ART OF LIVING ARTICLES n VIDEOS

Weekly Knowledge #152 Rome 06 May 1998 Italy *You Are Privileged* Among all planets in the solar system, the earth is privileged to host life in its many forms, and among all the species, humans are most privileged for they can host the Knowledge. Among all the knowledgeable ones, you are most privileged. .... guess why. Again and again you remember that you are peace, you are love, you are joy and that you are hosting the Creator. If you don't realize that you are the host, you live like a ghost. The under-privileged are those who do not realize that they are privileged, and so they also host, but they host all the negativities. Like the birds returning to their nests, again and again come back to your source; only there can you realize that you host the Creator. 🌸 *Jai Guru Dev* 🌸

Weekly Knowledge #146 Lake Side,Chandigarh 26 Mar 1998 India *Dreams* When something is unbelievably beautiful or joyful, you wonder whether it is a dream. Often, what you perceive as reality is not joyful and so when misery is there, you never wonder if it is a dream. You are sure it is real. This is knowing the real as unreal and unreal as real. In fact, all the miseries are unreal. A wise man knows that happiness is real, as it is one's very nature. Unhappiness is unreal as it is inflicted by memory. When you see everything as a dream, then you abide in your true nature. Payal asks : "What about a nightmare?" Sri Sri : A nightmare is a dream mistaken as reality. There is no confusion in a dream at all. Keep wondering whether all this is a dream and you'll wake up to the real. 🌸 *Jai Guru Dev* 🌸

Visalakshi mandap in all grandeur

Weekly Knowledge #148 Bangalore Ashram 09 Apr 1998 India *Tarka, Vitarka And Kutarka* To know yourself or to judge your actions you need to know Tarka, Vitarka and Kutarka. Kutarka is wrong logic. Most people apply this logic and get caught up in ignorance. For example : The door is half open means the door is half closed. Therefore, the door is fully open means the door is fully closed! Or: God is Love. Love is Blind. Therefore, God is Blind!!! Tarka is sequential logical understanding; it increases scientific knowledge. When sequential logical understanding changes, then scientific conclusions change. For example: Pesticides and antibiotics were considered to be very useful in the past, and are now proven to be more harmful. In tarka, the paradigm changes. Vitarka is asking questions to which there are no evident answers....Who am I? Where am I? What do I really want? These philosophically appealing questions bring forth spiritual ...

Weekly Knowledge #147 Calcutta 02 Apr 1998 India *Impression And Expression* Do not make an effort to impress others, or to express yourself. Your effort to express yourself becomes an impediment. Your effort to impress someone also becomes futile. If you do not try to impress, expression comes naturally. When you come from the self, your expression is perfect and your impression lasts for ages. Often you don't seem to have a control over your impressions and expressions. Wisdom is selecting your impressions and expressions. Enlightenment is when you do not take any impressions at all, whether good or bad. Then you "master" the art of expression. Many impressions in the mind cause: - Confusion - Distraction - Chaos - Lack of focus - and finally, derangement of the mind. Nature has inbuilt in us a system through which it releases some of the impressions - through dreams, and through meditation. Excessive expression loses the depth and luster, the serenity of y...

Q. After kriya, lot of changes have happened mentally and physically, but some sort of sorrow keeps coming in. How do I get over this? #SriSri: You have come here, now leave all your sorrow here. You just keep the faith that everything will be good.

Q. Why temples are built on hills in India? #SriSri: When you walk up the hill, there will be a difference in your body and breathe, inside some sort of kriya happens. And when you go inside the temple and sit, the mind calms down. That is why they built temples on hills. When you walk pranayama happens, when you go up the hill, body gets an exercise and when you go up there and sit, meditation happens very naturally. God is inside us, the only way to meet God is meditation. As you sit to meditate, then gradually you will be calm and peaceful from within, after that it will be blissful, after that there will be lot of light & clarity, that is God, that is Divine.

Q:Is Marriage an obstacle to enlightenment? #SriSri: If you think it's an obstruction, then it will be. If you think it won't be an obstruction, then it won't be. It depends on us. There are so many people who do seva even after being married. It all depends on the state of our mind.

