Sat, 11/19/2011 Afghanistan
Guruji with the help of Sudarshan Kriya and meditation I am able to be centered. But whenever I am not centered I get into anxiety and depression. How can I come out of this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You are going into depression because you want too much, too quickly, too soon, and there is no energy to get it. That could be the reason for depression.
See life from a broader perspective. If you listen to knowledge and live the knowledge, then you cannot be depressed. Listen to Ashtavakra Gita.
Anyone who has a little bit of dispassion cannot go into depression. Lack of dispassion is the cause of depression.
Pranayama, kriya and meditation will get you out of this.
Gurudev, please explain Opposite Values are Complimentary.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
In a movie there is a villain and there is a hero. Now because of the villain the hero becomes the hero.
Somebody had to lose for you win.
Just understand that much. You do not have to do anything with it, just listening is enough.
Gurudev, you tell us to shut the past. If we have to shut the past then why does our teacher teach us history?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
To shut the past you should have a past. How can you shut the past if you do not have it?
If you have to remove the wrapper of a chocolate, there should be wrapper on the chocolate. Only if there is a wrapper on the chocolate, can you remove it. So your teacher teaches you history so that you can listen and drop it.
If you have to remove the wrapper of a chocolate, there should be wrapper on the chocolate. Only if there is a wrapper on the chocolate, can you remove it. So your teacher teaches you history so that you can listen and drop it.
Gurudev, The only thing I find interesting is doing seva for The Art of Living. I want to be a full time Art of Living teacher but my family wants my financial support, so what to do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
First become a part time teacher. Teach one course a month or two courses a month for two hours in the evening.
So you can do both, become a teacher and do a job.
We have our own HR here; if you want a job we can help you get a job.
So you can do both, become a teacher and do a job.
We have our own HR here; if you want a job we can help you get a job.
Gurudev, my husband and I have a lot of difference of opinions because he is not spiritual and I am very spiritual. Most of the time he is not able to understand me, what should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Have patience and slowly inject spirituality into him. Do not suddenly demand from someone to become spiritual. You must give them time.
Guruji what commitments are required to continue our practice such as seva, satsang and sadhana. How can we stay more committed?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Just let it become your nature. If something is your nature, you do not need commitment. You need commitment when it is not your nature and when you want to cultivate it.
Know that it is your nature to come and sit in satsang. In the morning as soon as you wake up do some bhastrika and meditate; make it your nature.
Once you think it is your nature then you will continue to do it. Then you cannot be without it.
That is what happens when habits become so strong. One thinks it is in their nature, in their blood. One does not think it is a commitment to smoke cigarettes, but they think it is in their blood; their body needs it to survive.
So I want you to feel sadhana as your very nature, as part of you.
Know that it is your nature to come and sit in satsang. In the morning as soon as you wake up do some bhastrika and meditate; make it your nature.
Once you think it is your nature then you will continue to do it. Then you cannot be without it.
That is what happens when habits become so strong. One thinks it is in their nature, in their blood. One does not think it is a commitment to smoke cigarettes, but they think it is in their blood; their body needs it to survive.
So I want you to feel sadhana as your very nature, as part of you.
Gurudev, western people eat so much junk food and still so many inventions are happening there. We eat normal food still we do not invent anything. Why is it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
This is not the case. If you see, most of the Nobel scientists are vegetarian and they have very good eating habits. They eat fruits, vegetables, and are a lot more health conscious.
You do not have to follow everything of what everybody does. They may be great scientists but if they have some bad habits you must not think because of their bad habits they are great scientists. This is wrong thinking.
Some may be very wise in one field but totally unwise in another field.
You do not have to follow everything of what everybody does. They may be great scientists but if they have some bad habits you must not think because of their bad habits they are great scientists. This is wrong thinking.
Some may be very wise in one field but totally unwise in another field.
Gurudev, a lot of importance has been given to chanting the name of God. Why is that?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, everything is in the name.
If someone calls you a donkey, how do you feel? You don’t feel good.
When someone says you are very beautiful, just listening to that makes you feel good.
Similarly when we chant the Divine’s name, the life force in us goes up.
If someone calls you a donkey, how do you feel? You don’t feel good.
When someone says you are very beautiful, just listening to that makes you feel good.
Similarly when we chant the Divine’s name, the life force in us goes up.
If I do not understand anything in life, what to do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you do not understand anything in life, then just be happy and if you understand everything then also be happy. At least be happy.
Those who think they understand everything about life become very unhappy thinking they know everything. Do not be like that.
Who is more fortunate the blissed out or blessed?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You cannot be blissed out if you are not blessed.
My dear everything has its place. Eyes have its place, ears have its place; we do not need to go into comparisons.
You are riding a motor bike and you are wearing a shirt that has buttons. Just imagine all the buttons are gone while you are driving. What will happen? The shirt will fly to your face and you will hit something. It could cause a fatal accident.
So how important are the buttons on your shirt? It is as important as your own life. It can save your life!
My dear everything has its place. Eyes have its place, ears have its place; we do not need to go into comparisons.
You are riding a motor bike and you are wearing a shirt that has buttons. Just imagine all the buttons are gone while you are driving. What will happen? The shirt will fly to your face and you will hit something. It could cause a fatal accident.
So how important are the buttons on your shirt? It is as important as your own life. It can save your life!
Gurudev, I am confused about what choice I should make between two job opportunities that are seemingly the same. How do I know which one will be good for me in the long run?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I know you have a lot of confusion.
There is a Chinese proverb that says, ‘The best thing to do when you are so confused is to take a pillow and go to bed.’
When you are so confused any choice you make, you will think something else is better. So leave it to nature and go to bed. Then whatever falls into your lap that is what your choice is, just accept it.
This is what Chinese people do and they are doing well.
There is a Chinese proverb that says, ‘The best thing to do when you are so confused is to take a pillow and go to bed.’
When you are so confused any choice you make, you will think something else is better. So leave it to nature and go to bed. Then whatever falls into your lap that is what your choice is, just accept it.
This is what Chinese people do and they are doing well.
Gurudev, how can I be more consistent in my sadhana and my spiritual practices?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Sometimes at home you do not feel like doing your sadhana but when you go to the group kriya you are made to do it there. So do it with company. You will always feel better with one more person with you.
The ancient people used to say, ‘ekas tapasvi, dwir adhyayi’, when you have to sulk, sit alone and sulk, do not spread your negativity to others. When you have to do tapas, do it alone, and when you have to do your practice, it is always better to do it with one more person.
And once in a while if you cannot do it, do not regret it, move on. But that once in a while should be really once in a while.
The ancient people used to say, ‘ekas tapasvi, dwir adhyayi’, when you have to sulk, sit alone and sulk, do not spread your negativity to others. When you have to do tapas, do it alone, and when you have to do your practice, it is always better to do it with one more person.
And once in a while if you cannot do it, do not regret it, move on. But that once in a while should be really once in a while.
Some people in my country believe in substances that change their mind. I do not know what to tell them to make them change?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Substances are not good because they seem to give you a high but then it takes away the energy, joy, and beauty from the people who do substance abuse. You must tell them to so Sudarshan Kriya.
