Speak Only Knowledge

Only speak Knowledge. Don't repeat anything that someone tells you or opinions about anyone that someone states -“That so-and-so said such-and-such about you.”

If someone comes to tell you such things, discourage them. Don't believe it.

If someone blames you directly, know that they are taking away your bad karma, and let it go. Don't believe in it, and if you're one of the Guru's close ones, you will take all of the blame of the world with a smile.

Conflict is the nature of the world; comfort is the nature of the self. Amidst the conflict seek the comfort.

ü  When you are bored with the comfort, get into the games of the world.

ü  When you are tired of the games of the world, get into the comforts of the Self.

If you are one of the Guru's close ones, you do both simultaneously. Trying to end a conflict prolongs it. Face the conflict by seeking the comfort of the Self.

God is alive in the world, and has been putting up with all the ongoing conflicts throughout the ages. If God can put up with all the conflicts, you can too. The moment you agree to be with the conflict, the conflict disappears.

People who love peace do not want to fight, and those who fight do not love peace. Those who want peace want to run away.

What is needed here is to be peaceful within and then fight.

The whole message of the Gita is to be peaceful yourself and then fight. Krishna tells Arjuna to fight but be in peace at the same time. Does this ring a bell?

In the world, you resolve one conflict and another one comes up. For example, Russia is solved and then Bosnia arises. You make one better, and then another starts up. Your body gets a cold, then you get better; then your back hurts, then it gets better. Your body gets better, and then the mind goes. The world runs like this, isn't it?

Without any intention, misunderstandings happen. It's not up to you to try to resolve them.

Ignore them and be alive.

Up Coming Events:

Sahaj Samadhi Meditation Course with Sri Balvinder ji, from 6^th Dec to 8^th Dec, 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM at Vardhaman Pratisthan Hall, in lane next to Audi Showroom, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune.

Sahaj Samadhi Meditation is a good addition to your daily Sadhana, everyone above the age of 16 years can participate in this course.

For registrations and details connect with Anuja @ 9822337883 or Siddharth @ 9822207728. 

Sahaj Samadhi Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VODqP0AeYDs

Santosha

Mullah Nasruddin used to grumble all the time. He was a farmer and so he would grumble that there were no rains for many years. He would say, “Oh, there is no rain. No crops are coming and it is so difficult”. He kept grumbling, and it so happened, that year there was very good rainfall and he got great crops in his field.

So people thought that this year Nasruddin would not grumble because his crops have come out so good. Now there was no problem and he must happy. So people went to greet him.

“So Mullah, how are you? You seem to be doing very good. Your field is simply flourishing”.

Mullah had the same long face, and he said, “Yes, but see I have so much work to do now. All these years I had nothing to do because there were no crops. But now there are so many crops. I have so many things to do. I have to go to the market and sell the crops. It is a big headache”. Whether there were crops or no crops, grumbling continued.

In the same way, in life you are unhappy about things you don’t have and unhappy about things you have Isn’t it?

Someone who does not have a car is unhappy because he does not have a car. Someone who has a car is unhappy because he has to maintain the car, and it is such a big headache. They have to pay the tax and do so many things.

Santosha, is developing the habit of being happy. You have to do it; nothing else can give you that.

                                                                                               - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji

Govardhana

You all must have heard the story of how Lord Krishna lifted the huge Mount Govardhana entirely on his little finger. The (prefix) ‘Go-’ means knowledge and knowledge is so vast, like a huge mountain. But one who has blossomed in knowledge can lift even a huge mountain very easily and effortlessly, using just his little finger. Can you lift anything with your little finger? You cannot actually lift anything using the little finger, isn’t it? But here, Lord Krishna lifted the entire Mount Govardhana using just his little finger. The word Govardhana means that which enhances and augments our knowledge. So when we stand in the enclosure of knowledge, we receive a protection, a shield from the storm and the heavy rain (signifying misery and suffering). To shelter yourself from the miseries of the world, you must come under the protection of Mount Govardhana (knowledge), and by doing this you will continue to blossom, and progress more and more in knowledge.

