Art of Living Burlington & Oakville

“There is a story of a Master with three students. Each of the three were always looking at the interaction of the other two with the Master and comparing it with their own.

One day the Master told the three of them to go inside a room and drink a glass of milk and come back.
The first student entered and found three glasses, one gold, one silver and one steel. All three were filled with fresh milk.

He happily picked up the golden glass and drank and came out. The second student entered. He saw the golden glass empty, felt a little disappointed, but picked up the silver and drank and came back. The third saw he had only the steel glass and felt very sad. But he drank his cup and came out.

The guru asked them about their experience and they truthfully shared the state of their mind. The Master pointed out that the milk was the same in all three!

The Master nourishes each student equally. But the mind stays restless and discontented when it is caught up in the outer wrapping.

Gurudev often shares another story of a Master who gave his students the task of eating a banana in a place where no one would see them. One hid under a blanket at night and ate it.

Another found a different hiding place and the third came back without eating the banana. He told the Master that there was no place where he was alone.

He felt the presence of the Master with him everywhere.

Guru Purnima is time for us to reflect upon how we have been nourished and taken care of at every step. It is the time to revisit and enhance our faith, to feel the presence and connect with the higher power.

Real intelligence is Recognizing that the Guru is the Supreme Intelligence and that we are Exceptionally FORTUNATE to be in that Space.”

~ Smt.Bhanu Narasimhan Didi.

When someone dies and the soul moves on, the first thing that it comes across, is a flash of all that it did in the past. The whole life comes to it as one scene. And then two questions come across; 'How much love have you given and how much knowledge have you gained?'In this lifetime, how much knowledge you gained? Knowledge is not just the bookish knowledge. How much alertness about who you are; 'what I am, what the world is' has been with you? How awake you were or were you in slumber the whole life? Or were you awake sometimes?(Gurudev snaps his fingers); Wake up! Were you in that alertness? That is what knowledge really means. Knowledge is not information. It is your alertness, your awareness. Your presence of mind. How much time you had the presence of mind and how much time you spent in your life expressing the love that you are. These are the two questions that are posed.

- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Taking care of our parents in their old age regardless of how they are according to me brings a lot of good luck and their blessings help reduce any obstacles or challenges in life. Life definitely becomes smooth. Atleast that’s my experience!

A beautiful post by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

‘ Old people are no different from children! You should treat them like kids. Like children, they are adamant and repeat the same things! They talk about the same thing over and over again, without realising they have already said it several times! When a pattern sets in them, you accept them as they are. They come into your life and make you realise that. You cannot change old people overnight, or even in a period of time. You need to accept them.

Also, don't take their moods too seriously! If they're upset, don't take it too seriously because then, you won't be able to communicate with them. Don't try to convince them. Sometimes, they just want to pour out their heart to you. If they are grumbling, they are just grumbling. They're saying it, but they don't really mean it! If they say, "I'm so upset" – they may say it, but they will still go and have their food, watch television and do all their things – but when they see you, they say, "Oh, I'm so upset, I never ate food, I didn't do this, I didn't do that!" If you take all their complaints seriously, you become miserable, and won't be able to help them. You should realise it's only their way of communicating. People who are very aged or sick just want to communicate with you, but what is it that they can share? When people don't have enthusiasm, they will only share their grievances. That doesn't mean that they are purely miserable. There is a corner in them that is untouched by any amount of misery. Whether it is extreme joy, happiness or misery, there is a part in every human being that remains untouched.

There is a nice story. A man earned a lot of money and then gave all his property to his son. When his son got everything, he built a small out-house behind the main house for his parents and he told them, "Now you have to stay there." So the old couple stayed there, while their son and his family started living in the big bungalow. One day, while playing, the grandchild came into his grandfather's home, where everything was old and in a very poor, pathetic condition – old utensils, old chairs, all unwanted goods. Things that could break at any time were kept in that house. So the grandchild came and told his grandpa, "Grandpa, be careful with your plate and your chair. Don't break them!" When he asked why, the child said, "Because tomorrow, my father needs all this." The child's father heard this and was shocked. That little boy saying, "Grandpa don't break it because tomorrow, when I grow older, I'm also going to send myfather here. So better save this!" One does not realise this fact. You are also going to be old one day, and are going to be like them. If you find that the elderly people in your home are complaining, and you don't like it, you better not do it today, and if you see them as being so generous, so calm, so serene, so loving, you better start being that way right now. And I tell you, if you're on the path, in the knowledge, and if you keep doing your meditation and the breathing exercises, your ageing reverses! That enthusiasm to learn will exist and your alertness, focus, attention – everything – increases in life. You will not become cynical and senile as you advance in age.’

