Thoughts

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Proceed ever towards strength (balam). Do not take to untruth, wickedness, and crookedness – all of which denotes a fundamental fatal trait of cowardice and weakness (bala heenam). Weakness is born of accepting as true, a lower image of yourself than what the facts warrant. That is the main mistake. You believe you are the husk, but you really are the kernel. All spiritual practices must be directed to the removal of the husk and the revelation of the kernel. So long as you say, ”I am so and so”, there is bound to be fear. Once you say and feel “I am Divine” (Aham Brahmasmi), you get unconquerable strength.

-BABA

This definite knowledge, that I am not the body, I am the Self, I am the space, I am the Imperishable, untouched, untainted by the "prakriti," by this world around me; this body is all hollow and empty, and every particle in this body is changing, and changing, and changing; the mind is changing and changing and changing---this definite knowledge is *the* way out of the cycle.  Sri Sri Ravi Shankar  Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Nature of the Mind

October 14, 2012

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Bangalore, India

The nature of mind is to waver, similar to how the nature of water is to flow.

Now how do you reduce this wavering nature of the mind?
It is through practice (abhyaasa) and dispassion (vairagya).

What is dispassion?
Sometimes, when you are disturbed, you say, ‘I don’t want anything. Enough is enough (suffering)!’
This is one kind of dispassion which you experience when you are disturbed. It is called Smashana (cemetery) Vairagya.

The second kind of dispassion is when you say with awareness, ‘I don’t want anything. I have had enough (contentment)! Everything in the world changes; nothing is permanent. I don’t mind if I have or don’t have something.’
This is the second type of dispassion, and is called Gyana (knowledge) Vairagya.

We need to have Gyana Vairagya and not Smashana Vairagya.

The mind always moves towards pleasure. If we have knowledge and dispassion then all the pleasures will come to us.
It is also said that the pleasure that comes out of Abhyaasa (practice) is the highest.

Everyone has to experience at least one of the two types of dispassion. So it is better to say, ‘I have had enough’, out of awareness and contentment. That is the higher kind of dispassion!

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill) 22 to 24 Novembert 2012

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 5 to 10 September 2012. NB! Sri Sri Yoga follow ups continue every  Saturday  6 to 8 am

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

 

Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

 

BEACH CLEAN UP – JOIN US AT MANGROVE SWAMPS (DBN-see directions below) ON SUNDAY  NOVEMBER 2012 (7.00 to 8.30am) J.

IF you live outside Durban & surrounding areas – Please start a clean up drive in your area (does not have to be along coastline) & send us pics & report of your efforts.

I will ask for two things as Guru Dakshina from all of you. The first Dakshina I want from you is that if you have any hatred or negative feelings towards anyone give it to me as Dakshina. Whosoever you have disliked, mend your relations with them by distributing sweets.

The second Dakshina I want from you is two hours of your time . I want you to come out and make groups and clean your city. If each one of us goes out on the streets to clean, then this place will shine.
This is my second Dakshina, will you give me this?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

 

Should you wish to unsubscribe – please reply to sender with subject “UNSUBSCRIBE”.

 

 

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Millions read and write; millions have qualified for degrees and have become experts and specialists. This only means that they are efficient collectors of information or big encyclopaedias of general knowledge! But none can say, who one really is. People try to fly millions of miles into space, but they are powerless to travel even half an inch into their own inner realm and discover what lies therein. What is the use then, of the vast amount of exertion and energy they have spent for their education? True learning must be like that of ancient India, where knowledge and scientific temper was developed and practised along with sense and mind control, and character development. That will be beneficial to the individual, the society and lead to the progressive unfolding of the Divinity present in every being.

-BABA

Within this small body, you are able to experience the infinite space.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

You Are Loved

October 22, 2012

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Bangalore, India

So, the message from the Divine is that - you are so dear to the Divine. You simply have to recognize that you are so loved.
You cannot imagine how much you are loved by God. There is so much love. Just like how a mother loves her baby, irrespective of what the kid does. The kid may create a mess, but the mother doesn’t mind. She smiles, cleans up the mess and then once again continues to love the child. Similarly, you are most dear to the Divine. This is what we must keep in our minds. I am here just to tell you this, and nothing else! If you understand this, then my work is done!

‘I am so dear to the Divine’, and ‘The Divine is here, right now’, these are the two things to remember.

When the I in us dissolves and remains only as energy, that is when happiness wells up. Otherwise you think, ‘I want to get enlightened’ or ‘I want to experience this.’ And it is that I which makes you miserable.
And when doubt enters the I then that is the worst thing.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says, ‘When doubt enters into the heart of an individual, he is totally lost, and he becomes miserable’.
So, make sure that you recognize that you are most dear and the most loved by the Divine. That is it. Seal it! No more doubt about that, or no more self doubt.
No questioning whether I am loved or not. You should not be questioning.

First God tells you, ‘You are very dear to me’, and then the devotee says, ‘Yes, I love you too!’
So, first listen to these words that the Divine is telling you, that he or she loves you very dearly. He will never allow you to sink – this is the first thing.

The second is the faith that, I will never be allowed to sink. I may be in water up to the nose, but not above the nose.

And third thing is that we must keep our mind happy and contented. Come what may, we have to keep a contended mind.
A discontentment or grumbling mind, even if it gets everything on this planet, still it will remain miserable.
Nothing whatsoever in the universe can ever give you contentment. You have to bring it to yourself. And when does that happen? It happens when you let go and understand.
Purity, Clarity, and Contentment, is the formula for happiness.

There is a proverb in the Bible as well that says, ‘Those who have will be given more, those who do not have, whatever little they have, will also be taken away.’
That is very true. In the mind, if there is lack of contentment and you are complaining and grumbling, then you should become aware of it and snap out of that state. You must take responsibility for that, it is very important.

Contentment and happiness! Do everything happily. Walk, talk, sit happily; even if you complain against somebody, do it happily.
I think we do that here in the ashram quite a bit! (Sri Sri laughs)

Do you know, the day before yesterday, the person in the purchase department called me in the middle of the night and said, ‘Gurudev, there are a few little things that we need to buy for tomorrow.’
I said, ‘What?’
And he said, ‘We need 3000 kilos of sugar and 2000 kilos of moong daal to make pudding.’
And I said, ‘What? (Surprised), you said you need a few little things.’
So, the purchase department rushed to the wholesale market, woke up the people from sleep in the middle of the night, and got everything delivered at 2:00am.
They had to wake up several shop owners, take them to their shops, open the godowns, and bring the items. But they were all happy.
The seller was also happy, the buyer was also happy, the cook was happy and those who ate were also happy.

You know, this whole act could have become very stressful.
The person was telling me this at the last minute. Where do we go at the last minute?
There could have been a lot of grumbling and complaining, and they could have come back saying, ‘Oh no, it didn’t happen.’ But that was not the case.
See, where there is Sattva and positivity, challenges are also sweet.
That is why happiness and contentment is very important.

See, if it was a small little thing, then it is okay. You can go and open one shop. But you can’t get 3000 kilos of sugar from one shop.
So in everybody’s life, there are many such things that happen which we sometimes consider impossible. Do you know why? It is because we don’t recognize our self.

Do you know why the elephant got so scared when she came here (Yagyashala)? (Referring to Indrani (Ashram Elephant) who was brought to participate in the Chandi Homam)
She got scared because she saw herself on the screen, and she thought there was another elephant standing. She didn’t realize that it is her own reflection. So we had to put off that screen.
At that time I thought, she has taught us a big lesson today. This is what is happening with people, they don’t recognize themselves. Everybody is only a reflection of you.
When you don’t recognize yourself, or you are so scared of looking at yourself, that is where the knowledge helps to reflect, to recognize this.

Look within yourself, what is there, what is bothering, what is pricking?
If you see that there are some negative tendencies in you, I tell you, don’t worry about them, because you cannot get rid of them. There is somebody to take care of it. This is the message!

In the Durga Saptashati ,it is said, ‘Ya Devi Sarva-bhutesu Bhranti-rupena Samsthitha Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei Namo Namaha.’
Oh Mother, you are present in all beings as peace and as disturbance; as knowledge and as delusion. I adore and bow down to you!

So the Divine is also present as disturbances.
Look at all the beings on the planet, they are so disturbed. The elephant was disturbed for a little while.
What was that? It is the consciousness; the pure energy that is present in the form of delusion, and in the form knowledge, and in the form of ignorance.
That is why, adore everything holistically. Take them all together. Don’t try to choose or separate, take them all completely and then you will be at peace; absolute peace.
This is the whole essence. Then freedom from misery, attainment of peace, exuberating love and joy, devotion and freedom in the mind - these are the things that are brought up.

The whole universe is just one consciousness. Didn’t you all feel today? It is like there are so many bodies, but just one mind.
One body in spite of so many bodies, one being in the entire field.
We are all part of that One - this understanding comes up as a deep experience.

Now don’t ask, ‘When will that come to me Guruji? I want it now.’ Just relax! Do nothing!
Just know that you are dear to the Divine and the Divine is here, right now, in you.

And that is it for today.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, November 01, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is true that milk contains butter; sesame seeds contain oil; cane yields sugar. But by merely holding milk in the hand, you cannot get butter; filling the lamp with sesame seeds you cannot light the wick, shaking the cane will not result in a shower of sugar. By placing sweets on a plate in front of you and reciting 108 times "sweets, sweets.." can your tongue relish it? Similarly you study many holy books, and chant mantras and hymns. Of course, the time spent in these activities is thereby rendered holy. But, these are not helping you to transform the work you are engaged in into an offering acceptable to God. Are you putting into practice at least one percent of what you read or recite? Mere reading and singing will not free you from the cycle of birth and death. God has to be planted firmly in the mind, the omnipresent God has to be enshrined in the heart; God has to flow with the blood in the veins. God has to be visualised through the inner eye.

-BABA

Experiencing samadhi, or being in samadhi, is the highest power that is in any universe---that balanced state of awareness, that clarity of mind, completion of life.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Symbolism of the Five-Headed Cobra

October 11, 2012

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Bangalore, Ashram

If you look at the mythological pictures, you will find Mahavir sitting with a five headed cobra behind him. Or Lord Vishnu is sitting in meditation and there is a cobra behind him.
Even in the pictures of Rishis, you will find a cobra with its hood open at the back.
Have you seen such pictures?
It is a very subtle thing!

See, when you are sitting in meditation, what is happening? Your consciousness is getting alert, opened and awakened, as though in your back ground there is a thousand headed cobra. Cobra signifies alertness.
How many of you feel a lot of alertness in the back of your head during meditation? A sort of wakefulness!
So the cobra is a symbol of the energy that raises and opens up; energy which is alert and at the same time restfulness.
It is not that there was really a cobra at the back of their head, it is a symbol of wakefulness in the deep state of rest, and that is meditation – totally restful, wanting nothing, doing nothing, being nothing and being open, like the hood of a cobra; alert without any effort.

There are two types of descriptions for this. In one they talk about a Cobra, and in another they talk about a flower; it is like a thousand-petaled lotus, blossoming on the top of the head; on the crown chakra.
So some describe it as a flower, very delicate, and some describe it as a cobra which means alert. Both fit very well.

Now if you don't feel like that, then that means you have stuffed yourself with too much food. Then you won’t find any cobra, you will only find a buffalo, because you have stuffed yourself so much and you feel so dull.
That is why, world over people always talk about fasting and prayer; fasting and meditation. At the same time you should not fast too much. Sometimes people fast all day and then eat too much at night. That is no good. Fasting has some rules that need to be followed.
Naturopath and Doctors will tell you how you should begin a fast and how you should slowly come out of it.

Sometimes in Navratri we fast, and in the name of fasting, we feast.
People say, ‘We will not eat any grains, we will only have potato’, and we eat French fries and everything else.
‘We will not have rice, but we will only have idly.’
This is cheating I tell you. Real fasting does not include eating halwas (sweet dish) and puris (fried pancakes). It is a wrong type of fasting. You should not fast like that.

Alpahara Mitahara - a little bit food and easily digestible food.
That also counts as fasting. Little bit fruits and water.
So when body is not so heavy and dull, then it blossoms and meditation happens better.

At the same time too much fasting makes your Pitta go high and then also you cannot meditate. That is why drink enough water so that the Pita in your body does not go high.

Q: Gurudev, even though there is no difference between Lord Vishu and Lord Shiva, who originated from whom? The Vishnu Purana glorifies Lord Vishnu and the Shiva Purana glorifies Lord Shiva.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When you think, who originated from whom, you are thinking on linear terms. But truth is not linear, it is spherical.
That is why this is also true and that is also true. From which side you see, that is where it comes from.
If you see from that side then that is true. If you see it from this side then this is true. But both are same actually. This is what spherical thinking is.
It depends from where you start and where you go.
Shiva and Vishnu are different, yet both are the same.

Q: In the Ashtavakra Gita, it says, ‘You can go on reading scriptures, but you will get liberation only when you forget the scriptures.’
So then what is the purpose of reading the scriptures?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, you get into a bus, but then you also need to get out of the bus.
Now if you argue with me that, ‘If I have to get out of the bus then why should I get into the bus?’
You get into the bus from somewhere else and you get out from somewhere else.
If you have to get out of the bus, why should you get into the bus in the first place - this argument doesn’t hold.
So, the scriptures are to make you understand your nature, the nature of the universe, the nature of this mind which is stuck in small things, and to give it a bigger vision.
So knowledge is like the detergent. See, you put soap on your body but at some point you wash it off as well, isn’t it?!

Similarly, you have this desire, ’I want to be liberated’, and that desire takes you away from all other small desires. But if you keep holding on to that thought, then it will also become a problem at some point. You have to wash that off as well and become free.
’I want liberation, I want liberation, I want liberation’, you won't get liberation. But that desire is essential till you are free from all other small desires. Then a point comes when you say, ‘If I have to get liberation let it be, otherwise let thy will be done.’
In that moment you are already free.

Q: What is the signifiance of Mahalaya Amavasya?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Actually this Amavasya is dedicated to the departed souls.
When you leave this body you are guided into another world by a set of Devas or Angels. Pururava, Vishvedeva - these are their names. They come and guide you from one level to another level.
Mahalaya Amavasya is the day when you remember all the departed souls and thank them and wish peace for them.

There is an ancient tradition in which the family members take a few sesame seeds and little bit of rice, and then they think of their ancestors and say, ‘May you be contented, may you be contented, may you be contented.’
They say this three times and then they drop the little grains of sesame seeds with some water.

The significance of this ritual is to tell the departed that – If you still have some desires in your mind, know that they are like sesame seeds. They are not significant, just drop them. We will take care of them for you. You be free, happy and contented! There is huge universe in front of you. The universe is infinite, so look forward and go; drop whatever is pulling you back.
This is called Tarpana.

Tarpana means bringing satisfaction and fulfillment to the departed. It is done to tell them to be contented and move further.

Water is the symbol of love. To give anyone water means giving love.
In Sanskrit, Ap means water and it also means love. And in Sanskrit someone who is very dear is called Apta.
So, in their memory, you give them water as a symbol of love and life and that is why this is called Mahalaya Amavasya.
On this day think of all your ancestors.

In Vedic tradition, three generations on the mother's side and father's side are remembered, and all others friends, relatives, and anyone who has crossed over to the other side. Think of them and tell them to be satisfied.
Usually in their memory, people also do some charity, by giving food to some people and to animals.

This is there almost in all the cultures of world. I was surprised to see that this is there in Mexico as well.
In Mexico, on 2nd November, every year people celebrate this.
Similarly, they do this in China as well. In the Chinese tradition, they have one day on which they remember their ancestors, and whatever was dear to the ancestors, they make that and offer it to them.
They do this in Singapore as well. Although Singapore is a very clean city, but one day in a year it becomes very dirty for a few hours because they celebrate this on the streets.
Do you know what they do? They make huge cars and homes out of card board and burn them on the streets so that it goes to their ancestors.
They also buy a lot of fake currency notes and burn them so that people on the other side get this offering and give blessings.

Almost all over the globe, from the ancient civilization, everyone practices this.
In Christianity also, there is a day called All Saints’ Day when the ancestors are remembered. On this day people go to the graveyard and pray for the departed.
This is also done just to remind oneself that life is temporary, and so many years these other people lived here and have now gone. We have come to this world and one day we will also go. So you wish them peace and thank them. That is the main idea.

In India the ritual is all in Sanskrit and so people don't understand them. The pundits say something and then they ask you to do this and do that, and you just do it with faith.
That is not bad but it is good to do it with a little understanding.

Q: How does the Karma of our parents and ancestors affect us? Are we also punished because of their bad karmas?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Listen, if your ancestor has left you a house, is it not a boon for you now? Why are you asking such obvious questions?!
They have earned a lot of money, toiled and built a home and they left it to you. You are enjoying their karma, is it not?! And if they are gone with a big debt in the bank, and if you have to pay that back then that is your karma too. So naturally it affects you.

Not just parents but your company also affects you.
If you keep sitting with very depressed people, you also feel down and depressed as well. If you are in the company of joyful and spiritual people your karma improves.

You have no escape from bad or good karma in the world. We have to carry on with this, because there are times when we have to interact with people who are sick. You cannot say I don't want to be near sick people. If everybody says that then what will happen to all the hospitals and the patients?
So in the world we need to be with everyone, and that is why being in knowledge and seva will help shield you. These are called Kawach.

Chanting Om Namah Shivaya is like an armor around you, it is like a Kawach. It protects you from all the unwanted karma, and other not so good affects are shielded.
But you don't have to chant Om Namah Shivaya 24 hours a day. If you do that, your brain will become so dull. Just for a few minutes every day, like brushing your teeth.
You don’t brush your teeth every hour, do you? If anyone brushes their teeth every hour you will not find any teeth at all later on. They will all fall off. And if you do not brush at all, then also it is no good.
In the same way, just like dental hygiene, you need mental hygiene as well. A few minutes of chanting, a few minutes of meditation, all these will help.
We take shower only for few minutes, isn’t it?!

By the way, everybody conserve water. There is a big water scarcity around the world that has come up, and in Bangalore also. All the lakes are dry and there is not much water this year.
So we will all conserve water. Use only as much water as you require.

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill) 22 to 24 Novembert 2012

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 5 to 10 September 2012. NB! Sri Sri Yoga follow ups continue every  Saturday  6 to 8 am

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

 

Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

 

BEACH CLEAN UP – JOIN US AT MANGROVE SWAMPS (DBN-see directions below) ON SUNDAY  11 NOVEMBER 2012 (7.00 to 8.30am) J.

IF you live outside Durban & surrounding areas – Please start a clean up drive in your area (does not have to be along coastline) & send us pics & report of your efforts.

I will ask for two things as Guru Dakshina from all of you. The first Dakshina I want from you is that if you have any hatred or negative feelings towards anyone give it to me as Dakshina. Whosoever you have disliked, mend your relations with them by distributing sweets.

The second Dakshina I want from you is two hours of your time . I want you to come out and make groups and clean your city. If each one of us goes out on the streets to clean, then this place will shine.
This is my second Dakshina, will you give me this?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, November 02, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The best means to stay in contact with the Higher Self at all times, is to follow the simple exercise of Namasmarana, the repetition of any one of the Names of the Lord; a Name that signifies the glory that lies embedded in every being. People indulge in all types of purposeless gossip, conversations and scandal. Many find time and interest in these degrading pursuits. But they have no inclination to awaken the Divine in them by constant remembrance of the Creator and His Splendour. See only those scenes that will foster this discipline; speak only of elevating and uplifting subjects; listen only to purifying topics; think and feel only pure thoughts and emotions. That is the way to develop the Divinity inherent in each one.

-BABA

 

You'll find everybody is Divine, every person is Divine, but everybody is covered with the shell of small ego, small mind. And if you drill through the small mind you'll find they're also beautiful, they're also Divine.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

The Upside Down Tree

October 10, 2012

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, in the fifteenth chapter of the Gita, there is a description of a tree which is upside down. The branches are in the ground and the roots are in the sky. Can you please explain the significance of this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This is a symbol to signify that your origin is the Divinity; the consciousness. That is your roots.
The mind and all its paraphernalia are like the branches. And all the different types of rhythms in life, all the different emotions, etc., are like the leaves. They don’t stay permanently, they wither away.
So, if you are focusing on the leaves, and you forget to water the roots, then the tree will not remain.

So, it says, ‘Asvattham enam su-virudha-mulam asanga-sastrena drdhena chittva’
(Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 15, Verse 3).
Notice that you are not these different emotions, these different aspects of life. Feel the distance from all these branches and retrieve back. That is what it is saying.
Otherwise we get so immersed in the outer, that we forget the main root.

You need to prune the tree otherwise it goes here and there. So prune all that, and know that your origin is somewhere up.

Adi Shankaracharya has said this beautifully, ‘Suramandirtarumoolanivaasah sayyaa bhootalamajinam vaasah sarvaparigraha bhogatyaagah kasya sukham na karoti viraagah’
He is saying, ‘My original place is in heaven, I have come here just for few days; just to have fun. Today I have just come for the purpose of relaxing, but this is not my original place, it is somewhere else.’
The thought itself – My home is somewhere else, I have just come to visit, creates a distance inside you.

This world is a transit lounge.
You know, in airports and railway stations there are lounges, and in a lounge what do you do? You keep your luggage and start eating. You use the bathroom and everything, but you don’t open your suitcase and hang your clothes all over the place. You don’t do that in a transit lounge. You keep your things packed.
So this world is just a transit lounge. Don’t mistake it to be your home.

Q: Gurudev, out of the Ashtalaksmi’s there is one by the name Vijayalakshmi. You said that we need Vijayalakshmi. It is the energy to win or succeed in anything. Can you please elaborate on this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I think I have spoken enough on all those eight Lakshmis.
The intelligent people don’t elaborate on anything too much. They only give little clues as essence.
It is said, ‘Alpaksharam asandigdham sara-vat visvato-mukham.’
Alpaksharam means, just a few words.
Sutras are like that; it has the essence and is multi-dimensional. It has many dimensions. And that is how intelligent people communicate, with just a few words.
Only the less intelligent will give long explanations for nothing.

Some of the books that you read, they go on for pages after pages after pages. I tell you, all that they need to write is one line. That is it!
All the ancient Rishis, that is what they did.
‘Heyam dukham anagatam’; that is it, finished!
‘Tada drastuh svarupe vasthanam’; finished!

Q: Gurudev, is being in the state of love higher than enlightenment?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Higher and lower, all these dissolves even much before.
There is nothing higher or nothing lower; this ladder disappears.
Just imagine you are in space, in the universe. Where is up and where is down? Where is east and west? There is nothing. There is no higher or lower.

Q: Gurudev, where do emotions arise from? Are they of the body or of the mind?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Emotions are in the mind, but there is a corresponding hormone or sensation in the body. So it is a combination of both.
If your adrenal gland starts working very fast, then you feel fear and nervousness. All those emotions rise up.
So different hormones or different glands produce different emotions. It is neither this or that, it is everything together.

Q: My son has been diagnosed with bipolar for five years. He is my only son and I have been suffering every moment of his pain. I was a very happy woman before this but now I am on 150mg of anti-depressants.
Now, I want you to assure me there will be no sicknesses like manic depression or any other sicknesses that are incurable.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, I understand your pain.
Sometimes a little depression comes and a person is given heavy doses of medicines and then it becomes worse. I have seen this happening.
Small simple depression turns into manic depression and then they put them on Lithium. The whole medical fraternity is so confused about this issue. That is why mental health is so important.
All of you here, you should put your children and your friend’s children into the Art Excel, YES and YES+ programs. Somehow make them do pranayama and meditation.

Do you know how this happens? First there is a little stress in the mind, and then that starts building up and building up and then it becomes so big that it snaps all the important connections in the brain. That is how the whole thing starts.
We need to attend to this at a very early stage. Prevention is better that cure. And to prevent this you need to keep your children happy and teach them how to handle their negative emotions and the negativity in them. This is very important.

Q: Gurudev, for a seeker, what is the importance of good company? And if such company is not available, then what should one do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If you feel you are strong enough and you can influence your company, then change them. Make them to be like you. But if you are not that strong, then move away from bad company. You are free to do that.

Q: Gurudev, is it auspicious to have a Peepal (Bodhi) tree at home?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, it is very good and very auspicious. Having a Bodhi tree in front of your home is like having God himself standing there.
This is what Lord Krishna says, ‘Among the tree, I am Ashvattha’, (Peepal or Bodhi tree).
The Bodhi tree is so significant because all 24 hours a day, it gives out only oxygen. So it is very good to have this tree in front of your home.

There are people who say that it is not very good to have a Tamarind tree in front of the house. I don’t know what vibration it has, but this is what is said.
Now if there is a Tamarind tree in front of your home, I would say, don’t cut it down, just plant something else around it.

Q: Even though we have received so much wisdom from you, I am not able to live it fully?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: At least if you are able to live it partially, I am happy. Even that will do. You will keep moving up, inch by inch.

 

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill) 22 to 24 Novembert 2012

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 12 to 17 November 2012.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, November 05, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You must take care of your body, which is the case for the Divine Spark, until its purpose of Self-Realization is fulfilled. But its nourishment and care should not overshadow the attention due to the mind, its purification and sublimation. Now the body is nourished with breakfast in the morning, lunch at noon, snack break at 4 PM and dinner at night. The body is the cart and the mind is the horse that drags it. Unfortunately no food is given to the horse, which is really the more valuable of the two. Give the mind and culturing of the mind, the importance it deserves, only then life is worth living. The mind has to be hale and hearty, joyous and peaceful, free from agitations and worries. You can keep it happy by recitation of holy names and doing noble acts that helps the wellbeing of all. This will confer you everlasting joy.

-BABA

First, by attending to the ether element - the mind. If your mind is bogged with too many impressions and thoughts, and it is draining you of your resistance power. If the mind is clear, calm, meditative, and pleasant, the resistance in the body would increase.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

The Master and the Spiritual Path

October 09, 2012

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, in the Upanishads, we usually find references of Samit Pani (ritual of offering dry sticks to the Master). Gurudev, could you please tell us, what is the significance of this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Samit is the stick which is ready to catch fire.
Here, it is a symbol of being ready, so that when the knowledge is given, you just grab it.

Samit Pani has many meanings. One is, ‘Be Attentive’; second is, ‘Ready to Give Hundred Percent’.
You know when Samit (dry stick) is put in the fire it burns totally without any residue. So, the meaning of Samit Pani is, ‘Be prepared to absorb the knowledge and live it. Give your hundred percent.’

Samit also means, ‘Go (to the master) with Stability.’
A student needs some stability and endurance. If there is a little difficulty, and the student runs away, then that student cannot study anything.
Usually it happens, after the first year of Medical College or Engineering College children just want to wash their hands off and want to run away. Hasn’t this happened to you?
How many Engineering and Medical students have felt like that? This is because it appears to be very tough. But you have to go through that. You have to stand that tough time.
So Samit Pani is also keeping that equanimity and endurance.

In earlier days, they used to say, ‘Don’t go with an empty hand. When you go to a Guru, go with something.’
The Guru is going to give you knowledge, so what you can do, is exchange it with a little stick. Give something in exchange, because knowledge flows with an exchange. Something comes and something goes.

So like this, there are many meanings for Samit Pani.
Going to study with zeal, enthusiasm, and dedication, and being ready to receive knowledge; ready to undergo toughness.

There is also a proverb that says, ‘If you are a student then there is no pleasure for you. And if you are a seeker of pleasure, then there is no knowledge for you.’ So, a student will have to go through hardship.
This means, if you are just pleasure loving, you can’t be studious.
In English, the word studious means, being much focused and not running after pleasures or comfort, but going beyond the comfort zone.

Q: Gurudev, often we read in the Puranas of Indra committing some sin. We never read of Agni, or Varuna, or Vayu, or any of the other Gods committing sin.
There must be some significance or some learning from this as well, just like the story of Ganesha. Could you please explain the spiritual meaning of this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Indra is the mob psychology. What we call mob mentality?
A group has a mind of its own. That group mind is called Indra.

Indra is supposed to have one thousand eyes. One thousand eyes do not mean that somebody has eyes all over. It refers to a group which has five hundred people; one mob.
So the group creates a consciousness, a mentality and that is what Indra is.
That is why, when an enlightened person is born, Indra gets so offended, because the mob psychology cannot exist then. A person of enlightenment and awareness does not allow mob psychology to grow. Do you see what I am saying?
He puts sense in to the minds of the people. He tells everyone, ‘Hey! Think with your mind! Wake up! Each one of you, think!’
That is why Indra gets scared whenever a Rishi or Sage is meditating.

The mob, the collective consciousness is what is called Indra. It is not some person sitting up there in the heaven. Indra is right here.
Just like we have all the five elements, Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether; Indra is the collective consciousness.

With the mob psychology, what usually happens; someone will say, ’Oh, our leader has been maligned’, and everybody then starts. They put fire on the buses, they desecrate statues, etc., and the mob keeps moving on without knowing what they are doing.
A mob goes on a rampage, destroying people, life and property; isn’t it?
So that is the mob psychology.
That mob psychology cannot stand when there is knowledge, wisdom and alertness.

Q: Gurudev, why is that a lot of enlightened masters, who healed so many people, had to undergo a lot of suffering?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, there is no suffering for the soul, or for the mind. It is the body which has its limitations. If you stretch the body too much, then definitely the body will have to undergo its routine. So the body will have cold and cough, and all these illnesses do come.

A Saint’s body is made up of Shradha (faith) and love. So when the faith and love breaks down, the body is also impacted.
In the ancient times, the saints and the wise ones would often abuse those who were closest to them. This is because when anger or ill thoughts arise in a person who is dear to them, then that affects them as well.
For example, a person sitting inside your house and causing damage will affect you more than someone causing damage outside on the street. When the garbage is on the street it does not affect you as much as when it is inside your house. Isn’t that so? In the same way!

That is why, since the ancient times, it is said that Strength of Character (Sheel) is very essential.
One must have the Shat Sampattis (Six wealths, or six-fold virtues):
• Sama (calmness or quietude of mind)
• Dama (self-control or restraint of the senses)
• Uparati (satiety)
• Titiksha (power of endurance)
• Shradha (faith), and
• Samadhana (equanimity or one-pointedness of the mind)

Until a person has all these six virtues, he does not become a Mumukshu (one desirous of moksha or liberation). And until one does not become a Mumukshu, he is not given the Knowledge.

Therefore, one must have Viveka (sense of discrimination between good and bad), Vairagya (dispassion) and the Shat Sampatti, to become a Mumukshu. Only then would they be given the title of a disciple, student or a devotee.
Otherwise it is like having a mad person on a boat. If he starts to go wild or starts dancing, then he will sink, and the boat and the other passengers will also sink.

That is why Lord Buddha also said that Sheel, Samadhi (here, equanimity) and Pragya (Divine wisdom) should be present in a disciple.
A disciple should have qualities of Ahimsa (non-violence), Sheel, etc. He must have an experience of the state of Samadhi. Only then can he become Pragyavaan (one endowed with wisdom and knowledge).

Q: Gurudev, you ask us to be dispassionate. How can I be dispassionate about you? I love you and the attachment keeps growing every day.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If this attachment helps you to move away from other unwanted things, then it is okay. If it gives you a focus, it is fine. But if it is causing jealousy, anger, greed and all those negative emotions, you better work on yourself.
Go deep into yourself, meditate and understand it.

Any attachment, if it leads you to the higher self, or a higher goal, it is okay. But, if it is pulling you down, you have to come back to wisdom.

For every action of ours, we should look within our self. If we are blaming something, it means that we cannot be without it.
Generally, you will see, if someone is very bad, you will just move away from them. But when you hate them, that means, there is a deep connection that you are unable to get away from. You want to be with them, that is why you start disliking them.

The mind is so complex, I tell you. That is why I keep saying, you don’t need any other entertainment channel. The mind is good enough entertainment. You have all the channels going on right here in the mind.

One, who is caught in the whirlpool of mind, only deserves compassion, not anger.
Usually what do you do? If somebody is negative, or they are against you, you become angry at them. You think that they have the freedom.
I feel the other way around. I feel so much compassion, for they have gotten caught up in the whirlpool of their own mind. They don’t know what they are doing and it is very evident from their action.

Also, these people feel very happy when something is going wrong somewhere.
There is a nice program, and rain comes and dampens it, they say, ‘Good! See rain has come, even nature doesn’t support it.’
They feel so happy about it. This is a wrong thing.

You should see it the other around. In spite of rain, people are still sitting and meditating, or doing service or continuing with the program.
But a person who is negative deep inside will only feel happy about anything that is not working.
This is very funny and very strange.
This indicates a sick mind. They cannot tolerate a good thing happening to anybody anywhere in the world. So you can only be compassionate towards such people in the world.

Q: Gurudev, if we lose our footwear or if someone takes it away, is it true that they take away our bad karma?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If it was an expensive shoe, then yes, it is better to think that way . At least you will get peaceful sleep at night. But if it was a cheap slipper… (Sri Sri nods his head).

See the main idea was to tell the people to be in the present moment.
Don’t hang on to the past and crib over it and spoil this moment. What happened has happened! Finished!

You are stuck in the traffic jam, finished! Now when you have reached home, don’t waste your next two hours talking about how you should have taken a different route. It is a useless waste of time.

Our ancient people had such great ideas and so they told you, ’Oh! It is because of the stars that this thing happened to you.’ Now you can’t get angry at the stars.
So instead of getting angry at the people around you, you say, ’Oh, It is because of my karma, my stars, that this has happened.’
So you get a certain amount of acceptability and calmness, and that helps you move forward in life without being bitter.

This is one beautiful thing about India.
In Indian society, bad things may happen, but we don’t get bitter about it and crib about it.
I wish the whole world learns this lesson.

It is something that comes in our culture; in our blood. If anything bad happens in the society, we are resilient, we move on without cribbing about it.
It is very interesting.

Generally, people say, ‘You did this to me 50 years ago and still you are my enemy.’ People keep that animosity and enmity in their mind and heart.
But here, this is a very unique thing. We do not nurture the enmity and animosity.

Q: You say that corruption in society is linked to the spiritual quotient in society. But how it is that in the west, even through spirituality there is lesser than India, their corruption is also much lesser compared to Indian.
Even in China, the spiritual quotient is lesser, even then they are doing better than India when it comes to development.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: India is still surviving on its past spiritual flavor.
It is like, the kitchen still smells of food but there is no food in the pots. That is what has happened.

You are entering into the kitchen and it smells of Bajjis and Bondas (Indian savories), but don’t think that the Bondas are still in the vessel.
So this is what India has from the past. They made lots of Bondas and everybody ate.

India was in a high spiritual state. But today and since the past, 20 years, the society has stooped to a level of irresponsibility, lack of belongingness and lack of integrity, especially in the political front and so it is affecting the country.

Though the common man may be very honest, but when the leadership is not honest, then the corruption starts infiltrating.
There is a saying, ‘Yatha Raja Tatha Praja! ’
It is not, ‘Yatha Praja, Tatha Raja! ’
It moves from top to bottom. So when there is corruption at the top, then it starts infiltrating.

At least India is still intact. This is because there is some sense of spirituality that has kept things in a sane manner, and kept people together. Otherwise, India would have gone into pieces long ago.

Q: Gurudev, in order to progress on the spiritual path, do we have to make efforts to cultivate positive qualities, such as simplicity and naturalness, or do they develop by themselves?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No, one does not have to make any effort to develop good qualities at all. Good qualities blossom in you by themselves.
Just like how a bud blossoms into a flower on its own, in the same way good qualities blossom in you naturally. All that you have to do is take the lid off.

See, if you place a lid over a bud, how will it blossom? You need to take the lid off and then it will blossom. It is the same with good qualities.
Only through efforts good qualities will not blossom within us. It is through deep rest, i.e., meditation that it happens.
When you are stress-free, relaxed and are reposing in your Self then good qualities simply blossom from within you.

Q: Gurudev, often at the work place when there are a lot of pending things to do, the mind becomes restless and we feel lost and do not know what is happening. At such times what to do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Make a list of all that you have to do and then prioritize. And in between those priorities, keep meditation as one item.
You must have the faith that all your wishes will be fulfilled, and with that feeling sit for meditation for a little while.

Lord Krishna has promised that 'One who directs his mind and intellect towards Me, I am always close to him and he is always close to me.' So just remember this.
We must take a resolve to meditate every day for a little while. Then God will surely fulfill our prayers. In fact then we have the right to demand as well.
It is like, when you collect enough points, you can then claim those points.
So when you do seva, then you get points which you can claim.

Many times when I go to some Satsang outside, people blackmail me in this way! (Laughter)
When I go to my room to rest after the event gets over then also people come at 11 or 12 in the night for Darshan. They will tell me, ‘These people have done so much seva and have come to seek your blessings. Please meet them Gurudev.’
Then I say, ‘Okay, I will come.’
Because they have done so much seva, I have no choice but to give Darshan! (Laughter)
So in this way we must keep increasing our points.

That is how a devotee can make God fulfill his prayers. God has no choice but to fulfill the work of his devotees. The same way we can win in the world as well.

When we do good deeds then why would anyone dislike us? Does anyone dislike someone who is doing something good? It can never happen.
What we usually do is, we stay in our own comfort zone, and give more importance to our own comforts and do only what we like to do. Then why will anyone like us?

Q: Gurudev, you have talked about the 10 characteristics of Dharma. Could you talk about how we can enhance these qualities and bring Dharma on this planet?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: By doing exactly what we are doing!
Adharma is because of lack of clarity in the mind, and because of stress. When the mind is not focused and the heart is hurt then Adharma happens.
So, knowledge and wisdom is what will put you on the path to Dharma.

Q: Gurudev, what makes the Prana leave the body, and what decides when it comes in?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Okay, I want to ask you a question! Why do you change your dress? What makes you change your dress?
Why don’t you wear the same shirt all your life?
You change your clothes, because of wear and tear, or whatever, isn’t it?
Got the answer!

Q: Dear Gurudev, where is Mount Meru and what is the significance of Mount Meru?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Mount Meru is the mystical mountain of energy. There is no physical location of Mount Meru.

Q: Gurudev, I am 21 years old and a lot of girls are attracted to me. My teacher tells me that they are attracted to the Guru energy in me. How do I handle this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: 21 is too young for you to make any decision.
You have many choices, but you have to wait for a couple of years to make a choice, okay!

See, if nobody gets attracted to you, then it is a problem. If people are getting attracted to you, you find that as a problem. Life is all challenge at every angle.
Just take it and enjoy it anyway, however it is!
So, enjoy all the attention, but keep your distance for now. Tell them you are still in incubation. Another two to three years more to go.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, November 06, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Egoism is the most dangerous illusion that has to be exploded and destroyed. Arjuna too suffered this ego. One day when Krishna brought the chariot back to camp, Arjuna wanted that like all charioteers, Krishna should get down first and open the door of the chariot for him. Krishna refused and insisted that Arjuna should alight before He does. At last Krishna won and Arjuna got down. As soon as Krishna left His seat and touched the ground, the chariot went up in flames! The fact was that the various fiery arrows that had the power of burning the chariot had actually hit the target, but due to the presence of Krishna, their igniferous powers could not manifest themselves. Realising this humbled Arjuna; his egoism had a rude shock. He also realised that every action of Divinity was full of significance.

-BABA

Ego is harshness, is hardness. It is I, I, I. Fears arise. But that is gone by just watching, not trying to dissolve it. If you try to dissolve it, it still remains.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

The Fire Inside

October 23, 2012

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Bangalore, India

(Satsang began with devotees from all over the world singing hymns and songs in their national languages. The crowd from various countries around the world and from all parts of India united with one another through music and singing.)

This is the true spirit of Navratri - Uniting the whole world.
Even in the ancient days, each person would specialize in a different Veda, in one particular branch of knowledge, and in Navratri everybody would converge and everyone would bring their part of knowledge, music, dance, culture, and everything together.
You must have seen, day before yesterday, we had the flute music, the string instrument, the tabla, the drums, and singing.
The variety that is present in the Universe is all converged with the knowledge that there is One Spirit; One Universal Consciousness, i.e., The Divine Consciousness (God).

You don't have to be afraid of God because it is like the mother who cares for you, loves you, adores you and uplifts you. All the motherly qualities are present in God.
Usually we say, ‘Be God fearing; God is there to punish you’, no! This is a wrong idea. God will never punish you, but only educate and uplift you.

We must celebrate life.
We just heard the song, ‘La-Ilaha-Illallah’ – There is only one Divinity, and that Divinity is not somewhere up in the heaven, it is in the five elements, i.e., Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether.
So, honor the Earth, honor water, and make good use of Fire. Not just the external fire, but the fire inside you as well.
There is a fire inside everybody, a passion, keep that in the right direction. You know, fire can destroy, and fire can create as well, so allow the fire to do something creative. Give a direction to that fire (passion) inside of you.
Water can quench thirst and it can drown you as well.
Remember the Divine Mother; the Divinity is in the five elements, and in the Self. And real celebration is getting back to the Self with peace and ease.

So we must have this confidence – God loves me dearly. No more questions and no more doubt!
Also, don't compare yourself with anybody, this is also important.
‘Oh, that person can sing but I cannot sing’; ‘That person is intelligent but I am not’, no! You have everything inside you. At different times different things will come out, just have patience.

Another thing is that we say that we want blessings and we want Grace, isn’t it?!
Blessings are available in plenty, but if your vessel is small, then what to do?

If you bring this cup (Sri Sri picks up a small cup), and say, ‘Give me two liters of milk in this’, how can two liters of milk fit in this little cup? The cup is small and you are asking for too much.
You need to bring a cup with a capacity of three liters and then I can give you two liter or three liter, whatever you want.
So, you must remember that whatever you get is your capacity, and if you want to get more then wait; expand your capacity.
When our capacity increases more will definitely come to us.
This is the reason why people are unhappy. They take a little cup and say, ‘Give me one liter of milk in this.’
The cup is then overflowing.
So this is what we need to know.

See, in life, irritations do come to you. ‘Oh, that person is no good’; ‘I cannot be with these people, they insult me’, these sort of the little things come in the mind, and then when you sit for meditation, all these things come and bother you. Isn't it?
Raise your hands and tell me honestly, when you sit for meditation, don't you think about these things – ‘Oh, it is better if my husband does this’; ‘Oh my child doesn’t listen’.
Things about the neighbours, friends, known people and unknown people, all these little irritations come and bring anger, frustration and irritation inside of you.
So, how do you handle this irritation?
Suppose you are doing some important work and a fly comes and sits on you, would you be bothered too much about the fly? No, you wouldn’t get bothered about a housefly, you would just shoo it away lightly.
Know that is what all these things are.

These little irritations help to bring the acceptance inside you. Irritation means non-acceptance. Non-acceptance means holding your fist closed tight. Acceptance is like opening your fist.
Irritation is stiffness. Don't you feel stiffness when you get irritated?
Acceptance is openness, and when your hand is open, the sky is the limit; everything is inside you (referring to his open hand). But when you are closed (referring to his closed hand) then there is nothing inside.
So, letting go is important.

Now the question comes, ‘If I let go then how will I take action?’
Somebody is doing injustice and you think, ‘Oh, Gurudev talks on acceptance, and so I will accept it.’ No!
See, the fire is there, you have to give it the right direction.
Being irritated and doing an action is not going to help. First accept and then take the right action.
This needs a lot of courage and patience.

Another concern is being humiliated.
I tell you humiliation is very good. It is humiliation which expands your capacity; it makes your vessel bigger. It is humiliation that makes the I dissolve, makes the ego go away, and you become simply like a child.
Do you know, you can never humiliate a child because it is hollow and empty!
But when we become somebody, when we hold on to some idea about ourselves then we feel that, ‘Oh it is a humiliation.’
Somebody said, ‘Don’t come’, or, ‘Don't do this’, and all these little things bother you. That is why this is called Maya, because those things which are not worthy of paying attention to, the mind is dragged into that.
And when you say, ‘Even this is not mine’, then that is Mahamaya; it is a Divine play. Because then you start fighting with it, and fighting with it makes it even more. It becomes a catch 22 situation. You get stuck in the rut.
So, don’t shy away from humiliation. If humiliation happens take it as Tapas (means Heat. In Hinduism, it is used figuratively, denoting spiritual suffering, mortification or austerity).
‘Okay, this is Tapas. I will bear this. I take it.’
Tapas makes you stronger and more beautiful.

So, it is said, ‘Gyaninampee Chetansi Devi Bhagwati Hi Saa, Baladakrishya Mohay Mahamaya Prayachhati.’
This is what is written in the Durga Saptshati which we sang yesterday.
The power of Maya, the power of ignorance is so strong that even the most wise people and great intellectuals are just taken into her sway.
She can sway everybody, and so it is said, ‘Oh my dear Mother Goddess, you have swayed us into this play of illusions of the mind.’
We give importance to things which are not worthy of importance. We give too much importance to things which are temporary and fleeting which are not going to stay. They all come and they go. That is why it is called Mahamaya.

You know yesterday I said, ‘Ya Devi Sarva-bhutesu Bhranti-rupena Samsthitha Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei Namo Namaha.’
The consciousness is also present as delusion, not only as Shanti (Peace) or Shakti (Strength) . It is also present as hunger, as confusion, as delusion, and all these manifestations.
When you notice this then you smile at the play of the mind.
Then when the little mind plays around, you don't identify with it; you go beyond and that is where you get that permanent peace – Chira Shanti. The mind is absolutely at peace; unshakable.
This is worth having in life, and for that only, all these blessings are needed.

Today we did the Rishi Homa. From ages, many saints in the past have preserved this knowledge.
In the tradition, it is Parashara (a Rigvedic Maharishi and author of many ancient Indian texts) whose specialty was Poojas.
In Guru Pooja we sing, Narayanam Padma Bhavam Vashishtham Shaktim cha tat putra Parasharam Cha.
The fifth saint in the tradition is Parashara. He emphasized on expression of love and devotion through Poojas – Poojadishu Anuraga iti Parasharyah.

Today also, Ayudha Pooja is done. This is done to honor all the instruments that we use.
When you go to the city tomorrow, you will find all the buses will have sandal-paste, Kumkum and flowers on them.
People will decorate their vehicles.
It means that, from a needle or a pin to a pillar; everything is permeated by the Divine, so honoring all the instruments.
Even small things like pins, knives, scissors, screwdrivers, spanners, all these things are honored, and it is said that Divine mother is present in all the instruments, and so we honor them.
You will see that once a year, in factories they clean all the instruments.
Today the people will honor and show gratitude to instruments, vehicles, buses, cars, everything, because the Divinity is present everywhere.
Ayudha Pooja is done on the ninth day of Navratri. Tomorrow is Vijaya Dasami, the day of victory.
So when Maya takes over the mind just become aware that it is the Maya of the mind.
It is the mind which is going around and doing all these things. Just let go of that.
That is the main message for the Navratri.

 

 

 

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill) 22 to 24 Novembert 2012

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 26 November  to 1 December 2012.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, November 07, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

All worldly pleasures are transient and temporary. Very often they result in sorrow and disappointment. You often experience loss, depression and confusion and have no contentment. Know that lack of contentment is the real loss (Asantrupto nijo nashtah). There is no limit to desires. One feels hungry, another is thirsty. If the thirsty man is offered water, he is not satisfied, he wants a cool drink. When he is given a cool drink, next he wants ice cream, and so on. He is not satisfied with anything. Realize that there is no end to desires for material things in the world. To get rid of these desires, one must turn their mind towards God. The purpose of human birth is to realise the inherent Divinity. That is the way to achieve contentment and lasting bliss. God alone is the source of enduring bliss.

-BABA

 

Want, or desire, arises when you are not happy. Have you seen this? When  you are very happy then there is contentment. "Contentment" means "no  want."

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

There are no bad people

October 28, 2012

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Bangalore, India

The Divine can only be found in deep rest (meditation).
Do you know what the obstacles to deep rest are? It is the cravings and aversions in the mind.
If the mind is filled with cravings and aversions, rest is not possible. And if there is no rest, the goal of Sadhana (spiritual practices) cannot be achieved.
That is why we need to be free from the cravings and aversions in our mind.
So, how do we do that?
'I don’t need anything from anyone', this is what we need to keep in our mind.

When we don’t need anything from anyone, we will not have cravings towards anybody. When there is no craving, there will be no aversion.

Don’t think of anyone as a bad person. There is no bad person in the world. If people do something bad, it is because of their ignorance or lack of awareness, or because their mind has been hurt. So, don’t have negative opinions about anybody.

Q: Gurudev, you just said that we should not consider anyone as bad. If others treat us badly, how do we react to that?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If others have a negative opinion about you, it is their problem, not yours. From your side, do not consider anyone as bad.
By doing this, your mind will be clear and pleasant and your intellect will be sharp. Otherwise, the people whom you consider as bad will begin to haunt your mind like a ghost.
When such thoughts get into your mind, you will not be able to do something creative.

Q: If somebody has really done something wrong towards us, what should we do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When someone does something bad to you, think, why would they do it? One reason could be that they are not healthy.

Do you see a fool or a mentally ill person as a culprit? No!
If a mentally ill person says something bad to you, do you take their words seriously? No. You just move on knowing that he is mentally ill.
So, when someone says something bad to you, think of it in the same way. When a disturbed person says something bad, why should you feel disturbed?

Q: In order to be peaceful, we have to learn not to expect from others. But in day-to-day life, at the office or at home, different people are supposed to do different things. If they don’t do it, then problems arise. Everyone has to do his or her job.
Please guide us on this.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If someone does not do the job that he or she is supposed to do, then we need to tell them to do it. We need to exercise our authority there.
If there are lazy people who don’t do their work, we cannot sit quiet. We need to make them aware of their duty.
If we have craving or aversion towards them then we cannot bring awareness in them. It will only make us angry.

Q: What is the meaning of Cause and Effect?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Cause and Effect are called ‘Karana’ and ‘Karya’.
Cow is the cause, milk is the effect. If there is milk, it is because of the cow.
The cause for the cow is grass. The cause for the grass is the Earth. The cause for the Earth is the Sun.
Behind every happening, there is a cause.
Paramakarana, the cause of all causes is the Divine. That is why, it is said, ‘Tasmai Namah Paramakarana Karanaya.’
The cause of all causes is Shiva.

Q: Gurudev, we say ‘Achamanyam Samarpayami’. Water is known as ‘Apa’, so why do we call it as ‘Achamanyam’?
What is the significance of offering water?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, water is also known as Achamanyam. This is a practice that has been going on since ages. Before starting and ending anything, Achamanyam is offered.
It is the process where we do Abhimantra (mantra chanting on the water. You take a pot of water, place your hand on top and then chant mantras. The mantras are supposed to be absorbed into the water) and then offer it. It is not just plain drinking water. The water is charged through the mantra vibrations.

Whenever a guest comes home, water is used to wash their feet (padya). Then, water is given into their hands (arghya). After this, they are given water to drink to quench their thirst (achamanyam). These three practices were practiced in olden times.

When someone comes to your house, don’t you ask, ‘What would you like to drink? Would you like some lemonade, milk, tea or coffee?’
Don’t you give them some water to drink?
In the same way, in olden times, they used to have the practice of Padya, Arghya and Achamanyam.
Padya means washing the feet of the guest at the entrance of the house, so that the dirt on the feet does not enter the house. Arghya is to wash their hands. Achamanyam is giving them water to drink, indicating that the discussion can begin.

Q: What is the significance of ‘Panchamrita (mixture of five foods used in Hindu worship) Abhisheka’? Why were only these materials chosen?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: These five are like nectar: Milk, Curd, Honey, Jaggery and Ghee. Though jaggery needs to be used, sugar is being used instead of jaggery nowadays.

Five Devatas (Deities) reside in them. Savitru resides in Sugar, Vishwedeva in Honey, Surya in Ghee, Vayu in Curd, and Soma in Milk.
So, when you offer them as Abhisheka, the intention is that – may the qualities of the Devas blossom in our life.

We pray for peace in everybody’s mind.
Let there be joy in everybody’s mind.
Let there be strength, courage and longevity in people’s lives.
Let there be contentment and prosperity in people’s lives.
Let there be radiance in life.
Let the winds and rivers flow in sweetly.
Let our days and nights be sweet.
Let every soil particle bring sweetness to us.
Let us get sweetness from the Akasha, Devatas and Pitrus (departed ancestors).
Let our speech and thoughts be sweet.
Let the society bring us sweetness.
Let the Vanaspati (Lord of the forest) bring us sweetness.
Let the Sun bring sweetness to our lives.
Let our whole life bring sweetness to other people’s lives.
Let us bring sweetness to the collective consciousness.

Q: Please tell us the way to attain never-ending and unshakable devotion.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Assume that you have unshakable devotion.
Sage Narada says in the Bhakti Sutras that devotion is not an object that can be obtained. If you drop all the doubts, devotion is already there.

Q: If we study law, there is a guarantee of becoming a lawyer. If we study engineering, there is a guarantee of becoming an engineer if we put in our efforts. However, there is no guarantee of getting liberation if we keep doing our Sadhana and keep walking this path.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is definitely guaranteed.
Arjuna asks the same question in the Bhagavad Gita. So, Lord Krishna replies, ‘Na hi kalyana-krt kascid durgatim tata gacchati’, (Chapter 6, Verse 40).
For one who walks the spiritual path, you will only move higher and higher.

Q: Many great saints, though they attained enlightenment, did not give it directly to anybody. They just preached about the steps to attain it. Why does God not give enlightenment directly to everyone? Are samskaras (impressions) necessary for this?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Samskaras are necessary. If you are here, it means that somewhere you had the interest and curiosity to come. Without that interest, how could you come here? So, a little bit of samskaras are necessary.
However, only samskaras are not enough. In life, samskaras, opportunities and grace are all needed. Along with these, self-effort is also required.
If you want to come to the satsang but keep lying in your bed, will it help?
So, self-effort, samskaras, opportunities and grace are all needed.

Q: Are there chances of epilepsy attacks even for people who do Sadhana regularly?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It depends on what the person eats, drinks and does the whole day. It is possible if eating, drinking and living habits are not proper.
If there is too much stress in the nervous system then there are chances of such attacks.
If one lives a healthy life, it will not happen.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, November 08, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When students score low marks parents feel great grief. Similarly, when we fall low in morals and spiritual virtues, our motherland bemoans her fate ten times more sadly. We have to assuage the grief of the physical mother and promote the peace and prosperity of our motherland. The motherland is not a mere lump of earth. When we desire her progress, we have to promote the progress of the people who dwell therein. The skills needed for resuscitating and reforming are found in youth. The reforming process involves the removal, in daily living, of bad conduct and bad habits, and the practice of good conduct and good deeds. You must express your humility, fortitude, equanimity, and gratitude for kindness received, in various acts in your daily life, every day.

-BABA

Never feel low, but be very humble---it's different, it's very different.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

Colors of Devotion

October 05, 2012

Bangalore, India

Honesty is a quality in a person’s nature.
If a person is honest, they are honest at home, and honest at work as well. Whether as a husband or a wife, they are honest towards their spouse.
Wherever they go, honesty just shines through their character naturally.

The same goes for Bhakti (devotion) as well. A devotee of God is also devoted to the nation, and to the creation. Their love and devotion is reflected in every sphere of life.

Often people question that how can a devotee of God be a devotee of the nation, or be patriotic as well. I tell you, for sure one can be.
If one is devoted to their nation that does not mean that they are enemies of another nation or other nations. We have understood patriotism from a very narrow perspective.

Generally, how do we express our patriotism? By opposing or having enmity with another country we express our patriotism towards our own country.
During the days of the British rule in India, you were considered patriotic if you stood up against the British. Nowadays, you will be considered a patriot if you speak against Pakistan. This is not right.
Your feelings of patriotism need not oppose or put down any other country.

If you see in America, those who call themselves patriots are simply patriots devoted towards their country alone. They are not opposed to any other country.
So, a patriot, or one who is devoted to his own country, is also devoted to the entire world; to the entire creation.

Those who are devoted to the Vishwatma (Universal soul), feel no conflict between their devotion for God, and their devotion towards their country.
See, when you look after, and nurture your own family, that does not mean that you are an enemy to the other people around. You care for others around you as well, and love them as you love your own family, is it not?
If a mother loves her own children very much, she can also have love for the other children in the neighborhood. It is not that if she has affection for her own children, she cannot have affection for the other children as well. Then that is not love; that is not devotion.
Devotion is such that no matter where it is, it spreads its fragrance all around; like a flower.

See, if you take this flower, no matter where you keep it, it spreads its fragrance everywhere. Whether you keep a Jasmine flower in the kitchen, or in your bathroom, it will give out its fragrance.
A flower will not discriminate saying that I shall spread fragrance here, but not there.
In the same way, wherever you place or direct your devotion, it will spread there; it will bear fruits and blossom more and more.
So you can have devotion and dedication towards your job as well.

A renowned Kannada saint once said, ‘Kayakave Kailasa’, which means that, one who does his karma (action) well, finds Kailasa (the abode of bliss).
This has also been said in Sanskrit in many scriptures.
So, true Pooja (worship) is the Service of the masses. There is no distinction between Pooja and Seva. Why? Because the basis or source of both is devotion, and the end result is also devotion.

The same goes for the Ahankaara (Ego) as well. Wherever you direct your ego it gets attached to that very thing. It acquires the form of that very object.
If you direct your ego towards the Brahman, then you will attain the state of Aham Brahmasmi (‘Aham’ means ‘I’, personifying the small limited ego here, and ‘Brahmasmi’ means ‘am the Brahman’. Hence identifying one Self with the Brahman that pervades all of Creation, dissolves the Ego).

When you attach your ego to small and trivial things, then it identifies itself to these small things and becomes narrow and limited like the objects themselves. It gives you a feeling of ‘I am something’; ‘I am a minister’; or ‘I am a sinner’; or ‘I am a very holy soul’; ‘I am intelligent’; ‘I am foolish’, etc. Wherever you direct or attach your ego that is what will grow in abundance and bear fruit.
So, just as ego is capable of growing in abundance, devotion is also capable of growing in abundance.

This has also been said in the Yoga Vidhya (principles of Yoga).
It is said, ’Tasya bhumishu viniyogah’ – (Vibhuti Pada #6, Patanjali Yoga Sutras)

The Yoga-siddhis (extraordinary miraculous abilities gained as a result of Yoga), and the heightened awareness or consciousness that one acquires through regular practice of Yoga should be channeled towards different activities that are beneficial to the Earth and society.

Q: Dear Gurudev, according to the Vedic scriptures, the whole world is an illusion, including the Galaxy, Universe, etc. I am not able to comprehend this. If you could please explain this further.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, it is obvious. If you study quantum physics, it says the same thing. The name and shapes of objects is not real, what is real is that they are all part of One Wave Function.
Everything is made up of One energy. This is what the Vedanta always said.

Illusion means what? It does not mean that it does not exist, it means that it changes. Every object here changes, and all that which changes is called Maya. All that can be measured is called Maya.
It is wrong to translate Maya as illusion.

You know, one of the greatest professors of our time, Dr. Hans-Peter Durr, he was here in the Ashram a few years back. Do you know what he said?
He said, ‘Gurudev, I studied matter for 35 years only to know that it does not exist. What exists is only energy.’
He also said, ‘When I speak it appears as though I am speaking some eastern philosophy.’

The eastern philosophy has said this thousands of years ago what modern scientists are saying today.
So what appears is not what is.
This flask appears like a solid thing, but a physicist would say, ‘No, it is just atoms.’ And he would go further on and say, ‘It is all just energy.’

Inside each item there is vast space, and the way we perceive, i.e., our perception, is not the reality. Our perception is through the senses, and scientists go beyond this perception to infer the reality.

See, an atom is not visible to the naked eye. You cannot see an atom and you can’t see energy, but you know it is there.
So the whole world does not exist means, just wake up and see, all the past, does it exist now? No! It is there only as a memory.
In the flow of time, events are dissolving, so events do not exist.
What is existing now, in the very next second, it is already gone. Like the river has fresh water every second. In the same way, the nature is always changing. And that which changes, is called Maya. That which can be measured is called Maya.

So, as a flow, it all exists, but not as a reality.

The whole world is name and form. Neither the name nor the form is permanent – this is the message.
Names can be different. You call something by one name here and you call the same thing by another name in some other country. And in another country, it is called by some other name. So names are not a permanent thing, it is for convenience. It is the same with the forms as well.

Q: Gurudev, I have been reading the book on Ashtavakra Gita by you. Every word I read makes me feel so good. However, what you have mentioned about Dharma (one’s duty towards social and moral righteousness), Artha (pursuit of material and financial prosperity), and Kaama (desires) being the causes of bondage, is very true indeed. But I am not able to free myself from this bondage. I have done my Purushartha (four noble pursuits of human life – Dharma, Artha, Kaama and Moksha (liberation)) but I feel this is possible only through your blessings now.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, in the Ashtavakra Gita it is said, ‘Na Grahyam Na Tyajyam.’ Neither must you hold on to it and nor should you try hard to drop it. Just be hollow and empty and see things the way they are.

It is said, ’Ye drishta labha santushtam.’
That means, whatever you receive, and how much ever you receive, be content with that. This is a very important thing – Contentment.

A seeker should have both, Contentment and Dynamism in activity.
I am always in favour of contentment. But when I stay contented then people around me mistake it for being complacent. So, from time to time, I pretend as if I am not completely contented with what is happening, and engage them in doing this or that, in fixing this or that; something or another.
The purpose behind this is to make sure that you do not become lazy and inactive.
So, be diligent, but at the same time, have a sense of contentment within yourself. This is very important.

There are some people who are active and work all the time, but have no contentment. And there are some people who feel very contented inside and so they tend to become lazy. They do not have dedication towards work. That is not right.
We have to take a middle path. We have to have both together – Dynamism in action along with a sense of Contentment. That should be our specialty.

Sometimes people wonder, why is Gurudev acting this way? Why is he saying, ‘Do this, do that’, etc. Why is he not talking about being contented and doing nothing?
But I keep a watch over everything, and whatever someone needs to do, I guide them in that direction.
To those who are very restless, I tell them to be quiet and relax. And to those who are very quiet and reserved, I tell them, ‘Come on, get up! Do something. Do this, and do that! Oh, see what good work so-and-so has done. You are just sitting and doing nothing’.
In this way I urge them to act.

In the Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna has also given knowledge in this manner.
Lord Krishna says to Arjuna, ‘You will not fight the war? What are you saying? People will make fun of you. It is better to die than to suffer the insults of so many people!’
So Lord Krishna goes to this extent to urge Arjuna to fight the war.
He tells him, ‘It is not worth living like a coward. It is better that you die than to live like this.’

Then later on He says to Arjuna, ‘Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah’, (Bhagavat Gita, Chapter 18, Verse).

Abandon all the religions and come and surrender to Me. I will liberate you and free you from all your sins. You cannot free yourself of your own sins. I will liberate you from all your sins. So do not worry about your sins, I shall handle them all. You be happy, and do not be dejected.

So you see, knowledge has different levels to it, and each level has its own purpose.

Q: Dear Gurudev, besides practicing Sadhana, how can we make sure we do not come back again and again, and get liberated.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Contentment! Satisfaction!
Everything you do, do it happily with contentment.
You have done today’s work and you are contented. And whatever work you do tomorrow, do with contentment.
Every moment in life, live with contentment, and that brings you liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Q: Dear Gurudev, what is the meaning of truth is multi-dimensional?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, it says it.
See, to come to this place, someone will say, ‘The direction is to go straight and turn left’.
I would say it is correct.
Another person would give the direction, ‘Go straight and turn right.’
I would say that is also correct.
The third person will say, ‘Just go straight, don’t turn left and right.’
I will say that is also right.
Now, if you tell me, ‘There can be only one correct direction. You cannot have three correct directions.’ I would say, ‘Truth is multi-dimensional.’

This place is multi-dimensional. To come to this place, there can be many instructions, many directions, and all of them are correct.

Q: What is the purpose of this creation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: What is the purpose of any sports?
(Answer: To win or entertain)
Yes, just entertainment, or fun, isn’t it! Same way!

It is just that the Brahman was One in the beginning and he felt a little bored, so he said, ‘Let me become many.’ As soon as this thought came into the One consciousness, he multiplied himself into many.

Have you seen one of those big mirrors with a thousand small mirrors in it?
A person stands in front of one such mirror and he sees thousand figures of himself in a mirror. And each of those mirrors totally reflects the person. You can see your face completely in all the thousand mirrors.
It does not say, ‘When one mirror has completely caught your picture, how can it go into the other?’ No! This logic does not work, right?!
That is what it is, one Parmatman made itself into thousands and millions of images, but the Truth is one.

[Pat Gounden]

 

Date: Thursday, November 08, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When students score low marks parents feel great grief. Similarly, when we fall low in morals and spiritual virtues, our motherland bemoans her fate ten times more sadly. We have to assuage the grief of the physical mother and promote the peace and prosperity of our motherland. The motherland is not a mere lump of earth. When we desire her progress, we have to promote the progress of the people who dwell therein. The skills needed for resuscitating and reforming are found in youth. The reforming process involves the removal, in daily living, of bad conduct and bad habits, and the practice of good conduct and good deeds. You must express your humility, fortitude, equanimity, and gratitude for kindness received, in various acts in your daily life, every day.

-BABA

Never feel low, but be very humble---it's different, it's very different.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

Colors of Devotion

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill) 22 to 24 Novembert 2012

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 26 November  to 1 December 2012.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, November 09, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The first step to love all and serve all is to expand love in your own homes. You must revere and please your parents who gave you this chance to live and learn. If you ill-treat them or inflict grief on their minds, how can you ever gladden others by service and understanding? You know that when a balloon is blown, it bursts and the air inside it merges with the vast limitless expanse outside. Similarly your love must fill your home, then the society you live, and finally burst open to spread in the Universe. A drop of water held in the palm is soon evaporated; but drop it into the sea and it survives as a part of the sea. It assumes the name and the taste, the majesty and might of the sea! Cultivate Love; sow the seeds of love in all hearts, everywhere around you. That is My Wish, My Mission!

-BABA

Expand your world and your vasanas (cravings) will drop away. The world is so big! Be open to new experiences.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day   What SRI SRI said

Hungry for Power Why are people hungry for power? People are hungry for power because they want attention and recognition. Power is a means, just like money. Passion is for an end. People who do not see power or money as a means, but see it as an end in itself, they do not live, they simply exist. If you do not realize that you are THE power -- that is to say that you are enlightened, then you crave for power. You crave for attention and recognition if: You don’t have any talents. You have no love or passion. You are not innocent and childlike. If you don’t have any talent and you are not contributing anything substantial to society, like an artist or a scientist, or an Art of Living teacher or volunteer, then you are hungry for power. If you don’t have love or passion to bring about transformation in the society, then you are hungry for power. If you are not innocent and childlike and don’t have a sense of belongingness with the whole world, then you are hungry for power. Those who do not have any of these four, like some politicians, crave for power. The true power is the power of the spirit; real confidence, strength and happiness all spring from the spirit. And one who knows this and has this is not hungry for power at all.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, November 12, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

If you want to light a lamp, you need four things - a container, oil, a wick and a match box. If any one of these is lacking, you cannot light the lamp. Similarly, to light the lamp of spiritual wisdom in your heart, you need – the container of detachment, wick of one-pointed concentration, matchstick of wisdom and the oil of devotion. Of these, the spirit of detachment (vairagya) is crucial. Detachment means absence of body attachment. The sense of possessiveness (mamakara) and the ego-feeling are the causes of this raga (disease). Eradicate this disease of attachment through the process of self-enquiry. When you realise the impermanence of the body and all the sensory experiences, you will naturally acquire detachment (vairagya). Discharge all your duties as an offering to God and treat your body solely as a God-given instrument for the purpose of serving others.

