Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Q & A's with Guruji

Q: How to deal with arguments?

Sri Sri: By using praise and humor. You can meet accusations skillfully with praise and humor.

Q: What do you say to someone who is suicidal?

Sri
Sri: Committing suicide is like a person who is cold, and tries to
remedy the situation by taking off his coat. Committing suicide will
make you even more miserable... Get them to do Kriya.

Q: How do you stop from getting anxious in social circles?

Sri Sri: 1. Think of everyone as fools
2. Think of yourself as a fool. or
3. Think of yourself as a student

Q: About being important

Sri Sri: The unimportant people make the important people important. So who is more powerful? The king or the king maker?

Scientists
recently discovered that children smile about 400 times a day.
Adolescents only about 15. Adults smile even less than that. Laughter
and smiling has great beneficial effects on your health. My job is to
make you all children again.

Q: Dearest One, I have never been impressed with anyone but You. Are you anyone's fan?

Sri Sri: Your fan ! I am the fan of fans !

Q. Dear Guruji, I love you very much but often I come in a complaining mood.. Please advise.

Sri Sri: You are much more than your mind. It's the usual thing of the mind.. You have understood the mind. Never mind!

Q: What is the fastest way to impress you? I want to become your favourite!

Sri Sri: You can't do anything because you are already my favourite. Fastest way I will tell you that after 25 years!

Q: Dear Guruji, what can we do to turn the negative tendencies in the mind?

Sri Sri: We started a college to educate. Media always wants something negative, to blow it out of proportion.

Q: Dear Guruji, please talk on parenting.

Sri
Sri: You know, your evolution is very fast when you are parent. You are
so keen, your observation, you are immersed. Like the security guard of
a VIP, is all the time on one's toes. You are only worried about
external things. When you are calm, serene, chlidren also catch that.
Sometimes children also talk like 50 year olds - 10 year old children
are like parrots. It's better you don't fight with each other in front
of children. Don't do things which are not nice. Give them the seed of
spirituality. Develop a sense of giving.

Q: Dear Guruji can you please speak about Jesus & his time in India? Did he die at the cross at all?

Sri
Sri: I don't want to get into controversies. Doesn't matter what
happened 2,000 years ago. What he ate, what he wore. On Discovery
Channel they showed that in Philippines they crucify themselves to
please God. They put nails on their palms & for few minutes they
stay. They take a vow to God that I want to crucify myself. A lot of
people stand & watch. It doesn't make much sense. Where he lived?
What he said- that is important.

Be like a child. Unless you
are a child you can't enter the Kingdom of my Father. In Philippines,
they beat themselves with thorns. All their bodies are bleeding. To
please God you are torturing yourself like that! There is lack of
understanding. In Sri Lanka, Hindus pierce their tongues with nails.
In
the Jain tradition, Mahavira was so blissful. It is said that in his
whole life he ate only 360 days. He walked naked because he didn't have
body consciousness.

While those who crucify themselves & do such practices don't look so blissful. It's imitation.

Q: Dear Guruji, when we take responsibility. how can we tackle obstacles ?

Sri Sri: The test of your peace is only when there are obstacles. Be thankful for obstacles.

Q: How much time do you get for Saadhana? You are constantly working for us..

Sri Sri: The whole time !

Q: Please clarify the difference between dispassion & lack of enthusiasm. My husband does not share my enthusiasm.

Sri
Sri: Many times people don't know how to respond to enthusiasm. You
almost feel like the dog who runs & overtakes the car & after
overtaking the car, it has nothing to do. It has a foolish look on his
face. Now what ? Many people don't know how to handle their enthusiasm.
It's the same when someone praises you, loves you, you don't know how
to respond.

Q: How important is it not to
eat meat & fish? When I am invited for dinner at someone else's
place I am afraid to be impolite.

Sri Sri:
There is Mad Cow Disease & Bird Flu. The whole world is turning to
Vegetarianism. Everyone is so scared about these. Health conscious
people today all over the world are Veg. Don't feel embarassment. Just
say I have changed my diet. It's up to you. Unless you have temptation
! ( Laughter )

Q: Being in AOL, is like walking around in a garden full of flowers.

Sri Sri: My Garden ? It's your garden !

Q: Would you please comment regarding Ali -the successor to Prophet Muhammed.

Sri
Sri: One who is closest to the Prophet, imbibes most of the Prophet's
qualities. Because his faith is so strong, he sees the transformation,
he sees the words of the Prophet, his life, his wisdom is all blended
into one. A Prophet brings celebration to the world. Every excuse to
celebrate is good. In celebration, you are not just making a party, you
remind yourself of the wisdom.

Graduation party, birthday party
- there is no sacredness attached to it. If sacredness is attached to a
celebration event, that celebration is total, complete. It's not just
body & mind, but the spirit also celebrates.

Sometimes you go to a party only out of
obligation. The mind is elsewhere. Most of the people do such
celebration. The second type is better celebration. It is involving
you, concerning you, like your own daughter's marriage, your own
birthday celebration where you are personally involved. In this case,
body & mind are in celebration but the spirit is not in celebration
.. In the first type you are going just because you are obliged to go
there. The party is not really touching your mind. Only your physical
presence is needed.

When something is Divine in celebration,
then body, mind & spirit are all in celebration. Some festivals
have total celebration.

The celebration that comes out of
silence is real celebration. Because of social obligation, you go to
parties. Because someone has asked. Your body, though present in the
party, your mind is elsewhere. When you are hosting a party, both mind
& body are involved. When it is sacred, the spirit is also
celebrating. The celebration comes out of silence. Dynamic activity
comes out of deep rest.

Q: Beloved Guruji, this course is so wonderful. How can I keep this wonderful state at home?

Sri
Sri: Don't try to hold on to the state of mind. Integrate wisdom in day
to day life. Sometimes up & sometimes down. They'll come &
they'll go.

Q: Don't you get tired of wearing white all the time?

Sri Sri: No. Because I am colourful myself! Isn't it?

Q: Dear Guruji, What to tell people at home who are very suspicious of what I am doing here?

Sri
Sri: When you go back give them gifts, show them all the nice pictures,
give them a big smile.The depth of silence, the depth of meditation no
one can know unless one has experienced himself. What beautiful wealth
we all possess in our Self, that we have not explored. Every human
being can go into that depth of meditation. That little experience,
little skill to do that is missing. We are so fortunate to go into such
stillness within ourselves.

Q: How do I free myself of old & boring patterns in life?

Sri
Sri: The more whiter the cloth is, a small dot stands out. As you move
into unconditional love, small imperfections in you become unbearable.
The small moods of the mind can't touch the Self.

Q: How many people are there in the world right now?

Sri
Sri: Tell me how many hairs you have on your head! There is no count.
There may be few teachers. Knowledge is hidden in evryone like rice is
hidden in paddy. Every child comes into the world with that
innocence.We have to remove these outer veils, curtains that have been
put on our mind.

Q: Missed the question.

Sri
Sri: When a baby tastes sweet, it wants to taste sweet all the time. It
wants it again. You don't need to do anything too much. Only as much as
is necessary.

Q: I want to go deep in Meditation. What can I do?

Sri Sri: This is an old question. You have already gone deeper.

Q: Today my Seva was garbage cleaning & all I found was Paradise! When are you going to give me a proper job?

Sri Sri:
REVERENCE
Reverence
is what takes you toward non- violence. In Sanskrit, Reverence has a
beautiful word, "Pooja" - that which is born out of fullness. 'Poo'
means fullness & 'Ja" means born. Reverence to all things in
creation means you are in revernce to the Creator. If you appreciate
the art, you are appreciating the artist. If you are filled with
reverence for everything, life is so full. If you don't have reverence
for yourself, you can't have reverence for anything else. Before you
start 'Pooja' you have to honour the one who is doing it. This is the
ancient method of reverence to the Self.

Ancient seers gave one method, first ask
youself who I am & come out of all the identifications- I am this, I
am this. If you think you are intelligent, foolish, rich, poor,
Christian, Buddhist, Jew, Muslim, male, female- all these
identifications will limit you from knowing who you are. It's not that
your identifications are bad. But beyond these who are you? And the
journey one has to make on one's own. Who am I? What is the purpose of
life? These questions bring depth, profoundity in one's life.

Q: Dear Guruji, How can I choose my partner?

