Guru

Q: Why are people going to gurus these days? Is it a belief or a need?



Sri Sri: Going to a guru is like going to a doctor. Why do we go to a doctor? Why do people go to a teacher? Why do people see a movie? Why do people watch cricket - for entertainment, knowledge and health. They come to a guru for knowledge - as their minds are full of confusion and they want to know something more.

Life is not just eating and sleeping. Books cannot give a sense of belonging, truth of love and experience. Merely by studying books one can't gain experience - interaction with people is necessary. It's quite natural to have a guru.

Poverty and Spirituality

Sri Sri:

There is a saying that one cannot sing bhajans on a hungry, starved stomach. But my experience is completely opposite. If you give food, clothing, shelter to a poor man, it will be over within no time. If you give him spirituality, then the self-esteem starts coming in him. He wants to be self-sufficient then. He gets energy to do something from inside. He starts running then, starts thinking, he gets enthusiasm to do something. In life, if anything can give you enthusiasm, its spirituality and spirituality only. So the person stands on his own feet, starts taking responsibility and it goes on. This is my experience. And if the spirituality enters a rich person’s life, then he becomes more generous.)

The rich people do social service and the poor people become more self-confident, entrepreneurs. So in both ways its beneficiary.

Fear

Sri Sri:

One definite thing in life is that everyone is going to die. No one can escape this reality. The only difference is that some people may die a little sooner and some a little later. The doctor dies as well as the patient. The King dies as well as the servant. This is a place where everyone dies.

No one knows how or when they are going to die. If you look at the situation in third world countries, people live in extremely unstable conditions. They are never sure how close death is. There may be a flood, or famine, or even an epidemic. Monsoons may destroy their homes and the entire family can be uprooted, but still, these people are able to smile and enjoy the life that they have.

The quality of our life is very important. The intensity with which we live from moment to moment is essential. Sickness has nothing to do with death. It is the fear associated with having a disease which
disturbs and weakens one's whole system. A clear mind free of fear can have a healing effect on the body. So, how do we get over this fear?

First, there is observation: observe the fear. When fear comes, what happens? A sensation arises in the chest region of the body. Observe this sensation and go deep into it. You see, every emotion in the mind creates a corresponding sensation in the body. When you observe sensations, emotions are transformed as sensations in the body and then they disappear. The sensations are released and the mind becomes clear.

If this is too difficult and is not possible to do without some help, then secondly you have the sense of belonging. You belong to God, to the universe, to some power. God is taking care of me, my master is taking care of me, the divine is taking care of me. This sense of belonging is an easier and simpler way to deal with fear.

If this sense of belonging is not possible, then see the impermanence of everything. Everything is changing around you. You cannot hold onto anything. Things come and things go. Emotions change, behaviors change,
everything changes. The world is changing all around you. See the impermanence in everything. You will gain a strength from this understanding and the fear will also disappear.

Thought

Sri Sri:

Wake up and realize this is all made up of thoughts, just thoughts, just thoughts. Your appreciation of beauty is a thought, your aversion to an object that is ugly is a thought. Your craving or aversion is nothing but a passing thought in mind. Realize this is just a thought

and you will be free. Knowing thought as thought brings the freedom. When you know a thought as a reality, that is when you are stuck

Turbulent times

Sri Sri:

