This is continued from the previous Secrets of Meditation post …
Q: Do you need to set an alarm to come out of meditation?
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No, usually not because it can be too jarring.
But if you keep an intention that I will meditate for 20 minutes or half an hour then it happens without an alarm. You have an inbuilt clock inside that works with your intention.
Have you tried this "inside" mechanism? Just keep an intention, I have to wake up at 5 o’clock in the morning and right at that time your eyes will open. Use your in-built clock!
I would recommend beginners meditate for 20 minutes or half an hour, not more. It is not possible to sit longer. If you sit longer you will get restless and open your eyes. Don’t force yourself to sit for too long; 20 minutes minimum and half an hour maximum.
Q: Why do I feel hurt when I do meditation?
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Do you know why you feel hurt? It is because meditation is kindling that space which is love inside you. It is bringing up the love from deep within you.
Love is connected with hurt; do you see what I am saying?
So you may feel sorrow, you may feel some emotions come up and tears well up. Don’t judge them at that time, just be with it.
If it becomes a little too unbearable then take some long deep breaths. Do some pranayama, some breathing exercises at that moment and that will have a soothing effect.
Q: How to balance life while working for a cause?
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, that is a challenge.
When you intend it, when you think it, and when you say it that you can do both, though they appear to be conflicting, you will succeed in your job and succeed in your cause.
‘I have a cause that is greater than my job’, when you see this then you can do both.
If your passion for the cause overtakes the concern about your job, then you say, 'I throw away my job, I will pursue my cause.’
It is a tough road to tread on but it yields a lot of results. It is more fulfilling in that sense.
Any big achievement needs some sacrifice somewhere.
If you want to be in a comfort zone then balance both ends. But if you say, ‘I don’t care too much about comfort. This is my compelling passion and I want to take up a greater cause’, then you need to jump in.
Q: How does singing help in meditation?
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Singing does help. Singing creates a vibrant atmosphere and increases the prana that helps you to calm the mind and go deeper in meditation. So singing is a component.
Do you know that 70% of English language is Sanskrit? How many of you have heard about this?
Sister is swasa; daughter is duhita; go is gachchha. The root of English language is Sanskrit.
Q: Why has He created life?
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Why should He not create life?
He has created life so that you could ask this question. If he would have not created, you could not have asked this question!
I don’t know. I have no idea. I think God needs better advisor though. He made things too complicated.
Based on a series of talks entitled ‘Secrets of meditation’ given by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on April 22, 2012, California. These talks have been made into knowledge sheets.
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