Life moves with commitment, not feelings’

Bangalore, India, April 18 (Saturday), 8:50 pm:

Seated in the amphitheatre for satsang this evening, Sri Sri’s seat was beautifully outlined against the backdrop of the lotus-shaped Vishalakshi Mantap. As the sounds of the bhajans rang through the open sky, it generated an atmosphere of high energy. People in the audience danced, clapped, and meditated together.

Q. The people of West Bengal are suffering under the CPI government and their ideology since 30 years, it seems to be unending. Can we expect a change at all and how?
A.: Change can happen by educating people. People like you (points to the crowd) do padayatras (walkathons) and educate people. West Bengal is far behind. There’s little industry and business, it has obsolete ideology. Make people aware.

Communist China and Russia have changed their course. But in India, it doesn’t change because of lack of awareness. So, create awareness and meditate. Nothing is impossible. If something is impossible, then we can do it!

Q. Which limb of Asthanga yoga does Sudarshan Kriya belong to?
A.: It does not belong to any particular limb of yoga, it is a culmination of all the paths.
Everything comes together in the Sudarshan Kriya - meditation, yoga asanas and dharana.

Q. Are the customs and rituals of religions conducive to spiritual growth or are they obstacles?
A.: A vehicle is kept to the left in India. In the United States of America, cars keep to the right. Customs and rituals are there to guide society, steering society from going right or left.

They are made according to the time and the country. For instance, men wear unstitched clothes for a puja in South India. In North India, people wear coats. Perhaps, this is because the weather is cold there. When Muslim males go to Mecca for Haj, they have to wear unstitched clothes.

Yet, these customs and rituals are neither conducive nor act as obstacles on the path to God.
There are many customs when it comes to marriages. A coconut and a mirror are placed on a plate, when welcoming the in-laws in South India. It is as though to say: ‘Enter with a smile. See your face and feel complete. We are feeling complete here.’ When you see yourself in the mirror in the morning, you smile. You don’t frown when you see yourself.
People in Maharashtra welcome the in-laws with a betel nut and a gold coin on their head. This gesture says: ‘Your thoughts should shine like gold.’ This is an auspicious gesture.
There are other rituals in Bihar and Bengal. These customs from different parts of India should be studied thoroughly. Someone should take up this project.
In Kerala, a nirapara is kept at the entrance of a house to welcome people. It is a vessel filled with grains, flowers from the coconut tree and a diya (lamp). This custom signifies that the house which is being entered is full, there is happiness. It is a sign of prosperity.
Similarly, people gift each other chocolate eggs for Easter in Europe. It is a symbol of prosperity and progeny.
In India, people fast when going on a pilgrimage – say, to Shabri Mala, Vaishno Devi or Tirupati. Christians and Muslims in Ethiopia, fast too. They don’t eat vegetables or dairy products for some period of the year. These are rituals and customs. There must be some reason.

Q. Can I take a sankalpa for a change in someone else’s behavior?
A.: Do it, take it. Bless them to behave better. When you want to bless someone because their behavior hurts you, it doesn’t work. When you want to bless them because their behavior hurts them, that would work. That is compassion. Say: May you behave better, so that you can be happier.

Q. Meditation gives me a high. If I discontinue for a few days and resume, I get a greater high. I fear that I will lose this high.
A.: I think you have too much free time. If you’re engaging yourself in some creative activity, then where is the time to feel bad?
Anand Yog means communion with the Divine, which brings bliss.
Anand Bhog is doing things for enjoyment. It is not the best.
If we worry about whether we are high or low, then we get trapped in a self-centred cycle which may lead to depression. Do some seva. Do your practice. There are so many people who need you. Do some job.
If there is nothing creative to do, then you will feel like this.
The world doesn’t care – it shouldn’t care.
You stand up, wake up and say: ‘My life is going to move with commitment, not with feelings.’

Feelings are unpredictable. You can predict that the pigeons in the hall (pointing to Vishalakshi Mantap) will remain there, but you cannot predict your mind.

Q. My father is an astrologer. Whatever he says comes true. He told me that I will get mental disorders after six years. I’m scared. Please help me.
A.: Remind your father that there is upaya (remedy) also. There is no astrology without upaya. The mal-effects of astrology can be countered with upaya. The remedy is meditation and satsang. Sit and chant: Om Namo Shivaya. It takes care of all the mal-effects. All the five elements and the whole life force is present in Om Namo Shivaya. Don’t worry about it. On this path, you should drop those concerns and worries.

Posted by WisdomfromSriSri

Silence is the mother of all virtues

Bangalore, India, April 17 (Friday), 8:10 pm:

Dance, laughter and high energy! The Vishalakshi Mantap at the Art of Living Centre was pulsating with the sounds of the guitar, dholak (a percussion instrument), a drum and tambourines.
The crowd erupted in cheers when Sri Sri opened his eyes after meditation and asked: ‘How are you all?’ (Sri Sri often asks this question in satsangs around the world.)

Excerpts from the Q&A session that followed:
Q. I repeatedly get stuck in the same behavioural patterns. How do I get rid of my behaviour?
A.: Why do you do the same mistakes again and again? We think it is giving us some joy, some pleasure. We should not eternalize or generalise problems.
Some people keep saying: ‘I’m always in problems’. If you are always in a problem, then how will you know when you’re in one! Knowledge always comes when you experience a contrast.
People say: ‘Everyone is sick in town.’ Perhaps, it could be only 40-50 percent of the population and not everyone.

Generalising and eternalising problems like ‘Everybody is bad’ will not allow you to rise above challenges. It will pull you down. Just by being aware about the problem, it will drop off.
If someone keeps saying: ‘I have to do this, ‘I have to do this,’ then you feel tired just thinking about it.
Just relax. Silence is the mother of all virtues. Let go. Silence is the mother of all qualities, all abilities.

Q. Are the thoughts in the mind created within or come from outside?
A.: You get more thoughts than me. Then you’re an expert at generating thoughts. You should know. Sit and find out.
Q. They say God is omnipresent and they have vahanas (vehicles). Like Nandi (the sacred cow) for Shiva and the mouse for Ganesha. What is the significance of these?
A.: The Divine energy is carried through different symbols. The Parmatma is One.
Yet different aspects of that Divinity are carried through different symbols.

It is so interesting. Our ancient people had the concept of opposites. The mouse is so small and the elephant is so big. Yet, the knowledge of an elephant (Ganesha) is riding on a small mouse (his vahana).

Kabir (a renowned Indian saint) did not study in a university. He had his Guru mantra. With one little mantra, he went into Samadhi (the deepest meditative state) and his consciousness blossomed.
The Divine Mother comes on a tiger. The Divine Mother is the most delicate feminine form of Divinity and She comes on one of the most ferocious of animals.

The commander-in-chief of the armies of the Gods, Karthikeyan, comes on a peacock. The peacock is associated with art and music.
There is a deeper significance to these symbols.
Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge) is sitting on a rock. The rock does not move anywhere. Goddess of Wealth (Goddess Lakshmi) sits on a lotus flower in water. Wealth is unstable. You don’t know when the share market is going to be unstable – how money can come and go.

The very fact that most Gods and Goddesses are sitting on a lotus flower depicts a fully blossomed consciousness. Only when the consciousness is fully blossomed, does Divinity ride on it.
Like the lotus flower whose petals transform from being concave to convex. Perhaps in those days, there weren’t any chrysanthemums. Otherwise, they would have put some Gods and Goddesses on chrysanthemums.

Your real wealth is your inner strength. Your inner sense of fullness and not your bank balance is your real wealth.
You may have lots of money in the bank, but if your mind is fearful and small, then what is the point?

Today a gentleman came from Mandya (a small town in Karnataka) to meet me. He has two houses and doesn’t have a job. He wants to sell one house and use the money to start a business. He wants to donate the other plot for a meditation centre.
He insisted that I take the land. The land costs several millions of dollars. He had even come with the land papers. I took the papers and told him: ‘This is mine, but it will be with you. You take care of it. You keep it. You start your business, make your life stable, make your finances better. I’m not going to accept it.’

What I’m saying is that those who have very little have big hearts to give. I appreciate it. This is the most precious offer. That man came with his wife and mother. They kept saying, ‘Guruji, please make a Temple of Knowledge over here. We have benefitted so much from the courses, we want others to enjoy.’

Just the gesture is enough. The heart that wants to do gets blessings.
Isn’t it so interesting? Values of humanness and generosity are still alive on this planet.
People with big hearts are still alive.
I remember on the last day of the Silver Jubilee (The Art of Living celebrated 25 years of service in 2006), I met all the volunteers. As I was leaving, a 25-year-old boy came up to me, gave me an envelope and began to cry. He grabbed my feet and hands and sobbingly said: ‘Thank you, please accept this.’

I took it and asked him what he did for a living. He was a labourer from Kerala (an Indian state) and had come to do seva for 15 days. ‘Guruji, I don’t know how to express my gratitude. My life has changed. Please accept this.’ (Pointing to the envelope.)

I opened it and saw that it had Rs 5,000. It must have been his salary of two months.
I asked him about his family responsibilities. He has a mother, sister and is the eldest of two sons. I took Rs 100 from the amount and told him: ‘This money is worth millions to me. Take the rest of the amount home.’

All that we need is to have a heart to do something. Nature will help you.
God will help you.

Q. How important is money in pursuing goals, career and achievements? If we don’t have enough, will we achieve our goals?
A.: If you go with a ‘lack consciousness’, then any amount of money won’t be enough for you. You will have thoughts like: ‘What will happen in my old age? What is going to happen?’
One day, however much you feed your body, it is going to go.

Money is a means. Earn money, don’t spend foolishly. People are ready to spend money on parties, weddings , garments…yet when it comes to giving to a good cause, I don’t know where that stinginess comes from.

You should put that sankalpa: ‘I will get what I need. I will never suffer from a shortage.’

Q. How much power is there in imagination?
A.: Well, there is a story.
Once, Mulla Nasruddin imagines that he is dead. He was so convinced that he is dead, that if someone asked him to sign a paper he would say: ‘How can a dead man sign a paper?’
If someone asked him a question, Mulla would say: ‘How can you ask a dead person a question?’
If someone called him on the phone, he would say: ‘Hello who’s this? Mulla Nasruddin is dead!’

