Love in its ultimate form is devotion


The center of life is love, yet we seem to be so far away from our own centers. What can connect us to our centers, what can bring us back to ourselves?  This quest is ongoing. You need a little thread to be connected, you need something to hold on that raises the hope in life, that brings light into your eyes, that makes your heart feel lighter, adds wings to your heart. What is that something that is missing in our life, that can transform our lives from misery to celebration, that can turn the tears of sadness to tears of joy, tears of gratitude? That thread we need, that life saving thread, such threads, such ropes, such strings are called Sutras, that which has the essence and in short gives you something to hold on, uplifts you. A tiny thread can make a kite soar high in the sky, a tiny thread makes the kite go up in the sky. So this mind needs such a sutra, a thread.

One such Sutras are - Bhakti Sutras - the aphorisms of love. There was a sage, a Rishi in ancient days whose name was Narada. Narada means one who connects you to the source, one who is in the centre as well as in the circumference. Most of us reel in our circumference, we remain in our circumference, we are just trying to find our centre but we never reach there. We move in circles, we remain in the exterior. And there are those who live in their centers, who live in the world of their own and not connected to the practical reality of life.

Often you find this happening in the world. Some people who are very much in their ideology, but they are not so practical and others are so practical that they drop all ideals or goals so there is no progress in life. You need a balance, a path, a connectedness with your ideology and the practicality. Wisdom is that which makes high ideals possible to live in daily life, in the mundane existence. Rishi Narada is also called the Devarshi, is a playful Rishi is known for creating mischief. He plays double role at two different places. There is a colloquial expression in India which says not to be like Narada. He would create trouble and problems everywhere, but all that problem and trouble will turn out to be something very good for everybody.

See, life is no fun without some mischief, life is not a struggle, life is not boredom, life is not a weight on your head, it is celebration, it’s a play. Your life is a play and display of consciousness. Narada was one such Rishi, one of his kinds, he would create mischief, and he would connect people who normally don’t connect. He would connect you to the centre, to your own existence.

When life is stagnant, you need to go to Narada, he will keep you moving. And how does he do that? With small aphorisms, the tiny Sutras, the tiny words of wisdom, the Bhakti Sutras. ‘Bhakti’, the divine love. Love in its ultimate form, love in its pinnacle.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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Take best available in both the worlds, east and the west, and create a beautiful society.

Bangalore Ashram, India

In 1980, we organized a conference on Ayurveda for the first time in New Delhi. All senior knowing of Ayurveda and top doctors of AIIMS were called. Something interesting happened there. I asked all the doctors what is the food value of turmeric. One of the allopathic doctors said that it is just pigmentation, and it has no nutritious value. While Ayurvedic doctor said that it is anti-oxidant, and it arrests aging. After ten years, in 1990, Allopathic doctors come up with a search saying the same that turmeric is an antioxidant, and it helps to arrest the ageing of the cells. So, the knowledge which our people know thousands of years ago, the Ayurveda, which is a complete medicine system, took so much time to get accepted.

Also Neem, and other sacred herbs like Amla and Lemon carry so much value, and they all are anti-oxidants. You know, what is the value of kadhipata which is put in chiwra, which we put in every fried thing? It reduces bad cholesterol. If somebody is having problem related to cholesterol, just serve him/her kadipata chutney in copper utensil, and it will be cured. Some allopathic medicines taken to cure it, adversely effects liver and kidney. So, these are so wonderful things our country had.
In 1980, we lifted up the Panchakarma and several Ayurvedic expert doctors joined us, and traveled with us. They can tell, with only pulse diagnosis, if anybody is suffering from any problem, or may suffer in the near future. There have been so many examples where major illnesses have been cured.

I remember one incident when the person was astonished after listening to his medical history, without having been shared it with the doctor, from the doctor after pulse diagnosis. In such a way there are not only one or two, but thousand of incidents. We need to do proper documentation of data, and proper research work. We need to have scientific mind and research oriented attitude. These we should learn from the west.

Q: I am a student and I am so much impressed with the education system here. Could you please tell me some of the values that I can take back along with me?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Respect the teachers. There is so much respect for the teachers in the Indian education system. That respect is missing in the western schools and colleges. Also respecting the elders is one of the beautiful cultural identities here.

So, we create a new wave where we take the best of the east and the west, and have a wonderful global family. Take best available in both the worlds, and create a beautiful society.

Q: Guruji, I am in a job where nothing gets done without bribing government officials. Give your guidance, now I am very much confused. How can I be a go-getter without giving bribe?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You have to look into the eyes of those people who want bribe and tell them that, “look I am on the spiritual path, I am not going to bribe. If you want me to come fifty times, I will come, but I will not give any bribe.” Your voice style should be very firm and gentle, with much sweetness and firmness. Several times we speak the truth, but express with anger.

Speaking truth, but with anger in the background, or truth with hatred does not bring success. Speak firmly with sweetness. Just do it once or twice, and see what happens.

Q: Guruji, spiritually is religious conversion. Sometimes my mind says that religious conversion is because at least people are getting food, education, and healthcare. What do you say?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
No, you can have health-care, education, food everything without conversion too. Religion you are in is over you. You know, if someone likes a particular religion out of full interest, that is a different issue but alluring them with food, medical and all education should not be done.

Q: I have left my habit of drinking and smoking after the course.  But my parents are still stuck up in these. What can I do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If your mother or father had not done the course, and is drinking alcohol, then certainly you are not having a cordial relationship. Allure them by any means, and get them into the course, then see they will also leave any addictive habit. Today, the problem is that so many homes have become slave of alcohol. It is a matter of sadness.

There are so many children who ask how their parents can leave these bad habits. You have to do work for this. You have to apply some tactic. It is not only that only parents improve the children, sometimes children also improve their parents. How many of children are there whose parents have changed? Very good!

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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Move towards the goal, and take things as they come on the way

Bangalore Ashram, India

Q: Guruji, is it important to have a purpose in life, a destination or should we just go with the flow?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is no choice between these two, you have to have both. You should have a purpose. Move towards the goal, and take things as they come on the way.

Q: What do you say about the westernization of our culture?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Pick up good things like cleanliness and following the rules from the Western society. Western Civilization has such cleanliness and the sense of following rules. We need to pick up that in the East.

I want to tell you a story. Way back in 1978 when many of you were not even born, I was in Switzerland and it was the first time I had been there. I was walking in one of the areas which hardly had any crowd. I took a chocolate and just put the wrapper on the road – like what we do in India. There was hardly any crowd there. An elderly lady, with a stick, saw me from a far distance. She came to me and said,“You have to pick this up and put it in the dustbin.” She showed me the dustbin placed a little farther. You know an elderly lady coming all the way walking with her stick and telling me that I should pick up that chocolate paper. I was so impressed with the amount of responsibility people take to keep the city clean. We must learn this in India that how clean they keep, and how environmental conscious people in the West are. Even if people protest in western countries, they do it as a silent march. We have to learn all this from Western Civilization.

And then what we don’t have to learn from western civilization?
Too much formality, the mother has to take permission to go to her daughter, or the daughter has to take appointment from the mother. This has started to happen somewhere in urban society also. The naturalness, sense of belongingness is disappearing from the society. There is such a sense of belongingness and human values even in a village in the east, and that is to be maintained.

There are some cultural identities like respecting the elders, and we shouldn’t lose this. This is very important aspect of the entire east.

There is a trend of expressing too much love in the west. People end up being diabetic saying honey, honey all the time! And it is opposite in the east. So, we need to have the middle path in the expression of love. Not expressing even once, like the case is with some parents and their kids, or among siblings, is wrong. Also keep on expressing love all the time is also wrong. Expressing love is like sowing a seed. If you keep it just on the surface, it won’t sprout, but also if you bury it very deep underneath the soil, even then it won’t sprout.
There are many things in the east which people in the west search for, like joint family and the sense of belongingness.

Q: I am new to the concept of joint families? I would love having a joint family. But I am little afraid if there is any disadvantage involved?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There are some disadvantages of joint family also. But when a family is broken into nuclear families, husband, wife and kids, there is nobody else to fight with! So, they end up fighting with themselves, and then kids and parents also separate. So, this is the advantage of joint family, they live together even after fights. Western culture is adopting the system of joint families. People are going back to the family values, and joint family system. Also it is very important to keep this tradition of celebrating festivals with the whole family coming together

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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© The Art of Living Foundation

Spirituality enhances your intuitive power

In continuation from the last post..

