Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

He removes the steam out of the whole thing, out of the feverishness of expectation of your action. Then the action becomes more grounded. When you act with an expectation, you are ready to get frustrated and complain a little later. See, you have meditated for 20 years, “What did I get?”  See what you got. You did not know that 20 years of meditation has made you a much better person. And after twenty years, one day you got upset and you say, “See twenty years of meditation, I still got upset, miserable.” You could have been miserable all the twenty years otherwise.  You should say in spite of your meditation you got upset. Suppose you were never doing, what would have happened? You could have been much worse. None of the sadhanas or practices are to be left or shunned until you get centred. And they always improve you. We don’t expect that one day in the future I will experience, I will be in Divine love.  Right now it is paradoxical to listen to that. It doesn't take a...

As a sadhak what to do first thing in morning Ans: nothing. Decondition. Not add more conditioning. Q: How to console myself for time with you? Ans: Time with Me is never enough. It’s a good complaint and grievance to have I don’t need to evolve anyway. I just read your problems even tjouh they aren’t worth reading. For your satisfaction I glance through, knowing you are going to be Ok. Q: what do you want from me? Ans: Good question to keep. Do a lot of work for the foundation, bring knowledge to every doorstep. Keep asking me I’ll give you many things to do Q: how to let go of deep sense of sadness Ans: sadness maybe but not deep. You are sad bcos you haven’t gone deep. Drop it. Your cravings, aversions , hooking into pleasure have brought you sadness. That’s it. Invoke valor, don’t care for pleasure. Kick your craving for sex, food, appreciation and praise from others, your sadness will go with the wind. You will be bubbling with joy, more centered independent and self reliant. For ...

You have many faces; only that, you don't face them. When you come face to face with your faces, then conflicts, confusion, and chaos arise in you.  From time to time, in different phases, different faces appear. As you come close to your Being, all faces melt and leave you as the Space that you are.  At the gross level, you identify yourself as somebody. As you move to more subtle levels, you may identify yourself as some energy, or an incarnation of some angel, saint, or prophet.  When you go beyond even this identity, you are whole, holy, the _Brahman_ – _Purna Brahman, Nārāyana._

Debate, discussion and  contemplation nourish the intellect. Prejudice, stigmas and dogmas are detrimental to intellect. The intellect harbours inhibitions, likes and dislikes, approvals and disapprovals. The intellect also harbours wisdom, which brings forth intuition.  *Question:* Is intuition beyond intellect?  *Gurudev:* Yes, but it shines through the intellect.  *Question:* Are emotions and intellect contradictory? *Gurudev:* They can be contradictory.  *Question:* When there is conflict, which is better? *Gurudev:* In conflict, there is no better conflict! The pure intellect is not caught up in the emotions and becomes impure, like muddy water. Then it is unable to reflect the Self. A pure intellect, still and serene, reflects the Self.  *Question:* Is intellect affected by karma? *Gurudev:* Karma does not afflict the pure intellect. Liberation purifies the intellect. The _Sanskrit_ word for intellect is buddhi; one who is liberated is a Buddha; one ...

People who serve will have good times even in bad times.  When there is famine or war, Red Cross people will be fine because they are serving. The more relief they can bring to others, the happier they feel. On the other hand, selfish people who just live for their own enjoyment will be miserable even in good times.  In good times, people often lose their happiness due to some trivial happening. Hosts often do not enjoy their parties because of some little thing is missing; they forgot to invite somebody, somebody did not come, or some little thing went wrong. A wise person is happy even in bad times. A stupid person is unhappy even in good times.  You make the time good or bad. People usually blame the bad time and wait for a good time. But even if an astrologer says you are in a hopeless time, you can make it good! Like weather, time has its own impact on you. Your satsangs and sādhana are your shield, your protection!  Realise that you are more than time and that ...

Q: What is ‘yashti’ and ‘samashti’ ? *Gurudev Sri Sri :* Do you sing daily? (The lady said that she sang at home when alone.) When you sing alone, that is yashti. When you sing with everybody here, participate in the bhajan with everyone that is samashti. Samashti means the entire creation.

