In response to questions from world champion boxer Keith Thurman about becoming a peaceful warrior through ethics and spirituality, Gurudev shared the following:

Fight without feverishness

The Gita was taught to Krishna on a battlefield. He said to fight with vigor and valor, but without feverishness.

Take your whole life in a sporty spirit. Don't take life too seriously. Events and incidents in life should be taken as a challenge, like in sports. There are rules to every game, but when we play those games it's important that we keep our spirits in a lighter mode.

Learn to accept defeat

If you keep winning all the time, it's no fun. You see, you play a game with a child and you will win all the time. It's no fun. It has no charm.

When there are chances of losing, then the game has more value, and it's more fun. So, we should never mind if we lose once or twice, or 10 times. Just keep playing. 

Just imagine you have a partner with whom you're wrestling and playing. If they're so anxious and unhappy about losing, how would it affect you? It doesn't create that good energy. If someone isn't confident, they're nervous, and they come to play with you, you don't feel like really putting your 100 percent out there, right? 

So, it's important that every player comes with the spirit of putting their 100 percent forward, but with a sense of playfulness. Competition is necessary. Competitive spirit with lightheartedness makes it all more fun. 

You have discipline in sports, but you need a little happiness.

Be a peaceful warrior and tap into boundless love

If you've had a good night's sleep, won't that affect your performance in a better manner? Spiritual practices like SKY Breath Meditation help you to rest well. They give you the deepest rest possible. So that will pump you with more energy, and you'll participate 100 percent. 

To tap into boundless love, get rid of prejudices. We hold on to prejudices against races, religions, cultures, genders. They make our thinking narrow. 

Also, get rid of stress. You may be a very loving person, but when you're stressed, you don't even communicate properly with your own family members. You love your children very much, but when you're stressed, you'll frown at your own kids. 

What Art of Living does is to teach people to eliminate stress. They can help themselves to get rid of stress. 

Neither at home nor at school are we taught how to handle negative emotions, how to manage them when they rise up. This knowledge is essential. 

This is just a small bit of knowledge from an incredible dialogue. Watch the entire conversation between Keith Thurman and Gurudev below.

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Editor’s note:

To learn more about our pillar program, SKY Breath Meditation, check out our free breath and meditation online session with a live instructor. SKY has helped millions of people around the world improve all aspects of their lives. Learn how you too can benefit from SKY.

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