-BABA

Attachment happens when your focus is not on the Being, but on the outside. Wanting to control, possess and hold on brings pain. When we are relaxed and content, love transforms to bliss. Demand and control only bring pain. Wisdom, along with love, is the answer.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

Diwali: Celebrating the light of wisdom

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 01:00 AM PST

Diwali, the festival of lights as it is known the world over, celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Lights are lit on this day not just to decorate homes, but also to communicate a profound truth about life. Light dispels darkness and when the darkness within you is dispelled through the light of wisdom, the good wins over the evil in you.
Though there are many legends about the festival, Diwali is essentially celebrated to lit the light of wisdom in every heart, the light of life in every home and bring a smile on every face. Diwali is the shortened form of Deepavali, which literally means rows of lights. Life has many facets and stages to it. It is important that you throw light on
all of them, for if one aspect of your life is in darkness, there can be no complete expression of life. That’s why rows of lights are lit on Diwali to remind you that every aspect of life needs your attention and the light of knowledge.
Every lamp that you light is symbolic of a good quality. There are good qualities in every human being. Some have forbearance, love, strength, generosity; others have the ability to unite people. The latent values in you are like a lamp. When they are lit, awakened, that is Diwali. Don’t be satisfied with lighting one lamp; light a thousand. If you have the value of service in you, don’t be satisfied only with that. Lit the lamp of wisdom in you, acquire knowledge. Awaken all the facets of your being.
Another profound symbolism is wrapped in the firecrackers that go off during Diwali. In life, you often become like a firecracker, waiting to explode with your pent-up emotions, frustration and anger. When you continue to suppress your emotions such as cravings, aversions and hatred, they are bound to reach a bursting point. Bursting crackers is like a psychological exercise created by ancient people to release bottled-up emotions. When you see an explosion outside, you feel similar sensations within you as well. Along with the explosion, there is so much light. So when you let go of the suppressed emotions, you become hollow and empty and the light of knowledge dawns.
Wisdom is needed everywhere. Even if one member of the family is shrouded in darkness, you cannot be happy. So, you need to lit the light of wisdom in every member of your family. Extend it to every member of society, every person on the planet. When true wisdom dawns, it gives rise to celebration. Often in celebrations, you tend
to lose focus or awareness. To maintain awareness in the midst of celebrations, the ancient rishis brought sacredness and puja (rituals) to every celebration. For the same reason, Diwali is also a time for pujas. The spiritual aspects of Diwali add depth to the celebrations. Any celebration has to be spiritual as a celebration without spirituality has no depth.
Celebration is the nature of the spirit and every excuse to celebrate is good. In celebration, you should not only have a party; you must remind yourself of the wisdom. For the one who is not in knowledge, Diwali comes only once a year, but for the wise, Diwali is every moment and every day. Be wise and celebrate Diwali every moment
and everyday of your life.

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill) 22 to 24 Novembert 2012

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 26 November  to 1 December 2012.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

 

Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

Should you wish to unsubscribe – please reply to sender with subject “UNSUBSCRIBE”.

 

 

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I desire that festivals should be celebrated, understanding their inner significance. Deepavali is a special day for getting rid of all the bad qualities in us. As long as the demonic qualities remain, you will be immersed in darkness. The destruction of the demon Narakasura symbolizes destruction of evil and restoration of virtuousness. Also, on Deepavali day, a whole array of lamps are lit by the light from one lamp. That One lamp symbolises the Supreme Effulgent Lord. The other lamps are the light in individual selves. The truth of the Vedic saying, "The One willed to become the Many" (Ekoham Bahushyaam) is exemplified by the lighting of lamps from the flame of one. Another significant fact is that, wherever the lamp may be placed, the flame goes upwards only and never down. Likewise, the flame of Spiritual Wisdom (Jnana) always leads you to a sublime level through the path of Righteousness.

-BABA

 

Even if one member of the family is shrouded in darkness, you cannot be happy. So, you need to light the light of wisdom in every member of your family. Extend it to every member of society, every person on the planet. When true wisdom dawns, it gives rise to celebration.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a delightful day

 

What SRI SRI said

Wish you all a very Happy , Prosperous, Graceful , Joyful & Lovely Diwali!!!!

Below is an extract from Guruji's talk on Diwali

Diwali - the Festival of Lights. The streets and buildings are lit up with colorful lights. The four aspects of Diwali:
1. The lights: Symbolic of spreading the Knowledge.
2. Fire crackers: When the explosion happens outside, the explosion inside is diffused.
3. Gift exchange and distribution of sweets: Sweets dispel the bitterness and renew the friendship.
4. Feeling abundance: Brings awareness and gratefulness for what one has. When true wisdom dawns, it gives rise to celebration, and in celebration you may lose focus or awareness. The ancient rishis knew this so to maintain awareness in the midst of gaiety of celebration, they brought sacredness and puja to every celebration.

Do you know why firecrackers are used in Diwali?
You know there is an exploding tendency in everybody. In the society you cannot
go on expressing all that you feel. Some things you feel you cannot express, and you keep them stored inside you. When you have to follow some norms and values, somewhere someone gets irritated. That irritation stays inside you and piles up as days go on and one day you feel like bursting out.

When you burst out, that anger or whatever piles up, becomes like an explosive and explodes.

During Diwali, a new day, a new year, when an explosion happens inside, your inner explosion has automatically associated itself with it, gets over and a sort of freedom comes from within. Like, have you seen when children cry, they shout and you shout louder than them and they become quiet. Same with dogs. When the dog is making so much noise you make a bigger noise, the dog becomes quiet. Same in the mind. When your mind is chattering so much, you sing bhajans louder than the chattering and the mind becomes quiet. This is a law, you know. Have you observed this? If someone is angry, you get angrier than them and they cool down.
You make an explosive sound outside, a shock happens and the explosive tendency inside, like a catharsis, just vanishes. That’s why in Diwali – the darkest night of the year, we burst firecrackers and distribute sweets. Then you become very sweet. A face is given for all feeling, emotions because it’s very natural. It’s like you have a nice home, beautiful inside
and you don’t want it to have dust inside. So, you keep all the windows and doors shut, have
air conditioning; still you feel, there is dust. This you should take it as nature inherent in the
creation. We should never think this should not happen, that should not happen. Whatever has happened, as happened.
Until and unless the exploding tendency does not clear, newness does not come in
to you. And Diwali is to be now, So, you have to get yourself clear of all the past. Drop
the whole past and come to the moment.
It is not necessary for everyone to explode. While some light the firecrackers,
others light the flowerpot and out of the flowerpot a new flower – joy. Energy springs
from within.
So now, all the feeling to shout has exploded and observing the explosion the
mind becomes calm, it brings relief.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When happy news is heard, the heart is elated. But when we listen to something sad, the heart shrinks with sorrow. Similarly, the heart gets enraged when the ears hear harsh words about you, and you are filled with joy when you listen to words of praise. What is responsible for these varied responses, though all the words are heard by the same ears? The ears are inert (jada) and are incapable of any reactions by themselves. The responses of joy or sorrow are related to the contents of the messages conveyed by the ears. Given this, ask yourself, how can the operations of these senses be deemed as Sathya (Truth or Reality)? When the senses are unreliable, the reactions and experiences produced by them are equally unreliable. Enquiring along these lines, one can overcome sorrow.

-BABA

This is the nature of sense objects: they promise pleasure to begin with and even give you also a little taste, but then leave you with pain and suffering.

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

 

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

 

Sakha -- Your Reliable Sense

There are three things: the Self, the senses, and the object, or the world. And there are three words: sukha, pleasure; dukha, sorrow; and sakha, companion. These have one thing in common: "kha," which means "senses."

The Self through the senses experiences the world. When the senses are with the Self, that is pleasure (sukha), because the Self is the source of all joy or pleasure. When the senses are away from the Self (dukha) -- in the mud, lost in the object -- that is misery. Mud, misery, mind -- they are very close.

Self --- Senses ("Kha") --- World

--- Joy (Sukha) Sorrow (Dukha) ---

Self is the nature of joy. In any pleasant experience, you close your eyes; you smell a nice flower, or you taste or touch something. So sukha is that which takes you to the Self. Dukha is that which takes you away from the Self. Sorrow simply means that you are caught up in the object, which goes on changing, instead of focussing on the Self.

All the sense objects are just a diving board to take you back to the Self.

Sa-kha, companion, means: "He is the senses." Sakha is one who has become your senses, who is your senses. If you are my senses, it means I get Knowledge through you; you are my sixth sense. As I trust my mind, so I trust you. A friend could be just an object of the senses, but a sakha has become the very senses.

The sakha is the companion who is there in both the experiences of the dukha and of sukha. It means one who leads you back to the Self. If you are stuck in an object, that wisdom which pulls you back to the Self is sakha.

Knowledge is your companion and your companion is Knowledge. And the Master is nothing but the embodiment of Knowledge. So sakha means, "He is my senses, I see the world through that wisdom, through Him."

If your sense is the Divine, then you see the whole world through the Divinity.

Your head will be in the mud in a few years;

Don't put mud in your head while you are still alive.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, November 15, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Step by step, you reach the end of the road. One act followed by another leads to a good habit. Listening over and over again, you get prodded into action. Resolve to act, to mix only in good company, to read only elevating books and to form the habit of remembering the Lord's name (Naamasmarana), then ignorance will vanish automatically. The Divine Bliss that will well up within you by the contemplation of the lord who is Bliss Personified, will drive out all grief and worry. Move forward towards the Light and the shadow falls behind; move away from it and you have to follow your own shadow. Go every moment one step nearer to the Lord and then maya (illusion) which is the shadow will fall back and will not delude you at all.

-BABA

 

Knowing that there is something in you that is not changing. A little experience of silence, calmness and meditation will give you enormous courage from within.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Always?

How to be happy always?

Forget about always, then you are happy. In wanting to be comfortable always, one becomes lazy. In wanting perfection always, one become angry. In wanting to be rich always, one becomes greedy. When we do not realise that only life is for always, then fear comes. This projection of the nature of self which is "always", on the temporal which can never be "always", is called Maya.

All ways do not lead you, only one way leads you. If you remove always from your dictionary then everything is alright. Drop "always" and all will be right - that is intelligence.

Broken Dreams As children bring their broken toys With tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God Because He was my friend. But then instead of leaving Him In peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help With ways that were my own. At last I snatched them back and cried, "How could you be so slow?" "My child," He said, "What could I do? You never did let go." Heart to Heart Team

Volume 01: PDS / 04 Date : OCT 15 2003

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, November 16, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The basic cause for the occurrence of feelings like hatred, jealousy and anger is body consciousness. As long as body consciousness remains, the body will be subject to these types of feelings. For instance, all experiences derived through the senses and the mind occurs only during the waking state. When you go to sleep none of these experiences are present. The experiences in the dream state are real as long as the dream lasts. The experiences in the waking state are real in that state. The Reality or Truth, is the ‘I’ that remains in all the states. Over the ages, by identifying the ‘I’ with the body, its true nature has been grossly underrated. The truth is, this ‘I’ is subtle and incomparable. It is beyond change. This is the characteristic of Divinity. You must be aware of this and make efforts to recognise this inherent Divinity.

-BABA

 

You are part of the Divine. Drop these divisions from your mind!

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

 

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

 

Divine in the Form and Formless

Divinity is unmanifest, but man has an innate desire to perceive the divine in the manifest creation around him. He creates idols, breathes faith into it and requests divinity to be present in that idol for a while, so that he can worship, express his love and play with it. At the end of his worship he requests divinity to go back into his heart from where divinity manifested. This is in all puja practices.

They are not actually worshipping the idols but worshipping the unmanifest divinity which has all the divine qualities. So, the idol worshippers of the East are not the same as the ones in the Middle East as described in the Bible, because they are not just worshipping different gods and different idols, they are worshipping the ONE divinity in many different forms.

Paganism, Satan and animal worship, without the knowledge of the one divinity is very different from seeing the divine in every form of the manifest universe. In the eastern tradition, gods and goddesses are part of the one divinity like the different colors of white sunlight, whereas in the Greek tradition, gods and goddesses are in themselves different entities.

Worshipping Satan and different entities is totally different from worshipping divinity in its various forms. Every form belongs to the divine. When you adore the form, you are adoring the divine behind the form. With this knowledge, the very act of worship, which is more an inner phenomenon, assumes a more colorful and vibrant expression, indicating that both the form and the formless are all divine.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, November 19, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The teachings of a mother play a vital role in shaping the future of her children. She should make every effort to drive away bad qualities and infuse human values in them. Embodiments of love, lead an exemplary life. Give up all negative thoughts and develop sacred feelings. Talk softly and sweetly. Never hurt others' feelings with harsh talk. Look after your home diligently and conduct yourselves in a pleasing manner. Treat guests cordially; to the extent possible, extend your help to those who are in need of it. Empathise with those who are in difficulties. You should try to comfort and console them with soothing words. Know that anyone who hurts others' feelings, will be hurt twice as much. No one can escape from the consequences of their actions. Hence, sanctify your lives by reforming your conduct to help ever and hurt never.

-BABA

 

If you do good for people, you are doing it out of your nature. Forget about how they behave, what their reaction towards you is. It's up to them. Let them carry their cross. Keep your mind free.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Arguments and wrong action

A person who argues should not be given knowledge. An argumentative mind is not receptive to knowledge. When someone is in an argumentative mood, then giving knowledge or advice is in vain. In an argumentative mood you feel you know it all. Then you are not ready for knowledge. That is why wise people do not give advice when they are in an argumentative environment.

Argument has a purpose. It can bring out the truth if there is no emotion or sense of "I" attached to it. Argument can also have a disadvantage. It can make untruth appear to be truth. A wise man will not take arguments seriously; he will just have fun with them. Wisdom is beyond all arguments.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, November 20, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

An old man was once warned that there was a cobra on the roadside of the path he proposed to walk through. But he said, he had never seen it and so he did not believe it. Unfortunately for him, he did believe in it later, after it bit him. But then, it was too late to benefit from the information that he had heard earlier. Several leaders had to acknowledge that there is destiny that shapes events in lives, irrespective of individual efforts. Know that everyone has to come to the same conclusion, sooner or later – for, there is a limit to the capacity of the individual to control events in the world. Beyond that, there is an Unseen Hand that takes over the wheel of events. One may call it Destiny, another may call it Providence and the third may call it God – the Names do not matter. What matters is your humility, your ability to wonder, and sense of awe at the grandeur and magnificence of Divinity.

-BABA

 

The formless is ruling your life. The formless is ruling the world. And there is a greater formlessness that is ruling the entire creation. And you are the center of that greater formlessness, whatever you call it---God, Consciousness, No-Mind, Nirvana, Spirit, anything you call it by name.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

You are the tenth

Ten people were going from one village to another. On the way they had to cross a river. After crossing they wanted to be sure all were there. Each one started counting but counted only nine. They were very distraught and began to cry for the loss of the tenth.

A wise man came along and asked them "Oh my dear friends, why are you crying?"

"We were ten but now we are only nine," they replied.

The wise man saw they were ten, so he asked them to count. Each counted nine but left out himself. Then the wise man made them stand and count, and he said to the last person, "You are the tenth!"

And they all rejoiced for having regained the tenth.

Similarly the five senses and the four inner faculties (mind, intellect, memory, ego) all lament when they lose sight of the Self. Then the Master comes and shows you that You are the tenth! Count, but never stop until you find the tenth. The joy is in finding the Ever Present.

With the knowledge of the Self inside everything is truly joyful.

Q: What did Brahma think when he made this creation?

Sri Sri: He didn't think before doing. He didn't take anyone's suggestion -- I would have given him a few.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, November 21, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Your fortune or misfortune depends on your actions. Without realising this truth, you are indulging in evil deeds. You feel sorry when the consequences of your sins haunt you. What is the use? You have to be careful right from beginning not to commit sin. Truth is the ornament for your neck (Sathyam kantasya bhushanam), Charity is the true ornament of the hand (Hasthasya bhushanam daanam). Your hands are useless if they do not perform acts of charity. You have to sanctify each limb of your body by engaging in sacred activities. Let your eyes ever look only at sacred things. These teachings are simple to practise in your daily life. But do not take them lightly. Though they appear to be simple, they lead you to liberation. You may not be able to see the results of your meritorious deeds. But they confer on you all the happiness and comforts in due course of time.

-BABA

 

Something that is simple, the mind cannot accept. The ego wants very complicated and difficult things.

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

 

Blessings for a GOoD day
 

 

What SRI SRI said

Live simple, think high and do what you can for the society 

The whole Earth is one organism, so the Earth listens. Nature has life, so we need to honour nature and I think prayer, meditation will go a long way in bringing such a transformation in the society. So we all have to think from a bigger context, from a bigger perspective about life, about this universe, about our existence and this is what spirituality is all about. We need to bring more and more spiritual knowledge to people. We all can lessen the burden of consumerism of the planet; live simple, think high and do what you can for the society.

You know we just wrote a small slogan, ‘Just let the silence speak of a peace you seek, feel the love divine because every shining star tells you who we are in the grand design’.

 

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill) 22 to 24 Novembert 2012

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 26 to 30 November  2012.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, November 22, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The happiness that one derives from virtues is far superior to the happiness that you get from the possession of wealth. Unfortunately, many educated youth today are striving for wealth, physical strength and friendship. But all these have little value without the wealth of character. For men or women, character is the foundation. If you lack character, you become feeble in all other respects. Know that one’s strength lies in character and not in the wealth one earns. Materialistic wealth is not what we need today. Wealth can never confer true happiness. Hence, earn the wealth of virtues by developing good character. Without good character, all learning will prove futile, sooner or later. Embodiments of Love! With good character and purity of heart, perform all your actions. Know that even if a small act is done with a pure heart, it becomes fruitful.

-BABA

 

Sin is that which inflicts pain on yourself and also on others. Virtuous action is that which brings peace and happiness to you and also to others.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

Q: Please speak about wealth.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: As per the ancient scriptures, there are eight types of wealth. Wealth is not only money. Of course, bank balance is wealth, progeny is also a type of wealth, so is health. If you have the confidence that you can create wealth in any situation, even when the economy is not doing well, you will have courage. That courage and confidence is a wealth. The ability to make friends is a wealth. Knowledge is also wealth.

The goddess of wealth, Laxmi, is floating on the lotus. She moves with the wind. The Goddess of knowledge, Saraswati, is on a rock. A rock is stable. Once you have learnt knowledge, you have learnt it for life. Wealth is not an end in itself. It is the means to an end. Wealth, happiness and life are to be shared with all those around.

Today, many people have lost faith. When you lose faith, it takes you within. Every crisis is an opportunity. When all doors are shut and you have nowhere to go, that is when you go within.


Many hurdles and crises come, but you must keep your intention strong. You have to have vision. When you look around, people who break your trust will be few. Those whose values falter will be few. Though sometimes you may shake, but hold on to your vision and mission.

If you don’t want others to cheat you, why should you cheat others? Money is essential, yet you cannot sleep well having only money. Half our health is spent on getting wealth and then we spend half our wealth to get back the health.

 

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  January 2013

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 26 to 30 November  2012.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, November 23, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

All that I seek from you is that you love your fellowmen, share their sufferings, and engage yourselves in serving them. Rich people and those in power have plentiful servants. But the distressed, the poverty-stricken, and those who suffer have no one to serve them. Go to such people and be their friends, their kith and kin, and their closest well-wishers. Let them welcome you as such. If you pour spirituality into the ears of those who are tortured by hunger, it will not be assimilated. First satiate the hunger. Give them God in the form of food and in the form of clothes. Give God in the form of peace to those who are afflicted with anxiety and in the form of medicine to those who are suffering from ill health. Give God in a form that will assuage fear, pain and sorrow. It is only when this is done that spirituality can soak into their hearts.

-BABA

 

The ultimate purpose of life is to be of service. 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Q: What is role of service in order to have inner contentment?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You know, we should have a goal in life. My goal is to bring happiness to more and more people. If we sit and keep thinking of ourselves all the time, we’ll be depressed. We should see, ‘How can I be of service? How can I be of use to others?’ This thought is very useful. Very, very, very useful. Ya?
So, ‘Art of Living’ provides a platform for everyone to come together and do some service. You know, when United Nations announced, ‘Stand up and take action’ - they wanted tree planting; ‘Art of Living’ volunteers have planted 55 million trees around the globe.
We all can jointly do some service activity. Reduce violence, reduce stress, create a sense of belongingness, and spread the positive vibration of love and peace. Shall we all do this together? Is everyone committed to do this? (A resonating yes from the audience.)

Take the Kindness Challenge...

The big snow storm that hit the East Coast of the United States a few years ago prompted countless "random acts of kindness." Have you ever been the recipient of a random act of kindness? Or better still have you ever given one?

Generosity warms the spirit. The act of giving, no matter how small, opens our hearts and spreads joy to the giver of the gift as well as the recipient. Random Acts of Kindness are the perfect springboard to leap into generosity. But what exactly are Random Acts of Kindness? Simply put, they are good deeds done for strangers who could use a little blessing.

Agreed we all have stress in our lives. We all have good days and the not-so good days...but there's nothing like a Random Act of Kindness to pull any person out of a lousy mood.

In our long ago Chicago days, my wife and I used to make sure we had extra change with us when we traveled the tollway system. We would pull up to the booth and give the attendant our toll, plus pay the toll for the car behind us. And the reactions that we got for this were priceless. While some people sped away, unable to understand they had been the recipients of a Random Act of Kindness, most were appreciative. Some even made the effort to catch up to us and thank us.

Another target for Random Acts of Kindness is the drive-thru window. If you go through a fast food joint for breakfast and have an extra four dollars, pay for the meal of the person behind you. Imagine their surprise and delight when they pull up to the window to pay for their food, only to be told, "The guy in front of you already paid for it."

Random Acts of Kindness can be big or small. If you would rather be more generous than a sandwich or toll booth change, perhaps you can buy groceries for a needy family. If you can, put the groceries on their front porch without them knowing. Go for it. What's the worst thing that could happen?

If you are unable to buy them food or are uncomfortable doing it get them a gift card from the local supermarket. Find somebody who knows the family in need (maybe their pastor, or a neighbour) and ask them to give them the card, but not to tell them the gift is from you. Random Acts of Kindness are best served anonymously...

Be creative with your Random Acts of Kindness. Have fun with them. Make them a family project. If you think you get a charge from it, wait until you see how the kids get into it.

The possibilities are endless, as are the opportunities. We just have to train ourselves to be watchful for the chance to share God’s blessings.

It can be as simple as a greeting card slipped onto a stranger's car windshield that says, "You are loved". You could even send flowers to a hospital patient you've never met.

Opportunities to share love surround us every day. It's up to each of us to grab hold of those opportunities and turn them into Random Acts of Kindness.

- By Chris Courtney, Heartwarmers.com

Illustrations: Ms. Lyn Kriegler Elliott

- Heart2Heart Team

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, November 26, 2012 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Sand that has little grains of mica is valuable. But the sand, which has veins of gold, is much more precious. Thus, sand is valued according to the preciousness of the metal, which it has in its fold. Similarly, human hearts are evaluated by the contents therein. Keep God in your hearts. That is the best way to make your heart the most precious of your possessions. When God is installed in the heart, you will see only God everywhere, even in the objective world. The influence of God is such that even as you contemplate on Him, all traces of envy and greed will disappear from the mind. -BABA

Be a very normal, natural person in the universe. Follow all the norms and regulations, rules in the society. But at the same time, don't allow them to restrict or eat away the life inside you. Don't be swallowed by these identifications.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day   What SRI SRI said

Virtues Virtues cannot be cultivated. You have to assume that they are there. In the Gita, Krishna said to Arjuna, "Grieve not Arjuna, you are born with virtues." The seeker should remember that he is born with virtues; otherwise he could not have been a seeker. If you think you do not have virtues and then try to cultivate them, you will fail. You often compare yourself with others on the basis of virtues. Do not compare yourself with them. Simply recognize all the virtues you appreciate in others, and realize that they are already present in you in seed form. You only have to nurture them. When you think you do not have a virtue, then you come from a space of lack or deficiency. Caroline: Aho! That is why we don't need positive affirmations! Alice: Affirmations really don't work anyway. Sri Sri: Affirmations do not work because you think you do not have those virtues, and with affirmation you try to have them. And so Caroline affirms: You are the home of all virtues. (laughter)

[Pat Gounden]

 

Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

“Deho Devalaya ...” – Body is the temple, scriptures teach us. Realize that the human body is not just a mass of flesh and bone. The human body is a sacred instrument equipped with reason and emotion, capable of being used for deliverance from grief and evil; you have earned it after long ages of struggle. Honour it as such, keep it in good condition, so that it might serve that high purpose. Maintain it even more carefully than your brick homes and never let go of the conviction that it is an instrument and nothing more. Use it justly, for the purpose for which it has been designed and given. Install the Lord in the altar of your heart and invite Him into it. God loves to reside in a pure and aspiring heart.

-BABA

 

There is hope for every soul, for every human being, to live unconditional  love. That is why human body is so precious---because in this body you  have the ability to erase all the unwanted negative impressions.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Heart should be soft, intellect should be sharp & mind should be pleasant

October 29, 2012

Bangalore, India

Q: How to remove depression in the mind?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Firstly, wake up and realize that life is temporary. We will live for another 15-20 years, and then we all have to die. In these 15-20 years that you live, think about spreading happiness to others, think about behaving well with others. Where is the depression then? When we keep thinking about ‘What will happen to me? What will happen to me?’ day in and day out then depression sets in. This is the sure-shot way of getting into depression: ‘What will happen to me?’

Q: When someone hurts us, we go into depression.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: How can others hurt you? Those who hurt others are foolish. Will you blame anyone who is actually foolish or is mentally ill? No. So just think that those who hurt you are either foolish or are (mentally) ill. If you think this way, then you will not feel hurt.

If you think, everyone is wise and they should act wisely, how is it possible? Everyone has their own little mind, own desires, problems and ignorance. Just accept them. No one can hurt us until we permit them to do so.

Q: Gurudev, I feel your love and affection every moment, but sometimes I am just not able to understand the divine knowledge (given by you). What should I do that I can get both your love and knowledge?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Whatever you find difficult to understand is not to be understood at all. If it is all going above your head, let it go. Take only what you can understand.

See, everyone’s capacity to gain knowledge is different, but to feel and be in devotion, there is no concept of capacity. Everyone is same and equally capable. There is no special qualification for it. But, when you talk of gaining knowledge, people have a different capacity. Some people can gain more, some less; but it doesn’t make any difference when you have devotion and a feeling of oneness.

Don’t think that God will be happy with you or be fond of you only if you are very knowledgeable. The purpose of knowledge is for your own joy.

To purify your intellect, you need knowledge;
to purify your heart, you need love;
to purify your karma, you need seva;
All three should go together.

Q: Gurudev, when we see outward we feel jealous. In the same way if we see the Guru outwardly also can we get trapped in jealousy?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes. When you think, ‘See, Gurudev has given him a garland but did not give me’ or ‘Gurudev talked to him/her but not to me.’ Or ‘He passed me, but did not smile at me. Is he angry with me?’ Thinking in this manner you only project your own mind.

Why should I be angry with you? If you do a mistake, why should I be angry? No way. If someone has done something wrong, he will automatically pay for it himself. So, never think that the Guru is angry with you, or is ignoring you. It is not so.

Outward appearance and behavior are like that. Don’t look at outwardly behavior, look inward and realize that you are as dear to God as anyone else. If this thought is solidified in your mind then there will be no jealousy.

Q: If we have to look at the Guru or the Guru Tattva, then what kind of sight do we need?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: One should feel that everyone belongs to him; and one should have tolerance. In one day I have to listen to 2000 to 3000 questions. Do I listen to them or not? No matter how many questions, I listen to them all. Do I listen to them with joy or not?

So, stability of the mind; sharpness of the intellect; softness of the heart. These three are important in life.

Heart should be soft,
intellect should be sharp &
mind should be pleasant.
Never lose these three.

Even if it seems to be lost, think that it is not gone away but is there and just hidden.

Q: Gurudev, what is the difference between God and the sky? How do we realize that?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: First have you realized who you are? Who are you? Have you found out? No. You are here aren’t you? Are you sure? Sit down and ponder on ‘Who am I’. When you find out the real answer, you will realize that there is no answer. When you think ‘I am this’ or ‘I am that’, you have to keep these concepts aside one by one and you feel only the Akash Tattva.

So, first you realize yourself, then God will follow you.
You might have heard about the couplet by Kabirdasji:

Jab main Hari Hari kehke jaa raha tha, Hari miley nahin kahin; Ab jab main apne aap mein baitha, ab laage Hari peeche Kabir Kabir.

(When I was calling out for Hari (God) I was not able to find Him anywhere; And when I stopped and looked within me, it now appears that He is following me.)
Let the Lord follow you like this.

Q: Sati was also a form of the Devi as was Parvati. What happened that Sati attained Self-realization while Parvati became His consort?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Devi (Mother Divine) does not have just one form, She has many. That is why She is known as Leela. She comes in different forms to teach different things; that is her Leela (play). Just understand this much.

Q: For a devotee, what is more important: the form or to worship the formless?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: First tell me whether you have a form or not.

Devotee: I have a form.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You have a form? Where is the form? What is the form of your mind?

Devotee: The mind does not have a form.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, your body has a form but your mind does not. Aren't you a combination of both? You are both the body and the mind aren’t you? So you are a combination of the form and the formless. In the same way, the entire creation is the manifested form of the Divine, though He is formless. Consciousness is formless and the manifest creation in nature has form.

That is why in our country even cows are revered and considered holy. Peepal (sacred fig) trees are considered holy. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagawad Gita that among trees I am ‘Ashvath’ (Peepal). In the same way, He has said ‘Bhutanaam Chetanaschaas (I am Chetana (consciousness). He has said, ‘Jeevanam Sarva Bhutesu’ i.e. I am the life-force in living things.

Even the Gopis went from worshiping the form to worshiping the formless. And this happened very naturally for them. They started seeing Him in everything and every place. They were not able to live without Him even for a single moment. This is the pinnacle of devotion, the height of devotion.

Devotion always starts with the form and ends with the formless. The traditional practice itself has been like this - first worship the feet, then worship the idol, then worship the saligram (referring to the practice of worship of Lord Vishnu in the form of a sacred black stone), then worship the yantra (an metal sheet-like instrument with sacred symbols, mantras and diagrams drawn for the purpose of worship).

Without the yantra, the idol does not get any power. A specific yantra is associated with every deity. More superior to the yantra is the mantra. Without the mantra, the yantra does not work. So, without the yantra, the idol has no significance and without the mantra, the yantra has no significance. The mantra also is of no use without the presence of a saint or a seeker. If you just take a mantra from anyone, it will not work. The mantra has to be received as per the holy tradition and rituals for it to work. So everything has its own significance.

Q: I have three questions. If God is present as consciousness in everyone, then why do we search for Him within us as the Self? Why does He create the delusions? Why does He let wrong happen in the world?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes. You have asked a good question. The answer for this is that He does not like to remain quiet. Only if there is some chaos can He come down as an avatar to solve it. It is a game.

I will ask you a similar question. Why do people play football or cricket? 11 people are standing this side and 11 people are standing the other side and they are knocking the ball. What is the benefit of all this?

Devotee: He is just taking it as an experience or is enjoying it.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, He is getting joy or ananda out of it.

Devotee: But how do people get enjoyment out of doing wrong things in society like killing etc.?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Do you not watch movies like the thriller movies? Do only good things happen in the movies? Is there no chaos or no villain, nothing wrong happening? Just imagine if Ravana was not there in the Ramayan. Then Ramayana would become just another tale: There was a King named Rama. He got married and had sons, and that was it. The end. Then how will you recognize the hero? In any movie, what do you see?

When there is some hooliganism and villainy the hero jumps from the 14th floor, he makes the car fly, etc. He jumps from the car to the boat. Why do they take so much risk?

Q: What is mahat (a subtle principle or element finer than the ego) and how can we recognize the mahat tattva?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: First the mind should become subtler. Then intellect should become sharper. As this happens, the ego dissolves. When the ego dissolves, then mahat tattva reveals and manifests itself. To bring the mahat tattva to light, the ego has to disappear, it has to dissolve. Those people whose ego has dissolved are called Mahatma.

Q: How relevant are orthodox superstitions like the evil eye etc? Are they correct or wrong?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The world of thoughts is a subtle world. There is some effect of all these and there is a simple way to remove these effects. All this is based on vibrations.

There are vibrations everywhere. The whole life is a vibration. Every object is a vibration. So, maybe some negative vibration can come towards you. You might feel little discomfort. If someone abuses you, then doesn't your mind get scattered and lose its focus? Doesn’t it happen to you?

A simple solution was found by our ancient people – waving and sprinkling some salt near the body was thought to remove these vibrations. Even in foreign countries when people have some mental disturbances, they go near the beach, the ocean. They feel the salty air invigorates and energizes their consciousness. Just by using salt and water, you can cleanse your subtle aura; nothing more than this is required.

There are many superstitions and false beliefs - like holding the infant upside down in temples; burying the child in sand for a minute or so etc. All this is very wrong and should not be done. Our society has many wrong beliefs and there is absolutely no support for this in the scriptures.

It is mentioned very clearly in the scriptures that what does not appeal to your intellect or is not practical and appears to be a wrong behavior, you should not do that at all.

Sanatan Dharma is against such superstitions. But such superstitions have creeped into all religions. We have to remove the superstitions and adopt only good practices.

Q: Ravana was a learned Brahman and rushed to protect his sister, whereas Rama caused misery to his parents, unfairly defeated Bali, was a football of other people's opinions, and threw his wife out. Why do we consider Rama as good and Ravana as evil?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It appears as if this is the Ramayana of Sri Lanka! (laughter) Every story has two sides. Ramayana from a different angle shows that Ravana was a good person. Lord Rama himself said so. He never said that Ravana was bad. He told Lakshmana that Ravana was a wise scholar and that he should learn the knowledge Ravana has, before he (Lord Rama) went to him.

There is another very beautiful story. When Lord Rama wanted to install the Shivalingam in Rameshwaram to pray to Lord Shiva, he could not do it without his wife and without a Brahman priest. He requested Ravana for help. Ravana himself brought Sita and acted as the priest for the pooja ritual and helped in establishing the Shivalingam. Ravana even blessed Lord Rama with long life when Lord Rama touched his feet after the pooja. Ravana said that he was bound by his duty at that moment as a priest to bless Lord Rama. When one asks for blessings from a priest, he is obligated to grant them.

It is also a tradition that the purohit has to arrange the samagri (ingredients) of the pooja which the yajamana (one for whom the pooja is conducted or organized), and since the consort of Lord Rama was not available for the pooja, he arranged to bring Lord Rama’s wife Sita to him for the pooja. How many of you here have not heard this story?

Sage Agasthya advised Lord Rama that without praying to Lord Shiva he could not win the war. He had to install the idol (Shivalingam) of Lord Shiva at Rameshwaram for this. So Lord Rama made the arrangements for this. Lord Hanuman said that he would bring Shivalingam from Kashi (Varanasi). A purohit was needed before Lord Hanuman returned for the muharat (auspicious time for the pooja). And it was believed that there was no greater devotee and purohit than Ravana at that time.

Have you seen the picture/image of Rameshwaram? In that image, Ravana is present, Vibheeshan (Ravana’s younger brother who moved to Lord Rama’s camp before the war) is also present. The pictures are sold there locally. So, after the prana pratishthan (ritual act of installing the shrine or idol of the deity to be worshipped), when Lord Rama sought the blessing of the purohit, i.e. Ravana, he blessed him with ‘Vijayi Bhava’ (May you be victorious!) After the pooja was over, Lord Hanuman arrived and was upset that though he had brought the Shivalingam from Kashi, the puja was already over. So then Lord Rama, in order to pacify Lord Hanuman, installed the Shivalingam brought by him also. So there are two Shivalingams – One is Rameshwaram and the other is known as Hanumathlingam. This is the story.

So, you should imbibe and take only good virtues from everyone. If you look only for vices then you will find only vices. You will see faults in Lord Rama and even more faults in Lord Krishna. That is why the Jains have kept Lord Krishna’s place in hell. They say that he will not remain there forever. The next time he will be the first Tirthankar. He is such a great Atmagyani (a Self-realized Soul).

Our culture is very unique. One should not be caught in the negativity of cravings and aversions. Overcome them and search for the Truth.

Q: Gurudev, there is a positive effect on the people around us when we meditate. Do our ancestors and coming generations also benefit from meditation? How to comprehend this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes when we meditate, it influences everybody. Encourage those who are living now to meditate. Merely indulging in karma kaand (rituals and worship) will not suffice.
Those who have died and crossed over will be very pleased when you meditate.

Q: How to keep a balance of intelligence and innocence? We tend to lose our innocence.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No, no, you cannot lose your innocence, it is in your nature. If it appears that you have lost, come back to it. It doesn't take more than a minute. The moment you are aware of it, you are back. The innocence is always there in the present moment. We are innocent in the present moment.

Q: In Jainism it is said that yagnas should not be performed because fire kills living organisms. I have attended the yagnas (ritual offering and sacrifices to the sacred fire) here and they were very good, beyond words. How do I understand what the scriptures say in Jainism ?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The main essence of Jainism is meditation - dhyaan. The second is ahimsa (non-violence). They both go together – ahimsa and meditation.

Religions blossomed at different times and at different places. According to the time, space and place, knowledge was given. Like, in the desert, there were no trees, nothing to make fire with, and in areas where there was not enough wood, the tradition (of not having yagnas) became congenial to that place at that time.

In Jainism it is said that you have to filter the water with a cloth before drinking it. It is a perfect science. But today what do people do? They tie a cloth around the mouth of the tap (to filter the water). I remember once in Surat I stayed with a Jain family. They had a cloth tied to all the taps in the house. Flies and dust would come on the cloth and when you open the tap, the water would come along with all the dust and dirt. The purpose (of tying the cloth) was different, but we interpreted the scripture in a different way and made the good water more polluted for drinking. So sometimes we stretch ahimsa too much. In the same way, people have stretched yagna too much. They spend too much and burn so many things which are not necessary. There is something in every tradition that is worth appreciating, which is valuable.

In Jainism also there is not just one tradition. In one particular Jain tradition they do some hawan (another term for yagna). Hawan is a part of some Jain tradition also. In Buddhism also.

In Jainism there are some differences like Sthanakvasi (a sect of Jainism that believes the soul to be formless and hence shuns idol worship), Terapanthi (a sect of Jainism), Deravasi or Moortipoojak (a sect of Jainism that practices idol worship) etc.

Some people worship the form, some people do not. So there are many different notions, aren’t there? In some particular Jain traditions, they do not keep any moortis (idols) and in other Jain traditions like Digambar, Shwetambar, Sthanakvasi etc., their tradition and worship rituals are different.

But the main essence is meditation. And yagnas are done for creating a subtle vibration, a subtle energy, which has its own value. In some Jain traditions you cannot even speak without a cover for your mouth. It is not possible. It is not practical. Just imagine if all the people in the world are putting a cover on the mouth.

Some sects in Jainism do not use electricity at all. No mike or light or anything. I would say this is stretching too much what Lord Mahavir has said. We are going beyond the real meaning of what the Tirthankaras (enlightened Self-realized souls) have said.

These are the things which need to be reformed. It is very good that some Jain munis (saints) have already started reforming. They have started moving in cars and planes. In ancient days it was said that you should not use any vehicle because vehicles were driven by animals. It is torturing the animal. That is very true. But today vehicles are not driven by animals, it is driven by petrol. That much Viveka (discretion), we must use in traditions.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Education must train the children to love, to co-operate, to be brave in the cause of truth, to be helpful, to be sympathetic and to be grateful. Dear children! Revere your parents, elders and teachers, be humble before them and respect their experience and deeper love for you. You must follow these virtues consistently and strictly. The educators, elders and parents too, on their part, must cleanse their intelligence and practice the same virtues with humility and detachment. There is no use teaching the children one thing and holding out examples, contrary to the teachings. Thus, true learning occurs when noble truths are taught and supplemented by the conduct of the teachers, parents and the elders.

-BABA

"Teachers can be a living example to their students. Not that teachers should look for students to idealize them. One who is worth idealizing does not care whether others idealize them or not. Everyone needs to see that you not only teach human values but you live them. It is unavoidable sometimes you will be idealized -- it is better for children to have a role model, or goal, because then the worshipful quality in them can dawn."

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day   What SRI SRI said

Do it till you become it ! Virtues have to be practised till they become your nature. Friendliness, compassion and meditation should continue as practices till you realise that they are your very nature. The flaw in doing something as an act is that you look for a result. When it is done as your nature, you are not attached to the result and you continue doing it. An action that arises from your nature is neither tiring nor frustrating. For example, daily routines like brushing one's teeth or bathing are not even considered actions because they are so integrated into one's life. You do all this without doership. When Seva is made part of your nature, it happens without doership. Question: When do you realise that compassion, meditation and Seva are your nature? Answer: When you cannot be without it. Wise men continue the practices just to set an example, even though for them, there is no need for any practices.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, November 29, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Those who are trying to build the human community on the foundation of wealth (dhana) are like builders using sand as their foundation. Those who seek to build it on the rock of righteousness (Dharma) are the wise ones. Always remember that righteousness is the very root of this world. (Dharma Moolam Idham Jagath). Those who practice evil are cowards, they will constantly be haunted by fear and have no peace within them. Practice righteousness and you will remain happy forever. Respect for the parents who brought you into this world is the first lesson in right conduct. And gratitude is the spring which feeds that respect.

-BABA

 

What is right and what is wrong – your own consciousness will tell you. If you do something to get short term joy and long term misery, then that is wrong. If something is benefitting you in the long run, which may seem like it requires effort in the beginning, is right.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said
Joy and Sorrow

• The inability to experience joy and sorrow is inertia.
• Experiencing joy and sorrow is a trait of consciousness.
• Being happy in one's own joy and sad in one's own sorrow is a trait of animals.
• Being happy at another's joy and saddened by another's sorrow is a trait of humans.
• If you are saddened by other’s sorrow then sorrow will never come to you.
• If you are happy at another's joy then joy will never leave you.
• Seeing that every relative joy is also a misery is a sign of dispassion.
• And seeing both joy and sorrow as just a technique is a sign of the wise.
• Considering sorrow as mere illusion is divinity.
• Transcending joy and sorrow and being established in the self is perfection.

As the late Swami Sharanananda used to say, "Pray for the strength to serve in joy and to sacrifice in sorrow."

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, November 30, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When the seven colours of the spectrum come together, the effect is ‘no colour’; when they stand apart, the seven colours can be separately identified. The betel nut is brown, betel leaf is green and the chunnam (slaked lime) is white, but when you chew these three together, your tongue becomes red. When the three blades of a ceiling fan revolve fast enough and no blade is separately noticeable, they give cool comfort. So too only when the different qualities of Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas are unrecognisably integrated, one can be happy. When the three gunas are equated in saadhana (spiritual practice), the result is peace. The lamp is the sathwa guna, the wick is the thamo guna and the oil is the rajo guna. When all the three are integrated, they give the light of wisdom, which illumines.

-BABA

 

In Satva, you don't regret, you retire and relax, there is clarity.
In Rajogun, there is confusion and chaos.
In Tamogun, there is total inertia and lethargy.
There is no strict border between the three gunas. It is very fluid, one flows into another.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said
Focus and expansion

Focus sharpens the mind and relaxation expands the mind. Just an expanded mind without sharpness cannot bring the holistic development. At the same time, just the sharp mind without expansion causes tension, anger and frustration The balance between the focussed mind and expanded consciousness brings perfection. Both Sudarshan Kriya and the Advanced Course techniques are aimed at developing such consciousness which is sharp and unbounded Seva and commitment play a major role in this. Also, food and attitude have an effect. Expanded consciousness is peace and joy. Focussed consciousness is love and creativity. A point of focussed consciousness is Individual self. When every atom of the expanded consciousness becomes sharp, focussed, that is the awakening of Divinity.

 

 

 

 

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  31 January to 2 February 2013

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 21 to 26 January  2013.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, December 03, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Turn the key in the lock to the left, it locks. Turn it to the right, it opens. So too, turn your mind towards the objective world, it gets locked, caught and deeply entangled. Turn it to the right, steer it away from the objects of senses, and the lock opens up, you are free and deliverance is in your hands! How to turn your mind to the right? Begin with remembering the Lord’s Holy Name (Naamasmarana) as your first step. A big and long journey begins with the first step. The first step itself will take you through to the second and third, and ultimately to realizing your destination or goal.

-BABA

Yes, everything is in the name. If someone calls you a donkey, how do you feel? You don’t feel good. When someone says you are very beautiful, just listening to that makes you feel good. Similarly when we chant the Divine’s name, the life force in us goes up.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day   What SRI SRI said

God is a thorough businessman The Divine has given you all the small pleasures in the world, but has kept the bliss to Himself. To get the highest bliss you have to go to Him and Him alone. Don't be too smart with the Divine and try to fool Him. Most of your prayers and rituals are just attempts to trick the Divine. You try to give the least and get the maximum out of the Divine and He knows. He's an astute businessman; He will trick you even more. If you go underneath the carpet, He will go underneath the floor. Be sincere in your attempts. Do not try to outsmart the Divine. Once you get the bliss, then everything else is joyful. Without the bliss, joy in anything in the world will not stay.

 

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  31 January to 2 February 2013

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 10 to 14 January  2013.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

 

Date: Tuesday, December 04, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Lead your life such that, in posterity, people will remember you with gratitude and joy. To lead a good life, constant prompting from the Lord within you will be of great help. That inspiration can be got only by constantly reciting the Lord’s Name and calling on the inner springs of Divinity. The Lord’s Name is such a valuable instrument to win His Grace, to realize His Presence, to picture His Form and to remember His Glory. Repeating it from the depths of the heart, even once in the morning and once in the evening, will make your house, a home (griham) instead of a cave (guha). Senses are the windows, which when left open, make the lamp of the Name of God unsteady. Keep your senses away from the negative influences and concentrate on the Name of the Lord, its beauty and sweetness.

-BABA

 

I asked them, ‘If someone abuses you, is there any effect of it on your body?’
They said, ‘Yes, absolutely!’
What happens? The mind becomes heated, there is anxiety, something happens in the stomach. In the entire body something happens and negative energy is felt, isn’t it?
If there is so much power in an abuse that it can impact your body so deeply, do you think there is no power in the name of God?
There is a lot of power. The vibrations inside you change and get altered. That is why for a little while every day you must sit and do some chanting and sing some bhajans.
Then this becomes like a shield which stops negativity from coming anywhere near you; and a positive vibration spreads from you.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Wise Are The One Who Make You Cry For The Divine

Unfortunate are those who cry for the world. Fortunate are those who cry for the Divine. Unwise are those who make you cry for the world. Wise are those who make you cry for the Divine. The source of conflict is the division of "mine" and "yours." Knowledge eases the sense of limited belongingness and resolves this conflict. It is amazing when knowledge dawns in you that there is no stranger in the whole world! At the same time, the nearest one remains unknown to you.

Shirish Suchak: Why do our nearest ones often remain strangers?

Sri Sri: Because no one can understand anyone totally. Life is a mystery!

Marcy: But Guruji, you understand us totally! (laughter)

Sri Sri: Wake up and see. All these distinctions Ö "me, mine, others" Ö simply dissolve.

 

COUPLES COURSE WITH SANTOSH & BHAMINI

10-13 DEC ~APD-KZN ~Chatsworth

(65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst)

The Couples Course is for any couple who wants to invest in their relationship, whether you have been together 1 or 61 years and whether you have a strong relationship or are struggling.

Whatever your situation, the practical tools you learn will help improve, strengthen and deepen your relationship.

 

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[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, December 05, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The glory of the Divine - the richness, fullness, extent and the depth of Divine experience has to be experienced. It cannot be expressed through any amount of words or plays. You must feel that it is your highest destiny to acquire that experience. You are not a despicable creature, born in slime or sin to eke out a drab existence and be extinguished. You are a mixture of the mortal and immortal (Deha and Deva). Liberation is the means to be free from grief and live in joy. And it is easy to accomplish this. All you need to do is to place all your burdens on God. That will make you carefree, and griefless. Take everything as a Divine Play of the Lord you adore and love. No matter whatever happens clap your hands in bliss and joy, for all is His Divine Play and you can be as happy as He is, for His plans are working, and they are for your highest good!

-BABA

Play is nature. When you are happy what you do is play. When you play you have no need. That is why you play. If you are full of needs you only work, you can’t play, do you get it? Games can come when you have free time. Play becomes part of your life when your needs are fulfilled. Consciousness is full and its nature is playfulness. The Divine's nature is being playful.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

 

The Mystery of Life

October 30, 2012

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, in your book titled Living the Mystery of Life, you have said, 'Work in this world but do not allow it to enter your head.'
Can you please explain this once again. Is it the same thing as dispassion?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This is exactly what we did now in meditation.
When the eyes are open, we see the scenery, and when we close our eyes and our mind then there is another world. Did you notice this?
So meditation is the way.

See, suppose you are sitting and thinking, ‘Oh, my daughter-in-law did this. My son did not respect me, etc.', you can sit and think about this the whole night, the whole of the next morning and the whole of the next day and it will all just bother you.
What I am saying is, whatever they did, let it be out there. When you close your eyes, you be in your space. Do not let the world outside bother you.
It is difficult, I know, it is not that easy. But that is the direction we must proceed in.

There are two worlds, and the truth is in between the two worlds. One is called Manorajyam – the kingdom in one's own mind. The other is the Samaaj – the external world environment. Between the Samajam and the Manorajyam is the truth.

Q: Gurudev, when we sit for meditation, some thoughts pass by just like clouds, but there are others that make us go on such a long trip. Suddenly I realized I am on a trip. What is the mechanism that sends you off on that long trip, and why can they not all pass by like clouds?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That is how they are. Some thoughts are like this, some are like that. Some bother you, some do not. That is why there are so many techniques and so many ways to bring your mind to the centre.

See, in the recent poojas, why have they used so many musical instruments? A huge noise was being made by the cymbals, the naadaswaram (a classical South-indian musical drum) was being played, the chanting was going on, someone was banging. A lot of noise was being made on the outside so that the mind stops thinking inside.
So there are many ways. It is with the use of some skill that we have to bring the mind to the centre.

We cannot complain about this, for that is how the mind is. Sometimes it latches on to totally insignificant and silly things and that is how it is. That is why the mind is sometimes unfathomable.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna tells Lord Krishna, ‘This mind is like a monster. I cannot control it, it does not listen to me.'
Lord Krishna says to him, ‘Definitely, I agree with you.’
But in the end He says that there is a way.

Q: Dear Gurudev, what can I do to increase my capacity to take your blessings? How can I make my cup bigger?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: In the Advanced Course you all have heard of the Shatt Sampatti (Six wealths, or six-fold virtues)

• Sama (calmness or quietude of mind)
• Dama (self-control or restraint of the senses)
• Uparati (satiety)
• Titiksha (power of endurance)
• Shradha (faith), and
• Samadhana (equanimity or one-pointedness of the mind)

This is what you must focus on increasing more in your life. By enhancing these virtues, your capacity to receive blessings will increase.

Among the four pillars of knowledge, the third one that has these six wealths, that is what we must increase.
Also we must do Seva (service) and Sadhana (spiritual practices).

Q: Gurudev, our scriptures are supposed to take us beyond the 'What am I going to get' type of thinking? Then why is it that in every scripture the Phalashruti (the benefit of the scripture) is so elaborately explained?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just to tempt you to do them! (Laughter) It is a marketing strategy.
You know, there is a saying, ‘Without getting any benefit, nobody will do anything’.
A dull person will not do anything unless he thinks he is going to get something out of it. So the Rishis of the ancient days knew this and that is why they added the Phalashruti to tell you that by doing this, you will get so-and-so benefits. That is why it is called Apara. Apara Vidya is one in which you always attach some benefit to the practice. Subtler than that is Para-para, and ultimately there is Para Vidya where none of this matters at all. There is no means to attain Para Vidya.

Q: Gurudev, we have heard that Navratri is the triumph of Sattva over Rajas and Tamas. But are not all the three Gunas equally important for life to exist? How can we favour one over the other?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No, it is always like that. One of the three will dominate. Sattva is always there in everybody, and so is Rajas and Tamas. All the three Gunas always exist together. But what dominates is what makes the difference. If Tamoguna dominates, there is misery.
When Rajoguna dominates, there are conflicts.
When Satguna dominates, there is awareness, knowledge and happiness.
You should observe which is dominating, since that is what gives quality to that time.

Q: Dear Gurudev, yesterday you told us that we can change many things, including our fate as well. I am trying my level best to change whatever I can in my life, but I feel that whatever is in my fate, I am going through that only. Why?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, life is a mixture of pleasant and unpleasant. Put more attention on the nice things that have happened in your life. Then that will grow.
When you are in knowledge, then also fate changes.

 

COUPLES COURSE WITH SANTOSH & BHAMINI

10-13 DEC ~APD-KZN ~Chatsworth

(65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst)

The Couples Course is for any couple who wants to invest in their relationship, whether you have been together 1 or 61 years and whether you have a strong relationship or are struggling.

Whatever your situation, the practical tools you learn will help improve, strengthen and deepen your relationship.

 

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

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[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, December 06, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Often, people try to reform the world without making any or proportionate effort to reform themselves. For, it is far easier to give advice and admonish others, than to take the advice and advance ourselves. The other is fundamentally, a reflection of your own self. You are the original and you yourself have to improve your shape. Invest time to strengthen your inner urges towards virtues and goodness, becoming impregnable and unassailable from within. Then you can set about reforming others in the planet.

-BABA

 

Wise know how to accept love and give. But everyone is not wise. We want everyone to behave like the wise but we behave like an ignorant.

a look at yourself. This is swadhyaya study of oneself. Swa – means self, adhyaya – means study. Swadhyaya doesn’t mean turning pages of books.

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

 

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

12-12-12: A New Beginning

 

Live Webcast: Meditation with Sri Sri

February 2006 - Over 2.5 million people came together and meditated for world peace in Bangalore, India.hat

July 2011 - 70,000 people from around the world assembled in Berlin and shared together moments of peace.

September 2012 - 150 000 Argentines meditated against violence and to create a stress-free world.

12-12-12: A New Beginning - Meditate with Sri Sri and the whole world

Live Meditation will happen 3 times on this day with Sri Sri. Choose a time that suits you best: 6:30 am IST | 12pm GMT | 12pm EST - See below for time converstions

Webcast link: youtube.com/artoflivingtv and artofliving.org/webcast

Timings:

06:30 am IST   (3am S.Africa Time)

Time conversion:

06:30 am IST = 1.00 am GMT / 7.00 pm CST / 8.00 pm CDST / 8.00 pm EST / 9.00 pm EDST / 2.00 am CET / 5.00 pm PST / 6.00 pm PDST / 9.00 am SGT / 10.00 am JST / 2.00 am BST

12 GMT (2pm S.Africa Time)

Time conversion:

12 GMT = 05:30 PM IST /6.00 am CST / 7.00 am CDST / 7.00 am EST / 8.00 am EDST / 01.00 pm CET / 4.00 am PST / 5:00 am PDST / 08.00 pm SGT / 9.00 pm JST / 01.00 pm BST / 02.00 pm CEST

12 EST  (7pm S.Africa Time)

Time conversion:

12 EST = 10:30 pm IST / 11.00 am CST / 12.00 am CDST / 1.00 pm EDST / 6.00 pm CET / 9.00 am PST / 10.00 am PDST / 1.00 am SGT / 2.00 am JST / 6.00 pm BST / 7.00 pm CEST / GMT / 5.00 pm GMT

COUPLES COURSE WITH SANTOSH & BHAMINI 10-13 DEC 2012

APD-KZN ~Chatsworth (65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst)

The Couples Course is for any couple who wants to invest in their relationship, whether you have been together 1 or 61 years and whether you have a strong relationship or are struggling.

Whatever your situation, the practical tools you learn will help improve, strengthen and deepen your relationship.

 

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, December 07, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A judge of the Supreme Court may, while at home play with his grandchild and bend on all fours for the little fellow to mount his back. He may crawl around on the floor while the child rides him; but all the while, his status as a judge does not suffer diminution, nor does he forget it. So too you must always be conscious of the high calling for which you have come. You should not disgrace it by any means or through any meaningless act or thought or word. I have come to give you the courage and confidence to conceive yourself as the Supreme Truth (Paramathma) you really are, to give you the intellectual power (dhee shakthi) to grasp the reality. These alone can destroy the delusion born of ignorance.

-BABA

The way to come out of ignorance is a definite understanding, a definite knowledge in the mind, that my body is undergoing change all the time, the world is undergoing change all the time, the entire universe is in a state of fluidity and it is all full of change and it is going on on its own, according to its nature.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

Cause and Effect

November 04, 2012

Bangalore, India

Q: Guruji, who did you learn all this from? Who taught you meditation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Do you ask a poet or a writer whom did they learn from? They write it by themselves, isn’t it?
If a poet or a writer copies content from here and there, can they call it their own creation? Similarly, when one goes into meditation, all these come intuitively from the same source.

Q: During a few festivals, we give all kinds of grains as donation. Why is it said that one should not give salt as donation along with the grains?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This is just a practice. It has not been mentioned in the shastras. Do not worry about it.
There is no dish that does not have salt in it. Everything contains salt in some quantity. Everything that is offered during a ritual contains some salt in it. Coconut water contains salt. It is said that even fruits contain salt. The air that you breathe has salt in it.

There is just a saying to not hand over oil, salt, Chilli (green/red peppers) and water directly to someone. That is why they used to place it on the floor. There is a belief that the vibrations of one person go to the other person if they hand over these items directly.

In case you feel affected by the vibrations of another person, sing bhajans or chant Om Namah Shivaya and do pranayama. All the negative effects will go away.

Q: I have a question from the Yoga Vasishta. Shukracharya, the son of Bhrigu Maharishi, brings a dead person back to life by sprinkling holy water and chanting mantras. Is this possible?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The stories in the Yoga Vasishta have a lot of deep hidden meanings. It is not enough to read it once. As you read it again and again, you will start understanding the secrets hidden in the book.

Q: When we chant mantras, how do they affect the surroundings, people and the whole world?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Everything in the universe affects everything else. So, when you chant, when you do havan, the impact of that is very positive on the surrounding. It also brings good vibrations to you and it also enhances positive ions in the whole atmosphere.

Q: Dakshinamurthy (an aspect of Shiva as a Guru) is said to be Samavedapriya (one who likes the Samaveda). Why is it so?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It must have been written by people who are associated with the Samaveda. If people from the Rig Veda write it, they would call it Rig vedapriya. People associated with the Yajur Veda will say that it is the greatest of all Vedas. Lord Krishna has said ‘Vedanamsamavedosmi’ (Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 10, Verse 22). It is because the Samaveda gives importance to devotion and music.
In the two hemispheres of the brain, the left is logic and the right is music. Since the Samaveda contains both logic and music, it is possible that these words came from there.

Q: Why is the Kannada language compared to Kasturi (musk)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If you want to compare it with Jasmine, you can!
Poets called it Kasturi Kannada. You cannot ask why they named it so.
For example, a beautiful woman is called ‘Chandramukhi’, meaning the one whose face is like the moon. Now, the moon has a lot of spots in it. So, why is the face compared to the moon?

There is a saying where it is mentioned that the moon looks like a Holige (a round pancake-like sweet dish in Karnataka) for one who is hungry.

Musk has a very good fragrance. So, poets have described Kannada as a sweet language.

Q: Nowadays, our country is facing lots of droughts. If we join the Ganga and Kaveri rivers, it would help in irrigation. Can you please speak to the politicians to take up this matter seriously?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Scientists say that if we construct dams for all the rivers in our country and prevent water from going to the sea, we can ensure that the whole of India is covered with two feet of water (referring to the quantity of water available for irrigation).

A lot of water from rivers is going waste by being drained into the sea. We need to use water from rivers properly. There is no dearth of water. India receives the second highest amount of rainfall in the world. However, we are not storing this water properly.
Form groups and construct check dams to save rain water.

Q: The number of women suffering from thyroid problem is increasing. What is the remedy for this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I feel that it is due to the pesticides and chemicals in our food.

 

Live Webcast: Meditation with Sri Sri

Live Meditation will happen 3 times on this day with Sri Sri. Choose a time that suits you best:

Webcast link: youtube.com/artoflivingtv and artofliving.org/webcast

Timings: 1) 06.30am IST (3am S.Africa Time) 2) 12 GMT (2pm S.Africa Time) 3) 12 EST (7pm S.Africa Time)

 

COUPLES COURSE WITH SANTOSH & BHAMINI 10-13 DEC 2012

APD-KZN ~Chatsworth (65 Gemini Crescent, Woodhurst)

The Couples Course is for any couple who wants to invest in their relationship, whether you have been together 1 or 61 years and whether you have a strong relationship or are struggling.

Whatever your situation, the practical tools you learn will help improve, strengthen and deepen your relationship.

 

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, December 10, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"God resides in the heart of all beings" says Lord Krishna in the Gita. He is not to be found specially in cities like Amarnath, Kashi, Tirupati, Kedar or Gokarna alone. Just as every drop of the ocean has the salty taste, the composition and the name of the ocean, so too every single being has the divine taste, composition, and the name of the Lord. Only you do not realise it so clearly. The river realises itself by reaching the sea; man realises himself by merging in the Absolute. The space encased in the pot must become one with the space that traverses the entire Universe. This can be achieved by the negation of the attachment, which is just an artificial creation of the deluded mind. The inferior status of manhood that now satisfies you, must give place to the status of Reality of God which is the true status. - Divine Discourse, Feb 11, 1964. The heart full of compassion is verily –BABA The seers, the seen, and the process of seeing all merge. The knowledge, the knower, and the known, they all merge, become one -- that is Divine Love.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

You Are Blessed

November 05, 2012

Bangalore, India

Q: Why do we do Paad Pooja (an ancient Indian ritual of welcoming a guest by washing his feet with water and flowers)? What is the significance of Paad Pooja?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: n the olden days when we received an honored guest in our house, then we used to wash their feet.
They would have come walking and there would be dirt on their feet, so the first thing we did was to wash their feet. This was to express our humility towards them (vinamrata). Sometimes when the guest comes to our house, we honor them by garlanding them or giving them flowers, or a bouquet. Once upon a time this practice was prevalent all over the world to welcome a guest.

The reason behind washing of the feet of the elderly was also that the hands and feet give out energy. That is why people would ask one another, ‘Please place your hands on my head and give me blessings.'
It is customary in India to touch the feet and take blessings. But it is not true that energy or vibrations come out only from the feet, it comes out from all over the body. The same benefit comes from the vibrations of sight, and of words. This is the essence of blessings.
Simply by thinking about elders we get blessings.
Through thoughts, words, sight and then by touch (sparsha) we get blessings. Through darshan, sparshan, drishti we get blessings. However, you should not say, ‘Gurudev, please touch my head and give me blessings properly.'
Nowadays there are some devotees who try to even teach the Guru how to bless. Grace and blessings come automatically. It is not necessary that you should touch my feet, or ask me to put my hand on your head. Just assume that you have received the blessings by getting Darshan, or hearing the voice.
You know, you can sit anywhere and ask for blessings in your mind, and you will receive blessing.
This is how Shraadh (tradition of honoring the ancestors) is done. We sit and remember those who have crossed over to the other side (expired) and pray to them to give us blessings. And just by thinking in this way, we receive the vibrations.

You may ask me how is that possible. Tell me, how does Kama Vasana (lust) get aroused? Just by thinking such thoughts, isn't it?! Hormones are then secreted in excess in the body.
How do you get angry? Just by thinking.
How does hatred come? By thinking about others whom you dislike. You think about those who you don't like and your body begins to quiver. How does fear come? By thinking.
So, if by thinking, lust can come, anger can come, fear can come, hatred can come, then can blessing also not come just by thinking? Are blessings so ineffective, or do you think that you have to work so hard to get blessings? No! You don't need to do anything. Just by thinking you get blessings.
This is why it is said in many religious texts like the Durga Saptashati, that just by reading the text you will be happy. The idea behind this is that just by being in the thoughts of the Divine one receives blessings. This is how it happens.
So whenever you feel grateful just think that blessings have certainly come along with it.

Q: It is said that one get everything from surrender; then is it right to understand that those who have not got everything have not surrendered completely?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: One should think carefully before asking for everything also. If you ask for everything, it will include both the good and the bad. Joy, sorrow, problems, all these are included in everything. All these are part of life.

See, there is no clarity in your mind. You don't even clearly know what you want. One day, sit comfortably somewhere and think about what you really want. You have dozens of wants and your mind gets caught up with them; this is not right. Have one want and focus on that. There is no one who can say that none of his desires have been fulfilled. Also there is no one who can say that all his desires have been 100% fulfilled.
The more the Sattva, the more fulfillment comes, and work that you undertake gets accomplished.
The more you are in a joyful state, that much more of your work get completed. The lesser your cravings for your desires to get fulfilled, the more your desires get fulfilled.
If you sit with new desires every minute then, our consciousness which is like a computer, gets confused - like how you commonly call it, ‘it hangs’ and abruptly stops working.
Even in your cell phone, if you initiate too many operations all at once it will stop working. Just like a cell phone, our consciousness is like a big computer. That is why desiring is also an art, and having your desires fulfilled is also an art. Furthermore, being able to have desires fulfilled even without desiring is an even bigger art. This is what is called Siddhi (extraordinary or perfected ability). How many of you here have experienced that before you desire, your needs are being met? (Many raise their hands in the audience).
See, so many Siddhas (perfected ones) are sitting here. Everyone is raising their hands. Even before you desire, if all your work is being done then it is worth praising.

Q: Gurudev you have said that being alive after getting enlightenment (bodh) was the tapasya(penance or austerities) of King Janak. Is it possible to do tapasya even after enlightenment?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I said that after getting enlightened, doing bhog (indulging or engaging the senses) is tapasya. I did not talk about living after enlightenment. Before enlightenment Yog is tapasya and after enlightenment Bhog is tapasya.

Q: The various vehicles of the Shiv Parivar, i.e., the family of Shiva are mortal enemies – like the Lion and the Bull, the Snake and the Mouse, etc. What is the secret behind this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Opposite values are complementary. Everyone is united wherever Shiva is present. Wherever spirituality grows, all different kinds of people come together. Wherever there is Shiva-tattva or Guru-tattva there will not be just one kind of people, but various kinds of people will be found there living together in harmony. This is the specialty.

Q: I have heard that in Kali Yuga, Tamas will be wide-spread; but for a Saadhak it will be a very good time. How can a time when Tamas is dominant be good for a Saadhak?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, when you have become a Saadhak (spiritual seeker) then consider all times as auspicious and beneficial . Both happiness and sorrow have its purpose. One should consider all types of situations as conducive and think of them as ingredients contributing towards your Sadhana.

Q: Gurudev, when your grace is present equally for everyone, then why do some Saadhaks have to struggle a lot while some don't?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: All are not the same. God has not made the same prototype. There are different types of people, with different capacities, upbringing and thought-processes and carrying different Samskaras (impressions). When you are considering yourself a Saadhak, don't compare yourself with anyone. Consider yourself incomparable. Everyone should consider themselves incomparable. When we compare ourselves with others we start looking outwards, and then we get tangled in cravings and aversions and lose ourselves in the mess.

Q: Gurudev, you are antaryami, you know everything. Please answer the question in which is my mind.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I will give its answer there itself, in your mind.
If there was only one question in your mind it would be different, but there are so many, it is like a chain of questions in your mind.
Just be calm and relax. You will see that you will get all your answers automatically.

Q: Gurudev, how were the Purusha and Prakriti born? What is the relationship between the two?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Now, I do not know when their birth took place. In fact, I do not know if they were ever born in the first place. They have existed since time immemorial.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, December 11, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Have you heard the story of the rabbit that borrowed from Mother Earth four paisa (pence)? The rabbit thought to itself, “If I run away as far as I can, from the place I received the loan, I will be free from the obligation”. So one day, the rabbit ran as fast as its legs could carry it. After a while, it sat down in great relief thinking, “Now no one will ask me to repay.” The rabbit was shocked, for at that very moment, it heard from the ground beneath, “Mother Earth is right under your feet! You cannot escape from me, however fast you run!” So too, you cannot run away from Divinity. Wherever you may go seeking refuge, the Lord demands good conduct, good habits, good thoughts and good company! Make use of this opportunity, accept this noble advice, select good company and strive sincerely to reach your goal!

