Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
People say that life has both joy, and sorrow in equal proportions, but after experiencing the Divine, I have only joy. Is this the calm before the storm?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
No, not at all. All your sorrows have been dealt with in your past lives. In this life, you can be happy.Do seva (service) when you are happy, and make sacrifices when you are sad. Remember the Divine in your happy moments too. Most people only remember the Divine when they are sorrowful
“Seva mein jo sumiran kare, dukh kahe ko hove.” (The one who remembers the Divine in Seva, where is the sorrow for such a one?)
Yoga saves you from experiencing sorrow. This is its purpose. Yoga is not only about practicing asanas, it is also pranayama, meditation, satsang, and seva. So keep practicing pranayama, meditation, and do seva.
Q:
The food in the Ashram is great. We can feel the love of the Divine in each bite. Now how can I go home?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I thought you already came home! This is your home. Wherever you go, that is your office. You get rest at home, work at office. If you are tired from work, then you come here to rest.In society and work, be a partner,
at home be a helper.
Q:
Why is there suffering in love?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Without knowledge, there is suffering in love too. Despite knowledge, if there is suffering, then accept it. That is the nature of love.Q:
I want to commit my life to serving society. But my parents are insecure about this. How can I make them understand?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Good! Explain to them, convince them. But if you’re in the middle of education, complete it before you come here. Don’t leave it halfway.Q:
What is the secret to your fashion statement?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
In style, and fashion, no statement is required. No statement is made in fashion. Fashion is just appearance. But anything you do, do it with style!Q:
I am unable to give my 100 percent, despite all my efforts.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
t’s okay, give your 99 percent. If you can’t do that either, then give your 90 percent. That is also okay.Q:
An artist is able to create a beautiful picture, but I am not. Why?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You too can make a beautiful picture! The first time you try, you may not, but at your tenth attempt, you will.Everyone is the same here. Kings, peasants, saints, - all are equal. The intelligent, and the foolish are all the same.
Q:
Corrupt politicians are better off in life than simple, good people like us. Why?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If something good happens to them, it won’t last. For some time, they might believe that their deceit got them ahead, but it won’t last. “Satyameva Jayate” – truth always triumphs.Q:
When clothes get smaller, we recognize physical growth. How do we recognize spiritual growth?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Very easily. It depends on how you go ahead in every situation, especially bad situations. Do you deal with the situation with courage, and peace? If so, then, that is sign of your spiritual development. The more you smile, and the more you are happy, the more you are spiritually developed.Sometimes, in spite of doing a lot of sadhana, you get angry, and then you tend to think that you have not developed spiritually.
Don’t blame yourself. Even though you get angry, it is not the same as before. Earlier your anger would remain for long, now it subsides. To other people, you look the same but if you look within, the anger comes and goes away quickly. Earlier it used to take five years, now it takes five minutes to go away. This is our experience. That is why you should not blame yourself when you get any negative sentiments. Witness the feeling and let it go. With practice, the consciousness becomes stronger.
A plant has to be watered but when it grows into a tree, it is no longer necessary. Similarly, if the inner consciousness becomes stronger, all these vikaar (distortions) get erased.
Vishranti vikar mita (Deep rest removes negativity). That is why people are jailed. They are tired of doing bad deeds, so we let them take rest. When they rest, the negative thoughts get destroyed. There is no rest deeper than meditation.
Q:
We get good ideas during meditation, but we can’t write them down. What should we do to remember them later?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You must accept that the idea is there, inside your mind. It will come up when you need it. Accept that the idea is in a safe locker inside your mind. You can take it when you need it.
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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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