Sri
Sri: I don't know! There are some who have chosen many times! You have
to ask them! You know you can't choose someone by intellect; the heart
is drawn.. First you have to see whether you are the correct person or
not!
A gentleman who was 63 years was lloking for a perfect
woman- a life partner. I told him to look for another 20 yaers. I said
you can definitely find a perfect woman but she wants a perfect man too!

Q:
What happens if 2 people are praying for different things for the same
person? My mother is praying for my marriage while I am praying that I
don't want to get married.

Sri Sri: Wait & see whose prayer is answered!

Q: Why are wise men born in India?

Sri
Sri: Why are Alps only in Switzerland? Sun only in Norway? To see
Northern Lights you have to go to Norway. There is no answer. If you
want to have snow, skiing & lakes it is in Switzerland. Apples are
grown only in cold climate- Kashmir, not in tropical climate. India
also needed something , so we have spirituality. here. Global karma
from time to time.

One upon a time the fame of India was so much
that Christopher Columbus went to find India & found America. There
was no phone. But people knew about silk etc. & then the time came
for England who ruled the whole world for several 100 years. The sun
never sank in the British Kingdom. Then Soviet Union, at one time, just
took the globe & then that disappointed America.

Global
phenomenon. You can just wonder about it. Earth has its own Maths,
Geography, History. So perhaps this part of the world was chosen for
sprituality or India would have been left behind.

Q: Missed the question. It was something about Knowledge.

Sri
Sri: Truth is paradoxical, always contradictory. One is linear
thinking, another is spherical thinking. In spherical thinking,
contradictions have place. A couple of months ago, a close disciple
from Iran came to the Ashram. He was around 70 years old, a very nice
person. He said how can 2 things be correct? To go to a place there can
be only one correct answer.

Truth is multi- dimensional. There
is a particular darshana called Nyaya Darshana which has 16 principles
to know whether your knowledge is correct or erroneous. You see the Sun
rising & setting. What appears & what is, is different. So
there are 3 types of Proof. One is Pratyaksha or direct experience. If
your foot is on burning coal, it hurts you. Even if the whole world
stands on one side & denies that, your experience says it hurts.

The
second is Anumana- you guess because of certain experience, you infer.
You find some smoke somewhere & you say there is a fire, looking at
the smoke. Inference.

Third is Atmavachan- from scriptures or
someone who is very close to you.If someone tells you this fruit is
bitter or this is poison, you take it. You don't say, "Let me try &
see." You take the word of someone very dear. Someone went to the Moon.
It's fascinating to know how your knowledge is correct or not. There
are 2 systems. First you beleive & then you will have experience.
The other system is first experience & then faith will dawn. Yoga,
meditaion come under this category.

Q:
Ever since I was little I was told that God would not come in physical
form as this is KalyugSri Sri: Then how come You are here?

Sri
Sri: Theses things are just said as a way to wake people up. To take
you out of lethargy, laziness, dullness. Come on! Quickly do something.
Yukti, skill in waking one up. Kalyuga is very good, there's nothing
wrong. You are all here. Even in ancient days there have been problems.
Demons would not allow people to meditate.

Q:
Please talk on generosity in real life. Here someone steals my
biscuits, someone takes my chair, someone breaks the line & I feel
angry.

Sri Sri: We always live in our
comfort zones. Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zones. You
are so much bigger than what you had thought. Wake up & see. This
is the time when your knowledge points come to test. Look at the mind.
My God! There are 2 things you can do. One is work on your own mind.
Have courage that come what may, nobody will upset me. Secondly,
educate them. Pull their shirt or skirt & say, "Come back!" Don't
be upset over it.

Yoga is maintaining the equanimity & skill
in action on the outside. The purpose of meditation is keeping the
equanimity- a pleasnt, light feeling you have within you. Like a
flower, feather, you are at home, happy. Outside, in every action you
do there is some skill.

Q: Something about Meditation in Motion that which part of the body is related to which position of the hands.

Sri
Sri: Do somehting innovative, creative. Experiment with your own body.
Do it in a group again & see. It hurts for half a day.


Sri Sri:

For humans, Divine is valentine.
For Earth, Sky is Valentine.
For Rivers, Ocean is Valentine.

See
the Divine in the Valentine & the Valentine in the Divine. The
ancient thought has been that Creation & Craetor are not separate.
Like waves & ocean are not separate. You cannot have waves without
the ocean.

What is God? GOD is that principle that is
omniscient, omnipotent & omnipresent. Omniscient means it knows
everything. Omnipotent means it can do everything. Omnipresent means it
is present everywhere. If something is outside God, then He is not
omnipresent. If something is not within his control, then He is not
omnipotent. Then, Who is God? The whole Universe is Space. Inside every
atom, there is Space. If you dissect matter, matter is all Space. The
distance between the subatomic particles is like galaxies. God is the
primary cause of the whole Creation. Like a pot is made out of clay.
Clay is God & the pot is the universe. Like dance & dancer. You
cannot have a dance without a dancer. Dance is Creation & the
Dancer is Divine. There can be dancer without a dance. Divine can be
without Creation but Creation can't exist without the Divine.
Scientists very much agree with this principle.



Q: Something to do with fear in us all

Sri
Sri: Guruji very beautifully narrated a Kannada couplet, those who are
afraid of waves build their homes in the ocean those who are afraid of
animals, build their homes in the jungle those who are afraid of noise
, build theirs in bazaar ..

Q: Why do good people suffer?

Sri Sri: People suffer because of lack of smartness. No suffering last long..

Q: Why is there Pain?

Sri Sri: Pain - in the waking state of consciousness and it implies the body seeking attention in some way.

Q: How to deal with someone who is obviously taking advantage of another.

Sri Sri: Feel happy for being of service to others and not fall prey to their greed either.

Q: What is right action?

Sri Sri: Something that gives long term benefit but short term pain. An action is known from the result ..and vice versa

Q: Something about how to deal with criticism by a stranger?

Sri
Sri: Said with so much beauty,if someone says 'you are a donkey! reply
to such a statement, with - "You are seeing yourself in all"? Welcome
to the club - how clever..!!

Q: How to handle criticisms?

Sri
Sri: Don't be afraid of criticisms.Why are you all afraid of
criticisms?Put up with Criticisms. Constructive criticisms helps you to
grow and if the criticisms is unjustfied deal with it compassionately.

Q: Does Karma have effect on our lives?

Sri
Sri: As one reaps the fruits of the seed one sows, the effect of our
actions may show it's fruit immediately or sometime later.

Q: What is the difference between animals and human beings?

Sri Sri: Animals do not ask questions and they do not laugh. Animals have no idea about caste, creed or religion either.

Q: Why is there misery in the world?

Sri
Sri: 3 reasons - Violating laws of nature, Ignorance, and Overdoing
like the first reason mentioned(like over eating) Having no balance -
causes misery.

Q: Can't remember the question

Sri
Sri: Guruji spoke about illnesses. Unlike human beings, animals lie on
their stomach but humans lie on their backs and do not stretch their
spines which is the cause of illnesses. We have forgotten to lie on my
stomachs.




"Celebrate Life. Care for others and share whatever you have with those less fortunate than you. Broaden your vision, for the whole world belongs to you."

- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, Art of Living Foundation.
 
P  Please consider the environment before printing this email. 

Q & A's with Guruji (Fresh!!!)

Q: What to do if someone is jealous of you?
Sri Sri: Nothing(laughter) . When you are unable to control your own mind then why should you want to manage someone else's mind! Jealousy towards someone else can happen because of 4 reasons someone else's money, fame, partner or somebody's wisdom/enlightenmen t(He said 'this jealousy is good to have .perhapsJ). Any of these jealousies is not worth it as the grass is always greener on the other side .people who are famous are never at peace,surrounded by security and of course insecure about how long fame will stay;that soon someone else may come who can become more famous .and anyways, one day they will all die ..billions have come to this earth ..and billions will come .and die. You need to broaden your horizon whenever such negative emotions arise think of how huge this universe .millions of galaxies .among them in a galaxy is the solar system, and within it in a tiny planet called earth, we reside in a corner. If you look at how insignificant your presence is in this universe, then all negativity would drop. If you keep thinking about the vastness of the universe, expansion happens. You become the seed you sow, if you keep thinking, 'I'm a sinner, I'm a sinner' then that is the seed you sow. Look at life as a dream know that everything is dying every moment.He asked everyone to read 'Celebrating Silence' where He has written at length about how to deal with negative emotions.