Whatever happens around you, don't take it personally.
Everything other people do is not happen because of you. This is because of itself.
Even if a situation seems so personal, it has nothing to do with you. What they say, what they do and what they give is the launch of their own internal thoughts.
Everyone has their own reality. When we take something personally, we make the assumption that they know what our reality is, and we attempt to impose our reality on them.
When we don't take things personally, it gives us more power over our thoughts, emotions and actions.
When we do not take things personally, we recognize others individuality and we can accept that others are different from us. We have very little control over how others see us and relate to us.
We have more control over how we see ourselves and the situation, and how we react to it.
Truth is we make assumptions and decisions about other people without knowing the whole story. And often, lose important persons that come into your life. Life doesn't stop but great does.

-Srisri

Relationships develop naturally. If you try to build a relationship that is when you become a little artificial. Then your behaviour becomes artificial which is not natural. You like someone to be very honest, open, natural, unassuming with you. That is exactly what others also want from you. Don't try hard to impress your boss, or impress your girl friend or boy friend. Then everything goes bad. Best is to be yourself, to be natural, to be forgiving and to be in the present moment. It makes a big difference. Be very subtle.

Ji

Question - Gurudev, what is spiritual maturity?

Gurudev Sri Sri -
1. When you stop trying to change others, instead focus on changing yourself.
2. When you accept people as they are.
3. When you understand everyone is right in their own perspective.
4. When you learn to let go.
5. When you are able to drop expectations from a relationship and give for the sake of giving.
6. When you understand whatever you do, you do for your own peace.
7. When you stop proving to the world how intelligent you are.
8. When you don't seek approval from others.
9. When you stop comparing with others.
10. When you are at peace with yourself.
11. When you are able to differentiate between need and want and are able to let go of your wants.
12. You gain spiritual maturity when you stop attaching happiness to material things.

:

Guruji, I am an astrologer. Is it okay to listen to the problems of people and would that affect me in any way?

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji :

No, you are astrologer and the work of an astrologer is very good. You can give people some direction, this will be beneficial. Sometimes people have Ashtama Guru, Ashtama Shani. Make them aware that they have Ashtama Guru, and they need to be a little careful. Those who have Ashtama Shani, this brings trouble to the mind. So advise people to be cautious.

Like this give advice to people. You must do that. That is how people will understand why sometimes too many thoughts arise in the mind or so many doubts come and one does not have any interest in doing anything. Then when an astrologer explains that this is reason why the mind is disturbed and it will get okay and these are the remedies, it will help.

Everyone should chant ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, all the negative effects due to planetary positions will be neutralized with chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaya’. Negative effects become very less, as good as gone.

That is why one field of astrology is remedies. There is a saying that an arrow was coming which was supposed to hit the head, just blew a few strands of hair and went away.

KARMA & HOW TO DEAL WITH IT?

Q. If all the pain that I am going through in this life is due to my karmas in the previous life, that makes me feel more miserable.
How to deal with it?

Sri Sri :-Dont keep your head turned to the back. Look in front. You have your head turned to the back, that is why you are miserable.

Believe that only good will happen to you. Take some work on your hands and move ahead...

As soon as you wake up in the morning, do your sadhana and then get to work.

Make a list of all the things you need to get done for the day and then go and tick things off the list.

Then in the evening listen to some music, take a walk and meditate for some time.

Spend some time with yourself i.e. do some meditation.This will bring so much happiness in your life.

-Srisri

Desires come up. Instead of holding on to them, or daydreaming, just surrender. It simply means that when a desire arises, just offer it to the divine or higher power and say: “If it is good for me, let it happen.”

-Srisri

Gurudev, during difficult times we feel why me? Where is Gurudev? In spite of your presence in my life why is there so much suffering? Please explain?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Life is just like a ride, which has extreme ups and downs but always remember that there is some supreme power with you, which will not let you fall, hold you properly and will make you land safely .

You are absolutely safe in his custody. He is carrying you along safely. He may make you feel that you will fall but he will never ever let that happen. So breathe in and feel his presence & breathe out and be grateful.

IN YOUR PALM,
EACH OF YOUR FINGERS IS CONNECTED TO SOME PLANET.

The thumb is connected to Mars.
Mars stays alone.

Index finger is connected to Jupiter (Jupiter shows the path, it is the teacher).
When you want to show something,
you show using the index finger, this is Jupiter.

The middle finger is connected to Saturn; Saturn is the servant.

