Tue, 22/05/2012
Bangalore, India
Dear Guruji, in the Yogasara Upanishad you have said that the Divine is impersonal. Guru is both, personal and Divine. Can you tell us more about this? How is God impersonal?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, it is both. Like you are form yet you are formless. Your body has a form but does your mind have a form? No. Similarly this manifests universe is a form of God and the unmanifest consciousness, space, is also a formless form.
Gurudev, you have said in the Upanishads that only when the soul chooses to reveal itself does one get enlightened. So where does longing come in the whole picture. Something in me longs to know itself but will not reveal itself. Why?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, you know when the fruit ripens its color also changes. An apple when it becomes ripe its color changes. Like papaya, it becomes yellow color when it is ripe. Like that longing is the sign of the ripening of consciousness.
Guruji the soul is one, then what carries individual karma and takes it from one body to another?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, there are two levels of atma, one is Sarvatma and the other is Jivatma. Like inside a balloon also there is air but the air is encapsulated, right? That is Jiva. So the impressions form the Jiva, but the air is the same that is outside or inside the balloon.
Dear Guruji, everything has its side effects. What are the side effects of enlightenment?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is no side effect but it is a straight effect. It impacts straight away.
Dear Guruji please tell us what is Dark Energy. You mentioned it in one of your recent satsangs. From the explanations on Google, it is hard to understand.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is a whole lot of knowledge about dark energy. The whole universe is full of dark energy. When they say the sun is round, that is because all around the sun is the dark energy that is keeping it round. So all the stars, planets exist in the dark energy.
Like the sky is dark but the stars in the sky are the points of light. We think only that these stars are objects, but science says no, it is the space between the stars that is full of energy like a thick ocean, that is dark energy. You do not see it but the energy between the stars is what they call dark energy.
That is exactly what Shiva Tatva is. Our ancient people knew this and called it Shiva Tatva – Sarvam Sivamayam Jagat. The whole universe is held by Shiva Tatva.
Like the sky is dark but the stars in the sky are the points of light. We think only that these stars are objects, but science says no, it is the space between the stars that is full of energy like a thick ocean, that is dark energy. You do not see it but the energy between the stars is what they call dark energy.
That is exactly what Shiva Tatva is. Our ancient people knew this and called it Shiva Tatva – Sarvam Sivamayam Jagat. The whole universe is held by Shiva Tatva.
In Ashtavakra Gita you spoke about why Mahatma Gandhi has such a violent death. Could you please speak about why Jesus has to die on the cross?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Well, I do not think we need to delve into it. Why? What happened and when?
There is only one cause for the universe, and for all happenings and that is the Param Karana Karanaya – the cause of all causes – the Shiva Tatva, the Divine will. Let us keep it at that.
There is only one cause for the universe, and for all happenings and that is the Param Karana Karanaya – the cause of all causes – the Shiva Tatva, the Divine will. Let us keep it at that.
Who commits sin or karma? Is it the soul or the body, and if the soul commits sin then why does the body have to suffer?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Now come on; don’t get into all these technicalities and confusion.
If you are interested in knowing then do research, who am I? Do I have karma or not? If there is karma, then where is it? All this you have to sit and think.
If I answer you, my answer will never satisfy you because it will not be on the level of experience.
So you will listen to me and then after a few days you will get another doubt, and then again and again you simply go on the same trip. Best is to be silent, go deep in meditation and for some of these questions, the answers will be revealed as an experience, naturally.
If you are interested in knowing then do research, who am I? Do I have karma or not? If there is karma, then where is it? All this you have to sit and think.
If I answer you, my answer will never satisfy you because it will not be on the level of experience.
So you will listen to me and then after a few days you will get another doubt, and then again and again you simply go on the same trip. Best is to be silent, go deep in meditation and for some of these questions, the answers will be revealed as an experience, naturally.
Gurudev, even after putting maximum efforts why do I fail? What should we do in these situations?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you really want what you are aiming at, hold on to it. But if you feel it is worthless putting so much effort then move on to something else which is much easier.
