Q:Guruji, is spirituality not selfishness?

Sri Sri:Yes. And that little selfishness is fine. You know if a doctor is himself not healthy then how does he cure hundreds of more people!?!??! Therefore the doctor has to be perfect. Similarly, we ourselves need to have healthy mind and body to ensure that we can in turn take care of many.


Q:Guruji, what do you have to say about the concept of cloning?

Sri Sri:It is not a new concept. Gandhari wife of Dhritarashtra did it. The concept is called test-tube babies today. She got one child. And from the same fetus she made 100 fetuses in pots!! You may call them potty babies�(Laughter)!!! That's how she got 100 children.

Q: I follow Buddhism. I practice the teachings of Lord Buddha and I also do the techniques taught by you and enjoy it. Would there be any conflict because of my diverse practices?


Sri Sri: Conflict is created in the mind. You need not get confused. Buddha's teachings are not very different that what we do here. We focus on the following four things.

a) Maitri: Friendliness
b) Karuna: Compassion
c) Mudita: Being happy for those who are doing big progress.
d) Upeksha: Indifferent towards those who are still doing wrong after having shown the direction.

So friendliness comes with happiness. You cannot be friendly to anyone when you are not happy. Similarly indifference is the biggest weapon to make change in an individual. If you show indifference the person will change. This is the same thing that the Buddha said. And again Jesus said the same thing as well. Aasti, Bhati Preeti, which means Existence, Consciousness and Love respectively. Globalize Wisdom is what we need to do today!!


Q: How does one know whether one has made progress in spirituality in the path?

Sri Sri: What's the sign that you are going from darkness towards light?!? Where there is no darkness at all!!??! (Laughter) But yes, when you feel more confident, You feel there is peace of mind, Hatred disappears, Anger reduces, should disappear actually (laughter).

Since you are fond of perfection, whenever you see that there is a lack of it you tend to loose it. Is n't it?!?! How many of you feel this way!?? You need to just accept and know 'that is how it is'. �And then sense of belongingness dawns in you, You become broadminded. There is a sense of freedom within you, and then you know that you are progressing!

See life is a series of events; you have your moments of joy, moments of pain and sorrow. But you see you move through everything! How many feel that way that things are happening for you? These are some benchmarks on spiritual progress. But the real thing is when you have smile on your face. If you have a long face then just see within. It's not your true nature. Just know that you are not alone. The divinity is always protecting you, is always with you. That notion, that I am not alone will keep you uplifted. Then the tendency to serve will come naturally.


Q: When can we have a fearless, stress free non-violent society?

Sri Sri: We all have to work towards it. Today we need warriors of peace and love, that will put an end to this war. This war is a game. People who are making others engage in this work stun me. People can be so insensitive!! Blinded! Cannot see humanness at all!! Only money, and money is all they can see. Very unfortunate!! People who don't see the truth, do not honour life. They will suffer. A time will come they will suffer. One-day life will just turn around!


Q: How to deal with people who are judgemental?

Sri Sri: Never mind!


Q: my friends tease me. I tell them about meditation. They start teasing me. What do I do?

Sri Sri: Friends tease you? You know what you should do? Face them and tell them on their face, ok now start teasing me. I am all ready to be teased. As they go on, just look into their eyes and smile. If they call you a donkey, tell them, 'yes I am, so I can kick you'. If they tell you, 'you are a ghost'. Tell them,' yes I am a ghost. I am a holy ghost'. Never keep a long face. Stare� Just stare into their eyes and smile at them. If they say, 'Oh you are such a fool!'. Tell them yes I am a fool.

(Guruji making a face, innocent and cute) If they tell you, 'you are a monkey'.Tell them, 'yes I am a monkey. Here is my tail'. (Guruji showing an imaginary tail) Stand up to their teasing. That's why, you know, if you do the YES+ course you become so invincible, that nobody can shake you.
You know in many schools and colleges, children go into depression because of teasing. Some of them even turn physrophenic.


Q: How to overcome the fear of death?

Sri Sri: If you have love in your life then fear reduces.


Q: What are the five signs of a Guru?

Sri Sri: The five signs of a Guru are
a) Dukhakshaya: Misery disappears.
b) Sukha avirvhava: Joy swells up in His presence.
c) Gyanaraksha: Knowledge dawns.
d) Sarva Samvardhana: You become more talented.
e) Samriddhi: You will have plenty.


Q: What is the meaning of Anahata?

Sri Sri: Ahat means clash. Anahat means no clash. Like clapping with one hand. (Clicking) Even to click you need two fingers right? No, only with one finger. Should be no sound. There should be inner sound. Like the ancient people used to hear some sort of sounds in their meditation. You know when they used to sit for meditation. How many of you have had this experience? Of seeing some light, hearing some sound and getting some fragrance!! Yeh! That which is connected to any of the five senses of touch, hear, smell, see, and taste. This is all possible.


Q: How can you think big without being ambitious?

Sri Sri: Thoughts don't come with your permission. They just come and just go. But ambition is something, which stays in your mind for a longer time.


Q: What is witness consciousness? (Shakshi Bhav)

Sri Sri: Wait... (Looking for something on the seat). Wait... (Running his fingers through His hair). Wait..
(Crowd laughs) I did not ask you to laugh, I said just wait.
See what is happening to your mind? That is Shakshi Bhav...the witnessing consciousness. When you are listening without reacting, that is witness consciousness. For example if you are at the airport and there is a flight announcement for another flight. What do you do? Just witness without reacting. Right? Similarly you are at the railway platform with many other people whom you don't know. In a while some trains come and those people get into their respective trains and go. What do think you are doing at that moment? You are simply witnessing. Do you see what I am saying?