Humor and Humiliation

Humor is the buffer that saves you from humiliation. If you have a good sense of humor you can never be humiliated. And if you refuse to be humiliated you become invincible. Humor brings everyone together, while humiliation tears them apart. In a society torn with humiliation and insult, humor is like a breath of fresh air. A good sense of humor relieves you from fear and anxiety.

Humor should be coupled with care and concern. Mere humor without care and concern or appropriate action often irritates those who come to you with serious problems.

Humor can keep the spirit high, yet if overdone it leaves a bad taste. 

Humor without wisdom is shallow. 

Humor with wisdom creates an atmosphere of celebration.

Humor without sensitivity is satire - it comes back to you with more problems.

The wise use humor to bring wisdom and to lighten every situation.

The intelligent use humor as a shield against humiliation.

The cruel use humor as a sword to insult others.

The irresponsible use humor to escape from responsibility.

And fools take humor too seriously!

To make an effort to be humorous is nonsensical.

Question: How does one cultivate a sense of humor?

Sri Sri:

Humor is not just words, it is the lightness of your Being. You do not have to read and repeat jokes -- just being cordial and light-hearted brings out authentic humor.

Taking life itself not too seriously (because you will never come out of it alive!) (Laughter)

Having a sense of belongingness with everybody, including those who are not friendly

Practicing yoga and meditation

Having unshakable faith in the Divine, and in the laws of karma

Being in the company of those who live in knowledge and are humorous

A willingness to be a clown

🌻Jai Guru Dev🌻

DARSHAN FROM MEXICO vIDEO 2

 

100 साल पहले, पिताजी का जन्म 8 दिसंबर 1924 को

 100 साल पहले, पिताजी का जन्म 8 दिसंबर 1924 को तमिलनाडु के सलेम जिले के कावेरीपट्टिनम गांव में हुआ था। परिवार जल्द ही बैंगलोर चला गया और वहीं बस गया। उनके माता-पिता का नाम श्रृंगारम्मा और सुब्रमण्यम था। उनके पिता गांधीवादी थे।

जब पिताजी का जन्म हुआ तब परिवार संपन्न था।

पिता ने अपनी सारी संपत्ति और यहां तक ​​कि अपनी मां के गहने भी गांधीजी के आंदोलन के लिए दान कर दिए थे। जब वे बहुत छोटे थे, तभी उनके पिता का निधन हो गया और उसके तुरंत बाद उनके पास बहुत कम या बिलकुल भी पैसा नहीं बचा। फिर भी उनके दिल में बहुत कुछ था। पिताजी ने 13 या 14 साल की छोटी उम्र में ही परिवार का भरण-पोषण करने के लिए काम करना शुरू कर दिया था।

मेरी दादी (पिताजी की माँ) दिव्यदर्शी थीं। उनके चाचा भी महान ज्योतिषी थे। जब वे छोटे थे, तब भी वे कहती थीं कि वे एक सुंदर लड़की से शादी करेंगे जो वीणा बहुत अच्छी तरह बजाती हो और उनके दो बच्चे होंगे, एक लड़की और एक लड़का। उन्होंने उनसे कहा था, "लड़के का नाम रवि और लड़की का नाम भानु रखना!"

जैसा कि उन्होंने कहा, त्रिची के एक कॉमन फ्रेंड के ज़रिए उन्हें अम्मा की कुंडली मिली जो पिताजी की कुंडली से बहुत अच्छी तरह मेल खाती थी। दोनों परिवार मिले और 1955 की शुरुआत में मेरी माँ के पैतृक निवास पापनासम में शादी हुई। मेरी माँ वीणा बजाने में माहिर थीं और हर शाम वीणा बजाती थीं। पिताजी, मेरी दादी, पिताजी के छोटे भाई सुब्बू और बहन वसंता सभी मंत्रमुग्ध होकर सुनते थे। हम दोनों का जन्म भी जल्द ही हो गया। हम उस समय बैंगलोर में मिनर्वा सर्कल के पास एक किराए के घर में रहते थे

Gurudev arrives at Los Angeles

 

Gurudev at Los Angeles Center

 

Management Mantra Intro

 

Shankabishekam at Bangalore Ashram on 19Nov24

 Yesterday Evening, Gurukul witnessed the sacred ritual of "Shankhabhishekam" as part of the Kartik celebrations. This revered tradition involves the ritual bathing of the Shiva Lingam with water poured from a conch shell

Sri Sri on Arrogance

 Never in your life have the arrogance to say that you have achieved big heights. If you have achieved something it is the divine will, it is the divine intervention that has always protected you, cleared your path and given you the right opportunities at the right time. 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Problems? One more

Weekly Knowledge #267
European Ashram
24 Aug 2000
Germany

PROBLEMS? ONE MORE

The first solution to the problem is not to have the problem at all. (Laughter)

The second thing is to willingly accept the problem and see it as a challenge.

