Sun, 13/11/2011
Today, this Ashram completes 30 years, but this knowledge must have completed 30,000 years! This knowledge is ancient.
This whole world is one family and the Lord lives in everyone's heart. See everybody as yourself, love everybody, and serve everybody. This is very important. This knowledge began from the day this world started. Usually, people ask me to start an ashram in this place or that place. I always say, ’all the plants and trees in this world is in my ashram. The sky is the roof of my ashram and the earth is the floor.’ When we have a broad mind, we feel that everything belongs to us. We don't see anything as separate from ourselves. So this ashram came into being, and all of you got an opportunity to meditate here. We must make this opportunity available to everybody. There is one rule in this ashram. You can bring your problems into the ashram, but you cannot take it back with you. You have to leave them all here and do satsang.
Satsang doesn't mean just singing bhajans. What truth have I experienced in life? What is not true in life? What should I let go of? Discussing these questions is satsang. After analyzing this, when our mind becomes clear, we should let go of all the unwanted things and then love dawns in us. Once love dawns, all the experiences come to us.
This whole world is one family and the Lord lives in everyone's heart. See everybody as yourself, love everybody, and serve everybody. This is very important. This knowledge began from the day this world started. Usually, people ask me to start an ashram in this place or that place. I always say, ’all the plants and trees in this world is in my ashram. The sky is the roof of my ashram and the earth is the floor.’ When we have a broad mind, we feel that everything belongs to us. We don't see anything as separate from ourselves. So this ashram came into being, and all of you got an opportunity to meditate here. We must make this opportunity available to everybody. There is one rule in this ashram. You can bring your problems into the ashram, but you cannot take it back with you. You have to leave them all here and do satsang.
Satsang doesn't mean just singing bhajans. What truth have I experienced in life? What is not true in life? What should I let go of? Discussing these questions is satsang. After analyzing this, when our mind becomes clear, we should let go of all the unwanted things and then love dawns in us. Once love dawns, all the experiences come to us.
Dearest Guruji, I fall in love with everything including myself whenever I come here and whenever I meet you.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That is what it is all about - to fall in love with one's Self. And what is this Self? 'Who am I? I am not a tiny being bound in this body, I am magnanimous, omnipresent.
Lord Krishna also says the same, 'Avajaananti mam mudha', these foolish people think of me as this human body. I am not the body, I am the infinite consciousness; I am bliss.
Once we meet our Self, then life’s purpose has been achieved, that is all it is.
This is what it means to come close to the Guru. Guru is a mirror, a reflection to make you meet the Self. And there is no difference between you and me because we are all made up of one thing, one element and that is consciousness.
This is what Lord Buddha said and Krishna also said.
Do you know the meaning of the word 'Rama'?
In English they say 'rays' or 'radiance', this originated from the word 'Ra'.
'Ra' means light and 'ma' means within me. The light that is in my heart is 'Rama'. So the light in everyone's heart is 'Rama'. In every heart there is 'Rama', everywhere there is 'Rama'.
This is what Buddha said, 'Appa deepo bhava', be the light yourself. The inner beauty, the light is within you and this is sadhana.
Jesus also said the same thing, be childlike, you will then reach my father's heaven. He also said, 'there is no difference between me and my heavenly father.'
He also said washing the feet of his disciples, 'you are greater, even greater than me.’ A devotee is even greater than God; Jesus also said this. So we find that all spiritual masters say the same thing, 'be connected in love, be happy, be at peace and embrace all as your own.' This is the mantra of love - nobody is an outsider, everyone belongs to us. There is no other mantra for knowledge. If you read quantum physics today, you will realize that there is nothing other than this. The entire world is made up of one wave-function, one vibration. This is what is called Vedanta. In Advaita Vedanta it is said 'Sarvam khalvidam Brahma'; ‘Nehana nasti kinchana’ In the whole creation besides this there is nothing. This is the knowledge; there is none other than love.
Lord Krishna also says the same, 'Avajaananti mam mudha', these foolish people think of me as this human body. I am not the body, I am the infinite consciousness; I am bliss.
Once we meet our Self, then life’s purpose has been achieved, that is all it is.
This is what it means to come close to the Guru. Guru is a mirror, a reflection to make you meet the Self. And there is no difference between you and me because we are all made up of one thing, one element and that is consciousness.
