What Sri sri said today

Capture The Vast Sun In Your Little Mirror
July 27, 2013

Bangalore, India

(Below is a continuation of the post The Evolving Mind)

'Yasya nahankrto bhavo buddhir yasya na lipyate. Hatvapi sa imal lokan na hanti na nibadhyat'. (18.17)

He says, ‘One whose intellect is free from the influence of Maya. (alipta-buddhi), even if such a person destroys the entire world, then too he remains free and untouched by any sin. Such a person will not be bound by his actions'.
Anyway, a person with such awakened intellect which is unattached to Maya, will not engage in such violent acts of killing people in the first place. And even if he does, he would do it as a part of his duty of being a warrior, rather than being driven by cravings and aversions (referring to the refinement in the quality of action of such a wise person).

So this is the third stage in which one with an alipta-buddhi (pure intellect that is unattached to Maya and unaffected by it) is able to recognize Maya.
Such a person neither tries to resist the ways of Maya, nor does he get disturbed by it. In such a state, he remains untouched by Maya and is free from it.
Do you get what I am saying?
In fact, at this stage one enjoys witnessing the ways of Maya and is amused by it. It becomes a source of enjoyment.

The very Maya, because of which we get entangled in attachments and delusion, becomes a source of enjoyment when we blossom into the third stage of evolution. Maya then becomes a source of fun and amusement for us.
So Maya creates bondage and delusion, and at the same Maya also gives us joy and happiness! This is why Lord Krishna has said, 'Daivi hy-esha guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya. Mameva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te'. (7.14)

He says, ‘O Arjuna! My Yoga Maya is full of Divine qualities, and one cannot overcome it so easily. It is very difficult to overcome. Only by taking refuge in Me and surrendering unto Me completely can you overcome it’.

This entire creation is veiled by Maya. Just like the air everywhere, the entire world is enveloped by Maya. Each person’s mind is enveloped by Maya. Everyone is deeply entangled in Maya. Everyone’s mind is under some or the other influence of Maya.
All of you who are sitting here have so many different thoughts in your mind. Just observe what all is going on in each of your minds! Oh God! (Laughter) This is what Maya is.
So this entire creation is enveloped by Maya.

But a sincere devotee always feels, ‘O Lord Shiva, my mind is constantly engaged in devotion to You, and is always immersed in Your thoughts. My mind has enveloped You so totally. Day and night, all I remember is You and You alone’.

Now how can this be possible? How can our limited mind envelop and hold the Divinity that is so vast and all-pervading?
How can God be contained within our limited mind? Is it possible?
Yes, it is possible in the same way that (the image of) a large elephant can be captured in a small mirror.
Can you not capture the entire sun in a mirror? The sun is so huge, yet you are able to capture it so perfectly in a small mirror. Isn’t it? In the same way, our mind is capable of capturing the Divinity completely.
That is why it is said that if you have a pure heart, then you are God Himself! You are the Brahman. But when is that possible? When the mirror of your heart is clean and pure, you can behold Divinity within yourself. If the mirror is covered with a veil (of Maya) or dirty, then it won't work.

A saint is one whose mind and heart are pure like a mirror (free from all negativity). A Guru is one who is pure and transparent like a clear mirror.
So your mind should be clean and pure, then the fullness (of consciousness) blossoms in you. Then you can capture the sun and the moon in the mirror.

So, just like how a mirror can capture a huge elephant completely, your mind too can hold the Divinity. But the mind should not become the home of Maya; rather it should be the abode of God. The same mind that can be engulfed in Maya can also be totally surrendered to God.

Just by listening to such beautiful knowledge, the mind gets so uplifted and becomes pure, isn't it? The mind instantly gets cleansed of all cravings and aversions.
Why do we lose the smile from our face? The reason is craving and aversion, and our entanglement in Maya. When the space in our mind is consumed by craving and aversion, happiness is completely lost.
We get so caught up in thoughts like ‘Oh, this is not right, that is not right! This person is not good! That person is not alright!’ I tell you, even you are not alright any longer then!
All your energy is simply lost in such thoughts.
When you have spent all your positive energy on thoughts like this, then you become simply useless; unable to do anything. When you have lost your enthusiasm in life, then what else remains?
By being so caught up, you lose all your love, smile and enthusiasm. When you lose your enthusiasm, you lose everything else. You will then just lie in one place and do nothing. Why does all this happen? It is because of Maya. This Maya is very intriguing indeed. It can catch hold of anyone and make them dance to its tunes! And the poor one caught up keeps dancing.

The whole world is troubled because of Maya. So because of this, many people criticize and become averse to the play of Maya. But Lord Krishna says, ‘This Maya is full of Divine qualities, and is born from Me. So you must honour and respect it'.
Only Lord Krishna can say such a thing, and not anyone else. It is like how only the director of a movie can say, ‘Everything belongs to me. The hero and the villain both belong to me'.
Can the hero say that the villain belongs to him? No, it will simply not work that way. The hero of the movie has to consider the villain as the villain only. But the director of the movie has the right to say that 'Both the hero and the villain belong to me. I have paid them for working in this movie. So I am the one who has scripted the conflict between the two and I am the one who has also scripted its end as well’.

This is why Lord Krishna says, ‘This Maya is born from Me. It is I who propagates it, and only by My Divine grace can you overcome it. You cannot be free from it by your efforts alone, no matter how much you try. Only by taking My refuge can you cross the ocean of Maya’.
So only by going deep within your self can you overcome this Maya.

