8 September 2014 - QA 5

(A member of the audience asked a question which was inaudible)

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Yes, there are three kinds of people in society – the good, the bad and the cunning ones. We get inspiration by seeing and knowing the good people in society. From the bad people in society we learn and understand that we can actually do good and progress far more. And from the cunning ones we take this learning that we should not act in the same ways as they do. The bad ones trouble others and are troubled themselves too. If you see their faces, you will not find any spark of enthusiasm or joy. They look so tired, depressed and unhappy. Such people who are miserable only bring misery to those around them. One does not get anything else out of them. But what can you learn from them? You should learn that they did so-and-so wrong thing and have fallen into misery, and that you should not repeat the same mistake. So, bow and offer respect to the wicked people first before you bow down to the good ones because you get to learn so much from them. They have fallen into a ditch (of misery) and having done so they are teaching you a valuable lesson of life (to not repeat the same wrong deeds).