Q: If the same consciousness is present in everyone then why is there disparity like rich and poor?
Sri Sri: Because nature loves diversity! Do you know there are no two human beings who have similar finger prints .no two human beings who have ever been born have been exactly similar so that is the extent to which diversity exists in nature.

Q: On who am I really?
Sri Sri: When intellect matures, it comes up with this question. But the answer to it is beyond the intellect. When you have had a good night's rest, then the intellect recognizes that the body has rested. Similarly, when this question comes up and you meditate, then it recognizes first that you are not the body you are not the mind .then you come to a quiet centre within you .and you have no answerand you are That. The silence you come to when you ask this question is what you are. He gave an interesting example He said you/the body are like the fan; and the Self is like electricity. The fan cannot run without the electricity .and electricity cannot manifest itself without the fan. So when you start asking the question 'Who am I'; you start moving to the point where the fan is connected to the electric point!(laughter) .

Q: There is a theory of Visualisation wherein one can have intentions/goals and nature would come together to deliver the desired results; and then there is the concept of surrender where you leave it to the Divine to give you the results; how to marry the two?
Sri Sri: I would say that both are compatible. In the ancient scriptures much has been written about this .about how one should have an intention or 'sankalpa' about what we want .most of the time we don't know what we want we only desire, and our desires keep changing but once we have a 'sankalp' we should surrender it to nature/Divine .thinking we will accept whatever comes our way, whatever is for us. Simultaneously, we should not be constantly thinking about what we want, that is feverishness and not intention. So have an  intention.and then drop it.
 
Q: Can there be light without darkness, peace without war?
Sri Sri: During the day, if you have to create darkness, then you have to create it unnaturally, like closing all doors in a room. So light & peace are natural occurrences; of course natural calamities have always occurred and will continue but it increases when we exploit nature; and that is what is happening today we need to save the environment its only human beings who exploit nature and spread waste.animals never do.have you ever been to a forest and seen animal waste lying around?...animals always clean up, maintain the ecological balance.similarly in ancient times, even today among tribals, the tradition of honouring nature, keeping clean continues.so we should not destroy nature, our bodies by doing unnatural things to destroy them before their time. At the same time periods of darkness, difficult situations help in our growth; makes us stronger so good also comes out of unpleasantness( He gave the example of how children growing up in slums have better immunity systems than us). But still, peace is absolutely necessary because creativity blossoms only in peace. All great happenings have been only in peaceful eras.

Q: Is violence ever justified? For self defence etc.
Sri Sri: Violence is never justified. An action by itself is never violent or non violent; the intention is. The action of a doctor,policeman or army personnel done without anger or hatred is not violent. If one is confronted with violence then one cannot talk of peace; an action of self defence without hatred is justified.

Q: If God is one, why should we worship so many Gods?
Sri Sri: From one wooden plank, we can make different things like tables, chairs, doors, windows etc. We enjoy seeing the wood in different forms. Probably our ancestors might have wanted to see the one God in different varieties and created it in numerous forms.

Q: How do you explain a theist and an atheist?
Sri Sri: Theist says, I believe in God and therefore show me God.. Whereas an atheist says Show me god first and then I will believe you.. When an atheist says that he does not believe in anything, he must believe in what he says. He is unbelieving his own opinion and so it becomes false. What he should say is . I don.t believe in your view of God. According to the atheist the present day God should come armed with AK-47 and not with Trishul. If Lord Shiva comes with a .Trishul., how can he destroy evil? An atheist has skepticism only on the form of God believed by us. To prove any con cept as wrong one should be well versed in everything. Only a person who has complete knowledge can give an opinion. Anyone with inadequate knowledge may not be capable to give a judgment. If you are aware of all the things in your house and can easily locate each one of them, then you will be able to tell what is there and what is not there in the house. Ignorant of what is there in the house, you say a particular thing is not there, will that be correct? God is love and is prevalent in all. The whole World is made up of waves of love and if you don't believe in God it is not a problem. Only in India a non-believer can also take part in spirituality. Through spirituality you will know, who you are. If you are able to understand that, whether through mind, intellect, body or breath you will find that God is following you. As for the believer when something you wish do not come about. How do you feel about it? Then you do not know whether God exists or not. God is the re because of our fear. Exam time we find a lot of crowd in a Ganesha Temple. Students remember temples only during this time. Belief in God should not be just breaking coconuts and burning camphor, it should be meditative so as to achieve self-confidence.

Q: If we do Seva will our sins be washed away?
Sri Sri: Certainly along with it do meditation and Satsang.

Q:When a person does not worry the loss of life of someone, why should he regret, when it happens to him?
Sri Sri: Good question. I too don't know why he does so.

Q: Is Religion important or human values more important?
Sri Sri: What do you think? Everybody must be having the same answer. Human values are very important at the same time religion has its own important place. In our country we do not respect our religion as done in other countries. We should respect our religion.
Q: What is the purpose and aim of Human life?
Sri Sri: The one who know s the answer will not tell you. If someone tells you, then he does not know. This question is like a vehicle that will carry you deeper into wisdom within. Just be with it.

Q: How do I realize that Guru is always with me?
Sri Sri: That you can recognize any time. When your expectations get fulfilled, you can feel it. At times when you are in doldrums you may feel the need. You can feel it all the time. Do you all feel it? How many of you feel it?

Q:When we are fully involved in Spirituality, how can we look after the domestic duties? Could not come out of my domestic responsibilities. Can I get liberation?
Sri Sri: Certainly possible.Spirituali ty is not running away from home. Changing the color of your dress does not mean spirituality. You can involve in spirituality in spite of all your domestic responsibilities.

Q: When can a person feel complete happiness?
Sri Sri: When you are in a deep meditative state you can get it.

Q: What is 'Maya'? How to get to the peak of knowledge?
Sri Sri: All measurable things in this world are 'Maya'. What cannot be measured is divinity. What can seen, heard can be measured. Those that cannot be measured are love, truth, beauty and this is called divinity.

Q: [Something about Kriyashakti]
Sri Sri: Kriyashakti becomes easier when you work in team, in groups. The enthusiasm also increases.

Q: How do we do "Divya Samaj ka Nirman"? How to start?
Sri Sri: Just jump in it. Its like asking what I need to do for swimming.

Q: Even after giving my 100% I've failed so many times. What to do?
Sri Sri: Past is gone. Future has not come. Now you can do it, know that.

Q: Whats after death?
Sri Sri: I'll tell later. It'll be boring if you know it before.

Q: Kahin tum woh to nahin? (I wonder if you are that)
Sri Sri: hmmm

Q: Why do we remember god only in difficult times?
Sri Sri: Even I've the same question. If you remember god every moment, in all situations, you won't have problems

Q: What is the difference between repentence and guilt?
Sri Sri: Guilt is feeling culpable. Repentence i s finding solution.

Q: Why people run after Sex when it comes to pleasure and feel tired later on?
Sri Sri: Because they know only that much. They don't know anything after that. There is greater and vast pleasure beyond all this.

Q: When in meditation, I see you. Whom do you see?
Sri Sri: I see you.

Q: How to save Hinduism? (from conversion)
Sri Sri: We need to educate our Pujaris (priests) to create an environment of love where we talk to devotees, solve their problems, give them knowledge. And, we should introduce our culture in education. We should have pride in religion.

Q: "Jo hota hai accha hi hota hai" (whatever happens, happens for good) is a truth or a mere positive feeling?
Sri Sri: See it from your experience. Now you don't need to say this to tsunami victims. This is a deeply understood knowledge. Have "viveka". Know what to say where.

Q: Your message for youngsters.
Sri Sri: Don't forget your culture. Youth means enthusiasm. Spread this enthusiasm which is in you, everywhere. Increase enthusiasm of people around you. Bring everyone to spirituality. Youth is not having pizza, coke or chinese food [laughter]. You know "khandwi" (a gujarati dish) is given in many airlin es around the world, but it has been named something else. Popularizes your culture.

