Q: What does Swastika denote?

Sri Sri: It is a symbol and they are the people who make something out of the symbol. For e.g., the 'Do Not Enter' symbol is only recognized in USA and Europe. It is not known in India and hence it has no significance. The Swastika represents the 4 time zones, also represents the 4 stages in life - in 100 years, first 25 years is for studying (studenthood) , next 25 years is the life of a householder, next 25 years is the time to do service for society, last 25 years is the time for being a recluse - completely detached from everything. There are several such 4s like the 4 Vedas etc. The ancient symbol of Swastika was in the clockwise direction and signified the cyclical nature of time. Hitler changed it make it go in the other direction and perverted the meaning.


Q: What is the meaning of Om?

Sri Sri: Om is the most beautiful sound in creation also referred to as the primordial sound. It is composed of Aa, Oo and Mm. When one goes on top of the mountain and listens to the sound of the wind, one can hear the faint 'Ommmmm'. When one carefully listens to the sound of the waves in the ocean, one can hear the rumbling 'Ommmm' in the distance. Also, reciting Om is akin to doing the 3-stage pranaayaams. The Aa part works on the stomach regions, Oo part works on the chest and Mm works on the upper regions.


Q: Do hearts mend also?

Sri Sri: Absolutely!. First your heart will mend, and then you will be able to mend others' hearts.


Q: What is more important - career or family?

Sri Sri: When you watch TV, what is more important - the scenes or the sound? Both! One supports the other. Similarly, when one has no family, what is use of a career? Career is for supporting one's family. To support oneself, a career is not required. Likewise, when one has no career, how can one support one's family?

Q: Is it ok to talk knowledge to others without following or living it ourselves?

Sri Sri: You know it is not correct, yet you want to know it from me. But what do you know about the depth in other person? Depth in his knowledge!??! People who are falling in a pit are actually teaching you something. If someone is giving you knowledge, keep the man away and take the knowledge. I tell you, you are lucky if even fools around you are speaking knowledge!! At least be happy they are not talking foolish things to you!! This situation is at least better than that!! In English there is a saying 'Fake it till you make it'. For all you know continuing like this one day they may just start living the knowledge by themselves!!!

But we should be compassionate towards such people. Such a person is a beggar. One, who is fishing for appreciation by delivering knowledge to people, is nothing but a beggar. It is like he is trading puffed rice for a gold coin. Just for a 'pat in the back' by someone he is talking out some knowledge, its foolishness.


Q: How to pray? I was raised in a non-religious environment.

Sri Sri: Meditation is the best form of prayer. In meditation you surrender, you say let thy will be done. You may light a candle, chant Om Namah Shivaya.


Q: What is Longing?

Sri Sri: Longing is the sign of love. So don't shorten the longing!


Q: How to deal with arrogant and ignorant people?

Sri Sri: Arrogant people are also ignorant. Arrogant people need to be challenged. If you want to tell them about the course, don't go like a mouse and explain. You can throw a challenge to them 'Maybe in 10 years, you'll be able to do the course. Now you're not mature enough!'

Q: I smile at everyone. Some smile back, some don't. When they don't, I feel a contraction within. Why do you expect them to smile back at you?

Sri Sri: One who cannot smile is a worm. You may be a worm in the gutter or a worm on a silver plate but a worm you are. Whereas a person who smiles, be he in the slums or in the palace, is a diamond. A diamond is precious no matter where it lies. Mullah Nasruddin's story - Mullah all injured and lying in the hospital - friend asks 'how're you?' - response - 'Only when I smile does it hurt' - friend 'How can you smile when you are in such a state?' - Mullah 'If I can't smile now, I have never smiled


Q: Whenever I see a woman, I have a lot of lustful thoughts. Even in sacred places, even in your presence.

Sri Sri: It'll go off. It may happen when you don't have a lot of work. It might also be because of some impressions or samskaras you might have gathered in childhood or in your past births. For e.g. in a burning house situation, would you run out of the fire or gaze at a woman's body? Fear and Greed also have good use. You can use them intelligently for getting over bad habits. E.g. if you smoke or drink , you can tell your self if I smoke or drink I will lose a million dollars. Similarly fear is important. If there was no fear then people would do anything they liked, they would have driven on whichever side of the road. It is required to maintain some orderliness.


Q: If a devotee who is in Seva, Sadhna and Satsang is not able to handle a problem and tries to commit suicide, what do you have to say about it?


Sri Sri: No one who does Seva, Sadhna and Satsang everyday will even have the intention to commit suicide. If someone is not interested and you have made him do the Sadhna then there could be a tendency. But do not blame the Sadhna, Seva and Satsang.

Q: What is lust? How to take control of lust?

Sri Sri: Lust is a desire to seek joy. But when you understand that you are source of joy, and then the desire to lust disappears. But you know the more you encourage lust, the more it catches you and get you to trouble. There are two things that usually people do to handle lust.


A) Try to stop it.
B) Encourage it.

I tell you none of it is correct. Observe a middle path. Observe the mind. Be regular to the Seva, Sadhna, and Satsang and you will see slowly it is not troubling you any more.


Q: What should we do if a trouble troubles us even after surrendering it to the Divine?

Sri Sri: You must repeatedly keep surrendering. Someone asked me Guruji, why should we do Sadhna everyday? That's why we say in that song 'Bar Bar Bali jayo'.. means again and again. Tell me if you exercise of one day will you get ant result? No. you have to do everyday to get some result. Until and unless it becomes your true nature. And I tell you if you keep surrendering a problem whenever it troubles you, it becomes your nature.