Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
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!
Q:
How do I come out of negative patterns in my life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Once you see yourself acting in a pattern, you are already stepping out of it.Q:
What if you give a promise and then take it back?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is not the promise which is important. What is important is: what is best for ever body, for all human beings. Suppose you have promised your daughter to take her skiing but if the weather forecast says that there will be a snow storm, what will you do? Will you take her out because you promised or will you be intelligent and say, “The promise will not bring happiness now, so I take back my promise and not take you there now”.Q:
How do I break the cycle of feeling victimized whenever I go through difficulties?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You have already broken it the moment you realize the pattern. You realize it is your own mind’s making and that it has happened over and over again. This realization will come in its own time. And when this happens, be happy and grateful. Imagine where you were five or ten years back. How have you changed? How much better it has become since then. Put your attention on this. The more we are grateful, the more grace we will have in our life.The first step to fun is relaxation. What tires you is anxiety and ambition for tomorrow. The anger and hatred of yesterday are also clogging our mind. In the same way feverishness pulls down our enthusiasm. In deep relaxation, you will find everything funny.
Q:
How can I feel your presence in my everyday life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You already feel it, no?Q:
I always run into obstacles when there is something I really want to achieve. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Whatever intention you put, that will manifest. Do not label yourself. There should be no “always.” Accept that you are unaware of your own potentiality. You may think you always have some difficulty, but thinking so is what points the intention in a negative direction. Just know that whatever you want will happen.Q:
How to get rid of hurt and anger?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Do Sudarshan Kriya, breathe, sing and meditate. There is no point in brooding. Move on in life. Don’t waste today for what happened yesterday. Wake up and say, “I have the valor and the courage to overcome this.” With someone else’s anger, you must play all your tricks to calm them. Then leave it to God. Educate and ignore. Give them some time. Ask for pardon and most people will not hold the grudge. If they do, it is only out of ignorance.Q:
What is your advice to parents?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Know how to ride a horse! When you sit on horseback, you must move with it. You have to rock with the motion otherwise your back will hurt. Parents have to rock. You have to swing with them, know them and gently guide. Sometimes you tighten the reins, sometimes loosen. It is the same with kids. Put your foot down sometimes, but also give them freedom.Q:
How do I find strength in myself?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Be well rested and have your heart in the right place. You need both mental and physical rest. Thinking “Oh I have done so much!” will only bore you down. Just know that you will have enough time and energy to do what you were born to do in this life.