In a rapid fire round, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar fields questions from Delhi University students at Hindu College
How to forget ex-boyfriend?
I’m not experienced in these matters, but I can say that there are approximately seven billion people on this planet; 3.5 billion are men, out of them, some are old. You have 2.5 billion men to choose from, so don’t hold on to one rotten apple. You have a lot of choice.
Does karma follow you everywhere?
Karma is action. The tendencies in you become your future karma. Stop living in the past. Most of the time you think about yourself; you think, “What about me now? How will I handle the situation? Turn that me into us. Think about others as well.
What is the basis of life?
Love.
What’s the difference between dispassion, detachment and indifference?
Why do you want to know? It’s you who give meaning to these words. Be passionate towards something higher. Be attached to virtues and when somebody insults you, it’s good to be indifferent.
How can I get rid of negative thoughts?
Don’t be afraid of negative thoughts, embrace them. Gradually, they will go away.
How do we curb desire to watch porn?
Pranayama, meditation and yoga can change your tendencies. These practices take you to a higher plane.
I’m gay. Is it wrong?
There is nothing right or wrong about it. It’s a tendency so accept it. Why do you want to blame yourself? These tendencies come and go. You shouldn’t label or blame yourself. Don’t feel bad about it. Guilt and blame can twist your personality.
How to reduce ego?
Don’t destroy your ego, blow it up, and expand it; from ‘I’ make it ‘We’.
I’m seeing two people at the same time. Is that okay?
Would you like your boyfriend to have two relationships? It’s better to be loyal to one; not a good idea to hurt two people at the same time.
Sex, drugs, alcohol…is there no escape?
Just the thought of staying away from these can help you. Take a vow that you won’t look in that direction.
What’s the scientific definition of God?
God: Generator, Operator and Destroyer. Quantum field can be called God. It’s something that changes one thing into many. Love is God and God is love.
If God is not biased, then why are some born poor and others, rich?
It’s difficult to understand God’s mind. Why do people die? Why are there two nostrils in one nose? You can advice God on the next set of creation. When you read Vedanta, many secrets will open up to you. Movies such as Matrix and Inception are inspired by philosophy of Yoga Vashishta. Prince Rama was a young person like you and he was depressed; Vashishta gave him advice and knowledge. Yoga Vashishta is a thrilling book to read.
How to break free of the cycle of birth and death?
Life is all fun, the world is bliss. Look at life as lila; it’s not struggle, it’s play. When I play football, it’s fun. See life as a game.
When will the world be free of nuclear weapons?
Spiritualise politics and secularise religion. We should pray for everybody; for the planet. Gandhiji brought spirituality in politics. We should also socialise business.
Will the world come to an end in 2012?
Only in American movies.(Laughter)
How to forget ex-boyfriend?
I’m not experienced in these matters, but I can say that there are approximately seven billion people on this planet; 3.5 billion are men, out of them, some are old. You have 2.5 billion men to choose from, so don’t hold on to one rotten apple. You have a lot of choice.
Does karma follow you everywhere?
Karma is action. The tendencies in you become your future karma. Stop living in the past. Most of the time you think about yourself; you think, “What about me now? How will I handle the situation? Turn that me into us. Think about others as well.
What is the basis of life?
Love.
What’s the difference between dispassion, detachment and indifference?
Why do you want to know? It’s you who give meaning to these words. Be passionate towards something higher. Be attached to virtues and when somebody insults you, it’s good to be indifferent.
How can I get rid of negative thoughts?
Don’t be afraid of negative thoughts, embrace them. Gradually, they will go away.
How do we curb desire to watch porn?
Pranayama, meditation and yoga can change your tendencies. These practices take you to a higher plane.
I’m gay. Is it wrong?
There is nothing right or wrong about it. It’s a tendency so accept it. Why do you want to blame yourself? These tendencies come and go. You shouldn’t label or blame yourself. Don’t feel bad about it. Guilt and blame can twist your personality.
How to reduce ego?
Don’t destroy your ego, blow it up, and expand it; from ‘I’ make it ‘We’.
I’m seeing two people at the same time. Is that okay?
Would you like your boyfriend to have two relationships? It’s better to be loyal to one; not a good idea to hurt two people at the same time.
Sex, drugs, alcohol…is there no escape?
Just the thought of staying away from these can help you. Take a vow that you won’t look in that direction.
What’s the scientific definition of God?
God: Generator, Operator and Destroyer. Quantum field can be called God. It’s something that changes one thing into many. Love is God and God is love.
If God is not biased, then why are some born poor and others, rich?
It’s difficult to understand God’s mind. Why do people die? Why are there two nostrils in one nose? You can advice God on the next set of creation. When you read Vedanta, many secrets will open up to you. Movies such as Matrix and Inception are inspired by philosophy of Yoga Vashishta. Prince Rama was a young person like you and he was depressed; Vashishta gave him advice and knowledge. Yoga Vashishta is a thrilling book to read.
How to break free of the cycle of birth and death?
Life is all fun, the world is bliss. Look at life as lila; it’s not struggle, it’s play. When I play football, it’s fun. See life as a game.
When will the world be free of nuclear weapons?
Spiritualise politics and secularise religion. We should pray for everybody; for the planet. Gandhiji brought spirituality in politics. We should also socialise business.
Will the world come to an end in 2012?
Only in American movies.(Laughter)
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