KNOWLEDGE SHEET

Know your Growth type-Normally in the world people with similar tendencies group together; intelligent people group together, fools get together, happy people get together, ambitious people get together and disgruntled people also group together to celebrate their problems! (Laughter) There is a saying, 'Birds of a feather flock together'.

The disgruntled people get together, they complain and pull each other down. A frustrated person cannot be with someone happy because the other is not dancing to their tune. You only feel comfortable when the other person is in tune with you. Intelligent people do not feel at home with foolish people. Foolish people feel that intelligent ones are not humane. One with wisdom feels at home with the disgruntled as well as the happy, foolish and intelligent. Similarly, people with all these tendencies also feel at home with the wise.

Just turn around and look at what goes on in your group – are you grateful or grumbling? Take responsibility to uplift the people around you. That is Satsang, not just singing and leaving.

The wise person is like the sky where all birds can fly.

SRI SRI

JAI GURU DEV

SRI SRI AT SATSANG

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in satsang today

Ques
‪#‎SriSri‬: Argentina is a very resilient country, people with great enthusiasm there. I know you are going through a tough time, not just now but for a couple of years. Though your neighbour Brazil is prospering and moving forward, Argentina is taking a back step. I am sure those days will be over and there will be changes coming in the country in the coming years. So hold on to your hope and move.

Ques: How to get rid of the fear of death?
#SriSri: Death can come anytime. But till now we were caught up with other things so we did not fear death. Now that everything else is fading, now you fear death. One is knowing that you anyway have to go. Since you have to go, you might as well smile and go. You should go from here with the satisfaction that you have fulfilled all your responsibilities. You came into this world crying, at least you should leave with from here smiling! You should not have any regret. We should do all we can for others too before we leave this world.
Ques: What is difference between Ego and Self respect?
#SriSri: Self respect is honouring oneself. Ego is to show off to others. For Ego to exist, you need another person and Self respect you just need to be content and peace within yourself.

Ques: How to overcome corruption?
#SriSri: See corruption cannot happen with a sense of belongingness. Suppose you go to an officer and the officer is from your town or a friend of a distant relative. Will he take bribe from you? No. So if there is even a little belongingness, then corruption will end at that moment. That's why say all officers need a glimpse of spirituality. Just a glimpse is enough. Just a little education on meditation, a little knowledge on belongingness, everyone is mine, this sort of a broad perspective will put an end to corruption.

Ques: What do you think about medicine and what do medical doctors need to know?
#SriSri: Medical doctors need to have a new paradigm. They cannot be fanatical about what they knew and studied fifteen or twenty years ago. The field of medicine is changing very fast. What was thought to be the ultimate truth, today is discarded. What was considered to be the right way, today is the wrong way. So medical science is developing and growing and changing. If doctors understand this they will not be fanatical about what is stuck in the mind by their own studies several years ago. Second, holistic approach to health should be taken. Usually in allopathy they only medication but they don't prescribe diet or lifestyle. Like Ayurveda gives a holistic approach, what diet to follow,. So this should be adopted. And when it comes o Ayurveda, then also you should not be fanatic.. you have to adopt a broad outlook there too. Preventive medicine, this education should be given priority.
Ques: How do I know the purpose of my life?
#SriSri: You make a list of what is not the purpose of your life. It is not to just eat, drink and watch television. It is not to fight with others. It is not to make money, keep it in the bank and then die. People work their whole life to earn money, keep it in the bank and die. They don't even make a will. Then the children who would get along so well together, will later fight over it. This is what happened. So first you make a list of what you don't want and then you see what you want.

Ques: Someone has OCD but refuses to come on the path. What to do?
#SriSri: That's like a person who is thirsty but refuses to drink water! You have to convince them somehow. These mental diseases do not go unless you come on to the path of knowledge and Sadhana. They have to do Yoga and Sadhana.

Ques:
You know why there is criminality? Because of stress. And why is there stress? People want to get a lot, not much energy and very little time. So there stress. It is lack of understanding. Nobody ever taught them how to meditate, how to be peaceful, how to find joy within themselves. So in search of joy, people engage in criminal practices. In search of happiness people are becoming corrupt. So education is absolutely essential. Culturing education. You are brought in a certain cultural. At home people have taught you what is decency, how to behave. Just imagine in another house they are never taught all that. Parents are fighting with each other. There are throwing cups and knives at each other. Then what kind of values will children get? They get the same values.. So if you are brought up in an environment where you are taught violence is shameful, then you will not indulge in violence. But if you are taught that violence is a pride, the more violent you are, the more macho you are, they end up doing that.
Ques: My friend passed away due to cancer and her husband is not able to cope with it. What is the point of suffering for Karma when we don't even know what we did in our past lives?
#SriSri: Do we need to understand everything? Whenever we suffer we say 'Why did this happen?'. Why did this question not come when someone else's child passed away? There so many problems in this world, did this not question come then? This question came only when it happened to you friend. So what makes us unhappy is the 'Me'. In this world people of all age groups die.. If you plant a tree twenty years back, you will not even remember planting it but you will enjoy the fruits it bears. So some karmas bear fruit immediately. You put your finger in the fire, it will burn your finger right now, not few years later! But if you plant a mango tree, you are able to enjoy the mangoes only after 5 yrs.. That is why the ways of Karma are such a mystery. That is why Go exits. So put your mind to God. Through meditation you can wash away your past karmas.

I need a very simple answer as to how to attain absolute happiness?
It's Very simple - Serve and Meditate!

KNOWLEDGE SHEET : YOU ARE NOTHING

You are nothing-Each experience completes. Completion means leading to void or nothing. In the progression of life, you will leave behind every experience saying, 'This is nothing.' Anything that is completed loses its importance. That is to say it leads you to void - this is nothing.

A sign of intelligence is how soon you arrive at this understanding. Examine everything in life and say 'This is nothing' and what remains after all that is Love, and that is everything.

When 'This is nothing' does not come out of knowledge, it comes out of misery. Either through knowledge or through misery, you come to the point of 'This is nothing, this is nothing'. The choice of how you come to that point is yours.

If you got this, it is really NOTHING, If you didn't get this, never mind - this is nothing.

KNOWLEDGE SHEET : APPRECIATION

When do you appreciate someone? When they do something that is unusual,not ordinary, and not their nature. Isn't it so?

For example, when a wicked person doesn't create a problem then you appreciate them. Or, when somebody you think is not good does a good act, then you appreciate them. Also, when a good person does something extraordinary, then you appreciate them. If a child made you a cup of tea, you would appreciate it, but if a mother made the same cup of tea, you would not likely appreciate it because it is a normal act for her. In the same way, you appreciate getting a ride from someone you don't know, but you don't necessarily appreciate it from a bus driver.

In all these cases, those acts are temporary, out of character, or not their nature. So when you appreciate someone for something, you imply that it is not the way they are usually.

Robin: What if a person wants to be appreciated?

Sri Sri: That means that it is not in their nature, and that is why they want to be appreciated. If it is not coming from their nature it is an imposed act. So when you appreciate someone you simply imply that it is not their nature, it is not the way they usually are. It is a rare act or quality. Appreciation implies a sense of separateness or distance, so watch out when you appreciate someone!

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Q: Gurudev, Gurudev, I am Christian and I don’t believe in reincarnation but is it possible that we were Indians in another life?

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Now you are negating your own statement! You say you don’t believe in reincarnation and then ask if you had a birth in this country!
Possible! I know for sure I have been here many times. And even you have been, but whether you were an Indian or not, I don’t know. It doesn’t matter.
The interpretation, religion and belief system all varies with time.

