Tag Archives: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Why read the scriptures when you don’t understand it?

08 Saturday Mar 2014

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If you are one of those who is a newbie in reading the scriptures of any religion, then this is one question that will linger in your mind. “I do not understand this scripture then why read it?”. I have had this question in my mind so many times reading many. I would come up with my own answers like – “one day I will get it; If I read it these many times, then it will dawn in me; Lets understand whatever I can now…”.  Then one day I read a story narrated by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar about reading the Bhagavad Gita which was forwarded by Swami Punarchaitanya. Read the story below. (Even though the story is about the Bhagavad Gita, I believe it pertains to any other holy scriptures of any religion.)

Story

An old Farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson.Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bhagavat Geeta. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagavat Geeta just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagavat Geeta do?” The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.” The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.

The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, “See Grandpa, it’s useless!” “So you think it is useless?” The old man said, “Look at the basket.”

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

“Son, that’s what happens when you read the Bhagavat Geeta. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Krishna in our lives.”

Five types of Fools

13 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in Knowledge

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Once there was a king who had a very highly evolved queen. He would always listen to his wife before taking any decisions and was counseled on important matters of the kingdom. One day the king faced a very complex task and wanted to solve it. He wanted to take the wise counsel of his wife before implementing. The queen was in her private chamber along with her friends. The king hurried up to the private chambers of the queen unannounced. When the queen saw the unnoticed and unannounced arrival of the king, causing embarrassment to all her friends, the wise consort just covered dismay with smile. She took the king aside and whispered, ” Welcome, my foolish king! What can I do for you?”

The king was totally shocked by how the queen addressed him. In her anger, he just went back to his chambers. He was confused and sad at the queen’s welcome smile but unwelcome words. He couldn’t comprehend the meaning of the smile with those words. The king had an intelligent minister whom he summoned. He narrated the whole incident and asked him to share his thoughts. The minister, after patiently hearing, gave a quick smile and said, “My Lord, the queen was telling the truth. You were foolish in your rash intrusion but you were only the first and least harmful of the 5 types of fools, on this planet. Here are the five types of fools.

Harmless Fool : The harmless fool is the one who just barges into a group of people, uninvited and unannounced and stands mute, before them like a pillar producing all-round embarrassment. While he is certainly a fool, he belongs to the harmless variety.

Interrupting Fool : The second fools is one who having been invited by his friends, misuses their courtesy, and interrupts their conversation quite often, with his own views on a subject about what he knows. He creates a situation, where his friends can neither tolerate him nor throw him out. He is more harmful than the previous kind of fool.

Proverbial Fool : The third among the fools, is the fellow who keeps on arguing and exposing his unique knowledge in an assembly, unmindful of the ridicule and unaware of the futility, thereby wasting his time and that of others. He is proverbial fool, who learns nothing and forgets nothing

Dangerous Fool : The fourth fool in the line, is the knowledgeable fool, the incorrigible fault finder, one who takes pride, while in a discussion, is finding fault with everybody, and with everything just to show off his assumed intelligence. He may attract people with half his knowledge, but he certainly repels with his brazen ego. He is a dangerous fool.

Wise Fool : The fifth fool is the unfortunate fellow who keeps company with any of the above fools, either by choice, compulsion or convenience. While his wisdom impels him to react, his predicament prevents him from responding. He is the wise fool.”

The minister concluded, “So the queen quietly indicated you, your position in order of priority, among the five types of fool. ” the king now regained his composure and also retained his respect for his queen. While he appreciated the explanations of the minister, there remained one more doubt in his mind.

“My dear minister”, said the king with twinkle of mischief in his eyes, “Now that you and the queen, have put me as the first of the five fools, may I know, to what category, do you and the queen belong?”

“Sure my Lord”, said the minister with a similar twinkle in his eyes, “While I cannot and would not answer for the queen, for my part, I can humbly say that I belong to the fifth type since I am keeping company with you!”

