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 is in the right
place, then you know (from within) that you can go and do what you want to
do. This is the real selfless service.
In the last few days, there are thousands of children and women trapped in
Iraq and there is no food and there are no medicines. Our volunteers and
teachers are constantly thinking how they can get relief material over
there. They are also in negotiation with the army - to give them some
passage through which they can get the supplies to these people. This shows
how committed our volunteers and teachers are. They understand the pain of
the people and that is why they have gone to serve in such a dangerous
atmosphere.
They have collected around 80 tonnes of food and are waiting for the permit
to go into Fallujah. This is bravery and service, and they are doing this
service without any sense of doer ship. You know, service for us is
natural, we are not making an effort to do it, or even thinking, 'Oh, I am
doing a big service!' No. We do it because we can't but do it, that's all!
Q : What is the way of the universe? Is it accident or destiny?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you don't find a cause, you say it is an accident. When you know the
cause, then you call it destiny. It is just your view-point.
Q: What is the place of the discipline in life?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Discipline is essential. Without discipline, nothing can work. At the same
time, creativity needs some space. Creativity needs freedom while
productivity needs discipline. If you don't have freedom you can't be
creative, and if you don't have discipline you can't be productive. So,
life is a balance of both - creativity and productivity. You can come up
with a great idea, but to realize that idea you need discipline. You know,
many young people have great ideas, but they don't have the discipline to
translate them into reality. And there are some people who are great
managers but they don't have the time to even think about something more.
These people cannot rise up to the occasion when there is a crisis, because
crisis management requires creativity. Most of our education is not tuned
to educate in crisis management. And when we don't know crisis management,
there is always some fear and uncertainty. So education should combine
these two things in such a manner so that there is a space to create and at
the same time a discipline is also followed, because if it is only
discipline, it will stifle you. You become so regimental that you cannot do
any crisis management. So this is a very fine balance that one has to
strike - freedom and discipline.
Q: What do we do to stop these dramatic climatic changes? The heat is so
much that it is scary. I only hope that it does not get any worse. I am
very concerned.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I think everyone should be concerned about this. In the WCF event, all the
religious leaders who attended the event committed to speak about this in
their congregations, and they will all work towards a better environment.
As volunteers, we have already been doing this, since the past 35 years. We
are glad that this has now come to the attention of the global leaders and
I sincerely wish that they take the necessary steps in the fastest manner.
Many times our intentions are in the right place, but for that to become a
ground reality a lot of time is lost in-between.
Q: What is your opinion about student activism in politics in Indian
Society?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Students are the future of the society, and they should start owning this
planet. I would just ask of them one thing - please do not sacrifice your
studies for politics. Give utmost priority to your studies.
Those of you who are interested in politics, it is a good thing because all
the student movements that have happened in the world have had a great
vision, and they wanted to do something good for society. They want to
fight injustice. Just one thing you must keep in mind is - don't have any
prejudice. If the youth have prejudice, it is a sad thing. The youth should
have an open mind. Don't put your mind into categories - have an open mind
and be open to logic and reasoning.
Bias and prejudice are the greatest enemies for logic and reasoning. If we
lose reasoning, we have lost everything in life. So reasoning and logic is
essential, and along with it - an open mind.
Sometimes, values like patriotism which are essential in life, get
associated with one particular ideology. When you identify yourself with
one particular ideology, then you become so blind that you don't want to
even look at any other new ideas or other ways. So students should be free
from any sort of bias or judgements and have an open mind. There is nothing
wrong in student activism but should follow reasoning.
Q: How do you connect to different sections of society? Do you think ISIS
can be transformed?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
I never loose hope. See, deep inside everyone is human being. If you keep
aside the ideology then everyone is same inside. I have Malice to none. I
have hatred to none. People who engage in violence are mentally,
spiritually and emotionally sick. A doctor never hates a sick person, if he
hates then he can't treat them. We have done work with ULFA in Assam and
Columbia, we have good experience in this field.
Save your mind and use your brain.
Nature, Divine and I bless you. You have to expand your capacity to receive
the blessings.
Anything can happen with prayer and effort.
|| Jai Guru Dev ||
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