Q: What are the biggest issues to you?

Sri Sri: Biggest issue is to see smile on more people. Today 27% of Europe is under depression. Psychologists say in coming 8 years this will increase to 48% so every second person you will meet will be depressed. You need to bring more people to knowledge and help them uplift the prana in them. There was lot of prejudice, 20 years ago people practicing yoga were considered cuckoo people, and normal was to smoke. If you see in airplane every seat had an ashtray. Today fortunately it has changed, still in Europe it is more, you all have to do one thing, meet the youngster to take a vow not to smoke and take drugs and alcohol. If this can be stopped we will have a better society. Today in USA violence is increasing in classrooms. Europe has more discipline but it is also starting here. So we have to bring more peace in youths and society. Prison smart, Yes, and Yes+. Youth should take pride in being compassionate and loving. Today youth are taking pride in violence. In prison they take pride in telling we have to change this with beautiful knowledge. So there is prejudice about eastern things about yoga etc� religious things. Now Arabs can�t say electricity was invented by Christian person so we can�t use it. Or the Christian world can�t say that oil comes from Islamic countries and hence we can�t use it. Knowledge about yoga and self is coming from an ancient tradition. We need to have an open mind and heart. All need to come together, that is Art of Living.

Q: Are there different stages of enlightenment?

Sri Sri: No, but there are different flavours.


Q: something about making meditation easy

Sri Sri: Why do you want everything easy, take some challenge. Easy life is boring. Choice is never between good and bad. When you are greedy you want to see where do you get more. When you don�t know what is good and bad then you shall sense what gives long term joy and short term struggle.


Q: Is life circular or linear?

Sri Sri: Circular, everything in the world is circular whole universe from microcosm to macrocosm, all is spherical not even circular.


Q: In meditation you say to keep smile on face?

Sri Sri: You just begin with that and then let go. I am not telling keep it through out. Don�t hold on to it. So don�t make an effort for it. Q:�

Sri Sri: You know, remember there is no fight between darkness and light. It is foolish to say light is fighting with darkness. Sun has never met night. When it has never met the night how can it fight with it? Shadow is just lack of light. Dark force if it appears to be there it is only an appearance. It is a mirage.


Q: My younger son is aggressive?

Sri Sri: Teenage is very difficult age. Don�t try to show too much love, be little strict and scold them. Don�t be goody goody all the time otherwise they will not be able to take criticism from the world when they grow up. This is because they never got a stick at home. So with teenager you need to have compassion and patience. � emphasize to do again and again yes programs because the outside environment influence is very strong.

Q: Why masters don�t tell straight truth? Why so much mystery around the truth?

Sri Sri: When you ask someone are you sleeping? If he says yes, it is not true, he is not sleeping then so many things the moment you speak become untruth. Truth is your whole existence, how can the existence be put in words. Words put limitations, if you ask if elephant is round you say yes, and you are right in a way. There is a story of four blind men who once met with an elephant. One said it is like a pillar. Another said elephant is like a square and flat, third one said it is thin and long and fourth said it is like a rope, he touched the trunk. All were partially right in their description. Truth can�t be described by straight words in one way. Truth is what experience is, much more than words. When you go for a walk up the hill and see the nature you feel I am not this, I am energy, I am light, I am so complete, whole, when mind stops challenging, truth dawns otherwise one can�t experience truth. Our body is like wick of the candle but we are like flame, a glow.


Q: Dear Guruji, Can you please speak something midlife crisis

Sri Sri: Until 30(36) years you think only about yourself. Midlife crises are there only because you are thinking what you get from the society from others. The older you get you become wiser because your mind is more mature. You feel serenity in you. If you go serving midlife have no effect. Spirituality is beginning a new journey. You�ll not have that. Acknowledge that you will be more happier.