Mon, 01/05/2015 Bad Antogast, Germany
Gurudev, how do I know that what I am doing is right?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
At least now what you’re doing is right by asking this question. We must ask questions. When you stop asking questions, either you are fully satisfied or you are very stupid. If you are not fully satisfied, you can keep asking questions, it is good.
Ask yourself again and again, ‘Whatever I am doing now, is it right?’ Ask yourself, don’t ask someone else. When you ask yourself, it feels right to you many a times.
Ask yourself again and again, ‘Whatever I am doing now, is it right?’ Ask yourself, don’t ask someone else. When you ask yourself, it feels right to you many a times.
When your actions are not motivated from greed, jealousy or anger, then what you do is right. Greed, jealousy and anger, if these three things are behind your action, even if it is a good action, it will be wrong. But, if your action is not our of greed, jealousy, anger or hatred, then what you do is right.
Just now I received information that a boat with explosives exploded in the ocean. Just like 26/11, a big terrorist attack was going to happen and it was averted; 4 terrorists died. It has come in the internet and in the papers. It is so unfortunate. This is not the right action.
What happened a few days ago in Peshawar is not the right action. Out of wrong understanding of religion, out of hatred and anger, these people went and killed those little kids and later someone justified it. That is not a right thing to do.
Terrorism everywhere in the world is a big issue today whether it is in Pakistan, Australia, Italy or France. This is to be condemned.
Again I would say, these people are misguided and ill-educated. If they had education and a broad vision of life, they would not do such things. They never had an opportunity. That is so unfortunate.
What happened a few days ago in Peshawar is not the right action. Out of wrong understanding of religion, out of hatred and anger, these people went and killed those little kids and later someone justified it. That is not a right thing to do.
Terrorism everywhere in the world is a big issue today whether it is in Pakistan, Australia, Italy or France. This is to be condemned.
Again I would say, these people are misguided and ill-educated. If they had education and a broad vision of life, they would not do such things. They never had an opportunity. That is so unfortunate.
Why are people so crazy?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
If you think people are crazy, are you one of them? If you think you are not one of them, someone else might think that you are crazy!
In this world there is all types of craziness. If an alien comes to this planet and goes to a soccer stadium, he would find it to be an absolutely crazy place! He will not be able to understand why the 11 players are chasing one ball and are trying to get the ball into the net, and why are there 11 others on the other side stopping them, that too for one little ball. He would say, ‘Why are they all fighting over a ball?’
An alien would say, ‘Let me give 22 balls to 22 players. Let them kick their balls and keep them in the net!’
If their goal is to put the ball in the net, he would say, ‘Okay, let us all go and keep it there.’ He will fail to understand why people are kicking the ball and falling over each other and 50,000 people around are clapping and crying and howling! (Audience laughs)
It sounds absolutely crazy!
In this world there is all types of craziness. If an alien comes to this planet and goes to a soccer stadium, he would find it to be an absolutely crazy place! He will not be able to understand why the 11 players are chasing one ball and are trying to get the ball into the net, and why are there 11 others on the other side stopping them, that too for one little ball. He would say, ‘Why are they all fighting over a ball?’
An alien would say, ‘Let me give 22 balls to 22 players. Let them kick their balls and keep them in the net!’
If their goal is to put the ball in the net, he would say, ‘Okay, let us all go and keep it there.’ He will fail to understand why people are kicking the ball and falling over each other and 50,000 people around are clapping and crying and howling! (Audience laughs)
It sounds absolutely crazy!
Like that there are many such crazy things in the world. I used to find English language very crazy. You write, ‘know’ and pronounce it as ‘no'. I would say, ‘know!’ (pronouncing it with the k sound) You should speak the way you write and read. You write ‘knowledge’ and put a ‘k’, I would say, ‘knowledge’ (pronouncing with the k sound). Everyone found it absolutely crazy.
My mother tongue is such that the way we write is the same as what we speak. In English, several letters become silent and you don’t know which is silent and which is not silent. It was so difficult. I had to write in English and then write in Kannada below that. Once my class teacher looked at my notebook and asked me, ‘What are you writing? It is wrong’.
There is no match between speaking and writing. You say something and you write something else.
There is no match between speaking and writing. You say something and you write something else.
Like that there are different crazes in the world. Everything is a craze and people are crazy for different things. Some are crazy about games, some for politics, some for money.
Do you know what happened in China? On New Years, in Shanghai, somebody threw fake currency from the top of a tower and 35 people died in a stampede. Is this not crazy,? People going to get free money falling from some building onto the street? There is no limit for being crazy. At least here it is good crazy! Some people are crazy about mediation and some are crazy about singing. It is okay! Here in Art of Living you can find a variety of craziness! (Audience laughs) We are not homogeneous. All types of specimens of the world are in here. If you want to find all types of crazy people in one place, you are in the right place!
