How can one meet one’s true Self? Why do we always long for someone’s company? Know more: https://www.facebook.com/AOLUniverse/photos/a.157877484236715.33042.154033551287775/1074165865941201/ …
Saturday 31 October 2015
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2015
Q: I am living in a phase in which I am allowing my emotions to take over me, and I am aware of this. Otherwise, I feel they get suppressed. Am I on the right path?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Emotions are such that sometimes you should abstain from them, and sometimes you should express them. You can’t take extreme views here. You cannot always suppress your emotion and you cannot always keep expressing your emotion. Both will bring you difficulties and trouble.
If you always suppress your emotion you will be in trouble. If you always keep expressing your emotions, then also you will be in trouble and you will put others also in trouble. That’s why emotions should be streamlined through wisdom. When there is wisdom then you know which emotion to express and which not to express. And where you should express, and where you should not.Suppose you are at a funeral service of somebody, then you can’t say, ‘Oh, I am so happy’, and keep jumping! People will feel like slapping you. You may be happy but you cannot express that.
Similarly, if you are sad and there is a wedding party or reception happening, you can’t go and say, ‘I am so sad’. People will not like to see you sad as they are celebrating. You will spoil the whole atmosphere. So you have to use your discrimination - where, when, how you must express your emotions and where it is not wise to do so.
http://qnawithsrisri.artoflivinguniverse.org/
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2015
CAN THE LIFE BE EXTENDED?
This is a mystery. There is a possibility to extend life if the soul desires it. But that should be an innate desire from the soul and not from someone else. Sometimes, someone else’s desire can also work, but that is only sometimes.
This is a well-guarded secret as to when someone is to exit from this planet. Meditation, yoga and taking good care of oneself will definitely have an impact.
http://knowledgesheet.artoflivinguniverse.org/
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2015
Q: do you have a plan for every devotee? Do you really have a plan for me as well?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Absolutely! Just be on the track; keep smiling and serving. And you have choices as well. Whatever you choose, with a broader, long-term vision, I am with you for that.
http://guruoneliners.artoflivinguniverse.org/
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2015
Brushing the teeth is dental hygiene, meditation is mental hygiene. You must meditate, never mind even if you are bombarded with thoughts, just sit for twenty minutes and relax. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
http://srisriravishankarquotes.artoflivinguniverse.org/
Friday 30 October 2015
Veena is the oldest instrument known to mankind, the first instrument. Knw more frm @SriSri http://aolu.co/SriSriOnVeena
Jai Gurudev Dear Ones,
For all those who have iPhone we have a good news, Navratri App is now available for iPhone!!
Download from: bit.ly/navratriiosapp
We had a very good response from Android users who used the Navratri Android app which was released earlier.
Android: bit.ly/navratriapp
For any web browser: bit.ly/navratriwebapp
Few tips can make a difference to your sleeping patterns & keep your day more active: http://aolu.co/TipsToSleepWell
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015
Q: What is your opinion about religion?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Religion has a role to play. Everyone is born into a religion. All the rituals in your life go through that religion. It has a limited role to play. Religion is not everything. You should be more spiritual.
When your movement is from religion into spirituality, that is more important. People who move from religion to spirituality, they bring dignity to their religion. When people move from religion to criminality, they bring disgrace to their religion. Today, this is what is happening around the world.
Today, people are not moving towards spirituality from religion, they are moving towards criminality. They use religion as an excuse to further their own agenda, and that has cost humanity a great deal.
When you move from religion to spirituality, you will find that everyone is yours. Otherwise religion divides people. In fact, within religions also, there are divisions. When you move to spirituality, not only do you unite within the religion, but also across religions.
http://qnawithsrisri.artoflivinguniverse.org/
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015
BEST TIME FOR MEDITATION
For some of you morning meditation is deeper, and for some others afternoon is better. For some body types, the body is awake and full of activity in the morning and so in the morning you may not be able to meditate. Never mind, you can do it in the afternoon before lunch. Meditate when the body is a little tired, and a little hungry. You should not be too tired, then you will go to sleep.
Initially, getting a little tired helps because the rajas in the body has completed its time. Tamas is total sleep, so before tamas comes in and once rajas is finished, in between the two states you can experience sattva, and that is when you can go deep in your meditation. So, for some meditating in the afternoon may be better, and for some meditating in the evening may be better.