This went on for months and years. His wife was fed up. She couldn’t live with him anymore.
On someone’s suggestion, she took him to a psychiatrist.

Mulla Nasruddin told the doctor: ‘All these people don’t believe that this (pointing to himself) is a dead body.’
The doctor asked Mulla Nasruddin: ‘What are the signs of a dead body? Blood is not there, the
heart doesn’t pound….’
Mulla Nasruddin: ‘Yes, you’re correct!

The doctor thought to himself: ‘I found a way to cure him.’
He took a pin and pricked Mulla Nasruddin. ‘Look, blood is here!’ the doctor told his patient. Mulla Nasruddin then said: ‘Ha, ha doctor. Today I discovered that even a corpse bleeds!’
Now you have a proof in me. Re-write your medical books!’

That could be the power of imagination!

Q. What is self-respect? How is it different from ego?
A.: Self-respect is respecting yourself irrespective of what others call you.
A thousand years ago, when India was attacked in the North east, a saint was captured.
The captors tried to humiliate the saint, chained his legs and wanted to sell him as a slave.
The saint kept smiling. He said: ‘A slave is on sale. Who wants to buy him?’

There are many examples of people who were humiliated in the world. Yet they kept on walking with their heads held high.

In self-respect, you keep your composure. Ego needs someone else to be there. When you’re all alone, there is no ego. When someone comes in, then the ego comes up. Your body language changes. If someone pokes you, then your ego gets hurt.

Nobody can take away your self-respect.

Just keep smiling and be happy,
Embrace the ups and downs of life and continue walking.
Do whatever you can do for others.

Posted by WisdomfromSriSri

Science of Relativity...

Bangalore (India), April 16 (Thursday), 8:10 pm: The 2,000-strong crowd in the Vishalakshi Mantap Hall at the Art of Living Centre sat rapt in attention as Sri Sri answered many questions at the satsang this evening.

Q. What is the science of relativity? How does it work in life?

A.: You go on the internet. There is so much on it. Volumes and volumes. Everything is related: if you’ve slept well, you see everything better. If not, then things are blurred.

The observer and the observed vary. That is why it is said that different states of consciousness understand different knowledge.


Have you heard the Japanese story?

In Japan, there is a rule that a motel-owner must give free boarding and lodging to monks.

To test if a monk is genuine, the owner would ask a knowledge question. If the question is answered, monk can then stay. If the owner gives the right answer, then the monk will go further.

There was a motel run by two brothers. The elder one was very intelligent. The younger one was dull. The elder brother used to manage affairs such that he did not have to give free rooms to the monks. If the elder brother had to go away, he would tell the younger one: ‘If any monk comes here, act dumb. If you’re silent, the monk will not stay here.”


As soon as the elder brother left, a group of monks arrived. They said: ‘Come we will argue.’

The younger brother gestured: ‘I am in silence.’

The monks: ‘We will have a dialogue in silence.’ They showed the forefinger to indicate ‘one’.

The younger brother had only one eye. The other eye was bandaged. He showed two fingers.

The monks then showed three fingers.

The brother then showed a fist.

The monks became very happy and left.


When the elder brother came, the younger one explained what happened:

‘They told me that you have only one eye.

So I said, ‘You have two.’

They then said: The dialogue is between three eyes.

So I said: I will punch you.’


Later the monks returned and told the elder brother that the younger one had shared the highest knowledge in silence.

The monks narrated:

‘We asked: What is the one truth?

He said: Not one, there are two: Buddham and Dhammam.

We said: There are three things: – Buddham, Dhammam, and Sangham.

He said: They are all one!’

It was such a mind-blowing realization!


This story shows that different levels of consciousness can interpret different things, differently.

Fools always create conflicts over nothing. And die for it. The intelligent will celebrate diversity. Fools can’t tolerate diversity.


The ancient sages in the Rig Veda have said: ‘Accept even the atheist and they have included them in prayers: Those who call You as no God and think there is no Divinity, I bow down. Those who say, You are not there, I offer my obeisance.’


One accepts even atheism. That is true wisdom: You have broad vision which accepts people and differences.

Intelligent people celebrate diversity, fools fight over diversity.

Q. I don’t understand what is happening in my life? How much of it is my responsibility?

A.: See the past as destiny. Your regret is because you see the past as free will. If the future is destiny, then you will become lethargic and procrastinate. The intelligent see it as destiny and future as free will and live happily in the moment.

You have the choice – be happy, in the moment and enjoy.

Q. You say craving is not good? Is craving for the Divine also not good?

A.: Well, we need to translate the craving to commitment. Craving is self-centered. Commitment is always for a cause. ‘What do I get,’ this feverishness of getting something has to be transcended. That is immature pleasure. The child always wants to get something. Grandparents want to give.

We are born with the tendency to grab. Somewhere we have to make the shift: What can I give?

Q. Days just seem to be passing by. What is the purpose of life?

A.: That is a very important question. The question itself is a vehicle for you to move on in life.

Q. You say innocence is a virtue. Aren’t innocent people exploited?

A.: There are innocent people who are foolish as well as intelligent people who are cunning.

What is desirable is a combination of intelligence with innocence.


Q. Why do bad thoughts keep flowing in the mind?

A.: Because you want to chase them out! Give them a hug and a little place, they will disappear.


Q. We lost a 33-year-old son last January. How to overcome the grief?

A.: There are four ways:

1. Know that you have the strength. The problem has come, the grief has come. You can’t do anything about it.

2. Realise that every one is going to die one day. Everybody here will go under the soil. It will all happen in the next 100 years. Someone has gone earlier.

3. Look at those who have greater troubles than you. When we see people who have greater difficulties, and start serving them: our problems will disappear. See what is happening in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq.

In Iraq, the plane will land in circles. If it lands in a straight line, it can be targeted and shot. The amount of fear that people have …..

People in Sri Lanka don’t even know if they’re coming back, once they leave for their jobs in the morning. If you are a Tamilian, they will whisk you away.

When you see the bigger problems on the planet, then yours will become small.

4. The Divine is with you. Offer your problems to the divinity and relax. We must have that confidence.

If we are calm, then we can spread peace.

If we are happy, then we can radiate and spread happiness.

Today, Maoists have attacked 13 places in India. They are misguided people who believe in violence. That’s unfortunate.

That’s why spiritual education and knowledge is so essential. It is so needed. We all have to encourage our youngsters to join the Non-Aggression Programme (The NAP – taught by the Art of Living). It is so big in Europe and many countries. Children are so aggressive. They need to be taught to calm the kind. This job, we have to do.

Q. What is the relation of sin and merit with life?

A.: Sin brings sadness and merit attracts happiness

Q. Is Divinity connected with our body?

A. ‘Devtaa’ means ‘divya shakti or Divine Energy. Each cell of your body has 33 different aspects of Divine energies. The same cell becomes an eye, the skin, the bone, the sensory perception of the smell in the nose and so on. A Devtaa is not sitting in Himalayas but in your body itself.

Ishwar (God) is present in each and every part of your body.


The formless, omnipresent Divinity who is of the nature of existence, knowledge, bliss (Satchidananda) is called the Ishwara.

All forms belong to Him who is formless.

All names belong to Him, who is without name.

Indian tradition recognises the One Divinity in Creation and recognises everything in creation as part of One Divinity. The Indian tradition has welcomed and accepted Buddha, Mahavira and Guru Nanak. Sufi saints, Christians and Parsi saints were also accepted. This is because we see one in all and all are one. Then there is no need to say: ‘Your God is better than my God’. This kind of thinking can become the basis for conflict.

We need to have a broad vision (Vishaal Drishthikon). This is what spirituality gives us.

Q. I find myself lacking in every aspect: business, family, everything.

A. Your sankalpa is wrong. Who said you can’t manage? You have managed everything till now. Tell yourself that you will do justice to all the roles. You can play all the roles: ‘I’ll be a good spouse, good child, good parent, good citizen. ‘You simply have to acknowledge and take it. Assume that you have all these equalities in you. It is already in you. Just let it blossom.


Q. Why does insecurity develop in us and what should we do to overcome it?

A. The cause of insecurity is that you think nobody loves you. That is your own misunderstanding. There is so much love in the universe.

1. I’m here. When you have that confidence, then fear disappears. At least here (at the ashram), there are so many people who love you.

2. Usually you feel that if someone loves you, you think they except something from you. I want nothing from you, other than your smile and happiness. When you know this, all your fears will vanish.

3. Practice pranayama, asanas, kriya, meditation regularly,

4. Your entanglement can cause fear. More the entanglement, more the fear. Only knowledge can bring freedom from entanglement.

Craving brings lack of peace.

Attachment brings fear and insecurity.

Greed brings ‘lack consciousness’, poverty.

Freedom from craving, will give you peace.

Through non-attachment, you are free from fear.

Generosity will help you to get over ‘lack consciousness.’


Q. How to combat fatigue?

A.: You know, your fatigue could be due to sugar.

If your blood pressure is is high, you get fatigued.

If your sleep is weak.

If u lack vitamin B in your diet

And if u don’t do pranayama.

Q. What is the significance of Swastik?
A. Swastik is an ancient symbol. Jainism and Buddhism have used this symbol. The Sikhs have also used it. The Swastik symbolises the cyclic nature of time, cyclic nature of the Universe, the four yugas (ages) and the four Vedas. Swasti means health and established in oneself. Swastik is the symbol of the Self, of auspiciousness, of peace.

Posted by WisdomfromSriSri

‘Nature is a dance of Divinity’

Bangalore (India), April 15 (Wednesday), 8:30 pm:

Different parts of India and the world were represented in the Vishalakshi Mantap Hall at the Art of Living Centre this evening. The 2,000-strong audience, truly, epitomised the ancient Indian ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (a One World Family).

Excerpts from the Q&A:
Q. You said yesterday that Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram is beauty. I feel I am neither innocent nor truthful. What do I do to become Sundaram?
A.: Just look into the mirror. You are beautiful. Become a little more hollow and empty. We don’t have to do something to develop virtues. All virtues are present in everybody. Virtues are already present, only vices need to be dropped. Vices are the outer crust. With sadhana, seva and satsang, they get dropped. You already have the formula.

