Tue, 04/21/2015 Brussels, Belgium
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
First, I would like to refute your first statement that you have never done yoga in your whole life. You have done it as a baby, but you don’t know it. Not a single child on this planet has grown up without doing yoga.
Babies, when they sleep, they are in the Chin Mudra while sleeping. In any part of the world you see, when babies are lying down they lift their legs first, and then they go on their belly and try to lift their shoulders. To some extent every child has done asanas on this planet.
Then coming to the breathing pattern - the way we breathe is different from the way a baby breathes. A baby has a stress-free mind, a happy mind. All the science of yoga is already there in a baby and as babies, we have all been yogis. We are just going back to our roots.
Babies, when they sleep, they are in the Chin Mudra while sleeping. In any part of the world you see, when babies are lying down they lift their legs first, and then they go on their belly and try to lift their shoulders. To some extent every child has done asanas on this planet.
Then coming to the breathing pattern - the way we breathe is different from the way a baby breathes. A baby has a stress-free mind, a happy mind. All the science of yoga is already there in a baby and as babies, we have all been yogis. We are just going back to our roots.
Yoga has eight limbs; there are eight steps to it and one among them is physical postures. But, the central teaching is maintaining an equanimous state of mind.
'Samatvam yoga uchayate' - yoga brings equilibrium in the mind. When you can do any action with mindfulness, you are aware of what you are saying or doing, this makes you a yogi.
'Samatvam yoga uchayate' - yoga brings equilibrium in the mind. When you can do any action with mindfulness, you are aware of what you are saying or doing, this makes you a yogi.
See, science is a systematic logical understanding of what is. In that sense, yoga is a science; it is a systematic understanding of the subject. Knowing ‘What this is’ is science. Knowing ‘Who am I’ is spirituality.
I have never practiced yoga, but I have always been impressed by the relaxed state of Gurus and yogis. Speaking as a Catholic, what do you say to those leaders of monotheistic religions, senior clerics in my own faith who say that yoga has its origin in Hinduism and Pantheism and being focused entirely on the physical aspect of the body can undermine Christian prayer. Therefore, it is not necessarily the right approach to spirituality for Christians. Is being a devout Christian compatible with the practice of yoga?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
By eating Chinese food, we do not become Chinese. Listening to Beethoven, does not turn you into a German. When we can accept food from every part of the world, music from every part of the world, technology from every part of the world, why to single out wisdom that can bring you inner peace, without interfering with your own faith or belief system? This is my question.
No doubt, yoga has its root in Hinduism. Actually, Hinduism is a way of life. Patanjali never talks about many Gods or pantheism. Patanjali simply says - there is the body, the mind, the breath, and the life-force; attend to all of this. We should welcome wisdom, irrespective of its source, as long as it does not conflict with our traditions.
No doubt, yoga has its root in Hinduism. Actually, Hinduism is a way of life. Patanjali never talks about many Gods or pantheism. Patanjali simply says - there is the body, the mind, the breath, and the life-force; attend to all of this. We should welcome wisdom, irrespective of its source, as long as it does not conflict with our traditions.
The whole commercialization of yoga is making it lose its original purpose, which is spirituality.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Commercialization has to do with people and not with yoga. Wherever there are people and there are arrangements to be done, commerce becomes a part of it. But if yoga is denied to people because they do not have money, I would say that is wrong.
My yoga teacher told me that, things that happen to you always reflect your inner state. My question is, can you transmit the same philosophy to the level of a group? Things that are happening to certain countries would reflect what’s inside of them?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, we reflect the society and society reflects what we are. In a broader sense, yes. But when the tension is building up, the group fear begins there. Mob psychology is very much comparable to an individual reflection of what people are feeling. I am sure that could be addressed through right education.
When a child is between 3-months and 3-years, he is not conditioned by any societal systems because he is natural. How do we get rid of conditioning?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you go to the root cause of conflicts, you will find that it is stress, mistrust, and fear of the other. Yoga helps you get over all the three. Fear of the other vanishes, because you have broadened awareness, broadened consciousness. You feel everyone is part of you and you are part of them. Fear of losing one’s identity or fear of losing existence, being extinct, is something that is very deep-rooted. Yoga, I feel, is the best thing to remove these fears from the minds of people.
Which are the qualities that yoga can help you develop in order to become a more responsible person towards yourself and others?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I just explained it. Yoga can definitely make you more responsible, because it creates more energy and enthusiasm in you.
When do you not like to take responsibility? When you are tired and stressed. If you have taken care of these two issues and you have enough enthusiasm and energy, you will definitely take more responsibility, and with a sense of lightness.
Do you think people in this room would make better decisions if they had a yoga class every morning?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
That is the first right decision.
When do you not like to take responsibility? When you are tired and stressed. If you have taken care of these two issues and you have enough enthusiasm and energy, you will definitely take more responsibility, and with a sense of lightness.
Do you think people in this room would make better decisions if they had a yoga class every morning?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
That is the first right decision.
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