Q: What should one do if someone blames us about something we didn't do? #SriSri: Without knowing if they say something, you should educate them about the facts, the situation and then ignore. Then let it go.

Q: You said Shiva has no form. Then all the stories in Shiva Purana - are they not right? #SriSri: In the scriptures, the Puranas, they have only given examples. The principle in those stories is what you need to take.

Q: Is it possible to attain Moksha without reading the scriptures? #SriSri: It is possible through Meditation, no need to read so many scriptures. If devotion is there, it comes very naturally.

Q: What is more important? Having Spiritual knowledge or Material knowledge? #SriSri: Is drinking more important or eating? Both are important. Intellect is also important, emotions are also important. When we are watching a T.V - Should we see or should we listen? Both are important right?

Q: It is said that the whole world is an illusion. How can everybody have the same illusion? The world is so gross and so visible. #SriSri: If we see from a scientific perspective or if we look from the spiritual perspective, its the same truth. If we sit and do ‘Manana' (reflect upon it) we will get the answer. Talking about this will not help. Some answers we get by asking. Others we get by 'Manana'(thinking about it). Still, some other answers will come through ‘nidhisha’ (experience)

Q: Who is a good devotee? #SriSri: All devotees are good only. It's not possible to be a bad devotee. Q: Is having desires ok? #SriSri: It's ok. Let them be. Just know that you are bigger than the desires. Then, even when the desires don't get fulfilled, your mind is not lost. This is possible only through spirituality.

Q: People don't like to mix with me, I feel alone. What should I do? #SriSri: If other people don't like you, then just let it be. Just know that the divine likes you. No need to feel bad about these things. Where is loneliness, tell me? Look at the environment, look at the nature and your loneliness will go away. There are many people who are facing problems, old people. Serve these people who need you. If you serve these people who need help you will not feel alone. If you sit alone and think that others should come and serve you, then you will feel alone. But if you serve those who are in need, your loneliness will go away.

Q: What is 'Akarma' and 'Vikarma'? #SriSri: 'Vikarama' is the specialist Karma. 'Akarma' is not doing any Karma.

Q: What is Pavamana Suktam? #SriSri : It's a prayer. It says - Let all the Gods and the divine purify our heart. Let everything be Pure. Our Mind, Our intellect, Our Environment, Our Thoughts, Our emotions - let everything be pure. Let even the body be pure.

Q. How to find real passion in life? #SriSri: How do you know u have a headache? Just like that. Q. What if thoughts come while meditating? #SriSri: Let them come. They come and go on their own. Keep surrendering them. Q. It is said that if our right eye is blinking, it bring us bad luck. Is this true? #SriSri : Don't Bother about all this. Just do ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ Chanting.

#SriSri: Are all your desires coming true? (Yes!) When you want something it gets fulfilled, now wish for something big. We need to care for the environment, save water, go organic. It is very important to conserve water. Don’t leave the tap open while brushing, close the tap. While washing hands, washing dishes, conserve water. Use indian chemical free soaps, not imported soaps, thats why we are making these things here. Save the earth by not creating chemical pollution, don't add chemical filled detergents in water.

Q. Here in South India there is tradition of sitting in the temples for sometime. Can you talk about it? #SriSri: It is an old tradition, it is said that you shouldn't return from a temple without sitting there for sometime. Some people don't even sit for 5 second, they sit for a second then get up and run. Don't do this. When you visit a temple you should sit for 10-15 mins and meditate. God is within us. Those who look for god in temples and other places are not intelligent. “Jahan baithe wahin hai kailash” (You have everything right where you sit). When you sit with your eyes closed and go deep in meditation then the mind becomes stable and centered then you get everything. This is why in olden times they used to go for pilgrimage, so that people could sit with the saints in ‘satsang’ and meditate, listen to knowledge. Nowadays it has become commercialised, people go there perform some rituals and run. I am not saying don't perform the rituals, do what but yo...