Q. Is everything done by the Divine and we simply have to go along? Or is everything done so that we feel the desire to act? I’m confused.
A.: Highest knowledge comes only after confusion. What is confusion? Confusion is when a belief system breaks down. You’re in a shell and then suddenly things are not the way they are. Then a new horizon is seen. An old concept vanishes, giving room to a new possibility.
Before Krishna gave the highest knowledge to Arjuna, he confused him thoroughly. In the fourth chapter of the Bhagvad Gita, Arjuna asks Krishna: ‘Why are you confusing me with so many things? Directly tell me the right thing.’ Confusion always precedes knowledge.

Q. Are the souls of animals and human beings the same?
A.: Yes, yes! What difference does it make? Do you want to become an animal again? You have gone through all that. A human DNA chain contains the DNA of all the species. From a human DNA, you can make a mosquito or an elephant. But from an elephant’s DNA, you cannot make a human being. Nature is mysterious, that’s why it is so interesting.

Q. Where did you get the inspiration to start the Art of Living? Who taught you?
A.: Nobody taught me the principles of the Art of Living like accepting people as they are and present moment is inevitable.

Q. I’m going to start a job next month. I’m afraid that I won’t have enough time to continue with my volunteering activities.
A.: Even people here (at the Art of Living International Centre) are busy, day and night. Work as much as your system allows you to. Don’t overwork. Work and rest; spirituality and our daily life: find the right combination for these aspects of life. Anytime you feel tired, you can come here. We’re making temples of knowledge everywhere – in every city in India. In fact, in the state of Kerala temples of knowledge are being constructed at a distance of half an hour. Anytime one can go and meditate.
It’s like your cell phone. It is charged for sometime and then you take it around. That is the difference between the cell phone and landline.
You’re like a cell phone. Charge yourself.

Q. How can god bless us as we are already a part of divinity?
A.: If you object to everything, then there are no words to express anything. You can go on negating every pleasantry and gesture of the other person. Asking for blessings is to remind God to wake up.
In India, we have suprabatams – prayers which are sung to God in the morning. It’s to say: ‘God, morning has come. Come on, wake up, and do your duty – bless everybody!’
A devotee has many ways to express his feelings. You can adore the divine in different forms.
That is the speciality of this country. There are nine types of devotion - Navadha bhakti. You can fight with God, play with him. Poets have written many devotional songs.
In all these human modes of emotions, people have related with God. Not out of fear or guilt but out of playfulness, out of vatsalya (affection). Devotees have even sung songs that address God as a naughty child: ‘Come on, listen to me!’ It is an interesting way of relating to the divine. You don’t keep God somewhere up in heaven. It is in and around you – from a child to an elderly person, from a dog, cat to a crow and a tree. The Divinity is present in the whole of creation.
Devotional songs have also been sung on trees! The roots are attributed to being Shiva: strong, silent and unseen. The trunk is strong and attributed to being Vishnu and shoots are attributed to Brahma. The entire trinity in a tree! A tree is guru tatva.
Even all the devtas (Divine beings) are said to be present in a cow. In crows, birds….The whole of nature is seen as a manifestation, as a dance of Divinity. There is no bifurcation between life and Divinity. Life is an amalgamation of Divinity and material life.
It’s very interesting! A prayer is simply wanting to relate. Everyone has the freedom to relate to Divinity in whatever form they want to.
Remember three things: World, Life, Divinity.
These are Anadhi (beginingless) and Ananta (endless). Creation goes on everywhere, there is dissolution too. Everyday there is creation. Everyday cells are being created in your body and cells die too. Your body is a funeral home and a maternity home too! They are not even in different parts of the body.
It’s mind boggling.

Q. How do we follow non-violence when the youth are being killed by the LeT, Maoists and Naxalites?
A.: It is a matter of great concern that violence has taken over 300 of 600 districts in this country. It is a serious concern. This is because we have brushed aside all spiritual things. We have been educating people in a system that does not inculcate human values and spirituality. All of you must insist that spirituality takes a front seat in everything.
Around 150 saints were born in Tamil Nadu (an Indian state). They have all written many songs, spiritual treatises and books. The education system in Tamil Nadu has removed all this spiritual knowledge from these books. As a result, today, people don’t even know that they are groping in a rootless system. A similar situation is seen in Hyderabad. There were so many saints who would sing the Vedanta – the highest knowledge. All the literature has been bundled aside.
Even in our school – we rarely read about Kabir, Gorakhnath, Meerabai. We read about other things.
If spiritual education is encouraged then Naxalism and Jehadi terrorism will all go away.

Q. Is it wrong to give advice to teenaged children?
A.: Give advice – with lots of love. There is a proverb which says that after a child becomes a teenager, become a friend.
Prapte tu Shodhashe varshe, Putram mitram, Vada charet.
This is nothing new in this proverb– people have said this for thousands of years.

Posted by WisdomfromSriSri

Posted by WisdomfromSriSri...

Bangalore, (India), April 14, (Tuesday) 8:30pm: The satsang this evening celebrated Vishu (New Year), which is observed in parts of India. The celebratory atmosphere became more joyous when Sri Sri entered the ashram amphitheatre. To mark the festival, a procession of people carrying diyas (candles) and flowers (traditionally called the thalappoli) walked with Sri Sri. The resident ashram elephants – Maheswara and Indrani – also joined the entourage.

Over 3,000 people participated in the satsang this evening.

Q. Guruji, you say hurt is part of love. Do you ever get hurt in love?

A.: That’s only in the beginning stages. When you move into knowledge and wisdom, then nothing can hurt you.

Q. Can students be equal to their Guru? If yes, then how?

A.: Yes, absolutely. The Guru will make you an equal. The Guru will make you like him. This is only for those who want to be like him. It is not by compulsion. Knowledge melts the difference between you and me.

Q. Are the Mahabharata and Ramanayana true? Maybe there were just rumours which became hyped up at the time.

A.: Then you will believe that all of history is a myth. If Buddha is a myth, then so is Jesus and so is Mahavira. This is because miracles are attached to all these stories. But if you accept only Krishna as true and not Rama or that Jesus lived on the planet and not Rama, then there is something wrong in your thinking.

Did Moses exist? Could the Red Sea have been parted? If the Red Sea could have been parted, then the bridge to Sri Lanka could have been built too.

Q. I had a terrible fight with my mother this morning. How do I get her to listen to my point of view?

A.: Patience and perseverence. Keep these two things in your mind – don’t expect someone to accept you immediately. Give a little bit of your ideas to people. Then leave them for a few days so that they have time to digest the ideas. Then again you share some ideas. So, bit by bit you can tell them. Then perhaps, you will change your point of view! This happens many times. Life is very complex, the intellect is very intellect – we should not be stuck with something. Our mind should be flexible, not rigid.

Q. What is the better way to stay in the present moment? Concentrate on the breath or observe the mind?

A.: Both happen simultaneously. There is no choice for you.

Q. How to react when a close one breaks your trust?

A.: When someone breaks your trust, give them another chance, and another chance and another chance. When they keep breaking your trust, then you know how to behave with them.

Q. How to become an angel?

A.: There is no way. You already are one!

Q. Youth support your vision for change. There is no role model. When will the Art of Living come up with a political party?

A. There is no role model because the spot is waiting for you. You be a role model. It is only spirituality that can bring transformation in the nation. Devoid of spirituality, politics becomes so corrupt.

Q. Do you need to be aggressive or calm to achieve your goal?

A.: Both. You have to be calm and dynamic. I won’t call it aggression. Sometimes you have to be dynamic – whenever needed.

Q. What does the intellect have to do with spirituality?

A.: Spirituality makes your intellect sharp. They are not contradictory, they complement each other. Don’t think spiritual people shut down their intellect. They have a spirit of enquiry. Your questions assume a higher dimension. If your intellect is mature, then you have no choice but to be spiritual.

Q. Man says that the blood flow is controlled by heart. The heart is controlled by the brain. What controls the brain?

A.: That is the life force.

Q. I have so many flaws. Everyone threw me away, you took me into your arms? How?

A.: Easily. Everyone can do this. Accept people as they are.

When you have the remote control in your hands, you can change the channel on the television. The same television can show a horror channel or something nice. The remote control of your life is in your hands.

Q. How to control the drug menace?

A.: Sudarshan Kriya! It gives so much intoxication, that is good enough.

Q. How does one balance seva and studies?

A.: Do you know how to ride a bicycle? If you steer to the right, then it goes there. If you steer to the left, the cycle goes there. You have to balance life.

Q. What can I do to mitigate astrologically bad periods?

A.: Chant ohm namo shivay and meditate.

Q. There is a lot of back-stabbing and politics in my office.

A.: People play politics. When you think they play politics, then it becomes big for you. Even if they do something small, then you think it is intentional.

Just understand the human mind. If people behave like that, it’s their nature. They play all these games because they are ignorant. It is the weakness which brings up these tendencies.

Have compassion. When you label them, then you are cutting off communication with them. People will not be the same everyday. They change. They change also because of the way we interact with them. In February, I met some Maoists in Jharkhand (India). I told them to drop the bullets and take the ballot. They have done that and are now standing for the elections.

We should not cut off communication with people, however they are. We should bring out the greatness in people. If we retrieve in our shells, others will then perceive us as close-minded people. People are people wherever they are. Don’t see intention behind their mistakes. Give them the benefit of doubt.

Q. Where is the seat of atma?

A.: You have a mind. Close your eyes and search for it. You will that it is everywhere and nowhere. It is not an object to be kept somewhere. The field is all over.

Q. What is beauty?

A.: That which is innocent (shivam), that which is truth (satyam).

Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram. That is what is divinity. Every child looks so beautiful, whether the child is from Mongolia, Africa, Bangaladesh. Why is it so? This is because of innocence.

Q. How can we achieve Trupti and be satisfied in whatever I have?

A.: Just wake up and see. Even if you get crores of rupees in the future, then what? Can you spend all the money? You will just put it in the bank. Then you will die and your children will fight over that money. This is what we do. It is unwise to postpone being happy in order to gain something. Aspire for something but be happy now.

When you feel that you have everything now, you will have more. Do you know who gets invited to dinners? The one who has plenty to eat.

Feel the plentitude.

