The nature of mind is turbulence

मन है तो शोर है। मन प्रेम में घुल गया, तो नमन हो गया। मन नहीं रहा, तो अमन हो गया।

~ गुरुदेव श्री श्री रवि शंकर 

 

Translated from Hindi 

The nature of mind is turbulence. Through spiritual practises when the mind becomes no- mind, unshakable peace dawns in life.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Friends are not made by selection

Friends are not made by selection, you keep your friendliness and treat everyone as your friend from your side. If someone doesn't consider you as their friend then that is their problem, not yours.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

If you don't know you are loved by the Divine

If you don't know you are loved by the Divine, you will not be able to celebrate life. You will live in insecurity. With insecurity comes greed-selfishness-anger- lust. And with that comes sadness and misery one behind the other, like a chain.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

I was thinking I am sitting in your heart

Question - Gurudev, 5000 years ago, you chose a chariot as your vehicle. Now, this time you have chosen Innova as your vehicle.

Gurudev Sri Sri - I was thinking I am sitting in your heart, but you are making me sit in an Innova. I like to sit on that aasan (seat) which is in everyone’s heart.

Dropping the past is the true offering

Dropping the past is the true offering. The Divine does not want any gift from you. The Divine only wants your worries.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji 

Forgiving someone shows one's compassion

Forgiving someone shows one's compassion. Asking for forgiveness shows that you recognise your mistakes, and that you resolve not to repeat them in the future. Now to say, 'Only if he/she asks me for forgiveness will I forgive them', this is of a lower form of forgiveness. The highest form of forgiveness is to realise that the other committed a mistake out of ignorance, and having a sense of compassion for them. Forgiving others with a sense of compassion is the best form of forgiveness.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji 

Accept. Then you can act better.

Accept. Then you can act better. If you don't accept, emotions rise, intellect is clouded and actions become regrettable.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji 

When you think negatively about yourself

When you think negatively about yourself, you feel depressed and become angry and hate everyone else again. If you think good about yourself, you have problems, and when you think bad about yourself, you have even more problems. So drop your image.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji 

If you are a giver of happiness you get joy and love.

If you are a taker of happiness you get misery, if you are a giver of happiness you get joy and love.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji 

How can one stop thinking others are fools?

Question - Gurudev, How can one stop thinking others are fools?

Gurudev Sri Sri - You don’t have to. You can see the whole world as fools. The advantage is you don’t get attached to anyone. No one likes to associate with fools. You can think everybody is a fool and be cool.

Yoga takes you closer to your true nature

Yoga takes you closer to your true nature. Peace is our very nature. Yoga leads you to inner peace.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Yoga is a technology

Yoga is a technology which would enable you to be more energetic.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Yoga is undoubtedly the best app

Yoga is undoubtedly the best app that everyone must download in their lives.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

The wisdom of Yoga transforms

The wisdom of Yoga transforms one from arrogance to self- confidence, from meekness to humility.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Meditation is a part of Yoga

Meditation is a part of Yoga. Yoga has to be meditative, else it will just become an exercise.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Stretching the mind is meditation.

Stretching the body is asana, stretching the breath is Pranayama and stretching the mind is meditation.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Yoga is a gift to humanity

Yoga is a gift to humanity. It can help us sail over tough times.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Yoga makes our emotions

Yoga makes our emotions very stable and our intuition very strong.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Bhakti Yoga is

Question - Gurudev, why is Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion) considered to be above all, vis-à-vis Karma Yoga (path of action), Gyaan Yoga (path of knowledge)?

Gurudev Sri Sri - Bhakti Yoga is more juicy, easy and much quicker to attain. This is the tendency of intelligent people, they want to do less and accomplish more.

What are the benefits of doing Yoga?

Question - Gurudev, What are the benefits of doing Yoga?

Gurudev Sri Sri - The benefits of Yoga are multi-fold:

1) Yoga has immense health benefits.

2) Yoga also changes the behaviour of a person since behaviour depends on the stress level in a person. It creates a friendly disposition and a very pleasant atmosphere.

3) Yoga has a secret to turn the state of mind. It empowers you to feel the way you want to feel at any time. Instead of being a victim of your own feelings.

4) We convey a lot through our presence and our vibes. Yoga helps to improve our vibes. Our ability to communicate depends on our ability to receive communication from others. Yoga helps us to have that clear mind.

5) Yoga is one of the best tools to nurture an individual to take responsibility. Innovation, intuition, skills, and better communication: all are side-effects of Yoga.