Q: Which is more helpful for spiritual growth - to spend more time with the Master or to do more practices?
Sri Sri: It’s only the intellect that brings separation. Otherwise there is no separation. Air is everywhere. But when you observe your breath - then that breathing in is joyful. In the same way you are already close. Just have to be aware of it. A question about relationship problem being a botheration
Sri Sri: There is this story a devotee told me. Two men in a bar are talking. Bhanu didi already started laughing when Guruji said this and Guruji himself was having a hard time controlling his laughter. He could barely finish the story without laughing. “So one of them says to the other - I have family problems.” And the other says, “You think you have family problems? Listen to this. I’m married to a young widow with a grown-up daughter. We got married and I got myself a stepdaughter. Later, my father married my stepdaughter. (Stops to laugh) That made my stepdaughter, my step-mother. And my father became my stepson-in-law. Also, my wife became mother-in-law of her father-in-law.!” (He continued for a bit - I don’t know how he remembered the combinations…) and I am will have a son and I will be my own grandfather!” And you think you have family problems?!!! When the Guru smiles…
Q: Is permananent peace beyond all concepts of the mind?
Sri Sri: Yes! Is it okay to have two Gurus or will the blessings be reduced? It’s hard to manage one - why do you want two! Reduced blessings? Even here you want more and more. Even in blessings there is greed? You should honor every tradition - there is no need to feel guilty. Because of those blessings you are here. But don’t keep searching from pillar to post. Dive into any one tradition deeply.
Q: You said all is programmed into the DNA but in Vasishta it is said self-effort is required? Is it grace of self-effort?
Sri Sri: Both!
Q: How can we age gracefully?
Sri Sri: (with a mischievious smile and a small subtle gesture toward himself) Like this! See you are really asking how to look attractive. Your desire to look attractive makes you unattractive! If you want to look attractive, have that feverish desire that makes you unattractive. But if you are calm, serene, then that brings beauty.
Q: Can healing happen through chakra meditation?”
Sri Sri: Yes, in meditation healing can happen. When the mind is calm, alert and totally contented then it is like a laser beam - it is very powerful and healing can happen. That is why there is this tradition of asking elders for blessings. Because at that age - all desires are fulfilled and there is calmness, contentment - so the blessing is powerful. Of course this doesn’t happen in all cases. In some cases the age goes in one direction and the mind goes in the other!
Q: Do visualization and affirmation techniques work?
Sri Sri: To some extent but there is really no need to keep repeating. If you keep repeating you will start doubting it actually. Now you know you are in Bali - do you need to keep saying “I am in Bali, I am in Bali…” No! You already know - that is good enough. In fact if you keep repeating you will start doubting it. No I am not saying that there is absolutely no need for affirmation - in some cases when the negative thoughts are so high - some of this may help a bit but to just keep repeating…there is no need. You have to go beyond negative and positive thoughts. In the Gita Krishna tells Arjuna - Arjuna you have to rise above the positive and the negative. This is the supreme knowledge. To go beyond the negative and the positive - to see them with equanimity. To not be affected by either one of them.
Q: You say to observe the thoughts in the mind - this question arises - who is observing the thoughts?
Sri Sri: Ah! That is the question! You have to inquire.
Q: Observing the thoughts can also be a thought?
Sri Sri: If you make an effort to observe then yes, you are right, that can also become a thought. But if you are effortless and relaxed when observing, then it is fine. In Park City, Utah, when Guruji met about 70 of us from the Bay Area, he came out of meditation and with the backdrop of white snowy mountains, he spoke for some time on the last two questions, (from memory recollecting some of it below…) Observe what is going on in your mind. The dialogue in the mind. Constantly there is dialogue in the mind. What somebody said, what you said, what you will say. Your mind is always busy - planning on what to say to whom…blah blah blah. Discard all the impressions that arise in the mind. Just discard all this. Discard your mind! Take some time every day to discard all these impressions from your mind. Take a walk - a nature walk. Be mindful. Discard the impressions. Every day spend about an hour consciously removing these impressions. It may be frustrating at first but continue. Don’t get frustrated. Just calmly discard all the impressions.
Q: So are Sudarshan Kriya and meditation the vehicles to do this?
Sri Sri: I am giving you the goal and you want a vehicle! I am taking you to the goal! This is higher than Kriya and Meditation. This knowledge is good for lifetimes. Just discard all the impressions. Be free of your mind.