The word ‘Go’ has four different meanings: Jnana (knowledge), Gaman (travel), Prapti (to receive) and Moksha (liberation). Gaman means to keep on moving ahead in life and not look back at the past. Prapti means to reflect upon all that you have received. When you look back at your life and reflect upon what you have received, you will realize that you have received nothing other than knowledge in your life (meaning: everything else received in life being momentary or temporary). When death comes before you, there will be only two questions to answer for yourself: one is how much knowledge have you received, and second is how much love have you given to everyone around you. That is all there is to the act of giving and receiving in life. In receiving, you have to reflect on how much knowledge have you received, and in giving you must see how much love have you shared with everyone. When such knowledge increases in your life, then that is what Prapti is. So all four of these: Jnana, Gaman, Prapti and Moksha come to you when you are under the protection of Govardhana, which the Lord lifted so simply with his little finger.

When Lord Krishna lifted the mountain, all his other Gwalas (cowherd friends) also stood with Him below the mountain and placed their bamboo sticks to lend support to the mountain. They wanted to feel that they too are a part of this and are contributing in some way. They too wanted to satisfy that sense of doership in them. The meaning from this is: we must not think since that God will do everything, why should we make any efforts? No, you too should make your efforts and put in your stick along with the others (contribute in upholding the mountain). God is anyway doing everything, but does not mean that you do not do anything and remain idle. No, you too have to contribute your efforts and place your stick under the mountain. So the deeper meaning here is that we must do our duty and what we need to do. Instead of being idle and negligent, we must become proactive and responsible. Doing this combines all the three together: Karma, Jnana and also Bhakti (devotion).

How is that so? To save oneself from misery and suffering, one cries out to the Lord for safety with a sense of love and faith, this is Bhakti. Placing your own stick under the mountain (making one’s efforts or doing one’s duty) is Karma Yoga. And knowing that the Lord is upholding everything and taking care is Jnana. All three are important in life.

   --  H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji

JANMASHTAMI – KRISHNA’S BIRTH

　

The story of Krishna’s birth is widely known. It is said that Krishna was born to Vasudeva and Devaki at midnight. He was born in a prison as Devaki’s brother, Kamsa had imprisoned them.

 

When Krishna was born, the gates of the prison flew open, the guards were asleep and Vasudeva was able to smuggle the baby Krishna out of prison. As Vasudeva crossed the Yamuna, which was in spate because of the heavy downpour, the waters rose up to Vasudeva’s nose. It is said that the baby Krishna’s foot came out of the basket and touched the river. At that time the waters receded and Vasudeva was able to cross over to Gokul to hand over the baby Krishna to Yashoda – the symbol of love.

 

The story seems so fantastic – which brother would imprison his own sister and kill his own nephews. How could all the gates open on their own, how could all the guards fall asleep. How did Vasudeva cross the river and why did the river recede after being touched by the foot of a baby? It all seems so illogical.

 

However if we look at the Tatva behind the story, it encapsulates eternal truth. Vasudeva – signifies the breath, and Devaki – the body. When the breath and body unite – when yoga happens – that is when the divinity is born. However the breath and body on their own cannot sustain the bliss that comes out of their union. Hence the bliss has to be taken to Yashoda – the embodiment of love. It is love that can sustain the bliss of divinity.

 

Kamsa is the embodiment of ego – which imprisons the body and is afraid of losing itself at the hands of the divine consciousness. The gates are the five senses which help the ego to bind the body and mind. When divinity is born all these shackles fall off and the way is clear for the baby Krishna to be transported out of the prison.

 

Yamuna is the symbol of Bhakti or Kirtan. When Krishna is being taken across the river, Yamuna rises up in ecstasy. In Kirtan the Bhajans (Satsangs) rise in tempo and then reach a crescendo. At the end there is a feeling of ecstasy, when you feel the divinity has touched you. That is the feet of baby Krishna touching the river Yamuna.

