You have said that we shouldn't give explanation to people. But if we have something in our heart that is heavy and feel the need to talk about it, then what to do?

Gurudev, you have said that we shouldn't give explanation to people. But if we have something in our heart that is heavy and feel the need to talk about it, then what to do?

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is no one rule for it, sometimes you want to speak and become calm and sometimes speaking doesn't help in any way. Wake up and see, the whole world is like a dream. All those thoughts have gone, the behavior of people will disappear. Some people act good and some act bad, but everyone is going to die, and the world will be finished. This set of people will all go away. Then new people will come and they will all die. Then another set of people will come, they will fight among themselves, they will hug, love, kiss, do everything, and they will all die. Seven billion people on the planet today and all these seven billion people will all die. It is only a matter of a few years. In another hundred years, do you think the same people will be here? Not one person who is here today will be alive. And two hundred years later, even the grandchildren will not be there. See, the world is like a river, there is fresh water flowing every moment in this river. What is it that you are so bothered about? If you want to leave something behind, it should be some knowledge that would help someone; that would be useful to someone. Not what he said, what she said, and what you think about so-and-so's situation. Come on, this is all nonsense! Throw them out of the window. It has no meaning. Hours together you waste in explaining, why you felt the way you were feeling and how and why others are feeling the way they are feeling. 

Do you know, when the time changes, the mind also changes. There is a beautiful science about this. You can also get a clue from the astrological chart, how the mind is connected with time. Sometime, we will start a course on the connection between mind, time and the planets. See, I don’t want to say astrology because it has been misused and misinterpreted so many times. It is one of the most disorganized sciences today. No doubt astrology is a science but it has been distorted so much that you can’t even see what the original is.There are twelve constellations and nine planets according to Vedic astrology. It is said that when Jupiter transits in the eighth place from the time you are born, it has an impact on your mind. Similarly, when Saturn transits the eighth place, it makes your emotions go topsy-turvy. When Jupiter is in the eighth place, you lose all your wisdom. But that is only for eleven months, and in these eleven months, it is only for three months that it makes you so miserable. Unless and until you are in deep spiritual knowledge or enlightened, this will definitely affect your mind. But if you know, 'These are the three months that are going to be a little difficult on my mind and emotions', then you will not make decisions, or do things in those months. Similarly, every two and a half days, the mood of the mind changes. If you are miserable, it won't exceed two and half days. There will be a break and then it may come again.

is there any simple way to overcome worries in life other than meditation?

Question - Gurudev, is there any simple way to overcome worries in life other than meditation?

Gurudev - In Shiva Sutras there is a sloka, "Jnandahisthanam matrka" which basically means - Go to the root of knowledge, silence.

Carefully observe and distinguish the different ideas, thoughts or worries that arise in your mind. Then observe one thought, then one sentence and then one word. Then separate that one word into letters and look at each letter carefully. When you do this, your worries will disappear.

Practice this for one week and you will understand that when we hold onto the silence that is in between words, then worries vanish.

To transcend them is to reach silence.

Move from knowledge to the highest knowledge.

A mantra, a sacred sound, is defined as "manahtrayate iti mantrah" - a mantra is that which, when repeated constantly, clears your mind from worries and protects you. Knowledge is bondage, and it is impossible to gain knowledge without words.

We need the help of language to understand what we are worrying or not worrying about. When we separate the words, we will be free from worry. One gets worried by holding onto sentences. Suppose your mind is worried that "My son is unemployed." Now sit down and break up each of the words in the sentence, like this: M-y s-o-n i-s u-n-e-m-p-l-o-y-e-d.

The intensity of the worry becomes less, and if you reduce its intensity, then the mind, which is entangled in a sentence, drops the worry and becomes contemplative. If you meditate and attempt to drive away the worry, it may not work. So take hold of the worry and go for its root by taking apart its words and meaning.

how to Let Go of a Failed Relationship as it gives a lot of pian while remembering what the other person did to me? Please guide us on how to move on and start a fresh in life.

