Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

What we don’t want for ourselves, we don’t do it unto others also.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Because they don’t understand themselves first. You do not understand your own mind and you try to understand others’. It becomes very difficult.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Like high tide and low tide in an ocean, they come and go but the ocean remains. How was it five, ten, fifteen years ago? You went through a down time and a high time. It came and it went. Looking back in time you gain strength. “This will pass.”

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

One who knows won’t tell you, and anybody who tells you doesn’t know. It is very important question. Keep it with yourself. You should keep yourself asking this question. This very question will clear the entire cobweb around you, and will keep you on track of what you want and where do you want to go.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Because you don’t know it. Once you know it, you won’t search.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Thoughts are in the mind. The mind is all around you. Both inside and out.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

I am not a theologian in the first place and so I haven’t studied the original sin concept. So I cannot comment much on that. All I can say is that from Indian perspective sin is that which brings misery to many and merit is that which brings love, happiness and joy to many. Sin is something that could be washed out. It is not your nature. If sin is your very nature, you can never get rid of it. Like if mud is your skin, you cannot get rid of it. But if it is on your skin you can take a dip and it will get washed away. If the flaw is inside the diamond, it can’t be corrected. But if slush is on the diamond, it just needs a little water to be poured on and it gets clean.
Here in India we consider sin as a superimposition. There are three things in the yoga- malah, avarna and vikshepa. Malah is impurities in the body, vikshepa is impurity on the mind , restlessness and disturbances in the mind and avarana is the sheath which covers the spirit, which is the ego -identification with one little thing. And the purpose of yoga is to clean the three sheaths of impurity. Yoga loosens up all the three sheaths of impurities. And then the true spirit which is part of the divinity shines through.
So I don’t consider sin is your nature but sin is that which you have acquired due to ignorance. And with the light of knowledge it just disappears.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

When you wish for something the wish just happens naturally. You have no control over it. It doesn’t ask your permission. It doesn’t need a visa for entry!
So, just say “Let thy will be done”!

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

You are worried about all the corruption in the society! That is why I say we all have to stand up by principles. Our boys went to Hyderabad and they needed some license to start some project. They stood by their principles and they get their job accomplished without having to bribe anyone. Like them, you also stand by your principles. It could be little difficult in the beginning. That is why we have to inculcate spirituality in every aspect of society. Non-violence and integrity have to be inculcated. We have to fight against corruption.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

I leave that question with you to wonder about. You should have something to wonder about. Besides, why do want to know all the trade secrets!(Laughter)