Q. So many people have been born in the last few years? Where are the new souls coming from?

A.: Many animal species have disappeared. Now you don’t see sparrows, snakes and scorpions. There is no dearth for souls. There are plenty of them.

Have you seen advertisements on a billboard? Sometimes only few letters get lit. For example, an advertisement for Lux soap or Colgate toothpaste.

The bulbs are there all the time. Sometimes some bulbs are lit, others are not. In the same way, the souls are there. Some manifest, some don’t.

(Many youth from the ongoing Yes+ programme shared their experiences. Sri Sri told them:

“Save your mind at all costs. We talk about saving the environment, saving the world but not the mind. Tell yourself: I am in charge of my life, my mind. Nobody can make me unhappy.”

Q. Whom do you worship?

A.: Meditation is the culmination of prayer. One parmatma, one divinity – is everywhere.

Q. What is the secret behind the ever-green smile?

A.: I have no idea. Perhaps it’s because I always walk my talk and talk my walk.)

The satsang ended with a group of volunteers presenting a contribution of Rs 3 lakh for relief work in Sri Lanka. This group taught the Breath-Water-Sound workshop in 12 villages in the last week. They shared their sankalpa (intention) of reaching out to 1,000 villages in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu within a year’s time. From April 15th, a Youth Leadership Training Programme will commence in a village where alcoholism was rampant. “Even the police were unable to reach the residents of the village. Someone went and spoke to them about the YLTP. They agreed to participate in the programme,” shared a member of the group.

‘Knowledge naturally blossoms through devotion’

Posted by WisdomfromSriSri...

Bangalore, (India), April 13 (Monday) 8:30pm: The Vishalakshi Mantap Meditation Hall was filled with over 2,000 people from different walks of life: urban youth, senior citizens, corporates and youth from rural areas. Many are participants of the Teacher’s Training Course who are aspiring to serve society and spread Sri Sri’s message of peace and harmony. Others seek inner peace through the ongoing Advanced Meditation programme.

Q. I’m feeling feverish. Please guide.

A.: Are you feeling feverish about things? Just relax and meditate.

You know, we are a combination of matter and energy: Prakrati (matter) and Purusha (spirit). When you’re talking to somebody, think whom are you talking with? The Prakrati or the Purusha? The body is like the wick of the candle. The spirit (Purusha) is the glow. Recognise the spirit.

Keep this guiding thought: ‘I am the spirit, not just the body’. Even the memory of this, ‘I am the spirit and not the body’, sorrows will vanish like dew drops vanish when the sun rises.

Remember: ‘I am not the wick of the candle, I am the glow.’

The candle will never say, ‘I don’t want the wick’. The wick has its place. The glow is there and so is the wick. This is Jeevan Mukti (liberated while in the body). Have this dharna (guiding thought), when you sit to meditate: ‘I am the glow’ and relax – do nothing.

Whatever discomfort is there, let it be.

This is the other mantra – let it be. If there is any stress, tension or stiffness – don’t try to get rid of it, be with it, it doesn’t matter. You will find that the quality of your meditation will improve.

The moment you say, ‘let it be’, automatically there is expansion. The tension is relieved.

There are some questions seeking guidance on improving of the political situation of India. Some sharing of healing experiences and so on. A member of the audience suggests that let Guruji speak on knowledge instead of answering so many questions on diverse topics. To that, Sri Sri says:

The Bhagvad Gita starts with a question and answer. If there were no question and answers, then there would be no Gita.

Open your mind and listen: the Guru speaks only knowledge. The Guru doesn’t even need to speak – there is knowledge in his presence. If you simply sit in his presence, there will be knowledge.

In this atmosphere, Knowledge dawns.

Through surrender, Knowledge dawns.

Empty your mind here and keep a pleasant state of mind. Simply being here is being in knowledge. Every cell in the body absorbs the knowledge from the vibrations in this atmosphere. These vibrations are knowledge itself. This atmosphere is so sattvic (pure). Knowledge blossoms in a sattvic atmosphere.

Even if the questions seem meaningless, where there is love and where your attention is, there is celebration.

The mother doesn’t try to find meaning in a baby’s talk. She feels good to simply listen to her baby. The vibrations between mother and child are of another level.

When you sit only with your question in the mind, then you become deaf. You don’t listen to anything else. Drop your question in the question basket and listen to what the Guru is saying.

Gyan (knowledge) naturally blossoms through devotion. Drop your worries. Don’t be in a hurry to gain something.

To constantly seek gain is the way of the world. It doesn’t work on spiritual path. When the mind dissolves, much is gained. Just empty yourself and be here. Then you will see progress in every step of your life.

Remember this sutra, Loko Binna Ruchi:

In society, people have different tastes. Even in one house, members of the family have different preferences. We have to deal with this diversity with compassion, understanding and tolerance.

Whether it is politics, homes or spirituality - remember, Loko Binna Ruchi.

These are small sutras. It would be good if people learnt a little Sanskrit, especially women. Then children naturally imbibe these values from the mother – Loko Binna Ruchi.

(Someone from the audience asks a question.)

Q. Is the Golden Age over or is it coming in the future?
A.: The day you feel good, that is the Golden Age for you.

Easter..

Q. Could you please explain the significance of Easter?

A.: Easter is the symbol of spring, it welcomes the spring. There is a new resurgence. Everything is a celebration in life.

Take any excuse to celebrate. We don’t have to wait for an occasion. Life itself is a celebration.

Q. Can you please tell us about ego?

A.: Ego? When someone insults you, they will tell you what it is. I don’t have to tell you. You do some good job and somebody ignores you or gives you a derogatory remark: you will automatically know what ego is. And the antidote for ego is being natural. When you are natural, then the small ego cannot survive, then you expand. Or your ego should become so big that you take everybody in it. Then also it will not bother you.

Q. What is time? What is life? Is there any correlation between the two? Also, do parallel dimensions exist?

A.: Yes. Time is the measurement between two events. Space is the distance between two objects. That’s it. Life is between birth and death. The distance between birth and death is called life.

Q. What is karma and how to reduce it?

A.: You know, you should read the book Celebrating Silence. Read the book and gift it to everyone you know.

I was travelling from Canada to the United States of America. A man at the security check came running to me and removed a copy of Celebrating Silence from his bag. ‘You are the author of this book?’ he asked me. I said, ‘I suppose so.’ He then told me that somebody presented the book to him for his birthday. ‘My life has changed after reading the book,’ he said. He hasn’t done the course, doesn’t know anything about the organisation, just reading some pages from the book made a difference. You all have the book Celebrating Silence and Celebrating Love? You should gift it to everyone. It makes a difference. All the knowledge is present there.

I have spoken in detail about karma in the book.

Q. The Sudarshan Kriya is too short. It starts and finishes in no time. Can it be made a bit longer?

A.: When you are happy, time appears to go very fast. Ask those who are here for the 21-day Teacher’s Training Programme. Did you find it short? (People throw their hands in the air.) They also find it too short. That’s because they are really enjoying it.

Meditate after short kriya.

Q. What is divine love?

A.: Love, itself, is divine. When it has no distortions, it is divine. When it is unconditional, it is divine. Conditions, such as, ‘I love you, so you must love me’, come from the small, small mind and small love. Divine love is unconditional. And always evolutionary.

Q. What is the origin of thought? There is a thought behind every discovery and behind every misery as well. Why does a thought occur?

A.: Where did these thoughts come in your head? It came in your head, right? Better find that out yourself. Before it comes, try to catch it. When you look inside, you will find that the thought is coming from an empty space. An empty space. And that empty space is the mother of all inventions, all creativity.

That’s why, time and again, experience silence. You will get creative and innovative thoughts will come to you. Our mind is chattering all the time, 24 hours. That’s why be silent. Silence increases our energy level, our sharpness and awareness level. It has enormous potential. Imagine someone with insomnia – they are tired the whole day and are unable to sleep at night too. They don’t know how to rest. They chatter and chatter.

You continuously talk and listen to the television and radio. We get immersed in sound from morning to night, from the time we get out of bed till we go to bed again. Chatter, chatter! How much wear and tear would’ve happened to our brain! We don’t give it any time to rest. There is so much disharmony around you. You know why you like music? Because music is a harmonious sound and all disharmonious sounds gets submerged in it.

You will start enjoying that quietness. That inner harmony and serenity is much more pleasurable than the best music you can ever listen to.

I am not saying you should never listen to music. It is necessary but don’t overdo it. You should eat, but you shouldn’t overeat. Similarly, you should listen to music, but not get obsessed with it.

Q. Silence is good, but in reality people who talk more, get more.

A.: When you are scared and afraid, you don’t talk when you should be talking.

But when you are confident, you talk where you need to talk and don’t talk when you don’t need to.

Q. How would you know that I’ve make the right decision?

A.: Just wait for the result and you will know.

Q. Art of Living and meditation encourage a calm and slow mind. At work we need a fast and aggressive mind. How do I reconcile this?

A.: If fast and aggressive minds led to progress, then Iraq and Afghanistan should have been the most prosperous countries in the world. Afghanistan has had aggression for more than 30 years, they’ve seen nothing but war. The Human Rights Commissioner came to our German centre. He did the part I course and requested to be allowed to cook his own food. He was not eating anything. What was the matter? He thought everybody at the ashram ate drugged food because everyone was so happy.

He was scared to eat our food. Then, our people spoke to him, I also spoke to him. For the last 20 years, he had never seen happy people. And here he couldn’t believe that people were so happy. He realised that people could be happy after doing the kriya. You don’t need to be on drugs to be on a high. It was so funny.

Q. Are the kriya, meditation and seva enough for a peaceful life or should I read the Bhagwad Gita?

A.: You should read the Bhagwad Gita. It is an important book on yoga. It’s good.

Q. You said that the past is a dream. People have been sexually, financially, spiritually abused. I have had nightmares about it. How do you say it can be dream?

A.: Listen, people have gone through abuse. Practices like the Sudarshan Kriya, pranayama, and yogasanas will help them to erase those impressions and move forward. Along with the kriya, see the whole event as a movie, a dream. This understanding, without giving them the depth of meditation, is incomplete.

This understanding and the practices complement each other. It’s like watching television and listening to it. You have to do both.

Q. How can we find a cure for auto immune diseases?

A.: Have confidence, pray and leave the rest to the divine

Q: My mind is alright but the problem I face is with my heart. My heart keeps troubling. Sometimes I can feel my heart is bleeding.

