KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2026

 

A Friend is an enemy and an enemy is a friend

 

In the company of your friends, you lose your centeredness. Your enemy puts you back in yourself. Your friend sympathizes with you and makes you believe in matter. Your enemy makes you feel helpless and takes you to the spirit. So your enemy is your friend and your friend is your enemy!

Krishna said to Arjuna: One who is unfriendly everywhere (including himself); his consciousness is stable and awareness is established.

 

II JAI GURUDEV II

 

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

POSTED ON: SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2026

 

Gurudev, can wisdom happen instantly? Is it the same with enlightenment?

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

 

Yes, it can be gradual also! The other day, someone was telling me, "Gurudev, suddenly, I realized that I am happy all the time now, which I never was before!" A sudden realization comes that gradually you have become more and more happy. One day you find yourself saying, "I am so happy, so centered; nothing can shake me, nothing can take my smile away!" And then you are there! Sometimes, there is a flash of lightning, and suddenly you see things, and then it disappears. Sometimes it is like when the sun rises, dawn comes first, then gradually darkness disappears, and day dawns very gradually, and that stays! So both phenomena are there. For some, it can come as an electrical transformation, for others it could be a gradual change. Sometimes you don't even notice it, but one day, you say, "Wow! Aho!" Just like what is said in Ashtavakra, "Aho! Yes, I got it.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2026

 

Anyone who knows God cannot be cruel. Anybody who engages in cruelty cannot know God. It is as simple as that.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026

 

We have to imbibe the value of sharing in children

 

There are two tendencies that are within us, one is of taking and the other of giving. What is worth noting is which value system we are imbibing in our children.

 

If they are hesitant to take or ask, then that is a sign of good values. But if they are hesitant to give then there is something wrong there.

 

It is a good sign when people feel hesitation to put their hand out to take. But if people hesitate to extend their hands out to help then we need to change the direction of society.

 

If the child is sattvic he always makes an effort to share his belongings with everyone. But if the child is rajasic then he tries to take things from everyone.

 

We have to imbibe the value of giving and sharing in children; happiness in giving and sharing, and hesitation to take. They should feel hesitation to put their hands out and ask.

 

There are people who have enough yet they keep asking for more. This is very strange.

 

So, when there is an attitude to give and hesitation to take or to ask, then the direction of life has reached an elevated level.

 

If there is hesitation to give and no shame in taking then that comparatively is of a lower level of existence. And there are some people who even go to the extent of pouncing, grabbing and seizing which is an even lower level of existence.

 

Now in this world there are all kinds of people and all sorts of things happen. So we must not hold anyone guilty. The important message is that we must set an example for others and not make them feel guilty.

 

II JAI GURUDEV II

 

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

POSTED ON: FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026

 

Q: How the healing power of meditation works?

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

 

Meditation heals illness

 

Heal the mind through meditation.

 

Meditation prevents stresses from entering the body system.

 

It releases accumulated stress.

 

It helps improve health, ups the happiness quotient and sustains a positive state of mind.

 

The practice of meditation makes you peaceful.

 

Meditation is like the servicing of the body-mind complex.

 

It is said the root of an illness is in the mind/consciousness. So, by attending to the mind, clearing it of any disturbances, the recovery speeds up. Illnesses can develop from: violation of natural law: for example, overeating imposed by nature: for example, common cold, or an epidemic release of past impressions or karma.

 

Nature itself provides a cure for these illnesses. Health and illness are a part of physical nature. The practice of meditation helps to let go of stress, worries, and anxieties. This results in a positive state of mind, which in turn has a positive impact on the physical body, brain, and nervous system. Consequently, the illness decreases.

 

One of the secret understanding of illness is that when you worry about illness, you give more power to it. You must remember that you are a combination of health and illness. When you know this and have a positive state of mind, then illnesses gradually disappear.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

 

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026

 

Wake up and see nothing is yours. Can't you say this – 'Nothing is mine!' It is such a freedom I tell you, such a freedom!

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

 

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

 

The Kumbha Mela

 

Once every 12 years, all the seers, saints and aspirants of spiritual knowledge congregate at the confluence (sangam), of the 3 holy rivers, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The Ganga is a symbol of Knowledge and Self-inquiry. It is on the banks of the Yamuna that events of love have been immortalized. When Knowledge and Love come together, when the head meets the heart, Saraswati, symbolic of wisdom and the fine arts emerge.

