Intelligent people celebrate diversity

I guess this one is good to have on the blog, in-fact anything that is said by Guruji!

Question: What is the science of relativity? How does it work in life?
Sri Sri: You go on the internet. There is so much on it. Volumes and volumes. Everything is related: If you've slept well, you see everything better. If not, then things are blurred. The observer and the observed vary. That is why it is said that different states of consciousness understand different knowledge.

Have you heard the Japanese story?

In Japan, there is a rule that a motel-owner must give free boarding and lodging to monks. To test if a monk is genuine; the owner would ask a knowledge question. If the question is answered, monk can then stay. If the owner gives the right answer, then the monk will go further.

There was a motel run by two brothers. The elder one was very intelligent. The younger one was dull. The elder brother used to manage affairs such that he did not have to give free rooms to the monks. If the elder brother had to go away, he would tell the younger one: 'If any monk comes here, act dumb. If you're silent, the monk will not stay here.'

As soon as the elder brother left, a group of monks arrived.

They said: 'Come we will argue’
The younger brother gestured: 'I am in silence’
The monks: 'We will have a dialogue in silence’
They showed the forefinger to indicate 'one'
The younger brother had only one eye. The other eye was bandaged. He showed two fingers.
The monks then showed three fingers.
The brother then showed a fist.

The monks became very happy and left. When the elder brother came, the younger one explained what happened:

'They told me that you have only one eye’
So I said, 'You have two’
They then said: ‘The dialogue is between three eyes’
So I said: ‘I will punch you'

Later the monks returned and told the elder brother that the younger one had shared the highest knowledge in silence.

The monks narrated:

We asked: ‘What is the one truth?’
He said: ‘Not one, there are two: Buddham and Dhammam’
We said: ‘There are three things: Buddham, Dhammam, and Sangham’
He said: ‘They are all one!'

It was such a mind-blowing realization!

This story shows that different levels of consciousness can interpret different things, differently. Fools always create conflicts over nothing. And die for it. The intelligent will celebrate diversity. Fools can't tolerate diversity.

The ancient sages in the Rig Veda have said: 'Accept even the atheist and they have included them in prayers: Those who call You as no God and think there is no Divinity, I bow down. Those who say, You are not there, I offer my obeisance.'

One accepts even atheism.

That is true wisdom: You have broad vision which accepts people and differences. Intelligent people celebrate diversity, fools fight over diversity.

Your nature is peace and joy!

In many of His meditations Guruji says “Your nature is peace and joy!” from this I remember an incident my friend Arthi shared with me once. Here it goes…

It so happened few years ago a renowned Swami ji had come to Art of Living Bangalore Ashram to meet Guruji. Guruji along with Swami ji, few other senior teachers and devotees had assembled in His Kutir. As usual in Guruji’s presence, everyone in the kutir was immersed in bliss (space elementJ), similes all around and everyone was basking in feast of knowledge. After sometime before leaving Swami ji gifted Guruji a block of sandalwood, as Swami ji gave it to Guruji, Swami ji rolled his palms over the block and voila it turned it into a Ganesha idol carved into that piece of sandalwood block!

All the devotees in the kutir were spellbound…awestruck seeing this miracle, few moments earlier there lay a block of sandalwood and the very next moment Ganesha idol!!!

After Swami ji took leave, all the devotees gathered around Guruji and expressed their surprise "Yeh kya tha Guruji…Swami ji ne kaise kiya?" Guruji with a mischievous smile replied "Arre yeh to kuch bhi nahi hai". And as He rolled His palm over the Ganesha idol, it turned back into the block of sandalwood as earlier, then He said "Mera kaam hai tum sab ko apne svabhav main le aana!" and left everyone speechless!

That is what a Master does…makes a Wave realizes it is the Ocean itself J

Love,
Satyajit

Phele Arjun To Bano!