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: I know one cannot be happy and married. But can one be married and enlightened?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Why do you think that one cannot be happy and married? Why cannot you be happy and married as well? There are many bachelors who are not happy, and also there many married people who are happy. Happiness is an attitude which you chose. It all depends just on you. There are people with no jobs but are happy. There are people with jobs and are unhappy. Be wise and be happy. Do whatever – married, unmarried, employed, unemployed…But independent of what you are doing, you need to be happy.

Q: There are many cultures in the world. Are there things which work same everywhere?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Certain things work everywhere. Sudarshan Kriya works everywhere. Today you go to tip of Argentina and you will find the ‘Art of living’. You go to the North pole , and you will find the ‘Art of Living’. You go to Mongolia, and you will find the ‘Art of Living’. You go to Fiji, you go to tip of Newzeland, and you will find someone doing the Sudarshan Kriya. That is why everything in the ‘Art of Living’ is kept so universal.
At some point in time, there was so much oneness in the world. People of Peru in Argentina do similar things as that of the natives of Arunachal Pradesh. Native tribes of Arunachal Pradesh do similar things as done by people in Venkovour in British. People from both the places worship all four directions. There were lots of similarities among native inhabitants of different parts of the world. People in Lithuania greet you with bread and salt. As there is no ocean there, salt is a very precious commodity there. Similarly people in Kerala put a pot flowing with paddy outside their homes, which shows there is abundance in home, so people are welcome.
Certain things are same, and there are certain other things which are unique to each culture and country. Those differences should remain. Every culture and country should maintain that uniqueness. Russian people have beautiful folk dance. Danish have their beautiful ways.

Love, compassion, meditation, yoga – These are universal.

Q: My friends who have not done the course keep on asking me which meditation is best for them. What should I tell them?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There are many CDs here. Any one will work.

Q: Is there life after death?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes.

Q: What will you say on the end of the world on 21 December 2012?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: A fiction. A nice fantasy fiction.

Q: How do thoughts arise in the mind?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I leave that on you to wonder about. This is a secret, a top secret! Top secret cannot be said on the mike.

Q: What is Brahamcharaya?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I have talked about this in Yogasutras. You should listen to that. Brahama means infinite consciousness. Establishing mind in that infinite consciousness is Brahamcharaya.

Q: Dearest Guruji, I am very intelligent. I have heard that intelligent people cannot meditate. How can I be stupid?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Then even stupid people would not be able to meditate! Who has said you are intelligent? You have given yourself a certificate of being intelligent. One who certifies oneself or puts any label on oneself is a stupid. Asking this question has already made you what you desired to be. The very need to ask this question indicates that you are stupid!

Q: Should one give something to a beggar?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If you find a very healthy and strong individual, then one should not encourage such a person. Also children should not be encouraged. Suppose if you find a very old, helpless lady then you should listen to what your mind says at that time. Listen to your intuition. But it is better to give food rather than money.

Q: Why do parents expect so much from their children?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You will come to know this in some years! But then you should remember that you also asked this question at some time in your life.

Q: You have done a lot for my life? What can we do for you?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The society needs you. The society is to be benefitted through you. Like you have felt happiness, same way you can bring this happiness to 10, 20, 50 people. When you are happy and others become happy through you, I will also be happier.

Q: There are so many staunch followers of the ‘Art of Living’. Why don’t we enter politics?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If you have that inclination, you go ahead. I will give you support.

Q: It is difficult to earn money. Can you tell me some easy way?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You want everything to be easy. You should also put in some effort. If you have grown too old, I can tell you easy ways. You have enthusiasm, you are intelligent..

Q: After my course and Advance courses, my anger has been reduced to 80 percent. How can I completely get rid of anger?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The remaining 20 percent will also reduce. You can keep some anger with you also. It would be a good source of entertainment for others.

Q: What are the energy chakras in our body?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Your Advance course is still in continuation? Hold on to the question. Don’t go away. You will soon get to know.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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© The Art of Living Foundation

Anything that uplifts you and connects you with the universal spirit is spirituality.


Bangalore Ashram, India

Q: What is intuition and how can one develop intuition?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Tuition that you get from inside is intuition. Only way to develop intuition is to become little quieter and listen inside.

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 to choose career?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Choice is yours, blessing is mine! It is tough time, and it is confusing to chose among engineering, medical, architecture, charted accountancy etc. especially when you are equally good in more than one subject. It is good to bake a little bit in that confusion. But it is important that you put in your 100 percent in anything you chose.

Many times it happens that you choose medical and later on you feel you should have opted for engineering, or you choose engineering and you feel you should have gone for charted accountancy. This is all illusion. Every profession is the same.

Q: Is every partner also the same? Does soul mate exist?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
First you meet your soul and then rest will follow. If you meet your soul, many will come and claim that they are your soul mates. Then you chose one of them.

Q: There is so many violence and natural disasters happening in the world. Why does God let this all happen? If God exists then why does all this happen?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You chop off some leaves and branches of plants. Don’t you prune rose plant? Does it die by pruning? It grows up. Same way nature brings all this from a bigger picture.
It is not always ripe fruits that fall from a coconut tree. Sometimes even small coconut drops off. Baby fishes are also swollen by big fishes in an ocean. So, these natural calamities are all part of the nature. If we exploit nature too much, more natural calamities occur. We are putting dynamites in the Earth. We are blasting it every day. Imbalance gets created and so Earth starts shaking. Sustainable development is what is needed today. We need to care for the planet.

Nature moves with the law. God means a rule, a law. Everything goes by that. This planet Earth has to be protected and cared for.
One is natural calamity. Another is man-made calamity. Man-made calamities can always be avoided. People are not valuing human life for a little piece of gold. Human values need to be brought back into society.

Q: How to get God answer your prayers?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Have faith that he will answer and will do whatever is good for you.

Q: Sometimes my parents say that I am so young and why I meditate at this age. What to say when being confronted with such types of questions?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I did not have this problem!
What can be said in such a situation? You tell them that they are not young, so why don’t they do it. Once they do it, they will know that it is for you also. People often regret when they start meditating. You know, why do they regret? They regret thinking that why did not they do it when they were of your age.

Q: What is spirituality?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You are both matter and spirit. Are you only matter? Your body is made up of matter – carbohydrates, minerals, amino acids etc. Your spirit is made up of joy, peace, enthusiasm, intelligence and other distortions like anger.

Anything which enhances the spirit is spirituality.

Anything that brings energy in you is spirituality.

Anything that makes you intelligent is spirituality.

Anything that uplifts life force in you is spirituality.

Anything that brings care and compassion is spirituality.

Anything that connects you with the universal spirit is spirituality.

Q: Whatever you preach sounds very good. Bur at times I find it difficult to implement. What should I do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You do not do anything which is difficult. Easy go lucky. Spirituality makes everything easy. Everything in the ‘Art of Living’ makes life easy. There are certain things which are easy to begin with but later on turns to be difficult. There are certain other things which may appear to be difficult in the beginning but later on makes everything easy. Spirituality is the later one.
When you were kid, you were forced to brush your teeth. Suppose you had not undergone that, what would be the scenario of your mouth now? Half your teeth would have dropped. Like this you may find it difficult in the beginning but it makes things easy later on.

Q: Can you please talk on doubts?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Haven’t I talked about it earlier also? Doubt is just low energy. When you don’t have enough energy, this happens.
Your doubt is always on something that is positive. If somebody says, “I love you”, you doubt that. You never doubt anybody expressing hatred towards you. You doubt in love and not in anger. You doubt in your capabilities and not in your weaknesses. You are so sure of the things that you cannot do. You doubt in your own happiness. You don’t doubt in depression. You doubt in someone’s honesty. You never doubt in dishonesty of anyone.
So, like that if you see the nature of doubt, you always doubt the positive.

Q: Why to turn vegetarian to practice spirituality? Don’t I need proteins to follow spirituality?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is more than one reason for the same. There are different animal groups. Some are scavengers which eat dead animals. Some kill and eat fresh flesh. Some animals eat only vegetarian food. The most powerful land animal, elephant, is vegetarian. Horse, cow, Gorilla, Hippopotamus are all vegetarians.
So, you find this nature. Our system is made for vegetarian food. There are many logical and scientific explanations. People world over are turning to be vegetarian. You don’t want to make your stomach a burial land? You can change your whole diet and you will find how intelligent and genius you turn out to be. Most scientists, especially the genius ones like Einstein were also vegetarian.