If you cannot meditate twice a day, then you must meditate at least once a day. If you don’t meditate even once then you will be stinking, just like how you would stink when you don’t brush your teeth.
Brushing the teeth is dental hygiene, meditation is mental hygiene. You must meditate, never mind even if you are bombarded with thoughts, just sit for twenty minutes and relax. Listen to the meditation CDs, it will help you. Meditate even when the mind is chattering. Play some bhajans, do some chanting, all this will also take you into deep mediation.
http://knowledgesheet.artoflivinguniverse.org/
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015
If you cannot meditate twice a day, then you must meditate at least once a day. If you don’t meditate even once then you will be stinking, just like how you would stink when you don’t brush your teeth. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
http://gurupunch.artoflivinguniverse.org/
Thursday 29 October 2015
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015
Q: When something good happens, we say it is Guru kripa (grace). Then what do we say when something bad happens? You say that having a Guru means one is protected, then why do bad things happen?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, the divine loves everybody, however they are. If the happening of bad things takes your faith away, then it is no longer faith. But if faith stays in spite of all the bad things that are happening, then the end result will always be great and wonderful.
Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas asked Krishna for a very peculiar boon. She said, ‘Lord Krishna, let bad things happen in my life.’ Krishna was shocked, he said, ‘Why do you ask for this?’
Kunti said, ‘Whenever bad things happened, I know you were with me, and helped me get over that, so I don’t mind. Every time I was in danger, I knew you were always with me.’
A realisation like that is very unique. Bad things do not happen because you are good or not, but because you must have done something bad in the past; that karma is showing up now, and we have to face the consequences. If we had wrong food, it will show up as some disease. If your state of mind was very tense, then it will show up in your body as some disease.
http://qnawithsrisri.artoflivinguniverse.org/
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015
TRUTH IS MULTI-DIMENSIONAL
Truth is multi-dimensional and that is why you find it to be completely opposite. This is the beauty of the ancient wisdom; it accommodates completely opposite point of views, and both are true.
It’s true that it is your effort at one level, and it’s true that whatever you achieve with your effort, is much smaller than you. It can be very confusing, right? This is because our mind is trained to think linear. We don’t think spherically. This is for you to change your way of thinking and understanding from being linear and moving on to something holistic and much more spherical in nature.
http://knowledgesheet.artoflivinguniverse.org/
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015
Q: What is the causal body, how is it responsible for liberation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Liberation is caused by the subtle body, the causal body is just there. You first worry about the gross body and subtle body, let the causal body be for now!
http://guruoneliners.artoflivinguniverse.org/
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015
Just take it for granted that you have received a lot in your life. If you keep thinking, 'I want this, I want that', then the mind becomes restless and wanders here and there. But when you have this deep faith that 'I have received so much in life', then the mind is at peace and there is contentment. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
http://srisriravishankarquotes.artoflivinguniverse.org/
Jai Gurudev Dear Ones,
You can be part of the online satsang with Sri Sri today (29 Oct) from 7 pm IST
You can join the live satsang on www.artofliving.org/webcast or Sri Sri App
Do share this with all!
Wednesday 28 October 2015
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015
Q: Why was Arjuna petrified seeing Krishna’s viraat roop? Is it because he wasn’t ready? Why would God’s form invoke fear?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Anything new or unfamiliar causes fear. When children see a new person, or face a new situation, they are afraid. After the age of three, a child does not want to go to a new person, it takes a couple of days to adjust to a new person.
Our nervous system also takes a little time to adjust, to hold the knowledge; that is why a teacher is essential, and a Guru is absolutely essential. It is like jumping into a swimming pool without a coach or a lifeguard, you feel more fearful. Even if a lifeguard is there, people are scared to jump into a swimming pool, because it can take your life away. Similarly, when a huge bolt of energy shakes the small mind, it shakes the ego, then fear comes up; it is but natural.
http://qnawithsrisri.artoflivinguniverse.org/
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015
SURRENDER THE PROBLEMS
Just look back in your life. You had problems in the past and you also got solutions to those problems, right? So it will come. You are in the right place and are doing the right thing. Leave your problems behind here in the Ashram and go back happily.
When there are problems in life, then one is not able to grasp the knowledge. Problems act like a veil over the mind. This is why there is a need to surrender; this is why you need a Guru, or anyone else you love. Then you have this deep faith that no matter what happens in life, they are with me and will support me through everything that happens. When you have this strong faith from within, then problems no longer appear as problems.
