Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
How to increase our competence to receive knowledge?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Just have thirst, it comes naturally. There is no special competence required, a mere thirst is enough.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:
I have to choose between my family and knowledge as they are not into knowledge. I feel suffocated and wish to leave my family. What to do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You are receiving knowledge so that you stay in the family and give them knowledge. Do it with skill. A doctor is required among patients only. Not all the patients are cured by the doctor, but still they don’t stop treating. Give them as much knowledge as you can with skill. Do not try to show off your wisdom to them. Educate them, advice them but don’t get carried away by the force of their ignorance. Hold on to satsang with one hand. Also, once someone gets the taste of satsang it is not easy to get rid of it.You are very powerful. Pray and take up a sankalpa (intention) that your family gets interested in knowledge. It does make a difference. We are unaware of the power of the mind, the strength in sankalpa. That is why we remain miserable.
Q:
Is there a way to understand the course of karma?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Gehana Karmonogati - who knows the way of karma? It is so deep. Even great sages get confused over what is karma and what is to be done. It is never ending. Every action will have some flaw.There is no one standard to measure it. Jains had put Krishna in hell because of his sins of creating many wars. Then they saw his good deeds and put him in heaven. Do karma according to the intellect. An action which inspires you with enthusiasm and energy, even if it has flaws is worth doing. Leaving your karma by sitting idle is inappropriate.
There is some flaw in the best of the action. For instance, a teacher earns his salary by teaching students. If children were born wise there would be no need for teachers.
A doctor’s job depends on someone’s illness. Lawyers would not be required if there were no quarrels. Their sukh (joy) depends on others’ fights. In every interaction, you will see some flaw. If you focus on the flaws everywhere, the world will not work.
Be gungrahi (imbibing virtues) - put your attention wherever there are positive qualities. The wise give inspiration to everyone for their work. There is no big or small work - every work is respectable.
Q:
Why is it that revenge is bad when Nature also gives every human being the result of one’s actions?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The feeling of revenge is not for human beings, it is animalistic. The feeling to take revenge troubles you to a great extent. Till you have achieved it, you remain in hell. The thought of revenge itself puts you in hell. You suffer and others also suffer, there is no gain for anyone. Educating others is important. If someone has done wrong to you, explain to them and reform them. Otherwise you cannot improve the situation. However, remain aware. If some one betrays you, it shows your ignorance. We can be intelligent and give knowledge to others. When the thought for revenge comes, think of how much it would harm you and look at your gain.Q:
What is samadhi?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When the mind is at ease and centered, that is a glimpse into samadhi. The experience you have when you lie down after the Sudarshan Kriya. When you feel – I don't know where I am but that I am.Q:
I hold a high position of authority in my state and am well respected and known. When I go to another place, I sometimes find myself less important. I tend to question my identity. How to get over this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You should know how to wear a suit – and take it off too! Everyone is a king in their place. Know how to remain in a state of Akinchan - I am nobody. The whole life journey is from ‘I am somebody’ to ‘I am nobody’ and then to ‘I am everybody’. Usually the journey is from ‘I am something’ to ‘I am nothing’ to ‘I am something’ again! Sit in satsang and let your identity dissolve. Dissolving and losing the identity is Samadhi, is fun. You will realize that you are immortal.Q:
In the family of Shiva, each vahaan (vehicle – usually an animal associated with a form of God) is the enemy of the other in the animal kingdom. There is a bull, a mouse, a peacock etc yet they live together in peace. How is it so?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The peaceful, non dual self element that is Shiva brings together everyone and harmonize everything.Q:
Each one of us has a message for the world, but maya (delusion) covers it. How to uncover that message?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When we are peaceful, free of attachment, our message to the world will come on its own.Q:
Is one hour of daily sadhana sufficient for being established in the self (atmasakshatkar)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Twenty four hours is not sufficient and even ten minutes or just two minutes of total samadhi (meditation) is enough. Sadhana is not samay saapeksh (bound to time). Make your entire life sadhana but don’t turn this into an excuse for not doing sadhana. Also, don’t think that the one hour of sadhana you have done is enough and for the rest of the time you may do as you please.