Find more in the next post..

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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© The Art of Living Foundation

Meditation keeps the energy high in the whole surroundings


Continued from the last post:

Our Yuvacharyas went to get license for a factory. They refused to pay any bribe. Without any anger and with full confidence they said, “Sir, we move by principles of the ‘Art of Living’ and we will not be giving any bribe. We can come to you for 50 times if you want, but we won’t pay any bribe.” That man very easily gave them the license. I would want all of you to move ahead in teams like this.

You all have time here to develop a multifaceted personality. Gain as much talent as you can. We need to enhance our talents along with Yoga, Pranayama and meditation. We will do that. Debating groups, journalism groups... Some people should frame talk shows. Those who do not know public speaking should speak in public; those who are bad singers should come and sing in mike. We keep on doing what we know, and there is no joy in that. Venture in that which you do not know. Let those, who don’t know how to prepare food, cook food. Then it may be a problem for them who know how to eat! This way we should take it as a challenge to practice that which we don’t have in us.

How many of you felt energized just after entering the campus? Many of you have travelled for long and come here. Many of you have travelled for three-four days. How many of you feel that this is unusual that entering a place makes you refreshed. You know, why does this happen?
(Because of you, Guruji!)

It is because people have been meditating here. Meditation keeps the energy high in the whole surroundings. This is the effect of meditation, knowledge and devotion. So, we need to keep this energy high, and to do that you don’t miss the morning exercises. We will have different types of yoga for you – sports yoga, village women yoga, Dance yoga, Animal yoga and philosophical yoga. We can avoid any arguments, back biting or criticizing. If you feel any such thing in your mind, you can write it down and put it in botheration basket. Suppose somebody in your room is snoring! You definitely cannot live for three-four days with somebody who is snoring. Either you take ear plugs or we will put all snorers in one room, and we will have an orchestra! There is nothing wrong in snoring. Don’t feel guilty if anybody does that. If there are many snorers, we will allot rooms for them. Only one thing which needs to be considered is that all snorers have to go to bed at the same time. Then only symphony will come along! (Bubbles of Laughter)

None of you is a guest here. All of you are hosts and you must act like hosts, and not guests. This is your place. You have to create a homely atmosphere. It is already there but you need to get that to yourself. So, everyone is a host, only I am guest here! Feel absolutely relaxed and at home. You anyway know that, no body needs to tell you that.
Those who want to write poems and articles should do all these things here. Rest of everything is a surprise for you!

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

art of living TV
© The Art of Living Foundation

Being young at heart means being enthusiastic, willingness to do anything and to create something new

Bangalore Ashram, India

(Sri Sri welcoming Yes plus youths to the Ashram)

All of you have come home. There is a lot of fun and knowledge for you here. There are many surprises waiting for you.
Youth means enthusiasm, fun, ready to do anything, to create something new - these are the qualities of a youth. And all of you have these qualities.
It is important for our society that this youthfulness finds place in millions of hearts. We have to multiply rapidly on this front. Even if 10 enthusiastic youth come up in a village, they can bring a lot of change in that village. They will remove any corruption and fanaticism prevailing nowadays.
I will give you two examples.

There was a woman in Mumbai who knew French language. She came to me and said, 'I know French. Please send me somewhere for service.'I said,'Ok. You can go wherever you like, and we will make the arrangements.' She went to the Ivory Coast. There were strong conflicts between Muslim and Christian groups. There was a lot of tension in villages. She organized an ‘Art of Living’ course for all the people in one village. Then she organized a course in another village where people from the opposing group lived. She got both the groups together. Christians went to the Muslim village and built a school there. Muslims built toilets for the Christian homes. Like this they became useful to each other and the whole conflict was resolved. One, two, three..like this problem was resolved in 10-15 villages. In 2008, the government of Ivory Coast rewarded the ‘Art of Living’ for the outstanding work. We will see a film about this in coming few days.
Many of you would have heard of Khakiyavadi village in Nanded district in Maharashtra. There is no board for any casts. There is just one board which says, 'Divya Samaj Nirman' (Divine Society).One-two people took the responsibility, and they organized Nav Chetna Shivirs and meditation camps for 600 families in this village. Earlier, it was a notorious village, but now satsang happens there every day. There are no druggists or alcoholics in the village anymore. There is no liquor shop in the village. Every home has a smokeless chullah (smokeless stove). The whole village is organic. There is a shop where there is no shopkeeper. Prices are printed on commodities. People pick up what they need and put the payment in a box. It has become a model village. It was such a notorious village, and now it has become a model village. The Government has given them the honor of a 'Clean and model village' and also given them monetary reward.

A few enthusiastic youths changed the face of Dharavi slum also. It is the largest slum in Asia. A quality school was also started there. Children, who used to wander on the streets, study there and pass with first class marks.
Delhi youths will also share their experiences of 'Meri Dilli Meri Yamuna' programme. Even government is also surprised with their enthusiastic work. There is still a lot to be done by them.
Each and every youth has this enormous power. Our youth will have enthusiasm and awareness. There are many who are angry and enthusiastic, which is very easy to be. But we want our youth to be enthusiastic and aware at the same time, who joyfully accomplishes the goal. What the goal is – Uplifting the society. Nobody should be suffering from starvation or depression. Nobody should be denied justice.

More in the next post..(Symphony of Snores)

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

art of living TV
© The Art of Living Foundation

You relive experience with the remembrance of the experience

Bangalore Ashram, India

Continued from the last post..

Q: I wish to spend some time with you, sit with you and talk. I want to travel with you. What should I do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Fulfill those desires which you can fulfill, and surrender those which you can surrender. Fulfillment of any desire requires effort and time. When you surrender, your desires automatically get fulfilled. Some desires are fulfilled after desiring for long time. And some are not fulfilled even then. Sometimes you find it good later on that some of your desires were not fulfilled. Have this faith that Divine knows what is best for you. Neither criticize desires nor get swayed with the desires. Is it ok? This is the middle path. As you become more aware, everything else automatically starts becoming peaceful.

Q: All people have so much faith in you. Suppose you say that you are not a Master, then what would happen to their faith? I am not saying this is the case but I am trying to frame a situation that took place in my life. How to react if somebody says that what you believe in is not right?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You have imagined a situation in mind, Faith is that which is not shaken by doubts. Doubts are like clouds in the sky, they come and go. Even if you undergo 1000 such situations, somewhere your heart tells you what the truth is.
If anybody tells you anything, would you believe it? If you have ache in your foot, would you believe that your foot is not aching even if I say that? There are some experiences in life which your heart refuses to doubt even if the whole world tells you to doubt that.
In a way it is good if you have doubts. You get an opportunity to grow strong in the fire of doubts. Withstanding doubt makes you strong.

Q: What does – ‘Dhiyo Yona prachodyat’ mean in the Gayitri Mantra?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let Divinity flow through this intellect; let only good thoughts happen through the intellect.

Q: What do we mean by being a Yogi?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yogi means being like a child again. Same is what Ashtavakra is saying: No craving, no aversion, no attachment can cover self knowledge.

Q: What is the difference between desire and resolution?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: All the work in life happens through intention. You had this intention in mind to come here, and then only you could come here. If something keeps on bombarding your mind and doesn’t let you sleep, then that is desire. You should not think that one should have no desire in the mind. Resolve to accomplish bigger tasks. Take on greater jobs in your hands. But you should also keep those aside at times and relax for some time.

Q: How to be consistent?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Your mind gets focused with love. Greed and fear also focus your mind. I prefer love over other two.

Q: Your presence gives so much peace and joy. I want to always have the same joy. What should I do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When you remember your experiences here, you relive that joy wherever you may be. All other experiences of the world get dissolved with the impression of devotion.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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Truth can not be conveyed on the the level of brain


Bangalore Ashram, India

Q: What is the difference between religion and spirituality?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Spirituality joins everything. Different beliefs are there like somebody may be Vaishnav, somebody may be Hindu, somebody may be Christian, but spirituality is experience. I often say, religion is like a banana peel and spirituality is the fruit inside.