"Taking advantage of turbulent times began long time back - from the Bhagwad Gita.It was in the turbulent times that the Bhagwad Gita came up, and we are still taking advantage of it! Isn't it so? In the war-field, Krishna was the one to take advantage of the turbulent time - that's when he started teaching Arjuna. He didn't teach him when everything was all right and nor was Arjuna ready to listen to anything for he thought Krishna was just his friend; but when the turbulent time came, that's when that knowledge and wisdom were essential... that's when that calmness, steadiness and clarity of mind to perceive things the way they are and to act wisely were essential. This knowledge, this understanding was given in this turbulent time and was what came of it - for the entire continent (perhaps for the whole world). Twenty-eight Akshohini senas (armies) were annihilated at that time - HUGE - more than ten million people. The Bhagwad Gita came into existence at that turbulent time...and we are still taking advantage of it. Now let's see... What is it that we really need to be able to take advantage of a turbulent time? First of all, we must recognize that it is a turbulent time... and accept it. When we deny the turbulent time, we live in a utopia - a utopia that we are then unable to find a solution for. So first recognize that it is a turbulent time. The second thing is accepting it. The moment we accept that this time is turbulent or this situation is bad, then our emotions calm down. We don't question it: `Why is it turbulent? WHY is it turbulent??' This questioning the happening, which is happening, is of no use! It is like post mortem! It doesn't help the situation in the present moment. So then, accepting that this is so, will bring calmness, steadiness in the mind. When the emotions are calm, you are able to think better because the same energy, in us, either functions as an emotion or as a thought process - as creative thinking. So if we exhaust our energy in emotions, in getting upset over turbulent times, we are unable to make use of that time in creativity, in creative thinking and bringing about a solution to the problem. So, acceptance is the second point. Once you accept, it cannot be a passive acceptance, like: 'Okay....Let it happen...Let us leave it to God...'- that type of passive acceptance will not work! There you need action! Creativity! What change do you want to make and how do you want to make good use of the situation? You need clarity of mind, sharpness of mind, presence of mind. In turbulent times, the mind should not be turbulent. The time can be turbulent, but if the mind is turbulent, it cannot take advantage - rather it will be a big disadvantage for others! To quote the Gita again, `Anithyam asukham lokum ayevum prapam yogaham karamsu kaushalam'. This world is `anithya' - full of changes. Everything in this world is changing. Don't think that there is joy here, in the object, in the substance, in the situation, in the time. You ARE joy! ... And having attained this, go ahead, work, act.

Meditation

Sri Sri:

Meditation is accepting the present moment as it is, living every moment totally, in depth.

What can you do when desires come up? Just accept them and let go. That is meditation. Do not hold on to them and day dream. You have no control over your desires. When you say, "Oh, I should not have desire", that will become a desire. Asking, "When will I be free of the desires," is again another desire. As they come up, recognize them and let go.

This process is called sanyas. Offer all as they come, as they arise in you, and be centered. When you can do that, nothing can shake you, nothing can take you away from 'That', otherwise small things can shake you, and then you are sad and upset. A few words from here and there or some insult can make you sad.

This is a test for you, how easily you could let go of all that. That is the art of letting go. Life teaches you the art of letting go in every event. The more you learn to let go, the happier you will be. When you learn to let go, you will be joyful. As you start being joyful, more will be given to you. Those who have more, more and more will be given to them. That is meditation.

The Company

Sri Sri:

Our life is influenced by our company. Have you noticed that? When you are in a group, in a company, whatever people talk, you quietly slip into it. Like the foot on the banana peel. You slip, and suddenly you realize. And many times one is not aware of what one is talking but is involved in deep conversation. You are not aware of what's happening. Someone is talking about cars and you get involved. And suddenly someone is talking about the weather and you get involved in the weather. And topics change. You are not aware of what's happening. And then you talk about books, then you talk about music, then you talk about this and that and finally you round it up. But you end up elsewhere.

Our company reflects our mind. And mind is influenced by company. You must have noticed in your life, someone tells you, that particular person is not good. Just one word they say about someone. Next time you meet that person, you meet him with the same idea at the back of your mind. The word of your friend is somewhere deep down below. So you look at that person from that perspective. You are not looking with a clear eye but with a colored eye. Isn't it? If you sit in a company of people who are very ambitious, you also become ambitious. You also want to show off that you are also good, you are better off, and you have a fine taste.

People sit and talk about what excellent taste they have or what wonderful sense of art appreciation they have. And you also want to say that. Say that you also do some art. People talk about what good collection they have so it creates an ambition in you, you also want to create, make a good collection. People want to speak about how good their children are doing at school or how excellent they are at sports. And you also want to see your children are good in school and so you force them to be the way you want them to be. Not just for your sake. or for the sake of your children, but for the sake of your company. Have you observed this? This is more so in the third world countries.

