Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
Can you speak on the subject of marriage and our attachment to this idea?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I’m not so qualified to speak about marriage; I have no experience of it! It is an important institution which teaches you how to accept and move on in life, how to care for and share with another and to be shared and cared. I can give you some tips.At the end of the talk, Sri Sri invited everyone to visit India.
Mahalo!
Q:
Is violent action ever appropriate?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
A conscious action taken to curb violence may appear to be violent itself. In fact it is not. However, I am not for capital punishment. I feel there is a chance to bring reformation in every body. Have compassion for the ones who do hurtful things and have no remorse. Have compassion for their lack of education and recognize that there is a victim inside the culprit.Q:
Praying for peace does not seem to work. Is there a more practical way to achieve peace?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Praying for peace does work! In 2004, there was a war between India and Pakistan. The chief of the Indian army called me and asked me to pray for the soldiers. We prayed for both the sides. The war did not happen at all. Action, education and prayer are all necessary for peace.Q:
Should one follow the visions that one has in deep meditation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You take it with a pinch of salt. Sometimes because of your own impressions, your own desires, or own fears, you have those visions. So, you cannot trust your vision 100 percent till you are totally hollow and empty.Q:
I get confused sometimes, and cannot make out what to do and what not to do. Like while studying, I get lost and don’t remember to study anything –what to do in such situations?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Keeping yourself engaged in Sadhna (Practices), Satsang and Service gives you focus in life. Are you all getting that focus?Next part of the conversation in the next post..
Q:
Is it necessary to be religious in order to be spiritual?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Spirituality is the way you live, feel and relate. It is the essence of all religions. Religion with spirituality is wonderful. Religion without spirituality is disastrous!Q:
Does time and mind have any relation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You should read the book ‘Celebrating Silence’ or ‘An intimate note to the sincere seeker’.Q:
Dearest Guruji, I am very intelligent. I have heard that intelligent people cannot meditate. How can I be stupid?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Then even stupid people would not be able to meditate! Who has said you are intelligent? You have given yourself a certificate of being intelligent. One who certifies oneself or puts any label on oneself is a stupid. Asking this question has already made you what you desired to be. The very need to ask this question indicates that you are stupid!Q:
Is there life on other planets?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is plenty of life on this planet. Let us handle this. Then we canmove to other planets!Q:
How realistic is it for a person to become enlightened in one lifetime?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You don’t have to be very special. You can have it right now in this room.
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Founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,The Art of Living is an educational and humanitarian movement engaged in stress-management and service initiatives.
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