June 24, 2013
Bangalore, India
Questions & Answers
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Dear Sri Sri, in Germany and some other parts of Europe we have
had very recently experienced devastating floods. What is your message towards
our environmental duty and how can social media support us in that?
Sri Sri: Natural calamities occur and human mistakes add to it. In terrains
where we know that such calamities can happen, our preparedness is very low.
That is something that bothers me a lot.
In
Kedarnath thousands of people have lost their lives in the most devastating
flood. It is partly because of our negligence towards the environment. We do
not care for the environment as we should. Deforestation is a big
problem in the Himalayas. We have been cutting trees in the name of
development. In the name of getting more power we have done many
things that could have been done in a different way.
Secondly,
the pilgrims in India are neglected even when thousands of people go there
every year. I would say that they should have made better roads and alternative
roads in these areas so that evacuation could be faster. Floods do come,
devastations do happen, but at least we can save the lives of people.
In
Calgary and Europe not so much harm has been done to people’s lives. We haven’t
lost these many lives in the recent years since the tsunami. This is a
Himalayan tsunami. Our Art of Living volunteers are there and are providing
relief material to the people. Our Volunteers are working in Germany and
Calgary as well.
I have not told any of these volunteer that they should go and do relief
work. This is what happens when our consciousness rises. Our heart feels the
human values. It spontaneously responds to such situations and people just jump
in and do their best for fellow human beings.
These
are the situations that really test our humanness; whether you are really a
human being or a robot. In these situations we have to extend our hands to
those unfortunate ones and those who need us. So people should come in big
numbers and contribute wherever and whenever calamities happen.
The
government should take care. The metrological department is there to predict
such calamities in advance and to take care so that people’s lives are saved. A
lot can be done in this direction. Disaster management is a science by itself.
Well-meaning people should contribute and rise to help in such situations; and
they are doing it. I really thank all those who are putting their effort to
make the lives of the victims better.
Here
also I would thank the Indian Army and the jawans (soldiers)
who have risked their lives to help the people. Their dedication and help is
invaluable and we must thank them for their efforts.
An unprecedented calamity hit Kedarnath and thousands of people
lost their lives and have been misplaced. All of them went to the pilgrim to
pray and have faced this calamity. The faith of many people may be shaken at
this stage. How do we deal with this?
Sri Sri: First of all, let us understand that God is impartial. Nature is
impartial. It does not see what is mine and what is yours. God is not living
only in Kedarnath. He is all over. He is in your heart. He is everywhere.
The
pilgrim spots where many tourists have been going, do not have enough amenities
to handle the crowd and there has been a lot of negligence at all our pilgrim
places around the country. They need better facilities, better roads, better
communication systems, and this has not been attended to as it should have
been.
Many
incidents come where faith is shaken, but come what may we should hold on to
our faith that truth will triumph, and good will find its rightful place. This
is the time for prayer. When disasters happen, when fear overtakes
our mind, prayer helps. Do not lose your heart. Every place
belongs to the Lord. Calamities happen and in times of calamity your faith is
tested. Hold on to your faith and see what you can do for people around you.
So
many lives have been saved. Be thankful for those lives. And for those who have
lost their lives, pray for the peace of their souls and their families. Let
their families come out of this great tragedy. Let God give them the strength
to overcome this tragedy. This is what we must pray. Pray for those who are
saved and thank God for saving them in this horrible situation that they have
gone through.
There
are no words to describe the human tragedy. We must now wake up and make proper
alternative arrangements knowing very well that the terrain is so hard and so
difficult. We should place proper roads and proper communication and transport
systems. This is an urgency. People have been going there since ages and this
tragedy will not stop them from going back there.
Let
us learn from this tragedy. Let this tragedy not repeat itself anywhere else in
the planet due to human negligence. Beyond that we cannot predict or say
anything. So we should reduce our human negligence as much as we can.
The recent demonstrations in Brazil has impacted all aspects of
life here. How does one deal with it?