(Note: The discourse was given in Hindi. Above is a translation of the orginal talk.)

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If you don’t have the clarity of what you want to do, then meditate and go by your intuition. ~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

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Guru One Liner of the day

Q: How can we come out of yes and no in the mind?

+Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just smile through. Take things as they come.

Wisdom Quote of the day

It is believed to be good to have a dip in the Ganges. However, taking a dip in knowledge is even greater for it purifies the mind. +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Knowledge Sutra of the Day

When we look at the world through the eyes of the Master, the world will look so much more beautiful. Not a nasty place, but a place filled with love, joy, compassion and all virtues.
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Knowledge Sheets: Fire

Knowledge Sheets: Fire: The senses are like fire. Your life is also like fire. In the fire of senses, whatever you put in burns. If you burn tyres, it creates ...

Knowledge Sheet

Fire

● Wednesday, July 31, 2013

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The senses are like fire. Your life is also like fire. In the fire of senses, whatever you put in burns. If you burn tyres, it creates pollution and bad smell. But if you burn sandalwood, it creates fragrance.
Celebration happens around the bonfire. Grief happens around the fire of cremation. The same fire that supports life in winter, can also destroy. One fire, like a ghee lamp, lights your way and purifies. Another fire made of toxic material creates pollution.
You are also like fire. Are you the fire that creates smoke and pollution or the flame of camphor which creates light and fragrance? A saint is like a camphor flame that creates light and the fragrance of love. He is the friend of life.
The fire that creates light and warmth and is useful is of higher quality. The fire that creates light and a little smoke as well is of medium quality. The fire that creates darkness and only smoke is of low quality. Learn to distinguish the different fires. If your senses are engaged in goodness, then you will create light and fragrance. If engaged in impurity, you create smoke and darkness. It is samyama that transforms the quality of fire in you. Next week we will discuss samyama.

|| Jai Guru Dev ||

Guru Punch of the day

If anyone anywhere humiliates you, know that it is only a plan to soften you. It is a blessing; you should walk away or through the situation with a smile. +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Champion of the masses : Unravelling Aman Rajput.

Champion of the masses : Unravelling Aman Rajput.

read more at http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/uttarakhand-relief/champion-of-the-masses
Until few years ago, he was unruly, rowdy and alcoholic, indulging in all kinds of nefarious activities. Today the reformed soul is a charismatic youth volunteer of the Art of Living, doing yeoman service in rehabilitating thousands of human lives that have been completely devastated by the recent disaster in Uttarakhand. Unravelling Aman Rajput.

It is difficult to match his energy level and momentum. There is a fire raging in his belly all the time. Aman is a man of pure action and does not believe in relaxing, unless his mission in accomplished. He is constantly on his toes, helping people and his only objective is to wipe away tears from every eye. “Every moment of mine is precious,” says Aman, passionately, as he awaits the arrival of a truck, loaded with relief material. “I cannot just sit and twiddle my thumbs. People are hungry and thirsty and we cannot afford to get delayed even by few minutes.”
My brush with reality

Hailing from Himachal Pradesh, Aman along with his team of volunteers had arrived on the scene, almost a few days later after tragedy struck in Uttarakhand. “Our first task was to clear the debris and silt and rescue people who were trapped in mud. People were crying for help and were losing hope of survival. We immediately swung into action and salvaged as many people as we could. Next, we started distributing food packets and relief material to people who hadn’t had proper food for the past 10 days. It was a terrible sight. People were mad and scowled at me. They were starving for days together and were eating leaves from the jungles to stay alive. Naturally, when we reached them, they unleashed their fury and let out their pent up emotions.”
Gaining momentum

Within a span of 12 days, this young dynamo had gained access across 14 villages such as MastaNala, Rudraprayag, Narayan Kotti, Rudrapur, Kalimutt, Jonki, Kunjetti, Kotma, Kavittha, Jaltalla, Jalmallah, Chilond, Chaumasi and Siasugarh. “After conducting a detailed door-to-door survey in all these areas, we chalked out our plan of action. With help and advice from Nishagraji, faculty, The Art of Living, we formulated a strategy for working that would prove sustainable in the long run.” Like Aman, several volunteers were carrying out relief operations, yet what distinguishes this young man from others, is his passion and unflinching zest for service to humanity. Within no time, he had set up more than 15 medical camps across different villages. Over 500 people were benefited in these camps. Aman had even managed to break ice with people who had sunk into depression and hadn’t uttered a single word, after the tragedy.
Experience of a lifetime

“It was the toughest task of my life,” he reveals. “Wherever I went, initially I was unwelcome. People were furious and almost wanted to hit me. They felt, I was intruding into their personal space and was disrupting their private moments of grief. But I kept my cool and put my arms around their shoulders, hugged them, touched their feet and encouraged them to talk and flush the negativity out of their system. I would visit these people everyday and do the same process again and again. Gradually people would feel relieved and peaceful from within. Many have been blessed me for being able to make them cry,” he adds.
Bridging the gap

While taking cognizance of the situation, Aman has succeeded in organising several stress elimination programs and dhyan shibirs, that have brought great succour to more than 1000 trauma-stricken people. He has also rebuilt the connecting bridge between Kalimutt and Kotma. “People can now walk through this bridge and pull their animals through. The disconnect was causing a lot of inconvenience to these villagers. Though I am happy, at the way, things are progressing; I am still looking out for innovative ways to reach maximum people in minimum time. Alongside, providing relief material, my primary responsibility is also to restore people to their normal selves, failing which, all our efforts will be in vain.”
The going gets tough

