Q: Why is that people suffer when they are in spiritual path?

Sri Sri: If you are suffering, it is because of foolishness and not because of spirituality. People on the path are strong enough to face turbulent times. If you are not on the path, you will break down. So, spirituality gives you strength!


Q: Which is correct of the two - To say things to you or remain silent knowing that you know it all?

Sri Sri: Both are correct. If you wish to say something, say it out. If it is written to me, you write it. Otherwise know that it is taken care.


Q: What is the difference between prarthana (prayer) and dhyana (meditation)?

Sri Sri: Prarthana is asking God about what you want through your mouth. Dhyana is all about listening to God as to what he has to offer for you. You should listen sometimes. For those who are always asking and not listening, then their prarthana will not be that effective.


Q: What is vairagya (dispassion)?

Sri Sri: If you are dispassionate, then you are enthusiastic and joyful. It is not some state born out of frustration but comes through awareness. In your childhood days, your life was on the cotton candy or the toys. But today you look at those things differently. This is not born out of frustration but through awareness (not sure if He said like this).


Q: I want to do seva always but somehow I am not able to do. How to overcome this?

Sri Sri: You do only those things that reward you. If someone says that they will give one crore to you if you do seva, wont you do it? The laziness is overcome by either greed or fear. Most of the people in the world go to temples because of fear. If you have the conviction, then you can do seva. You don�t seem to do anything without reward. Also these slokas like Lalitha saharsanam they have a section called Bhala Shruthi (Benefits of chanting) without which nobody wants to chant.

Q: What is seva?

Sri Sri: Sai is he, Va is him. Seva is like him. Like whom? Like the Divine. Doing an action like Him is Seva. God is not visible but does all things without expecting and that is seva. Moon shines whether you blame or praise, sun shines whether you like it or not, wind blows, river flows, earth revolves, Trees grows, Flowers blossom without expecting and that is seva. Something that you cant but do is seva. With seva, you get merit and you can get into meditation. You get more luck and come back to seva.


Q: Which is the best route - Bhakti Marg, Gnana Marg or Karma Marg?

Sri Sri: You take one and rest of them come along. You take Adirsam (a sweet in South India). Your liking of adirsam is Bhakti. Knowing what adirsam is Gnana (knowledge). Learning how to make adirsam is Karma. We don�t go to do something we don�t like. Naturally, we like what we create. Likewise, all these are not separate and there is no need to separate it. Life is combination of this and it is Art of Living.


Q: All of us are God�s children. Then why is that in some big temples, they prohibit the entry of some people.

Sri Sri: Yeah, there need not be any restriction like that. Such restrictions were brought during the British Empire. They did not know our culture and entered the temple premises and harassed people. When you see someone get harassed, you get angry and this caused problems. So they came with up a board to prohibit entry. But now, there is no need for such boards.

Q: Should we worry about Rahu Kalam and Yamagandam?

Sri Sri: We have to see these things when we are making important decisions. Also, when auspicious things are planned like marriage and naming ceremony of kids. But for our day-to-day life it should not matter. Don�t think that these times are bad. They are very good for yoga and meditation. You can meditate during these times.

Q: If everything is God�s work, are the good things and bad things occurring to me is also His action?

Sri Sri: God has given you intellect. If you don�t use it, you land up in trouble. Animals have no choice because they have no intellect. We cant be like that. Freedom comes with intellect. So we cant say that everything happens. Life is a combination of Rules and Freedom. Let us say that a cow is tied to a bamboo through a rope. Cow�s freedom is within the rope�s limit. We have little freedom. Increasing freedom is spirituality. Through seva you get merit and achieve increase in freedom. Complete freedom is siddhi. Mind is stable and does not get stuck is free mind and it is called siddha�s mind.