-BABA

Coming into that Divine Fold, in moments your sorrow vanishes, your  problem vanishes, your difficulty vanishes---if you are totally there.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Spirit of Enquiry

November 30, 2012

Bangalore, India

There are six types of people who asks questions.

The first type of person who asks questions is one who is sad or unhappy.
Unhappy people ask questions but they do not listen to the answers.
This is a fact, have you not experienced this? How many of you have experienced this in your life? (Many raise their hands)
Old people, especially when they are old and at home, suffering, they say, ‘Oh I have this problem, why has God been so unkind to me? Why this problem?'
They keep asking these questions for which they are not even expecting an answer from you. Remember?!
They simply ask questions, 'Why am I suffering. I did everything good, why this suffering for me?'
So, sad or unhappy people ask questions, but they are not expecting an answer. And if you give an answer then you are foolish.
You should keep quiet. Just smile at them. You just being with them is good enough for them.

When a death happens in a family, people keep asking questions, 'Why this happened?' And you have nothing to say. Do you have anything to say? No, there is nothing to say. So your simple presence is good enough. Do not try to answer their questions, got it?!
Also, do not be an advocate for God or make them against God.
Usually people say, 'God has been unkind to you, nature has been so unkind to you, this should not have happened', and all these things. It does not help them in any way.
So when sad and miserable people ask questions, you should simply keep quiet.

Second type of people who ask questions are those who are angry; who feel injustice has happened them. They are very angry and they ask questions.
They are not ready to listen to any answer, because when a person is angry, the mind is already closed. The intellect is not functioning. Emotion has taken over.
In that situation it is better to let them calm down and not go on answering their questions. An angry person’s questions are useless to answer.

The third type of people who ask questions are those who ask questions just to make their presence felt, they are not interested in an answer.
'I am here, do you recognize me', that is all they want to know, they are not at all interested in the answer. If you answer their question, they look somewhere else, or they may be doing something else. Because it is so compelling for them to make their presence felt they ask a question.
This is the third type of people.
If you are a school teacher you will have this experience. A college teacher has written about this, that in the college, sometimes people get up and stand just to show-off that they are intelligent and they are present in the classroom.
How many of you here have experienced this? Doesn't this happen in IIT all the time? Someone just stands up and questions.

The fourth type of people are those who think they know the answer but they just come to test whether the other guy knows the answer or not. As if to say, 'I know all the answers, but I want to test this guy, whether he knows the answer or not.'
It is useless to talk to such people.

The fifth type of people who ask questions are those who have a deep experience and they want to understand that.
'I meditated and I felt all these sensations happening. What was that? I want to know more about it. '

'When I meditated I saw light and there was this beautiful fragrance. I want to know about this. I want to understand if I am doing the technique correct. What is the meaning of this experience? '

Asking questions after having an experience, because experience and understanding has to go together.
When some people have experiences for the first time then they want to understand it and so they ask questions.

The sixth type of people who ask questions are called Jigyasu.
There is a burning desire deep in their mind to know the truth, to know the reality, and they have faith in whom they are asking the questions to, that this person knows the answer, and so they go and ask them.

You do not ask a question relating to medicine to the maid servant.
Someone is sweeping your floor and she is washing the vessels in your home, you wouldn’t go ask her what medicine should you take because you know that she may not know.
When you are sick, you will go to a doctor and ask him because you know that he knows.

So when you have confidence that the person knows the answer, and you want to ask your question to that person, then you are ready to take the answer.
A situation in which - you do not know, you want to know and you are sure that the person whom you want to put the question to knows the answer.
When these three factors are there, then there is Jigyasa - The real spirit of enquiry.

You do not ask a sweeper how to go to the airport.
You do not go to a gardener and ask the gardener how to drive a car, or how to administer a medicine. You know that they will not know because you have an idea of what they know.
When you go to a gardener and ask them a question in their field, then you know they know the answer.
So, knowing that this person knows the answer, and I do not know the answer and then asking - that is a genuine seeker.
This is the sixth type of people who ask questions.

All our Shastras, all our scriptures in India have begun with a question.
Which type of question? Not the first type, nor the second, nor the third, nor the fourth, nor the fifth, but the sixth type of question - I do not know, I want to know, and this person knows so I ask him the question.
All the knowledge from the scriptures have started with a genuine spirit of enquiry, through questions.

Once somebody was standing in a railway station and kept asking the ticket collector about every train that came and went. The ticket collector answered him three to four times and finally he got so tired that he said, ‘Come on gentleman, just tell me where you want to go.'
The man said, ‘Nowhere , I just want to cross over to the other side.'
So if you just have to cross over to the other side, it is futile for you to keep asking questions which are irrelevant. This is what most people do, ask irrelevant things just to spend time.

So, whatever I have said, ponder over it. Think about it again and again!

Once in Canada, during a satsang, I said, '2+1=0'.
There was debate over this for two hours. There were all the top professors from places like IIT.
It was such fun for everyone - how can Gurudev say this, 2+1=0.

See, it also depends upon who says it. If a child says, '2+1=0', then we can say it is wrong. But if a great professor says, '2+1=0', then we cannot say, 'No, this is not correct.' You have to ponder over it. You need to think about it. There could be some secret behind it and that is why he has said it. He is not a fool to just say it like that.
On the surface when you look at it, you might feel that this is impossible, but there is some possibility in every impossibility. It is when you sit and ponder that many new possibilities open up.

So that day so much of knowledge opened up by just thinking how 2+1=0.
With this we had one complete tape. It was hilarious, everyone was laughing throughout the whole two and a half hours.
It depends on who is giving the knowledge, who is saying it.
If a very intelligent person says, '2+1=0', you cannot dismiss it. You have to go into it, and contemplate. This is what is called Koan (a puzzling, often paradoxical statement or story, used in Zen Buddhism as an aid to meditation and a means of gaining spiritual awakening.) In Hindi it is called Paheli (riddle).

See, life is like a puzzle and many times knowledge also comes to us in the form of a puzzle. Using the sharpness of the intellect we need to contemplate and chew on the knowledge to understand the secrets hidden inside; the meaning hidden inside.

In India, there have been many great intellectual teachers like that, and these teachers used to convey everything in the form of puzzles to the very intelligent ones. So for them to receive the knowledge, they had to first think and solve the puzzle. Then they would receive the knowledge.
You must have heard about Vikramaditya and Betal; there are so many puzzles like that in our country which are very beneficial for children. It sharpens their intellect, and their thinking faculty also becomes very sharp.

Even Lord Krishna, after giving all the knowledge to Arjuna, he said, 'I have said all that I needed to say, now you think over it. Go deep into it, contemplate and if you think it is right, then you accept it.'

So after listening, you need to contemplate. Just listening is not enough, digesting it is also important. Think over it again and again. Understand the meaning behind the meaning. And without contemplating over it, you should neither accept it nor reject it.
If you reject it, then that is wrong, and if you just accept it and sit, that is also wrong.
You have to listen, contemplate and then accept. Then the knowledge will be established inside you.

If you accept it immediately after you listen, then there is no chance to ponder over it. And if you immediately reject ii saying, 'No, this is wrong', then also there is no contemplation.
So first listen, accept and then contemplate over it. And after contemplating over it, accept it.

 

 

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COUPLES COURSE WITH SANTOSH & BHAMINI 10-13 DEC 2012

COUPLES ARE WELCOME TO JOIN FROM 11 Dec

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The Couples Course is for any couple who wants to invest in their relationship, whether you have been together 1 or 61 years and whether you have a strong relationship or are struggling.

Whatever your situation, the practical tools you learn will help improve, strengthen and deepen your relationship.

 

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[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, December 12, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You can feel the presence of God, in the depth of silence. In the excitement, clutter and confusion of the marketplace, you cannot hear His gentle footsteps. He resounds with clarity, when all is filled with silence. Hence I insist on silence, practice of soft speech and minimum sound. Talk little, talk in whispers, sweet and true. When you want to place a heavy thing on the ground, place it with care, do not drop it and create noise around you. Bend a little, keep it softly and gently on the floor with care. Similarly examine each and every act of yours and see to it that you execute it softly and silently. Transact all dealings with minimum speech and eliminate noise. Do not shout to persons standing far, go near them or beckon them to approach you. Loud noise is a sacrilege on the sky, just as there are sacrilegious uses of earth and water.

-BABA

Silence is the mother of all skills. When you lack some skill, sit quietly for a moment. Then that part of the brain becomes active, that can give you intuition and ideas. Silence is the mother of all skills, innovations, and inventions. A few moments of quietness is the first step. Take a step away from the situation. When you are in a situation, you cannot be a good judge – you have to step out of the situation for a minute and look at it. Through quietness: you will gain the skill right there!

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Five Experiences You Must Have

November 30, 2012

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Bangalore, India

Five days and experiences to really blossom in your life.

One day you should spend with the farmers. Morning to night, spend the day with the farmers and see how they sow the seeds, how they water the plants and how they care for the plants. Witnessing this enriches life. When you understand how food is grown and how much toiling has been done by the farmer, you will respect food, you will respect plants and you will respect the environment.
So it is necessary to spend one day with the farmers.

One day you should spend in jail.
You will understand how somebody has become a culprit, and you will understand that every culprit is a victim in some way. They had no knowledge, they were trapped in a situation, and so they committed a crime. You feel a lot of compassion and forgiveness for them.

One day you should spend in a hospital. You will see how people are suffering, then you will appreciate your own life. You will appreciate how fortunate you are. You will have compassion and you will see that you should put your life into better use, and you will become more health conscious.
So one day in hospital gives you that.

One day you should spend in a mental hospital. If you spend a day in a mental hospital you will see how they scold you and how they speak to you.
When you get scolded for no fault of yours, then you understand that this is how the whole world is. Then you do not get angry. That ego which says, 'I', 'Me', 'I know it', will simply dissolve.
If you act like a mad person for just one day, you will become very natural. All the walls of ego that you have built around you, that ‘I am somebody’, will simply fall off. You are then able to understand people better, and you mingle with everybody. And nobody can upset you because you know the world is like a mental hospital.
Everybody lives in their own world and they think only they are right.

If you go to Israel, you will find, in the Israel mental hospital there is a ward called Jerusalem Syndrome.
Sometimes when people come as pilgrims, they walk into Jerusalem and suddenly they feel they are Jesus, or they are Mary Magdalene, or one of those characters and start behaving like that. So these people are put into this ward called Jerusalem Syndrome. They go crazy.

So when you go to the mental hospital, you will understand more about your own mind. This experience enriches your life. You will become immune to criticism. If someone criticizes you, you will not breakdown.
Often people cannot withstand criticism. They do not understand that people in the world are crazy.
So you get the ability to smile at every criticism that you face with just one day in a mental hospital.
And then, you have to spend one day in a school.
One day in a school and you will understand from where to where you have gone. You will reassess your own growth. You will learn patience. You will see how patiently you have to deal with the kids, and you will start taking responsibility.
How you deal with kids, that is how you have to deal with all the people in the world.

So, these five days of your life would be a very enriching experience for you.

If you cannot do these five days, one day in the Ashram is good enough. You walk around and you will find many crazy people.
There is a school here, there are farmers here, you can go and do some farming.
There is hospital here, you can go and take care of the people there too, and you can feel that you are in a prison, if you like.
So except the prison, you might get all the other four experiences here.
One day is good enough.

In the earlier days, when we had started the Ashram, once you came to the Ashram there was no transport to go back to the city.

There were only two buses plying on this road. One in the morning at 11 o’ clock and another bus in the evening at 5 o’ clock. There were no auto rickshaws, no taxis, nothing. Those who would come in the beginning days to the Ashram would feel trapped. In the morning, you have come at 11 o’ clock and you cannot go back until the evening because there were no buses, or taxis or any mode of transportation.

Also, there were no shops around here, except for one small tea shop that would serve only tea, and perhaps coffee as well.
It was a small thatched roof outside the ashram, that is it. Nothing else was available. Not a single shop. But you missed that opportunity. Too late!

 

 

Live Webcast: Meditation with Sri Sri

Live Meditation will happen 3 times on this day with Sri Sri. Choose a time that suits you best:
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Timings: 12 EST (7pm S.Africa Time)

 

NB! JOIN US AT APD CHATSWORTH ON WEDNESDAY 12 DEC – 6.30 to 7.30pm – Free Yoga & live webcast with SRI SRI Ravi Shankar – ALL WELCOME

 

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[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, December 13, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Be steady, make a firm resolution. Do not commit one fault or take a false step and then repent. Be very intentional, faithful to your resolve, every single day. Before you act, deliberate and make a decision. That is better than taking a weak step and regretting and losing the way. In the Mahabharatha, Arjuna had the foresight to pause and think about the consequences of the war even before the battle began. So he asked Lord Krishna to advise and guide him. Hence, take every step in spiritual practice, or in your day to day affairs, only after deep deliberation and satisfying yourself that it will be for your good and well-being. Reason out, discriminate; do not rush to conclusions or be led away by mere hearsay.

-BABA

Some people say that to walk on the spiritual path you have to abandon your professional life. But I say you can continue pursuing your profession or business, and progress on the spiritual path as well. In fact, they are complementary to each other. Pursuing the spiritual path makes it easy to accomplish tasks in your professional life as well. Only listening to this knowledge doesn’t help. Doing your practices along with it is equally important.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day     What SRI SRI said

The strength of commitment Question: Why is it easier for some of us to commit to our own welfare rather than that of others? Sri Sri: Because you do not know that whatever you are committed to brings you strength. If you are committed to your family then your family supports you, if you are committed to your society, you enjoy the support of society. If you are committed to God, God gives you strength. If you are committed to Truth, Truth brings you strength. Often one is not aware of this idea and that is why one is hesitant to commit to a greater cause. Also there is a fear that commitment would weaken one or take away one's freedom. Your commitment to a cause is bound to bring you comfort in the long run. Commitment in life grows toward a higher cause. The higher the commitment, greater is the good for all. Noah: Why don't we make any vows in the Art of Living? Sri Sri: When the path is charming, commitment is effortless and is part of your nature. Mikey: In Art of Living we don't make vows, we have Wows! (laughter)

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, December 18, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Just as the calf seeks the udder of the cow for the nourishing milk, seek the Lord and His Glory in Nature. As a matter of fact, Nature is useful only when it adds to the wonder and awe that it is able to provoke and sustain. Everything is an image of the Lord. That is why joy wells up in you when you see and hear the stories of the Lord, and how He attracts all to Himself. It is the call of the bimba (object) for the prathibimba (reflection) to merge in it. So all are entitled to the merger, and all finally have to attain it. Remember, you have to come to Me, if not in this birth, at least within ten more births! Strive to acquire Grace which is the reward for spiritual practice. And the highest spiritual practice is to follow the instructions of the Master.

-BABA

 

The presence of the Master in one's life will bring fulfillment to all relationships. Every relationship will become complete with the presence of infinity, of the Master, in your life.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

The Power of Prayer

December 01, 2012

Bangalore, India

Audience: Gurudev, today is Kanakadas Jayati.

There was a great saint in India. He was a shepherd in the 12th century Karnataka. He was called Kanakadasa.
The 12th century was a time when there was a wave of devotion that swept through India, in fact the whole world. I think the Francesco d'Assisi (widely known as Saint Francis of Assisi, an Italian saint), they were all during that time only, between the 12th and 15th century.

Kanakadasa was a great devotee of Lord Krishna. He has written many beautiful songs in Kannada. So, everyone in Karnataka knows about these songs.

The story goes that he was not allowed in a temple because he was poor and from a lower caste. So he stayed on the outside of the temple and prayed, because the temple was mainly for the rich and upper class people.
So what happened is that the wall (of the temple) broke and the statue of Lord Krishna turned and gave Kanakasada Darshan. And the people who were doing pooja on the other side, they were all startled. This is a very well known fact here.
Even today, in the Udupi Krishna Temple, you will find that when you enter the temple, the deity is facing the other way around. There is a broken wall, and it is from the broken wall only that you can see the deity. This is said to be The Window of Kanakadasa, from where he stood and prayed.
It is said that from then on the caste and class discrimination was done away with.

There are many people who have fought against class and caste discrimination. He was one of them, and he was adored by everybody.
That is the story.

Q: Gurudev, there are so many different prayers in Hinduism. Some for Devi, some for Vishnu. In each prayer it is said that with regular recitation of the prayer one will be benefited. Now all prayers say the same thing, how do we know which one to follow?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, the first thing to understand is that God is One. No matter by what name you may call him, he is One. That is one thing.
Secondly, it is not true that God is pleased by listening to His Stuti (devotional songs or hymns sung in praise of God).
When you open the windows of your house, the sunlight just comes inside, isn't it?
If you close the windows of your house, do you think the sun will get angry with you? Will the sun suddenly stop giving sunlight if you do this? No!

Whatever prayer we do, we do it for our own happiness. We pray to uplift our own selves. We do not pray to please God.
People who think that they can please God by fasting are foolish. It is sheer ignorance.

Now, do not think that God will give you something very special if you worship him and pray. Yes, if you pray, you will surely get the fruits of your prayer because that is the law of nature. Just like how, when you open the windows, the sunlight will surely come into the house and when the sunlight comes you will get the benefits for sure.

See, God anyways loves you very much. But to grow to love God just as He loves you, that is what devotion really is and this is the essence of prayer.
Pooja means that which is born out of fullness and completeness. To express a heart which is overflowing with so much gratitude and joy, Pooja is done.
‘Dear God, I am so grateful and blessed. You have given me so much in abundance’ – to express this feeling, we do Pooja.
When such a feeling arises within us, then some action inevitably gets linked with it also. One simply cannot resist expressing this deep feeling of gratitude.

For example, when you meet a very close friend of yours, you shake hands and pat his back to express your affection. This is very common in Punjab (a state in North India). So in this way, we express our love towards each other by doing some sort of action.
In the same way, when a devotee is so in love with the Divine, he wishes to do something or give something to the Divine. This is why our ancestors developed the various rituals and methods of performing Pooja. So, whatever we have received from the Divine, we offer it back to him.

God has given you flowers, so you also offer flowers back to Him with a prayer that may our hearts also blossom just as abundantly towards Him. God gave us water, so we offer water to Him during Pooja, with the feeling that we too should become humble like water and bring coolness to everyone. Like water, we too should have a foundation in life (just as water is the vital element and basis of life). So we pray that our life too becomes like this.

We also offer Akshat (whole unbroken rice grain) to the Divine because it is a symbol of never ending abundance. The rice grain does not break ever. Scientists have said that matter and energy can never be created nor be destroyed. Similarly also for the rice grain because it never gets destroyed or damaged. When we eat rice, it provides energy and nourishment to us and is absorbed by our body. And upon death, when our body is cremated and returns to the Earth element, the same rice grain after sometime grows from the Earth and becomes ready as food for consumption. When the body turns into ash, the ash becomes food for many fishes which in turn become the food for many other human beings again. So this happens again and again in Nature. When you bury the body under the Earth, the body dissolves away into the five elements.

Similarly we offer Chandan (sandal paste) also, with the feeling that its fragrance spreads everywhere. All our five senses which bring sensory experiences and pleasure to us – the eyes, the ears, the nose, the tongue and the skin have certain sense functions and substances associated with them. So all the substances and objects that bring joy or pleasure to these five senses are also given as sacred offering in the Pooja. We ring the holy bell during the Pooja because due to the sound that is produced, the mind is freed of all thoughts from here and there, and settles in the present moment. Then the mind comes in harmony with the Naad – the single sound in the environment during the Pooja. Therefore, to focus and channel the mind, many drums, trumpets and cymbals are also played during the Pooja. Such a loud sound causes the mind to come into the present moment.

Camphor is burnt to perform Aarti (circular movement or display of the lamp in reverence before the deity or the idol) before the deity. Just as God rotates the sun and the moon around you, you imitate the same and thus offer and move the small camphor lamp before God to bring joy to you. This is also to express the prayer that the light of our life should never go astray from God and should always be centered and revolve around God. It is with this deep feeling that you perform aarti. In the whole of India, people everywhere perform the aarti but do not know the deeper meaning behind it.

Aarti means the highest and the greatest possible bliss. It represents the fact that the Divine is the greatest source of joy. When our hearts overflow with such intense love and devotion that every particle of our body is soaked in it, then that is what aarti really is. Aarti is that which gives you total contentment. It is made up of two parts: ‘Aa-’ and ‘rati’. ‘Rati’ means joy, bliss and ecstasy. So when we are full of such kind of devotion and bliss - that is called Aarti. So we perform aarti with the prayer that our lives should also be filled with the ecstasy of devotion, such that we see God everywhere we look. This is called Pooja. Pooja is never done to flatter or please God.

But in our country, people go and feed sweets to the idol of the deity, so much so that the face of the deity is spoilt. Then you are unable to see the eyes, nose and the mouth of the idol. Furthermore, they offer flowers to every deity’s picture or idol with fear and guilt that if they offer to a flower to Lord Hanuman and not to Lord Shiva, then Lord Shiva will get angry and punish them. All sorts of superstitions arise in the mind. This is why it is said that you must have only one Ishtadevta (referring to the tradition of having a prime or central deity for worship and devotion). All others deities are simply divine forms of the same Divinity. The essence is to see One Divinity in everyone and everyone as part of One Divinity. That is what it is.

Q: Gurudev, can you speak about women Rishis?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, there are some women Rishis, and there is space for more to come. Very few women Rishis have been there, not many actually.

Meera was one such great devotee.
There was one lady in Tamil Nadu, she was called Avaiyar, and she is remembered as the mother of Tamil literature. Anybody who studies Tamil, cannot miss Avaiyar, isn’t? How many Tamils are here? (Some in the audience raise their hands.)

(A person in the audience makes a reference to ‘Athi Chudi’, a composition of Avaiyar.)

Athi Chudi, these are alphabets isn’t it?
Like how we have, ‘A for apple’, ‘B for ball’, ‘C for cat’; like that, she has made something philosophical for each alphabet. So from childhood, the alphabets are taught with values, and this is what the intelligent lady; the mother did.

Her story is very interesting. She was a very beautiful looking young woman, and her parents wanted to get her married, but she didn’t want to.
The King looked at her and liked her. You know in those days, the King always had the privilege of having the best, and she was so good. So the King wanted to get married to her. And when a King asks, nobody can say ‘No’.
Then the story goes that she prayed to Ganesha (Hindu deity with elephant’s head). She was a devotee of Ganesha.

In India, you can have your own specific form for God. Though God is only one, there is something called Ishta Devata (Desired, liked or cherished Divinity). Each one can have their own liking for a particular form of God.
See, there is one God, one Allah, one Paramatma, but for that God, you can choose one name, just for yourself. And then you feel a very personal connection with that name.

So she had Ganesha as her personal deity, and she prayed to him, ‘I should look old.'
And it is said that in no time all her hair became white, and she started looking old. When the King came and saw her he did not marry her. She was left to herself.
So this is the story.

Q: Gurudev, can you please speak on surrender? I feel that surrender makes me a bit ignorant. When I look back at the past, I see that whenever I had to take a decision or some action, I would think that everything is being handled by Gurudev so he will do everything. Therefore instead of doing what I am supposed to do in that situation, I would believe that whatever has to happen will happen on its own. So please advise me on what kind of surrender I should have so that I do not become ignorant.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Both sankalpa (taking a firm resolve or wish for some action) and surrender go together. Once you have done your 100% and there is nothing more you can do, then you surrender.
Having done your part, you can surrender your desire for the fruit of the action. But not doing anything will not help achieve anything. We should do whatever we are supposed to do 100%, and then we should surrender the desire for the fruit of our action to the Divine. We should surrender keeping in mind this feeling that whatever is best for us should come to us. We should make all our efforts and then surrender the desire for the fruit of our action to the Divine. Do you understand what I am saying?

You should not simply sit by yourself and think, ‘Oh, I have surrendered, so everything will happen automatically.'
That state of perfection, Siddhavastha, happens very gradually and takes time.
When you become so strong in your Sadhana (spiritual practices) that no cravings or aversions remain within you, and neither are there any desires – then such a state is called Naishkarma Siddhi (the extraordinary ability to attain or achieve something without doing any action for it).
That is, a state in which your work and wishes get fulfilled without having to make efforts for it. However, until that state comes, we must continue to act and do our work.

In the state of Siddhavastha you grow so deep in devotion that you do not have to strive or make efforts for anything. Even before thinking your wishes get fulfilled.
How many of you here have had this experience? (Many devotees raise hands in the audience) See, it is indeed happening already.

Now, how can we attain this state? As we continue to go deeper and grow more on the spiritual path, we become more contented. The more contented we become, that much more will we be able to receive such siddhis (extraordinary abilities).
Having siddhis is not a thing of the past or the future. It is something that can be achieved in the present itself. However, such abilities are currently veiled, and that curtain will fall away slowly and slowly. As this curtain raises more and more, we will find such abilities manifesting in us effortlessly.

Q: Gurudev, in many of the knowledge books, I have read that everything is just One consciousness and we are part of that One. In that case, what do you mean by surrender? What is it that we are surrendering and to whom do we surrender when it is just One consciousness?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, correct.
Actually there is nothing to surrender, but when the mind feels, ‘I am separate, I am different, I am alone’, to let that go, you surrender and just relax.
It is like the mother at home feeling. To generate the mother at home feeling, the process of letting go is called surrender. That is all. There is nothing that you have that you need to surrender. Got it?

That is why there are three different paths (Karma Yoga or the Path of Action, Bhakti Yoga or the Path of Devotion, Jnana Yoga or the Path of Knowledge).
The Path of Knowledge is when you wake up and see, everything is made up of just One thing. There is no two, and this is knowledge.
But when you forget this and feel there is two and when there is something that you are holding on to and it is too much on your head and you can’t bear it, then you say, ‘I Let go’, that is surrender.

One very good example for this would be: You are sitting on the train and you are holding the luggage on your shoulders. Though the seat is comfortable you are putting the weight of the luggage on your head and shoulders and feeling so uncomfortable. Then someone comes and says, ‘Hey, come on! Keep the luggage down. The train is anyway carrying you and the luggage. Relax.’
Giving you that sense of total ease, is said to be Sharanagati (surrender).

Q: Gurudev, what if my choice is different than the conventional way.
People say, ‘You should marry, have children, have property, etc.', which is the conventional way. If I want to deviate from it, I am constantly told that I am wrong.
I don’t see that as wrong as I have a choice. I should always have a choice. What to do in this case? How do you go against the family, society and still stand and be happy and make your own choices?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: es, it is a very tough thing to do. You have to convince your parents that you don’t want to do what everybody else is doing.
You know what? What would be best is to keep an open mind about all these aspects. Not be rigid. Just to have an open mind and play it by the ear. I feel that would be a better way to look at it.

You know in a marriage and in a family, there is always some compromise required. You can’t only say, ‘My way.' You have to take some middle path. You have to take the other partner’s concern as well. So, in life always there is some compromise.
So keep an open mind.

In any case, do not lose your joy and your happiness.
There are people who are single, who are not married and they are not happy. And there are people who are married and they are not happy. So, both the situations are not so good. I would say, whether you are married or not married, be happy however you are. This is essential.

People who do not have children, they cry day and night and they are not happy. And there are people who have children and they are also not happy.
So your happiness should be delinked from the circumstances or situations. Don’t think, ‘Oh, only when I look good, I will be happy. If I am getting old, I will not be happy’, no! Make one thing for sure, 'Come what may I am going to be happy and contented.'

Q: Gurudev, I want to share an incident. I was going somewhere and I bought two bananas. I ate one banana and kept the other banana. I saw a beggar on the road and a thought came to my mind that I should give him the banana, but another thought came to my mind to keep it for later. So I kept it for later. Did I do something wrong? Should I have given the banana to the hungry person?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I tell you this is what exactly happens. So many people buy so much food and then keep it in the fridge. After a while they find it is getting rotten and throw it away. How many of you do this, you store food in the fridge and then throw it? (Some in the audience raise their hands).
This has been a habit world over.
Do you know, one third of the food thrown comes from our fridges. And nearly one fourth of the food thrown comes from shops where they throw away the foodstuff because it has past it's expiry date. This tendency to hoard is there in the world.

I would say, be spontaneous. If you feel like keeping it, keep it. If you feel like giving it to someone who appears to be very hungry, you can give them.
You don’t have to have a fixed idea, ‘I should always keep the banana to myself and not give it.’ This is no good. Neither you should think, ‘I should always give it’, that is also no good. Be easy, take it easy, and sometimes do this and sometimes do that.

Q: Gurudev, yesterday I happened to meet a lady and she told me that about 20 years ago her Guru came in her dreams and said that she was born to protect the society. This dream prompted her to join the IPS (Indian Police Service), even though she was never an athlete. She said her Guru helped her through her training and today she is one of the most feared cops in India.
Can something like this actually happen? Is there a force that can actually drive a person to that extent?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You know, there are five types of dreams.
The first type of dream is your own projection. Your own desires, fears, come to you as dreams.

The second type of dream is that which you have already experienced in the past, come to you as a dream.

The third type of dream is an intuitive dream. What is going to happen in the future will come to you as a dream.

The fourth type of dream, has nothing to do with you, but with the place where you stay. Suppose you go and sleep in Orissa in a hotel, or in somebody’s house, then in your dream you will hear Oriya language. Have you had this experience?
If you go and sleep in Bengal, then you will hear Bengali words coming out of you in your dream. So this is the fourth type.

The fifth type of dream has a little bit of everything. It is a mixture.
Almost 90% of our dreams will be these type of dreams. It will have some of intuition, little bit of this, little bit of that. So, that is why you should not rely too much on your dreams.

Yes, there will be some intuitive dreams, definitely. But sometimes, your own fears and ambitions can also come in that form. Are you getting what I am saying?
You cannot totally discard it and at the same time you cannot totally accept it as well.

So you don't need to worry about it. This is called Yog Maya. For a Saadhak (seeker) these things happen. That is when they need more guidance. And when you meditate and follow knowledge, you can get over all this.

Q: Gurudev, the journey is from form to formless, then how important is it to be with a Guru? We see even very senior people running after the Guru. So should we just be with knowledge, or feel the presence, or run behind you?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See there is nobody behind me. Everybody is in front of me.
Do whatever you want to do. I have no wants. If you stay in a place and be contented, it is fine. And don’t get in to a guilt trip. I don’t want to put you in to more problems. When your heart says run and your mind says don’t run, you are already in a conflict.
So, I am not going to take either your mind’s side or your heart’s side, because both are important. You decide what you want to do. Make one win sometimes and the other win sometimes. Sometimes your head should win and sometimes your heart should win, that is life. It is all about compromise.

Just know this that there is a power and know that miracles happen. Give some space for miracles to happen.

Q: Gurudev, you tell us choice is yours and blessing is mine. What if what we choose for our self does not fall in line with your broad vision, how do we get to know and how can we rectify that? Will you take the responsibility of bringing us back to your line?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: (Laughs) Every line is my line only.
I wish the best for you and I would like for you to choose. It is not that I decide for you. I want you to choose because with every choice you make, you grow.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, December 19, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Man is the monarch of all animals. Though the elephant lives longer, the lion is more fierce, the eagle more far-seeing, the cock more punctual in early rising, the cow more imbued with the spirit of sacrifice and so on, human birth alone has in it, the potentialities that can be brought out by proper culture. You are born with a helpless lamenting cry; you should die with a smile of joy. That is the purpose of the years between. But those years are wasted now. People are tossed about from one want to another, one grief to another, until they are blinded by despair and exhausted by foiled pursuits. Most illnesses are due to this despair and exhaustion. God alone is your anchor, who will save you from stress and storm. Do not neglect or ignore Him in your life.

-BABA

 

You don’t need to fit God anywhere because He is everywhere! Please don’t try to find a place for Him. He is omnipresent. God is the sum of creation. God is that energy in which we all are.  We cannot escape from that energy. God is not someone who is sitting up there in Heaven and punishes you when you do something wrong. To me God is love. And love is permeating this whole creation in every way, everyone and everything. When you relax and take your mind inwards, you experience that love which is the basis of the whole creation.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

A New Beginning

December 12, 2012

Bangalore, India

When an individual does meditation, it is called Tapasya (focused effort leading towards bodily purification and spiritual enlightenment). But when everyone joins together from all over the world and does meditation it is called a Yagna and it is even more special because we create a field of sattva and a field of harmony which is most needed in the world today.
So, this is very beautiful and very sacred for a new beginning.

What we should remember is that, we are ancient and yet we are new.
Look at the sun, it is old, isn't it?! Yet it is so fresh today! The rays are so fresh, the air is so fresh, the trees are fresh - old tree fresh leaves! So, you are also - FRESH! This is how you should live - I am ancient and new; ageless and timeless!
So feel very fresh and new, and you will see how the complaints and regrets simply evaporate. Acceptance dawns from within, dynamism dawns in life and harmony at every level starts happening.

In life you need three things, Compassion, Passion and Dispassion.
When you are miserable, be dispassionate. When you are happy, be passionate. You should have some passion in life. And passion to do service is the most wonderful thing that one should aspire for.
So, be passionate to serve when you are happy. Have dispassion when you are miserable, and be compassionate all the time!

Q: Gurudev, how can we make utterly materialistic people realize the importance and urgency of meditation in today's gloomy economic situation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Here, memory of the past will help you.
See in the past, after World War II or before that, the world was in such a big crisis. There was very little food and people had limited resources because everything was destroyed, but then people did survive.
We have seen worse periods on this planet. Before independence, in India, there have been so many crisis. We have undergone so many types of crisis - There was drought, floods, famine and a big plague. But people have survived all those hard times as well.
It is not any harder than what it was in the past centuries, so, don’t worry, we have survived those tough times.
Now is when we need to encourage more human values. We need to be of help to each other, share with each other and live together. We need to have good communication with people around us. This human touch is what will give us strength to overcome the crisis.
When you know there are a bunch of people who are behind you, who are supporting you, why would you be afraid of anything?
If you have faith in the consciousness, in the Divinity, it is bound to take care of you, why would you be gloomy?
So, you should make every crisis into an opportunity to turn towards the Divinity, turn towards humanity and turn towards the inner light.

Q: Dear Gurudev in every situation, how to remain ever new and eternal? For example when we meet people, our impression from our previous associations linger in the mind.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yeah of course, that is why I say you are both ancient and new. You are new that doesn't mean that you don't remember somebody's name. Every time you meet someone, you don't ask them, ‘What is your name again?’
Being ever new does not mean amnesia, where you forget everything, no! The depth of memory will certainly be there, but with the memory there will be a freshness. There is an essence of a renewed spirit.
It is difficult to explain but that's what it is. So, don't think that a new beginning or living in the moment means amnesia, okay!

Q: Dear Gurudev, does meditation improve IQ? If yes, how can meditation improve intelligence?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Meditation brings the most needed rest to the brain; to the mind. Rest and silence is the mother of all creativity and intelligence. That is how it improves intelligence.

Q: It is said that, we can live our entire lives as meditation. How is this possible? How can my life become a meditation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Every moment is a new beginning. You wake up and say, 'This is a new beginning!' That is it! There is no 'How', that is how it is. Just let go!

Q: Gurudev, please tell us how Vedic knowledge can benefit the whole world.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is obvious that it is benefiting – Yoga, Meditation, Breathing Exercises, Ayurveda, all this is Vedic knowledge.
Veda itself means knowledge; ancient and new. There is some value in the ancient knowledge and there is some value in the new knowledge. They go together bringing the much needed change in society today.

Q: Why does religion separate and divide people when it is supposed to bring people closer to God.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When ego enters there, that is when the conflict in religion begins. A religion is great because it is ‘My’ religion, not because of what it is.
It is 'My religion’ so it is great. It is the 'Me'; the ego which is the cause of conflict, and not really the religion; But we take religion as a pretext; as ones identity to create so many conflicts in the world, isn't it?
If religion is used only for the purpose of one's connection with God and not for political reasons then religion become spirituality.

Q: Gurudev, what can I rely on that can never be shaken?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The Self. Why you want to rely on anything? Just relax!
Relax and you will find that everything is falling in the right place.
Anything that bothers you, just drop it here. Send it to me. I am with you, yes!

Q: I worry too much about failure, especially when I am doing something important. It decreases my efficiency. How to overcome this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: A new beginning.
That was the past – drop it. Have faith that there are many more new things to come into your life.
One thing that you should know is that you don't know yourself. When you look at what you did in the past or your weaknesses, the first step to gain confidence is to know that you don't know yourself.
When you think that you know yourself, only then do you attached yourself with all these negative events and qualities. But when you wake up and see that, ‘Hey, I don’t know myself’, then it is a new beginning.
Then you will discover that there are so many strengths within you that you were not aware of.

Q: How can I love with freedom, without any expectations and restrictions?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You want security in love and at the same time you are scared of commitment. So you have many emotions all rolled-up into one thing, and this is called confusion.
When there is confusion in love, I would say meditate more and just relax. Things will fall into place.

Q: Gurudev what is between New and Ancient?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Myself.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, December 20, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The highest spiritual discipline is to follow assiduously the instructions of the Master. Years and years of rigorous training make a soldier, who can then stand all the rigours of warfare. The heroic fighter was not made in a day. Restrictions, regulations, drills and techniques laid out for him, were practised for a long time. So too, the practising spiritual aspirant, who can win victories in life, cannot be made in just a day! Understand this and seize your opportunity in this life; put it to full use. You will need to come and merge in the Divine, if not in this birth, at least in ten more births. Hence, do not let go of the opportunity and strive most earnestly, from today, to acquire the Lord’s Grace. The Compassionate Lord will certainly bestow Grace upon you as a reward for your spiritual practices.

-BABA

To calm the mind, be friendly and compassionate, and finally ignore if needed. Ignore the imperfection and keep your mind calm. Hating somebody is like drinking poison. And more so, never hate wise people! Patanjali says, “Awaken the opposite emotion.” This is sadhana. If anger arises, awaken compassion, and a new chemical process will be initiated. ‘Vitarka badhane, pratipaksha bhavanam.’ This is why we remember the Guru - the chemical process changes immediately, and enthusiasm, joy and non-attachment arises naturally.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

Ancient Wisdom

October 30, 2012

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, we are starting the Vedic Wisdom Sessions from tomorrow with the Upanayana (holy ceremony of wearing the sacred thread). We have about a hundred people from Europe. Could you give us some directions about how this Vedic Wisdom can be used in our day to day life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See Vedic Wisdom has been here since time immemorial. There is no fixed time as to when the knowledge began or started. It was not started by any one person alone. It was something that people got when they went deep into meditation.
Many Rishis meditated and when they meditated they heard something in the deep silence. Whatever they heard, they started saying it and asked somebody to note it down. This was then passed down from person to person by word of mouth - The Oral Tradition.
And similarly, all the other different disciplines; the Materia Medica, i.e., Ayurveda (ancient science of Medicine) was also downloaded.

Do you know how Ayurveda was born?
Once in Central India, there was a forest called Naimisharanya. In that forest, 84,000 meditators and saints gathered. They discussed, ‘We need to do something for the welfare of the society for all times to come.' This was their intention.
So they said, 'Let us go into meditation and download the knowledge of Ayurveda; the science of life.'
But then if everyone goes into deep meditation, who will be there to scribe it. So they assigned that task to one Rishi. That one Rishi said, ‘I will be awake and write it all down. You all meditate and say whatever comes to you after going into deep meditation.' So, 84,000 Rishis meditated, and one Rishi Bharadwaja noted it all down on palm leaves. So, that is how the entire Ayurveda was downloaded from the consciousness and that is why even today it has stood the test of time.
Nobody can refute whatever herb they have prescribed for whatever organ. It stands as the testimony of truth even today.

Similarly the science of music was also downloaded.
In music, there are seven sounds, ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni’, and these seven sounds are connected to seven animals. Like the elephant which is so big, it says ‘Ni’. Whenever an elephant makes a sound, there is ‘Ni’ or Nishada (a sound or a harmonic note in music).
Similarly the nightingale makes the sound ‘Pa’. The nightingale sings in the fifth harmonic ‘Pa’. Similarly the harmonic sound ‘Re’ is attributed to the Rishabha (buffalo).
So when different animals make sounds, then ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa’ is produced. But only humans can sing in all those tunes.
I tell you, Gandharva Veda has fantastic knowledge about music. Musicians should learn this. It is very interesting.
They say there are mainly 72 tunes or Ragas and these 72 Ragas have many offspring (referring to the different child ragas or tunes derived from the 72 principal ragas). And there is this one Raga called the Kharhar Priya which has two thousand offspring.
So, how the music and the tune and the tone are born is mentioned in the Gandharva Veda. It is very interesting.
Similarly Sthapatya Veda (the science of architecture and direction) talks about how to make a house and in what direction it should be in and what are the effects of these things. But many of these scriptures and this knowledge is lost today in the world. Sometime in the medieval age, all these scriptures and relics were burnt down. All this knowledge was not encouraged. Many of them are lost.

Q: Gurudev, can we also download all this as well?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, even we can download it. But it is said that so much cannot be downloaded in Kali Yuga (the last of the four stages the world goes through as part of the cycle of Yugas described in the Indian scriptures ).
Tamo Guna (one of the three principal elements associated with inertia and negativity) is more prevalent in Kali Yuga, that is why more and more people should meditate, so that new things can be discovered.
When there is too much Tamas in the atmosphere, it needs to be cleared. That is why you see all these Yajnas (sacred rituals and fire offerings) happening here.
Do you know, you hardly get to see anybody else doing these Yagnas anywhere else in India with such perfection and precision.

Q: Gurudev, why are the words, ‘Ram Naam Satya Hai’ (the name of ‘Rama’ alone is the eternal truth) chanted only after a person dies??
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: So that at least people remember it when someone dies.
People usually chant this when someone not related to them dies. When someone who is our own or related to us dies, then we do not remember this.
It is good, that at the time of someone else’s death everybody remembers that the name of God is the only truth and everything else is ephemeral and not permanent.
This custom was started to make people realize this. It happens only in North India, not in South India. In the South, they observe silence when someone dies.

Q: Gurudev, many times the mind suppresses the voice of intuition. What do we do to enhance our intuition?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There are three types of knowledge that we acquire.
The first type of knowledge is called Indriya Janya Gyan. This is the knowledge that comes from the five senses, which is seeing from the eyes, hearing from the ears, smelling by the nose, tasting by the tongue and touch.
This is the most basic or fundamental knowledge.

Higher that this is the knowledge that is acquired through the intellect - this is called Buddhi Janya Gyan - the intellectual knowledge.
And even more superior that this is the knowledge that comes from within, through effortless Intuition, i.e., without the help of our five senses. This knowledge blossoms from deep within ourselves.
So these are the three levels of knowledge.

Knowledge gained through the intellect is superior to that received through the senses. And even more superior to that is the knowledge gained by intuition.
As we grow and mature, knowledge becomes more subtle and refined, because the mind also matures and becomes more subtle. The mind becomes more and more free from cravings and aversions, and then the subtle knowledge becomes available to us.

Q: Dear Gurudev, on what basis do you reward your devotees? Because I think I do not deserve even ten percent of what I have got. Is there a calculation mistake on your side?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

I do not calculate. Why bother to calculate? I am relaxed. You also better relax.
It is good when we feel that we have gotten more than what we are worthy of. This makes us more humble. It takes away demand from our head because demand destroys love. So, when we know that we have gotten more than what we are worthy of, we reel in love. We will be grateful in our life and more will come.
The more we are grateful, more will come our way. But if we say, ‘Oh I did so much, but got little bit only, I deserve more’, when we think in that line, then complaining, grumbling, anger and frustration comes.

In life, generally, whatever we get, we should have this feeling, ‘I have gotten more than what I deserved’. This is the first point.
That does not mean you should not work. You should keep working. When you are working, you should say, ‘I have more capacity than what I think I can do.’ But when it comes to receiving, we should know that we have gotten more than what we really deserved. That will take us into a higher platform, especially in spirituality. This should be the rule.
I wouldn’t say that same thing is the rule when it comes to human rights. There if your rights are not being honored then you must demand your human rights. But when it comes to your spiritual evolution, you should know, ‘God has given me more than what I ever deserved’.
That simply says that you believe in the judgment and fairness of the Divinity.

Q: Gurudev, The Art of Living is so popular now, yet we face a lot of difficulty at times in convincing our parents. In your time, how did you win your parents’ approval?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes. I had to work hard for it.
Do you know why have I kept a beard? No?
In Delhi, when I started teaching, many of these professors would come, because they heard of my name and that I was teaching meditation. But when they came to the venue, they would ask, ‘Where is Gurudev?’
I would say, ‘I am Gurudev.'
I looked like a small 19 years old boy and so they would not take me seriously. When I would talk they would look here and there and they would think, ‘Oh, this is a small boy talking something.'
They would not take me seriously and would not be attentive towards me at all. Some people would say, ‘Oh, you are Gurudev’, and they would just run away and escape from there.

So then I started growing the beard to look a little older and mature.
When I came to Bengaluru, my mother was not happy seeing me having a beard. She would tell Bhanu, ‘You tell him to shave the beard’, and Bhanu would reply saying, ‘No! I will not tell, you tell him.'
So they both would have this conversation and I would hear it from the next room (Laughter).
She would say, ‘Do not tell him anything, he has come back home after a long time. Do not make him upset. Let him do what he wants to do.'
So, they both did not like me having a beard at that time. But I had to keep it otherwise people would not consider me old enough to be a teacher. They would say, ‘Oh he is a young boy.' I was anyway like a child since the beginning (Laughter). So I had to keep a beard. And once I kept it, I kept it forever.
This is the story.

Q: Gurudev, how to gain victory over our ten senses (here referring to the five Karmendriyas or sense organs of action and expression viz. the mouth, the hands, the feet, the excretory and genital organs; and the five Jnanendriyas or the five sense organs of cognition viz. the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Firstly, keep yourself busy. If you keep yourself idle then your senses will overpower you. Keep yourself busy, that is important.
Have a big goal in life, then you will not have this problem.

Secondly, you must have patience and be careful about what you eat and drink.

Q: Gurudev, if the impression of a Karma is once formed in our mind, then to get rid of it, is it enough to have this experience of knowing that - I am not this mind and what I am, cannot be touched or affected by Karma, or is it necessary to repent and correct myself after knowing this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No, knowing this itself is enough. You must apologize and correct yourself but knowing this is very important as well.

Q: In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that ‘Of the Adityas I am Vishnu, of the Vedas I am the Samveda, of the Gods I am Indra, and among the Rudras I am Shankara. Why does he prefer one over the other?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: He always said, ‘I am the best’. So he goes for the best. So among the Vedas, Samveda is considered to be the best because it is musical. It is the mother of all music, harmony, love and devotion. So Krishna prefers one over another.
These are His preferences. He does not say other things are of lesser importance or are no good, no, not at all! He just says, ‘I am this’.
It is like sometimes you got to a restaurant and pick up certain things and say, ‘I like it’. That doesn’t mean you do not like the other things.

[Pat Gounden]

 

Dear Embodiment of Love

This is the last “Thought for the day” for 2012 -  It will resume again on 7 January 2013.

Time for self study & audit – repose in the self.

 

Blessings for a JOYOUS festive season and a deLIGHTful  2013

 

May the joy and love of Christmas time continue to radiate in your life through every moment of 2013

Date: Friday, December 21, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A green gourd sinks in water, but a dry one floats. Become dry – rid yourselves of attachments, desires, and avoid anxieties and worries. Then you can float unaffected on the waters of change and chance. Even water, when it becomes steam, can rise into the sky. Be free from the desires that drag you down; have only the yearning to come face to face with the Truth. The truth is shining inside you, waiting to be discovered. God is your Indweller and so when you seek Him outside, He cannot be caught. Look for Him within you. Love Him with no other thought, and feel that without Him, nothing is worth anything. Feel that He is all. Then you become His and He becomes yours. There is no kinship nearer than that!

-BABA

 

Within this small body, you are able to experience the infinite space.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD  day

 

What SRI SRI said

Volunteer For A Better India

December 13, 2012

New Delhi, India

As I was lighting the lamp, it took a little time. I said, 'It takes a little time for the oil lamp to catch fire, but once it catches fire, it burns.'
The same goes with the people of this country. They are a little slow in the beginning, but once they begin, they don’t stop.

You know corruption begins where the sense of belongingness ends.
Nobody is corrupt within the purview of their friends and families, or with people whom they feel belong to them.
When the sense of belongingness ends, from that boundary, corruption begins.
In The Art of Living, that is what all of the volunteers, teachers and others are trying to do, i.e., expand the sense of belongingness - The whole world belongs to us.
Every community, every faith, people of all age groups, rural or urban - they are all part of us and they all belong to us.
The sense of the entire humanity being one family, of belonging to each other, is essential for us to have an ethical and just society.
Though it may sound like utopia, but we should never leave this dream. We should dream about it and move in that direction.
Even a tiny step in this right direction will take us a long way, and we have seen this happening.

Society, when it is ridden with crime and corruption, does not become safe for anyone to live in. And we don’t want India to turn into such a field of fear and unjust practices, where people don’t feel safe. This is not India.
Here people would always be fearless. Every religion, every culture, every language enjoyed patronage in this land. But today we see a different picture where people have to move with different types of fear. Crime against women and crime against children are on the rise.
So we need to take this step now, to bring people together and make them feel safe and secure.

Yesterday I was addressing about 756 offenders. They are called goondas, dacoits or rowdy-sheeters.
We gave them a different name yesterday - Karnadhars, which means torch-bearer for a new light, a new hope in society.
When we heard from them how their lives changed in just a week’s time (after attending The Art of Living YLTP Program), our hopes have really touched the sky.
These people who do petty to big crimes in slums, if their minds and hearts can be changed, then we have a lot of hope. And not only hope, but this puts a lot of responsibility on us. When we know that we can do something, we have to do it. We can’t just keep quiet. Volunteer For A Better India is a beautiful initiative. I am sure each one of you here will multiply yourself into groups of thousands of volunteers, to bring the message of a crime-free, corruption-free and just India.
What do you say?! (All in the audience say, 'Yes').

On 1 March 2009, I remember it was you volunteers and Yes+ students who first started India Against Terrorism, because in the year 2008 India saw 13 terror attacks in 12 months, and hundreds of people had lost their lives in these attacks.
This is something that was so sad. It was so sad that we had such incidents. And it is you, the youth here in Delhi, who stood up and started this movement and invited Kiran Bedi, Kejriwal and the others. It is this movement that sowed the seed of the India Against Corruption movement in 2010.
So volunteers can do a lot and you are the real inspiring force.

If the youth of India come forward to take up these issues, of female foeticide, narcotics de-addiction programs, alcohol de-addiction programs, and action against corruption, you can turn things around.
Don’t underestimate your strength. I tell you, you can make miracles. You can turn things around 180 degrees. The youth and the younger generation of this country, it is you who have the power.
When I say youth, that is inclusive of many elderly youth here as well (laughter).
One such youth just celebrated his 56th wedding anniversary yesterday. This couple, I tell you, they are in their eighties, and the enthusiasm and the energy they have is unbelievable. This is inner strength.
Integrity and intuition can only come when there is an inner strength.
Inner strength is seeing life from a broader perspective, with love and care. Seeing life, as a short-span of time that we are going to be here, on this planet, and fixing priorities accordingly.

I want to give you an example. One of the Art of Living teachers is an IAS officer in Gujarat.
Now this gentleman was offered 51 crores just to put his signature on a paper. 51 crores! An officer cannot dream of making 51 crores in one lifetime. Forget one lifetime, even in three lifetimes, he cannot make 51 crores.
I have not seen any officer make 51 crores, i.e., 10 million dollars.
So this gentleman he was offered 51 crores and he said, 'No, I won’t put my signature.' Even if he did put his signature, nobody would have noticed it. He could have had many justification for taking that money.
He could have said, 'Oh, I will take this money and give it to the poor people, or I will do some good work in the society.'
10 million dollars is a big thing, but see the integrity of this man. He said no to that. I am so proud of this gentleman.

Now what can give you such inner strength?
You don’t have to be a recluse; of course a recluse can do it. But for a householder to refuse a huge offer like this is not easy, unless he has that inner strength and contentment.
Contentment, compassion, integrity, intuition, all these values spring out from inside of you. And that which makes these values blossom in your life, I call it as, Spirituality.
Not just repeating some prayers, and not just visiting some holy places, but living the values is what is Spirituality.
This is what real faith means, and faith is essential; faith in oneself and faith in the goodness of people around you.

Half the time we think, everybody is bad, how can I alone be correct in this society? When you see everybody as bad, then in your subconscious mind, you justify yourself accepting corruption. You think, 'Well, this is the way of life, we have to go with the flow.'
These sort of things come to you for survival.
Now if you need to stand up, you need the inner strength, and that is what meditation is all about. Meditation provides you that inner strength, brings integrity in your personality and allows the intuition that you already have to manifest in life. I feel this is essential.

As I was saying, when I was interacting with these criminal elements; I should not even call them criminal elements actually; these misguided youth, I saw there is beauty in each of them. It is just that they were not given the opportunity to relieve themselves of the stress and misconceptions that they have.
They were not given the opportunity to get rid of their anxiety and tension, and realise that there is enough love in the society, and there are good people on the planet, and good people in the neighbourhood who will come and stand by them when they are in trouble. There are people who stand with you, shoulder-to-shoulder and help you out.
This confidence in the goodness of society needs to be re-established. Unless this is done, ethics will not survive in society.
No ethics can blossom in a society or survive in society when there is no trust in human values, or no trust between the people and between the communities.
So trust in oneself, trust in the people around you, and trust in the unseen, unheard, and unknown hand that is helping us.
You can call this trust in god, trust in nature or trust in the super power. This is all essential for a just, free and a happy society.

So Volunteer For A Better India is not only going to cleanse the ills and evils of society, it has a more important role to play and that is to create waves of happiness.

Today, United Nations has started speaking in terms of GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness). No more GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
Do you know, our neighbouring country Bhutan has the highest GDH. Though it was a very controlled society till recently, it has retained its happiness.
Even today in rural India, people appear to be much more happier. Even if they have just one glass of lassi (butter-milk), they will share it with you. There is so much compassion and such a sense of belongingness in them. They don’t ask you your background or who you are, where are you from, what is your qualification, or what is your name. They will first say, 'Come in and have a cup of tea or glass of lassi.' And then they will ask you where are you from, what do you do.
So, first they stretch their hand and share what they have with you and all those questions come later on.

In metropolis like Delhi, Mumbai and all, we don’t even know who our neighbours are. Volunteer For A Better India will break these barriers, this ice, and bring neighbours together, and communities together.
Communities working together is a great joy. Not only working for female foeticide and a corruption-free society, but it also helps in bringing a wave of happiness which is a vaccination for the fast growing disease called depression.

With these words, I pray the Almighty blesses you all with a lot of strength and vigour to carry on this work, Volunteer For A Better India.

The Art of Living is just one NGO. I feel I am not trapped by The Art of Living. It is only one of the many organisations and I belong to many organisations and not only to The Art of Living.
So I hope you also feel the same way. And to all other NGO’s who are present here, we all belong to one human family with one cause, i.e., to bring more happiness and more smiles on the planet.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, January 07, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Today you are like a mouse caught inside a Mridanga (Indian percussion instrument). When the player beats on the right, the mouse runs to the left – if the left is beaten, it runs in terror to the right. So too, you are running between God and World, reluctant to stick to God and at the same time, retreating from the denials and disappointments of worldly activity temporarily. Namasmarana (Remembrance of the Lord’s Name) will make you stick to God persistently. A lost child, regains joy only when it finds its mother – so too you will attain joy only when you find God within you and merge in Him. The ocean drop that rose as vapour, joins the congregation called cloud, falls on earth, flows along the ravines, and at last reaches the ocean. Reach likewise the ocean you have lost.

-BABA

All the enlightened masters have declared: the joy of Self---uniting with the Self---is a hundred times more than any other joy.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

The Dance of the Divine

December 29, 2012

Bad Antogast, Germany

Q: Dear Gurudev, can you please tell us more about the lineage of the masters?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, we do not know when it exactly began, since it goes back many thousands of years.

The knowledge of Yoga, Meditation, and the knowledge that the whole of the universe is created by One energy, has been passed down through the tradition of the Masters.

Usually when you create something, the creator is separate and the object is separate.
For example, if you were to create a candle, you would think - this candle is different from me, and you would keep it apart and away from yourself. You would think, ‘It is my creation but it is not me.'

So, this is usually what people think, the Creator and this Creation are two separate things. But if you say God is omnipresent, meaning present everywhere, he must be present inside the Creation as well.
Where is the space for something to exist outside of it, if something is omnipresent? Isn't it?!
If I am all powerful, can there be something else which is more powerful than me? Not possible.
So the Creation and Creator are not two different things. There is only One thing.

Now, how do we understand this, that the Creator and the Creation are one? Through the example of a dance and the dancer. Can you separate a dance from the dancer? No! It is impossible.
If you have to see the dance, you can only see it through the dancer.
A painter and his painting are different. A painter can paint a painting and move away, and there will still be a painting. But a dancer cannot move away from his dance.

So the Creation and the Creator are like the dance and the dancer.
That energy, which we call God, or Love, or Light, is permeating the whole of creation, and every particle of the universe.
This is the essence of the ancient knowledge, and this is exactly what modern science, and quantum mechanics explains as well.

The whole world is made up of One field; One energy.
This solves so many riddles of the theologians.

Q: How can we turn thoughts of lack into thoughts of abundance?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The very thought that you want to do it, means you have already started moving in that direction.
Look at what your requirements are and you will see that they will always be met. Whatever you need always comes to you. But do not take it to an extreme and say, 'Let me just do nothing and let everything come to me', no, that is not correct.
You have to put in your efforts, and you have to have courage. These two things bring you wealth.

There is proverb in Sanskrit that says, ‘Udyoginam purusha-simham upayati Lakshmi.'
It means that great wealth comes to one who has the courage of a lion and who puts in all his efforts. Therefore put in all your efforts, and be like a lion.
Do you know, the lion is the laziest animal. It is the lioness who hunts for the prey and presents it to the lion. The lion just goes and eats the prey. The lioness does the work.
The lion does not even do the work of hunting the prey. He is lazy, yet he is the king of the forest and has the confidence.
So this is what you need to have - confidence and the sense of majesty of a lion.
Then you must put in your 100% efforts, and that is when wealth comes to you.

Do not be feverish about it, just take up a project and do it.
Later on, you will see that you will get wealth as well, along with it.

Q: Dear Gurudev, you said there are different types of prana, could you please talk a little bit more about that?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There are ten types of Prana (the subtle life force energy). Of these, there are five major and five minor kinds of Prana. Today let me just talk about the five major types of Prana.

The first major type of Prana is called Prana which arises from your navel upwards to the top of the head.

Then there is another type of Prana that goes downwards from the navel, and it is called Apana.
When the Prana level is too high, you cannot sleep; you can get insomnia and you feel very jittery. However, if the Apana level is too high, you feel so dull that you do not even want to get off the bed.
Have you had this experience? Sometimes you feel so heavy, gross, and dull. This is due to the imbalance of Apana.

The third type of Prana is Samana which is present as the digestive fire in the digestive system, i.e., in the stomach. It is the agni or the fire that helps digest the food.
Samana is that which helps indigestion, and it also helps other bodily systems. It helps in balancing the system.

Then there is Udana Vayu or Udana Prana which is somewhere near the heart region and is responsible for emotions.
In Sudarshan Kriya, people cry or they laugh, and you find that all these emotions well up. This is due to the Udana Vayu. So this Udana Vayu is responsible for all the emotions.

Then the fifth type of Prana called Vyana which is responsible for all the movement in the body. It is spread all over the body.
In Sudarshan Kriya, you feel some tingling, some energy all over the body. Have you all experienced this?
What happens in Sudarshan Kriya is, all the five Pranas get balanced, and that is why you cry, or you laugh, and you feel a tingling all over the body. That is the specialty of Sudarshan Kriya.
You also tend to feel very hungry after the Kriya, is it not so?

So, these five Prana in the body run our lives.
If Samana is imbalanced, then it gives rise to digestive problems, and you cannot digest the food properly, or you may experience nausea. All this happens because of an imbalance of the Samana Prana.

When Udana Prana is stuck, you feel an emotional block that also affects your thinking and your mind.

When the Vyana which is all over the body is imbalanced, then you have joint pain, or movement trouble, and either you become too jittery and restless, or you may feel like you do not want to do anything.
Moving around anywhere in such a state gives discomfort and creates restlessness in the body. All this is caused by the Vyana imbalance.

After Sudarshan Kriya, you would have noticed that all these imbalances go away. Has this not happened to all of you?
All earlier discomfort in the movements of the body, or its circulation, or some pains due to Vyana imbalance, all disappeared after Sudarshan Kriya.

So these are the five different Pranas.
There are five other sub-ordinate Pranas as well, but that we will discuss that another time.

Q: How compatible are love and dispassion for a life companion?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You need both, passion and dispassion in life.
Usually we think, ‘When I have passion, how can I have dispassion? If I am dispassionate, how can I be passionate about anything?’
This is what the normal concept is in the minds of people. I tell you, it is not that way.
It is like, breathing in is passion, breathing out is dispassion and in-between the two, is compassion. You need all three.

You need to be passionate about something in life, otherwise you will go into depression.
Be passionate about knowledge, be passionate about doing seva, be passionate about thinking; or about anything. Some passion definitely needs to be there in life. You can have a passion for wisdom as well. So passion is essential!

Dispassion is essential as well. Without dispassion there is no joy; no happiness. You will be miserable if you do not have any dispassion.
And of course, compassion is needed in life. So all three are essential.

Q: What happens if we do not make it to liberation this time around. Can we be with you in our next lifetime?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, of course. Do not worry about it.

Q: Dear Gurudev, I wonder why so many couples cannot get children. What is happening in the Western World?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, that you have to ask the doctors. They will give you the right diagnosis.
We cannot generalize about this. Of course one of the reasons is alcohol and the use of intoxicants. That is no good.
People start drinking alcohol right from their college or schooldays. That is no good. This world would be a far better place if people keep away from intoxicants.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Great sages of the past, filled with immense sympathy for their fellowmen, laid down rules, regulations, limits and directions for daily life and conduct, so that one’s hand and brain, instincts and impulses may not turn against another, but may turn towards the ideals of Truth, Righteousness, Peace and Love. They declared that every action must be weighed in the balance and approved only if it cleanses the emotions and passions; it has to be cast aside if it curdles or fouls them. Bhaavashuddhi (purification of mental disposition) should be the fruit of every action. The worship of idols, rituals, vows and fasts, festivals and holy days - all these are designed to tame the wildness and train one to tread the straight path to self-realisation. -BABA   The little mind offers itself in the fire of the Being, the big Self: "I *am* the big Self. So are you." This is called "yagya." Yagya is offering the smallness into the wholeness.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day   What SRI SRI said

Sri Sri's New Year Message December 31, 2012 Berlin, Germany 2012 is passing rather very fast. Let us recapture! When this year began, there was a lot of talk about 21 December 2012. There were rumors that the world is going to end. And there are many people who believe rumors; at least some people believe in rumors very strongly. So people started hoarding food in their basements, waiting for the doomsday to fall. I have always been saying that no such thing is going to happen. Of course, this year we have seen many catastrophes, like almost every year. Maybe little more. US had a big catastrophe, Japan had problems, and there were problems in many other parts of the world as well; Nature’s fury. At the same time the economic gloom, which people thought is going to really make the situation worse, was also managed. Still everything is working well. People are surviving. Of course things have to become better and it has started becoming better already. This coming year, 2013, will be much better. There is a big awareness in people today, towards the environment, towards the safety of women and children. What we have been saying for so many years, today many people are waking up and saying, 'We need more human values, we want violence to go down.’ This year, let us all resolve to act for making a better society - a society free from violence, society free from crime and corruption, a society which is safe and just, and a world which is sustainable. Most of all, we need to work towards spiritual elevation and spiritual awakening. And it will happen. In fact, it is already happening. More and more people are interested in spiritual awakening. The Art of Living is going to make a big leap. This year we will be teaching two new Kriyas, which will make people's lives much more joyful. People will feel so much more joyful, so much more dynamic, so much more committed, compassionate and creative. Time poses challenges, it is for you to see how you can benefit from these challenges. Every time a challenge is in front of you, see how you can make this challenge, an opportunity for your own growth. How you can turn it and utilize it for your own growth. This is what you need to do. As you are coming to the end of this year, think of all those challenges you had, and how they have contributed to your growth. Think of how you handled these challenges, and while handling them, what mistakes you made, and from those mistakes, what lessons did you infer. This is the first step. Second, think of gifts that the past year has given to you; has brought to your life, and how you are going to utilize these gifts for the betterment of life on the planet. See, everyone is bestowed with some or other talents, some or other gifts. You need to see how are you utilizing these talents. Are you utilizing them at all? This is what you need to point out. Plan for this year; in the next 12 months, what are you going to do every day?! Everyday, do meditation. Once in every three to four months take some time off and go deeper into meditation and go into silence. At least once a year, you must meditate in silence (Advanced Course), and spend some time doing some good work for the society and for everybody on the planet. Don't think only about yourself, but do some service activity. Then you will see that whatever you want for yourself, you ask and it will come to you. You have to do something first, then when you ask, you will get. If you say, ‘I want only for myself, I don't want to do anything’, no, that will not work. You should do some good work in society, bring smiles on the faces of people and gain some merit. If you bring smiles on the faces of others then you have a right to demand something for yourself. Do you see what I’m saying? This is real currency. See, if you have money then you can go shopping. If you have no money, no credit card and you go shopping, who will give you anything? You need to have some bank balance first, isn't it? So, when you do seva, your bank balance goes up. Then when you ask for whatever it is that you want, you will get it. You can buy the whole supermarket if you have enough points. So let us resolve to do something good in society, and let us have the confidence that whatever we need will come to us; will be given to us. Our wish will definitely be granted. When we wish something, it will be granted. Next, you need to be ready to learn new lessons in life. Keep the cheer, the joy and smile throughout the journey of life. Got it? See, everyone is walking. Some are yelling, crying and walking and some are smiling and walking. Everybody is on a conveyor belt and the belt is moving. Some are crying, some are laughing, but the conveyor belt is anyway moving. So, it is your choice, how do you want to move on this conveyor belt of time. See, in a car, you have a rearview mirror, isn't it?! You have a big windshield, and there is a small rearview mirror. Just imagine if your car’s rearview mirror is as big as the windshield and windshield is as small as the rearview mirror, what will happen to you? Can you drive? No! Your car can teach you a lesson. What is the lesson? You need to look back only a little bit, just like that little mirror. The rearview mirror represents the past, and the present is the windshield. The future is like the side view mirrors. So, when you drive, you will have to look to the side and to the back as well, but most of the time, you have to look in the front. If you only keep looking at the side mirrors while driving, you will meet with an accident. So you should look front, but sometimes look at the side mirrors, and sometimes at the rearview mirror. Look a little at the past and the future, but most of the time be in the present. What do you say? Time has come, voices of the good people will become stronger now. All those people who are doing bad things will come to light and their minds will change. Waves of spirituality will start transforming people. This is going to happen in the coming years. This wave will become much more predominant. Those people who are cheating others, they will all come down from their seats of power, and then they will be exposed. People who are cheating others will be exposed, this will happen. So, good times are there in front of us.

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  31 January to 2 February 2013

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 11 to 15 January  2013. (NB! Changed from 10-14Jan)

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

 

Date: Wednesday, January 09, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You have immense capacities latent in you, waiting to be tapped and used. You have many talents that have to be brought to light. You feel the urge to love all beings, and to share your joy and grief with fellow beings; to know more and satisfy the curiosity of your intellect, to peep behind the awe and wonder that Nature arouses in you. You are able to gather information about all kinds of things from all comers of the world, but you are unaware of what happens in the comers of your own mind. You know who is who among all the rest, but you do not know the answer to the simple question, "Who am I?" Without knowing this, people go about rashly judging, labelling and even libelling others! Each one has to ask oneself and seek out the clue to this enigma of one’s reality.

-BABA

 

Are you the mind? Are you your thoughts? Are you your emotions? Who are you?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD  day

 

What SRI SRI said

7 Ways to Achieve Inner Peace and Prosperity in the New Year

---

Each new year, people wish each other happiness, prosperity and peace, but only a few seem to know how to be peaceful -- like only a few know how to make money. Here are some steps that might help one to find the most needed inner peace.

