Thu, 04/16/2015 Bangalore, India
Take life as a sport. Life is a struggle when you have no knowledge. With knowledge, the same life which you considered as a struggle turns out into a sport. In sports, you are happy, whatever the outcome.
When you feel that the journey itself is a struggle, then nothing is satisfactory, even victory is as disastrous as failure. But when you see the journey as a path, as singing and dancing (the approach lightens up).
When people are joyful, they sing and dance, and keep going round and round, simply. There is no purpose in going all around a place. When you are walking straight, you have a purpose or a goal that you want to reach. But when you are going around, it is a game. Like horse racing being done within a track, it is just a game. A racing horse is not supposed to reach somewhere. Similarly all the planets are going round and round. They are giving you the message: it is a game.
When you feel that the journey itself is a struggle, then nothing is satisfactory, even victory is as disastrous as failure. But when you see the journey as a path, as singing and dancing (the approach lightens up).
When people are joyful, they sing and dance, and keep going round and round, simply. There is no purpose in going all around a place. When you are walking straight, you have a purpose or a goal that you want to reach. But when you are going around, it is a game. Like horse racing being done within a track, it is just a game. A racing horse is not supposed to reach somewhere. Similarly all the planets are going round and round. They are giving you the message: it is a game.
The ancient Rishis called life a 'leela'. Leela means a game, or fun. They never saw it as Sri Rama’s sangharsh or struggle. They said Ram Leela (Rama’s game). When life is like a game, the whole thing, the whole approach lightens up in both senses; you feel light and it lightens you up as well.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Meditation. As soon as you wake up, you can brush and wash a little bit, then sit for meditation. First thing is meditation. The last thing is also meditation. Anything you do, do it with mindfulness, with awareness.
Gurudev, how well does being religious help me in my spiritual quest?
Gurudev, how well does being religious help me in my spiritual quest?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is a different dimension. A little bit of religiosity is good in life. It adds a flavor which is needed both for yourself and for the society to continue.
You don’t need to go to a temple, a church or a mosque to pray and meditate. But just imagine if nobody goes, what will happen to all these temples? If everyone says, 'God is in my home, in my heart, and everywhere sit', for one generation it is okay, but what will happen to the coming generations? This whole system will collapse.
We need to preserve this ancient system and ancient culture itself, the world heritage. So temples are not just a place to find God, it is also a place of socio-cultural activities. So even in that sense, I feel it is good to keep that heritage alive.
I have more affinity to knowledge sheets rather than my studies. What to do? Please tell my parents that it is okay.
I have more affinity to knowledge sheets rather than my studies. What to do? Please tell my parents that it is okay.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is good that you have affinity towards knowledge sheets, but you have to put your effort and study also. You do not have to put much effort in knowledge, you have to put your effort in studies because your interest is not there. So whatever comes to you as effortless is part of your enjoyment, but anything you need to put effort towards, helps you in some long-term aspects.
Gurudev, if we want some thoughts to manifest or turn to reality, what should we do? Kindly explain. Is there is a mechanism?
Gurudev, if we want some thoughts to manifest or turn to reality, what should we do? Kindly explain. Is there is a mechanism?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Intention, Attention, and Manifestation. You have an intention, and you first offer it to the universe, to the Higher Spirit, or to someone very dear to you, like your parents, your ancestors, your personal angels, Gods and Goddesses, or to the Guru. To anyone, you offer your real intention, saying, 'This is my wish', and have patience. Know that it will be done. If it is good for you, it is going to be done. And it will be done. If it is good, it is going to happen.
Gurudev, how can I become like Bhakt Prahlada? Could it happen automatically or do I need to make an effort?
Gurudev, how can I become like Bhakt Prahlada? Could it happen automatically or do I need to make an effort?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is like you are asking me, 'Gurudev, how I can like something? How can I like mangoes? How can I like bananas?'
You have no way to like it, it simply happens. Your very desire that you want to be like Bhakt Prahlada, know that you are already on the Path, you are already on the way.
As your vision broadens, you go for the highest. Prahlada went for the highest. 'Ahlada' means happiness. 'Prahlada' means bliss. Even this story of Hiranyakashipu, his goal was prahlada (bliss).
Today, you find people around like Hiranyakashyapu. You know what Hiranyakashyapu is? 'Hiranya' means money, 'Kashyap' means one who sees only money and nothing else; no relationship, no father, no mother, nobody. Money is the biggest. For money sake they can drag their parents to court, or do anything. They are all Hiranyakashipus.
Today, you find people around like Hiranyakashyapu. You know what Hiranyakashyapu is? 'Hiranya' means money, 'Kashyap' means one who sees only money and nothing else; no relationship, no father, no mother, nobody. Money is the biggest. For money sake they can drag their parents to court, or do anything. They are all Hiranyakashipus.
What do they want? Their goal is to bring up prahlada (bliss). And bliss cannot be in the captive of Hiranyakashipu. It will always go towards Narayana.
Only the highest self can bestow the highest bliss. For that courage needs to be there. Narasimha is courage; courage like a lion. So when the human consciousness is roaring like a lion, and it has authority like a king of the forest, it is stable.
Only the highest self can bestow the highest bliss. For that courage needs to be there. Narasimha is courage; courage like a lion. So when the human consciousness is roaring like a lion, and it has authority like a king of the forest, it is stable.
Prahlada sits on the lap of Narasimha on one side, and Lakshmi sits on the other lap. That means, wealth comes to you when Prahlada (bliss) is already there with you. That is the whole story of Prahlada and Hiranyakashyapu. It’s so beautiful!
And who is not only looking for money? But one who is like a lion, he is not just looking for money only. He knows money and everything will come automatically. And it will come without effort. So he destroys Hiranyakashyapu and uplifts Prahlada who is Ananda (bliss). This is the inner meaning of the story.
How to stop people from bullying?
And who is not only looking for money? But one who is like a lion, he is not just looking for money only. He knows money and everything will come automatically. And it will come without effort. So he destroys Hiranyakashyapu and uplifts Prahlada who is Ananda (bliss). This is the inner meaning of the story.
How to stop people from bullying?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You do not need to stop anyone from bullying you. You do not get bullied, that is all.
How are they going to bully? They are going to say something, right? You act as though you are deaf! The best way for a bully is to act as though you are deaf, or you do not understand that language. You compliment them, give them a surprise, tell them, 'Oh, you are a master in bullying!'
If you have humor in life, you can surf through any tough situation. Got it?
If you have humor in life, you can surf through any tough situation. Got it?
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