Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Gurudev, if one is content then how can quest for spirituality arise? Is contentment relevant only to the materialistic aspect of life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There are levels of contentment. Frustration cannot take you anywhere, if it leads you anywhere at all, it leads you to more frustration! To get out of frustration, you need wisdom. And if wisdom doesn’t give you contentment, then it is no wisdom at all. Even a drop of wisdom should bring you contentment.
Contentment does not mean lethargy or lack of enthusiasm. Unfortunately, we think contentment is a sort of a dull state of peace; that is not the case. Contentment is not opposed to dynamism or the spirit of enquiry. The spirit of enquiry is not necessarily frustration or lack of satisfaction. You can be content and still be in quest of the highest; that is possible!
Gurudev, can you please talk about the chintamani in the center of the brain, and the tip of the nose, where the subtle body is connected to the physical body?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Scientists say that the tip of the nose has a lot of information; we have not yet been able to process all of it. Any knowledge that you get, should pass through the test of scientific methodology, and that includes spirituality too. Scientific methodology simply means going through a logical, sequential understanding, and then coming to a conclusion. Once you get to the conclusion, you still have to keep an open mind because there are many possibilities.
Where is chintamani? The ancient scriptures have said that there is a point in the center of the skull, perhaps, just below the hypothalamus. Hypothalamus is a point that controls the entire body; all the voluntary and involuntary activities in our system. This is what they meant by chintamani, the spot which scientists have called hypothalamus in the skull. You can draw parallels because there is such a huge gap of time and language, which has almost made it impossible to say this is it. For e.g., all the chakras that have been described in the Yogic texts somewhere correspond to our endocrine system. Hence, you can say it is very similar.
Gurudev, is it possible to raise our awareness to that level where we know all things at all times?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
A lawyer has so many books on his shelf that he has studied, he doesn’t have to keep everything in his head. Whenever he needs any information, he picks up that book, isn’t it? Similarly, suppose you are a mathematics professor, you don’t have to keep all the formulae in your memory all the time. When you want Trigonometry or Algebra, at that time you take it; you only focus your attention and pick that knowledge with the memory. It is the same thing with knowledge. All knowledge is available as a possibility, but it depends on our ability to pick what we can. In order to do this, you need to have the ability for intellectual analysis and intuition.
Intuitive ability will help you get access to subjects which you have not intellectually acquired. For every innovation, you need both (intellect and intuition). It is not enough if you have just studied, and have intellectual abilities. For innovation, you need an intuitive insight as well. That intuitive insight comes when you empty your mind a few times every day.
I have come here far from our home to study, but I feel lonely. I have friends. Still, I feel something is missing. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You have asked the right question. How many of you feel lonely here? Raise your hands. (Many in the audience raise their hands). So many of you are feeling lonely? Then, you definitely must do the Happiness Program. Meditate and work towards eliminating the loneliness of others. If so many people are feeling lonely, then why don't you get together and talk to each other? That will bring you a great sense of belongingness.
Understand one thing, as long as you are working towards building a career, don't get into developing any long-term relationships. If you fall in love with someone, then your studies will suffer. You are young right now. First, make a strong career for yourself, and then you will get good friends and company. If you have a weak career, then your friend circle will also be similar. While you are here, focus completely on your career, and keep celebrating, participating in events, music, and dance.
All those of you who are from outstation, exhibit your talent, your regional dance, music, and drama collectively. We can have a national cultural festival here. There is so much talent here, which comes from far away; you can really spread and share what you have with others. If you do yoga and meditation, it will eliminate your loneliness, and you will have a sense of belongingness.
I travel to so many places in the world. I never feel that I have come to someone else’s place. Wherever I go, I become one with them. Similarly, you have come here, see what you can learn from this place. If you go to see, Kota provides for food, shelter, clothes, and enthusiasm. In every house in India, there is a stone from Kota. People wear clothes made in Kota and eat kachoris (fried, stuffed food) from Kota.