 

Krishna’s consciousness was fully blossomed and infinite. Krishna’s consciousness should remind each one of us about how vast and expansive and fully blossomed each one of us can become.

　

– Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji

　

　

How to transform lower energy into higher energy

How to transform lower energy into higher energy:

1.   Remember your death. It can happen any moment. The very remembrance transforms lower into higher energy.

2.   Knowing your true nature you are space not this body. Soaking in knowledge.

3.   Dissolving all names and forms.

4.   Whatever you are attracted to see them as forms of the divine. See divinity in the hearts of your attractions. Wanting to posses will go down. Lust transforms to love.

5.   Dance and sing, immediately energy rises up.

6.   STOP talking about worldly things with other people. ‘Hey how about you! Do you have a girlfriend?’ This unnecessary thing that you indulge in talking about other people’s life is the worst thing that pulls all your energy down.

In front of me you talk knowledge but when you go away you indulge in all this unnecessary talk. All this unnecessary worldly talk collectively lowers everyone’s energy.

Go and sit in the burial ground look into the dead bodies and see how energy goes up. If you don’t realize this now but thinking about lust all the time is Mithyachara. This is not advisable. Then you are not mature for this path. Go out in the world, finish it all up and then come. But let me tell you it will never end because it’s the same energy that is going to be low or high.

Also don’t blame yourself. Don’t resist…follow any of the six ways shared above to transform your energy.

Make it a point that for anybody who talks about things that bring your energy down, i.e. Samsara, worldly talk, immediately cut them off. Don’t even talk to them. Turn your face around because their very energy can affect your body and your way of thinking.

Be curt. Don’t be shy and don’t be too polite. Otherwise you are very polite, Oh, I don’t want to annoy this person and they will never stop. They will just go on. I have never given such a strong talk like this!

With this knowledge (Spiritual Path) I tell you, you will never drown in this world. Increase your Sattva and just move on.

- Sri Sri

Life is full of Gurus...

Life is full of Gurus...

There are Child gurus
There Childish gurus

There are Innocent gurus
There are Crocked gurus

There are Talking gurus
There are Silient gurus

There are Serious gurus
There are Humours gurus

There are Smiling gurus
There are Laughing gurus

There are Lazy gurus
There are Enthusiatic gurus

There are Thin gurus
There are Fat gurus

There are Short gurus
There are Tall gurus

There are Helping gurus
There are Sulking

There are Guiding gurus
There are Mis-Guiding gurus

There are Compassionate gurus
There are Dispassionate gurus

There are Bearded gurus
There are Non-Bearded gurus

There are Visible gurus
There are Invisible gurus

There are He gurus
There are She gurus

There are Self Proclaimed gurus
There are No Claimed gurus

But, these all are just the flavour of our ONE Guru :)

Thank you for the support, learnings, caring, sharing, fun and more ... over all these years, Happy Guru Poornima :)

 

Guru Poornima

Guru Poornima is called the day of the Master but it is actually the day of the Devotee. Guru Poornima is New Year for spiritual seeker. There are three types of people who come to the Master, the student, the disciple and the devotee.

Student goes to a teacher and learns something, gets some information and then he walks out of the School. The student is one, who collects information, but the information is not knowledge, it is not wisdom, is it not so?

Disciple follows the example of the Master. But a disciple is with the Master for the sake of learning wisdom, for the sake of improving his life, for the sake of attaining enlightenment.

Devotee is not there even for wisdom. He is simply rejoicing in love. He has fallen in deep love with the Master, with the Infinity, with the God. He doesn’t care as to whether he gets enlightened or not. He doesn’t care as to whether he acquires a lot of knowledge or wisdom or not. But that very moment, and every moment, he is immersed in divine love that is enough for him or her. A devotee is very rare to find.

Students are in abundance, disciples are a few, but the devotees are rare.

