Continued from previous post...
Q:
What is the visualization of God in ancient India?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar: In ancient India, they described God as beauty. A disciple
once asked what God is. The Master replied – Truth, beauty and love. That is
God. Is God sitting in heaven giving a little finger? No, it is only in the
painting. God is truth, beauty and love. It is that field and energy present in
the entire creation. When can you appreciate beauty? And what doesn’t allow you
to appreciate? When mind is bombarded with worry, anger, hate and tension, you
can’t even smile from your heart.
Though
you are sitting in a ballet, but you can’t appreciate if you are angry. You can
only appreciate when you are in the present moment.
Q.
What is the future of St. Petersburg?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar: It is in your hands.
Q:
What do you say on the rumors of destruction of the world in the year 2012?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar: I want to tell you a story. In 1999, when I was in North
America, there was a rumor that everything will shut down in 2000. People sold
homes and stored food for six months - Milk powder, dry vegetables etc. Oh my
God! Then also I told that there would be no disaster and everything would be
as usual. Now again, I am assuring you that it is only in the movie. The world
will continue. In fact, transformation will be there from greedy materialism to
humanism. Children will be more aware of spirituality. There is a bright future
for the world. Don’t think of any disaster. A disaster is already happening.
This is because we have exploited the planet. We have put so many dynamites to
take minerals, and hence earthquakes have become dominant. The weather! Russia
never had such hot temperatures. So we have to care for the planet Earth. Plant
trees and do all that is needed to reduce human greed. What do you think?
Q:
How do I feel more energetic repeating the same old routine everyday?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar: First look into the mirror and give a big smile to yourself.
Ok? Then do breathing technique, little bit of yoga and meditation. Give some
time to yourself everyday and you will be more energetic and beautiful.
Q:
How to make someone dear to you understand that something is useful for them
and they must go for it?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar: Keep pursuing gently and have patience, they will all
understand. First you should have the conviction that this is good for them,
and they will get it. How to get a thought or a desire manifested is very
simple. First intention and keep attention on it and then manifestation will
follow.
Q.
You travel so much…
I
feel at home with everyone and everywhere. I don’t find anyone a stranger. I
often say that I am a child who refuses to grow up.
Q:
I am running after a dream since long. How to get that fulfilled?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar: Be practical in taking care of your daily needs and see what
the reality is at that point. You have a dream and you want to achieve
something. But that dream or idea may not match the reality that is right now.
So understand the present reality and match it with your dream. This is what
everybody has to do.
See,
suppose you are teaching mathematics to a student. First you should know the
present state of the child’s mind. If the child can’t count two plus two is
four, there is no point in teaching the multiplication table. Do you see the
practicality now?
Q:
How are science and spirituality related?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar: Science and spirituality were never in conflict; in fact they
are very complimentary. In India, it is always said, ‘Before you try to
understand the nature of your spirit, you should understand the five elements
of creation Earth, water, fire, air and ether’. So once you understand the
five elements then you understand intellect, ego and self. All is the nature of
the spirit. Spirituality is knowing who am I, the subject analysis. Objective
analysis is science, and they go together. Scientists were always encouraged.
Q:
People around the world need these stress relieving techniques. How can
we contribute?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar: That is why I keep traveling. So, we have to keep practicing,
have to sit in groups and do some pranayama
and some meditation. We have to renew our energy time to time. When you eat,
your stomach becomes empty again, it is quite natural. Like that when you are
happy and joyful, sometime when being so busy and engaged in so many
activities, you seem to collect all that dust and your energy seems to go down.
Then it is the time to recharge again. So we will meditate now for few minutes.
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