Once upon a time, the church did not believe the earth is round. They believed the earth is flat. So many scientists were persecuted because they were saying things which were against the religion, but then the church started adopting it.
They said they don’t believe in the Darwin theory, but now the Pope is saying it is acceptable. When science says something, you agree.
Similarly, the psychologist, psychiatrist, parapsychologist, scientist say there have been many lives, many mansions (bodies) that you have been in. When the scientists say you have been here, that your consciousness is imperishable, then you will have to agree.

SHORT QUOTES TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY

A Teacher can give knowledge, but the Master brings a heightened awareness. A Teacher can give information but the Master awakens intelligence.

SRI SRI AT SATSANG

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Satsang today

"Celebrating Republic Day is like celebrating Brahma Gyaan (Highest Knowledge). Ask how? When were born out of our mother's womb, were we not made public? Till then we were private in the mother's womb. When we came out of there, we became public. But then after 3 years of age, we became private again, closed in our own selves. 'My, my, my. My mummy, my father, my brother etc. So then we became private. Then when you feel that there is nothing private, it is all public, everyone belongs to me, then we public again. So we become Republic (Re-public) again. This is knowledge, unification of what is inside and outside. We you are something inside, and something else outside, then you are not in Republic."

"You sing your own song, not someone else's.. Here every person is a song. Sing your own song not someone else's. So sit and think, there will be song that will come from within you automatically. Keep singing that song."

Ques: Why did Krishna have to kill Shishupal? Was there no other way?
‪#‎SriSri‬: Krishna did a lot of things, I don't know why he did those! You only take what you like about whatever any of the Avatars have done.. There is a story where Krishna says that if he had never lied then the river should stop flowing, and the river stopped. So Krishna's life is a wonder in itself. Why He killed Shishupal, I don't know, I'm not His lawyer! I am a lawyer only for myself. No explanation, no complaints. That is the sign of the Brahma Gyaan (Highest Knowledge). Krishna never gave an explanation for what He did or did not do.

Ques: Is courage and cowardice are a by-product of ego?
#SriSri: In egolessness also there can be courage, but not cowardice. So there is cowardice and sorrow in ego. In egolessness there is happiness and bravery. (Ques: Isn't bravery also a sign of ego?) No, bravery is evidence of your strength. If you have to call it ego, it is a Satvic ego, but not egotism. Anyway ego is always there. Existence means ego. "I am", that is ego. "I am Brahm" that is also ego. But that is Satvic ego and Satvic ego is what is egolessness.

Ques: When we are told to surrender, how do we know that it is not procrastination or escapism?
#SriSri: Who told you to surrender? Don't surrender. Don't listen to somebody and surrender. Why are you bothered about all that? Got it? Still confused? (Yes, very confused). Yes, that is my job, to confuse you! Forget about everybody, what is it that you want? (Ques: I want to have a solution to my problems) Look, in the past you had problems? Solutions came? It will come, you are in the right place doing the right thing. Leave your problems here and go free. When you have problems in life then knowledge does not sink in. The curtain over the mind is problems. That is when surrender is needed, the Guru is needed. Somebody is there with us, when there is a problem. If we have this faith, then the problem ceases to be a problem. You know there is someone at home, cooking you food. If you have this faith, then you don't even think about it and you sit at the dinner table to eat when it is time to eat. If you have to make your own food then you start thinking about what you will make, what you have to but, where you have to go. Twenty things come up in the mind.. Who is burdened with these thoughts? One who doesn't know that there is someone who is anyway cooking for you.

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Q: The food that we eat today has so many chemicals and the government policies promote these. How to tackle this? Please also talk about organic food and organic farming.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Organic farming is the future of Earth. If we want the earth to sustain itself, we have to go organic. There is no other way. There are people who are so greedy and selfish that they do not care for the planet, and so they promote these harmful things to the farmers. One or two crops come very good, and that tempts the famers and they take it. Once they take it, then from the third or fourth crop, everything goes down and even the land gets spoilt. The land becomes unfit for cultivation. This is the problem.
That is why we have established an agricultural institute to teach farmers organic farming; the ancient type of farming.
In ancient days, they would put three crops together. So even if one crop dies the other two crops are there. So people were never starving. They never went bankrupt, or never went into loss. They would put, let us say, sugarcane along with some pulse, so that if one crop fails, the other two will be there. Usually all three crops would yield and it would fix the content of nitrogen in the soil all by itself, because of the variety. This is the kind of farming that one has to revert to.
We have to do Agnihotra (a Vedic yagna) and that will take care of harmful insects and pests. So you do not need to put pesticides. Then there are natural pesticides like cow urine, Neem leaves and several other things like that. So we need to revert to this type of farming which does not spoil the water, the Earth and the health of the people.

GURU ONE LINERS

Q: Could you tell us if you still have an ego?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I leave it to you to guess. What do you think? I'm not happy with a small ego, let it be a very big ego. The whole world is mine!

DAILY SUTRA

A thought is nothing but an impulse of energy and intelligence. If this energy that is getting created or generated from you is negative, then it will attract more negativity and negative thoughts. If you are in a positive place, then you will get more positive thoughts.  - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

GURU PUNCH

Everything will remain here and you will have to go. All those you have known in the past have left this planet. Don't you remember? So many of us have left and similarly we will also have to go. If you are able to conceive only this much of knowledge, contentment will dawn upon you. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

KNOWLEDGE SHEET : MIND IS LIKE WATER

Mind is like water-Your body is like a hard shell. And your mind, the inner self is like water. You are like water inside. Nature of water is cooling and flowing. But when the innermost, which is like water, is burning with jealousy, anger, frustration and all the fires you put inside, then the water boils and its cooling nature disappears.

Then how does one cool the water? Just imagine a pot and underneath are all these burning sticks. To cool the water you have to remove these sticks. All emotions are linked with people, objects and events.

Catching on to objects, people or relationships hinders freedom, liberation. You are hankering for some greater joy that is not there, not going to be there.

So, remove all this firewood and the water will become cooler. Because "cool" is the nature of water. When all these other negative stresses, burning sticks are removed, water will possess all its natural qualities — humbleness, humility, and naturalness — just like the nature of water which flows down.

In the Bhagavad Geeta, Lord Krishna talks about all the good qualities. And then He adds that they are already in you. Just like in an atom, the core is positive and the negativity is peripheral. Know that it's not in the core.

Your nature is calmness, coolness. If it wasn't your nature, you would never feel at home in it.

Mind means moods, thoughts, opinions, ideas, all these things that we collect. And, 'no mind' is meditation. Yoga, meditation and spirituality are about giving comfort to your soul and transforming all the negative tendencies in the mind.

When you meditate, you go off the influence of the mind and go into the self. The mantra of knowledge is — in this world there is no other. The mantra of love is — there is no one who doesn't belong to me.

When the mind is free from all impressions and concepts, you are liberated. When you know that everything is changing — all relationships, people, body, feelings — suddenly the mind, which clings on to misery, comes back to you.

A fulfillment, centeredness, a subtle solid strength comes from within. Then if fame comes, money comes, it doesn't touch you. It comes or doesn't come, it doesn't matter to you.

SRI SRI AT SATSANG

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in ‪#‎Satsang‬ today:

Organic Farmers from all across Karnataka, who have a come for a three day convention at the Art of Living International Ashram, were honoured today by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Hon. Minister of Law & Justice, D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

‪#‎SriSri‬ spoke about the need to encourage organic farming and the work that has been done by Art of Living volunteers in river rejuvenation. Hon. Minister Sadananda Gowda congratulated the farmers on the innovations that they have brought about in farming and took the responsibility to spread the word!