The ring finger is connected to the Sun;
the Sun is the king
And who owns the jewels?
The king, and so you put rings only
on the ring finger
That's why it's called the ring finger

And the Sun or a king cannot stay alone,
you have to have the servant with him.

The President of every country has a
bodyguard who is taller, fairer and well built
because he has to support the President.

That's why it's difficult to separate
the middle finger and the ring finger.

The little finger is connected to Mercury.

So when you do chin mudra,
what is happening?
The index finger (Jupiter) and
the thumb (Mars) are coming together,
that is wisdom and power.

Why is the thumb Mars?
It is because whenever you win,
what do you do?
You put your thumbs up.
Thumbs up is a sign of victory.
When you lose what do you do?
You put your thumbs down.
So these gestures are so inbuilt in us.

Similarly, different planets affect
different parts of your body.
Your teeth are connected to Saturn.
Your eyes are connected to the Sun,
your cheeks are connected to Venus,
forehead to Mercury,
nose to Jupiter.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Assume that you go to God to receive the blessing. When your intention is to be blessed you will be in hurry.

If any man knows that he is already the master of God; he is not in hurry of anything. He brings infinite patience.

Question: What does 'accepting God' mean to you?

Gurudev: Realizing that divinity and the whole creation are already yours. Usually you shop early in the supermarket and come back home. But when the whole store is already in your house, you're not in a hurry to shop; you're comfortable.

Your hurry to achieve something messes up your balance and makes you smaller. An 'infinite wait' - have infinite patience. Realize that God is yours. Through this awareness or through practice, you will reach endless patience. Question: Do we follow impatience to develop patience?

Gurudev: Just observe thoughts and emotions and don't regret them.

When you know you are part of the divine plan, you stop asking. You know everything is being done for you. You are taken care of.

Usually we rush the brain and slow at work. Impatience means hurry in mind; laziness means slowness in action. This is better the other way around: formula.

Patience in mind and dynamism in action is the right formula.

By Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji🌺🌺

1) Make peace with your past, So that it doesn’t spoil your Present.

2) what others think of you is none of your business.

3) Time heals almost everything give Time,some time.

4) No one is the reason of your happiness only you yourself.

5) Don’t compare your life with others, you don’t have any idea of their Journey.

6) Stop thinking too much, it’s ALRIHT not to Know all answers.

7) Smile because you don’t own all the problems of the WORLD.

How to develop the ability to make good decisions?

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar :
There are two main reasons why you are unable to take decisions.
1. When there is some feverishness of desire attached to it; or there is some greed. Then you find it difficult to take a decision
2. When there is some fear in you, then also you are not able to take proper decisions. The mind gets stuck in between greed and fear, due to which we remain in confusion. So just get rid of the fear and the greed. That’s it!
How can you develop the ability to make good decisions?

Intuition, Intuition and Intuition.
How do we awaken our intuition? It happens through meditation
And remember that which gives you long-term happiness and short-term problem, is right. That which gives short-term happiness and long-term misery, is wrong.
Just look back at your life in the past. This is not the first time that your mind is confused in a dilemma. You have faced these types of questions and situations many times earlier as well; and every time you have received help to overcome it.

Q: What is the secret behind padmasadhna? It is so meditative and very different from other yoga asanas?

Sri Sri: You have said that. That is the difference. It is meditative asana and the meditation is integrated with the body movements and prana is equalizing everything in the body system.

Ques : Why is it that despite being on this path sincerely, an area of my life is not moving forward? I feel very unlucky. People who are around me, who are not on a spiritual path seem to be progressing well. Please advice, why is it so and how can I fix it?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: These are two issues
1. Being on a spiritual path
2. Gaining success in whatever work you are doing
Don’t club them both. If you lose one, at least you have something else to hold onto. If you club them both, then you lose both. This is very important.Many times people ask me, ‘With so much spiritual knowledge, why does India still have so many problems?’I ask them, ‘There are so many hospitals, and still people are falling sick. So, are the hospitals responsible for people falling sick?’If someone says that people are anyway falling sick, what is the need for hospitals? Will you shut them down? If you do, then you don’t know where you’ll be.Similarly, when things are falling apart, if you think that in spite of spiritual practices things are falling apart, then you are not thinking right. If you lose that, you won’t even have the strength to go over the tough periods.Just look at those people who have no knowledge of spirituality, or those who are not on the path, see how miserable they are. Just imagine for yourself that if you wouldn’t have had a taste of meditation, or the knowledge, where would you have been? You would have been much worse, isn’t it?So, deal with them and trust that good things will happen to you. There is no doubt about it. This is a promise.If you’re on the path, there is no way you will go down; you will only go up.

