What SRI SRI said
Pat Gounden
Official transcript
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Satsang yesterday (17th January 2018) at the Art of Living International Center, Bangalore:
Q. Gurudev, today is my birthday and I would like to know ‘how should one celebrate his / her birthday?’ Or if we are made up of that consciousness or energy, which is not born and does not die, should we even celebrate our birthday? Please guide.
Sri Sri: Birthday is called ‘jayanti’ in Sanskrit. When a wave realizes that I am born out of the ocean and I will become one with the ocean, then it gets the strength of the ocean. I am a wave, but I was the ocean, I am in the ocean and will become one with the ocean.
Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita that all forms were unmanifested in the beginning, then they manifest. In the end, they will become one with the unmanifested again.
And when we experience that we are part of that unmanifested only, then we will get liberation, that is called ‘jeevan-mukti’. When our individual identity goes away when we realize that we are that space, that consciousness, ‘satchidananda’, then that is ‘jeevan-mukti’.
So, one every birthday remind yourself that ‘I think I am a wave, but I am not the wave, I am the ocean!’
Q. Gurudev, is it important to be in the physical presence of the Guru (Master)?
Sri Sri: Why did you ask this? Because you felt the need for it. When you feel the need for it, you will get it. Guru comes for others in this world. When ‘samipya’ (physical presence of Master) is needed, you will get it. And next step is ‘sanidhya’, wherever you are, you can feel saanidhya (presence of Master).
If you are in the physical presence of a Master, but your mind is somewhere else then it is of no use. But even if you are thousands of miles away, and your mind is here, then you are absolutely connected (to the Master).
Q. Gurudev, what is the main purpose of human life?
Sri Sri: This thought itself, ‘whether there is any purpose of life and what is it?’, is the first purpose. If this thought does not arise at all then that life is wasted. Now that this question has arisen, ‘what is the purpose of life?’, that itself gives you half the answer. And when you come to the Guru (Master), assume that you got the remaining answer as well.
What else is the purpose of life: to find joy, to attain self-realization and to spread that joy with everyone around.
It is your job to bring heaven down on earth. Some people are ready to fight, kill, to go to heaven. Terrorists think that if they kill people, then they will go to heaven.
We are working to bring heaven on earth. That is the purpose.
Q. Gurudev, if a wicked person does not leave his wickedness despite our many efforts and also after giving enough time to change, then what should we do in such a situation? Please guide.
Sri Sri: See, just remember these four things:
(1) Some things do not change and some people don't change. You have to accept it.
(2) Keep hope that lot of things change.
(3) God has sent everyone with a role to play and everyone is playing their part. Have this faith.
(4) And know that there is someone who is taking care of you.
In this manner you should let your mind relax, be at rest, then everything will work properly and there will be no place for stress or tension at all.
