An Easy Way To Forgive

Sat, 07/18/2015 Bad Antogast, Germany

Singing is essential. It should be a part of our life. Even before we started talking, we started humming. Every human being, every bird, and most of the animals sing because singing is part of the expression of life. Spending a few minutes with music every day is essential. That will stimulate the right brain activity.

The whole day, from the time we wake up until we go to bed, we are only using the left brain – calculating, talking, logical reasoning, taking decisions. So our development is one-sided. So, for some time, we have to give rest to the left brain and swing to the right side, to be balanced! So, to be balanced, sometimes sit and listen to music and sing.

Our habit has been that we put on music but yet we keep talking. Music is running, it is going on, I don’t know for whom to hear, but you are busy in doing something. How many of you do this? (Many in the audience raise their hands). Nearly everyone! The music is going on in the background but we are not engrossed in the music. You are not soaking yourself in music. You are not letting the music take over you.

Satsangis when you just sit and allow the music to take over you and be totally soaked in music. Then, the right brain activity is dominant and you feel very good. The whole system gets energized. It can be an antidote for many illnesses and also help in prevention of several psychosomatic disorders. This can only happen when you listen to music, and be engrossed in music. What do you say?

Dear Gurudev, I say that I have forgiven, but when I am meditating, the past comes back and I feel that I am losing out on my experience. Forgiving is easier said than done. Please help me to forgive and be free because I am still hurting.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Forgiving is not only difficult, it is almost impossible as long as you think that someone is a culprit. But if you see that person, whomsoever you want to forgive, not as a culprit but as a victim of situations, a victim of ignorance, or just a postman to deliver what was due to you, you don’t need to forgive them. They just simply disappear from your domain.

When a postman has delivered you a parcel, that’s it, you don’t think about the postman. You are with the parcel, whether you like it or not. You do whatever you want to do with the parcel. This is exactly the attitude you should have.
As I said the other day, when you get a nasty email, you don’t bang or throw your computer or laptop because you’ve got a nasty email. Whatever email came, the laptop just reflects that. That’s all! Similarly, people are just like laptops. You don’t need to forgive them. You simply need to have a better understanding.

If you ask them, sometimes, they also may not know why they behaved that way, why they did acts that hurt you.

Gurudev, what is it like to be free of maya, of the ego, of the small mind, of all this nonsense. If I can imagine it, at least then I can finally become free! Is there anyone who will not get enlightened in this lifetime being with you? I hope that’s not me.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Yes, wanting the highest, wanting freedom itself is a sign of awakening. If you are in slumber, you don’t even care about it. When you wake up and see, you say, "I don’t want all this. I want to be free", then you are half-done. You are already moving in that direction.

Being free is like being a kid again. A baby is free but it is weak, but an enlightened one is free with strength. A baby is free with dependence; enlightenment is freedom with utter independence.

Dear Gurudev, if you were to die tomorrow, is there a natural successor in place? Or, must that person be elected? After all, these things are not eternal!

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

I haven’t thought about it yet, but this knowledge will continue. Many people will lead it in many places, as necessary.

Gurudev, what is better – to do the course or stay here like a guest? Guests seem to have a nice time compared to us. Last year, I did the Advanced Meditation Course here four times and the same guests were here enjoying. Who gets more of your blessings and why?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

You know, the guests miss it. They miss what you are having, what you are enjoying. The meditation and the silence, this is even more important. Since they cannot come for 4-5 days, they come for 1 or 2 days and I just meet them only once. Don’t imagine that I have guests hanging around with me upstairs and we are all having a nice time. No, I don’t let that happen. I tell them to go down, that there are people who are in silence here, meditating. And there also are other guests who do some seva.

You know, guests may think the other way round, "Oh, I didn’t get this opportunity. People who are doing the course are enjoying and looking so bright. Everybody is enjoying silence".

Definitely, those who sit for silence get more benefits. No doubt about it by any means.