Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
If I think badly of others, will something bad happen to me? Or will my positive thinking work for me?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t get entangled in these thoughts. Just be simple, easy, and relaxed.If you don’t have a complicated mind, you won’t have bad thoughts. Just observe the mind and relax.
Q:
How do we deal with corrupt people who do illegal things?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
With skill, patience, and courage.Q:
How to deal with attachment on the spiritual path?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you are aware of the attachment, then your behavior will naturally become balanced.Q:
The state of society nowadays is very bad. There is suppression due to casteism and a large economic divide, and for a number of reasons, one feels lonely. How does one gather strength and gain self confidence during these times?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Do you feel lonely here? (Audience says "No!")That's it! We have satsangs here and everywhere, so you should feel like a member of a "sangha" (group).
You are not alone in your fight for justice and pursuit of peace or happiness.
Truth will always triumph.
Q:
How does one find one's true calling?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
How do you know when you are hungry? How do you feel pain? It's obvious, isn't it?Your true calling will also be equally obvious; it will be like a pain in your leg.
(Audience: "But it is so confusing to make a career choice!")
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Choice is always between bad and worse. So just accept it and make a decision!
Q:
How do we increase family values?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
India has not yet lost family values, and it is our responsibility to maintain them.To increase family values at home, make it a rule to eat together regularly. If not daily, then at least once a week. Sit and have a meal together; if not dinner, then at least breakfast. At these times make it a rule: unless each and every member of the family is present, no one eats. You should all eat together. Then there will be a change in the atmosphere at home.
Even in villages, all friends should meet and eat together.
When I was a child, Pitaji (Sri Sri’s father) would invite everyone to eat together once a month. Everyone would get some dish from home and there would be so much food! The atmosphere would be great.
Similarly, at least once in two-three months, have a preeti bhog (family feast). Don’t make it a party: make it a pot luck. Someone should plan – decide the dishes between yourselves. Then there will be a good atmosphere in the family and the society.
Q:
How can Indian youth contribute to the world?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Human values. Indian youth can bring human values to the world. India has a very charming personality, and this should be projected properly.Sometimes, our culture is depicted so badly in the media. If we degrade ourselves, and make other people laugh, we are happy about it. This weak nature has to be removed. WE should decide what our values are. We should keep our self-respect. We should decide what we like, and what we don’t like. We should not depend on others to judge us.
Of course, it’s fine that people appreciate us. But just because someone appreciates us, we are happy. We should have more self respect, and we should believe in ourselves.
Q:
Today is my second day of silence. My mind is a devil’s workshop, it keeps having thoughts endlessly!
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Sing, observe nature, and observe your thoughts. Look at nature as though you are looking at it for the first time – look at the trees, and look at the birds.When you observe these things, your mind becomes calmer. Observe your thoughts. Silence makes you observe. As you observe, your thoughts will reduce.
The thoughts were always there, but only in silence can you observe them!
Q:
What role does karma play if everything is predetermined by God?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is Karma that is being predicted. It is possible to change that as well. This is called ‘upaya’ (solution).Astrologers say do upaya, but the best upaya is seva, and sadhana. Chant ‘Ohm Namah Shivaya’. Do it all the time - it is like an armor, a shield.
Q:
Guruji, I want to be free. How can I be?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
(laughs), Freedom? How will I become free? You have to assume that you are free. Bondage is assumed, so freedom should also be assumed. Bondage is in the mind.Today is a very special day. Every day is a special day, but today is ‘Shani pradosha’ i.e. Shivaratri on Saturday. Every month has one Shivaratri. On the 13th day after the full moon or two days before the new moon is Shivaratri. It is either on Monday or Saturday. If it falls on a Saturday, it is considered very auspicious. People chant and sing a lot of Shiva bhajans in the evening and meditate.