Ask Aman about the difficulties he encountered, while working, and he is quick to answer, “Oh, that comes with my job. There is nothing to create a hype about it. But you nag him a little and he reveals, “Yes, there were challenges at every step, but I have managed to stay put every time. I have brushed past major landslides, and survived. I recall an incident, when big boulders along with earth and debris would flow into the paths, just after I had passed by. I landed in this kind of situation four times, but death eluded me. Besides, walking through slurry and trekking the most difficult mountains terrains, whilst it rained, was exceptionally challenging. The path becomes slimy during monsoons and you can easily slip and injure yourself. At times, I would pause for long and wonder, how I would make it to the plains. My foot would get entangled in the mud and shrubs. Besides I had a backpack with 25kg of relief material in it, so there was risk involved at every step.”
Living on the edge

But didn’t he fear that he would lose his life? “On most occasions, I didn’t, as I knew deep in my heart that I had to live, if I have to serve people. God cannot be so unjust. But yes, I did get uncomfortable, when I walked on cracked roads. The moment I crossed over, the roads would give away in a fraction of seconds. My heart would beat fast, my family, far away in Himachal Pradesh and my close friends would flash in front of my eyes. And I would wonder whether I would meet them again. Today I realise that I have lived on to tell my story,” he smiles
Moving beyond time

The spine-chilling encounters may have moved others, but Aman remains unnerved by the whole experience. He has gone without food, water or a bath for days together, but it does not matter to him anymore. At other times, he has stayed in houses, that would be washed away any moment, but he is relaxed. “I am just not bothered about life or death. I have dedicated three years of my life to Uttarakhand and I will give my hundred percent to resurrect its lost glory. Till then, I shall not rest in peace,” he says and signs off.

Story credit : Art of Living Bureau of Communication

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QnA with Sri Sri

Q: Guruji, Why is everyone different and not the same?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Why should everyone be the same?
If we will feed you only potatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and that too, the same preparation of potato, will you like it?
Why do you wear different colours of clothes? You should wear the same clothes every day, like the military people. Would you like it? No, isn’t it? That is why there are so many different types of people on the planet, because nature loves diversity.

Guru One Liner of the day

Q: What happens to a relationship when someone passes away? Does it end or does it continue into the next lifetime?

+Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Both are possible. Some end and some continue to the next lifetime.

Wisdom Quote of the day

Though the river is vast, a little sip quenches your thirst. Though Earth has so much food, just a little bite satisfies your hunger. All that you need is teeny tiny bits. Accept a teeny tiny bit of everything in life, that will bring you fulfillment. +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Knowledge Sutra of the Day

Finding the ever-present Self inside makes everything truly joyful.
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Knowledge Sheets: Surrender

Knowledge Sheets: Surrender: Surrender gives you the ability to move on. Surrender is simply dropping the whole past,however it has been. Take life in it's tota...

Knowledge Sheet

Surrender

● Tuesday, July 30, 2013

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Surrender gives you the ability to move on. Surrender is simply dropping the whole past,however it has been. Take life in it's totality.
All types of events come up in life. Pleasant events come. Unpleasant events come. Praises will come and derogatory remarks or insults will come. Don't be stuck with anything. Just flow like a river. Anything you put in a river, it flows away. Our conciousness is a flow. It is renewing every moment; it's new every moment. So move on and this is surrender.
|| Jai Guru Dev ||

Guru Punch of the day

We should never be shy of humiliation, or of being criticized. If criticism comes, take it. Do you know, many times we hold our hands so tight; this is what I am, this is mine, mine, mine! And the moment someone criticizes us, we withdraw. We are so paranoid about the criticism of others. These are the weakest people, I tell you. +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Glimpses from Akbar & Birbal Stories

Glimpses from Akbar & Birbal Stories

There is a story about the emperor of Delhi, Akbar. He had a minister called Birbal. Once Akbar ordered that in his country” anybody who says a lie will be hanged”. This law was to be implemented. As this law was announced, there was a big commotion in the market place.
Continue reading at http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/yoga/patanjali-yogasutra/knowledge-sheet-68

What Sri Sri said today

Remember Your True Identity 
July 25, 2013

Montreal, Canada

Q: Gurudev, I want to be honest with my parents about my sexuality. Yet my fear of losing their love and support has been stopping me from being honest with them. Do I need to be compassionate and not burden my parents? Please guide me to a solution.

Sri Sri: You don’t have to label yourself as gay or a lesbian. You don’t need to put on a label. These are tendencies which come and go.
You should label yourself as Divine light. This label is much better than putting a label about your sexuality because it may change.
Many people get married and after that they discover that they have different tendencies. And for many gay people, sometime later, even their preferences change. I have seen many gay people and lesbians getting married, settling in life and having kids. I have seen the other way also. So all possibilities are open. What is the need for you to right away label yourself? There are some who are bisexual.

What are you going to achieve by telling your parents? Is it going to make them any happier? When they are not going to be happy, what is the point in telling them about it? You think about it.

Honesty is one thing. First you should be honest to yourself. What is your state right now? Be honest with yourself. You don’t have to pretend and be what you are not, at the same time you don’t have to put a bomb where people cannot accept it. Tell them gradually. Prepare them.