When you know that there is someone who will cook food in the house, you never bother to think about your meals. You simply go and sit for having food when it is time. But imagine if there is no one else in the house except you. Then you sit and think, “Oh! There is no one at home. I will have to cook food for myself. What do I do? What vegetables do I buy and from where? Are there enough vegetables at home?” You start thinking about so many things. Who would think about so many things? A person who thinks like this is not aware that there is someone who is taking care of cooking the food and feeding everyone in the house.
http://knowledgesheet.artoflivinguniverse.org/
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015
This mind is my enemy and this mind is also my friend. If the mind listens to me it is my friend and when it goes all over the place it is my enemy. So, there is no bigger enemy in this world than your own mind. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
http://gurupunch.artoflivinguniverse.org/
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015
Q: How to rekindle the sense of wonder?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just be in the moment, feel fresh and alive! See the entire past as a dream and doubt the present as to whether this could be a dream, then you are already in wonderment.
http://guruoneliners.artoflivinguniverse.org/
Would you like to meet @SriSri? Here is a chance for you! Log on today: http://aolu.co/MeetSriSri-SS
Tuesday 27 October 2015
Faith and love
God does not wish you to have more faith because the more faith you have, the more work for God. God will have to run behind you; then you start controlling Him. He is the servant of faithful servants and He does not want too many servants telling Him what He should be doing.
Love is the highest strength, yet it makes you absolutely weak. So God/Enlightened One/Nature does not want you to have more faith or love. With too much faith and love, you make God weak.
So, it is better for God that you have less faith. Things go on as they are. Why transform? Be happy.
Meditation is seeing God in oneself.
Love is seeing God in the person next to you.
Knowledge is seeing God everywhere.
Expression of love is service.
Expression of joy is smile.
Expression of peace is meditation.
Expressing God is conscious action.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015
Q: Could you please explain the journey from the ego to the self? How to accomplish this easily?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If the ego makes the journey, it will say, ‘See I made the journey to the self’. Then, it has not even moved an inch. It is not a journey from one to the other. If you find that you have an ego, just let it be there. Why do you worry about it? Don’t try to meddle with it or erase it. The antidote for ego is to be natural, simply natural.
And you cannot get out of the self. Self is the consciousness that everything is made up of. That is you, and everything around you. You say ‘I’, that ‘I’ is made up of the self. Your body, mind and everything is made up of the self. Self is like space. You can never get out of it, and you can never do anything about it.
http://qnawithsrisri.artoflivinguniverse.org/
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015
WHAT TO LEARN FROM HUMANS
Humanity! From human beings we can learn two things:
1. What we must do
2. What we must not do
We can learn about the different kinds of animals and birds, we can also learn what we must do from animal and birds, but we cannot learn what not to do from them. Animal and birds cannot teach us what we must not do because they violate nature. It is human beings who violate nature and then get into trouble. So when you see another person falling in the ditch, they are teaching you to be alert so that you do not fall in the ditch. So what not to do is taught by human beings and that is why human being are considered most superior.
There is an old saying in Sanskrit, 'Durjanam prathamam vande, sujanam tadanantaram'.
You must first salute the bad person and then salute the good person. Why? This is because the bad person is teaching you a lesson at his own cost: 'Don't do what I did, otherwise you will also go through the same trouble as I am going through'.
So, salute everyone, whether the person is your enemy or your friend.
http://knowledgesheet.artoflivinguniverse.org/
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015
Q: It is said that there are three steps of learning – Shravan, Manan and Nididhyasan. What is Nididhyasan?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: RaviShankar: Nididhyasan means making it as your own wealth, making it as part of you, having expertise in that.
http://guruoneliners.artoflivinguniverse.org/
Monday 26 October 2015
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015
Q: It is said that the worship of the formless divine takes the sadhak (seeker) to a different state than the worship of the Divine with form.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You have to go from the form to the formless. If you jump only to the formless, that path is full of misery.
