Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Now that you are asking this question it is both of our responsibility. Yes, do your 100% and relax and when you feel that you can do a little better or a little more that indicates that you have been responsible. When you feel you are doing everything that you can then the responsibility shifts away from you.
How important is knowledge on the spiritual path? One who does not know how to read/write, can they grow on the spiritual path?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, one can. There are many examples in this country. Kabirdas (a famous saint in India) never went to a university. Guru Nanakdevji (the Sikh prophet)…. there are lots of instances of famous people in this country.
What is the dharma of marriage?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Ask your spouse! They will give you long lectures on what your dharma is and what you should be doing! (Audience laughs).Our ancient people spoke about saptapadi – the seven steps one takes in life. The knowledge was so scientific even 1,000s of years ago. A sense of commitment, co-operation, compassion, caring and less ego – these are the benefits that one finds.
Sometimes the best things happen when nature takes its course. At what point, when should people stop trying, giving, doing harder to achieve something and just let nature take its course?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
When you do your 100 percent, when you feel that you cannot do any more. That is exactly when you should meditate, instead of getting frustrated. You have put your 100 percent. When exactly do you know that you have had enough food? Do you know? When exactly do you know you have had enough water? You burp! (laughter)
Usually you get frustrated when you feel: ‘I have done enough, I can’t do anymore. I just give up’. I tell you – you need not go to that extent of getting frustrated.
Is it wrong to give advice to teenaged children?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Give advice – with lots of love. There is a proverb which says that after a child becomes a teenager, become a friend.
Prapte tu Shodhashe varshe, Putram mitram, Vada charet. This is nothing new in this proverb– people have said this for thousands of years.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
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.
Dear Guruji, when you say in the past our ancestors gave various names and forms to God. Then are Devis and Devatas created in the minds of the Rishis or did they really exist from the very beginning of the creation?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Nobody created the rainbow colors, they exist, they are there but when the white light passes through a prism you can say you created them. If someone asks you, are the colors created by you or no, what do you say? Yes and no together because the colors are already there but it was not visible, you made it visible when you made the light pass through a prism. In the same way, the Devis and Devatas have always been there but giving them a name and honoring them was the brilliance of the Rishis
How does one make a balance between the heart and mind?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes. You do your business with your mind, and service with your heart. In both cases, there is a third component - intuition. Never be within the business with heart. With family, be with the heart, don't use your mind there. Do both with the gut feeling!
What is faith?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
What is faith? To understand faith, you must know doubt.
How do I feel more energetic repeating the same old routine every day?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
First look into the mirror and give a big smile to yourself. Ok? Then do some deep breathing, little bit of yoga and meditation. Give some time to yourself everyday and you will be more energetic and beautiful.