Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
While doing seva, sometimes I get attached to name and fame. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you are centered, established in the knowledge, when you meditate, this situation does not arise. When your attachment shifts from the work at hand to name and fame, it is time to go within.Be ready to face any challenges that society throws at you. It is said that gold shines more brilliantly, the more it is beaten. When you squeeze sugarcane, it gives you sweetness. Sandalwood, when ground, gives fragrance. Stay in your nature even while under pressure. Every situation that comes to us is for our upliftment.
Q:
What is the importance of a name?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Well, you need something by which people can call you! One name is the name our parents gave to us at the time of birth. We are deeply connected to this name. To be completely free, the last attachment that we let go is that of our name. Connect and attach yourself to the name (the mantra that you receive from the Master). The mantra establishes you in the witness consciousness. Of the mantras, the highest is the 'ajapa jap', the mantra which resonates effortlessly and spontaneously in our consciousness. It is not a doing but a happening. That is So Ham. It resonates eternally. When we experience this with awareness, it becomes meditation.Q:
Between karma and bhagya (good fortune or luck), which is more important?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you are in front of the television, do you listen to the voice first or watch the screen? They happen simultaneously, isn’t it? In the same way, both karma (action) and bhagya(good fortune) are important. When we perform appropriate actions, then we become bhagya or fortunate. When we have good fortune, then our actions are fruitful.Q:
Is dispassion connected to upbringing or past impressions?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Vairagya or dispassion is associated with viveka or the power of discrimination. When we were small children, we wanted to have cotton candy or lollipops and toys. As we grew up, these desires dropped by themselves. We became dispassionate about toys but got attached to something else. In course of time, desires drop effortlessly. When we move ahead with awareness then our attachments drop even faster, and with love. It doesn’t mean that you throw everything out of your house! There is no desire to procure anything. Irrespective of the desire being fulfilled, there is no feverishness or attachment.Q:
Why don’t we remember our past lifetimes?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You will. Go deep in meditation. When you meditate, it is possible to see your past lifetimes. In a way, it is good that you do not remember until you are established in the knowledge. Otherwise you will be caught up in wanting to know how much you earned in your previous lives, where you saved it, who is enjoying it and how you can still get it! Knowledge of your past lifetimes will be revealed to you only when your consciousness is established in the present moment.Q:
How do we experience fullness?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
What is it that you lack? Recognize this first. Because of this lack you feel sad. When you feel sad and helpless, then you pray. Offer your limitations, instead of only offering money in places of worship. The Divine is ready to accept all your weaknesses or limitations.That Divinity which is complete, resides in you. The Divine is eternal, omniscient and omnipotent. Knowing that you are a part on that Divinity, how can you feel limited or incomplete?
Know that you are complete with the help of knowledge, devotion and rightful actions.
Even if you do not know, have faith that you are complete. You do not have to achieve it.
There is air around us. We have to know it or believe it. But we don't have to achieve it because it is already there! Similarly, without the Divine, we do not exist.
How is the Divine? What does He do? These are meaningless questions.
The Divine is there. The Divine is my very own. I am a part of the Divine. Know this.
It is easier to start with the feeling that the Divine is your very own and in time you will know that you are part of the Divine.
Q:
Which is better: satvic guna (calmness, meditation) or triguna ateet (beyond the three gunas {roughly translated as energies})?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you do not have satvic guna, you cannot be triguna ateet.You have to move from tamogun (inertia), to rajogun (that energy which is not used productively in activity and which becomes restlessness) and from rajogun to satogun.
From satogun, you will know mukti (freedom).
However, don’t get attached to satogun. You use soap to wash the dirt off your body. Do you allow the soap to remain on your body?
There’s a saying which says, drown your good deeds in a well. Otherwise, you become attached to them, and doing good deeds will make you arrogant.
When you are not attached to even mukti, then you will be triguna ateet.
There is a quote in Sanskrit:
‘Samam pashyanti sarvatra
up mam pashyati sarvatah’
Krishna says, ‘See equality in everything. The one who sees me in everything and sees everything in me, I won't be apart from him and he won't be different from me.’
* a type of breathing technique
Q:
I am bullied by friends I don’t know why. If I hit back it becomes worse. And if I keep quiet then I’m considered weak.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When there is no question, then what is the need of the answer? Drop your questions, your doubts.You all are extraordinary. Just bear one thing in mind, that you take interest in knowledge. Read a bit of knowledge. Everyone must read the Bhagvad-Gita, the Guru Granth Sahib and the Yog Vasishta. Read one-two pages of the Yog Vasishta everyday. Like you watch television everyday? In this manner, make it a habit to read a few pages of knowledge. When you wake up in the morning, read a knowledge book.
Just as water that doesn’t flow, stagnates, the mind needs to gain knowledge from books from time to time so that it doesn’t stagnate. If the mind is not polished with knowledge, it will not shine. So get a little bit of knowledge everyday.
Be in knowledge. Have fun. Knowledge, singing and meditation. Have these three aspects in mind. Spend some time to gain knowledge in the morning.Read two-three pages everyday. Read the Bhagvad-Gita, Yog Vasishta. And in the evening, sing some bhajans. Enjoy it thoroughly. Sit for some time in meditation. In satsang, it is important to sit for a while in meditation.
Practice meditation. Become a seeker. Walk the path of the seeker. You will get the best of everything the world has to offer. It is important that those on the path of knowledge consider themselves fortunate. They, in turn, should give this good fortune to as many people as possible. We shouldn’t limit the happiness to ourselves: we should extend and help everyone have a taste of the same.
So remember: singing, knowledge and meditation. Did you turn the pages of a book today or not? Did the water flow or not? Yes? Just as flowing water remains clean, when you turn the pages of a book of knowledge, your mind remains clean and pure. And meditate everyday for a little while. Do Sadhana. And remember that when you become a seeker, you will lack nothing. When you walk on this path, there will be no lacking in your life. And whenever you are in trouble, you are not alone. The Divine is with you.
Don’t scatter yourself too much. Be centred and collected. And walk with ease. You don’t have to put too much effort. Yes? See how easily we can collect flowers. Similarly, there is nothing difficult.
There is bliss in chaos. Bliss and chaos go together at home! We have to take everything and move forward.
Q:
Why are parents neglected by their own children? Brothers are being murdered by their own brothers.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Parents are being neglected because they didn’t spend enough time with their children, and didn’t imbibe spiritual education in them. They made the children too materialistic and selfish. This is because you gave them food, clothes and a roof over their heads but not knowledge.Q:
What to do to get peace of mind?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Meditation.There are two types of sadhaks (devotees).
1) One who is yet to get onto the path. They have to work hard, (parishrama).
2) One who has already on the path. They have to rest, (vishraama)
Those who are just starting on the path are like those who are running to catch the train and those who have already begun are those who are already sitting inside the train. People who are just starting are worried about their ability to catch the train; they have to catch a taxi from home, rush to the platform on time, find the right platform, and then find the correct coach, and then get on the train. Until they get on the train, they cannot rest.
If those who are on the train already run from one compartment to the other, will they reach their destination sooner? What is the use of running inside the compartment?
After getting into the compartment, put your luggage down and relax. And then you will get to your destination. You can take rest. You have the satisfaction that you are already on the path, that the guru is the engine driver who will take you to the destination, and you only need to relax.
Think about this, and make a decision about what kind of sadhak you are.