7 astonishing truths from Yoga Vasistha that will blow your mind When Lord Rama realizes the futility of existence and the misery it brings with itself, he is struck with sorrow. When he seeks refuge in Rishi Vasistha, the enlightened rishi takes him to the pinnacle of truth through a dialogue between the two that later was captured in the scripture, Yoga Vasistha. The timeless dialogue interspersed with deep stories brings out astounding truths about this existence and destroys Lord Rama’s sorrow. Here are some of the truths unveiled in this ancient scripture: 1. The universe does not exist in the first place According to the text, the world is as real as a mirage. In other words, it does not exist! Modern physics seems to agree. A 2017 CERN (The European Organization for Nuclear Research) study observes a complete symmetry between matter and anti-matter in the universe. So, all the anti-matter in the universe should have cancelled the matter in the universe, which further suggests t...

People are having different sensations as a game. It is already happening. If you can watch, energy is oozing out of every pore of your body. If you watch, it flows in an even manner. It creates balance.  And you realise vou are not this bod or these sensations. You have been alwavs reacung to the sensations. You are like that, year after year, life after life. Now, when you watch, that is liberation.  Watch all the feelings and sensations in your body. You go beyond. "Now, Eureka, I have found it" What was happening? An emotion used to give rise to some sensation, the sensation, in turn, used to create an impression, another emotion.  So these circles of craving and aversion with sensation and emotion, made your life, both subtle body and gross body, and that took you from life to life. Every sensation has its own quality and nature. When you feel pleasant, what is happening?  Those sensations are moving upward. Whenever vou feel unpleasant, the same sensations are ...

Dana, that is surrender. Surrender is the most misunderstood word in the world today. Surrender is not slaverv. surrender Is not something vou can force upon someone, surrender Is a happening.  Surrender happens out of love, gratitude and trust. When there is fear, drop the fear. The dropping of the fear happens with the trust, and that is surrender. If doubt still remains, do nothing, just watch.  Breathe, meditate. That will clear your doubts out. There is no other way to come out of your doubt. Four types of doubt will arise in your mind. The first doubt is about yourself, ‘Don't think this is for me. There is still time for me. I think I should go very slowly. Maybe it is not the right time’. ‘It doesn't suit me at all, I am not the person for it. I can never have it. I have my old patterns. I will never come out of it’. These things, doubting the very self, doubting your ability - what do you know about your ability?  You have no knowledge about your ability. So you ...

Question - Gurudev, in many of the knowledge books, I have read that everything is just one consciousness and we are part of that one. In that case, what do you mean by surrender? What is it that we are surrendering and to whom do we surrender when it is just One consciousness? Gurudev Sri Sri - Yes, correct. Actually there is nothing to surrender, but when the mind feels, 'I am separate, I am different, I am alone, to let that go, you surrender and just relax. It is like the mother at home feeling. To generate the mother at home feeling, the process of letting go is called surrender. That is all. There is nothing that you have that you need to surrender. Got it? That is why there are three different paths (Karma Yoga or the Path of Action, Bhakti Yoga or the Path of Devotion, Jana Yoga or the Path of Knowledge). The Path of Knowledge is when you wake up and see, everything is made up of just One thing. There is no two, and this is knowledge. But when you forget this and feel there...

Question - Gurudev, once you said, 'Fight with equanimity'. How do we do that? Gurudev Sri Sri - You just have to have that intention and it will start happening. When you are fighting for a cause and not because of hatred towards somebody then your brain and your mind will be alert. When people are angry and hateful, their brain doesn't work, or it works in the wrong direction.