A: Read knowledge books. Listen to the knowledge talks. That’s why I have given a commentary on three types of knowledge talks. Patanjali Yogasutras – all about yoga and the mind. Bhakti Sutras which explain the different types of love. The Ashtavakra Gita which explain every aspect of life and awareness.

Q.: Could give us some suggestion on career development, especially during the economic crisis?

A.: This is just a passing phase, don’t worry about it.

Q.: What is the soul?

A.: Soul is the one who is asking, the one who is understanding, sleeping, the one who is doing everything. See, there are different aspects: the individual self, small self and the big self. The small self has five aspects - ignorance, existence, ego, craving, aversion. Turn back and see your life: How ignorant you were and how much aversion you had. How are you now? It’s reducing.

Once these things are reduced, you become one with the universe.

Q: When you were a child, did you ever get into a fight?

A.: I am still a child. My childhood will never finish, I will never let it finish.

Q: How did your parents raise you?

A.: Very good.. Always understanding and always cooperative.


© The Art of Living Foundation Posted by WisdomfromSriSri

Q: �GURU JI You wear white clothes similarly Polticians also wear white clothes then what is the difference between you and them?

Sri Sri: SHASHAK(Ruler)can never be a sudharak And sudharak can never be a Sasak.Colour of the Clothes does not matter you wear white,red or yellow whatsoever.


Q: �How GOD judges on the basis of past Karma?

Sri Sri: If you are feeling pain in stomach today definitily you must have eaten something wrong yesterday.If today you have become something like doctor,engineer etc you must have studied earlier so it is the fruit of your past karma.


Q: �Why there is so much diff between we and you?
Sri Sri: For parents, children are very dear! Miracles happen in everyone's life. Every moment is a miracle - the birds chirping, the flowers blossoming...

Q: Did you always feel different from other kids while growing up?

Sri Sri: Yes. I could never play football. I would look at my feet and think, "These feet can never kick anything". So I would just stand without kicking and lose! And when the other kids talked about cricket or movies I would wonder why they were talking about these silly things...

Q: Were you very naughty as a kid?

Sri Sri: �Not very naughty. But yes, I was a little naughty.

Q: Really? What kind of tricks did you play since you say that you thought it wasn't nice to even kick a football?

Sri Sri: Once my father, he was a businessman, had an important meeting. I emptied out his briefcase and filled it with toys. So when he opened it at his meeting, imagine his amazement!

Q: Were you punished for that trick?
Sri Sri: No, he was very kind and considerate.

Q: What was the degree that you got at age 17?
Sri Sri: �It was a Bachelor's degree in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Q: Is the scientist in you skeptical of the spiritual person in you?
Sri Sri: I don't label myself as a scientist or a spiritual person.

Q: A lot of people have criticized you saying you have commercialized spirituality.
Sri Sri: People are free to have their opinions. I don't bother whether I'm on magazine covers or not. I am here to do service...

Q: Guruji I feel reserved and shy, is it good or bad?
Sri Sri: Do not label anything, how do u know u are shy? Just come and give me a flower!

Q: Guruji I feel fear.
Sri Sri: Join a Seva group !

Q: Does living in the present moment mean we do not plan for the future?
Sri Sri:Dont worry I have planned the entire future but I live in the present moment!



Sri Sri: Jo Tu so Main Jo main So Tu. Why you make differences.

Q: Mun ki chanchanlta ko kaise dur karen?(How to unite the mind?)

Sri Sri: There are so many ways. Do pranayam,meditation,sudarshan kriya.

Q: GURU JI How to bring world peace?

Sri Sri: First bring peace inside you then in family then World maein bhi ho hi jayegi.

Q: GURU JI Please,define patience.

Sri Sri: I will give this reply next year have patience.

Q: How to eradicate corruption from polticians level?

Sri Sri: Who elects politicians i.e we .So before electing we should see how a person is.What is his background.

Q: We say Shivoham.Main Shiv Hun.Atma hun.How so many Atmas whereas GOD is only one.

Sri Sri: Machhars(Masquitoes),Makhis(flies),Donkeys etc etc,So many Atmas.That I also don't know aik se anek or anek se aik.

GURU JI told everybody to keep smiling.HE further emphasized that a child smiles 400 times in a day whereas an Adult smiles17/18 times a day.An egoistic person does not smile at all.


Q: Why do we sing bhajans?

Sri Sri: In the mind there are always some thoughts, essential and non-essential. How do you silence the mind? In singing, all the senses get dissolved into one. At that moment, silence dawns in you.

In singing, the words, the sounds create energy in your nervous system.they purify and energize the system. Something starts happening, very profound, very deep, very beautiful.

The purpose of all music is to return back to the self, to the silence. Singing should lead you into ecstasy and joy. It is to enable all your senses to dissolve into the being.


Q:Do you see yourself as a man or a God?

Sri Sri: As a child.


Q: Is it true that you could recite the Bhagavad Gita at the age of three or four?

Sri Sri: Yes, that's a fact.


Q:But how could you do it?

Sri Sri: �Perhaps from past impressions in the consciousness.

Q: Your father reminisces that you talked to your mother from the womb in the eighth month of her pregnancy. Is that true?

Sri Sri: I have no idea. I'm attached to my mother. She's a wonderful lady.


Q: He (your father) also says that there were a lot of miracles happening around you when you were a child and he attributes it to you.

Q: Today becoming Gurus have joined market bandwagons. How we should decide which Guru to join?

Sri Sri: You have to listen to your conscience. It is just like joining to a particular course in the University where several courses are running parallel.


Q: Is there life after death?

Sri Sri: Yes, this is in accordance with the law of conservation of energy.

Q: What is meditation?

Sri Sri: By doing meditation you can utilize your body as a powerhouse by generating inner source of energy.


Q: How one can correlate future, past and present?

Sri Sri: If you do the meditation you will get the answer.


Q: Why corruption and terrorism has become the order of the day?

Sri Sri: This is because of lack of sense of belongingness among the people.


Q: Why you choose to become a holy man?

Sri Sri: I did not, I was like this from the beginning.( laughter)


Q:How do I become familiar with you?

Sri Sri: Become familiar with the inner most.

Q:Is our present life determined by our previous births and by the acts we have committed then?

Sri Sri: Don't worry about all those things, just concentrate on making this life worthwhile.


Q: How to have peaceful relations between husband and wife?

Sri Sri: I don't know..I have no experience here to give you an answer (laughter)..and so many other questions and guruji's witty answers.

Q: Tell us more about GOD

Sri Sri:A child looks at the mother and falls in love with mother. The child doesnt know anything about the mother. Do you have to know about a person to fall in love? Loving which you do not know creates a certain state of mind, consciousness. This is called Shraddha. Innocently being there!


Q: How to become like you?

Sri Sri: �Just look into the mirror. Everyone has innocence and love. All that is required
is to get rid of Stress and become broad minded.


Q: What is special about Mauritius?

Sri Sri: YOU! You make everything special.


Q: In dualities, how does one decide whether to use reason or intuition?

Sri Sri: Need a balance between reason and intuition. Nature brings that balance.

Q: Can you explain what is Death and the Art of Dying?

Sri Sri: Leave something in Life as suspense. Otherwise you will be bored at the time of death.

If you know meditation, you will know sleep.

If you know sleep, you will know death.

If you are in a state of mind where you are not bored with anything, That qualifies you to know Death!


Q: Dispassion?

Sri Sri:Dispassion to small things will take you higher to bigger things.

DISPASSION: CENTERDNESS, TOTAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE MOMENT.

The Knowledge of the End of our Journey brings certain Freedom, Relaxation. That is

called Dispassion.

Question : Pundits (Hindu priests) say for liberation of your ancestors, you have to do pujas and they charge hefty sums.

Guruji : No that is not a right thing to do. But you see, then no profession can be justified that way. Doctor.s prosperity is based on your illnesses. Lawyer.s prosperity is based on crime. Teacher.s prosperity is based on ignorance. Different businesses thrive because of lack and poverty. Restaurant business runs because there is dearth of good food. Whatever you do, when you are honest and you are working with your conscience, then it would be good for you.

Question : How to handle jealousy?

Guruji : Know that both are going to die. The person who you are jealous of and someone is being jealous of you. When you see everyone is moving towards their death, the negative emotions can drop off. This ultimate realization that we are all going to die, brings you back to your self. Later he said that when Krishna shows his Vishnurupa, the pictures depict all these men and women coming out of his mouth. (Guruji said the pictures are misguiding). Showing his infinite form, the Viraatrupa, Krishna says I am kala,( time itself; everyone and everything merges in me and is born out of me.. So beautiful)

Question : Is effort in meditation when you are feeling sad or in pain.?

Guruji : In meditation, if you feel there is effort in smile , don.t smile:- But to begin with, you smile, that way you relax more and more..

Question: Guruji what is action and what is inaction? How do we understand and differentiate?

Guruji: The wise is one who sees action in inaction and inaction in action. When you observe your heart beat, your breathing what's happening in your head etc. You see that you are not doing anything! Everything is happening!! That is action in inaction. Ask any convict, what did you do? They will never say, I have done. Some thing inside them made it happen for them. They will say, I have not done anything. Similarly ask any successful man, how did you do? He will say, I have not done anything. When you sit and observe, your heart is beating, you are breathing - then something inside you settles down. As something settles inside you start relaxing deep. When you relax deep than that gives rise to the intelligence. When your intelligence sharpens then you become dynamic, as you become dynamic, skills comes to you. This all happens when you are not in a hurry. When you are in a hurry you cannot come out with anything beautiful, anything creative. When you do a big project, after completion you often feel you have not done it. How many of you felt that you have not done it, it just happened? Raise your hands. So that is seeing inaction in action.

Q: Can a human being act purely on instinct?

Sri Sri: �Instincts exist not only for humans but also for animals. Animals act purely out of instinct. What is missing in instrinct is the intelligence which we have been provided with. Acting with intuition is to add intelligence to our instincts. The goal for us is to act more and more out of intuition rather than only instincts.

Q: Why people do not stick to the practices?