Q: Saints say that suicide is a crime. Then what is jeev Samadhi?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, suicide is wrong. Some saints take jeev Samadhi. They can effortlessly separate their mind and soul, and continue to live like that for 20 years or so. Saint Gyaneshwar and some other very great saints did that in the past. I am not in favor for it.
One commits suicide out of sorrow, and tries to destroy the body. One tries to commit such a thing burdened with the sorrow, and in search of happiness. But committing suicide is like you removing your coat when you are feeling cold. There is only repentance after suicide, and one keeps on struggling to get a new body. Don’t try to finish this body, and also don’t hold on to it very strongly.

Q: Even after doing Advance course, I have negative emotions like anger, jealousy and greed. What should I do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You have already assumed that you have all this. Now imagine what the case would be if you had never done meditation. These emotions were happening in you earlier also, and these are happening now also. But now these lose their grip on you very quickly. May be, few more Advance courses and you find that you are out of the grip of these emotions.
Don’t assume that you have all these negative emotions in you. If you assume this, same will start manifesting. Where are these emotions right now? You are pure in the present moment. Have faith in your innocence in the present moment. Gradually, you will experience that all these are not present in you, and you would start feeling how beautiful you are from inside. You have heard this earlier, but now you would experience it.

Q: You are not only a Guru, a Spiritual Master, but you are also so skilled in management. How come you manage everything?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Guru is not a physical entity, but Guru is embodiment of knowledge and discretion. Guru is pure consciousness. There is no difference between universal consciousness, Guru and the Self. You should also be a Guru to someone. What does it mean to be a Guru? You don’t expect anything from them, and do whatever you can to uplift them with the feeling of love. Start with the one, then two, three…..10. ‘I am for you; you don’t need to worry’ - Then you would also be able to say this for everybody.

Q: How does one get rid of lust in the mind?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you suppress lust totally, you won’t be able to rise high. Also if you indulge too much in it, then also it is not going to work. Adopt the middle path. You can progress on the path being a family man. Neither you should force celibacy on you nor should you indulge too much in it. If you see the faces of people who visit these night clubs, you will not find even a glimpse of happiness on their faces. It is like sadness and heaviness are dropping out from their faces.

Q: There are so many definitions of Saints. In reality, whom do we call a saint or a Yogi?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Saint is one whose consciousness is complete. Manifestation follows their words. When such a person speaks, it is not only on the level of mind. Those words have depth. It is more beneficial to directly listen to master’s words because He is speaking life’s experiences only. Experience kindles experience.
We communicate more through our presence. If our presence doesn’t have that love, then the words spoken carry no effect. And there is no need of words where presence carries love. Whatever we convey, it is through our whole existence. It is like when a child cries or laughs, it is coming from every cell of his/her body. This is indication of a yogi – He/She speaks through existence.
Truth can not be conveyed on the level of brain.

Q: Money cannot bring us happiness – this knowledge happens after accumulating money or before it?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you are intelligent, it happens before. And if you are little less intelligent, then it happens afterward. An intelligent person also learns from others’ experiences. But this realization is only authentic if you can experience someone’s experience as your own. It doesn’t carry any value if a beggar says that he has abandoned everything. How can a beggar abandon anything? He has not earned anything at the first place. Also there are some people who do not understand this even after accumulating a lot of money. But this doesn’t mean that you should not earn money. If you are too feverish for money thinking that only it can bring you happiness, then either earn money and see yourself, or learn from others’ experience.

Next part of the conversation with Sri Sri in the next post:

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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Bhagwad Geeta will give you solace when life seems to be a battle

Bangalore Ashram, India
18 June 2010

Q: These practices bring so much inner comfort. If I do a lot of practice, will it make me more happy?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don’t do too much of practice. Move ahead gradually. Do only as much as needed. Do that much to which your body gets accustomed to. You should not start doing 10 hours of practice all of a sudden.


Q: What is the difference between Ashtavakra Geeta and Bhagwad Geeta?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
One was sung in a royal palace and other in a battle field. You yourself see now what the difference is. It is like a song having different tunes. Both have their own value. When life seems to be a battle, Bhagwad Geeta will give you solace, and then Ashtavakra Geeta.

Q: My husband has yet not done the ‘Art of Living’ course. I want him to experience the same joy and knowledge. I have persuaded him by all means. Please guide me what to do now?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You pray. It will happen.

Q: I started doing spiritual practices when I was 17 years old. I have tried many practices. After long practice of meditation, I have had many out of body experiences. At certain stage, my mind became dysfunctional and I was frightened. Can you please guide me?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Some people try different techniques, they try to learn everything being taught anywhere, and end up making a chaos out of it. That is why, all this happens. The path which is being guided here is very safe. Do as much as needed. If you try to follow all kinds of techniques, it creates a problem.

Q: Will I have more experiences?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Experience happens on its own, but don’t hanker for experiences.

Q: How to keep the God and world together?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
How can you keep them together? They are already one. Where is the question of combining them? In the nature of form, it is world, and same is God in its formless nature. You don’t have to do anything to bring them together.

Q: How can I be a selfless devotee? I have been doing business with you till now. What step should I take to be the same?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
This wish has arisen in you, so take it for granted that it has already started. I don’t mind even if you do business. Anyway, you would be getting much more than you give. Live joyfully. You wouldn’t encounter any loss even if you do business.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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That which happens with surrender is love

What Sri Sri said today..

19 June, Bangalore Ashram, India

Q: How to have devotion?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You assume that you have devotion. Don’t strive to have devotion. We should assume that we have love and devotion in us. When you believe in this, the devotion in you enhances. When you think you don’t have devotion at all, it wouldn’t manifest.

Q: Where do you go when you meditate?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I do not go anywhere, I just be everywhere.

Q: When intellect and heart say different things, whom should we follow?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When it comes to work, follow your intellect. And follow your heart when it comes to service.

Q: How to give 100 percent. I often feel I don’t know how to give my 100 percent?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Do you want the answer?
(Yes from the boy)
Do you really want the answer?
(Yes from the answer)
Do you 100 percent want the answer?
(Very Intense yes from the boy)
Really?
(Calm and Enthusiastic Yes from the boy)
See, you already have it.

Q: Is it true that my previous and the coming generations also get the merit when I meditate. Are my parents also benefitted when I meditate?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, there is something like that also.

Q: I read books on knowledge. How do I know that knowledge is only at intellectual level or is actually realized by me?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is very simple. You go to a restaurant and you read the menu card. By the time you have eaten it, you know you have eaten it. Experience is so irrefutable. Reading about back pain in a book and actually having back pain are different. So, it is very obvious. Your experience is what is most important.

Q: What is the relation between meditation, sleep and dream?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You have used three different words; you first tell me what definition do you have for these three?

Meditation is when you are awake as well as relaxed.

You don’t know anything in deep sleep. Only after you wake up, you get to know that you were sleeping. And a dream is a dream. The experiences that you already have had, when those reflect again in your mind, your consciousness, that is dream.

Q: There are some blind faiths like not doing certain things on Tuesday or Thursday, or not crossing the path when a cat passes by. Do these carry any truth in them?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Nothing in all this according to me.

Q: Which has a higher place – Devotion for the country or for the religion?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Why to prioritize out of these two? You tell me which has higher value out of seeing and listening. Both have their own place and both go simultaneously.

Q: Is it love or surrender when I feel your presence in meditation?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Surrender with love. And that which happens with surrender is love.

Q: When something great is accomplished, normally some sort of celebration is conducted. We were also expecting a huge ceremony after the completion of Ashtavakra Geeta, but nothing special of that sort happens?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is celebration here every day, it never ends. There is a lot left yet.

Q: What to do when love, devotion and faith gets shaken?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
That is very good. It goes deeper when it is challenged, true love and devotion gets deeper. Testing times comes in everybody’s life. You pray and sometimes your prayers don’t get answered. 10 times you get what you wanted, and when 11th time you don’t get, you start complaining. Is it the case? (The boy said, “Yes, one of my friends ditched me and I am feeling intense pain”). That is when you pull on yourself. Keep on your practices. God is in every heart, everywhere, all around you, and inside you. He knows what is best for you and he will give you the best.

That is why when you ask for something, ask this or something better.

Q: Why do negative feelings like regret and frustration exist? Has anything productive ever come out of them? And if not, what is the way to turn these emotions into productive one?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You should read ‘Celebrating Silence’. I have answered all these questions there.

Q: If we are not getting something even after putting in continuous effort, should we accept the reality as it is, or should we keep on praying to get it?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If that is very much needed by you, you would not be able to go without praying. And have this faith that God will give you what you need.