Q: You say "vasudhev kutumbakam" (one world family), then why do you say not to use imported items?
Sri Sri: If family's one member is troubling other and the near ones are getting poor, you need to support them. We are not against foreigners and thier products, but we also need to save people around us. I'm not saying don't use imported products. If something is not available locally you definitely use imported items, if you require it. Have a broad vision but support local. To stabilise economy we need to do this.
Q: Why do we cry when we meet you?
Sri Sri: Yes, some of you cry, some of you smile. These tears are very precious. Even the gods and angels long for such tears. Theek hai
Q: Do you know everybody's mind?
Sri Sri: You know wh at happened when we were coming to Surat from Mumbai in train for Mahasatsang. (no). There were two ladies in the same train as we. They were longing to meet me. They couldn't meet me in Mumbai and thought it would be almost impossible to meet in Surat. Few devotees where scheduled to meet me at Valsad station. Before we could finish the train started. Me and Rishi Nityaprogya ji (Nitin Bhaiya) ran and jumped into one of the boggies. It was a ladies coach [Huge laughter]. The two ladies were sitting in the same boggie. They started crying like anything after seeing me. Then I sat with them for half an hour and spoke to them. Longing always increases but never gets completed. Love increases but never completes. During my agyatwas, I asked our driver, to drive the car in some remote village. I asked him to take left and right, here and there. Then I asked him to stop in front of a small house. It was a farmers house. Once I entered the house, everybody saw me. The whole f amily was so happy to see me. The farmer said he wanted to see me since such a long time but never knew how to reach me. Then I also visited a few farmers near by, they also wanted to meet me since long but would never get a chance due to their duties and work. I spent some time talking to them. They all became very happy. So you never know when I'll go where. I can come anywhere, anytime. So better keep you house neat and clean.

Q: What is meditation?
Sri Sri: It's very simple. When the mind becomes free from agitation, becomes calm and serene and is at peace, meditation happens. By doing meditation, you can turn your body into a power-house by generating an inner source of energy.

Q: What are the benefits of meditation?
Sri Sri: You don't get blood pressure and health problems. The mind becomes clear, intuition develops, obstacles and negative influences due to the planets will be removed and problems become smaller before coming to you. Mental peace, happiness and plenty of other benefits are there.

Q: Why is meditation so boring?
Sri Sri: In the beginning it may be boring, but that will change. Stay on. Go step by step. Meditation is resting in yourself, becoming the seer from being the seen.

Q: What is the distinction between sleep and meditation?
Sri Sri: One is vertical another is horizontal. For now, just think that much. But tomorrow when you sit for meditation don't think about it. You'll neither be able to meditate nor be able to sleep. Now is the time.

Q: I always go to the sleep while meditating. Does it happen with everybody? What experience do they have? How to solve this?
Sri Sri: Don't worry about the experiences of others. Be with your own experience and the experience varies from time to time. So don't worry.
Q: Is there any maximum limit as to how much we can meditate?
Sri Sri: Do only as much as necessary. There is no need to do too much. Meditation is like taking a bath. To wash the mind, you need meditation and once the mind is clean.

Q: Why do I lose my concentration when I meditate?
Sri Sri: Concentration is not meditation. Meditation is de-concentration, letting go. Meditation calms the mind. It feels good.

Q: What is equanimity? What is the significance of silence?
Sri Sri: Brain has two sides. The left side is logic and the right side is music. Both are needed to make one whole. If only music is there the brain won't function properly. If there is only mathematical and logical mind, there will be no feelings and we will be deprived of the finer aspects of life. So, both are needed. When you are endowed with both then it becomes a satsang. Good song is a satsang. Don't think about what there is in singing, or whom to sing about or why? Just sing, open your mouth and sing along or sing from the heart. We observe silence only during mourning. But here it's different. It is not like the silence of mourning. In mourning, we can't stand silence for more than two minutes. Here it's inner silence, a joyful silence. Before you go into silence, don't keep any troubles in the mind, put it in the basket. We are here to calm the mind and when mind is silenced you experience true peace.

Q: But in our daily lives, we also have to handle paying bills, parking vehicles and other mundane things. How can we do this with the same calm mind without getting irritated or perturbed?
Sri Sri: You take a shower in the morning to clean your body. After that you do all the daily activities. You don't have to keep on taking a shower throughout the day. It is like that. You meditate and calm your mind, then go on with other activities. It is not easy to keep yourself undisturbed but will happen as you keep doing the practices regularly. Then it will become easy

more at http://gurujiskripa.blogspot.com
 
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Monday, July 21, 2008

Guru Poornima 2008 Talk by Guruji/ Ravi Shankar Enchants NJ/ London Gurupoornima Satsang/ Pictures of Guruji


 

Guru Poornima 2008 Talk by Guruji

Courtesy from Bawa's blog http://bawandinesh.blogspot.com/
Here is the transcript of Guruji's talk in the Satsang on Guru Poornima, 18th July 2008
How many of you are thinking "Guruji say something?"…Huh?
What is there to talk? What is there to talk? Hmm..? We all are happy & celebrating
Meditation, singing, celebrating on Guru Poornima day is considered very auspicious thing. Certain days in a year when you participate in satsang and meditate it compensates for the other days which you have not done….hahahaha :)
That doesn't mean…that u can take this as an excuse for not meditating everyday.One of those days is Guru Poornima. In satsang you participate and get the merit of not doing for many days (during the year)….hmmmm
(someone asked Guruji why are you so sweet) I am made like this…..Apple is sweet, that is how it is made, apple is sweet by nature… isn't it? Hmmmmmmmmm
What else?
Yes, today you all can have one wish…whatever wish you want to have…just before going to bed make a wish in your mind, our intentions are powerful and they manifest in the right congenial time, at right place with right attitude, they just click.
All blessings are there for everybody… lots of blessings Universe is showering blessing. You only have to catch it. Open to it
You know in Sanskrit Guru means 'heavy' which is weighty, Guruji is light but words of Guru is weighty and Gravitational force is called Gurutva in Sanskrit.
So many meanings… :) Hmmmmmm
You know our 5 fingers , all the 5 planets are there. Thumb indicates – victory (u win) right!! Who wins? One who fights… who fights? Commander in chief military (this is Mars) 2nd Finger (index finger) is Jupiter is Guru…..its the indicator…when you want to show the way its like this… Throughout the world this is how the way is shown… This is Jupiter…..what do u do with this? Pointer indicates. What does Guru do? He indicates/ points out. So that is Jupiter.
Saturn, one of the farthest planet is Saturn, the biggest, tall, Saturn is servant. You know servant has to good and well built, if the servant is weaker then master then how can he carry the luggage. Servant have to carry the luggage of the Master, king or anybody for which he has to be strong. Tall servant.
Then the king…where do u put your ring? jewels, that is ring finger (this is sun) nobody puts ring here to the thumb, but where do they put the ring? In the ring finger…in fact we call it ring finger. King cannot stay alone but he needs servant along with him. So this is sun cannot stand alone.
The little one is the business one, its mercury. on one side of the Sun stands Mercury- business man and on the other side is Saturn- servant.
And Jupiter. So all the planets are in the hand, its indicated when Jupiter and Mars are together meaning the power is together with wisdom in the commander in chief that is called chin mudra.
And when all the king, servant, business man all together its chinmay mudra its higher consciousness in society, cause when wisdom dominates its higher consciousness. And there is beauty, love and abundance.So whole story is in the fingers.
And children when they are born they put on this mudra, all the babies sleeps in chin mudra , they are so wise. Chinmay mudra. Carefree mind. Joyful mind is chinmay mudra, baby sleeps on that and when they start walking. They suck the thumb u know…is means …now no more in 4 legs….its now 2 legs and 2 arms….so the nature teaches us the whole yoga. Its very good…very good…
See the guru principal is prevalent in all the culture of the society of the world. Even here in America you can't play soccer without a coach or mentor. You need a guide, even when you need to write P.hd, no body will give you doctorate when you don't have u guide. Am I correct…? You have to work under some guide.
And word guide comes from the original Sanskrit word Guru. Sanskrit its Guru and in English it becomes guide, so in every field you need a mentor and in a field which is so abstract and subtle like spirituality, consciousness then definitely needs a mentor and that is a Satguru!
Mother is a first guru for everybody and each one of you should play the role of Guru for at least some people in your life. When you want nothing from them other then their own happiness their own progress. Can you be guru like that for some people? Like you become father or mother to somebody you should also be Guru to someone. Don't have to tell them "I am your Guru". Now you have to play the role of the Guru. Never, assert that u are a Guru. Be light like a flower that is Art of Living. Do u see what I am saying?
Play the role of the guru in the sense you are caring for them unconditionally. You care for them without expecting what they are going to do for you and what the result is going to be. Unconditional care for someone. Start with few and it can spread to many…that you all can do…isn't it? Can everybody be?
In fact Guru Tatva it is principal light within us, the light in our heart, the light in our life. Hmmm… Viveka….wisdom that tatva also dawns …ok…. So….when you come here in this path, in this Knowledge you will never go empty handed. Just ask, there is proverb its "Ask and it shall be given!"….that is what Guru Poornima all about…
Definitely!….ask it shall be given… Lets us sing few bhajans!
********************************************************************************************
 
Ravi Shankar enchants NJ
Sunday, 07.20.2008, 09:48pm (GMT-7)

NEW JERSEY: July 4th weekend was celebrated with three-day yoga and mediation camp in New Jersey. The event was one of its kinds with thousands of people in attendance. Special courses on yoga and meditation were held at the camp with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in attendance on all three days.Laders like, Dr Navin Mehta, Dr Sudhir Parikh, HR Shah, Hitesh Kadakia, Anil Bansal, Pam Kwatra and Satish Gupta of Park Squares builder to name a few attended this very calming and relaxing yoga camp.