Third, know that the problem is a boogey man, it is not real.

Fourth, know that nature has provided you the solution even before giving you the problem. First you met me and then you had a problem (Laughter). When it snows, there are no bacteria since no herbs to heal you grow in that season. In the spring, the herbs come first and then the bugs. In the summer, the shade comes before the summer sun gets strong. So, nature takes good care of you.

Sabya: What if the longing is a problem?

Sri Sri: Longing ripens you. Do not solve all your problems. At least keep one of them. You need something to munch on - and life goes on...

🌸 Jai Guru Dev 🌸

Devi durga and the red colour

Devi Durga and the color red

Durga is associated with red. She is depicted as wearing a red saree. Red is the color of dynamism – the ‘moving’ energy. You may be trained and skilled, but if you are not able to move things, people, and efforts in unison, then the results are delayed, and you can’t be effective. When you pray to Durga, she brings forth dynamism in you to make things move.
Durga is also referred to as ‘Jaya Durga’ or the one who brings victory.

The Nav Durga

The Nav Durga are the nine aspects of theDurga Shakti which act like a shield to ward off all negativities. When you have obstacles or mental blocks, just remembering these qualities of the Devican remove your mental blocks. For people suffering from anxiety, self-doubt, fear, simply chanting the names of theDevi can elevate your consciousness and make you more centered, courageous and composed.

Mahishasuramardhini form of Durga

The Devi Durga, in Her form as Mahishasuramardhini, is the destroyer of Mahisha. The word Mahisha means buffalo which is a symbol of laziness, lethargy, and inertia. These are the qualities which impede the spiritual and material progress of an individual. The Devi is a storehouse of positive energy and any trace of laziness or inertia dissolves in her very presence.

 

 “The first three days of Navratri celebrate the Devi in the form ofDurga. In the presence of Durga Shakti, negative forces fade away. She transforms negativity into positivity.”

As said by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
The Art of Living Founder

A secret to increase satva

Navratri is that time of the year that is rich with colors, tradition, songs and dance. It is also a very sacred time, especially for a spiritual seeker. It is a time when we withdraw from the world of senses and rest through spiritual techniques to uncover the potential for greater bliss, joy and enthusiasm in our lives.

This movement from the outer to the inner can happen effortlessly only when the quality of sattva rises in us and fasting is one of the ways to increase the sattva level in us.

What is sattva?

This world is made up of five elements and these five elements have three qualities:

Sattva – the quality that brings forth positivity

Rajas – the quality that brings forth activity

Tamas – the quality that brings forth inertia

All spiritual practices such as meditation, chanting, fasting, silence increases the level of sattva in us. When sattva increases, it brings forth knowledge, alertness, awareness and joy in life, as these qualities come along with sattva. That is why taking out time to follow all these practices is very meaningful. It enhances the quality of life and brings forth more joy and happiness.

Fasting greatly increases the sattva level of the body as it detoxifies and cleanses the system, which many a times gets stressed by overindulgence in food.

Tips to increase sattva daily:

#1. Eat food at regular times.

#2. Consume the right amount of food and as required.  

#3. Gently spiced food is preferable.

#4. Meditate!  

Education

Weekly Knowledge #256
Bangalore Ashram
07 Jun 2000
India

EDUCATION

Education has five aspects

1. Information -- Often we think information is education, but it is only one aspect of education.

2. Concepts -- Concepts are the basis for all research. You need to conceive in order to create.

3. Attitude -- An integral aspect of education is cultivating the right attitude. Proper attitude at the right time and place determines your actions and behavior.

4. Imagination -- Imagination is essential for creativity, for the arts. But if you get stuck in imagination, you may become psychotic.

5. Freedom -- Freedom is your very nature. Only with freedom, do joy, generosity and other human values blossom. Without freedom, attitudes become stifling, concepts become a burden, information is of no value and imagination becomes stagnant.