SRI SRI AT SATSANG TODAY

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in ‪#‎Satsang‬ today:

Organic Farmers from all across Karnataka, who have a come for a three day convention at the Art of Living International Ashram, were honoured today by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Hon. Minister of Law & Justice, D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

‪#‎SriSri‬ spoke about the need to encourage organic farming and the work that has been done by Art of Living volunteers in river rejuvenation. Hon. Minister Sadananda Gowda congratulated the farmers on the innovations that they have brought about in farming and took the responsibility to spread the word!

‬ Pic: Devi Puja in presence of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the Art of Living International Ashram After devi puja tdy

SRI SRI QUOTES

"The small mind which is troubled and which is experiencing the world, which has desires and fears, prays to the bigger mind, which is present like an ocean, constant, joyful, and full of energy and the smaller mind comes closer to that" - ‪#‎SriSri‬

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Live Satsang with H.H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

22/01/15

Art of Living Bangalore International Centre

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🍁Ques: What is the third eye? How can I open it?

🌹SriSri: For God's sake don't try to open it! Third eye is the gut feeling, the intuition.

It is another eye sitting there. The sixth sense and it develops when you become centered and when you are content.

Then it starts functioning. Too much eating, too much sleep, too much activity is counter-productive for the intuitive ability to dawn inside you. Moderation in all these will help.

🌻Ques: There are temples where prayers get answered fast? Is there a spiritual power there or just a belief?
🌹SriSri: Yes. Most of the temples in this country were situated on hill tops and people would climb the hill.

When they climb, they would pant, their breathing pattern changes.

Almost kriya happens by the time you reach there!

In Thirupathi you have to cross seven hills and walk and walk. When you walk and you have such a physical exhaustion, the mind becomes blank.

When mind is blank meditation happens. And then whatever desire you have gets fulfilled.. This one aspect.

The second aspect is where there is positive energy and mind becomes calm, centered, then the Sankalpa get fructified

🍁Ques: Why is the idle mind a devil's workshop and how to convert it into God's workshop?
🌹SriSri: Just what you are doing here. In a positive environment, meditation, Seva and the knowledge

🌻Ques: What is the difference between space and Atman(Eternal Self)
🌹SriSri: You know this Universe has many dimensions.. and each dimension has its uniqueness and each dimension has some similarity with other dimensions.

So all that you can do is, wonder about it! And you can never say specifically that these two are too different. What appears to be different in some places are similar and what appears to be very similar, they are still different. That's why one of the sages said that you can only say 'perhaps'.

In scientific terms you say probability, a probability factor is there. There's a probability factor in almost everything.

🍁Ques: You always say don't fall in love, rise in love. How to rise in love?
🌹SriSri: Not demanding anything from the person whom you love, not even recognition, appreciation and knowing from yourself that it is unconditional. That is rising. It's very simple.

🌻Ques: Is Art of Living only for a specific class of people? Is yoga, pranayama important for the poor or taking care of one's family.
🌹SriSri: Look, one can move forward in life only through one's capability. And Yoga and pranayama gives you that capability. This not just for the rich or the poor. It is for everyone who wants to move ahead in life.

From a certain perspective the rich are poor and from a different perspective, the poor are rich.

Many a times the courage, confidence, the ability to share with others, that the poor have, the rich do not. In fact the rich are more miserly than the poor.

Often the poorest of the poor is more generous than the rich..

So don't think meditation, yoga is not for the poor. Even the poor today earn as much as white collared clerk in the city! But he spends 60% in alcohol and therefore remains poor.

So if the poor learn yoga and pranayam, then he will be able to get rid of all the bad habits.

Second his self confidence will increase, confidence will increase.

Knowledge is for everyone, king and a pauper.

In society there are two types of thinking – exploiter and exploited. We think the rich are the exploiter and the poor and exploited. We have to move away from both the thinking.. and awaken humanity.

This problem is not prevalent abroad. We have to get dignity of labour in society. And that will only come when the poor will move with self-confidence and self-knowledge.

Fifty or sixty years back, the servants would serve their masters for many years. The servants had loyalty and the masters had belongingness. They used to leave their house and children in the hands of the servants. These days the owners are not able to do so. This is because there is no belongingness in the masters and no loyalty in the servants. When one comes onto the path of knowledge, loyalty arises in them.

🍁Ques: How to get rid of ego?
🌹SriSri: The antidote for ego is being natural If you really want to get rid of ego, one day act like a fool or a crazy person, just one day, and you will see that you have come over your boundaries.

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Live Satsang with H.H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

21/01/15

Art of Living Bangalore International Centre

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🌱Ques: Is it possible to be a good son, brother, husband, boss and business. Is it possible to do that through Art of Living?

🌹SriSri: No. It's not possible through Art of Living. It is only possible through you. If you want it will happen and of course Art of Living will support you fully.

Whatever Sankalpa or intention we take start on that path. It may take time to reach the destination, that depends on our capability.

Every person has some capability and it is limited. Capability is not infinite. We can increase our capability.

We can do it through Yoga. And you just believe that you are good. Some things you take on faith and some things you experience and move ahead.

You cannot experience everything. Some things you have to take on faith.

If someone says this is poison don't take it, you cannot say no I will experience it and only then believe it, that will not work.

There you have to it on faith.

God is not an object of knowing, Love is not an object of knowing.

That is why no one has known God nor love. You cannot know God, you have to have faith in Him. When you have faith, then God starts coming into your experience.

That is why it is said that some things you take on faith, some things you take you experience, love everyone and move ahead.

So just take it on faith that you have all the good qualities.

Sri Krishna in the Gita tells Arjun that he has all the divine qualities..

He doesn't tell him that you have to do something to increase the divine qualities. Just believe that you are good.

There has never been a mother or father who is not good. Yes they have been ignorant. If they are not good it is because of ignorance.

So just move ahead believing that you are a good brother, husband, son and everything that you want will start manifesting.

🌺Ques: Ravana gave knowledge to Laxman in his last moments of life. Were they not enemies?
🌹SriSri: No in those days there was no hatred. The loser did not experience hatred and the winner did not feel arrogant. It was like a game..

And Laxman and Ravana were both knowledgeable. Ravana was a wise man himself.

He was a great devotee of Shiva. There is a beautiful story about Ravana. When Rama was was to build a bridge to Lanka, He did a Shiva puja in Rameshwaram. He had to do the installation of the Shiva Linga. For that He needed a pundit. He was told that the best purohit was Ravana.

When Ravana was invited for the same, he said that it was his duty and he had to go. So he came for the puja but said it cannot be done as Sita was not present.

In pujas and any religious ceremonies it is considered important for both husband and wife to be present so that both can spiritually progress together at the same pace, so that there is no discord at home.

So the rule was that this puja could not be performed without Sita.

Then Sri Rama said that it is the duty of the purohit to provide for anything that may be required for the puja.

So then Ravana agreed to bring Sita only for the duration of the puja. Sita came, the puja took place and at the end of the puja Rama and Sita took Ravana's blessings.

And Ravana had to give his blessings to Rama and Sita, that He may win and that her husband maybe protected! What will you say to this? Do you see any hatred there, was there any enmity?

Whether Ramayana took place or not, sage Valmiki has written an exemplary scripture on righteousness. Even in the smallest of incidents, you learn how to live life.