Gurudev, I tend to think a lot about my future, my exams and their outcome and it always leads me to depression. How do I come out of this compulsive thinking?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Know that every failure is a step towards success. Do you know that all those people who are now leading large corporate houses had suffered many failures in their early days? The ones who have started some of these large IT companies, in the early days, they were unable to get jobs, they underwent many difficulties and hardships. Now look at them, they are employing lakhs of people. So never underestimate your potential. If you have not done well in class one time, it is alright; know that something better is waiting for you. Remember this, ‘Something very good is going to happen to me!’
I want you to take back three things from here:
1. Only the best will happen to me.
2. Stay away from all types of addictions; this is not the age to get addicted to anything.
3. Be crazy about something in life; either arts, music, sports or social work. Many youngsters should aspire to be in politics also. Vasundharaji, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, was just telling me that she needs a lot of talented youth. Do you like the idea? Be leaders, movers and shakers in the world.
Today, across the world, Indian youth are getting new types of opportunities. You should learn a lot of skills, not just education; develop your personality; we will open avenues for you throughout the world. In every country, you can get good opportunities.
Gurudev, is it necessary to have faith in God? Does God really exist? Have you seen God?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
God is not a thing that drops from the top and says, “Child, what do you want, I am very happy with you”. He is never going to say this! That substance, from which everything is made, is God. That in which everything is sustained, is God.Before understanding God, ask yourself, ‘Who am I? Where was I before?’ These questions will sharpen your intellect; and be patient. If someone tries to answer your question, don't listen to their answer.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, absolutely, spirituality is meant for everyone. We are made up of body, mind, and spirit. The body needs amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals. Similarly, what does the mind need? It needs happiness, love, creativity; all this is part of spirituality. Creativity, enthusiasm, respect, love, joy, happiness; don’t you want this? Anything that brings you closer to yourself, that uplifts your spirit, that makes you feel one with everybody is spirituality.
Gurudev, is it important to meditate? Do all the people who meditate become successful?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Absolutely important to meditate! When you meditate, you have a healthy body and mind, your intellect becomes sharp and memory becomes very strong.
India’s meditation has been taken up by so many universities abroad - Stanford, Oxford, Harvard. Do you know that now they call pulling the ears super brain yoga? When you meditate daily for some time, circulation in the head and the brain improves, and even the grey matter increases. A lot of research has been done recently which states that meditation is very important. Not only does stress get eliminated, but the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) also increases.
Gurudev, today you ignored me again; why don’t you want to look at me?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Let me tell you a secret; you are very special. I ignore only very, very, special people, otherwise I attend to everybody.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You should sit and watch the breath; there are so many things about it. What you do on the Advanced Program is already very helpful and useful; the Hollow and Empty Meditations are about polishing and observing the breath.
The breath has been burnt down due to excess usage of our body externally; too much food, sex, sleep (even lack of it), too much watching; too much of anything burns down the Prana. And when the Prana is burnt, then you can’t find yourself; it is as though there is a crowd inside, and you feel you don’t exist there. The purpose of all these different meditations that you are doing is to help your Prana become healthier, stronger and tangible. How many of you feel that your Prana is more tangible? (Many in the audience raise their hands) . When you do a little bit of meditation, at least you can find it flowing in one line, otherwise it is all broken, and you can’t find it at all!
Sometimes, time can also do this. At some specific times, celestially, suddenly you feel a cloud of negative energy getting onto you. You feel a sense of heaviness, dullness, and the brain doesn’t seem to function. That heaviness, restriction, contraction, and the feelings of getting solidified and constrained are associated with such energy. Sometimes one would feel like getting it out, but you don’t know how to do it! How many of you have had such an experience? (Some raise their hands) .
A few minutes of chanting, pranayama, and I don’t think there is anything better than the Sudarshan Kriya can help you get it out. Sudarshan Kriya can quickly put you back on track. Ujjayi breathing, meditation and chanting also helps. And your connection to the Master helps; whomsoever you think of, that’s what your brain immediately catches on. You can think of a very negative person, immediately your whole psychology and brain cells start behaving like them. Hasn’t this happened to you? How many of you have experienced it? That is why enlightened masters are called pratah smarami in Sanskrit, which means they have to be remembered in the morning as soon as you wake up, so that your whole day, your whole system is tuned to them. Good or wise people are called pratah smarami, worth remembering in the morning. The reason one remembers them first thing in the morning is because the whole day goes with what you start with.