There was a Nebraska farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon…

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.

“How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

“Why sir,” said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improves.

So it is in other dimensions. Those who choose to be at peace must help their neighbors to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn.

Then I had to take a decision at the railway station of Hubli. On adjacent platforms there were two trains, one heading towards Solapur and the other towards Bangalore. Had I gone to Bangalore, I would have not started The Art of Living organization. I would have remained in my company, doing meditation and yoga. And taking the train to Solapur, it was certain that I would have to lose all of this and do something.

So at the last moment, I was confused between Bangalore and Solapur. There were four others with me. And they had never seen me in a state of confusion like this before; whether to go or not go. But in that one moment, I had to make up my mind and came to Solapur.

Since I came to Sholapur, this sequence of Satsangs started. Where ever I am going, I can see people are so happy right now. Every tear that you are shedding is so pure, that even the angels are longing for it. These are the tears of love, joy, happiness and devotion.

The devotion for the Divine is not different to the devotion for the nation. Integrity and commitment to one’s duty, both, should go together. If we are strong within, we can do our work well.

There needs to be a rhythm in life. If life goes out of rhythm and off-key then it will lose its harmony. Life needs to be led in a rhythmic and harmonious manner, this itself is knowledge. If devotion is the melody, then knowledge is the rhythm. When to do what, how to do it, how much to do and how much to refrain from doing, this wisdom is extremely essential in life.
We should change ourselves, taking our lives from discord to harmony. Our lives should be rhythmic and harmonious, then you will see how much peace, joy and happiness there is. A gloomy life means somewhere it went out of rhythm; the harmony was lost somewhere.

That is why we have called this life an art. Isn’t life an art? So, how should we handle our mind? How to handle the Self, then how to handle the family, and then how to handle the community?

I am very happy to know that the volunteers of Solapur have together done a lot for the environment. I congratulate all of them. All of you came together to clean a mossy pond that had been decaying for years, and look how all the NGOs joined together with you. If one person or group starts a work with commitment, then everyone joins in.

This is what we have to do; take our nation forward.
I have a dream, that is, to make our country the best (number one) in this world. You will also have to see this dream with me.
Unless you also have the dream of making this nation and society strong, until we free society of alcohol, caste differences and conflicts, we will remain divided and weak.

Today, all of you will have to take an oath. You are caught, having come to this Satsang, and all those who are watching this Satsang, you all will have to take the pledge this very instant that, ‘I will not even dare to look at alcohol and I will not touch alcohol’. This is the first pledge we all have to take.

The intoxication that you experience in the melody of this satsang cannot be compared or equaled to a bottle of alcohol? Give up alcohol and addictions. This is the very first pledge. The nation is being brought to ruins only on account of this.

And the second thing is to imagine a violence-free, stress-free society. Our brothers and sisters are engaged in violent tendencies and acts, bring them here with love. We will make an effort to transform their minds. It happens. Our effort should be in this direction. There must be some wound, some trauma in their hearts. Let us apply ointment and bandage their wounds and see how beautiful the person is from inside. This is necessary.

And we are divided based on caste, sect and religion, this needs to be renounced. We have to give this up. We all belong to one race, the human race. Solapur is the city of saints and enlightened persons. It has been the birth place of so many great men and great saints.
Even here, so many saints are seated. You are being blessed by all of them. They all say the same thing and have been saying it over the centuries, ‘Abandon caste distinction and discrimination. We are all one.’

When we need to go to a good doctor, do we ask what their caste is. We always want to go to the best doctor in the city, isn’t it? And when we need the service of a lawyer, then too we don’t ask which caste that lawyer belongs to. We go to the one who is most renowned and does the best work. It is only during elections that we take caste along. This is wrong.
The government did a lot to perpetuate caste differences in society. They have done nothing to eliminate it. This is one reason why our country is so backward.

In politics also, do not think about your caste and community, forget it. Pick a good person and vote for him. One whose eyes are damp with sympathy for others, one whose heart aches for others, and one who is ready to sacrifice; elect such an individual. Don’t see if he belongs to your caste or some other caste or religion. There are good people in every caste and religion who want to work for the society. Such people should be chosen. Never make caste a basis.

And whenever there is an election, it is our social responsibility and duty that we have to definitely go and vote. What happens is we feel, ‘Oh! Everyone is corrupt; politics is corrupt, so why should we vote? It is better to sit at home! Who will stand outside in the sun’? With this mindset many people don’t go and vote.