1. Take Time for Yourself

Often, we become so engrossed in our day-to-day activities, we simply end up gathering more and more information, and do not take time out to think and reflect. Then we feel dull and tired.

A few quiet moments everyday are the source of creativity. Silence heals and rejuvenates and gives you depth and stability. Sometime during the day, sit for a few minutes; get into the cave of your heart, eyes closed, and keep the world away.

Taking some time for yourself improves the quality of your life.

2. Know the Impermanence of Life

See the impermanence in this life.

Millions of years have passed and millions more will come. Nothing is permanent. In this broad, universal context, what is your life? It is not even a drop in the ocean.

Just open your eyes, and ask, "Who am I? Why am I on this planet? What is my lifetime?"

An awareness dawns, and you will stop worrying about little things. All smallness will simply drop and you will be able to live every moment of your life.

When you review your life in a broader context, the quality of your life improves.

3. Perform Random Acts of Kindness

Make a commitment to make this world a better place to live. Do some acts of kindness without expecting anything in return. Service alone can bring contentment in life. It creates a sense of connectedness. When you bring some relief to someone through selfless service, good vibrations come to you. When you show kindness, your true nature, which is love and peace, come to the surface.

4. Make Your Smile Cheaper

Every day, every morning, look at the mirror and give a good smile to yourself. Don't let your smile be snatched away by anybody! Usually, you give your anger freely and smile rarely, as though a smile is costly. Make your smile cheaper and anger expensive!

5. Make Meditation a Part of Life

When we have higher goals in life it leads to stress and restlessness, which can be released through a few minutes of meditation and introspection. Meditation gives you deep rest. The deeper you are able to rest, the more dynamic you will be in activity.

What is meditation?

• Mind without agitation is meditation.
• Mind in the present moment is meditation.
• Mind that has no hesitation, no anticipation is meditation.
• Mind that comes back home to the source, which is peace and joy, is meditation.

6. Be a Student Always

Know that you are a student forever. Do not underestimate anybody. Knowledge may come to you from any corner. Each occasion teaches you and each person teaches you. The world is your teacher. When you are always looking to learn, you will stop underestimating others. Humility will dawn in your life.

7. Feel Grateful

Our love, faith and belief should be deep-rooted, and then everything else moves on its own. The feeling that "I am blessed" can help you overcome any failure. Once you realize that you are blessed, then all the complaints and grumbling disappear, all the insecurities disappear and you become grateful, contented and peaceful.

 

The New Year!

January 1, 2013

As the clock ticked in the midnight,
Firework flashed through the sky.

Explosions heard everywhere,
Not to wake up but to put people into intoxicants.

Drums fell on deaf ears
For the lame to dance on the darkest hour.

The end relished, the beginning perished
Without a sense of ownership.

The lonely New Year Sun rose quietly
Only empty streets to watch its glory and beauty.

A deadly silence spoke in volumes
Of the time that we are in now.

A ray of hope pierced through the earth
Looked for the values deep hidden.

The majestic Eagle kept wondering
If man would ever learn new ways of celebration

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, January 10, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Be eager and earnest to know more and more about the art of unperturbed happy living. One can advance only step by step and there is the danger of slipping down two steps when you climb one. What matters is the determination to climb, the resistance with which the tendency to slide is met, the yearning to rise, to progress, to conquer the lower impulses and instincts. If you have that, the hidden spring of power will surge up within you; the Grace of the Lord will smoothen your path. Keep the ideal before you; march on. Only those with ideals are respected and remembered with gratitude, for posterity

-BABA

When the question begins then you see oh, ‘PRANA’ - there is life force, and then you go deeper into the study of ‘PRANA’ and you see there is something more than ‘PRANA’. What is that, that is the mind! Oh, then what is the mind? How many types of mind are there? How many functions of the mind are there? This curiosity takes you to the 'Art of Living'.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day

What Sri Sri said

The Other Side of Love

January 08, 2013

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Bad Antogast, Germany

Q: Gurudev, could you please talk about the connection between spirituality and mathematics?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Mathematics of spirituality is that 2 + 1 = 0.
Did you get it? Think about it!
When the body and mind, these two merge with the One spirit, then nothing remains to be known anymore. That is what it is!

Q: Dearest Gurudev, there have been many questions asking you to talk more about the meaning of Jesus, His birth and the meaning of his presence. Please talk a little about this.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Jesus is the embodiment of love.
Just look at how much insult and pain he had to suffer. Jesus took the hurt and the pain with such equanimity and calmness. He was blamed by everyone. Even his own disciples ran away.
Imagine how hurtful that must have been for him at that time. When you do all you can for your devotees, and one fine day, they disown you and run away, it is the most terrible hurt that anyone can imagine. But Jesus’ life was like that. And when everyone had forsaken him in the end, he even asked God, ‘Have you also forsaken me?’
So, his was a life of total pain on one side and love on the other side.

Now, this does not mean that anybody who loves will have to undergo so much pain. It is not so. His message to the people was always this, ‘Do not be a fanatic about anything. Do not judge and do not be cruel. Be loving and compassionate towards everyone, for God is Love.'
People were living in the head at that time, they were only thinking of sins and punishment. They were only dreaming of heaven and afraid of hell.
Jesus came and said, ‘Live in the present moment. Live now and be loving and caring towards all. There is no need to be afraid of God because He is our father, and like a father he is part of us. My father and I are one.'

He gave such a revolutionary message at that time, and made people realize that the journey is from the head to the heart, and not from the head to the heavens and the stars. He gave that message, but for seventy years no one recorded what He said.
I have heard from scholars that the Bible was written seventy years after his demise. So later on, there could have been many distortions of the original text. That is why there are 72 sects of Christianity, each claiming to be the real one.
There is only one Jesus Christ but there are 72 different sects and they have all interpreted the Bible in their own way.
They must try to grasp its main essence and not get into theological fights with each other, as that will never end in the world.

The same happened with Lord Buddha also. There was only one Lord Buddha but there are 32 sects of Buddhism, each claiming to be the original one, with the right interpretation of his teachings.
The same can be found with Prophet Mohammed also. There are five sects of Islam and they do not like each other. In fact, they contradict each other.
Man has this habit of hanging onto concepts without really experiencing it.
People make those concepts as their identity and are willing to give up their life for that identity.
Jesus’ message was, ‘Wake up and see that the kingdom of heaven is within you. Know that God is love.'

So, be like a child. A child has no prejudices. Unless you are like a child you cannot get into heaven. This message is getting lost.
A child-like innocence, and sense of belongingness with everybody is missing. This is why there has been so much crime in the name of religion.
When religion started to be mixed with political authority, then it gave rise to communism. All this has happened because we do not realize the inner light, that we are, the light of our inner being.

Q: Dear Gurudev, if doing nothing brings us so much joy and happiness, then why should we do anything at all?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Your nature is such that you cannot stay for too long without doing anything.
You know, bliss is always found or realized in the contrast of events.
When you are doing something and when you put in your 100% efforts, only then do you realize the value of not doing something.
See, when you are active and dynamic, only then does deep rest happen to you. If you are simply lying in bed the whole day and are doing nothing, then you will not be able to sleep at night. So it is essential to do what you have to do.
We have certain karmas to do, and once the karmas are done, then in between the states of doing and being in activity, we do experience that state of not doing anything also.

Q: Gurudev, are desires created, and can they be removed? If so, how?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just look back and reflect on your life from your childhood. You had so many desires back then; some of which you fulfilled and many of which you dropped. You have not been able to fulfill every single desire that has arisen in your head as a child, as a young adult, or as a youth.
If it had happened that way, you would have been crazy. You would have been miserable. Thank God that it did not happen. This is why only those things which had to happen started happening to you.

All this praise and insult, everything happens only on planet Earth, and we have to face them and move on. Become a strong soul, a strong individual. That is the real strength.
Are you able to smile through every event in life? That is the purpose of all this.
Can you keep your smile?
It is tough, I know, but you need to do it.
If you try to run away from anything, it is only going to chase you further. If not in this life, then it will happen in the next life. That is why it is said that just be done with everything which has to happen now, and move on with a big smile, with courage, and with enthusiasm.

The bitter experiences that you came across, have given depth to your personality, while the good experiences broadened your personality. So they have all contributed to your life. Good or bad experiences, both should be welcomed, as both make your personality strong. They both contribute to your being in an unimaginable manner.
Just know that they are all part of your Sadhana (spiritual practice).
So, pleasant experiences are also a part of your Sadhana. The same goes for the unpleasant events that you have gone through.
For example, people giving you compliments, or people throwing insults at you are both a part of your Sadhana. In both cases, you become solid, you get centered, and you grow the way you are supposed to grow.

Q: Dear Gurudev, why does longing hurt so much? I am referring to the longing for the Divine and for the Infinity. Where have we come from?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, love and hurt are very close and go hand in hand.
When you love someone, then you do get hurt sometimes. It happens this way, and we have to live through it. So do not run away from it.
Getting hurt is a part of love.

Today somebody came and told me, ‘My son is like this, my son is like that; he is not listening to me.'
See, it is only natural. The mother has done so much for the child and when the child does not listen to her at all, she feels so hurt.
Naturally, the mother wants the best for her son, while the son thinks he knows what is good for him. So he does not want to listen to the mother. Now, what do you do in this situation?
The mother came to me and said, ‘Gurudev, what do you suggest I should do?’
I told her, ‘See, I want the best for everybody. So, I want the best for your son and I want the best for you as well.'
To this she replied, ‘But Gurudev, my son listens to you more than me.'
I said, 'Now if he listens to me more than you, then that means he knows for sure that Gurudev has no selfish motives and that I will say the right thing.'
I told the son, ‘You do what you want.'
See, I do not dictate to people, ‘You do this, you do that’.
So hurt is indeed a part of love. The pain is inevitable.

When there is love, it also sometimes brings pain. But to be afraid of pain and to stop loving, and shutting down completely is foolishness, which a lot of people do.
To stop being in love because it hurts at times is not an intelligent decision at all. It is the most foolish thing that one can ever do. But those who sail through that little pinch and move on, will get the real, blissful love.

Q: Gurudev, why are humans supposed to go through all these processes to attain enlightenment?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is needed, just know that for now.

 

 

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How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  a) Refresher Course for repeaters 31 January to 2 February 2013,  b) P1 course (new & repeaters) 7-9 February 2013

2) SRI SRI Yoga Course to be held at APD in Chatsworth 11 to 15 January  2013. (NB! Changed from 10-14Jan)

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, January 11, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Take failures and victory coolly. To do the latter is a very difficult mental exercise. In a running race, the losers, when running neck to neck, prompt the winners to run faster. They inspire the grit, to put in that extra pace which brings victory to the winners. Hence, winners must actually be thankful to the losers for their victory. Those who did not win, I ask you not to lose your self-confidence. Never attach too much value to victory and defeat. All of you are born for far greater things than winning mundane races and competitions. Your destiny does not depend upon a game or an examination – it depends more upon your character, your will power and the grace of God.

-BABA

In nature, both destruction and creation are complementary. They are two steps---like day and night. All opposite values in nature, they all dance together. It has been that way since the beginning. It'll continue 'til the end.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

A Balance of the Heart and the Mind

January 07, 2013

Kochi, Kerala

(Sri Sri at the International Leadership Summit)

In a home, do you know who the real leader is? Is the father the leader of the house, or the baby?
You will be surprised to know that it is the baby that leads the house. It is around the baby that the entire family circles, isn't that so?!
That is why, I consider myself as a baby; as a child.

A real leader needs to have these two qualities, one of the head and the other of the heart - Sensibility and Sensitivity.
Often what we see, people who are very sensible, are not sensitive, because they are so focused on reason; on being sensible and logical. And then there are those who are very sensitive that at the drop of a hat, tears come into their eyes, but they are not sensible enough.
Neither of these two can become a good leader, because you need to have a balance of both - Sensibility and Sensitivity; heart and mind, because we are all made up of these two very important aspects of our life.
Intellect has its unique place, and so do our emotions.

In the past century, the emphasis has been only on the intellect. A tear in a man's eyes was considered to be something weird. How can a man cry?!
And a woman taking a mike, and standing up and speaking, or fighting for her rights, was considered to be weird. And that is how the society was. Women could not lead!
Of course, not in Kerala. In Kerala, a different system has been there. But world over, women were not given that intellectual power to speak because she was brushed aside as the more fair and sensitive race. Today, the scenario has changed.
Today, we need sensibility and sensitivity. We need that softness of a female in every leader, and the strength and perseverance of a male in every woman, then one can lead any organization. What do you say?!

There is something very important that I want to tell you. Whenever we have to discuss about leadership, or anything very dear to our hearts, we need to be in a very informal atmosphere.
So, why don't we just take half a minute, to greet the person behind us, in front of us, to our sides, saying, 'I belong to you!'

Done?! Did you greet the people near you?
Some of you were so shy to even say 'Hi' to others.

Many times, we find leaders in such a position. They don't look at people, they look somewhere else and keep talking. They can't relate to people, isn't it?!
So did you really tell the people around you, 'I belong to you'; or you did it as a formality?

You must have noticed, when you get off the plane, the air hostess greets you saying, 'Have a nice day!' They say this much but they don't really mean it.
In the same way, most of the pleasantries that we exchange in our daily lives, is from that level. We say, 'Hi', or 'Welcome', but there is no warmth of welcoming someone.
But the same words, when it comes to you from someone very dear to you; your mother, or your sister, or close friend, then it carries some vibrations.

Most of what we communicate is through vibes, and words play a very small part of it. Your vibrations send more messages, even before words come out of your mouth.
A leader when he relies on his words should know for sure that his words will not be relied upon.
If you rely on words so much, people will not rely on your words. It has to come from deep within. That is what is called sincerity, when there is a connect between your vibes, your feelings and your words.
You may tell me, 'Gurudev, it is so difficult to match these three. How is it possible?! If everybody could match these three, everybody would be a saint. It is not practical!'
I tell you, okay, I agree with you. You will not be able to match it 100%, but at least can you match 25%. That much you can do, because people can feel it; sense it.
So we convey a lot through our vibrations than through words. Words are important but it needs that presence.

People are intelligent, they can make out when you really welcome someone and when you are doing it as a formality.

Okay, I have another exercise for you. Will you do it? Are you ready?
Can you turn to the person next to you and tell the person, 'I don't trust you!'
If your spouse is next to you, this is an opportunity! (Laughter)

You all did it so quickly?!
Did you notice that it was not easy to do that. This is the very first time that you must have told someone, 'I don't trust you', and you started laughing and they started laughing as well. Transformation has begun.
You were not relying on their words and they were not relying on your words, isn't it?!

Just for a minute close your eyes, and just imagine, no one trusts you. Everybody is telling you, 'I do not trust you.'
You may open your eyes.
How do you feel? Relieved?! Awful?!
(Audience: Awful; miserable; uncomfortable; desperate; sad; horrible; dejected)

You know, this is what we generate when we have this attitude, 'I don't trust anybody.'
We create such a vibration, that anybody who comes around us, they feel that we feel that way, and then there is mistrust in society, and that is how society starts going down and conflicts arise.

Do you know, most conflicts can be solved at the very beginning itself, if the pact of trust is attended to.
See, when you feel nobody trusts you, you feel so bad, and you feel such a bad vibration all around you, and that creates such an atmosphere that is not good for you or for anybody else.
I don't mean that you have to be naive, but at the same time I want you to look at this aspect of trust. A society which has no faith in human values cannot flourish, or progress, or be creative, on any count. This is my conclusion.

Now you may ask, 'What about self-doubt. I trust others but I don't trust myself.'
This is another form of the same disease. Lack of trust in yourself leads to lack of trust in others. Lack of trust in others leads to lack of trust in the values of society, which leads back to lack of trust in oneself.
This needs to be corrected. And anything that corrects this should be welcomed.
Trust between communities, trust between members of the same family is important.
I would say, it is stress that is responsible for distrust.

Don't think everyone is a fraud. There are good people on the planet and that counts for majority of them. The world is bad today, not because of a few bad people, but it is the silence of the good people that has created unfavourable situations. Now it is in our hands to change this.
Each one of you is a leader, don't look for a leader.
What is important is to lead from behind. A real leader is not one who emphasizes, 'I am the leader, you must follow me', instead he says, 'Go forward', and he pushes others in front. 'I am here with you, so you run'; just like the coach who assists his participant in a running race, or a coach who teaches you swimming.
Someone argues, how can I jump into the water when I don't know swimming. But unless you get into the water, how can you learn swimming?! You can't swim in the air. So that guidance has to come from one's own very life's example.

You have seen the big uproar that has happened in India. Finally people have woken up to the plight of women. It is not the first time that a woman has been abused, it has been happening for many years and in many places. People have woken up, and everybody is demanding that these people need to be punished, but they are leaving out one person, i.e., Mr. Alcohol.
If these people were not drunk, perhaps they would not have gone out of their senses. And if these people were in their senses, perhaps they would not have committed such a crime. But they were totally drunk. Isn't it?!
It is alcohol which is the first culprit.

I keep hearing of this everyday; every single day. Men drink at night and then they go and beat up their wives, and in the morning they ask her for forgiveness, and she forgives them and life continues.

Q: You just said that alcohol is the main reason behind the Delhi gang rape case. But today, there have been cases of young girls being raped by their own fathers. In those cases, it is not just alcohol. What is the bigger problem?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Correct, it is not alcohol which is the main reason behind this case.

Sex offenders have primarily three issue. One is hormone issues, where there could be some serious hormonal imbalances in them.
Second is emotional disturbances. The person must be a victim of some sort, within themselves.
Third is, total deterioration of human values.

So, these three things together can make a person do such criminal acts which they themselves would regret.
It is not that they would feel very happy that they have achieved something great. They are doing such a bad thing to a small child.
They are compelled because of their sick mind, imbalanced emotions and hormones. So these kind of people need treatment. They definitely need counselling, and society needs to provide them with this kind of counselling without any stigma.

Do you know, this is not just in rural places, in fact, it is more in all the advanced countries. In world over, this problem of child molestation is prevalent. So many such cases are there. Father molesting his own daughter, we have heard of something like this in India only recently, but this has been happening in America for so many years. And it has gone to an extent with all these television shows, that sometimes, children start doubting, 'Oh, maybe my father did like this to me.'

I want to share one such case with you.
An elderly couple came to me. Their daughter who at time was already 38 years of age, suddenly thought, after watching all these talk shows, that she is a victim. That her father did this to her when she was a child.
So suddenly, after this television show, the relationship between the parents and the daughter became so bad.
The father was crying, saying, 'How can I ever do such a crime. My daughter thinks I have done this to her.'
So, some of these television shows can make such an impact as well, that it destroys the family.
Are you understanding what I am saying? It took me quite a while to sit them all together, to counsel them, to make them meditate, and all that.
Of course, finally the family came together, they could let go of these impressions.
Many times people consider themselves as victims to draw more attention. These kind of things also happen in society.

We need to put an end to crime against women and children at any cost. This can only happen when society turns more spiritual, more humane and more sensitive.

Q: If government is corrupt, how can the nation create good governance.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The government has no personality, it is the people in the government who become corrupt. It is the people who can become incorrupt as well.

See, corruption begins where the sense of belongingness ends. Nobody can be corrupt with people whom they think belong to them. They will not take bribe from their friends and family. They take bribe only from those whom they find are outside their sense of belongingness.
So, corruption and crime, these two things have to be removed, otherwise the government cannot be effective.

Criminal elements in the government is a horrible thing.
Do you know why every party gives tickets to these criminal elements? It is because they have a vote bank. If you, the good people start making your own vote banks, you can dictate to every party, 'If you give tickets to criminal elements, we are not going to vote for you', then no party will dare to give tickets to corrupt people or to the criminal elements in society.
That is why I said, we should all, together, stand up for human values in society, united. Individually we all stand up for values, but we need to stand up being united.
If all good people in Cochin stand up and say, 'We will not allow Cochin to be polluted. We stand for cleanliness in our city', then things start changing.
I feel this is necessary.

Q: There are many corporations that are venturing into social responsibilities, but recently the government has introduced some policies where this is being thrust onto corporations. What do you have to say about this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If the government says that companies have to spend 3% of their profits on social responsibility, a good corporation would spend 4% of their profits, and not limit to the 3% as per the government's guidelines.
It is a good thing that the government has given such a guideline. At least 2% to 3% must be given towards corporate social responsibility.

I don't think there is anything wrong with this decision of the government. I think this one decision is very good, that every corporation should spend at least some percentage of their profit for the welfare of others.
This has been said in our Dharma Shastras as well. Anyone who gets any profit has to share a percentage of it for the welfare of society.

Q: Can you say something about entrepreneurship.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Entrepreneur is a projection of creativity. One aspect of creativity.
An entrepreneur has to come out of his or her comfort zone. One cannot say, 'I want to be in my comfort zone and I want to be an entrepreneur', that is not going to work.
Entrepreneurship always involves risks and the ability to undergo hardship.

Q: What is the significance of the culture of leadership in organizations?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: A leader has to walk the talk. Be sensible, sensitive and compassionate.
We need three things in life, Passion, Dispassion and Compassion.
You can't have only passion, then you feel very stressed out. You need to have dispassion, you need to know how to let go. If you keep holding onto things when they are out of your hands anyways, you will only be more stressed. And a stressful person is a burden for himself, for the society and for everybody.
A stressful person becomes harmful and toxic.

In any institution you should identify those who are stressed. The ones stressed are soon going to become toxic. So, see to it that the person changes his whole attitude and feels better about himself.
When people are relieved of stress, then you see a wave of change that arises.

It is not an easy task. If someone is not willing to let go of his or her stress, you cannot make them let go of it. So, it is an uphill task and you have to do that.

Q: You have already told that women are naturally good leaders, but there are not enough women leaders. Can you tell us, what are the barriers for becoming a good leader?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I want to tell you that India has more women leaders than any other part of the world. Do you know that?
We have many women members of Parliament, many women in the legislative assembly, and many states ruled by women. The whole country has been ruled by women for several decades; so never think that you need to be empowered by somebody.
Here, in India, women are already empowered. America has to learn that. America has not yet come to that level as far as women empowerment is concerned.

Q: In my work environment, I meet different kinds of people, and I may not like talking to some of them. How do I be diplomatic in my approach?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This is a very tricky question.
Sometimes if you are not direct, and if you don't tell them on their face, they think that you are giving them some other indications in a subtle way, or are confirming what they have in their own mind.
At the same time, you need not be rude when you need to express your opinions, or ideas, which you want to put forth. So, it is really about striking a balance.
There is no definite formula. You have to play by the ear.
How to be diplomatic - this cannot be taught now and applied later. It has to come out of you spontaneously at that moment.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, January 14, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Spend your time in the contemplation of the bounty and beauty of Nature spread out before you on earth and sky - green expanses of the crops, cool breezes that waft contentment and joy, the panorama of coloured clouds, the music of the birds and so on. Sing the glory of the Lord as you walk along the path, amidst the fields, the banks and the waterways. Do not talk hatefully in the midst of all this evidence of love; do not get angry, in these placid surroundings; do not disturb the sky with your shouts and curses. Do not pollute the air with vengeful boasts. A seedling needs water and manure to grow and yield rich harvest. The tiny sapling of spiritual yearning for liberation also needs you to do these - set right your habits, purify your conduct and cleanse your behaviour.

-BABA

Whatever you desire you will continue to get from time to time, you just keep at it. Keeping the heart clean is extremely important, this is the only thing we need to do. What? Keeping the heart clean!

Okay now sometimes anger comes or some negative feeling comes, how do we get rid of them? By doing Sudarshan Kriya, pranayama and some meditation for a little time and you will see how the mind becomes so clean. As the mind is cleaned the behaviour of a person is also improved. And when our behaviour is good then we make many friends. Wherever you go, whoever you meet will feel like your own. And when everyone becomes friends, then what more, nothing will be lacking.
That is Vishwatma. That is what? Recognizing the one consciousness which is in everything and which is in me as well and serving this one consciousness is Pooja.

So keep your mind clean with sadhana, seva and satsang!

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Being Born Again

December 27, 2012

Bad Antogast, Germany

Q: Can you please explain why we should avoid rebirth?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If you wake up and see, in life there is so much misery, and misery is what you don’t like. You don’t want misery.
What we don’t want to have is called misery, and it is there in life.
Between husband and wife, father and mother, mother and daughter, daughter and son; with friends and with enemies, there is misery. Even your body brings you misery. Anything you do, there is some misery.

When you are born in this world, you are dependent. When you are a baby you can’t even get up on your own, somebody has to lift you and somebody has to wipe you.
From the time you are born you are dependent, and even in old age you become dependent, but money gives you a false opinion that you are independent. That is why it is called Maya. Maya means it creates an impression.
If you give somebody a few dollar bills, they come and work for you, and that gives you the feeling that you are independent.
In life there is dependency. Where there is dependency there is misery. What is miserable is not pleasant, and you don’t want to have it. So people say, `I don’t want any more rebirth. Enough is enough.’

Just imagine, you have to go to school again, be whacked, and then go to college and go through all the teenage crises again.
Look at all those teenage children, their faces swollen; so angry. They are angry at their parents and they don’t know what to do.
See, it is not just your enemies who bother you, your friends also bother you.
Everything is a botheration.
Your mind is occupied by your friends as much as it is occupied by your enemies. So they all bother you. Moreover, keep all botherations on one side, your mind is your biggest botheration.
Nothing in the world can bother you as much as your own mind, I tell you.
In fact, others seem to be bothering you, but it is not others, it is your own mind.

You want freedom from your own mind and so you say, ‘I don’t want another birth.'
But once you know that it is your own mind that is bothering you, and not somebody else, then that is wisdom. And when wisdom dawns then you say, ‘I don’t mind if I have to be reborn ten times, or a hundred times, or a thousand times, I will come.'
Then you realize life is joy, life is bliss. This is wisdom!

Yesterday I said, mind is our best friend and mind is our worst enemy. It sees an enemy in a friend and a friend in an enemy. Your mind can twist, distort, create it’s own hell and it’s own heaven.
So what we really want is freedom from the mind, but you say, 'I don’t want to be born again.'

Q: How to deal with people with a very big ego, especially when their behavior is affecting life and others in a bad way?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let them have a big ego, why are you bothered?
You nurse an even bigger ego than them, there ends the story.
In fact you will find you have a bigger ego, I tell you.
Let others have an ego, so what? Why do you sign on a contract of destroying everybody’s ego, or making everybody’s ego smaller?
If someone has a big ego, nature will teach them. One day or the other, they will become miserable. Leave it to them. Let them enjoy the music.

Why do you become so miserable looking at the ego of others? I don’t understand that. You do what is required of you, as much as you can do, and move on. That is it.
In life we should just move on.
If someone is nasty to you, you can get up and shout at them, or scream at them, ‘Why did you do this thing to me yesterday; the day before and ten years ago?’
But I tell you, you are certainly spoiling this moment as well by talking about a mistake that happened yesterday or a month ago. You are spoiling the beauty of this moment.
I would want you to make a decision right now, ‘I don’t care what happened in the past, right now I am not going to spoil this moment’, finished.

The world is like an ocean, these sort of things happen. They happen and they go away as well. Friend become enemies and enemies become friends for no apparent reason.
How many of you have had the experience, that even though you have done only good to certain people, for no reason they have become your enemies? (Many raise their hands)
You wonder, ‘Oh my God, I did only good to this person, why is he blaming me? Why has this person become an enemy?’
Also, there are people to whom you have not done any favour and yet they have helped you a lot. How many of you have this experience? (Many raise their hands)
See, whether someone becomes your friend or your enemy, it all works on the strange laws of karma. That is why, put them all in one basket and relax. This, I have adopted as my policy.
You do so much good to one person and still if that person is angry with you, or they blame you, what do you do?
So, don’t go on chewing on that and spoil the present moment with the past.
Isn’t that a good idea? This moment let us celebrate.

In the past I used to listen to people, all their stories and their blaming one another. Suddenly I realized, ‘No, I’m not going to listen to anybody’s complaint any more. I don’t want to spoil this moment’s energy.’
Deal with your things, that is your karma. This is what the ancient people used to say.
They would never sit like counselors and listen to all your stories. They’d say, ‘Come on, wake up this moment; now (snapping his fingers)', and that would bring a huge change in the mind, in the energy, and in the time.
But you don’t start doing that right away, then you will be called the most insensitive and rude person. Got it?
Do it slowly. You have to listen to people, which I have also done for so many years. But a point should come, especially with people, when you have to say, ‘Okay, now no more.' Sometimes it happens, old people at home go on and on. They enjoy complaining. How many of you have experienced this? (Many raise their hands)
See! They enjoy complaining, and when someone listens, they complain even more. At those moments you should just put on music and say, ‘Hey come on, let’s dance. Stop complaining.’

Q: Gurudev, you said that 2012 was going to be the year of 'Nanda' (bliss). How come it was such a hard year?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The year of Nanda is not yet over, it will be over end of March.There are still three months more.
You know, it is good when things churn inside you, then you wake up.
It is not that it happens only in the outside world, but even in the spiritual field, it happens. People come here for spirituality but they get caught up in so many other things.

The other day a person came to me, and I said,‘Why did you come to me? You came to me for knowledge, and you have left the knowledge and you are thinking about all other things.'
That person said, 'This person said like this to me.’
Come on! If the world is bad, it is for a good reason; so that you better straighten yourself up. When you don’t see your own flaws, you see flaws in everybody else, and you think, ‘Everybody is bad, only I am good.'
I tell you, people who think like that are seriously wrong. They are not saadhaks (spiritual seekers). To be a saadhak is to look at oneself and see, 'What should I correct in myself, let me correct that.'
You cannot complain that it is cold in Germany in winter. It will be. It is good to stay indoors.
So, catch hold of wisdom. That is the only truth and the only reality. And that is what all this knowledge, meditation and sadhana is for. It gives you such inner strength that you can walk with a smile under any circumstance. Isn’t that what everyone is aspiring for?
Such an inner strength, that come what may, nobody can snatch your smile.
This is most needed.

Q: How does one achieve and maintain inner strength?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: By waking up to this knowledge.
It should not be that just once a year you come, listen to some knowledge and go away. Make it part of your daily routine, so that it is maintained.
Also, humility is important. Sometimes, people get so numb to knowledge. They think, ‘I know it all.'
One should not get into that arrogance, ‘I know the knowledge, what is there to know.’ The constant revival of knowledge; of the same points that you know, and reliving it is important.
It is not a very tough or difficult task, and even if you lose the knowledge for a moment, it just comes back. Knowing that it comes back, you don’t really lose it, it is there.

Q: Dear Gurudev, can you tell us why it’s good to come out of the comfort zone in which we feel safe and secure, and do things that we don’t like doing, or which we don’t feel comfortable doing.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Coming out of your comfort zone time and again will expand your ability and your strength; you become stronger.
You are so caught up in your comfort zone. That is the cause of your fear, your anxiety, and your bondage. Your comfort zone is your bondage.
Sometimes when you wake up and say, ‘I am going to get out of this’, it brings that strength back to you.

Q: Why do people that we love commit suicide? Do they not feel our love?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, it is because they are not exposed to the knowledge and they don’t know what it is to be alive, or what it is to die.
They have no idea about their prana, or about their life. They are so obsessed with their comfort, so they commit suicide. People who want extreme comfort are those who commit suicide. They have no forbearance; they can’t bear a little discomfort.
That is where you need more prana and more energy.

The more you tell someone not to commit suicide, they’ll say, ‘No, I want to commit suicide.' Sometimes I tell them, ‘Okay, commit suicide, but climb Mt. Everest and from there you jump. Don’t hang yourself at home. Go for some adventure and if you die, you die. Good luck.’

It is stupid to commit suicide. They have not been exposed to this beautiful knowledge and they don’t know the value of life. That is why it is very important for us to teach everybody about their breath.
When prana level is really low, that is when thoughts of commiting suicide arise. When the prana is high, this thought will not come.
No crime will happen if prana is high. You will not be violent to yourself or others when your prana is high. That is why Sudarshan Kriya, pranayama, meditation, all these practices need to be taught to people.

Also, such people who have such tendencies should engage themselves in serving others.
In ancient India, nobody would be given knowledge unless they break their bones to do some seva. 10 to 12 years, people would stay in a monastery and they would do so much service. Only then they would be given some knowledge.
When the body is fit from doing so much service, so much work, then the mind is fit and humble. It is like training in martial arts. Have you seen martial art training? Mind and body are coordinated.
You are trained like that in the army as well, so that your emotions are not all over the place, and you are not thinking of 'me' all the the time.

Q: Dear Gurudev, when we have some problems or decisions to make and we get the answer from the voice inside us, how do we know who is speaking? Is it our mind, intuition or the Divine itself?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is all the same, don’t worry about it. There is no need to analyse it too much, just be at ease. When we are at ease, the right answer comes up.
Intuition cannot come by forcing ourselves. It is a natural phenomenon.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Everyone has to achieve moksha (liberation), whether one is striving for it now or not. It is the inevitable end to the struggle, the goal to which all are proceeding. But, please do not be afraid of reaching the goal of liberation. Well, how do you prepare yourself for the stage? The answer is in that very word Moksha, itself. It is self-explanatory. 'Mo' indicates Moha, that is delusion or being deluded by attractive but transitory trash; and ksha stands for kshaya, disappearance or decline. In other words, to attain liberation one must keep the flights of your mind away from these deluding attractions, and focus on the straight path towards liberation.

-BABA

 

When the "I, I, my, mine" is not there---is dissolved---that is liberation.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

Sitting Close to the Master

December 29, 2012

Bad Antogast, Germany

Q: In the Upanishads you speak about getting close to the master. Does this also mean in a physical way.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: We are already here. We are physically sitting close here to one another, is it not so?
Closeness comes from your mind and felt in your heart. If your mind is elsewhere, and is filled with doubts and negativity, then even though you may be sitting right next to me, it does not help.
But if your heart is clear and your mind is pure; if you have a clear purpose, then though you may be thousands of miles away from me, even then we are close.
It is then that will you have an understanding, that we are one, we are together. When there is that total understanding, then there is closeness.
But if you just sit here and wonder, ‘Oh, what is Gurudev up to? Maybe he wants some power’, then it is not going to happen.

One lady asked me, ‘What do you do that gives you so much power over people?’
I told her, ‘Power over people? I am power myself. I do not need power from anybody. I want nothing from anyone.'
See, you want to exercise power because you want something from people, and you want to extract that. But I want nothing. I just want everyone to be happy, and walk on the spiritual path. That is all.
See, this world today needs spiritual knowledge. We need a violence free society.
Do you know what happened in India? Such a horrible incident happened. It is very unfortunate; the whole country is on fire. Women are not safe today because there is so much crime. People do not see each other as people; as human beings.
So that is what we want. We want a safe world that is free from crime. And this is what we all should aspire for. We should all do something good for the society, isn't it?!

Someone says to me, ‘Gurudev, you have so much power’; what power?!
I said, 'I take it as an insult for you to say that I have power over everyone.'
This is all just in the minds of people, 'Oh that spiritual group, or maybe that cult, they have power over everybody', this is nonsense.
I asked that lady, 'Would you ask the same thing to Mother Teresa?' No! And why not? It is because she belongs to an accepted religious tradition (Christianity).
Nobody ever said that Mother Teresa had power over many people; manipulated everybody.

She had four thousand people living in her monastery alone. All of them had left their homes and taken a vow of poverty.
I do not ask anyone to leave their homes. I always say, take care of your home and be happy wherever you are; be in the society.
Four thousand women came away and they all stayed with her with the hope that they would get salvation. But, you wouldn't go and tell Mother Teresa that you have power over people.
This is the paranoia of the mind.

Of course, there are not many genuine people on the spiritual path, no doubt. That is why I do not recommend people to go spiritual shopping. Just stick to the knowledge, stick to one path.
There are all sorts of people in the world who do things in the name of spirituality. Even though that is true today, we should not be paranoid about it. We cannot say that every spiritual organization is using people and things like that. This is creating paranoia in the mind of others.
I have always said, an organization is just like a frame that holds a picture. It is needed. Without an organization nothing can function.
Do you know how many people are working in the background to provide you with good accommodation, good food and everything? You should thank all of them who have made such good Italian food for you. They do this work not as a job, or a profession, but as selfless service.
People work devotedly, with all their mind and heart while doing seva. I do it myself!

I come and teach courses all over the world, I do not take any money from anybody, nor do I keep anything for myself. So anybody who works with me is naturally inspired to do the same.
If I had kept all the money with me, I could have become a billionaire by now.
I come and teach, and I go from one place to another. If I do not come here for a year, then this ashram would have to be shut down. They cannot run it all by themselves. So I come and support their work from time to time.
Do not think that everybody works and gives the fruits to the Master. Rather, you should know that it is the Master who works and supports everybody. It is the other way around. I work 19 hours a day and I support so many people. And I do that happily, without expecting anything from anybody. All I want is for them is to be happy. If they are not happy then I am also not happy.

Do you know, there is a lot of mistrust in the world these days.
There is mistrust between the husband and wife, between children and parents, between neighbors, etc. Of course, if the whole set up starts becoming like that, then we will have a very sick society. This has to change.
People do not have trust in themselves also. One needs to have trust in oneself, trust in the goodness of society, and trust in the unseen power, the Divinity which is all permeating. These three types of trust is essential and that is what spirituality is all about.
Start trusting yourself, start trusting in the goodness of people around you, and in the Divinity. That is the whole essence.

Q: Dear Gurudev, scientific convention says that time is changing and space is constant. Ancient texts say that time is constant and space is changing. Can you explain this phenomenon?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Even in time there are two types of time.
One is the time that changes, i.e., the past, present and future; another is the grand time that does not change; the reference point of all other times. It is called the Mahakaala, which means the grand time.
When you say change, you always need a reference point with which you determine or count the change in time. There should be something non-changing in order to know the change, whether it is with regards to space or in time.
So the reference point is non-changing and is the basis of all changes.
To know time, you need to know the mind. Unless you know the mind you cannot grasp time, and the mind is unfathomable. You cannot know the totality of it.
That is why, to the degree you understand your mind, to that degree you know time.

Q: Gurudev, can you please explain to us about how does blessing work?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Blessing is nothing but positive energy which flows from a clear heart.

Q: Dear Gurudev, you spoke so beautifully about dispassion and being devoid of feverishness, but when you are around, all this knowledge goes out of the window and there is only feverishness.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is the nature of the mind to cling onto something. So until it becomes free from all other things, it is okay to cling onto one thing.
But in time you will be free from that too, as the mind becomes quiet.

Q: Gurudev, is it correct to understand that not having children and not being in a relationship results in cutting off your karma, or is it a matter of choice?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is just your choice. It is all about how you handle your mind.

Q: Dear Gurudev, can you please talk about the effects of the three meditations held on 12.12.12 on humanity, the earth and the universe?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, you cannot measure the effect of meditation by limited parameters. It goes beyond our known parameters. The effect is definitely there and time will tell that effect.

Q: Dear Gurudev, you say the body is present only for a limited time. Then how could Bhishma Pitamaha (the great Grandsire of the Kauravas and Pandavas in the Mahabharata epic) in the Mahabharata live so long and die at his own will?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Listen, I am not going to be a lawyer for Bhishma, or for any character for that matter. You can sit with a lawyer and an anthropologist and do all the research on these things.
When we were children, we also wondered how a bird can carry some people on its back. We often wondered how could there be a gazebo on top of a bird which is so small.
Usually in mythological paintings and in stories, we have seen or read about a bird carrying a nice and big gazebo on its back, which we in India call a mantap. But you know, when you go deeper in science, then you will find that even our scientists say that there really were large birds weighing some 300 tons or so.
In the dinosaur age, there were birds which were so huge they were like airplanes. If they were so big, then you can definitely put ten people on top of them. Why ten, even a hundred people could sit on the top of it.
Those birds could always be trained for such acts. All of this is indeed possible.
We should always say that everything is possible.

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How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  a) Refresher Course for repeaters 31 January to 2 February 2013,  b) P1 course (new & repeaters) 7-9 February 2013

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[Pat Gounden]

 

Date: Wednesday, January 16, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Pure love alone can carry out successfully projects of service and welfare. Love creates sympathy; Love will show the way where hatred creates complexities. When a toddler is learning to walk, love will place no obstacles on the path. On the other hand, it will encourage, welcoming each forward step and overlooking each fall. Unfortunately, many a beneficial ventures are laid barren because of harsh criticism and wanton disparagements. Noble works must be executed with lots of love. True devotion alone can transform people’s hearts and lead them in the path of Truth and Right Conduct. Any trace of greed for gain degrades love. That is why a child is all love as it has no attachment to the goods of the world.

-BABA

Love becomes devotion through dedication.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

The Five Steps of Meditation

January 01, 2013

Berlin, Germany

Happy New Year to you all.
It is a nice way to celebrate New Year with meditation.
What is meditation? Meditation is a state from which everything has come, and to which everything goes. It is that inner silence from where you feel joy, happiness, calmness, etc.

Do you know, there are three types of knowledge.
One is the knowledge which we get through our senses. The five senses bring us knowledge. By looking we get knowledge, by hearing we get knowledge, by touching, by smelling and by tasting we get knowledge.
So, through the sensory perceptions we gain knowledge. This is one level of knowledge.

The second level of knowledge is through the intellect.
The knowledge that we gain through the intellect is superior to that of the senses.
We see the sun rising and setting, but through intellect we know that the sun is neither setting nor rising.
You place a pen in water, the pen appears to be bent. But by intellectual knowledge we know the pen is not bent, it is just an optical illusion.
So intellectual knowledge is superior.

Then, there is the third level of knowledge which is even superior, that is intuitive knowledge. Something in the pit of your stomach tells you.
Something comes from a deep silence, a creativity comes or some discoveries come. This is all from that level of consciousness, which is the third level of knowledge.

Meditation is opening the door to the third level of knowledge. And meditation is also opening the door to the third level of joy.

There are three levels of joy.
When our senses engage in sense objects, i.e., when the eyes are busy looking, the ears are busy hearing, we get joy by looking, by hearing, by tasting or by touching. We get some joy from the senses, but the capacity to enjoy through the senses is limited.
See, the first doughnut you eat tastes very good. The second one tastes okay. The third one feels like it is too much, and the fourth one feels like torture.
Why is this? All of them are made in the same bakery, but the ability to enjoy goes down. It is the same with all the sense organs. Sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing; the joy from all of these have their own limitations. Isn’t that so?

Then the second level of joy, is when you do something creative; when you discover something nice, or when you write a poem, or when you make some new dishes.
That which comes from creativity brings a certain joy with it.
When a baby is born to you, whether it is your first baby or third baby, it brings a certain excitement; a certain joy.

Now, there is a third level of joy. A joy that does not diminish, and that comes, not from the senses, or through creativity, but from something deep and mystical.
Similarly, peace, knowledge and joy, these three things come from another level.
And from where they come, the source of it, is meditation.

For meditation you have three important rules.
The three rules are, for the next ten minutes that I am going to sit for meditation, I want nothing, I have to do nothing and I am nothing.
If we follow these three important rules, then we are able to go deep in meditation.

In the beginning, meditation is just a relaxation.
In the second step, meditation is something that gives you energy; you feel more energetic.
In the third step, meditation brings creativity.
In the fourth step, mediation brings enthusiasm and joy.
The fifth step of meditation is indescribable, you simply can't describe it. It is that oneness with the whole universe. This is the fifth step of meditation, and don’t stop before that.

I usually compare this with people who go to the beach in Spain, or in Italy.
Some people just go for a walk and they are happy with that. Some others go and take a good swim and feel refreshed, and they are happy with that. There are some who go fishing, and there are some who go scuba diving and see all the nice creatures, and are happy with that. And then there are some others who go and draw wealth out of the ocean; they go deeper.
So the knowledge keeps in front of you all these options.
Don’t stop with just some relaxation, some joy, some enthusiasm, or with fulfillment of some desires.
Do you know, your ability to enjoy also increases with meditation, and your ability to fulfill your desires also increases with meditation. And when you don’t want anything for yourself, you are able to fulfill the desires of others as well.
It is simply very nice. So don’t stop before that, keep mediating.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, January 17, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Desire makes one crave for sabdha (sounds), sparsha (touch), rupa (form), rasa (taste), gandha (smell) - the qualities of the five Elements that constitute the body. One is prompted by the element of Space present within to seek sweet sounds that satisfy the ear; by the element of Air within, to run after smooth and soft things that yield pleasure to the skin, by the element of Fire to pursue things that are beautiful and appealing to the eye; the Water element makes one crave for food and drink that are tasty to the tongue, and the element of Earth urges one to cater to the nose, by trying to enjoy pleasant smells. Just as the high temperatures from the Sun is controlled, modulated and reduced by the systems in your body to a congenial temperature of 98.4 degrees, you must keep the forces of your elemental passions in check and bring it down to tolerable levels, for congenial living.

-BABA

 

Craving clouds your mind. Anything you crave -- your mind will not be clear; clarity in the mind is lost. Feverishness makes you lose your wisdom.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Give A Chance For Miracles To Happen

December 28, 2012

Bad Antogast, Germany

You have heard of many Guru stories, isn't it? So now I am going to tell you a Devotee story.
In the last week of November, I was touring in some of the remote places in the state of Maharashtra. Some villages and districts that I have never been to. There were a lot of people who came to meet me.
In one village, I told my secretary, ‘Three people have lost their mobiles and they are very poor people. So put three new cell phones in my bag.'
When I went there, there were 2,000 to 2,500 volunteers and a crowd of around 200,000 people.
In the volunteers meet after the program, I said, ‘Three of you lost your mobile phones. I know about it. Those of you who have lost your mobile phones, please stand up’, and only three people stood up.
There was a lady who had stood up, and I told her, ‘Look, you were crying in front of my picture last Thursday. You did not know what to do, how to face your family because an expensive mobile phone was lost, which must have been worth two to three months of earnings. Here, take a new one.'

When I was doing this, one boy from the group came up to me and he shared his story. He was in an advanced course and his wife was at home, and he had to talk to her. There was no battery on his phone and he had forgotten the charger at home. So he put the phone in front of my picture and asked, ‘Gurudev, let the phone be charged.'
The next morning, when he woke up, the phone was fully charged.
This boy showed me his phone and said, ‘Look, for one and a half years I have thrown away my charger, and now I only keep my phone in front of your picture and it gets charged.’
He threw his charger away!
I said, 'This is really something. Even I need a charger for my phone, and my devotee charges his phone by keeping it in front of my picture.'
See how powerful devotees can be.

I thought this is a very exciting story. So I came back to Bangalore and there were about 150 people from Russia, Poland and all over Europe, and I shared this story with them, ‘Look I can’t charge my phone without a charger and see this devotee threw away his charger and he is charging his phone every day keeping it in front of my picture.'
So the 150 people there said, 'Yes, it happens for us also.'
My saying this did not surprise them at all.
One Russian said, ‘It happened to me also. One day, I too put my phone and prayed that it should get charged, and it indeed did get charged!’
Devotees from Poland and Scandinavia also shared the same experiences.
Another person shared their experience and said, ‘My car ran out of petrol and the fuel marker had come to zero showing me that the tank was empty. But I kept driving, and drove117 kilometers on an empty tank.'

How is it possible? This seems to break all apparent laws of nature.
I tell you, we should give miracles a chance to happen in life. Nobody’s life is devoid of miracles. Only we don’t believe in them.

All the cultures and philosophy in this world are based on miracles. In fact they thrive on miracles.
Just remove all the miracles from the Bible and you will feel as if the Bible does not exist.
Similarly, if you take any scripture in the world, it is full of miracles. But we think miracles are a thing of the past and not of the present. I tell you, it can happen even today, in the present.

Once, I was at Boston airport and a devotee bought food for me, and for the four others who were travelling with me. Do you know how many people were with me? A large number of around 60 to 70 people, and the food which was meant for four people was shared between 60 people. Everybody ate food.
It makes you wonder - how is this possible?!

There is a scientific explanation for this also.
The whole world is nothing but vibrations; everything is vibrations. Matter is nothing but vibrations. Matter and energy are the same, they are just vibrations.
See, when you go near an automatic glass door, immediately the glass door opens.
Just imagine if this was a phenomenon that would have happened 100 to 200 years ago. People at that time would have gone crazy. They would wonder as to how this is happening. You simply go and the door opens.
Today, we know that this is because of bio energy. There is energy emitting from our body.
Do you know, there are locks that can be opened only by one person.
You must have heard of biometric locks. If it is your energy that is embedded in that lock, then nobody else can open it. Only when you touch it, will it open.
That means that everyone is emitting energy.

When you are in a state of love and devotion, your energy is so strong, so big, that when you want a cell phone to get charged, it simply gets charged.
It is just like an intense energy of the biometric lock. When you move near the door, the door opens because of your energy is caught by that little box above the door.

Similarly, the entire universe is just made up of energy. It is all energy. So give a chance for miracles to happen.
When is all this possible? It can happen when you are hollow and empty.
When both, your heart and mind are pure and clear, then positive energy rises in you. But if your mind is full of negativity, and if you are stressed out; or if you are complaining about this and that, and grumbling and griping, then no miracle is possible. Even regular work which has to happen does not happen. Simple things do not happen because energy is low and negative.
When energy is high, what you think is impossible starts happening.

Even from a scientist’s point of view, miracles are indeed possible.
Nothing is impossible. You simply need to know the mechanics of how it all works, and in what state of consciousness can all this happen.

How many of you here have had that experience of a miracle? (Many raise their hands).
See! All of you here have experienced some miracle or another. So when we feel that deep connection, when we feel that love and devotion, it all happens effortlessly.

Now, if you were to ask me, 'How do I increase my devotion?'
I tell you, there is no way to increase. Do not try to do that, just relax.
This is the problem actually.
Many people ask me, ‘How do I surrender? How do I increase my devotion?’
I tell you, there is no way to do that. But, if you ask me, ‘How I can get rid of my negativity?’ I would say, ‘Yes there is a way.'
How? Just wake up and see! Wake up! Let go of the negativity. Think, ‘So Hum and So What!' These two things are there.
First, when faced with a problem or with negativity, just think, ‘So what? It is okay.’ And then, ‘So Hum’ (literally meaning ‘I am That’; it refers to the individual self identifying with the Divine Supreme Consciousness).
This way you can get rid of negativity and keep your spirit high.

You know when someone is not feeling good, they pull everybody down around them. And if you talk to them, you will see that not only are they feeling down themselves, they try to pull everyone else down as well. This is their job.
If you do not like a person, you go on blaming them, and if someone else likes them, you tell them also, ‘Look that person is no good.'
Also, there are people who say it in such a different way that you may fall prey to their negativity. They say, ‘Look, I do not want to create a bad opinion about that person, so I do not want to talk about them. I do not want to spoil your idea or impression about them.' But the harm is already done.
Do you see what has happened? The doubt has already been put in your mind.
So people who do not have high energy try to pull everybody down when they are miserable, and then they feel happy seeing everybody else is unhappy.
They do this unconsciously. They are not conscious about this, they do not know they are doing it.

There is a story in the Ramayana.
The monkeys in Lord Rama’s army wanted to make a bridge between India and Sri Lanka and all the troops were preparing for it. So what they did is, they would write ‘Sri Ram’ on every stone and then put the stone in the water, and the stone would float.
Now, when Lord Rama himself arrived, he was surprised to see that all these people were writing his name on these stones and putting them into the water, and they were floating. So he wanted to try whether he can do it. So, he took a stone and wrote ‘Sri Ram’ on it, and put it in the water, but that stone sank, it did not float.
So the devotees told him, ‘You do not know what devotion is. You cannot do what we can do.’
So it is said that devotees are one step higher, and they have huge power.

Love is the most powerful thing on the planet. Do not let anybody, any situation, any cause, any reason destroy that.
Our love is so fragile and we make it so vulnerable that simply by listening to some people’s negative talks, their negativity gets into our head and we start destroying our own high energy.
Now that does not mean you have to be blind. We need to be intellectually sharp and logically correct, and at the same time, maintain that beautiful gift that one gets, called love. This we need to protect, just like how you protect a child.
How do you protect a child from falling, and from getting lost? You protect a child by keeping a watch on it all the time, where the child is moving, where it is going, and what it is doing. In the same way we need to protect this inner treasure. Once we have it, we need to protect it. This is very important.
Give a chance for miracles to happen. It is not that you simply sit and make it happen by saying, ‘I want a miracle to happen now.' It is not like that.
I tell you, when you insist on a miracle to happen, it is as foolish as someone trying to impress you with a miracle.

Never go to somebody who tries to impress you with a miracle and says, ‘I am going to create something out of thin air.' This is not the right thing at all.
Do not run after miracles, but at the same time do not block them from happening.
Someone who is centered, someone who is enlightened, will never try to make a miracle. Miracles simply happen; they are a part of life. Just let them happen.
Do not try to impress somebody or create something, that is no good.
Do you see what I am saying?
It does not show maturity and blossoming of your consciousness.
We do not need to impress anybody at all. If someone tries to do that, they are not where they think they are, or where they are expected to be.

The power of love and devotion is so much. And all this (Satsang, Seva and Sadhana) is just an aid to make that happen. Sit in Satsang and just see how the energy in you rises. There are so many inspiring stories that you get to hear.

You all have had some inspiring stories, and you should write them down and share them because this will inspire others.
Why I am saying this is because when you hear that something good is happening to someone else, it uplifts you too.
In today’s world you hear so many negative stories all the time. You hear of robbery committed, or a rape committed. You hear of someone cheating someone else, and many other crimes being committed around you.
When you hear all this, you lose interest in life. Many young people lose interest in life just listening to negative stories.

In the summer, I was in Canada, and a couple came to see me.
They said, ‘Gurudev, our 18 years old son committed suicide. He was a very brilliant young boy. He left a note in which he wrote, ‘Mum and Dad, I do not find this world the right place to live in. There is so much crime happening every day. I do not want to live in this world and I am fed up with it.''
Do you know how he formed this opinion? Just by watching the news.
In his note, the boy further wrote, ‘I am sorry I am bringing you misery and sorrow, but I do not want to continue living.'
So the boy wrote this note and later killed himself.
We must all resolve to bring positive news to everyone around us because this universe is ruled by love; by the light.
The light brings so many gifts to you and so many miracles are possible.

Every day I receive thousands of e-mails from people across the world expressing gratitude and narrating the wonders happening in their lives.
It does not look good if I put all those letters out, before you; but I tell you, you should write your experiences and share them with others. Bring a ray of hope to all those who are desperately in need of it.

You do not have to make up stories. Creating false stories is altogether another extreme. That is not good. But whatever good that is happening in your life, at least that you must bring to the lives of others. You should make people aware of it.
Write all the wonderful things that are happening in your life.
Keep it short though, not too long. Sometimes people write such long stories that you do not even wish to read it completely. After reading just one paragraph you feel like closing it. So, write your experiences, but it has to be short and crisp.
You should write about any authentic experience of yours that you know and wish to share. That is what can actually inspire.
You know, when we share something authentic, it has a very positive impact on the lives of others. This is how we need to inspire people towards the light, towards life, and towards love.
This is needed much more today than ever before.

Every day I get so many letters from people.
There are stories of doctors who had given up hope, and who had said that somebody is going to die within six months and yet they are alive, years after the incident.
So many healings have happened. There are thousands of such letters.

Today, our mind set has become such that we do not believe in this field of energy any longer. We tend to believe more in chemical tablets that are prescribed to us. However, you must not swing to any extremes. Do not think, ‘Oh, Gurudev has spoken about the field of energy, so I am not going to take any of my medications. I will throw them out.' No! We must not act this way.
We must take the advice of doctors, but at the same time, what I am telling you is, give a chance for miracles to happen.
That is the essence of it.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, January 18, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Take the ups and downs of life as natural. They are incidental to the world of compounds and components. When an empty plantain leaf is kept, it tends to move up in the wind and fly. But, when you serve dishes on it, the food and the leaf will remain unshaken. So too, fill your mind and heart with the virtues of faith, steady discipline, devotion, detachment and equanimity - these are items of the spiritual menu. Then you will not sink with every blow. When you have attained true wisdom, you will find that good fortune should not be gloated over, nor bad fortune grieved over. A hero treats both with equal unconcern. Pain and Gain are breezes and storms that cannot affect the depths of the ocean of bliss in the heart of a true devotee.

-BABA

 

Everything in the universe is moving from one level of perfection to another level. Milk is perfect and when it turns into yogurt, yogurt is perfect. You take out cream from yogurt, and that is perfect, and then you make butter, and that is also perfect. This is one way of looking at it. The other side of looking at it is, the milk got spoil and you make cheese out of it. When yogurt got spoil, it became imperfect and you took butter out of it. This is another way to look at it. It all depends on how you look at it. It’s imperfection that gives value to perfection. Isn’t it so? How can you call something perfect? Because there is something which is not perfect. So, the existence of something which is not perfect is absolutely essential to understand something that is perfect. So, the imperfect makes the perfect, perfect!

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Mind - Friend or Enemy?

December 26, 2012

Bad Antogast, Germany

Q: How to overcome the mind which bothers me?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That is its nature.
Do you know you are bigger than the mind? Wake up. Let the mind be there.

Q: Gurudev, how do I recognize my soul mate?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: First you should recognize your soul and then your soul mate.
You don’t know yourself, you don’t know who you are. You don’t know anything about yourself. You don’t know your mind; your own mind drives you crazy.
One minute it wants something and the next minute it wants something else. The mind keeps changing its mind all the time, and it gets caught up.
That is why in the Bhagavad Gita, there is a saying, 'Your own mind is responsible for your bondage and for your liberation,' there is nothing else.
Your own mind, if it acts like your friend, it also acts like your enemy.
If your mind is trained well through Sadhana (spiritual practices), it befriends you, and it helps you. Otherwise your own mind behaves like an enemy. Isn't this so true? It is so true!

I want to tell you an incident that happened last week, just before I came here.
In front of the Ashram we have a signboard of the Ashram. It so happened that a particular political party, their people came and put their posters on that signboard, just to create mischief.
They put big posters because there was a birthday party of the head of that political party. So our security people and others, naturally they pulled it down because people coming to the ashram couldn't see the signboard and didn't know where to go.
Now, the local leader of the party got very wild and he started screaming and threatening one of our teachers saying , I’m going to bring a lot of people and we will have a demonstration. And in front of that we will do hunger strike', and these very angry exchange of words happened. And our security people also said, 'Yes, you come. Let us see, we are also very strong.'

So, when I was driving to the city for another program, my secretary told me this story. I told him, 'Call this local leader and talk to him.'
So my secretary called him and told him, 'Gurudev has just come, he wants you to take a basket full of fruits, a garland and a shawl for the person who has a birthday, and give him blessings from Gurudev', and he agreed.
Then he asked, 'Why did they pull out our posters?'
My secretary played innocent and said, 'Oh, you had some difficulty, is it so?! Why didn't you tell me? You should have informed me. Gurudev has just come, he was on a tour. He heard there was a birthday party and he wants to send blessing. So you go and take these things to your leader and give him blessings.'
The whole situation got diffused and he felt very empowered. So now he could go to his boss with a garland and blessings from me, and he also got access to his superior in the party.
All the big drama he was going to create ended with one phone call. He could go to the boss of his party with pride and say, 'Gurudev has sent me to give you a garland.'
So, he felt empowered and our people felt relieved.

See, when you know how you can diffuse conflicts, it is easy.
All that it cost was a phone call. But not every trick works everywhere. In different places you have to work differently. Sometime you have to take a tough stand, put your foot down and say no. Sometimes you have to be diplomatic and skillful.

Always there will be people who try to create mischief, you need to have skill to handle all those situations.

The ancient people said that there are four ways to deal with any situation - Sama, Dana, Bheda and Danda.
1. Sama means with dialogue, with persuasion, with some discussion and communication
2. Dana means forgiving. 'Never mind, everybody makes mistakes', and so you give them a chance
3. Bheda means being indifferent. Being a little tough and making a point
4. Danda mean taking a stick, which is the last resort

Usually we use the last two ways in beginning itself. We don’t go with the harmonious path. You must first take the harmonious path, and then give a chance, and then discriminate, and finally, if nothing works, Danda, which is take a stick.
These are called the four skillful ways of handling any situation.

Q: Gurudev, you have said that we shouldn't give explanations to people. But if we have something on our heart that is heavy and feel the need to talk about it, then what to do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is no one rule for it, sometime you want to speak and become calm and sometimes speaking doesn't help in any way.

Wake up and see, the whole world is like a dream. All those thoughts have gone, the behavior of people will disappear. Some people act good and some act bad, but everyone is going to die, and the world will be finished.
This set of people will all go away. Then new people will come and they will all die. Then another set of people will come, they will fight among themselves, they will hug, love, kiss, do everything, and they will all die.

Seven billion people on the planet today and all these seven billion people will all die. It is only a matter of a few years. In another hundred years, do you think the same people will be here? Not one person who is here today will be alive. And two hundred years later, even the grandchildren will not be there.
See, the world is like a river, there is fresh water flowing every moment in this river. What is it that you are so bothered about?

If you want to leave something behind, it should be some knowledge that would help someone; that would be useful to someone. Not what he said, what she said, and what do you think about so-and-so situation. Come on, this is all nonsense! Throw them out of the window. It has no meaning.
Hours together you waste in explaining, why you felt the way you were feeling and how and why others are feeling the way they are feeling.
Do you know, when the time changes, the mind also changes. There is a beautiful science about this. You can also get a clue from the astrological chart, how the mind is connected with time.

Sometime, we will start a course on the connection between mind, time and the planets. See, I don’t want to say astrology because it has been misused and misinterpreted so many times. It is a one of the most disorganized science today.
No doubt astrology is a science but it has been distorted so much that you can’t even see what the original is.

There are twelve constellations and nine planets according to Vedic astrology.
It is said that when Jupiter transits in the eighth place from the time you are born, it has an impact on your mind.
Similarly, when Saturn transits the eighth place, it makes your emotions go topsy-turvy.
When Jupiter is in the eighth place, you lose all your wisdom. But that is only for eleven months, and in these eleven months, it is only for three months that it makes you so miserable. Unless and until you are in deep spiritual knowledge or enlightened, this will definitely affect your mind.
But if you know, 'These are the three months that are going to be a little difficult on my mind and emotions', then you will not take decisions, or do thing in those months.

Similarly, every two and a half days, the mood of the mind changes.
If you are miserable, it won't exceed two and half days. There will be a break and then it may come again.
Like this, the cosmos has an influence on the mind.
What can protect you from this influence is satsang, meditation, chanting. All this is like putting on an armour.
An arrow was coming, but you have an armor, so it didn't really hit you.
So, singing and chanting 'Om Namah Shivaya' so many times makes an armour around you and protects you from being affected by all these crazy things.

We do Yagnas in the Bangalore Ashram for the welfare of the whole world and for all of our devotees. There is a small Yagna done six times every month, and during Navratri we do a big one to bring peace, prosperity and protection to the world and all our devotees.
These are the ways of the ancient people. We will have more knowledge and courses on this in the future.

Q: Where do the thoughts come from?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This thought came to you just now? Where did this thought come from? It came in you, so why don’t you sit and see, where it is coming from?

The moment you sit and think what is the origin of thought the mind goes blank. That indicates from where thoughts are coming.
You are the source from where thoughts, ideas and emotions come – that inner space.
It is like someone asking, 'Where do the clouds come from?'
Clouds are just hovering in the sky. In the same way, in our inner sky, there are three akashas – one is the outer space, the second is the inner space where thoughts and emotion come, and there is the third space which is a witness. Where there is nothing, just bliss.

Q: How to get a faith that never shakes?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If it is true faith, let it shake.
Truth will never go, and if the faith is with the truth, let it shake. It will never get lost.
In fact, you should doubt as much as possible.
You can say, 'Don’t doubt', only when a thing is not a genuine thing.
If it is genuine gold, I tell you, go on scratching as much as possible. But if it is just rolled in gold, or gold polish, then you say, 'Don’t scratch too much because it will disappear.'
With true gold, any amount of scratching will not make it go away.

Doubt is simply lack of energy. When you are high in energy, where is the doubt?
Doubt comes when the energy is low. True faith is that which you shake a hundred times and it still stays on. That is true faith, and it will remain.

Q: You said we come to the Ashram and regenerate - why is the world not an Ashram?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: To me the world is my Ashram.
But when you come in a physical place, or in an Ashram where there is always meditation happening, that place holds those vibrations.
See in your home, there is a place for dining, a place for resting, and a place for garbage. Like that, in the world, there is a place for everything.

I would love everyone of you to make your home an Ashram. And what is an Ashram? It is a place where there is wisdom and where there is love. It is a place where anybody who comes is welcomed and given some food so that they can come and relax.
If you can create such a power then the whole world is an Ashram. In fact, when you go and be with nature in the forest or in the woods, it is all an Ashram only.
I say that every tree in the world is in my own garden; in my own ashram. This is the fact, but sometimes when you feel that this is not helping, that you need a place where you can go and energize yourself, then you come here (Ashram).
It will be very obvious for you to feel the energy here. Just like in your home, you can be anywhere, but if you want to feel the aroma of food, you have to walk into the kitchen. You can eat anywhere, but in kitchen or dining area, the aroma is there.

Q: Does the soul have an aim?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, the soul definitely has an aim, to become one with the super-soul. The small mind's aim is to become one with the big mind.
Every wave wants to wash the shore and become one with the ocean, which it already is!

Q: What is time?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The distance between two events.
What is distance, if you ask me, it is the space between two objects.

Q: How to go back to the source?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just by being quiet, unlearning and unwinding you will get back to the source.

Q: Can you tell us about Kali Yuga.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There are four Yugas; time is divided into four aspects.
1. Satya Yuga, when there is a lot of positivity
2. Treta Yuga, when the positivity goes a little down
3. Dvapara Yuga, when the positivity goes a little more down, and
4. Kali Yuga, when positivity goes down even more
This is what is said about Kali Yuga. But I tell you, within Kali Yuga there is Satya Yuga.
The days when you feel happy, know that you are in Satya Yuga. And when you are totally miserable, you are in Kali Yuga.
In that sense, within the big Kali Yuga also, there are good times.

Q: You said truth is contradictory. Can you give us an easy way to understand this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Milk is good and milk is bad.
Milk is good if you drink one glass, bad if you drink two litres. Got it?!

If you come to Bad Antogast from Freudenstadt, you have to go straight down and turn to your right. But from Oppenau, you have to go straight and turn left.
Both instructions are true, but they are contradictory.
Truth is spherical, it is not linear. When anything is spherical there are multiple ways to get to that.

Q: Is India on the verge of becoming the country it was 2,000 years ago?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If the politicians let it happen, it will.
The politicians have become a problem in Italy, in India, and in Greece. It is the politicians who are driving the country towards bankruptcy.
Each country has enough resources and good people. There is dynamism, but corruption is taking the nations to a primitive, medieval era.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, January 21, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Install a radio receiver, select the wavelength of the station you propose to listen to, and tune it correctly to that wavelength. You will then hear the radio program loud and clear, is it not? Your ear will tell you the accuracy with which you have tuned. Akin to this, you must enter into a course of spiritual discipline. Choose any mantra or incantation of the Lord that pleases you. Meditate on it and repeat it continuously with accurate care and steady attention; tune in to the Voice of God within you. Do not pay heed to the obstacles that come in the way, in the form of satire and criticism that people around you give freely. They may be experts only on short-lived trivialities of social life or sensual pleasure. Persist on your practices - your own experience will tell you the validity and value of this experiment!

-BABA

 

Knowing that there is something in you that is not changing. A little experience of silence, calmness and meditation will give you enormous courage from within.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

 

The Art of Raising Children

January 08, 2013

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Berlin, Germany

Q: It would be wonderful to have our children grow up happily in this sometimes difficult world. What can we give them besides lots of love when they are still too young for meditation?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just play with them. Don’t try to be a teacher all the time and start teaching them. In fact learn from them and respect them. And don’t get too serious with kids.
I remember as a child, when my father would come home in the evenings, he would just clap and make us laugh. My mother was very strict but my father would just clap and make everyone laugh before we all went for dinner. Everybody had to sit together and eat. So before that he would just clap and chase everybody around in the house. Everyone had to laugh before we sit for food.
So don’t go on teaching them all the time, just celebrate with them, play with them, sing with them. This is the best thing.
If you always take a stick and say, 'Don’t do this, don’t do that', that is no good.