You have to study the situation. How fragile are your parents? How unhappy are they already and how much more unhappy they will become by your saying that? Is it worth being that honest to them and making them miserable? You need to judge all these pros and cons.

Suppose your parents are forcing you to get married then you tell them, 'No, I have no interest in this, I have a different interest'. Otherwise why do you have tell them?
Be honest at such times, otherwise you will make another person's life (who you marry) miserable. If your mother is already very aged and is burdened with a lot of other things and you be honest just for your pride and tell her something, and she loses her night’s sleep and it affects her health, what is the point. What does it serve?

In the ancient system it has been beautifully said, 'Satyam bruyat priyam bruyat na bruyat satyam apriyam', speak the truth but speak the pleasant truth. Don’t speak unpleasant truth and don’t speak pleasant lies.
Something may be pleasant, but if it is a lie, don’t speak that. Don’t speak unpleasant truth or pleasant lies. This is the ancient path. The perfect balance.

So use your sense of discrimination and gently prepare them if you want to tell them, and if it’s going to serve some purpose.

Rise above the body consciousness. Know that you are light. You’re scintillating consciousness. Every cell of your body is awakened with consciousness, light, love and life. Focus on that.



Q: Can you please tell us about Narayana. Who and what is Narayana?

Sri Sri: Narayana is not a person. Narayana is the consciousness which is present in the human nervous system. Narayana is made up of light; a body that is made up of light. When you become totally hollow and empty, you incorporate that light body within you, and that is Narayana. That is why when anyone sees a monk in India they say 'Namo Narayana', I adore the Narayana in you.

Now where is Narayana?
Narayana is in a king, because a king is the collective consciousness. He is not supposed to think about himself but he has to think about the entire country and all the people, and maintain them. So because of the love and compassion that a king has for his own people, he is elevated to the level of Narayana; the pure light.

Then it is said, Vaidya Narayana. A doctor is Narayana.
A doctor while treating his patient does not think of how much he is earning. His total concern is in the well-being of the person. Narayana is in every doctor, every doctor is Narayana.

Who else is Narayana? (Audience says: The husband)
Yes, if he’s totally committed to the family, and if he is there for his wife.
The wife has to consider him Narayana! He cannot proclaim himself to be Narayana. (Laughter) The husband maintains the whole family and he doesn’t want anything for himself. He wants for everybody. So he is a Narayana.

A saint is Narayana because a saint wants the welfare of everybody. A doctor is Narayana. A selfless king is a Narayana. Guru is Narayana. A teacher is Narayana. A guest who comes over is also Narayana because Narayana comes in many forms.
Anyone who helps you in need without any selfish motive is called Apath Narayana. A Narayana who comes in when there is a problem is Apath Narayana.

There is one more term called Daridra Narayana. One who doesn’t have anything, one who is poor, he is a Narayana without money (Lakshmi).
So when you do charity, see that he (the poor man) is Narayana and do charity, and don't see him as a worm out there and do charity. So do charity also with a sense of sacredness. See even the poorest and the less fortunate ones as Narayana.

So you can see Narayana in a miserable person, Narayana in a doctor, in a saint, in the head of the family and in a king. They are all Narayana. Everywhere is Narayana.
In the Narayana Upanishads it is very beautifully said, 'Narayana is in the front, at the back, on the sides, on top and at the bottom. Narayana is everywhere!'
Narayana Parojyotih Atmanarayanah Parah

Narayana is the Brahman (divinity). Narayana is the atma (soul), the Self in you. Narayana is the light. This entire universe is existing in a milky ocean and that ocean is called Narayana.



Q: How do we get rid of our mind after death?

Sri Sri: There is no way you can get rid of it. If you want to know how to get rid of the mind, it can happen only when you have a body. You can’t get rid of the mind afterwards.


Q: Why is devotion a necessary part of enlightenment? Is there conflict between detachment and devotion?

Sri Sri: Devotion is the juice of life.
Why do you want to love anybody in the world? Imagine life without love. It is like being a robot. Devotion adds flavor and makes life richer.


Q: When was the last time you felt sorrow or sadness and what was your experience with letting it go?

Sri Sri: Every time I see someone miserable, I feel it. I feel for them. They could have been much happier. For no reason they are miserable.

The recent tsunami in the Himalayas was a very tragic one. Our Art of Living volunteers are there and are working day and night. They are providing food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. The army and police appreciated our Art of Living volunteers. They said that we army people get tired but these volunteers, young boys and girls are working from morning till night. They are doing all this with a smile.
They were completely blown away! How can you do so much with a smile? So our volunteers also taught them mediation.

http://www.artofliving.org/wisdom/remember-your-true-identity?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+whatsrisrisaid+%28Wisdom+from+Sri+Sri+Ravi+Shankar%29

QnA with Sri Sri

Q: Guruji, How can we remove the physical desires that harm us and our relationships?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: By enhancing your prana.
When there is lust, there is a feeling of wanting to grab. When there is love, there is a feeling of wanting to give. How can the feeling of lust be transformed to love? By raising the energy level in our system.
When energy is stuck in the lower chakra (two-three inches above the base of the spine), there is a feeling of lust. However, when the energy channels open up, the energy rises. Then there is more love, compassion, awareness. All these other beautiful, finer emotions also get opened up. Then violence disappears from the system.

Guru One Liner of the day

Q: How does one deal with separation anxiety?

+Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Ujjayi breath. You are in the ocean of breath.

Wisdom Quote of the day

Wise is the one who learns from other's mistakes. Less wise is the one who learns from his own mistakes. The fool keeps making the same mistakes again and again and never learns from them. +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Knowledge Sutra of the Day

When you can feel I am not the Doer, when this confidence, this faith dawns on you, that is Nectar.
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Now receive Blessing requests via Whatsapp!

Dear Blesser,

If you have a smartphone and have whatsapp installed, we have a good news for you.

You can now receive blessing requests via whatsapp.

Art of Living Universe introduces a system that exclusively auto-pushes blessing requests via whatsapp.

To receive blessing requests via whatsapp, all you need to do is:

1) Fill and submit this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OUfdcfDw9VeyS-i7hy0QIF8m3XYTHok6Ifo2KPBamxE/viewform

2) We will then let you know the 'JGD system mobile number' that you need to add to your contacts.

3) You will then see the 'JGD profile' on your whatsapp, which will auto-push blessing requests to your profile.

Few important things (please read all the points):

1) Since it's an auto-system, it won't recognize any of your replies. So, if you need to communicate anything important, you will have to get in touch with us at helpdesk@artoflivinguniverse.org

(You may very well reply to the requests with JGD, Jai Gurudev or Blessed, if you wish to)

2) For the system to recognize you as a blesser, it's important that you register yourself as 'Whatsapp Blesser' by filling and submitting the above form. Only then will you receive requests via whatsapp.

3) 'JGD System' will be using 'Broadcast' method to send requests via whatsapp. Therefore it's important that you save the 'system mobile number' in your phone contacts, so that you receive the requests on whatsapp.

4) During the times when you won't be available to bless the requests, you will have to manually BLOCK this system number on whatsapp; and when you are available to receive the requests, you will have to manually UNBLOCK the number.

Exclusive feature for 'Whatsapp Blessers'

Not just to receive blessing requests; Even if you wish to seek blessings for yourself and/or your dear ones, you can straight away send in your request to the 'system number' on whatsapp itself! The only requirement is that the request needs to be sent in the following format:

@BLESS<space>NameOfThePerson<space>City<space>Concern

Depending on the response the above feature shall be introduced for everyone, in the near future! 

For any queries, please feel free to get in touch with us at helpdesk@artoflivinguniverse.org

Jai Gurudev!!

Art of Living Universe Team

 "Have Trust and Fun. If you lose your smile for small things, then what is the use of being with me" - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar | www.artofliving.org | www.srisriravishankar.org

Knowledge Sheets: Saving the mind

Knowledge Sheets: Saving the mind: There are four kinds of attitude that are good to have in life: 1) Friendliness: Be friendly with people who are happy. If you are not...

Knowledge Sheet

Saving the mind

● Monday, July 29, 2013

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There are four kinds of attitude that are good to have in life:
1) Friendliness: Be friendly with people who are happy. If you are not friendly with happy people, you will be jealous. This is because you think that your enemy is happy, and you cannot tolerate your enemy being happy. So, shake hands with happy people. Such an attitude does a lot of good to your mind.
2) Compassion: Do not be friendly with people who are miserable, instead, have compassion for them. If you are friendly with unhappy people you will become unhappy. And if you become unhappy, you can never help them to come out of their misery. So, there is a different flavour of your relation with them.
Many people have gotten into trouble by being friendly with unhappy people; both become miserable. It is like a doctor going to a patient who is sick, and the doctor also becomes sick.
If the doctor also thinks, ‘How can I alone be healthy? Let me also share the patient’s misery’, then who will help the patient then?
So, what should be the attitude with people who are miserable? Compassion, not pity.
3) Happiness: For people who are doing good work or who are successful in the world, you should feel happy as though you are doing it.
For example, someone is a good singer, singing and bringing joy to everybody, seeing him you should think, ‘I feel so happy that this person is singing so well, and making everyone happy.’
If someone is a good entertainer and he entertains everybody you should feel happy about it. If someone is a great architect and builds beautiful buildings you should feel happy about it. Whenever someone does a good job, share that happiness with them; we need to have this attitude.
4) Indifference: For people who are doing horrible things in the society, destroying themselves, we usually get angry at them. When you are angry, your mind suffers a huge loss. You lose so much energy, you lose your mood, and your enthusiasm. When energy and enthusiasm goes away from you, you become angry and are no better than the other person. You do not know what you are doing. So, what should you do in such a situation? Have a sort of indifference in your mind.
For example, there are thieves in the world, they are there, what can you do about them? First accept, be indifferent. However, this does not mean you do not take any action. Your mind is indifferent (unaffected), but you act on it.

These are the four attitudes that will help us to save our mind. This is what we need to do, save our mind at all costs
|| Jai Guru Dev ||

Guru Punch of the day

Don’t need to get stuck in material belief only. Material laws are there, physical laws are there, but there is something higher than the physical laws. There is something higher than the obviously seen physical creation of names and forms. The understanding of consciousness; mind over matter, and consciousness over physical reality; this is what we need to attend to. +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Knowledge Sutra of the Day

Meditation is accepting this moment, and living every moment totally with depth.
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

QnA with Sri Sri

Q: Guruji, what does it mean to be a full time Art of Living teacher? And what kind of a person can do it?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Well, you don't need to be a full time teacher. You can become a part time teacher. Teaching takes up only two hours of your time.
Courses are usually held in the evenings, when people are finished with their work. You can take a course for three days, four days or five days, depending on the format. You can teach one or two courses a month.
Moreover, you can gather two or three teachers and take courses together, so you don't feel the load on you. It helps take the pressure off you. Suppose you have to take your child to do some shopping, then you don’t need to think, ‘Oh! I have a course, how can I do that.’ Then, you have another teacher who can take care. So, I would recommend that two teachers take a course together. Then you can have your job, continue with whatever you are doing professionally, and on the side, you can teach and help people around.
If you do not have any (personal) requirements, any pressure around, then you can dedicate your life. If you can say, ‘I need very little for myself, and I want to teach full time’, then you can do that also. But I would say, first become a part-time teacher, do some work.

