Gurudev, how come some people come to The Art of Living, experience this path, and then suddenly change their mind and go away. I really cannot understand this.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
See, there are different types of people on this planet. Again I am telling you, when for someone time is not good, they go away, then later on they come back. People stop all this and suddenly, they start again. All these different types of people are there. You don't worry about the attitude of others' — why someone stopped meditating and went back to doing wrong things, etc. They will start again when the time is right.
What you need to see is are they happy? Many people who leave are not happy. They look miserable, and when the misery goes beyond a certain level, they come back. Have you not seen this happening? We see this every day. It’s like a tree has lots of fruits and people start enjoying the fruits and forget to water the tree. When the tree starts drying, fruits start dwindling, and when this happens then they start watering the tree again. This is human nature.
What you need to see is are they happy? Many people who leave are not happy. They look miserable, and when the misery goes beyond a certain level, they come back. Have you not seen this happening? We see this every day. It’s like a tree has lots of fruits and people start enjoying the fruits and forget to water the tree. When the tree starts drying, fruits start dwindling, and when this happens then they start watering the tree again. This is human nature.
This has happened in the past with all the prophets. Some of the closest people to the prophets turned against them. They went away from the path. Hasn't it happened? The law of karma is unfathomable. It’s vast, it’s huge. You cannot try to understand that as 2 + 2 = 4. . It’s not like that.
Gurudev, why do we have a VIP table in the ashram? Why a few people can serve themselves as much as they want without thinking about the others.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Well, you find a reason and tell me, I don't know. I have no idea.
People are in silence, so it would be good for guests to be in another separate table, away from those who are in silence. So why not?
People are in silence, so it would be good for guests to be in another separate table, away from those who are in silence. So why not?
Don't get into these small things. Why someone is sitting in a chair? Then tomorrow you will ask me, why are you sitting in a sofa so high? (laughter in the audience). I'll have to give you an explanation that I am sitting here because I can see all of you, or all of you can see me. We should not get into these small nitty-grittiness — why somebody has a label, why somebody does not have a label? Why everybody is not putting on the same-size military dress? These sort of questions are irrelevant. Put your mind in knowledge. You are here for a greater cause. Don't let small dust sit in your eyes. There is an abundance here of everything. Whatever you want, you have it, take it. It’s your home, feel at home. It’s for you to feel at home. Don't expect someone else to come and make you feel at home.
How can I connect more and more to the divine in myself? Do I need many lifetimes?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Just relax, you are already connected. You just have to wake up and see this, that's all! Just relax. In the Bible also there is a saying, "Be still and know that I am God".
You are in space, right? Do you have to look for space? What do you need to understand? I am in space. You don't have to keep repeating, "I am in space, I am in space"..
So you are in Germany, you know it and that's it. You don't have to wake up every morning and say, "I am in Germany, I am in Germany" (laughter). You may land up in mental hospital maybe within Germany or across the border in Strasbourg! Some things you should simply accept and assume. How can that happen? When you have total relaxation, when you don't do anything. When you do nothing, that is when you tap into the source of energy. And later on, when you do any action, just be spontaneous.
So you are in Germany, you know it and that's it. You don't have to wake up every morning and say, "I am in Germany, I am in Germany" (laughter). You may land up in mental hospital maybe within Germany or across the border in Strasbourg! Some things you should simply accept and assume. How can that happen? When you have total relaxation, when you don't do anything. When you do nothing, that is when you tap into the source of energy. And later on, when you do any action, just be spontaneous.
If you don't get this now, never mind, because as long as there is a lot of rajas (tendency to act) in the system, you won’t understand this. That's why I would say, just meditate, relax and keep alive this passion to be connected and that will take you forward step by step.
You have to have patience. Don't be in a hurry. If someone says, "I am going to connect you today", never do that. Say, "Okay, thank you. It’s not an emergency sort of thing". .
When you sit still and meditate, know that you are in that space. You can't be there forever and so you come out and act. Be dynamic in your activity. Of course, these two are conflicting, but a time comes when that state of consciousness continues for you, even in your activity. Anything you do, you won’t lose that state, anything you do, it will be there all the time. But this takes its own time.
When you sit still and meditate, know that you are in that space. You can't be there forever and so you come out and act. Be dynamic in your activity. Of course, these two are conflicting, but a time comes when that state of consciousness continues for you, even in your activity. Anything you do, you won’t lose that state, anything you do, it will be there all the time. But this takes its own time.
Gurudev, I have low self-esteem. I criticize myself and others. How to work with my ego? I notice it happens when my energy is low but is it possible to get rid of it for good?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You can get rid of it right now, this moment, otherwise there is no chance. Are you ready for it? If it is ever possible, it’s possible now in this moment, and that's it. .
Remove this label that you have put on your own head that I have a low self-esteem. Who said you have a low self-esteem? This is an illusion, this is nonsense. You don't have any low self-esteem. Peel off this label you put on your own head that you have low self-esteem.
Remove this label that you have put on your own head that I have a low self-esteem. Who said you have a low self-esteem? This is an illusion, this is nonsense. You don't have any low self-esteem. Peel off this label you put on your own head that you have low self-esteem.
What should we do when we are feeling a longing for the Guru?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The longing is good. Longing itself is the power. That itself is the greatest power. In Hindi, it is said "Tadap hi ishwar hai" (longing itself is God). Blessed are those who have longing.
Gurudev, how does the botheration basket work?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It works, doesn’t it? (Many in the audience agree) That’s it! That is my trade secret which I will tell you some other time. What I am saying, all this is a secret and very sacred too. Everything I say is a secret and very sacred.