Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You think God is a person sitting there. (Sri Sri points upwards.) That is only in Michelangelo’s painting.God is not a person. God is a field of energy, like a magnetic field. The whole universe is pervaded by this field and made up of that substance. In meditation, we are in communion with this.
But this is not a dead field like a magnetic field. It has life, consciousness.
There are five attributes of God – God created this world, sustained it, dissolved it, he also blesses and veils it. Like air, although it is all around us, we only feel it when a fan is switched on. In the same way, we sometimes experience the blessing, but at other times God’s presence is veiled from us.
Spiritual practices unveil God.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Now we have given different symbolism to different colors. Saffron is like red hot, means you have become like fire. You have renounced everything; you are looking for yourself, that is saffron. But if it becomes too hot then it becomes white hot. Do you know about iron? It is red hot, then it becomes white hot.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Self-respect is respecting yourself irrespective of what others call you.A thousand years ago, when India was attacked in the North east, a saint was captured.
The captors tried to humiliate the saint, chained his legs and wanted to sell him as a slave.
The saint kept smiling. He said: ‘A slave is on sale. Who wants to buy him?’
There are many examples of people who were humiliated in the world. Yet they kept on walking with their heads held high.
In self-respect, you keep your composure. Ego needs someone else to be there. When you’re all alone, there is no ego. When someone comes in, then the ego comes up. Your body language changes. If someone pokes you, then your ego gets hurt.
Nobody can take away your self-respect.
Just keep smiling and be happy,
Embrace the ups and downs of life and continue walking.
Do whatever you can do for others.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Chant Om Namo Shivay. It’s the best remedy. A bit of pujas is alright. Don’t spend too much money on them. Do charity with all your heart. Some chanting and meditation will help.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Keep your body healthy and keep your emotions positive. Very simple. It is like asking, “Where do I put on my pants and where do I put on my shirt?” You put your shirt on top and pants at the bottom, not the other way around. So everything has its place: ego has its place, emotions have its place, our body needs to be healthy and strong. So you need to respect the laws of nature, okay?Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
This is a uniform; and either they keep all of it otherwise they take all of it out. Don’t go by appearance; listen to your inner voice. That is when you will know. Just because someone has kept a beard or has changed their clothing that does not mean they have become a saint or a Swami. You become peaceful then you can see if there is anything special about the person, if there is some happiness, joy, some vibrations, this you will be able to feel. Otherwise there are thousands of people who just change their clothes and walk around; nothing happens with this, do you understand? So don’t go by outside appearance. Tomorrow if I remove all of this, my beard, you will recognize me or not? The heart knows to recognize. You cannot recognize your life partner, your guru from outside appearance but through your heart. Something happens in your heart, you feel in your heart that he is honest and good, he belongs to me. So become peaceful.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Being silent and knowing that the divinity is taking care of everything - that is the best form of prayer; the best prayer is meditation.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
hey can’t do that without any reason. Tell them to do The Art of Living course sometime when they are in a good mood. Coax them to come to be a basic course and we will train them not to hit you.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Nobody taught me the principles of the Art of Living like accepting people as they are and present moment is inevitable.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Do it from your side and let go of the rest.