Sri Sri: 1. The people who do not stick to the practices are like the gardener who has seen a flower blossoming and seeing the flower, forgets that he needs to keep watering the roots for more blossoms. Then after a period of time (could be even years), the gardener realizes that he needs to water the roots again and comes back.

2. We are shy of talking about our practices. GURUJI asked us all to spread the good effects to everybody without reservations.
Fortune tellers

Fortune tellers are capable of telling certain things about the future. HOWEVER, for somebody in the spiritual practice, there is always a possibility that things can change from what is predicted. GURUJI encouraged everybody to not fall back on destiny and to work with full commitment on whatever we are doing. There is a misconception that the past is our efforts and the future is destiny. It is exactly the opposite, the past is destiny and nothing can be done to change it and the future is free will.


Q: These days most Gurus have long hair and long beard. Is it a dress code?

Sri Sri: �Yes, you can call it as dress code. The long hair is like an antenna to receive messages from God and the long beard is like an earthing to transmit those messages to the people.


Q: How is becoming a Guru as a career option?

Sri Sri: It is good but it is risky. The field is wide open for you. But, here you have to forget about yourself and think about the rest of the world.

Question: Guruji in certain temples chanting is done just for the heck ofit. Its not done from the heart. In such a case will it have good effect on impact?

Guruji: No. it may not have as good impact. If chanting is done with the meaning and as well as the bhava(feelings), then there will be�� a very good impact. Like during Navratri. How many have you have felt the energy during the Navratri puja? Because all the priests who chants knows what they are chanting.�

Q : So what if I become rich, so what if I become successful, so what.. So what .... So what....

Guruji : So what if I don't answer this question? For whatever has happened you can say so what. But for things in future if you say, so what if I ate anything, so what if I get sick... it doesn't work like that. "So what", is used to go inwards, not when you are active. When you want to rest, when going to bed, you can use "so what". You don't want to go to bed with your coat, shirt and tie. Just like this mind is clinging on to some events, so we drop it using "so what". It's a technique. It brings freedom. But you can't apply "so what" in activity.


Q : I feel like I'm losing control of my life.

Guruji: When were you in control of your life? If you ever thought you were in control of your life, then I'm sorry, for your ignorance. What is that you are going to lose? Do you have any control over your thoughts? They come like a stream. After Pranayam and Meditation you have become aware of this. Now that you know what's happening then you started questioning. So now you are getting control, you are becoming aware of your thoughts. When we conducted courses in prison, prisoners told, oh I can watch my thoughts. They regret had they done this before they wouldn't be there in prison. Don't worry you are not losing control. These are the moments when you realize nothing is in your hands. Pray. Prayer will make your desire strong. It will fructify.


Q : [Something about possibility of observing joy & sadness, envy &
praise, etc. at the same time.]

Guruji : Emotions are not very clear. Sometimes you are happy with something and unhappy for something else. Sometimes when you change a place, you are happy about moving to the new place but sad for leaving the old place. I've seen even between father and son or husband and wife, conflicting emotions of envy and praise. It's a flow of energy. Energy moves. There's no demarcation.

Question: Can [Is] there be contrast in life?

Guruji : Yes, life is full of contrast.

Question : [Something about NOW or present moment]

Guruji : In NOW you know everything. It's vast. It's ticking. When in NOW
you know the future also.


Question : [Something about depression]

Guruji :You know 20% of Europe is in depression and it is estimated that in next 10 years 48% of Europe will be depressed.


Question : Is the 'no mind' state = enlightenment?

Guruji : yes


Question : Are the enlightened always in that state.

Guruji : Yes, It is our nature, just like rice is in the paddy, you cant ask, is rice always in the paddy?!, that is its nature...

Question : About karma,

Guruji : 'gahana karmano gatih' Certain karma can be avoided, certain cant. If it rains, its rains. But to get wet or not is your choice. If you have an umbrella, you can use it or you will not.


Question : Does one need a big bank balance to retire?

Guruji : No, I don.t think so. Couple from Uganda, billionaires, many factories, but had to leave one fine morning with just a suitcase. Sold hotdogs on streets. They said to Guruji that that day we believed in god, in a bigger force. So it is not the bank balance, it is the state of your mind

Question: Could you tell us why it is important to be vegetarian? Thank you.

Guruji : One reason I would say our system is made up for vegetarian food, is that we don't have the type of teeth which carnivorous animals have. We have the same type of teeth that herbivorous animals have. And our immediate ancestor, monkey, is a vegetarian. Elephant is a vegetarian. Horse is a vegetarian. Cow is a vegetarian. Sheep is a vegetarian. Animals with that habitat, they are all vegetarians. Horse. You know, we say horse power. So, looking at all this in our system, if you look at it, it is best suitable for vegetarian food. There is a substance called talon that's in the saliva, it's present only in the animals which are vegetarian. And it is present in our saliva also, human saliva. And second thing is the human intestine is so long, it takes a long intestine to digest the vegetarian food. So even in that angle, you see we have longest intestine. Six feet or more. So that also indicates our system is made for vegetarian. Second thing, vegetarian food you can digest in two-three hours. Non-vegetarian food takes eight hours to digest. Sometimes even longer. So there are so many various such reasons. Also, combination of food is important. Even among vegetarian, certain foods can make you a little dull. Here, to have more clear experience, we recommend vegetarian food. Because if you have non-vegetarian food, you may fall asleep, you will feel dull. Because so much time and energy is consumed just to digest that food. So, in all these various angles, if you see vegetarian food is the best suitable for our system.

Easily digestible and quickly you can digest the food and be ready for the next meal. Otherwise, you eat breakfast and till dinner it is still digesting. And then we stuff more. It's no good. Some combination of, even among vegetarian food, some combinations makes it hard to digest. The carbohydrate and milk products, sometimes can take a little longer to digest the food.


Question :

Guruji : 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.


Question : How to deal with anger?

Guruji : Anger is ok. I have a technique for you. Whenever you get angry, sing. If you get angry on your husband/wife, scold them by singing. Opera singing is even better. See if you can do it. (He sings a couple of lines... �You stupid, what did you do to me� and everyone breaks into laughter) If possible take a guitar and sing with it. It must be very interesting. Some people will become musician like this. Anger comes when you go out of certain rhythm. And, music is bringing that rhythm back. Antidote for anger is music, exercise, karate, martial arts.... You know martial arts have to be done without anger. In Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna says to Arjun, "Arjun, fight but not with anger or hatred." Now, anger does not take permission before coming. Don�t regret anger. It�s ok to be angry with children. If you don�t get angry at them, they become so weak in the world. They cannot take criticism. They become weak. You should know the limitation though. You know how much salt should be put in the food. How cold or warm, your finger will tell you. As parents, don�t feel guilty for scolding your children. Thinking that way you become stressed and are preparing yourself to get more upset or angry.

Question : With your hectic schedule, don�t you get sick/tired?

Guruji : Not so far.


Question : As the saying goes, "charity begins at home". How can we do seva outside when we are needed at home?

Guruji : You are talking about your spouse? You need to balance. If you say I'll do all my home work before I do seva then that will never happen. Because so many things keep coming for home and it will not stop. You cannot neglect your home also. But at home it's called duty not seva. Outside it is seva.


Question : Whenever I feel like doing seva, I start finding excuses. Bless me that I can do some seva.

Guruji : Just keep doing seva, blessings are already there. Good things in life you should not delay. Just do it. Whenever you get a chance to do spiritual practice, seva, generosity, don't miss it. Those are the real catchy moments of your life.


Question : Guruji, do you have some clue for severe allergy in Bay Area?

Guruji : Yoga, proper food, more Vitamin C and drink plenty of water in the morning. How many of you have habit of drinking tea or coffee in the morning? (many raised their hands). First thing in the morning drink 1 litre of water. Lukewarm water is better, but not ice-cold water. (Someone asked, "Before brushing your teeth or after"). I would say after brushing your teeth. Even otherwise is ok.

Q: In our childhood we heard that there is someone named 'Chitragupta' who is talking note of all our actions and is responsible for counting our karma balances. Is that true? Is there really someone who is watching us every moment?


Guruji: 'Chitra' means photo, picture and 'Gupta' means secret, hidden. The self who is witnessing the actions, the conscious mind is referred here to as Chitragupta. You know there is this saying which says, 'Under the foot-print of an elephant, all other marks dissolve'. Therefore under the Guru when are doing your Sadhana and Seva and Satsang then everything else dissolves. Similarly Chitragupta is not the (Malik) God, he is the (Sevak) servant. But I tell you without self knowledge everything is false!!


Q: Meditation calms the mind. It feels good. But in our daily life we have to handle paying bills, parking tickets and other mundane things. How can we do this with the same calm mind without getting irritated or perturbed?

Guruji: You take a shower in the morning to clean your body. After that you do all the daily activities. You don't have to keep on taking a shower throughout the day. It is like that. You meditate and calm your mind, then go on with other activities. It is not easy to keep yourself undisturbed but it will happen as you keep doing the practices regularly. Then it will become easy.


Q: What is meaning of Jai Gurudev?

Guruji : 'Jai' means Victory, 'Guru' means the biggest, the greatest. 'Dev' is the big mind the higher self in you. Sometimes your small self wins and some times your higher self wins. When the small self wins over you, you are miserable. But when the bigger self, the wisdom in you wins, then it gives you comfort, joy, peace and love. So may always the Big Mind in us win. Jai Gurudev means let the greatness, biggest in me win over the small little chattering mind.

Question: If astrology is telling the life of a human being, is there any chance we could change our karma in this present life? Thank you for being with us.

Guruji: Definitely. Astrology Indicates. It just gives you a road map. That's all. But there is freedom too. Always consider the past as Destiny. If you think the past was free-will you become guilty, you become regretful, you become morose. You are very upset thinking of the past "Oh, I could have it done this way. I could have done it that way. I could have�could have..could have�" It is useless. Past should be seen as destiny. Future should be seen as Free-Will. This is wisdom. Wise people do like that.Otherwise, you get caught in regretting the past, and do nothing for the future. You simply sit. We must reverse this tendency. Just doing this one thing will help you to a great extent. Past whatever happened was destiny. Whatever happened happened - finished. And the future is upto you.


Question: I know that something inside of me is hurting me. But I don't want to think about it. How can I resolve all this and be happy without thinking about it.