🌸 Jai Guru Dev 🌸

Compassion and Karma

Weekly Knowledge #221
Bangalore Ashram
15 Sep 1999
India

Compassion and Karma

There are two types of compassion. One is the compassion of the wise, one is that of the ignorant.

An ignorant person's compassion is on the fruit of an action whereas a wise person's compassion is towards the non-availability of knowledge. Compassion for suffering shows ignorance. Suffering comes because of karma, and if you believe in karma, where is compassion? One reaps the fruit of one's actions.

If a judge has compassion for all the offenders then the jails will be empty. At the same time, are the judges cruel to the offenders? No; the judges' compassion is for the non-availability of knowledge, not for the suffering of the criminals. It is their karma.

Often people think compassion is an act, an action. Know that compassion is your very nature. Then you will see that karma and compassion are not contradictory but complement each other.

Suppose two people come to a hospital. One is suffering from starvation, the other is ill from overeating. What type of compassion should the doctor have towards each of them? This is a riddle for you to solve!

🌸 Jai Guri Dev 🌸

Skill in praising

KNOWLEDGE SHEET BY SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR
Posted: 08 May 2012

SKILL IN PRAISING

Often, when you praise, you praise in comparison to someone else. In order to praise one person, we put down someone else and when we want to point out somebody's mistake we praise another.

Some are stingy in praising, and some are shy.

And some others are simply not used to.

Some praise with motives, and some others just to elevate.

Others praise themselves in order to hide their low self-esteem.

The real praise dawns in a blossomed state of consciousness.

The praise that comes out of an elevated state of consciousness is simply its nature and is quite different. Normally praise comes out of craving and pride. The praise from a heightened consciousness is always out of fulfilment.

Praising can no doubt elevate the consciousness and bring enthusiasm and energy. At the same time it can also bring arrogance. Praising is a skill.

When someone praises you, do you take it without shying away?

Accepting praise without shyness, is also a skill.

|| Jai Guru Dev ||

Worship

Weekly Knowledge #240
Bangalore Ashram
10 Feb 2000
India

Worship

Do not worship or idolize worship. Idolizing without a sense of  belongingness is always futile.  Such worship only causes fear and distance.  And there are others who are  paranoid about  worship. They get irritated by seeing others worshipping. The modes of worship or idolizing may be different in different parts of the world. Some worship the pope ; others worship the pop stars.  Some are crazy about the politicians. Look at all the children. They  worship  their heroes  all  over  the walls.  Just adoration makes you a fan. Having a sense of belongingness and seeing the Divinity in those whom you adore, makes you a saint.

Raghu: You mean we can see Divinity in a pop star or politician.

Guruji: If You can;..A Divinity that is distorted ( laughter) Those who worship without a sense of belongingness and those who are against worship are in  the same boat  as both are clogged with fear.  In  the  Bible, it says, " I am your God. And  you shall have no other before  me. "  The same is said in the ancient Indian scriptures. "One who worships God as separate from the "I am" consciousness is dull headed". And  " Poojo aur na deva".Do not worship other Gods. The offering, the offered and the offerer are all ONE.

🌸 Jai Guru Dev 🌸

CAUSE OF SUFFERING

CAUSE OF SUFFERING
When you get hurt, it's your karma. You must have hurt somebody sometime and so you got it back now. Nothing happens without a reason. This is the highest knowledge.
So, some Masters will always say that if you are suffering, it's not because of somebody, it's because of you only. You better suffer and get rid of it.
Instead of that, if you say, "That person is responsible for my suffering", then you are making more karma and carrying it on to the next lifetime. But if you say, "My suffering is because of me, and I take ownership of the karma", then you become free.
Saying, "My suffering is due to that person", will continue the karma because that impression will be there in your mind. Why are you not looking inside? Why are you not moving on? Why are you holding onto an event of the past and blaming the other person for your karma? If you do this then you will continue to be miserable.
~~Gurudev HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji

Do not accept people as they are

Neither accept people as they are nor tolerate them.

Many people think tolerance is a virtue but tolerance is actually a negative term. If you like something,you do not have to tolerate it. Tolerance indicates a deep sense of dislike. It indicates a sense of separateness,small mindedness,limited awareness.

When you are tolerating,it means you are temporarily putting up with it. Tolerance is a potential volcano. If you are tolerating,it means you are still holding on to something. Acceptance is also negative. You accept only that which is not lovable.

Question: Do you need self assurance to love people?

Only the self is assuring-nothing else. This is our company-The Self Assurance Company.

Question: "But aren't we supposed to accept people as they are?"