Like fatherhood and motherhood, there is Guru-hood. We all have to play Guru-hood at least to somebody. We do play! Consciously or unconsciously you are all Guru to somebody. You keep giving advices and guiding people, giving them loving care! You all do this, but do it 100%, without expecting anything in return: that is living the Guru principle. There is no difference between the divine, the Self and the Guru. They are all one. Meditation is relaxing and reposing. Think of all the things to be grateful for and ask what you want for the future and bless everyone. We receive so many blessings and we should also bless all those who are in need.

– H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji

Are You Over Analysing!

Many times we analyze ourselves too much. We keep thinking, this is happening to me, that is not happening; or I want this, and I want that; or what I did there was so wrong, what I did here was right, etc. We get so entangled into too many thoughts about ourselves; this we should not do.

See, when the wind blows, what happens? Everything gets carried away with it, isn’t it? Everything flies away with the breeze.

So whatever happened in the past, whether good happened or bad happened, whether right happened or wrong happened, whether pleasant or unpleasant events happened, it all happened and it is all gone now. Just like how the air comes and blows everything away, in the same way, all of life’s events come and go. But what is important is that you should not get stuck anywhere, move ahead. Just become hollow and empty, and then you will be joyful.

Tell me, is there anyone who has not had any problems? Problems come in everyone’s life. Is there anyone who has not experienced happiness? Everyone, sometime or the other has experienced happiness.

Is there anyone who has not received praise? Everyone has been praised sometime or the other. Even a dog gets praised! People say, ‘What a nice dog’. Is there anyone who has not been criticized? Everyone has been criticized at some point or the other. Isn’t it so? Everyone gets criticized.

So if anyone praises you or criticizes you, knows that it is like the air which comes and goes. They are just some passing thoughts that came and went. Thoughts arise in peoples’ minds about you and they go. Some are good thoughts and some are bad thoughts. Now when people themselves are not going to be here forever, what permanence can you attach to their thoughts? What are you going to do with their opinions, when they themselves are not going to be there forever?

So why do you worry about some thoughts from here and there? You should just keep moving on in life. Whatever happens, just keep moving ahead, like air. The air never stops at one place, it keeps moving; water keeps flowing. Just like how nature follows certain laws, thoughts also follow a particular pattern; they come and they go. Sometimes they bring praise and sometimes criticism. So praise and criticism are part of life. You just move ahead. Don’t get caught up in it.

Many times people analyze themselves too much.

They keeping thinking so many things, I am fine, I am not fine, I am right, I am wrong, I have these qualities; I do not have these qualities. And by doing this, they get caught up in too much negative analysis about themselves. On the other hand, there are some people who don’t think about themselves at all. They drink alcohol, and only look for pleasure. They do not even for one moment look back and reflect on themselves. This is why, in the beginning, a seeker is told to first stop and reflect on what is it that he wants?

In The Art of Living Basic Course, this is the first question that we ask, ‘What do you want’? What are your problems?’ Introspection is the first step to move inward. We tell the participants, ‘Ask yourself, what it is that you want from life. Think about yourself, what do you want?’ This is the first step for a seeker. But if you keep asking yourself, ‘What do I want’, for the rest of your life, then your mind will rot and you will become depressed.

Every day if a person sits and thinks only about him-self, then he will rot. If you see the faces of such people, they look so pale and full of worries. Worry drips from the face of a person who only thinks about himself. Looking at such people would make you want to run away! And people do run away from then. Then this person thinks to himself, ‘Oh, what have I done wrong. Why do people run away from me?’ People run away from such individuals because their vibrations are so negative, as if they stink. If someone is stinking will people wait around him or her? No, they will simply run away! If you think so much about yourself only, who will be drawn towards you?

On one side is an ignorant person who does not think about himself at all. And on the other side is a person who only thinks about himself. Both are not good. On one side you have a person who is not ripe; too raw, and on the other side is a person whose mind has rotted by only thinking about him-self. Both are not good. You should adopt the middle path. Analyze yourself a little, reflect on it and then leave it and move ahead. Do not get stuck. So that you can move ahead, I am telling you that whatever has happened, just drop it and move ahead. Do not sit and regret about what has happened – neither about what you have done, nor about what others did. If you keep thinking about what you did, then you feel regret, and if you think about what others did wrong, then you get angry and worried.

