Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
It must have taken Krishna three hours to give the knowledge of The Bhagwad Geeta to Arjuna. What were the others doing all this while?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is said that it took a lot of time to recite The Bhagwad Geeta but what Krishna told Arjuna while giving the knowledge of The Geeta, for that it did not take that long. He gave the knowledge through his vision (drishti) and it started manifesting within Arjuna. Time is unbounded. To recall what you did in the last five years, won't take you five years. It will take you less than half an hour.Similarly, there is no time in consciousness.
The knowledge in our consciousness is beyond time. So to recall and remember that, does not require time.
Q:
I have lost someone very close to me. This troubles me. I want to know where he is?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
He is in a good place, a safe place, a place where all of us will be going. He got advance booking, and so earlier. Know that it’s a place which is everywhere. Our mind is alike electromagnetic waves. When you’re watching a channel, and change the channel, where did the previous one go? It didn’t go anywhere. It’s still there, but you are able to concentrate on only one.Our body is like the television box, and the spirit is like the wave. When the body is gone, the waves will remain. Our access to a person who is close to you is when you meditate. The vibrations bring some coolness, and solace to the person on the other side also.
Q:
How do we gear up for enlightenment?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Wanting it, itself is half done. The rest is a little discipline and you should know that you will get it. It will be given to you. That’s why you have the path, the guru. You will just get it. Shama jali hai tere liye, tujhko kuch nahi karna hai (The candle is lit for you, you don’t have to do anything). You don’t have to do anything just be hollow and empty from inside.Q:
Should we follow the advice we get in dreams?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There are five sources for dreams:1. Your dreams may come from your desires
2. Your dreams may come from your fears
3. Your dreams may be delusions
4. Your dreams may be premonitions of future events
5. Your dreams may be a result of the place you are sleeping in
We experience different things in our dreams. Usually, our dreams are a mixture of the above. Our dreams are of things from the past, future, and of various types.
Don't analyze your dreams too much. If a dream comes, let it come, and just go ahead with your life.
Q:
What is Guru tatva?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You have a question, you want an answer. Wherever the answer comes from - that is Guru tatva.Q:
What is atma (soul) and paramatma(Supreme Self) ?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
First, understand atma. Beyond it, is paramatma. These are the two sides of the same coin. Atma means ‘I’. There are two kinds of ‘I’. One is the ego, which says I am something.And the other I, the maipan (‘i’ness- awareness of existence) in us, is that from which we listen, understand and do nothing. That is atma. Once we experience it, we go beyond the first ‘I’.
We can see that my soul is in everyone. Then we say sohum- I am that. There is no difference between Him and me.
Q:
What is mukti (liberation)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you take the last breath joyfully that is mukti (liberation). Those who experience some lack and are sad while dying, they return. Be satisfied at the time of your death. The one who is immersed in knowledge, even while dying, will be free.Q:
Can your devotees who are in business, face the challenges of business with truth?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, with complete honesty, intelligence, and yukti (tact). A businessman can lie as much as there is salt in food. If one lies too much, then one suffers in equal measure.For instance, you may say that my product is the best in the world when you know it is not. That much is alright. That is why our ancestors in India kept businessman in the third division.
Saints do not have the right to lie. They cannot. The king or administrator has some right and so does the businessman.
Q:
Sages say that only chanting Hari’s (God) name can give salvation. Then, why are yoga, and meditation required?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Even to repeat a name, you need to have a certain presence of mind. Yoga gives that presence of mind. When the body is strong, and mind is focused, only then will repetition of any mantra give the required result.Q:
How to overcome fear of real unconditional love?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Oh -meditation. When you go deep in yourself all types of fear disappear.