Once there was a Prime Minister in India. He was a Prime Minister only for a few months.
So this gentleman, he invited me to his farm house outside Delhi. So I said okay and I went there.
When I was there, he said, ‘Guruji, for 40 years I did everything, I played good and dirty games to achieve this seat, to be the Prime Minister. Now I am the Prime Minister and I find that, for this seat I struggled all my life, and now I find it meaningless. Before I could sleep here happily, but now there are 50 policemen guarding and I can’t even sit outside my own home. It was a futile struggle all my life.’
I said, ‘To understand this, it took you so many years. Anyways, at least now you realize. Many people do not even realize this.’
What is happening with all these dictators in North Africa, they are all killing thousands of people just to hold on to power. This is stupidity. At least this gentleman had the sense to realize that it is all futile. I told him, ‘You are lucky in that sense.’
So like that, if you want to really achieve something then put all your life into achieving it. But if you find something else which is better to put your energy into, go in that direction.
The other day a youth came to me and said that he had been appearing for his CA exams and he has failed seven times and his parents want him to appear again.
I said, ‘Why do you want to do that? You have failed seven times! Do you hope to pass this time?’
He said, ‘No, I do not have any hope of passing.’
So when you have no hope of passing then why waste your time, do some business. Get on with some job. That is a more intelligent thing to do.
Once there was a Prime Minister in India. He was a Prime Minister only for a few months.
So this gentleman, he invited me to his farm house outside Delhi. So I said okay and I went there.
When I was there, he said, ‘Guruji, for 40 years I did everything, I played good and dirty games to achieve this seat, to be the Prime Minister. Now I am the Prime Minister and I find that, for this seat I struggled all my life, and now I find it meaningless. Before I could sleep here happily, but now there are 50 policemen guarding and I can’t even sit outside my own home. It was a futile struggle all my life.’
I said, ‘To understand this, it took you so many years. Anyways, at least now you realize. Many people do not even realize this.’
What is happening with all these dictators in North Africa, they are all killing thousands of people just to hold on to power. This is stupidity. At least this gentleman had the sense to realize that it is all futile. I told him, ‘You are lucky in that sense.’
So like that, if you want to really achieve something then put all your life into achieving it. But if you find something else which is better to put your energy into, go in that direction.
The other day a youth came to me and said that he had been appearing for his CA exams and he has failed seven times and his parents want him to appear again.
I said, ‘Why do you want to do that? You have failed seven times! Do you hope to pass this time?’
He said, ‘No, I do not have any hope of passing.’
So when you have no hope of passing then why waste your time, do some business. Get on with some job. That is a more intelligent thing to do.
Gurudev, what is the significance of chanting the name of God? In Maharashtra, it is said that if one keeps chanting the name of Vittala with all his heart, he gets all the benefits of doing yoga.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
We do it every evening in satsang, anyway! We are chanting the name of the Divine.
Yes, as you by keeping on doing japa (chanting) you come to a state of ajapa (practice of japa without the mental effort normally needed to repeat the mantra), you become calm and go beyond the chant, and beyond the name into a state of Samadhi. This is called Bhaava Samadhi.
Bhaav Samadhi is a part, an aspect that should also be practiced. But without knowledge, bhakti (devotion) does not mature. Knowledge and devotion should go together.
Yes, as you by keeping on doing japa (chanting) you come to a state of ajapa (practice of japa without the mental effort normally needed to repeat the mantra), you become calm and go beyond the chant, and beyond the name into a state of Samadhi. This is called Bhaava Samadhi.
Bhaav Samadhi is a part, an aspect that should also be practiced. But without knowledge, bhakti (devotion) does not mature. Knowledge and devotion should go together.
Gurudev, is egg vegetarian or non-vegetarian?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Sitting in the satsang and discussing eggs, I do not think that is appropriate.
Drop eggs, talk about the universe (Bramhaand). Here we discuss the body and the universe, not eggs. You can look up in Google on what are the benefits and disadvantages of eggs.
