Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is no choice between these two, you have to have both. You should have a purpose. Move towards the goal, and take things as they come on the way.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The problem arises when you carry money not only in your pocket but in your head also! Also what is the use of thinking about it all the time if your pockets are empty? Money is the means and not an end in itself. Have faith that you will get whatever money you need. Put in your effort and move forward with this conviction. Also out of the money you earn, 2-3% should be spent for others. We call it dhana-shuddhi (purification of wealth).In Sanskrit there is a word anna-shuddhi (purification of grains). It prescribes adding ghee (clarified butter) to rice. If you eat rice alone, it is not as good for your body as the sugar level in your blood suddenly increases. By adding just a little bit of clarified butter or ghee, the process of converting the starch into sugar is slowed down. So the digestion process becomes slower and you are less prone to diabetes. So we say rice gets purified when we add ghee to it. Similarly money gets purified when we contribute to those in need.
’The Art of Living’ does service in schools in villages. We have the ’Dollar a Day’ program under which we feed, provide clothing and educate a child. We have 100 such free schools for people in need. This helps release a child from forced child labor. The burden is taken away from them. These children get to be the first generation learners and the change that is brought about is really powerful. It is like teaching someone to fish rather than giving them the fish. Also if women are enrolled into empowerment programs, there are wonderful experiences. This is what is necessary - Education that is technical, scientific and spiritual at the same time.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, it is okay to have a desire for liberation.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Ego is feeling uncomfortable in the presence of someone else. Self confidence is, feeling at home. Ya? Being natural is antidote to ego, and being natural is so complementary to confidence. It goes with confidence and is inseparable from confidence. When you are confident, you are natural. If you are natural, you are confident.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is a tendency. Many times it changes.So don’t label it. It is there now. It may not be there later. You are acombination of your mother & your father. We have genes of your mother aswell as father. Sometimes male tendencies dominate, and sometimes female.Preferences may be stronger for some. Don’t feel guilty or blame yourself. Riseabove it. You are not only flesh. Youare light around the wig of flesh. Shift from gender to genderless spirit, itgives you such ease.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Well, it is up to you.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, you must have a dream for it.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Absolutely not!Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Because you need two to count one.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Corruption starts when the sense of belongingness ends. When we have a sense of belongingness, we can’t be corrupt. When we expand our sense of belongingness, corruption will disappear. Does this make sense? Corruption begins outside the boundary of belongingness.