Very strange are the ways of Karma

June 04, 2012 - Watch Video

Bangalore, India

 

How many of you have had this experience that without doing any harm to anybody, or anything wrong still people became your enemies. (Many raise their hands) So many! And now tell me, you have not done any big favors and still some people have become your friends. How many of you have this experience too? (Many raise their hands)Look at this!

You have not done any harm to anybody still people became your enemies, and you have not done any good to somebody but even then they have become very good friends. Very strange are the ways of Karma.

That is why it is said that the ways of karma are unfathomable. ‘Hone wala karm aur karne wala karma mai bahut farak hai’

Apart from our actions the events that have to happen keep happening. That is why the ways of Karma are very strange. And that is why I tell you, keep all your friends and enemies on one side and relax; response in yourself, and keep your attention on the Divine.

This is what Lord Krishna told Arjuna, ‘Samah satrau ca mitre ca tatha manapamanayohsitoshna-sukha-duhkheshu samah sanga-vivarjitah’ Do not lose the equanimity of your mind. You do not know when and where, what will happen. When a friend will become an enemy and when an enemy will become friend.

One does not know anything in this world. So keep your attention on the truth and perform all your duties sincerely and meditate sincerely.

When you have to come out and work (Pravritti), then seek perfection even in small details. And when you have to retire then say, ‘Everything is fine.’ This attitude will help you go deep in meditation. This is the path of Nivritti.

Q: Guruji, it is said that meeting the Guru on Full Moon Day is very good.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes. Do you know the Moon affects the ocean? On Full Moon Day the waves are higher. The Moon affects water – this we all know. Our body is made up of water. Nearly 60% of our body is made up of water, and it has saline content, like the ocean. So your body is a miniature capsule of sea water. So the Moon has an influence on the body and anything that influences the body influences the mind as well.

That is why people who go crazy are called lunatics. The word itself says lunatics.

And that is why our ancestors have said to fast on Ekadashi (eleventh lunar day of the Hindu calendar). Why have they said this is because when the stomach is kept empty the toxins in the body get cleared. Fasting has a purifying effect on the body and it cleanses all the undigested food, toxins, etc.

So if you fast three days before Full Moon then on Full Moon day you will not have any illnesses – this is the belief.

It is not necessary that you must fast on every Ekadashi but it is good if you fast for at least two to three days in a year.

Q: How do I become as powerful as you are? In this world everyone loves power.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: The biggest power is rest; deep rest and love. If these two things are present in life then everything else will come. It will happen.

See, now that you belong to me and I belong to you, you should feel the abundance. Know that you have everything and there is no lack. And if you see a flaw or any shortcomings in yourself, then do meditation and do your sadhana. With your practices you will overcome it.

Q: Guruji, it is said on the path one should drop everything and be free of purpose or goals. I am a busy executive, without a purpose how can I take responsibility?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See there are two things Pravittri and Nivritti. Do not mix the two.

There are two attitudes that we have to pay attention to. One is, when you go inward (Nivritti) you think that everything is fine and I don’t want anything. That is called Meditation.

When you have to come out and work (Pravritti), then seek perfection in even small details. Put your full attention and take responsibility.

The message of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna’s life is this only. When you have to come out and work (Pravritti), then seek perfection even in small details. Whenever you see imperfection, you have to pay attention on how you can correct it. And when you have to retire then say, ‘Everything is fine.’ This attitude will help you go deep in meditation. This is the path of Nivritti.

That is why one who knows the difference between Pravritti and Nivritti is said to have a sattvic intellect. He is called intelligent.

What is the other sign of an intelligent person – one who is able to see good even in a bad person; one who sees the good in everyone. You go to a prison and you find something good in the biggest culprit. To find good in the guilty is the sign of intelligence.

So an intelligent person finds something good in the worst people, but a foolish person will dig out something bad from ever the best people, and there are people who do this.

Someone in America wrote a book that Ramkrishna Paramhansa was mad. He also proved that he had so many negatives, and Vivekananda has these many negative qualities, and all Hindu saints have some or the other bad qualities, and he has made a text book out of it.

This is a sign of foolishness, to look for something bad in good people. And the sign of an intelligent person is one who uplifts even a bad person.

Do not lose the equanimity of your mind. You do not know when and where, what will happen. When a friend will become an enemy and when an enemy will become friend.

Q: Lord Krishna has many forms, gentle, beautiful, infinite, compassionate, but why do we always worship him as Man Mohana (the most attractive one).

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No, if you go to Gujarat he is worshiped as Ranchodrai. Some worship him as Bala Krishna Ranchodrai (as a child). So, in whichever form you like you can worship him.

Lord Krishna says that in whichever form one worships me I go to them in that form.

Now we say Lord Krishna but during Krishna’s time, there were people who used to speak such bad words for Krishna. There were a very few people who understood him at that time.

Lord Krishna himself says, ‘Avajananti Mam Mudha Manusim Tanum Asritam; Param Bhavam Ajananto Mama Bhuta-Maheshvaram.’

These foolish people do not understand me; they think of me as this body. They don’t know the transcendental nature of mine; people think I am just a human being.

This is what he used to say!

That is why it is said that God is everywhere, in every particle of this universe, in you, in me and in everyone; because he is in everyone that is how he is Paramatma (God).