Lord Krishna said in the Gita, that there are people who worship the formless, but that path is full of pain and sorrow. You can see this yourself. Take Moses for example, his path has been very miserable and sad. Jesus - his life was so sad. Take the example of Mohammad Paigambar, he had to undergo so much pain and struggle, and the bloodiest part of history is his. It continued after him too, all his family members had a very painful and sorrowful state.This is the reason why Buddha said, "Buddham sharanam gachhami", i.e., I go to Buddha for refuge. Buddha is the formless in the form. Then he said, "Sangam sharanam gachhami", i.e., I surrender myself to the society and take refuge in the service of society. And then he said, "Dhammam sharanam gachhami", i.e., I take refuge in the ultimate truth. To get away from misery, Buddha said four things; recognise there is misery. There is a reason for the misery. It is possible to get out of misery. To get out of misery, take refuge in the enlightened or Buddha. Again, Buddha is the formless in the form.Lord Krishna said the same thing, "Aham tvam sarvapapebhyo, mokshapapebhyo mokshayishyami ma sucah". Lord Krishna very clearly said that those who worship the formless, their path is very tedious and full of misery. That is true. Any worship is only for the formless, but the path through the form makes it joyful, easier and more perceivable for people. You may choose a path with rubble and a lot of potholes, or you may choose a nice road, a highway. This choice makes a difference.
http://qnawithsrisri.artoflivinguniverse.org/
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015
TOTAL ACCEPTANCE
In life we see all types of people – some are completely foolish, some are very wise. We see a wide range of behavior patterns, tendencies and emotions. Everything ultimately is a part of the Universal Spirit, a part of the One Reality. So just accept and take everything along. That is the message of Shivaratri. Do not get stuck anywhere, just keep moving ahead in life with this total acceptance – of oneself and of one’s surroundings.
Many times we become choosy of what we accept. Sometimes we accept the situation but we do not accept ourselves. Or we accept ourselves the way we are but we do not accept the other people around us. Neither of these alone can lead you to a sense of completion or fullness. You have to look into both (acceptance towards oneself and acceptance towards the situation) – that is, you should accept whatever is inside and whatever is outside. So just let things be. This is the way to go inward.
What stops you from experiencing that deep inner peace or silence? Our mind thinking that 'This should be like this' or 'This is not how it should be'.
Or we think that 'People should be like this and not like that', etc. That is what blocks our mind from settling in silence. When you keep thinking in this manner, your mind is still at the periphery, and this keeps you from retrieving the mind to the center. For the mind to be able to go to its source, the mantra is let it be!
Then you are able to go to the center. Once you are at the center, then whatever sankalpa you take starts to manifest, and things start happening.
http://knowledgesheet.artoflivinguniverse.org/
Sunday 25 October 2015
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2015
Q: I am getting married soon but I have this one botheration. For the past 6 months I have had many fights with my fiancé and I am not sure if I should continue this relationship.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Now, you stop demanding love from the person. If you demand love or ask proof of their love, you are destroying it. How can someone prove their love to you? You should not burden the person.
Suppose, someone asks you every day, ‘Are you honest? Are you honest?’ What will you feel? Bad right? Similarly, if you keep asking someone, ‘Do you really love me?’ How will the person feel?
The burden to prove one’s love is a very big. Your fiancé is coming to you to find comfort, and instead of giving the person comfort, you make him miserable. You should stop demanding love. Love should be given and not demanded.
Take it for granted that we you both have good understanding and then understanding will grow. If you question or doubt the understanding, it will start crumbling. All these things are stupid things to do.
Your feelings need not be the football of others opinions. You should be independent of the way you feel.
When you feel his attention towards you has reduced, just say, ‘I know you love me too much. Why do you love me so much!’ Then the person will feel better and their whole tone will change to the way you want it to be.
Isn’t that want you want to hear? For that you should not blame the other. When you throw blame, blame will come back to you. If you show humility and throw compliments on the other person, that will bounce back to you.
Always give compliments and you will see that comes back to you many folds, and if you throw blame, it will come back to you. This is the law of attraction. Whatever you throw bounces back onto you.
http://qnawithsrisri.artoflivinguniverse.org/
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2015
CLEANSING OUR VIBES
Neither at school nor at home did anyone teach us how to handle our mind, how to feel the freedom from within, how to be loving or free, and have a sense of belongingness with everybody. Nobody taught me at least – at college, or school, or university, or even at home! This is very important – we should learn how to cleanse our own vibes. We carry our vibes, and that’s how we communicate.
Suppose you go to an interview and you are tensed or angry, the interviewer will know how unstable you are, or nervous you are, or if you lack confidence. They pick that up, not from your words but from your vibes. And we are all capable of sensing vibes.
