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.”
That which you cannot reject/renounce is Beauty.
That which you cannot avoid is the Truth.”
~ Sri Sri Ravishankar
© The Art of Living Foundation