Many people go to vote in Solapur, this is an extremely aware city. Many people go to vote in India. In America, only 20% go to cast their votes. At least, it is a lot better in our country. Sixty, seventy, or even eighty per cent of the people go to vote, for we are responsible people. India is a country of responsible individuals. So, we should definitely go and vote.

And we should engage ourselves in a cleanliness drive.

There are four fields of work: first, we need to dispel ignorance and rid ourselves of superstitions. We are holding on to various superstitions, especially in the name of religion when it has nothing to do with it. Let us remove superstitions and ignorance. We need to spread the knowledge of human values (dharma). The lesson of ‘dharma’ is humanity; compassion and commitment to responsibilities: all these must be instilled in us, and allowed to blossom.

These qualities are there, present in everyone. Do not think, ‘I do not have these, I do not have honesty.’ Honesty is there inside you. Just that an effort should be made to bring this to light. Honesty is hidden somewhere. It has been overshadowed by dishonesty.

That is why if all of us together take the pledge that neither will we take bribes nor accept bribes. All those sitting here, who accept bribes; I request them to give it up for just one year. And for my sake, don’t accept it for one year. Make this sacrifice for the nation. We will see after that. If all those who take bribe, take this pledge that I won’t accept it for one year, and those who give bribes pledge that they will never give again, the work will be done. This is necessary!

As we move forward, goodness should spread in the world, fragrance should spread. If we all resolve to wipe every tear, there will be no bitter tears in this country, only sweet tears, and tears of devotion, like what I saw while coming here. The tears that I am seeing in the eyes of thousands of people here, is what I want to see in the entire India.

So, first we need to dispel ignorance and then stand against injustice. Wherever there is injustice, we are not going to tolerate it. In this country, we keep tolerating atrocities in the name of forbearance, this shouldn’t happen. Now, standing up against atrocities doesn’t mean getting angry, burning vehicles, or damaging property. We think violent actions against injustice will remove it, but this will not happen. An unjust act can never erase another unjust act. We all need to stand together to bring about a peaceful revolution against injustice. We will not tolerate injustice.

And everyone should cooperate to remove scarcity. Laziness is eating into our nation. Over the past few years, I have noticed, that we are becoming lazier. Wherever I visit a village, the farmers complain that their children don’t want to do anything. They don’t want to even enter the fields. This is what they are saying.
Farming is sacred work. That is why, in our country, prior to any yagya (ritualistic fire offering) or pooja, there is a practice to begin the pooja with sowing of seeds. That is what we do in Navratri as well! One day prior to the invocation of Mata (mother divine), seeds are sown. Only after the seeds have sprouted, is the Mata invoked. Similarly, sowing of seeds is the very first step in the ceremony of any yagya or pooja. This means, everyone should sow seeds and grow grains. Something or the other, in your home itself, you must start growing some vegetables. If we start growing something in every home, we will be able to bring prosperity in this country, in the home. Due to laziness, lack has increased, and we have to remove this scarcity. It is our duty!

Then we should bring purity, there shouldn’t be dirt. Wherever you see, plastics, clothes, paper, etc. are thrown or the gutter is overflowing and people just walk by without paying heed. Just as we keep our houses clean, we should keep the surroundings clean as well. And just like there is cleanliness outside, there should be cleanliness within. Don’t taint your mind, be happy and peaceful. It is for that these solutions have been provided – do pranayama, do Kriya and do meditation.

We say that in the mind so much anger rises, or jealousy or envy comes up or anything else, so for some time sit and do Kriya, pranayama and meditation and see how your face and heart begin to glow.

And all your tasks will get done. ‘Jo ichcha kariho manu maahi, prabhu prataap kachhu durlabh naahin’ – whatever you wish for, will be fulfilled by God’s Grace. God isn’t in the sky somewhere; He is residing in our hearts. And if we cleanse our hearts, then the Divine will-power will emerge from within us. Whatever we want, will be done even before our desiring it. If something doesn’t happen immediately, then it may take some time for manifestation of the Divine will, but it will be done, sooner or later. One only needs to have patience.

There are seeds that sprout within two days of sowing, but If you sow mango seeds, it takes two, four or ten years before it bears fruits. Similarly, some sankalpas are fulfilled immediately, while others require patience and time to manifest.