Shri Shri Ravi Shankar's foundation had organized a gala dinner at Mirage restaurant. Shri Shri talked about his efforts in alleviating global suffering, especially in war-torn countries."Educating the masses on how they can improve their lives by non-violence and meditation is the answer to several problems that no army or government can fix," he said explaining his global campaign to a "stress-free and disease-free society.""Since 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family) is in our veins and blood, we can't but act," he added.

"I think it is quite normal for anyone with a sense of belonging to just act."Many community leaders experienced for the first time the charismatic demeanor of Sri Sri and agreed that the aura of his presence is very special.But Sri Sri modestly admitted that his charm might not work always.

"In regions like Sri Lanka and the Middle-East, which have a long history of religious and cultural strife, more time needs to be invested by voluntary organizations," he explained. "I do my best in spreading the message that non-violence should be given a chance and that reducing stress through meditation and yoga is critical to our survival and growth."

"There may be big powers in the world, but they cannot unite the hearts and minds of people. Mahatma Gandhi was a deeply spiritual person. Only because of that he could engineer the freedom movement," Sri Sri explained, noting how spiritually and peace could prevail where diplomacy failed. Shri Shri Ravi Shankar started his charm to unite the metro community by having Dr Sudhir Parikh start and address the welcome note and Dr Navin Mehta ended the convention with a thank you note to all the people who helped put this together.
(Source Indiapost.com)
 
************************************************************************************************** 
Amazing pictures of Gurudev, see link below!
 
 
 

Posted by: "Someshwar Koshti" someshwar.koshti@gmail.com   someshwar_koshti

Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:23 am (PDT)

Jai Gurudev,

Yesterday's Gurupoornima London Satsang Was Rocking( As usual -:), But what
was so spacial about it yesterday,

Guess what ? Yesterday Master himself delivered live darshan & gurupoornima
message during satsang through Skype Video Call,

Everyone rejoiced his live darshan, and his message

Thank you Guruji for making this dream a reality,

I can visualise the day is not far away, when Master will be
speaking/answering questions/deliverin g discourses live to millions and
millions of people across the globe via internet / video conferences,

http://picasaweb. google.com/ srisripics

Lets use the power of technology to spread spirituality, or rather I would
say let techies realise the power of spirituality,

Love,

Someshwar
 
 
 


--
--
- Anjana Bhagole
  a.bhagole@gmail.com
  +31-641851810



The sign of life is enthusiasm. The sign of success is smile and joy
You are a fountain of joy at the center of your being.
Joy is the realization that there is no vacation from wisdom.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Founder of the "Art of Living Foundation"
www.aofl.nl| www.artofliving.org | www.iahv.org

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Monday, July 14, 2008

Residentail part 1 course in New castle.

Dear Friends,

A rare opportunity to do a Residential Part 1 Course!
Course Details:
http://www.artoflivinglondon.org/courses_partone.htm
When
Friday, 25 July - Sunday 27 July, 2008
Time Table-
Friday: 6 pm-10 pm
Saturday: 9 am- 5 pm
Sunday: 9 am-5pm
Where
At a beautiful large city centre maisonette in Newcastle
FREE residential arrangement at the maisonette
- Venue is two minute walk from beautiful Jesmond Dene
http://www.jesmonddene.org.uk/ - 2 stops on underground from central station and 10 minutes from the beach.
- 5 Bedrooms are available- to share, beds will be provided but please bring the bedding
- Freshly cooked vegetarian food will be provided throughout the course
Please call Gagan (0798 861 5829) or Kathy (07918642481) or send me a message on facebook with your phone number to contact for further information and booking.
 
 
 
We need as much support as possible in the northeast of England, so if you could spread the word to anyone you know in the area, we'll be really grateful. JGD
 

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Sutras

Different Kinds of Tears
Devotion is very beautiful. A student comes to a master, a teacher, a guru, with tears in his eyes, there is so much problems. And when he leaves he carries the same tears, but the quality of the tear is different; it's of gratitude. Still tears flow, but they are of gratitude, of love.
 
The Big Mind
There is no mind in the enlightened person, but still the enlightened Mind also does feel. He is sensitive. He is sensitive to everyone's feelings. If one person, one devotee, one person in the satsang is not feeling well, immediately it is reflected in the big Mind, also. Because the big Mind is the sum total of all the small minds.
 
The Best Form of Worship
The best "puja," the best form of worship, is to be happy, to be grateful.
 
Go Deep into Sadness
If some sadness arises---"oh, I feel a little sad"---go deep into the sadness, and you will see that very sadness is nothing but longing, and that very longing---the tears of longing---is nothing but love, and love is nothing but gratefulness, and gratefulness is nothing but your very Being.
 



"Celebrate Life. Care for others and share whatever you have with those less fortunate than you. Broaden your vision, for the whole world belongs to you."

- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, Art of Living Foundation.
 
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Amazing Q & A's session with Guruji.

Q: Please talk something about the press.

Sri Sri: Our press is good in degrading ourselves. They have a great degrading tendency. (laughter) You know in America, nearly 30 lakhs of people (about 1% of the total population) live on the streets and eat from garbage. They are beggars. But you never see them in any press.One third of the student population in Washington is jailed at some time or the other. Total crime of India is in New York alone. But the press doesn't say anything like that. Otherwise it'll scare people off. Here press blows up every instance. One senior European journalist told me that India is so hard on itself, I was shocked to see how much they can criticize themselves. This cannot happen in Germany. And this is true. This tendency of self-blame should go. With self-blame you'll start blaming others too. Self-blame culture will bring down talents, capacity, dynamism, responsibility -- all goes down.

Q: What to do when you try to help someone and they take advantage of you?

Sri Sri:You be intelligent and take notice of how people are. You need to be intelligent and compassionate both. You have to be sharp...

Q:How do we react when friendliness is misunderstood?

Sri Sri: Not everybody will understand your heart. That's the problem. Even if you smile with good intentions people may not understand.
We should do whatever good we can. Be prasanna chith and meditate every day..

Q: Some people mistake tolerance as weakness.

]Sri Sri: All this is there in the knowledge sheets. Read "Celebrating Silence" or "Intimate notes to the sincere seeker."

Q: How do we get sleep and how does it go?

Sri Sri: Eat well and lie down in bed and you'll find out. (Loud laughter) We'll talk about it then.

Q: How must we do pooja? How should a devotee's bhakti be?

Sri Sri: Like Nandi bhakti. Nandi is always gazing at Shiva.Nandi is the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva. In Shiva temples, there's always a statue of Nandi facing the idol. After that, at the next level, bhakti is like the crescent moon on Shiva's head. Better than the moon is the
serpent around Shiva's throat. The moon is on Shiva's head; it's still at the mind level. The serpent is at the throat, it's closer to the
heart! Better than even the serpent bhakti is Parvati's bhakti. She is His "Ardhanareshwari". Even the bodies are shared. The mind, buddhi, and chittha should dissolve.

Q:Why is it called Shivaratri and not Shivadin (din = day)?

Si Sri: Haan. Ratri is rest. Day is effort. Resting in Shiva tatwa is Shiva ratri. Ratri is someone who puts us to sleep in her lap and
removes all troubles.

Q: Guruji, What is the best Seva?

Sri Sri: Any seva is a good seva. Best is making people understand their responsibilities, make one feel strong and make them take
responsibilities of their ownself, providing self confidence and knowledge of the self, Brahmagyan.