They want their children to be doctors because their friend's children are doctors. They are studying for medicine. They want them to do engineering because their friend's children are going to engineering college. We are so stuck at what people think about us, what they say about us. Many people want to do meditation but don't want anybody to know they are doing meditation because they might think that this person is crazy, he is doing all this meditation and singing and that he is not normal.

Some feel ashamed if tears roll from their eyes. To cry is nothing abnormal. If tears come out of your eyes out of emotion, you feel ashamed. You say, I am so sorry, I am so sorry, and wipe your eyes with tissue. Why should you feel so sorry about it? Tears come out due to gratefulness, out of joy, out of love, not only out of sadness. This reflects the depth of humanity in you. That you are life; you are not a computer. Still we've been given to an understanding that being emotional is not good.

Your company influences you to a great deal. Your company creates desire in you and frustration in you.

Your company makes you complicated and robs away all the innocence with which you could have been more happy.



* I believe we all are in a very good company of Gurudev, nothing to worry about

Sakha

Sri Sri:


There are three things: the Self, the senses, and the object, or the world. And there are three words: sukha, pleasure; dukha, sorrow; and sakha, companion. These have one thing in common: kha, which means ‘senses’.
The Self through the senses experiences the world. When the senses are with the Self, that is pleasure (sukha), because the Self is the source of all joy or pleasure. When the senses are away from the Self (dukha) in the mud, lost in the object that is misery.


Self is the nature of joy. In any pleasant experience, you close your eyes; you smell a nice flower, or you taste or touch something. So sukha is that which takes you to the Self. Dukha is that which takes you away from the Self. Sorrow simply means that you are caught up in the object, which goes on changing, instead of focusing on the Self.


All the sense objects are just a diving board to take you back to the Self. Sa-kha, companion, means: ‘‘He is the senses’’. Sakha is one who has become your senses, who is your senses. If you are my senses, it means I get knowledge through you; you are my sixth sense. As I trust my mind, so I trust you. A friend could be just an object of the senses, but a sakha has become the very senses. The sakha is the companion who is there in both the experiences of the dukha and of sukha. It means one who leads you back to the Self. If you are stuck in an object, that wisdom which pulls you back to the Self is sakha.


Knowledge is your companion and your companion is Knowledge. And the Master is nothing but the embodiment of Knowledge. So sakha means, ‘‘He is my senses, I see the world through that wisdom, through Him.’’


Knowledge has an end. Knowledge completes. So also does discipleship. For the disciple is aimed at acquiring Knowledge. Once you cross the water, however nice the boat is, you get off the boat. After twelve years, the disciple completes his studies. The master does a ceremony called Samavartha, where he tells the disciple that he is ending the discipleship and asking him to behave at par with him, and let the Brahman dynamically manifest.


Sakha is a companion in life and death; it never ends. In the path of love there is neither beginning nor end. Sakha only wants the beloved. He doesn’t care about the Knowledge or liberation. Love is incomplete because of longing. And so it is infinite, for infinity can never be complete. Arjuna was a sakha to Krishna and although Krishna was the perfect Master he was a sakha, too. If your sense is the Divine, then you see the whole world through the Divinity.

Happiness

Sri Sri:
Your desire for pleasure or happiness makes you unhappy. You examine whenever you are unhappy or miserable. Behind that is your wanting to be happy. You got it? Craving for happiness brings misery. If you do not even crave for happiness, then you are happy. You crave for happiness and you invite misery. When you do not care for happiness, you are liberated and when you do not even care for liberation, you attain love. The first step is when you do not care for happiness. The second step is param vairagya or supreme dispassion when you do not even care for liberation. Then you are free. You are liberated.

Happiness is just a mere idea in the mind. You think that if you have this you are happy. If you have whatever you wanted, then are you happy? Vairagya is putting a stop to craving for happiness. That does not mean you must be miserable. It is not that. It does not mean you should not enjoy yourself, but the craving for joy, only when you retrieve your mind from it, only then can you meditate. Then yoga happens.

