4th of Dec 2013
Bangalore, India
Gurudev, is there really some power such as intuition? And if yes, how can we gain that power? What is the secret?
Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar:
Yes, of course you can. You can develop your intuition through regular meditation.
When the mind is free of cravings, aversions and distortions, then it settles
and becomes sharper. That is when intuition develops. But if your mind is
constantly stuck in desires about something or another, then it does not happen.
When your mind settles and becomes still, then these abilities develop in you.
Just today I remembered that towards the end
of August 2011, I had said that Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal will not stay
together (in the fight against corruption in India), and they will soon part
ways.
In those days when the anti-corruption movement had just begun, no one had even
imagined that they would ever part ways. But I felt that they would not stick
together for too long.
The Guru (here referring to Anna Hazare) and the disciple (Arvind Kejriwal)
soon parted ways. Whoever heard me did not believe even for one moment that it
could be true. There seemed no possibility of it coming true at all. And just
look at the state of affairs today.
One is heading North and the other is headed down South of India.
So, when we are still and quiet,
whatever thoughts come in our mind become true and manifest.
Everyone has experienced this at some time or another in their life. When you
do not desire anything and repose within your Self, then this power simply
dawns within you.
Now not desiring anything does not mean you
should not wish for everyone’s well-being. No, this you can surely wish and
pray for. You should wish and pray for the progress and well-being of everyone
around you. This deep desire is equal to having no desire at all.
Gurudev, my wife always complains that I do not tell her ‘I love you’. But
it is not in my nature to express love through words. Is it necessary to
express love?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar:
See, there are different ways of saying and expressing
love. Just find a way that suits you and say it. If you cannot say it in words,
then express it by making some hand gestures. Or you can write it and give it
to her.
If you are away, in another place, you can send her a SMS. Nowadays you do not
even have to write complete words in the SMS. Just sending those smileys and
emoticons does the job! So just send those to her, one in the morning, then one
in the afternoon and one in the evening.
See, it is our duty to try and keep
everyone happy. Whether they choose to be happy or not is up to them.
Some people will not believe it, even if you express. After receiving your SMS
they will ask, ‘Do you really mean what you sent?’ They might even ask you
this. The mind is really very mysterious.
Love is said to be Anirvachaniya (that which is beyond words or cannot
be expressed completely through words). You go ahead and do it. Good luck!
(Laughter)
Gurudev, very often
people become excited or aggressive during times of revolution and lose their
presence of mind. Today we see minor waves of change in the society but they
soon disappear because there is no sense of awareness in people. How can we
maintain both dynamism and a sense of peaceful awareness at the same time?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar:
It is a bit difficult for
everyone to have that state of peaceful awareness. But if our political leaders
develop this sense of awareness, then our job of bringing about a positive
change in society is done.
When those in leadership positions work with awareness, they will not resort to
inciting people in the wrong way. They will be able to channel the enthusiasm
and spirit of the people in the right direction. This is what is needed.
So even if a few people start becoming more aware, then they will be able to
give the right direction to the energy and enthusiasm of all the people around
them. If the politicians themselves do not have awareness and continue to be
entangled in petty conflicts and issues, then the country will surely be headed
in the wrong direction.
Gurudev, what is the meaning of Sankhya Yoga?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar:
Sankhya Yoga is to
wake up and see that all this does not exist. There is only One, and everything
works through that. See that even thoughts are nothing, everything is just
vibrations.
Sankhya Yoga means the soul is eternal. Knowing that there is an element in me,
which does not perish, diminish, or age. Relax knowing that I am not the body.
Just knowing this, and relaxing within the Self is called Sankhya Yoga.
Gurudev, in the Agama
tradition, it is said that the Asana (here meaning holy or revered seat of a
deity) for the Devi (Mother Divine) is both Dharma (righteous conduct) and
Adharma (immoral conduct or deeds). Can you please explain this?
Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar:
Yes, Shakti (here
referring to the Mother Divine as the source of all energy) is present in both Dharma and Adharma. Otherwise, Ravana (the demon king of Lanka)
would not have had the power to stand up against Lord Rama. He was strong and
powerful, which is why he could gather might to stand against Lord Rama.
In the same way, if the demon Mahishasura did
not have any power, he would not have been able to face Goddess Durga. Is it
not so?
A war always takes place between opponents of equal power and skill. A 50-year
old man would not wrestle or fight a five year old child.
When
the Samudra Manthan (referring to the event of the
churning of Kshirsagar, the
great ocean by the demigods and the demons) took place, there were the Devas(demigods) on
one side, and the Asuras (demons)
on the other side. It is because they were both equal to each other in power
that they could churn the ocean using the great serpent Vasuki. If the power
of the Asuras had been greater than that of the Devas, then they
would have simply pulled the Devas to
their side. And if the Devas had
been mightier, then the Asuras would
have gotten pulled to their side. But that is not so. They are both equal in
strength, which is why sometimes the Devas (representing
righteousness and virtue) win, and sometimes it is the Asuras (representing
negativity and immorality) win.
Sometimes Dharma triumphs, and sometimes Adharma triumphs. It depends on who wins. When Dharma wins over Adharma, we say that
it is Satyuga (the Golden Age; referring to the
epoch of time characterized by goodness and prevalence of morality). When Adharma triumphs, we say that it is Kaliyuga (the Dark Age; referring to the epoch
of time characterized by immorality and downfall of human values).
Who wins in the end of this conflict is decided by Kaal (here implying Time).
When the Sattva (one of the three gunas characterizing
wisdom and righteousness) is more, then surely Dharma wins over Adharma. When there
is predominance of Rajoguna(one of the three gunas characterizing
attributes such as activity and passion) andTamoguna (the guna characterizing negativity
and inertia), then Adharma wins
in the end.
A conflict implies a battle between two equals. Now, the Para-Shakti (referring to the Mother Divine as the
primordial energy that creates and sustains all of creation) transcends this
conflict and is much higher than it. What is Para-Shakti? It is One without duality or conflict. All are equal and the same
before that divine power.
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