Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
What should we do if we find opposition from our parents towards our spiritual practices?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Do well in your studies, and they will allow you. Maintain a balance. Don’t be bookworms, then you would have no experience of the real world. You could gain a doctorate but become practically good-for-nothing. You can’t even handle simple human relationships. You become completely cut off from interaction with people, and are unable to gel with others. You are unable to contribute to society. You should be good at academics but be social, spiritual, and emotional beings too. Connect with the world. Don’t be caged in a box somewhere. This is very important. That is why, add a little bit of seva(service), and spiritual practices to your subjects of interest. They will always complement you. This would make your parents understand.Today a lady called me, and said: “My son meditates in the morning, and evening. What will happen when he gets married? What will his wife say?”
I told her that these concerns are to be discarded. The mother agrees that her boy has changed tremendously after meditation. She is worried about how his wife will accept this. This is a wrong concept – that one should not meditate, and that they should be ‘normal.’ Normal for them is really abnormal. We need to educate them.
Q:
I am not in control of my mind. I am afraid becoming a teacher is taking me away from naturalness, humbleness. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
That is a prayer more than a question. Prayers will always be answered but not in words.Q:
Whenever I have problems, I have called upon God for help. But God never comes to support me. Why doesn’t God love me?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is impossible that you have a problem and you haven’t found a solution. You should only remember that when you have a problem, God is with you. Not only in the times when you have problems. Even when you don’t have problems, God is with you.Q:
In society, everyone is living peacefully. Yet some people create disturbances. What should we do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Sometimes you have to, sometimes no. Asprushate (caste division) doesn’t help anyone. Don’t keep hatred towards anybody. In there is a dead snake and you keep beating it, your hand will get hurt. Yet, in some places, the stick is necessary. Don’t have dvesha (aversion) for it.Q:
Guruji, does healing work?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
From your side, definitely. If it heals from your side other’s will get healed.Q:
What is puja, and prayer? What is the significance of Rudra puja? During puja, is it better to watch or meditate?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Meditation! What is happening outside, is not important. With your eyes closed, you must feel that when the water is being poured on the shiva lingam, you too are getting an abhishekam (sacred cleansing) of chanting. Just sit, and get immersed in the chanting.Q:
What are the three main things which have led to the success of the Art of Living?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Sincerity of purpose, inclusive attitude (all inclusiveness, no one is outside of us, sense of belongingness), and God’s grace!Q:
Do you love me?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Does anyone ask water – do you flow?Do you ask the mountain – do you stand?
Do you ask the sun - do you shine?
Do you ask clouds – do you give rain?
Then how can you ask – do you love me?
Love IS and love is not an emotion. It is our very being.
Don’t ask anyone if they love you – only fools ask this.
Even if someone is angry, he is demonstrating love.
Emotions like anger, jealousy, and greed are because of love.
Love is our nature.
If someone is sleeping, do you ask the person are you sleeping?
If you do, then you have already woken them up!
Q:
Guruji, when are you coming to my home? I want to cook Rice pudding (Kheer) for
you and serve it to you.
you and serve it to you.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you have to make a wish then make a great wish. This is just a small wish. If many people wish to do the same then I would have to change my name to Ganesh. So make a wish that everyone stops the use of alcohol and drugs, and takes interest in meditation. More and more people start to walk on the spiritual path and start to live in knowledge. Drop your small wishes and start blessing people with the wish that their work is done. This knowledge has such power that you can do anything in the world. All of us have that capacity. You start using yourwill power, mind power. This will benefit you and others also. How many of you have already experienced this? See a lot of people have such experiences. You know you keep stepping up from success to success. There is no option of stepping down.
Q:
If atma (spirit) is neither created nor destroyed then from where do these new souls come? How is the population of the world increasing?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
My dear, so many animals are also getting extinct. Very few sparrows are left, many crocodiles are missing. Like this, many other species are missing. Just imagine. I think you will get the rest of your answer.
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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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