December 11, 2011
Q: When we are on the path of knowledge, how do we define the limits of fulfillment?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Wherever the mind can go, that is its jurisdiction. When a desire gets fulfilled, the mind goes away from it.
For example, if you want an umbrella, that is the area of desire. Once you get the umbrella, why would you think about the umbrella? Till you get the umbrella, the mind looks for it. Once you get what you desire, the mind moves away from it. This is a natural tendency of the mind. The mind thus keeps wandering from one desire to another.
In the path of knowledge, whatever is needed for us will come by itself.
Q: We say that Guru is a Garbage Collector. We give our thoughts, emotions and worries to you. What do you do with it? How are you?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is not that Guru is actually a garbage collector. A Guru removes garbage, i.e., ignorance. Now, why are you bothered with how I handle the garbage? Just give it to me and be happy. I know how to process them! How do I appear to you? Fine, isn't it!
Q: Would you consider becoming an advisor of the government if they were more forthcoming?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, all of you should work together to ensure that such a government is formed. I keep giving advice, but some people don't listen to it immediately, they listen to it later. That's also good.
Q: What is the meaning of the rising sun and two swans in the logo of the Art of Living?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When the VM building was constructed, what happened is that there was a satsang in Mumbai where there were swans. Someone got the swans from Mumbai and kept it here. Now, when there are swans, it needs water, so we constructed a fountain.
Then someone else brought the Nandi (Bull). They had ordered it for a temple in America but somehow it could not make it there. So it was brought here.
Next, somebody brought a Garuda (Eagle). It is a one ton Garuda brought from Indonesia.
I suddenly realized this very recently that all the 3 Vahanas (Vehicles) have automatically come in front of the Guru Peetha. This has happened due to Divine will, otherwise why would someone want to bring a Swan here? That means that the Guru Tattva can travel by water, land or air to reach and protect you. Whatever transformation is needed in your life is possible.
It is not that someone just brought them here. There is a reason behind it. We had never thought about getting all these here. All of them started coming one after the other.
That means there is Truth in the Peetha.
Q: I always get negative thoughts. No matter how much we try to control them, they keep increasing.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: At least now you have realized that they increase if you try to control them. Don't try to control them. Embrace them.
Q: Nowadays, the divorce rate has increased. What is your advice to maintain a harmonious relationship?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let everyone do the Art of Living course.
Couples must participate in this together. Not just once but at least once in 3 months or 6 months. You will observe that all the bitterness goes away an attitude of service arises. If they are busy in seva and celebration, when will they get the time to fight?
Q: Guruji, can you please speak about Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Gyana Yoga? Which path do we choose?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: What do you like?
(Answer: Bhakti)
How did you know you like Bhakti? Through Gyan (Knowledge).
Now after you know that you like it, will you sit quiet?
You will attempt to obtain it. That is Karma Yoga. So with one the rest also comes along.
Q: When we are in the satsang, the mind is calm and centered. However, when we go back, the mind gets distracted. Why is that?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That’s natural. That is to remind you to keep coming back to satsangs. When you keep the company of good people the mind changes accordingly. When you keep the company of bad people, the mind naturally goes towards that.
Q: Can I learn through a CD?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No. Learn through a teacher first. You can later practice it by yourself. You can do meditation through a CD, but not the Kriya. That is why we have made many meditation CD's available.
Q: I read in your book that Radha was much older to Krishna and she was already married. The love between Radha and Krishna is celebrated. How is this acceptable for a married woman?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: In those days it was accepted. Draupadi was also accepted.
Laws change from place to place and time to time. So you cannot have all the Dwapara yuga laws today. Eve teasing was permitted in those days, but today it is an offence.
Take the good things from every age.
There have been problems in every age. There have been weak points in every time of history.
Q: When I sit for meditation, the guilt of the wrong doings that I have knowingly or unknowingly committed torments me.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just surrender them. Know that I am here to take care of you. Drop all your botherations and be at peace.
Remember that you are innocent in the present moment. You may have done something wrong in the past, but have the faith that you are innocent in the present moment.
Q: It is said that the path of Yoga should be followed under the guidance of a Guru. Is it possible to learn like Ekalavya, who was not initiated by Dronacharya, but accepted Dronacharya as his Guru?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, you can. Once you have learnt something from the Guru, then the picture of the Guru is enough.
