Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
What is the origin of Om?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Om is the origin of everything else.Q:
In the talk about Ganesha, you have not spoken about riddhi and siddhi. Could you please do so?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Riddi and siddhi come with the divinity. They are part of it. Even if you don’t want siddhis, they will come. Same with riddhi. Riddhi means abundance, various kinds of abundance andsplendor.Q:
I am perpetually in wonder, how you perpetually look so fresh and so charming!
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Good. Keep wondering. Wonder in anyone’s eyes is a charm in itself. Children look so beautiful, you know why? Because they have a wonder in their eyes. Wonderment. So I am happy you are keeping that wonder in your eyes and making yourself much more beautiful, much more charming. Everyone should wonder about something or other. Wonder indicates liveliness. When you lose all wonder in your life, you become very inert, dull and lifeless. Sign of life is wonderment and thats why nature has created so many things to wonder about and make life wonderful!Q:
How to react in a situation where one see injustice being done to people around us or to our self?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you see injustice, you must stand up to it. And stand up with skill, don’t be foolish. You need to have the skill, power and support to stand up and that you need to garner, when you stand up to injusticeQ:
The atmosphere of the Ashram is very beautiful. It is easy to practise seva, satsang and sadhana here but difficult in the outside world. Will I receive more merit by applying knowledge in the outside world?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, it is alright. I also have a habit of teaching the Gita in the Warfield. Wherever there is war in the world, Gita is taught. Yes, it is easy to apply knowledge here. You begin from here then wherever you sit you can meditate and wherever you meditate such an atmosphere(like that of the Ashram) you will be able to create on your own.*The sacred thread ceremony
Q:
What is a self referral attitude?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Being in touch with your very center. When you worry there is a tendency to lose that focus or centredness. It is the same when you are tired or too busy. Self referral means coming back to yourself, to your center again and again. The core value within you.Q:
Is there a gene for knowledge, any nadi (channel for energy flow) that has to be opened for creativity?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Definitely and you all have it. And it opens whenever you listen to knowledge.Q:
What is beauty and how to enhance it within and around us?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
First of all you should know you have a beautiful mind. The mind is free, it is loving, beautiful, satisfied and not feverish. So when the spirit is centred or your mind is centred, that beauty shines through.Q:
Why does everyone not aspire to serve the society, in their youth?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It must be there. There is no heart that does not get affected at the sight of misery. This we assume. At one time, everyone should desire to do seva. This we cannot say.Q:
If we must give our hundred percent to everything we do, is multi-tasking a good idea?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes. You have to develop into a multifaceted person. To get there, you need focus. Give your hundred percent and grow into a multifaceted person. Give your hundred percent whether you eat, walk or meditate. You have so many capabilities. Do not under estimate your capacity. When you find yourself too spread, scattered, or stressed, then just stick to one task and expand your capabilities. If you are a good team player, then definitely you can do it.