Q: What are the benefits of meditation?

Sri Sri: You don't get blood pressure, health problems stop, mind becomes clear, intuition develops, obstacles are removed, mental peace, happiness, negative influences due to planets will be removed, problem becomes small before coming to you, and plenty of other benefits are there.

Q: Can you talk about Time and Space?

Sri Sri: All that is, that will be, that was, is in space and that is Time. Got it? This is the time Now. Now is time, Here is space. (claps). If you don't know this that will be NOWHERE (laughter)

Sri Sri:Why should we talk about anything. Can we all sit here and do nothing.

Sri Sri: Yes. Now you are already in meditation. See the mind - what is going on. It is expecting. What next? Are you aware. That much is enough. Are you aware that you are saying yes or no - That is good enough. See thoughts come and go. Just watch - dont judge them as good or bad - ASsociated with every thought is a feeling.
All problems in the world are because of love. But tell me. Would like to live in this world without - without anybody to love and without
anybody loving you. NO. That is very drab. Yet if love was not there there would be no problems - Jealousy is because of love, greed is
because of love of material things, anger is because you LOVE perfection and so you are angry at imperfection. You see?

Q:Please talk about problems in the middle east.

Sri Sri : See there are mainly 10 religions in the world - 6 from the asian side and 4 from the middle. None of the 6 from the Asian area have ever had any conflict between themselves. We have to educate them and bring them in this knowledge. Because even if a small pocket of people are not in this knowledge and are fanatic then the world will not be a safe place to live in. Our job is to make this world better than what we inherited.

Q:Who is in control of my life - me or God.

Sri Sri : You are in partnership with God. So its 50-50. See during the day the sun is shining and at night it is dark. Now it is up to you to keep the curtains open in the day to let the light through. If you keep the curtains closed during the day you will be in the dark, and you can keep the curtains open all night long and its not going to make any difference to the light.

Q:Is Art of Living necessary to gain knowledge?

Sri Sri: Yes. See you should take a week off every year. Not even a week its 6 days two hours each day. Learn about the 7 layers of existence - Body, breath, mind, intellect, memory, ego and THE SELF. Every sensation in the body has a corresponding breath and every breath a corresponding emotion.

Q: What is your question for us?

Sri Sri:Hmmm. DO YOU GET ME???? And I will give you one more question - Ask yourself WHO AM I?

Q: What is Guru? Why we need Guru in life?

Sri Sri: Now you are stuck! If I answer the question, you have already taken the answer (laughs). In English Guide comes from the root Guru (teacher). In life you didn't learn ABCD when you were born, you learnt from father, mother, teacher at school. When I answer this question,what's happening, you listen to the answer, you have already taken the guidance. If you didn't need it, this question is not needed at all. Are you getting what I'm saying? When you ask someone directions, you are asking because you want to know an ans. Who ever answers is a Guru.J Krishnamurthy, philosopher says there is no need for a Guru, but he was giving advice all the time. Like saying "I'll give you Medicine but don't call me doctor". Guru simply means one who gives knowledge, guidance and one with whom you can talk and unload all your burdens.Guru is one who doesn't judge you at all. Relationship with Guru, don't worry about it at all, what is your relationship with yourself, same feeling of oneness, you feel with everyone in the world. There is a song in Hindi, let Love be Love don't give it a name "Pyar ko Pyar hi rehne do".

Q: Do I need a Guru? Can I not progress on the path by myself?

Sri Sri: Same Question. Why are you asking the question? The very fact you are asking means there is a need.

Q: I'm like a soda machine. I know it, I understand it in my head but I'm still repeating the pattern. How can I change, really change?

Sri Sri: Hmmm....You know before also you were a soda bottle, but you didn't realize or acknowledge it, now you realize that you are one, that is the 1st step, 2nd step is you really want to change. Know that you have already changed. Before the basic course you lost temper now also sometimes you lose temper, people say you do meditation, Bhastrika, pranayam, I don't see change in you, what is the use. You know it that you have changed. You are able to come right back. Before for months together you used to hold on to the anger, frustration within your heart, and now it doesn't happen. You are able to smile immediately. More you go into knowledge, deeper into yourself...changes come. Your smile was so fragile before, now it's much stronger, though it appears you are losing your smile it's not for long it comes right back. What is most important is to keep our smiles come what may. That is very important. The very little time we have spent in ourselves to de-stress, have a sense of belongingness to everyone has brought so much to us. So if you give little more time what wonders would happen you can't even imagine.

Q: How to develop devotion?

Sri Sri:Just be relaxed. Devotion is not something that you have to develop in you, it's your nature. Love is your nature, you are made up of a substance called love. Our body is made of carbohydrates, proteins, spirit is made up of love. Devotion is not an emotion it's your very being. So when you are at home, very relaxed, know that you are already in devotion. I have spoken a lot in Bhakti sutras, listen to them very precious.

Q:Is there no God?

Sri Sri: Now tell me what is the definition for God. Then I'll tell you if there is God or not, if I can tell you. Is God a person who created the universe and went into hiding because He made lot of mistakes, so that nobody catches Him? Up in the heaven trying to give you one little finger and dangling carrots in front of you or punish you when you do things or get angry at you all the time. Is He a person? What is God? Has anybody seen? Is God a person? Big confusion in the world. GOD (Generator, Operator, Destroyer). If GOD is love and love is all that is, He is everywhere. Lets looks at the qualifications of God, God is omnipresent, every where in every atom. No place where God is not. He is omnipotent, omniscient. Consciousness has this quality. In Upanishads there is a story. A boy asks his father tell me, How is God like, Father tells him, God is like the sky, space, everything exists in space, everything dissolves in space and everything is created in space. But space is dead, GOD is alive. Another example like fish in the water. Where is the life of the fish in the body or in the water? If life is in the body, if you take it out then also there should be life. There is life only as long as there is water in the fish. But where is the life? Like that where are we, we are in the space in the air. Where is the life, in the air. In the same way the space which is the basis of all existence is what God is. So God has no escape. If He is not in one place, He loses his qualification of being a God. God is that energy, that substratum of the universe in which everything is born, exists and dissolves, and that is what we all are. If love is God certainly that is what you are and I'm God. The Sufi saint said 'An al haq'. The Vendantin said 'Aham Brahmasmi'. We are made up of Love, that Divinity. When do we don't realize it, when we are veiled by stress, ignorance, small
mindedness. When the lake is disturbed you can't see the reflection.The disturbance on the lake is the mind.In the Bible also it is
said 'Be still and know I'm God' so being that stillness then you know hat I'm God. So if God is love, I'm definitely love, so are you. Don't
excommunicate from your category. That is what the world does and then starts suffering. A saint in India Kabir said "what a stupid thing man is doing, it's like the musk deer, has musk in itself but searches for it all over the forest. Just bend yourself down, meditate, be still and that is where God is.

Q: How does one explain the role of Divine in evolution of species?

Sri Sri: What do you call Divine? All that is harmonious you call Divine. All that is natural you call Divine. That which is not natural like
stress, tension, negative emotions are not Divine. Isn't that so? Reverence is the nature of evolved consciousness. The more happier you
are, the more reverence you have for everything. More grateful you are more reverence you have to everyone. When you recognize everything is God, the more reverence you have for everything. You know what sacredness does to you? Suppose you consider, that this is just a cake, you just eat it, throw it. But if it is sacred you take it in both hands. 100% attention is there. Your consciousness (sleeping consciousness) is woken up. With sacredness, 100% attention you receive it, your heart is there, mind is there. In India, children are told, mother is Divine, father is Divine. Because child cant see Divine in space. so "Matru Devo Bhava" (mother is all love), 2nd expression of Divinity see father, 3rd is teacher, all that he wants is for you to blossom, be strong and successful and happy in love,
4th place is Guest, Guest is God, Guest comes honor them. And honor everything in the world, honor the trees, honor the river, mountains, animals. A sense of honoring elevates you.When something belongs to someone you treat it with care. When you know
planet belongs to God, you treat it with care. Otherwise we destroy the planet. We exploit the planet. Isn't it. Vanashree, wealth of forest
has to be honored as gift to humanity. We have been asked to take care of it, our world. Our whole life is a wealth. So a sense of honoring is attached so that you feel a sense of responsibility to the society, planet. Hmmm.....

Q: Miracles, do they happen for a reason, I know the answer is yes, then why?

