Fri, 12/12/2014 Bangalore, India
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, you said it yourself. They only seem to be enjoying their life, but it is very temporary. See, when someone has to suffer greatly, they first climb to a greater height and then they fall. All such people who rise through wrong deeds or by having wrong intentions ultimately end up being very miserable. They are not able to sleep in peace at night, nor are they able to be at peace during the day. Their fall from greatness is so sharp that it completely shatters them. You on the other side, are content with yourself and get and sleep peacefully.
See, you cannot simply say that the people who are good keep suffering, or keep going through difficult times. People suffer or face difficult times because of their own foolishness, and because of their ignorance.
If someone says, 'I am very good and noble', and then goes and puts his hand in fire, then he is bound to get burnt. And when you put your hand in fire, it will burn and hurt immediately, not anytime later.
Sometimes you feel that you have not harmed anyone in your present life, or even thought ill of anyone, yet you are suffering and going through misery. This question is very common.
We often have a very limited understanding of our own life and think that life is just limited to this short time span of 50-60 years. If you look back, you will realize that somewhere you have sown the seeds for a tree of thorns, so today or sometime later you will surely have to reap the thorns of that tree.
If someone says, 'I am very good and noble', and then goes and puts his hand in fire, then he is bound to get burnt. And when you put your hand in fire, it will burn and hurt immediately, not anytime later.
Sometimes you feel that you have not harmed anyone in your present life, or even thought ill of anyone, yet you are suffering and going through misery. This question is very common.
We often have a very limited understanding of our own life and think that life is just limited to this short time span of 50-60 years. If you look back, you will realize that somewhere you have sown the seeds for a tree of thorns, so today or sometime later you will surely have to reap the thorns of that tree.
See, there are two types of karma:
1. Those that immediately give fruit
2. Those that yield fruit sometime later
For example, if you place your hand in a fire, you will immediately get burnt, right now, not tomorrow or anytime later But if you sow a mango seed today, it will take ten years for it to grow into a tree. You will be able to reap the fruits of the mango tree only after ten years of hard work. In the same way, some karmas yield their fruits almost instantly, while some take time to bear fruit.
But do not think that every problem or suffering that you go through is only because of your actions from past lifetimes. Some of it also comes because of the foolishness and ignorance you have in the present lifetime also.
1. Those that immediately give fruit
2. Those that yield fruit sometime later
For example, if you place your hand in a fire, you will immediately get burnt, right now, not tomorrow or anytime later But if you sow a mango seed today, it will take ten years for it to grow into a tree. You will be able to reap the fruits of the mango tree only after ten years of hard work. In the same way, some karmas yield their fruits almost instantly, while some take time to bear fruit.
But do not think that every problem or suffering that you go through is only because of your actions from past lifetimes. Some of it also comes because of the foolishness and ignorance you have in the present lifetime also.
To free yourself from the results of past actions, you should regularly practice your sadhana. It definitely helps to nullify the bad influences of the past karmas. But at the same time, we should act with intelligence as well.
Do not think that 'Oh, I am so noble and good-natured, so only good things should happen to me', no. You should also have a presence of mind and use your intelligence from time to time before you act. Do not keep your intellect locked up somewhere. Use it wisely.
Do not think that 'Oh, I am so noble and good-natured, so only good things should happen to me', no. You should also have a presence of mind and use your intelligence from time to time before you act. Do not keep your intellect locked up somewhere. Use it wisely.
Dear Gurudev, my life appears meaningless to me. What should I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Life appears to be meaningless when you are focused only on yourself. If you constantly keep thinking, 'What would happen to me? What do I want? I want this and I want that. When will I get it?' Then life will appear meaningless. But when you know that you are here to give something to the people around you, to give something back to society, and to discover a higher truth, then life becomes meaningful.
Both saturation of pleasure and deprivation of pleasure can cause you to feel that life is meaningless. When you take your eyes off that and reflect upon 'What can I do for others? Who am I?' Then suddenly you see that a fountain of love and joy springs from within, and all values naturally start flowing in life. This is a good transition period for you.
Gurudev, I am a cancer patient and I want to come out of it. What do I do?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Just keep up that strong will to come out of it, and you will surely come out of it. Meditate and do pranayama regularly.
You can consult Dr. Nisha Manikantan here and she will guide you completely about your diet and what all you need to do. I have seen so many people suffering from cancer where in the doctors had told them that they had only six months more to live. But when they came to the Ashram and practiced the Sudarshan Kriya and pranayama, they regained their health and are still alive today; even after 20 years of having been diagnosed with cancer.
Don’t just keep your faith in a pill. Have faith in yourself, and know that there is an eternal consciousness within you. It is so powerful that it alone makes a single cell grow into a full infant in the mother’s womb. It is what is responsible for all the growth, so it definitely knows how to repair and heal the body also.