Q. Gurudev today the right to pray movement is growing big, how come only in the Hindu religion people want ladies to enter 'Garbhagriha' whereas in mosques no-one wants priests/maulavis to be females? #SriSri: You need to wonder about it, there is no answer. Hindu religion is very dynamic, it changes with time, it has a broad spectrum and on top of it it is not well organised, so people can demand anything. There is nothing wrong in demanding also but when there is a strict system people are little cautious of demanding there. They are scared.

Q. We are here for a lawyers special Advanced course, As a lawyer what is my biggest take away from this course? #SriSri: First of all lawyers do a lot of left brain activity, that is logic, analysis and verbal skills. Definite parts of our brain are assigned definite jobs, if one part of the brain is overused, there will be wear and tear very soon. To balance and rejuvenate that part of the brain you have to have an activity which is directly opposite to it like music, meditation, silence, relaxation. This is something that you can gain here. You get much needed balancing of left and right brain. Meditation changes the structure of the brain, it gives you intuitive ability, inner comfort and relaxation. It helps the brain to recuperate itself. Meditation and silence have physiological, psychological and spiritual benefits. As lawyers, right or wrong you are arguing the whole day, you are talking a lot, so silence is very good, it gives rest to that part of the brain. Many people thin...

Today is Buddha Poornimaa, the day buddha was born🌸🌸🌷🌷. He got enlightened, he attained nirvana and he died also on the same day.Tomorrow, it seems the moon is 20% more than other full moon days. It is a very big moon. So you should watch the moon rise. There is a little Buddha in everybody, and that Buddha is in the form of Siddhaartha.Do you know who Siddhaartha is? Before Buddha became Buddha he was Siddhaartha. He was wandering, lost. He had tried everything but he couldn’t find; but he had that spirit of enquiry.He said, ‘The world is all sorrow and I want to get rid of sorrow.’ Siddhaartha understood everything is sorrow, but he did not know the way.So everybody has a little Buddha inside of them, only he has to wake up. Buddha tried this and that and that and this. He ran from pillar to post, he did technique after technique after technique, but nothing worked. ...

Balancing Creativity And Productivity Q: Gurudev, sometimes our prayers get a little delayed in getting answered, is this because the number of your devotees are increasing day by day? How do you keep up with the demands of your devotees? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The consciousness is like a super computer. It is not a body but a consciousness and there is only one consciousness in the entire universe. So, to whom-so-ever you may connect to, whom-so-ever you pray to, it connects to the same consciousness. The divine consciousness is not dependent on the number of people praying; it does not have any limitation, it has unlimited capacity. It all depends on your faith! Q : I saw a few pictures of volunteers doing relief work and programs in Iraq. I cannot imagine where they get the courage from to take up such risky projects? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When there is inner peace then strength comes, and you are not scared of anything. When your intentions are right and your heart i...

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at The Art of Living International Center in satsang today (20-5-2016). #SriSri: "Sri Sri Ayurveda Medial College graduates just told me that in the history of medical science college, no batch has ever held 50% distinctions. Our kids have created history with 100% pass results out of which 50% are rank holders. This shows how dedicated the teachers are and how disciplined the students are." Q. Guruji, Which is greater Bhakti marg or Gyan marg? Is it necessary to do rituals or remembering (smarana) God is enough? #SriSri:  Smarana is enough. It is good to have some rituals like lighting a lamp, keeping some flowers, it creates a beautiful atmosphere at home. But you should do meditation, that is enough. Q. Jai Gurudev, in Puranas it is said  “You will be punished for your sins”, then why do we need to take rebirth to pay for sins and karma? #SriSri: Don’t worry, you come and sit in satsang that is enough, every sin is washed ...

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in satsang on 19 May 2016 at The Art of Living International Center Q: After a desire is fulfilled, we feel content. How to be in a state of contentment even before the desire is fulfilled? #SriSri: When you have the confidence that the desire will be fulfilled, then you are content. But it is not easy. It is difficult. When the desire is there, either you have the faith that it will anyway get fulfilled or (have a feeling) 'I don't mind if it happens now or later or if it never happens.' This sense of ease or witness for one's own desire is most preferable. This is called Stitha Pragya, where your consciousness is established. Then you are not feverish about the desire. Then it is no longer a desire, but just an intention. Q: How come good people remain silent and bad people make a lot of noise? Is this a quality of the time we are living in? #SriSri: No. The voice of good people should be heard loud and clear. Good people should also m...

