Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
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Q:
Why is it so difficult to let go and surrender the past, what should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t do anything. Just live in the past. It’s not easy to live in the past. Accept it. Encounter it. You are in the right place. Surrendering the past is not trying to run away from it. Alright, move on. Embrace the past with both arms. It is ok to have had the experiences. Don’t be afraid of it. You can handle it. It won’t go if you are tying to avoid it or being averse to it. Somebody is making a book that describes the five levels of surrender. How do you define surrender? Surrender has been misused so many times. First type of surrender comes into play when there is failure. When you are defeated, or you are miserable, you let go. Letting go, when life is a burden or mainly associated with defeat, is one type of surrender. Another type of surrender, which happens out of love, like a mother’s love for a child. Nothing else is important to her. If it is a choice between her own pleasure and that of the child, she will choose the child’s pleasure. In a love relationship between husband and wife, they feel completely at ease, fearless, with no concerns. A mother is so attached to the child; She willingly gives up small inconveniences or pleasures because she loves the child so dearly. Third type of surender mostly happens with knowledge. There is nothing anyways. It happens when you surrender to God. Fourth type is knowing that it is an illusion. Thinking that you have to give up something which you do not have is an illusion. This is the surrender of wisdom, it is just a sense of ease, knowing it all belongs to the one. This very state of surrender leads to the same place - the small mind opening to the big Self.Q:
How can we overcome fear of death?
Q:
I can give my hundred percent, when it is to do service in the ‘Art of Living’, but when it comes to studies, I cannot do.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I know it is tough, but you have to do. The mind goes easily and naturally towards the things we like. If the things you like are juicy, there you don’t have to make efforts, it is natural. But when something which is not of your liking, is not juicy, it is dry and boring, but is good for you in the long run, then you have to put an effort and do it. There is no other option for it.Q:
Guruji, when you meet terrorists and naxalites, don’t you get frustrated with their attitude and lack of knowledge?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
: This is like asking a doctor- Don’t you feel sick of seeing the sick patients?!!Q:
Money and power are much needed things nowadays. How can spirituality help me get these?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You don’t have to practice wrong in order to be rich. In fact, that will be very short lived. Spirituality enhances your intuitive power and positive energy thereby enhancing hit rate of your decisions taken.Have you noticed that some people you meet, you feel like avoiding them, and some other people you meet, you feel like talking to them? Each one of us emits certain vibes. Vibes convey more than our words. If vibes change, everything changes. This way our interpersonal skills are also enhanced.
Q:
What should I do so that I get enlightenment? I want enlightenment, I want to see God.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You want enlightenment? You want to see God? Do service and just relax!Q:
It is said that Lord Krishna was embodied with all sixteen arts, Lord Rama with twelve, and Hanuman with fourteen. If it is like this, then how can we call Lord Rama as incarnation of God?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
A devotee is higher than the God. This has been said to sing the glory of devotees. In reality, both Guru and disciple are God. To sing the glory of a devotee and to raise the level of a devotee, God himself bends. It is like a father carrying his son on his shoulder, higher than him.If Hanuman was not stronger than Sri Rama, then how would he have helped Sri Rama. It is like the one who is stronger than me can carry my suitcase.Sri Rama also needed help from Hanuman. Same way, God also wants your help. So, we should do work to uplift society. The one who does work of God, works for the good of society, is also taken care of by the God. Working for the God, for the good of society, is an indication of divinity blossoming in you. So, Hanumanji helped Sri Rama, but he never got into the state of ego or arrogance that he’s helping Sri Rama. He knew that such thoughts are only illusionary and he had got that luck to work for Sri Rama. So, he worked under Sri Rama all his life while doing all Sri Rama’s work.
Q:
Can you please speak on success and failure?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Failure is a step towards success. Success is a measure of a part of your ability. You have expressed little bit of your potential and that is success.Q:
How do we locate the queen bee within us?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Meditate, meditate, meditate, meditate, and meditate.To be continued in the next post..
Q:
I lose my temper easily while doing day to day activities, especially if somebody talks bad. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Keep your mind calm. But if somebody talks bad, be alert. Reply if needed, but without disturbing your mind. Service, Satsang and sadhana help you keep your mind cool and calm. And know that – Satyamev jayate (Truth always wins). You should not be bothered about events. Keep your mind cool, and continue with this policy.
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Founded in 1981 by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,The Art of Living is an educational and humanitarian movement engaged in stress-management and service initiatives.
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