Just yesterday, I heard from a doctor, who has done considerable research that one should gaze at the sun for 10 minutes every day. It is said that our eyes have some unique cells which absorb the solar energy and produces blood in our body. It is something like photosynthesis. By trapping the rays of the sun, plants and trees convert it into chlorophyll.
The same substance from the sun light is absorbed by the blood vessels in our eyes, and converted into blood in our body. It was a very nice presentation. So, to purify blood or increase production, gaze at the sun – this is also what our ancestors used to say!
What is the meaning of Sandhyavandanam? You stand facing the rising sun with water in your hands, and keep gazing at the sun until all the water drips out of your hands. You do this 3 times and that takes around 10 minutes time. Then you chant the Gayatri Mantra while gazing at the sun.
In the same way, do this in the evening as well.
When you look at the sun, energy transmission happens in the body.
It also said that we should take more of raw food, raw vegetables, fruits and juices; these are what one should have. 80% of our food should be raw and 20% should be cooked. And they also gave examples of several people who had brain tumor, cancer, and who got cured just by having raw food for three weeks and sun gazing.
Of course recovery happens with Sudarshan Kriya as well.
Also about cream which we put on our bodies, if you eat those creams, you will die because it has many harmful chemicals. This is the same cream which our body absorbs. It goes into our blood stream directly. So we should never put anything on the skin which we cannot eat.
That is why any cream besides Ayurvedic cream is not worth applying. The ingredients of rat poison are also added into creams, so if it is eaten one would die. When applied to the skin, one dies slowly.
In the earlier days, we used to apply mud-packs, cream (from milk), besan (lentil flour) and turmeric. We used to use all these to keep the skin clean. This is what we should do.
I will look into this. We should develop some more products produced from besan and such things which can also be eaten and applied to the body. I am going to speak to my doctor and prepare such a cream that does not contain any toxins.
Drop eggs, talk about the universe (Bramhaand). Here we discuss the body and the universe, not eggs. You can look up in Google on what are the benefits and disadvantages of eggs.
Just yesterday, I heard from a doctor, who has done considerable research that one should gaze at the sun for 10 minutes every day. It is said that our eyes have some unique cells which absorb the solar energy and produces blood in our body. It is something like photosynthesis. By trapping the rays of the sun, plants and trees convert it into chlorophyll.
The same substance from the sun light is absorbed by the blood vessels in our eyes, and converted into blood in our body. It was a very nice presentation. So, to purify blood or increase production, gaze at the sun – this is also what our ancestors used to say!
What is the meaning of Sandhyavandanam? You stand facing the rising sun with water in your hands, and keep gazing at the sun until all the water drips out of your hands. You do this 3 times and that takes around 10 minutes time. Then you chant the Gayatri Mantra while gazing at the sun.
In the same way, do this in the evening as well.
When you look at the sun, energy transmission happens in the body.
It also said that we should take more of raw food, raw vegetables, fruits and juices; these are what one should have. 80% of our food should be raw and 20% should be cooked. And they also gave examples of several people who had brain tumor, cancer, and who got cured just by having raw food for three weeks and sun gazing.
Of course recovery happens with Sudarshan Kriya as well.
Also about cream which we put on our bodies, if you eat those creams, you will die because it has many harmful chemicals. This is the same cream which our body absorbs. It goes into our blood stream directly. So we should never put anything on the skin which we cannot eat.
That is why any cream besides Ayurvedic cream is not worth applying. The ingredients of rat poison are also added into creams, so if it is eaten one would die. When applied to the skin, one dies slowly.
In the earlier days, we used to apply mud-packs, cream (from milk), besan (lentil flour) and turmeric. We used to use all these to keep the skin clean. This is what we should do.
I will look into this. We should develop some more products produced from besan and such things which can also be eaten and applied to the body. I am going to speak to my doctor and prepare such a cream that does not contain any toxins.