Anyways you have no control over anyone. Nobody has ever had control over anyone else in this world. If you think you are controlling someone or are under the control or influence of someone, then that is a very wrong thought.

Everything in this world operates as per certain laws of Nature. So whatever has happened in the past, just shrug it off and move ahead. When you dust away all the dirt (of the past) that has accumulated inside you, then you will simply start shining. You become much stronger, your consciousness blossoms, and happiness starts to flow. Then you can say that you are alive. This is what life really is.

Now you might ask, ‘Can I remain happy the entire 24 hours of the day?’ If not for 24 hours, at least you can be happy for one or two hours! You may not be able to be a fish always floating in water (happiness), but at least you can take a shower for a little while. This is the very purpose of knowledge.

In the Bhagavad Gita it is said, ‘Na hi jnanena sadrusham pavitram iha vidyate. Tat svayam yoga-samsiddhah kalenatmani vindati’. (4.38)

It means: There is no greater purifier than Knowledge.

Everything is temporary. Everything is nothing. All of this is nothing. Just see all people that you see walking around, they are just ragdolls made up of the five elements. They are acting the way they do because of their karmas (actions) and samskaras (impressions). Some are rising in life because of the influence of their stars while some are having downfalls because of the influence of some other stars (referring to astrology).

All of them are moving about here and there doing this and doing that, but one day everything will end. So you just let them do what they are doing. How does it matter to you? You should continue to live happily. We need to remind ourselves about this again and again. As you move about in society, no matter how many times this dust accumulates on you, simply brush it off and move ahead. Whatever is yours will come to you for sure!

Now knowing this does not mean that you do not put any effort and just sit and do nothing at home. You sit at home and say, ‘Oh Gurudev, please get me married. Please find me a suitable bride or groom for me’, no! You also must make an effort. If you sit with a sad face, who will marry you! At least smile and be cheerful. That is why I opened a Matrimony department here (laughter). Its progress has been a bit slow though. You all come and get things moving there. Go and sit in the matrimony office and ask the staff there to find someone for you quickly. Do not be too choosy. Whoever you get just choose them; that’s it! Everything will be fine afterwards. Anyway all of this is only going to last for a few days, whether it is pleasant or unpleasant. Very soon life will be over. One day we all have to bid farewell to this world. No one is going to last forever. What is the use if you are going to take 60 years to choose your spouse?

A gentleman who was 60 years old came to me said, ‘Gurudev, please find someone for me. Is my soul mate out there somewhere?’

I told him, ‘If you have not found your soul mate after so many years of searching, you will have to wait a little bit longer. Not very long, just another 20 years more. That level of perfection is still not visible in you, and it should be recognized by your soul mate also’ (Laughter). We want to see everything perfect in others but we forget to look at ourselves. We do not reflect on ourselves. Reflect on yourself but then don’t get too entangled into the analysis. Do not overdo it. You have some good qualities and some not so good qualities, it is okay. Just keep moving ahead. Some things are fine, some are not, and it does not matter. You should simply keep moving forward.

- Sri Sri

Four Kinds of Attitude

1. Friendliness: Be friendly with people who are happy. If you are not friendly with happy people, you will be jealous. This is because you think that your enemy is happy, and you cannot tolerate your enemy being happy. So, shake hands with happy people. Such an attitude does a lot of good to your mind.

2. Compassion: Do not be friendly with people who are miserable, instead, have compassion for them. If you are friendly with unhappy people you will become unhappy. And if you become unhappy, you can never help them to come out of their misery. If the doctor also thinks, ‘How can I alone be healthy? Let me also share the patient’s misery’, then who will help the patient then? So, what should be the attitude with people who are miserable? Compassion, not pity.

3. Happiness: For people who are doing good work or who are successful in the world, you should feel happy as though you are doing it. For example, someone is a good singer, singing and bringing joy to everybody, seeing him you should think, ‘I feel so happy that this person is singing so well, and making everyone happy’. If someone is a great architect and builds beautiful buildings you should feel happy about it. Whenever someone does a good job, share that happiness with them; we need to have this attitude.