I was recently listening to Narad Bhakti Sutras, Guruji has narrated a beautiful story - how Krishna became charioteer of Arjuna and Guruji also emphasized the presence of Master in one’s life, thought of sharing it here. Hope you enjoy it J

Guruji said Krishna was lying in the bed and Duryodhana came and sat at His head [little egoistic; who would sit at His feet’s]. Krishna knew that Duryodhana had come but acted as though He didn't knew and kept His eyes closed :-) After sometime Arjuna came and sat at Krishna's feet’s. Both Duryodhana and Arjuna had come to ask Krishna to be on their side in the war.

After sometime Krishna opened His eyes and looked at Arjuna [when you are lying down and wake up whom you will see first? One who is sitting at your feet’s! Isn't it?] Welcomed him 'O Arjuna when did you come I didn't know?' As though He never knew :-) He greeted Arjuna and then asked, what is that you want? Why have you come? As though He didn't knew that too :-) Then Krishna turned to Duryodhana and greeted Him with affection and asked 'Oh you have also come...good. What do you want?'

Krishna gave them a choice, He said either you keep all my army, all the battalions OR Me. He further said, see I won't fight! So one of you choose, either choose Me or my army. So Arjuna thought and said Krishna I just want You. Duryodhana thought what is the use having Krishna when Krishna is not going to fight and His army won't be with me, so better to have Krishna's army. So Krishna's army was with Duryodhana during the battle and Krishna was with Arjuna.

And we all know who won! These ways are incomprehensible.

This story came a thunder bolt to me, it made me realize, though we also sit at Masters feet’s like Arjuna we act like Duryodhana, instead of asking for the Master Himself, His Presence, His Grace all the time we keep on asking for material things most of the time :-)

Guruji further said 'In the presence of the Master your heart definitely opens up either today or tomorrow, it's infallible you cannot miss it ... years and years of meditation cannot take you there which one moment of Grace can!'

I remember in one of the question answer session someone asked Guruji 'Mahabharat mein Krishna ne Arjun ko apna asli roop dikhaya...Aap muje (haame) kaab dikhaoge?' Guruji simply smiled and said 'Phele Arjun to bano!'

Love,
Satyajit

I Promise!

If I had to promise you something, what would it be?

I can't promise that you would always be comfortable...
Because comfort brings boredom and discomfort.

I can't promise that all your desires will be fulfilled...
Because desires whether fulfilled or unfulfilled bring frustration.

I can't promise that there will always be good times...
Because it is the tough times that make us appreciate joy.

I can't promise that we will be rich or famous or powerful...
Because they can all be pathways to misery.

I can't promise that we will always be together...
Because it is separation that makes togetherness so wonderful.

Yet if you are willing to walk with me,
If you are willing to value love over everything else ~

I promise that this will be the most rich and fulfilling life possible.
I promise your life will be an eternal celebration,
I promise you I will cherish you more than a king cherishes his crown,

And I shall love you more than a mother loves her newborn.

If you are willing to walk into my arms,
If you are willing to live in my heart,
You will find the one you have waited forever....

You will meet yourself in my arms...

I promise.

--His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Light of Knowledge

Recently listening to Asta Vakra Geeta, Guruji narrated a story emphasizing how celebration dawns in life with the light of knowledge (Master). Please read beyond words else you will miss the whole boat :-)

A man was crossing a dense forest in the dark cold night. As the time went by, his batteries grew feeble and the light of the torch dim. He could barely see the path. Suddenly he came across a serpent standing in the middle of path, on seeing the long dark serpent the man stood there afraid like a statue for the snake to move away. But it seemed that the snake was very adamant, neither the snake moved nor allowed this man to cross the path. The man stood there in the jungle shivering and trembling for the dark night to pass as his batteries were running away, waiting for some one to come and help him!

Well his prayers were soon answered, there came a person with a much powerful torch, and showed the man what he perceived as snake in the dark night with feeble torch was just a rope lying in the path. No sooner this person led him with the powerful torch - the dark cold frightful night disappeared, the serpent vanished, the day dawned, flowers blossomed, birds started chirping, dew drops sparkled in the morning sunlight, the man had reached HOME and there was celebration (DIWALI) all around!!!

Hope you got it. Have a safe and happy Diwali :-)

Love,
Satyajit