This is what Lord Buddha said and Krishna also said.
Do you know the meaning of the word 'Rama'?
In English they say 'rays' or 'radiance', this originated from the word 'Ra'.
'Ra' means light and 'ma' means within me. The light that is in my heart is 'Rama'. So the light in everyone's heart is 'Rama'. In every heart there is 'Rama', everywhere there is 'Rama'.
This is what Buddha said, 'Appa deepo bhava', be the light yourself. The inner beauty, the light is within you and this is sadhana.
Jesus also said the same thing, be childlike, you will then reach my father's heaven. He also said, 'there is no difference between me and my heavenly father.'
He also said washing the feet of his disciples, 'you are greater, even greater than me.’ A devotee is even greater than God; Jesus also said this. So we find that all spiritual masters say the same thing, 'be connected in love, be happy, be at peace and embrace all as your own.' This is the mantra of love - nobody is an outsider, everyone belongs to us. There is no other mantra for knowledge. If you read quantum physics today, you will realize that there is nothing other than this. The entire world is made up of one wave-function, one vibration. This is what is called Vedanta. In Advaita Vedanta it is said 'Sarvam khalvidam Brahma'; ‘Nehana nasti kinchana’ In the whole creation besides this there is nothing. This is the knowledge; there is none other than love.
Gurudev, is this 'Tat Tvam Asi' (Thou art that)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, this is what is Tat Tvam Asi; Mahavaakya, the great sentence.
You are that - when you experience that there is no other. The whole universe is made up of one vibration.
It is one thing that has become many.
This is the modern thought also. If you read today's quantum physics, they say exactly word to word of what the ancient Advaita Philosopher Adi Shankara had said, that the whole universe is made up of one thing, there is no two.
The language of love is, there is no other and the language of knowledge is, there is no two. These are very essential, one to enrich your intellect, another to enrich your heart. And human life is a combination of head and heart; both are needed and both need to be enriched. Then service becomes a natural phenomenon. You don't have to make an effort to do service it is your very nature, your life.
The way you love your mother, you do not love your father. The way you love your father, you don't love you brother. The way you love your brother, you don't love your husband, wife, children or neighbors. These are various shades of love, these are all relationships. But what is your relationship to yourself? Who you are to yourself that is what real love is.
You are made up of a substance called love and love is the nature of the divine.
Asti, bhati, preeti - these three are the natures of consciousness.
Asti - the self; bhati – which is present is the whole creation; and preeti - the love it is made of.
And then nama and roopa - name and form.
So, name, form, existence, alive consciousness and love are the five aspects of divinity.
See the table and chair over there, we think it is dead and it has no consciousness. But it is not true, everything is conscious. It is, asti, bhati, preeti, naam and roopa.
The world is all name and form. The consciousness is one step beyond which is formless yet remains in all the forms. And meditation is abiding in the self; experiencing the deep inner space. When you are in meditation you are connected to the infinite past, infinite future and the depth of the presence.
You are that - when you experience that there is no other. The whole universe is made up of one vibration.
It is one thing that has become many.
This is the modern thought also. If you read today's quantum physics, they say exactly word to word of what the ancient Advaita Philosopher Adi Shankara had said, that the whole universe is made up of one thing, there is no two.
The language of love is, there is no other and the language of knowledge is, there is no two. These are very essential, one to enrich your intellect, another to enrich your heart. And human life is a combination of head and heart; both are needed and both need to be enriched. Then service becomes a natural phenomenon. You don't have to make an effort to do service it is your very nature, your life.
The way you love your mother, you do not love your father. The way you love your father, you don't love you brother. The way you love your brother, you don't love your husband, wife, children or neighbors. These are various shades of love, these are all relationships. But what is your relationship to yourself? Who you are to yourself that is what real love is.
You are made up of a substance called love and love is the nature of the divine.
Asti, bhati, preeti - these three are the natures of consciousness.
Asti - the self; bhati – which is present is the whole creation; and preeti - the love it is made of.
And then nama and roopa - name and form.
So, name, form, existence, alive consciousness and love are the five aspects of divinity.
See the table and chair over there, we think it is dead and it has no consciousness. But it is not true, everything is conscious. It is, asti, bhati, preeti, naam and roopa.
