Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Q: How does one develop a sense of surrender?

Sri Sri: Just assume that it is there.Don’t put effort . Surrender is there – simply assume this and move on.

Q: What is greater – moksha or love and gratitude?

Sri Sri: Love and gratitude cannot happen without some degree of freedom within.Moksha is freedom. They go hand in hand. To the degree of freedom that you experience, to thatdegree you feel gratitude

Q: Please throw some light on the last shloka of the tenth chapter of the Bhagwad Geeta?

Sri Sri: Lord Krishna says to Arjuna, “Whatever you are seeing in this world, that is all a little part of Me. Wherever you see any merit, that comes from Me only. Any intelligence that you see in anyone, that is Me only. Any valor that you see in anyone, that is Me only. The whole world reflects in a little part of Me.

Q: I have been told since childhood that eating non – vegetarian is like committing a sin because we are killing helpless animals. Is it so?

Sri Sri: Don’t think those who eat non – vegetarian are sinful. It is only thattamsictendencies are encouraged when one eats non – vegetarian. That won’t be good for them, for the world and for society. My dear, don’t make your stomach a graveyard.

Q: How do protect oneself from the negativity of others?

Sri Sri: Om Namah Shivaya chanting! Jai Gurudev will also do.

Q: If a person thinks he is good for nothing in whatever he does, how should he move ahead in life?

Sri Sri: Just be here for a little while and know that God doesn’t create garbage.Everyone who is created on this planet is good for something.

Q: Is self-realization a journey or a goal? If we reach somewhere, do we come to know we have reached somewhere, or we have to continue walking.

Sri Sri: Yes, It is both. In one way it is a journey also and in another way it is the last destination. When you are so content that you feel you need nothing. There are no needs left, and we feel so complete.Such contentment dawns that you feel so complete! When you have such a smile that never fades and this happens so effortlessly.

Q: Some dreams don’t come true in spite of putting efforts. What should one do?

Sri Sri: You keep putting your effort. There is a proverb ’Try and try again and at last you will succeed.’ So, perhaps you don’t succeed the first time or second time. Yet if your intention is strong, it will happen.

Q: Is someone’s destiny fixed orcan it change as well?

Sri Sri: A part of destiny is fixed, and certain things can change.

Q: It is difficult to control anger. What should one do so that I don’t get angry?

Sri Sri: First, anger is to be tamed. Know this: when the mind is so joyful and contented, when you arein meditation and leave room for imperfections and mistakes, you don’t get angry in the first place. Know that no mistake can be corrected with anger. Only with awareness can anything be corrected.