Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
In the Ashtavakra Gita, even after Janaka asserts his realization, why does Ashtavakra continue speaking?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
For your benefit.What made you come up with Shakti Kriya? What is the role of Shakti Kriya and Sudarshan Kriya?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
They both have their different roles. Sudarshan Kriya is to do with the breath. Shakti Kriya just is to do only with the energy. But both of them bring completeness. One is a little more intense than the other at times.
Is there any way to study spirituality scientifically? I want to do that.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, spirituality is anyways scientific. What does science mean? Systematic, logical understanding which leads to something beyond the arena of the known. Here, science is exploring into the unknown through the known. Spirituality is exactly the same. That's why spirituality is where all religions connect and merge at one point.
There was only one Buddha but today, there are 32 sects of Buddhism. There was only one Jesus but today, there are 72 sects of Christianity. There was only one Prophet Mohammad and there are so many sects of Islam. And with Hinduism, you can't even count. So many sects are there.
The world is diverse. We must honour diversity. The people who say, "My religion is the best religion. It is better than yours", they are not scientific in their thinking. Something is basically wrong with them. This is the reason half the world is in the grip of terrorism because people think my religion is better than yours, and those people want everyone else to follow that religion. This is a problem. And what is the solution? Solution is to celebrate diversity, to see the common thread of all the religions. That is spirituality. This is meditation. It is not in conflict with anyone's religion, but it unites people across, and that is the simple thing that The Art of Living has been working toward for all these decades.
Nowadays, we see a lot of adulteration of food? What is to be done to prevent adulteration of food, grains and medicines?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
That is the reason The Art of Living has started organic food and medicines. We had no intentions of starting any medicines before. Its only when we saw that the medicines available were not pure, we thought, why don't we do it? At the lowest cost, make the best medicine available. We started with this intention and not with any profit motive. That's why we are going very slow. Since a long time, we are very particular about the quality.
You once said that there is no cure for the subtle ego. I am panicking now because I might have that condition. Is there hope or no hope?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is hope, don't worry. Don't label yourself -- 'I am a very doubting person. I am bad. I am hopeless'. This sort of labels we put on ourselves is detrimental to growth. First, acknowledge you don't know yourself. That itself takes you to a different platform.
What is the true dimension of yoga?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yoga is connecting with the truth. It is going beyond the constraints of the mind and connecting with what is, and that is truth.
In the Narayana Upanishad it says, "Narayana paro dyatha dyayanam Narayana para". What does this mean?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
‘Dyatha’ is also Narayana, and the one who is meditating is also Narayana. It is all Narayana - inside, outside and everywhere. This is seen in all the mantras of the Gods. For example, in Ganapati mantra ‘Artharvashirsha’ - it says, 'Lord Ganapati is present everywhere - behind me, in front of me, besides me, above me, below me, inside me and outside of me'. Similarly, Narayana is present everywhere, before, behind and in front. This was a way to meditate.
In earlier days, they used to keep an Idol or kalash (pot of water), worship it and settle within themselves. In the course of meditation they would start to feel the presence of Ganapati all around, inside, outside, above, below, in front and then this would take one into Samadhi. The main purpose of all this is to go into Samadhi.
Another aspect is that, when we engage with the outside world (through rituals), it creates positive vibrations within us and affects the atmosphere positively. The same results are obtained when Yagyas and poojas are performed. Therefore, these are the two aspects - firstly, to be established within oneself and to be in a state of Samadhi, and secondly - to purify vibrations and bring positivity in our behavior and the atmosphere.
In the Narayana Upanishad it says, "Narayana paro dyatha dyayanam Narayana para". What does this mean?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
‘Dyatha’ is also Narayana, and the one who is meditating is also Narayana. It is all Narayana - inside, outside and everywhere. This is seen in all the mantras of the Gods. For example, in Ganapati mantra ‘Artharvashirsha’ - it says, 'Lord Ganapati is present everywhere - behind me, in front of me, besides me, above me, below me, inside me and outside of me'. Similarly, Narayana is present everywhere, before, behind and in front. This was a way to meditate.
In earlier days, they used to keep an Idol or kalash (pot of water), worship it and settle within themselves. In the course of meditation they would start to feel the presence of Ganapati all around, inside, outside, above, below, in front and then this would take one into Samadhi. The main purpose of all this is to go into Samadhi.
Another aspect is that, when we engage with the outside world (through rituals), it creates positive vibrations within us and affects the atmosphere positively. The same results are obtained when Yagyas and poojas are performed. Therefore, these are the two aspects - firstly, to be established within oneself and to be in a state of Samadhi, and secondly - to purify vibrations and bring positivity in our behavior and the atmosphere.
Gurudev, it is said that there are 33 crore Devatas (Gods). Whom should I consider God and whom should I consider Guru?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There 33 crore Devatas, so what? They all belong to one God. It is your choice whomever you believe in. It is not for me to say. You do whatever feels right in your heart. It is your choice and my blessings.
Gurudev, how to do we stay untangled from material things, people and situations?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Once you have suffered, the very thought in you, of wanting to get untangled and remain unaffected, will help you get out it.