Question & Answers with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
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.
Q:
Should we follow Bhagat Singh or Mahatma Gandhi?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Bhagat Singh was also supporter of non - violence. But they were encountered with one such situation, thatthey had to take such steps. Follow Sri Guru Gobind Singh, be a Saint – Sipahi. Have peace of saint in heart and strength ofwarrior in action. That is why Sri Krishan told Arjuna to be a Yogi and then fightQ:
Guruji, how do we handle situations where we feel we havebeen blamed unfairly?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Just with a smile. In this world,there is place for ignorance also. If someone is blaming you, it is out oftheir ignorance. And if it is not ignorance, it is mal-intention or jealousyand I would club all these emotions as part of ignorance. So, the best is you moveon and don’t get stuck because you have no way to control other’s opinion andyou don’t need to - everyone can have their own opinion. The best formula is toeducate and ignore. You have to; if someone says, you are a thief, you can’tsay, let him have his opinion. You educate him. If they believe it or not it’sup to them. So, keep this as a formula in every relationship. Educate andignore. If you just ignore in the beginning, you will only exhibit arrogance.Educate is also a little strong word. You can say inform and ignore, which iseven better. In education, there is more effort. In anger, people say, I willteach him a lesson.Q:
What carries the samskaara through different lifetime? The body dies and the consciousness is pure.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
The mind carries the samskaaras.Q:
Dearest Gurudev, just to handle one person I lose all my energy, how do you handle so many people?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
That is why I am sitting here!Q:
If somebody is feeling guilty for the wrong done but may be because of ego He is not able to talk, what should one do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You being in victim consciousness and having rage and anger, does it help you any way to carry on your life? Absolutely not! Waste of time, waste of your potential and life. So we must forgive, forget and move on. You hurt someone in the past and somebody hurt you, that account is closed now. Finished! There was some problem that has to come, and that has come and our own foolishness made it happen. Now it is finished and move on. This is the line of thinking that you must adopt and that makes us feel better.