Today, I want to give you this assurance that if your sankalpa is appropriate, for the welfare of the citizens and the Self, then it will definitely manifest. And for this, what do we need to do? You need to meditate in silence for short periods of time; do seva and think of the nation.
In this nation, in every field, youth are needed. I see many youth sitting here. Nowadays, people are saying that the youth prefer drums over tabla, mridangam and pakhawaj. No! Look at this gathering: three thousand youths are sitting and playing the instrument so joyfully here. India’s culture is unique and it is being valued in every nook and corner of the world.

The Art of Living has completed thirty years this year. If you go to the last city of the north pole (Tromso) or the last city of the south pole, there also you will find people practising pranayama, meditation, and bhajans.

It was once a dream of our saints and sages: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: the world is one family. Today that dream has been realized.

The ex-mayor said that the pond could not have been cleaned even with ten crore rupees, but the volunteers cleaned it up without incurring any expense. Similarly, if you all in groups of fifteen or twenty volunteers come together and get involved in a cleanliness drive, we can keep the channels clean as well. This way cleanliness will reign in the city. We are growing flowers and planting trees at various places, maintaining cleanliness. We shouldn’t think that it is the job of the government. It is our duty. We will do it. When we work together in cooperation, then we will witness a grand revolution in the country. Health deterioration will decrease or cease, and the same way, our mind will also stay clean.

Corruption is a very big problem in this country. Corruption begins right where the sense of belongingness ends. The purpose of spirituality is to increase this sense of belongingness. ‘None is a stranger to us, no one an outsider’. With this feeling, if we take the sankalpa and step forward, we can bring about a major transformation.

No doubt, we need a strong legislation. But if we create a situation where the law doesn’t need to do anything, then that would be wonderful! And this cannot happen just by the efforts of the citizens. Politicians will also need to delve into this devotion, knowledge and meditation. If they don’t, they will remain selfish and destroy this nation. Only those who engage in social service selflessly can take the nation forward. Therefore, spirituality is the foundation of life. We have forgotten this and that is why we face all sorts of problems.

Turning to the musicians Guruji says: You must play the tabla such that the darkness is dispelled. One dark cloud, we believe, is enveloping the society and the other, the mind. When the mind is negative, it goes into depression. One doesn’t want to do anything. One develops the feeling that everything is wrong, nothing is okay. No one knows where we are going. It starts thinking in a negative direction and is always crowded by negative thoughts. So play the tabla, the dholak and the damru. Lord Shiva holds a damru in his hands. It is symbolic that through its reverberations, the depressed state of mind begins to get uplifted once again.

Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on 17th jan ,2012

The 8^th of January, 2012 is a very special day for Kolkata as it marks Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s first visit to Howrah!

But how do YES!+ volunteers invite the public to meet their beloved Guru Ji? They hire a truck!

Surprized? That’s why I’ll call it the YES!+ Adventure!

If its YES!+, it has to be dynamic, it has to be creative! The team decided to have its very first SATSANG ON WHEELS! A truck was hired, all of us YES!+ Volunteers got into the truck, we sang, we danced and had a ton of fun but at the same time spread awareness among the people of Howrah about Guru Ji’s visit! Not only did we show off our talent as musicians and performers, we also had the unique opportunity to interact with people from all sections of society, and of all age groups!

The journey began near the Avani Riverside Mall and after the YES!+ truck had toured most of Howrah it finally hit the brakes near the Howrah Railway Station.

It was a very unique experience for everyone including me.

But here’s a quick reminder! This 8^th of January, 2012 is a brilliant opportunity to come and meet our beloved spiritual master, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji.

A rough sketch of his schedule:-

1) 09:00 A.M. : Inauguration of World Brotherhood March from Swami Vivekananda’s Ashram Gate to Dakshineshwar.

2) 04:00 P.M. Maha Satsang (Anand Dhaara) at Dumurjola Stadium Grounds, Canal East Rd, Howrah.

Hope to see everyone in the city!

Certain questions indicate the maturity of our mind. They are: What is life? What is the purpose of my life? Why am I here? What do I want?

These questions are vital. Where am I? Are you aware you are on this planet Earth? Have you ever thought “I am on planet Earth and this planet is in the solar system”? So, I am in the solar system. The solar system is just a dot in the Milky Way. So, I am in the Milky Way. This expansion of awareness to the macrocosm and being aware of where you are in this body is important. Just sit with your eyes closed and ask yourself “where am I in this body”? Am I in the head, in the nose, in the heart? Where am I in the body?