When we don't accept an undesired event,
It becomes Anger;...
When we accept it,
It becomes Tolerance....
When we don't accept uncertainty,
It becomes Fear;...
When we accept it,
It becomes Adventure....
When we don't accept other's bad behaviour towards us,
It becomes Hatred;...
When we accept it,
It becomes Forgiveness....
When we don't accept other's Success,
It becomes Jealousy;...
When we accept it,
It becomes Inspiration....
Acceptance is the key for handling life well...

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji

How Wishes are Fulfilled in Empty Mind
~ Sri Sri

See, there is a scientific reason behind constructing the temple on top of a mountain. When you climb or walk such a great distance, your blood circulation greatly improves and the pace of your breath also changes. It becomes sort of like doing pranayama. When you climb the great distance to reach the temple of Vaishno Devi (a temple in Jammu and Kashmir dedicated to the Mother Divine, situated at a great height), then you feel you have done a lot of pranayama in reaching the main temple. The moment you reach the temple after walking so much, your mind instantly becomes empty and you go into a meditative state. When the mind becomes empty, then any wish or desire that you have at that time instantly manifests. This is a great secret.

When you finish doing the Sudarshan Kriya, then at the end your mind becomes so empty and at the same time, such happiness dawns from within. You feel so strong and energetic. When all this happens, then any sincere wish or desire that you have starts to manifest and come true. How many of you here have had this experience that whatever you wish for starts to happen? (Many in the audience raise their hands) See! When you do pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya and meditation, then any wish in your mind immediately gets fulfilled. Isn’t it so? You never have to cry or strain yourself for getting anything. Whatever you wish for starts happening. So, do not wish for small trivial things in life. Wish for something big that will benefit everybody.

Very educative message Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji
In a meeting, Guru ji asked a 30-year-old youth to stand up during his discourse.
- You are walking on Juhu Chowpatty in Mumbai and a beautiful girl is coming from the front, so what will you do?
The young man said - She will be seen, and he will start seeing her personality.
Guru ji asked - After that girl has moved forward, so will you look back too?
The boy said - yes, if my wife is not with me . (everyone laughs in the meeting)
Guru ji again asked - Tell me how long will you remember that beautiful face?
The young man said May be for 5 - 10 minutes, until another beautiful face appears.
Guru ji said to the young man - now just imagine.. you are going from Jaipur to Mumbai and I gave you a packet of books and said that this packet should be delivered to such a great person in Mumbai...
You went to his house in Mumbai to deliver the packets.
When you saw his house, you came to know that he is a billionaire.
10 vehicles are parked in the porch of his bunglow and 5 watchmen are standing outside the house.
You sent the information of Your arrival alongwith the packet , then that gentleman himself came out and greeted you .
He Took the packet from you. Then when you started to return leave the place , you were requested very humbly by him to come inside his home. He sat beside you and fed You hot food.
While you wer returning , He asked you - how have you come to my house ?
You said - in the local train.
He asked his driver to take you to your destination and as soon as you were about to reach your place, that billionaire dignitary made a call to you and asked - Brother, Have you reached comfortably..!!
Now tell me how long will you remember those great man?
The young man said - Guruji! I will never forget that person in my life, till I die in life.
Addressing the gathering through the youth, Guru Ji said - "This is the reality of life."
" *Beautiful face is remembered for a short time, but beautiful behavior is remembered for life*."
That's the guru mantra of life... Concentrate on the beauty of your behavior more than the beauty of your face and body. Life will become enjoyable for yourself and unforgettably inspirational for others..

Question - Gurudev, what is the power of the subconscious mind and how do I utilize it?

Gurudev Ji - The conscious mind is in fact only one-tenth of your subconscious mind. So the subconscious mind has a lot of power.Suppose you are having a pyjama party and eight of you are sleeping and someone calls out your name, only you will respond. Others will continue to remain in deep sleep. Is it not so? Have you noticed this? This indicates that even your name is ingrained in your subconscious mind.Conscious mind is only 10% of your life. When you do Japa it helps you to connect to your subconscious from where things happen.We have a super consciousness (subconscious) mind which knows more than our conscious mind.Meditation is the way to make the subconscious mind become more and more conscious.

Life does not always introduce you to the people you want to meet. Sometimes life puts you in touch with the people you need to meet - to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to gradually strengthen you into the person you were meant to become.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Question - Gurudev, the journey is from form to formless, then how important is it to be with a Guru? We see even very senior people in Art of Living running after the Guru. So should we just be with knowledge, or feel the presence, or run behind you?