Does the awakening of the vivek not make humans sensitive? If yes then why do so many knowledgeable people behave in unwanted ways?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Listen, in this world there are all kinds of people. There are good people, there are mediocre people and there are hopeless people, and you have to manage with everybody. The hopeless will make your resolution stronger, the mediocre will bring out skills from within you, and the good people will keep supporting you.
So you have to manage all these three kinds of people.
So you have to manage all these three kinds of people.
When I do not know much about liberation how will I get the desire to be liberated?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you feel the bondage only then will you desire for liberation. When you are happy and you do not feel any bondage, then the desire for liberation will not come.
One who does not wish for happiness gets liberation, and one who does not even desire for liberation, receives love.
Those who are in love are not bothered about liberation. A lover thinks what is liberation? I do not need it. The Gopis used to say this, ‘We do not need any liberation; we do not need any knowledge, just being in love we are happy.’
The nature of love itself is liberation.
One who does not wish for happiness gets liberation, and one who does not even desire for liberation, receives love.
Those who are in love are not bothered about liberation. A lover thinks what is liberation? I do not need it. The Gopis used to say this, ‘We do not need any liberation; we do not need any knowledge, just being in love we are happy.’
The nature of love itself is liberation.
Gurudev, what is the relationship of dharma (righteousness) with God?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
With what does God not have a relationship, tell me this? God has a relationship with righteousness (dharma) as well as unrighteousness (adharma). To destroy adharma and to uplift dharma is also God’s responsibility. So God is related to everything.
In the same way, in the ritual of pooja it is said, ‘Dharmaye namaha, Adharmaye namaha’. We say namah to both. This world is a mixture of righteousness and unrighteousness, and God has a relationship with both – to destroy unrighteousness, and establish righteousness.
In the same way, in the ritual of pooja it is said, ‘Dharmaye namaha, Adharmaye namaha’. We say namah to both. This world is a mixture of righteousness and unrighteousness, and God has a relationship with both – to destroy unrighteousness, and establish righteousness.
What is Shiva Tatva?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you say, not this, not this, not this, and discard everything what remains that is Shiv Tatva.
Gurudev, I invested a lot of money in an online business and I lost all of it. Ever since, I have lost interest in satsang. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Well, see, everything will have to go one day, you also have to go, I also have to go. Usually we go first, and our business goes afterwards. This time business went first, eventually we will also go! What is gone, forget it; move on. When you were born, you were not born with a business. When you were young, someone took care of you – they fed you, and helped you walk by holding your hand and put you to sleep. In the same way, in the future also someone will take care of you. Life will continue, drop all your worries and just keep going.
Yes, you will feel sad, whatever you earned in your life, you invested in something and it failed, it is natural that you will feel pained, but you have come to the right place to drop your pain.
When you are walking on the road, if there is dirt anywhere, do you stop there? What do you do? If you see dirt in front of you, will you stop there or step back? No, neither should one step back nor pause, instead taking a leap, one has to move forward even faster.
Yes, you will feel sad, whatever you earned in your life, you invested in something and it failed, it is natural that you will feel pained, but you have come to the right place to drop your pain.
When you are walking on the road, if there is dirt anywhere, do you stop there? What do you do? If you see dirt in front of you, will you stop there or step back? No, neither should one step back nor pause, instead taking a leap, one has to move forward even faster.
Where is the end to greed?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
In the burial ground; you can’t be greedy there.
It is unfortunate that greed has overtaken our society and the world in fact. Do not think corruption is only India specific. Wherever I go it is the same thing, corruption in Bulgaria, corruption in Russia, corruption in Ukraine; every country is suffering from corruption.
In Greece there is a tremendous amount of corruption, the country has drowned because of corruption. In many countries corruption is a problem, not just here in India.
It is unfortunate that greed has overtaken our society and the world in fact. Do not think corruption is only India specific. Wherever I go it is the same thing, corruption in Bulgaria, corruption in Russia, corruption in Ukraine; every country is suffering from corruption.
In Greece there is a tremendous amount of corruption, the country has drowned because of corruption. In many countries corruption is a problem, not just here in India.
