Question:
Guruji, it is said that God is in all. Then how are the avatars different?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Avatar means one who has come down. Those who want nothing, they come for the wellbeing of all. They haven't come for themselves - either to enjoy or burn karmas. They have come for jankalyan (welfare of all).
Question: How do we save ourselves from bad thoughts?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: We become what we think. Especially for a devotee what he thinks comes true. But this power of thought is with the devotees only. When you become a devotee then you do not get bad thoughts. With devotion, all vikalpas go away.
Question: A marriage has two - wife and husband. I love satsangs, but my wife is against sadhana and satsang, how will our marriage move on?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Use yukti (skill). It's a test of how good a sadhak you are. You stay put, she will gradually come around and she will also become happy. If you drop your practices and go behind her even you won't be happy
Question: How to get rid of lust?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It has come from birth. If you keep thinking about it, it will become stronger.
The same vasana is transformed into joy and love. When there is contentment and masti, the lust automatically fades away. When the sun is shining, you don't need a torchlight.
Atma rati - atma me rati lag jaye, ishwar me man lag jaye. (Mind settles into consciousness).
Question: Guruji, what has more significance - doing the Sudarshan kriya or praying to you?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You are important. You are the one who prays. It's you who does the Sudarshan kriya. All this is for you, so that you can become centered and so solid that no one can take away your smile. This capability is only within you. If you don't want, then nothing is possible. Everything depends on you.
Question: Gurudev, I don't know the question, but spirituality is definitely the answer every time. I want to know how spirituality can be the one answer to all the problems in the world?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: This is because the problem is created by human beings. The source of the problems is one, i.e., humans, then the solution can also be one, isn't it? Spirituality is dealing with that basic aspect of human beings. If the foundation is not right, then the building will have a problem. So if you want to keep the building intact, then a strong foundation is very essential. Spirituality is the foundation.
Question: Why does religion separate and divide people when it is supposed to bring people closer to God.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When ego enters there, that is when the conflict in religion begins. A religion is great because it is 'My' religion, not because of what it is.
It is 'My religion' so it is great. It is the 'Me'; the ego which is the cause of conflict, and not really the religion; But we take religion as a pretext; as ones identity to create so many conflicts in the world, isn't it?
If religion is used only for the purpose of one's connection with God and not for political reasons then religion become spirituality.
Question: Whenever I have problems, I have called upon God for help. But God never comes to support me. Why doesn't God love me?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is impossible that you have a problem and you haven't found a solution. You should only remember that when you have a problem, God is with you. Not only in the times when you have problems. Even when you don't have problems, God is with you.