Guruji : You know when you feel hurt you feel very deep. That's why if you feel some thing deep you also feel a little hurt inside that. In Deep love there is hurt. It is an unavoidable mixture. Hmm. That hurt and that deep love when you transcend them, then you go beyond the duality and peace dawns. Permanent Peace. And only spiritual awakening can bring that permanent peace. Those who have been in the knowledge, on the path, for a long time, you know you don�t feel sad at all. It doesn�t touch. Some thing deep inside you becomes so strong so solid. So when you are in the knowledge then you feel nothing really is touching me. I have many people asking me

"Guruji Why I don't feel upset over any thing now? " They wonder, " Is something wrong with me? I don�t feel the pain, the pinch of suffering of any pain. Someone close to me died and I don't feel any thing. Something is wrong with me!" These sort of questions arise. Those glimpses in life come when you go past that hurt and love. But, first get out of this - "You hurt me. I hurt you. You did this wrong. I did this wrong. You didn't look at me. You didn't talk to me. You didn�t treat me well etc. etc..." All these accusations you should just get out of it.


Question: Does our silence affect the world situation and the numerous conflict in it? Can silence heal not only individuals but societies on the edge of war or are already engaged in it? Yet Jesus said, I bring not peace, but a sword? At your service .

Guruji : You know, the world is a mystery. Of course, your silence, your meditation, definitely can bring peace and make a difference. But if some war has to happen, for the good of the world, it will happen. So, in spite of your prayers, meditation and everything, the war happens, don't be disturbed. Afghanistan war happened. If it's good for the people of Afghanistan, especially the women of Afghanistan. At least now, they are able to walk in the streets. People are able to have entertainment and music. So sometimes, war is good, sometimes it is not good. Leave that judgment to the nature, to God. From your side, you pray for the peace. You meditate, you do your silence and your wish can definitely bring peace. You know, India and Pakistan were on the verge of war. It was sometime on Tuesday morning, they were going to have war. And we had a big Satsang. Sixty thousand people in Bangalore had a Satsang for world peace on Sunday. Something shifted Monday. Monday evening they changed their minds to war. Otherwise, there would have been a nuclear holocaust.

The whole thing changed. The whole world...it was...all the embassy's had taken people out of India, you know? But just in the nick of time, things changed. So we just leave that part to the nature because nature is so vast, so unfathomable, you can not always try to gauge it. You know?

Q: Please comment on the Varalakshmi puja?

Sri Sri: It is whatever you honour. Vara means gift. The gift of wealth that you have received in your life. Often children of rich people don't value to what they have! You know because it has come so easy to them. But there are some people who have under gone all the toil, struggles. They believed in something, hard earned and they valued it when they got it. Similarly for all the gifts that you received in your life, you need to honor! When you honor then you don't misuse it. Money can be earned, money can be misused as well. Just to get some name�... so much of showoff people get into! Just to get some popularity! You know popularity should be used for good cause. You should not misuse popularity. You know there are some movie actors who are really popular. The youth is very fond of them! Now if they project themselves smoking a cigar and all that you know then the youth follow the movie actor! Children starts thinking, "I'll smoke like my here!" And if the hero is using abusive words and violence then the child starts thinking like that. And then video game� video game is again such a waste of money and energy!! The whole day they play the games where they have shoot their so-called enemies!!

You know recently in the US there was this case where a small child of only four years old stabbed his parents!! Can you believe this? This is unimaginable, unthinkable!! This is nothing but the misuse of the media! Misuse of technology!!



Q: Can you please tell us about the Guru shishya relationship? (The relation between the Master and the Devotee)

Sri Sri: It's a very special relationship. It cannot be described. It's like who you are to yourself. The same way� Teacher is just a mirror to yourself. You know where you can be natural. You know that you are never judged. Because he know you well you know!!

Q: Will freedom not bring arrogance?

Sri Sri: True freedom is not an "I don't care" attitude. It is lightness from within, agenuine smile and not stiffness. When someone is stiff and arrogant, they are not really free. True love blossoms only in such freedom. And when there is genuine love, respect simply follows you.


Q: What do you do if people don't respect you?

Sri Sri: Thank them. They have given you freedom. (Laughter and amazement) When people respect you, they often take away your freedom. They expect you to smile at them, recognize them, behave in a certain way with them. If they don't respect you, you are not obliged to answer their questions and you can drop all the formalities. Either you will be naturally smiling or frowning. So you will be complete.

When people love and respect you, you are obliged to return their courtesies because you don't want to hurt them. When they don't respect or love you, they will not be hurt by your actions and expressions. So they set you free. When you gain respect, you often do it at the cost of your freedom. Wisdom is to put the freedom first and not bother about respect.


Q: Will freedom not bring arrogance?

Sri Sri: True freedom is not an "I don't care" attitude. It is lightness from within, a genuine smile and not stiffness. When someone is stiff and arrogant, they are not really free. True love blossoms only in such freedom. And when there is genuine love, respect simply follows you.


Q: You said at the Navratri that we see only 0.003% of what is actually happening. Can you please talk on that?

Sri Sri: You know there was this scientist named Mickel Kako who established a theory, after having done several experiments and research, that there are parallel worlds. It is he who said that, what we see is only 0.003% of what is actually happening. What we cannot see is the 'Dark Energy'.

What we cannot see is the 'Dark Energy'. That's what he named it. The power of that 'Dark Energy' is unlimited! It is immense! In fact our Rig-Veda also says the same thing. The 'Dark' is referred to here as the 'Tamas'. Even Rig-Veda says that this 'Tamas' has great power. That's why they say 'Kali'. The dark Goddess. She just do not symbolize destruction, she is also referred to as the epitome of knowledge. Like the pupil of our eye is dark! It is because of that we can see. Do you see what I am saying? The source of knowledge is the 'Kaali'�


Q: This body of our feels like such a burden at times. We suffer several diseases and it becomes an obstacle for us to merge with the Ultimate. Guruji, can you please explain how important it is to keep the body?

Sri Sri: You know there is a saying that the grass is always greener on the other side. There are thousands of souls who want to take a body to enjoy whatever you are enjoying right now! These souls are want to get a body, they are waiting!! Only fools leave the body, I tell you!! Only fools commit suicide! You have so many impressions from the last birth!! You must have been a donkey, cow, bull, buffalo,(laughter) anything!! You keep carrying the impressions and behave in a particular way!! You have tendencies!!

Q: Guruji, why was Arjuna the closest to Krishna?

Sri Sri: Because Arjuna had the desire to learn. He that this thirst for knowledge.

Q: Guruji some people talk so well in front of us but they just talk opposite behind us. They get cynical and talk completely different. How to deal with such people?

Sri Sri: If they are good to you even at your back, then you may tend to get entangle. They are actually doing good to us. They are saving us from entanglement. Do you see what I am saying? Such people without conscious effort are actually saving us from entanglement. You should actually thank them. (Turning to the person) Do you have any trouble now? All the troubles are gone right? (Laughter!!)

Q: Guruji, How do we have good dreams? Has bad dreams got anything to do with Karma?

Sri Sri: Throughout the day whatever we do, they make an impression in our minds. This impression sometimes manifest as dreams. This may have something to do with Karma. Now let us see it in this way. When you go to see a movie, there is a box which is holding the reel, the entire film, right? But can you see the film in them? No. You cannot. So you need a projector. But still can you see the film? No. Still you cannot see the film unless you have a screen! So the seed is the box, which contained the film. And what you see is what it appears on the screen only.


Q: Guruji, what is the meaning of Madhukari?

Sri Sri: You know during the time of Buddha, the disciples used to go out and beg. Then households used to eagerly wait of those Bhikshus (Disciples) to come to their house, so that they can give some food to them. From the deepest core of your heart when you offer someone food, that becomes food. Madhu means honey, if you look at a honey bee, if you see it doesn�t sit on one flower and collect the honey. It sits on many flowers and collects honey. So the word comes from that concept. In the ancient times there were Gurukuls. There used to be 100 students. These 100 students used to go to 1000 houses and ask for food. They used to collect the food and bring it to the teacher. The teacher used to give them rice, etc. That used to taste like honey! Means very tasty!! Those days, we had Nalanda University where 1000�s of students used to study at a time. That was the biggest university. The farmers used to give 10% - 20% of their crops to the students. Like that vegetable etc.. everything was sourced out of the neighboring villages! Those days they did not have mike anything. I wonder how they used to conduct sessions!?!??! They used to scream, or what!??!

Q: Guruji what is Shanti(peace)?

Sri Sri: We must make you sit in a closed small room and play loudspeaker 24 hrs. And not some good music, some heavy music. Then after 24 hrs, when we switch it off you will come to know what is Shanti. (Laughter!!)


Q: Guruji how important is it to have a desire? Can a desire turn harmful for us? How to perform in our day-to-day life without having a desire in our minds?

Sri Sri: When a desire becomes intense it can turn into craving. And craving is only a distortion that takes you away from your self. Become aware huh very important!!!


Q: Guruji, lots of people have cheated me!! I kept trusting one or the other and they kept looting me. Some turned me financially bankrupt, some turned me emotionally ruined! One day I aspire to be on a seat like yours. Where every one will look in sheer admiration of my success. Can it be possible?

Sri Sri: Sure, it has already started! That you spoke about it, the seeds are already sown. Do meditation. Do Pranayama, do seva� and you will find the changes soon.

Q: Guruji, the number of temples and mosques and churches are increasing everyday. We did not have so many 20 years back. With that number of Gurus, Spiritual reformers have also increased. Still there is so much of corruption! Adharma! Can you explain why?

Sri Sri: There were not many hospitals some 20 years back because there were not many diseased. But can you say the disease came because of the hospitals?!!? No. You cannot. The number of sick people have increased, the number of hospitals have increased likewise. You know some 50-60 years back there used to be only one doctor in a huge area!! Because they had to literally wait the whole day for one patient! Our food habits have changed. Our lifestyles have undergone drastic change. Global warming is happening. You know the �Green Peace� team has made a lovely film on conservation of the nature. Will all watch that after Satsang. People are cutting trees from everywhere to create houses. They are consuming antibiotics for petty health problems. We need to go back to the nature. Use natural remedies. You know farmers are committing suicide. This is because of the pesticides they have used and the chemicals they have used to get more yield in the past. They are paying for it now!!