If you do not love them,then you have to accept them. I tell you,do not accept people as they are. Just love them as they are. Tolerance and acceptance come with judgement and separation.

-----Guruji at Williams Island,Florida,United States..on January21st,1998.

Krishnastami

HAPPY JANMASHTAMI !!!

TODAY IS KRISHNA'S BIRTHDAY
BIRTH OF THE CENTER OF ATTRACTION
Krishna means the most attractive . . . It is the divinity that is the most attractive; the energy that pulls everything to it. Krishna is the formless center which is everywhere. Any attraction from anywhere is coming only from Krishna. Often people fail to see the spirit behind the attraction and merely hold on to the outer shell. And the moment you try to possess the shell, you will see Krishna has played a trick and you will be left with an empty shell in your hands and tears in your eyes.
Be clever like Radha -- don't be tricked by Krishna. Krishna could not escape from Radha, for her whole world was filled with Krishna. If you can see that wherever there is an attraction, there is Krishna; then you are Radha, you are in your center.
The mind moves towards beauty, joy and truth. Krishna tells Arjuna, "I am the beauty in the Beautiful, the strength in the Strong, the wisdom in the Wise." In this way he arrests the mind from moving away from him.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Ashtami is significant as it indicates a perfect balance between the seen and the unseen aspects of reality; the visible material world and the invisible spiritual realm. Krishna’s birth on Ashtami signifies his mastery of both the spiritual and material worlds. He is a great teacher and a spiritual inspiration as well as the consummate politician. On one hand, he is Yogeshwara (the Lord of Yogas — the state to which every yogi aspires) while on the other, he is a mischievous thief. The unique quality of Krishna is that he is at once more pious than the saints and yet a thorough mischief-monger! His behaviour is a perfect balance of the extremes — perhaps this is why the personality of Krishna is so difficult to fathom. The avdhoot is oblivious to the world outside and a materialistic person, a politician or a king is oblivious to the spiritual world. But Krishna is both Dwarkadheesh and Yogeshwar. Krishna’s teachings are most relevant to our times in the sense that they neither let you get lost in material pursuits nor make you completely withdrawn. They rekindle your life, from being a burnt-out and stressed personality to a more centred and dynamic one. Krishna teaches us devotion with skill. To celebrate Gokulashtami is to imbibe extremely opposite yet compatible qualities and manifest them in your own life. Hence the most authentic way of celebrating Janmashtami is knowing that you have to play a dual role — of being a responsible human being on the planet and at the same time to realize that you are above all events, the untouched Brahman. Imbibing a bit of avadhoot and a bit of activism in your life is the real significance of celebrating Janmashtami   
Sri Sri.....

Problem

Weekly Knowledge #239
Oslo
03 Feb 2000
Norway

PROBLEM

Guruji says: There is no problem that cannot be solved!!!

Someone says: I have a few I can give you. (Laughter)

Guruji says: When you have a problem and you think it cannot be solved, then you have accepted it then it is no longer a problem; it is a fact.

For example: Suppose you think it is a problem that the ocean in Norway is too cold. Obviously, you cannot heat the ocean. If it cannot be solved, you accept it and it's no longer a problem. Only when you are searching for a solution is there a problem and so there is no problem that cannot be solved. (Laughter)

The moment you realize there is no solution, a problem ceases to be a problem.

The solution is the tail of every problem.

Solutions come to you when :
     You are calm and collected 
     You use intelligence
     You are not lethargic but active 
     You have strong faith in Divine law

Kai says: If you don't want any problems, you can have a Guru.

Sheila says: If you want all the problems of all the people, become a Guru.

Tom says: Focusing on the problem alone, you cannot solve it. But, when you go step up to your real need, your real goal, to the higher Self, you find many solutions.

🌸 Jai Guru Dev 🌸

Being with the Guru

Weekly Knowledge #236
German Ashram,Bad Antogast
13 Jan 2000
Germany

Being with the Guru

People have various reasons to be with a Guru.

Broadly they can be put in these 5 catagories.

1. You would like to have your wishes fulfilled and because it is more pleasurable.

2. Everything else looks more painful to you and you come for comfort.

3. You want to evolve and become enlightened; you want to know higher Knowledge.

4. You have a vision or goal; you share a vision of the Guru. Missionary or visionary.

5. You are there to just serve and give comfort to the Guru.

You are with the Guru because you belong to the Guru. There is no choice.

🌸 Jai Guru Dev 🌸