Question - Gurudev, how to Let Go of a Failed Relationship as it gives a lot of pian while remembering what the other person did to me? Please guide us on how to move on and start a fresh in life.

Sri Sri - Relationships cause you so many problems and you get so heartbroken. When a relationship breaks down, you get so devastated as though you cannot exist anymore. At that time, it is wisdom that can give you the strength to move on.

The other day when I was in California somebody said, “I am devastated, my relationship ended. We were together for so many years and he left me.”

I told her, “My dear, there are seven billion people on the planet, and a third of them are of marriageable age. Don’t worry, you will only get a better person. Move on!”

Just that one word of encouragement and she lit up and got the confidence, “Yes, so what if he left me, he does not know my worth, he is a fool.”

So just move on! You don’t have to say bad things and call him a rogue, or a cheater. If you call him a cheater, you are going to get more upset. And you never know, the other can say, “Well, you are so dumb to get cheated. Why don’t you look inside?”

So you cannot correct the other person, but you can definitely correct yourself. Move on with a fresh heart, with a lighter heart, and with a happier heart, instead of cribbing and calling him a cheater and all these things. Otherwise, he has left you and gone but you have not left him, you have put him in your head and have spoiled your mind.

Wake up and see, before the relationship, you were alive and kicking, you were laughing, smiling, and happy. Remember the days before you met the person and started your relationship. Life was okay. So it will be okay afterward as well.

You may have lost out on your relationship, but don’t lose your smile! If you keep the smile, then someone else will come into your life. Otherwise, who will come and make friends with a depressed person? If you are depressed then you won’t find another boyfriend or girlfriend! Nobody will get charmed by a person who has a long face. When you are looking for a companion, enthusiasm and smiles are exactly what you need.

can you please speak about bondage? Why does the soul feel trapped, and what are the causes of bondage and how to come out of it and experience true freedom?

Question - Gurudev, can you please speak about bondage? Why does the soul feel trapped, and what are the causes of bondage and how to come out of it and experience true freedom?

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - Ignorance is the cause of bondage. And why there is ignorance? There is no answer to that. Why has the Divine first created this ignorance and then the means to get out of it? That is why it is called Leela (a game or play of the Divine).

It is like asking, 'Why do we have a football match? Why are there two courts with some coaches and some players on one side, and some on the other side, pushing the ball from this side to that side? Why do they not have their own balls and stay in their own courts?' Then there is no play!

So because of ignorance there is a play, there is the game. That is why the whole world is called the Leela of the Parampurusha (the Supreme Divinity).

Bondage is not anywhere outside - it is in the mind, in the consciousness.

Memory makes you miserable or wise. Memories of events and experiences of the changing finite world bind you but memory of your nature liberates you. Memories of ever changing relative - however good or bad - bring bondage. Memory of the non-changing self elevates awareness.

There is freedom when you realize that you are just a witness to all that is happening. If you could just see that all the states of the mind are temporary.

Every action when it's done, as a doer it will have some karma. If action is a spontaneous happening and you are just a witness to that action then it will not bring any karma.

Life is like a river, everchanging. Events are like the ripples, that don't cease to exist. Wisdom is like the undercurrent, silent yet strong. Self is like the basin, a witness to all.

The day we say, 'I want nothing. I'm happy,' that day a shift has already happened. Desires are our bondage & contentment is freedom.

Our consciousness is like a mirror. Different images come onto it, and they all move away. Know this, and be free. When we get attached to any of those images, that is bondage. So, wake up and see - the mind is a mirror.

If we study law, there is a guarantee of becoming a lawyer. If we study engineering, there is a guarantee of becoming an engineer if we put in our efforts. However, there is no guarantee of getting liberation if we keep doing our Sadhana and keep walking this path. How do I be motivated to walk the spiritual path even after knowing this?

