15 August 2015 - QA 2

Gurudev, when we are in pain, we are centered. But when we are happy, we move away from this centeredness. How should we remain happy and centered at the same time?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Yes, this is a good question. When we are happy, we experience a sense of expansion; the mind expands, And when we are miserable, we experience a certain depth. That ,is why, whether you experience happiness or sorrow in life, treat both as equal, because happiness bring expansion and sorrow brings depth, and both make you stronger. And the way to go beyond both of these is meditation.
By meditating and being in knowledge, both centeredness and expansion start to co-exist within us. And that is because this is the nature of the self.
It is said (in the Upanishad), "Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan". Which means, smaller than the smallest and bigger than the biggest, that is what I am. This feeling starts coming up within you.