Sep 1 2011 Afghanistan
Today is the Jain festival of Kshamavani – ‘michhami dukkadam’.
Today the Jains ask for forgiveness from each other and from everybody.
‘Knowingly or unknowingly, I may have done something that might have hurt you. It would have brought some pain to you so I ask pardon from you. Please forgive me.’
When people ask for forgiveness from each other, the seed of hatred is nullified and the fire of hatred is put off right then. All misunderstandings get dissolved.
Many times unintentionally you make a mistake and you don’t even realize it. Many times you don’t even know that you have been the cause of hurt to someone. So asking ‘micchami dukkadam’ you are soothing the other person and feeling comfortable within yourself too.
It is such a great tradition from thousands of years.
Q: Guruji, Please speak on Ganeshotsav.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The correct way of celebrating Ganeshotsav is to go inward in meditation as Ganapati resides in our mooladhara (base chakra). Yogis meditate on Ganapati.
In Ganapati Atharvashirsha it is described very beautifully, ‘Ganapati, where are you, how are you? You are in front of me, behind me, to the right of me, to the left of me, above me and below me. You are everywhere around me! You are in the form of the sky, water, earth and air. You always reside within my mooladhara chakra and in the hearts of the yogis.’
In meditating on these mantras you will experience that there is nothing but Ganapati within, and outside of us and in every particle resides that energy.
Shankaracharya described Ganapati beautifully, ‘Ajam nirvikalpam’ – That energy which was never born, you are unwavering stillness (nirvikalpa samaadhi). ‘Niraakaar mekam’ – although we worship you in form, you are without form.
Niraanandam aananda advaita poornam, param nirgunam nirvishesham nireeham, para bramha roopam Ganesham bhajema – You are in the form of the parambramha; I am beginning to drown (dissolve) in you.
In Ganapati Atharvashirsha it is described very beautifully, ‘Ganapati, where are you, how are you? You are in front of me, behind me, to the right of me, to the left of me, above me and below me. You are everywhere around me! You are in the form of the sky, water, earth and air. You always reside within my mooladhara chakra and in the hearts of the yogis.’
In meditating on these mantras you will experience that there is nothing but Ganapati within, and outside of us and in every particle resides that energy.
Shankaracharya described Ganapati beautifully, ‘Ajam nirvikalpam’ – That energy which was never born, you are unwavering stillness (nirvikalpa samaadhi). ‘Niraakaar mekam’ – although we worship you in form, you are without form.
Niraanandam aananda advaita poornam, param nirgunam nirvishesham nireeham, para bramha roopam Ganesham bhajema – You are in the form of the parambramha; I am beginning to drown (dissolve) in you.
Gurudev, what is the significance of the half closed-half open eyes of Lord Balaji?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You also become absorbed in meditation, in inner bliss.
Gurudev, I would like to know the correct way to do business. What are the salient points to keep in mind to be successful in business?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Business means taking risk. One shouldn’t take too much risk, but business will not work without taking some risk either. A middle path has to be taken.
Think carefully before embarking on a business venture, and once involved, be fully committed.
In order to achieve success in business you should have imagination, enthusiasm and intuitive power, for which you need to meditate.
Think carefully before embarking on a business venture, and once involved, be fully committed.
In order to achieve success in business you should have imagination, enthusiasm and intuitive power, for which you need to meditate.
Does the colour of our clothes and their shape have an effect on the mind. Are some colours good and others bad?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
No, all colours are acceptable. The world is appealing only when it is colourful. Astrologers might recommend that you wear certain colours in order to achieve success, but more important than colours is your self confidence. Have faith in your confidence.
Gurudev, people say that the mother nurses her baby only when it cries. Is it the same with the Guru?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Whatever your sankalpa is, so it shall be. Whatever you believe, that is how it turns out. Have this faith in your heart that whatever you need you will get when it is time; and if a want arises, just pray.
Gurudev, to surrender my problems to you, should I convey them to you mentally or in writing? Which works faster?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Do both and then let me know.
Dear Guruji, you say that the same consciousness is present in all living beings, like waves in the ocean. Then how do karma and the world of this lifetime affect the soul in the next lifetime? When the wave has merged back into the ocean, how can its identity be restored?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Just having the knowledge that it has merged with the ocean, the wave achieves mukti (freedom). The bondage of karma lasts only as long as the wave finds itself separate from the ocean. Once the wave realizes that it is not separate from the ocean but an inseparable part of it then done.
Gurudev, even though I am thousands of miles away, when love wells up in my heart for you, tears roll down from my eyes. Do you sense it, and do you miss me too?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Nods silently.
Gurudev, what should be the role of media with respect to society? What role should media adopt in order to uplift society?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Media has two roles.
One is an objective presentation of the situation as it is. This is the foremost responsibility of media. Second responsibility of the media is to give hope to the people.
Sometimes the scenario may be so painful or hopeless that people need a ray of hope. So the second responsibility of the media is to provide the people with hope, enthusiasm and direction.
One is an objective presentation of the situation as it is. This is the foremost responsibility of media. Second responsibility of the media is to give hope to the people.
Sometimes the scenario may be so painful or hopeless that people need a ray of hope. So the second responsibility of the media is to provide the people with hope, enthusiasm and direction.
Behind seva lies the desire for closer association with you. Is this right or wrong?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It doesn’t matter. Do not consider it wrong and feel guilty because of it. The desire is there, so it is there.
Gurudev, how can I dive deeper into meditation when on one side there is a TV blaring and on the other side there is rock music playing? Does withdrawal of senses happen or is it to be practiced?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It doesn’t matter if there are noises. It is best not to have any noise or distraction but have you noticed you can fall asleep in spite of all this noise.
You fall asleep going in a car or bus. You fall asleep in an air plane with all the noise. So all those moments when you can fall asleep, you can also meditate.
You fall asleep going in a car or bus. You fall asleep in an air plane with all the noise. So all those moments when you can fall asleep, you can also meditate.
Gurudev, there is a lot of literature on physical immortality. Is that possible? Is aiming at it advisable?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I tell you it is waste of time reading about this and getting an elusive euphoria. I have not seen one person who is physically immortal.
Why do you want to be physically immortal? It is like someone saying, ‘I want to keep on the same clothes my whole life.’ It is not maturity to think that way.
Why do you want to be physically immortal? It is like someone saying, ‘I want to keep on the same clothes my whole life.’ It is not maturity to think that way.
Gurudev, when my prayer remains unanswered for all these years, is it that I am stuck or is it that I am unable to see the larger picture?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Both! You should always put a clause along with your prayer, ‘if it is good for me, let it happen.’
Otherwise you are stuck with the desire in your mind for a long time. And when it does get manifested and become a reality, you may not want it.
A person was wishing for nuts all his life and he got the nuts when he lost all his teeth. What is the point?
Otherwise you are stuck with the desire in your mind for a long time. And when it does get manifested and become a reality, you may not want it.
A person was wishing for nuts all his life and he got the nuts when he lost all his teeth. What is the point?
Gurudev, you say events of the past don’t really exist except in our thoughts and nor does the future really exist. What exists is the present and that too becomes the past in a moment. Then what really exists?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Wow! This is what you need to ponder upon.
I exist and you exist forever. Now you need to find out, who am ‘I’?
I exist and you exist forever. Now you need to find out, who am ‘I’?
Is ‘tapas’ (penance) essential on the path? Is there anything amiss in preferring comforts and enjoying them yet being on the path?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
‘Tapas’ makes you strong physically, mentally and emotionally. It expands your ability to endure. It makes you more self-reliant and independent. That is why ‘tapas’ is very essential.