Then the sharpness of the mind happens, awareness happens. You are able to perceive that you are nowhere and you are everywhere in the body. A shift in the quality of awareness happens instantaneously. And it is this awareness that can eliminate stresses and sorrows from life. This awareness is called wisdom.

When we raise our consciousness, we become more aware of the sensation that is happening in the body and we see that the sensations change. An intense sensation that is pain and an intense sensation that is pleasure, both become pleasurable. Love and pain, they are very closely related. The symbol of Jesus on the cross means that the cross is pain and Jesus is love. One is with the other. The transformation of this pain into bliss, the love into bliss is what happens with awareness.

Without awareness the mind shrinks. When the mind shrinks, the joy diminishes. Whenever we are happy, we feel that something in us is expanding and the expression of sadness is the contraction of mind.

Meditation is a technique where the mind expands and relaxes. And whenever we are relaxed, we are expanding automatically. It is worth knowing this expansion because then nothing can disturb us or take our smile away.

Otherwise, small things can throw us off balance. It is not worth letting your mind or your life undergo such suffering and misery.

Lord Shiva,as per Hindu Mythology is one of the most powerful and fascinating deity of the Hindu Trinity, who represents death and dissolution.He is considered as a Vairagi (the dispassionate one). For him, the worldly Pleasures did not mean anything at all..He was a Saadhak..

There is a story about the World as per the Hindu Mythology.It is said that Brahma(the creator),Vishnu(the maintainer), and Shiva(destructor and Transformer) Compliment each other..This means that Life on Earth is not Possible in absence of any one..The three coexists..

Long time ago there was a King named Daksh Prajapati who had a Daughter named Sati. Sati was one of the most beautiful Princess. Daksh Raja(King), was a firm believer of Lord Vishnu, He disliked Shiva..He once decided to inaugurate a Big and a huge Temple of Lord Vishnu…The Temple was spacious, the Idol of Vishnu was made,Celebration happened, but the idol refused to enter in the temple. Yagnas were done, but still the idol did not move from it’s place and refused to enter!!.The Idol maker was standing in a corner sad, Sati could not see her Father being insulted in the Court , she went to the Idol maker and asked “Why is the Idol not moving from it’s place”.He had Tears in his eyes, Daksh Called for his daughters to bring Parijat Flower for the yagna. Parijat was a rare flower.Sati with her sister wandered Forest , When she came across Rishi Dadhichi, who enlightened her about the existence of Lord shiva, and how the three forces Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh work together.The idol of Vishnu was incomplete without Shiva, that being the Reason for the idol not entering the temple.She went back and asked the Idol maker whether what Rishiji said was True..He Handed her the Shivalinga and asked her to fill the incomplete space in the Idol. She did what was instructed to her.The Idol Moved and it entered the temple. Daksh Raja was happy, but when he saw the Shivalinga he got angry and agitated and asked who was responsible for this? Sati Stepped forward.. Daksh was Frowning with anger.He Said her to Call Shiva, the Dhongi..She Closed her eyes, and with bhaav and picture of Shivlinga on her mind she Called for Shiva. Shiva Arrived. As soon as Sati Saw him She Fell in Love with the Vairagi. Against Daksh Prajapati’s beliefs, she still felt Love for him. She Did a Lot of Tapasya, and  surrendered her bhaav (emotions) to the Lord Shiva.. Her Unconditional Love for the Divine,turned the Vairagi to Give in..Despite of all the difficulties from Daksha she still kept the flame of Love Ignited. And Sati and Shiva Got Married.

MORAL- THE DIVINE IS HUNGRY FOR THE EMOTIONS OR THE BHAAV WITH WHICH YOU LOVE HIM. LOVE CAN TURN A STONE INTO A FLOWER..BE THAT ANY RELATIONSHIP, LETTING GO AND SURRENDER IS IMPORTANT.WHEN YOUR MIND IS FEVERISH. YOU ENTANGLE YOURSELF IN LUST, BUT LOVE HAPPENS WITH TOTAL LETTING GO..CLOSE YOUR EYES, AND REMEMBER OF THE DIVINE,THE MASTER,.YOU WILL SEE THAT LOVE IS DIVINITY WITHIN YOU. AND WHEN YOU REALIZE THIS YOU SEE THAT LOVE IS AROUND YOU..LOVE IS YOUR EXISTENCE  
 

