05-June-2012 QA1

Guruji, if love resides at the level of chetna (consciousness) alone; then what is the need of relationships?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Consciousness expresses itself through the person. And relationships happen among different persons. If you do not feel the need for any relationship, then you cannot establish any relationship by force. The fact that you are asking a question about the need for relationships means you feel the need for relationships somewhere. Otherwise the question would not have arisen in the first place.
You are struggling with yourself and feel the need for relationships, yet your ego comes in between and you feel, ‘Oh I don’t need any relationships.’ Or you are not sure whether you need or do not need relationships.
That is why I say that whether relationships stand or fade away, you should not get affected. You just relax within your Self. When you meditate, keep everything aside and just repose in your Self. And while dealing or interacting with others in the world, form good relationships with them all.