With kids, I feel you should play with them more and tell them stories sometimes. We used to hear a lot of nice stories when we were kids. Every day one story. It is good to bring up children with values through this way. If you tell them nice interesting stories then they will not glue themselves to the television and sit there all the time.
There are many stories for children; there is Panchatantra. One of our devotees is also making cartoons of the Panchatantra. Soon it will come out.

So it is good for parents to sit with the children and tell them stories that have morals. A story with a moral is good. And that quality time of one hour or half an hour that you spend with your children is good enough.
Also, don’t stifle them sitting with them for five to six hours. Quality time of 45 minutes to one hour is good, and this time should be very interesting. They should look forward to the time to sit with you and listen to stories.

I remember, I had an uncle, who was very fat, fair and had a round face. Every Sunday he would come to our house and tell us stories. We would all sit with him and he would tell us nice stories, and he would leave some suspense towards the end so that the next time we would be very curious to know what happens next.
So we do have such personalities among us. If not, your own kid can go and tell stories to some other kids. Their parents will also be very happy. They will find someone to baby sit, and that can be your service project as well.
So that human touch is needed.

Today children, from the time they wake up in the morning, they sit like a non-participatory witness in front of the television; isn't it?
Children sit in front of the television and go on surfing channels. The mother comes and says, ‘Hey, come for breakfast’, and they just don’t move. Sometimes, mother has to bring their breakfast in front of the television. This type of culture is no good. What do you think? How many of you agree with me?
Not more than one hour of television should be shown to children. You should limit the time for television, otherwise children will have this Attention Deficiency Syndrome. The brain gets so bombarded with all these images, it fails to register anything else and the kids become so dull later on. They cannot attend to anything. Thank God when we were kids we had no television.
How many of you grew up without television? We all grew up without television.
So children growing up with more television don’t seem to be as intelligent. You should limit the television to maximum two hours in a day.

Even for adults, one or two hours is enough, not more. It is too much for adults too. You know, all these nerves in the brain get so taxed with watching too much of television.
Sometimes people compel me to see television saying, 'Gurudev, this is very good.'
I can’t watch more than half an hour to one hour. It really taxes the mind.
I wonder how people watch two to three movies a week. Really we are draining the brain cells I tell you.
Just look at the people who come out of the movie theaters, do they look exuberant, energetic and happy? The way they go into the movie theaters, when they come out, how do they look? However nice the movie has been, they look drained; completely exhausted and dull, isn't it?
If you have not noticed, just stand outside a movie theater. You should watch when the people are going into the theater and when they are coming out. You will see a visible difference.
How many of you have noticed this? Even in you. Any entertainment recreation should energize you, but with watching movies, it doesn't happen that way.
Suppose you go for a live show, it is a little better than that, you don’t feel so exhausted. You go for a live music performance, it doesn't do that much. You do feel exhaustion, but not that much. How many of you notice this?
And when you come to satsang, it is just the opposite. When you come in, you feel different, and when you go out you feel energized.

Q: Do you think that little children should be told scary fairy tales, because there are some German tales which are scary and I've heard people say they shouldn't be told them.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Scary tales should kept in moderation.
Suppose they are not told any scary tales at a young age, then when they grow up and they become aware of them, it will scare them even more. It will make them very weak.
At the same time, if you tell them too many scary things, then they can get obsessed with fear. Both extremes should be avoided. A little bit of scary things can be there but not too much; especially video games.
I feel video games should not be violent. Children shoot in the video screen and think it is just a game, and then in the real life they start shooting people because they don’t find the difference between the virtual world and the real world. This is a problem. So I would prefer that children should not have violent video games.

Q: Are all relationships based on previous karma?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes.
Do you know, sometimes a soul who wants to come into the world, it picks up one man and one woman and then creates such an attraction between them. So these two people come closer, and the moment they have the first child, suddenly all the love disappears between them.
How many of you have seen such a thing happening?
So after the first child, because the soul's job is done, it came to the world, then it does not worry about what the parents do. So suddenly after the first child, the couple loses all the attraction.
Not always, don’t think it is for everybody always. In some cases it happens. Sometimes it happens after the third or fifth child as well. Suddenly they cannot stand each other, because their personalities were artificially brought together by the spirit who wanted to come into the world.
So this is happening, but not always; about 30% you can say, and they definitely end up in divorce because in these cases the two people do not match at all. Nothing matches between them. Suddenly one realizes, ‘Oh, we thought we were soul mates for life and what happened? I am totally different and we can never match each other.'
This thing comes up.

Life is like that, friends become enemies and enemies become friends.
You haven’t done anything good to a person and they have started doing good to you. So friends or enemies, it does not matter. Your life runs by some different laws of karma. That is why, put all your friends and enemies in one basket, because a ten year friendship can turn into enmity, and an enemy can become a great friend to you at any time. It all depends on you and your karma.

Q: What is a good way to accept the death of a beloved?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Time will take its own course. Don’t try to accept or do anything. If the pinch is there, it is there, it will go away.
Time is the biggest healer. As time moves it just takes you further and further. So don’t try to do anything, time will take care of it.
Or wake up and see everybody is going to go one day. They took an earlier flight, you will be taking a later flight. That is all.
So people who have gone already, tell them, 'A few years later I will meet you there.'
Say bye for now. You will see them later at another place.

Q: I have no family, what can I do to feel less alone?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Come on, I’ve given you such a big family, a true family and a family that really cares for you.
Never think you have no family, I am your family. That is why I come here for Christmas and New Year every year. Why should I come otherwise?!

Q: What is the best way to make you happy?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You being happy and making others happy.
You don’t have to try and make me happy, I am anyway happy. But I’ll be more happy if you can help others. Not just by giving them some gifts or throwing them a party, but by giving them knowledge and making them very strong.
If you can bring people into this knowledge, that would be the best thing.
When people listen to Ashtavakra Gita, they say that their lives have been transformed. How many of you experienced this? (Many raise their hands)
When you listen to Ashtavakra Gita, your whole outlook towards life changes.

[Pat Gounden]

 

Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

One may know the 700 verses of the Bhagavad Gita by heart, but trust Me, the time that was spent in learning by rote and reciting it, is all a waste, if one does not resolutely act upon even a single verse. It is not the resolution that matters; it is resoluteness. Resolution is just a string of words. In fact, that learning might even be a handicap as that skill can affect the head and make one swell with pride. The price of sugarcane is fixed according to the sugar content in it. You evaluate oranges in proportion to the juice they contain, is it not? So too, one is worthy of honour in proportion to the knowledge of the Self acquired. This knowledge alone can confer steadiness, strength and real happiness. - Divine Discourse, Feb 19, 1964.

Just as fire is needed till the rice is cooked, so also spiritual practices are needed till you realize your innate divinity. - Baba

 

 

It is when life feels like a struggle that we must focus on knowledge. Even Arjuna was not first told to fight. He was told to be in knowledge and meditation. Only then should we work. Always be in knowledge and then work.

To get knowledge we don’t need to go to the Himalayas. Knowledge can come even in the activities of everyday life.

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

 

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

The Intelligent Meditate

December 21, 2012

Bangalore, India

Q: Dear Gurudev, it is said that the sign of devotion is to always be happy. Then why does God respond mostly when a devotee cries out of pain, misery or longing? I am confused. Can I get God’s attention without crying? Can a happy devotee get the same attention from God?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Absolutely! A crying devotee is inevitable for the Divine to attend to, and a happy devotee is a joy to attend to.

Q: Gurudev, one bad incident rocks the whole nation, but why do many good things happening around go unnoticed without even creating a ripple?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Agitation needs some such bad event. People are ready to agitate easily. This is because stress is already there and that stress wants an outlet. So agitation becomes a very easy thing to do.
If we call for an agitation, you will see everybody will join but for meditation only the intelligent will join.
But, I think, times are changing. Wherever we go, we get more crowd for meditation than for agitation. That is why I said, there is a positive change in society.

It is media which likes agitation the most. See, we are thousands of us sitting here, and not even one-fourth of these many people are in town hall, shouting slogans and agitating. But the media is interested in that event, even though there are just five hundred people there.
The media projects negative news better and more vigorously.

Q: Gurudev, as a youth, I feel drawn to the peace and tranquility around you and the world seems to be the exact opposite of that. If I disengage from the world and become a Sanyasi (renunciate), would it mean that I am running away from my responsibilities?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: A Sanyasi is not running away from responsibility, it is taking more responsibility. It is like taking responsibility of the whole world, that is what a Sanyasi is. Just now I was telling to our Ashramites (people who stay at the Ashram), that we are in a resort here, we should be going to the city where the action is happening.
I don’t want to keep all the youth and talents held up here in the Ashram. I want you to be active out there in the society. It is we who need to bring peace where it is needed.
You can’t say, I am so peaceful, let me just be here. Of course coming here is needed. You need to put your mobile to charge every once in awhile, but you can’t leave your mobile on the charger all the time. How will you use the mobile? Then it is no longer a mobile.
You charge your mobile and then take your mobile off the charger. It cannot be hanging onto the charger all the time.
Similarly, you need to do work there, and you need to come here as well; both!

Q: Gurudev, what is the significance of the wedding ceremony? If two people love and respect each other, can they just make a decision to live together?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Marriage ceremony is a commitment. You live together with a commitment. When there is a commitment, you have full trust in each other. One aspect of your life is set. That is what is marriage.
Otherwise, the mind keeps looking for a partner. In marriage, that looking for a partner thing comes to an end, 'Okay, I have found a partner, I am set.' So now you can focus on other things.
When there is commitment, it puts you on track.

Q: Gurudev, in life those people who don’t get along well are hitched together while those who get along really well are not paired together. Is this the plan of the Divine? Is he doing this on purpose?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You mean about your marriage?
You know, when you don’t get along, you forget all those days when you got along very well. Because those days, you didn’t get along, you feel, 'Oh, from the very beginning, we never got along.'

An American couple who were married for 40 years came to me and said that they wanted to divorce. The lady said, 'You know Gurudev, we have been married for 40 years but we never got along even for a single day.'
I said, 'How could you spend 40 years and never get along for even one day?!'
They are already around sixty to seventy years old. They could not get along for the last forty years and still they were carrying on.
Usually this doesn’t happen in American society. If two people don’t get along, that is it, they don’t stay together at all.
Suddenly in your mind you think, at some point, 'Oh, we never got along in the past also.' Well, the world is like that. There is no guarantee that those people with whom you think you will get along very, you will actually get along with them very well. The grass is always greener on the other side.

Q: Gurudev, after doing the Kriya, many times I find myself smiling unconsciously. When I am alone also I keep smiling. I myself don’t know that I am smiling. Everybody thinks that there is something wrong with me. What do I tell them?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You should take a serious look at yourself if everybody thinks that there is something wrong with you. You must take a serious look.
If everybody is saying that then it is not okay. You must consider their opinions.
Here, I won’t say, don’t be a football of other’s opinion.
What you feel is one thing, and how you express yourself is another thing. You may be feeling very calm, very happy, but when you express that, you should see, how you can express it and where you should express it.

Q: Gurudev, can you please talk about Ashta Ganapati?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The number eight is associated with the eight Prakritis - Ashtada Prakriti.
What are the Ashtada Prakriti? Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect and ego. These all come in our nature.
Some saint or wise man said, let there will be one Ganapati for each of these Prakritis, that is all.

Don’t get into all these things; why twelve Jyotirlingas or Ashta Ganapati? In the ancient days, these were ways to integrate the society.
In the ancient days, people wanted to integrate the population because every six hundred kilometers, the language and culture changes in this country.
There is nothing common between South, North, East and West, so, how do you integrate the country? Then they said, 'Go to the twelve Jyotirlingas. Go to Kashi, go to Rameshwaram, go to Trimbakeshwar, and so on. Like that they promoted a sort of spiritual tourism and national integration. That is all.

It is the same with Ashta Ganapati as well. The idea was that people go all over the different areas of Maharashtra. They wanted to unite people, make them move around as pilgrims. In those days there were no other holidays or tourism. Pilgrimage was tourism.
When it is sacred tourism, people feel, 'I must do it', and so they created all these different temples to go and visit.

Q: Dearest Gurudev, do you have any favorites? Who is your favorite person? Which is your favorite Raga and which is your favorite sport?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I am not going to answer any of these, because I have none.
Once I was in England a long time ago, and a lady asked me, 'Gurudev, what can I make for you for breakfast?'
I said, 'Make anything, whatever you like.'
Then she said, 'Can I make Dhokla (a vegetarian food item that originates from the Indian state of Gujarat)?'
I said, 'Yes, you can make Dhokla.'
She asked me, 'Do you like it?'
I said, 'Yes.'
So, she prepared Dhokla and then she called everyone else and said, 'Gurudev loves Dhokla.'
Just imagine what happened. Every day, wherever I went for the next fifteen days, breakfast, lunch and dinner, I got only Dhoklas.

Q: Gurudev, how do I get a good sense of humor like you?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You already have one. Just relax. Don’t try to impress anybody. Just be yourself.
I feel so sorry for those people who try to be funny. The so-called comedians, they struggle every day to find new jokes to make people laugh. And it is such artificial laughter.
If you see all those comedians who make those jokes, they are miserable. It is really not funny, you feel like weeping looking at them.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When I sang the bhajan ‘Manasa Bhajare...’ I called on all those suffering in the endless round of birth and death to worship the feet of the Guru, the Guru that was announcing Himself, Who had come again for taking upon Himself the burden of those who find refuge in Him. That was the very first message of Mine to humanity! I said, ‘worship in your mind’. I do not need your flowers and fruits that you purchase for a small price. They are not genuinely yours. Give Me something that is yours, something which is clean, fragrant with the perfume of virtue and innocence, washed in tears of repentance. Garlands, fruits, etc. are an exhibition of your devotion. Some can afford it, the poor feel sorry that they cannot. Install the Lord in your heart and offer Him the fruits of your actions and the flowers of your innermost thoughts and feelings. That is the worship and expression of devotion God likes the most!

-BABA

 

Oh Lord, this whole universe is Yours. This body is Yours. This mind is Yours. The mind with all its conflict is also Yours. The mind with all its beauty is Yours---this offering itself is a technique that brings you back home.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Love Can Even Make Stones Melt

January 08, 2013

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Berlin, Germany

Q: From many stories I understand you are omnipresent and all knowing.
This sometimes makes me feel a little fearful that you know all about the mistakes I make. What is your attitude towards the mistakes? Are you angry when you see me making these mistakes over and over again?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Not at all.
Do you know that devotees are more powerful than the Guru himself? Do you know this? It is so. You must have heard of my Guru stories, but I have many devotee stories. I will share one with you. In the last week of November, I was touring in some of the remote places in the state of Maharashtra. Some villages and districts that I have never been to. There were a lot of people who came to meet me.

In one village, I told my secretary, ‘Three people have lost their mobiles and they are very poor people. So put three new cell phones in my bag.'

So I carried three new phone because I felt that three people had lost their mobile phones.
So, when I went there, in the volunteers meet after the program, I said, ‘Some of you have lost your mobile phones. I know about it. Those of you who have lost your mobile phones, please stand up’, and only three people stood up.

There was a lady who had stood up, and I told her, ‘Look, you were crying in front of my picture last Thursday. You did not know what to do, how to face your family because an expensive mobile phone was lost, which must have been worth two to three months of earnings. Here, take a new one.'

When I was doing this, one boy from the group came up to me and he shared his story. He was in an advanced course and his wife was at home, and he had to talk to her. There was no battery on his phone and he had forgotten the charger at home. So he put the phone in front of my picture and asked, ‘Gurudev, let the phone be charged.'
The next morning, when he woke up, the phone was fully charged.
This boy showed me his phone and said, ‘Look, for one and a half years I have thrown away my charger, and now I only keep my phone in front of your picture and it gets charged.’
He threw his charger away!
I said, 'This is really something. Even I need a charger for my phone, and my devotee charges his phone by keeping it in front of my picture.'
See how powerful devotees can be.

Why I am saying is because it is our feelings, our devotion and our love that makes this happen.

I will share another story with you. I was in South Africa, as a guest in somebody’s house. This was about 10 years ago. So just before leaving to Johannesburg, we were packing all our luggage, and suddenly I went into the other room where some of the devotees were staying and I started looking here and there in that room.
Usually I never go to somebody’s room like that. People were shocked and wondered why Gurudev has come into our room. Just imagine, I come to your room in the hotel, suddenly, you will be shocked.
So people were shocked, 'Why has Gurudev come here and he looks very restless. What is he looking for?'
Then I saw a packet of tea and I asked them, ‘Whose is this?'
They said, 'We don’t know. It is somebody’s.'
I never drink tea, but I took the packet of tea and put it in my suitcase and closed my suitcase. Then I could breath.
I was so restless till I could get that packet of tea. People found it a little strange, how could Gurudev steal a packet of tea, after knowing it is not ours, it is somebody’s, he didn’t care, he just took it and went away.

So when we landed in Johannesburg from Durban, an elderly gentleman meets me at the airport and he said, ‘Gurudev, did you get the packet of tea I sent for you? It is a special tea. I myself went and picked it up and I wanted to give it to you. I couldn’t come to Durban so I sent it through somebody.'
So it was sent through somebody and they put it in another room because they know that I don't drink tea, and so they didn’t even tell me. This was a case.
Then I said, ‘Yes, I got that packet of tea.'

This means that when your feelings and your emotions are so intense, I become only a puppet then. So I had to get that packet of tea.

So, this is the story on how I had to steal a packet of tea, which is not really stealing. It belonged to me but at that moment it appeared as though I am stealing something that did not belong to me.
Like this there are many incidences.

You know once, I was in Delhi in a big hall. There was lot of crowd in the hall and after the program, the people were all lining up in the hotel lobby.
The people who wanted to escort me, they said ‘Oh, there is too much crowd. This will take too much time and Gurudev has to catch a flight.'
So they decided to trick the people and they took me from the basement directly to the car and we left You know, there were a thousand people who were disappointed because I was not there and I became sick.
The people were angry, they were upset, and that whole day my head was throbbing and I became so sick. I asked the people who took me directly to the car and directly to the airport, '‘Why did you do that? I don’t want to disappoint anybody. I never disappoint anybody.'

Why I am saying this is because when your feelings are very strong and when your love is so strong, it can make even stones melt. Got it?
So there are so many stories.

That is why, as a practitioner of meditation, you have to be very careful. You should not curse anybody anytime. Don’t say any bad words. Nothing bad should come out of your mouth.
You know, I have never said one bad thing all these 56 years. I have never ever spoken any bad words. I can’t take credit for it; it simply doesn’t come.
The worst thing I have said is, ‘You are stupid’.
You will never have heard me swearing or speaking any kind of bad words about anybody, anywhere; even to myself.
So, as a practitioner, you should keep your speech free from any kind of bad words as far as possible because there is energy in your words. As you do meditation you gain the ability to bless and curse. First the ability to curse comes, and then the ability to bless comes. That is why, the rule for any practitioner is not to think bad about anybody, not to say bad words to anyone and from your side, stay positive.
I am not saying you should never get angry. Anger is part of life. But even when you are angry, keep your lips and your tongue under your control.
You have to get angry sometimes in life, it is necessary, but don’t allow filthy words to flow out of your mouth.
Why?
Because you will be spending too much of your good energy when you say all those bad words.
Just imagine if you lose one month of your meditation with just a few words. Is it economically wise? It is like spending a thousand dollars to get a coke which is worth one dollar.

So don’t underestimate your power, your energy, and your determination.
When you meditate, you really have so much power. That is why in Ancient India, all the Rishis and Masters would not take on disciples because they knew they would become very powerful, and if they don’t follow the rules, it can be a problem.
So they would not give this knowledge to everybody. They would first put them through lot of tests and if they pass all the tests, then they gave them meditation and all that.
But I said that we will give this knowledge to everybody. It is essential. Otherwise it will be like a catch 22 situation.
Only if you are good you will get knowledge. Unless you get knowledge you can never become good. So I took the second route.

[Pat Gounden]

 

 

 

Date: Thursday, January 24, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Often, in your ignorance, you feel small, you feel miserable, you feel that the wicked, greedy and cruel people are all happier than you and unjustifiably so. You are hurt and feel that it is unjust that you, who are so truthful, so loving, so virtuous, should suffer. Just ponder over this. Are they as happy as you imagine and is your condition, as bad as you portray it to be? Investigate for a minute, and you will know the truth yourself. External appearances are often like painted pots of poison. The hearts of people not adhering to Right Conduct know no peace – they are probably as miserable as you, if not more. Believe that Righteousness will never play false; it will ensure greater joy than can be gained through all other means.

-BABA

You know, I always believe that truth always triumphs. Truth will always win. I would say that you also have this confidence.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

Walk Like A King

January 03, 2013

Berlin, Germany

Q: Why do Angels have wings, what is the symbolism of that? Can you please talk about why we have Angels in the Christian tradition.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Man had a fascination to fly. He wanted to dominate space.
Man could walk the Earth, he could dive into the ocean and swim in the water. But what he could not do is fly. So Angels, which he considered one step above him, he gave them wings. He thought, Angels have wings because they are more powerful than man and they can fly and can go anywhere they want.
But today with the kind of airplanes we have, Angels will be much slower. We can reach much faster than them. We will leave the Angels behind somewhere.
Nobody with wings, however powerful, can fly faster than an aircraft or a helicopter.
So it is just a concept that they are more powerful than us, because it is only then that they can help us.
Angels mean those who can help us, who are more powerful, more equipped than us.
Now don’t imagine that an Angel is going to come with wings, and take you with them, and give you flowers, and all that.

Also, we see many times, Angels are depicted as children.
Do you know why are they depicted as children in the Christian tradition? This is to show innocence. The higher you go, you have to be pure and innocent inside, not cunning and crafty.
Who is cunning and crafty? One who does not have the ability to walk like a king. Someone who has less power has to manipulate and be cunning and crafty.
Someone who is very powerful, why would they be cunning and crafty? If you have the ability and the power to do things in a straightforward manner, you would not do anything surreptitiously. You will not need to.
All those people who do cunning things have no self confidence. They don’t believe that they can achieve things at their will; they think they have to do some manipulation to get there.
So Angels are depicted as children with wings because they are innocent. They are depicted to have a stout body, just like a two or three year old baby.
If you see all the Michelangelo paintings, you will see most of the angels are babies. It simply represents innocence and purity, and then ability - more ability than normal human beings.
I tell you inside you there is an angel.
In Christian tradition it is said that everyone has a guardian angel. It is not that they are only guarding you, you are part of that guardian angel; you are that! You simply have to realize that you are an angel. You have the power to do what you want to do. Know this and relax.

Q: How do I find the right balance between striving for improvement and being contented with who I am and what I am doing?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Do you know how to ride a bicycle? Exactly like that!
When you want to have balance, you will definitely have it. Just this thought, 'I want to balance my life', is good enough. You are already moving in that direction.

Now when this question arises, ‘How do I do it?’ Know you can do it. Ask yourself, your consciousness will tell you.
‘I am not balanced, I am missing out on this’, your consciousness will say it. Then you listen to your consciousness.
If you are attending to your work too much then your consciousness will prick. ‘Hey you are forgetting your family, your wife, your children, your husband’ Then you say, ‘Okay I will attend to them’
If you’re getting too immersed in the family and forget about all other things then your consciousness will prick, ‘My god what have I got into, what did I get into, day and night I’m just immersed in family affairs, I’m not being useful to the world, I have to do something I have to pursue my cause, I have to do justice to my work’. The mind will prick. Then you do that.

This wanting to keep balance in life, that very thought is good enough. It is like the fuse in the electrical system, whenever the electric current surges too much the fuse will break and save everything else. Like that a little amount of guilt must be there like the fuse in the system.
You don’t justify but that little bit is okay to have, like the fuse in an electric system. You know about the electric system and know that in the electrical board there’ll be one small box called fuse. So whenever there is an imbalance in current, the fuse will burst and save the rest of the electrical system. Like that in life, a little bit of guilt is okay but not too much.
Like salt in the food. If there is too much salt can you eat it? No. Got it? So wanting to have balance is good.

Q: I am sensitive and easily hurt. What is good about being sensitive?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Life is a combination of sensitivity and sensibility. Sensibility is of the intellect and sensitivity of the heart.
Usually people who are very sensitive they forget reason, logic. Their sensibility becomes less. And people with a lot of reason, always thinking about logic and sensibility, seem to lack sensitivity. Life needs to be a beautiful balance of both. You need to be sensitive yet strong. Usually sensitivity is equal to emotional instability. It should not lead to that.
Your sensitivity should not lead you to emotional instability. If you are strong and sensitive then you have made it in your life. Got it.
You have to be sensible and sensitive, both.

Q: Like a GPS you guide us to our goal and destiny, but what is our goal and destiny?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You should make a list of what is not your goal.
I want you to discover for yourself what is your goal, and what is it that you want to do.
One thing you should know is that you are very lucky. You are in a time where you are leading the world. You are in a time that will go down in history as a big transition from a self-centered, hardened society to a beautiful world.

Q: If we are old souls who have been here for eternity, are new experiences ever truly possible?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, life is ancient yet new.
The Sun is very old. It is 19 billion years old, or even more.
The Earth is 19 billion years old; Sun must be even more than that, some hundreds of billions of years old. But even today, its rays are fresh and new, isn’t it?!
So life is a combination of ancient and modern; old and new.
It is the same running river from millions of years but the water is new and fresh, isn’t it?

Q: Some people say they live without food, and there is a film about this. Is this true and what do you think?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I know a gentleman who said that he only watches sun light for food. He has mastered not eating, but sometimes he has a cup of tea with a lot of sugar in it.
See, this is about training your body. It is like in Russia how they train you in ballet. The way they bend their whole spine and the whole body is like it is made up of rubber. It took them so many days to train themselves in Russian ballet.
In the same way, if you want to train your body to live without food you can do so. But you have to do it under the guidance of one who has done it, and not just by reading books. Don’t do that. Someone who is an expert can train you, it has to be very gradual.
But why you want to do that, what is the point in it. Eat less, don’t eat too much. Yes there are people who get their energy from just the sun gazing.
In the morning you gaze because everything is energy. Our eyes are photosensitive, it’s like the solar cells, our eyes have the same quality as solar cells they can absorb energy and supply it to the body but that needs to be properly trained for. If nature had wished that way it would not have given you a mouth at all.
The mouth and all the digestive enzymes, liver and all this need to function so let them be functional also. Don’t go to those extremes.

Q: What is embarrassment?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Do I have to tell you what is embarrassment?
I know of embracement, and not of embarrassment.
If you can embrace embarrassment then nothing can shake you.
One thing that people try to run away from, is embarrassment.
Embarrassment is a mild form of criticism. A mild form of feeling uncomfortable. So sometimes we need to get out of the comfort zone and feel that little bit of discomfort. Then abilities dawn in us.

 

Join us on the Google+ Hangout with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Jan 26 @ 8:30 pm IST

A Unique dialogue between a spiritual Master and leaders from around the world on Creating a Violence-free, Stress-free society. First Global Online Meet of Concerned Citizens for a Violence-Free Stress-Free Society from across 60 countries.

Just post your question to Sri Sri here with the hashtag  #SriSriHangout. Watch Live, your question may be answered! Step by Step instructions to join the hangout ·  Log in with your Google Account. ·  If you don't have one, create an account ·  Click on Sri Sri's Google Hangout Event Page ·  Confirm your attendance. Press "Yes" ·  How many guests are you joining with +1, +5, +9 ? Mention that. ·  Invite your friends by clicking on the "Invite your friends". button on the right of the event page.

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Team up to clean up

The time has come again for our monthly Beach Clean Up!!!  Last year was OUTSTANDING with the help of amazing volunteers. This year we are going to take the clean-up to even GREATER heights but we need YOU and the help of family and friends to make 2013 an even greater success.

You are invited to join us on:

Saturday 26 January @Wilson’s Wharf -6:30am to 8am

To help clean up our Durban Harbour

 

Please bring along as many people as you can get together, comfortable shoes and gloves (wellingtons would be great as well).

For further information contact:

Debra - 071 681 9003

If you live in the Durban North area - Clean up also taking place @ Mangrove swamps from 7 to 9am

For planning purposes kindly let us know if you will be attending.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, January 25, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Once, Krishna and Arjuna were walking together, along a beautiful path. Seeing a bird in the sky, Krishna asked Arjuna, “Is that a dove?” Arjuna replied instantly, “Yes, it is a dove.” A few seconds later, Krishna asked, “Arjuna, is that bird an eagle?” Arjuna responded, “Yes Krishna, it is an eagle.” A few seconds later, Krishna asked, “Arjuna, this does not look like an eagle – it looks like a crow to me. Is it not?” Arjuna replied, “Yes Krishna, it is a crow beyond doubt!” Krishna laughed and chided him for agreeing with whatever suggestions He gave. Arjuna responded, “Krishna, for me, your words are far more trustworthy than the evidence of my eyes. When you say something, you have the power to make it so – be it a crow, dove or eagle. Hence, if you said it is a crow, it must be so!” Implicit Faith is the secret to spiritual success. Always remember that the Lord loves, not the devotee but the devotion.

-BABA

Faith in the Self, faith in the Master, in the Divine, faith in the infinite order of things, faith in that Love -- this is "shradhaa.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

War On Alcoholism Is Essential

January 05, 2013

Bangalore, India

Q: There are some people who say, 'A little bit of wine is okay, even Lord Shiva had wine'. How do we tackle such statements?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: People do whatever they want to do and they put it in the name of religion, or God to justify themselves.
Simply look at your life, forget about others. If Shiva had alcohol, he must have had problems as well.
See those five people who did that thing to Nirbhaya, in Delhi, they were all drunk, and when someone is drunk, you cannot even hold them responsible for what they do. Intoxicants are responsible for half of the crimes in the society.
So not only should you put those five people in jail, but you should also hold those people responsible who manufacture and sell intoxicants.

This happens in almost every village. Men drink at night, come home, beat their wives, and in the daytime they apologize because they know that they were not themselves at night.
The biggest reason for crime in the society is alcohol. If you stop alcohol, a lot of crime in the country will be stopped.

You have to take a definite stand, 'I will not touch alcohol.'
If you say, ‘I will only drink socially’, or, ‘I will just have one peg’, all these statements are nothing but excuses. When you open the door for alcohol, it can come in anytime and flood you. You should really just shut the door on alcohol. Not just the door, but close the main gate as well, so that it does not even reach your door.
You should put a barrier on yourself, 'I will not drink any of these intoxicants.' It gives you enormous strength you know. But the moment you become a little loose, ‘okay I will have it once’, then somehow you get caught up.
Life is such, that you get upset sometimes; restless sometimes. Restlessness can come even without any cause. How many of you here have experienced this?
Everything is going on well, but there is some restlessness without any reason. One cannot understand why the restlessness.
Restlessness starts in the body without any reason, and then one feels like having a drink, and that is how it starts. That is why I say, just keep it out of the gate.
War on alcoholism is essential for crime to be over.

Q: Whenever I am in the ashram I don't feel like going back to the materialistic world. Sometimes the responsibility of the family becomes an obstacle. How to overcome that?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You need to charge your mobile phone with the charger, but you don't leave the phone on the charger, otherwise how will you use it?!
Similarly, when your charge is down, you have to come here again and charge yourself. For me the whole world is my ashram. I keep moving from one ashram to another ashram; from one place to another.

You have to take care of your responsibilities and the work you have at home. You have to do all of that; it is necessary to do all of that. Running away from responsibility is not spirituality. In fact, it is taking on more responsibility.
First the responsibility of your family, friends and surroundings, then the responsibility of the country, and then the responsibility of the whole world. That is how our responsibility should increase.

Q: How to accept people who do bad things to me?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If they do bad things against you, what can you do?
If you don't accept them what other option do you have?
If you don't accept them you will be upset, isn't it? Your mind will be disturbed, and when you are so upset, any decision you take, will you be happy about it? Certainly not!
So for your own sake, accept people and the situation as they are, so that your mind becomes calm. Then you do what you want to do.

Q: I heard from one teacher that in order to live life 100%, you have to have clarity in your mind. How to eliminate confusion?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Are you still confused? Every confusion is a step towards growth.
What is confusion? Some old concept just broke apart. Old ideas simply vanished and new ideas started coming up. You couldn't grasp the new and the old is gone, that is confusion, and it is a good transition; be in it! It won't last for too long I tell you.

Q: What is the truth of relationships; after being bitten once I am now twice shy. How do I overcome this fear?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You are asking this question that means you have already overcome the fear. If you had not, you wouldn't even ask this question. You would just say, ‘Relationships, I am not going to go into it’, and you would have run away.
Since you don't have that much fear and only a little bit, and the mind is tempted to go that way, you just want a confirmation seal of mine.

You know, in life, everything is a risk. Your own mind is uncertain. You cannot rely even on your own mind. Relying on somebody else is another thing.
Can you rely on your own mind?
I have seen so many people go for shopping and they say, ‘Can I come back and exchange it, or return it?’
People buy something, they come back home and they don't like it, and they go back and say that they want to exchange this. Especially ladies, the buy a saree and then they come back home and open the saree and they don’t like it and want to exchange it. A lady used to come and ask me, ‘Gurudev, please bless me so that I shop for the right things. Every time I go shopping, I come back home and then I have to go back again.’ So the mind is always wavering. When your mind is wavering, others’ minds can also be wavering, isn't it?
So there are different people, different emotions, different way of behaviors, and we have to move with them all. We have no choice. Accept and move.
Always there is compromise in life, in any interaction with anyone, young or old.

Q: Why do all the problems in the world start and end because of love?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Otherwise life would be so boring. Just imagine, if there are no problems and no issues, life would be so bland, isn't it?
You can keep wondering about it. It's a matter to wonder, not a question.

Q: Why doesn't The Art of Living family take a political stand for the better political and social future of India?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The Art of Living will encourage anybody who wants to take that stand. Politics is too small a field for The Art of Living. Since we are across borders, I don't want The Art of Living to be stuck with national politics.
The Art of Living is in so many countries; it will remain as an inspirer for people to be on the right path.
For sure, those who want to get into politics, youngsters especially, I would encourage you. Go all out; go and do it.

Q: Gurudev, could you please talk about Mithyachar and how to come out of it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Mithyachar is when one keeps thinking of doing something in the mind but does not act upon it.
For example, you keep thinking about food but you do not eat food.
Mithyachar is also, when you think something else and do something else.
For example, you tell somebody, 'I will be there at six in the evening', even though you have already made up your mind that you won't go, this is Mithyachar.
Lying or fooling oneself is Mithyachar.

Q: Being cynical makes me more pragmatic and helps me deal with the worst situations. Is this wrong?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Cynicism was once considered fashionable, but today, cynicism has taken over intellectuals to such an extent that it is no longer palatable and it is no longer creative. It does not do any good to oneself or to society.
Cynicism is okay if it is like the pickle in the corner of the plate. But if your whole plate is filled with pickle, and you have only a tiny piece of roti (flat bread) in some corner, then just imagine how that would be. You would remain hungry, and this is what has happened today.
Cynicism is essential, but to a very small extent. Cynicism should bring pragmatism in you, no doubt, but it should not take away your imaginative ability, your transformational zeal, and it should not eat away your enthusiasm. It should not overshadow your positive state of mind or kill your aspirations and hopes. If that is there then okay, have a little bit of cynicism.
You find that even the Vedas are a little cynical. It is said, 'Who knows the beginning of creation. God knows; or maybe he also does not know.'
This is what is said in the Vedas.
Sarcasm and cynicism is all okay, just remember the example of pickle. It cannot take the place of rice, dal (lentil soup) or roti , but a little bit can be there somewhere in the corner.

Q: Gurudev, when I know my presence in the world is insignificant it makes me lazy. How can I be excited and at the same time expanded.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Dream big. Keep your intentions intact, don't worry about any setbacks and keep moving ahead. That is it.

Q: You said that the year 2012 was the year of transformation, but nothing has transformed. The same corruption and same crimes are happening.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Wait! What do you mean? People have stood up against corruption. See what has happened in the last month of 2012, the entire country woke up. People are waking up. Earlier, violence against women was tolerated.
Although we have been doing women empowerment, we have been having women conferences where we have been discussing women issues, and female feticide, but today suddenly the entire country has woken up over one incident.
It is not an isolated incident. There are 20,000 such incidents. In Delhi alone there were 800 such incidents at that point. This is waking up.
Transformation is people are waking up, isn't it?

Moreover, Indian year starts in March; remember!
Do you know the meaning of the names of all the months?
The English months are not in English, they are in Sanskrit. How many of you here didn't know this? (Many raise their hands)
Do you know what December means; Das means ten and Ambar means sky, so December means the tenth sky.
November means the ninth sky.
October means the eighth month.
Sapt means seven, amber means sky, so Saptamber became September.
August is Shasht, which means sixth; so August is the sixth month.

January is the 11th month, February is the 12th month and March which means going ahead – that is when the new year begins. That is when the Sun arrives in the first point of Aries, at the end of March.
Even today, in Afghanistan, Iran and all these countries, they celebrate March 21st as the new year day because this was the ancient vedic concept.
March means new. Feb means fag end. Don’t we say, ‘Fag end’, that is February.

So all these months are Sanskrit months. If you ask any English professor what is the meaning of September, or November, they will have no idea.
I thought of this, and realized that there is such a close connection with Sanskrit and it matches to well.
Today you learned something very important - the meaning of the names of the months.

This is something beautiful about Sanskrit, no name is without a function. Do you know that leaves are called Parna? Do you know what Parna means? That which absorbs sunlight and moisture is called parna.

Do you know, Jesus was not born on Christmas Day? How many of you didn't know this? (Many raise their hands)
You should watch the documentary about Jesus and Christmas. Only 200 years back they connected Christmas with Jesus. Otherwise it was just Winter Solstice. The festival that was being practiced around the world to honor the Sun God from the Vedic times, that was being done.
If you hear of how Jesus was born, all the description is of spring time. He was not born in the cold winter.
Also, if he was conceived in May, December would not be the month in which he would be delivered. Immaculate conception happened in the month of May and December would be only seven months. Jesus was not a premature baby, he was born after full nine months and nine days, but people did not know what date he was born on.
So, even though the people were converted into Christians, the church could not stop them from celebrating the Xmas festival. So they added, 'Okay you can think this as the birthday of Jesus Christ and let us celebrate it that way.'
So they replaced the Sun God with Jesus.

Q: Gurudev, Goddess Parvati in her anger had given a curse to Mother Earth, Agni Deva and other gods when they tried to save her and Lord Shiva’s son Kartikeya from Tarakasura (a demon). How is it possible for a Goddess to not be in control of her anger?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You know, this is a wrong depiction of the stories from the Puranas. The TV serials always want to make it a little more dramatic.
Even when I watch Goddess Parvati (an incarnation or form of the Mother Divine), I see that there is so much display of emotions; crying, or asking for forgiveness, etc. Just to make the viewers more engaged, they brought them to the level of common man and common emotions.
The director and producers also want to elongate the episode, that is why they make it a little more dramatic than the actual story. It is not originally so in the Puranas. In the Purana, Goddess Parvati does not go through such varied emotions. It is only in the script that these people have written for the TV serial that you find her and even Lord Ganesha asking repeatedly for forgiveness. What is the need for Him, who is Divinity Himself, to ask for any sort of forgiveness?

See, when you read any Purana, then the Adidaata (the sacred deity on whose life and heroic stories a particular Purana is based) of that Purana is the central character, and the most revered.
For example, if you take the Shiva Purana then Lord Shiva is the greatest, while all other deities and everyone else is subordinate to him.
Similarly, if you take the Ganesha Purana, then Lord Ganesha is the greatest in that Purana.
Again, if you take the Devi Purana then all the other deities, such as Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Mahesh (a name of Lord Shiva) are at the Devi’s feet, signifying her central importance in the Purana. Since all stories in the Devi Purana revolve around her as the central deity, the other deities play secondary roles.
In the Vishnu Purana you will find that there is no deity greater than Lord Vishnu, and every other deity is subordinate to him, since he is the central deity of that Purana.
That is why a deity is called as Isht, meaning the greatest deity, around whom everything else revolves. So, those deities or Gods whom we consider as our Ishtdevta or Isht are the greatest and most revered for us.

There is a very beautiful shloka (verse) by Adi Shankaracharya where he says, 'Mananaatha Shri Jagannatha, Madguru Shri Jagadguru, Madatma Sarvabhutatma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha.'
It means, my Lord (Isht) is the Lord of the entire creation; my Guru is the Guru of the entire creation; and my soul is the soul seated in all living beings.

When a devotee has this feeling, that there is no other like my Lord, then it is called Vishishta bhakti.
When there is this feeling that there is none other like my Lord, then the mind become one-pointed. This is because the nature of the mind is to go towards that which is the most superior.
Now, if you do not find what you have to be the highest, then the mind will start to wander toward that which it finds to be more superior.
So to collect the mind and make it centered deep in devotion, these different stories have been written in the Puranas. That is why in the Shiva Purana, it is said that Lord Shiva is supreme and everyone prays and bows to Lord Shiva. This is the real meaning.

But those who make these TV serials, they have to make it a little more dramatic, otherwise it will be a little boring, and that is why they add some spice to it.
It has never happened that Goddess Durga has inflicted her anger on anyone on Earth. The anger of Goddess Durga is only towards the demon Mahishasura. Even that is not totally in anger, but it is with a certain equanimity and pleasantness. The Goddess simply destroys Mahishasura (symbolic of negativity and inertia) into ashes, by a simple exhalation of her breath, with the sound ‘hummm’.
So these are just different depictions of the mythological stories on TV. There is no need to accept them as the truth.

Q: Dear Gurudev, if one thinks that one’s Ishta(most revered deity) is the most superior, then does that not bring about fundamentalism?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, if you ask any mother in the world, she will say her child is the best. There may be so many other children in the world, but for her, her child is the best of all.
Fundamentalism is considering or showing that others are wrong or lesser than you. However, having a feeling that my deity is the highest for me and your deity may be the highest for you, cannot be fundamentalism.

 

Join us on the Google+ Hangout with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Jan 26 @ 8:30 pm IST

A Unique dialogue between a spiritual Master and leaders from around the world on Creating a Violence-free, Stress-free society. First Global Online Meet of Concerned Citizens for a Violence-Free Stress-Free Society from across 60 countries.

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[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, January 28, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You are the Formless (Niraakaaram) come in the form of Man (Naraakaaram), the Infinite, come in the role of the finite, the Formless Infinite appearing as the formful infinitesimal, the Absolute pretending to be the Relative, the Atma behaving as the body, the Metaphysical masquerading as the merely physical. The Universal Self is the basis of all being. The sky was there before houses were built under it; it penetrated and pervaded them for some time; then, the houses crumbled and became heaps and mounds; but, the sky was not affected at all. So too, the Atma pervades the body and subsists even when the body is reduced to dust.

-BABA

 

The planets move around the sun. Just the mere presence of the sun makes the planets go around. In the same way, the presence of consciousness---though it is not involved directly---its mere presence makes the body grow.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Conversations That Matter

January 15, 2013

Bangalore, India

(Whether it’s spirituality or secularism, issues concerning our society or our everyday lives, we seek solutions.
Combining a keen understanding of social issues with the depth of spirituality, Sri Sri offers a refreshingly practical perspective.)

Q: Gurudev today is army day, can you please talk about our army or defence forces?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Indian army has been one of the best armies of the world; very well managed.
Their discipline, their commitment, their equality and justice is an example to follow. The army men have cultivated discipline so well! I wish that the youths of this country also imbibe the discipline of the men in the army.
In their personalities, you can see there is integrity, commitment and dynamism. Fortunately the army training has instilled such qualities of endurance, dignity and commitment. They have strong commitment to work and discipline.

Many nations in the world have a compulsory military training for a year or two years for the youths and the male members of the society. India should also have some sort of such training for the youth. More numbers of youth should participate in such initiatives.
The Jawans (In India common name given to the youth in the army) and their families really deserve to be congratulated. On this occasion, we also give our condolences to the two Jawans who were recently beheaded by Pakistan. These brave soldiers have been decapitated in such a lousy and cowardly manner by the Pakistani army, and it is a shame upon them for having done such a thing.
The families of these two warriors are still on hunger strike. They want the head back. Our sympathies and our prayers are with those families.

Q: Dear Gurudev, how should we answer those who say, ‘What is the problem if people convert when they get better education and healthcare?'
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Mahatma Gandhi has said that it is a crime to convert people by giving them education and some money. This is a big crime and we should never do that.
Every individual has got the right to make his own decision, and you cannot lure someone to change their religion.
Why do you want to convert others and change their religion? It is because you want your numbers to increase. And why do you want your number to increase? This is because you want to have political power.
You are converting people for politics, and to gain power; this is a nasty thing to do. God will not pardon you.
By converting, you are destroying a culture, you are destroying the demography of society. This should not happen, and we must put an end to this.
Saying, ‘My God is better than your God’, is actually another form of terrorism. In fact, it is the seed of terrorism. So, people who are trying to convert others, I would say that they are also doing the same job as a terrorist, but in disguise.

Q: If the religions institutions and Masters give us practical knowledge which can be implemented in our day to day lives, just like how you have given us, then people would cultivate better understanding, and experience change in their lives. I think, if this could be made possible, then most of the problems that society is facing today will disappear.
I do Sudarshan Kriya and I follow you, but I have respect for all other Masters and religious traditions. I go to temples and I go to mosques as well.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Very good! That is indeed how it should be.
Misleading people by coaxing them to go to temples, or forcing them to offer Namaz is no good. What people need is to experience spirituality; to experience that there is only one God. We are all children of One God and we must spread the love that we have and not hatred.
This is what I have repeatedly been telling the people of Pakistan also. The people there are so nice. Just today I had a talk with them. We have three of our centres running there. People have experienced such happiness after doing the Sudarshan Kriya. All their sorrow and misery has been washed away. Also, there are so many people who share that they met me in their dreams!

Now Pakistan is our neighbouring country, but even if you go Iran, there also people have similar experiences.
Do you know, we have around 60 to 65 of our Art of Living teachers working there, in Iran. The environment there is very rigid and strict, they do not allow the practice of Yoga there. But when the religious police saw my pictures in the homes of our teachers there who also happen to be Muslims, then they said, ‘Oh, Gurudev looks like our grandsire, from whom we have learnt everything! He resembles our own spiritual leader who has educated and initiated us.' So they too did not object to our work there and simply allowed it to happen without any hassles.
So many youths are attending The Art of Living workshops there, and they have come back saying, ‘Oh, we have really been missing something big in life! If we had had such experiences much earlier in our lives, today we would have been far happier and prosperous. Conflicts and fights between neighbours would have come to an end, for good. All hatred would have ended.'

There are some religious leaders, pontiffs and heads, not only Muslims, but Hindus as well, who do not want to let this transformation happen. These leaders fear that they would have to shut their business if people go for such experiences. Yes, it is true!

Among the Hindus too there are some spiritual leaders who actually criticize the Sudarshan Kriya and mislead people by comparing the effects of it to drugs like Opium. They forbid others to go for Art of Living altogether.
Similarly, the Imams (religious leaders among the Muslims) among the Muslims forbid their people to learn or attend the Art of Living courses by telling them that it is practiced by members of another religion. They tell them that you will be misled and deceived in The Art of Living.
We have to tackle and fight against such people who hinder and obstruct the progress and upliftment of an individual.
Those people who obstruct or prohibit learning of such practices or knowledge that can bring such happiness and fulfilment to people are the ones who need to be tackled. They are not doing the right thing, and need to be stopped.
Do not be misled into thinking that such things are happening only among the Muslims or the Christians alone. Even some religious Hindu leaders are also doing the very same thing. This is sheer ignorance. In the Art of Living, we offer our love generously to everybody and pray to God to grant such people a pure and righteous intellect.

Q: Gurudev, can the feeling of nationality and spirituality move together? Do you not think that the love for our country limits our expanse?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No, not at all. Both can go together, and there is no need for any conflict between the two.
See, you are a part of a democracy. You are a stakeholder in a particular country and its democracy, so you do have a say in that country’s affairs, and you have to stand up and express that. Doing this in no way obstructs your sense of universal brotherhood, or your universal oneness.

Let us say, for example, you are a social worker. Now if there is garbage in your own home, your first duty is to clean your own home.
Now if you ask me, 'If I clean my home, will it not conflict with my cleaning the streets, or cleaning other public places?'
I would say, 'No! If you are going to clean the world, you need to clean your home as well.'
A little bigger extension of your home is your country, and then of course peace in the entire world.
If you do not belong to a particular country, you cannot go and talk about the corruption present in that particular country. The people there would tell you, ‘It is our internal affair. Who are you to come and ask us?’
You have the right and the authority to clean up your own home, but you cannot tell your neighbour, ‘I am going to come and clean your home. I feel a sense of belongingness with you too.’ They would tell you, ‘Thank you, but you are not welcome. Please do so in your own home, that will be good enough.'

In your own home you have the authority to do what you like. But you cannot use the same authority on the neighbour.
Now if your neighbour invites you by saying, ‘Please come, I need your help. Let us clean my home too’, then you should just jump and do that.
If you are a tourist in a country and not its resident, then you cannot meddle with the affairs of that country. It is not the right thing to do by law.

So this is where the abstract and the concrete levels come into conflict.
At an abstract level, you have a sense of belongingness with everyone. At the level of feelings, you feel, ‘Oh, what is the difference between India, or Pakistan, or America or Europe? Wherever I go, I feel like it is my own place. I feel totally at home.'
At the same time, you cannot behave the same in all the places. Every place has its own code of conduct which we have to follow.

If you need to fight against some injustice, you can do so only within your own country. So in this sense, it is not contrary.

Q: What is the feeling of nationality and is it contrary to the idea of universal brotherhood? How can the feeling of nationality be expanded to include universal brotherhood?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: A sense of universal brotherhood comes first and foremost. Now, though you may not be a stakeholder in the entire universe, but you are definitely a voter in your own country. And when you are a voter in your own country, you have some responsibility towards the country. You can express your needs and opinions through the local press and you can take some action.
Globally, you can spread human awareness, You can do good and also wish good for everybody out of a spirit of friendliness and compassion.

Q: Gurudev, how do I recognize the line between spirituality and religion?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Listen, when you are on this path, spirituality is already there with you. You do not need to draw or erase any line. Just be natural. That should be the way of life.
You belong to a particular religion by birth, but spirituality is by choice.

Q: Gurudev, the youth in Himachal Pradesh are getting addicted to drugs which is a huge problem today. Please explain why does material prosperity also brings vices along with it. Is it worth having prosperity at the cost of human values?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No, certainly not. Such prosperity is good for nothing. If human values are not there, then it is meaningless to say that you are prosperous. For example, if you have insomnia, then no matter how good a bed you may have, it is of no use.
Similarly, if you have stomach ulcers and you cannot eat, then having great food kept in front of you is also of no meaning. So in the absence of human values, life is worth nothing. That prosperity has no meaning.

Q: Gurudev, is obesity something that is given by God; or is it a fruit of one’s actions?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: God gives you some work or the other. So if he gives you obesity, then he also gives you work so as to make you reduce your weight.
You seem to ask very clever questions! When you seem to remain or maintain your obesity, you very conveniently say that it is God who gave it to you.
This is why I said that if you think that God has given you obesity, then he has also laid out ways to make you reduce your weight.

Q: Gurudev, what should one do when one experiences sorrow and suffering?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Have patience!
When you have come here to the Ashram, drop all your sorrow and miseries here, and just walk ahead. There is no misery or suffering that cannot be gotten rid of. Have you ever seen a cloud that never moves and stays in one place permanently? It is impossible. In the same way, your misery and suffering are like clouds. Some clouds disappear in an instant, while some take a little longer to go away. But they do pass away and that is inevitable.

Video of Google hangout with Sri Sri

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 12:26 AM PST

---

Dear Ones,

Jai guru dev,

If you had missed watching or want to watch again google hangout with Sri Sri that took place yesterday (Sat 26 Jan 2013), here is an golden opportunity.

 

Click on the link below and watch this 3-hour unique online conversation between Sri Sri, World leaders and people around the globe on how to reduce violence in society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkpKonn9-k

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How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  a) Refresher Course for repeaters 31 January to 2 February 2013,  b) P1 course (new & repeaters) 7-9 February 2013

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Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

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[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The proprietor of a coffee house goes to the nearby druggist for a pill to ward off his headache, but when the druggist gets a headache he goes to the coffee house for a cup of coffee, which he thinks will cure him. Tastes differ according to temperament and the character one has earned by generations of activity in this world. The Jnaani (wiseman) says, ‘Sarvam Brahma mayam’ (Everything is Divinity); another, a yogi, says all is energy; a third, who is a devotee, says all is the play of the Lord. Each proclaims based on one’s taste and progress in the spiritual path. Do not hurry to ridicule anyone, for all of you are pilgrims, walking along the same road.

-BABA

Do not judge. Just look at yourself -- how many flaws you have. And Nature, the Divine, has accepted you with all your flaws... It doesn't judge you at all.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

Dealing With Difficult People

January 16, 2013

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, I try communicating with my father, I try to talk to him but he acts freaky. He gets high and creates chaos. I do not know what to do and how to communicate with him. I know he is in lot of pain and problem which is why he is not able to communicate with me or anyone. What do I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Win him over with love.
You know sometime you should walk the same path as the ones who create chaos and then slowly make them understand and change.
Just do this, do not oppose him for two days and do whatever he says. Give him so much love that he will melt. Did you understand? Did you get what I mean? Have you tried this way?

(Devotee: Gurudev, I have tried talking to him but it does not work.)

Talking is not good, have you asked him, ‘Papa, what do you want? What can I do for you?’ Have you asked him that?

(Devotee: No, I have not. )

See, not once you have asked him, ‘Papa, what do you want? What can I do for you?’ Now go and ask him this. ?
Do you know why people create chaos? It is because they feel insecure. They do not feel loved. They often think, ‘I do so much for my wife and children by sacrificing my whole life for them from morning till evening, yet they do not care for me.'
This feeling takes a deep hold in their heart.
In their entire life, they did not get many chances to go places and see things around. They dedicated all of their life to the welfare of their wife and children. So when they do not get any love and respect in return, they become angry.
When no one listens to them and they do not get respect then the anger increases. Though they themselves do not behave in a manner to get respect yet they do not understand this. Is this not what the issue really is?

(Devotee: Yes Gurudev)

His behavior is not such that you can give him respect, but does he understand this?
So what you need to do is, you need to go and ask him when he is in a good mood, ‘Papa what do you want? What can I do for you?’
See, no one is in an angry mood all the time! People do have good moods. When they are in a good mood then you can communicate. When they are not in a good mood, you can ask them, what is it that you can do for them.
If they are in the worst mood, just move away from the scene.
So you have three options to win over people with love and skilful communication; Yes!

Just today, a lady came and told me that her mother in law is doing so much ruckus.
She said to me, ‘This is my second marriage but it looks like this marriage too will break. My first marriage also broke because of the mother in law. Now I am so scared that this one will also break’, and saying this she started crying.
I told her, it is only your mother-in-law, so believe her and just agree to whatever she says. If she says night for day and day for night, you say, ‘Yes mother, definitely.'
To argue with her is foolish.
What can one do if one encounters foolish people? In such cases, we have little choice but to just play along and walk their path.

One such person had called me in a gathering once.
He invited me to a conference because he wanted to argue with me in front of all the people. He said, 'This book (written by Sri Sri) is all wrong.'
He wanted to provoke me, so that I would get angry and argue back and forth with him. He wanted to start a fight between two communities which would cause the police to come and intervene, and a scene would have been created. He did that to get some fame. He said, 'What you have written in this book is wrong.'
I simply told him, ‘Yes it is. You are absolutely right!’
Once I agreed, there was nothing more for him to argue or fight. I understood what his intention was. His purpose was to show me down and humiliate me.
This conference happened here in Bangalore itself and it was about Hinduism and Islam.

The conference was about the concept of God in Hinduism and Islam, and I had written a book on what is common to both these religions. He just took this book and started arguing and left out the main point. He forgot about the main focus of the conference. He just wanted to create some conflict so that both the communities start fighting. Lots of people had come there. He took the book and said, 'This is wrong.' I said, ‘Yes, it could be so. But let’s leave that and focus on the main theme of the conference.'

Do you know what was the mistake in the book?
I had written commonalities of Hinduism with Sufi saints, so he said, Sufis are not Muslims.

I had said in the book that Sufis sing songs and Hindus also sing bhajans. Both Sufis and Hindus do the rosary. Sufis go around the Kaaba (referring to the Holy shrine of Mecca) and even the Hindus do the circumambulations of the main idol in temples.
Now what was wrong in that?
He wanted to defeat this good point, but I told him it is not so. I just said that the book could be wrong and that there could be printing mistakes. It was a small book of just 30 pages. I said, 'I got it printed in a haste so there could be a mistake or two. You leave that.'

In those same days, a large festival of the Jains was going on in Bangalore, where the Shvetambara and Digambara Jains perform idol worship.
However this person continued to criticize and condemn idol worship.
I told him, ‘See, this is wrong. Whichever way one chooses to worship God, you should simply let them practice that. If they are doing it and are happy with it why are you being sad and angry about it? Let them do it. You should accept everyone and move ahead in life. Even Mohammed has said this.'
I put this point before him.

So you see, some people are like this. They find pleasure in fights and have no interest in anything else, and so they just create fights. That is why I said, whatever such people say to you, just agree with them. Win them over with love.

When your mother-in-law says something, listen to it from one ear and let it go from the other ear.
You keep listening to scolding from your mother, is it not? Is there any girl who has not been scolded by her mother? From our very childhood, we get scolded by our mother. You get habituated to your mother’s scolding and it does not affect you. But if mother-in-law says something, it hurts us.
Treat your mother-in-law like your mother. How much ever your mother-in-law may scold you, you should treat it as though your mother is scolding you, and just smile and get back to work. Otherwise if your mother-in-law scolds you, and you come and cry in front of your husband, then your husband gets worried, and if he takes any sides then there is disturbance and chaos in the house. When such misery comes, then one feels like running away to the Himalayas.

When I asked people to give their names to become Swamis or Sanyasis, a lot of married individuals came and gave their names! (Laughter) Our devotee Sanjay got worried. He asked them, ‘You are married, then why are you here? You should go back and take care of your family.'
Those people came there because they were feeling so stuck and torn between their wife and their mother. So, do not create such situations.

I tell you, whatever the mother-in-law says, you should win her over with love.
If mother-in-law says anything, let her say. When one gets old they start complaining a little more. And what will she possibly complain about? She may complain that there is more salt today, or less salt; or that the vegetable is overcooked or undercooked.
She may say that you are not cleaning the house properly. And if you do a lot of cleaning, then she may say you will wipe away the entire house (a metaphor for stealing in India).
If you spend a lot then she will say you are a spendthrift, otherwise she will call you a miser.
There is no special skill required to criticize. A person can go on criticizing for the entire 24 hours of the day. They have learnt only this skill – how to criticize. This happens often between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Your mother-in-law may say, ‘My daughter-in-law does not respect me. She is like this and that. She thinks too highly of herself and does not treat this as her own home.'
She may say many such things to her daughter-in-law. That is why you should improve your communication. Then things will change.

Q: Gurudev, I am experience some intense vibrations especially when I am in bliss. Can you please talk about different levels of layers of energy in our body?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This entire universe is nothing but vibrations. It is all made up of waves, vibrations, and energy.
When your vibrations do not match with the vibrations of others you call it negative, and when your vibrations match with other vibrations, it is harmonious and you call it bliss.
When your energy becomes such that it becomes universal, then whatever the outer circumstances may be, you remain oblivious to it.

We went to Machu Pichu in South America; in Peru, and the people asked me, 'How do you feel the vibrations here? '
I said, 'I do not feel anything', this is because wherever we go we create our own vibrations. So I do not say, ‘Oh, this is negative and that is not.’
Of course, when people are agitating, upset or sad, it definitely creates negative vibrations around you; no doubt. But remember that they are not as powerful as your positive vibrations. It may appear to you that they are over powering, but in reality it is not so.

Q: Dear Gurudev, as a seeker, to keep our mind centered, should we make an effort to keep ourselves away from people’s problems, or should we help resolve their problems? How do we know where to draw the line?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You should do it lightly. When you try to resolve the problems of others, see that you do not get muddled up. Do it with this little sense of detachment, then it works.

Q: Gurudev, you are an amazing manager. The Art of Living organization has grown in such a short time, beyond what one can imagine. I am a manager too, please give me some management tips?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, all these programs, the APEX (Achieving Personal Excellence) program and the TLEX (Transformational Leadership and Excellence) programs are all to give you those tips in packages and capsules.

Remember one thing, the manager of the Universe is not so obvious. The one who manages this universe does not make it so obvious that he is doing it; or that He is in control.
Similarly, manage from behind. Leading from behind is the best.

When you want to lead a project you should not emphasize your leadership too much. You should do it from behind.

There is a saying in Sanskrit, Paroksha Priyahi Vai Devaha, which means that the Gods like to do things indirectly and not so obviously.
A person feels, 'I am doing it', but it is the Gods who make them do it. So they give the people the joy of feeling that they are doing it, but in reality, it is the Divine energy that does it in a subtle manner, which is not so obvious.

Q: Gurudev, I am from the fashion industry, can you please talk about fashion and harmony. How I can convey the message of harmony through fashion?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Fashion means being in the present moment. Old fashion is an oxymoron (a pair of words each having a contradictory meaning to each other). Do you see what I am saying?
So fashion is taking onto something new.
The whole universe moulds itself into fashion all the time. You know; the clouds have their own fashion. Every day they take on different forms. The sun set has a different flavor each day, is it not?
If you see Nature, it is ever new, and the tendency of the mind wanting something new every now and then is fashion. So it brings you to the moment.

Q: Jai Gurudev! When work gets done very well with trust and faith then we feel very good, but sometimes something bad happens or we have a bad experience then at such time how should one handle such situations with trust and faith?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See this is how things happen in life. There are some good things and some bad things, and some unfortunate events also happen. We should not stop, just continue to move ahead.
If you sit and analyze, do a post mortem, then more time gets wasted.
Thinking, ‘Why did this happen? Why did this not happen? I have faith, even then things did not work out’, this is all a waste of time.
Understand that with faith and enthusiasm we have to keep moving forward, because we get so much peace, calmness and strength by keeping our faith.
Due to one incident if we lose our faith then it is only we who suffer and not anyone else. Faith is a great wealth, so preserve it, consolidate it, and move ahead
. Even if a hundred thousand times we feel that we are losing faith, then too, we should continue to move on.
Thousands of events may come and create doubt within you, despite that if you move on with courage and strength, then one can say that you have true faith.
A person with strong faith will never face failure or have any downfall in life.

Q: Gurudev, I am 70 years old and I talk about your grace wherever I go. I have come here with full faith and gratefulness. My sons have sent me and told me to spread your knowledge amongst people, in every house, and in every village. Since the past six years I am going from house to house spreading this knowledge. When I organized a course in Pritampura, I did not leave a single house or block uncovered and as a result 113 people did the Sri Sri Yoga course.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just see the enthusiasm of this mother.
You should not say, ‘Oh, I cannot do this, I have become so old and aged.'
Even in old age you can talk to people around you and help cleanse people’s minds.
With the aging body, you cannot clean a room as you do not have the strength; but with words at least you can cleanse people’s minds.
So, we can all do a lot.

Stop thinking, 'What will they think about me?’ Just be shameless and do service. People who want to think will keep doing so; their work is only to think. Even if you do something good, people will criticize. They will think negative about you also, because that is all that some people can do. But if by your words at least some people’s minds get cleansed then that is good.

We should not waste our time. No matter where we may go, we should always be in this knowledge. Then our enthusiasm does not reduce in life. Otherwise you will continue crying that you did not get this, or you did not get that; or you have some illness or the other.
In life, with this physical body, something or the other happens all the time. Sometimes you might suffer from a headache, or you might catch a cold, or your tummy might get upset due to over-eating.
Recently I read a report in some paper that rather than people dying of starvation, the number of people dying from over eating is more.

Video of Google hangout with Sri Sri

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 12:26 AM PST

---

Dear Ones,

Jai guru dev,

If you had missed watching or want to watch again google hangout with Sri Sri that took place yesterday (Sat 26 Jan 2013), here is an golden opportunity.

 

Click on the link below and watch this 3-hour unique online conversation between Sri Sri, World leaders and people around the globe on how to reduce violence in society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkpKonn9-k

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How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  a) Refresher Course for repeaters 31 January to 2 February 2013,  b) P1 course (new & repeaters) 7-9 February 2013

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Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

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[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You have come into the world to realise yourselves. You come fully equipped with all the instruments needed for that endeavour - viveka, vairaagya and vichakshana (discrimination, non-attachment and skill); and the urge to enlarge your love, enrich your emotions and ennoble your actions. But you have lost your way; you are caught in a morass and are confused by mirages and dreams which you take as real; you run after false colours and cheap substitutes. Remember that everything is subordinated to that supreme task. The body should be fed and kept free from disease. Why? So that it may be fit for spiritual discipline. Spiritual discipline for what? For the realisation of the truth about oneself. The subtle is the basis for the gross; the Divine is the basis for the Human.

-BABA

Anything done to uplift your spirit, to make you walk towards the truth, that brings up human values within, that connects you to the innermost and outermost is spiritual. Meditation, pranayama, yoga, service, singing, chanting, creating happiness around you are all part of spirituality. If you create misery, then that is not spirituality. If you can create joy, it is spiritual. But not momentary joy. Such joy, in the long term, creates misery that is not spiritual. Alcohol, drugs can create momentary joy but they are not at all spiritual. That is the spirit.

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

 

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

What Will Be Your Final Act Of Life?

January 24, 2013

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, it is said that chanting the name of Narayana (Lord Vishnu) in the last moments of our life brings one liberation. Is it true that the last act of life is the strongest in determining our way forward?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, it is true. It is at the time of death that the mind separates from the body. So at this time, whatever impression one bears in the mind become the reason for the next birth. This is a scientific truth.
You can see this for yourself. If you observe, the first thought on your mind when you wake up in the morning will be same thought that you had before you went to sleep.

Now, usually your mind is so consumed with thoughts of something or the other, that at the time of death, you may not even remember to chant Narayana. That is why the ancient people have said, keep remembering God all the time by chanting His name (Narayana). Remember him every night before sleeping; while you take a shower; even while eating your meals, remember him and thank him for the food you receive.
Before starting something new, remember Him to make it an auspicious beginning. The ancient people were very intelligent and they made it a custom.
So, whenever one opens a new shop, the first thing they must do is naam smaran (remember the name of God), and then they start the shop. If one buys something new, they must remember Narayana and then begin.
We all do this, is it not so? We do this even today.
If you are going to write an examination, you think of the Divine and pray that the questions in the examinations are easy, and that you are able to write the answers properly.
Everyone prays, whether kids, adults or old people; all of them pray. But they do it out of fear. I would say, don't do it out of fear, rather to do it out of love; out of a deep sense of gratitude.
When you pray with love and faith that is when you blossom.

What is the difficulty in remembering the Divine before starting any new work? You can chant and remember the Divine by saying anything that you like. You can say Narayana, or Jai Gurudev, or even Om Namah Shivaya. Whatever name you like, say that.
Otherwise you keep singing all sorts of songs in your mind while having bath, or while eating food, like ‘Dafliwaale Dafli Bajao ‘ (O drummer boy, play me the drums!) What else would a drummer boy play for you if not drums? Is this a song?
Now I have not heard any of the recent songs, as I have not gotten the time. But there must be some songs that have come up recently that have no meaning at all.
There is a song called, 'Kolaveri di’ which seems to have become very popular. Many people do not even know the meaning of the song. Do you know what the meaning is? In Tamil, the expression 'Kolaveri di’ means 'I feel like killing someone.'
Is this is a good song, something which means that you feel like killing someone? That is why I say, just do naam smaran. Chant Om Namah Shivaya, or Omkar (Om) mantra. Chant whichever one that you like with a feeling of devotion.