Sri Sri: When people do not get justice, or when they are tired of
corruption in the society, it’s natural that they get agitated. People gather
to demonstrate, they agitate. It’s a good sign that the people are waking up.
One way is to take everything as it comes, not be bothered about it and be a
part of a corrupt system. The other way is to wake up and stand up against
corruption, stand up against injustice, stand up against that which you think
is not right. This is a welcome attitude. We must really appreciate that.
One thing that we need to really attend to is that the mob should not turn
anti-social and violent. We need to see that the demonstrations
are peaceful, that they are for a cause and not against a person, because
people change and everyone has the ability to transform himself or herself. We
must recognize that people do change. So we must maintain the decorum of such
agitations and demonstrations with peace and purposefulness..
When we are not peaceful we also lose the purpose and target. I
would say that non-violence should be the guiding force of any agitation. It should be for the cause and not
directed against a person. No damage should be caused either to people or to
properties. That is what should be the guiding line.
Well-meaning
people start an agitation and then it becomes hard to keep it focused on the
goal because some anti-social elements enter and create violence. This is where
people should be aware of the harmful effects of violence and destruction.
If nonviolence is kept on the forefront of agitations and demonstrations, it
should be welcomed. If violence happens then there is no other way but to quell
it by using force. It becomes very difficult. I again emphasize that we should
have a peaceful revolution, a non-violent revolution. This is much needed in
today’s scenario.
Dear Gurudev, how do we defend our civil and democratic rights
without using violence? How to create a sense of belongingness in the society
where the government is reinforcing polarization and using a divide and rule
policy?
Sri Sri: A great cause has many obstacles and many challenges. When the
challenges are bigger that is when we have to hold on to our values. I know
that it is difficult to be peaceful when there is injustice, and especially
when there is violence. We have to take that extra care and keep our spirits
alive. We have to say that come what may we will hold on to our goal of our
democratic rights.
When you are strong in your resolution I tell you the small setbacks that
you face will be nothing. You will still march ahead.
To
want justice and want your human rights and human values is not that easy. It
is a long way. There are vested interests in the society and there are people
who just want to hold on to power. There are people who act without thinking
and the only l language they know is of violence. When this is the scenario we
have to take that extra caution to continue our pursuit peacefully and in a
nonviolent manner.
Our
people should be are given that moral support that truth will always
win. When you believe that truth will triumph you will be able to move through
the challenges with confidence and the much needed courage.
When we get upset, stressed and angry, somewhere inside we are shaken and we
lose energy. To take any big task we need enormous energy and this enormous
energy comes with certain calmness within us.
Second
is always be open to dialogue.
Third
is, do not label a person or a set up as bad. Once you label, you close the
door for communication. Mahatma Gandhi never labeled the British as
the bad guys. He always had that line of communication open with them.Even
after many atrocities he kept approaching them for dialogue. We should not
think that the other people or the government is anti people. It will make us
even angrier, and when we are angry we lose our energy even more.
The
best thing is to keep of the line of communication open, be steadfast in your
approach towards justice, towards democratic rights, towards peace, prosperity
and progress. Be resolute and encourage people to be resolute and peaceful in
there demonstrations. I know that it is easier said than done, but nevertheless
we should move in this direction, for victory will be ours.
Dear Gurudev, Muslims in Pakistan are peace loving people, so how
can we eliminate terrorism from Pakistan?
Sri Sri: To prevent terrorism, we need to see how we can establish
communication and bring some sense into the minds of terrorists.
Second
is, we need to accept diversity and enjoy diversity. Diversity is
not a matter of conflict or contention, it is a matter of celebration
Everybody is different. Everybody is wearing different dresses, and everybody
has their own lifestyle. One should accept diversity and have the vision of a
global family. We are all one world family with different languages,
different religions, different cultures, and different nationalities. This
celebration of diversity needs to be inculcated in young minds. Once
they know this, there is no way they can become extremists or terrorists.
Terrorism
comes when they think that only they have the key to the heaven. This is a
misnomer or misconception that has put them in that position.
I have dealt with people who are in the terrorist and extremist mindset. There
are two types of extremists, one is religious extremists and the other is
ideological.
