This is very significant that we’re meditating at this time of the year. When you’re meditating, we’re doing so much good to society, to the world around. It generates and releases positive ions in the environment and it is the positive ions that effect thinking, mind, spirit and body, the environment in the universe. It is very important, very precious - not only for us, but also for the world around.
After World War II, this time again there is a triple eclipse this month – this means three eclipses in one month, one after another.
It’s a phenomenon in the world. It could be very good or very bad – either things could be very much better or go back to worst. This is the effect of the triple eclipse that is happening now. From now on to 2016, there will be many phenomena happening.
Singing bhajans, and meditation create a positive impact. It is very good for nature, and for the environment.
Q. Is eating vegetarian food said to have better karma than eating meat? I’ve also heard that all things have consciousness. What should we do?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There are several angles to it. Karma means the latent impression in a substance and how your body matches.
Suppose a lion hunts a deer and eats the deer, the lion does not get the karma. A cat eats a mouse, the cat does not get the karma of the mouse. All these animals are designed to prey and eat. However, if you see the human physiology, it is more akin to herbivores. There is a substance called ptyalin in our saliva which is present only in the cow, elephant, horse, goat – in all the herbivorous animals. This indicates that that the human saliva is made for herbivorous animals.
Secondly, the human intestine is so long – six feet. This is not present in lion, tiger or dog but it is present in all herbivores. Human beings don’t have canine teeth. All herbivorous animals don’t have canine teeth. Only the carnivorous animals do.
If you look at these aspects, physiologically our system is more akin to vegetarianism. So in that sense, we say, when you eat a vegetarian diet, you don’t get the karma of it. If you eat anything that is not aligning with your body – like if an elephant eats an egg or if you feed a cow with meat, then the cow will get the karma.
What is karma? Karma is the impression which is against the nature that can produce some change in the consciousness. It can be harmful to the consciousness.
Similarly, when we are exposed to radiation, which we are not supposed to, we get diseases. That means, we acquire those karma. Karma means the strongest impressions on the nervous system which is not all the time necessarily desirable.
If you have drugs, you have drug karma and the karma of the drug on the nervous system is so huge that after sometime, you can’t stop the drug. Then your body craves for it. Your body distorts. You go through so much of pain and suffering. It needs lot of de-programming to come out of drug addiction. It is the same for alcohol.
Food is not that strong. Yet our system is made for herbivorous, especially, if you want to go to a more subtle level in your mind and in your consciousness.
All top scientists, many achievers are vegetarians. It naturally happens. Your system wants only that. That means they are in tune with nature. That’s all. It’s not that those who are not vegetarian are not good. No, they are as good as you are. But their consciousness is much better if they tune themselves to nature.
Someone from the audience: We’re organizing a peace march in a high school. Will you come?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I’ll be there in spirit. The spirit is much bigger. Body is small. The body is like a tiny stone, tied to a huge balloon.
Q. Could you please explain about karma?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Karma is the impression in the consciousness. The impression draws similar situations, events and actions. So karma has three things:
- One is the latent karma. It is karma as an impression
- Karma as an action, and
- Karma as a result
You look at a banana. Looking at a banana is a karma. It is an action, and you want to eat it because you know that you have eaten it before. That is the impression of the banana. It is karma as an impression. Then you crave for it. That is a result of it. That’s also karma. Looking at it, wanting to have it, craving for it, and, in fact, really eating it is also karma.
Q.: If someone is very stressed, how do we explain the benefits about the Art of Living program?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just tell them, ‘Hey, I want you to do something, just sign here.’
They need a little push and encouragement. When stressed, logic does not work, the mind will not work, and clarity will not be there. Decisions are never correct in that state. So they just need some help.
Q: I have insomnia for many years. I am unable to do the things that I want to do.
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This is the difficulty. Too much dreaming, too much wanting to do, this has all caused the insomnia. I want nothing, I do nothing. – keep these two things in mind. You will fall asleep like a baby.
Someone from the audience: Thank you for the course! I feel so good with it.
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I belong to you, you belong to me!
Q.: Should we meditate after Sudarshan kriya?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Meditate after kriya. Don’t get up immediately after Sudarshan kriya. Meditate for at least 10 -15 minutes. Learn Sahaj Samadhi meditation. Mantra meditation is good. Practice a guided meditation and just let go.
Q. Why is there disturbance in the world?
H.H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There will be some pockets of disturbances in the world. There could be some gap or interval between conflicts. It is our responsibility to increase the gap between conflicts and bring peace.
© The Art of Living Foundation