So when Ravana was about to die then Rama asked Laxman to go to Ravana and get his knowledge so that it is not lost forever.

In India there has been a tradition of passing on the knowledge that has been learnt. What is the use in dying with the knowledge that you have acquired?.. So Ravana had a special knowledge that made Lanka into a golden city. So Rama asked Laxman to go and learn about economy from Ravana!

🌱Ques: What is the significance of Aranyaka in the Vedas
🌹SriSri: Vedas are the mantras that was heard or cognized by the seers in deep meditation. Then there was discussion and analysis on what was head, in the jungles and Gurukuls. That is called Aranyakas.

Then that became the Upanishads going forward.

There are four parts to the Vedas – the mantras which were congnized, then the Brahmans who used these mantras, then Aranyaka or the analysis and then the fourth was is Upanishads.

But the essence of all is self realization, become established in the Self.

🌱Ques: The Gita says that the sign of a knowledgable person is that he is established in the Self. So does it mean that the senses do not affect them?
🌹SriSri: What is affected is the mind, not the senses. And the knowledgeable one has killed the mind.  Then how will he be affected? And even if the senses affect him then it will be for something good.

Senses are only instruments, all the desires arise in the mind. And when the mind is in bliss then the pleasures of the senses are insignificant to the mind.

🌺Ques: How are the three gunas expressed in the Self?
🌹SriSri: Read the Gita, it is there. Satvic, rajasic and tamasic intellect and tendencies. Look at your own nature. If you have satvic tendencies then you will be very enthusiastic to do any work.

When one does the DSN program then they are ready to do any work. This is Satvic tendencies. Rajasic is when one becomes very enthusiastic and then the next moment becomes very low energy. Tamasic is filled with regret from the time that you wake up. Procrastinating and being negative about any work that comes up.. it is such a beautiful thing to make someone a Karma Yogi..

Gita is not just for your meditation, it is also for your life. How you should change your mindset, how you should work, how you should function, how you should build a team, how you can manage your work place. This is all there.

Identify where you are – Satvic doer, rajasic doer or a tamasic doer.

Satvic intellect or a rajasic one. Identify where are you, what are you? Self analysis and analogy of your work place can happen.

That is why it is very very relavant not just for a spiritual seeker but for anyone who wants to live a comfortable and progressive life.

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LIVE SATSANG WITH SRI SRI

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Live Satsang with H.H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

20/01/15

Art of Living Bangalore International Centre

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🌹Whatever you see in me, you have all that in you too.

Whatever you appreciate in others you too have those qualities. Honour that."

"I belong to every country, I belong to the whole world, please remember that. Don't limit me to any one country. I belong to everyone and I feel everyone belongs to me.

This is what spiritual knowledge is all about , from limited identity to infinity."

🍀Ques: You say smile and just relax.. Is it not easy for you as a Guru but tough for us humans?
‪🌹‎SriSri‬: Anything appears to be tough when you have no energy, no enthusiasm. But if you energy and enthusiasm, you agree to take challenges. Life is not only struggle.

If life was all struggle or only problem, you would not even feel it, you would take it very easily because you get used to it.

Knowledge of either comfort or trouble comes only when both are there. Knowledge happens only in opposites. Got it?

So first of all take out this concept from your mind that life is only struggle. Take the positive side of life. How fortunate you have been.

Look inward and see how fortunate you have been. And then look outward and see there are people who are in much worse condition than you are.

Even if you look at them you feel that you are in a much better place.. In life tough situations come and you definitely get help at that time.

Turn back and look so many times when you thought that this is the end of the world and yo got over it. So either through your confidence and faith or through your own observation and understanding or with energy and enthusiasm you can overcome.

Stop thinking life as a struggle. This is again our Sankalpa or intention.. As you sow, so shall you reap.

You are putting such thoughts, so then such things get attracted to you. This is the law of karma. You encourage a particular image about yourself.

You think only you have trouble? And Guruji does not have any trouble? (laughter) Guruji has the trouble of the world on His head! One person got upset because I didn't look at him.. you don't know how many demands are on me on a daily basis! You have no idea! Don't think that your life is only struggle or that Guruji can only smile and I cannot.

See now Guruji in spite of having to cater for the whole world, in spite of having so many responsibilities is still smiling.

Before I tell you anything I first see I practice it. If it applies in my life only then I tell you. That is my policy.

Here you will not find any one thing that has not been practical in our life. So for your own sake and for God's sake don't brush aside and say this not practical, it is not practical to be happy.

We are putting our own block in the mind to be happy. This is what is called the Sankalpa, intention. Intention, attention and manifestation. Everything that manifests first comes as an intention and then you put attention on it then it manifests.

🍀Ques: What can we do for people who want to commit suicide?
🌹SriSri: What we are doing here, we need to educate them on the spiritual path.. Suppose you were oblivious to this knowledge where would you have been?

How many of you feel that you can't relate to the person who you were before you did the Part 1 program, before you started meditating? (Many raise their hands) So it's necessary we need to bring this knowledge to others.

🌷Ques: If someone has been physically abused as a child, is it possible to come out of the trauma?
🌹SriSri: Definitely, definitely. You know, our life is like a river. There is fresh water every moment in it. Meditation is THE way to get over trauma.

🍀Ques: Could you tell us if you still have an ego?
🌹SriSri: I leave it to you to guess. What do you think? I'm not happy with a small ego, let it be a very big ego. The whole world is mine!

🌷Ques: What is Yoga Maya?
🌹SriSri: There are three kinds of Maya:

Moh Maya – attachment to someone or something,
Maha Maya – total ignorance and Yoga Maya.

In Yoga Maya you get certain visions and voices. That's a state of Yoga. But till we are not completely empty, devoid of desires, it gets influenced by our desires.

So 80% can be correct but 20% can be wrong.. so we shouldn't depend on it too much.

Till we are not centered in the Self, we cannot overcome Yoga Maya.

🍀Ques: Once we are on the spiritual path, how do we measure our progress?
🌹SriSri: Why do you want to give marks to yourself? Leave it to others. Why do you want to test yourself? Why do you want to see your own progress?

Become empty. We caught up in our merits as much as we get caught up in our demerits.

I have not progressed, this thought harms me and I have progressed a lot, this thought too harms you.

Live like you don't exist. Become empty

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Today Rudrabhishekam

GURUJI IN KARNATAKA

Yesterday 14 January Gurudev visited Sirsi Karnataka

SRI SRI SATSANG AT BANGALORE

🌿🍁🌿🍁🌿🍁🌿🍁🌿🍁🌿

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Satsang yesterday ( 17.01.15)

Bangalore International Centre

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🌿Ques: How to manage life when one of the most beloved person is against the foundation of your life or source of happiness?

‪🌹‎SriSri‬: Consider it as your Tapasya, your penance. Use all your skills.

You know tough situation brings out the skills in you. If things are smooth there is on use of your skill.

You don't even know that you have skills. Tougher the situation, like the one that you have mentioned, it can make you about the ways of communication.

How to communicate, what to do. It can brings out a lot of frustration in you and this is the challenge that you have to take. You have many ways.

Use your intellect, use all your skills of communication and finally there is something called prayer.

With that intense desire, prayer for people to get transformed, they get transformed.

So take it as test for your skills, your intelligence, your communication skills and the power of your prayer, your Sankalpa(intention).

🍁Ques: How to move on if you are still in love?
🌹SriSri: Time will take care. Wake up and see there are 7 billion on this planet. That's all! And that person did not have good luck, that's why they moved away from you, you can think that way! Move on.