Guru One Liner of the day

Q: How do you know if an answer is coming from within or from the rational mind?

+Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is no criteria. The calmer and serene the mind is, the right answer will come to you.

Wisdom Quote of the day

My job is to collect the garbage of the mind. All that I want for you to do is to realize the highest. And keep smiling. +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

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What Sri Sri said today

Are You Being Useful or Useless?
July 24, 2013
Montreal, Canada

Q: Dear Gurudev, what is it about seva that makes people dynamic versus doing office work?

Sri Sri: See, we have to do something and we keep doing something. When we do something, we want something out of it for ourselves. Now if you do something for which you don’t want anything in return, but you just want to be useful in life, that is called seva.
An action for which you are not expecting a reward, but you are happy just by doing an action, which would bring benefit to others, that is seva.
An action for which you do not want any benefit for yourself, but instead you want to be beneficial to others, that is seva.


Q: What is the purpose of Siddhis (paranormal powers)?

Sri Sri: Okay, when you want something, before the want arises if it is available to you, that is called siddhi.
Suppose you want to get married and you don’t get anybody till you become 70, what do you do? That means there is no siddhi. Suppose, even before you want to get married there are 10 people who are telling you, 'Please marry me', that means you have siddhis.

There is a proverb in India, when you had teeth you had no nuts, and when you had nuts you had no teeth.
So you couldn’t get nuts when your teeth were intact. When you got nuts at that time there was no teeth. So this is lack of siddhi. You got what you wanted, but it was too late.

Now, if you want something but you got lesser than what you want, then that is also no siddhi. Suppose you want to go to California and you needed $1500, but you got only $1300, then that is no siddhi. So when before time, more than what you need appears, is siddhi.
Things should just appear. If it appears later then no point, and if it is not enough thats also no good. So, whatever you need when it comes on time that is called siddhi.
More than the need, before the time, the arrival of material thing, is called siddhis.
More than the need, not to satisfy greed. So more than the need and before the time.



Q: Gurudev, just being in your presence is so amazing. Why do we need all these meditation practices? Is it necessary to be regular with it?

Sri Sri: Yes, so that you have something to do and I have something to do.
There are four levels. First is Sanidhya which means feeling the presence.
Then Samipya, feeling close to the Guru or to the Divine. The feeling of closeness has to come from your side. Nobody can make you feel close. It has to come from oneself.
Then is Sarupya, being one with the form. Which means there is no difference between me and you.
And then Sayujya which means just dissolving in the Divine.


Q: Gurdev, if Art of Living has everything to do with spirituality and nothing to do with religion then why do we sing so many bhajans about Krishna and Hindu Gods in general?

Sri Sri: Now, singing is part of spirituality. And the ancient chants that we sing are called mantras, they have vibrations that have an impact on you. So it is just a way of life. Om Namah Shivya is called mantra, and chanting mantras is part of spirituality.
From the time you are born, your naming ceremony, your marriage ceremony and death ceremony are all according to religion. But spirituality is anything that uplifts life. So even though yoga, meditation, etc., are born out of the ancient tradition, it is a way of life and it is not a religion per say.

Someone asked the president of India Dr. Sarvepalli Radhankrishana who is a Hindu, the definition of the Hindu religion. He said, 'There is no way you can define Hinduism. It is just a way of life.'
So because there are so many religions, the way of life also came to be known as a religion, otherwise Hinduism is not a religion, it is just a way of life.
So these chantings have an impact on our system, on our mind, and our consciousness. The older the chants, the more it impacts the deeper levels of our consciousness. That is why it is said to chant Om.
It is not Krishna or something, but it is the value of the mantra that is most important.



Q: Gurudev, like there are different types of speech, are there different types of silence?

Sri Sri: Are there different types of emptiness. Silence is silence, emptiness is emptiness. If a bowl is empty, you can't ask what type of emptiness is it. But if it is filled you can ask what is it filled with.

In speech, there are four different type of speech, Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama and Vaikhari.

Vaikhari.is the gross level of speech, what we are speaking now.

Pashyanti is subtler than this. It is the speech without language. You get the vibrations, you get the idea, and you don’t have to verbalize it. This is pashyanti.
A child never tells you, 'Oh, I love you!' But it just looks at you and you feel the love. Love and the emotions are conveyed without words. This is pashyanti: recognizing without language.

Madhyama is even subtler. Even before it comes to the field of expression. That is called madhyama. It is inherent in the being before it has even started coming into field of expression. It is transmitted without the medium. In pashyanti there is medium. It is transmitted without language, but there is a medium. In madhyama even that is not there.

Para is even finer. It is just the primordial language. It has no language, no words, but just knowledge welling up in the consciousness. That is para.
So para, pashyanti, madhyama and vaikhari is the last one. That is it.