Sri Sri’s New Year Message from Germany : Our service should be focused on a better world and a better society. And in personal life, have a strong conviction and faith that all is well and good is going to happen. According to the Vedic calendar, you must have heard that this is the last year of the Mayan calendar and Doomsday is going to come. There are many movies about the World coming to an end. I am telling you nothing is going to happen and the world will continue. According to Vedic Calendar, from March 2012, this year is called ‘Nanda’. ‘Nanda’ means happiness; the year of happiness. First comes happiness and the year that follows is called Victory. You will be happy and victorious, so do not worry. Resolve to do some good work in society and spread knowledge. You will see by end of next year more and more people will turn to spirituality. All those engaged in terrorism will be cornered and people who are in violence, their strength will be reduced. It will happen and you are a part of that happening.

Do you want to Experience Prana?? Shake your hands and body as fast as you can and after a while when you stop, You feel a bubble of energy, that is Prana.

Long Time ago, there was a King who was banished from his Kingdom. After serving for 30 years, he was thrown out of the kingdom by his cruel son.. He decided to go and surrender rest of his life in Understanding Spirituality and experience Moksha.. But, he was still hankering of the cruelty he faced and luxuries he was used to.. He walked miles and miles and reached a forest..In the forest he found a small kutir. He was tired, he went inside the kutir and saw the sage immersed deep in meditation. He waited for a while after the sage opened his eyes, he shared his story with him. The Sage appointed the King as a sevak in the Kutir..He was devoted to his master, after a few years of seva, Master got impressed with him and decided him to teach how to meditate.. Just after The Guru gave him the mantra and Taught him the process..the banished King started practicing it everyday..But, there was an obstacle in the practice. Whenever he sat for Meditation, memories of his past haunted him and he got up in the middle.. He Ran to the Master and Complained about this.. The Master use to send him back saying just one thing “Observe Your Breath,Your Prana”
He Went Back, but whenever he sat for meditation, Bad thoughts crossed his mind ,haunted him and he use to leave the process in the middle..After Going to the Master for several times and Complaining about the same thing and getting the same Reply, He Got Pissed off and he decided to leave the Kutir..Wherever he went, the haunted memories followed him.. Whenever he use to sit to meditate ,thaughts flew on his mind and he never use to concentrate..Doubts started cropping in his mind, “Did, the master teach me the Right Thing??”

One Fine morning, he went near a Huge Lake and he decided..No matter what I will not open my Eyes when I am meditating..and he started meditating.. While Meditating, the same unhappy things continued flashing back in his memory. He Realized his breath was not soothing.. It was faster..He kept Figitating with his thoughts that had an impact on his posture too, but he kept saying to himself come what may, I will not open my eyes and after a while when he was done with all the Figitating he was in deep Samadhi..

MORAL-
ALL THOSE MOMENTS WHEN YOU ARE NOT FEELING SO GOOD,NOT SO GREAT,DOWN,UNHAPPY,OR FEARFUL OBSERVE THE PRANA..IT IS THE PRANA SHAKING.DON’T WORRY WHEN THE PRANA IS SHAKING,JUST BE AWARE AND OBSERVE IT FOR FEW MINUTES,BE WITH IT FOR A WHILE..KNOWING THIS YOUR PRANA BECOMES STEADY..SAMADHI IS STEADINESS IN PRANA..:)

Q: Dear Guruji, I want to know why do we have to get moksha?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is a natural tendency of every human being to be free. Freedom is not luxury, it is a necessity. Not just human beings even animals want freedom.
Babies want freedom. If you tie a scarf on the neck of a baby it just wants to remove it. You put a chain on a baby’s neck and the baby wants to pull it out.
It is the adults who put jewelry around their neck but children want freedom, they don’t want any restriction. That is why they throw their hands up and down; free!
Wanting freedom is innate to human beings as well as animals. Every life wants freedom and moksha is nothing but freedom. You take a deep breath in and you can’t hold it there, you want to breathe out. Only when you breathe out there is freedom. When you breathe out you want to take a breath in and that is freedom. Freedom is a natural desire in every human being but when the mind get so muddled up in unnecessary day to day things, it forgets that it wants freedom. It is as good as someone who wants to sleep but has forgotten how to sleep.