🌿Ques: What is the difference between innocence and foolishness?
🌹SriSri: The word itself is self-explanatory. Innocence is of the heart. It's not judgmental, that is what innocence is.

Don't think it is not possible to innocent and intelligent. The foolishness of innocent people has no value. Similarly the crookedness of intelligent people has no value.

The right combination is intelligence and innocence.
Difference between mind and consciousness

🍁Ques: I feel very lonely. I need someone to support me whom I can rely on, but no one is ready for full commitment. What do I do?
🌹SriSri: Any companionship when it goes from a place of wanting and lack, to contributing it is long lasting.

You came into this world all alone. Even if you are born as twins, I tell you, you are all alone.

And when you from here you are going to go alone. Don't try to run away from loneliness. It is a blessing in disguise. This is a time to be so centered.

Push away everything around you. You will find that you're the scintillating energy of the Universe. You are the center of the consciousness. You're the ultimate truth.

That this loneliness is only one step close to that. Loneliness is because you want to grab something from outside.

Lord Krishna in Gita has said, "Anityam Asukahm Lokam bhajaswaham". This world is impermanent and there is no joy in it. Having attained thi, look unto Me, merge in Me, put you attention on me. And each time you have to do this.

Trying to fill your loneliness, looking for a companion, anything outside is not going to work.

Know that you are on this planet to give something here and then pack up and leave. That's it! You have come here to give something, take nothing from here. When you get into this knowledge, when you get into the fore of existence you will never feel lonlely at all.

You will feel the consciousness around you is all life. Then everyone is your friend here. However they behave, it is immaterial. From your side, they are your friends.

You become like a mother. The mother never minds whether the kid is crying or throwing pranks, or throwing tantrums.. she doesn't mind if the baby is smiling or throwing tantrums, till she feels the baby is mine. You will feel so big, you feel that is this whole Universe is mine, everybody is mine.

And this is the way to get rid of loneliness. Not searching for someone who will match your mindset. It will match only for a while, because nature has made you so unique. If you see your thumbprints, each one of you have got a different thumb print. That itself shows that you are unique.

You will find a partner who is very good and after, seven or thirty or forty years, you will feel like you were never together! You wonder how they could live together for forty years and then one day say we are so different, we don't match each other!

Come on, wake up! Wake up and see. Don't look for someone and something to fill your vacuum. Just we were listening to a song from Kabir which says, 'my beloved comes to me in my dream'.

When you think this whole world is a dream, you shake hands with your beloved. Once you embrace your beloved, that is it. There is no more loneliness. No more loneliness anywhere, ever. This is the spiritual path.

I am not against you having a relationship, a family, getting married. No, you can have your spouse, you can have your companion, but not from the space of wanting something from them.

You can imagine a partnership where are content and you are only contributing to the other person. Such a relationship will last longer.

So this way, sit and meditate, listen to bhajans, listen to songs. You're beloved is with you. You just have to look inward, that's it.

Once you find your beloved within you, inside, you find him or her everywhere in this creation.

🌿Ques: Is the Art of Living a sect? How do you define a sect?
🌹SriSri: Well you have said sect, you should define a sect! Sect is perhaps a very closed mindset, where you feel that you are very special and others are excluded.

And this is true with every religion. Every religion on this planet feels that it's a special right for themselves… that becomes a sect. But when you say the whole world is your family.

Everyone is part of you, how can you even call it as a sect.

The Art of Living breaks all barriers of all caste, religion, nationality. Don't you think so? Don't you think the whole world is one family? How can you call it a sect?

Yes but if people insist on calling us a sect, ok then we accept that we are a sect of happy people! There are only sects in the world – sect of happy people and unhappy people.

People who are angry, upset, frustrated, agitated and unhappy. Or people who are happy, content, compassionate, loving. You can choose to be part of whichever – stree-free sect or stressed sect!

🍁Ques: What do you have to say about the massacre in Paris?
🌹SriSri Ignorance. Utter ignorance! People should have freedom of expression. They can say whatever they want to say. This is an inhuman act. See on one hand you feel compassion for these people. Because on one hand these people have never had an exposure for true human values or spiritual knowledge. They are dedicated spiritually because they want to go to somewhere into heaven, they want to meet God, they want to do God's work. This is

what is motivating them to do all this nonsense! If only they had exposure to this knowledge, the wisdom of meditation.. finding the Divinity is within us, in every one of us. Here and now. You think they would go and do all this? Never.

So the onus of responsibility lies upon all of us too. We have not made this knowledge reach the world. We have to make this knowledge reach every nook and corner of the world… Peace education is missing in the world.

If every child is taught how to manage their own emotions, their own minds, the world would be a better place. You may not be able to eliminate totally, but you can reduce it to the minimum.

🌿Ques: What is the exact meaning of knowledge is structured in consciousness?
🌹SriSri: At different levels of consciousness knowledge is different, our understanding is different.

If a child says 2+1=0, then you will brush it aside, you will say it is impossible, you are wrong. But if a professor of mathematics says 2+1=0, you will wake up and see, really? How? Tell me.

You will not say no that's nonsense. You will want to know how he got this. You will question your own knowledge that you learned earlier because you know this professor knows better than you. The the professor says this is higher mathematics! (laughter).

And then you ask a philosopher and he will say yes perfect! When the two gets added two gets added to the One, then there is nothing more to say, even the One is not there!

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SRI SRI IN SATSANG

🌲🌻🌲🌻🌲🌻🌲🌻🌲🌻🌲

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Satsang

19 January 2015

ArtofLiving International Centre
Bangalore

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🌹"Unless you give something, you will not be satisfied.

I have said that there are two types of joy. One is the joy of grabbing, one is the joy of giving.

You know people get so restless. If they give something away, you will immediately feel a certain amount of peace coming inside you. If you are caught up with any emotional turmoil or caught up with some restlessness, just do this as some sort of experiment – go to an area and give them something they need.. bring a little smile and joy on those people or children.

Then you will see something suddenly is happening inside of you.

So Daana is contributing, giving. Either you give knowledge, something material or a few words of comfort to people. Anything you give, brings you back certain serenity and peace."

🌹"Our soul always looks for truth, and wherever it finds truth it resonates.

Now when something feels right in your heart, just listen to it, go with it. All other conditions of the mind, philosophy, religion customs, traditions, all that you keep to one side. They have their value, I won't say you discard them away. They all have their place, but something desperate in you longs for truth, accept this without feeling any guilt.

You know sometimes we feel we are not being loyal to our religion, to our teacher. This sort of conflict you should do away with. Keep it aside. No religion wants you to suffer.

Every master, saint that walked this planet they always wished elevation of the student, of the people, of mankind. So when you are finding the truth, you are finding the spiritual elevation, you are finding this spiritual enrichment, know that you have the blessings of everyone.

All the prophets all the gurus all the masters, they are giving you their heartfelt blessings. You should know this for sure."

🌻Ques: I am shocked by the poverty and dirtiness in India, given the knowledge that exists here.
‪🌹SriSri‬: Yes India had to learn a lot from the west and the west has to learn a lot from India. We need to exchange whatever we are doing because we are one global family. Definitely you are correct, that's why our Prime Minister, the first thing he took up is cleaning the country.

🌲Ques: I do my Sadhana everyday, I still don't feel love for myself. What should I do?
🌹SriSri: Who said you don't feel love. Don't be hard, don't pity yourself. You ARE love, my dear! You are made up of this stuff called love. Like our body is made up of amino acid, carbohydrate, protein, your spirit is made up of love, light and joy. So just wake up.