The Maoists in India have a cause and they are ready to put their life for that
cause. The only thing they do not understand is that bringing pain and
suffering to others is not going to help them reach their goal or bring them
any happiness. We need to bring this education of diversity to people, have an
open communication with them and prevent people from falling into this trap of
‘I am only right and everybody else is wrong’ attitude.
If
these people do a little bit of breathing, relax a little, and see the beauty
in creation, the beauty in diversity, I am sure they will change. And I have
seen many of them change their way of thinking. They have some wrong
indoctrination, some unknown fear, or have been victims of some sort of
violence. This could be cause of them taking up such extreme ideology which is
self destructive.
How can we make the political class of Argentina understand that
the best way to build society is through peace?
Sri Sri: We have to spiritualize politics, socialize business and
secularize religion. This is the answer. Being secular means that
religious people should think about the whole globe, not just their own
religion or their own community. Usually a religious head feels
belongingness only to people who follow his religion. He should come out of
that barrier and pray for the whole world.
Similarly, every
businessman should do a little bit of social engineering, or take up some
social responsibility.They must be part of it.
Politicians should first think about the country, then about their
party and then about themselves. Today what is happening is that most often they first think
about themselves, then about the party, and if there is anything left, about
the nation. This trend has to be reversed right away.
When they care for the higher good, for a large number of people in the
society, then naturally they will be spiritual, naturally they will love peace
and the shortsighted vision that is creating havoc in the society around the
world will disappear.
Power and money comes and goes but the goodness that we generate
by our attitude, by our actions stay forever. This is what a politician should
understand. They should not have a shortsighted vision but long term benefit
for maximum number of people. That is what they should keep as their agenda.
That is the most ideal thing. So peace is absolutely essential. When we are
peaceful we are able to come up with such ideas. When we are not peaceful, we
are very disturbed and we only can bring about actions and thoughts which would
bring in more disturbances and not peace. So everyone should meditate!
What is peace and how can we implement the principles of peace in
our life through our religion, culture and family and in our education system
starting from kindergarten?
Sri Sri: We need to learn a lot from children. We need to make them
understand that they should make one new friend every day.
If you ask forty fifty kids in a classroom how many friends they have, they can
usually count them on their fingers, and they stay with only those friends for
the entire year. We need to bring out their friendly nature. And to do this we
should tell them to make one new friend every day. Don’t mind if you
are being insulted. Laugh and let go. Have humor and be sportive. Adore diversity.
If someone is dressed differently or is looking different or doing something
different, don’t feel that they are alien but make them feel a part of you. These
are some of the values which we can inculcate in children.
The
goal of religion is to bring love and peace in one’s life. Getting connected
with that one universal truth, universal spirit and universal love is the very
purpose of religion, and also to be able to help the fellow human beings. So
the essence of religion is the inner experience of Divinity, of light, of love
and that is what we must aim and focus on.
Second
thing is cultural diversity. Culture changes every few kilometers. You move a
hundred kilometers and the dialect changes, the food habit changes and this
diversity is the beauty of our creation. We must appreciate this. Instead of
making this a point of contention we should turn it into an opportunity to
celebrate. This is very important and to do all this we need energy.
When
we are stressed how can we get energy? That’s where we need to do some
breathing exercises, eat proper food and have some humor in life, and most
important of all take those ten important minutes to relax or meditate every
day. I would recommend this to everyone. For just ten to fifteen minutes, sit
and relax, relax your mind, relax your intellect, go within, observe your
breath, you will find that you are a fountain of energy, you are an ocean of
love and you are a mountain of ideas.
The suicide rate in Korea is very high. The children of Korea are
growing up in an environment where there is too much competition and very less
culture and spirituality. Please send us your words of wisdom.
Sri Sri: When energy goes down you get depressed and when it goes further
down suicidal tendencies arise. Through proper breathing exercises, some
meditation and through good and loving company energy can go up.
Usually
when we have some negative things in our minds we share it with somebody and
our so called friends confirm our negativity rather than dissolving the negativity.