You may have observed that some people’s vibes just repel you. Tell me, would anyone here like to have vibes that repel. Not one would, right? But this happens when we carry negativity, and when we don’t know how to get it out of us. This is what we have to learn.
Then there are those who may not know so much, but they carry joyful, enthusiastic vibes along with them, and people would like to hire them! Just think for a moment, if you are an employer, what type of people would you want to work with? Someone who is ready, enthusiastic, and full of energy, or someone who is nervous, not confident, and worrying about what he mugged up or didn’t?
http://knowledgesheet.artoflivinguniverse.org/
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2015
That which changes, which is not constant, which does not appeal, is Maya. That which changes every moment and that which you can measure is Maya. That which you cannot measure, which does not change is truth. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
http://gurupunch.artoflivinguniverse.org/
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2015
Q: What is the significance of the three threads in the Upanayanam ceremony?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It represents the three debts that we have. The debt we have to our parents, the debt that we have to our Guru and the debt that we have to society. When we take Sanyasa, then we are not tied anymore to all three debts. So wear the threads to remind us for our three debts.
http://guruoneliners.artoflivinguniverse.org/
#VegRecipe of the week: Pumpkin Muffins (Flourless)
Follow some steps to learn this recipe http://aolu.co/Pumpkin_Muffins
Saturday 24 October 2015
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2015
PHYSICAL BODY AND CAUSAL BODY
There is a physical body and a causal body. The casual body is much larger. What is your experience when you are happy? An expansion happens. There is something in you that expands, and when that expansion happens you feel happy. And when the same thing contracts, that is the time when you feel frustrated.
What happens whenever you are upset or unhappy? There is something in you that shrinks. This something that is contracting and expanding, it is non-physical or ethereal. This is an obvious experience with everybody. They cannot deny it.
http://knowledgesheet.artoflivinguniverse.org/
Jai Gurudev Dear Ones,
Here is a very special app called Abhyaasa - which will help you in your daily sadhana and even inspire yourself to do it regularly!
You get to have your favorite teachers' voice lead you in your sadhana. The most important feature is the ability to create profiles. So what are these profiles?
Some days you have only half an hour for your sadhana, and at other times you have a little more time. Did you ever wish that someone would chant om shanti shanti shanti after exactly 35 minutes (or whatever smile emoticon ) With sadhana profiles you can customise your sadhana to fit the time available.
Android version is released, you can download here
iPhone will be available soon
All details of this app are on www.abhyaasa.org
The pre-requisite of this app is that you should have completed The Art of Living Happiness Program
Note: If you are a Art of Living Teacher, you will get the feature to allow participants to get access to the app by sharing a QR code that gets generated when you login with your mobile number which is registered with NTC.
If you not yet a Art of Living Teacher but you have done the happiness program then you can get your access for the app from any Art of Living teacher who has the app installed!
Install and enjoy your daily sadhana!!
QNA WITH SRI SRI
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2015
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2015
Q: Could you please explain the journey from the ego to the self? How to accomplish this easily?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If the ego makes the journey, it will say, ‘See I made the journey to the self’. Then, it has not even moved an inch. It is not a journey from one to the other. If you find that you have an ego, just let it be there. Why do you worry about it? Don’t try to meddle with it or erase it. The antidote for ego is to be natural, simply natural.
And you cannot get out of the self. Self is the consciousness that everything is made up of. That is you, and everything around you. You say ‘I’, that ‘I’ is made up of the self. Your body, mind and everything is made up of the self. Self is like space. You can never get out of it, and you can never do anything about it.
Friday 23 October 2015
@WCF2016 is going to be the biggest ever event witnessed by mankind says @rashminp! Know more: https://www.facebook.com/TheWorldCultureFestival/videos/vb.151882464856050/1013315948712693/ …
Thursday 22 October 2015
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015
Q: Can you please throw some light upon the competitive spirit that parents today are creating among children by pushing them to achieve higher scores in studies like 90-95% etc.?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You should tell such parents to relax. It is a natural tendency to be competitive but they should not put too much pressure on the kids. Whatever percentage the child secures in the school exams, they should encourage the child and tell the child not to worry too much about it. You should quote some of the top examples for this. Some of the greatest leaders across the world were quite mediocre and average in their school days. They would not get the top rank in school, yet they have excelled. Parents need to kindle talent in their child, and they should not put blame and pressure on the child.
http://qnawithsrisri.artoflivinguniverse.org/
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