Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
Sometimes people ask why you believe in Guru, and not just in God. My answer most of the times is Guru is my God. But is there any difference in God and Guru, please tell.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is fine. You don’t have to bother and justify so much to verify your statement. Just smile. There is no need to answer every question. You can say, ‘don’t you know that Soul, God, Guru –all are the same’. The whole universe is made up of one substance only. Like there is same electricity but flowing in different things-the bulb, the fan, the Air Conditioner etc. Likewise there may be different forms and norms, but we are made up of same thing (consciousness).Q:
If I think badly of others, will something bad happen to me? Or will my positive thinking work for me?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t get entangled in these thoughts. Just be simple, easy, and relaxed.If you don’t have a complicated mind, you won’t have bad thoughts. Just observe the mind and relax.
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.
Q:
What is the finest form of karma?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
What we don’t want for ourselves, we don’t do it unto others also.Q:
Why is it so difficult for people to understand each other?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Because they don’t understand themselves first. You do not understand your own mind and you try to understand others’. It becomes very difficult.Q:
Life has a dual nature. How do you feel oneness in that duality?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Like high tide and low tide in an ocean, they come and go but the ocean remains. How was it five, ten, fifteen years ago? You went through a down time and a high time. It came and it went. Looking back in time you gain strength. “This will pass.”Q:
what is the purpose of life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
One who knows won’t tell you, and anybody who tells you doesn’t know. It is very important question. Keep it with yourself. You should keep yourself asking this question. This very question will clear the entire cobweb around you, and will keep you on track of what you want and where do you want to go.Q:
If love is all around us, why do we seek far and wide to find it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Because you don’t know it. Once you know it, you won’t search.Q:
Are thoughts internal or external?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Thoughts are in the mind. The mind is all around you. Both inside and out.Q:
I was thinking since I was a small child that what the original sin is? I never got a satisfactory answer as it couldn’t be about the apple. I wanted to know if you could explain from your perspective what is it all about or is it all a lie?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I am not a theologian in the first place and so I haven’t studied the original sin concept. So I cannot comment much on that. All I can say is that from Indian perspective sin is that which brings misery to many and merit is that which brings love, happiness and joy to many. Sin is something that could be washed out. It is not your nature. If sin is your very nature, you can never get rid of it. Like if mud is your skin, you cannot get rid of it. But if it is on your skin you can take a dip and it will get washed away. If the flaw is inside the diamond, it can’t be corrected. But if slush is on the diamond, it just needs a little water to be poured on and it gets clean.Here in India we consider sin as a superimposition. There are three things in the yoga- malah, avarna and vikshepa. Malah is impurities in the body, vikshepa is impurity on the mind , restlessness and disturbances in the mind and avarana is the sheath which covers the spirit, which is the ego -identification with one little thing. And the purpose of yoga is to clean the three sheaths of impurity. Yoga loosens up all the three sheaths of impurities. And then the true spirit which is part of the divinity shines through.
So I don’t consider sin is your nature but sin is that which you have acquired due to ignorance. And with the light of knowledge it just disappears.