Question - Gurudev, If we study law, there is a guarantee of becoming a lawyer. If we study engineering, there is a guarantee of becoming an engineer if we put in our efforts. However, there is no guarantee of getting liberation if we keep doing our Sadhana and keep walking this path. How do I be motivated to walk the spiritual path even after knowing this?

Gurudev - It is definitely guaranteed. Arjuna asks the same question in the Bhagavad Gita.

So, Lord Krishna replies, ‘Nikhikalyanat karat kadastam tatta gakhti' (na hi kalyāṇa-kṛit kaśhchid durgatiṁ tāta gachchhati in chapter 6, verse 40 of Bhagavad Gita), which means one who does good deeds, they never go down. He can never suffer pain, neither in this world nor in any other world. You will always rise to higher levels of existence.

You will be born in a good wealthy family, and due to the memories of your old life, you will start with that, where you left off. So do not worry. Your actions and meditation will never go away.

For one who walks the spiritual path be assured that you will only move higher and higher.

Why is it necessary for us to spread the knowledge of The Art of Living in the world ?

Question - Gurudev, Why is it necessary for us to spread the knowledge of The Art of Living in the world ?

Gurudev Sri Sri - We have to spread this knowledge of life to every doorstep and you all have to work for that. People know how to operate mobile phones but they don't know how to manage their own life, mind.

We need to bring this education to every nook and corner of the planet - 'How to be happy and make others happy.' 'How to live and let others live in peace.' This education is needed. We need to spread the Art of Living. This knowledge helps us in moving through challenges with a smile, sharing happiness with others, feeling one with everyone and this is the Art of Living.

The goal of Art of Living is about having a perfect balance in life. Both inner richness and outer beauty. Don't you want this?

Knowledge is ancient and eternal but the presentation of knowledge and reach of knowledge needs an organisation and that’s what the Art of Living movement is all about.

Did you know that the Goal of Art of Living is to turn every tear into smile, anger into compassion, hate into unconditional love.

Knowledge and wisdom are eternal. They are ancient and yet ever new. And that is what Art of Living has been doing - reviving wisdom, kindling compassion and uniting people of all strata from society.

The ultimate goal of human life is Self-realization. This is the core of Art of Living, to lead people to a deeper level of understanding about one's Self. The means for this is Meditation and spiritual knowledge. And the application of this is service to society.

We should see, ‘How can I be of service? How can I be of use to others?’ The Art of Living is a platform for everyone to come together and do some service. Reduce stress, reduce violence, create a sense of belonging, and spread the positive vibrations of love and peace. Shall we all do this together? Is everyone committed to this?

what is the most important knowledge that one should remember when going through difficult times?

Question: Guruji, what is the most important knowledge that one should remember when going through difficult times? 

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

If you have a problem in life, do not blame others because it is your karma that brings you these bad experiences. A good seeker or student understands this and does not complain.

If the situation you are in is inevitable, tolerate. If it's avoidable, get out of there. If you feel like you can expand your skills, smile. Every uncomfortable situation increases your comfort zone. Every awkward situation is a test of how deep you are in knowledge. Love something of an awkward situation. This will increase your comfort zone. When your comfort zone increases, nobody will be able to press your buttons and you will become so focused and unbreakable.

Every pain is trying to shake you, to see if you are strong or not. It is to make you stronger. What happened, had to happen, do not sit down and think that you could have done this or that, it is useless. Move on.

Remember that in life when we face challenges, our inner abilities and talents ignite, making us more innovative and creative. The proof of your peace is only when there are obstacles. Appreciate the obstacles. 

Leave all the complaints and thank all those bitter days because they have given you strength.

Whatever is yours will come to you, it will stay with you! You cannot go without receiving it. Even if Lord Indra comes, he cannot take it away from you; what is yours, you will get it for sure.

Don't be in a hurry to get rid of storms, be with them. If you are peaceful, everything around you becomes peaceful. You are the center of this universe. Most important of all, not all storms come to interrupt your life, some come to clear your way.