So every life or human being craves for freedom. It is impossible to not want freedom.
Freedom is not running away from situations and circumstance. Sometimes the situation is stifling or unpleasant and we run away from it and think this is freedom, but that is not so. Freedom means being unfazed by circumstances, situations and the people around you; freedom from your own emotional garbage; freedom from the jungle of your thoughts that bother you; freedom from all the entanglement that you harbor in your head and freedom from fear and anxiety.
Anything that stifles you makes you small and you want to be free from that and that is moksha.
Freedom (mukti) comes first and then bhakti. Only when you are free does love well up in you and bhakti comes.
If you think you are bonded labor you cannot be grateful.
If someone has brought you freedom you feel grateful, ‘oh I am so free. I feel happy!’
Only one who is happy and one who is centered can have gratitude or be in the space of love.

Now, is love not binding? This is the next question.
Yes, it is but it is a different type of bondage.
Love binds but love binds with the infinity. The bondage of love is the last one and that gets eased with knowledge and with wisdom.
Our tendency is to get bound somewhere. The tendencies of emotions are to get attached somewhere. So from small things that attachment goes towards something bigger and then it dissolves.

In the Vendanta they give an example of Alum.
To clean water you put a piece of alum. The alum cleans the water and then dissolves itself.
So that is why God is also called Mohana. The Divine takes your attention from little attractions to himself.
The passion of stillness and of meditation is so attractive that it relieves you from all other small things. If you are attached to liquor then meditation has to be much more charming than liquor, otherwise you can’t get over liquor.
If drugs are giving you joy then inner peace must give you greater joy than drugs. That is how people are able to get out of drugs and get into the spiritual practices (sadhana).
So the Divine is considered the most attractive.

Do you know the meaning of the word Krishna?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: One who attracts everybody and everything towards him is Krishna. Krishna means most attractive. Irresistible attraction that one cannot resist at all, that much attraction!
The whole Bhagavatam is about how Krishna was so attractive and mesmerizing.
When he would go in the chariot and when he would pass by, people would just stand like statues staring at him. Even after his chariot would go away people would just keep their eyes open and keep staring. Someone would come and ask, ‘what are you staring at?’
The gopi says, ‘no doubt he went but he also took my sight with him. My attention also has gone with him.’
That is the seer, the scenery and the scene; everything becoming one.
There are many stories in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
One gopi was doing her makeup and she did her makeup on one eye and then she heard he is coming and she just left everything and ran out to the street to have a glimpse of him.
There are so many stories to indicate that the Divine is extremely attractive. This is so that the little attractions that the mind hankers onto are freed and that is why he is called Mohana.
Mohana means one who appeals to the heart, enchanting and endearing.

So the bondage of love with knowledge is different than the bondage that hankers for pleasure.
Hankering for pleasure creates a certain type of bondage which results in a lot of pain.
But the taste of love hooks you on to the infinity, to the Divinity and intoxicates you. That with the knowledge brings stability in life.
Life without emotion is so dry; emotion is needed. The emotion is either for the temporal or ephemeral or for the permanent; the permanent joy and the permanent bliss.

Q: Guruji, is developing wisdom a constant effort on our part or just pure grace?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Wisdom is natural.
We can’t do anything about it. You simply need to recognize it when it comes up and not brush it aside. That is all you need to do. That is why there is something called ‘Pratyabhijna Hridayam’, which means the heart of recognition.

Q: Guruji, when things change from ‘I want to do it’ to ‘I will have to do it’, it becomes very difficult to act. What to do in such situations?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If you have a commitment then you better do it.
Otherwise you will not be able to do anything because the mind is your most unreliable friend.
The mind says something now and a little later it says something else. You can rely on your friend better than on your own mind. You make a commitment and if you say, ‘I have to complete this and I must’, then life moves in the right direction. If you just act by the whims and fancies of your mind it will take you nowhere.
You want to become a doctor and you enrolled into a medical college but after two years if you don’t want to do it then say, ‘I have to do it.’
Better you do it and complete it. Otherwise one year medical, another year engineering, another year law and another year you will do chemistry and you will get nowhere. You will neither be an engineer, nor a doctor or a lawyer because you did it all for just one year because your mind wanted to. Commitment is essential in life.

When you come for an Advance Course the first day you like it but the second day you say, ’Oh my God! This is so boring, this hollow and empty thing. Who wants to know what is hollow and what is not hollow. Why should I torture myself with all this meditation in motion?’
You feel like going out a bit and having some fun. No! If you have made a commitment, complete it.

