January 11, 2014
Bangalore, India
Gurudev, you talk about dispassion and equanimity, but when I let
go of my defenses, I am becoming more sensitive. How to come out of it?
Sri Sri: Read Yoga Vasistha. You have to see that the whole world is just a
dream. That will give you the endurance and the strength to withstand
unpleasant situations as well. Or listen to Ashtavakra's knowledge.
Keep your intellect above the worldly waters. There will always be
turbulences there. When you keep your intellect at a higher plane, then you
will act, yet not get so attached to it.
Gurudev, Lord Krishna played the role of a Guru to Arjuna. In Lord
Krishna’s life, what role did Arjuna play? What role can a disciple play in
Guru’s life?
Sri Sri: There can be only two types of disciples: the easy disciple, and
the tough disciple. The tough ones are hard nuts to crack. It will take a long
time for the tough ones to get the point.
The easy ones are those who know, who become sensitive, and who get it. You can
say, like a buffalo or a cow.
If you just shout ‘Aye!’ to a cow, it understands and moves forward. But for a
buffalo, you have to take a big bamboo stick and hit it lightly to really get
it to move; only then it will move. Or you have to literally come and push it
with your hands.
So these are the two types of disciples. Ones who listens easily and gets it,
and who is sensitive, The other doesn’t listen, and takes a long time to get
the point.
Gurudev, are you Lord Krishna?
Sri Sri: Why? Are you going to bring some problems for me?
Read Bhagavad Gita. Lord Krishna says, one who sees me in everything and in
everyone, is really the intelligent one.
'Yo mam pashyati sarvatra sarvam cha mayi pashyati tasyaham na
pranashyami sa cha me na pranashyati'. (6.30)
One who sees me in everybody and me in everybody are the intelligent ones. That
is why it is said, 'Sarvam Vasudevam iti sa-mahatma sa-durlabhaha' (Rare
are those holy souls who see Me in everything and everything in Me). Such great
people are very difficult to find, who say that everything is Vasudeva (God).
Gurdev, why is Ekadashi very dear to Lord Krishna? Today is
Vaikunth Ekadashi. Today after celebrating it with you, are the doors of
Vaikunth (Paradise) open for us?
Sri Sri: You should first understand what 'Vaikunth' (in Indian
mythology, referring to the abode of Lord Vishnu) means. It is a place where
there is no lack, or shortage; there is only abundance.
It is written in the Srimad Bhagawatam, that everyone in Vaikunth is
Lord Narayana Himself (meaning that in such a divine abode, every soul is
elevated to Divinity and appears as Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Consciousness that
permeates all of Creation). You cannot distinguish who is the Lord (Narayan)
and who is the devoted sevak (servant or devotee).
The word kuntha in Hindi means shortage. And a place
where there is no lack, or shortage of anything, that is whatVaikuntha is.
It is said that everyone in Vaikunth (Paradise) is in the form
of Lord Narayana Himself. There is no inferiority complex, no superiority
complex.
Do you feel that there is any scarcity here?
When you come close to the Guru, you will find (Mount) Kailasha (the
abode of Lord Shiva, also signifying the abode of total bliss), and Vaikuntha also
there.
You know, the Guru is a Tattva (the most fundamental element
or principle). We often chant: 'Guru Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo
Maheshwaraha', isn’t it? The Guru Tattva has all three powers and
qualities: Guru Brahma(referring to the power of the Guru as
Lord Brahma. the Creator), Guru Vishnu (referring to
the power of the Guru as Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector of Creation),
and Guru Maheshwara (referring to the power of the Guru as
Lord Shiva, the great transformer and destroyer of all negativity).
So the Guru Tattva has all the three. So where all these three
are present, that is where Vaikuntha will also be.
What is Kailasha? A place where there is only joy and bliss, where
there is only celebration; there is only love everywhere. That is what Kailasha is. Vaikunth (Paradise)
means that place where there is no shortage, there is only abundance.
Today is Vaikunth Ekadashi, so you can fast and remain
hungry, even though here there is no scarcity (laughter). If there is
shortage and you have to go hungry, then that is poverty. Here there is no
shortage of anything, everything is in abundance, and still you are fasting.
This is Vaikunth Ekadashi.
It is said that on this day Lord Krishna gave the Bhagavad Gita. So today is
celebrated as Gita Jayanti (celebrating the day the
Gita was delivered to the World) also.
Today it is called Devotthana Ekadashi also. All the
Gods and Goddesses (implying the Divinity within oneself) are said to be
asleep till today. Today they wake up and once again engage themselves in the
welfare and upliftment of people.
So the message for today is to wake up the Divinity which is within each one of
you. Commit yourself to the welfare of the nation.
Gurudev, I remember the story of a movie I saw ten years back. Yet
I forget the knowledge I heard yesterday. How come?
Sri Sri: Never mind. Knowledge will come from time to time when it is
needed, and then you forget it also. Forgetfulness is also bliss. You should
not carry all the knowledge; it is too heavy on the head.
You know, knowledge is also like soap. In the Bhagavad Gita, it is said, 'Na
hi jnanena sadrusham pavitram iha vidyate. Tat svayam yoga-samsiddhah
kalenatmani vindati'. (4.38)
You put on the soap and then you wash it away. So, take the knowledge, use it
and then become hollow and empty. You become free from it. And when it is
needed, it will surely come to you.
Gurudev, what is the importance of sacrifice in the life?
Sri Sri: You get strength from sacrifice. It increases your valor.
Sacrifice brings you so much peace, and you feel that your life is fruitful.
You never get as much happiness by craving or acquiring things, as much as you
get by sacrificing them.
When we give something to someone, don't we get happiness? What pleasure you
get in giving is more than the pleasure you get in receiving. Of course there
is happiness in getting the things you have desired for, but the happiness
which you get by giving and sharing is double.
Only those who have something can give something. That is why, sacrifice, the
pleasure of giving is one level higher than the pleasure you get in receiving.
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