4. Indifference: For people who are doing horrible things in the society, destroying themselves, we usually get angry at them. When you are angry, your mind suffers a huge loss. You lose so much energy; you lose your mood, and your enthusiasm. When energy and enthusiasm goes away from you, you become angry and are no better than the other person. You do not know what you are doing. So, what should you do in such a situation? Have a sort of indifference in your mind.For example, there are thieves in the world, they are there, what can you do about them? First accept, be indifferent. However, this does not mean you do not take any action. Your mind is indifferent (unaffected), but you act on it.

These are the four attitudes that will help us to save our mind. This is what we need to do, save our mind at all costs.

-- H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji

Buddha

Buddha was born at a very interesting time in India’s history, at a time when India was prosperous and had reached its height in philosophical thinking. In a highly intellectual society, people think they know it all, but in fact, they have not known at all. This was the case in India. So Buddha said, “Come, I have a simple technique for you. Keep your concepts to yourself, but just come and sit.” Then Buddha gave them four steps.

 

1. Observe the body (Kayaanu Paschana)

2. Observe the sensations (Vedananu Paschana)

3. Observe the flow of mind (Chittanu Paschana)

4. Observe your true nature (Dhammanu Paschana)

 

So, Buddha spoke and taught for years. Thousands would sit still, observe and meditate and become free. Buddha would not indulge in any philosophic discussion.

 

Mind is noise; the source of the mind is silence. That’s why Buddha said, “no mind”. He was referring to the chain of thoughts that simply wander in the mind all the time.

 

At a time when there was so much prosperity, Buddha gave begging bowl to his main disciples and asked them to go and beg. Not that they were in need of food but he wanted to teach them the lesson of becoming ‘nobody’ from being ‘somebody’. You are nobody; you are insignificant in this Universe. When kings and geniuses of that time were asked to beg, they became embodiments of compassion.

 

Observe your true nature. What is your true nature? It is peace, compassion, love, friendliness and joy and it is silence that gives birth to all this. Silence swallows the sadness, guilt, and misery and gives birth to joy, compassion and love.

 

 -- H. H. Sri Sri RaviShankar ji

Blessings

You can sit anywhere and ask for blessings in your mind, and you will receive blessings.

You may ask me how is that possible.

Tell me, how does Kama Vasana (lust) get aroused just by thinking such thoughts, isn't it? Hormones are then secreted in excess in the body.

How do you get angry? Just by thinking!

How does hatred come? By thinking about others whom you dislike. You think about those who you don't like and your body begins to quiver.

How does fear come? By thinking!

So, if by thinking, lust can come, anger can come, fear can come, hatred can come, then can blessing also not come just by thinking? Are blessings so ineffective, or do you think that you have to work so hard to get blessings? No! You don't need to do anything. Just by thinking you get blessings. This is how it happens.

So, whenever you feel grateful just think that blessings have certainly come along with it.

--H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji

The Way Out Of Sorrow

The Way Out Of Sorrow – H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji

 

If your are unhappy you better check if one or all of these are lacking: Tapa (penance), Vairagya (dispassion), and Sharanagati (surrender).

 

·        Tapas is agreeing with the moment, total acceptance of pleasant or unpleasant situations.

·        Vairagya means I want nothing and I am nothing.

·        Sharanagati is "I am here for You, for Your joy."

 

If you are grumbling then these are lacking, because when you accept the situation you cannot grumble; when you take it as Tapa you will not grumble; when you come from a state dispassion ("I don't want anything") you don't grumble; and if you are surrendered you will have no complaints.

 

All these three (Tapas, Vairagya and surrender) purify your mind and uplift you in joy.

 

If you don’t do it willingly you will do it in desperation. First you say, "Nothing can be done." Then in anger and desperation you say, "I give up, I want nothing, I have no choice, to hell with it!"