*Faces Of Infinity* You have many faces. Only you don't face them. When you come face to face with your faces then conflicts, confusion and chaos arise in you. From time to time in different phases, different faces appear. As you come close to your Being, all the faces melt and leave you as the Space that you are. At the gross level, you identify yourself as somebody. At a subtle level, you identify yourself as some energy or an incarnation of some angel, saint or prophet. When you go beyond even this identity, you are whole, holy, Brahman - Purna Brahman Narayana. *Jai Guru Dev*

*Devotion And Organization* Organization is control. Devotion is chaos! Organization needs attention to details, a material awareness. Organization is being worldly. Devotion is getting lost, forgetting the world, being in ecstasy. These are opposite in nature. They don't go together, yet they cannot be apart or exist without each other. No organization can arise without devotion. When there is so much devotion, you simply want to organize. Devotion brings faith, compassion, and responsibility. With responsibility and caring, you want to give knowledge, wisdom, and love. Then organization happens. So organization exists through devotion. If you are devoted, you won't just sit. The nature of devotion is to give. If you think you are devoted and you are not caring for the world, then you are merely selfish. Real devotion means being one with the Divine, and the Divine cares for the world. Often you lose devotion in organizing. And often in the name of devotion you create ch...

*When A Mistake Is Not A Mistake* Blessed are those who don't see a mistake as a mistake....!!! But it is hard not to see your own mistake. Outwardly you may justify yourself or prove your innocence to someone else, but a mistake pricks a conscience. Do not justify yourself. Instead, feel the prick of the mistake. That very pinch will take you out of the mistake. A mistake means something that brings misery to you in the long run. So why would someone knowingly commit a mistake? While pointing out a mistake to someone, do you consider him as separate from you and go on pointing out his error or do you make him feel a part of you? When you point out a mistake to someone, does it make him more stressed, or does it create more awareness in that person? Often you do not point out someone's mistake when it is required. Not pointing out a mistake -- with due consideration to time and place -- is also a mistake. When you make a new mistake, it is not a mistake; you have learned ...

Weekly Knowledge #134 German Akademie Bad Antogast 31 Dec 1997 Germany *A Wise Man Is Happy Even In Bad Times* *And The Stupid One Is Unhappy Even In Good Times* People who are willing to serve will have good times even in the bad times. when there are problems such as famine or war-torn countries, the Red Cross people will be fine as they are serving. The more relief they bring, the happier they feel. And people who are selfish and who just want to enjoy themselves will be miserable even in good times. Often the organizers of a party do not enjoy the party because some little thing is missing, they forgot to invite somebody, somebody did not come or some little thing went wrong. A wise one is happy even in bad times. And the stupid one is unhappy even in good times. You make the time good or bad. People usually blame the bad time and wait for the good time. Even if an astrologer says that you have a hopeless time, you can make it a good time! Like weather, time has its ow...

Weekly Knowledge #135 Milano 07 Jan 1998 Italy *You Are Pure Electricity* Desires for sense pleasure are electric in nature and they get neutralized as they move towards the objects of senses. If, by your skill, you could move them within you towards the centre of your existence, another dimension of everlasting pleasure, thrill, bliss, and undying love will all be yours. Lust, greed, power and jealousy are also powerful because they are nothing but energy and you are the source of it - the pure electricity. Dedication and devotion keep the purity of your electricity and they move you upward. Realizing you are pleasure or electricity yourself your craving subsides and serenity dawns. Remembering that you will die makes you alive now, free from cravings and aversions. The wise is always careful not to get entangled and dizzy in the mind. 🌸 *Jai Guru Dev* 🌸

*Politics* Don't let politics sway you away from the path. If you are afraid of politics you cannot be successful in the spiritual realm. You have to cross the barricade of politics. It is the test of your strength, commitment, and your focus. You cannot avoid politics, but to harbor it in your mind or not, is your choice. There were politics among the 12 apostles, and with Buddha. And Krishna was in politics from head to toe. And you say you don't want politics? The more you don't want it, the more you will harbor it in your consciousness. When you recognize politics in any group or Satsang, that is a blessing for you to be centered and go inward. You can do that without blaming the group and running away from people, or chickening out. It can enhance your skill to act and not get attached. Advantages of politics: -- Brings up diversity in people. -- Puts in front of you different viewpoints, ways, and tendencies. -- Enhances your skill to communicate...