Question - Gurudev, what can I do to increase my capacity to take your blessings? How can I make my cup bigger? Gurudev Sri Sri - In the Advanced Course you all have heard of the Shatt Sampatti (Six wealths, or six-fold virtues) • Sama (calmness or quietude of mind) • Dama (self-control or restraint of the senses) • Uparati (satiety) • Titiksha (power of endurance) • Shradha (faith), and • Samadhana (equanimity or one-pointedness of the mind) This is what you must focus on increasing more in your life. By enhancing these virtues, your capacity to receive blessings will increase. Among the four pillars of knowledge, the third one that has these six wealths, that is what we must increase. Also we must do Seva (service) and Sadhana (spiritual practices)

Question - Gurudev, how to know the things that are unknown to us? There are so many things that are unknown. I’m sometimes very pained and I start crying for not knowing the unknown. Gurudev Sri Sri - I understand your difficulty. The intense quest is there of wanting to know something, but what is that something, that you don't know. You know there is something but you don't know how to know that something that exists. Isn't that it. Just relax and meditate. That is the way to go there.

Question - Gurudev, what is the significance of the wedding ceremony? If two people love and respect each other, can they just make a decision to live together? Gurudev Sri Sri - Marriage is a ceremony. When there is a commitment, you have full trust in each other. One aspect of your life is set. That is what is marriage. Otherwise, the mind keeps looking for a partner. In marriage, that looking for a partner thing comes to an end, 'Okay, I have found a partner, I am set.' So now you can focus on other things. When there is commitment, it puts you on track.

Question - Gurudev, I’m in a relationship with a person who is too calculative about his actions. He is scared of getting attached as he believes that it might affect his spiritual growth. Is this right? Gurudev Sri Sri - Don't ask someone to prove their love for you. That is when all these things come. If we show too much love to somebody they do not know how to handle it or how to respond to it, isn't it? People get confused. There are many people who do not know how to receive love, forget giving love. That is why I tell you, don't get caught up in all of this. Just relax and be happy, and just take it for granted that I love everybody, and everybody loves me. Then whatever needs to be expressed will simply be expressed. It will happen naturally. When someone is saying, 'I am scared of attachment', that means somewhere they are attached. So don't take what people say at face value. People may say anything, but in reality it may be something else. See, when yo...

Question - Gurudev, how can we turn thoughts of lack into thoughts of abundance? Gurudev Sri Sri - The very thought that you want to do it, means you have already started moving in that direction. Look at what your requirements are and you will see that they will always be met. Whatever you need always comes to you. But do not take it to an extreme and say, 'Let me just do nothing and let everything come to me' no, that is not correct. You have to put in your efforts, and you have to have courage. These two things bring you wealth. There is proverb in Sanskrit that says, 'Udyoginam Purusha Simham Upayati Lakshmi.' It means that great wealth comes to one who has the courage of a lion and who puts in all his efforts. Therefore put in all your efforts, and be like a lion. Do you know, the lion is the laziest animal. It is the lioness who hunts for the prey and presents it to the lion. The lion just goes and eats the prey. The lioness does the work. The lion does not even d...

Question - Gurudev, my best comes out when I am pushed against a wall. It becomes a matter of do or die. That's the time when have laser sharp focus, composure, drive and motivation to fulfil all my desires and intentions. But when I'm happy, comfortable and joyful, I can't seem to have that same composure and drive to motivate myself. How do I change that pattern? Gurudev Sri Sri - Then ask someone to push you against the wall (laughs). There are no walls here. If you're not married, get married. Tell your spouse to do it for you. If you think that your best will only come out if you are in danger and pushed against the wall, then you have put such an intention in your mind, and that's what is going to happen all the time. But you can do it even when you are happy, when you are joyful, and when you are free. But if you have recognised it as your pattern, then it is your responsibility. Nothing else can help you. Only you can help yourself. You can say, “Now, today ...

Question - Gurudev, with the media reporting crime and negativity around the world, what do you think is their responsibility towards this violence that is happening? What do you think we should be doing differently? Gurudev Sri Sri - I think the media has two important roles to play. One is to place the facts in front of the people as they are. At the same time create hope in people for the future. You know, the present scenario can be very depressing. The media has to take responsibility not to create more depression in society. They have to give people hope. Suppose there is a riot, or a crisis, or a war, in that situation also there is hope, there are good people on the planet who are doing some very good work, this must be highlighted. Otherwise when you open the newspaper, all you see is bad news, which is depressing. The people feel that there is no hope in life because the world is so bad. The citizen of this world will not label society as bad or hopeless. This can happen only...