See, I am not putting down any song, if you want to sing, it is okay to sing Kolaveri Di also; no problem. But sometimes a catchy tune like this will keep going on and on in your mind and it will affect you.
It is good that most of the people do not understand the meaning of the song. If they knew the meaning, and sang it along with the meaning then there would have been problems. It is in another language; it is in Tamil.

When you know the meaning of a bhajan and you sing it with a feeling of gratitude and devotion, it has a profound effect on your life.
Every word has a vibration of its own, and when we speak good words, the vibrations from those words have the power to purify the mind, and purify life.
By chanting and speaking positive, both the mind and the body get energized. That is why it is said to do naam smaran.
Do it at least two times in the day. Like I said, in the morning before having the first meal of the day, remember the Divine by chanting his name.

I keep telling everyone that before eating food, chant this mantra, ‘Annadaata Sukhi Bhavah’ (May the provider of my food be blessed with peace and prosperity).
This mean that may the ones who have gives me this food be blessed with peace and happiness. So give this blessing with all your heart.
By chanting this mantra, you pray that the lady of the house who cooked and served you food is blessed with peace and happiness. Also, the merchant who purchased and brought the food grains to your home, may he be blessed, and lastly you bless the farmer who cultivated and grew the crops from which you got your food. So by saying this chant, you bless him as well. This is such a good thing!

Similarly, first thing in the morning, when you wake up say ‘Om Namo Narayana’ or ‘Om Namah Shivaya’.
When something goes wrong, say, 'Hey Ram!'
If someone dies, chant 'Ram Naam Satya Hai' (The name of Lord Rama alone is the ultimate truth).
What is the difficulty in just remembering the name of God? There is no difficulty at all.
When you enter the car, say ‘Om Namo Narayana’, and then sit in the car. Before you get out of the car also, do naam smaran (remember the name of God) and then get out.
In this way, you will make it a habit to do naam smaran, is it not so? So during your last moments, at the time of death, when the Prana (life force) is about to leave your body, then also you will do naam smaran because it will come to you naturally at that time, and this will uplift you in a great way.

Q: Gurudev, I want to know how far I have progressed in my spiritual development. These days I have even stopped running behind your car. Does this mean that I have grown spiritually, or does this mean that my devotion towards you has decreased?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This only you can know.
Once you have come on this path, you will progress. You will only move forward.

See, do not measure your growth by whether or not you run behind my car. Never do that. How centered have you become? This is what you need to see. The more centered you become, the more you have progressed on the path.
Wherever you are, be there and become still. Bring your mind to the self.

What you need to remember is that there is no lack of devotion in you. Do not even think that you do not have enough devotion. Yes, sometimes devotion may get hidden, but that is only for some time, soon it will come up again.
Feelings cannot always be constant. Our passion also will not be the same all the time. There will be ups and downs.
Feelings are not like stones, they are like water. Just like how ripples arise in water, the same goes for feelings as well. Feelings arise and then they settle down, and then again they rise. This is only natural. That is why love and longing always go together. You sometimes feel intense longing, and sometimes you feel an abundance of love, and then again you experience longing and then intense love. This will keep on happening in life.

Q: Dear Gurudev, you have spoken about the three kinds of devotees. Are there different flavours of masters as well?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, definitely!
History has seen many different types of masters. In fact they are all very unique and everybody is different. There are people with a little more rajasic gun and a little tamasic gun, while some are more satvic.
The other day, I was mentioning, long ago in the early 80s when I was just around 23 or 24, I visited a saint on the outskirts of Delhi. This saint said to me, 'If it is 24 carat gold, you cannot make any ornaments out of it. You have to add some copper or something to it, only then does it become an ornament.'
He said, 'You too have to add something. You cannot be 24 carat gold, otherwise you cannot be useful to everybody.'
I said, 'No Baba, let me be only 24 carat. Whatever happens let it happen.'
He said, 'You can spread very fast. Why don't you learn about Tantra. Learn about some spirits and then you can control some spirits and do some magic.'
I said, 'I do not need to do any of these', I know they do not lead you to the highest.

So there are people who do a little bit of these miracles, but it lasts only for a short period of time. Later on what happens, the spirits from who you take work, they will take toll on you.
All this lasts for a very short span of time, it is not something that stays with you.
That is why, pure satvic knowledge, harmonious knowledge is the best, and it is long lasting. There is no tamo gun or rajo gun in that. The impact is permanent, long lasting, and it takes you to the highest; nothing short of the highest.

This saint was a very nice saint, not that he was bad. He was very nice person. He was in his 70s or so in those days, and he just made a suggestion. When I said no, he really appreciated it, he said, 'Yes, this is good.'
Perhaps he wanted to test me to see if I could be tempted to do something.

Q: When we meet someone for the first time, opinions and judgments are formed naturally. We like someone in the first meeting and we dislike some people for no reason at all. Why is it so Gurudev?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That is how it is. The world functions on vibrations and we all work on vibration. Some people’s vibrations are more pleasant and you respond to it easily. Some others’ vibrations are a little repulsive.
When you very centered, you will not find anybody with whom you feel a repulsive vibration with, and there will be nobody that can shake you off your center. That is the most desirable state - where there are no cravings and no aversion; no repulsion or no compulsion, or attraction. Then everything looks charming. Everybody is in harmony with you and everything is in harmony with you. That is the inner bliss that is expanded all around you.

Q: Gurudev, you said that the knowledge of sleep brings freedom. What does this mean?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Knowledge of sleep and dreams can take you into a different state of samadhi. It is one of the techniques mentioned in the Yoga Sutras by Rishi Patanjali. Maharishi Patanjali has said the sutra, 'Swapnanidrajnanalambanam va'
This is one of the samadhis that he mentions while describing the different types of samadhis.
If you are aware of how sleep is dawning on the mind, in between the sleep and waking state, there is a spark of total stillness. I am saying only spark of stillness because stillness is so dynamic, so alive. That is what he is talking about.
So if you notice, just before falling asleep, or as soon as you wake up, you are neither fully asleep nor fully awake, in that gap, there is certain peace, a certain quality of consciousness which is so beautiful, so soothing and so healing. That is what is mentioned there.

Q: Gurudev, when longing becomes intense sometimes, it ends up with the feeling of anger or frustration. How to deal with it?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Longing needs to be internalized, you need to go deep into meditation. Or give a creative form to it, write some poems or articles. Writing will help. You know, a lot of great works have come out of longing, whether it is painting, music, drama, literature, all these have come out of deep yearning.
So give your longing a creative direction; or internalize it, go deep in meditation.

Q: Gurudev, it is said that power corrupts. Would you speak about the way one can handle power?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Power corrupts when your intentions are not correct. When your intentions are not right, you try to gain power in a corrupt manner.
Some say, power is poison. I agree with it if you are using it for your selfish reasons. But if you are using power for service, then it is a tool. If your intention is to serve people, power is just a tool.

Q: Gurudev, it is very easy to be grateful when things are going well. How to feel grateful and be aware of your grace when things are not going well?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Remember how in the past tough times have become easier. You sailed through the tough times. That will give you the confidence and instill stronger faith in you.

Q: Gurudev, technology brings comfort, but it also increases pollution. Comfort versus environment, what should be the criteria for development?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Technology need not be always against environment.
Today technology is advancing towards being more and more environment friendly. So we can have technology and still care for the environment, but environment is very important. It is more important.

Q: Gurudev, how to ensure that a person does not take you for granted in a relationship?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don't worry about it, it is quite natural.
People take you for granted because they think you belong to them already, and so they only attend to people who are guests.
You are a part of the family, why should anybody tell you, 'Have you had coffee? Are you going to eat now?' It is not normal!
If someone asks a little too many questions, then also you will doubt, 'Why are they giving me so much attention. Something must be wrong.' You start doubting.
The other day, one gentleman told me, 'Gurudev, when I attend to my wife, and be a little nicer to her, she starts doubting, she says that there is something wrong and asks me, 'What is the matter? You must have done something wrong. You are not being honest.' If I am normal, then she says that I ignore her. What to do Gurudev?'
So when someone wants to doubt you, in any case, they will start doubting you.
He said, 'It is very hard. If I come half an hour late, she sits on an enquiry commission, 'Where did you go? What time did you leave office? What happened? She will ask me all these questions.'

That is why I say, we need to learn to how to handle our own mind.
It is the mind which plays so many tricks on you. Your mind could be your best friend if it is under your reins, and it is your worst enemy, if you are under the influence of your own mind.

Q: Gurudev, wherever Lord Krishna used to go, there quarrels and fights would begin. But wherever you go, differences comes to an end.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, when people get the news that I am coming to their city or town, that itself creates so many fights between people. One will say, 'Gurudev will travel in my car.' Another will say, 'He will stay at my house.' The third will say, 'He will have food in my place,' And because of all of this, fights start happening.
But after my visit, people do get happy. I ensure I make them happy.

Q: Gurudev, how can I take my marital relationship to the next level, rather than it just being an ordinary relationship of a husband and wife?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Both should move ahead together and support each other.
Sometimes, it may happen that one partner may lose interest in a marital relationship, while the other may still be interested. Then it may seem like things are not working out. This could happen. But even then, you need to support each other. Both should move ahead together.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, January 31, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

God draws the individual towards Himself. It is the nature of both to have this mutual affinity; they are just like the iron and magnet. But if the iron is rusty, covered with layers of dirt, the magnet is unable to attract. Remove the impurities, then you will shine forth in your real nature and the Lord will draw you unto Him. Spiritual practices (Sadhana) should result in inner as well as external cleanliness. You do not feel refreshed if you wear unwashed clothes after your bath. Nor do you feel clean if you wear washed clothes, but skip taking bath. Hence, both are needed – the baahya (external) and the bhaava (internal). Trials and tribulations are the means by which this cleansing is done. They are like the dietary and other restrictions prescribed to supplement the effect of the drug of Namasmarana (remembrance of God).

-BABA

The cycle of desires and sleep, we keep on oscillating between rajogun and tamogun. This is bondage. Satogun dawns with genuine relaxation and knowledge. The summary of the whole Ashtavakra Geeta is to be able to joyfully relax while being awake – satvik relaxation. That relaxation is true relaxation. In that relaxation all the attachments and bondages lose their grip. So, consider your life as sadhana. Time follows some rule. It has its own rhythm. Sometimes, something desirable happens and at some other times, something undesirable. Time continues to teach us that opposite values are complementary.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

A ban doesn’t always work

January 29, 2013

A lot is being said about the controversy over Kamal Haasan’s film Vishwaroopam and its ban in Tamil Nadu.

Interestingly, there was another movie a few months ago, that labeled all Hindu customs and symbols as hoaxes and all spiritual leaders as frauds. There were many Hindu organizations who were ready to protest, but my advice to them was not to give undue publicity and promote the movie by protesting against it. And that’s what happened — it ran for a few weeks and people forgot about it. If you want to make a movie popular, ban it and protest against it. It will only benefit the moviemaker and once they get a taste of this, they continue making similar movies.

People know movies are fiction and need not be taken seriously. In spite of all that was said in this movie, the actors themselves go to temples. It has not been able to put an end to idol worship or people visiting ashrams. In this sense, the movie has not made a big dent in the culture or an impact on the people. Similarly, ‘Da Vinci Code’ was a movie on Jesus’s life that came out a few years ago. It ran all over the world, even in Italy, but it was banned in Tamil Nadu.

In this world, you cannot legally ban everything everywhere. Many such things that have been banned are available anyway, including Salman Rushdie’s books and DVDs of ‘Da Vinci Code’. I would appeal to the Muslim community not to insist on keeping the ban on Vishwaroopam when it may not be possible legally. By banning such things, not only people from other communities but Muslims themselves become curious to see what wrong things have been written or shown.

Even after a ban, people find ways to get these things. Already, there are copies of the movie on the internet. People are so active and expressive over social media that anybody can write anything about anyone. There is no control. This being the situation, it may not do any good by simply protesting. Rather, the result might be contrary to what you intend and more people might end up watching the movie. A ban would also earn a bad name for the Muslim community that it is extremist or intolerant or promotes cultural terrorism. We don’t want such tags on our Muslim brethren. For several centuries, Hindus and Muslims have lived with such kinship. I want to assure our Muslim brethren that the mutual respect between Hindus and Muslims in Tamil Nadu is so good that nobody will be able to tear this fabric. I don’t think a movie will make any difference to the bond between the two communities.

If anyone insults a prophet or saint or customs of any community, it can only be laughed at. There are a number of such videos insulting every single religion in the world. There are hundreds of movies, even in Tamil Nadu, that show Hinduism in a bad light. But Hinduism has not taken a beating. I would say that the best thing to do is to ignore such things and move forward. Kamal Haasan has said that his intention is not to hurt anybody’s sentiment. We should give him the benefit of doubt and move on. This would be my submission to the leaders of the Muslim community.

Video of Google hangout with Sri Sri

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 12:26 AM PST

---

Dear Ones,

Jai guru dev,

If you had missed watching or want to watch again google hangout with Sri Sri that took place yesterday (Sat 26 Jan 2013), here is an golden opportunity.

 

Click on the link below and watch this 3-hour unique online conversation between Sri Sri, World leaders and people around the globe on how to reduce violence in society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkpKonn9-k

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  a) Refresher Course for repeaters 31 January to 2 February 2013,  b) P1 course (new & repeaters) 7-9 February 2013

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Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

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[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, February 01, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The Lord is a Mountain of Love. Any number of ants carrying away particles of sweetness cannot exhaust His plenty. He is an Ocean of Mercy without a limiting shore. And devotion is the easiest way to win His Grace and also to realize that He pervades everything; in fact, He is everything! Sharanagathi (total surrender) or leaving everything to His Will, is the highest form of devotion. Devotion and the attitude of surrender, which is its final fruit, will give you great courage to meet any emergency; such courage is what is called Renunciation. When Devotion is just emerging as a sapling, a fence is needed to protect the tender plant. That fence is religion and its rules, restrictions, directions and commands.

-BABA

There is no freedom at all without surrender, and when I surrender I get infinite freedom. The greater my surrender is, the greater my freedom, that much the load is taken off of me.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Forbearance, a Quality of Saints

January 25, 2013

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, what is the relevance of tapasya (penance or austerities) in Kali Yuga and how should we understand it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Tapa helps to purify all the organs of the body and rid them of impurities. The entire body gets cleansed and all the sense organs become stronger with tapa.
Tapasya is not done to please God, or to attain self realization, but it is done to make the body and mind stronger.

You must have seen that so many saints do very austere penances (tapasya), especially among the Jains. The Jain saints are able to walk bare foot for long distances. They do not feel very cold in the winters, or too hot during the summers. They develop a resistance towards extreme climatic conditions because of their tapasya. So this is one of the benefits of doing tapasya.
But you should not stretch or overdo this at all. Doing too much tapasya and troubling your own body is not advisable at all. It is wrong to do that.

There are some people who sit with four fires burning all around them, and one on top of their head and do meditation. It is called Panchagni tapasya. All this is not necessary. Torturing the body like this is wrong and should not be done. But a little bit of tapasya is necessary.
It is said, ‘Tapovai dwandva sahanam’, which means forbearing the opposites is tapasya.

Suppose you are travelling somewhere in a bus, and it is a 12 hour long journey for which you have to sit. Then that also is a sort of tapasya.

Being in a state of equanimity, and enduring whatever come, whether it is hot or cold, good or bad, praise or criticism, is tapasya.
Can you listen to an insult with the same equanimity as when you listen to compliments? That is tapasya. When someone praises you, you listen to it with a smile. When someone criticizes you, can you listen to it with the same smile and equanimity, and watch what is happening inside you? That is tapasya.
When you do not like something but are able to undergo that, then that is tapasya.
If you can like something, can you be a witness to it and not be feverish about it, then that is tapasya.

Forbearing the opposites is called tapasya, and it is essential in life.
The extent to which we follow tapasya in life, to that extent we become stronger and stable.

Q: Gurudev, you have often said that knowledge should be used like soap. But if it needs to be washed off then how can it be symbolic of our true nature. So does it mean that knowledge is not our true nature?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There are two types of knowledge.
One is the knowledge of the Self which is our true nature. And the other kind of knowledge is that which is used like soap.
Do you know why it is said to use knowledge as a soap? So that you do not become arrogant about having knowledge. You should not think, ‘I know so much; I know everything.' You should not become egoistic about knowledge. So to get rid of such an ego, it is said that knowledge should be used like a soap.
This is the actual meaning.

Q: Dear Gurudev, what is the power of the subconscious mind and how do I utilize it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The conscious mind is in fact only one-tenth of your subconscious mind. So the subconscious mind has a lot of power.
Suppose you are having a pyjama party and eight of you are sleeping and someone calls out your name, only you will respond. Others will continue to remain in deep sleep. Is it not so? Have you noticed this?
This indicates that even your name is ingrained in your subconscious mind. Meditation is the way to make the subconscious mind become more and more conscious.

Q: Dear Gurudev, how to leave the intellect and go back to innocence? By doing so, does it not become acting?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When the intellect matures, you become innocent. Also even when emotions take over, then also you will move into innocence.
Innocence is one aspect of your life and everybody has it. What comes in the way is the concepts in the intellect, such as judgements, or thinking that ‘I know it all’, or ‘I know it better’, etc. That is what blocks the intellect from maturing fully.
Meditation and pranayama help you to reverse the journey back from the intellect to your innocence.
Also, when there are people who know much more than you and you feel, ‘Oh, I know very little’, then also innocence will simply come up in you.
When you make an assessment about yourself that is wrong, then that may cause you to feel out of touch with your innocence.

Q: Gurudev, please talk about passion and the lack of passion.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Passion is essential in life but it cannot be constant.
There are always ups and downs in passion. The intensity of passion will go up sometimes and then come down, and then again go up, and that is healthy.
Usually what happens is that when your passion for something goes down, you feel so bad, as if you have lost something. You start feeling as if you lack something, and wonder what to do. I would say, just relax.
See, passion should also have a little bit of contentment. Sometimes, when contentment comes, passion does go down.
Contentment should also have a strain of passion, otherwise contentment can slip into lethargy and a sense of complacency. So to prevent contentment from slipping into inertia, you need a little passion. And for passion to not become too feverish and make you restless all the time, you need contentment. This will give you the right balance.

Q: Gurudev, there are too many changes happening in my life. Some of them are good and some are bad. How do I deal with change?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Changes are inevitable in life, and in the universe. The universe means changes. But there is something deep within you that is not changing, and you should anchor on to that. That is devotion.

Q: Gurudev, you have spoken much about food and the breath. Would you like to say something about clothes as well? Should we only wear traditional clothes?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Wear comfortable clothes, but I do not prefer wearing those torn clothes and jeans for which you pay so much money. It looks so shabby.
I have heard that if there are holes in the jeans, you have to pay more money for that! This you should not do.
Cotton is the best fabric. If it is mixed with a little bit of polyester, it is also okay, But only polyester should be avoided.
I would prefer that people avoid leather. Do you know just for leather, so many animals are slaughtered. All this should be done away with.
It is said, ‘Ahimsa paramo-dharma’, (Non-violence in all action is the supreme duty or Dharma). Everyone should walk the path of non-violence and be a vegetarian. This is very necessary. Only then will you be able to meditate well.

Q: Gurudev, in addition to the earlier question, I have two other questions. First is: should we wear silk sarees, since silk worms die in the making of the sarees? Is it a sin?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If you see it in that sense, then when you cut a banana plant or part of it to make the fabric out of it, then also you may think it is a sin, because it is also a jeeva (living being).
What you really must strive for is to cause minimum amount of pain to other living beings. You cannot totally avoid it. So wearing silk is okay.
There are different types of silk. There is a certain type of silk that is made without causing harm to the silk worm. Ahimsa silk is also available (silk obtained without harming or killing insects or animals) in which they do not boil the silk cocoons, but rather extract the silk without disturbing the worms.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, February 04, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Spiritual discipline is more arduous than physical discipline. Imagine the tremendous amount of effort undergone by the lady who runs along a wire stretched across the ring underneath a circus tent. The gain is just a few rupees after all. The same steadfastness and systematic effort aimed at a higher reward can endow you with mental balance and you can maintain your equilibrium under the most adverse or the most testing circumstances. But for such spiritual achievements the intellect and other instruments of perception are more important than the limbs. The intellect is the key. Make the intellect the master of your mind and you will not fail. You will fail only when the senses establish mastery over the mind.

-BABA

That is why I say, we need to learn to how to handle our own mind. It is the mind which plays so many tricks on you. Your mind could be your best friend if it is under your reins, and it is your worst enemy, if you are under the influence of your own mind.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

Lord Krishna - Trouble Maker or Trouble Shooter?

January 26, 2013

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, Yudhisthira (the eldest of the five Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata) used to gamble. He gambled and lost his wife (Draupadi) in a game of dice. Then why is he given the title of ‘Dharmaraj’ (the supreme upholder of Dharma or moral virtues)?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: In those days, gambling was not considered a bad thing. Just like how today there are licensed bars, and government sanctioned liquor shops which have the permission to serve alcohol.
In the same way, gambling was considered to be a sort of game or sport of the kings.

You need to understand that it is not that whatever Yudhisthira did was all correct. You cannot think like that. In fact I would say what he did was very wrong. But because his heart and mind were pure and there was no malice or sinful thought in his mind, he had the support of the Lord with him.
Also, if he had not played the game of dice, then how would all those problem arise? How would the Mahabharata take place? If, as Dharmaraj he had refused to play the game of dice, then there would have been no problem at all.

See, any person, even if he or she upholds very high human values, when they acquire some position of power, you will find some or the other flaws in them.
Moreover, Yudhisthira was not a sanyasi (a renunciate), he was a worldly man. And it is only natural for someone who is a worldly person to have some flaws. To become completely blameless and turn into a sanyasi is a different thing altogether.
So even as a king, he did have some flaws, like the habit of gambling. He simply could not refuse an invitation to gamble. And had he refused, the Mahabharata would not have happened, the Pandavas would not have gone into exile and Draupadi would not have had to undergo so much suffering (referring to the attempt of disrobing of Draupadi in the royal court). And had all this not happened, then the Mahabharata too would never have happened, and we would have never had the Bhagavad Gita.
Then Lord Krishna would not have had anything to do! He would have simply enjoyed his time eating butter in Vrindavan, and he would have never left the place (Laughter). There would have been no need for him to leave Vrindavan at all.

Wherever Lord Krishna went, there was surely some mischief or chaos which he would try to resolve.
This is why all this is called as His Leela (pastimes or divine play of the Lord).
So there is no use criticizing whatever happened, and neither is there much to be gained by over-analysing these events. It is not an intelligent thing to do. You must see all of this as the Leela of the Lord. Then you will find that there is a treasure chest of wisdom and knowledge to take away from it. Knowledge that is so useful and practical for life.

Q: Gurudev, why is it that wherever Lord Krishna went, in those place only conflicts would arise. Or is it that Lord Krishna was like a doctor who would visit places of conflict and chaos?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This depends on the way you see it.
The Jains say that wherever Lord Krishna went, He caused a lot of violence, and war took place because of His influence. The Jains actually believe Lord Krishna to be in hell for all that He did. They also believe that He is not going to be in hell forever. The Jains predict that in the next Satya Yuga (the of truth and righteousness), Lord Krishna will reincarnate as their next Tirthankara (holy prophet or apostle).
So the Jains see both good and bad qualities in Him.

The Jains, on one hand, say that Lord Krishna had extraordinary and supreme knowledge, because of which He is going to become their next Tirthankara. And On the other hand, they hold Him responsible for creating war and causing bloodshed in the Mahabharata.
They say that, if it were not for the counselling that Lord Krishna gave Arjuna, Arjuna would have refused fight the war and would have retired in the Himalayas to spend his time in penance as a sanyasi and the entire Mahabharata would not have happened at all. But Lord Krishna instead counselled Arjuna to fight the battle. He told Arjuna, ‘In one sense all these people are already dead, so you don't worry about killing them. You do your duty. Pick up your bow and arrow and fight.'
At that time , it did not occur to Arjuna to tell him that if they are already dead why do you want me to kill them again; anyways they are dead. Arjuna simple said, 'Okay, as you say, I will do that.'

So Lord Krishna did such clever acts. He was a living example of profound intelligence, along with extraordinary human strength.
That is why it is said that every act of Lord Krishna is so unique and extraordinary in itself. He stands in a twisted manner (referring to Lord Krishna shown standing with one foot firmly on the ground while the other bent, resting only on its toe), yet He offers straightforward solutions!
Lord Rama on the other hand stands erect with boot feet on the ground. But Lord Krishna would stand and act in such a twisted way yet He would give such deep and extraordinary knowledge.

In the Bhagavad Gita, He says ‘You cannot free yourself of your own sins. I will liberate you from your sins. I have come to take away all your sins. You simply have to take refuge in me, and leave everything to Me. I am there to support you at all times.'
It is so rare to find anyone who can give you such strong faith.
Lord Krishna was the complete manifestation of Divinity, having all the 16 qualities (kalaa) or dimensions of Divine perfection. This is why He is also called Purna Avatar (the complete or supreme incarnation of Divinity).
No matter from what angle you see Lord Krishna, you will not find any shortcoming or flaw in His personality.

Q: Gurudev, it is said that meditation is a practice of Satya Yuga, while remembering and chanting the name of the Lord is emphasized more in the Kali Yuga. Could you please shed more light on this?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is said, ‘Kaliyuga keval naam-adhara’, (Chanting the name of the Lord is the sole means of liberation in Kali Yuga).
As one goes on chanting the name of the Lord, gradually a stage comes when the chanting stops and one naturally slip into meditation. So one goes from Japa (chanting) to the state of Ajapa-Japa (chanting without the mental effort normally needed to repeat the mantra), and then into silence.
The very purpose of chanting is to lead you into meditation.
It is said, ‘Naam laet bhava sindhu sukhai’, (simply by repeated chanting of the Lord’s names, one can immerse oneself into the ocean of bliss). So simply by chanting the name of the Lord also, one can be at peace, and can go deep into meditation.
This is very effortless, and that is what is in the Sahaj Samadhi meditation as well.

Q: Gurudev, do Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva really exist, or do we just awaken the qualities attributed to these Gods by doing Pooja?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are present inside our own body as Shakti (the life force). Do not think that they are seated somewhere in the skies. So the qualities (attributed these Gods) will blossom by themselves as we continue to do meditation and satsang.

Q: Gurudev, currently the Kumbh Mela (a mass Hindu pilgrimage fair) is going on. Is it necessary to attend the Kumbh Mela once every 12 years? What is the significance of the Kumbh Mela?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, many people do attend the Kumbh Mela.
Recently, you may have seen, there are many of these cultural fairs or expos; in the same way the Kumbh Mela was the spiritual expo of those days.
In those days, organizing this every year turned out to be very expensive and also tiring, as people had to walk many miles to attend it, so they changed it to once every 12 years.
This was also done in accordance with the revolution of Brihaspati (the planet Jupiter) around the Sun, which takes 12 years. So on the basis of this, the Kumbh Mela was held once every 12 years, and all people would to come for this. Saints, wise sages, house-holders and even children come together and they all sit and discuss about God, the holy scriptures, and do Satsang.

Wherever there is Satsang, or discussion of knowledge, that is no less than a Kumbh Mela.
Kumbh (meaning pot or pitcher) and it represents completeness. So all those who felt complete and content would gather together at the Kumbh Mela. When you experience that fullness and contentment within yourself, you too would become like a kumbh – a pot full with contentment and joy.

Q: Gurudev, is there any significance or purpose of giving birth to a child, or life to a soul for a woman except for my personal feelings of becoming a mother or that of giving my parents the joy of becoming grandparents?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I think your question has no relevance. If you want to be a mother, then that is your choice.
Now instead of being a mother, if you want to be a godmother for many children, then that too is your choice. Motherliness is inevitable, and everybody has it. The same holds for fatherhood as well. Whether you become a father to a child or not, you have that element, that fatherliness already present inside you. It is present in your DNA, and that is how it is for everyone.
Whether you are single or married, you have the DNAs of both mother and father present in you. So it is natural that you will unconditionally help and support someone. This is something which you cannot avoid, and there is no need to avoid it also.

Here in Karnataka, the saints used to be called 'Appa' which means 'Father’.
Even in the church, the priests are all celibate; they are unmarried bachelors, yet they are referred to as ‘Father’, is it not so? The nuns are called ‘Mother’, though they have never given birth to a child.
Do you know, Mahatma Gandhi was addressed as ‘Bapu’ by everyone in our country, which also means ‘Father’.
So this is something that is inherent in our DNA. You do not need to necessarily be a biological parent to be a parent to someone.
And even if you are a biological parent, you cannot restrict your parenthood to just those two, three or four children. Your parenthood should expand beyond that.

Even God is also called 'Parampita' (Supreme Father). The Mother Divine is called as Jagat Janani (meaning one who has given birth to the entire creation), or Jaganmata (mother of the entire creation).
So God is both our father and our mother. It is because divinity is present in every one of us, that the the qualities of motherliness and fatherliness is also present within us.

Video of Google hangout with Sri Sri

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 12:26 AM PST

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Dear Ones,

Jai guru dev,

If you had missed watching or want to watch again google hangout with Sri Sri that took place yesterday (Sat 26 Jan 2013), here is an golden opportunity.

 

Click on the link below and watch this 3-hour unique online conversation between Sri Sri, World leaders and people around the globe on how to reduce violence in society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkpKonn9-k

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course (new & repeaters) 7-9 February 2013

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, February 05, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There are three types of devotion: The Vihanga method, where like a bird swooping down upon the ripe fruit on the tree, the devotee is too impatient and by the very impatience one exhibits, loses the fruit, which falls from one’s hold. The Markata method is akin to a monkey which grabs one fruit and then chooses another and tugs at that, giving way to unsteadiness as it is unable to decide which fruit it wants. So too, the devotee of this type hesitates and changes the goal much too often and thus loses all chances of success. The third and ideal type is the Pipeelika method, where like the ant, which slowly but steadily proceeds towards the sweetness, the devotee also moves directly, with undivided attention towards the Lord and wins His Grace.

-BABA

 

The blossoming of devotion is fullness in life.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings  for  a GOoD  day

 

What SRI SRI said

Social media for social transformation

January 21, 2013

Media has always been a significant pillar of society. Media doesn’t just report happenings, they build public opinion. This puts the media in a powerful position in a democracy and wherever there is power there is a chance of misuse of that power. In some countries, powerful media houses are said to have influenced election results by portraying people and events a certain way. In India too, some time back a connection between prominent people in the media and some politicians came to light.

The media space has changed a lot with the emergence of social media ( SM ). With SM, the public has eyes and ears everywhere. They are not limited to camera crews of a few TV channels. SM is a platform that showcases public opinion such that it cannot be easily doctored. It reflects the pulse of the society. Even conventional media channels also keep an eye on ongoing SM trends.

In recent past, we have seen so many top news stories originate from SM. Apart from highlighting issues that are socially relevant and crucial, SM has also exposed the disconnect between the government and the population. People are more aware of what our leaders are up to and exchange notes on how laws and policies affecting them are being made. Gone are the days when the government could pass laws behind closed doors without the public realizing it for months. Thanks to SM, discussion on political issues and implications is widespread and immediate.

Some politicians thrive on keeping communities apart and playing one’s interests over the other to secure their vote banks. As boundaries between people blur over SM, and they become more aware and better informed, this will no longer be easy to do. One needs to be more aware and alert while making speeches or statements. People see through any gimmick done with an ulterior motive and any sign of a narrow mindset comes in for severe criticism.

Like all powerful tools, SM should also be used with utmost care and responsibility failing which it can cause damage to the society. In the London riots of 2011, arsonists used SM widely to plan and execute their attacks. More recently, in India, SM was used to spread panic causing a massive exodus of people from North-eastern states living in Bangalore and Hyderabad to their native places.

However, with its potential to bring people together, SM also holds immense promise as a tool for social change. We have recently seen many successfully executed protests organized over SM that have made the right impact. Another application of SM could be to effectively utilize the vast diversity of human resource that India has which is still lying untapped. For instance, in Volunteer for a Better India, somebody announces a medical camp in a locality on a date and others join in. Likewise, somebody announces a tree plantation or a cleaning drive and people support the initiative with their time or resources.

We are clearly passing through a phase of transformation. India is a nation of youth who have a big role to play in that transformation. SM is a medium that connects them and gives them voice. This voice is growing louder. It is a welcome sign.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, February 06, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A child told its mother as it went to bed at night, “Mother, wake me up when I am hungry.” The mother answered, “There is no need, your hunger will itself wake you up.” So too, when the hunger for God arises, it will itself activate you to seek the fulfilment. God has endowed you with hunger and illness, and He provides the food and medicine. Your duty is to see that you get the right hunger and the right illness and use the appropriate food or drug! Man must be yoked to the world and broken; that is the training which will teach that the world is unreal. When you touch fire and get the sensation of burning, you withdraw your hand instantly. Unless you touch it, you will be aware only of its light. It is light and heat both; just as this world is both true and false, that is to say, unreal.

-BABA

 

Realization is just that I am not the body but I am much more than the body. I have been here before this birth and I will continue to be there after my death also. If someone realizes this, that’s it. But that only they can say, others cannot judge for them.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

A tune of harmony

January 13, 2013

There has been a huge uproar about the speech by Akbaruddin Owaisi. The hatred-filled content by itself is shocking enough but what is alarming is the applause that he got from his audience. This shows the danger of isolation of a community in our ever-expanding society. These misinformed and misguided mindsets are there because they remain in their own community. When they live in isolation, they promote only one mindset and there is no open mindedness. They may not have friends from other communities or participate in other festivals. Such thoughts that have been expressed by Owaisi are poisonous to the idea of India even in a drawing room, let alone a public platform.

Therefore, religion based universities must be shut down. Universities are the only place where people work and grow up with people from other communities. But the government starts promoting religion based institutions for their vote banks. Such institutions will only create more Owaisis who remain in their own island. They will never get integrated with the rest of society and this is not good for the country.

Now who can change this mindset? It’s certainly not the law. If he is put in jail, he becomes a hero for his own people. Hindus cannot say anything to him because it will further polarize the two communities. So who can correct the mindset that he stands for? Such elements can only be changed or addressed by liberal and successful people of their own community. And it is time for those liberals who spend their time in their drawing rooms to reach out to people, address the youth, change their mindset and make an impact.

When I made efforts in the Ayodhya negotiations meeting VHP, the Muslim Personal Law Board and Babri Masjid Action Committee, what I saw there was more a vested interest than a genuine care for each other’s communities. It was more stubbornness than a willingness to come to a solution. Therefore, people who are mature and have the interest of a larger good at heart must step forward and educate others for sense to prevail. Otherwise, people like Owaisi end up becoming people’s representatives by evoking anger and hatred.

In stark contrast to the walled city of Hyderabad, Kadapa, also in Andhra Pradesh, is a pole apart. Every year thousands of Muslim devotees celebrate the new year by offering prayers to Lord Venkateshwara on Ugadi. This has been a 300 year old tradition at this temple. Similarly, many Hindus visit the Ameen Peer Dargah on Thursdays and Fridays.

Over the centuries, India has absorbed many different faiths in her culture. It is some people blinded by political ambition, greed or just plain ignorance who claim to be the voice of the people and seek to make gains out of creating chaos. They need to be drowned out by voices that make sense and personalities that display character. We owe it to both our glorious past and promising future to maintain our harmony as a nation.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, February 07, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A lame man and a blind man became friends and they moved from one place to another, with the lame man riding on the shoulder of the blind. One day, the lame man saw a field of yellow cucumber and suggested to the blind man that they pick a few and eat their fill. The blind man asked, “Brother, have they fenced the crop?” The lame man said, “No!” The blind man said, “Then let us move on, you know there are sweet and bitter varieties – if these vegetables are left unguarded – they must be bitter!” The blind man, by his intellect, was able to discover that they were bitter even without tasting them. He used the intelligence to perceive the truth faster and clearer. Make the intellect the Master of your mind and you will not fail; you will fail only when the senses establish mastery over the mind. Clarify your intelligence through spiritual discipline.

-BABA

 

The moment you drop the small mind, you are free.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

You Are Evergreen

December 25, 2012

Bad Antogast, Germnay

People from all over the world are here today, that is very good.
This is our family reunion! From all over the world, we are celebrating Christmas here.

This Christmas tree here it is telling you, 'Be like me, evergreen, full of light, and full of gifts.' So each one of you is a Christmas tree with lots of lights, with shining gifts and evergreen!

Next year there will be more and more people walking the spiritual path, and it will be much easier as well.
In 2013, we will be teaching two new Kriyas which is very different and very nice.

Q: Can you tell us about this new era? Will women have a bigger role?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Women will have a bigger role in the world. Already women have a big role, but it will be an even bigger role.

Do you know, there was so much anxiety about the 21st of December. My goodness, people created a rumour all over the world that on 21st of December the world is going to end.
There were people buying food and stocking their basements. Many people left their homes and their country and went somewhere up the mountains. And many came to Bangalore Ashram thinking that if they are in the Ashram they will be in a safe place because the world is going to dissolve.
I have been saying that this is a rumour. There are so many people in the world who simply enjoy creating panic. They want to sell things fast, so they create panic. When there is panic then people go and buy things and store them. So these are all gimmicks.
I said the world will continue. Today is already the 25th and the world is intact, it is continuing. It is only in the American movies that such things will happen; the world would come to an end.

What we need to do is take a look at all that we have received and be grateful. We have received so much in our lives. And whatever we need to receive in the future, we will receive that as well. Of this you should be confident.
So, be grateful for what you have received.

When you need to do some seva, you should always feel, 'I need to do more, I have not done enough.'
If you think, 'I have done enough seva and I have not received as much as I deserved', then this is the secret to be miserable. If you want to be miserable then you can demand, 'I have not got what I should be getting.'
Demanding for what you don’t have can make you miserable.
And if you think, 'I have done enough and I don’t need to do anything more', then also you can become miserable. That is actually the sign of an upset, angry and depressed mind.
So when it comes to doing, say, 'How can I do some more? How can contribute more to make this world a better place?' This should be our line of thinking.
And when it comes to getting, say, 'I have got what I needed to get and I will get what I should be getting. Nature will provide me with what I should get!'
This confidence makes you happy, and this attitude that 'I want to do more for the world', gives you the energy to move in that direction.

Video of Google hangout with Sri Sri

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 12:26 AM PST

---

Dear Ones,

Jai guru dev,

If you had missed watching or want to watch again google hangout with Sri Sri that took place yesterday (Sat 26 Jan 2013), here is an golden opportunity.

 

Click on the link below and watch this 3-hour unique online conversation between Sri Sri, World leaders and people around the globe on how to reduce violence in society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkpKonn9-k

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course (new & repeaters) 7-9 February 2013

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

 

Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

Should you wish to unsubscribe – please reply to sender with subject “UNSUBSCRIBE”.

 

--

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, February 07, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A lame man and a blind man became friends and they moved from one place to another, with the lame man riding on the shoulder of the blind. One day, the lame man saw a field of yellow cucumber and suggested to the blind man that they pick a few and eat their fill. The blind man asked, “Brother, have they fenced the crop?” The lame man said, “No!” The blind man said, “Then let us move on, you know there are sweet and bitter varieties – if these vegetables are left unguarded – they must be bitter!” The blind man, by his intellect, was able to discover that they were bitter even without tasting them. He used the intelligence to perceive the truth faster and clearer. Make the intellect the Master of your mind and you will not fail; you will fail only when the senses establish mastery over the mind. Clarify your intelligence through spiritual discipline.

-BABA

 

The moment you drop the small mind, you are free.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

You Are Evergreen

December 25, 2012

Bad Antogast, Germnay

People from all over the world are here today, that is very good.
This is our family reunion! From all over the world, we are celebrating Christmas here.

This Christmas tree here it is telling you, 'Be like me, evergreen, full of light, and full of gifts.' So each one of you is a Christmas tree with lots of lights, with shining gifts and evergreen!

Next year there will be more and more people walking the spiritual path, and it will be much easier as well.
In 2013, we will be teaching two new Kriyas which is very different and very nice.

Q: Can you tell us about this new era? Will women have a bigger role?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Women will have a bigger role in the world. Already women have a big role, but it will be an even bigger role.

Do you know, there was so much anxiety about the 21st of December. My goodness, people created a rumour all over the world that on 21st of December the world is going to end.
There were people buying food and stocking their basements. Many people left their homes and their country and went somewhere up the mountains. And many came to Bangalore Ashram thinking that if they are in the Ashram they will be in a safe place because the world is going to dissolve.
I have been saying that this is a rumour. There are so many people in the world who simply enjoy creating panic. They want to sell things fast, so they create panic. When there is panic then people go and buy things and store them. So these are all gimmicks.
I said the world will continue. Today is already the 25th and the world is intact, it is continuing. It is only in the American movies that such things will happen; the world would come to an end.

What we need to do is take a look at all that we have received and be grateful. We have received so much in our lives. And whatever we need to receive in the future, we will receive that as well. Of this you should be confident.
So, be grateful for what you have received.

When you need to do some seva, you should always feel, 'I need to do more, I have not done enough.'
If you think, 'I have done enough seva and I have not received as much as I deserved', then this is the secret to be miserable. If you want to be miserable then you can demand, 'I have not got what I should be getting.'
Demanding for what you don’t have can make you miserable.
And if you think, 'I have done enough and I don’t need to do anything more', then also you can become miserable. That is actually the sign of an upset, angry and depressed mind.
So when it comes to doing, say, 'How can I do some more? How can contribute more to make this world a better place?' This should be our line of thinking.
And when it comes to getting, say, 'I have got what I needed to get and I will get what I should be getting. Nature will provide me with what I should get!'
This confidence makes you happy, and this attitude that 'I want to do more for the world', gives you the energy to move in that direction.

Video of Google hangout with Sri Sri

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 12:26 AM PST

---

Dear Ones,

Jai guru dev,

If you had missed watching or want to watch again google hangout with Sri Sri that took place yesterday (Sat 26 Jan 2013), here is an golden opportunity.

 

Click on the link below and watch this 3-hour unique online conversation between Sri Sri, World leaders and people around the globe on how to reduce violence in society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkpKonn9-k

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course (new & repeaters) 7-9 February 2013

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

 

Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

Should you wish to unsubscribe – please reply to sender with subject “UNSUBSCRIBE”.

 

--

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, February 08, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A renunciant couple were once proceeding through a thick jungle on a pilgrimage to an inaccessible shrine. The husband saw on the footpath a precious stone, shining brilliantly when the Sun’s rays fell upon it from between the leaves. He hastily threw some sand over it with the movement of his foot, so that his wife may not be tempted to pick it up and become a slave to the tinsel. The wife saw the gesture and chided the husband for still retaining in his mind, a distinction between sand and gold. For her, both were the same. This habit of judging and labelling others is a prevalent practice today. What can you know of the inner working of another's mind?

-BABA

 

If you want to grow in Divine Love, you have got to drop the pride and all of the artificial wall we build between ourselves and others. In the "wall" we keep judging others, and we think others are judging us

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

We Need To Care For Every Single Creature

February 06, 2013

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Bangalore, India

Q: Please tell us about the importance of offering food (Prasad) to the Divine before eating. Also please tell us the authentic way of offering food. Is there any mantra needed?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: In India, there is a tradition that is called Vaishva Deva.
When a lady cooks food at home, the first thing she does is takes out a spoon of rice, or dal, or whatever she cooks, and puts it outside in the garden for the birds, for the ants, and for the creatures. The significance of this is to say that the environment should be honoured. Also, many people, before they eat, they keep a few grains outside their plate and then later on they give it to the birds and the animals.

You know, the birds are such an integral part of the universe. So we need to care for the birds, we need to care for the ants; we need to care for every single creature. Any one creature missing from the universe, the universe will not be able to sustain itself.

Prasad means, you take the food that you receive as a gift; as a blessing. Prasad simply means a blessing from God. Food is a blessing, life is a blessing, time is a blessing, our breath is a blessing. These are all gifts.

Q: Why has Indian mythology given forms to all energies. Are all the mythological stories true?
How can Rishis lose control and curse if they are enlightened?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The universe is full of names and forms. The moment you give a name, form also comes with it. And many of these forms were cognized in the subtle. So they continue in the subtle realm.

Now, why did the Rishis (Seers) get angry and curse, I don't know. Usually not every Rishi does this. There were only a couple of them who did this. But every time they cursed, something great happened from their curse as well. That is why it is said, the anger of the enlightened also, does something good for the society, whereas even the love of an ignorant person does some harm.
A wise man's anger also is beneficial. He cannot do any harm, he only does good to the society.
So every time a Rishi cursed, it turned out to be a very big boon to the population.

Q: I think freedom is very relative. Sometimes my freedom is contradictory to someone else's freedom. Is there something as 'Absolute Freedom'? Or would that be chaos?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Bondage and freedom, both happens in the mind, and when your vision is restricted you find multiple bondages. As your vision expands, you start realizing that there is only freedom.

Q: What is the easiest way to stay away from attachment and entanglement?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Be centered. Know that this is all a dream and everything is going to finish. Everybody is going to finish, and one day everything will be over.

Turn back in the past and see, you have spent around 30 to 50 years on this planet, what happened to all those incidents? Everything has gone, right! Just wake up!

Q: Gurudev, how to move from choice to choicelessness?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is no choice between good and bad. Choice is always between bad and worse; or good and better. If you understand this then you see that there is no choice.

Q: Sometimes my love for you brings me misery when I cannot be with you. My mind says you are everywhere, but my heart is not easily cajoled. What should I do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just relax and keep yourself busy. There is so much seva that is needed in the world, so get on to that.
Longing should be transformed into creativity. Longing can become an agent, a catalyst to bring out the creativity and dynamism in you. So use it for that.

Q: Dear Gurudev, I wonder whether you know me and everything that I do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: What do you think?
Why should I know everything you do? I don't need to.

Q: What is the right type of governance? Isn't it time for a spiritual kind of governance?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, capitalism, communism, secularism, all isms are good for nothing, in fact, they will all be a failure without humanism. And how can humanism be invoked? It is through spirituality.

Q: Gurudev, the heart is located on the left side of the body. Is there any spiritual reason for this?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, there are many such questions. Why are there two holes in the nostrils. Why two eyes in the same place, one could have been in the front and one at the back.
What can one say to why the heart is on the left side. Something has got to be somewhere. I think you didn't find any better question to ask.
I think you should wonder about other things in life. There are so many things that we need to do. The world needs more attention and more service from you.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, February 11, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

All of you are under the sentence of imprisonment in the world of birth and death (samsara). When a prisoner is taken from one place to another, he is accompanied by two constables. So too, when you move from one prison (body) to another, the constables, egoism (ahamkaram) and attachment (mamakaram) accompany you. In the prison, you have to do the work you are ordered to, and do it well. You cannot argue that rewards are not distributed justly, and also you are not entitled to desist from your allotted task. If you do, your sentence will be extended or you will be transferred to another jail. On the other hand, if you quietly accept the sentence and go about your work without clamour or murmur, your term will be reduced, you may be released! Become aware of your sentence, adopt good attitude and earnestly practise the means to set yourself free!

-BABA

Don't think, "I have lots of duties. How will I fulfill my duties!" See, the moment you think something is your duty, there is no beauty in it. Duty, responsibility, becomes a burden, it becomes a bondage on your head. Love the job that you are doing.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day

 

 

What SRI SRI said

Worshiping the Gods

December 22, 2012

Bangalore, India

Q: Please tell us something about Hanuman?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is said that the Ramayana is happening in your own body. Your soul is Rama, your mind is Sita, your breath or life-force is Hanuman, your awareness is Laxmana and your ego is Ravana.
When the mind was stolen by Ravana (the ego) then the soul got restless. Now the soul cannot reach the mind on its own, it has to take the help of the breath - the prana. With the help of the prana, the mind got reunited with the soul, and the ego vanished.
This is the spiritual significance of the story.
Otherwise Hanuman was a monkey, and in those days the monkeys were also very intelligent and very devoted.
Devotees are much more powerful than the master himself. This is a fact. Real devotees are much more powerful than God.

Q: Gurudev, we worship the whole body of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna, but we worship only the Linga of Lord Shiva, why is it like this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The Linga is a symbolic representation or swaroopa of Lord Shiva.
First you understand what Linga is. Linga is a symbol.
Why are genitals also called Linga? That is because it is the symbol through which one can know whether a baby is a male or female. When a baby is born you see only one area to identify the gender. So it is an identification symbol.
Lord Shiva is manifest all over the Universe, so how does one identify or relate to Him? This is why in the ancient days, the wise sages would place a Pind or a round or oval stone piece and identify that with Lord Shiva.
Thus, the Linga and the Yoni (here referring to the base of the Shiva Linga on which the stone or Linga rests) was kept because by this the male and female were identified.

Now, how will you describe the Lord of the Universe who is formless?
In the ancient age, there was no form of Lord Shiva holding a Trishul (Trident), or anything like that. In ancient days, there was only a Pind (a stone) that was kept and then by chanting mantras, the Chaitanya Shakti (energy pervading all of the Divine Consciousness) was awakened and manifested in the Pind. So this is how it was worshiped.
It was only much later that idols were created.

Then what happened? On the Pind people started painting eyes, a face, etc. The custom of painting a face on the Pind was not there earlier.
In the same way even Lord Vishnu was worshiped by performing pooja of his feet (referred to as Paada in Sanskrit).
If you go to Gaya (second largest city of Bihar, India), people there will say, ‘Vishnu Paada’, only the feet of Lord Vishnu are worshiped.

It is said that more important than the idol, is the Yantra (the diagrammatic representation of the deity in the form of symbols).
Every deity has a Yantra and a Mantra dedicated to him or her, and the procedure or rituals of worship of the deity is known as Tantra.
The idol does not get its spiritual strength until its Yantra is installed. And the Yantra does not have any power until it is empowered by the chanting of the Mantra.
That is why in every temple a Yantra is installed first, and then on top of that the idol is established. This is done to invoke a deep sense of devotion in those who visits the temple.

Even earlier, in the Sanatan Dharma (referring to an earlier name for Hinduism) there were no idols or idol worship as such, but only Havans (ritual in which making offerings into a consecrated fire is the primary action) were performed and Lord Shiva’s pind would be placed to establish his presence. That was it, nothing else would be done.
It was only later that the custom of installing idols came up.
Lord Ganesh was seen in a supari (a small betel nut), Lord Shiva was seen in a Pind and Devi (Mother Divine) was worshiped in a Kalash (a holy pot filled with water) with a coconut on top of it. This was the procedure as per the Sanatan Dharma.
Even today there is no significance of worshiping an idol without the Kalash. The water from the Kalash is poured over the idol. This is the custom.

Now, why did the practice of having idols begin?
This was because by seeing the idol a feeling of devotion would arise from within.
The other reason is that when Buddhists and Jains made their temples they would place such beautiful idols at the altar. So then those who followed Sanatan Dharma felt that they should also do something like this. So they also followed the same and began to establish different idols of Lord Vishnu, Lord Rama and Lord Krishna.
You will not find any mention of a practice of installing idols for worship in the Bhagavad Gita or the Ramayana.
Only the Shiva Linga (Shankar Linga) was installed. That is why only the Shiva Linga was there in the ancient period, which was worshiped by Lord Krishna, Lord Rama and everyone else.

Do you know, the stone in the Holy Kaaba (referring to the holy shrine in Mecca, Saudi Arabia) is also Lord Shiva?
There is a shloka (verse) in the Bhavishya Puran, about the three footsteps of Lord Vishnu (in his fifth incarnation as Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin). The first step of the Lord was in Gaya and the second step was in Mecca.
Much before the coming of Prophet Mohammed, people used to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. That is why the pilgrims go and kiss the stone there and they circumambulate it seven times. It is done the same way in Shiva temples where people wear unstitched white clothes and go and worship the stone.
This is exactly like customs that have been practiced since the ancient times. So there are remarkable similarities in how worship is done in Gaya, and in Mecca: the same kind of stone is installed and worshiped, circumambulations are performed in the same way, and same kind of unstitched clothes are worn.
All these are linked and connected somewhere or the other.

Q: Why is Shiva Linga not worshipped alone (referring to the upper stone or crystal portion of the Shiva Linga) but along with Yoni (the base or the platform of the Shiva Linga on which the stone or the crystal rests)?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: As I mentioned earlier, both are worshiped in the form of Shiva and Shakti. They are worshiped alone also. There are many places where only the Pind is there.

Q: Gurudev, in the Vedic period, there is no mention of the presence of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The period between 3500 BC and 2800 BC is said to be the Vedic period in Indian history; that between 2800 BC and 2600 BC is called the Age of Ramayana. In this entire stretch, there is no mention or evidence of the worship of Lord Shiva. So when exactly did the tradition of worshiping Lord Shiva begin in the form of the Linga and the Yoni, and why?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is a book called Bharat Gyan which you should read. The period of 2,800 years that you are speaking about is not accurate. Lord Krishna was there about 5,200 years back and Lord Rama was there about 7,500 years back, and at least 10,000 years before that the Vedas had been conceived and written.
I suggest you contact the department of Bharat Gyan, or meet Dr. D.K. Hari. They will tell you everything about this. They have done extensive research in this area so they will be able to answer your queries.

Q: Gurudev, we read about the Four Great Epochs or Yugas – Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and the Kali Yuga. However, history that is taught in the schools and the colleges does not follow this system of division of the ages and dismisses it altogether.
It is said that the arrival of the Aryan race in India happened some 5500 years ago. How do we understand this discrepancy?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Listen, all these theories have been thrown out. The Aryan invasion theory which is being taught has been proved wrong.
The age of the world is said to be about 28 billion years or 19 billion years, which tallies almost exactly with what is mentioned in our Panchangam (ancient Indian astrological texts and calendar scripts).

The time and the age of the Universe as reported by the Panchangam corresponding to the Vedic Age closely agrees and tallies with what modern scientists are saying. That is why I telling you to sit with the Bharat Gyan department and study the research.

Romila Thapar herself has admitted that what she has written is wrong.
Everything was said to be after 6,000 years ago while writing the history books. Scholars like her have neither learned Sanskrit, nor read any of our ancient records. Just by keeping English theories in mind they tried to fit everything in the period of 6,000 years. They have totally distorted the history of India.
Many inventions were made here. Many new facts and discoveries have surfaced. Romila Thapar who is the author of all this, has herself said we have to re-think about the Aryan Invasion theory. Which is why I would suggest you have a look and consult the Bharat Gyan department here.

Q: Gurudev, how to know the things that are unknown to us? There are so many things that are unknown. I am sometimes very pained and I start crying for not knowing the unknown.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I understand your difficulty.
The intense quest is there of wanting to know something, but what is that something, that you don’t know. You know there is something but you don’t know how to know that something that exists. Isn't that it!
Just relax and meditate. That is the way to go there.

Q: Gurudev, can you please tell us something about Asuras and Devas. Were Asuras bad people?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Asuras are those who do not think about the spirit, they are only body bound or Earth bound. The Devas are spirit-bound.
In fact both, the Asuras and Devas are children of the same person. Prajapati had two wives, Aditi and Diti. From Diti, the Asuras came, and from Aditi the Devas came.
That is how the story comes up.

Video of Google hangout with Sri Sri

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 12:26 AM PST

---

Dear Ones,

Jai guru dev,

If you had missed watching or want to watch again google hangout with Sri Sri that took place yesterday (Sat 26 Jan 2013), here is an golden opportunity.

 

Click on the link below and watch this 3-hour unique online conversation between Sri Sri, World leaders and people around the globe on how to reduce violence in society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkpKonn9-k

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course  21-23 March 2013

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

 

Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Detachment (vairagya) is a result of the Lord’s Grace; it needs years of yearning and struggle. Meanwhile begin today with the first step, which is cleansing of your mind and cultivation of virtues. Even if you are unable to start or follow these, at least do not laugh at those who do and discourage them. Do not depend upon others for doing your work or have someone attend to your personal wants. Do them yourself – that is the mark of being truly self-reliant and free! Never accept anything free from anyone. You must pay it back, in service or work. Thus, you will make yourselves self-respecting individuals. Receiving a favour means getting bound to the giver. Grow in self-respect and dignity. That is the best service you can do to yourself.

-BABA

 

The craving for sense objects is bondage. Their existence seems to have given you a little pleasure, so it binds you. Now you crave for it, and it gives you more and more pain.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

The Silence of Good People

December 20, 2012

Bangalore, India

Q: When I see this world of humans, I don't see a world which cares for me or anybody. There is goodness in them but largely they are driven by their weakness, greed and insecurity.
Looking at what people are doing to the Earth and to each other one cannot disagree. I am very willing to believe when you say that everything is made out of love, but sometimes I find it hard to sympathize with this world.
I think it is this disgust that flips the switch one day and makes people decide to become terrorists, or to start killing randomly, or rape someone innocent.
How do I continue to care for this world?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Any question can have only one correct answer. There cannot be two correct answers.
If this is a question, I would like you to keep looking for an answer.
But, instead of seeing this as a question, if you see it as a path, you can tread on it many a times. And every time, you will get a new answer.

Now, do not generalize! Don't think there is no love in people, there are no compassionate people on this planet – this is wrong. We cannot generalize that everyone is selfish. There are so many people who are serving the society selflessly. You cannot brand everyone as corrupt.

I want to tell you about one of our teachers who is an IAS officer in Gujarat.
This gentleman was offered 51 crores by an industrialist. All that he needed to do was put a signature and that is all to allot the land that they were already using.
He could have easily justified it by saying that, 'It is nothing out of the way, it is just a procedure', or he could say, 'I do not want these 51 crores for myself, I can give it to poor people.'
There are so many other justifications that can come into the mind. But this gentleman stood up and said, ‘No, I do not want it.’
In a government job, even if he continues to serve for three lifetimes, he cannot make 51 crores. It is not a small amount. But this man stood up and said, ‘No, I won't take it.' We still have people like that.

Unless and until people come to the spiritual path they will not become sensitive, or have a high degree of sensibility. Both sensitivity and sensibility can flourish only through meditation and knowledge.
That is why it is so important to bring this knowledge to every doorstep, to every school, to every heart. You should keep doing this.

As I said, the world is not bad because there are some bad people, it is the silence of good people.
I also would like to tell you that don't judge others. You never know.
Do you know yourself? Do you know when you are compassionate, or when you are harsh? You don't know!
Sometimes you are harsh with people, and you justify your being harsh. You say, 'They deserved it.' Don't you think so?
And sometimes when you are compassionate then also you justify your compassion, isn't it? So you don't know your own emotions and your own behavior, then why would you judge someone else, and why would you judge everybody?
‘The whole world is full of unkind, corrupt and bad people’, why do you think they are all bad people? No! That is not the case.
You need to relook your own statement.

Do you feel good about yourself? Do you think you are a good person?
You think that you are a good person, but ask all the others who have interacted with you about their opinion of you. It will completely vary from your own idea about yourself. How would you like someone else telling you that you are selfish?
Deep inside you do not think that you are selfish, but if someone else tells you that you are too selfish, or if they see negative tendencies in you, what do you tell them? ‘Hey look, I have good tendencies as well’. Don't you tell them that?
There is no human being who is devoid of good tendencies and a good heart.
Just remember this, there is no human being devoid of goodness. Sometimes it gets buried under stress and ignorance.

Even those people who committed that hideous crime on that woman, now they are saying, 'Please hang me, I made a blunder.'
They got into a cloud; their awareness was not there. They must be suffering now with terrible regret. So much of guilt and suffering.
That is why, when you expand your vision, you can't but have compassion, even for the culprits.

See, you have done some mistakes at times. How would you like it if someone holds on to your mistake all the time. How would you like that situation? Certainly not! You will certainly say, ‘Hey, come on, drop it and move on.' This is what you would say, isn't that so? So we must wake up to this reality!

It is all in your own eyes, how you view the world. If you think that everyone is a fraud then your behavior towards everybody will be rude and unpleasant, and you will be part of that.
This is why there is a saying - As is your vision so is the creation.
As you envisage, so the creation becomes - Yatha Drishti Tatha Shrishti.

Q: In the Mahabharata, why did an intelligent person like Bhishma choose to remain silent on sensitive issues and was ready to fight side-by-side with Duryodhana?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Why do you want me to talk about Mahabharata? Bhishma has already said what happened there. He feels so obliged.
Duryodhana was in high command and the good people got trapped into his high commanding (position). That is the problem.
There are good people but in the wrong party with a wrong party head. And there are wrong people with a good party head as well. What will you do? This is what is happening.
Every party is keen to give a ticket to a criminal element. Do you know why? They have a vote bank. The criminal people have money and muscle power, so you give them a ticket and they will get elected. And everything is just a game of numbers in this democracy.
So inevitably they go and get elected because the good people sit at home and say, ‘Who will go and vote and do all these things. Anyway everybody is corrupt and all parties are hopeless.’
So there is a sense of apathy and they don't go and exercise their franchise. That is the reason.
I tell you, good people should form a vote bank, then no party will give ticket to people with criminal records or corrupt politicians. They will all look for people who have an attitude to serve.

Q: Gurudev, there is so much anger in people because of the incident in Delhi. Is it right to demand for capital punishment for this? Do most people become righteous in fear?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, there are many people who have gotten capital punishment but it has not been given to them.
Even the terrorists who are in jail, who have committed heinous crimes, have been given capital punishment, but enforcement is not happening.
Even the one that was done for Kasab, 31 crores was spent on him and then they gave him the capital punishment. Spending 31 crores on a terrorist!
Just imagine how many villages could have been developed in 31 crores? How many roads and how many homes would have gotten light and electricity.
Just the law alone will not suffice, we need to bring a social change and a change in the mindset of our rulers and lawmakers; enforcement has to happen for that.

Q: I am in a relationship with a person who is too calculative about his actions. He is scared of getting attached as he believes that it might affect his spiritual growth. Is this right?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don't ask someone to prove their love for you. That is when all these things come.
If we show too much love to somebody they do not know how to handle it or how to respond to it, isn't it? People get confused.

There are many people who do not know how to receive love, forget giving love. That is why I tell you, don't get caught up in all of this. Just relax and be happy, and just take it for granted that I love everybody, and everybody loves me.
Then whatever needs to be expressed will simply be expressed. It will happen naturally.

When someone is saying, ‘I am scared of attachment’, that means somewhere they are attached. So don't take what people say at face value. People may say anything, but in reality it may be something else.
See, when you understand a person beyond his words that is when a real relationship builds up. But if you hang on to the words of a person then you are at a very superficial level; on a very surface level and then it does not work for long.

Your relationship should go beyond words, and beyond the feeling level, i.e., emotions, because words also change and emotions also change. Then it becomes a real good and committed relationship. Whatever may be the relationship, a friendship or a marriage, it becomes very solid when you see beyond emotions.
When you accept every flavor of emotion and every strain of thoughts or words, then you move into a platform which is not shaky and which doesn't break.

Q: Gurudev, is taking a divorce a hindrance on the spiritual path? I am very upset with my life since I got married.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, give your hundred percent. If your marriage works that is good. If it doesn't work, if both of you are miserable and there is not even an iota of joy there, then there is no point in hanging onto such a state of misery. Then amicably both of you should tell each other, ‘You have your way and we will still be friends’.
As I said, don't take a decision with any up-surging emotion. From a calm and collected mind think and see what you want.

Q: It is said that we come to earth only to experience love and there is no love in heaven. Then why does everyone want to go to heaven?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That is because they don't know love. They are hankering for love but they have not experienced love. Once they have a taste of Divine love, then they will find this immense satisfaction.
In the Narada Bhakti Sutra, Narada has said, 'Tripto Bhavati', one become so contented once they experience Divine love.

Q: Dear Gurudev, yesterday you had said, ‘Fight with equanimity’. How do we do that?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You just have to have that intention and it will start happening. When you are fighting for a cause and not because of hatred towards somebody then your brain and your mind will be alert.
When people are angry and hateful, their brain doesn't work; or it works in the wrong direction.

Q: I have given my M.Tech exams. It is super competitive. What if I don't get into a college that I like? My life will be ruined. Can I still be a success in life if I don't get into a good college?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Absolutely! I tell you, don't put all your success into one small incident, or one small happening in life.
You can be really successful even if failure comes in one aspect of your life.

Q: Gurudev I am able to learn and absorb new subjects, but my enthusiasm fizzles out halfway. As a result I have become a jack of all trades and a master of none. How do I become a master of all like you?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Keep going nonstop. Keep putting your effort.
Life is a combination of both, effort and effortlessness. Be totally effortless for sometime everyday at least - that is what is meditation, and then put hundred percent effort. It is like deep rest and dynamic activity.
Now, if you don't take rest then you activity cannot be dynamic.
If you don't have dispassion in you then you can't really be totally passionate either. So, life is the combination of these opposites - passion and dispassion; effortlessness and hundred percent effort.

Q: The Moon circles around the Earth, the Earth circles around the Sun, some circle around money and power. Now I find myself circling around you. What is the significance of these circles?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Now that you have found out what you're doing, you only explain what is its significance and why do you do it?
I think it is because of the attraction that the Earth has for the Sun that it is going around the Sun, and the moon has for us and so it is going around the Earth.

Q: How should a disciple be with the Guru so that he can understand the Guru completely and receive the knowledge from the Guru?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: By being natural (sahajta). You should be with a guru the same way as you are with your close ones; i.e. with naturalness.

Video of Google hangout with Sri Sri

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 12:26 AM PST

---

Dear Ones,

Jai guru dev,

If you had missed watching or want to watch again google hangout with Sri Sri that took place yesterday (Sat 26 Jan 2013), here is an golden opportunity.

 

Click on the link below and watch this 3-hour unique online conversation between Sri Sri, World leaders and people around the globe on how to reduce violence in society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkpKonn9-k

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course  21-23 March 2013

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Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

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[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The Lord has declared in the Geetha, “Mama maaya” or “My illusion”. This implies that the world is His handiwork, His Divine sport & glory (leela & mahima). It is devised as a training ground, an inspiration for those who desire to see Him, Who is its Source, Director, & Master. Once you see the world as the stage for His play, then you will no longer be misled, nor distracted, nor deceived by any tricks or stage effects. From illusion, you must get interested in the Author, the Master. The play is real only as long as it lasts, when you are in the theatre. So too, the world is just a mirage! A mirage does not originate from rain. It will not reach any lake or sea. It was not there before the sunrise, nor will it be there after the sunset. It is just an intervening phenomenon, it is best left alone! So too, God truly is more real than the world, this is the essence of Indian scriptures.

-BABA

To know that everything is changing you need to have a reference point. That reference point is the unchanging in you. There is a non-changing, eternal element in you because of which you can experience change.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

It Is Your Duty To Fight Injustice

December 19, 2012

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, why did Arjuna ask a doubt only on the battlefield and not when he had ample time with Lord Krishna before coming to the war?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Listen, Arjuna did not even ask a doubt, he simply said, 'I do not want to fight', that is it.

It was Krishna who first asked the question. He said, 'Arjuna, you are miserable, you are crying for things which you should not cry for, and you are talking like a Pundit (learned man).'
He said, 'Asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase gatasun agatasums ca nanusocanti panditah', (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 11). That is how Lord Krishna starts the Bhagavad Gita.
He says, 'You are grieving for something which you should not be grieving for.'
See, if you are an army man, or if you are a police man, you should be doing your job.

Today, there is a big rally in Delhi.
Yesterday thousands of Art of Living volunteers (Volunteer For A Better India) started a big candle light march at India Gate and today, so many people have joined.
JNU(Jawaharlal Nehru University) has joined, IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) has joined, Delhi University has joined. It just needed someone to take the first step.
Yesterday morning, the teachers from Delhi asked me, 'Gurudev, we want to do the candle march prayer.'
There was no shouting of slogans, no blaming, no yelling at anybody, but everyone just peacefully went and sat there. They did meditation for a few minutes, lit candles and simply created an awareness that women should be safe.
There was a time when in this country women were so safe, but this is turning into a very different place now.
So our volunteers and teachers of The Art of Living took this decision just yesterday afternoon to do the candle light march and prayer, and by 6 o' clock people from everywhere had come.
I find such a big difference in people who have had just a little glimpse of that inner peace or inner world, compared to those who do not know about their emotions, or who have not calmed the mind. When such people take up a job, they become so agitated, aggressive, disruptive.

