QUESTION
& ANSWER WITH GURUDEV
POSTED
ON: SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2026
Q:
Many times the ideals, principles and beliefs taught to us by our parents and
grandparents are in conflict with the teachings of The Art of Living. We feel
responsible to carry forward their teachings but are in confusion after
listening to some of your knowledge. Please help.
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar:
I
don't see what you are referring to? How could this be confusing with any
knowledge, or what parents have said about anything?
Which
parent will say no to celebrate life, or to adopt violence as the core value in
your life? Which parent would tell their children to go and be violent? Yes, if
some people are saying, "My God is the only God, my way is the only way,
everyone else is going to hell", or, "Those people who do not
subscribe to my God have no right to exist, they are traitors", then I
would say do not follow that path. It is only ignorance.
If
any parent is saying that you will go to hell if you do meditation, they are
ignorant. You don't have to tread the path of ignorance. You educate them, and
if you cannot, you walk your path.
The
whole world is one family. Uplift yourself beyond race, gender, religions, skin
color, and all that. We are all part of one divinity -- which parent will say
we are not? Okay, may be your parents want you to follow some rituals, then do
it for their sake. Why do you want to resist that? You don't need to behave
like a communist. If your parents say that you have to go to church or the
temple, go visit it, even if you do not feel much devotion or any such thing.
Listen to them and make them happy. If you follow what they want, i.e., to have
a certain celebration at home, it can make them happy. But when it comes to
your breathing exercises, your food habits and whatever your personal things
are, I think you have to take a call, and you cannot say this is all in
conflict. Do you see what I am saying?
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
