14 June 2014 - QA 7

Gurudev, for a Yogi this world is a penance, and for a Bhogi being alone is a penance. Can there be life beyond penance?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Penance makes us strong.
A Yogi is all alone in the forest and he feels happy. But when he is amongst people, and they pounce on him, pull his leg, or cause him pain, yet if he does not get angry and remains calm in his mind, then he has won.
For a Yogi being alone is very easy. But for him to be comfortable and happy amongst people is a penance and a skill, which is necessary.

Similarly, a Bhogi is very comfortable in a crowd. But if he gets depressed being alone, then eventually he will be unhappy being in a crowd too. Why is this? It is because there is no fulfilment inside.
If you cannot be happy with yourself, then how can you be happy with others?
That is why, when you spend some time in silence, and sometime by yourself, you become so content from inside. Then you will not long for attention, or for some praise from others.