Q: Does numerology have an effect? There is a number which I consider lucky for me, and there are certain numbers which are not so lucky. Is this just a notion in mind or the effect actually exists?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
That has some effect but the power of chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaye’ mantra is much more. The power of mantras can nullify the effect of any unlucky numbers, and then all the numbers will be lucky for you.

More from the same conversation in the next post.art of living TV
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Your nature never goes and your nature is love.

Continued from the last post..
 
Q: You said Ashtavakra session has not ended and it continues. We had an unforgettable time here during these days. Please bless me so that I can come here when you have next Ashtavakra session.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Every step is complete. Whatever you have acquired is complete in itself. So, do not encourage any feeling of discontentment. Go back with contentment. You yourself are contentment.

Q: Whenever there is choice, is it previously decided what we are going to chose? Or it can change also according to what choice we make?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It can change also. That is why 'Dhiyo yona prachodyat' is a part of the Gayatri mantra.
 
Q: What happens to the consciousness of a person when it dies? Does it enter another body or get dissolved in the universal consciousness?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is both. A part of the consciousness is all pervading and a part remains. It is like the air in the balloon, it is trapped in the impressions, and then it comes back.

Q: Sometimes I sleep while sitting for meditation. Is it ok?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You sleep in the middle of the meditation!  It is ok. When your sleep is completed, you can meditate.

Q: I am in all love and bliss here. Can you bless me to be always in this love?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
See, this ‘always’ is the problem. Don’t try to hold on to the always. Take life as it comes. So what if all those clouds come for a moment. Your nature never goes and your nature is love. That cannot be changed.

Q: If one desires to have something with all the heart, does he/she get it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If it is good for you, you will get that.
 
Q: We are trying to reach to our seventh level of existence. Do we have to cross the all levels, or balance all to reach the self?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
They all exist simultaneously.

Q: Sometimes I find myself too much stuck in the intellect. I think so much over small issues also, as trivial as choosing what clothes to wear. What should I do? Please guide.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You have lots of time in your hands and that is why you keep on thinking sitting idle. Do little exercises also. Then the mind wouldn’t run so much.   

Q: I grew up in a small town and have seen many ups and down in the life. But now when I am into a job, I see all this corruption. People demanding bribe, this and that. It pains in the heart. I don’t know how to go about it? Also I have heard from Swamiji that when we do meditation, the satva in the atmosphere raises, and that can result in the transformation of these negative tendencies in the society.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You are worried about all the corruption in the society! That is why I say we all have to stand up by principles. Our boys went to Hyderabad and they needed some license to start some project. They stood by their principles and they get their job accomplished without having to bribe anyone. Like them, you also stand by your principles. It could be little difficult in the beginning. That is why we have to inculcate spirituality in every aspect of society. Non-violence and integrity have to be inculcated. We have to fight against corruption.

Q: Should one follow the visions that one has in deep meditation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You take it with a pinch of salt. Sometimes because of your own impressions, your own desires, or own fears, you have those visions. So, you cannot trust your vision 100 percent till you are totally hollow and empty.


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Rapid Fire with Sri Sri


Night Life: All nights are in Satsang. Appointment with the Divine.

Solitude: To be practiced amongst the crowd.

The forgotten language: Impermanence of Life.

The pathless path: Meditation.

Abhyasa(Practice): Is doing what you have known to be correct.

Desirelessness: is an outcome of Joy.

Holiness: Your very nature.

Apologizing: Brings comfort to the ignorant.

Insult: Experienced by one who has never gone in.

Stealing: Worth doing with great things.

Sensitivity: Makes you human.

The Unconsciousness: The mother of all problems.

Sermons: Fruits that nobody picks or claims.

Swami: One who has established in oneself.

Nightmare: Experienced by one who has never done ‘Art of Living’.

Political will: Serious deficit in resolving conflicts.

Ideology: Many keep it in their safe lockers, and never use it.

Cunningness: Has become so cheap in society where there is no spirituality.

Witness: It brings stability in emotions.

Assassination: Done by foolish people to bring suffering on themselves.

Justice: All that is – Just is.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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Embodiment of knowledge is Guru

Bangalore Ashram, India
16 June 2010

Q: Dear Guruji, Guru Gobind Singh made warriors, each one of which was capable of handling many negative powers. What is your vision for the warriors that you are polishing?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
First, we are to fight against the evil of ignorance. There are so many problems in the society today – corruption, exploitation of environment, starvation, powers opposing spirituality, and anti humanity powers. These all have to be defeated.

Q: Is there anything beyond space?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Beyond space?me!

Q: I am in a dilemma. I used to revere Guru Granth Sahib as my Guru. But after meeting you, I have found the inner joy which I was looking for. Now I am confused whether to have faith in you as a Guru, or in the Granth Sahib?


Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Where is the dilemma? Guru Granth Sahib is a very sacred scripture. One should definitely respect it. Guru is not a person; Guru is knowledge, whether it is in a scripture, a person, or consciousness. That Guru tattva is to be revered and believed in. Our mind only creates complication, otherwise there is no dilemma. Guru Granth Sahib contains the crux of all scriptures. So, respect the scripture. There is no question of choosing here.

Mother is our first Guru.

School teacher is our second Guru.

Then music teacher is also a Guru.

And one who gives knowledge of the truth is Satguru.

When Guru tattva wakes up in life, it is not partially awakened, it stays completely. So, live naturally. Rejoice and live in love and joy.

Q: How can I get more happiness and joy from everywhere?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
This race of more and more is killing us. More and more and more – How can I get more? Relax my dear. We don’t even have enough time to enjoy what we have. We should think how can I be more useful to the society, how can I serve more? One who is always thinking of getting something is like a beggar. Everything comes to the one who thinks how she/he can contribute more to the society. There won’t be any lack for such a person.

Q: My sister called me in the morning. She was crying because her son is suffering from an incurable disease, and his condition was not well. I could not be physically present there. I closed my eyes and prayed to you. At 4 o’clock in the evening, she called me saying that her son is doing well. All I want to know is how it is possible that I am sitting here and praying from here makes things better there?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
This is a trade secret. It is easy to be popular but it is difficult to be a Guru. A Guru has responsibility along with.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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Five levels of body that one exhibits


Continued from the last post:

We all have five bodies. Our first body is our environment. If there is poison in the environment, this physical body cannot exist. That is called Annarasmaya kosha. Food is not only that you eat. Environment is also food. Air is food for our lungs. Water is also food. Heat or warmth is also a kind of food. If you are in a place where temperature is -40 degree centigrade, then no matter how much food you have but you won’t be able to exist. So, heat is food for our body. One of course is the food that we eat. Peace and joy are food for the soul. Our environment is our first body.
Second is Pranamaya kosha – the energy, life force. You can sense when energy is low and when energy is high. You go to a place where there is low energy, and you feel like running away. You go to a place of high energy, and you feel like staying there. How many of you had this experience?
You can feel the effect of eating fresh food and frozen food in your body. Fresh food has more prana, and frozen food has very little prana. Similary, you find a difference in eating fresh vegetables, and eating thoroughly baked and cooked vegetables. So, second is Pranamaya kosha.
Then is breath. You can nourish your body but if your body is not breathing, it will go under Earth or become ashes. Our physical body has value because of prana, because you are breathing. 90 percent of impurities in the body go out through the breath. Only 10 percent impurities are eliminated through urine, stool and sweat.
Then next is mind - Manmaya kosha, the thoughts in the mind. Are you aware of the thoughts happening in your mind?
Then comes Vigyanmaya kosha - Intuitive awareness or knowledge. That is fourth sheet of our body.
Fifth is the bliss. So these are the five levels of body that one exhibits.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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Conversation between a child and his teacher regarding God.


Child: What is God? What is Divinity?

Teacher:
Food is God.

So, the child went back and grew enough food. He understood the value of food and the effects of food on the body and mind. But then he thought, “food is not everything”. So, he again went to his teacher to ask the same.

Child: What is God? What is the supreme power that rules everything?

Teacher:
The prana (Life force) is God. The breath is God.

The child went back and spent his time in understanding about prana - How life force is entering and leaving our body. He had understood it, climbed that step, and so he came to know that that was not all. So, he went to his teacher again with that authentic willingness to know.

Child: I have understood about Prana but I am not yet satisfied. Please tell me, what is Divine? What is God?


Teacher: The mind is God.