Your dreams and fantasies, just shatter them. All your dreams and fantasies, offer them to the fire. Burn them. What great happiness do you want to have? How long can you have it? You are going to be finished. It is all going to end. Before this earth eats you up, become free.

Free yourself from this feverishness that is gripping your mind.

Free yourself from this craving for happiness

Peace

Sri Sri:

How can we gain that peace, which is unshakable?

Being individually happy is not enough. Our wish should be that whomsoever we meet becomes happy and radiates happiness. A frustrated man will create frustration; a jealous person will create jealousy and so on.

You can turn every situation into your advantage. Have you ever thought of this? There is a story in the Puranas of how a saint turned an arrow, which was going to hurt someone, into a garland.

If somebody is shooting an arrow at you, insulting you, realize that they are doing it because they are miserable. Once you are blossomed from within, you can take any insult and turn it into your advantage.

Realize that they are simply pouring out their stress, tension and anxiety. When people shout or burst out at you, you can only feel good that all that was building up inside them is coming out. I am not saying that we should encourage this tendency or justify it.

But when it happens, do not regret it.

What do we normally do? We go on regretting and with regret we commit the same mistake again. Even when someone commits a mistake, he or she is not the culprit; the stress inside is causing him or her to make that mistake. Once we get rid of the stress inside us, there is no culprit; there is no one to be forgiven.

Then we begin to realize that the whole thing is just a game in which there are no winners or losers. It's just a play!

The Certainties of changing world

Sri Sri:

You can be at ease with the uncertainty of the world when you realize the certainty of the consciousness. Often people do just the opposite. They are certain about the world but uncertain about God. They rely on something that is not reliable, and they get upset. Uncertainty causes craving for stability.

The world is of change; the Self is of non-change. You have to rely on the non-change and accept the change. If you are certain that everything is uncertain, then you are liberated. When you are uncertain in ignorance then you become worried and tense. Uncertainty with awareness brings higher states of consciousness with a smile. Often people think that certainty is freedom. If you feel that freedom when you are not certain, that is "real" freedom. Often your certainty or uncertainty is based on the relative world. Being certain about the uncertainty of the relative makes you certain about the existence of the absolute and brings a certain faith in the absolute.

Can one still be enthusiastic when one is uncertain? Yes, in knowledge you can be enthusiastic in uncertainty. Often people who are uncertain do not act; they simply sit and wait. Acting in uncertainty makes life a game, a challenge. Being in uncertainty is letting go. Certainty about the relative world creates dullness. Uncertainty about the Self creates fear. Uncertainty about matter brings certainty about consciousness.

Dispassion

Sri Sri:

Dispassion does not divide you. In fact, it connects you. It connects you to the present moment totally.

When you are not dispassionate, you are linked to the past or future. So, you are not connected to the present.

Therefore you are more divided. When your mind is hoping for something or when you regret the past, you are not with the moment.

But when you are centered, you are in the moment. So, when you are eating, you can taste every bite.

You can enjoy every bite. Every look, every sight is fresh and new. Your love is like the first love.

You look at everything like it is the first time.


Dispassion does not take joy away from you. Dispassion gives you joy that nothing else can give you.

There is a verse in Shankaracharya’s composition Bhaja Govindam, Kasya sukham na karoti viragaha?, which means, “What pleasure cannot be given by dispassion?” It gives all the pleasures, because you are so totally in the moment.

The so-called dispassion in the world seems so dry. People who think that they are dispassionate are melancholic.

They are sad. They run away from the world and then they call this as dispassion and say that they have renounced the world.

This is not renunciation. That is not dispassion. People, out of sorrow, out of misery, out of apathy, escape and escapists think they are dispassionate. Dispassion is something more precious, refined and more valuable in life.

Here is a story. When Alexander the Great left for India, people had told him, “If you find sanyasis there, just catch hold of them and bring them back here. They is very precious in India.” So Alexander sent word and nobody would come forward.

He then sent a message threatening them: “If you don’t come, I am going to chop your head off.” They still did not come.

He then threatened them: “I am going to take away your books, the four Vedas. I take all you have and your scriptures.”

