Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
Guruji, science with all its logic destroys beauty, and whenever we are content with just beauty, we don’t tend to go deep in logic. How can science and beauty coexist with each other? Please explain.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
This world is of opposites, like night exists and day exists, dawn and dusk too exist and they exist in different places at different times. Why do they have to be at the same place? So there is science when your left brain is active then you enjoy that, and then when your right brain becomes active then you enjoy the music, you enjoy art. You don’t need to choose and you don’t need to have the same things together. You don’t need to have soup and pudding together; mix them together and drink. You have soup and little later have pudding too. So they have different flavours and they both are essential in life, otherwise life is incomplete.Q:
Guruji, what is the science of yagya and how can we understand this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
See, while the yagya was happening I did not say a word, I kept silence. So you don’t need to understand everything. If something is happening, they are putting something in fire and people are going round and doing something, you may wonder, ‘Oh what’s happening?’ But you know somewhere, deep inside you could feel those vibrations. How many of you felt the vibrations? (Several in the audience raised their hands) See, all of you have felt the vibrations and that was important. You just feel the vibrations; that’s why I did not go to explain why they do what they do. It was not necessary at that moment. Yes, later some other time like now we can sit and see why they put so many things in fire and what was the impact of it?’ All this we can sit and discuss. We can go on doing research into that. Right? So sometimes we need to just enjoy and be with what is, and sometimes we need to analyze and understand. They both have different flavours and life is complete with both of them. Another thing I would say is you know when yagya was happening, to have what is called shraddhaa or faith. Shraddhaa is to love something which we do not know. Something, some activity is happening, it is for good. This much we believe and we simply love it and that is what is called shraddhaa. Love something which you have not fully comprehended but you know there is something good coming out of it. And what happened, with that you get a lot of benefit and gradually you start understanding what it is all about as well.Q:
Guruji, you have often said that celebrate life. But, in this hectic schedule I barely remember that there is something known as life. Then how do I celebrate it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, celebration does not have to be outside work. Celebration is an attitude. Anything you do, do with an attitude of celebration. It’s much less tiring, less draining on your system and more elevating.Q:
Guruji, is it true that when two people are eating from the same plate, it leads to exchange of karma and do the karmas get exchanged with touch as well?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
(Laughing) it is hygienic to eat in your own plate and not interfere with others’ health. This is very important.Q:
Are there any special things we can do to prepare for the full moon that is coming?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Nothing, it comes on its own (laughter). Everything is happening just relax and enjoy.Q:
Guruji, what is the seed of the thought ’I’m not good enough.’ Why does it keep coming back?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When the mind says ‘I’m not good enough’, then you know yes there is somebody to make me good. (Laughter)Q:
Guruji, how can we get the Divine to serve us like you get it to serve you?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Same way, just be hollow and empty. Simplicity, honesty and purity you know; just open your heart. I’ve never abused anybody all these 56 years. I’ve never said any bad words to anybody. Not that I achieved it, it’s my nature. At the most I have said, ’stupid’, this is what has come out ‘you stupid’. I must have said it with such an emotional intensity some seven to eight times, not more, that’s all. I’ve never wished bad for anybody, scolded anybody or anything anytime. Simply such bad words, foul words don’t come out of my mouth. And being an open book and honest, you know!Q:
Guruji, it sounds like you have a runny nose. Take good care of yourself.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I have a running nose? I thought only legs run, nose also runs? The mind runs faster than the legs. Yes I should take care of myself; I suddenly am working 19 hours every day, now I want to reduce it to 12 hours. But it’s only in the thought process for the past six months and it has not done yet. It’s not really manifesting. We’ll make it manifest.
Q:
Guruji, how can one be in tune with the Divine will?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
How to tune with the Divine will? Relax! Relax and drop all these little, little cravings and aversions that come to your mind. What is best for you will come to you but if you are hankering for little, little things then it is the mind that is functioning.Q:
You use the analogy of the wave and the ocean, but is that the same in the soul? Are there soul molecules going in and out and when you die where do they go?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, it’s interesting what happens when you die. All your impressions fill up like a balloon and the mind and the soul go out. It’s just like the air gets encapsulated into a balloon. The moment the balloon is burst the air is the same, isn’t it? The space is the same. What you call an individual soul is nothing but collection of impressions. So Nirvana is when all the impressions are gone and then you are free, but still a little bit will be left till the last day. Are you getting what I’m saying? So even though you are enlightened, you are free, a little bit of something will have to be there so that the body remains. It means suppose you are having a butterball in your hand and you throw it. After having thrown it, there are still little marks of that butterball in your hand. You make an ice ball and you throw it but then your hand is still wet with that little ice particles. Isn’t it? Like that a little bit of that avidya or the imperfection is needed to keep the system. Got it?