Then he spent his time studying and observing the mind, and found – ‘some good thoughts come in the mind, some bad thoughts come in the mind. There is mind sometimes and there is no mind at some other times’. After spending a good amount of time, he felt that there was something more, and mind is not all. So, he again went to the teacher, and asked the same question.

Teacher: Knowledge is God.

Then he contemplated about knowledge, but he was not really satisfied. Knowledge is of course very much needed to move ahead. But he still felt there was something more, there was no juice there. So, he went to his teacher for the last time and very humbly asked the same question.

Teacher:
Bliss is Divine.

Then this boy went back, experienced bliss and all his questions disappeared by this time. He said that love and bliss is really nature of God.
Step by step, the teacher guided him on the path. That is why it is so important to take knowledge in the presence of a saint. It is more beneficial to listen from a Guru/Master because He doesn’t speak on the level of words only, but he speaks the very experience. Experience awakes experience in others. But the child never complained that there was something more to what he was told. He knew that a person who doesn’t know about food would not understand that bliss is God and same for other steps. A person having no food to eat cannot understand that bliss is God. That is why Food is important.

We have five types of Bodies..(Continued in the next post)

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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Should I have desires?


There are two schools of thought. One is you visualize dream and work for it. Other school of thought says surrender everything to God, whatever God gives you is the best, and God will take care of everything for you. Where is the compatibility? They appear to be completely opposite. One is your own visualization, your own dream and your perseverance, and another is having trust in God and leaving everything on God. They appear to be incompatible but I would say they are very much compatible. It is good to have an intention or a goal. You don’t keep on visualizing your goal 24*7, but continuing to work for that, you leave it to the Divine. Only the combination of two will work.

It is beautifully described in Scriptures: You take a vision or goal, and then you offer it to the Divine while working for that – “This is what I want and you know what is best for me. If this or anything better, I am ready to accept.”
Sometimes you don’t know what you want. If you know what you want, it is not difficult to get it. Half the time we are unsure of what we want. Often you find if you are persistent to get something, you don’t want the same thing the next week, the next month or the next year. So, before you take an intention, you expand your awareness.

So, put an intention in the universe - I want this or anything better.

Now, what is the difference between a desire and an intention? Suppose you want to go to Mumbai from Bangalore. You buy a ticket and travel for around three hours and go there. But you don’t keep chanting in your mind all this time that you want to go to Mumbai and you are going to Mumbai. You may even land up in a mental Hospital like this! Desire is the feverishness that clogs on to an intention. An intention is a desire free from feverishness. And then working towards your intention, this faith is to be there whatever nature brings back is for my growth.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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The impression of devotion wipes away all other impressions from mind


Bangalore Ashram, India
11 June 2010


Q: You spend so much time for reducing terrorism; do I need to become a terrorist to get your time and attention? It would be nice to be transformed through you.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: A terrorist use gun to shoot, but you shot arrows of your devotion! Your devotion and love are much stronger.
I remember an incident when I was in Rishikesh. A devotee fainted and fell down. Everyone's attention was attracted by this. I knew that it was just a drama to attract attention. First I kept on walking, but when the drama continued for a long time, I went to that place. When I asked, she said, 'You don't look at me, so I had to do this.' You don't have to do such a thing to catch my attention! How do you know I don't look at you? When you are looking elsewhere, I look at you for sure. The goal is only one - to center your mind and consciousness in one place. When your mind is centered, calm and you are smiling, I look at those whose mind is still racing here and there and is not centered.

Q: When you are in front of us, you ask us to close our eyes and meditate, but we don't feel like even blinking our eyes (we want to keep seeing you). Don't laugh it off, devotees are perturbed.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Should I get you a mirror? Go within yourself and you find how beautiful you are.

Q: You say that there is no difference between you and me, then why do I feel sorrow?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The sorrow is there because you have not fully realized this. Your heart and mind have not accepted this deep inside. As soon as you accept, the sorrow disappears.

Q: When God is everything then who does wrong actions? Why it is that someone is a saint and someone a thief?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The way you act, God awards the fruit of the action accordingly. If you steal, God will come to you as a policeman. Your actions, good or bad, decide your experience of joy and sorrow. Joy and sorrow are the outcomes of your discretion; it depends on your discretion in performing actions. It is ok if you drink one glass of milk. But what happens if you drink three kilos of milk? Without the use of discretion, nectar can turn to be poison.

Q: My husband practices Sudarshan kriya but does wrong deeds. What should I do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: How can this be? Then he may be doing Sudarshan kriya just as an excercise. Bring him for a follow up, or meditation camps. Or, may be what you see as a wrong deed is not perceived so by him. Talk to him.

Q: When children talk silly, parents reason with them to make them see their folly. But when parents start getting aged, they sometimes talk silly and don't respond to reasoning with them, what should a child do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Still keep serving them. Using a detached approach, try to understand why they are saying so. It may be the case that you find them to be right, though they may lack in right expression. Or, you may find their observation to be wrong. It is not necessary to do everything that they say because their understanding and life experiences are different from the child's.

Q: Does Bhakti (devotion) make an impression on the Chitta (subconscious mind)?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, of course. The impression of Bhakti wipes away all other impressions, all negativity of mind. Also the impression of Bhakti gets dissolved on its own. Like when you put a piece of alum to purify water, the water gets purified as the alum dissolves and disappears. The impression of Bhakti is just like this.

Q: Your naughtiness makes everyone dance. The whole world is going crazy. Tell us something about this naughtiness of yours?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Naughtiness is not to be talked about, it is to be done! Everyone has child-like qualities in them. Not childish but Child-like. When one is a yogi, this happens automatically. There is naturalness in life. Everyone seems to be one’s own. This happens naturally. Ego, any kind of self identity that one has, gets dissolved.

Q: How do we know that our past karmas have been burnt?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just assume it. Just like assuming, 'I am free' makes one free. Believing that past karma has been burnt makes it so.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

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© The Art of Living Foundation

Questioning mind stops when true happiness dawns


Bangalore Ashram, India

Q: Effect of one life’s karma is carried on to another lifetimes. How do we understand this?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You sow a coconut tree two years back and it has grown today. Same way, until the impression of your previous done karma is there on your mind, that karma manages to exist. That impression can only be erased through meditation, pranayama and service. You are freed from that karma when the impression is erased. All this is there on the mind only. Karma is nothing but an impression on the mind. When you wake up and see that mind is a part of you and it is your mind, but you are not your mind, and you have an untouched existence which is much greater than your mind, then all karma automatically dissolves.

Q: You said that violence ceases to exist around ones who are fully established in non – violence. Does that mean Lord Krishna was not fully established in violence for a huge war took place in his presence?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The secret behind this is existence of different circumstances. One is individual karma and one is collective karma. One is karma done for the sake of whole world. When sin and injustice reached its peak, He had to take a step. It is like different dosage of medicine is given under different circumstances. For a minor headache, the dose is different. And it is different for a severe headache.
Gahana karmo gati – The movement of karma is very deep and not easily comprehensible.

Q: I had so many questions in mind before meeting you. But now, all the questions have vanished. I know that you are incarnation of Lord Shiva. Am I right?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let us leave at least one question in your mind.
When happiness dawns, all questions automatically dissolve.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

art of living TV
© The Art of Living Foundation

The trust which stands after moving through the doubt is true trust.


Continued from the last post:
Excerpts of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s talk in Hamburg, Germany

You know, I remember an incident. My father used to tell me that my grandmother gave ten and a half kilo of gold that she had to my grandfather to give it to Mahatma Gandhi, and my grandfather stayed with Mahatma Gandhi for 20 years. You know, Indian women love gold a lot. So, usually they receive gold as gift in marriage and every function. My grandmother was a very beautiful woman. She had received a lot of gold. She had ten and half kilo gold at that time. Imagine how much it was! Except one chain, she gave away everything to Mahatma Gandhi when he started the freedom movement in India. You know, nobody compels you to give, but your giving brings certain amount of satisfaction.
I say two things that you have to have in life. One is smile more, serve as much as you can and not to worry.

Q: What is the link between ego and self confidence?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Ego is feeling uncomfortable in the presence of someone else. Self confidence is, feeling at home. Ya? Being natural is antidote to ego, and being natural is so complementary to confidence. It goes with confidence and is inseparable from confidence. When you are confident, you are natural. If you are natural, you are confident.

Q: Is money a prior requirement in order to feel happy?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is no doubt that you need some money for your day to day survival. But, money cannot buy you happiness. It’s knowledge or wisdom that brings you happiness.