Guruji what is Anahat Naad? How to produce it and what are its benefits?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The very meaning of Anahat Naad is that which cannot be produced from two objects, and arises spontaneously. Go deep in meditation, only in meditation can you hear it sometime. It is not necessary that everyone should hear it. Some might hear Anahat Naad, some might experience light, some might experience a presence – there are different ways of experiencing.
Gurudev, in our Hindu mythology it is said that this Earth is resting on the hood of a cobra, and when the cobra rises up, this entire Earth shakes. What is the secret behind this is.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
See there are two kinds of Earthly forces, one is Centripetal force and the other is Centrifugal force. The movement of these forces is not straight but they have a snake like movement. This fact was known to our ancestors. The Earth is not resting on a snake but by snake they mean Centripetal power, and that which is known as Centrifugal power. So, that fact has been explained by them in this form.
For example, Lord Shiva is sitting with a snake around his neck – what this implies is the state of meditation, where the eyes are closed giving the impression that the person is sleeping; but he is not asleep, he is alert within. To express this, a snake is shown around Lord Shiva’s neck. Otherwise, why would Lord Shiva wear a snake around his neck? He is the lord of the universe; could he not find anything else to wear? The Lord of the universe could wear a necklace of all different kind of things, why would he have a snake hanging from his neck? No, whatever our ancestors said, there are such profound mysteries hidden behind it.
In the same way, the Earth on Shesh Naag – naag implies Centripetal force. A snake never moves on a straight course, it makes curves as it slithers forward – this is known as Centripetal force. Centripetal force means that which will not go straight; and the Earth rotates on its axis and around the sun. So these are the 2 kinds of forces Centripetal and Centrifugal. This is what the ancient people have expressed in the form of a cobra.
And what is the cobra standing on? It is standing on a turtle, and a turtle symbolizes stability. This is very interesting!
Now it is also said that if the planet Jupiter (Guru) did not exist, the Earth could not have survived. What the planet Jupiter (Guru) does is, all the meteorites that come from outer space the planet Jupiter (Guru) draws them towards itself, giving protection to the Earth. There is such bombardment going on from outer space on Earth - meteorites, tiny celestial bodies – and what Jupiter does is, it draws them all towards itself and saves the Earth.
NASA has created a very beautiful illustration of this.
We had said that Guru is the guardian of the entire universe. So the planet was also given the same name Guru (Jupiter) because it protects the Earth.
For example, Lord Shiva is sitting with a snake around his neck – what this implies is the state of meditation, where the eyes are closed giving the impression that the person is sleeping; but he is not asleep, he is alert within. To express this, a snake is shown around Lord Shiva’s neck. Otherwise, why would Lord Shiva wear a snake around his neck? He is the lord of the universe; could he not find anything else to wear? The Lord of the universe could wear a necklace of all different kind of things, why would he have a snake hanging from his neck? No, whatever our ancestors said, there are such profound mysteries hidden behind it.
In the same way, the Earth on Shesh Naag – naag implies Centripetal force. A snake never moves on a straight course, it makes curves as it slithers forward – this is known as Centripetal force. Centripetal force means that which will not go straight; and the Earth rotates on its axis and around the sun. So these are the 2 kinds of forces Centripetal and Centrifugal. This is what the ancient people have expressed in the form of a cobra.
And what is the cobra standing on? It is standing on a turtle, and a turtle symbolizes stability. This is very interesting!
Now it is also said that if the planet Jupiter (Guru) did not exist, the Earth could not have survived. What the planet Jupiter (Guru) does is, all the meteorites that come from outer space the planet Jupiter (Guru) draws them towards itself, giving protection to the Earth. There is such bombardment going on from outer space on Earth - meteorites, tiny celestial bodies – and what Jupiter does is, it draws them all towards itself and saves the Earth.
NASA has created a very beautiful illustration of this.
We had said that Guru is the guardian of the entire universe. So the planet was also given the same name Guru (Jupiter) because it protects the Earth.
