How to deal with anger?

Question : How to deal with anger?

Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) : Anger is ok. I have a technique for you. Whenever you get angry,
sing. If you get angry on your husband/wife, scold them by singing. Opera singing is even better. See if you can do it. (He sings a couple of lines... You stupid, what did you do to me and everyone breaks into laughter)

If possible take a guitar and sing with it. It must be very interesting. Some people will become musician like this. Anger comes when you go out of certain rhythm. And, music is bringing that rhythm back. Antidote for anger is music, exercise, karate, martial arts.... You know martial arts have to be done without anger.

In Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna says to Arjun, "Arjun, fight but not with anger or hatred." Now, anger does not take permission before coming. Dont regret anger. Its ok to be angry with children. If you don't get angry at them, they become so weak in the world.

They cannot take criticism. They become weak. You should know the limitation though. You
know how much salt should be put in the food. How cold or warm, your finger will tell you. As parents, dont feel guilty for scolding your children. Thinking that way you become stressed and are preparing yourself to get more upset or angry.

something about homesickness

Question :

Guruji (Sri Sri) : See, I consider that every tree in the planet is in my garden. When the whole world is your family, there can be no homesickness. Feel always at home -- it is all your attitude.

why it is important to be vegetarian?

Question: Could you tell us why it is important to be vegetarian? Thank you..

Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) : One reason I would say our system is made up for vegetarian food, is that we don't have the type of teeth which carnivorous animals have. We have the same type of teeth that herbivorous animals have. And our immediate ancestor, monkey, is a vegetarian. Elephant is a vegetarian.Horse is a vegetarian. Cow is a vegetarian. Sheep is a vegetarian.

Animals with that habitat, they are all vegetarians. Horse. You know, we say horse power. So, looking at all this in our system, if you look at it, it is best suitable for vegetarian food. There is a substance called talon that's in the saliva, it's present only in the animals which are vegetarian.
And it is present in our saliva also, human saliva.

And second thing is the human intestine is so long, it takes a long intestine to digest the vegetarian food. So even in that angle, you see we have longest intestine. Six feet or more. So that also indicates our system is made for vegetarian. Second thing, vegetarian food you can digest in two-three hours. Non-vegetarian food takes eight hours to digest. Sometimes even longer.

So there are so many various such reasons. Also, combination of food is important. Even among
vegetarian, certain foods can make you a little dull. Here, to have more clear experience, we recommend vegetarian food. Because if you have non-vegetarian food, you may fall asleep, you will feel dull.


Because so much time and energy is consumed just to digest that food. So, in all these various angles, if you see vegetarian food is the best suitable for our system.

Easily digestible and quickly you can digest the food and be ready for the next meal. Otherwise, you eat breakfast and till dinner it is still digesting. And then we stuff more. It's no good.

Some combination of, even among vegetarian food, some combinations makes it hard to digest. The carbohydrate and milk products, sometimes can take a little longer to digest the food.

Does our silence affect the world situation

Question: Does our silence affect the world situation and the numerous conflict in it? Can silence heal not only individuals but societies on the edge of war or are already engaged in it? Yet Jesus said, I bring not peace, but a sword? At your service .

Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) : You know, the world is a mystery. Of course, your silence, your
meditation, definitely can bring peace and make a difference. But if some war has to happen, for the good of the world, it will happen. So, in spite of your prayers, meditation and everything, the war happens, don't be disturbed. Afghanistan war happened. If it's good for the people of Afghanistan, especially the women of Afghanistan. At least now, they are able to walk in the streets. People are able to have entertainment and music. So sometimes, war is good, sometimes it is not good.

Leave that judgment to the nature, to God. From your side, you pray for the peace. You meditate, you do your silence and your wish can definitely bring peace. You know, India and Pakistan were on the verge of war. It was sometime on Tuesday morning, they were going to have war. And we had a big Satsang. Sixty thousand people in Bangalore had a Satsang for world peace on Sunday. Something shifted Monday. Monday evening they changed their minds to war. Otherwise, there would have been a nuclear holocaust.

The whole thing changed. The whole world...it was...all the embassy's had taken people out of India, you know? But just in the nick of time, things changed. So we just leave that part to
the nature because nature is so vast, so unfathomable, you can not always try to gauge it. You know?

Something inside of me is hurting me

Question: I know that something inside of me is hurting me. But I don't want to think about it. How can I resolve all this and be happy without thinking about it.


