SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR
GREAT QUOTES
(AS)
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar needs no Introduction. He is a humanitarian leader, spiritual
teacher and an ambassador of peace. His vision of a stress-free, violence-free
society has united millions of people the world over through service projects
and the courses of The Art of Living.
His
disciples and followers of the Art of living are in millions – including me.
His Sudarsana kriya is a beautiful, invaluable, timeless Gift to his Disciples.
His
words of wisdom are a great source of wisdom for all. Many times, these words
of wisdom come in the form of questions (by his disciples) and Answers (By Sri
Sri).
Some
of these are given here – for the benefit of all lovers of Art of Living
Q: Who is the ideal devotee?
Sri Sri:
You, who is asking this question. Don’t be too hard on yourself; don’t question
your devotion. Take it for granted that you are devoted. Sometimes it is
covered with ignorance, hesitation, doubts and insecurity. It is only a matter
of time for that strip of ignorance and ego to give way and then the inner
devotee will shine up.
Q: Guruji, is worrying about the future something
totally wrong?
Sri Sri:
No, worry about the future of the whole planet and worry about the destiny of
humanity. Worry about human values, worry about the increasing corruption,
worry about all these big things. I also worry about the planet. But worry
should not take away your smile, your enthusiasm and your energy to do things
now.
Q : Guruji is there any special message for us?
Sri Sri :
Special message is that that you are very special. All of you. When I say you,
it is not for any one person but for us. All of you are very special.
Q: What is the purpose of satsang?
Sri Sri :
The purpose of satsang is laya yoga. When everyone sings with one heart, and
sound, then your heart becomes immersed in the sound. It then becomes ‘laya
yoga’ - getting absorbed in the sound. If you become a spectator and just
watch, it becomes difficult. You should also sing, then only the energy in you,
the chaitanya will grow.
Q: What should be the ultimate desire of our life?
Sri Sri :
If somebody tells you what the ultimate desire should be, that’s futile. This
moment what you need is your desire. When you look at life from a broader
perspective, then you yourself come to know what you want. Naturally, you will
be compassionate, considerate for your environment, work for the country and
keep doing such work and then it will not matter what the ultimate desire is.
What this life is all about, you will know that naturally
Q: What is more important happiness or performing one’s
duty?
Sri Sri :
Both. You have to perform your duty and you have to be happy. Why do you want
to have a choice between these two? Hmm... If there is a choice, go for duty
first because if you are unhappy it may be momentary, right? Happiness is
there, will come. But if you are choosing happiness before duty then you will
be unhappy in the end. So it’s better to be unhappy in the beginning than keep
it a long, long program.
Q: What quality should an ideal disciple have? Do you
differentiate between disciples?
Sri Sri :
Don’t worry so much, just be like a child, and take life with ease. Yes, I
differentiate between disciples and you are very special. Each one of you is
unique and each one is special, so everyone is different.
Q: How and when will the worldwide terrorism end? How
can we contribute?
Sri Sri:
Terrorism can only be ended by satsang. More and more people should do satsang
and work together. Satsang can change the ones who are influenced by terrorism.
Only strength cannot combat terrorism. Mindsets have to change. That is
important. For that, all of you must come together as a unit and work.
Q: What should be the goal of human life?
Sri Sri:
Why not list what should not be the goal of human life! Like getting miserable,
making others unhappy, getting depressed. Negate what is not the goal...then
you will arrive at the goal!
Q: Even after forgiving, a few individuals give
problems, why so?
Sri Sri: Go deep in
knowledge. When you forgive, you get benefited. It does not matter, whom you have forgiven. You are the one who
will get the benefit. Whether they get benefit or not is something secondary.
Be selfish. Save your mind at all cost. See that your mind is free from all the
tensions and worries.
Q: What distinguishes between good and not good
desires?
Sri Sri:
You know that which gives you long term joy and short term problem is good, and
that which gives you short term joy and long term problem is misery. Just keep
this as your criteria, that's good enough.
Q: If we hurt somebody, what to do?
Sri Sri:
This moment you are new. You made mistake when you were foolish. Now you are
not that you are new. You were ignorant. Now you move on. Don't repeat it in
the future. Surrender your past. Surrender your garbage and everything you
can't correct, to your master. Master is a garbage collector. Surrender your
garbage to him.
Q: There is so much fighting between the people from
various religions. The Shias are fighting the Sunnis. The Israelis are fighting
the Iraqis. There is a war with Lebanon. How can we diminish this war between
countries on the basis of religion?
Sri Sri:
Only through Spirituality you can remove such differences. All you need to do
is just educate, educate and educate them...
Q: Is it necessary to have ambition in life?
Sri Sri:
Have a goal. When water is everywhere, it is a flood, but if it is in between
banks, it is a river. It is nice to have a goal, so your life force gets
channelized!
Q: Is it possible to have love without pain?
Sri Sri:
When no distortions of love are there, like anger, jealousy etc it is possible.
With wisdom you can transform these distortions into love.
Q: Which are the elements of stress?
Sri Sri:
Lack of energy, the desire to achieve in too short a time, and by not being in
a pleasant state of mind. These can be combated by increasing one's energy
level, confidence and trust.
Q: When we say that so and so person is a realized
soul, what do they realize?
Sri Sri: Realization is just that I am not the body but
I am much more than the body. I have been here before this birth and I will
continue to be there after my death also. If someone realizes this, that’s it.
But that only they can say, others cannot judge for them.
Q: How can I maintain happiness?
Sri Sri:
Do not make such an effort. In order to save your happiness, you have to spread
it. Share your happiness with everyone. Why worry in this short span of life
when there is such beautiful knowledge.
Q: What to do if someone is always jealous of me?
Sri Sri:
Someone is jealous about you all the time? Lucky you are! You must be lucky -
that's why people are jealous about you. Nobody is jealous about unlucky
people. So when you are lucky, why are you unhappy? You have simply forgotten
that you are lucky, that's why you are unhappy.
Q: Is it okay to be driven by emotions?
Sri Sri:
When feelings are combined with wisdom, then that is good. It’s like when water
flows between two banks, we call it river. But if water is scattered all over
the place, then that is flood. In life, along with intellect, feelings are also
to be nourished. To maintain a balance between intellect & emotions is
wisdom.
Q: What is beauty and how to enhance it within and
around us?
Sri Sri:
First of all you should know you have a beautiful mind. The mind is free, it is
loving, beautiful, satisfied and not feverish. So when the spirit is centered
or your mind is centered, that beauty shines through.
Q. Are we following you or are you choosing us?
Sri Sri :
With changing times the leader has to be behind the followers, pushing them
ahead. Earlier it used to be the leader in the front, but followers were left
behind. So now I have changed the strategy! I am pushing my followers ahead!
Q. Anyways in everyone's life there is suffering and
there is joy, whether you are good or bad. So why be good?
Sri Sri :
Being bad brings tremendous misery for a long time. Being good allows you to
cross over any misery that can come your way with very little effort. So better
be good!
Q: Guruji, I am an Art of Living volunteer. What makes
me worthy of being an Art of Living ambassador?
Sri Sri :
Just this fact, that you are grateful of being an ambassador, makes you worthy.
The most important quality on this planet is humility.
Q: I can’t think of more questions. Please tell me some
question to ask?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That’s good. My job is not to
tell you or give you questions but to take away your questions.
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