The people said they would give him all the books the next evening. The pundits then called their children and made them memorize the script all night. They then took the manuscript to Alexander and said, “You can take them, we do not need them.”

Alexander then threatened to cut off their heads. The sanyasis told him he was free to do as he pleased. Alexander could not look into their eyes and could not tolerate the power of dispassion. He had met someone for the first time, who did not care for the emperor.

When Alexander came to India, some people presented him with a plate of gold bread. He had told them he was hungry and they had told him since he was an emperor he could not eat wheat bread. He told them he was starving and wanted bread.

To which the people said: “Don’t you get bread in your country? Are you going all over and trying to conquer the world just to eat the same bread we are eating?” The statement shook Alexander’s world. It made him realise that what they were saying was the truth. He thought to himself: “What is the point of conquering the world? When all you want is happiness and peace.” Legend has it, Alexander then proclaimed: “When I die, leave my hands open. Let people know that Alexander, who thought he had taken everything is leaving the world with nothing.”

Dispassion is the strength in you. When you are centered and calm, you can understand that everyone who has come to this world has come to give something to this world. We have nothing to take from here.

Faith and alertness

Sri Sri:

Faith and alertness appear to be completely opposite in nature. When you are alert, usually there is no faith and you feel restless and insecure. When there is faith the mind is secure and rested and you are not alert.

There are three types of faith:

Tamasic faith which is because of dullness. Like when you do not want to take responsibility or action and you say, "Oh it doesn't matter, anyway God will take care of all these things!" (laughter)

Rajasic faith which is brought on by intense compulsion of desires and ambition. The ambition keeps the faith alive.

Satvic faith is innocent and is born out of fullness of consciousness.

Faith and alertness, though apparently opposite in nature, are actually complementary to each other. In the absence of faith there can be no growth, and without alertness there can be no correct understanding. Faith can make you complacent. Alertness makes you tense.

If there is no faith, there is fear. And when there is no alertness one cannot perceive or express properly. A combination of both is essential.

In Gyana (state of wisdom) there is alertness without tension and faith without complacency. The purpose of education should be to remove the element of dullness from faith and the element of fear from alertness. This is a unique and rare combination. If you have faith and alertness at the same time, then you will become a true Gyani (the Wise One)!

Become the mystery

Sri Sri:

All our struggle is to know more, know more, know more... you are trying your level best to understand your feelings and your emotions and you get into more and more and more confusion. This is what has happened with psychology today. It tries to explain to you why you feel like the way you are feeling. The ‘‘why’’ question arises always when you are unhappy. You say ‘‘why this problem to me on earth of all the people?’’... Nobody ever asked, ‘‘why am I so happy?’’ or ‘‘why is there so much joy and beauty in the world?’’. You want to understand, ‘‘why am I not feeling good?’’ or ‘‘why am I angry?’’, or ‘‘why is this not happening?’’.

The more you try to understand and try to dig it, you seem to understand less and less. The mystery deepens, but an illusion comes as though ‘‘I know it’’. But that’s for a short while. We ourselves do not know and we try to explain to others! Stop your explanations; your explanations have put you into a soup and make other people also more confused. You don’t know what is happening in your mind. Mind is like a rollercoaster — it’s a crowd. Something comes up sometime and then some other thing pops up.

Just be in the simple and innocent state of ‘‘I don’t know!’’. This life is a mystery — beautiful — live it. Living the mystery of life so totally is joy. Becoming the mystery is divine. You are a mystery!

Smile… Just Smile

Sri Sri: The purpose of knowledge is ignorance. The completion of knowledge will lead

you to amazement and wonder. It makes you aware of this existence. Mysteries are to be lived, not understood.

One can live life so fully in its completeness, in its totality. Enlightenment is that state of being so mature and

unshakable by any circumstance. Come what may, nothing can rob the smile from your heart.

Not identifying with limited boundaries and feeling “all that exists in this universe belongs to me,

” this is enlightenment. Enlightenment is that state of being so mature and unshakable by any circumstance.

Come what may, nothing can rob the smile from your heart.