Guruji : You know when you feel hurt you feel very deep. That's why if you feel some thing deep you also feel a little hurt inside that. In Deep love there is hurt. It is an unavoidable mixture. Hmm. That hurt and that deep love when you transcend them, then you go beyond the duality
and peace dawns. Permanent Peace. And only spiritual awakening can bring that permanent peace. Those who have been in the knowledge, on the path, for a long time, you know you dont feel sad at all. It doesnt touch. Some thing deep inside you becomes so strong so solid. So when you are in the knowledge then you feel nothing really is touching me. I have many people asking me

"Guruji Why I don't feel upset over any thing now? " They wonder, " Is something wrong with me? I dont feel the pain, the pinch of suffering of any pain. Someone close to me died and I don't feel any thing. Something is wrong with me!" These sort of questions arise. Those glimpses in life come when you go past that hurt and love. But, first get out of this - "You hurt me. I hurt you. You did this wrong. I did this wrong. You didn't look at me. You didn't talk to me. You didnt treat me well etc. etc..." All these accusations you should just get out of it.

astrology is telling the life of a human being

Question: If astrology is telling the life of a human being, is there any chance we could change our karma in this present life? Thank you for being with us.

Guruji: Definitely. Astrology Indicates. It just gives you a road map. That's all. But there is freedom too. Always consider the past as Destiny. If you think the past was free-will you become guilty, you become regretful, you become morose.

You are very upset thinking of the past "Oh, I could have it done this way. I could have done it that way. I could have could have..could have" It is useless. Past should be seen as destiny. Future should be seen as Free-Will. This is wisdom.

Wise people do like that. Otherwise, you get caught in regretting the past, and do nothing for the future. You simply sit. We must reverse this tendency. Just doing this one thing will help you to a great extent. Past whatever happened was destiny. Whatever happened happened - finished. And the future is upto you.

What is meaning of Jai Gurudev?

Guruji : 'Jai' means Victory, 'Guru' means the biggest, the greatest. 'Dev' is the big mind the higher self in you. Sometimes your small self wins and some times your higher self wins. When the small self wins over you, you are miserable.

But when the bigger self, the wisdom in you wins, then it gives you comfort, joy, peace and love. So may always the Big Mind in us win. Jai Gurudev means let the greatness, biggest in me win over the small little chattering mind.

Meditation calms the mind

Q: Meditation calms the mind. It feels good. But in our daily life we have to handle paying bills, parking tickets and other mundane things. How can we do this with the same calm mind without getting irritated or perturbed?

Guruji: You take a shower in the morning to clean your body. After that you do all the daily activities. You don't have to keep on taking a shower throughout the day. It is like that. You meditate and calm your mind, then go on with other activities. It is not easy to keep yourself
undisturbed but it will happen as you keep doing the practices regularly. Then it will become easy.

Chitragupta- counting our karma balances

Q: In our childhood we heard that there is someone named 'Chitragupta' who is talking note of all our actions and is responsible for counting our karma balances. Is that true? Is there really someone who is watching us every moment?

Guruji: 'Chitra' means photo, picture and 'Gupta' means secret, hidden. The self who is witnessing the actions, the conscious mind is referred here to as Chitragupta. You know there is this saying which says, 'Under the foot-print of an elephant, all other marks dissolve'. Therefore under the Guru when are doing your Sadhana and Seva and Satsang then everything else dissolves. Similarly Chitragupta is not the (Malik) God, he is the (Sevak) servant. But I tell you without self knowledge
everything is false!!

This body of our feels like such a burden at times

Q: This body of our feels like such a burden at times. We suffer several diseases and it becomes an obstacle for us to merge with the Ultimate.nGuruji, can you please explain how important it is to keep the body?

Sri Sri: You know there is a saying that the grass is always greener on the other side. There are thousands of souls who want to take a body to enjoy whatever you are enjoying right now! These souls are want to get a body, they are waiting!! Only fools leave the body, I tell you!! Only fools commit suicide! You have so many impressions from the last birth!! You must have been a donkey, cow, bull, buffalo,(laughter) anything!! You keep carrying the impressions and behave in a particular way!! You have tendencies!!

What do you do if people don't respect you?

Sri Sri: Thank them. They have given you freedom. (Laughter and amazement) When people respect you, they often take away your freedom. They expect you to smile at them, recognize them, behave in a certain way with them. If they don't respect you, you are not obliged to answer their questions and you can drop all the formalities. Either you will be naturally smiling or frowning. So you will be complete.

When people love and respect you, you are obliged to return their courtesies because you don't want to hurt them. When they don't respect or love you, they will not be hurt by your actions and expressions. So they set you free. When you gain respect, you often do it at the cost of your freedom. Wisdom is to put the freedom first and not bother about respect.

