Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
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:
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:
How much freedom is to be given or restrictions are to beput on teenagers?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You have forgotten because you havecrossed that stage and you don’t remember what turmoil they are goingthrough. There are so many hormonalchanges taking place in their body. Shake hands with them and gently guide themthrough this.Teenage feverishness is only for few years. Not onlyphysical but mental and emotional turbulence is so high in them. After the ageof three, children begin to experience all these emotions like jealousy,possessiveness and these continue till teenage. Some people don’t come out ofteenage at all. Mental turbulence is huge for them.
Teenage is a tough time. It needs great patience to dealwith teenage children. So with greatpatience, like a friend and philosopher, give them some space and at the sametime put your foot down and say ‘No’. Don’t be too loose at that time.
Q:
I know one cannot be happy and married. But can one be married and enlightened?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Why do you think that one cannot be happy and married? Why cannot you be happy and married as well? There are many bachelors who are not happy, and also there many married people who are happy. Happiness is an attitude which you chose. It all depends just on you. There are people with no jobs but are happy. There are people with jobs and are unhappy. Be wise and be happy. Do whatever – married, unmarried, employed, unemployed…But independent of what you are doing, you need to be happy.Q:
Is it right if one’s parents do not appreciate the virtues of a child but compares demerits of the child with the good qualities of other children?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Once in a while it is ok. When the intention is that their child should learn, then it’s ok. But if it happens every time, then it is not ok.Q:
Is the future free will or destiny?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Wisdom is to see the past as destiny, future as free will and be in the present moment.Seeing the future as destiny is foolishness and can make you lazy. The past is destiny because you can’t change the past.Q:
Guru, I often see people bow down to you. Is doing all that necessary?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
No, no, not at all. These things are really insignificant. You know, these outer gestures are insignificant. Don’t give too much importance to them. All these gestures don’t matter. We all are connected from a deeper level, the level of the heart. That’s how we have met and we are all here.Q:
How to strengthen dispassion?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Without dispassion, sadhana (spiritual practices) won’t work. When mind is caught up in entanglements then sadhana is not possible. Once dispassion is there, sadhana becomes very simple. Also with sadhana the mind is cleansed and dispassion arises.Q:
Dearest Guruji, today, I learnt courage from you. I often thought that you were a scary and angry person. But I found so much peace in you. I am afraid what if I lose you.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You can’t lose me, and I can’t lose you!Our mind projects our feelings on others. This is what happens most of the times. Sometimes people ask me if I am angry at them. They say that I didn’t smile at them or talk to them in crowd, and comprehend that I am angry at them. But why would I be angry at them? There are so many people in crowd. I smile at some, and pass a bigger smile to them who have a long face so that they also smile. But smiling at some doesn’t mean I am angry at others. Many times we project our own emotions on others, especially when we love someone. If you are angry or upset at others, you think that others are angry and upset at you. Here knowledge of the self is so important so that you can have a balanced perception. With the knowledge, you know what is happening inside you, and you know what is happening inside of others. That clarity of perception, observation and expression can only come through meditation.Q:
What can I do to become the Divine’s favorite?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Smile and Serve. Smile at everybody and serve all.
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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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