🌲Ques: Women are suffering from inequality. Why is it so and what do you suggest?
🌹SriSri: Three things – women empowerment, women empowerment and women empowerment! Women should feel empowered. They should never feel like a victim. When you feel like a victim, you lose energy, you lose enthusiasm, you lose heart.

Spiritual is where you get rid of both victim consciousness and culprit consciousness. As a victim you remain the small mind, you can never reach the Self.

As a culprit also the same thing, you come into doership, then you can't reach to the Self. So stop blaming yourself, start praising. Praising is a divine quality. So stop being a victim. Don't think that I being a lady I'm being discriminated against.

Nobody can do anything if you stand up! You have all the power to stand and ascertain your rights. Of course we need to bring a lot of change in society. But you can do that without having to feel that you are a victim.

🌻Ques:I am Christian and I don't believe in rebirth but is it possible that I was born in India in a previous birth?
🌹SriSri: Now you are negating your own statement! You say you don't believe in reincarnation and then you ask if you had a birth in this country? I don't know! I know for sure I have been here so many times. And even you have been, whether you were an Indian or not, I don't know. Doesn't matter.

🌲Ques: When you see all this crowd that worships you, don't you have a temptation to become a living God?
🌹SriSri: The way people greet in India is different and the way people greet in west and the far east is different. In India and the Far East we bend down, we touch the feet, we bow down. This is the normal way of greeting.. So this is a cultural thing, don't think that everyone has to do that. No, it is cultural. In fact, many times it's a botheration!..

Now people praise, give adulation, but it is all going to that One source. If someone says this beautiful, to whom does the credit go? The one who painted it. Right? So God is in everything and whenever you feel grateful, you appreciate someone, then there is naturally an emotion that comes along with it. In the same way, if you go to Europe you will see all the kids, their religion is soccer!

In Germany in all the kids rooms they put up posters of players. But none of this should become a matter of concern to you at all. This what we train our teachers for. It is not just me, all our teachers, wherever they are teaching, they get so much adulation, praises but they are all centered, it doesn't disturb them. In fact I say, if you have to praise someone, praise a fool. Then it is more useful. Because an intelligent person does their job, whether you praise them or not. But if you praise a fool it is of more value as he may do something!

🌻Ques: Whenever I meet you I have tears in my eyes. Why?
🌹SriSri: It is ok.. these are sweet tears. There is a saying in the Upanishad. When you meet the one you love all the questions disappears, the heart blossoms and the tears start flowing. All the Karmas are destroyed.

🌲Ques: Even with abilities I put efforts with no results whereas there are other who put little effort and no ability get the results. What is wrong?
🌹SriSri: You know ask yourself – have you put your 100%? If you have put your 100% then just relax. Things will happen, when it happens. No need to compare with others. You have to compare only when it inspires you to move ahead. If the comparison is pulling you down, it is better to close your eyes and move on.

🌻Ques: You have said all planets are spherical because of energy around them. How come Human Beings are not spherical?
🌹SriSri: Turn around and see there are some who are very spherical!

🌲Ques: Why do I have to take so many responsibilities when I have to die one day?
🌹SriSri: Because you are born. When you are born you have to take care of all this. There are two ways –either you feel this is a burnden and cry, make your whole life as along drawn misery. Or you take this with enthusiasm.. and move on with celebration.

When you are tired that is when you feel that all this is too much for me to handle. I would say then Nivritti. Sit back, you have no responsibility whatsoever, close your eyes. Just relax.

Find the deepest of the rest within you. Just say one thing to yourself – I want nothing! That wanting nothing gives you the deepest of the rests. Rest is not just physical lying on the bed. It is the mode of the mind which says I am satisfied, I am content.. and this contentment is not going to come by doing something or by engaging in any activity.

It will come to you only through knowledge. And knowledge is – everything is impermanent, I want nothing.

Children when you ask them what they want, they say I want nothing. This wanting nothing is there as a seed in every child. They only don't know everything is impermanent.

So as a mature mind, even a few moments a day you say everything is impermanent, I want nothing and take a deep rest. Then you come up with energy, enthusiasm. Then you can take up a million job in the world, make a million people happy. Then no work appears to be significant nor insignificant.

🌲Ques:You have said God is everywhere then why is their poverty and suffering. If this is their karma then doesn't God protect people with Karma?
🌹SriSri: You know protection is relevant only when there is a challenge. A doctor is relevant only when there is a sickness. You have to rethink your question. How do you even know that there is protection by your side. When there is an issue, then you think 'oh there is a protection!'

🌻Ques: What should be the right proportion of Satva, Rajas and Tamas in life?
🌹SriSri: You focus on increasing Satva, the rest will manage themselves. You don't have to worry about that. And if you are not getting sleep at all, then take a little bit of onion and garlic. That is enough to bring a little Tamas that is needed.

🌲Ques: There are so many divorces happening in India. What are the tips that you would give to men and women for marriage?
🌹SriSri: To the men I would say that do not hurt the emotions of the women. Emotions are most important for women.. Respect women. And to the women I would say don't attack a man's ego. He may be stupid but you should not call him stupid!.. so keep pumping his ego.. He should not have to prove himself to you. Don't make him feel guilty. If you try to blame him he will run away from you. Give him comfort.. And to both of them, the common tip would be – don't doubt each other's love. Don't ask each other to prove his or her love to you. If someone doubts you and keeps asking you to prove your love again and again, isn't that a burden on you? It is so difficult to express love! Nobody has been able to do it completely.. Take it for granted that the other person loves you.. Demand destroys love. If you feel that the love has decreased, you should ask them 'Why do you love me so much?'. Even if the love has dried up inside them, it will be rekindled. They will see your magnanimity, your understanding and will start loving you more.

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🌹🌲🌻😊🙏🌹🌲🌻😊🙏🌹

SRI SRI AT SATSANG

🌲🌻🌲🌻🌲🌻🌲🌻🌲🌻🌲

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Satsang

19 January 2015

ArtofLiving International Centre
Bangalore

Website :
www.artofliving.org

Mobile :
www.tiny.cc/srisri-androidapp

Twitter :

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www.twitter.com/SriSrionTour

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www.facebook.com/SriSriRavishankar

🌹"Unless you give something, you will not be satisfied.

I have said that there are two types of joy. One is the joy of grabbing, one is the joy of giving.

You know people get so restless. If they give something away, you will immediately feel a certain amount of peace coming inside you. If you are caught up with any emotional turmoil or caught up with some restlessness, just do this as some sort of experiment – go to an area and give them something they need.. bring a little smile and joy on those people or children.

Then you will see something suddenly is happening inside of you.

So Daana is contributing, giving. Either you give knowledge, something material or a few words of comfort to people. Anything you give, brings you back certain serenity and peace."

🌹"Our soul always looks for truth, and wherever it finds truth it resonates.

Now when something feels right in your heart, just listen to it, go with it. All other conditions of the mind, philosophy, religion customs, traditions, all that you keep to one side. They have their value, I won't say you discard them away. They all have their place, but something desperate in you longs for truth, accept this without feeling any guilt.

You know sometimes we feel we are not being loyal to our religion, to our teacher. This sort of conflict you should do away with. Keep it aside. No religion wants you to suffer.

Every master, saint that walked this planet they always wished elevation of the student, of the people, of mankind. So when you are finding the truth, you are finding the spiritual elevation, you are finding this spiritual enrichment, know that you have the blessings of everyone.

