Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
Sometimes we feel disconnected with you how to overcome that?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Sometimes only na! So you got disconnected and then you feel the connection again, it will happen.Q:
What can we say to people in our satsangs who keep bringing in knowledge from different gurus?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Listen and let go. Don’t engage in too much discussion with them. Let everyone air their own opinions. The main thing is being with your own contemplation.Q:
I am into a field of research where I try to figure out the reasons of chaos in the world. In one of my researches when I was finding some conflicting threads in various religious prevalent beliefs, I found both Lord Budha and Lord Shankarya Charya had spoken of Soul. Can you throw some more light on seeming different statements of the Masters as per different times?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Lord buddha said that everything is nothing. Everything dissolves into nothing. He said, I meditated to see the soul and found no soul.Shakaracharya said: “Who searched? Who found that everything is nothing? Who said I did not find the Atma? That is Atma. That is what upanishads say. Buddha says the whole universe is empty like the space, Shankara Charya says the whole universe is full like space - everything is in space.
Q:
What do you say on the rumors of destruction of the world in the year 2012?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I want to tell you a story. In 1999, when I was in NorthAmerica, there was a rumor that everything will shut down in 2000. People soldhomes and stored food for six months - Milk powder, dry vegetables etc. Oh myGod! Then also I told that there would be no disaster and everything would beas usual. Now again, I am assuring you that it is only in the movie. The worldwill continue. In fact, transformation will be there from greedy materialism tohumanism. Children will be more aware of spirituality. There is a bright futurefor the world. Don’t think of any disaster. A disaster is already happening.This is because we have exploited the planet. We have put so many dynamites totake minerals, and hence earthquakes have become dominant. The weather! Russianever had such hot temperatures. So we have to care for the planet Earth. Planttrees and do all that is needed to reduce human greed. What do you think?Q:
Why do you have so many followers? Are they following you because you are a master?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Well, that you have to ask them! They may all have different reasons to say, I can’t speak for them. One thing that I see is when people are so happy and grateful, they come to express their gratefulness. Transformation that is happening in the world is so much. Millions of people are getting transformed in their personal life, social life and professional life.And we have these courses happening all over the world in schools, in prisons and in corporate sector as well. And in the poor sections of society, we give them education and self confidence to be more self reliant.
Q:
How does one balance work and life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
How do you balance on a bicycle? There is no “how.” You just do it.Q:
Can you talk about how one should be with mentally retarded people?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
They have come here to take service. Simply serve themQ:
How to make someone dear to you understand that something is useful for themand they must go for it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Keep pursuing gently and have patience, they will allunderstand. First you should have the conviction that this is good for them,and they will get it. How to get a thought or a desire manifested is verysimple. First intention and keep attention on it and then manifestation willfollow.Q:
How do I give more love to myself?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You want to give more love to yourself, IMPOSSIBLE. If an ocean says how can I give more water to myself, what can be said? If sugarcane says how can I give more sweetness to myself, what would you say? It is like sun saying how can it give more light to itself? It is impossible for you to give more love to yourself.In fact you love yourself too much, and that is the problem, you’re only thinking about yourself. Start thinking about everybody else, and give love to others. You are ‘love’ my dear, just relax and reduce your wants. Your wants and your desires are eating you up; you simply relax.
You should have wants. There is no problem if you have your desires, but don’t let the desires have you. I don’t mind you having desires at the initial stages. Later you find, before the desire arises in you, it gets fulfilled.
Q:
In order for people to feel better, is it a simple case of breathing, meditation and embracing intuition?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
“Correct!. We are not taught at school or at home how to manage negative emotions, like feeling unhappy, sad, jealous or angry. This knowledge has not been provided. But if you are taught how to manage your anger and your own emotions using your own breath, then it does a lot of good. Acquiring that knowledge is possible with the help of breathing and meditation.I have been in Buddhist and Hindu traditions for centuries, in China, Japan and India, through breathing and meditation. But the difference between our techniques and these old techniques is that ours suit modern-day people who have less time. This technique is so handy, useful and accessible in today’s modern society”.
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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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