The world is all name and form. The consciousness is one step beyond which is formless yet remains in all the forms. And meditation is abiding in the self; experiencing the deep inner space. When you are in meditation you are connected to the infinite past, infinite future and the depth of the presence.
How does one ensure that local languages survive?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If local languages need to survive, people must have a sense of pride in that region and language.
Hindi, our national language wouldn't have survived too. The film industry has given a lot of support for this. Actors, singers and many others in the film industry have contributed to this.
Everyone needs to come together to ensure that the language survives. The use of local language must be increased in Schools, Colleges and homes.
Today in Colleges, most of the students listen mainly to English songs. We did not know even one English song during our College days! Though I have toured many countries, I don't have the habit of listening to the music from those countries. I just know the songs that are sung at satsang.
Whenever an international singer comes to Mumbai, people listen to those songs with their jaws wide open! I get surprised! We have so many singers in our country, but there is not much encouragement to them. That is why we have undertaken various programs to encourage our cultural talent. There is still a lot left to do.
Hindi, our national language wouldn't have survived too. The film industry has given a lot of support for this. Actors, singers and many others in the film industry have contributed to this.
Everyone needs to come together to ensure that the language survives. The use of local language must be increased in Schools, Colleges and homes.
Today in Colleges, most of the students listen mainly to English songs. We did not know even one English song during our College days! Though I have toured many countries, I don't have the habit of listening to the music from those countries. I just know the songs that are sung at satsang.
Whenever an international singer comes to Mumbai, people listen to those songs with their jaws wide open! I get surprised! We have so many singers in our country, but there is not much encouragement to them. That is why we have undertaken various programs to encourage our cultural talent. There is still a lot left to do.
(A member of the audience asked a question and it was inaudible)
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is important to have a clean mind.
If you do pooja wearing a wet cloth (symbolism of purity) but your mind is not clean, it is not of much use. The cloth is also quite dirty sometimes and the water used may not be clean too!
Some people take a dip in a lake, but the water of the lake might be dirty. However, people think that they are clean just because they have taken bath.
Just because I said a clean mind is enough, it doesn't mean you sit for pooja wearing a suit with your shoes and socks on after having travelled all over the city!
People in western nations wear socks because of the cold weather. In a place like India which has tropical climate, we wear socks even though we sweat and roam around in them as if we are going to accomplish something great! We need to come out of this foolishness.
There are two types of blind beliefs:
1. Blind belief in things that are modern or latest
2. Blind belief in things that are ancient
People can progress only when they leave these two blind beliefs.
If you do pooja wearing a wet cloth (symbolism of purity) but your mind is not clean, it is not of much use. The cloth is also quite dirty sometimes and the water used may not be clean too!
Some people take a dip in a lake, but the water of the lake might be dirty. However, people think that they are clean just because they have taken bath.
Just because I said a clean mind is enough, it doesn't mean you sit for pooja wearing a suit with your shoes and socks on after having travelled all over the city!
People in western nations wear socks because of the cold weather. In a place like India which has tropical climate, we wear socks even though we sweat and roam around in them as if we are going to accomplish something great! We need to come out of this foolishness.
There are two types of blind beliefs:
1. Blind belief in things that are modern or latest
2. Blind belief in things that are ancient
People can progress only when they leave these two blind beliefs.
Gurudev, what is the difference between a Saint and a Guru? Kabir, Guru Nanak, Gyaneshwar, and Mirabai were all saints.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: These are all names, it is all the same.
Those who increase your sattva are Saints and those who remove ignorance are Gurus.
Those who increase your sattva are Saints and those who remove ignorance are Gurus.
Gurudev, you have visited many countries around the world. All these counties have many different cultures and many different Gods. Why do we need these many Gods? Isn’t one God enough?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When I went to Pakistan for the first time, they asked me the same thing. They said, ‘we believe in one God but in India you people believe in 33 million Gods. What is this?’
I said, 'In Islam there is one God, but ninety nine names. In India we have one thousand and eight names and for each name we attached a form also.'
Then I asked them one question, 'do you make samosa here?'
They said, 'Yes.'
‘And you make paratha, kulcha, halwa and pasta. Why do you make so many different types of dishes from one wheat?
It is just to have a personal connection.
The ancient people in India said, ‘any name, any form, but know that there is only one. One divinity, one Paramatma (Supreme Being).’
