December 04, 2013 Bangalore, India
Q: Gurudev, is there really some power such as intuition? And if yes, how can we gain that power? What is the secret?
Sri Sri: Yes, of course you can. You can develop your intuition through regular meditation. When the mind is free of cravings, aversions and distortions, then it settles and becomes sharper. That is when intuition develops. But if your mind is constantly stuck in desires about something or another, then it does not happen.
When your mind settles and becomes still, then these abilities develop in you.
Just today I remembered that towards the end of August 2011, I had said that Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal will not stay together (in the fight against corruption in India), and they will soon part ways.
In those days when the anti-corruption movement had just begun, no one had even imagined that they would ever part ways. But I felt that they would not stick together for too long.
The Guru (here referring to Anna Hazare) and the disciple (Arvind Kejriwal) soon parted ways. Whoever heard me did not believe even for one moment that it could be true. There seemed no possibility of it coming true at all. And just look at the state of affairs today.
One is heading North and the other is headed down South of India.
So, when we are still and quiet, whatever thoughts come in our mind become true and manifest. Everyone has experienced this at some time or another in their life. When you do not desire anything and repose within your Self, then this power simply dawns within you.
Now not desiring anything does not mean you should not wish for everyone’s well-being. No, this you can surely wish and pray for. You should wish and pray for the progress and well-being of everyone around you. This deep desire is equal to having no desire at all.
Q: Gurudev, my wife always complains that I do not tell her ‘I love you’. But it is not in my nature to express love through words. Is it necessary to express love?
Sri Sri: See, there are different ways of saying and expressing love. Just find a way that suits you and say it. If you cannot say it in words, then express it by making some hand gestures. Or you can write it and give it to her.
If you are away, in another place, you can send her a SMS. Nowadays you do not even have to write complete words in the SMS. Just sending those smileys and emoticons does the job! So just send those to her, one in the morning, then one in the afternoon and one in the evening.
See, it is our duty to try and keep everyone happy. Whether they choose to be happy or not is up to them.
Some people will not believe it, even if you express. After receiving your SMS they will ask, ‘Do you really mean what you sent?’ They might even ask you this. The mind is really very mysterious.
Love is said to be Anirvachaniya (that which is beyond words or cannot be expressed completely through words). You go ahead and do it. Good luck! (Laughter)
Q: Gurudev, very often people become excited or aggressive during times of revolution and lose their presence of mind. Today we see minor waves of change in the society but they soon disappear because there is no sense of awareness in people. How can we maintain both dynamism and a sense of peaceful awareness at the same time?
Sri Sri: It is a bit difficult for everyone to have that state of peaceful awareness. But if our political leaders develop this sense of awareness, then our job of bringing about a positive change in society is done.
When those in leadership positions work with awareness, they will not resort to inciting people in the wrong way. They will be able to channel the enthusiasm and spirit of the people in the right direction. This is what is needed.
So even if a few people start becoming more aware, then they will be able to give the right direction to the energy and enthusiasm of all the people around them. If the politicians themselves do not have awareness and continue to be entangled in petty conflicts and issues, then the country will surely be headed in the wrong direction.
Q: Gurudev, what is the meaning of Sankhya Yoga?
Sri Sri: Sankhya Yoga is to wake up and see that all this does not exist. There is only One, and everything works through that. See that even thoughts are nothing, everything is just vibrations.
Sankhya Yoga means the soul is eternal. Knowing that there is an element in me, which does not perish, diminish, or age. Relax knowing that I am not the body.
Just knowing this, and relaxing within the Self is called Sankhya Yoga.
Q: Gurudev, in the Agama tradition, it is said that the Asana (here meaning holy or revered seat of a deity) for the Devi (Mother Divine) is both Dharma (righteous conduct) and Adharma (immoral conduct or deeds). Can you please explain this?
Sri Sri: Yes, Shakti (here referring to the Mother Divine as the source of all energy) is present in both Dharma and Adharma. Otherwise, Ravana (the demon king of Lanka) would not have had the power to stand up against Lord Rama. He was strong and powerful, which is why he could gather might to stand against Lord Rama.
In the same way, if the demon Mahishasura did not have any power, he would not have been able to face Goddess Durga. Is it not so?
A war always takes place between opponents of equal power and skill. A 50-year old man would not wrestle or fight a five year old child.
When the Samudra Manthan (referring to the event of the churning of Kshirsagar, the great ocean by the demigods and the demons) took place, there were the Devas (demigods) on one side, and the Asuras (demons) on the other side. It is because they were both equal to each other in power that they could churn the ocean using the great serpent Vasuki. If the power of the Asuras had been greater than that of the Devas, then they would have simply pulled the Devas to their side. And if the Devas had been mightier, then the Asuras would have gotten pulled to their side. But that is not so. They are both equal in strength, which is why sometimes the Devas (representing righteousness and virtue) win, and sometimes it is the Asuras (representing negativity and immorality) win.
Sometimes Dharma triumphs, and sometimes Adharma triumphs. It depends on who wins. When Dharma wins over Adharma, we say that it is Satyuga (the Golden Age; referring to the epoch of time characterized by goodness and prevalence of morality). When Adharma triumphs, we say that it is Kaliyuga (the Dark Age; referring to the epoch of time characterized by immorality and downfall of human values).
Who wins in the end of this conflict is decided by Kaal (here implying Time).
When the Sattva (one of the three gunas characterizing wisdom and righteousness) is more, then surely Dharma wins over Adharma. When there is predominance of Rajoguna (one of the three gunas characterizing attributes such as activity and passion) and Tamoguna (the guna characterizing negativity and inertia), then Adharma wins in the end.
A conflict implies a battle between two equals. Now, the Para-Shakti (referring to the Mother Divine as the primordial energy that creates and sustains all of creation) transcends this conflict and is much higher than it. What is Para-Shakti? It is One without duality or conflict. All are equal and the same before that divine power.
http://www.artofliving.org/wisdom/intuitive-power?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+whatsrisrisaid+%28Wisdom+from+Sri+Sri+Ravi+Shankar%29
No comments:
Post a Comment