Sri Sri: If yes, then WHY? Got it? Did you get it? The purpose of miracles is to wake you up that the whole world is full of it. We take it for granted, take whole world for granted. We don't wonder in its phenomenon. Some how when we grew older, we lose all sense of wondering, inquisitiveness, everything dies out, I know it all and it brings dullness to life. Sign of life is enthusiasm, so here and there miracles happen just to wake you up.

Q:Guruji, why in your so many tapes, discourses, there is very little mention on Lord Mahavira. Please let us know more about him.

Sri Sri: I've spoken quite a bit on Mahavira, Recently we had Mahavira Jayanti also. Mahavir was contemporary of Buddha. Buddha spoke about emptiness, Mahavira spoke about Self. Buddha said there is no self, Mahavira said all that is, is Self. Mahavira never spoke, infact he sat in silence and in His presence people started getting knowledge. So when you are all in silence, know that that is Mahavira's speech and it is ridiculous to talk a lot about silence (laughter). In Jain temples, you have Mahavira, he was 24th tirthankara, last tirthankar and you would find his statue in meditative pose and as soon as you would sit in front of smiling serene figure, you would also become like that. He would tell you how you should sit and with what serenity and just know that you are the Atma the Self and it conveys the whole philosophy.One of the mainthings of Mahavira, main principle is 'Syathva' i.e. perhaps. He would always add perhaps in everyone of his expressions. There is room for exploration. If you say, this is like this, you are making it so definite. In this world nothing is definite there is always a possibility, perhaps, that is called 'syathva'. In Physics also the subject object relationship changes, whatever you know, you know in a particular level of consciousness. When your consciousness changes your understanding changes. You can never know 100% unless you become that thing. Its so amazing that Mahavira 2500-2600 years back he came up with 'perhaps' principle, when law of uncertainty, theory of relativity came up in this century, in the previous century perhaps (laughter). Mahavira's main principle is non-violence ('ahimsa'). You have no right to be violent on anything in the world. Second is 'Swadhyaya'. Study your emotions, your mind, your consciousness. 'Kayothsarga' Rise above your body, you are not the body. Body is changing. 'Tapas' Forbearance, opposites happen in the world, people love you, hate you, people compliment you, you get derogatory remarks. Tapah - forbearance, heat and cold, nature is all conflicting. it has full of opposites. Moving in life with Tapah. These are the principles of Jainism.And then is 'kShama' - whether knowingly or unknowingly if anything has happened to anyone by acting or not acting you ask for forgiveness. 'Dashlakshini' - 10 days of celebration and prayers in the last day is the 'kShama-achana' - whether with my intentions or unintentions, knowingly or unknowingly, if I have become the cause of any sadness, sorrow for you, please forgive me. Asking for
forgiveness, highest principle. Isn't it? When everyone comes from that space of I'm the one responsible for all the experiences pleasant or unpleasant, but if I become the cause of any unpleasant experiences I have ask for forgiveness, ask myself for forgiveness. Its the pinnacle of humility. So the ritual is, every Jain is to ask everyone forgiveness. Please forgive me if I have done anything wrong knowingly
or unknowingly. Not only by doing something wrong happens, but by not doing also something wrong happens. Do you see what I'm saying. Suppose you have to do a job and you don't do it, then also you are responsible, you ask for forgiveness. 'kShama-achana' - another principle of Jainism. Hmmm....To ask forgiveness from everyone, mind has to be in such a serene, humble, pleasant state, isn't it? When there is aggression in you, you start justifying yourself, you stop knowing yourself. So they did that space for you to justify yourself. Ask forgiveness. You know that immediately softens the other person's heart also. Someone does something wrong to you and they come and ask forgiveness, would you give them or not? What would you do? When you forgive someone, you become light, you start feeling lighter and all that anger and hatred and that chain of action and reaction drops and you become friendly again.

 
Write your comments to rges@hotmail.com


"Celebrate Life. Care for others and share whatever you have with those less fortunate than you. Broaden your vision, for the whole world belongs to you."

- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, Art of Living Foundation.
 
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Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Guruji in WAX/

Wax World: Goa's very own Madame Tussauds
Times of India
6 Jul 2008, 0222 hrs IST,TNN
PANAJI: Goa is all set to become the site for yet another tourist attraction with India's second wax statue museum inaugurated at Old Goa on the morning of July 5, 2008, at the hands of the local MLA and transport and social welfare minister Pandurang Madkaikar.

The 300 sq mts museum, called 'Wax World', has over 20 statues, including those of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Osho, Radha-Krishna, Shankaracharya and Ramkrishna Paramahansa.

The statues have been sculpted by Shreeji Bhaskaran, who owns the museum and is also responsible for giving India its first wax museum located at Ooty, Karnataka, which was set up in March 2007.

Shreeji Bhaskaran told TOI that he considers the 22 feet long and 500 kilo statue of 'The Last Supper' as his greatest creation.

He informed that the 300 sq ms wax museum in Goa will house 23 statues.

"Because of space constraints only 23 of the 60 statues we have will be kept on display,'' Bhaskaran said. "We thought of having the museum here in Goa as this is a beautiful place and is frequented by lakhs of tourists."

Making of a wax statue involves combining of computerised digital imaging techniques with the conventional sculpting methodologies. Depending upon the complexity of the procedure, the cost of making the wax statue varies between Rs 3 to Rs 15 lakhs, Bhaskaran informed.

It takes the artist between four to 16 weeks to make a statue and approximately 50 kilos of wax is used to make each statue. "The wax used is paraffin with some additives. Colour is added to the wax when in molten state and cosmetic colours are applied in the final stages. While the eyes and teeth are artificial, the hair used could be synthetic or natural. And clothes are tailormade to match the fabric and style," explained the sculptor.

Bhaskaran is an accomplished businessman and an engineer in the field of information technology who has varied projects in the Middle East and Australia to his credit. He took up making wax statues as a hobby in 2003.

The Wax World in Goa will be open to the general public daily from 9.30 am to 6pm for viewing.
 


- Anjana Bhagole
  a.bhagole@gmail.com
  +31-641851810



Read more on http://gurujiskripa.blogspot.com
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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

To live in your full potential - By Emil Tomov

    To live in your full potential - By Emil Tomov  (Art of Living Bulgaria)  

 

We hear a lot about different types of military disciplines, for which you have to be very tough and harsh to go through. But why then all the Yogis and Rishis say that a smile is needed to go trough asanas and everything in life to have better success. I don't say that with hardness and rawness you will not be able to achieve anything, but the achievement with the power of love and smile is guarantied. The ancient men of wisdom have all said that only something hard and tough can be broken, but something delicate and liquid as water can never be broken.

 

And today the doctors are prescribing more and more good mood to the patients, to watch funny television, to participate different activities like games to improve there health. At least the smarter doctors do not end the treatment after they wrote the recipe. Our organism is being terrorized by our mind, because the capacity of our physical health is limited, but the desire of our mind is limitless. Our mind constantly involves the body in different types of activities. That's why our bodies get more dependable on the technology, on the comforts and they even stop listening the mind at some point, if they can they would run away from us and break up with us.

 

And when we had stepped on the spiritual path, we have received the knowledge:  "Be in the present moment"; "Do seva, sadhana and satsang to grow in life and to be happy"; "Be always on 100%". But often people say: "I want to be 100% in everything, but my body simply doesn't respond to that." So we have to understand our potential, we have to put forward our abilities and to live in them.

 

We do not have the ability to cry and to grieve, so after only a couple of minutes in that state you feel like the life is taken from your system. Scientists say that 30minutes of negative thinking is equal to 6 hours of hard work. We have the potential to be happy, to smile. This is a job for all of you, just to be happy, just smile, have fun in all the moments in this life and see what will happen. Worst case scenario, some one will call us "fool".  So what, this life is for fun.

 

This is where our real potential hides in. By the doctors again, they say that the smile is the most natural state and condition of the face, the muscles in the forehead and jaw are getting relaxed and take rest from the continuous use.

When there is no love, there is no understanding; we need some amount of hardness. But in reality only through our inborn potential we achieve our success in life. Only through love and goodness we had achieve this, which we value the most now in our life.

 

The same way, when you say something to criticize your loved one, they will listen to you, because they will now that it is directed by love. If you say something like this out of bad feelings to someone, it will be worthless to them, without any power.