Now if it becomes really impossible for you to keep your commitment, then you can get out of it after giving your 100%.
If you feel that the commitment is not leading you anywhere and you make the commitment from a state of ignorance and now it is becoming hell every day, then I’d say, okay! You have given your 100% and it is not working, you can move on.
You can get rid of your commitment and make a new commitment.

Q: Guruji, you say opposite values are complimentary. Then how can we be happy during good times when we know that bad times will follow?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is a beautiful couplet in Hindi:
‘Dukh main sumiran sab karey sukh main karey na koey;
sukh main jo sumiran karey dukh kahe ko hoye.’
Everyone prays when they are miserable. When there is nowhere to go and when all the doors are shut, in misery everyone prays. But in happiness if someone prays, why would misery befall on them?

‘Heyam Dukham Anagatam.’ In Yoga Sutra, Maharishi Patanjali says that the purpose of yoga is to stop misery from befalling on you. Yoga is not just the asanas but meditation as well.
So when you are happy and grateful then do seva. And when you are miserable, surrender and let go.
But what happens is when you are upset it is so difficult for you to let go and when you are happy you don’t want to do any service. That is why you become miserable.
It is very important for a miserable person to have the courage to surrender. Sometimes people are enjoying their misery and they do not let go of it.
So renounce in misery and serve in happiness. When you are happy, don’t get lost in the happiness and in the pleasure. Come out and do some service and that is prayer.

Q: Guruji, I have been doing my kriya regularly for almost a year. What percentage of my past karmas have I repaid?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I will answer this if you tell me how many hairs you have on your head.
As long as there is hair and you have a comb, the job is done!
What is the point of counting the hairs or counting the teeth on the comb?
Karma is unfathomable. Nobody knows how much karma is there and everyday new karmas are being made.
Then there is individual karma, there is a family karma, there is collective karma.
Nowadays what doctors say is a family history, in ancient medical language they used to call it family karma.
So there are different types of karmas and we get rid of these karmas every day when we do sadhana. Bad karmas go and good karmas increase.
When you are doing good karmas, a portion of that good karma also goes to people around you. Your family, friends and everybody get a share of it.
It is absolutely fascinating to go into the realm of karma because it is so unfathomable. There is no end to the depth of it. It is almost like trying to measure the depth of the ocean which is so vast.
But when you have to sail through the ocean you don’t need to know the depth of the ocean. What is the point in measuring the depth? You are anyway going in the boat.
Knowledge and devotion are like the boat in which you sail through the ocean of the karma. You don’t need to know how deep it is. Anyway you are not going to swim or walk through the water.

Q: Guruji, why are there seven days a week and twelve months in a year throughout the globe in all communities?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It had started in the Vedic time in India.
The ‘zero’, the ‘seven days’ and the ‘twelve months’ were first given here in India.
Then Egypt copied it from India and from there it went all over the world.
In India there are seven major planets. Though we have nine planets, two of them are shadow planets of the moon that don’t exist.
So for each planet one day was given. For the shadow planets they allotted one and half hours of time every day instead of allotting them one whole day, so it fitted very well with the cosmic calendar. That is how we have Rahu Kaal and Gulik Kaal.
They formed the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm. And they said the Earth completes one circle around the Sun in twelve months and then they divided it.

This was done some thirty to forty thousand years ago or may be even more. Nobody knows.

Q: Guruji, Ramji’s guru was Vashishtha and Krishna’s guru was Sandipani, who is your Guru?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Sandipani and all the Gurus are still there in the omnipresent guru-tattva. Adi Shankaracharya is among the lineage of Gurus. In my childhood and youth I had the satsang of many great saints. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was there, Shankaracharya, and some very learned and renowned saints; Swami Sharan Aanandji. My childhood was spent with all elderly people.

Q: Guruji, when we do Sandhya Vandan in the evening, the sun is in the west. Then why do we do jaap (chanting) facing north?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: After sunset the greatest power is of the magnetic poles, the north and south pole. For as long as the sun is there, the power is in the direction of the sun, but after sun set the energy of the north and south pole is dominant. That is why when doing Sandhya Vandan in the morning, homage is paid to the sun in the East, but in the evening by the time we finish with our offerings to the sun, the sun sets and so chanting is done facing north. The ancient people thought about everything in a very scientific manner.