You can consult Dr. Nisha Manikantan here and she will guide you completely about your diet and what all you need to do. I have seen so many people suffering from cancer where in the doctors had told them that they had only six months more to live. But when they came to the Ashram and practiced the Sudarshan Kriya and pranayama, they regained their health and are still alive today; even after 20 years of having been diagnosed with cancer.
Don’t just keep your faith in a pill. Have faith in yourself, and know that there is an eternal consciousness within you. It is so powerful that it alone makes a single cell grow into a full infant in the mother’s womb. It is what is responsible for all the growth, so it definitely knows how to repair and heal the body also.
Gurudev, what is the reason behind Vitamin D and B12 deficiency? Most of the ladies are facing this issue. What is the solution other than medicines?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is mainly because of the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in farming. It has caused our soil to become anemic (low iron content in the soil).
You get Vitamin D from the sun. If you are sitting indoors most of the time, then you should take tablets.
You need to switch from inorganic food to more organic food. Also you should avoid food with MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate, a kind of preservative). They use it in foods like Maggi noodles, etc., to enhance the flavor. Many products have this today. It stays in the body and prevents sunlight from getting absorbed in your body. As far as possible, you should avoid all these kind of packaged and preserved food. It has already been discarded in many countries in the world, but in India it is still being used. More people need to know about this. Eat more and more organic food, as much as possible.
You get Vitamin D from the sun. If you are sitting indoors most of the time, then you should take tablets.
You need to switch from inorganic food to more organic food. Also you should avoid food with MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate, a kind of preservative). They use it in foods like Maggi noodles, etc., to enhance the flavor. Many products have this today. It stays in the body and prevents sunlight from getting absorbed in your body. As far as possible, you should avoid all these kind of packaged and preserved food. It has already been discarded in many countries in the world, but in India it is still being used. More people need to know about this. Eat more and more organic food, as much as possible.
Gurudev, we sing devotional songs in praise of Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna. But back home, the people there consume Bhaang (a type of Indian narcotic incorrectly thought to please Lord Shiva) while they sing praises of Lord Shiva. And then there are stories of Lord Krishna getting married to 16,000 ladies. How should one understand all this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
See, if Lord Shiva consumed Bhaang, then he also consumed the poison that came from churning the cosmic ocean. So should we also drink poison first, and then see if we stay alive to drink Bhaang? Do not misunderstand all these things.
Lord Shiva never consumed Bhaang. The essential point to understand is that the Shiva Tattva (the most fundamental all-pervading element in creation) resides in each and every one. An intoxicant like Bhaang too cannot do anything to Lord Shiva’s bliss, because he is above and beyond all such trivial influences. But chanting his name can have a positive influence on us and elevate us.
Lord Shiva never consumed Bhaang. The essential point to understand is that the Shiva Tattva (the most fundamental all-pervading element in creation) resides in each and every one. An intoxicant like Bhaang too cannot do anything to Lord Shiva’s bliss, because he is above and beyond all such trivial influences. But chanting his name can have a positive influence on us and elevate us.
It seems like you have not read the whole story behind Lord Krishna dancing and being merry with so many ladies. If you read the Srimad Bhagvatam, you will find that he performed this Raas Leela (meaning: a pastime of the Lord) when he was just 14 years old. He was dear to everyone and would play with everyone. So do not emulate his ways but absorb all the knowledge that he has given through his life.
It is very difficult to be like Lord Krishna because he is Yogeshwar (Supreme among the Yogis). He could get away with hiding someone’s clothes while they were bathing! (Laughter).
If you carefully read about the leelas of Lord Krishna, you will not find that it is limited to one place or has only one kind of flavor. You will find every kind of flavor and color of emotion in the stories of Lord Krishna’s pastimes. There is humor, love, and even the pain of longing in his stories.
So he simply went through his pastimes to bring out each and every color and nectar of human emotion. It is impossible to completely understand the personality of Lord Krishna. From whichever angle or perspective you see him, you will find that he is complete and perfect in every way.
It is very difficult to be like Lord Krishna because he is Yogeshwar (Supreme among the Yogis). He could get away with hiding someone’s clothes while they were bathing! (Laughter).
If you carefully read about the leelas of Lord Krishna, you will not find that it is limited to one place or has only one kind of flavor. You will find every kind of flavor and color of emotion in the stories of Lord Krishna’s pastimes. There is humor, love, and even the pain of longing in his stories.
So he simply went through his pastimes to bring out each and every color and nectar of human emotion. It is impossible to completely understand the personality of Lord Krishna. From whichever angle or perspective you see him, you will find that he is complete and perfect in every way.
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