Bangalore ashram, Dec. 14,
2009:
A lady shared a beautiful
experience today in satsang. She had lost her son at the age of 14 yrs in an
accident 10 months ago. Her son had done the ‘Art Excel course’ a few months before
he passed away. The boy’s last words before he passed away were “don’t cry, nothing
is going to happen to me Amma (mother), don’t cry”.
As the lady recounted her son’s last words, she said - “Thank you so much Guruji, for giving these children such wonderful knowledge that makes them so strong.”
As the lady recounted her son’s last words, she said - “Thank you so much Guruji, for giving these children such wonderful knowledge that makes them so strong.”
Q: Guruji, I read somewhere that after death, if you end up
in hell, then you are fried in a pan. I felt afraid after reading that. Please
explain.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don’t worry. When you are established in
the Self while you are here(in this planet), only then no fear is left. That
was a way adopted by our ancestors for making people follow the right path and do
good karma. It was said you will suffer a lot after death if you do wrong deeds
to set people on the right path. If you follow the wrong path, then wrong karma
will follow.
To some extent, this karma can be changed. If you can’t
change karma at all, than there is no use in doing Sadhana. Do your Sadhana and
meditation.
Q: How much freedom is to be given or restrictions are to be
put on teenagers?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You have forgotten because you have
crossed that stage and you don’t remember what turmoil they are going
through. There are so many hormonal
changes taking place in their body. Shake hands with them and gently guide them
through this.
Teenage feverishness is only for few years. Not only
physical but mental and emotional turbulence is so high in them. After the age
of three, children begin to experience all these emotions like jealousy,
possessiveness and these continue till teenage. Some people don’t come out of
teenage at all. Mental turbulence is huge for them.
Teenage is a tough time. It needs great patience to deal
with teenage children. So with great
patience, like a friend and philosopher, give them some space and at the same
time put your foot down and say ‘No’. Don’t be too loose at that time.
Q: Guruji, what is the difference between devotion and love?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Devotion is the zenith of Love. ‘Saa tvasmin panama prema rupa’ - Embodiment
of supreme love for the divine is devotion. You can’t posses God. In routine
love affairs, you love someone and you expect the same in return. You can’t
claim a right on God. Love for that infinite consciousness is devotion.
Sage Narad says, ‘Yoga
chitta vritti nirodha’ meaning ‘Yoga means silencing the tendencies of your
mind.’ ‘Tadha drustu swarupe avastanam’
which means ‘Yoga is the skill of being established in the Seer from the scene’
- To go within and be established in the seer. With this notion, meditation
starts to happen. Then Samadhi follows. Your mind is totally calm. For a moment
you experience that complete nothingness, emptiness.
Q: What is the meaning of ‘Pradakshina’ (circumambulation)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: ‘Pradakshina’
means going around. ‘Dakshina’ means
that which is done with skill. The English word ‘dexterous’ has come from the Sanskrit
word ‘Daksha’. ‘Dexterous’ means skillful. ‘Pradakshina’ means ‘in a very special way, being skillful’, a
very skillful movement, that which is gained with skill, merit which you have
gained skillfully. ‘Pra’ is to go
around. ‘Pradakshina’ is qualifying
by going around skillfully.
There are three layers when you go inside a temple according
to the temple architecture. The first layer is herbal gardens, full of trees
and plants. The direction in which the tree is to be planted comes under temple
architecture. All plantations are done according to the directions and wind
flow. There are medicinal herbs, flowers and trees in this outer layer and when
you pass through this layer, you breathe in those herbal fragrances that cure emotional
and physical problems, and body imbalances. It used to be around one kilometer long
and while passing through it, your whole body circulation is improved. Essential
fragrances and oils needed by the body are absorbed especially those of the Ashvat (peepal) tree. It is the only
tree which emits oxygen all the 24 hours. All other trees emit oxygen half the
time and carbon dioxide rest of the time. The tree helps a person to overcome
many problems, especially infertility.
‘Pradakshina’ is not done for the sake of the divine or some other
purpose but for health benefits.
Then there is a second circle in which statues of many men
and women are kept. One was asked, in earlier days, to sit and meditate there
for a while.
This way first circle makes you physically fit, vatta-pitta-kapha balances happens by inhaling
the air. The second circle frees your mind from all fantasies. Then finally you
move on to central part - ‘sanctum sanctorum’ - where you sit with your eyes
closed and experience the nothingness.
Q: I don’t know what is good for me and what is bad?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Drop that which gives you short term
happiness and long term suffering. Just keep this in the back of your mind.
“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar
© The Art of Living Foundation
For Global Spirituality