Q: How come you manage to smile in all the circumstances?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You know, this is our brand mark. Our logo is smile. If you see somebody and they are not smiling, and they say they have done ‘Art of Living’, don’t believe them. I am sure, all those who are here, who have truly done it will agree with me.

Q: What is role of service in order to have inner contentment?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You know, we should have a goal in life. My goal is to bring happiness to more and more people. If we sit and keep thinking of ourselves all the time, we’ll be depressed. We should see, ‘How can I be of service? How can I be of use to others?’ This thought is very useful. Very, very, very useful. Ya?

So, ‘Art of Living’ provides a platform for everyone to come together and do some service. You know, when United Nations announced, ‘Stand up and take action’ - they wanted tree planting; ‘Art of Living’ volunteers have planted 55 million trees around the globe.
We all can jointly do some service activity. Reduce violence, reduce stress, create a sense of belongingness, and spread the positive vibration of love and peace. Shall we all do this together? Is everyone committed to do this? (A resonating yes from the audience.)

Q: What is the base of Advaita(Non-duality)?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Advaita is quantum physics. Quantum physics says that this is all atoms or this is all wave function, vibration (referring to the space and things around). That’s exactly what Advaita says. So, the whole universe is made up of one substance. Me, you, she, he…everybody and everything is made up of one substance. And the nature of that substance is bliss. This is what Advaita is.
Just a glimpse of that experience gives you so much strength and stability, that nothing can shake you; nobody can take the smile from you.

Q: Where do you get courage from?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: From Advaita - Knowing that there is something in you that is not changing. A little experience of silence, calmness and meditation will give you enormous courage from within.

Q: ‘Art of Living’ is doing a great job. But with 30 percent of population in depression, and this figure being expected to reach 50 percent in the coming decade, do you still see a hope for mankind? Do we still have hope?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, and we all have to work for it. You know, when we started in India, it was a small program. We had no resources and manpower. But we had a vision – We have to reach many people in the world. So, in these 30 years we have reached millions of people. So, it is possible.

You know, the cell phone has reached the whole world. If cell phone could reach the whole world, do you think wisdom and compassion cannot reach the whole world? We must make an effort. Ok?

Q: I have lost my trust, how can I regain it?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don’t make an effort to regain it. Listen to your heart. Trust can never be lost. Doubt as much as possible, but truth always stands up to the doubt. Truth is so strong that doubt cannot destroy it. So, it is good to doubt. And the trust which moves through the doubt and stands, that is true trust.
How many of you here have not visited India yet? How many of you would like to come to India? Oh, very good. You know, we will organize a group from here. You have a home there in India. All of you come for a week, ten days, 15 days…whatever is possible. You can all come to India, and have a glimpse of all the service activity.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

art of living TV
© The Art of Living Foundation

Mature joy is that you get when you give something

Excerpts of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's talk in Hamburg, Germany

You know, why are children all over the world so attractive? Because their presence is so pure! Their presence, their vibration is so positive and clean. As we grow older, we forget how to make our vibrations more positive. In our presence, in our vibration, there is stress, tension and worries. Ya? And that is where these breathing exercises, Sudarshan kriya, pranayama, meditation help –– All these help to uplift our spirit. Make us feel very positive.
We all are entitled to a violence free society, disease free body, confusion free mind, prejudice free intellect, trauma free memory, and sorrow free soul.
We need to wake up. When we are deeply relaxed, we suddenly realize that we are connected to this entire universe. We are part of this universe. You know, I feel at home wherever I go in the world. I am at home with everybody in the planet. I am sure everyone has this ability. Every child does it. And we have to invoke or awaken the childlike innocence in our hearts. To do this, we get doubts in our mind first of all. Mind says, “Is it possible?” Yes, it is possible. And then the doubt is, “Whether I can do it? May be I cannot do it. May be it’s not for me.” I would say, you should think of the impossible. You know if we dream of the impossible, one day we will make it possible. Ya?
You know, when I first came to Hamburg in 80s, we were doing meditation camp there with about 200 people. And I said, ‘Let us all put an intention out there – East and West Germany should become one. We don’t want these borders, fear and tension here. Let us put this intention.’ At the end of that session, I said, ‘You will see within a couple of years, it will become one. Within two years East and West will be one.’ At that time Dr Aber Hart, Carl, Fetra, Riketta were all there. They said, ‘It is not possible.’ Everyone thought, “Oh Guruji is from India. He doesn’t know what the situation is. This is an impossible thing to do.” But I said, ‘It is going to happen before two years.” And that intention manifested itself. So, we need to put our intention. When our hearts are pure and in a calm state of mind, we put an intention and put attention on it, it will manifest. Nature has provided such a technology in our brain, in our consciousness. The ancient Rishis in India, they called it sankalpa-siddhi. That means fructifying an intention, manifesting an intention. How is it possible? Only when the mind is absolutely still, calm and serene, intention gets fructified. And we all have this ability. But we have not learnt how to calm the mind. Though this knowledge was known to ancient people, they used to keep it as a secret. It was not given to everybody in the world. They used to wait for a capable and qualified student to come and learn. I felt that this should be given to everybody, because this will make everyone positive. I believe, ‘Anything that is useful for people should not be the property of one community or one nation. It should belong to the whole world.’
You know, the ‘World Health Organization’ has declared that 30 percent of Europe is suffering from depression. And they said, the second biggest killer in the next decade of the world will be depression. In the next ten years, this will go up to 50 percent with the stock markets crashing, value of money going down, uncertainty in every field… There is so much anxiety and uncertainty. People don’t know how to handle the mind! That is why this knowledge is so essential. With this knowledge of meditation, breathing and mind, one can keep oneself happy all the time. Come what may! Isn’t it so?
When do you need the strength? You need strength when everything is falling apart around you. That strength comes attending to your own breath, your own mind. It’s so useful, I tell you! When people start learning about their own breath, they feel such a transformation, feel so blissful, feel that we all have a responsibility.
You know there are two types of joy. One type of joy is that you get while getting something. As a child you always wanted to get something. Getting something used to make you happy. You know, we wanted to get toffees, toys, visit different places..But the mature joy is that you get when you give something. When you share, you feel happy. When you see a good movie, you force everybody, ‘It’s a very good movie. You must see it.’ You tell everybody. The movie-maker is not giving you any commission. But you just feel good because you have seen a good movie and you want your loved ones to experience the same. This joy of sharing is much superior and the world is forgetting that joy of sharing, especially youngsters. Isn’t it? We have to bring it…just make them aware of it, that’s all. Everyone has this tendency. They simply have to be encouraged.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