 

When a tiny atom explodes, the radiation lasts for a long time, the mind is even more subtle than one millionth of an atom. When the mind explodes, that is Enlightenment. Over the centuries, thousands of sages who have meditated, done penance and been enlightened come to the "Kumbha Mela" and relieve themselves of the burden of the merits gained through Sadhana by bathing in the rivers. Water has the quality to absorb the energy that they radiate. The seekers, who come from all corners to be in the company of the seers and saints, gain that merit when they take a dip in the rivers.

 

Space by itself cannot be bought, and a lump of clay has no value, but when space is enveloped by clay it gains value, this is a Kumbha (pot). Spirit is all over in Nature, but when it dawns in the human body as an elevated state of consciousness, then it gains immense value. An Embodied and elevated spirit is usually referred to as Kumbha. This is why the enlightened age is also called the Aquarian age. Kumbha denotes a pot, which is symbolic of fullness and perfection.

The Kumbha Mela is an ancient version of a spiritual expo.

 

II JAI GURUDEV II

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

 

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

POSTED ON: THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

 

Q: What is spirituality? Is it important for people? Can youth also be spiritual?

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

 

Yes, absolutely, spirituality is meant for everyone. We are made up of body, mind, and spirit. The body needs amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals. Similarly, what does the mind need? It needs happiness, love, creativity; all this is part of spirituality. Creativity, enthusiasm, respect, love, joy, happiness; don’t you want this? Anything that brings you closer to yourself, that uplifts your spirit, that makes you feel one with everybody is spirituality.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

 

If you want to correct somebody or teach them a lesson, you need to have the magnanimity of a teacher. You have to have compassion, a broad vision and equanimity within you. Three things are essential, magnanimity, equanimity and skill.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2026

 

Celebrating the silence

 

One who has given everything has also given freedom: Honor the freedom first and make good use of all things given to you.

 

Your sankalpas (intentions) and desires separate you from God.

 

Offer all the desires and your sankalpas to the Divine... then you are divine... you are God... you are free... lacking nothing.

 

Effort is the key in the relative, Effortlessness is the key to the Absolute.

 

Your mind does not belong to you. Don't blame it.

 

Let the BIG SELF embrace it.

 

II JAI GURUDEV II

 

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

POSTED ON: WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2026

 

Q: What is the solution to an ego clash?

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

 

When egos are there, they do clash. There is no way out. When there is wisdom, you will rise above any small-minded attitude, bickering and judgements.

 

You judge people all the time, and if you turn back and look at your own judgements, I tell you, 80 to 90% of the time, they will be wrong. Sometimes people send some messages and before the other person gets it, they retract it. How many of you have done that? You type a message to send to someone, and something tells you that this is not okay and so you retract it. How many of you do this? This shows how poor your judgements are.

 

We create a huge cloud around what is not even close to truth, and it has happened to you so many times in the past. You hold grudges against people, you have concepts about people and you get yourself trapped into it. You must wake up from this. You know, if your time is good, your worst enemy behaves like a friend, and if your times are bad, your closest friend behaves like an enemy. So, your luck or time is totally responsible for your friends and enemies. Your karma is responsible for what you go through. So, you should take your mind away from judging others and bring it to yourself.

 

Often people who complain that others have a big ego, have a big ego themselves. Often those who complain others are rude, you will see somewhere inside, they are rude. You should reflect on yourself. See, you can’t correct others but others give you a chance to correct yourself.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR 

POSTED ON: WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2026

See what you want to do, move forward and drop the past. Don't go on doing postmortem of the past all the time.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

 

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026

 

Singing Communication and Ego.

 

There are three modes of communication: in head-to-head communication you talk, in heart-to-heart communication you sing, and soul to soul communication happens in silence.

 

When you meet with people, often you communicate from head-to-head. When you are with nature, you start singing, you communicate with nature from your heart. Often when you are with people you keep talking, blabbering, and you keep the communication on the level of the head only. But when you are with nature, you start humming and your communication comes through the heart. And when you are with the guru, you go blank and forget all the questions. Then communication comes through the soul in silence.

 

When you meet with people, you like to remain in the head, you seldom sing with people (other than when it is organised). Your ego obstructs you from singing. Many do not feel comfortable singing with people. When you sing with people then you descend to the heart level or feeling level. Some feel comfortable just listening to music. Some feel comfortable singing only when they are alone. Some sing to draw attention or to charm others. Some only want to join in when all the others are singing. All this singing comes from ego.