Whoever walks the path of wisdom does not lack anything. Difficulties come but there is always care, protection and divine grace.

What is the importance of chanting mantras?

Question: What is the importance of chanting mantras?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When someone abuses you verbally, how do you feel? 

If someone says that you are a donkey, how do you feel? What does it do to you? What does it create? Anger! It shakes you. It creates some negative vibrations; you feel angry. You feel some sensations in the stomach, the head. 

If a bad word can create so much physiological reactions in you, do you think a very sweet name, a chanting, which includes a lot of energy of the cosmos, does not do anything to your body? 

It is unscientific and stupid to think that a mantra does not do anything to your body. That is not the case! It does. 

Mantras bring out all the positive energy inside you. It is called mantra kavach; a mantra creates an armor around your body.

Do you have any special suggestions for us to progress faster on the spiritual path?

Question: Gurudev, Do you have any special suggestions for us to progress faster on the spiritual path?

Gurudev: I would like to take you into deeper knowledge soon. We will go into deeper knowledge, but for that the first thing you need to do is be satisfied.

See, in the world there is no end to problems. Some or the other problems keep coming up, either financial, or health related, or relationship related problems. And if none of these are there, there is the problem of someone saying something to you and you feeling upset about it. The mind keeps getting caught up in problems. You should rise above this, and understand that the nature of the world is like that.

See, if you have a home which is near the highway, how can you complain about noise? Similarly, if someone has a home in the forest and they are afraid of animals, then what can you say? If someone has a home near the ocean, and they are afraid of water, what can be said to them? Similarly, when you are in the world, there will be some pleasant experiences and some unpleasant experiences. There will be some blame and some praise, all of this will happen, but none of these should touch you, you should just keep moving ahead. So, sit happily, walk happily and do everything happily.

Someone asked me yesterday, 'What was the happiest time of your life?' I said, 'What? The happiest time? Why do you tie 'time' with 'happiness'? I am happiness'.

Time changes, sometimes there are good times and sometimes there are bad times. If you tie 'happiness' to 'time', then happiness will also change as times change. But when you know, that happiness has nothing to do with time, then you can be happy at all times. And this is knowledge!

We tie our happiness to people, places, situations, or time. All that you need to do is move away from this and realize that your nature is happiness, and it has nothing to do with time. This is the highest knowledge. It may sound very difficult, but it is not impossible. Any fool can be unhappy when things are not okay. But it takes courage to be happy even when things are falling apart. And you are all courageous and strong! Meditate, Serve and Be Happy!

how to let go of people who are no more in our life?

Question - Gurudev, how to let go of people who are no more in our life?

Sri Sri - Expand your vision about yourself, about life and about this universe. This universe has been there for at least 19 billion years, and it is part of billions of galaxies. One amongst the billion galaxies is our Milky Way.

So the Milky Way is actually very small. In the Milky Way, we have our solar system, which is the size of a dot in the Milk Way, and in that, there is our planet Earth, and in that there is you! One would have to take a lens to see you, and by the time they get to see you, you’re already gone (referring to the magnanimity of the universe in comparison with our existence). What is your life in comparison to the creation?

In this multi-verse, planet Earth is so insignificant, and you are even more insignificant. Another factor is time. In so many billions of years, billions of people have walked this planet. There are seven billion people on this planet today, and many are being born every day and many are dying. Then what is your life?

It’s like a blink of the eye, and you’re already gone! When you see your life from this bigger context, you realize that this is all nothing! You live for 80 years on this planet called Earth. Out of that, 35 years you spend sleeping, 10 years you spend in the bathroom, 10 years you spend eating, 25 years you spend working.

The waking period in your life is so small. In that little time what is the point of saying, ‘Me, me, me?’ It is nothing! When you see life from a bigger context all the worries disappear and a new dimension opens up.

I get doubts in almost every aspect of life. My confidence gets low due to it. Please suggest what I can do to fix this problem.