Navratri that we see only 0.003% of what is actually happening.

Q: You said at the Navratri that we see only 0.003% of what is actually happening. Can you please talk on that?

Sri Sri: You know there was this scientist named Mickel Kako who established a theory, after having done several experiments and research, that there are parallel worlds. It is he who said that, what we see is only 0.003% of what is actually happening. What we cannot see is the 'Dark Energy'.

What we cannot see is the 'Dark Energy'. That's what he named it. The power of that 'Dark Energy' is unlimited! It is immense! In fact our Rig-Veda also says the same thing. The 'Dark' is referred to here as the 'Tamas'. Even Rig-Veda says that this 'Tamas' has great power. That's why they say 'Kali'. The dark Goddess. She just do not symbolize destruction, she is also referred to as the epitome of knowledge. Like the pupil of our eye is dark! It is because of that we can see. Do you see what I am saying? The source of knowledge is the 'Kaali'

Can you please tell us about the Guru shishya relationship?

Q: Can you please tell us about the Guru shishya relationship? (The relation between the Master and the Devotee)

Sri Sri:
It's a very special relationship. It cannot be described. It's like who you are to yourself. The same way Teacher is just a mirror to yourself. You know where you can be natural. You know that you are never judged. Because he know you well you know

Please comment on the Varalakshmi puja?

Sri Sri: It is whatever you honour. Vara means gift. The gift of wealth that you have received in your life. Often children of rich people don't value to what they have! You know because it has come so easy to them. But there are some people who have under gone all the toil, struggles. They believed in something, hard earned and they valued it when they got it.

Similarly for all the gifts that you received in your life, you need to honor! When you honor then you don't misuse it. Money can be earned, money can be misused as well. Just to get some name... so much of showoff people get into! Just to get some popularity!

You know popularity should be used for good cause. You should not misuse popularity. You know there are some movie actors who are really popular. The youth is very fond of them! Now if they project themselves smoking a cigar and all that you know then the youth follow the movie actor! Children starts thinking, "I'll smoke like my here!"

And if the hero is using abusive words and violence then the child starts thinking like that. And then video game video game is again such a waste of money and energy!! The whole day they play the games where they have shoot their so-called enemies!!

You know recently in the US there was this case where a small child of only four years old stabbed his parents!! Can you believe this? This is unimaginable, unthinkable!! This is nothing but the misuse of the media! Misuse of technology!!

do you have some clue for severe allergy in Bay Area

Question : Guruji, do you have some clue for severe allergy in Bay Area?

Guruji (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) : Yoga, proper food, more Vitamin C and drink plenty of water in the
morning. How many of you have habit of drinking tea or coffee in the morning? (many raised their hands). First thing in the morning drink 1 litre of water. Lukewarm water is better, but not ice-cold water. (Someone asked, "Before brushing your teeth or after"). I would say after brushing your teeth. Even otherwise is ok.

Will freedom not bring arrogance?

Sri Sri: True freedom is not an "I don't care" attitude. It is lightness from within, agenuine smile and not stiffness. When someone is stiff and arrogant, they are not really free. True love blossoms only in such freedom. And when there is genuine love, respect simply follows you.

Number of temples and mosques and churches are increasing everyday

Q: Guruji, the number of temples and mosques
and churches are increasing everyday. We did not have so many 20 years back. With that number of Gurus, Spiritual reformers have also increased. Still there is so much of corruption! Adharma! Can you explain why?

Sri Sri:
There were not many hospitals some 20 years back because there were not many diseased. But can you say the disease came because of the hospitals?!!? No. You cannot. The number of sick people have increased, the number of hospitals have increased likewise. You know some 50-60
years back there used to be only one doctor in a huge area!! Because they had to literally wait the whole day for one patient! Our food habits have changed. Our lifestyles have undergone drastic change. Global warming is happening. You know the Green Peace team has made a
lovely film on conservation of the nature. Will all watch that after Satsang. People are cutting trees from everywhere to create houses. They are consuming antibiotics for petty health problems. We need to go back to the nature. Use natural remedies. You know farmers are
committing suicide. This is because of the pesticides they have used and the chemicals they have used to get more yield in the past. They are paying for it now!!

Sri Sri:
You know some time back a reporter or may be a journalist came to me and as usual, you now in their style of asking, asked me Guruji why is breath so important? I was so surprised! I said, It is important because, if it is not there you will die. (Laughter!!!) Just see how the pattern in the mind can make you a fool. These people are so used to asking the question in that stereotype manner, that sometimes they do not know what they are asking!! (Laughter!!!)