Do you know what happened in China? On New Years, in Shanghai, somebody threw fake currency from the top of a tower and 35 people died in a stampede. Is this not crazy,? People going to get free money falling from some building onto the street? There is no limit for being crazy. At least here it is good crazy! Some people are crazy about mediation and some are crazy about singing. It is okay! Here in Art of Living you can find a variety of craziness! (Audience laughs) We are not homogeneous. All types of specimens of the world are in here. If you want to find all types of crazy people in one place, you are in the right place!
We have always said, ‘Accept people as they are'. Sometimes I wonder, ‘Why did I put this point! I have been trapped by it!’ I have never said anything in my life which I have not practiced, so since I have said this, I have to practice it and I have been practicing, carrying on and accepting all sorts of craziness. I tell you, there is hope! I am still happy!
Dear Gurudev, you have said that once we are on the path we should just relax as you are doing all the work. What does this mean?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I say many things at many times, don’t take it of out context. You should keep it in context. I have said, ‘Till you catch a train you have to run, once you have caught the train, relax with your luggage. Just by you running inside the train with your luggage, the train is not going to run any faster. So, once you’re on the spiritual path, drop your anxiety, relax and you will reach where you have to reach'.
I say don’t go spiritual shopping. Some people go spiritual shopping, a little bit here, a little bit there. Relax. You have gotten wonderful knowledge and a wonderful path, all in one package. Just relax!
I say don’t go spiritual shopping. Some people go spiritual shopping, a little bit here, a little bit there. Relax. You have gotten wonderful knowledge and a wonderful path, all in one package. Just relax!
Dear Gurudev, when it comes to parenting, what is the difference between responsibility and attachment or bondage?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When it comes to children, it is a sacred responsibility. Our responsibility is not just providing food, shelter and education. We should see that their mentality, emotions, intellect, thoughts and behavior is on the right track. This is necessary.
Dear Gurudev, as a working mother, I cannot spend quality time with my child. In this modern age what is your advice to working mothers?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Where there is a will there is a way. Children are not the problem. Here is Elonka, she has three little kids and with three little kids she would conduct courses. She would feed the baby then give it to someone to take care and then she would conduct the course.
If you have a passion to do something, children are no obstacle. There are many mothers who in spite of bringing up their children well and giving them quality time, still do that something that they want to do. All you need is passion. When you have a passion to do something, you can fit in everything. It is only a mindset. You have to be determined, ‘I have to do it,’ and you will do it.
Of course, your first priority is your kid, but priority means that you can do other things also. I am not saying that your job is to only be a mother and take care of your children; that would be stifling for the kid also, they also want some time away from their mothers.
If you have a passion and a will, you can always find a way.
If you have a passion to do something, children are no obstacle. There are many mothers who in spite of bringing up their children well and giving them quality time, still do that something that they want to do. All you need is passion. When you have a passion to do something, you can fit in everything. It is only a mindset. You have to be determined, ‘I have to do it,’ and you will do it.
Of course, your first priority is your kid, but priority means that you can do other things also. I am not saying that your job is to only be a mother and take care of your children; that would be stifling for the kid also, they also want some time away from their mothers.
If you have a passion and a will, you can always find a way.
Gurudev, when I get close to my goal, suddenly something thing happens and I am not able to reach my goal. This happens every time. What to do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I want you to revisit your own life and see how many times you have succeeded. Whenever a problem comes in front of us, we eternalize and generalize it. We should stop this. If there is a problem and you say, I want you to say, ‘Oh, I will face this problem!’
Instead what is it that you do? When there is a problem you eternalize it, you say, ‘Oh, everybody is foolish, everybody is bad. Nobody likes me'. This is generalizing. How can this be possible?
In our mind we blow it up, generalize and eternalize the problem. When you sow such seeds (in the consciousness), such things will occur more and more.
Instead what is it that you do? When there is a problem you eternalize it, you say, ‘Oh, everybody is foolish, everybody is bad. Nobody likes me'. This is generalizing. How can this be possible?
In our mind we blow it up, generalize and eternalize the problem. When you sow such seeds (in the consciousness), such things will occur more and more.
Now, you’re in the right place. Move on with this commitment and affirmation that you are not going to generalize or eternalize. If you revisit your past, you will find that you have succeeded many times. Sometimes you had taken more than you can chew on your plate. This does not happen always.
Suppose your determination is weak, again you are in the right place, pranayama, meditation and all these spiritual practices will help you move faster.
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