Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
In this world, there are some things that we can do, and some things that we cannot do. For example, how much is your height? Say 5 feet 6 inches. Beyond 22 or 23 years of age will your height increase? No, it won't increase. We have to take accept that as it is. But (consider) your weight - if it is 50, you can make it 60. If it is 100, you can make it 70. Is it not so? That we can change. In the same way, when a cow is tied at one place, the distance the cow can move depends on the length of the rope. But the cow cannot go beyond the length of the rope. It can roam around only as much as the length of the rope permits. In the same way, in life there is some freedom, some things that we do, and there are some things that are not in our hands.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Seva is something that is needed by other people. Suppose you are carrying a weight, heavy luggage, and you cannot carry anymore, then you look here and there, you want someone to help you, don’t you? See, we are all interdependent; everybody needs some help from somebody and doing that help without expecting anything in return is seva. Without seva nothing can happen on this planet, isn’t it? By seva don’t think you are changing the world. Seva you do, because you can’t but do it. It’s in your nature. If you are good, if you are loving, if you are happy, you can’t but do seva. And when you are unhappy, if you do seva, you become happy.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Many options. Poke them. If they continue, accept it. If you find it is irritating you more and more, get up and sit somewhere else.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Do sadhana, seva and satsang, and no black magic can touch you. Chant the mantras, listen to vedic chants, Rudram, Om Namah Shivaya. All this will help.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
No chance (laughter). No way. Forget about it. Are you ready to forget it? Then you got it NOW. Your mind is anxious for “ultimate happiness, ultimate bliss, one day I want to achieve...”Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Meditation is the culmination of prayer. One parmatma, one divinity – is everywhere.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I have no idea how you will find that out. It’s the heart that tells you. You can’t think about it. It doesn’t happen by judgment. Just be relaxed.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t try to make anything. Whenever you remember just know it’s very sacred, very special, take it that way. You know usually when you get into the cold water, when you go to the Ganga the first time, you take a dip. The water is very cold but once you are in the water it is not that cold, so your body gets used to it. In the same way, in-between, you have to come out and go in and then you feel cold again. So you don’t need to worry about it and again and again whenever you feel grateful you feel it as special. Gratefulness always comes in waves.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you take one, everything else will come behind. If you draw one leg of this chair, will not all the others come along? See, Bhakti means love.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
We should oppose it. Using our intelligence, wherever we think it is appropriate, we should oppose, without anger or angst, but peacefully, patiently, with equanimity.