For me the "Art Of Living" is to be 100% in your true potential, to be fully absorbed by it deep into yourself. This is the big wealth in you, and the more you spend it, the more you get back. The more of the grace and centeredness in the self in you are increasing. To live in this is to dive in to ocean of grace. To be settled in this potential is to observe the whole holiness and sacredness of the world through the eyes of the Divine.


Author: Emil Tomov (Art Of Living – Bulgaria)

 

Based on the words and inspiration of H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Jai Gurudev

 
YOU CAN WRITE TO EMIL ON emil.tomov@gmail.com ..
 
Share your views, expereinces on http://gurujiskripa.blogspot.com
 
Rajesh (Moscow)





"Celebrate Life. Care for others and share whatever you have with those less fortunate than you. Broaden your vision, for the whole world belongs to you."

- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, Art of Living Foundation.
 
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Guruji's video-seedhi baat on AAJ TAK

 
 

 

Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:02 am (PDT)

heres Gurjis video from seedhi baat...

http://video. google.com/ videoplay? docid=6522512893 35232652

Guruji on Seedhi Baata (roughly translated to Direct Questions)-
Interviewed by Prabhu Chawla

The video is missing small segment in the beginning .so have
translated that

Sri Sri: It (the organization) has spread naturally and its own.
PC: You have devotees in 150 countries, your camps are held
everywhere. So there must be a strategy to it.
Sri Sri: That the thing ¦We did not intent to do anything It just
spread automatically

PC: Why do you have two Sris in front of your name?
Sri Sri: I thought 108 Sris would have been too much..(Laughs)
PC: (laughs)..You should have put 108 Sris.
Sri Sri: No, I thought that was too much Two are enough!

PC: No, because even names become brands.. It seems that spirituality
has become India's export industry, second only to the IT industry.
What do you think?
Sri Sri: Absolutely. In fact, India's spirituality had been famous
before the IT industry became known.
PC: Yes, if you go back there have been Osho and Mahesh ji ¦even you
have been Maheshji's disciple.
Sri Sri : Spirituality and its benefits have always been there Its
just that the media today makes it more visible
PC: You are India's ambassador when it comes to spirituality You
started by saying that family problems and other such problems can be
healed by yoga and meditation.But its ironic that all people who
preach this don't have families of their own!! So where did you get
your experience from?
Sri Sri: (with a smile).when you don't have a limited family of your
own, you can include everyone in your family!!!!
PC: Thats ok'¦but if you don't have experiences of your own how can
you heal others?
Sri Sri: That's not necessary every doctor doesn't have to have all
illnesses to treat people¦(laughs)
PC: Yes, but he reads books You haven't read books on family?!?
Sri Sri: We read people. We meet lakhs of them every day. We see their
family problems and suggest solutions that we think are correct and
they get benefitted.
PC: But you said whatever you see may not be true. Then how can you
solve problems only by looking at them?
Sri Sri: That's why people go out to seek The Truth. If you can just
see it then why would people seek for it?

PC: Do you think people who are preaching spirituality these days have
a commercial interest in it? They're doing it for business?
Sri Sri: Yes, maybe..But spirituality is linked to charity. You cant do
charity with an empty bowl. So that's how the commercial aspect rises.
PC: If you go out with an empty bowl ¦people will give money!
Sri Sri: There is nothing great in getting donations from people and
then donating that same money. You donate from your own earning. Our
teachers teach and collect fees for the teachings and that's how we work..

PC: But when your activities increase, your expenses will increase too.
Sri Sri: In spiritual work you don't have to think about money and
budgets
PC: You don't have budget.?
Sri Sri: No
PC: It is like the flow of the river!
Sri Sri: (smiles)
PC: Nonetheless, don't you think spirituality has become a business?
Sri Sri: Business is not bad!!....Why do we think business is bad?
Education has become business, temples have becomes business. If we
tag everything related to money as business then everything is
business even hospitals are business!
PC: Then Spirituality is business too.right?
Sri Sri: Spirituality is not business. It helps in business (both laugh)
PC:It helps in whose business yours or others?
Sri Sri: Everyone's business!
PC: So what is your work? To give business or peace?
Sri Sri: To give peace in business.

PC: That's true Your technique the Sudarshan Kriya brings peace of
mind to the people..But then your Art of Living has now entered every
area of a common man's life. It has entered the areas of education,
agriculture ¦and who knows where else¦.! Why?
Sri Sri: Absolutely. Please let me know if there any other areas
like to go there too!! (laughs)..Spiritual ity links everything. We
have to work in the field of agriculture. We are into chemical free
farming.
PC: But you started with the field of spirituality.
Sri Sri: We havent left that field¦.On the basis of the spirituality
we have entered other areas.
PC: But in our Indian traditions rishis have always sat on the
Himalayas and you are talking about entering every area of a common
man's life?
Sri Sri: (laughs)No that isn't true In our tradition rishis have
always been influential to the common man's life. Its wong to think
otherwise.
PC: Now you have entered politics. You went to mediate in Rajasthans
this related to Yoga?
Sri Sri: Absolutely'. There has to be someone to whom members of both
the parties will listen to ¦So many people's lives are at stake.If
someone's house is on fire, we don't wait for them to invite us to help
PC: You were invited
Sri Sri: No one invited me I went there myself. In fact, the Rajasthan
government said if you come there'll be too much crowdYou should come
after everything is solved. But I said, what is the use of coming after
everything is solved!
PC: What made you enter politics? People might think what has Guruji
to do with all this?
Sri Sri: It's the job of the Guru to bring people together and bring
peace where its need the most. What is the point of saying peace,
peace where everything is peaceful already¦! The strength of
spirituality shows when peace is brought in conflict.

PC: Yes, there are social conflicts, but by entering politics aren't
you disturbing the respect that people have for you as a Guru?
Sri Sri: I don't think about my respect I think about people!
PC: We come back to same thing. Why are you mobbing away from your area
core competency¦.
Sri Sri: Spirituality has to be practical. Theres no point in thinking
about it in a closed room. It has to be applied
PC: I read in the newspapers don't know if its true.That a few
villagers in the Vidharbha area did not like what you did there? You
must have heard about it?
Sri Sri: We adopted 300 villages in that area. Out of which in one a
well wasn't dug completely because the youth had been on a
training¦..Once their training is done they'll return in 15 days¦
PC: But why do something that will create controversies for you?
Sri Sri: We aren't worried about our image. We'll do whatever we deem
right! There will be some shortcomings. But our youth is so motivated
get credit, but they actually do the work!
PC: But then you will ask for money from people.
Sri Sri: We don't go and ask for money..All funds are raised from our
courses and programs.
PC: So you wont compromise
Sri Sri: Not at all!...We'll do whatever we can afford to do..

PC: You recently attended Advanis book release.
Sri Sri: There was nothing political about it.We welcome
everybody.We get invitations go wherever its possible for me to
go. There was no political agendaYou know why??....I don't want all
the good people in the same party(both laugh)
PC: Even Baba Ramdev goes to political functions People don't think
very highly of politics¦..They hate politicians.They'll get upset by
you, don't you think?
Sri Sri: In fact, people say why don't you join politics.You are
someone we can trust. When I went to Rajasthan, the people said we'll
do what you say we don't trust the government.
PC: Then why don't you join politics?
Sri Sri: That's too small a field for me(smiles)
PC: The last 5 questions. Are you ready?
Sri Sri: I am absolutely ready
PC: Are you a dharmaguru or karmaguru?
Sri Sri.(doesn't say anything)
PC: (repeats the question)
Sri Sri: If you ask are you sleeping? to someone who is
sleeping..then you know whatever he answers is wrong.A guru is a
guru.he encompasses everything
PC: So you are just a guru?
Sri Sri: Uhmm!

PC: Do you believe in Hindu Dharma or All Dharma (universal dharma)?
Sri Sri: I believe in All Dharma It is the foundation of Hindu Dharma

PC: Do you believe in rebirth?
Sri SriYes!
PC: What would you like to be reborn as?
Sri Sri: I haven't thought about it. Theres still time.!

PC: You have been a disciple of Maharshi Mahesh Yogi.Who has been
more influential on India Mahesh Yogi or Mahatma Gandhi?
Sri Sri: Well, even Gandhijs guru has been my guru.Pt. Sudhakar
Chaturvedi
PC: Who has been more influential?
Sri Sri: Both have their importance¦.
PC: So you cant decide between the two??
Sri Sri: Why do you ask indirect questions in a Direct Questions????
( both laugh.interview ends)

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