What I am trying to say is that, if a policeman says, 'I do not want to take charge of the law and order', what would happen?
So Arjuna was such. He was a warrior and his job was to protect people from injustice, and he was saying, 'I do not want to protect anybody from injustice.' Then Lord Krishna says, 'Come on, you speak like a wise man, but you are running away from your duty of protecting the citizens.'
Just like the Delhi police saying, 'This is not my business'; or the politicians saying, 'This is not my job.'
I agree with them in some way, because unless human values are inculcated in the people, how can just a few policemen do anything? But still!

Do you know, many a times, there is demoralization of the police force. Do you know why?
The policemen put their lives at risk, they go track and arrest a person and bring them in, and the politicians give them a phone call and say, 'No, do not make any complaint against this person, just leave them', and they have to leave them. When you leave a person this way, then that person come after you, and demoralization happens. This is adharma (that which is not in accord with the law).

Another adharma is this bill on Reservation.
I would say, anybody getting a reservation is wrong.
It is okay to get a reservation for a job, but reservation for promotion, that is not okay. You see, there is a manager and he has employed a clerk under him. Now just because the clerk belongs to a particular caste, in three years if he becomes the superior, then what will happen to the morale of the manager.
The entire administrative set-up in this country will go to the dogs. It will be completely destroyed if juniors are made the seniors of the seniors.

Just imagine you are a supervisor, and your junior, in a few years will become your senior then would you have the courage to make him accountable for whatever he is doing? First of all, no!
Second, suppose you administer your department very well and tomorrow a junior becomes your senior and takes revenge on you, it is such a humiliation.
It is such a humiliation for people, when in any administrative set up, the juniors become the seniors. It will bring to an end the administrative set-up.
This is a very sorry state of affairs for the country.

Since this morning I have called many people and I told them that this is nonsense.
The Rajyasabha is supposed to be the house of intellectuals of this country. How can the house of intellectuals of this country pass such a law? It is dangerous. In the future, people will not forgive them for this.
It is not about the caste. A set of people who are your juniors are given a promotion to become your senior, just because they belonged to some caste, it is not the right thing to do. It is injustice.
I do not think this will stand in the supreme court. Moreover, the supreme court has struck down this law twice already, and still these people are making such a law. This is completely unacceptable.
When the court of law states this is injustice and we are trying to circumvent that whole procedure, it is not the right thing to do. And we, the people, cannot simply sit with our eyes closed.

Reservation in education, reservation in employment is okay, but reservation in promotions will destroy the administrative set up. This is an extremely serious matter. Don't you think so? How many of you think that way? (Everyone raises their hands)

That is what Lord Krishna said, 'Duryodhana is playing such havoc and you want to close your eyes and simply sit. It is your duty to fight. Come on, get up.'
And when he was ready to fight, he gave him knowledge, 'Yogastha kuru karmani sangang tyaktva Dhananjaya', (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 48)
He says, 'First go inside and cleanse yourself. Do not fight with hatred, but fight for justice; fight with equanimity.'
If you are fighting with rage and anger you will harm yourself, because when you are in rage and in an emotional upsurge, your intellect and your mind is not going to function properly.
That is why, your mind first has to be calm. When it is calm and serene then justice will come, the right thoughts will come and your ideas will be more creative, productive and positive. Negative ideas come only when you are in rage. When you are calm and positive, creative ideas will come out of you. This is the essence of the Bhagavad Gita.
He say, 'Yudhyasva vigata-jvarah.'
Jvarah means that feverishness, that anger and hatred; let go of that first and then fight.

See how the Gita got linked to the present day situation. It is so obvious.

I am happy for those volunteers who have spent the whole day, yesterday and today, going to India Gate and creating awareness and making a big wave in the entire nation.
What our Art of Living volunteers did yesterday in Delhi, has spread to the entire country today. There is a candle light march everywhere and people are standing up and speaking against violence against women. This is a very welcomed move.

This is what I keep saying, do not underestimate your power. The power that we have can turn things around.
Each one of you here already is a leader, and each one of you can bring a big change in society. If all of you can come together and do something then this nation will change and the people here will change. For sure this will happen because there is a resilient awakening in everybody.
What is important is that we all have to take responsibility. We cannot point a finger to just one person and make them responsible. The country’s population is so big, we cannot afford to say that this one policeman didn't do his job.
People have to start taking responsibility and that is happening already which is very good news.

Q: Is our date of death predefined or during our lifetime, it can change?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, it can change.
It is like when you are on the highway, you have some exit points wherein you can exit, isn't it?! Similarly, in everybody's life, some exit points come. If you miss one point, then go to the next exit point.

Video of Google hangout with Sri Sri

Posted: 27 Jan 2013 12:26 AM PST

---

Dear Ones,

Jai guru dev,

If you had missed watching or want to watch again google hangout with Sri Sri that took place yesterday (Sat 26 Jan 2013), here is an golden opportunity.

 

Click on the link below and watch this 3-hour unique online conversation between Sri Sri, World leaders and people around the globe on how to reduce violence in society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkpKonn9-k

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course  14-16 March 2013

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, February 14, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The Lord is everyone’s Father, in whose property each and everyone can claim a share. In order to get it, you must reach a certain stature; achieve a certain standard of intelligence. The infirm and the idiotic are not fit recipients of a worldly property. God’s property is His grace and love. So, to attain a share of His property, you must have devotion and discrimination. With these two, you are entitled to claim your share of Grace, which is your right. Bring with you devotion and take from the Lord, spiritual strength. This is a transaction that pleases Him. Bring to Him all you have – your sorrow and grief, worries and anxieties and take from Him, joy and peace, courage and confidence!

-BABA

 

Dispassion does not take away joy from you. Dispassion gives the joy that nothing else can give.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Tips To Improve Your Relationship With Your Mother-in-law

February 07, 2013

Bangalore, India

What we see is only one tenth of what is.
The subtle creation governs the gross creation. The subtle creation is only full of vibrations. It is the subtle that rules the gross, and all information is embedded in the subtle.
This is so fascinating - the space contains all information and energy.

We say that the Sun is a source of energy, but the space around the Sun has a million times more energy, and is so much more powerful.

There are three types of space:

1. The outer space
2. The inner space of the mind in which thoughts and emotions move, and
3. A space beyond these two; a space which is still

So you have a power house inside of you. You are a walking power house.

Q: Please give me some tips to improve my relationship with my mother-in-law.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Listen, you have a different scale for your mother and a different scale for your mother-in-law. Now why do you do that?
When your mother used to scold you, it never really touched you. You are thick skinned when your mother shouts at you or scolds you. But when your mother-in-law scolds you, it shakes you very deeply, isn't it?
How many of you have this experience? Come on, tell me! Some of you are shy to raise your hands.
See, we have two standards, one for our mother and one for our mother-in-law. If you have the same standard for your mother-in-law as you have for your mother then the problem will be gone.

The second tip is, just don't argue with her. Win her over with love. Whatever she may say, if you say, 'Yes', what will happen to you? Arguments and misunderstandings happen when both sides cooperate to fight. If the one side does not cooperate to fight, there will be no arguments.
If your mother in law says, 'It is very hot', you say, 'Yes mother-in-law, it is.'
If she says, 'Day is night and night is day', say, 'Yes mother-in-law, you are right. I totally agree with you.'
Flow with her for some time and then you will see that you can win her over.

So, win her over with love and agreement.
See, when you agree, how can someone fight with you. Become soft from inside. This is the skill.

So you first try this and then you tell me.

This problem between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is an ancient, eternal problem I would say.

In the ashram, there is a general rule, that you can bring your problems here, but you cannot take them back with you.
So one lady stood up and said, 'Then can I leave my mother-in-law here.'
I said, 'Let me ask your mother-in-law first, what is her problem.'

Getting rid of people and things is not the answer, but dealing with them with skill is the answer. And silence is the mother of all skills - silencing this chattering mind with a few minutes of deep meditation. Then you will see that everything changes.

Q: Gurudev, I have a boss who is manipulative, unethical, and very difficult to work with. I am a dedicated employee but I am not able to work with my boss, what should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Again I tell you, it is all about vibes.
Have you noticed, for no reason, you feel aversion towards some people, and for no reason you feel pulled towards some people. It is our vibes that speak, it is our vibes that changes the minds of people. It is through vibes that thoughts and emotions change. So you be strong.
Also, the tougher the boss the more skilful you can become. It bring out skills in you which you did not see before.
It is very easy to be direct, but to be able to have skill and convey what you really want to convey is more appreciable. So you can develop those skills.

Silence can bring skill in communication.
Every person who gets angry, has some justification for their anger. They think that they are correct. Do you see what I am saying?
Behind anger is the demand for justice, and intolerance for injustice. So anger is good, it is essential, but only to wake you up. After that the anger needs to be given a direction of creativity, otherwise the same anger can burn you.

It is good to have a stove at home. One should have fire in the house, but the house should not be on fire.

Last Sunday, I was in Delhi, and we had around a 100,000 youths in Ramlila Maidan. I said, 'I am happy that finally all the youth of the country stood up against a crime. There is so much anger in the people of Delhi, but this anger should be channelized in a proper direction.'
Do you see what I am saying? Anger is essential, one needs to stand up against injustice, but that anger needs to be directed skilfully, otherwise it will create chaos.

Q: Dear Gurudev, is having a Guru mandatory to experience the state of enlightenment?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Is it necessary for you to ask this question and for me to answer? You have asked the question, now if I answer, then we are caught! Got it?
If you ask a question and you think I know the answer, then I am already a Guru and you are already a student.

Some people say, 'I am not a Guru', and some others say, 'I am not a student'. This is like saying, 'I am not a doctor but I will anyway give you some medicine.' Or someone saying, 'I am not a patient, but I want some medicine.' Both these statements have no meaning.

See, some guidance is needed. Guru is not a person, it is wisdom, it is a light, it is an energy, it is love; all of it combined. Something as abstract as spirituality needs a little guidance.
When your mind is very still, you can get all the guidance. But when the mind is not still, it is good to take guidance from one whose mind is absolutely still.

Q: Gurudev, you have mentioned 16 qualities in Lord Krishna. Do I also have all these 16 qualities somewhere in me? If yes, how do I bring them out?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, everybody has all these 16 qualities, and the more centred you are, the more passionate and compassionate you are, the more they will manifest.

Q: Gurudev, India today has two parts, one is Rural India and the other is Urban India. How to bring a balance between these two?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Rural India has its unique qualities that needs to be preserved, and the self-esteem of the people needs to be kept intact. Usually the self-esteem of the rural people go down and they want to emulate what the urban youth do, which is not necessary at all.
You have to give them their dignity, and tell them that the way they dress, and the food they eat is all okay. They can adopt whatever healthy practices they want to.

I have been to some of the tribal areas in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, and surprisingly you will see that they keep their village absolutely clean. There is no garbage dump anywhere.
In these tribal regions, they don't have electricity, but they have keep their little villages so clean. Every home is kept so clean. You will not find gutters here and there, none of that.
It is like the forest. If you see, the forest is so clean. You will not find dead bodies in the forest, even though so many animals die. Somehow nature keeps a balance.
In the same way, the tribal people and tribal areas, where literacy is almost zero, they have that sense of protecting the environment and cleanliness, which urban people need to learn.

Of course we have many schools in these tribal areas, where more than 30,000 kids are studying. These schools are in such remote areas where you can only go by walk; there are no roads there. And these rural people have such a vibrancy in them, a certain joy which is really worth noticing.

Q: How can I be both soft and humble, and authoritative at the same time?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You want to do it? You can do it!
You don't have to be aggressive in order to be strong, and you don't have to be wiggly-wiggly or weak in order to be soft.
We think they are opposite qualities and we can only have one of them; no! I would say, you can have both. You have be sensible and sensitive.
Often people who are sensitive are not sensible, and those who are very sensible are not sensitive. But you have the great ability of combining both, sensibility and sensitivity. That is the skill and meditation is the answer. Meditate!

Q: What is the reason for 108 beads in a rosary? Is there any significance to this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There are 12 constellations and nine planets according to Indian astrology. Nine planets moving in the 12 constellations can bring about 108 different types of changes.
So the 108 beads are to nullify any malefic effects of any changes.

Q: In a country like India, especially Mumbai where I live, there is so much inequality that I feel embarrassed and guilty for what I have. Yet I have the ambition to earn money and live well. How to reconcile these two things?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Engage yourself in some service activity or another. It is good that something pricks you. That itself will motivate you to do something good for the society. And earmark 2% or 3% of what you earn, because if we use all of what we earn only on ourselves, then that is not good. We will definitely feel uncomfortable. So we must earmark 10% or 5%, whatever you can for social causes, and go and help the children, and the people in the slums.
There is so much activity happening at Dharavi, you can be part of that.
When you see these young children grow up educated, you will feel immense satisfaction.

You don't need to feel guilty about having a comfortable home, and a good car.

Q: How to compete in a business world which is so corrupt and when the corrupt have a clear edge over all your deals?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is difficult for a single person to fight against corruption, that too for a business man. For a monk it is easy, because a monk has nothing to lose, but for a business man it is difficult and that is why you need the civil society. When the civil society gets together in a group, they can act against corruption easily.

I will tell you an example. It so happened that in Ahmednagar in Maharashtra, there was a road only on paper, but in reality there was no road. So 50 of our Art of Living youths got together and they went to the Mayor's office. The first thing they did was smile at the Mayor. All them smilingly sat in front of the Mayor and said, 'Madam, please tell us, when will this road be made? Please give us the date. Until you tell us the date we are not going to go from here.'
The Mayor got shaken, and she said, 'Yes it will be done', and in 24 hours the road got done.

Similarly, in Hyderabad, some young entrepreneurs who were making a factory needed a license for their factory, and every inspector they went to were asking for bribe. Now these people said, 'Look, we have taken a pledge that we will give or take any bribe. You can tell us to come here 50 times and we will come, but please be sure that we will not give even Re. 1 of bribe.'
Looking at this conviction of the youth, they granted all the ten licenses that they needed. Everyone else in that industrial park was surprised. They said, 'We have been trying for two years to get these licenses and we could not get it, how did these three young boys get all the licenses done?'

So once we have the conviction, we can change the system, we can make a difference. As youth, you must have this conviction in your mind, 'I can make a change.' If you think, 'The world is corrupt and it is never going to change, and nothing can ever change', then your own thought, and your own vibration will bring these kind of situations around you. So you need to come up with an idealistic dream, and then you will find things do happen.

Again I am telling you, it is difficult to fight corruption alone. You have work in a group to fight against corruption.

Q: Sometimes years of effort results in failure. What to do in such circumstances?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Just keep moving ahead. Every failure is a lesson to be learned.

Meditate. A few minutes of deep meditation will connect you with the ocean of intuition deep within you.
For every decision, it is essential that you are in touch with that inner source of intuition, then you will seldom go wrong.

Q: Dear Master, I recently heard you mention that, 'You own mind is responsible for your bondage and your liberation.' I am confused, how is the mind responsible for liberation? Don't I have to go beyond the mind?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, the cause of bondage is the mind, isn't it? It is the disturbances in the mind which takes away the peace from you. Whenever you are happy and peaceful, your mind is in touch with your being. When you are disturbed because of thoughts and emotions, then you are unable to see the peace which is always there.

Q: Gurudev, how can I live in this world without any fear; fear of loss, fear of death, fear of failure and fear of the known and the unknown?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Fear is love standing upside down.
If there is love, then there is no fear, and if there is fear then there is no love.
See, fear, love and hatred are all made up of the same energy. When there is hatred in a person, he is not afraid of anything.
When there is deep love in a person, then also there is no fear. It is one energy that manifests in these three forms - love, hatred and fear.

On 2 February 2013, I visited Tihar jail, and I inaugurated the opening of a skills training centre, a canteen and a hospital by The Art of Living. The amount of reform that has taken place over there is really touching. It is worth seeing how these people who were rude criminals have changed. They have started to enjoy music, painting, and learning new things.
So I told them, use the restaurant and the skills training centres but don't use the hospital.

The health of a society is indicated by the empty beds in the hospitals and the empty cells in the prisons. Today, the prison that has a capacity of only 6000 people has 12000 people. So we need to work outside prisons as well to ensure that people do not go in there. This can happen when we bring a wave of human values and a sense of belongingness.

These people in the prisons are beautiful people, but they had no fear when they committed the crime because hatred took over them.
That is why, if people engage themselves in doing service activities, and practising ujjayi breath and meditation, then the same energy which one experiences as fear, anxiety and tension, flips over and becomes love and compassion for all.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, February 15, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The mother spends more time tending the sick child; she asks the older children to look after themselves but feeds the infant with her own hands. That does not mean that she has no love towards the grown-ups. So too, do not think that because God does not ostensibly shower attention on a person, that he or she is not receiving God’s Love and Grace. In God’s view, there is no one senior or junior amongst devotees. Note this also - in this Avatar (Divine Incarnation), the wicked will not be destroyed; they will be corrected, reformed, educated and led back to the path from which they have strayed. The white-ant infested tree will not be cut; it will be saved.

-BABA

Q: Guruji, it is said that God is in all. Then how are the avatars different?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Avatar means one who has come down. Those who want nothing, they come for the wellbeing of all. They haven’t come for themselves - either to enjoy or burn karmas. They have come for jankalyan (welfare of all).

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Guru's Tidbits

What to do if your commitment is boring?

Commitment has value when things are not so charming. When things are interesting you do not need commitment at all. You never say you are committed to doing something that is very interesting or charming.

Learning is inevitable. By doing things right you learn, and by doing things wrong you also learn. From every situation, from everybody, you learn either what to do or what not to do. Either by mistakes or by doing things correctly, you cannot but learn. Learning is inevitable.

It is only when you sleep that you do not learn. And if you are asleep in your life, there is neither pain nor pleasure nor learning. Most people are in such deep slumber. That is why many people do not even make an effort to get out of pain.

Question: How to improve patience?

Sri Sri: Can I tell you next year? (Laughter)

Question: How to improve memory?

Sri Sri: Ask me this question later. (Laughter)

 

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How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course  14-16 March 2013

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Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

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Should you wish to unsubscribe – please reply to sender with subject “UNSUBSCRIBE”.

 

 

 
 

--

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, February 18, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

God is Supreme Energy (Mahashakthi) and the individual is Deluding Power (Mayashakthi). In this impermanent and ever transforming world, God is the only permanent and fixed entity. In order to realize Him, who is eternal and true, one has no option but to attach oneself to that Source and Sustenance, and offer Him loving devotion and dedicated service. This path is the destiny of one and all, irrespective of age, scholarship, caste, creed, gender or status. When walking along the road, you can watch your shadow, falling on mud, dirt, thorn, sand, wet or dry patches of land. Has anyone ever worried or is affected by the fate of their shadow? No! Everyone knows that the experience of shadow is not eternal and real. So too, you are but the shadow of the Absolute. Internalize this truth – this is the only remedy for all sorrow, travail and pain.

-BABA

Just observe the nature---how big this world is, how big the universe is. Nothing is permanent here. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

What Happens After Death?

You will just see the body out there.

Once you come out of the body, you will see your whole life flashing like a movie in a few minutes.

There will be the two questions that will stand.

1. How much love you gave? Not how much love you received, and

2. How much knowledge you gained?

This question will come and you will say, ‘I will do better next time’, and that is it. Then there is peace.

It is like, sometimes at night before sleeping you review what all work you have to do the next day. You say, ‘This all has to be done tomorrow. Okay, I will do it’, and then you go to bed, isn’t it!

Same thing happens after death.

Then that intention of what you will do in the next life will bring the next body and the next birth to us. Then we choose our parents, the place, and everything else and then we come to this world!

So nothing to be worry about death!

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Wavering and indecisiveness will affect you, if you want to practice Righteousness. If you are not stabilized in the Knowledge of the Self, you will not have a good sense of direction for your actions, nor will you achieve true victory. That is why the Geetha lays so much emphasis on the necessity to know both the kshethra (field or the body) and the kshethrajna (the Knower in the body). Know both, and then, you are entitled to the title, Amrithasya Puthraah: "Children of Immortality." Through devotion to God alone, this knowledge can be attained. Devotion also purifies your heart and elevates your inner feelings and gives you a broad, universal vision and brings to you the Grace of God. Plants cannot rise up to drink the life giving fluid from clouds, hence the clouds come down and pour as rain.

-BABA

 

Life is not all a rosy picture. There are thorns. There are things that you don't like in life. And the worst is when you don't even feel any devotion.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

How To Be A GOOD MANAGER?

Remember one thing, the one who manages this universe does not make it so obvious that he is doing it; or that He is in control.

Similarly, manage from behind. Leading from behind is the best.

When you want to lead a project you should not emphasize your leadership too much. You should do it from behind.

There is a saying in Sanskrit, Paroksha Priyahi Vai Devaha, which means that the Gods like to do things indirectly and not so obviously.

A person feels, 'I am doing it', but it is the Gods who make them do it. So they give the people the joy of feeling that they are doing it, but in reality, it is the Divine energy that does it in a subtle manner, which is not so obvious.

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course  14-16 March 2013

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

 

Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

Should you wish to unsubscribe – please reply to sender with subject “UNSUBSCRIBE”.

 

 

 
 

--

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You must be convinced that 'you' are but the shadow of the Absolute. Of course, it is only at the end of a long and systematic process of Sadhana (spiritual efforts) that you will reach and stay fixed in the state of that Truth; until then, you are likely to identify yourself with this body and forget that the body which casts a shadow is itself a shadow. The first step in that Sadhana is the adherence to Dharma (righteousness) in every individual and social act. The Dharma which is followed in relation to the objective world will automatically lead on to Dharma in the spiritual field also; only you must stick to it through thick and thin. Steadfastness is needed in the path of Righteousness. That alone is the sign of true surrender.

-BABA

 

When you sit for meditation, are your eyes steady? Is your breath steady? Is the prana haphazard? Is it going smooth and steady or going haphazard? When the senses are steady, the soul also becomes peaceful. Your Being, your spirit inside you, becomes steady.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

HOW TO DEAL WITH HUMILIATION?

----------------------------------------------------

Know that humiliation does not weaken you -- it strengthens you.

When you have a sense of belongingness, you don't feel humiliated. The more egotistic you are, the more humiliation you feel. When you are childlike and have a greater sense of kinship then you don't feel humiliated.

When you are committed to truth and not to your ego then you also don't feel humiliated.

If you are afraid of humiliation, you can neither make progress in your material life nor in your spiritual life. When you stand above humiliation, you get closer to the Self - to God. When you are steeped in love, with the Existence, with the Divine, nothing whatsoever can humiliate you.

So, the way out of humiliation is:

Get humiliated!

Be childlike

Be crazy

Get steeped in love with the Divine

Total commitment to Truth-Knowledge

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, February 21, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

In the present, practice of devotion, worship and rituals are for the sake of better comforts and more luxury for the individuals themselves. Devotion has degenerated into a business deal. Often one prays, “Please give me this, I shall give You so much.” If they feel one shrine promises more, the current shrine is given up. If even in the new shrine, one does not get quick returns, then they quickly look elsewhere to some ‘other’ God who gives more profit! Many people wander in this manner. Some also think, “If I stand amongst many others, God will not notice me. I must stand in a unique position and shout to attract His attention!” Do not behave foolishly! Hold fast to noble ideals. Do not try to bring down the Almighty to your limited vision. Rise up, strengthen your detachment and establish yourself in discrimination, then your goal is brought nearer.

-BABA

 

Attachment happens when your focus is not on the Being, but on the outside. Wanting to control, possess and hold on brings pain. When we are relaxed and content, love transforms to bliss. Demand and control only bring pain. Wisdom, along with love, is the answer.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

Are You Soft Or Forceful?

Certain types of people are soft and their softness comes out of lack of courage and forcefulness. There is yet another type of softness in people and this softness comes out of maturity, magnanimity, and the knowledge of the Self.

The people who are soft out of lack of courage suffer a lot. And sometime or other they become volatile.

Similarly there are two types of forcefulness in people - aggression or assertiveness. Some people are forceful in an aggressive manner out of weakness, lack of strength, or out of fear. Others are forceful out of care and love, out of compassion.

So look into yourself and become aware of what type of softness and what type of forcefulness you have.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, February 22, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The greatest obstacle in the path of surrender is egoism (ahamkaram) and Attachment or Possessiveness (mamakaram). This is ingrained in your personality since ages and its tentacles go deeper and deeper with the experience of every succeeding life. It can be removed only by the twin detergents of discrimination and renunciation. Devotion is the water to wash away this dirt of ages, and the soap of japam, dhyaanam and yoga (repetition of God's name, meditation and communion) will help to remove it quicker and more effectively. Slow and steady progress will surely win the race in this one; quicker means of travel can spell disaster. Proceed step by step in your spiritual practices - placing one steady step before you take the next. Do not waver or slide back two paces with one step forward. Cultivate deep faith - that will make your progress steady!

-BABA

Behind everything is your ego: "I, I, I, I." But in seva there is no "I," because it has to be done for someone else. It is for the need of the time, or surrounding people, that you do it.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

The Five Types Of Restlessness

 

The first type of restlessness is due to the place you are in. When you move away from that place, the street or the house, you immediately feel better. Chanting, singing, children playing and laughing can change this atmospheric restlessness. If you chant and sing, the vibration in the place changes.

The second type of restlessness is in the body. Eating the wrong food or vata aggravating food, eating at odd times, not exercising, and overworking can all cause a physical restlessness. The remedy for this is exercise, moderation in work habits and going on a vegetable or juice diet for one or two days.

The third type of restlessness is mental restlessness. It is caused by ambition, strong thoughts, likes or dislikes. Knowledge alone can cure this restlessness. Seeing life from a broader perspective, knowledge about the Self and the impermanence of everything.

Then there is emotional restlessness. Any amount of knowledge does not help here. Only Kriya helps! All that emotional restlessness vanishes. Also the presence of the Guru, a wise person, or a saint will help to calm your emotional restlessness.

The fifth type of restlessness is rare. It is the restlessness of the soul. When everything feels empty and meaningless, know you are very fortunate. That longing and restlessness is the restlessness of the soul. Do not try to get rid of it. Embrace it! Welcome it! Usually to get rid of it people do all sorts of things - they change places, jobs or partners, do this, do that. It seems to help for some time, but it does not last.

This restlessness of the soul alone can bring authentic prayer in you. It brings perfection, Siddhis and miracles in life. It is so precious to get that inner most longing for the Divine. Satsang, the presence of the enlightened one, soothes the restlessness of the soul.

 

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How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course  14-16 March 2013

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

 

Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

Should you wish to unsubscribe – please reply to sender with subject “UNSUBSCRIBE”.

 

--

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, February 25, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What do people know of the motives that prompt the Lord and His actions? Some found fault with Sage Narada for repeating the name of the Lord, always, without intermission. But until Sayujyam (merging in the Absolute), the name has to be used; the idea of separation will end only with mergence, not before that. Do not waver or doubt when once you are convinced. Seek to understand and satisfy yourself. After that, do not be misled. When the Sun is over your head there will be no shadow; similarly when faith is steady in your head it should not cast any shadow of doubt

-BABA

 

No activity can happen in this world without the element of faith. The entire world works on faith.

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

 

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Becoming defenceless

---

 

Whenever a boundary is broken, it creates some fear. The fear creates dislike. This dislike puts us back in the boundary. And to keep yourself in the boundary you put forth defenses. When you try to defend your position, it is such a stress, isn't it? And every time you try to defend your position it makes you more and more weak.

On the path, people even use the Knowledge as a defense against criticism! Don't use Knowledge as a defense. The Knowledge is like an umbrella for you -- a shelter, not a weapon. Of course, sometimes "Don't use Knowledge as a weapon" becomes an excuse not to be in Knowledge! (Laughter) I say, drop all your defenses. Anybody can make a mistake. Even you! Don't defend your mistakes. Just accept them and move on. When you are totally defenseless, that's when you'll be strong.

 

 

 

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course  14-16 March 2013

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Keep your faith in the Lord undiminished. You can then safely move about in the world and no harm will come to you. When one loses one’s way and strays into the wilderness, believing in the world, then the Avatars come to warn and guide. Your attitude must be like the village women, who carry pots of water on their heads, one over the other and keeping their balances even when talking and walking along a winding lane. They do not forget or ignore the burden or their goal and destination. They are always vigilant, conscious of the hardships on the way – the stones and the pits. It is the inner concentration that will pay you rich dividends! -BABA   Guru is inside you. Have an inner union with the guru. Inside, be with the guru. Krishna is inside you; God, the Divine is inside you---have an inner connection with the Divine.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day   What SRI SRI said

Faith is your wealth

Faith is a wealth. If you think, by having faith in God you are doing a favour to God, you are mistaken. Faith gives you strength instantaneously. Faith brings you stability, centeredness, calmness and love. You’re having faith in the Guru or God does not do anything to Guru or God. Your Having Faith Gives You Immediate Strength. Faith is a great wealth; it is a blessing. If you lack faith, you have to pray for faith. But to pray, you need faith. This is a paradox. (Laughter) People have faith in the world - but the whole world is just a soap bubble. People have faith in themselves - but they don't know who they are. People think that they have faith in God - but they have no idea of God. If you want to doubt, you have to doubt everything. There are three types of faith: faith in yourself, faith in the world, and faith in God. You need to have faith in yourself -- without faith, you think, “I can't do this. This is not for me. I will never be liberated in this life”. You must have faith in the world. Without this, you can’t move an inch in the world. Banks give you loans having faith that you will pay it back. You deposit money in the bank having faith that it will be returned. If you doubt everything in the world, nothing will happen. The same is the case with faith in the Divine - have faith in the Divine and you will evolve. All these faiths are connected. You must have all three for each to be strong.   Bill : Atheists have faith in themselves and faith in the world, but not in God. Sri Sri: They don't have complete faith in themselves. Lack of faith in God, in the world or in the self brings fear. Faith in the world cannot be constant because there are always changes. Faith makes you full - faithful. If you have faith, you are full. Rajesh : What is the difference between faith and confidence ? Sri Sri : Confidence is the result. Faith is the beginning. Faith in yourself brings freedom. Faith in the world brings you peace of mind. Faith in God evokes love in you. You can be at peace by having faith in the world and without faith in God, but it is not complete peace. If you have love, there is automatically peace and freedom. People who are extremely disturbed should only have faith in God.

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How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course  14-16 March 2013

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Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

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[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Do not be carried away by the cynicism of critics – that should serve only to encourage you. Examine the faults that may lie dormant in you and work sincerely to get rid of them. Do not merely give platform speeches on the excellence of qualities such as charity, service, sympathy, equality, secularism, etc. Descend from the platform and practise at least a few ideals sincerely. When your neighbour is in the throes of a serious illness, do not rest content with the idea that you are happily free. You are not free if even one is suffering or bound. Remember that the food you give to each living being reaches the Supreme Divine Himself, the service you do to any being, anywhere in the globe, fills the Lord with joy.

-BABA

The ultimate purpose of life is to be of service.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

What Does Business Have To Do With Spirituality?

February 08, 2013

Bangalore, India

My dear ones on the dais, and my dear ones in the audience.
Two important instruments were used for all of us to be here today. One is a scissor and the other is a needle. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be wearing the garments that we are wearing today.
A fabric needs to be cut, and then it needs to be sewed; and that is how all the suits, and the pyjamas-kurtas, and everything that we are wearing, exists. In the same way, Business and Spirituality – one cuts and the other joins, and they are both essential.
You can't have a fabric which is simply cut and not sewed. That is of no use. Similarly, you cannot sew something which is not cut.

Sometimes people ask me, ‘What does business have to do with spirituality? Business is all about passion, and spirituality is all about dispassion. They are poles apart’.
Business says, ‘Go aggressively and earn’, and spirituality says, ‘Give up everything that you have’.
Although they appear to be completely opposite to each other, I say, they are complimentary. Like the in-breath and out-breath. When you breathe in, that is passion; but you cannot hold it for too long, you have to breathe out, and that breathing out is dispassion.

In my understanding, for business, you need five ingredients.

1. A Congenial Atmosphere
If you are asked to go and do business in some parts of Kashmir, or go and do business in Afghanistan or Iraq, the first thing you will say is no.
Take for example, Chhattisgarh. Suppose, someone says, 'Put up a factory in Bastar', you would say no. That is because there is no peace there.
When there is no peace, no prosperity comes, and when there is no prosperity, no peace can happen. Peace and prosperity are interlinked . It is because of prosperity that peace comes, (not all the time though), and it is because of peace that prosperity comes.
Out of the 612 districts in this country, 205 districts are affected by Naxalism, and these are the districts that are poverty stricken. Why? Peace is missing. The rest of the districts are very prosperous.
First, you need to bring peace, and then prosperity can follow.

2. Passion to Do Business
Passion needs to be there; the passion to take challenges. Business is always risk-taking. You need energy to take the challenge to do business.

3. Capital and Other Ingredients
You have passion, but if you don't have ingredients, then it would not be possible to go ahead.

4. Skills
You have all the materials you need, the place is congenial, but if you lack the skill, then you can't be successful.

5. Something very abstract called, Luck
Just by one's effort, if one could become very prosperous, then why are there so many people who put effort but don't become prosperous?
If you go to Commercial Street here in Bangalore, you will see that there are some shops which are very prosperous, but the shops next to them are making a loss.
The Chamber of Commerce here would agree with me.
In Chickpet also, one shop is making landslide business and the next shop is going bankrupt.
All the jewellers are in one row, all the garment shops are in one row, even then, one is doing good business and the other is failing. How come? Nobody knows!
This area which we don't know, is what spirituality is all about.

The whole material world, and all that we see, is run by a certain vibrational world which is subtler than what we see. The whole universe runs on vibration.
Many times it happens, you see someone, and you feel like talking to them and doing business with them. You see someone else and for no reason you have an aversion. You don't want to do business with them. Why? It is because you feel something; you say, 'I don't get good vibes'. The universe is run by vibrations; by a subtle world (Sukshma Jagat).

So, spirituality is to do with all these five ingredients.
Spirituality enhances positive energy; it brings out the skills in you. And a few minutes of quietness, of silence, helps you tap into the source of intuition.
Intelligence and intuition, these two faculties are enriched by spirituality.

Again, here, spirituality doesn't mean ‘doing something’, but it is ‘being quiet’. Allowing the mind to settle down; being centered and not taking sides. Going deep within oneself and appreciating the values of life in its totality; honoring life.
Spirituality helps one to enrich intuition and sharpen one's intelligence.

See, when you want to invest, you make a guess, and it is a risk that you take. This is where intuition is important. Intuition is the right thought at the right time, and it is an important component for success in business.
Now intuition comes to you when you balance your passion with dispassion; when you balance your profit with service; when you balance your aggressiveness to get things, with a compassion to give back to the society.
I'm not saying that you should not have the drive to do business aggressively, or that you should be very quiet and soft.
As a salesman, if you say, ‘My product is good, but the products of others are also good’, then that is not going to work!
You can say, ‘My product is the best’, but at the same time, having the compassion, having the ethics of honoring others too, is essential.
Intuition and sharpness of intelligence, sensibility and sensitivity, compassion combined with dispassion and passion, all of this brings such a balance to life that we can keep our smile throughout, whether we gain or lose in business. What is more important is keeping the smile.

If you have had some losses, why do you want to lose your smile also along with it?
If you have lost in the share market, you should at least keep your smile. Otherwise it is a double loss. And then a third loss will also happen, i.e., the loss of your health.

Caring for oneself, caring for one's environment, and caring for the ethics in business is important.
You don't like your subordinates to cheat you, then why would you cheat them?
You don't want your customers or vendors to cheat you, then why would you do that?
When you don't want others to do something to you, then you should not do that to others. This basic thing is the line of ethics, ‘I would not like anyone to cheat me, and so I will not cheat anyone.’

Now, if you ask me, ‘How is it possible to be hundred percent truthful and do business?’
I say, it is possible, and there are many such examples sitting here.
This conference will bring those principles in the limelight that people have practiced. And that will set an example of how ethics in business is possible.

Now, I am not asking you to be Satya Harishchandra.
In our ancient scriptures, there is a certain limit to speaking lies for business people.
It is like this, for a monk, he should not lie at all. For a king, he can lie one percent for the safety and security of the country. For a doctor, he can lie 2%. He can tell a person, ‘Don't worry, I'm here with you’, though he knows that he's going to go away. But for a businessman, it is said, he can lie 3%; not more than 3%.
3% is like salt in the food. You can’t have food in the salt, but a little bit of salt in the food is okay.
Today, the situation has become such that the food is in the salt, rather than salt in the food!

There is a story about Birbal, and I'm sure that many of you would have heard it.
Once Emperor Akbar passed a law, that anyone who tells a lie will be beheaded. He will be sent to the gallows. Hearing this, the whole of Delhi was shaking; like it is shaking today also. I think, it is the history of Delhi to keep shaking.
So, Delhi was shaking. In Chandni Chowk, all the businessmen gathered together and said, ‘We all have to go to the gallows because we always claim that ours is the best product, knowing too well that ours is not so go. So now, this law is suicide for us.’
Then came the turn of all the astrologers. They were even more worried, because they guessed and predicted some things, and if it went wrong, what would they do? So astrologers were all in trouble.
The priests were in trouble, doctors were in trouble, everybody got so worried because this law was simply absurd. Then they said, ‘Birbal, only you can help us'.
So, Birbal went to the King’s palace, and the guards stopped him and asked him, 'Where are you going?'
He said, 'I'm going to the gallows, I am going to be hanged'. This was a lie, because he was the most favored comedian of the palace. Why would the King push him into the gallows?
So he was produced in front of the King and they said, he lied. Now, if he was sent to the gallows, then what he said was true. The King would be blemished for punishing someone who was innocent. And, if he was not punished, the law would become obsolete.
The King was perplexed, he called all the Pundits, the ministers, and then Birbal said, ‘This is what it is! What you speak is not the truth, it is the intention which is the truth'.

So business people can speak just that little bit of lies, otherwise no one can market anything. No business can survive. So these are all codes of conduct in ethics.
Do not do something to others which you don't want others to do to you.

The world is not in fragments. Society cannot be in watertight compartments, and spirituality and ethics are an integral part of a human being.
It is spirituality which develops character, and who does not want people with good character working under them? Business means people, right? You have to work with people. And the people working for you, don't you want them to have integrity, honesty, straightforwardness and skill to deal with situations?
Tough situations come in every business and every organization, and you need skills to handle them. All this comes from our inner space which I call as the Spiritual Space.
So spirituality, business, politics, service activities, all together make life holistic. If any one component is missing, there will be chaos and not bliss.

I also want to bring attention to certain areas in India where business is still untapped.
One of them is tourism. India has so many tourist avenues, so many ancient sites where people would love to visit. But tourism has not been much explored.

The other area is garments. Garments here in India are very unique.

Third would be the food industry. If you travel around India, after every few miles or kilometres, you will find different varieties of food. Once, just out of inquisitiveness, I said, ‘Let's have a vegetarian food festival in India’, and you know, 5600 food items were prepared by people. Seven tons of different type of food, all prepared by volunteers.
We organized this Annam Brahma program in Ahmedabad, and many of the dishes prepared, we had never heard of them before.
If you go to Tripura, they have some 40 to 50 varieties of food items and preparations which are not known to the general public. Similarly here in Karnataka, we have some special dishes, Obbatu, Chutney Pudi, Gojju, Villakai, and people love these.
We have not showcased the food industry as well as we can.

The fourth area is jewellery.

Then we have Ayurvedic Medicine which is 5000 year old; Ayurveda and the herbs, the Shirodhara and Abhinga massages, etc., are all picking.
It is a very beautiful system and you can say that it is the 21st century medicine. Many people appreciate this, and it is catching up very well in spas around the world. But we need to popularize it even more.

Then, we have Yoga, Spirituality and the Knowledge of the Vedanta.

Seventh is the IT industry. India is known for this, today.
It started with IT, and then Yoga and Meditation is also popular around the world.
I was told that in US alone, Yoga is a 27 billion dollar industry.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Karnataka, you can do a lot of exploration in these areas. We also have here with us today businessmen from Russia, Nepal and so many other countries. It would be good if we can sit together and see how we can bring more prosperity to every part of the world. Not just to you and me, but to everyone.

With these few words I once again congratulate you and may God bless you all.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, February 28, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Everyone must make their exit someday - that moment should not be one of anguish; one must depart with a smile and a bow. In order to accomplish that, a lot of preparation is necessary. Leaving all that has been accomplished and accumulated during a long lifetime is a very hard task. So prepare for it from now, by discarding attachment to one thing after another. You see many things in your dreams, and you may even acquire power and position. When you awaken, you do not cry over the loss of those, even though they were very real and gave you real joy and satisfaction during your dream. You tell yourself, “It was just a dream” and move on with life! What prevents you from treating with similar nonchalance, all the possessions you gather during the waking state? Cultivate that attitude and depart with a smile, when the curtain is drawn!

-BABA

 

Attachment brings pain, but nothing comes without pain. We came into this world in a lot of pain. The process of birth itself is very painful. For nine months, we were comfortable and then suddenly the ocean around us disappeared and we had to come out! Attachment happens when your focus is not on the Being, but on the outside. Wanting to control, possess and hold on brings pain. When we are relaxed and content, love transforms to bliss. Demand and control only bring pain. Wisdom, along with love, is the answer.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

Trust Is the Backbone of Business

February 09, 2013

Bangalore, India

(Sri Sri Ravi Shankar gives a closing addressing at end of the two day Corporate Culture & Spirituality event)

My dear one on the dais, and in the audience.

For every beginning, there is an end; and every end has a beginning; this is the ancient saying. So this is no end, this is actually a new beginning.

Now, all of you who have taken part in this conference, I hope you have enjoyed it and have come up with something that would benefit the society at large.
These kind of deliberations from time to time, are useful when we want to take some concrete action and some concrete steps forward.
I am happy that the business community has come together in these last two days, from many different parts of India, and from many parts of the globe.
Time was too short, rather there were many more requests; many more people wanted to come from South America, South Africa and many parts from the African continent as well.
I think you cannot plan that in advance; sometime in the future.

This effort of yours, to bring ethics in society, has given hope to the general population. Trust is the backbone of business. If there is no trust, there can't be business. When trust starts eroding, it becomes our topmost duty to restore it.
If the driveway to your home is broken or filled with snow, you’ll have to shovel it; clear it. Only then can you bring your car in the driveway. You can't leave it on the road for too long. In the same way, establishing the trust of the common people in the business will give the people confidence, that there are good people out there who care for them.

I have travelled extensively in Europe, and in the last couple of years, people there have lost faith in the banks, which has never happened in the past.
People said, ‘We don’t want to keep our money in the bank; we don’t know which bank is going to go bankrupt and when.’
I am talking about poor people, not the rich ones. The ordinary people, or the average middle class and lower middle class people. So this reassurance to people, that there is ethics in the society, there is ethics in business, and there is humanism, is important.
See whether it is capitalism, or communism, or secularism, no ‘ism’ will work if there is no humanism. Communism collapsed, capitalism collapsed, secularism collapsed because they had not given attention to human values; the humanism in the society.

At deliberations like these, taking forward your business with a commitment to a social cause; commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) will take our world to a new dimension of hope, and happiness.
In the past, people have only been talking about GDP (Gross Domestic Product). I’m glad that even United Nations today, is talking about GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness). That happiness is our goal.
The goal of spirituality is to bring such happiness, which nobody can take away from you.
The goal of spirituality is to bring happiness to the population that doesn’t fade away, to bring the much needed energy to face challenges with a smile, to have a more compassionate heart, and to be more creative rather than destructive in one’s attitude.
In these contexts, we see how relevant spirituality is in today’s world.

In an affluent society, we see kids engaging themselves in violence. A kid just took the gun and shot so many people. This is because the difference between the virtual world and the real world was absent for him.
Kids have been playing violent games on the computer; games where even when they shoot people and they come back again to life. They do not realize that in real life when you shoot somebody, they don’t stand up and walk again.
We need to attend to these issues of growing violence, discontent, mistrust, and depression. Spirituality has the answer for all these. Spirituality can eliminate the root cause of violence. It can bring inner peace to people.
We talk about world peace; but if you don’t have peace in yourself, if you can't have peace with your family, with your community and in your environment, how do you want to have world peace? It is almost impossible!
So we need to see that the individual finds peace, his communication improves and his compassion finds an expression. Everyone has the element of compassion in themselves, but they don’t find an expression in society. Through service activity, one’s compassion can find an expression; and you can put an end to violence.

The corporate sector has an important role to play, to quell the violence in the society. Don’t think what we have to do with it!
Today, Mr. Arondekar had said, ‘What have I got to do with business or spirituality?’
I said, ‘You have a lot to do, because you are a police officer. If there is peace, only then there can be prosperity. If there is law and order in the society, then only business can flourish; otherwise it’s impossible for business to go on.’
So, it’s very apt that Karnataka Chamber of Commerce has invited one of our most reputed police officers to address the gathering here.
We need integrity in every field. In politics, we need politicians with reputations; where people know that they are there to serve them, and are not serving themselves. We have many such politicians today, here on the dais, and here in the audience, who are committed to see a better world. I would say, all this is part of a spiritual component, i.e., happiness. We all have one goal, to see more smiles on as many people on this planet as possible.
With these few words, I once again congratulate you all.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, March 01, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The letter ‘Gu’ in the word Guru signifies Gunatheetha - the one who has transcended the three qualities of Ignorance (Thamasik), Passion (Rajasik) and Virtuousness (Sathvik) and the letter ‘Ru’ signifies the one who is Roopa Varjitha (Beyond the Form). The Guru destroys illusion and sheds light, His Presence is ever cool and comforting. He comes to remind people that they have forgotten that they have lost the most precious part within themselves and yet are unaware of it! He is the Physician for curing the illness which brings about the repetitive suffering from birth to death. He is adept at the treatment needed for the cure. If you have not yet got such a Guru, Pray to the Lord Himself to show the way and He will most certainly come to your rescue!

-BABA

A Guru will put you into your Self, make you reach the goal -- not just tell you some techniques and show you some path.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

Look into the eyes of an innocent child and see… that is love!

Come back home to your pet dog, see how it wags its tail and jumps all over you, that is love!

When you have fallen in love with someone and you are remembering them, look at your face in the mirror and see! You will find the same love in your own eyes.

Love is such that it makes even a stone melt.

 

Just like how our body is made of amino acids, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, etc., our consciousness is made of love and beauty.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, March 04, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Every struggle to realize the Unity behind all the multiplicity is a step on the path of Divine Life. You have to churn the milk if you wish to separate and identify the butter that is present within it. So too, carry on with life and purify your thoughts and action in order to get unshakeable faith. Divine Life does not admit the slightest dross in character or delusion in the intellect. People dedicated to divine life must emphasize this by precept and practice. Wipe out the root cause of anxiety, fear and ignorance, if any, within you. Then your true personality will shine forth. Anxiety is removed by faith in the Lord, the faith that tells you whatever happens is for the best and that the Lord’s will be done. Sorrow springs from egoism, the feeling that you do not deserve to be treated so badly, that you are left helpless. Sorrow disappears when egoism goes!

-BABA

 

Life is the process of "churning." Your mind is being churned by so many things, events happening. Your mind is churned and churned and churned, and finally, the "butter"
comes---it's the sainthood, the saintliness in you. 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Answers Come From A Quiet Mind

February 09, 2013

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, please talk on the art of asking questions since, at times, I am not satisfied with an answer I get, or I get more confused with the answer.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Meditation!
When the mind is restless, no matter what the answer is, it does not get in. When your mind is quiet, just a sign is good enough and you will pick up the answer, for you are the source of all answers. When you are quiet, then, from within you the answers come up. That is why, a few moments of relaxation is essential.

Whatever you tell a restless person, he will say, ‘But’. You give them an answer, even then they will say, ‘Okay! But…’, and then they go on changing the topics. This is the sign of a mind which is so filled with ideas and concepts, that there is no place for new wisdom or knowledge to enter in.

The same thing happened with a Master and a disciple.
A disciple came to a Master, and he was asking some questions,(a very similar situation as you are in.) He was asking question after question, but was not satisfied with any answer that the master gave. So, the master said, ‘Okay, come! Let us have tea.’
The master asked, ‘You like tea?’
He said, ‘Yes.’
So the master started pouring tea in the cup of the disciple. The cup got full but still he kept pouring. The tea overflowed from the cup and spilled on the table, and the floor.
The student asked, ‘Master, why are you doing this? The cup is full. You can see the tea spilling all over the carpet!’
The Master smiled and said, ‘That is what the situation is. Your cup is so full that it has no more space to take anymore, but you are wanting more. First, empty your cup, drink what you have.’

The ancient Rishis in the Vedas have said, ‘Shravana’, first listen, and then ‘Manana’, i.e., contemplate about it, or think about it. You listen to an answer, and you think about it. Then make it your own. See if it is in your own experience? Don’t believe anything because someone says it. This is the basic thing that one has to remember.
My experience is my own and your experience is your own. Don’t take anything just because I am saying it. Simultaneously, don’t discard what anyone says; you should be a good listener. First, listen, and then contemplate on it. Then, make it your own experience. Then, that becomes wisdom. Knowledge turns, and becomes wisdom – Shravana, Manana, Nidhidhyasa.

After speaking all the 700 verses of Gita, Lord Krishna says, ‘Look Arjuna, I have said it all. You think about it. If you find it suitable, take it.’
That is what needs to be given, freedom of thought, freedom of opinion, freedom of belief and faith. You can’t force a thing on everybody’s head. Faith has to be developed from within one’s self.

Q: Gurudev, these days everybody is giving hate speeches and creating turmoil in people’s minds, and then they get arrested for it. No political leader is giving any love speech. What to do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Now, first of all, you have to take back that word everybody.

Everybody is not doing it. There are some people, one or two, here and there. They do such things, because only then the media will pick them up. The hate speeches are picked by the media. They want media attention, so they do it. And if they get arrested, they become a hero within a particular community. What can you do? They go for negative publicity because they cannot get any positive publicity. So the easy way is to get negative publicity is to go and blabber something about somebody, or give some hate speech somewhere.
Surprisingly, so many people clap for that, because it is a thrill for them.
Sweetie-sweetie talk, some good love stories don’t interest people. ‘Hey come, let’s punch that guy’, and everybody agrees.
This is what is called mob psychology. The mob is interested in doing something destructive in the world. Never ever has a mob done something constructive; mob has always brought destruction.

Sometime destruction may be essential. One such example was the Freedom Movement, when they wanted to root out this colonial system. So the mob joined, but peacefully. And why is that? The leader was a spiritual man – Mahatma Gandhi. He would do satsang, just like what we are doing. Every day there would be singing, meditation and discussions on the issues of the country, and the world those days.
So there was a movement to dismantle the current regime, but without bloodshed, without violence. It was a unique thing in the history, where the mobs gathered but didn’t destroy anything, didn’t bring pain or suffering to anybody.
The same type of mob is happening now all over the world. In the Arab Spring, see what is happening? People are killing each other and there is so much suffering.

I am dreaming of a very different aspect. I want people to come up with creative ideas and plans. A seed for one such revolution was sown on 3 February, in Delhi, where the gathering who attended the event was three times more than that of the anti-corruption movement.
A record crowd gathered together, and took a pledge to do something constructive.
The government was a little concerned and they posted so many police. Everybody was screened when they were coming in, and so it took a long time for people to come in and go out. However, everyone was so surprised that there was no blame game, no hate speech; everyone joined to do something very constructive.
Our youth have this energy, we only need to channelize it.
Can you imagine, just in a matter of 2 months, with no resources at all, 1,000 projects were completed in Delhi? These were 1,000 small projects in the slums that were completed in 17 slums that were adopted by The Art of Living. So the volunteers have started working in 100 slums now.
India is wobbling between scams and slums, and we need this sort of enthusiasm in people to do something creative.

There is a river here which is called Kumudavati, which has almost dried up. So, some of our volunteers have taken up the task of reenergizing the river from the source, through all the twelve tehsils (similar to a county) that the river moves through. It is a very good initiative and it will help solve the water problems of so many villages.
Water level has gone down. It used to be 20 to 30 feet, now it has gone down to 6 feet, so much below! So these volunteers are going to reenergize that! They are doing rain water harvesting, and all things necessary to reenergize it.
One would have to spend crores of rupees on such projects. But people are using their own petrol, and going by their own cars, and doing the work. This is the joy, the intoxication of service.
Also, two of our volunteers here today have announced the signing of a project wherein they are planning to build 1,000 toilets for the poor people.

Q: Gurudev, there is an ancient proverb that says that when you come to a true master, the skills in you start to manifest. Is that true? Because I even see the elephant here, in the Ashram, play the mouth organ.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, it seems to be happening that way here.
Many who have never been into music have started singing. Many people write poems. I see a lot of creativity around. Looks like they are making the ancient proverb come true!
See, whenever your mind becomes quiet and silent, when you meditate, when you are happy from inside, creativity is a by-product. It is only natural, and if it doesn’t happen, then you should be surprised.

Q: Gurudev, today in every field, whether it is Corporate or Social Service, it is very difficult to make out the good from the bad. Now that CSR is a compulsory aspect of corporate entities; how to choose the right NGO to work with?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See whether the NGOs are transparent and they have no religious bias; this is very important.

Sometimes people do CSR activity, but their motivation is different. They want to convert people from one religion to another religion, or from one ideology to another ideology; one set of vote bank to another set of vote bank. These should be avoided, because it is not really charity, it is a business in the garb of charity and should not happen. There should be pure intentions; the heart should be clean and pure.
There are many such NGOs who work with the mere intention of bringing happiness and smiles on the faces of people. So look into that; whether their intentions are correct, whether their balance sheet is correct, whether they are transparent in the spending of their money, and their administrative cost is low.
Their administrative cost should not be too much. Sometimes administrative cost is so high that very little goes to the beneficiaries; that should not happen.
Many NGOs, have said that 40% to 50% goes towards administrative expenditure .That is not desirable .It should be kept to a minimum of 5% to 10%, or a maximum of 15%. So look at that, and then see people who are working with that NGO, and take their help.

Q: Gurudev, today alcoholism is the biggest challenge to move towards spirituality, and a safer society. However, in these two days of the Corporate Culture & Spirituality conference, nobody spoke about it. Please guide us.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: We tell people that we have a greater type of intoxicant here – meditation, singing, and serving. This is a better intoxicant; it takes you to a greater height. People simply don’t know of this brand of whisky, that’s all.
There is a joy in serving people and seeing the smiles around; many people don’t know of that intoxication. There is a joy in meditation; deep peace and deep sense of comfort that people don’t know. We need to make people aware of this, then they will just throw all the alcohol bottles away.

Q: Gurudev, how did a handful of British people rule a spiritual giant like India? Is there something to learn from this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, you can wonder about it! One speciality of India is that there was never any unity here.
Once I was in Europe and a journalist asked me, ‘Gurudev, tell me, how come the Indian journalists criticize India more than anybody else?’
I said, ‘This is our speciality, we fight with each other.’

It was the internal fight between many kingdoms, and the selfishness of the kings that led to that sort of thing. In some way, it was good; the British did some good also to colonial India. You should see the positive side of everything. Of course, there are many negative aspects of the colonial rule, but there was also some positivity, you have to see that also. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been speaking in English today, and India would have never gotten into computers at all. It would be like China. We would have all had our own different languages; 600 dialects, 24 languages, and India would have been really fragmented.
Today English, somehow, has become a very common language, and India can connect itself with the entire world. So there are advantages, there are some good things.
Of course, there were many bad things too. Many laws from those times that are obsolete today, are still in place. So all the young people, like you, should become law makers, and change all these laws.
Women have already taken the reins in their hands, and have started changing some of the laws. I am sure more will happen.

Q: Gurudev, how can I earn a lot of money without putting too much effort? Is there any mantra?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This is how the scams begin (laughter).
You have heard about all the scams, isn’t it? There are plenty of them, one after another, every month.

No, don’t go for quick money; you will lose it also that fast. A sustained economy is good.
If your ethical principles are strong, you will say, ‘I am going to make a lot of money, but with ethics. And no money in an unethical manner.’
In the past century, people had the fear of bad karma, or that God will be unhappy. Fear of God, or fear of karma, would ensure that people didn’t get into unethical practices.
People would say, ‘Oh, that is a bad karma; I don’t want to take that money.’ Do you know why? It is because people had a strong belief that money earned in an unethical manner will have to be spent in a manner which will not bring them happiness.
They would say, ‘It’s going to make me more miserable’. This was a strong belief. In fact, people would say, ‘If you earn money unethically, that money will be spent in courts and in hospitals.’
So that consciousness was there, pricking people. Today, that is missing. They say, ‘When we do CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), it is going to come back to us many times, multiplied.’
CSR was always thought of as an investment, and unethical money was thought as a punishment. Those values have almost disappeared today. So we must re-look at this.

Q: Gurudev, my father says that I don’t take stress, but end up giving a lot of stress to other people. If I give stress, I ask, why do they take it? Shouldn’t other people be managing their own stress?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That’s another way to look at it too.
Sometimes people say, ‘I am here only to test your patience. God has put me on this planet to test everybody’s patience.’
There is an old proverb which says, ‘Nobody is the giver of problems or comfort. Problems and comforts are created by our own mind.’
We can feel comfortable anywhere and we can feel miserable anywhere we want, the choice is totally ours.

Q: Gurudev, I am not able to achieve excellence, so I remain unsatisfied. Is satisfaction possible without achieving excellence? If yes, please guide.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: : If frustration is the mother of excellence, then there are many countries which are so frustrated, and we don’t find excellence there.
People say, ‘Oh, satisfaction can make you dull, and inactive.’ If frustration can bring creativity, then Lebanon, Afghanistan, and all these places should have been the most creative parts of the world. But it is not so, isn’t it?
So, satisfaction is one thing, and then creativity is another thing. When you are calm, serene and quiet, deep inside, then you get access to the source of creativity.

Q: Gurudev, being on the spiritual path, sometimes makes me inefficient at my work place. How do I balance the two?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Then drop the spiritual path; be efficient in your working place. Why do you want to do something that would make you inefficient? The spiritual path is meant to make you more efficient. If it is making you inefficient, just wash your hands off. Say ‘Bye Bye’ to the spiritual path and focus on your work and see, whether you can do it. Don’t put the tag of inefficiency to your rest or your meditation. It is not possible as far as I am concerned, but you should try and make an experiment.

Q: Gurudev, I find that in spite of producing educated graduates, we still need to train them again before they can be used in our industry. How can we partner with your University, and introduce some education that is relevant for our industry?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Definitely; we can have skill centres. You may talk to Dr. Mishra, the Vice Chancellor (of Sri Sri University in Orissa) and the Board members, they are present here. We will think and design new programmes and new curriculum for the students.

I want to give the best of East and the best of West to students.
Today, borders don’t matter; borders have disappeared actually. We are living in a global society, and the coming generation should gear up to that global vision of a united world. We should forget ‘my country’ and ‘your country’. We are moving towards a society where virtually there is no distance at all.
See, yesterday, a conference happened here, but 90 countries participated in it on-line.

People from so many countries were watching the webcast. We are moving into a different era of knowledge; of wisdom. So we have to adjust our mind-set towards this, and so I want to give the best of East and the best of West to the children of this planet; so that they become a global citizen, and serve the country that they live in.

Q: Gurudev, is lust bad? Should we just go with lust, because if we resist, it persists.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Moderation! Nothing should be done in extremes.
Lust is because you don’t have much to do. If you are busy, then it doesn’t take over your mind as much. You should use your energy more creatively, then you will find you will be more centred.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, March 05, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You need not even read the Gita or the Upanishads. You will hear a Gita specially designed for you if you call upon the Lord in your own heart. He is there, installed as your own Charioteer. Ask Him and He will answer. Have the Form of the Lord before you when you sit quietly in a place for meditation and have His Name - that is, any Name when you do japam (repetition of the divine Name). If you do japam, without a Form before you, who is to give the answer? You cannot be talking all the time to yourself. The Form of the Lord you are calling will hear and respond to you. All agitations must cease one day, is it not? Meditation of the Form of the Lord and repetition of His Name are the only means for your mental agitations to cease.

-BABA

Love is there in the whole creation. Everything is Love. But you have never related in your life other than by name and form; you could not love something which has no name or form. The guru embodies---Buddha embodies, Jesus embodies---that infinite Love with name and form.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

 

A life without any challenges

 

Just imagine a life without any challenges. It will be so dull. Challenges or crisis will bring up the talents within you and make you aware of the abilities you have to overcome them.

In Chinese, there is only one word for crisis as well as opportunity - because every crisis is an opportunity to exhibit your strength, skill and abilities to endure any situation, circumstance. A crisis brings up that opportunity to exhibit your skills. The moments of pleasure or joy, of course, brings you an expansion and implies that you should serve. When you are happy you contribute to the world and you serve - not just remain in your own little enjoyment. Being happy coupled with service makes your happiness rich. Trouble and misery brings the strength to let go, to renounce. It brings dispassion and from this you learn a lot.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, March 06, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Once, I asked a few people as to what they would like to be in the hands of the Lord. Some said the lotus, some the shankha (conch) and some the chakra (discus), but no one mentioned the murali (flute). I would advise you to aspire to become the flute, for then the Lord Himself will come to you and pick you up. Achieve the hollowness of heart by making it completely egoless. He will then breathe through you and create captivating music for all Creation to enjoy. Be straight, without any will of your own and merge your will in the Will of God. Inhale only the breath of God. That is Divine Life, the goal you must all achieve.

-BABA

You become a perfect instrument of the Divine when you become hollow and empty.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

LET LOVE BE

Let love be. Don't give love a name. When you give love a name, it becomes a relationship, and relationship restricts love.

There is love between you and me. Just let it be. If you name love as brother, sister, mother, father, Guru, you are making it into a relationship. Relationship restricts love.

What is your relationship to yourself? Are you your wife, brother, husband, Guru?

Let love be. Don't give it a name!

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, March 07, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Consider the example of a cinema; on the screen we see rivers in flood, engulfing all the surrounding land. Even though the scene is filled with flood waters the screen does not get wet by even a drop of water. At another time, on the same screen we see volcanoes erupting with flame, but the screen is not burnt. The screen which provides the basis for all these pictures is not affected by any of them. Likewise in the life of man, good or bad, joy or sorrow, birth or death, will be coming and going, but they do not affect the Soul (Atma). In the cinema of life, the screen is the Soul (Atma). It is Shiva, it is Shankara, it is Divinity. When one understands this principle, one will be able to understand, enjoy and find fulfilment in life.

-BABA

The cycle of desires and sleep, we keep on oscillating between rajogun and tamogun. This is bondage. Satogun dawns with genuine relaxation and knowledge. The summary of the whole Ashtavakra Geeta is to be able to joyfully relax while being awake – satvik relaxation. That relaxation is true relaxation. In that relaxation all the attachments and bondages lose their grip. So, consider your life as sadhana. Time follows some rule. It has its own rhythm. Sometimes, something desirable happens and at some other times, something undesirable. Time continues to teach us that opposite values are complementary.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Add Some Colour to Your Home

February 10, 2013

Bangalore, India

Q: If God is omnipresent and one feels strong connection to the Guru, is it still needed to go to temples. What is the significance of rituals?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, you do not need to go to any temple, mosques, or churches or anything. Wherever you are, sit and meditate, there you find the presence of the Divine. But rituals are good to have in life; a little bit of them. Not too much.
Without rituals, life becomes a little dry and monotonous. It is the rituals that brings a certain flavour, a certain celebration, a certain colour to life. So I would say, we must have some rituals from time to time; it is good.

See, walk into a house where they have no rituals at all, and then walk into a house where everyday they light a lamp, or light an incense stick, and where there is a sanctity; there is a difference in the atmosphere. How many of you have noticed this?
There is a certain difference. It creates a sort of atmosphere. The subtle becomes more alive there, isn’t it?
So a little bit of ritual is good in everyday life. In the morning when you wake up, sit and meditate. Of course you should do pranayama along with meditation.

Even if one person in a house lights a lamp somewhere; everybody does not need to do it, just one person in a home lights a lamp, it enlivens the whole atmosphere. This is what I have seen practically.

I have visited so many homes; small, big, huts, bungalows, and everywhere I have seen one thing for sure, even in a small hut, they have a little altar and they have a candle or something there, and the whole atmosphere has some subtleness to it, something nice about it. In a home where there is nothing, no symbol of sacredness or no lamps are being lit, you get in and there is a certain dullness.
I have noticed this. That is why I would say, a little altar in a home and some ritual is good. Any one person can do it; the lady of the house can do, or the man of the home can do it. And it is also good for children to see that there is something that they should do to get that flavour of religiosity, or spiritualness.

In this country you will also find this in buses. Every bus driver, taxi drivers, car drivers, rickshaw drivers, the first thing in the morning they put a small flower or light an incense stick and bow down. And this little thing they do makes a qualitative difference in their lives. Even in shops and hotels in India they have an altar.

You can ask them, ‘Why do you do this?’ Maybe someone can do some research on it. It gives them some sort of psychological strength. In some subtle way it enlivens the atmosphere. This is what I feel.

In India, in the government offices they do. Every officer in their office, they have an altar. In Karnataka it is a little too much. If the chief minister has to take an oath, or get into a new office, they do a thorough puja ceremony there and everything.
World over this is there. Even in the US senate and in parliament of Canada, every day they have a moment for prayer. There is a pastor for every parliament who comes and reads from the Holy Bible.
Only in India we talk about secularism and secularism. It is a sort of disease that we try to keep away from all the wisdom, knowledge and ancient traditions. People try to do this but it does not really happen. It is so deeply embedded in everyone.

Q: Gurudev, what is the best way to deal with any kind of injustice?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Sometimes what you think as injustice may not be so from the other person’s point of view. It may not be injustice at all.

You need to stand up against injustice, but with wisdom and with awareness, because everyone who gets annoyed or angry they will always say,‘ I am resisting the injustice’.

Behind the flame of anger, there is a cry for justice, or a demand for justice. But when you analyze, go deep into it, it may not be correct at all. It may not be right at all. So that is why I would say, you should first analyze from a calm mind, and then take a stand against injustice.

Q: Gurudev it is said that on the spiritual path celibacy is an important component for progress. How to bring about celibacy in the mind? Is celibacy something physical or more in the mind?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is both. Celibacy happens, you cannot force it on yourself. See, if you have an exam and you are studying for the exam, on those days, all students inevitably say, ‘We have no thoughts of sex, we are so busy with our exams.’
Similarly, you have a very important project to complete and you are working hard, then also celibacy happens automatically.
Also through meditation; when energy rises in you, you find such bliss, such thrill, and such ecstasy within you that celibacy happens automatically. In fact, it is a pain to be outwardly. Celibacy is the effect of the mind being inward, when you see that all this is nothing; everything is nothing. If at all anything is happening, it is happening from the subtle plane .Connection with the subtle plane makes actions here almost irrelevant ,and that is when celibacy happens. That does not mean you should say, ‘Oh, when it happens, let it happen, right now let me be indulgent. No!’

One professor from Middle East said something very interesting. She said that every fluid in the body is connected to the fluid in the brain, and any fluid lost causes the brain fluid to go down by 20%. It is a big research work that they have been doing. So that is why, in the past people have said that if you are a student, and you need to do brainy work, then you must attach celibacy with it.

So, the first 25 years, one should practice Brahmacharya (An educational period which starts before the age of puberty, characterized by the practice of strict celibacy). And then from 25 to 50 years - Grihasthashram (Family life). Then you can have the pleasure and enjoyment of family life, but not after 50.
After 50, slowly you have to come down, otherwise it will become an obsession for you.

When people have this obsession, the body cannot perform, but the mind is feverish about it. Body and mind should go together. Otherwise, this is a sort of disease I would say, like bulimia .Your body says no more food, but the mind says, no, stuff more in.
Like this, people who are 70 or 80, they go and sit and watch pornography, even though they cannot do anything! This is a sorry state of affairs. This is not Brahmacharya. It is the mind that is not in the right sense.
Moderation is what is called Brahmacharya; moderation is celibacy.