They say, 'Yes what you say is correct and everything is hopeless'. Instead we
should raise their level of enthusiasm and energy.
It
is not only the poor people who commit suicide but those who are rich also
commit suicide because it is the state of mind which is responsible for
suicidal tendencies. It has nothing to do with material acquisition. I would
say that anyone with suicidal tendencies should be led to someone who can teach
them meditation, who can make them do some breathing exercises and raise their
energy level. And this is possible.
Violence
against oneself is as bad as violence against someone else. So the world is
caught between societal violence on one side and suicidal tendencies on the
other side. It is only spirituality which can bring them to the center and
which can relieve them from these two extremities
.
If
you find anyone with the slightest suicidal tendency please ask them to do some
yoga. Get them around some good company, get them to sing and dance, and make
them understand that life is much more than just a few material positions. Life
is much more than blame or appreciation from someone. Life is much more than a
relationship or a job. The reason for suicide is failure in
relationship, failure in job and not being able to achieve what you want to
achieve. Life is much more than the small desires that pop up in your
consciousness, in your mind. See life from a bigger perspective and engage
yourself in some sort of social activity; service activity.
Service or seva can keep people sane and keep them out of this
mental depression. Mental depression is worse than an economic recession. One
has to take responsibility to sail over this and help others around them. The
Art of Living is very much involved in working with such people and I would
like more people to join and work to eradicate this menace of depression and
suicidal tendencies.
Addiction is the most serious problem in the society, how to come
out of it? Also, what advice do you have for the children of addicted parents?
Sri Sri: Parents should create a barrier in the minds of children not to
touch any substance which they can get addicted to and which are harmful to
them. We should create a prejudice against it, a psychological barrier which
will stop them from even looking in that direction. This is essential.
Like
when a plant is being grown you put a fence around to protect the plant. In the
same way we must protect the young minds, with certain mental barriers. This is
essential. We have to give them certain concepts by which they do not move an
inch in that direction.
For
those who are already addicted, to bring them out, there are three ways: Love,
Greed and Fear. If they love someone then ask them to take a vow or promise on
their loved one that they will never touch it again. Or tell them that you will
have so much more luck if you don’t touch these addictive substances.
Help them in whatever manner you can to come out of it. There are many remedies
in Homeopathy and in Ayurveda. Yoga and meditation are also very good. I have
seen millions of people come out of their addictions just by doing some yoga
and meditation.
If somebody feels that if yoga, meditation and pranayama are
non-secular, do you have any advice for them?
Sri Sri: People who think that yoga, meditation and pranayama are
non-secular have not tried it and have a prejudice. An exercise or a technique
is for everybody, it works on everyone. It helps to calm one’s mind and be more
creative. So people should first try it and then they will find that it is so
secular and so universal.
Yoga does not contradict anyone’s religion or their belief system at all. This
misconception can easily be removed just by doing it once.
There are many religions in the world. Is religion the cause of
division or does religion unite?
Sri Sri: Without knowledge, without wisdom religion appears to divide
people. It becomes the core or the only way of one's identity.
First
conflict arises between different religions, then inside the religion you will
see inter religious conflicts arise and then groups are formed. All this
happens due to lack of wisdom and lack of understanding.
A
wise man would benefit from all religions. He will see that religion is adding
more value to one’s life. Without this wisdom if you hold on to religion only
for identity and not for your evolution then definitely it is divisive.
Our identity should first be that we are part of one light. The second identity
is that we are part of one human society, one global family. And the third
could be nationality or language. The fourth could be religion. And fifth could
be the heritage or family.
You can keep the other identities, but when you forget that you are a part of
one human society, one universal light, that is when religion is used to divide
our society and destroy ourselves. With wisdom you would celebrate diversity
and take the best from every religion so that you can evolve to be a good human
being.
Sri Sri what is your message for everyone?
Sri Sri: Every face on this earth is the book of the universe, the book of
God. Everybody is a fountain of love. Let this love be expressed, let this
fountain flow, and enrich our planet at this time. Love and blessings to all of
you.