Q: Is it possible to become like a child again and to rekindle that positive vibration around us?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is possible. The secret lies in our own breath. Through breathing exercises, certain breathing techniques and some practice of meditation, we can rekindle positive vibrations within and around us.
Are you aware that sometimes for no reasons you feel like talking to some people and, sometimes for no reason you want to avoid some people? I am sure everyone has this experience!
We convey more through our presence than through our words. If we are uptight, angry or stressed, then we become repulsive. Now, the question is how do these negative vibrations come in our aura? We are storing all these negative things that we have seen and heard in our aura.
Q: Is world peace possible?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: World peace comes with individual peace. If individuals become peaceful, communities become peaceful. Then the leaders of the world will also become peaceful, and we can have world peace. When people have broad vision for the whole world, world peace is a possibility. We need to spiritualize the politics, socialize the business and secularize the religion.
Q: What are the points to keep in mind in order to have a successful relation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: First for women: Never step on your man's ego. You should always pump and encourage his ego. You know, the whole world may say that your husband has no brains, but you should not say that! You should tell your husband that he has the best brains in the world, and just because of the fact that he doesn't use it, doesn't mean that he doesn't have it! You should always tell him that he is the best man. Always pump the ego of a man .If you call him a vegetable, I tell you he will become one.
Now one advice for men: Never step on the emotions of a woman. You know, she may sometimes complaint about her family, about her brother, or her father, or her mother. You should not agree with that. If you do, then she will take a U turn. Never insult her family. Don’t stop her to go for shopping, or going to a spiritual or religious program. If she wants to go for shopping, give her your credit card.
Now for both: Never ask for proof of someone's love for you. Don't ask each other, “Do you really love me? You don't love me these days just like old days”. You know, it is such a big load for someone to prove their love for others. If someone asks you to prove your love, you would say "Oh my God! How do I prove that to this person?” Do everything with some style and some smile.
Q: How can we bring human, nature and animals in harmony for our future generation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: We should stop polluting our planet. Say no to plastic, Use as little plastic as possible. Recycle..Use recycled things. Use chemical free shampoos and soaps as far as possible. Go organic, I would recommend everyone to become vegetarian. You know, if we pay attention on the consumption that takes place to produce one non-vegetarian meal, feeding the animal etc.., it is equivalent to 400 vegetarian meals. So, I recommend everyone to turn vegetarian. Environmentalists say that if even 10 percent of the population turns vegetarian, we will not have the problem of this green house effect.
Q: Do you know about vipasana meditation? What do you think about it? Is it compatible with sudrashan kriya?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:Yes, it is compatible. Vipasana is observing the sensation in the body - pleasant or unpleasant. That is good. But it takes a longer time to feel that sensation. You will find much easy with Sudarshan Kriya. Whatever meditation technique you are doing, you can go deep into it with Sudarshan Kriya.
Q: How do I evoke my self esteem?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: With sudrashan kriya. Two-three part 2 courses are very essential.
Q: What to do with cancer?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Continue doing pranayama, breathing exercises, meditation, vegetarian food and yoga.
Q: If the courses and techniques are for the benefit of humanity, why is it so expensive?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is very minimal. It is not much expensive. There are expenses involved in renting a place for so many days, a teacher to come. We hardly save 10 to 15 percent on course. Sometimes it is little higher. It goes to a very good cause of charity. Of course, we teach free of cost in prisons, refugee camps and in villages where people can’t afford. If anybody thinks that they can't afford, you simply talk to the teacher. They will take you in and accommodate you.
Q: How much am I suppose to work?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, it is up to you.
Q: What can you say about 2012?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don't worry. Nothing is going to happen. Things will be as usual. In fact more and more people will become spiritual.
Q: I feel very strong in your presence and it feels good. I am very grateful to have you in my life.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Good good. Knowledge, meditation and relaxation will give you cool heart, and soothe your heart!
Q: Is genetically modified food really dangerous?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The scientists, who are not employed by these companies, will tell you. The scientists who are not employee of these seed companies can give you the right opinion.
Q: How do you forgive someone who has hurt you deep yet shows no guilt or regret?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I want to tell you that most of the questions have been answered in the books – Celebrating Silence or Celebrating Love.
Q: When we are sad, what does god feel?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: God says "Oh my god! How foolish this person is!" There is so much beauty around in the world, and you are thinking so small and getting sad .Look at the reality of the world, enquire for the secret of the universe and the sorrow diminishes.
Q: How can I motivate myself?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Only three things can motivate you or inspire you - love, fear, greed! But I don’t agree with fear or greed, I believe in love!
Q: What about the dark hidden forces which corrupt politics, military, intelligence agencies etc.?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You know, I always believe that truth always triumphs. Truth will always win. I would say that you also have this confidence.
Q: Why are there so many religions and communities? Why is the evil so strong?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Evil is not strong. You are giving it strength. It appears as if evil is strong, but it is not. The greatest power on the Earth is love. Love can melt any evil. It is due to lack of love and wisdom that evil exists. The moment love and wisdom comes into play, evil disappears. Like when the sun comes, the dew disappears. We have seen this. You know, when we give some wisdom and love to the extremists like terrorists, there was total change in those people. Some 300,000 prisoners, so called criminals, have done the ‘Art of living’ part 1 course, and their life has so much changed.
Q: Can you please tell how does one get rid of doubt?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:You know, doubt is always about something that is positive. You always doubt the honesty of a person, and never doubt the dishonesty of a person. When someone tells you, "I love you", you ask really? When someone tells you, “I hate you”, you never ask them really. Isn’t it? You are not sure about your happiness. When someone asks about our happiness, we say, "Well, I am not sure." But we are so sure of our depression. We never doubt our weakness, we always doubt our capabilities. If you observe, all good things like love, happiness, honesty, and sincerity are being doubted. So, any doubt must be good.
Q: Why are there so many catastrophes in Poland, China and Iceland?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Because we are misusing this planet. We are mining this Earth so much, we are putting so many dynamites, and we are testing so many nuclear bombs. So, the Earth starts shaking. We have to honor mountains, rivers, trees. If we don't exploit this planet, then there will be less and less natural calamities.
Q: How the transformation of the world will happen?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If we all work towards it. More and more spirituality, meditation, singing, and world will become a better place.
Q: Do I need a guru?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Do you need an answer? If you need an answer that means you need someone who have to give you the answer, and that anyone who gives the answer automatically becomes a Guru.
Guru means the one who gives the answer. The English word guide comes from the original sanskrit word guru.
You need a guide for everything, for learning guitar, music, or any field you take. Similarly, Guru is one who can guide you into meditation, wisdom, and knowledge.
“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