 

Bhajan means sharing, sharing from the deepest level of our existence. Bhajan is authentic sharing. If you could sing with people, then your ego shatters. Children can sing with people for they do not have ego. To sing with a stranger you have to be free of ego. Ego doesn't let you sing with a stranger. Head level is safe for the ego -heart level breaks the ego - soul level dissolves the ego. All communication gaps happen because of ego.

 

II JAI GURUDEV II

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

POSTED ON: TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026

 

Q: Gurudev, I always face a loss in business. People around me tell me that by doing more of Sadhana and Seva, I will get profits and progress in my business. I do not understand how Sadhana and Seva can help in bringing progress in my business. Please explain.

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

 

The five factors important for any task are: Kartaa (Doer), Karma (right action), Upakarana (instrument or approach), and so on. I urge you to find out the other means by yourself. I will not tell them all myself. The last factor required is Daiva (Divine grace or blessing) which we also call as luck or good fortune. Sadhana and Satsang helps increase one’s good fortune and also burns away one’s Karma.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR 

POSTED ON: TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026

Getting upset is normal, but to carry the emotions for months is not normal. It should stay as long as a line stays on the surface of water.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

 KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: MONDAY, JULY 20, 2026

 

Close to the master

 

If you're not feeling close to the Guru, it's because of you. Because of your mind, because of your ego concepts. Share with the Guru that which is very important or intimate to you. Share that. Do not feel shame, shy, or judgmental about yourself.

 

Unless you express to the Master that which is very intimate and important to you, just being on the formal and informal communication levels cannot make you feel close. "How are you, where are you going? How have you been?" Stop formal and superficial conversations with the Master and speak with your heart that which is very important and intimate, very deep to your life. Don't just say how much the squash costs, 30 cents or whatever.

 

If you don't feel close to the Master, there's no point in having a Master. It is just another burden to you. You have enough already. Just say "Goodbye," get rid of it.

 

Question: When you play little games and push us away, how can we feel close to you?

 

Answer: You should feel more close if you are pushed away, scolded or ignored. Because to ignore somebody takes a lot of effort. When a Master does not even ignore wrapping paper, or a flower that is in a vase, how can he ignore a walking, talking, breathing human being who is connected? How could that be ignored? So when you understand this, you already feel close.

 

Question: Can we call you every week?

 

Response from the room: Call Guruji every week and if he doesn't answer the phone then you know you are loved.

 

Answer: Yes, put that in. (Laughter)

 

You are with the Master to share the joy of the Master, to share the consciousness of the Master. For that, you have to empty your cup of what is already in it. So you share that with the Master. You share whatever you have and don't judge, "Oh, that is garbage." The Master is ready to accept any garbage of any extent. However you are, he will embrace you. He is ready to share. You only have to share from your side.

 

|| Jai Guru Dev ||

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

 QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

POSTED ON: MONDAY, JULY 20, 2026

 

Q: Dear Gurudev, recent scientific discoveries in India and elsewhere have shown that what we thought was myth are actual historical occurrences, like the discovery of Dwaraka, the ancient city under the sea. How can we decipher mythology and symbolism from factual history in these sacred texts?

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

 

Yes. (Opens a bottle of water and gives it to the plants on the left of him.) They were a little thirsty.

You know, the ancient style of writing history was very poetic, and it was all in couplets. None of the history of ancient time was written in prose form. They were all in poetries. In poetry, you need rhythm, so to keep the rhythm there is exaggeration, and there is beautification - all these things happen. Poetry is not poetry if it is flat. There needs to be a little elevation in it. But because of the exaggeration you cannot discard it as myth, because there is also fact in it.

 

Ayurveda is also written in poetry form. No medicine anywhere in the world is taught in the form of poetry except in Ayurveda. In the world, this is the only medicinal system which is all in poems so that you can remember them by heart. Poetry is easy to remember. In those days, there were not many books, so people made it all into poetry. Even the healthy things, the healthy habits were all in poetry.

 

If one bears this in mind, then there is no difficulty in identifying the real facts of history. Today, we have what is called Astrophysics. In Astrophysics, they really find out the exact dates of historical events. And this is being done today. There are softwares available for that.

