Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
It is said that souls chose their parents. Why do abortions and cases of rape etc. happen?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
This is called janam rahasya (secret of birth). Many souls compete to get a body and only one can win. It’s like a running race. Like millions of people compete and only one wins, in the same way there is a rush and only one gets a body. That’s why it is said that the human birth and life are very precious. Don’t waste it on insignificant things. We eat to live and not live to eat. Many people start living just to eat. There are many possibilities – what soul can come and what not? The possibilities are infinite. Nobody knows.Q:
What is ‘stridhan’?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
In ancient India there was a system. The man of the house used to give some money to his wife. This money was not to be touched. The lady’s money was always built up. The man would give a portion of his earnings, five – ten percent of his income to the lady at home and the man had no right to touch it. She would build that money up.This used to be our system. All this is gone. All the good traditions have been ignored and we have adopted all the bad habits.
Q:
What is time?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
(making a gesture with his hand, turning it upside down) Got it? If you don’t get it, you will never get it.Q:
In Patanjali yogasutra you said ‘Knowledge of sleep leads to Samadhi. Please explain.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, Samadhi can also be attained with the avlamban (need) of knowledge of sleep and dream.Q:
How does one balance between our heart and the brain when both say opposite things?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you are dealing in business, then follow your brain. And if it comes to home or relationship, then follow your heart.Q:
Guruji please tell us something about Vedic mathematics?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
We have Vedic mathematics department in the Ashram with several Vedic mathematics teachers in the department. There are some 16 – 17 formulas using which many mathematical problems can be solved. All lovers of mathematics should study that.Q:
What has more importance: moksha or Divine love in spirituality?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Those who don’t bother about happiness achieve moksha and those who are not even bothered about moksha attain Divine love. We will have to move ahead in two steps.Q:
Guruji, I am so thankful to you. You have given me so much that too without expectation. I am so happy and thankful to you.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It’s not enough to say a couple of words to express thankfulness. I won’t take it. Are you surprised? If you are really thankful then you have to bring this joy and comfort to at least ten people around you. When it is very hot you use AC (Air conditioner) so that your body gets comfortable. And spirituality is AC for the spirit, mind, intellect and the self. Meditation is AC. You know what AC means in spiritual realm? Absolute comfort. Your absolute inner comfort is when you repose and relax - relax in faith.Q:
People take afeem (opium) as Lord Shiva’s prasad. Should I take it? And if it’s not ok, how do I make others understand this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You are not to take it. You get more fulfilling prasad here in satsang! Just look at the faces of people who take afeem. Do you find any radiance on their faces? Are they in a very contented and blissful state? It is not at all observed. There is no glow, vibrancy or smile on their faces. One has no option but to be extremely blissful, contented and happy after receiving the prasad of Lord Shiva. But this is not found with such people who take afeem. I don’t consider it as prasad.Use your understanding to make them drop this. Make them experience Sudarshan Kriya.
Q:
Guruji, our tasks get accomplished with rise in sattva. Then what about those people in society who do wrong things. How are their tasks accomplished?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
That happens for a small period of time. Later on you will find they will fall badly. There was Bernard Madoff in America. People used to strive to have a picture with him. He was such a big businessman that if he said something it would be immediately followed. Then what happened? Everything got revealed. He is now in jail. His own son got him caught.So the ones, who walk on the path of untruth, enjoy some good times but later on they meet with a downfall. The problem with the path of untruth is that you don’t get sound sleep and feel restless. At least, the ones following the path of truth will have a sound sleep.