*Neither Accept People As They Are* *Not Tolerate Them* Many people think tolerance is a virtue. Tolerance is a negative term. If you like something you don't have to tolerate. Tolerance indicates a deep sense of dislike, which can at any time turn into hatred. It indicates a sense of separateness . . small mindedness . . limitation of consciousness. When you are tolerating, it is a temporary state. Tolerance is a potential volcano. If you are tolerating it means you are holding on. Acceptance is also negative. You accept that which is not lovable. Question: Don't you need a sense of self-assurance to then go and love people? This is our company. The Self-Assurance Company. It is only the Self that is always assuring. Nothing else. Tolerance and acceptance come with judgment and separation. These words which are used, tolerance and acceptance are thought to be positive. I say they are not. Question: But aren't we supposed to accept people as they are? If you don...

DEALING WITH FLAWS Even then be grateful to God. What good is the faith that shakes? Faith is that which remains firm even during tough times. Suppose you place your trust in someone and got betrayed. Then just remind yourself that it is all a play of the Divine. Think that God wanted to make you learn some important lesson, and so he came in this person’s form to your life. So just see the situation with this understanding. Why am I saying this? See, in the end, it is all one consciousness which assumes different forms and different ways to teach us something important in life. So have this understanding and just move ahead. Do not go looking for faults in others. If you do so, then you will find numerous flaws even in all the avatars (incarnations of the Divine). You will find flaws with Narasimha Avatar (a fierce incarnation of Lord Vishnu as half-man, half-lion); the Vamana Avatar (the incarnation of Lord Vishnu as a young Brahmin boy seeking alms). In Lord Pars...

Some people say, "Don’t worry about the world, find your joy and your peace that is more important". Correct, that is the first step, you find your peace. But once you have found your peace, what you do? And when your peace is connected with so many people around you, how can you be in an island of peace? Can you be? No! So, when you spread peace around you only then your peace can be permanent. So going inward is as important as reaching out outside and transforming our environment. This has to happen simultaneously. Some people say, "Forget about the world, don’t try to bring peace in the world, don’t try to reform the world, just go within yourself, you find your peace". But in The Art of Living we have found our peace, haven’t we? (Unanimous response from the crowd saying 'Yes'). The very first sitting in the Happiness Course, you are already peaceful. You understood to some extent the principles of life. And when we have found our peace and joy, it is ...

Come what may, I will move through all negative clouds that surround me; like the planes that take off even in bad weather". You need to have that radar within you, which enables you to move through any negative cloud and create enthusiasm around you. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Q: How to deal with people who mock spirituality and spiritual leaders in the name of freedom of expression? Should we be strict with them? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let them mock, make fun, so what? It will not change anything. Truth is never afraid of mockery. When the wind blows, dust comes, but the solid rock remains unmoved.

Remember that you are a match stick. The purpose of a match stick is to light the lamps. You know, you strike the match stick and it burns and it lights several candles. Like that so many match sticks in a box can light so many lives. So think you are a super-sized match box. You are here to bring light, wisdom and happiness into the lives of people. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Q: What is the relation of Sadhana and our life? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The whole life is Sadhana. Doing Pooja, little rituals and Kriya are important but one should also celebrate whole life as sadhana.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in yesterday's satsang at The Art of Living International Center. Q: Gurudev, Adi Shankaracharv ya went around and had debates with all to bring them back into the right path. Bringing unity while preserving the main philosophies. Is a similar thing needed in today’s world also.How? #SriSri: Yeah, Spirituality need to be uplifted.What had happened 2000 years ago is also people were so much caught in rituals and they forgot the real essence, the knowledge, the experience, meditations. They forgot spirituality. So that needs to be revived. Nature takes care and whenever whatever is needed, nature provides at that time. Today also that is what is happening now, spirituality is getting uplifted. Q: Gurudev, what is the significance of Agnikarya for brahmacharis? Is it just a karmakand or is it important for us to do in today’s world? #SriSri: In ancient times, they used to do prayer with fire. Agnikarya is one such prayer. It’s the wish tha...

