Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Living With Equanimity

February 12, 2014
Bangalore, India

Q: Gurudev, in The Bhagavad Gita, Arjun asks Krishna to describe a person established in the Self. How does such a person walk, behave, etc. Does external behavior determine if a person is enlightened or not?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Not really. This question can only be answered in affirmation or negation. If you ask me, does the love in someone’s heart reflect in their appearance and their behavior, the answer is yes. At the same time, appearances can be deceptive; sometimes it may not be reflected (in their appearance or behavior). So, expression is varied, and you cannot depend on it.
Expression varies in different parts of the world. For example, the way one greets and expresses love. In France, when you greet, you give kisses in the air, two on the sides of each cheek. In New Zealand, the traditional Maori greeting is to rub the nose. (If the other person has a cold, and you greet them, then you have to share it with them.) The ancient cultures have very different ways of greeting; the way the natives greet and welcome you. 
In Punjab, a state in North India, the way to greet is by giving a jhappi (a tight hug); you take a cupped palm and thump it (quite hard) on the others back. Now, this kind of greeting is not acceptable in Tamil Nadu, a state in South India. In Tamil Nadu, you hold your hands together, and greet, saying Vanakkam (hello, welcome). So, cultures are very different, even in one country.
The expression of love is very different from place to place, and that should be respected.
In Japan, you bend half the body to show your respect. 
In India, you bend all the way down, and touch the feet of the people you respect. Sometimes, it is a big botheration; imagine you are walking, and ten people try to catch your legs; you can trip any time! However, that is the way they show their respect.
In India, on the day of the marriage, the newlywed couple gets a very good workout, as they have bow down and do pranam (salutations) to dozens of people. By the time the wedding is over, they have sore backs because they have been bending so much; that is the tradition.
This world has so many diverse customs and traditions, and that is the beauty of our planet. We must preserve all of them. If everyone starts greeting in the same way - shaking hands, and forgets the way the Japanese do, then we would have lost something. If people forget how to do pranam (salutations) to the elders; suppose this tradition stops, then it is a loss for the world’s culture, not just one country. The world’s diversity would be lost. We must preserve the diversity, it is important.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Enthusiasm coupled with wisdom cannot irritate others. You need to be sensitive to others feelings and demands, and you need to respect them. 
Q: Gurudev, I think I am addicted to meditation. Is it bad to be addicted to something awesome like meditation?
Q: Gurudev, the Vishalakshi Mandap is so wonderful to look at. Can you please explain the significance of the word Vishalakshi. 
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Vishala means broad, akshi means vision, so it means broad-eyed vision. I thought people can come here, sit, meditate, and broaden their vision.
Of course, it is my mother’s name also. It has a deep spiritual meaning. If you have to see Lord Vishwanath, the Lord of the Universe, then you need to have Vishalakshi, i.e., big eyes. 
God is not somewhere out there, He is right here, you need to have the right vision. You can perceive the greatest in the Universe only with a big-eyed vision. The name fitted very well with the concept, isn’t it?
Q: Gurudev, when I thought I was good with the Sudarshan Kriya, you came up with Shakti Kriya. Can you tell me one technique after which I don’t need to learn anything else? 
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Just relax, and keep that smile in your heart. 
Contentment; the whole thing is to bring that deep sense of contentment, in which you do not require anything. When you realize, ‘I am all that is! Everything that is needed is there already’, then there is deep contentment. This is Samadhi. The purpose of all the techniques is to lead you to samadhi. After a while, the mind keeps on wanting something different, something new. The mind is so tricky, it gets used to a technique. At that time, we need to bring in something different, to remind the mind again, to go to the source of energy which is deep within.
Q: Gurudev, what is the best and easy way to please God and be closer to Him?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If a baby asks, ‘What can I do to please my mother?’ The mother is already pleased with the baby. Whatever the baby does, the mother is happy.
My dear, God is already pleased with you. Just keep your heart clean, mind focused and put your 100% in any work that you do. When you are sincere, smiling and serving, God is pleased with you. Remember 3 S – sincerity, smile and service.

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