In the book called 'The Proof of Heaven’, the author mentions the communication without language. That is what he experienced when he was in coma. And he says that name of the Divine is Om.
Have you read about this book? It is very interesting.

It is about a doctor in USA who is a neurosurgeon. He went into coma and people thought he was almost gone. When he came back he wrote about his experience, he wrote The Proof of Heaven. He wrote about how he went into other realms.
This is absolutely stunning, and it is the same thing that is in the Vedanta (Oldest scripture of Hinduism), in the Puranas (ancient Vedic texts), and in the ancient texts. Same ditto thing.
He said, what I have been saying for many years, that there is a light and the name of the light is Om, i.e., omnipresent, omniscient, so loving and dear.
He also says that he went through a tree where the roots are above the shoots are below. This is in the Bhagavad Gita. One passes through the roots to go to the other side. So he talks about these roots.
Then he talks about the golden egg, what we call Hiranyagarbha. He says the core, which means the center, is atman. The atman is the core, and the golden egg (Hiranyagarbha) is a shell. This is exactly what you will read in the Bhagavad Gita.
He then talks about the communication, and he says that the communication was without words, without any language, and this is exactly pashyanti, para, madhyama, and vaikhari. It is very interesting.



Q: Dear Gurudev, when you see someone close to you caught up in their head, or in fear, or in concepts, how do you bring them to the level of heart?

Sri Sri: Just don’t worry, they will come back on their own. It is about time; time and place. There is a couplet in Hindi that says, the world has everything, the world has many gifts, but a person without good karma doesn’t get anything.

http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/what-sri-sri-said-today

Knowledge Sheets: Unconditional Love

Knowledge Sheets: Unconditional Love: You may pour all your love on somebody, but you should also see how much love they can take. When water is falling with a lot of force...

Knowledge Sheet

Unconditional Love

● Sunday, July 28, 2013

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You may pour all your love on somebody, but you should also see how much love they can take.
When water is falling with a lot of force, you cannot stand underneath it; you will lose your head. So, you need to control the tap. If you open the tap with full force and keep an empty bottle under it, the bottle will remain empty. You have to open the tap only so much such that the bottle gets filled. Have you had this experience?
Similarly, when you love somebody unconditionally, do not express it all at once. They will run away.
|| Jai Guru Dev ||

Guru Punch of the day

Even if something appears to be not so good for the moment, in the long run, something good happens out of it. +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

QnA with Sri Sri

Q: Guruji, what is Anugraha? How and when can we receive it?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Anugraha means grace. Nothing is possible in life without anugraha. When you receive a lot without making efforts for it, then it is said that you are blessed with anugraha. Do you understand what I am saying?
Usually you work hard at your job and then receive your salary. So you say, ‘I have earned my money’. But if someone gives you a gift, you do not say, ‘I have earned these gifts’. Can something that is earned be called a gift? No. You receive gifts without any efforts. So when you receive a great gift or an award that you feel you did not deserve, then that is called anugraha.
When we receive something that we are not deserving of, or which exceeds our capabilities, then that is what is called Grace. When we see that in our life, we have received far more than what we deserve or are capable of, then gratitude dawns in us. We become thankful, complaints disappear and abundance grows. A person who is grateful never experiences lack of anything. Who experiences a lack in life? One who thinks that ‘I am so capable yet I got nothing’.
Once there was a person who wanted to become the Prime Minister. He did not even have the capability to oversee a herd of donkeys, yet he wanted to become the Prime Minister. Now what do you say to such a person? His complaints will never reduce. He will be full of them. Being grateful means all your complaints in life simply disappear.
When you have this feeling in your heart that you have always received more than what you asked for, or more than what you deserved, then deep gratitude arises in you. When there is gratitude, there will never be a lack of anything in life. For such a person, whatever he wishes for will keep getting fulfilled.
Now you might say that this is quite difficult. Yes, it is difficult. It is never easy to achieve something. But when you take one step towards this, you will find that it is very easy.

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Guru One Liner of the day

Q: How to get rid of fatigue and headache?

+Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yoga and pranayama.

Wisdom Quote of the day

There may be flaws in any action, any situation or any person. Treat a flaw as you would treat a flower. Just as a flower has to wither away after sometime, so does a flaw. +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Knowledge Sutra of the Day

When a drop meets the ocean, it becomes the ocean. When a devotee surrenders to the Divine the Devotee becomes Divine.
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Knowledge Sheets: Boredom

Knowledge Sheets: Boredom: When you have a passion or a commitment in life for a bigger cause, boredom will vanish. Boredom comes because you are only focused on yo...

