Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
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:
My friends want to come to the ashram, but don’t have the money.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t worry. Those who cannot afford must come. They have to come.Q:
What do you think about the situation in Sri Lanka?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Peace has to come in Sri Lanka. Still it has some way to go. It will happen.A member of the audience stands up and shares an experience. “I did the Art of Living program in 1997 in Abu Dhabi. Since then my life has been full of joy. In 2002, I was detected with brain cancer. My sincere gratitude to Guruji. With his blessings, I have recovered. Doctors say I am a survivor hero. I have taken chemotherapy, radiotherapy and would like to tell all - do the Sudarshan Kriya, regularly and with enthusiasm. Do seva. "
Q:
How relevant is the caste system in India? Do they help preserve tradition, and culture?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
No, no, you don’t have to worry about the caste system.There is only one jati (caste), and that is manushya jati (humankind). (Audience claps)
Q:
Why are there so many religions?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Unless there are opposites, you cannot even know this - that there are differences. So many religions are there, so that you can learn how to live in peace. If you don’t know disturbances - you will never know peace. You know that opposite values are … (Audience says: “Complementary”)Q:
Why does God hide from us?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
God has five aspects, and one of them is hiding.The aspects are: Shrishti (creation), Stithi (maintenance), Anugraha (grace), Laya (dissolution), Tirodhana. Tirodhana – means hiding. So God is in you, he is hiding too. God is everywhere, and is hiding.
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:
What is the use of being born? Everyone dies anyways.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There are many such questions. Why are there two eyes in the same place? Why not front, and behind? Why does everything have a lid, but not your ears? We can then see who is listening, and who is not. (Laughter)When we ask ‘why’, it is associated with misery. We never ask ‘why’ when we are happy. Understand why we are asking the question ‘why’! Wonder and question – they are opposite in nature, and also in the same realm. Wonder is a question, but not looking for an answer, or asked from inquisitiveness – when you really want to know.
When a question turns into a wonder – life becomes WONDERful.
Q:
It is easy to do seva. I love doing seva even when it is hard. My question is: Why is it hard to finish college when everyone tells me to do it? I know it is important to finish. How to induce commitment to do it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Just do it. For some things, there is no 'how'. If I tell you to open your eyes, you just do it. If I tell you to open your mouth, you just do it! (laughter)Q:
When someone loves another human being, and feels wonderful, and at peace about it, what is the fine line between attachment, and surrender?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you feel attachment, go inward, and when you move inward, you feel surrender spontaneously. Love, and surrender are linked. When you love, there is surrender. It is best not to analyze these emotions. You love the person, just move through that. Success or failure, change or non-change, that's how it is. It is inevitable.