Question - Gurudev, I have heard that in kaliyug, tamas will be wide spread, but for a sadhak it will be a very good time. How can a time when tamas is dominant be good for a sadhak? Gurudev Sri Sri - See, when you have become a Saadhak (spiritual seeker) then consider all times as auspicious and beneficial. Both happiness and sorrow have its purpose. One should consider all types of situations as conducive and think of them as ingredients contributing towards your sadhana.

Question - Gurudev, when we have some problems or decisions to make and we get the answer from the voice inside us, how do we know who is speaking? Is it our mind, intuition or the Divine itself? Gurudev Sri Sri - It is all the same, don't worry about it. There is no need to analyse it too much, just be at ease. When we are at ease, the right answer comes up. Intuition cannot come by forcing ourselves. It is a natural phenomenon.

Question - Gurudev, there is so much disturbance and problems going on in our families, how can we get over it? Gurudev Sri Sri - Like how there are waves in the ocean, how can we expect a life without problems. What you need is strength to handle problems. Aren't your problems getting solved? Problems come and go, don't fear or worry. A step in this spiritual path, is already helping you come out of problems, isn't it? Like clouds in the sky, problems in life will vanish.

Question - Gurudev, why does longing hurt so much? I am referring to the longing for the Divine and for the Infinity. Where have we come from? Gurudev Sri Sri - Love and hurt are very close and go hand in hand. When you love someone, then you do get hurt sometimes. It happens this way, and we have to live through it. So do not run away from it. Getting hurt is a part of love. Today somebody came and told me, 'My son is like this, my son is like that; he is not listening to me. See, it is only natural. The mother has done so much for the child and when the child does not listen to her at all, she feels so hurt. When there is love, it also sometimes brings pain. But to be afraid of pain and to stop loving, and shutting down completely is foolishness, which a lot of people do. To stop being in love because it hurts at times is not an intelligent decision at all. It is the most foolish thing that one can ever do. But those who sail through that little pinch and move on, will get the re...

Question - Gurudev, how does one achieve and maintain inner strength? Gurudev Sri Sri - By waking up to this knowledge. It should not be that just once a year you come, listen to some knowledge and go away. Make it part of your daily routine, so that it is maintained. Also, humility is important. Sometimes, people get so numb to knowledge. They think, 'I know it all.' One should not get into that arrogance, 'I know the knowledge, what is there to know'. The constant revival of knowledge, of the same points that you know, and reliving it is important. It is not a very tough or difficult task, and even if you lose the knowledge for a moment, it just comes back. Knowing that it comes back, you don't really lose it, it is there

Question - Gurudev, is it true that if we have less number of desires, there’s a higher chance of them getting fulfilled?  Gurudev Sri Sri - Yes. When you have less things to do, you will do it really attentively. You put your 100% energy, focus into it when there are less things to do. If you have many things to do, you need to have that much energy, broad awareness and consciousness. If you’re enlightened, you can do a million things without getting bogged down by anything.

Question - Gurudev, how can I have faith that God will take me out of this maya?  Gurudev Sri Sri - Only one who has created maya can take you out of it. From time to time, observe three things within : 1. Desires - Desires come one after another, one gets fulfilled and another comes. Some desires don't get fulfilled yet more desires come. Let them come, don't fight with them, just observe that the desires are coming. 2. Intellect - Likes, dislikes and judgements arise from your intellect, just recognize them. 3. Ego - I’m happy, I’m unhappy, I’m miserable, I’m too good, I’m not so good. All that 'me', to which you attach many other adjectives, that 'me' is the ego.  Sometimes you should say, "For some time, let me freeze all three things". When you do this, then something happens. That magical moment when something happens, you say, "Wow, this is the deep rest that I have always desired. I did all that I could do, all my life, for this joy that i...