Q: Dear Gurudev, the food that we eat today have so much chemicals and the government policies promote these. How to tackle this? Please also talk about organic food and organic farming.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Organic farming is the future of Earth.
If we want the earth to sustain itself, we have to go organic. There is no other way.
There are people who are so greedy and selfish that they do not care for the planet, and so they promote these harmful things to the farmers. One or two crops come very good, and that tempts the famers and they take it. Once they take it, then from the third or fourth crop, everything goes down and even the land gets spoilt. The land becomes unfit for cultivation. This is the problem.
That is why we have established an agricultural institute to teach farmers organic farming; the ancient type of farming.

In ancient days, they would put three crops together. So even if one crop dies the other two crops are there. So people were never starving. They never went bankrupt, or never went into loss.
They would put, let us say, sugarcane along with some pulse, so that if one crop fails, the other two will be there. Usually all three crops would yield and it would fix the content of nitrogen in the soil all by itself, because of the variety. This is the kind of farming that one has to revert to.

We have to do Agnihotra (a Vedic yagna) and that will take care of harmful insects and pests. So you do not need to put pesticides. Then there are natural pesticides like cow urine, Neem leaves and several other things like that.
So we need to revert to this type of farming which does not spoil the water, the Earth and the health of the people.

Q: Gurudev, I lost three people in my family because we went to three wrong doctors. What are we doing wrong with the medical services, and how can we improve it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This doctors should sit and discuss.
First of all I would say, doctors should meditate. When they meditate, their minds will become clear and they can tap into the intuitive ability deep inside them.
This is what Ayurveda doctors do, they just hold your pulse and they diagnose what is wrong with you. Even to do this, they should meditate, that is very important. The mind should be vibrant to tap into the inner source of intuition.
See if they do not have intuition, then they are groping in the dark seeing what medication is to be given. That is why, though many have become doctors, only some doctors have the reputation of healing people. Why? This is because they have this gift of tapping into their intuitive ability and giving the patient the right medicine.
Doctors should meditate and then from a calm mind they should diagnose and take a decision.

Recently I read a survey by AIMS where they found that 60% of the doctors are themselves sick. Their attention span is so less. That is why the nurse has to count the number of instrument that they give the doctor for the operation, and then count again how many they have received back .Many times they leave the forceps, knives or needles inside the body and stitch it.
So they make a list of how many instruments they gave and how many came back.
So, every doctor needs to take some time out and relax, they cannot afford to be stressed.

Pilots, people working in the air control towers, doctors, these are the professions which need a lot of mental energy. They need to be on their toes all the time. They need to be alert. They cannot afford to make even one small mistake.
Someone sitting in the air control tower cannot just doze off even for a minute, he has to be very precise and very alert. But how can they do it if they do not have the mental energy or meditative awareness? That is why meditation is a must for these people who have high pressure and high risk jobs.

Q: Gurudev, how can being effortless make me successful in life? Please elaborate.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Like when you want an arrow to go forward, you pull it backward, right? Similarly, effortlessness gives you deep rest, and that helps you to tap into the source of intuition, creativity, and energy. Then you come out and act from that.
You cannot say, ‘I will not put any effort to learn sitar or guitar, but I want to be a great sitar player’, it is impossible. You have to put effort. At the same time, effortlessness helps you to put effort.

Q: Would every soul attain Moksha some day? How long will this earth continue and will we all have grace in next birth also?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You ask about yourself. Why do you ask about all the souls in the world? Do all the souls want moksha first of all? They may not even want; correct!

You know, sometimes we make generalized statements and we ask these generalized questions also. I have no idea whether all the souls will find moksha, but if you want to have it, yes, it is possible. You have all the chances.
Let us finish it in this life, why do you drag me to the next life also.

God is in every form. There is no place where God is not there. So God is everywhere.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, March 11, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

At first look, everyone appears to be a devotee, but individuals respond differently to different circumstances. If you keep a ball of iron and dry leaf side by side, when there is no wind, both of them will be firm and steady. But when there is a breeze, the dry leaf will be carried many miles away. The iron ball will remain firm and steady. If one has true love and firm faith in God, one will be like an iron ball, steady and undisturbed. If one is like a leaf running away on account of difficulties and problems, it is a travesty to call such a person a devotee. We should develop pure and steady love and faith.

-BABA

Faith is realizing that you always get what you need. Faith is a giving the Divine a chance to act.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Prayer is essential in life

February 10, 2013

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, what is the importance of yagna? I heard that if we do yagna, then even the rain comes. Why don’t we do a big yagna, and finish all the bad things in the world?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Have you heard about the butterfly effect? A butterfly, fluttering its wings in Amazons, can affect the clouds in China. It means, every little thing, affects every other little thing in the universe, in the cosmos. So, yagnas are those ancient rituals or practices that have an effect on the environment, on the collective consciousness, and on the individual mind.

To conduct yagnas, specific herbs would be collected on a specific, particular day.
Do you know cosmology is connected to agriculture? Recently, the Vivekanand Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (VYASA) Research Foundation made an experiment to see the effect of particular days, and particular times.
` Do you know of Rahu Kaal? In South India, people don’t begin anything new in Rahu Kaal. This is a particular period of one and a half hour each day, at a particular time.
The scientists did a wonderful experiment to assess the impact of vaccinations given to people during Rahu Kaal. They have produced a paper on their findings, which shows that the vaccination given during Rahu Kaal does not make an impact on the body at all.

Similarly with Agnihotra (a ritual performed to purify the atmosphere using fire), they have found how the virus that catches on to trees can be eliminated. Now trees can become healthy, just with Agnihotra, where they put certain herbs in the fire.

So, yagnas are ancient techniques where you use different herbs and create that atmosphere using the five elements, i.e., Water, Earth, Fire, Air and Ether. The thing is, you need to have people who know how to do this correctly.

Do you know, this science was almost dying, that is why we started a school here.
In 1980, when I was touring Germany, and giving lectures in different universities; at the University of Tubingen, some people took me to their manuscript library. They said, ‘Sri Sri, see, there are so many Sanskrit manuscripts here, thousands of them. Do you have some scholars who can decode these things? We are unable to get scholars to decode; we are preserving the manuscripts.’
They have maintained the manuscripts so well in Hamburg University, and in Tubingen they have filmed them.
Then I came to India and held several conferences. The scholars who knew how to read these ancient scriptures, were old, and did not want to travel. They were already in their sixties and seventies, and the youngsters had no idea about the scriptures.
Since a lot of scientific information, about Ayurveda and others was present in these scriptures, I thought we should start a school. That is when we first started the Ved Vignan Maha Vidhya Peeth here, to bring scholars together and give them modern education as well.
The scholars need to know English, and they need to know the ancient text as well, only then they can translate.

What I am saying here is that, this knowledge is present in every generation. If you speak about black matter, dark matter and dark energy, these ideas were present in the ancient texts as well. Unfortunately, there is nobody who can go, read, and get some clues from it.

Here, we have Dr. Hari and his wife Hema, who have been doing a lot of research. Many of you think that Ganges is a natural river. They have made many scientific evolutions to say that it is a man-made river, which flows all the way, throughout India.

So, yagnas are one such technique that is there to nullify the negative, and create positive ions in the atmosphere. Again, that needs a little revival, like Ayurveda is getting revived. In the same way, that will also happen.

Q: Gurudev, you say that we are here to serve other people, then what are other people here for?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Certainly not to create trouble for you.
Other people are here to teach you some lesson. Everyone teaches you some lesson or other; learn from everybody. The world is filled with teachers, you only have to be a good student.

There is an ancient proverb in Sanskrit that says, ‘First salute the wicked, and then the good. For the wicked is teaching you a lesson at his own cost, and the good walks his own path and teaches you a lesson.’
The good is just pointing out; but the wicked is teaching you a lesson at his own cost. He is falling in a pit and telling you, ‘Hey, look what has happened to me. You better don’t do it. ’So, it is a costlier lesson that he is teaching you.
‘Durjanam prathamam vande, sujanam tadanantaram’, first salute the wicked because he is also teaching you a lesson.
The whole world is filled with teachers. Every little creature in this universe is teaching you something.

In Srimad Bhagavatam there is a chapter by Dattatreya, where we see how he learns from a crow, to a swan, to a mouse. He says, ‘Every animal is giving me some message; everything is giving me some knowledge, some education.’
You only need to be an eternal student, that’s all. Life is a continuous schooling, which never ends.

Q: Gurudev, I feel that in this world, the intelligent people are full of doubt, while the stupid ones are full of confidence. Why is it so?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Doubt, within a limit, is a sign of intelligence. Beyond a limit, it is a disease. If you have self-doubt, then you can’t do anything. Doubt can clog your intellect like a disease. Also, if you keep on doubting everybody around you, you can’t do business. Business depends on trust. Administration depends on trust.
See, if you have a collection in a hotel of Rs. 10,000, you have to send somebody with the money to the bank to deposit it. If you have doubt that the person will run away with the money, then you can’t move an inch in the society.

Again, a sincere doubt is good, to awaken you towards knowledge. But beyond limit, it can cause heartaches and drag you backwards.

Life should be like when you are in a car; where the windshield is big, you have a side mirror, and a little mirror to see the back. Just imagine if your windshield is as small as the rear mirror, and the rear mirror is as big as your windshield, then you are only seeing the past. You can’t move anywhere. So, you need to know a little bit about the past. Sometimes, you need to look into the rear mirror, and sometimes, you have to look in the side mirror. The windshield is your present, the vision of where you want to go.

Q: Gurudev, I don’t know the question, but spirituality is definitely the answer every time. I want to know how spirituality can be the one answer to all the problems in the world?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This is because the problem is created by human beings.
The source of the problems is one, i.e., humans, then the solution can also be one, isn’t it? Spirituality is dealing with that basic aspect of human beings. If the foundation is not right, then the building will have a problem. So if you want to keep the building intact, then a strong foundation is very essential. Spirituality is the foundation.

Q: Would you advise us to do our duty properly or go after rituals?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Duty should be done. However, to enrich yourself, to enable yourself to do your duty properly, you have to rejuvenate and energize yourself. So, a little bit of meditation, relaxation, music, and prayer; all these will help.
Prayer is essential in life.

Q: Dear Gurudev, spreading love one person at a time is much slower than spreading hatred, which is spreading in multiples these days. We need to go mass, and very fast. How can we do that?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I’ll leave that question with you. And spread the question first. When many people start thinking and talking about it, there could be multiple ideas on how we can spread love fast. We should try to implement all of them or most of them. Certain questions cannot have just one single answer. There could be many answers, and all of them or most of them will hold good.

Q: Gurudev, how do doubts arise? How can one eliminate them?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If we have any negative energy, then doubts come. Someone who is full of enthusiasm or energy does not get doubts. Doubt comes when your energy is low, when the body and mind are exhausted. When there is lack of clarity, then doubts come.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, March 12, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You need not even read the Gita or the Upanishads. You will hear a Gita specially designed for you if you call upon the Lord in your own heart. He is there, installed as your own Charioteer. Ask Him and He will answer. Have the Form of the Lord before you when you sit quietly in a place for meditation and have His Name - that is, any Name when you do japam (repetition of the divine Name). If you do japam, without a Form before you, who is to give the answer? You cannot be talking all the time to yourself. The Form of the Lord you are calling will hear and respond to you. All agitations must cease one day, is it not? Meditation of the Form of the Lord and repetition of His Name are the only means for your mental agitations to cease.

-BABA

 

Best pilgrimage is Inward Journey! A pilgrimage is an opportunity for people to come together and pray together. As you know, praying together generates more energy, you know, a synergy. But don't think God is only in pilgrim centres! God is omnipresent and omniscient. Ancient Rishis meditated in some places and put all that energy in some idol there. The scriptures talk about God as having no name and no form. There is freedom to worship God in any form or any name. Wisdom from anywhere was acknowledged.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Success is an Attitude, not a Phenomenon

February 11, 2013

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, success to this world means money, power and fame. How does one know if we are successful? Is there any measure?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: To me, the sign of success is a smile. The number of smiles that one has in their day-to-day life indicates how successful one is.

You may have a big bank balance, a lot of money. But, if you can’t smile, if you are tensed, upset and angry, would you call such a person successful?
Someone who is unfriendly, tensed, worried, can’t sleep, can’t even eat because of cholesterol, diabetes; would you call him a successful person?
Often, people spend half of their health to gain their wealth. Then they spend half their wealth, to gain back their health (which does not come). This is not a sign of success. To me, a sign of success is confidence. Even if you lose everything, if you have confidence, then you can recreate everything again, and that is success.

There are ample of examples. There are businessmen, who rose to the top, and with one uncalculated movement, they lost it all. They came way down, and still, they built their businesses again.
You can see this in the Sindhi community; they were living in Karachi with such comforts. Similarly, the Kashmiri pundits in the valley had huge bungalows, apple gardens, saffron gardens; suddenly, they had to leave everything.
The same with the Asian migrants from Uganda, they had nothing when they left the country. Generations together lived in Uganda, and owned big factories. One fine morning, they had to leave the country with one suitcase.

I met a Gujarati gentleman in London. This man had a huge television factory, about 15 to 20 years ago, in Uganda. He had many Rolls Royce cars, and lived a very comfortable life. One morning, the Asians were asked to leave the country. With just one suitcase, they arrived in London, as refugees. This man and his wife, in their fifties, were selling hot dogs on the streets. He said, ‘Gurudev, we have never worked so hard.’ Look at this!
Now this successful businessman rose again to be an industrialist there. Once you have the zeal, you can gain back the wealth.

The same situation occurred for the Sindhi community. They were rendered as homeless refugees in India after the partition. Today, the Sindhi’s are governing and managing all the wealth, wherever they are. The same with the Kashmiri pundits; they were rendered homeless. Many of them who had the zeal to do business came to Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, and started something.

Success is an attitude, it is not a phenomenon.
When you agree to be bogged down, that is the sign of failure. Resist getting bogged down. Just like a candle. You light a candle and turn it upside down, the flame always goes up, and it never goes down. In the same way, if we can have the enthusiasm to say, ‘I can make it, I can rebuild my business’; that is what I would consider a sign of success.

Q: Though India has all this spiritual knowledge, why are there so many problems here? Why are we lagging behind? Why are crimes increasing?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If you turn back and see, 20 years ago, we didn’t have so many hospitals. Today, we have so many more hospitals, super specialty hospitals; still people are sick. Are the hospitals responsible for sick people? Certainly not. In spite of hospitals, people are still getting sick; that means we have to upgrade, give more medical aid, and lifestyles need to change.

We have to give our people good values and culture; like offering namaskars (greetings) to seniors, lighting lamps in the house, sitting and chanting a few shlokas. It would be good if families do this. You should sit with the whole family and have at least one meal together at home. Then the bonding in the family increases.

Family values should be held high. In the old times, business families had a lot of values. Any charitable activity in India was done by the business community or kings. Business people were called shresthas, meaning, great, or elite. The whole community was called great. If you go anywhere in India, any pilgrimage center in India, all the shelters were built by them. The lakes, wells, schools, they were all built by the business community. So, the community itself got the name, ‘the most benevolent; the great community’.
Somewhere these values are eroding, family values are eroding. At home, people should cherish these values. We have to bring them back.

Q: Gurudev, a lot has been said of Chanakya Neeti and his ways of administration. Is it still applicable in these times?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, definitely. Chanakya Neeti means skillfully bringing everybody together; that is what Chanakya did. India was fragmented into many small kingdoms, it was Chanakya who united it and made India one huge empire. In the Arthashastra (an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy), in the rules on economy, he has given many little formulas that hold good even today.

Indian economists have always praised Chanakya, and the skill with which he dealt with every situation. Anyone who is very skillful and very clever, they call him Chanakya here; so, it is a title. It is a state of mind where you want to make progress fast, still be skillful, and take on challenges as an opportunity. Then, you can give the title to yourself. You could be a Chanakya if you have all the skills to face all the challenges, and get what you want.

Q: Gurudev, you were talking about Chanakya, he is known for his skill and intelligence. Was he born like that or did he build it over time? Are skillful people born like that or they build it over time?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I can’t tell you about Chanakya, whether he was born skillful or he developed skills; but, I can tell about you. If you want to be skilled, you can always develop on your skills. Otherwise, there is nothing called skills training. You have potential in you. Recognize the potential in you, and then develop on it. The basic ingredient is already present.

Q: Gurudev, what use is my humility if I am not successful? Humility without success doesn’t really mean anything. What do you think?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Arrogance is not going to bring you success, either. Humility does not mean being wiggly, wiggly. Humility does not need to be that way. Humility is friendliness, simplicity, and being natural. If it is that much, it is always good.
You cannot be successful in business by being arrogant. If you are arrogant, you will make more losses than gains. This is my understanding; you all should have better experience with it.

Q: Gurudev, tapasya is doing something that you don’t enjoy doing. My work these days has become tapas for me. Should I endure it thinking of it as tapsya, because I don’t want to run away from it?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Very good attitude; it is the right attitude. Often, one takes up a project, then they don’t like it, and they don’t want to continue with it. It is wise to think of it as tapasya (a penance), and continue doing it.

Q: : Gurudev, on 3 February, you inaugurated the ‘Volunteer for a Better India' program in Ram Lila Maidan, New Delhi. There were lakhs of people who came together, and pledged for a better India. So many NGOs came together. However, there was hardly any media coverage. Would you want the media to be more involved?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Sensational news is what the media is interested in. Unfortunately, that is what the state of affairs is; good news is no news. If there is a problematic thing, or anything that is controversial, then it draws more attention.

I often tell the media that they have a responsibility to keep the facts as they are; at the same time, not lead the society towards depression.
You have seen, just one event in Delhi was played for 24 hours, for a whole month, and it still continues.
I have heard hundreds of calls from people who said, ‘I can’t sleep, I feel so much anxiety’, or, ‘I feel like I can’t even walk in the streets of Delhi’. People became sick listening to it.
I told them, ‘Stop watching news before going to bed’, because it is the negative news you hear that creates fear in you.
So, media has this responsibility to project something positive also; that is essential.

Q: Gurudev, do you have any plans to start an Art of Living channel?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, starting one positive channel will not work. We need to have all the channels becoming positive.

Are you doing media studies? I would like many of you to go in to media, and change the media.

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course  14-16 March 2013

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Eternity Process

Our past impressions carry weight and determine how well we face the present moment and how well we can live life to its full capacity, free from fears and negative emotions.

To help us to overcome past impressions, our beloved Guruji  (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ founder of the “Art of Living” Foundation) has designed the ETERNITY PROCESS, a process that enables us to view past experiences in this and past lives to erase some karmas in a space surrounded by his love and grace. We emerge having lived through our past impressions, more alive to the present moment and to open to celebrating life. The process has given deep healing experiences to many people.

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--

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The mariner uses his compass to guide him aright amidst the dark storm clouds and raging waves. When a person is overwhelmed by the dark clouds of despair and the raging confusion of irrepressible desires, he too, has a compass which will point to him the direction he has to take. That compass is a society that is dedicated to the propagation of spiritual discipline. So long as man is attracted by outer nature, he cannot escape the blows of joy and grief, of profit and loss, of happiness and misery. But, if he is attracted by the Glory of God within him as well as within Nature, he can be above and beyond these dualities and in perfect peace.

-BABA

Rise above the dualities, the opposites. See this whole world as the bubbles on the surface of water. See people as bubbles on the surface of the Brahman, of the Infinity...Water bubbles up, rises up. Like that, everybody is rising and having their own games and plays and dissolving back into the Infinite.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

I HAVE A PROBLEM

 

Once a wise man drew a line on a board and told his student to make the line shorter without touching or erasing it.

 

How would you do it?

You have to shorten a line without touching it.

The intelligent student then drew a much longer line underneath that line. So, the line automatically became shorter.

 

The lesson here is that if your difficulties appear to be very big, lift your eyes, because you are only focused on yourself.

If you lift your eyes up and look at those who are in a worse condition than you, you will suddenly feel that your burden is not as bad as you thought it was.

If you think you have some big problem, look at people who have a greater problem. Suddenly, you will get a confidence that my problem is much smaller, and I can manage it.

‎"In the Vedic Calender, the year 2013 is said to be the year of Victory. Victory of the Good

19/03/2013  - 8pm South African Time

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, March 14, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The greatest defect today is the absence of Self-Inquiry (Aathma Vichara), which is the root cause of all restlessness. If you are eager to know the truth about yourself, then you will never go astray. All pots are made of mud, all ornaments of gold, and all clothes are of yarn. Here, even though you see so much diversity, there is a unity. The basic substance of everyone is the Supreme Self (Brahman). It is your basis too! Just as a river’s flow is regulated by the bunds, and flood waters are directed to the sea, so too the Upanishads regulate and restrict the senses, mind and intellect, to help you reach the Divine and merge the individual in the Absolute. Scanning a map or a guide book will not give you even a fraction of joy of the actual visit! Scriptures are only maps and guidebooks. Act in accordance and experience bliss.

-BABA

 

By self-study, by observing, by being hollow and empty, you become a channel---you become a part of the Divine. You are able to feel the presence of the Divinity. All the different angels and devas, all these different forms of our consciousness, start blossoming.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Don't make a mistake by pointing out mistakes!

·        

What is the use of pointing out a person's mistake that they know they have committed?

By doing this, you will only make them feel more guilty, defensive or resentful, and this will only create more distance.

You should only point out the mistake of a person who does not know, but who wants to know.

Do not point out the mistake of a person who knows but doesn't want you to know. Often people know the mistakes that they have committed, but they do not want you to tell them.

Before pointing out the mistake of a person, see whether your comments in any way will help to improve the situation, foster love or bring harmony.

A magnanimous person would not pick on the mistakes of others and make them feel guilty. However, they would correct them with compassion and care, not through words but through attitudes.

 

 

"In the Vedic Calender, the year 2013 is said to be the year of Victory. Victory of the Good

The World meditates 19/03/2013  - 8pm South African Time

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, March 15, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Repetition of God’s Name (japam) and meditation (dhyana) are the means by which you can accelerate the concretisation of Divine Grace, in the Name and Form you yearn for. The Lord has to and will assume the Form you chose, the Name you fancy and the way you want Him to be. Therefore do not change the Name and Form you adore mid-way; but select and stick to the One that pleases you most, whatever the difficulty you encounter or however long it takes! All agitations must cease one day, is it not? The dhyana of the Form and the japam of the Name - that is the only means for this task.

-BABA

When you are so much deluded and confused, meditate for some time. You will find clarity dawning instantaneously.

Sri Ravi Shankar   Blessings for a GOoD day

 

 

What SRI SRI said

 

 

Look at the present moment - now, now, now! Wake up NOW! Everything else is stupid. All that has happened has gone into emptiness. Everything dissolves into emptiness. Your entire past - wiped out! All the things that you felt are gone. Good or bad, they are gone. So, wake up to the truth of the present moment. Divinity is in the present moment. This is yoga. Yoga is being established in the moment. And moment does not mean fleeting moment. The moment has the depth of infinity; it has all the past and all the future.

"In the Vedic Calender, the year 2013 is said to be the year of Victory. Victory of the Good

The World meditates 19/03/2013  - 8pm South African Time

Follow us on twitter       @PatGounden

How to relieve stress with Sudarshan Kriya?

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles – day follows night, ight follows day, seasons come & go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms in our body, mind and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we have a sense of harmony and well being. When stress or illness upsets the rhythm, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

“We need to do a cleansing process within ourselves. In sleep we get rid of fatigue, but the deeper stresses remain in our body. Sudarshan Kriya cleanses the system from the inside. The breath has a great secret to offer”

-Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

1) The Art of Living Course 1 to be held at APD in Chatsworth (65 Gemini Cres, Woodhurst – Pass Chatsmed Hospital – turn left on top of hill)  P1 course  18-20 April 2013

Kassie Gounden : 031 4099697/083 7999 899 kas...@pgco.co.za

Pat Gounden : 031 4099 697/083 7999 699 p...@pgco.co.za

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, March 18, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Believe Me, your nature is Sath-Chith-Ananda (Existence, Consciousness and Absolute Bliss). That is why you behave in the way you do. You desire to exist for ever; you enjoy life and avoid all talk of your own death. That is enough evidence to conclude that you are Reality in essence (Sath-swarupa). Then, again, you are filled with wonder and curiosity and a desire to know the world around you. You ask continuously what, why, how and when, about all and sundry. This is the prompting that is given by the Consciousness (Chith). Lastly, you are always seeking joy and try to avoid grief. It is your nature to do so, for you are essentially Bliss. When someone asks you, "How do you do?" and you answer, "Quite well, thank you," they do not stop to enquire why you are well. It is only when you answer that you are ill, you are further questioned anxiously. "Well-ness" is natural; "illness" unnatural. Anxiety is caused only by the unnatural. So, in essence you are happiness.

-BABA

 

What is the source of space? It is everywhere.  Space is an element.  Happiness has a source, it is our nature. When a baby has sorrow there is always a reason for sorrow.  With that reason there is always a way to eliminate sorrow.  But a baby is happy without reason.  You can be happy without a particular reason.  There is always a way to eliminate sadness. Bliss, joy, happiness is our nature when you have no reason to be unhappy.  Unfortunately people always look for a reason to be unhappy.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Bring Light to the World

March 14, 2013

Bangalore, India

Sit in satsang and go inward; that is what is important.

(Audience: Don’t go)

You should not say that. There are many programs and people are expecting me. I don’t like to disappoint anybody. Even today, I said, I will stay back for sometime in the satsang, and not disappoint so many people. That is why I delayed my flight as well. So for ten minutes, I can afford to stay with you.

Keep doing your sadhana, seva, and satsang. And keep thinking in lines of, how we can bring more light to the world, and more knowledge to the people.
See, anyways, we all have to live for another 40 to 50 years. So life should have a direction. We need to think, what do we want to do in life?
Other than eating, sleeping, thinking, reading newspaper, watching television, we need to do something more, and what could that something more be that we can do?
Bring knowledge to people. Make people happy. And the only way to make people happy is to bring them to knowledge.

If someone is unhappy, that means they have not received or taken the knowledge; they have not digested the knowledge, and so they are unhappy.
You can say, ‘Gurudev, there are people who have no water, no food and are suffering. That is why they are unhappy. How can they be happy?’
This is a different thing; a different issues. Yes, suffering is different. People suffer because of natural calamities, or due to drought, or flood. In these circumstances, you should do seva. Even here, seva with knowledge is much better.
Difficulties do come in life, but to overcome difficulties, one needs to be strong, and the strength comes only through spiritual knowledge.

See, a butterfly fluttering its wings in South America can affect the clouds in China. This means the whole universe is inter-connected. Everything is connected with everything. So when you do a little bit of Pooja with feelings, it does create some beautiful and positive ions in the atmosphere, and it does affect the cosmos.
How many of you have noticed, that doing the Guru Pooja makes a difference? Even chanting the Guru Pooja, makes a difference!
Someone recently wrote to me, that someone was in hospital and when Guru Pooja was chanted, they became well.
A child was crying constantly, and when Guru Pooja was chanted, the child became calm and quiet.
So there are so many healing experience that are there, and it is not surprising at all. That is how it has to happen and it happens. It is quite normal. If it does not happen, then there is an element of surprise.
So in life, there needs to be a direction, and that direction is – how we can bring the ancient wisdom to everyone? The ancient wisdom is anyways being carried along, how we can further it in our lifetime so that the eternal flow continues for eternity, is what we need to think. We need to put our energy in this direction.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You have the perfect freedom to select the Name and Form that gives you necessary encouragement. When you sit for meditation, recite chants on the Glory of God, so that the thoughts that are scattered could be collected. Then gradually your focus on the Lord will intensify. During meditation, the mind often runs after something else, it takes another road! You have to plug that outlet very quickly by recalling the Name and Form of your favourite Lord. See that the even flow of thoughts towards the Lord is not interrupted. Do not allow the mind to go beyond the twin bunds - the Name on one side and Form on the other! Thus you can easily tame your mind.

-BABA

 

Mantra is just given so that you are able to get in touch with the source  that you are already. You don't have to go around stealing energy here  and there. This is another paranoia: people think, "Oh,I want to get  energy from there." Where do you? Just relax! Relax. You are energy.   You are the source of energy.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Have You Been Complaining Lately?

It is okay for you to show your upset mood or tendency once in a while, but doing it over and over again is taxing for you and people you love.

Lovers often do this. They expend a lot of energy in cajoling and this brings down the joy and celebration of the moment.

If you feel down, appease and please yourself. Your need to be appeased by someone else is the sign of grossness. This is the root of ignorance. If you want attention, all you get is tension.

Become one whose enthusiasm never dies, come what may.

·        

"In the Vedic Calender, the year 2013 is said to be the year of Victory. Victory of the Good

The World meditates 19/03/2013  - 8pm South African Time  http://www.youtube.com/artoflivingtv#p/l/

 

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You must be humble, yet strong to resist temptation. Do not yield like cowards to the sly insinuations of the senses. Do not spend all your time in the task of collecting information and acquiring skills that will give you an income on which you can live. It must also be used to acquire the art of being content and calm, collected and courageous. Also cultivate an ardent thirst for knowing the truth of the world and of your own self. Your words must be like honey. Your hearts must be as soft as butter. Your outlook must be like the lamp, illumining, not confusing. Be like the referee on the football field, watching the game, judging the play according to the rules laid down, unaffected by success or failure of this team or that.

-BABA

 

Never feel low, but be very humble---it's different, it's very different.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

What is Wisdom?

March 16, 2013

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Delhi, India

( India Today Conclave is a signature event of India Today Group, India's leading media conglomerate. Over the last eleven years it has hosted the best minds in politics, finance, business, academia, technology, arts etc from across the world providing them a platform to explore and discuss unique ideas, strategies & solutions for the 21st Century World.
H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was invited as a speaker for India Today Conclave 2013. Below is a transcript of the same. )

Wisdom is beyond time!

The sun is ancient, but today, the rays from the sun are fresh. It is not old or stale rays. The same is with water. The river Ganga is so ancient, but today’s water is very fresh.
In the same way, I would say, Wisdom is that something which is applicable to our life, which is ancient, yet new and fresh. That which upholds life is wisdom.

See the ignorant, or fanatically religious; the so called intelligentsia is fashionably atheistic, and it is the wise ones who know how to combine the old and new and make their lives.
Like a tree, which needs the roots that are old, and the shoots, that are new, life needs to be adaptable, and this exactly is ancient wisdom.
The very first hymn in the Rig Veda is, ‘Agnih puurvebhir rishibhir idyo nuutanair uta’. The old and the new, they exists together, and that is wisdom.
Just like technology and trade, tradition needs to be revived and reviewed again. This is essential. And the vibrancy of India, is that we were able to do this. From ancient times, certain aspects of tradition were kept intact, yet it became very much adaptable as time flew towards the modern day requirements, and life’s challenges that one has to meet.

What really is wisdom? Why should we be wise?
Nobody wants to be in suffering. Nobody wants to be upset. That something which takes us away from suffering, which gives us a vision, which makes life vibrant, and which connects the individual you to the universal you that exists in the universe, is wisdom.
Wisdom brings immense satisfaction that small gratification does not bring. And it is available to everybody. It has nothing to do with education, I tell you. You will find wise people even amongst the illiterates in the villages. Perhaps even more. They know how to manage their homes, they know how to keep harmony in their neighborhood, they know how to bring people together, and how to bring celebration in life. Wisdom is that which brings celebration in life, which brings a smile on your face. That which keeps you healthy, and gives you the intuitive ability to see what is ahead of you in life.

I would like to add one more thing, as we were talking about thought.
I find that thought is only the gate keeper of the house. Emotion is a little more powerful than thought. You may think, ‘I am happy’, or you may put all your attention towards that thought, but when emotions come, that is it, they just barge in with such force, that all the thought process that you kept with yourself, just disappears.
You know, you will find your emotions are much more powerful than thought. Situations overpower you; though you try to say, ‘I want to be happy’, or, ‘I am happy’, suddenly a bolt of emotions comes, or energy comes and then all these thoughts disappear.
So we need to work on several layers of our life. The first is the environment, then the body, the breath – breath is the link between the mind and the body. Then the mind; thoughts. Then emotions, which are subtler and more powerful that the mind. And then beyond that, the energy field, which is the positivity, the radiance, the soul or spirit that you are, that comes into play.

And all these techniques of meditation, contemplative prayer as in the Christian tradition, or Buddhist Zen meditation, all this is to transcend the thought and reach to that level from where everything runs. And that is like attending to the house owner. Once the house owner is attended to then the guard will listen to what the owner says.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, March 22, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Unless you deposit an amount in the Bank, how will the Bank honour a cheque you issue? So too, ask yourself: ‘Have I deposited enough devotion to the Lord, service to my fellow-beings and faith in my spiritual practices?’ If you do, then you will most certainly draw the Grace of the Lord. Always remember and be sure that you will get as much Grace, in proportion to your perseverance to attain the Lord. The Supreme Divine has and will yield many benefits to you, that you cannot deny. I bless you that you may grow more and more in devotion to the Lord, in whatever Name and Form you choose and I wish you earn the Lord’s Grace to a very large extent.

-BABA

 

With rest - you achieve devotion. When you put in effort along with rest you get power or strength. Effort and prayer, both, go together. Either is incomplete without the other. For completion of any task both are required. Normally women only pray and men only put in effort but both should do both.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Whatever Happens, Happens.

March 17, 2013

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.You can watch the Live webcast of future satsangs)

Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, how to live life with absolute confidence that Guru or God is there to take care of me when I have surrendered?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is no way you can do it! You simply have to bear the cross. ‘Whatever happens, happens’, just say that and then see what happens.

If you're trying to bring in confidence, it doesn't work at all.
‘I want to keep my faith’, what faith do you want to keep? Throw your faith! You’re trying to keep your faith is such a burden I tell you. Instead say, ‘I don't care!’
If there is faith, it is there. If there is no faith, it is not there, what can you do? It is as simple as that. Even faith is a gift. You cannot try to force faith on your head or your heart.

Sometimes, even when your head, with all its chattering and all its negativity discards faith, still, something in you stirs and pulls you in that direction. Just recognise when this happens. And it does happen.

Someone says, ‘I don't believe in anything’, but still he sits and does his meditation. And if you ask him, ‘Why are you doing meditation?’ He says, ‘Well, something tells me to do it’.
A person says, ‘I don't believe in Guru!’ Yet, when Gurudev comes, he will say, ‘Since I have nothing to do, let me go there’, and he will be there. Something pulls the person, makes him come to the airport, or come to the satsang. What is that?
You decided that you don't have faith, and you tried hard to destroy your faith, or deny that you have any faith, and still, there is something that came along, that didn't allow you to let go. There you must recognise, ‘Yes, faith is there.’

So, faith cannot be imposed, it is there. Once it comes, it stays. If it goes, it makes you miserable. When you become miserable, know that, ‘Faith is gone, that is why I am miserable’. And you don't want to be miserable. So the moment you resolve that ‘I don’t want to be miserable’, then faith continues to stay back.
Faith was there anyway, it just re-surfaces again.

Your trying hard to keep faith, is such a difficult thing. Sometimes, people feel that they are keeping their faith, just because of God or Guru. For God’s sake, you are keeping faith. Remember that if you don't have faith in God, he doesn't mind. He says, ‘Okay, don't have faith, so what? I am here! If you think I'm not here, you are free to think whatever you want to think.’
Many people say, ‘Oh, I believe so much in God’. So what if you believe so much? Whatever has to happen, will happen. Our faith is so shallow. Our faith is for comfort, for little things to happen. Our faith, mainly, is to fulfil our own ambitions. If our ambitions are fulfilled, then we say, ‘Oh, I have faith’. If it is not fulfilled, we say, ‘My faith is shaken, I do not have faith’. I tell you, life is much more than ambitions. And faith is even more than life.

Faith remains, and it surfaces when sattva or purity or harmony happens in you. All that you can do is, keep the harmony, and keep your mind clear through proper exercise, food and knowledge. All this will help you grow in that direction.

Q: Gurudev, earlier ignorance was leading me to fear, but now, sometimes, knowledge is bringing me more confusion. What should I do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That is good! The purpose of knowledge is to confuse you again, and again, and again. It is not to bring clarity. At every level of confusion, you jump one more step higher. So, never mind.
When there is no confusion, it is like a ramp walk, where there is no jumping. But sometimes, it is like steps, where you have to leave one step, and go one step higher. And that is when confusion happens.
Now don't ask me, ‘Does that mean that if there is no confusion and I'm clear in my life, then is there no growth? Or am I not progressing? Is knowledge not working for me?’ Nothing like that! You are on a ramp walk, on a cake walk. When that is not there then you are in a Mr. Toad’s wild ride; a bumpy road, and it is good.

Q: Gurudev, what is the meaning of Dakshinamurthy?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Amurtha means that which has no form and cannot be expressed; that which cannot be seen. Lord Shiva, the formless manifestation of infinite space, cannot take a form. It is nearly impossible.
Murthy(literally meaning an idol) is that which has a form and can be seen, and Daksha means to be skilful and capable.
So when the Divinity which cannot be expressed, is expressed in a very skilful manner, then that is known as Dakshina.

See, we cannot express all the emotions that we have inside us. So many times, we express our emotions by offering a flower. Through the act offering a flower, we attempt to express our feeling, isn’t it? There is nothing we can give to entirely express what is deep within us, but we still make an effort to give something. That is known as Dakshina.

Dakshinamurthy is that which cannot be seen, yet it is being expressed. That which is beyond expression, yet is still being expressed through form. It is not visible, yet it is seen, and everything is made up of that only. When that which is infinite and cannot be expressed or manifest, is expressed so skilfully through a form, then that is called Dakshinamurthy.

The Sun is so large and so many miles away from us, but if you see the Sun using a small mirror, you will see the reflection of the sun on the small piece of glass. Though in reality, the Sun is so big, even then you are skilfully able to capture the full reflection of the Sun on a mirror and bring inside your house. This is called Dakshata (skilfulness of intelligence), and that is what it is known as Dakshinamurthy.

Lord Shiva is called the Adi Guru (The Guru present from the beginning of time, and who is beyond time.) He is everything and everywhere, yet He comes in the form of a Guru. So when the infinite comes in the form of a Guru, He is known as Dakshinamurthy.

From ancient times, the main form of the Guru Tattva (divine element or principle) is called Dakshinamurthy. See, the Guru is not a person. It is an energy that is present in the body of a Guru; that energy is called Dakshinamurthy. It is the Divine, omnipresent, infinite, guiding wisdom, which is un-manifest and yet manifests.

So Lord Shiva is called Dakshinamurthy, the Adi Guru. This is how the story goes. Lord Shiva sat silently. He is portrayed as a young boy, with elderly disciples sitting before Him seeking knowledge. As soon as they sat before Him, in silence, they all received the knowledge, and all their questions disappeared. His discourse was in silence. That means their energy got uplifted. That is the Guru principle. The original Guru, from where all knowledge and wisdom began, is called Dakshinamurthy.
So, in a very skilful way, the inexpressible divinity is expressed. That is the whole essence of Dakshinamurthy.

Q: Gurudev, what is the significance of Kali standing on top of Shiva?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Kali is symbolic of enormous transformative energy; energy of destruction. When that stood on the Shiva Tattva, it became Bhadrakali, which means, the energy which only brings benevolent results. The whole thing is symbolic; it implies the energy that brings benevolent results only.

Shiva is the transcendental state; it means one who brings only benevolence and good to the world. So when Kali, an enormous, destructive power was in rage; in that moment, Shiva came and lay down. As soon as she stepped on him, Kali’s power got controlled, channelized and became benevolent. So, even if there is destruction, it should be benevolent.

See, when you want to bring down old buildings, what do you do? You put dynamite under the building, and then the building comes down, isn't it? One destroys something, to create something new. So to destroy for a good cause, for benevolence, is very much different from destruction out of anger, jealousy, hatred and ignorance. It is like atomic energy that is produced when an atom is destroyed. However, if the energy is not channelized or utilised properly, it can be very destructive. When it is channelized, it is used to bring electricity, light, and many comforts.

It is the same with electricity, which as such is a destructive energy. Where high-power electricity is being generated, if you get come in contact with it, then you will be destroyed in no time. But, when electricity is used for a benevolent cause, through wires and transformers, it brings the energy down, and makes it available and useful for public. Similarly, Kali’s energy was the energy of destruction; when it opened up to destroy evil things, it was so powerful. So Shiva lay down to channelize it and make it benevolent, to protect the universe.

Shiva always does that which is good for the whole world, the whole universe; he even drank poison. There is a mythological story. When the Devas (good forces) and Asuras (daemonic forces) were churning the Ocean of Milk, what came out first was poison. When the poison came up, it was Shiva who took it and drank it. As he drank the poison, his throat became blue. So, he is called Neelakanta; the beautiful one with the blue throat. That is how the story goes in Hindu mythology.

Kali also means knowledge; knowledge of transformation. When Kali stood on auspiciousness, on the benevolence of Shiva, it brought goodness to the world. Thus, the same energy became so benevolent, and Kali then became such a benevolent blesser that she blessed the universe with knowledge. So, she is also called Bhadrakali, one who always does good.

Q: Dear Gurudev, if every formless is Shiva and every form is Shakti, then what is breath, which is both form and formless?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, the formless is Shiva and the form is Shakti. You can define it in any manner.

Prana (life force energy obtained from breath) is also known as Mukhyaprana.
Hanuman is connected with prana, air (Vayu Tattva) is connected with prana, Omkar is connected with prana. So everything is prana in the universe. We are in an ocean of prana, and prana is both Shiva and Shakti.
A point comes where you cannot distinguish between Shiva and Shakti. The border vanishes, it becomes invisible. Shiva and Shakti become one. That is when it is called Brahman, which means it is all one; there is no second.

Advaita means, no second, no two (even to count to one, there must be two. That is why it is said, ‘There are no two things, just one’). It is one field of energy. Nothing other than that exists. Advaita means non-dual, it is the non-dual power in the universe. This is the ultimate knowledge, i.e., non-dual, there are no two things. The whole universe is made up of one thing.

When you come one step below; it is like Quantum Physics. One more step below, and then it is like the Periodic Table in Chemistry. Do you know the Periodic Table? You have different elements, different aspects; these are all the different devas and devatas (specific divine energies).

Q: Krishna says, ‘The desire that is not opposed to Dharma, is me.’ Can you please tell us how to identify which desires are in alignment and which are opposed to Dharma?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The desires which are common, natural, and do not produce any guilt, fear or discomfort in you, or take you away from your naturalness is called Dharmic (in line with Dharma). Anything that shakes you, burns you, or makes you uncomfortable; the discomfort in that desire indicates that it is not Dharma. If it is Dharmic, it is very comfortable. If it is not Dharmic, then there is fear, guilt, or discomfort in the desire.

Q: What is real seva? How can my every action become seva?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Seva mean, doing like him. ‘Him’ means the creator. He does everything for you and he doesn't expect anything from you. So to do whatever you can, not expecting anything in return; is called seva.
There is definitely a payoff. There is certainly a return from that, but when you're expecting the result, it doesn't become seva. Without expecting anything, wanting anything, just do for doing sake is called seva.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Monday, March 25, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There is no use arguing and quarrelling amongst you. Examine, experience and then you will know the truth. Be silent when you are still undecided or engaged in evaluating. Do not proclaim before you are convinced. Of course, you must discard all evil in you before you can attempt to evaluate the mystery. When faith dawns, it is very important to fence it with discipline and self-control. Just as the tender sapling is guarded with a fence to protect against the goats and cattle; you too should stay away from the motley crowd of cynics and unbelievers. When your faith grows into a big tree, those very cattle which wanted to eat the young plant now lay and rest in the shade of the tree which has spread with lots of branches and leaves.

-BABA

 

Faith is a wealth. If you think, by having faith in God you are doing a favour to God, you are mistaken. Faith gives you strength instantaneously. Faith brings you stability, centeredness, calmness and love. You’re having faith in the Guru or God does not do anything to Guru or God. Your Having Faith Gives You Immediate Strength. Faith is a great wealth; it is a blessing.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Keep Up Your Enthusiasm!

March 18, 2013

New Delhi, India

(On 2nd February 2013, Volunteer for a Better India, an initiative of the Art of Living, held a National Youth Summit in New Delhi, India.

The Premise for the Summit is sensitization of the young leaders under the overarching spirit of human values to address issues relating to HIV and AIDS,the Declining Child Sex-Ratio,Sexual-Reproductive Health and Rights, Drugs & Alcohol, Corruption, Millennium Development Goals, Safety for Girls and Entrepreneurial Opportunities.

Below is a transcript of H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's speech at the event.)

 

(Sri Sri begins to speak to thundering applause)

Wow! You are all pretty wired up. This is very rare to see, especially in a conference. After 2-3 hours of a workshops, usually people are half asleep, or are looking here and there. And here I see such vibrancy. This is unique!

I’m amidst a very illustrious panel here; people on the dais, and of course the audience. What we need to do, is discuss how we can have a better India, and the action we need to take for it. Together, all of us can make a change. Mainly because we have started the change first within ourselves, that we want to see in the world. We are finding the peace, the strength and commitment first within ourselves. And so we are sure to bring it to the society around us. Now, what we need to think is, how we can multiply this? How we can reach out to all other youth? This is the challenge that we need to look into.

All these burning issues that have taken and discussed (AIDs, female feticide, drugs and alcohol menace, corruption, female safety, rural development, etc.) need to be addressed as a whole.

Many people will say, ‘Chalta hain (let it be), anyways what can you do?’

There will be an effort to put down your enthusiasm. When you go with an idea, a dream, there will be many who want to pour cold water over your enthusiasm. How many of you have experienced this? The challenge is to face this and keep up your enthusiasm. And if you keep your enthusiasm, it slowly percolates to others. People catch onto it.

We are covering issues across rural and urban areas.

Do you know how the food we eat has so much poison in it? We need to, and we can improve our food production.

There is a saying, ‘Jaisa Ann Waisa Mann’ (You are what you eat). All changes have to start with yourself. There are so many toxic elements in food which affects our brains, our studies and our moods. It affects our life and behavior.

Same with alcohol. People who are drunk can commit any crime as they are not in their senses. Nobody is talking about this, but we are talking of punishing people who commit crimes.

I am just returning from a visit to Tihar jail. We started a skills development center there. The people there are like you and me. Somehow in the spur of the moment, they lost their senses in a fit of anger. They lost sense of what is right and what is not, and they committed a crime. Some of them were under the influence of intoxicants and did such heinous crimes, which they now regret. Now, after they have experienced meditation, they have a different outlook towards life. They are completely transformed. Their enthusiasm was amazing. They were wearing Volunteer for Better India t-shirts, and they wanted to volunteer and do social service. They want to combat menaces like violence against women and children, and other types of crime.

We can put an end to these issues, only if awareness is kindled, because inside every human being there is a beautiful soul, a beautiful being; there is a beautiful mind. This mind just needs a little washing. Not brain-washing, but mind washing.

We can build a better, safer and a beautiful society. We can build a vibrant and productive society. There are many people are un-productive.

I am so happy that all of you are working in small groups and are conducting workshops. These workshops will have to translate into action. Think about it.

I will end with a small story.

A villager complained that he was having a head-ache, and so he asked his friend, ‘What should I do?’

His friend told him, ‘Just drink some alcohol.’

He was surprised. He said, ‘If I drink alcohol, my headache will go?’

He friend said, ‘Why will it not go? My land went, my job went, and my wife’s jewelry has also gone. Everything has gone with alcohol, a headache is no big deal!’

So, in life, no matter what we lose, we should never lose our enthusiasm.

Don’t lose your enthusiasm, and all the best to all of you.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The Kauravas had all the instruments for victory – wealth, tonnes of arms, allies and fanatic hatred for their enemies. However they were destroyed, for they never paid heed to the nobler values of Righteousness. They did not equip themselves with the Grace of God, which is reserved in abundance for those who walk the path of humility and peace. Nor did they accept the Divine as their charioteer – they put their faith in lesser things! What is truly required for victory is not mere collection of resources but faith and steadiness. The gale helps to toughen the trunk of the tree. So too calamities must deepen your courage, enlarge your faith and intensify your spiritual practices. In fair weather, a care-free attitude is pardonable. But in inclement weather, every precaution is of great value.

-BABA

 

The cycle of desires and sleep, we keep on oscillating between rajogun and tamogun. This is bondage. Satogun dawns with genuine relaxation and knowledge. The summary of the whole Ashtavakra Geeta is to be able to joyfully relax while being awake – satvik relaxation. That relaxation is true relaxation. In that relaxation all the attachments and bondages lose their grip. So, consider your life as sadhana.

Time follows some rule. It has its own rhythm. Sometimes, something desirable happens and at some other times, something undesirable. Time continues to teach us that opposite values are complementary.

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

 

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Everything happens because of vibrations

March 19, 2013

(Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.)

Split, Croatia

We exchange so many pleasantries with people saying hello, hi, how are you, welcome; it is so superficial. It is not really coming from your heart. It’s similar to the airhostess who greets you when you get off a plane, by saying, ‘Have a nice day’. She doesn’t really mean it. So many times we say welcome, goodbye, have a good night and all this, but it does not carry some feeling behind it. However, when the same words come to you from someone very close, very dear to you, it carries some vibrations, some feeling behind it. When your grandmother tells you, ‘Have a nice day’, it is not like the airhostess’ ‘Nice day’. It has some feelings, some vibrations, isn't it?

If we live our lives on the superficial level, life becomes so dry and uninteresting. However, when we connect with each other from our heart, there is some genuineness. And that genuineness makes life more beautiful, more authentic. Well, I understand you may not be able to do it all the time, but at least some time in everyday life? When we look into this aspect that is so central to our human existence, there is a big change in ourselves, and our surroundings.

Everything happens because of vibrations. We all emit waves. If our vibrations are positive, then people around us are happy. If we are happy, then everything happens in accordance to our want. If our vibrations are negative, nobody wants to deal with us, and we are not happy with ourselves.

There is a way by which we can make our vibrations positive. This is through breathing (techniques), meditation, knowledge, and understanding the layers of our existence - body, breath, mind, intellect. With a little bit of understanding and relaxing deep into ourselves; our negative vibrations turn around, and become very positive.

When you are satisfied, your heart is pure and clear, there are no bad feelings for anybody; then you gain the power to heal and bless others. It is possible. Everyone can heal others, provided they can change their vibrations within themselves into totally positive energy.

When we find peace within ourselves, we radiate peace. What we think we know, is only a small portion of reality. There are so many secrets; there are so many levels of reality. If you take a little more time, we can go deep into knowledge. And when there is knowledge, nothing can take away your happiness.

Yesterday in Zagreb, I launched a program called ‘Volunteer for a Better Croatia’. There were about 2,500 people. I told every one of them to give one hour every day, or seven hours in a week, to make the society a better place. Don't you think we should do the same here? These are a few areas in which all of us could make some contributions-

First, we want a stress free and violence free society. We need to teach people how to be friendly, cooperative, and help them get rid of violent tendencies.

Second, we need to help people with different types of addictions. Regular practice of Sudarshan Kriya, breathing exercises, and meditation will help people come out of addictions.

Third, we need a society that is free from corruption. It is when the sense of belonging ends that corruption begins.

In addition, we need to reach out to people who are in real need of help. So, if all of you can form teams of 10-20-30 people in different localities, and spend seven hours a week together, smiling and serving the society, then we can create waves of happiness.

One more thing, before you ask questions. Leave all your worries to me! I want you to worry about the country, about Croatia, about the world. All your individual, personal worries and concerns, you give them to me.

Q: Gurudev, the world is spending billions of dollars to create peace, by creating structures and systems. However, they cannot reach the heart, and they don't know the mind of human beings. To answer your call for peace in the world; my vision and idea is to bring this knowledge of the mind and the heart to reach everyone in the world. So we can go along with you to the United Nations, to all the areas where people are suffering from violence.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Good, good, good. On 3 February, in New Delhi, India, I launched a ‘Volunteer for a Better India’ program, along with 10 different UN agencies. It was a very successful launch, and we will continue working with UNICEF and many other UN agencies to create such an atmosphere.

I would like many of you here, in Split, to become teachers of the Art of Living, and spread the message in Croatia.

I would also like to invite you to come to India. When you come to India, you can go sight-seeing, do meditations, and get deeper experiences. In addition, you can also experience Ayurevda.

Do you know we have the best Ayurvedic hospital in the world, in Bangalore, which can heal things like Vericose Veins, that otherwise has no remedy in Allopathy? Also, the dental work is very good. The doctors can remove your teeth, without pain, without a drop of blood and anaesthesia; at one fifth or one tenth of regular costs. Ayurvedic treatment is very effective and low-cost. There are many things that you can learn from the ancient medical sciences.

Before you go, give me all your worries, and go with a big smile.

Q: I want to thank you for being here and the precious things that you have said. When you said ‘serving society’ did you mean a particular person, or serving like volunteering for Red Cross or something similar?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes. Whatever and wherever it is needed, and in whatever manner it is needed.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

While studying other things, you should learn the secret of shanti (peace) also. This opportunity should not be missed, for that is the wisdom which will save you. For without Peace, life is a nightmare. The present system of education aims at making you breadwinners and citizens, but it does not give you the secret of a happy life; namely discrimination between the unreal and the real, which is the genuine training you need. The cultivation of viveka (discrimination) is the chief aim of education; the promotion of virtuous habits and the strengthening of Dharma (righteousness) - these are to be attended to; not the acquisition of polish or gentlemanliness, or collection of general information and the practice of common skills.

-BABA

In the realm of mind, like attracts like. If the soul is peaceful, then it attracts peaceful environment and people around it.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Please Forgive Me

 

 

A devotee asked Sri Sri: Please forgive me if I have committed a mistake.

Sri Sri: Why should you be forgiven? You are asking for forgiveness because you feel a pinch and you want to be free from it, isn't it? Let the pinch be there.

The pinch will not let the mistake happen again. Forgiveness removes the pinch and you keep repeating the mistake!

  Do Not Reel In Guilt

 

Q: How do you know a mistake is a mistake?

Sri Sri: A mistake is something that gives you a pinch. If it hasn't pinched you, it is not a mistake at all. It is the pinch that irks the consciousness and that pinch disallows the mistake to be repeated. Be with the pinch and not the guilt. It is a very fine balance.

Q: How do we get over the guilt?

Sri Sri: Through wisdom, by knowing the nature of mind, nature of consciousness, and from a broader perspective of the phenomenon, you can get over the guilt.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, March 28, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When plans are laid by the rulers for the uplift of the people and for training the children of the land, I want that the ancient wisdom of Bharath, still preserved and practised by scholars, be consulted. That will keep the keel of the ship straight. I want that the knowledge embodied in the Upanishads should be handed down to everyone. Bhakthi or devotion-directed education must take precedence over the Bhukthi or enjoyment-directed learning that prevails today in most countries of the world. Bhakthi is the yearning which goads you onto the spiritual discipline which will endow you with the Supreme Wisdom. Have both - faith and steadiness - in this pursuit, and you will win.

-BABA

 

Bhakti (devotion, surrender) itself is not a practice, it is the result, it is the fruit of the practice.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

 

Like Holi, life should be colourful, not boring.

 

 

When each colour is seen clearly, it is colourful. When all the colours get mixed, you end up with black. So also in life, we play different roles. Each role and emotion needs to be clearly defined. Emotional confusion creates problems.

 

When you are a father, you have to play the part of a father. You can't be a father at office. When you mix the roles in your life, you start making mistakes. Whatever role you play in life, give yourself fully to it.

 

Harmony in diversity makes life vibrant , joyful and more colourful.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Tuesday, April 02, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Learn when you are young how to succeed in the turmoil of life, how to live without causing pain to others and suffering pain yourself. Everyone should cooperate and work with love and devotion. Tolerate all kinds of persons and opinions, all attitudes and peculiarities. Difference of opinion amongst people must be perceived and resolved like the two eyes, each giving a different picture of the same object; both of which when co-ordinated, gives a complete rounded picture. Examine everything you hear, and believe only what appeals to you as correct.

-BABA

 

We have this ability, but we have forgotten to listen from our heart. That is why we are tense and worried and dull and dry---we feel dry in life. The joy comes when we can listen from our heart. 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Make a New Friend Everyday

March 25, 2013

San Diego, California, USA

(Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the launch of a special initiative, 'Nonviolence: No Higher Calling' in San Diego, California, on March 25, 2013.)

We need to live in the space of friendliness.
Just walk into a classroom and ask the kids, ‘How many friends do you have?’
We have to educate our children to be friendly. This is the way to end aggression. Give them a commitment to make one new friend every day, and you will see how their whole attitude changes.

Non-violence needs not be cultivated. It is natural, but today we need to cultivate it because we have moved far away from the tendencies of natural living. Children think they have to be aggressive to be a hero. This concept needs to be changed.
We need to bring back dignity and pride in non-violence. I would say, when we connect with different communities that will create a sense to belongingness. Fear, anxiety and insecurity will drop away from society. Love and compassion will take the front seat. And time has come for that love and compassion, which is the real nature of all of all human beings, to shine forth. We need to move away from the beast nature that has taken over our society.

There is not a single human being devoid of compassion. It is simply hidden. It needs to be brought out.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Wednesday, April 03, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

People suffer because they have all kinds of unreasonable desires and they pine to fulfil them and fail miserably. They attach too much value to the objective world. It is only when attachment increases that you suffer pain and grief. If you look upon the world and all its created objects with the insight derived from the inner vision, the attachment will fade away; you will see everything much clearer, with the Divine glory suffused in its Splendour. Close your external eyes and open your inner eyes – see what a beautiful grand vision emerges from within you, as you go through your daily life. Attachment to the world has limits, but the attachment to the Lord that you develop when your inner eye opens has no limit. Enjoy that Reality, not this false picture from your external eyes.

-BABA

 

Without dispassion, your meditation is no good---it's useless. Do you see what I'm saying? It cannot provide you the rest that you're longing for.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

We convey more through our vibrations.

Someone can stand and give you a talk about love for two hours, but that does not convey what a baby or dog conveys to you through vibrations.

You go into a place where people are depressed, you will see that for no reason you are also depressed.

Similarly, you go to a place where people are happy and you feel the joy coming up within you.

The whole world is just vibrations; waves and waves.

Our mind is vibrations, our body is all vibrations, thoughts are vibrations and our emotions are all vibrations.

But we don't do anything to improve our vibrations, the positivity in us, isn't it?!

That SOMETHING, doing which, your vibrations become very joyful, positive and peaceful, is MEDITATION.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Thursday, April 04, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is not easy to know your own Self. Take the case of the food that you eat. You feel its presence as long as it is in your stomach, but do not know what happens in the stages after that, unless you study in depth about your human body. How then can you know, without effort, the Truth that lies behind the sheaths that encase and enclose you. You must clear the intellect of the cobwebs of the ego, the dust of desire, and the soot of greed and envy, then it becomes a fit instrument for revealing the Inner Truth. The Scriptures exhort you to know your Self, know your Inner Motivator (the Antharyami)! For, unless you are armed with that knowledge, you are like a ship sailing without a compass in a stormy sea!

-BABA

 

When you are established in your Self, you are not holding on to concepts. You
are loose, free, easy, and open---just like a child.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Blessings for a GOoD day

 

What SRI SRI said

Making Life A Rich Experience

March 26, 2013

Germany

Our life becomes richer when there is some dance, music, philosophy, science, service and silence. These six things can make our life richer. If you miss on any one of them, then life is not complete. Today, we will have an encounter with inner silence.

Inner silence is the mother of all creativity, the source of intuition, and the storehouse of energy, and we all have it! The only thing is, we have locked it, and forgotten the key. It is similar to how you forget your computer password sometimes? In the same way, we all have this enormous wealth of silence in our heart, but somehow we have forgotten how to tap into it. This needs to be understood.

So today, we have had some dance, some beautiful music; now, we should discuss some philosophy.

To discuss something very close to our heart, very dear to our life, we need to be in a cordial and informal atmosphere. Do you all feel at home now, here? Let us take 30 seconds to greet the people sitting around us.

Now, did you really greet the person next to you? Or did you just do it as a formality?
Often, these pleasantries that we exchange in life are all from a very superficial level.
For instance, you go to a hospital to visit someone who is sick, and you ask them, ‘How are you?’ They say, ‘I am alright’.
When someone brings you a glass of water, you say, ‘Thank you so much’. But that is not really meant! I am not saying you should not say, ‘Thank you’, when you get a glass of water, but I want you to notice that these words do not carry the depth. They are almost like the air-hostess wishing you, ‘Have a nice day’.
However, when the same words come from someone very dear to you, it carries some vibrations, and these vibrations convey more than the words.

We have positive vibrations; but if we are stressed and upset, we emit negative vibrations.
Have you noticed that for no reason, you feel like avoiding some people? And sometimes, for no apparent reason, you feel very good with somebody else. This is because of the vibrations.

Neither at school nor at home, did anyone teach us how to make our vibrations positive.
If you are feeling negative, you live with those negative vibrations within you. If you are depressed, angry or upset, you carry these emotions with you. This is because nobody told us how to handle this mind, or change our vibration to something very positive and vibrant. This is where The Art of Living is essential. It teaches us how to change the negativity into positivity. This is possible through few exercises, using our breath, mind, alertness, intellect.

Okay, what topic would you like me to speak on now?

(Audience: Service; Peace; Love; Making correct decisions; Increasing Intuition; Guilt; Attachment; Relaxation; Time; Forgiveness; Fear; Karma; Desires; Unity; Confidence; Happiness; The Master; Education; Nature; Honesty; Death; Meditation; Wisdom.)

Tell me, if you really want to know about all these topics, if you go to a library or log on to Google, you will get all the information about these topics.

What if I know nothing about any of these topics? Does it really matter on what topic we speak?

Do you know, there are four levels of communication?
First, there is head-to-head communication. Second is the communication that is from the head-to-heart. Third is the communication that is from heart-to-heart, and fourth is soul-to-soul communication.

Have you noticed, sometimes, two people are saying the same thing, but when they speak, it appears as though they are arguing. This happens because the element of feeling from the heart, or trust, is not there.

We convey more through our presence, than words. I can sit and talk about love for an hour, but just one look would convey more than that one hour of talk. Isn’t that so?
You just look into the eyes of children, and they convey love. A puppy, a dog in your home, goes round and round, and conveys all its love. It doesn’t have to say, ‘Oh, I love you so much.’ Nor does a child have to say, ’Oh mummy, I love you so much.’ In fact, verbalizing love, reduces love.

I heard about someone who gave a lecture for three hours on How to be Happy. At the end of the lecture, everyone was so unhappy, because he spoke too much. He was supposed to speak for an hour, but he spoke for three hours!
The point is - there is something deep within all of us. When we are in touch with this aspect within us, then we are authentic, happy, and joyful. There is a sense of fulfillment within us. Meditation is attending to that deep aspect within us.

See, life is very short; 70-80 years of life goes so fast, isn’t it? Half of the time we spend in sleeping, and the rest of time, we spend in bathrooms, restaurants, traffic jams, complaining, or worrying; and life gets over! That is why I said, we must not forget these six things. Spend time in intellectually stimulating philosophy, some music, a little bit of dance, science, and service.

So have I answered all your questions? Any topics left?

(Audience: Death)

Death is inevitable. Death means the mind separating itself from the body, and the link between the body and the mind, i.e., the breath stops.
However, by the law of thermodynamics, you know that matter and energy can never be destroyed. The mind is energy, it does not get destroyed. So, even if you are separated from the body, you are still there. You can know more about this as you go deeper into meditation. Then you understand that you have no death at all. You are simply moving from one body to another. And your fear of death goes away; it disappears.

(Audience: Attachment)

Why do you want to get rid of attachment? Because it gives you pain, right? Why don’t you make your attachment bigger?
It is natural for you to get attached to your children, parents, spouse, friends; nothing wrong with it. However, you should not become possessive. When your attachment becomes possessiveness, then you are troubling the person that you are attached to, and you can bring trouble to yourself as well. So, broaden your attachments. Just as you are attached to your children, you should be attached to other children also. If it is not to the same degree, then it could be at least 50% or more.

(Audience: Service)

Service is essential. All of us should do a little bit of service in life. Whatever we can do to help others, to bring joy and a smile to others, we must do.
Service brings you immense satisfaction. When you are serving, your attachment will not cause you misery. As a parent, you are there to serve your children; as children, you are there to serve your parents; as a spouse, you are there to support each other. When you go with this feeling, with this attitude, then life takes a different dimension.

(Audience: Meditation)

Meditation makes your body strong. It boosts your immune system, gives you more energy. It makes your mind very focused, and helps the intellect become very sharp. It makes your feelings so much nicer, you feel so good from inside; and your vibrations become very positive. These are some of the benefits. There are many more. And, good luck also comes with meditation.

Q: Sri Sri, please tell us about forgiveness. How do we forgive?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Don’t forgive, hold on to it! Who is at a loss?
An event that happened, it happened! Whether it was your mistake or somebody else’s mistake, it is over. However, if you are holding on to it, then you are suffering.

Imagine you are in that position, where a mistake happens through you. If someone else doesn’t forgive you, doesn’t understand you, and holds you responsible for all your life, how would you feel? You would feel very bad, isn’t it?
You forgive a person not for their sake, but for your own mind, so that you can save your mind. See, in life, some pleasant things happen, some unpleasant things happen. Some things we wish for them to happen, some things we don’t want in life to happen. Whatever happened, it happened; finished! You put it back, and move forward - that is very important. Do it only to save your own mind.

In fact, if you see from a wider angle, you will find that every culprit is a victim of ignorance in a situation. When you see things from this perspective, you will automatically feel compassion. We have seen this with those incarcerated, when we teach in prisons. These people who are being condemned in prisons, they are good people, but due to ignorance, due to lack of awareness, they made a mistake.

To make your life richer, I would suggest you spend five days in these different places:

1) In school with children.
2) In school, as a teacher. When you are teaching children, you understand what it is to teach. The role of a teacher makes you very rich.
3) In a mental hospital. When you are with crazy people, you realize it is the same thing as being in the outside world also. People just say anything they want. Once you have this experience, then nobody can upset you.
4) In a prison. When you are with those incarcerated, you will understand the pain and suffering of a victim.
5) On a farm. When you are with the farmers, digging soil, sowing seeds, working with mud, just being there enriches you in some unknown manner.

And one day, you should spend just by yourself, with nature.

Q: Gurudev, I feel I am stuck. I am unable to spread The Art of Living knowledge. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You don’t need to do that what you cannot do. Nobody expects you to do anything which you cannot do. But whatever you can do, you must do. This is because when we do service, it does good to other people, and that brings us immense satisfaction too.

Okay, before you leave, I want you to give me all your worries. I want you to go home with a big smile. And whenever you feel you are down, upset, not feeling happy or good, remember you are not alone! I am with you! And the whole Art of Living family is with you.
My dream is to see everyone with a big smile, and the whole world as one family. And I would like you all to join me in this dream to make a violence-free, stress-free, and happy society.

[Pat Gounden]

Date: Friday, April 05, 2013

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The Lord is the Immanent Power in everything; those who refuse to believe that the image in the mirror (the world) is a reflection of themselves, how can they believe in the Lord, when He is reflected in every object around them? The moon is reflected in a pot, provided it has water. So too, the Lord can be clearly seen in your heart, provided, you have the water of Love inside it. When the Lord is not reflected in your heart, you cannot say that there is no Lord. It only means that there is no Love within you.

-BABA

Within this small body, you are able to experience the infinite space.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Blessings for a GOoD day

What SRI SRI said

The Mind - Friend or Enemy?

Do you know, if there is anything in this world that troubles you, the topmost on the list is your own mind!

I am saying topmost because you do not see this. You feel that someone else is bothering you. You think your mother in law is troubling you, or your daughter-in-law is troubling you, or your wife or husband is troubling you. Keep all that as second on the list.

It is your own mind which is troubling you; there is no other enemy out there. Once you realize this, you will understand that it is not the other, but all the botherations are of the mind.

In life, events do happen. Either you move through them with a smile, or you grumble, be tense and complain all the time. This is the choice or freewill that you have.