Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Q:
Sometimes I stuck up in some identity and I find myself stuck in that limited sphere of role. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The first and foremost identity is that you are a part of Divine. You are beautiful human being. Then you can be Hindu, Muslim, Christian, engineer, teacher or whatever. All identities come later.
Q:
The soul takes staying forever and takes birth tillgetting moksha. Then, who lives in hell?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Why do you want to explore hell now? Ihave never been there, so I can’t tell you what it is.Q:
Could you explain what liberation is? How do we attain it?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Liberation simply means freedom. Then you can say, ‘I want nothing for myself, I’m complete.’ Liberation is when you have accepted the whole creation the way it is, you’ve accepted people the way they are. Liberation is total peace; a peace which is unshakeable. And this sort of peace dawns when there is forgiveness, compassion, naturalness. You know if you assume you’re somebody then you can’t, if you are intelligent or stupid you have no liberation. You are neither intelligent nor stupid, neither rich, nor poor – if you think – ‘Oh, I’m a very poor guy or poor lady,’ no way you can get it! I am nothing! That sense of lightness, easiness, is what liberation is. A simple taste of it everyone has got, you know when? When your exams were over! The day you finished your exams when you were a child you came back home and threw those books on the sofa and just sat, relaxed! How did it feel? G R E A T, huh? That’s all!Q:
Some dreams don’t come true in spite of putting efforts. What should one do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You keep putting your effort. There is a proverb ’Try and try again and at last you will succeed.’ So, perhaps you don’t succeed the first time or second time. Yet if your intention is strong, it will happen.Q:
Jai Gurudev, you are so attractive, is this the bondage in my path? If I get stuck in your form what should I do to see beyond the form?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
So that you get detached from everything else - and then this will also automatically dissolve. You will see me more, much different than the form.Q:
Why does one marry? What is the secret of a successful marriage?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
A successful marriage is when both are happy. Then the children will also be happy. You choose! Choice is yours and blessings are mine. This is something that you don’t choose with your head. If something clicks in the future, make a choice.Q:
Some days I feel so much love for the Divine. Other days, I feel like praying for desires.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Just be natural. When prayer is happening, don’t create a conflict and confusion in yourself. Don’t say, “Oh it will happen anyways!” But prayer does not have to happen by compulsion.Q:
The only mistake I make is that I keep on making mistakes. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is alright to make a mistake. Making a mistake is a part of life.Sometimes a mistake happens; it happens. Fine! Accept it and moveahead. The pain of making the same mistake again and again itself isgood enough to take you out of the same mistake. The pain and pinch ofsuffering will make you come out of that. But never justify yourmistake.Q:
How does God see the world?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
God cannot see two. For God there is no you and I! He can only see himself in everything and everyone!!Q:
Dearest Guruji, What is a devotee? What does a devotee do? How does one become a devotee?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Now don’t try hard to become a devotee. Love combined with commitment is devotion. Love with wisdom is devotion.Love without wisdom can turn into negativities: Love today, hate tomorrow. Love today, jealousy tomorrow. Love today, possessiveness tomorrow.
Love combined with wisdom is bliss, and that is devotion. Devotion is a strong bond, a sense of belongingness. Everybody is born with it. It’s just like becoming a child again.