All the prophets all the gurus all the masters, they are giving you their heartfelt blessings. You should know this for sure."

🌻Ques: I am shocked by the poverty and dirtiness in India, given the knowledge that exists here.
‪🌹SriSri‬: Yes India had to learn a lot from the west and the west has to learn a lot from India. We need to exchange whatever we are doing because we are one global family. Definitely you are correct, that's why our Prime Minister, the first thing he took up is cleaning the country.

🌲Ques: I do my Sadhana everyday, I still don't feel love for myself. What should I do?
🌹SriSri: Who said you don't feel love. Don't be hard, don't pity yourself. You ARE love, my dear! You are made up of this stuff called love. Like our body is made up of amino acid, carbohydrate, protein, your spirit is made up of love, light and joy. So just wake up.

🌲Ques: Women are suffering from inequality. Why is it so and what do you suggest?
🌹SriSri: Three things – women empowerment, women empowerment and women empowerment! Women should feel empowered. They should never feel like a victim. When you feel like a victim, you lose energy, you lose enthusiasm, you lose heart.

Spiritual is where you get rid of both victim consciousness and culprit consciousness. As a victim you remain the small mind, you can never reach the Self.

As a culprit also the same thing, you come into doership, then you can't reach to the Self. So stop blaming yourself, start praising. Praising is a divine quality. So stop being a victim. Don't think that I being a lady I'm being discriminated against.

Nobody can do anything if you stand up! You have all the power to stand and ascertain your rights. Of course we need to bring a lot of change in society. But you can do that without having to feel that you are a victim.

🌻Ques:I am Christian and I don't believe in rebirth but is it possible that I was born in India in a previous birth?
🌹SriSri: Now you are negating your own statement! You say you don't believe in reincarnation and then you ask if you had a birth in this country? I don't know! I know for sure I have been here so many times. And even you have been, whether you were an Indian or not, I don't know. Doesn't matter.

🌲Ques: When you see all this crowd that worships you, don't you have a temptation to become a living God?
🌹SriSri: The way people greet in India is different and the way people greet in west and the far east is different. In India and the Far East we bend down, we touch the feet, we bow down. This is the normal way of greeting.. So this is a cultural thing, don't think that everyone has to do that. No, it is cultural. In fact, many times it's a botheration!..

Now people praise, give adulation, but it is all going to that One source. If someone says this beautiful, to whom does the credit go? The one who painted it. Right? So God is in everything and whenever you feel grateful, you appreciate someone, then there is naturally an emotion that comes along with it. In the same way, if you go to Europe you will see all the kids, their religion is soccer!

In Germany in all the kids rooms they put up posters of players. But none of this should become a matter of concern to you at all. This what we train our teachers for. It is not just me, all our teachers, wherever they are teaching, they get so much adulation, praises but they are all centered, it doesn't disturb them. In fact I say, if you have to praise someone, praise a fool. Then it is more useful. Because an intelligent person does their job, whether you praise them or not. But if you praise a fool it is of more value as he may do something!

🌻Ques: Whenever I meet you I have tears in my eyes. Why?
🌹SriSri: It is ok.. these are sweet tears. There is a saying in the Upanishad. When you meet the one you love all the questions disappears, the heart blossoms and the tears start flowing. All the Karmas are destroyed.

🌲Ques: Even with abilities I put efforts with no results whereas there are other who put little effort and no ability get the results. What is wrong?
🌹SriSri: You know ask yourself – have you put your 100%? If you have put your 100% then just relax. Things will happen, when it happens. No need to compare with others. You have to compare only when it inspires you to move ahead. If the comparison is pulling you down, it is better to close your eyes and move on.

🌻Ques: You have said all planets are spherical because of energy around them. How come Human Beings are not spherical?
🌹SriSri: Turn around and see there are some who are very spherical!

🌲Ques: Why do I have to take so many responsibilities when I have to die one day?
🌹SriSri: Because you are born. When you are born you have to take care of all this. There are two ways –either you feel this is a burnden and cry, make your whole life as along drawn misery. Or you take this with enthusiasm.. and move on with celebration.

When you are tired that is when you feel that all this is too much for me to handle. I would say then Nivritti. Sit back, you have no responsibility whatsoever, close your eyes. Just relax.

Find the deepest of the rest within you. Just say one thing to yourself – I want nothing! That wanting nothing gives you the deepest of the rests. Rest is not just physical lying on the bed. It is the mode of the mind which says I am satisfied, I am content.. and this contentment is not going to come by doing something or by engaging in any activity.

It will come to you only through knowledge. And knowledge is – everything is impermanent, I want nothing.

Children when you ask them what they want, they say I want nothing. This wanting nothing is there as a seed in every child. They only don't know everything is impermanent.

So as a mature mind, even a few moments a day you say everything is impermanent, I want nothing and take a deep rest. Then you come up with energy, enthusiasm. Then you can take up a million job in the world, make a million people happy. Then no work appears to be significant nor insignificant.

🌲Ques:You have said God is everywhere then why is their poverty and suffering. If this is their karma then doesn't God protect people with Karma?
🌹SriSri: You know protection is relevant only when there is a challenge. A doctor is relevant only when there is a sickness. You have to rethink your question. How do you even know that there is protection by your side. When there is an issue, then you think 'oh there is a protection!'

🌻Ques: What should be the right proportion of Satva, Rajas and Tamas in life?
🌹SriSri: You focus on increasing Satva, the rest will manage themselves. You don't have to worry about that. And if you are not getting sleep at all, then take a little bit of onion and garlic. That is enough to bring a little Tamas that is needed.

🌲Ques: There are so many divorces happening in India. What are the tips that you would give to men and women for marriage?
🌹SriSri: To the men I would say that do not hurt the emotions of the women. Emotions are most important for women.. Respect women. And to the women I would say don't attack a man's ego. He may be stupid but you should not call him stupid!.. so keep pumping his ego.. He should not have to prove himself to you. Don't make him feel guilty. If you try to blame him he will run away from you. Give him comfort.. And to both of them, the common tip would be – don't doubt each other's love. Don't ask each other to prove his or her love to you. If someone doubts you and keeps asking you to prove your love again and again, isn't that a burden on you? It is so difficult to express love! Nobody has been able to do it completely.. Take it for granted that the other person loves you.. Demand destroys love. If you feel that the love has decreased, you should ask them 'Why do you love me so much?'. Even if the love has dried up inside them, it will be rekindled. They will see your magnanimity, your understanding and will start loving you more.

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GURU ONE LINERS

Q: How to balance between the gross and the subtle?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Both have their own place. There is no need to balance. They are both on two different dimensions.

DAILY SUTRA

To take advantage of someone's mistake is also an asuric (demonic) and tamasic quality. To guide or protect someone so that he does not make a mistake in the first place is a sattvic quality. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

KNOWLEDGE SHEET : DESIRE FOR TRUTH

Desire for truth-Buddha said that desire is the cause of all misery. If your desire does not get fulfilled, it leads to frustration and causes misery. Even if it does get fulfilled, it leaves you empty.

Vashishhtha said that desire is the cause of pleasure. You get pleasure from an object or a person only when you desire them. When you do not desire an object, you do not get pleasure from it. For example, when a person is hot and thirsty, a sip of cold water gives him pleasure; but not if he is not thirsty. Whatever gives you pleasure binds you and bondage is misery.

Sri Sri says when you desire for truth, all other desires drop off. You always desire for something that is not there. But, truth is always there! Desire for truth removes all other desires and it itself dissolves. And what remains is bliss.