Question - Gurudev, I get doubts in almost every aspect of life. My confidence gets low due to it. Please suggest what I can do to fix this problem.

Gurudev Sri Sri - That is not my job. My job is to create more doubts. Doubts are like baking soda, it bakes you well, so get baked! Once, I was in Sweden, I was in a Satsang and there was this journalist who came and stood in front of me and said, ‘Gurudev, you beat around the bush, sometimes you never answer questions directly. I am asking you a straight question now. You should answer me otherwise I am not going to leave you’. I said, ‘Okay.’

‘Are you enlightened?’ He asked. I looked at him, smiled, and said, ‘No.’ Why to take the headache of proving? When you say no, matter is finished. The conversation ends. Full stop!

Nobody in the past could ever convince anybody, or even tried to convince anybody that they are enlightened. If somebody had said that, then they would run into problems, they might be crucified and put somewhere. So I simply said no, but he would not move.

He said, ‘You are simply kidding, tell me the truth.’

I said, ‘No’. He said, ‘No, no. I don't agree, tell me the truth.’

I said, ‘It would make sense if I had said yes and you did not agree; but when I said no, how can you say that you don’t agree with me. That means something in your heart is telling you that there is something more. Listen to your own mind then, why are you asking me?’ So, one is the intellectual level, and the other is something else; the sixth sense tells you, ‘Oh yeah, this is the correct answer, this is the truth.

Doubt happens when one gets inquisitive, or when the energy is low.

Doubt as much as possible, but the truth always stands up to the doubt. Truth is so strong that doubt cannot destroy it.

Doubt is always about something that is positive. Put doubt in its proper place and doubt the doubts. Doubt the negative and put your trust in the positive. When you meditate - the prana in you goes up then automatically the doubt goes away.

Remember that your faith and love are a 100 times more powerful than doubt. Faith is like the sun, doubt is like a cloud. Despite cloudy days, the sun shines!

What is the reason for keeping our eyes partly open during meditations?

Question - Gurudev, until now, we kept our eyes closed while meditating, so we could go inwards. What is the reason for keeping our eyes partly open during meditations?

Gurudev Sri Sri - Many times, when you close your eyes, you have the tendency to go into your mental fantasies, or drift off into a dream, or sometimes fall asleep. This is called Mano Rajaya in yogic terminology. Mano Rajaya is a state where the mind starts creating its own kingdom and reels in it, either in conflict or in pleasure. You sit in your own mind, thinking, fantasising or recreating something that makes you feel happy or upset. Either you think everybody is against you, the whole world is against you, your mother in-law, father in-law, husband or boyfriend, everybody is out to get you. Or your mind thinks about how you should convince or impress somebody. These sorts of things go on in the mind. When your mind is stuck in Mano Rajaya, it transpires all the more during (close eyed) meditations. In this meditation, where you keep the eyes partly open, you have very little chance to drift into Mano Rajaya, a different quality of meditation starts happening.

How to make my home a place of happiness? Even on weekends my wife picks up arguments, how do I deal with this?

Question - Gurudev, how to make my home a place of happiness? Even on weekends my wife picks up arguments, how do I deal with this?

Gurudev Sri Sri - You know what? I'll give you an advice. Take turns in an argument, don't do it at the same time. You argue on Monday, let her argue on Sunday and you keep smiling. You know, an argument cannot be countered with an argument. Questions cannot be replied with questions. When she argues you smile. Make this a policy, and keep rowing the boat.

After having tried various means I’m still not able to come out of entanglement (attachment). What do I do, please help?

Question - Gurudev, after having tried various means I’m still not able to come out of entanglement (attachment). What do I do, please help?

Gurudev Sri Sri - It may be some Karma from the last birth or some samskaras (impressions). Do seva. Scriptures say that seva would definitely remove karma of entanglement. If seva cannot remove then knowledge will remove entanglement. If knowledge cannot remove, then bhakti (devotion) can surely remove entanglement. Even if Bhakti is not able to remove entanglement then leave it to time. With time entanglement will surely dissolve but don't just live it to time without trying all the other means (laughter). Do seva, be in knowledge, have bhakti and even after that, if you are not able to get rid of your entanglement, then you just leave it on time.

