QnA with Sri Sri

Q: I am in the ninth standard. Many of my friends are into smoking and drinking and they force me to do so too, but I know it is not correct. But if I don't do it, I feel left out.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, never mind being left out in those things which they all will regret later on! You stand out with principles. I had the same challenge when I was in college. Everybody around me was smoking and some really macho guys surrounded me one day and asked me, 'you must smoke.' I just stared at them and said, 'no!'. I was the youngest in my class. Everyone else was older than me. I said, 'I will not do it!' They just looked at me baffled and then left. So you will become a hero if you say in front of them, 'no way! I won't do it.'

They started liking my company very much later on. 'Yes, here is somebody who has strong resolve.' Show your strong resolve for something that you believe in. These are the things which we must believe and acknowledge. 'I am not going to do anything which is bad, which is injurious to my life and to the society.'

Will you all take the promise now, today? 'We will not touch any of those drugs, alcohol or cigarettes.' Can you promise me?