GURU ONE LINERS

How to become an angel?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is no way. You already are one!

GET ALL YOUR ANSWERS WITH GURUJI

Q: In West Bengal there are no Indian cows, only the foreign or hybrid varieties such as the Jersey cows are to be found. The administration there has sent many of the Indian cows to the slaughterhouses for beef, in the name of secularism. So the milk that we drink is not from the pure variety of Indian cows, but rather that of the hybrid cows. Please advise what we should do in such a situation.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, we must do something to secure and promote the indigenous Indian cow varieties. A gentleman from Andhra Pradesh had come to meet me. He told me that the species of the bulls found in Ongol were taken to Brazil for breeding. And now we are importing those varieties from Brazil itself.
The species of bulls found in Andhra Pradesh are said to be the best, but it is so unfortunate that the species has nearly disappeared from our own country which is its home, and we have to import it from another foreign country. Why is this so? It is because many years ago, these bulls were exported to Brazil where they have been conserved and bred, while in our own country it has nearly disappeared.
The Andhra Pradesh government is now engaged in efforts to revive and bring back this native species of Indian bull to our country. I truly appreciate the government for this initiative.
I came to know that they are starting a full-fledged revolution to revive the native indigenous Indian varieties of cows and bulls in Andhra Pradesh, and I am happy to pledge every kind of support from the Art of Living for this noble cause.

DAILY SUTRA

If the power that you have been given is put to good use, to serve, it brings you satisfaction and happiness.  - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

GURU PUNCH

Thirty minutes of meditation will make you look brighter. We should all meditate for thirty minutes everyday. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

KNOWLEDGE SHEET : KNOW YOURSELF TO EXPERIENCE JOY

Knowledge sheet::
Know yourself to experience joy-
Have you ever thought what the purpose of your life is? What is life all about? These questions are very precious. When these questions dawn in your mind, only then your life begins. These questions help you improve the quality of your life.

But, when these questions come into your mind, do not be in a hurry to get an answer. Those who know will not tell you and those who tell you, do not know. These questions are the tools by which you can dig deeper and the answers come from within you.To know what you are on this planet for, find out what you are not here for. You are not here to grumble, you are not here to complain or blame. This will help you learn how to be happy in life. Life involves ups and downs which is very natural. Do not be afraid of this. Make your smile cheaper. Learn to smile more. You know what happens when you smile? All the muscles in your face relax. The nerves in your brain relax, and you get the confidence, courage and energy to move on in life.

Enthusiasm is the nature of life. Take every opportunity to praise others and support their enthusiasm, this makes life lively. If you put down other's enthusiasm, the same may happen to you. Become one whose enthusiasm never dies.

Any joy you experience in life is from the depth of yourself, when you let go all that you hold on to and settle down. If for the whole day, you are engaged in only gathering information; you do not take out time for yourself to think and reflect. You feel dull and tired. The quality of your life deteriorates. So during the day, take out some moments for yourself. Sit for a few minutes, get into the cave of your heart, eyes closed, and kick the world away like a ball. Only when you are calm and pleasant inside can you spread it in your outside world. The higher goals in life can only be realised through a few minutes of meditation and introspection. The deeper you are able to rest, the more dynamic your performance will be and the more dynamic will you be in activity.

All our struggles in life are to know more. There's always something to share, learn and teach. Always be open to learn. Do not restrict and limit yourself. Communicate with others, share ideas, share information and seek the same. When you are centred, you become a powerful communicator. And when your communication improves, your life improves.

You should plan your short and long-term goals. Then, life gets a direction to flow. Give yourself the freedom to dream and think big. Have the courage and determination to achieve those dreams that are dear to you. This world is varied and beyond our imagination. We are all born in this world to do something wonderful and unique; do not let this opportunity pass by. Start 'living' life rather than just existing.

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SRI SRI IN SATSANG TODAY

"Don't have any prejudice against anybody. Today prejudice is being created against Guru or Dharma Gurus. In the same way there is prejudice against politicians. There are four pillars in society. When prejudice clogs in all the four, that is leaders of the faith, politicians, the businessmen and the media. If all the four is prejudices then there is no progress in society. So we should be free from prejudice."

Ques: How can we increase our intuition?
‪#‎SriSri‬: Meditation. Either through meditation or through desirelessness. Because you are so content, you want nothing. In that state of contentment intuition is much easier.

Ques: Why did God make this creation?
#SriSri: Let me tell you a story. A man was once standing on the Mughal Sarai station and he kept asking the ticket conductor where each train was going. And the ticket conductor kept answering this train was going there, that train here. Finally he asked the man where he wanted go. The man replied that he just wanted to cross the tracks! So then why did he want know where each train was going if he just wanted to cross the tracks?! So why do you want to know why the creation was made? Ask me what you really want in life! How do I know why God made this creation? I think He made this for Me! Once a lady asked Me why there is sorrow in this world. The sorrow is in the world so that you don't get caught up in it. Thinking that this world is full of sorrow, we are not able to get out of it, then imagine if there is only happiness in this world we will never want to leave it! If there is no sorrow in this world then why will anyone aspire for liberation? The desire for liberation comes because we don't want unhappiness. Nobody likes unhappiness.
Ques: Kunti in Mahabharata told Krishna that she wanted sorrow in her life as that was the reason she would come to Him. Please explain
#SriSri: What Kunti said was her feeling. She said 'Whenever I was in trouble I remembered you and you were always with me and to be in your company I don't mind having any sorrow in my life. If I have to have only sorrow to have You, I might as well have it.' That is the feeling and emotion she expressed. There is nothing to understand!

Ques: How do you deal with misunderstandings directed towards you?
#SriSri: Educate and ignore.

Ques: I don't get time to do my spiritual practices. How to balance spirituality and my studies?
#SriSri: You know the time factor is the same for a clerk in any office and the prime minister. They both have only 24 hours. How much a prime minister accomplishes, and how much does a prime minister accomplish? Right? In the same way, if you think I don't have time, there is no time. But do you ever think that I don't have time to brush my teeth today, or have my breakfast? It's all a matter of priority. If you say 20 minutes I am going to sit, relax or read something spiritual. If you just read one sheet of the book Ashtavakra or the Gita, read a couple pages in that. It doesn't take a lot of time. All that you have do is take a couple of deep breaths and do bhastrika (pranayama), relaxing. Watch the sunset and sit and do a few minutes of chanting. This anybody can do at any time. And it pays off. If you meditate a few minutes every day the structure of the brain changes. Have you heard that? Recently in an American medical magazine there is a paper published on that. The grey matter in the brain increases in just eight weeks of time. If that is the case then why don't we do it? We listen to music everyday however busy we are. If we are listening to music, there are music with knowledge in it. Listen and relax. We sleep six to eight hours a day. Can't we just carve out 20 minutes in that? We can do it.

Ques: There are a lot of physicists talking about the new Earth and the changing vibrations. Are we indeed facing very important changes in the Earth?
#SriSri: I think it was couple of years ago in 2012, there was such a big noise about the world coming to an end and same was the case in the year 2000. People were storing food in the basement for six months!.. Even then I said, nothing like that is going to happen, the world will continue to exist. Change is a constant factor. Don't imagine a sudden big change happening in the planet. There is not a moment when there is no change in this planet. So this is a little dramatic expression, it looks very good in the movies when you see New York getting inside the waters and the President getting into a space ship and flying out to some other planet! No, not in our lifetime, no such thing is going to happen. So we don't need to store food in our basement!