– A story from the Shiva Purana

MC Yogi to perform LIVE for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Vision of Stress Free Violence Free Community

21 Thursday Mar 2013

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It has been a long time and have some good news! It is only 2 more days to go for the launch of the campaign!! And most importantly – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, my guru, will be coming HOME! It has been 5 years, a long long time, since he last visited the bay area. There is excitement in the air, tears in people’s longings, joy in their words and what not. To add on to this, MC Yogi, the famous American hip-Hop musician and yogi is going to be performing LIVE for the campaign launch. His rap on Obama and Mahatma GANDHI went viral to become chart toppers.

MC Yogi to perform LIVE for the campaign

Here is his website – http://mcyogi.com/ and here is his famous “BE the Change” Gandhi Rap.

Welcome To The Campaign –  MC YOGI!!!!

Michael Fischman on Joys of Meditation

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Art Of Living

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Michael Fischman

Michael Fischman began his life as the son of an Orthodox Jewish Holocaust survivor in New York, and developed a successful career as a Madison Avenue advertising executive. Later through an unlikely turn of events, ended up as meditation student and teacher. He is also the author of a multi-award-winning memoir, “Stumbling Into Infinity: An Ordinary Man in the Sphere of Enlightenment”.

Here is an excerpt from his interview about the joys of meditation and why we need to meditate. Michael has been with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Art of Living Foundation since 1988 and has been teaching meditation and other courses since then. 

Tell us about your personal meditation journey?

I started to meditate when I was 26 years old. It was a rough patch in my life, and many of the social activities I was involved with at that time I have completely abandoned. I was living a very different lifestyle. A friend told me about meditation and it seemed to make sense. I gravitated to it very quickly. In 1988, after practicing for about a dozen years, I came to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living. It was a quantum leap forward in my practice. As opposed to spending a lot of time with a chattering mind in the first half of my meditation, the meditations were profoundly different. I would start my meditation in silence, and that was extremely valuable.

You are a long-time teacher of meditation. Tells us about meditation in the Art of Living?

Meditation is a key part of the Art of Living, and Sri Sri’s approach to meditation in the Art of Living is very unique. He takes a three-pronged approach. The first step is to help an individual quiet down their mind and their emotions with Sudarshan Kriya. This is the meditative rhythmic breathing practice that is taught on the Art of Living Part 1 course.

The second step is giving people instruction in the art of meditation through a course called Sahaj Samadhi Meditation. An individual is given a sound or mantra and taught how to use it,  this gives them a deep experience on the basis of regular meditation. It cultures their system to maintain an inner peace and bliss that continues to grow inside.

The third approach is to give people a deep experience of silent awareness in a retreat program called the Art of Silence course. It allows people to spend four or five days in a retreat setting, away from responsibilities. The effect is like polishing the system, expanding awareness, and going very deeply into the experience of meditation and the experience of silence.

How has your life changed since you learned meditation?

It is hard to say why my life has changed, whether it is due to meditation, to Sudarshan Kriya, the deep silence program, or due to interacting with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as a guru and teacher. Or maybe all of it.

I can say that the deep experience of peace and serenity that I get to experience twice a day definitely sets the tone & mood of my mind for the entire day. And that effect has grown through the years. Sudarshan Kriya helped me feel the effect of meditation more during the day.

Do you think it is important to have teacher to learn meditation?

Yes, very much so. I don’t think you can learn it from book or from a seminar. People are blind to their own blind spots. You definitely need a teacher or a guru. The path of getting to the Self is a very interesting journey, and meditation is a key aspect of it. But unless you have the guidance & supervision of a Master, it would be difficult.

Let the Divine be my Valentine

14 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by in Art Of Living, Inspirational Quotes, Stories

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Happy Valentine’s Day to all. Here is a beautiful question asked to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the answer comes in the form a story that wil touch all. Enjoy!

