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 🌸

The one thing you need to know about navratri

‘Navratri’ means the ‘nine nights’. ‘Nava’means ‘nine’, and ‘ratri’ means ‘night’.

Nights provide rest and rejuvenation. At night you turn inward (you sleep) and you feel refreshed and rested in the morning. In the same way, Navratri or the Nine Nights is that time (of the year) when you turn inward towards your source. It is the time of the year to spend with yourself, nurturing and rejuvenating yourself through prayers, chants, meditation, fasting, and other spiritual practices, and coming out feeling refreshed, renewed and creative. This is the significance and the true spirit of Navratri.

Navratri is celebrated to glorify the spirit in us. The spirit in us alone can destroy all negative qualities (inertia, pride, obsession, cravings, aversions, etc). By turning inward during Navratri, and getting in touch with the spirit within, we can overcome these negative tendencies and invoke the position qualities that are within us, thus feeling elevated and renewed.

“There are 64 divine mother impulses which govern the subtle creation. These are responsible for restoring all earthly and spiritual benefits. They are simply part of one’s awakened consciousness. These nine nights are celebrated to rekindle those divine impulses and celebrate the innermost depth of our lives.”

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

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 🌸

Why repeat Advance Course/Silence course

When I do the Art of Silence Course, I feel hollow and empty. But again after a week I find that I am full of desires and botherations. How can I be hollow and empty all the time?

Sri Sri : This is like asking, 'How can I eat once for this lifetime and not have to keep eating every day?'
You know, it is such a boring job. Every day you have to cook and eat. If you eat today, again tomorrow you feel hungry. If you eat in the morning, then again in the evening you feel hungry.
You cannot eat just once and be done with it because the body has its own nature. The same is with your mind. Entertainment is not enough once. Would you listen to me if I tell you that it is enough to watch only one movie in your lifetime? You need entertainment again and again. Body needs nutrition again and again. To satisfy hunger we eat food. We drink water to quench thirst. We take rest when we are tired. In the same way, spirituality is also like that. To satisfy spiritual hunger, we need to meditate again and again.

Possessing Propriety

Chapter 14 : Kural: 140 Possessing Propriety

உலகத்தோடு ஒட்ட ஒழுகல் பலகற்றும்
கல்லார் அறிவிலா தார்.

மு.வ உரை :

உலகத்து உயர்ந்தவரோடு பொருந்த ஒழுகும் முறையைக் கற்காதவர்  பல நு}ல்களைக் கற்றிருந்த போதிலும் அறிவில்லாதவரே ஆவர்.

கலைஞர் உரை :

உயர்ந்தோர் ஏற்றுக் கொண்ட ஒழுக்கம் எனும் பண்போடு வாழக் கற்காதவர்கள் பல நு}ல்களைப் படித்திருந்தும்கூட அறிவில்லாதவர்களே ஆவார்கள்

சாலமன் பாப்பையா உரை :

முந்திய அறநு}ல்கள் கூறியவற்றுள் இன்றைக்குப் பொருந்தாதவற்றை விலக்கியும், கூறாதனவற்றுள் பொருந்துவனவற்றை ஏற்றும் வாழக் கல்லாதவர், பல்வேறு நு}ல்களைக் கற்றவரே என்றாலும் அறிவில்லாதவரே.

English Translation:

Ulakaththotu Otta Ozhukal Palakatrum
Kallaar Arivilaa Thaar

Explanation:

Those who know not how to act agreeably to the world  though they have learnt many things  are still ignorant.

Those who don’t learn to abide by the decorous norms of the society,
even if well-read, are unwise.