art of living TV
© The Art of Living Foundation

Your child should be participative in your life

Continued from the last post

A healthy child will have three kinds of trust - Trust in the divinity, trust in the goodness of people and trust in one self. A healthy child will not think that everybody is a thief or everybody is bad. He/ She doesn’t get into this sort of paranoia. A healthy child knows that people are good. A healthy child has trust in himself/ herself and trust in the unseen power of God, Divinity, some higher power. These three types of trusts can make a child genius .These are the ingredients to make a very talented and genius child. To nurture them, we need to bring about these tendencies in them.
If you keep telling children that everyone is a cheat, the child loses its trust in the people around and the society in general. Their personality, talents and communication skills will shrink. Their interaction with people will suffer a great deal. They become unsuccessful business persons, unsuccessful professionals and unsuccessful artists. They may have talents but this is the result you will get if trust in people and in the goodness of things as they are is taken away. Today, you have many young people who want to be entrepreneurs, but they are not successful. You know why? This is the reason. They don’t trust in the goodness of people nor do they trust in themselves. As parents we have to build these things in a child. Do you encourage if they come to you with complaints? What do you do? Do you encourage the negativity? Or you mould it to something positive. You have to play a balanced role. Sometimes your child comes to you and says so and so is so good, and you know that that friend of your son/ daughter is not so good. Here you have to point out their mistakes and bring them to the center line sometimes. They get swayed away by somebody and you know their habits are not so good, then you have to tell the negative things. But if they are telling you negative things about somebody, then you have to point out the positive. So, you have to have a balancing act whenever a child swings too much to the left or too much to the right. Do you agree with me? We create an atmosphere around us. If we create an atmosphere of trust and children grow in that atmosphere, they become brilliant. But, if we create an atmosphere of negativity, distrust, or dejection, they are going to reflect and bounce the same thing on us. Having come here today, I want to give you an exercise to do which I want you to do every day. When you come back from work and meet your children, the first thing you do is clap with them, or play, or laugh. It may look little artificial for one or two days. But later on, it will become a breakthrough for you and your kids. Sit and have food with the whole family, as much as possible, at least 3 to 4 times a week. And while having food, don’t tell them they are bad. While serving them food, don’t put down their moods. There is a time to tell them when they are wrong, never on the dining table.
Close your eyes for 30 seconds. Just suppose that everyone is telling you that they don’t trust you. Think no one trusts you. How do you feel?(After 30 seconds) Open your eyes. Bad, sad, unhappy! You know this is the atmosphere we create- ‘I don’t trust you, I don’t trust you’ .It is an effort to create an healthy atmosphere, I understand because your life is not only your own children. You have so many other things; you have to interact with so many other people. When you have no control over your own moods, it is difficult to make a mood or create an atmosphere just for the sake of children. But we need to make an effort. So, let us quickly go over once again. Have dinner with the kids atleast 3-4 times in a week. And when you are having food, don’t point out their mistakes or blame them. See that their mood is uplifted. See that their personality is developed such that they don’t feel the generation gap. They interact with elders as well as youngsters. Give them some responsibility of youngsters and sometimes some responsibility to do something for older ones by which you can bridge their generation gap.
Make sure that they have little bit of both science and arts. If you find your child is too much oriented towards music and arts and doesn’t care for science, then you put in little effort to take them to science museum or make them do some mathematics. Encourage them a little bit towards science. If they are too much into science and mathematics, give from musical side as well. It is not difficult to put them on musical side, because they always have musical or artistic side to them. But especially boys, you will have to encourage them a little more .Girls naturally have an inclination towards arts.
Engage them in some project where they are contributing, they are giving rather than acquiring or possessing. We need to do something to inculcate this tendency in children. Just small things, it doesn’t have to be anything big. See that they have three types of trust. Trust in the goodness of people. Tell them the stories or good happenings in the world not just only the negative things. Trust in themselves, encourage them. Sometimes they say, “I can’t do it”. Encourage them and tell them that they can do it. And then trust in the goodness in the society. If they grow up with the feeling of mistrust or fear, there will be paranoia. Their personality will start shrinking, they can never blossom, they can never be good communicators in the society. Trust the society and trust in divinity. A little bit of ritual is essential to create an atmosphere for children. Make them sit and do some chanting. Ask them to light a candle a lamp, some little bit of ritual is good for them to hold on. Make them to break a coconut or go to temple. It is important to root a little bit of sanskara about something that is supernatural. Don’t you think it is necessary? A faith in the unknown can take them a long way. Not too much, though, just a little bit. Make them read a few shalokas. These things will develop their personality.
When children are very positive about their friends, give them a little caution, but not too much. If they are very negative about some friends, show that that there is something positive coming out there also. In this way, you are pushing them to the center, not letting them fall on either side.
Learn from them. Don’t always stand up as a teacher. But participate with them and learn from them.

Q: How to cope up with child’s expectation when they compare themselves with others and demand those things that others have? They say that so and so is groomed well and they also want same kind of stuff.

Sri Sri :
You have to tell children that you can only give that much and they shouldn’t compare themselves with others. But it is important that you don’t give them any false hope. At the same time, we can give them a dream. If you pass or do this, may be you will get it. Here lies the importance of bringing them up with that sensitivity and belongingness. That is why I said if you participate instead of teaching them, they will not even ask you. They should be a participant in your life. Then they will be sensitive towards you, rather than putting a demand on you. Before you become a good father or mother, you need to become a good uncle or aunt. Are you getting what I am saying? You should communicate more with friends of your children. They will listen to you. Suppose, if your son’s/daughter’s friends have any wrong habit, you can influence them to change. They listen to you more than their own parents. Similarly, other parents can take care of other’s children better than their own children.

Q: There is so much competition in society that kids have no time to relax. There is a fear that they will not fit into society. How do we handle this situation? What is the mantra for excellence?

Sri Sri:
I think you shouldn’t push them too much. You should teach them to relax. That is why I said music, meditation, some games will all help.

Q: Children don’t care about their parents when they grow up. So many old age homes are there. Where do we fail as parents and what is your advice to parents so that this situation could be controlled?

Sri Sri:
That is why I am saying these three types of trust are very important – Trust in oneself, in goodness of others and in the Divine. A little bit of religion, moral and spiritual values, and the way you treat your parents and ask them to treat their grandparents can make an impact on them. So, you tell your children to take care of their grandparents. They will start doing that way.

Q: How can spiritual practices strengthen academic progress?

Sri Sri:
Definitely. you know there has been a research recently from England that the children who study Sanskrit excel in mathematics and linguistic function of their brain become so much better that these children can learn any language from Chinese to English to Russia easily. Researchers worked for 15 years and they find out these results. Three schools in England have made Sanskrit compulsory in the school. They also did research why India is Excellent in IT. Indian brain is more suitable on computer. This is because of the background of Sanskrit language. So, it is good to have your children study Sanskrit. Apart from this there are number of researches which show how doing pranayama enhance the performance of children. They feel more calm, attentive, and more alert. They are able to perceive and digest better. There are number of such benefits that have been proved. You can look into the yes+ website for the benefits that a child gets in academic field.

Q: Today, children are getting more attracted to western culture. My son gets annoyed if jeans is washed after one wear. We have to pay an extra amount to get torn jeans, that is how he loves to wear it. How can we bring a change in this attitude?

Sri Sri:
You know, all these fashions keep on changing. So, don’t worry. None of the fashion can stay forever. You create such awareness in your children and their friends. You inspire them to adopt some different styles. That is why I am telling every parent has to be a good uncle and aunt. You can’t care for your children only. You have to care for their friends. You should have at least six parties for your children at home in a year where you should interact with friends of your children. Call them all over to your house, have a pajama party, sit with them, talk to them, share stories, find out from them. If you spend one Saturday evening in two months, you can make a great difference.

Q: Please give guidance on parenting special children. What can be done for them through the ‘Art of living’?

Sri Sri:
You simply serve them. Don’t pity them. You know, people with special needs, their soul is in a different state. They are not in a sorry state. They have come to this planet just to take service. With this attitude, you do service. Never have sympathy – ‘oh poor child’. Children with special needs have come just to take service from you.

Q: How do we know children are into drugs or just moody?

Sri Sri:
This you can find out. That’s why it is important for you to know them and their friend circle. You will get to know what they do, where they go, keep a tab on them, especially teenage. It is very difficult time. They are undergoing such a biological change. So, they are not just satisfied with the love of their parents, their body is discovering new things. They are looking for some love from outside – an emotional support, a physical pleasure. Their mind is in such confusion. So, to deal with teenage children is a big task. That’s why we have this yes and yes+ course, which is for teens. I tell you, these courses have opened up children in such a way which I cannot even describe.
In one of the courses in New Delhi, 1000 youths participated. We asked a question, “whom do you hate foremost?” 80 percent said their professor, 75 percent of them said the second most hated is their parents. In this country where we say, Maatra devo bhava, pitra devo bhava, aacharya devo bhava, atithi devi bhava, Mother, father, teachers and guests are considered such ideals and manifestations of Divine. It is appalling to see them start hating them. We don’t want violence and stress in our education system at any cost. We do not want gun culture as is happening in America. There is so much violence in class rooms there. Present year report says that campus violence have tripled in America from what it was in 90’s. So, it is very dangerous and we do not want this thing in India. That is why we need to bring moral and spiritual values, ethical values of compassion, friendliness and love.

Q: youth is so aggressive. We give them everything they ask for, yet there is no satisfaction. They are so hyperactive. How to mellow down such hyperactive kids especially when they are hurting others?

Sri Sri:
Just bring them to yes and yes+ course. When these kids in Delhi do the course, their parents were wondering what we had done to their kids. They have become so nice. They never thought about the kind of transformation that they saw in their kids after the curse. The same kids who earlier said they hated their parents started caring about their parents, sending them notes expressing their love for them, and asking them what can they do for them. There was total transformation in these kids. In 43 universities of America, yes+ clubs are there. In Cornell University and several other, it is credit now. So if you do yes+ course, do meditation, practices, you get credit. World is recognizing this now and better India start doing it. We will have to teach them meditation and ways to manage their own negative emotions.

“That which you cannot express is Love.
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar

art of living TV
© The Art of Living Foundation