Knowledge Sheet

Boredom

● Saturday, July 27, 2013

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When you have a passion or a commitment in life for a bigger cause, boredom will vanish. Boredom comes because you are only focused on your own pleasure. If you are only thinking about yourself, about how much more joy or pleasure you can get for yourself, you will get bored, because you will not get it anywhere. However, when your heart beats for others, for something higher, something finer and something more meaningful, then there is no boredom. The commitment level in our life indicates our enthusiasm or our boredom. If our commitment is low, boredom is bound to set in. If our commitment is higher, then boredom will never be anywhere around the corner. Boredom will never be anywhere near you.

|| Jai Guru Dev ||

Guru Punch of the day

You can’t take anything for granted. Every moment there is a miracle happening; every moment, there is grace; and there is something new. +Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

YOUR MANTRA FOR CORPORATE SUCCESS

YOUR MANTRA FOR CORPORATE SUCCESS

To be a true corporate, what is needed is expertise at two things. First is knowledge about your work and second is the skill to be centered enough to be able to use that knowledge effectively.
Did you know there is a success mantra called triple 'I'? Anything you do in life becomes successful when you do it with the Triple 'I's
Read complete article at http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/your-mantra-corporate-success
We all might be very good Marketing Managers, Sales Managers, or HR Managers, but are we good Mind Managers?
Have you observed how many times you go off-center at work – taking some irrational decisions, getting angry, feeling frustrated, feeling anxious about the future, or regretting about things in the past?
To be a true corporate, what is needed is expertise at two things. First is knowledge about your work and second is the skill to be centered enough to be able to use that knowledge effectively no matter how many challenges throw themselves at us.
For instance, say you have made an amazing product and you get some feedback to make it better. However, you feel a little offended or even feel a little anxious or irritated about the feedback. This might be on your mind for quite some time.
Now, if you knew how to handle your mind, you would have probably taken the feedback in the right spirit.
Meditation makes you a good mind manager.
Did you know there is a success mantra called triple 'I',which you use every single day of your life?


Triple 'I'
Anything you do in life becomes successful when you do it with the Triple 'I's
1 – Intention: Have the intention to do something and make it happen no matter what.For instance, you want to strike a deal with your client, so have the intention do it. Believe that you will be able to strike the deal.
2 –Intensity of action: When you give your best and try all possible means to make something happen, what you intend does happen. This is where your perseverance is tested. So you do your best to do whatever is needed to strike the deal. Sometimes the work may throw up challenges that make you feel you may not be able to do it. But because you have the intention to make it happen, you do not give up and continue to make it work out. You try out different ways to make it work.
3 – Impact: Success is in your hands. Because you gave in your best, you taste success. You are able to strike the deal.

You can also apply the same success mantra (triple 'I') to incorporating meditation in your life.
Intention
Have the intention to meditate everyday! To make the intention stronger, you can take it as a challenge for yourself.
Take it as a challenge
As corporate, we undertake a lot of challenges, so we are well trained for it by default. This time, why not take up a challenge for something that can help you surpass the other challenges of the day with ease.
You can begin with a short target, such as a 31-day challenge. If you have never meditated before, let this guided meditation show you the way.
With meditation, your intention to perform efficiently will also become stronger.
Intensity of Action
This involves trying out various ways to make whatever you intend for happen. In this case, it's meditating every day.
Try out any of the below to see what works best for you. But keep in mind your intensity of action—don't give up on meditation on any of the day during the challenge.
Meditate and Meals (MnMs)
An easier way to make sure you meditate everyday is meditating before meals. Think about it, you would never skip your meals, no matter how pressed for time you are. So if you commit to yourself that you are going to have a meal only after you have meditated, you are more likely to stick to the practice.
An advantage of meditating in the morning is that it sets you up for the day. Your afternoon meditation keeps you charged and the evening meditation helps you rejuvenate after the tiring day.
Introduce a Corporate Meditation Program
How about introducing the concept of a Corporate Meditation Training program to your superiors? This way, not only you but all your colleagues can benefit from it too.
These are the advantages for you:
1) You will get the company of meditation buddies to meditate with. This will help you keep up to your practice.
2) Think about co-workers with whom you do not get along so well. How nice would it be if they start meditating and eventually become more centered and calm?
When there's "No Time to Meditate", that's when you meditate
This might sound strange! But observe that when you have no time to meditate, that's when you probably have too many things on your plate and deadlines to meet. And that's also when you most need a calm, focused mind; that's exactly what your meditation will give you.
5-Minute Breath Observation Meditations
Sometimes you may find it hard to find 15 minutes at a stretch to meditate. Well, let this not be an excuse for you to not meditate. You can do 5-minute meditations at regular intervals (say every 2 hours).
For breath observation meditation, all you need to do is sit with your eyes closed, take deep breaths in and out, and just simply observe your breaths. (Note: Observing does not mean you have to concentrate on your breath. It simply means be gently aware of your breath.)
Your daily meditation will keep you so energized and focused that there will be great intensity in your work.
Impact
Be aware of the changes
It's important to be aware of the changes and to see how your meditation challenge has had an impact on you and your work.Ask yourself the following:
Am I able to do my work faster? Am I able to focus better?
Do I feel less frustrated now? Or if I do, am I able to drop it faster?
Do I have a greater zeal to work?
Noting the difference will become an inspiration in itself for you to continue the challenge.
Let your experience speak more than our words. Get the hands-on experience of a meditation program designed especially for corporates by registering yourself here!

QnA with Sri Sri

Q: Guruji, you said that whatever role we are given in life, we should play that role 100% to the best of our abilities. But how can we know what our role really is?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Whatever role you are in now, that’s the right one! Every person plays many roles in life. Whatever role you are given in life, just play that role well. Someone is a mother, or a father, or a husband, or a wife, etc. Be a good citizen of your society and play that role well. Whether you are a wise person, or a disciple, or a Guru; whatever role you are given, play it well and fearlessly. Do not fear to do what is required.

Guru One Liner of the day

Q: How to control desire?

+Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Be in the now. Desire is wanting to be happy tomorrow. Be happy and joyful now. Like children, if you ask them what they want, they will say nothing. Because they are happy with 'now'.