Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
What is the difference between ego and self-respect?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
In ego you need someone else. In self-respect, others are not needed, and no one can take it away from you.Q:
What is the goal of our life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
This is a question you should ponder on. What is it that you want? It is a very important question. Ponder on the answer - what is it that I need? Then all that is important in your life will stand and the unimportant will fall. Then what you think is important, within that (category) you prioritize again and again and again. And when you ponder on that and when nothing remains then you are the goal. Till then its good to keep doing this.Q:
What does 'I am nothing' mean ? Are we negating our own existence?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You know everything else can be explained but emptiness cannot be explained. You are asking me to explain the emptiness. A substance can be explained but lack of all substance cannot be explained. Similarly, 'I am nobody' is an experience. It is a shift from being somebody, from being a limited identity to unlimited identity.Q:
When we experience meaninglessness and a hollow and emptiness in life, does it not give rise to depression and a sense of loss?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You know when you feel so empty and there is nothing, definitely it gives rise to depression. That is where love, devotion, dedication and a cause combined with the knowledge that everything is nothingness, has to come.That’s why Lord Buddha said everything is nothing. Along with that he said education, sacrifice, devotion all this is a must. Compassion with nothingness makes you very beautiful.
Q:
Why do people bow down to the Divine?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is a tradition in this country – people bow down to show humility. However there is no point in just bowing down from the body, if your mind bows down then it is useful.Q:
Why are there bad people in this world?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Why don’t you ask a movie maker to make a movie only with the hero in it? Life is a struggle of both good and evil but only good will prevail.Q:
What does the mantra Bhadram Karne-bhi-h Shrnuyam Deva... mean?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
This is the first mantra to be recited before any pooja. It means, let my ears hear good things, let my eyes see good things, let us speak only good words, let our life be on the Divine path.Q:
What can I do to become the Divine’s favorite?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Smile and Serve. Smile at everybody and serve all.Q:
No matter how sincerely I do sadhana and attend satsang, I am unable to get rid of eating non-vegetarian food. It makes me guilty, please help.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You talk to some of the YES!+* people. They will tell you all the ways. You know the main thing is to save your mind, don’t let guilt enter your mind. Just be natural.Q:
My mind goes all over, even when I’m doing pooja.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is Ok. See it is not the best when the mind goes in all directions. But you have got into the habit of sitting with yourself everyday. That ways sometime you will get into meditation and an samskara (impression) is formed.There is benefit from mantra japa. Even if you are not benefitted 100 percent but just 20 percent, that is also Ok. To settle the mind, pranayama is necessary. Do swadhaya (study of the Self) and keep reminding yourself that everything is nashwar (transitory).
What seems like a problem today will be OK, it has to be OK.
We sit for pooja, along with flowers even leaves and thorns are offered. So it means that we accept life with balance, whether there are flowers, thorns, fruits, leaves and surrender everything.