Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
Should we follow the advice we get in dreams?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There are five sources for dreams:1. Your dreams may come from your desires
2. Your dreams may come from your fears
3. Your dreams may be delusions
4. Your dreams may be premonitions of future events
5. Your dreams may be a result of the place you are sleeping in
We experience different things in our dreams. Usually, our dreams are a mixture of the above. Our dreams are of things from the past, future, and of various types.
Don't analyze your dreams too much. If a dream comes, let it come, and just go ahead with your life.
Q:
It is said that sadhana and meditation influence the mind. Does the food also have an effect on the mind?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, food has an impact on the mind. It is said jaisa ann waisa mann, as is the food, so is the mind. Food influences your mind, thoughts and behaviour.Q:
Guruji, my brother started writing a book but has passed away 10 years ago. Please give me blessings to complete the book.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Guruji gave blessings and said every human being is a book in himself or herself- a novel. If they are on the spiritual path it’s a happy ending. If not, it’s a tragedy. In a library we get all books- the whole world is a library. Human race is part of this library. There is only one author for all these books and HE is flooding the market and there are no takers! Only a few, who are awake, see that these are all stories. A few Bhaktas(devotees) recognize this & rejoice. And you are one of those few. If you think you are not, become one right away. You have a lifelong membership for the library.Q:
What is Guru tatva?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You have a question, you want an answer. Wherever the answer comes from - that is Guru tatva.Q:
Can you please talk about farmer suicide and genetically transformed food?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Farmer suicide is a very big problem in developing countries. Some of the companies, which are producing genetically transformed food are buying original seeds from poor farmers and burning them. Some people out of greed join in hands with them. What is most needed today is educating the illiterate farmers. Art of Living has worked in 520 villages where farmers are given proper education. Now all these villages where volunteers have worked, and educated people, suicide has completely stopped. But there is still a lot more to be done. We need to work a lot more.Q:
Why is it difficult to get focused on things that I don’t like to do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you don’t like something, then your focus is all the more on it. If you like something, then you focus on it. When you’re neutral about something, when there is no aversion, then there is no focus.Studying the nature of mind is itself is an amazing phenomena. You will be thrilled knowing and learning more and more about your own mind. When I say mind, I don’t mean just mind. I would rather say the consciousness because the mind is one function of the consciousness. The perception is what we call the mind. The perceptible aspect of the consciousness is called mind. The judgmental aspect, the intellect.
The study of consciousness is the most difficult. And with time and maturity, everybody gets it.
Q:
Guruji I love you.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You have no choice.I haven’t left you with an option.Q:
What is your suggestion for those who want to concur the world through a sharp intellect?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, you sharpen your intellect but don’t think that you can drink through the eyes. You can only see through the eyes. You cannot drink thought the nose or ears. Similarly, you can know of the Divine and satisfy your intellect. However, if understood through the intellect that there is no God, then you will not get the experience. Can you listen to music though the eyes?Like every sense organ has its own function, God can only be known through the heart. What is beyond intelligence is only Divine. However sharpen your intellect to become silent, sharp and talented.
Q:
How to be an instrument of the grace of the Guru (Gurukripa)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
By being more grateful. The one who is always complaining gets a little away from the Grace. When we are grateful for whatever God has given us, then we never lack anything and the grace continues forever.Q:
I am so full of doubt. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t you doubt your doubting? Doubt your doubt! When there is too much confusion, then find solace in surrender. Surrender to your Guru, the Divine or your mother. You are not alone. Your life will be successful.* refer to Sri Sri’s discourse on the Ashtavakra Geeta)