Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
What happens to those who die unhappy?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Can’t do anything. Be contented and live life. Don’t wait to get contented at your dying bed.Q:
Why do I cry so easily? Am I so weak?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Crying out of love, joy is very good. Such tears are very precious. It is a sign of your heart opening up. If you cry because you feel hurt, then invoke the valour inside. Many times you pity yourself. On the spiritual path, self pity and self blame have no place at all. Shun these two. If you blame yourself then you cannot go towards yourself.Q:
I detest my job which I loved so dearly once. What can I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Our likes and dislikes change so often! You like something and then dislike it and so on. Life should not be swayed away by likes and dislikes but well founded on commitment. You need some work to sustain your life. Any job that sustains your life, be committed to it and if you get something better, go for it.There is nothing like job satisfaction. Every job has some drawbacks. Earn your livelihood and then do seva for satisfaction. That brings you maximum satisfaction. Nothing else can bring you the satisfaction that seva brings.
Q:
What is the difference between idea and thought?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
First you tell me their meanings and I will tell you the difference. We attach meaning to words. You got it?Q:
How to balance studies, work and seva?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
How do you balance a bicycle? Exactly the same way.Q:
Are our sins forgiven by God or does the Sudarshan Kriya clean them off?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, all the past is washed off. Definitely if you do Sudarshan Kriya it releases all the past impressions and makes you fresh and lively.Q:
In the Bhagwad Geeta, there are two ways described for liberation. Bhakti Marg- the way of devotion and Gyan Marg- the way of knowledge. Which one is better?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
They are not two different paths. Suppose, you like rice pudding. How do you like rice pudding without knowing what is rice pudding. The knowledge of it will kindle a liking for it. Love and knowledge go hand in hand. Once you know about something, you go and buy it. Bhakti, Gyan and Karma are three legs of the same table.Krishna tells Arjuna all those steps and finally says drop all and just relax. For you everything is done. Shama jali hai tere liye tujhko kuch nahi karna hai, the lamp is lit for you, you don’t have to do anything.
Q:
Can we achieve a goal within time? Please tell a way so that we may achieve a hundred percent result.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is a sukti in Sanskrit - Kriya siddi bhavati mahta, kriya siddhi bhavati satve mahta . An act is perfected by satva. The higher the satvaguna rises in us, an act is achieved easily and without hurdles. When rajoguna and tamoguna are increased, then it takes longer to complete a work.Thus, to increase the satva, follow a satvic diet, meditate, do satsang, pranayama and yoga. With all this, sadbuddhi (good sense) is developed.
Q:
Why is it that doing something wrong is easier than doing the right thing?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Is it? I thought to do a wrong deed, requires a lot of effort. See if you like something very much then all your energies go into that direction. Is it easy to slap someone? I don’t think so, I find it very difficult. If you think it is very easy to call someone names then it would be because of an old habit. A lot of people cannot use bad words, even if they wish to.We have to bring a transformation within ourselves and bring in human values in our life. Make an attempt for it. Even if you try and do a good action, its result will be good. Even if someone does a wrong action very easily, its result would be very bad.
Q:
If someone is not a Brahman, can he do Upnayana* and would he get social recognition?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes.