Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
What do I do in this lifetime, so that I am not forced to take birth in the next lifetime and I can come with my own wish?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Just be content!
What do I do in this lifetime, so that I am not forced to take birth in the next lifetime and I can come with my own wish?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Just be content!
In the Rig Veda, there is reference to Som. What is this Som?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
There is fire element in the base chakra. Do you know, whenever you are eating food, the brain sends some signals and enzymes get created in the body? Do you know about it? Soma is that cooling fluid which is generated from top chakra. Life is a combination of Soma and Fire, the cool and the hot. There is the fire element in the Mooladhara Chakra, Swadisthana Chakra, Manipura Chakra and sometimes in the Anahata chakra also.
Sometimes we say that 'I have fire burning in my heart', isn’t it? So, in these 4 lower chakra’s the fire element is dominant. And the upper three chakras have the cooling element dominant. If you see, it is said that the third eye which is related to anger, has fire element dominating. We never say that we have feeling of fire in our throats. When we feel sad or very grateful the throat gets choked. So Somras is the fluid which is released from the brain and flows downward in the body, and the fire element rises upwards from the lower chakras. They meet at the Anahata (Heart) chakra and that is what is called Agnistoma. This is what is the essence of the Vedas - the technique of meditation that creates equilibrium between the hot and the cold, which creates a positive balance.
In the state elections, the local parties have won with the exception of Assam. What do you have to say about the trend of local parties winning the elections?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
They know the local situations and perhaps they have good connectivity with people. It is the connectivity which matters. And it is the leader who matters. Whether it is local party or national party, that doesn't matter. What really matters is how the candidate connects with the people. That seems to be happening with some people and not so much with some others.
How come good people remain silent and bad people make a lot of noise? Is this a quality of the time we are living in?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
No. The voice of good people should be heard loud and clear. Good people should also make noise. You should raise your voice. Raise voice against injustice, You must raise your voice.
After a desire is fulfilled, we feel content. How to be in a state of contentment even before the desire is fulfilled?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you have the confidence that your desire will be fulfilled, then you can be content. But this is not easy, it is difficult.
So when you have a desire, either you have the faith that it will get fulfilled, or have a feeling, "I don't mind if it happens now or later or if it never happens". This sense of ease or witness for one's own desire is most preferable. This is called Stitha Pragna, where your consciousness is established. Then you are not feverish about the desire. Then it is no longer a desire, but just an intention.
Everybody is scared of death. What should we do to reach a state where we can accept death happily?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Now be with the life, we will see about death later, when it comes. When there is devotion, knowledge and meditation, all these fears drop. Look at all the Gods, they are all depicted in Abhayahasta mudra (position of the hand gesturing reassurance). They are giving you this message, “Don't be scared. I am there”.
In Puranas it is said, “You will be punished for your sins”. Then why do we need to take rebirth to pay for sins and karma?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t worry, you come and sit in satsang, that is good enough. Every sin is washed away. Remembering the god washes away all the sins. The more you read the Puranas the more confused you will get, that’s why in the Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna said ‘’Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja” - you leave everything and take refuge in me. Remembering this truth is enough.
When women don’t have the right to take Gayatri initiation because of menstruation, then why are you giving this initiation in Upanayanam?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Who said that they have no right? That is not written anywhere. Everybody can do Gayatri japa, there are no such boundaries. All these restrictions came in middle ages. In ancient times, there were no such things. Goddess is only Gayatri. The upholder of the Gayatri mantra is the Mother Divine (female energy). During menstruation cycle, Agnihotra should not be done, but remaining days, it can be done.
In Puranas it is said, “You will be punished for your sins”. Then why do we need to take rebirth to pay for sins and karma?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Don’t worry, you come and sit in satsang, that is good enough. Every sin is washed away. Remembering the god washes away all the sins. The more read you the Puranas the more confused you will get, that’s why in the Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna said ‘’Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja” - you leave everything and take refuge in me. Remembering this truth is enough.