Do not attach too much importance to this.
What if you are in a place like Norway where the sun does not set for two months then which direction should you face?
‘Daivam sarvato mukha’, God is everywhere, so you can sit anywhere, in any direction for your prayers and meditation.
These scientific explanations are good primarily for tropical countries. If the sages had taken into account the arctic regions, they might have recommended that prayers and meditation to be done facing South.
Similarly, Vastu Shastra which is suitable for India may not be appropriate for Russia.
We need to make some corrections in these recommendations based on the region of the earth where it is being applied.
In India it is recommended that the main entrance to the house should not face south, because in those days the city was planned in such a way that cremation grounds were to the south of the city and breeze blowing from that direction would enter the house through the doors and windows facing south. So Vastu was formulated accordingly.
But if you go to Russia and the Scandinavian countries, there the sun is more intense in the south, and pleasant breeze blows from the south, so it is okay to have the main entrance facing south. If you keep the door which is facing south open, you will get plenty of sun all year round.
Therefore, applying Vastu Shastra blindly without making corrections is not right. Many people do not know this. They don’t go into the depths of this knowledge. They are ‘lakeer ke fakeer’ – they follow without questioning what is written.

Q: Dear Guruji, all that I do is sadhana, seva and satsang. Everyday in the morning I promise myself that I will not run behind you but every time I break my promise and I find myself running behind you all the time. Is it okay Guruji if I can’t keep this one promise?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You may run behind me but know that you cannot catch me!

Long Time Ago, There was a Sage who was known for his Profound Knowledge and Wisdom. All The Kings of the Country use to send their kids to that Sage’s Ashram for they wanted their son’s to get best of knowledge and Wisdom who would come back to their respective Kingdoms after spending few years of their Lives..

Ages ago in the Ashram dwelt two Friends named Shakti and Sfurti. Both were the best students of the Ashram and were the ones who were Closest to the Master…Shakti and Sfurti were best friends and whatever projects or Responsibilities they took together they always excelled in it. One Fine Morning, the Sage called both the best friends in his Kutir (Cottage) and he announced that their learning was over and it was time for them to go back to their Respective Lives. Shakti, went back to his Kingdom Ullaspur, and became the King.

He was well known and a benevolent King and he made sure that every Citizen of his Kingdom was happy. Sfurti on the other hand was the son of a Brahmin, he went back and served people, started spending his Livelihood on Bhikshas (Daan).

After few years the Sage called for both of them.. Shakti, came in a Golden Chariot, Wealthy Attire, and he bought a lot of Gifts and Presents for the kids in the Ashram. Sfurti came alone, with just a bag in his hand..When both friends met after ages they hugged each other, and tears of joy Rolled over…Sfurti saw the amount of attention Shakti was getting from others who dwelt in the Ashram and seeds of Jealousy crept in..Days Passed, one day Sfurti went to the Rishi and asked why he is being so partial in behaving with him and his best friend. He Shouted at the master and said “I have worked for you all my Life, I Walk bare feet to the houses of the people to serve them, I survive on Bhikshas and I hardly get to overspend on luxuries of Life, whereas on the other hand my Friend Shakti has just Inherited his Father’s throne and is Happily enjoying the Luxuries of Life… Why Such Injustice to me??”

The Sage Thought for a while and he asked Sfurti to go to a nearby village and ask for Bhikshaa from only two homes.. The Wealthiest man of the village and the poorest man of the Village. Next Morning, He set out for his Journey. When he Reached the home of the Wealthiest man and he asked for Bhikshaa, he was welcomed and was lured by the luxuries of life and he got enough to spend his livelihood for a month…He was tired and he kept walking until he reached for the poorest man of the village..An old Lady in shabby Sari welcomed the Brahmin and asked him to come inside. She served him some water and some pieces of Breads.. And bowed in front of him and said “ Sorry Sir, this is all I have for today’s meal and this is all I can give you for Bhikshaa.”With tears in his eyes, he went back to his master after quietly eating his food.

The Master saw the Pain in his eyes and he said “It is not the amount of service you do for others, it is the Bhaav (emotions) that you do service with.”

Moral – When You do Seva, with the purpose of being Recognized, the purpose of doing Seva is not fulfilled. A Little expectation deep inside you, that others should recognize you, praise you is nothing but your EGO.