By Elizabeth Herman | Posted: July 30, 2019
Why do relationships become painful? Because you don’t have a broad vision about life, says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. He relates that life is much bigger than relationships. Instead of trying to detach, expand your awareness.
In this video, you can gain a sense of how to live with a perspective that goes beyond the problems of relationships:
Expanding your awareness
Knowledge of spiritual wisdom and big energy: He advises that you listen to knowledge again and again and keep your thoughts on that great energy. His talks on the classic Ashtavakra Gita are one example of such a source of knowledge. Another name for the broader vision, big mind, or great energy, is bramha, and you should keep your focus on this bigger vision. Bramhacharya (one of Patanjali’s social ethics, or yamas) means moving in infinity, avoiding cravings and aversions, likes and dislikes. How long do the bubbles in the water and clouds in the sky stay? Everything is temporary, so get in touch with something bigger that lasts, instead of focusing on small, relatively brief relationships.
Selfless service (seva): Helping others and society brings positive energy and merits to you, which allows you to go deeper in meditation. By going deeper, the great energy will come to you as you meditate, and the pain of relationships will subside.
Principles get applied naturally: You don’t have to make an effort or force yourself to apply wise principles. After meditating regularly for awhile, and doing pranayama and kriya, you start to feel better, so ideas like staying equanimous despite success or failure, accepting others as they are, and living in the present moment just happen spontaneously.
Turn to yourself and see what you’re doing: You control what you’re doing, but you have no control over what’s happening. You have no control over others’ minds. You do have a say over your own mind but you don’t look at it enough! Having a say in what you’re doing makes you much stronger, more successful, and happier!
With these four understandings, you can maintain relationships and not feel so much pain. In that sense, this wisdom can help you overcome the need to detach.
You’ll naturally feel less attached by focusing on your own behavior, applying your wisdom naturally, and becoming less controlling. Staying in the big energy, and relying on your practice of seva and meditation, you can transcend your relationship problems and find relief from emotional pain.
Learn more about broadening your vision at the Art of Living Happiness Program or Sahaj Samadhi course near you!
By Elizabeth Herman - PhD in English, with concentrations in Rhetoric and Composition, and Literature, she offers writing support to clients, teaches locally, lives in Boone, NC, and volunteers for a better world.