Gurudev Ji - See there is nobody behind me. Everybody is in front of me.
Do whatever you want to do. I have no wants. If you stay in a place and be contented, it is fine. And don’t get in to a guilt trip. I don’t want to put you in to more problems. When your heart says run and your mind says don’t run, you are already in a conflict.So, I am not going to take either your mind’s side or your heart’s side, because both are important. You decide what you want to do. Make one win sometimes and the other win sometimes. Sometimes your head should win and sometimes your heart should win, that is life. It is all about compromise.Just know that there is a power and know that miracles happen. Give some space for miracles to happen.

NANDI THE SYMBOL OF ETERNAL WAIT

Nandi is a symbolism of eternal waiting, because waiting is considered the greatest virtue in Indian culture. One who knows how to simply sit and wait is naturally meditative. Nandi is not expecting Shiva to come out tomorrow. He is not anticipating or expecting anything. He is just waiting. He will wait forever. That quality is the essence of receptivity. Before you go into a temple, you must have the quality of Nandi – to simply sit. You are not trying to go to heaven, you are not trying to get this or that – you simply sit.

People have always misunderstood meditation as some kind of activity. No – it is a quality. That is the fundamental difference. Prayer means you are trying to talk to God. Meditation means you are willing to listen to God. You are willing to just listen to existence, to the ultimate nature of creation. You have nothing to say, you simply listen. That is the quality of Nandi – he just sits, alert. This is very important – he is alert, not sleepy. He is not sitting in a passive way. He is sitting, very active, full of alertness, full of life, but just sitting that is meditation!

You just do your work and don't worry about your bad karma. That is what a Guru is there for. Don't worry about your cleansing or your own bad karma of the past. It will automatically go when you live in knowledge, when you are in Satsang, when you meditate and when you do Sudarshan Kriya.
Why do you do all these things? All these can erase your bad karma.
What is bad karma? It is the bad impressions in your mind; in the consciousness. If you still feel something, you can say, ‘Guruji, I give these botherations to you, please take care of it.’ And it will all just go, okay!

-Sri Sri

When your words aren't respected, it's time to be silent..

When your presence isn't found worthwhile, let your absence do it's job..!!!

-Sri Sri

Question : Guruji, I want to surrender completely to you.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji: No, don't do this at all. Why do you want to surrender? Why do you need to surrender? No need. Just relax!
The desire to surrender becomes a 'big task' for you and me, a headache! You don't need to surrender, just relax. What do you have to surrender? Your heart, mind and soul? It's already my own. Everything is mine. Someone was singing, 'Oh, you stole my heart.' Why do I steal what's already mine? Why would I steal your heart? I think everyone on the planet is already mine, get it! I don't need to steal, and surrender to you. You're already mine. So just relax! Do you know that this word 'dedication' helps you when you want to remove the load of negativity from your head. If you have negativity or hatred you have to surrender. To surrender to any good qualities or goodness. Don't need because he's already mine. What's not mine is all negativity, and if you have it just let it go.

Question - Guruji what is and how to attract it?

- When you receive something which is not just by your effort you call it Grace.
Whatever you receive is much more than your effort then it is called Grace.
Whatever that you have received more than what you really deserve is Grace.
Anything that comes to you not just by your effort and not because you qualify you can consider it a gift , as Grace.
It grows by . When you there is No Grace, but when you are it comes in .

GurudevSriSriRavishankarji :-

What is spiritual maturity?

1. Spiritual Maturity is "when you stop trying to change others,...instead focus on changing yourself."
2. Spiritual Maturity is when you "accept people as they are."
3. Spiritual Maturity is when you understand "everyone is right in their own perspective."
4. Spiritual Maturity is when you learn to "let go"
5. Spiritual Maturity is when you are able to drop from a relationship and for the sake of giving."
6. Spiritual Maturity is when you understand "whatever you do, you do for your own peace."
7. Spiritual Maturity is when you "stop proving to the world, how intelligent you are."
8. Spiritual Maturity is when you "don't seek approval from others."
9. Spiritual Maturity is when you "stop comparing with others."
10. Spiritual Maturity is when you are at with yourself.
11. Spiritual Maturity is when you are able to differentiate between and and are able to let go of your wants.
Last but most meaningful !
12. You gain Spiritual Maturity when you "stop attaching to material things !!"

Faith is the subject of the head; devotion is the subject of heart, and meditation connects them both.
A mature mind is devout; a mature heart is full of knowledge; and meditation matures your mind as well as your heart.
The head puts more confidence in the matter and the heart puts more trust in the abstract.
It is almost impossible for an intellectual person to have total lack of faith or total lack of devotion. It's just a matter of maturity and balance.

- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar