Q: Karma vs. free will: how much are we governed by karma and how much do we have any free will?

Sri Sri: You should read Celebrating Silence, its all explained there. Also in the Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker, the first sheet is on that topic.


Q: When the body dies, does the mind go with the soul?

Sri Sri: Yes.


Q: How can we change our karma?

Sri Sri: By experience and wisdom, and some karma you just have to overcome it and work through it.


Q: How to raise kids to not lose their innocence?

Sri Sri: It is good to inculcate human values, love, compassion etc. in children when they are young. It is also important to make them strong. Should not make them too strong, then they become aggressive. At the same time some strength is needed in addition to the innocence, otherwise how will they go through life? Not too strong or innocent. Take the middle path.

Q:

Sri Sri: See, I consider that every tree in the planet is in my garden. When the whole world is your family, there can be no homesickness. Feel always at home -- it is all your attitude.


Q: Are there any coincidences?

Sri Sri: Could be -- we cannot rule anything out!

Q:Guruji, what makes ordinary man extraordinary?

Sri Sri:Extra ordinary man always thinks they are ordinary. The moment they start thinking they are extra ordinary, their downfall starts. Every man has immense potential. Don't ever think you are not capable.

Q:Guruji, is it ok to be ambitious?

Sri Sri:Yes yes. Youth should be ambitious. Ambition brings that drive in you to do something. Keeps you moving. But one needs to be careful. Most often people get caught up in their own ambition and forget the other priorities. They become self-centered and become insensitive towards others. We should always have bigger ambition, like making this world totally Pollution free etc.


Q:Guruji, Art of Living is a movement. Is it not possible to move the world by our presence in this planet?

Sri Sri:We have already done it. It is already happened. Go anywhere in the world, China, North America, Japan and just say 'JaiGurudev'!! People recognize you. They immediately acknowledge that you belong to the same family. The one world family. And even if they do not recognize you, doesn't matter. You recognize them. Just feel you are one with them. They are part of your family. You know I was just in Iraq, and when I went, the people felt so full!! So contented!! They were all so full of gratitude!! There was a group of teachers and volunteers; they were all glowing in contentment. It was obvious from their face that they were happy. I mean what kind of stressful life they were living and what they have become now is such a huge transformation!!!!

Q:Guruji, if we surrender everything, good or the bad, hoe does my role come in taking responsibility?

Sri Sri:Take actions but be surrendered. Surrender makes you light. Surrender frees you. Don't think surrender can make you incompetent and inactive. I tell you on the contrary surrender makes you dynamic


Q:Guruji, if we surrender everything, good or the bad, hoe does my role come in taking responsibility?

Sri Sri:Take actions but be surrendered. Surrender makes you light. Surrender frees you. Don't think surrender can make you incompetent and inactive. I tell you on the contrary surrender makes you dynamic

Sangatchadvam
Q:Guruji is loyalty a feeling?

Sri Sri:Loyalty is a mix of thoughts, feelings and the spirit, a life force. When there is a mix of all the three then the expression is loyalty. It is not just the thoughts. Because if it is only thoughts, it will change, thoughts keep changing!! They are a team. All have a team job. Thoughts and feelings have a little contribution in the life force which makes loyalty.


Q:Guruji, in our life at one point of time, we all fall in love and it seems to us at that time that we cannot live without our beloved. But soon that love transform into fear and hatred. Why?

Sri Sri:Love should make you free. When love doesn't make you free it transform into fear and hatred. And how can one become free in love? It's only through knowledge. Go deep into the knowledge, and you will see you only rise in love not fall any more�(laughter)!!!


Q:Guruji, If God has created everyone, including the people who do wrong actions, then how does God punish the people who do the wrong actions?

Sri Sri:He has created the police to that!!! (Laughter) So the police who is also God's creation is doing it. Similarly if God has created the patients, he has also created the doctors to take care!! Got it?

You know in India we have this amazing culture! We say, "Devi Jagaran". Foreigners when they hear this concept they feel strange!! Devi Jagaran means to awake the Divine. Now here they get confused. They say, 'Do you think that God is sleeping, that you need to wake Him'. (Laughter) Then again we do 'Pran Pratistha' means to establish the life force. When the prana settles, only then we can feel God. Humanity is steeping in everyone. The first step is to transform the 'stoneman' into human, and from Human to Godliness. That's the second step. That's why they say, awake the Divine within.


Q:Guruji how much should I do and how much will you take care?

Sri Sri:You do 100% and I'll take care 100%. (Laughter)


i just remembered somebody in our community gave this link.......

it has a huge collection of question n answer wid gurudev

http://www.artoflivingpune.org/aolnew/sitefiles/Q&A.asp

Q:Guruji, if we surrender everything, good or the bad, hoe does my role come in taking responsibility?

Sri Sri:Take actions but be surrendered. Surrender makes you light. Surrender frees you. Don't think surrender can make you incompetent and inactive. I tell you on the contrary surrender makes you dynamic