational teachers. What does it require to be a good teacher? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, take a teachers training, and get well trained.
Q: First of all, thank you for being my master. Secondly, I am a sikh and in Sikhism our last Guru told that there is no other master now but only ‘Guru Granth Sahib’. So, my family members do not want me to follow you as a guru. How to convince them about you?
Q: First of all, thank you for being my master. Secondly, I am a sikh and in Sikhism our last Guru told that there is no other master now but only ‘Guru Granth Sahib’. So, my family members do not want me to follow you as a guru. How to convince them about you?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is alright. Say Wahe guru, Wahe guru. Let them follow whatever your tradition is, but they can do the course, can make friends with all!Q:
Can a relationship enhance or suppress your spiritual growth?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, both can happen. If your partner is also on the path and understands you, it can enhance you both. If one is in doubt, the partner will help you to get over the doubt. If one is not doing the practice, the other one will pull them to do the practice and give them encouragement. Make them move on the spiritual path, so that much help comes from that. I have seen many couples - when one is going astray from the path, the other will pull them back onto the path. Because of the sake of the wife or husband, they continue being on the path, on the knowledge, on the spiritual path. This I have seen happening in many, many families. Though, on the contrary, if both go in different directions and if one of them is not really on the path, it can be a hindrance for the other. It can be, though not necessarily.Q:
How to make the most important decisions in life, decisions that change our entire life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
So far what are all the decisions you have made. Are you happy with all thesedecisions? (Response: Somewhat, and somewhat not). So life will continue like that, got it? Sometimes you made good decisions, and then you see the positive side. See everything has a positive side and everything has its lapses. So if you focus only on the lapses then every decision you make you will regret. But if you see the positive side then you will be happy and contented. And the more you are happy and contented more such things will happen in life. Got it?
Q:
Why do thoughts come and where do they originate from? Why do the thoughts rule us?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Where do the thoughts come from? From the mind, or the body? Close your eyes and think about it. That itself becomes a meditation. Then you will reach the point or space within you from where all the thoughts come. And that is fantastic.Q:
How do we get over the fear of losing?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Fear, hatred and love are three sides of the same cycle. When one is dominant, the other two are absent. Meditation is the only way to transform fear and hatred into love.Q:
Guruji whenever I think of you I become very emotional, tears begin to roll down and my heart starts melting. What to do? Is it good or bad?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t tag your emotions as good or bad. When your heart opens up tears come, it’s natural. Let it be. It is said in scriptures that tears of love are so precious that even angels run to collect them. Even on heaven, there are no tears of love. The most wonderful thing on the planet, on earth is to have tears of love, tears of gratitude. That indicates that our life is glorious. That makes our life rich and fulfilled. Fulfillment in life is when you have tears of gratitude and that comes by luck. You can’t manufacture tears of gratitude; you can’t put glycerin and have tears of gratitude coming in. When you realize what all you have received in life, your heart opens up.Q:
What should be done with people who talk very nicely but act in the exact opposite manner?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Anukampa, understand that they are doing it helplessly or in ignorance. And by behaving in this manner, they are inviting trouble for themselves.Q:
Does man create wealth for security, or insecurity?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Wealth is the means, but if it becomes a goal in itself, then it leads to insecurity.Q:
I become so over possessive for something, or for some person. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Ooh! , Never mind, you understood that you are over possessive then it has already started loosening up.Q:
Everyday people make requests to you that can be directly requested to God. Is it that God pays more attention to you than to us?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I leave that question with you to wonder about. You should have something to wonder about. Besides, why do want to know all the trade secrets!(Laughter)
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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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