 

Some of our AOL members, Dr D.K. Hari and Hema Hari, they have made web pages on the historic facts of Ramayana and Mahabharata. If you’re interested, you go and look into those web pages.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: MONDAY, JULY 20, 2026

 

Even if one civilization, religion or culture goes missing, then there will be something missing in the world. Every culture and religion is part of the world heritage and we need to preserve all of them.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

 KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2026

 

The Five Signs Of Satguru

 

In the presence of Satguru

 

Knowledge flourishes

Sorrow diminishes

Without any reason, joy wells up

Lack diminishes; abundance dawns

All talents manifest

 

To the degree you feel connected to the Guru, these qualities manifest in your life. Sit with your eyes closed, feel the connection with the Guru, and start making your own knowledge sheet. Next week's knowledge sheet will be written and spoken by those whose name starts with the letter "A" and this will continue in alphabetical order. So,

Make a knowledge sheet

 

Take a commitment for a seva project.

The more you give, the more strength will be given to you.

 

|| Jai Guru Dev ||

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2026

 

The Five Signs Of Satguru

 

In the presence of Satguru

 

Knowledge flourishes

Sorrow diminishes

Without any reason, joy wells up

Lack diminishes; abundance dawns

All talents manifest

 

To the degree you feel connected to the Guru, these qualities manifest in your life. Sit with your eyes closed, feel the connection with the Guru, and start making your own knowledge sheet. Next week's knowledge sheet will be written and spoken by those whose name starts with the letter "A" and this will continue in alphabetical order. So,

Make a knowledge sheet

 

Take a commitment for a seva project.

The more you give, the more strength will be given to you.

 

|| Jai Guru Dev ||

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

 

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

POSTED ON: SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2026

 

Q: Gurudev, is there an intelligent life outside the planet earth?

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

 

You can’t say no, there isn’t. To say no, you have to explore everything. If you can’t say no, it means yes.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2026

 

Many people just walk past the security guard without even acknowledging their greetings. This we should not do. Talk to your employees, to your watchmen, to your drivers; create a humane relationship with them.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2026

 

Commitment and Convenience

 

A commitment can only be felt when it oversteps convenience. That which is convenient, you do not call commitment. If you just go on your convenience, your commitment falls apart causing more inconvenience! If you keep dropping your commitment because it is inconvenient, can you be comfortable? Often, what is convenient does not bring comfort, but gives an illusion of comfort. Also if you are too stuck in commitment, and it is too inconvenient too often, you will be unable to fulfill your commitment and it will only generate frustration. Wisdom is to strike a balance between convenience and commitment because both bring comfort to the body, mind and spirit.

 

A seeker of knowledge should forget about convenience, so should soldiers, rulers, students, seekers of wealth and all essential service providers. Those who want to be creative and adventurous transcend convenience. Those who are ambitious and have a passion for a goal do not care for convenience. To the wise their commitment is their comfort. Whenever their commitment is shaken, their comfort is also shaken. To the lazy, commitment is torture though it is the best remedy. Commitment will always bring comfort in the long run.

 

Question: Are there any commitments that can be given up?

 

Answer: Yes.

 

Sometimes when you are committed without a vision, you feel stifled when your vision expands. Such commitments made with shortsightedness can be given up. A smaller less important commitment can be given up for a greater commitment. Commitment to the means can be given up for the sake of the commitment to the goals. When your commitment brings misery to many in the long run it can be given up.

 

|| Jai Guru Dev ||

 

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

QUESTION & ANSWER WITH GURUDEV

POSTED ON: SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2026

 

Q: Gurudev, what would be your advice to leaders in the world who have good intentions but flawed actions?

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

 

If the intentions are correct but actions are flawed, they must have come under compulsion from someone else. You always act on your intention. If you are unable to act on your intention, it means you are under some pressure from some corner.

 

And yes, small steps and small actions that you take will help. When your intentions are good, you keep moving in that direction. I usually say intention and attention brings manifestation.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

WISDOM QUOTE OF SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2026

 

Breakthrough all barriers and feel that you are blessed. This is the one and only step you have to take. The rest will happen.

 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

 

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

POSTED ON: FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2026

 

Creativity

 

Creativity brings a new beginning for "time". When you are creative, you break the monotony of time. Everything becomes fresh and alive. Creativity brings along with it a new round of enthusiasm. Both creative and procreative impulses in nature are associated with enthusiasm. When you are enthusiastic you are closer to the creative principle of existence.

 

Deep silence is the mother of creativity. No creativity can come out of one who is too busy, worried, over-ambitious or lethargic. Balanced activity, rest and yoga can kindle skills and creativity in you.

 

|| Jai Guru Dev ||