There are many Devatas (Gods); many aspects of the one Paramatma - female aspect, male aspect but it is one Brahman and know that the whole creation is one organism, one unit.
Today scientists say, even if one animal species becomes extinct on the planet, the planet cannot survive. This is what our ancient people also said. Each animal brings down a particular type of cosmic rays into the planet, and they manifest particular vibrations.
A peacock manifest a particular vibration, elephants brings in a particular energy, a crow brings in a particular energy, dogs brings in a particular energy. So every animal is connected to the macrocosm and the microcosm.
So they are called 'vahana', means they bring down a certain type of energy into the planet. So honor them all.
Honor does not mean you go and fall at the feet of the crow. Respect every animal and every creature on the planet because God is present in every atom of creation.
The whole creation is filled with consciousness, filled with knowledge.
Do you know what the word Vishnu means? That which is present in every 'anu' (atom). The omnipresent, the omnipotent is Vishnu. ‘Anu’ (atom) has come from Vishnu and 'Vi' means special way. That which is present in a special manner in every particle of creation is Vishnu.
Narayan means one who exhibits in the nervous system of every human being; one who is housed in the nervous system. So the whole knowledge brings you to a point of union, oneness with the divinity, and that is what is love.
I said, 'In Islam there is one God, but ninety nine names. In India we have one thousand and eight names and for each name we attached a form also.'
Then I asked them one question, 'do you make samosa here?'
They said, 'Yes.'
‘And you make paratha, kulcha, halwa and pasta. Why do you make so many different types of dishes from one wheat?
It is just to have a personal connection.
The ancient people in India said, ‘any name, any form, but know that there is only one. One divinity, one Paramatma (Supreme Being).’
There are many Devatas (Gods); many aspects of the one Paramatma - female aspect, male aspect but it is one Brahman and know that the whole creation is one organism, one unit.
Today scientists say, even if one animal species becomes extinct on the planet, the planet cannot survive. This is what our ancient people also said. Each animal brings down a particular type of cosmic rays into the planet, and they manifest particular vibrations.
A peacock manifest a particular vibration, elephants brings in a particular energy, a crow brings in a particular energy, dogs brings in a particular energy. So every animal is connected to the macrocosm and the microcosm.
So they are called 'vahana', means they bring down a certain type of energy into the planet. So honor them all.
Honor does not mean you go and fall at the feet of the crow. Respect every animal and every creature on the planet because God is present in every atom of creation.
The whole creation is filled with consciousness, filled with knowledge.
Do you know what the word Vishnu means? That which is present in every 'anu' (atom). The omnipresent, the omnipotent is Vishnu. ‘Anu’ (atom) has come from Vishnu and 'Vi' means special way. That which is present in a special manner in every particle of creation is Vishnu.
Narayan means one who exhibits in the nervous system of every human being; one who is housed in the nervous system. So the whole knowledge brings you to a point of union, oneness with the divinity, and that is what is love.
Gurudev, in my times of difficulty I have been seeing you in clouds, in the sky.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: God gives us miracles every day in our life but there are times we don't see it. Become aware of it and see the abundance. Miracles are in abundance.
Don't go after miracles; miracles are there to bring the trust in you, ‘yes the divine is taking care of me.’
Don't go after miracles; miracles are there to bring the trust in you, ‘yes the divine is taking care of me.’
Gurudev, I do Gayatri mantra every day for one hour and I have experienced the same effect here that I experience from it. I feel very good. Can I do it with Sudarshan Kriya?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Sitting and doing Gayatri mantra for one hour is not necessary. Doing it for a little while is okay. Do only as much as you can do.
Yes you can chant Gayatri mantra after doing Sudarshan Kriya and meditation.
How to maintain enthusiasm throughout the day?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You are enthusiastic now, right? How did you get this enthusiasm now?
Answer: Because you are here that is why I am enthusiastic!)
Feel that I am always with you. Then you will always be enthusiastic!
Answer: Because you are here that is why I am enthusiastic!)
Feel that I am always with you. Then you will always be enthusiastic!
We have all experienced joy because of you, but can you please share what has brought you joy?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If I didn't have happiness, then how could I share it with everybody? We can only give what we have.
What does beauty mean according to you?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If someone has a beautiful mind, that is real beauty.