Q: When we are on the path of knowledge, how do we define the limits of fulfillment?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Wherever the mind can go, that is its jurisdiction. When a desire gets fulfilled, the mind goes away from it.
For example, if you want an umbrella, that is the area of desire. Once you get the umbrella, why would you think about the umbrella? Till you get the umbrella, the mind looks for it. Once you get what you desire, the mind moves away from it. This is a natural tendency of the mind. The mind thus keeps wandering from one desire to another.
In the path of knowledge, whatever is needed for us will come by itself.
Q: We say that Guru is a Garbage Collector. We give our thoughts, emotions and worries to you. What do you do with it? How are you?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is not that Guru is actually a garbage collector. A Guru removes garbage, i.e., ignorance. Now, why are you bothered with how I handle the garbage? Just give it to me and be happy. I know how to process them! How do I appear to you? Fine, isn't it!
Q: Would you consider becoming an advisor of the government if they were more forthcoming?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, all of you should work together to ensure that such a government is formed. I keep giving advice, but some people don't listen to it immediately, they listen to it later. That's also good.
Q: What is the meaning of the rising sun and two swans in the logo of the Art of Living?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When the VM building was constructed, what happened is that there was a satsang in Mumbai where there were swans. Someone got the swans from Mumbai and kept it here. Now, when there are swans, it needs water, so we constructed a fountain.
Then someone else brought the Nandi (Bull). They had ordered it for a temple in America but somehow it could not make it there. So it was brought here.
Next, somebody brought a Garuda (Eagle). It is a one ton Garuda brought from Indonesia.
I suddenly realized this very recently that all the 3 Vahanas (Vehicles) have automatically come in front of the Guru Peetha. This has happened due to Divine will, otherwise why would someone want to bring a Swan here? That means that the Guru Tattva can travel by water, land or air to reach and protect you. Whatever transformation is needed in your life is possible.
It is not that someone just brought them here. There is a reason behind it. We had never thought about getting all these here. All of them started coming one after the other.
That means there is Truth in the Peetha.
Q: I always get negative thoughts. No matter how much we try to control them, they keep increasing.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: At least now you have realized that they increase if you try to control them. Don't try to control them. Embrace them.
Q: Nowadays, the divorce rate has increased. What is your advice to maintain a harmonious relationship?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let everyone do the Art of Living course.
Couples must participate in this together. Not just once but at least once in 3 months or 6 months. You will observe that all the bitterness goes away an attitude of service arises. If they are busy in seva and celebration, when will they get the time to fight?
Q: Guruji, can you please speak about Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Gyana Yoga? Which path do we choose?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: What do you like?
(Answer: Bhakti)
How did you know you like Bhakti? Through Gyan (Knowledge).
Now after you know that you like it, will you sit quiet?
You will attempt to obtain it. That is Karma Yoga. So with one the rest also comes along.
Q: When we are in the satsang, the mind is calm and centered. However, when we go back, the mind gets distracted. Why is that?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That’s natural. That is to remind you to keep coming back to satsangs. When you keep the company of good people the mind changes accordingly. When you keep the company of bad people, the mind naturally goes towards that.
Q: Can I learn through a CD?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No. Learn through a teacher first. You can later practice it by yourself. You can do meditation through a CD, but not the Kriya. That is why we have made many meditation CD's available.
Q: I read in your book that Radha was much older to Krishna and she was already married. The love between Radha and Krishna is celebrated. How is this acceptable for a married woman?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: In those days it was accepted. Draupadi was also accepted.
Laws change from place to place and time to time. So you cannot have all the Dwapara yuga laws today. Eve teasing was permitted in those days, but today it is an offence.
Take the good things from every age.
There have been problems in every age. There have been weak points in every time of history.
Q: When I sit for meditation, the guilt of the wrong doings that I have knowingly or unknowingly committed torments me.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just surrender them. Know that I am here to take care of you. Drop all your botherations and be at peace.
Remember that you are innocent in the present moment. You may have done something wrong in the past, but have the faith that you are innocent in the present moment.
Q: It is said that the path of Yoga should be followed under the guidance of a Guru. Is it possible to learn like Ekalavya, who was not initiated by Dronacharya, but accepted Dronacharya as his Guru?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, you can. Once you have learnt something from the Guru, then the picture of the Guru is enough.
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