Scientific definition of God?

Question - Gurudev, can you give me a scientific definition of God?

Gurudev Sri Sri - God is the substratum of creation, from which everything has come, into which everything goes. GOD is 'Generator', 'Operator' and 'Destroyer', that principle is called GOD. Brahma (generator), Vishnu (operator) and Mahesh (destroyer), but there is only one parmatma (God). Atom, the quantum field itself, you can call as God, the field in which everything has happened. It is that one thing that forms itself into many. If you want to hear in an artist's words, then 'Love is God, and God is Love.

I feel that in this world, the intelligent people are full of doubt, while the stupid ones are full of confidence. Why is it so?

Question - Gurudev, I feel that in this world, the intelligent people are full of doubt, while the stupid ones are full of confidence. Why is it so?

Gurudev Sri Sri - Doubt, within a limit, is a sign of intelligence. Beyond a limit, it is a disease. If you have self doubt, then you can't do anything. Doubt can clog your intellect like a disease. Also, if you keep on doubting everybody around you, you can't do business. Business depends on trust. Administration depends on trust. Again, a sincere doubt is good, to awaken you towards knowledge. But beyond limit, it can cause heartaches and drag you backwards. Life should be like when you are in a car, where the windshield is big, you have a side mirror, and a little mirror to see the back. Just imagine if your windshield is as small as the rear mirror, and the rear mirror is as big as your windshield, then you are only seeing the past. You can't move anywhere. So, you need to know a little bit about the past. Sometimes, you need to look into the rear mirror and sometimes, you have to look in the side mirror. The windshield is your present, the vision of where you want to go.

Why does the mind wander all the time?

Question - Gurudev, why does the mind wander all the time?

Gurudev Sri Sri - It doesn't wander all the time. When you like something, your mind is just fixed there. Suppose you are watching a movie or television series, does it wander all over the place? No. For two and a half hours you are focused on the screen. You are sitting watching the movie and you are so immersed in it, tears come out of your eyes, and you roll and laugh. I don't think your mind is wandering all the time. The mind sticks to what it likes. Where there is some attraction, where there is beauty, where there is love, where there is truth, the mind automatically floats there. When you learn about the mind through yoga and meditation, you will know how you can bring your mind to the centeredness, the focus that you very much want.

Does karma follows us forever?

Question - Gurudev, does karma follows us forever?

Gurudev Sri Sri - Karma simply means action. There are three types of karma :

1. A latent action - If you had done something wrong because of which your car license was taken away, that is your past karma. 

2. A tendency - The tendencies in you is your future karma. 

3. The effect of an action in your life - Whatever you are doing now is your present karma. Karma is always there. You can get rid of the past. You can make your karma better for the future, and be in the present.

When someone criticizes me I switch off and go into hiding. How to handle criticism without arguing and fighting?

Question - Gurudev, when someone criticizes me I switch off and go into hiding. How to handle criticism without arguing and fighting?

Gurudev Sri Sri - Know that you're magnanimous. Every time you face a criticism know that you are vast like the ocean, and you can take in anything. When you feel small that is when you don't feel like taking criticism. When you feel you are very big, then you think, 'I am much bigger than this criticism, let me take it in.

Sex, drugs, alcohol, how does one escape them?

Question - Gurudev, sex, drugs, alcohol, how does one escape them? They are all over the place.

Gurudev Sri Sri - Just this thought that we want to escape and pull people out of it, will do it. Today, can you all take a vow that you will not even turn and look in that direction? If someone is even tempted, send them to me, or to any of our YES!+ teachers. They will give them better intoxication, an intoxication that will not come down at all. They can get a better high. What do you call it? A better kick? We can get you a better kick.