Question : Do we go to the Guru, or does the Guru find us?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:       There was a talented teacher. He was a great orator, who would convince people very well. He had a fair knowledge of scriptures and spiritual techniques also. He was very good, but he was not complete; he was in search of a Master. Everyone used to honor him, but he lacked that final touch. He just wanted to surrender to a Master. He didn’t have a Master at that time. Only when the time comes, the Master also comes.

So, the time had come. He knew who his Master was, and he was in search for him. When he was departing from the kingdom, the king asked, “Where do you want to go”? He said he wanted to meet such and such a Master in such and such and such a place. Then king said, “Oh, it is so far, 300 kilometers away. You cannot walk and go. You can take my palanquin”. So, he sent his palanquin. The teacher sat in the palanquin and started going towards the Master.

And then he arrived in that town. He asked a person carrying the palanquin to take him to the Master, and one of them, who was carrying the palanquin, stood up and said, ” I am him”.

The teacher was so moved that he fell at his feet. He said, “How could you do this?’ How could you carry me? From where you have been carrying me?”

He answered, “Half the way. I heard you were coming to see me, so half the way I came to bring you to me. Now come, Lets go.” So half the way Master came and carried the palanquin of the disciple and brought him to the place and said,” Here I am the person you are looking for.”

Like that God is already carrying you and is right there with you. You take one step towards the Master, and He will take ten steps towards you. But that one step has to be taken. If you take one step back, God will take ten steps back. This is the tradition of Masters. So much humbleness, humility and simplicity is needed.

How to deal with people who have a BIG Ego?

15 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by in Knowledge

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I was reading a few knowledge sheets of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar when I came across this one about ego. Thought it is better to share this to others. Enjoy!

Ego

Anton Ego from Ratatouille

Q: How to deal with people with a very big ego, especially when their behavior is affecting life and others in a bad way?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let them have a big ego, why are you bothered?
You nurse an even bigger ego than them, there ends the story.
In fact you will find you have a bigger ego, I tell you. Let others have an ego, so what? Why do you sign on a contract of destroying everybody’s ego, or making everybody’s ego smaller? If someone has a big ego, nature will teach them. One day or the other, they will become miserable. Leave it to them. Let them enjoy the music.

Why do you become so miserable looking at the ego of others? I don’t understand that. You do what is required of you, as much as you can do, and move on. That is it.
In life we should just move on. If someone is nasty to you, you can get up and shout at them, or scream at them, ‘Why did you do this thing to me yesterday; the day before and ten years ago?’ But I tell you, you are certainly spoiling this moment as well by talking about a mistake that happened yesterday or a month ago. You are spoiling the beauty of this moment.
I would want you to make a decision right now, ‘I don’t care what happened in the past, right now I am not going to spoil this moment’, finished.

The world is like an ocean, these sort of things happen. They happen and they go away as well. Friend become enemies and enemies become friends for no apparent reason.
How many of you have had the experience, that even though you have done only good to certain people, for no reason they have become your enemies? (Many raise their hands) You wonder, ‘Oh my God, I did only good to this person, why is he blaming me? Why has this person become an enemy?’

Also, there are people to whom you have not done any favor and yet they have helped you a lot. How many of you have this experience? (Many raise their hands)
See, whether someone becomes your friend or your enemy, it all works on the strange laws of karma. That is why, put them all in one basket and relax. This, I have adopted as my policy. You do so much good to one person and still if that person is angry with you, or they blame you, what do you do? So, don’t go on chewing on that and spoil the present moment with the past. Isn’t that a good idea? This moment let us celebrate.
In the past I used to listen to people, all their stories and their blaming one another. Suddenly I realized, ‘No, I’m not going to listen to anybody’s complaint any more. I don’t want to spoil this moment’s energy.’

