Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Q: Is it necessary to fast every week? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: We fast not to please the Divine, but to cleanse our body. You overwork your liver, stomach and pancreas so much. If there was a labor court for the body, all these organs would have complained against you in that court. We don’t allow them to rest at all. We drink and eat the whole day until night, and we overwork our system. They do need some rest and for that you need to fast. God is not going to be pleased by your fasting. It is more to detox your own body. And why fasting is combined with prayer all over the world and in all religions, is because when you are fasting, you are detoxified and your prayer becomes authentic and deep. Your meditation happens best when your stomach is empty. Isn’t that your experience? If you meditate on a full stomach, you will fall asleep. That is why it is said, you can say your prayers when you are fasting as your body is detoxified and your mind is rested and alert. Just think of your ow...

First is expand your context, broaden your vision and then have purpose in life. Focusing your energy on something which you find useful, find your purpose. To me the most meaningful thing is bringing happiness in the lives of people, Instead of running after happiness.. You know it runs further away from you. If you stay put, happiness chases you. Most of the people who are running after happiness, I would say, stay where you are. Just be. You will find that happiness surrounds you. It must comes to you. If you follow joy,  misery follows you. If you follow wisdom, joy follows you. Second is commitment. Commitment to the greater goals in life. Then you will be really happy. And the third is compassion. It’s compassion which keeps us in a state of unconditional love, unconditional happiness. Everyone is seeking happiness – A happiness which doesn’t turn into misery, a love which doesn’t turn into hatred. The perfect action that doesn’t turn into anger and frustration. And that whic...

He said “People who are happy they don’t need to listen to anything. They are happy. They are happy with everything around, they don’t need to listen to anything. And people who are unhappy they don’t listen to anything.  If you try to put some sense into people who are unhappy, they are not there. They are so embroiled in their own misery. They have closed their ears. Those who are miserable don’t listen to me anyway and those who are happy don’t need me.” So the angels requested him that there are some people who are on the border line. That’s when Buddha started talking. Those who are happy you can feel the vibrations. You don’t need words to express yourselves. They are so sensitive. They can catch you. Kids exuberate happiness. They radiate joy. If you ask me, I will tell you that there are those who are happy and they want to share happiness. Nature of happiness is to share. Nobody can say I am so happy leave me alone. When you are happy you want to share happiness. It’s simp...

Nature of love is to share. Those who are happy, they share. There is another category of people who seek happiness by changing cars, gadgets, jobs. There is a third category which has no hopes of happiness. Happiness cannot be conveyed in words or gestures. Happiness is something that everyone has and it is very fragile. Just one nasty phone call, are you able to keep your happiness? What is that can make our happiness strong? Wisdom. It expands our context. Anyone who is not happy, you make them see life from a different context. As the context of life expands the problems of life appears insignificant. Expand the context of life. Second is commitment. If you are committed, nothing detracts you. Third is compassion. We are more disturbed by others behavior towards you. That is why we think our happiness depends on others. I can be the source of happiness when I am compassionate to others. 1. Broaden our vision. 2. Having purpose in life. Something meaningful is to bring happine...

The biggest problem with lovers is that they love each other and start demanding each other. “Look how much I love you. What did you do for me?” or, they say “Do you really love me? Prove it to me now!” Proving each other’s love becomes a burden. Many a times, couples try to play the game of not being happy and look to the other person to cajole them and make them happy. You are losing your dignity when you are making others cajole you and make you happy. You be happy! You are the source of happiness. Nobody else can make you happy other than yourself. You need to say without saying that “Hey come on. You cannot put me down and take my mood off.” This should be the message to others from you. “Kaya Indriya Siddhi Ashuddhi kshyat tapasaha’’ (II Sutra 43) Kaya = body; Indriya = senses; Siddhihi = strong; Ashuddhi = impurities; Kshayat = eliminated; Tapasaha = by penance. “By penance or purifying actions, the body and senses become strong as the impurities are eliminated.” By tapas, the b...