February 09, 2014
Bangalore, India
(Part 3 of 3)
Could you advise on what is the best way of going into meditation.
And is there any kind of special music which can enable you to access that
space better? (Ritu Kumar: Fashion designer from India (Recipient of the
Padmashree in 2013))
Sri Sri: Meditation is very simple, and it just takes a couple of days to
learn. Once you learn it then you can do it on your own. Then you can do it
anytime and anywhere you want. But only before meals, okay! What happens during
meditation is our metabolism slows down; whereas after food our metabolism goes
up. So it is better to meditate two to three hours before food, or after a good
meal.
Meditation is good, it makes our body strong, health better, mind clear, and
our emotions become softer and positive. It improves our intuitive ability,
improves our vibrations, and brings such a positive energy around us. There are
so many benefits to it.
Q: When I came here, as I entered the door, I had a lot of
questions. But when I sat down I realized that this whole session is about
finding your inner peace, and that was a beautiful realization.
My question, today, is about Africa. You had mentioned earlier that simply
sending food is not a solution. I would like your guidance on how to further
charity in Africa to a new level and make it a more sustainable solution.
Africa is a forgotten continent. They are going through a lot of pain and I
want your guidance to help them better. (Her Excellency Sheikha Hind Khalid
Khalid Al Qasimi: A designer and editor from UAE.)
Sri Sri: You know, I was also thinking on these lines: how we can help
Africa more. There are 3 dimensions we all have to work for.
First is, we have to see that corruption doesn’t happen. Billions of dollars
are being siphoned off into the pockets of just a few political leaders; if I’m
right.
When I was in the European parliament, I met several people who informed me
that many of these African leaders have stashed their money away in London. So
the first thing we need to do is to create a sense of awareness in them that
there is a need for a strong anti-corruption bill, or some such thing will have
to happen. Such a moment has to come up there.
Second
is, creating a sense of belongingness among the people. A lot of money is
wasted in ethnic conflicts in Africa. People can just get together, and instead
of getting into conflict, celebrate their diversity.
Africa is not one, there are so many diverse little sections, groups, and
tribes. They should celebrate this difference together. For this India can be
the best example, because in India, every 200 kilometers a different language
is spoken! It’s almost like Europe.
Just take the whole of Europe, how many different languages are there; how many
different countries are there, yet it is all in one country. Similarly, in some
provinces in India, there are 10-15 tribes, but they all celebrate together,
they remain together. There aren't such big ethnic conflicts.
So we need to teach people how to live harmoniously in spite of their
differences. This can be inculcated in the education system. South Africa has
done it to a very big extent. Botswana has done it to some extent. Rest of
Africa should do this.
Just giving out charity is not enough. We need to teach them how to fish. We
need to teach them how to stand on their feet. This is what I believe in.
Women will be playing a very important role in the next years as
the new era progresses. So, how can they develop Shakti (strength)
so that they can be more empowered to do a better job? (Márcia De Luca:
Specialist in Yoga and health from Brazil)
Sri Sri: First thing I would say is, they should watch their food. More
healthy food, more organic food.
Second is, they should not stop singing. In this country, if you see in the
villages, when women go for working in the fields, they keep humming and
singing. So singing gives a lot of energy to do their work with enthusiasm. Men
are more shy to sing than women. So women should not leave their habit of
humming and singing. Singing can give them a lot of energy.
Third thing is, do some yoga and pranayama.
So, you say that for a good relationship, we have to pamper the
husband’s ego. As a working woman, I find that my potential gets limited
because I have to do the same for my male bosses and my male colleagues.
Sri Sri: Oh, you don’t have to do it all the time! You should have some fun
in the office as well. Sometime poke their ego and see what happens. Have fun!
One thing is for sure, whether at home or at workplace, don’t sacrifice your
smile for anything on the planet. Nothing is worth it.
Keep your smile. This does not mean that you have to keep smiling at others all
the time, but your heart should be smiling. When you give a comment to your
boss and he is boiling, you should smile and watch how he is boiling and
changing his colors and expressions. See the blood shooting into his eyes. Just
watch and have a good time.
If
you have that much inner strength or peace; the inner smile then that is it,
you become invincible. I tell you, you are invincible. Just wake up and
recognize the huge potential you have. The ocean of love and compassion that
you have. You recognizing your self is good enough to bring a change in the
world. That is why Mahatma Gandhi has said,be the change you want to see
in the world.
Gurudev, you tell us to live in the moment, but you also say that
we must have goals in life. Is this not contradictory? If one has to live in
the moment, then why have goals in life?
Sri Sri: Life is so complex! It is not just simple. It is so complex and
that is the beauty of it! That is why it is beautiful.
Our body has a form, color and shape, but our mind doesn’t have any of those.
We are combination of the most obvious, and the completely abstract the mind. A
combination of both. Something which is so tangible, and something which is so
airy. You can’t put a finger and say, 'This is my mind'.
So, we are a combination of very complex and diverse principles of nature, that
is why we are so complete. So you live in the present moment, but have a great
vision for the future. You can do both. And we all possess this ability.
Gurudev, if the combination of all three, i.e., Lakshmi (the
goddess of wealth), Saraswati (the goddess of knowledge) and Durga (the
goddess of power and strength) was not possible, and if you had to choose only
one, then which of the three forms should a woman choose in today’s day and
age.
Sri Sri: Listen, the Indian mythology gave all the power to women. All the
important ministries were assigned to womenfolk. The ministry of finance,
defense and education were given to women. So a woman plays all these three
roles.
With kids, she is playing the role of teacher. Sometimes with husband, she can
play the role of Durga; or with neighbor, if the situation demands, a woman can
become a defense minister. Of course, she holds the key to the wealth of the
family.
You
know, in ancient India, they used to have what is called Stree dhan.
Every woman was given a certain amount and they would not touch that amount.
That was the savings. She can hand it over to her daughter, or do whatever she
wants to do with it. That was the ancient system here.
There are matriarchal families even today in India. Two states in India - one
is in the North east, one is Kerala, when a boy gets married he goes and lives
in the girl’s house. It is not the other way around. He goes and lives with his
wife, and the woman inherits all the property, the boys don’t.
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