Spirituality and Celibacy Celibacy helps to conserve energy. Spirituality is about uplifting the energy and pleasure depletes energy and leads you to inertia. This not only applies to celibacy but to the five senses also. When we overdo it, how exhausted one becomes. For example food - if you take little food you feel energetic and you can meditate, but if you eat too much, you do not feel energetic. You feel dull and feel like lying down. You feel a sort of inertia has overtaken you. Similarly, sex can lead you to heavy inertia. Spirituality is against inertia of any sort, whether through food, or watching two movies consecutively, or TV. Watching anything for too long can cause inertia in the brain. One never gets that bubbling enthusiasm of energy from over-indulging the senses. So, eating, touching, seeing or smelling, any of these done excessively can cause inertia and that is not congenial for spiritual advancement. If you ask me, as a couple, if you should never have sex at ...

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in yesterday's satsang at the Art of Living International Center. Q. Gurudev,How can I become a Swami? #SriSri: Shanti, having stability in the mind brings peace. Maintaining equilibrium in praise and insult. Having equanimity for all. In behaviour, it may not be possible at all times but it is possible in feelings. Be part of satsang. This is enough. Dedication is more important. A thousand chances come to uproot Shraddha(faith). You have to cross all those. You must have heard stories of Jesus where it seems like God left his hand in the end. Similarly, like this many opportunities come to unbalance Shraddha. Read Gita. Be childlike. It is not about being a "swami". It is about being in a state of nothingness. From, "I am something to I am nothing", is being a Swami or a Brahmachari. He doesn't ask for anything for himself, everything he asks is for others. He is ready to do everything for everybody. Q. Gurudev,when and how...

Sri Sri satsang 6/5/16 Friday Have you all heard about Kamalanayana? It means whose eyes are like lotus. Lotus blossoms in the water but doesn't get wet, the mud doesn't get stuck to it. What we see we take it inside, we get stuck to it. When there is full brightness in the eyes, with all the energy reflected in them with and they don't get affected or have any desire by whatever they see, that's kamalnayanam! One who is not entangled by what it sees or hears has vairagya. Have you seen the eyes of small children? They are fully open, full of brightness. This happens when we get ' chakit '(wonder struck), when we fall in love. You must be 'chakit' after seeing me. That you have to be! When are astonished suddenly your eyes become big, your mouth opens a bit, your jaw drops, palms open up. Now let’s do Chakit Mudra and go into that space of astonishment and let's meditate. Q: What is the meaning of “Kumudavadana”? #SriSri: Both Kamalnayana and K...

Gurudev in Satsang on 5th May 2016: There nothing better than meditation to bring coolness to the mind! Q: sometimes our prayers don't get answered, is it because the nuber of devotees has increased ? A: Consciousness is like supercomputer and it is one. Whomsoever you connect with, it connects with the same grid. So, it gets answered. Divine consciousness does not have any limitation. It all depends on your own faith Q: I saw a few pictures of volunteers working in Iraq, where do they get this strength? A: When inner peace is there, strength comes. This is the real selfless service. There are thousand of children and women trapped in Iraq. There is no food, no medicine. Our Volunteers are constantly thinking how to benefit them. It is such a dangerous atmosphere. This shows the commitment of our volunteers and teachers. They understand the pain of the people. In 'Faluja' where ISI is now ruling and other side Iraqi military is present..they are blocking the aid, the...

When you recognize politics in any group or Satsang, that is a blessing, an opportunity for you to be centered and go inward. You will not blame the group, run away from people, or chicken out, and you will enhance your skill to act while being unattached. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar