Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
I am an ‘Art of Living’ teacher. How do I feel I have done enough service? I always feel I could do more for society?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Parents never feel that they have given enough to their child, esp. to the girl child. The nature of love is like that. Whatever you do in love, you feel you have not done enough. Know that there is something lacking if you feel you have done enough. It is manifestation of love which makes you feel that you can do more. Love is continuous and it never ends.Q:
Do you think it is right to have 33 percent reservation for women?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
In my opinion it is best to have 50 percent reservation for women. We should have equal number of males and females in society also. Then only balance is maintained. Imbalance in the ratio will give rise to crime in society. So ratio has to be same. This is the law of nature and we should follow it.It is best to have 50 percent females in parliament but it is good that 33 percent are there to start with.
Q:
What is Enlightenment?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The book ‘Celebrating Silence’ contains little excerpts on many topics. You read that and then we will discuss about it.Q:
At times I feel totally disheartened. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Sometimes we feel like giving up, frustrated. It is because of stress.That time do not take any decisions. You may regret it. Come back to yourselffirst.Q:
Is there life on other planets?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is plenty of life on this planet. Let us handle this. Then we canmove to other planets!Q:
Is homosexuality wrong and to be changed or is it life’svariety?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is a tendency. Many times it changes.So don’t label it. It is there now. It may not be there later. You are acombination of your mother & your father. We have genes of your mother aswell as father. Sometimes male tendencies dominate, and sometimes female.Preferences may be stronger for some. Don’t feel guilty or blame yourself. Riseabove it. You are not only flesh. Youare light around the wig of flesh. Shift from gender to genderless spirit, itgives you such ease.Q:
How do I tame the ego?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
For God’s sake, don’t tame it. Don’t meddle with it. Don’t do anything with it. If you find you have one, just keep it in the pocket. If you try to tame the ego then that must be the biggest ego. What the ego cannot tolerate is being ignored. The antidote for ego is to be natural. Be simple like a child. And if you find it is still bothering you, just let it be.Q:
What is special about this meditation practice compared to others?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It makes you ordinary and it can happen only to ordinary people. If you think you are special, this meditation cannot happen. And that is what is so special about it.Q:
What does it take to accomplish ones destiny?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Faith, faith that you can accomplish your destiny.Q:
Can you speak on the subject of marriage and our attachment to this idea?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I’m not so qualified to speak about marriage; I have no experience of it! It is an important institution which teaches you how to accept and move on in life, how to care for and share with another and to be shared and cared. I can give you some tips.At the end of the talk, Sri Sri invited everyone to visit India.
Mahalo!