Sri Sri: You know some time back a reporter or may be a journalist came to me and as usual, you now in their style of asking, asked me �Guruji why is breath so important?� I was so surprised! I said, It is important because, if it is not there you will die. (Laughter!!!) Just see how the pattern in the mind can make you a fool. These people are so used to asking the question in that stereotype manner, that sometimes they do not know what they are asking!! (Laughter!!!)

Q: Guruji what is fullness?

Sri Sri: When a child is born out of the mother, and it comes out from her body, is a state from fullness to fullness. Does the mother feel sad after the baby is born? No. And for the child too, it was happy inside the mothers stomach but it is also outside. Such a state is called from fullness to fullness. Similarly, a seed is full. It has the potential to become a full tree one day. From the seed the tree comes and again from the tree the seed comes� and it continues. Its like a state of zero to a state of zero (laughter)� From fullness to fullness� very beautiful! And how do you attain fulfillment? Through Sadhana you can attain fulfillment.


Q: Why are there two Sri ie. �Sri Sri� affixed after your name?

Sri Sri: I thought three would be too much! (laughter)!! And 108 would be still too much! It will create a long distance between you and me (laughter)!! So I made it two.

Q: Guruji, if all of us are Gods anyways, then why do we need a Guru?

Sri Sri: Ok tell me do you want this answer? Why do you want this answer? Will you accept the answer I tell you? That means you have already accepted me as your Guru! Ask your self why. Because there are certain question, which comes to your mind, and you don�t have an answer for, you come to someone who you think knows. That�s your Guru. The one who answer your questions is your Guru. There could be two reason why you may not need a Guru. (A) You are already enlightened and you have all the answers to the questions. (B) When you are too inert like a stone, then no question comes to your mind. But when there is intelligence, the questions come. It comes from discrimination (viveka). You need a mirror to see your own face right? You cannot see it on the pillar or on the wall. You only can see it on the mirror. The Guru is that mirror who shows you your true self to you.


Q: Guruji, what is the difference between Sukh (happiness) and Ananda (bliss)?

Sri Sri: Sukh can be followed by dukh (sorrow), but ananda is followed by only ananda!!


Q: How do I know that there is God in everything?

Sri Sri: How do you know that everything has life? You come to know right? Krishna says, �Jeevanam Sarva Bhuteshu�. I am there in all that is living.


Q: Guruji, whether Guru is more important or our parents are more important?

Sri Sri: What do you want to create a fight by comparing? (laughter). Tell me are your eyes more important or your nose? Can you compare the importance? No. Similarly Guru is Guru and parents are parents. All are in their own places. And all are important.

Q: Guruji, Krishna showed His Vishwaroopa to Arjuna at the battlefield. When will you show us your Vishwaroopa?

Sri Sri: (laughter).. Vishwaroopa cannot be shown to all. Vishwaroopa can be shown to only one and one.


Q: What should I do when I feel totally helpless?

Sri Sri: When you feel totally helpless just pray. Just know that there is this unseen force with is always guiding you to the right direction. Just pray huh!


Q: Guruji, how to handle someone who is extremely authoritative?

Sri Sri: Just Smile.


Q: Guruji, how to only focus on the Guru?

Sri Sri: How to only focus on the Guru? (Smile) I don�t know.


Q: Guruji being in household can we attain liberation?

Sri Sri: Yes yes. Most certainly! King Janaka attained liberation while remaining in the samsara(a family life).


Q: Guruji, what should I do to be a perfect sevak?

Sri Sri: Just know that you are mine and keep serving the society.

Q: Can healing happen through chakra meditation?�

Sri Sri: Yes, in meditation healing can happen. When the mind is calm, alert and totally contented then it is like a laser beam - it is very powerful and healing can happen. That is why there is this tradition of asking elders for blessings. Because at that age - all desires are fulfilled and there is calmness, contentment - so the blessing is powerful. Of course this doesn�t happen in all cases. In some cases the age goes in one direction and the mind goes in the other!


Q: Do visualization and affirmation techniques work?

Sri Sri: To some extent but there is really no need to keep repeating. If you keep repeating you will start doubting it actually. Now you know you are in Bali - do you need to keep saying �I am in Bali, I am in Bali�� No! You already know - that is good enough. In fact if you keep repeating you will start doubting it. No I am not saying that there is absolutely no need for affirmation - in some cases when the negative thoughts are so high - some of this may help a bit but to just keep repeating�there is no need. You have to go beyond negative and positive thoughts. In the Gita Krishna tells Arjuna - Arjuna you have to rise above the positive and the negative. This is the supreme knowledge. To go beyond the negative and the positive - to see them with equanimity. To not be affected by either one of them.

Q: You say to observe the thoughts in the mind - this question arises - who is observing the thoughts?

Sri Sri: Ah! That is the question! You have to inquire.


Q: Observing the thoughts can also be a thought?

Sri Sri: If you make an effort to observe then yes, you are right, that can also become a thought. But if you are effortless and relaxed when observing, then it is fine. In Park City, Utah, when Guruji met about 70 of us from the Bay Area, he came out of meditation and with the backdrop of white snowy mountains, he spoke for some time on the last two questions, (from memory recollecting some of it below�) Observe what is going on in your mind. The dialogue in the mind. Constantly there is dialogue in the mind. What somebody said, what you said, what you will say. Your mind is always busy - planning on what to say to whom�blah blah blah. Discard all the impressions that arise in the mind. Just discard all this. Discard your mind! Take some time every day to discard all these impressions from your mind. Take a walk - a nature walk. Be mindful. Discard the impressions. Every day spend about an hour consciously removing these impressions. It may be frustrating at first but continue. Don�t get frustrated. Just calmly discard all the impressions.


Q: So are Sudarshan Kriya and meditation the vehicles to do this?

Sri Sri: I am giving you the goal and you want a vehicle! I am taking you to the goal! This is higher than Kriya and Meditation. This knowledge is good for lifetimes. Just discard all the impressions. Be free of your mind.


Q: If we are free of our minds, our impressions then will we connected to you?

Sri Sri: When were you not connected! What non-sense! (with a half-serious smile) You are always connected! Take some time, by yourself everyday - keep discarding all these impressions stored up. I�m saying in addition to the kriya and meditation. Some time to consciously discard all your past impressions.

Q: Guruji, in Mahabharatha Arjuna takes his bow against he own Guru Dronacharya. Is it correct to do that? What is your opinion about it?

Sri Sri: Even if anyone does something wrong can be a Guru. Because he is teaching you to do the right. In this case Dronacharya was a Guru but not a Satguru. Only Sri Krishna is the Satguru. He is the only Jagatguru. The one who only teaches an art or a skill, cannot be a Guru. For example, if your headmaster who taught you in your school, encroaches on your property, will you say, its ok he was my guru. Wont you by all means see to it that you get your property back? He was only teaching you some art, or some theories. He did not teach you the Atma-gnayan(self knowledge). You learnt driving from someone right? Then the one who taught you driving, also becomes your Guru. Tomorrow you find him involved with some underworld connection, would you say, Oh, no its ok he is my Guru!! There is a vast difference between the west and the east. In the west we have linear thinking. Whereas in the east every thing is round about, golegol. Here in South India, we do not go a full circle around a Shiva temple. We go semi circle and come back (laughter)!!! That�s why in Sanskrit they say, �Gyanam ecchya Eshwaraha, Moksham Ecchya Janardana�. Which meams You can get the knowledge by the grace of the Shiva, but you can get Moksha (liberation) only by the grace of Krishna!! Also I tell you the Guru becomes the happiest to see the disciple combating him at the battlefield. And he would always bless the disciple to win over him. Similarly when Dronacharya saw Arjuna at the battlefield, he was happy. He was happy because he thought that finally his teachings are showing up! He feels successful as a teacher. In the case of Dronacharya, he was tied up to his dharma. He was the appointed teacher of the princes of Hastinapura. He has eaten their food for so many long years. That�s why he was tied up with Duryodhana.

Because they paid him for so many years! But seeing Arjuna he was happy. Someone worth was created by him he thought. Arjuna is in the right place he thought. But Arjuna was sad to be against Dronacharya, Bhishma and all the others at the battlefield. He was entangled. A satguru is both your friend and your well wisher. While Drona was only a teacher to Arjuna, who taught him an art, while Krishna was his Satguru, his Jagatguru. Then to destroy the entanglement in Arjuna, Krishna had to teach the Bhagwat geeta. Thanks to the entanglement of Arjuna also (laughter)! Because of the entanglement in Arjuna�s mind, the entire Bhagwat geeta happened. Krishna says, Oh Arjuna! All the people you see are already dead! The history is already created! You just lift your bow and shoot. You will have done no sin since I am telling you to do it. Then Krishna says, I am the only one in your life. There is no one else in your life. Dissolve in me. There is no you and me anyways. There is no difference in you and me. If you just do as I say, you will not be responsible for any sin. I am only one!! Even then Arjuna was not ready to do what Krishna said! Then Krishna had to show Him is Vishal Swaroopa! He showed Arjuna that He is the beginning and the end of everything. He is the star, the sky� the entire creation is in Him! Then Arjuna was shocked. He was taken aback. Then he says, �But Krishna, I thought you are my friend. I ate with you, I sang with you, I played with you, I slept with you. I thought you are like me! Arjuna got frightened. He said, �You better come back to your original form. I am not able to relate to you�. He showed both the soft and the strict side of himself to Arjuna. That�s how we say opposite values are complementary.

Q: Guruji what is Yogakshema?

Sri Sri: Yog means to get. And kshema means to preserve what you got. Kshema means to save. We say, He had a yog to get fame. That is not enough. You need to get the Kshema to save it� to keep it up. That is Kshema. Do you see what I am saying? For example you have the yog to get a house, to buy a car. When you got it, to keep it up is your Kshema. To save or to maintain well what you have got by Yog is Kshema. Krishna says, �The one who is always thinking about me, I�ll take care of both his yog, and kshema�. He says, �The one who has nothing but me in their mind are sure to have both the Yog and Kshem from me. Such a man whose focus is only on me and me alone, I take care. But one who is neither here nor there; who does little bit of spiritual shopping here and there, Krishna says, then you take care of your self!