Q.: After experiencing happiness andlaughter in life,
what else does a person need to ask for?
Sri Sri: It is meaningless to ask,‘What should I desire?’ Desires
arise by themselves based on the needof the hour. To desire a desire is impossible.
Desires are not bad. However, we needto
see that the desires are not in opposition to viveka (the power todiscriminate between truth and untruth, dharma (righteousness)
and adharma etc).
In the Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna says,‘I am those desires that uphold dharma.’
Viveka gives you theawareness to save yourself (from desires
that do not uphold dharma). It is necessary to awaken viveka within us. Do not try tosuppress desires, awaken vivekain you.
Through viveka, thereis a transformation in the quality of desires that arise in us.
Q.: How can I decide which actionswill give me happiness?
Sri
Sri: Those actions which may seemto bring short term unhappiness yet bring long term happiness are good.Those that seem to
bring short term benefits but bring long term miseryare bad.
Q.: Where did you get the inspirationto create such a
beautiful place?
Sri Sri: When the mind is pleasant,so is the world. Wherever in the world, people come together tomeditate
in our courses, they say that they feel like they are inheaven. Also, places where people come together to meditate acquiresignificance.
Wherever
you are, you can create aheaven around you!
Q.: When I met you recently at theend of my first advanced
meditation program that I took, here in theashram. I didn’t feel that I was meeting you for the first time.
Sri
Sri: That is how it is! Ourconnection to Divine love is ancient! Whenever I meet you I never feelthat it is the first time.
I have known you from Lifetimes. The heartsearches for the old. That’s why it is said that friendships are old.The mind
searches for something new - latest trends, what is new today?
Both are required.
The joy of being established is theself
is nit nutan, eternaland new.
Q.: Is dispassion connected toupbringing or past impressions?
Sri
Sri: Vairagya or dispassion isassociated with viveka or thepower of discrimination. When we were small children, we wanted
to havecotton candy or lollipops and toys. As we grew up, these desiresdropped by themselves. We became dispassionate about
toys but gotattached to something else. In course of time, desires dropeffortlessly. When we move ahead with awareness then
our attachmentsdrop even faster, and with love. It doesn’t mean that you throweverything out of your house! There is
no desire to procure anything.Irrespective of the desire being fulfilled, there is no feverishness orattachment.
Q.: Despite having everything , whatdoes the mind want
to procure? Why is it restless?
Sri Sri: It is a blessing if you arenot content with small material things! The longing
for the divine isthe divine himself! One who is without longing has no juice in hislife, no knowledge and no celebration.
Q.: Who am I? Who is the Master?
Sri Sri: First ask
yourself, ‘Who amI?’ Until you find the answer to this, there is no way to even begin tounderstand the Master.
Q.: Why don’t we remember our past lifetimes?
Sri
Sri: You will. Go deep inmeditation. When you meditate, it is possible to see your pastlifetimes. In a way, it is good that
you do not remember until you areestablished in the knowledge. Otherwise you will be caught up inwanting to know how much
you earned in your previous lives, where yousaved it, who is enjoying it and how you can still get it! Knowledge ofyour past
lifetimes will be revealed to you only when yourconsciousness is established in the present moment.
Q.: What is the difference betweenego and self-esteem?
Sri
Sri: No one can take away yourself esteem from you. Ego cannot be sustained and so it troubles you.When there is satva (pure
energy) and wisdom, ego does not trouble you.Ego needs the presence of the other. Self esteem does not.
Q.: How do we experience fullness?
Sri Sri: What is
it that you lack?Recognize this first. Because of this lack you feel sad. When you feelsad and helpless, then you pray. Offer
your limitations, instead ofonly offering money in places of worship. The Divine is ready to acceptall your weaknesses or
limitations.
That Divinity which is complete, resides in you. The Divine
is eternal,omniscient and omnipotent. Knowing that you are a part on thatDivinity, how can you feel limited or incomplete?
Know that you are complete with the help of knowledge,
devotion andrightful actions.
Even if you do not know, have faiththat you are complete. You do not have to achieve it.
There is air around us. We have toknow it or believe it. But we don't have to achieve it because it isalready there! Similarly,
without the Divine, we do not exist.
How is the Divine? What does He do?These are meaningless questions.
The
Divine is there. The Divine is myvery own. I am a part of the Divine. Know this.
It is easier to start with thefeeling that the Divine is your
very own and in time you will know thatyou are part of the Divine.
Q. How can people from different communities come together?
Sri Sri: Satsang increases awarenessand a sense of belongingness. So many of us are here together but weare not asking
each other about our caste or religion, are we? We aresitting here together as one family!
Q. How can we resolve the problem of increasing rates
of crime andpoverty?
Sri Sri: A shift from secularism tospiritualism is the solution to crime. This spiritual education
must begiven to children. Removing greed from the heart is the solution topoverty.
Everyone must take responsibility andthink
‘What can I do?’
__._,_.___
Action & Reaction
Action is out of conscious decision. Reaction is out of impulsiveness.
Impulsiveness creates a chain of Karma.
Reaction, as well as non-action, both create karma, but
a conscious action transcends karma. Conscious action does not create new karma whereas
non-action can create karma.
For example, a soldier shooting in war does not create a karma;
a policeman using tear gas does not create a Karma, and if you are a doctor and you do not give medicine to a patient in need,
you are incurring a karma.
Through knowledge and devotion, transcend all karmas and be
free!
- Sri Sri