Deal with your things, that is your karma. This is what the ancient people used to say.
They would never sit like counselors and listen to all your stories. They’d say, ‘Come on, wake up this moment; now (snapping his fingers)’, and that would bring a huge change in the mind, in the energy, and in the time. But you don’t start doing that right away, then you will be called the most insensitive and rude person. Got it?

Do it slowly. You have to listen to people, which I have also done for so many years. But a point should come, especially with people, when you have to say, ‘Okay, now no more.’ Sometimes it happens, old people at home go on and on. They enjoy complaining. How many of you have experienced this? (Many raise their hands)
See! They enjoy complaining, and when someone listens, they complain even more. At those moments you should just put on music and say, ‘Hey come on, let’s dance. Stop complaining.’

A new way to Celebrate! – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

09 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by in Art Of Living, Inspirational Quotes

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A poem by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar!

A poem by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar!

7 ways to achieve Inner Peace and Prosperity by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

06 Sunday Jan 2013

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Each new year, people wish each other happiness, prosperity and peace, but only a few seem to know how to be peaceful — like only a few know how to make money. Here are some steps that might help one to find the most needed inner peace.

1. Take Time for Yourself

Often, we become so engrossed in our day-to-day activities, we simply end up gathering more and more information, and do not take time out to think and reflect. Then we feel dull and tired.

A few quiet moments everyday are the source of creativity. Silence heals and rejuvenates and gives you depth and stability. Sometime during the day, sit for a few minutes; get into the cave of your heart, eyes closed, and keep the world away.

Taking some time for yourself improves the quality of your life.

2. Know the Impermanence of Life

See the impermanence in this life.

Millions of years have passed and millions more will come. Nothing is permanent. In this broad, universal context, what is your life? It is not even a drop in the ocean.

Just open your eyes, and ask, “Who am I? Why am I on this planet? What is my lifetime?”

An awareness dawns, and you will stop worrying about little things. All smallness will simply drop and you will be able to live every moment of your life.

When you review your life in a broader context, the quality of your life improves.

3. Perform Random Acts of Kindness

Make a commitment to make this world a better place to live. Do some acts of kindness without expecting anything in return. Service alone can bring contentment in life. It creates a sense of connectedness. When you bring some relief to someone through selfless service, good vibrations come to you. When you show kindness, your true nature, which is love and peace, come to the surface.

4. Make Your Smile Cheaper

Every day, every morning, look at the mirror and give a good smile to yourself. Don’t let your smile be snatched away by anybody! Usually, you give your anger freely and smile rarely, as though a smile is costly. Make your smile cheaper and anger expensive!

5. Make Meditation a Part of Life

When we have higher goals in life it leads to stress and restlessness, which can be released through a few minutes of meditation and introspection. Meditation gives you deep rest. The deeper you are able to rest, the more dynamic you will be in activity.

What is meditation?

• Mind without agitation is meditation.
• Mind in the present moment is meditation.
• Mind that has no hesitation, no anticipation is meditation.
• Mind that comes back home to the source, which is peace and joy, is meditation.

6. Be a Student Always

Know that you are a student forever. Do not underestimate anybody. Knowledge may come to you from any corner. Each occasion teaches you and each person teaches you. The world is your teacher. When you are always looking to learn, you will stop underestimating others. Humility will dawn in your life.

7. Feel Grateful

Our love, faith and belief should be deep-rooted, and then everything else moves on its own. The feeling that “I am blessed” can help you overcome any failure. Once you realize that you are blessed, then all the complaints and grumbling disappear, all the insecurities disappear and you become grateful, contented and peaceful.

– Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Prayer & Meditation

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by in Inspirational Quotes

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Prayer is asking, Meditation is listening.

In prayer, you ask,‘Give me this, give me that’, giving instructions, demanding.In meditation, you say, ‘I am here to listen, what is it that you want to tell? Tell me, whenever you are free, I am here.’

Culmination of prayer is meditation.

Prayer goes to the peak and that is meditation.

~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar