People criticize others behind their backs all the time. What happens to such people? If the criticism is superficial, then let it be. We just talked about the Navarasas (the nine emotions, which are, love, laughter, compassion, anger, courage, terror, disgust, surprise, and peace), this is also one of them. If you want something bad […]
Spiritual Quotes
Why Students commit Suicides ?
Students are committing more suicides. Why? While Sri Sri Ravishankar (Founder of Art of Living) was in Satsang, one of his disciples asked this question. In reply to this, Guruji said.. This is because no one taught them spirituality. No one taught them how to do pranayama and meditation. We are ready to teach that. […]
Grandfather’s Table, A Moral Story
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When […]
Shiva is called Bhoothnath (Lord of the Ghosts). Do ghosts really exist?
If you ask me whether Shiva exists, I can answer, yes! But I don’t know about the ghosts around him (laughter). Yes ghosts do exist but they are not different from him. They are in him. The 5 elements are known as the Panchabhutas. So Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Space are collectively called the […]
How to increase efficiency without fear of failure?
How to increase efficiency without the fear of failure? I worry too much about failure, especially when I am doing something important. It decreases my efficiency. How to overcome this? For this question raised by a devotee, Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji of Art of Living explaining in his own words…. A new beginning. That was the […]
Difference between Dvaita and Advaita Philosophy in Hinduism
“What is the difference between Dvaita Philosophy of Sri Madhvacharya and Advaita Philosophy of Sri Shakaracharya?” This is a question raised by a devotee at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s satsang. Let us read Guruji’s reply to him… ‘Advaita’ is like quantum physics and ‘Dvaita’ is like chemistry. In chemistry you say there are these many […]
Is Manusmriti relevant today?
See, Manusmriti was written by a king called Manu. He was a very wise king. A few lines in the Manusmritiwhich talk about how women should always be protected or a little bit about caste system (referring to the prescribed nature and professions belonging to the four social classes of Hindu society); these have been misinterpreted. I would […]
Meaning of Panchamukhi Ganapati
What is the meaning of Panchamukhi Ganapati? We have five senses in our body: the sense of sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing, and there are five elements in the creation: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. There are five senses and five elements, so in this way there are five facets to God. So […]
Dharma, the Code of Virtue in Hindus’ Daily Life
Dharma is the Code of Virtue in Hindus’ daily life. The most widely used word “Dharma” is not exactly definable. But broadly, it can be said to connote righteous duties, Divine ordinances, customary usage, certain ideals before mankind, justice, equity, good conduct or morality. It is commonly understood that those who follow it are bound to […]
Omnipotence of the Lord
Krishna can be in constant companionship with us because He is omnipotent. Therefore, He can be fully in touch with us by His words. His words and He are not different. That is omnipotence. Omnipotence means that everything relating to Him has the same potency. For example, here in this material world, if we are […]
Significance of Japa Mala (Prayer Beads)
What is the significance of Japa Mala (Prayer beads) in Hinduism? Let us read the explanation about Japa Mala in the words of Sri Sri Ravishankar. He explained it during a Satsang of Art of Living… You know when someone is in love with somebody; they go on taking their name so many times. They […]
Vehicles of Hindu Gods are very small animals, like Ganesha and Mouse, What does this signify
As per Hindu religious history, Gods’ vehicles (vahanams) very small animals, like Ganesha and his mouse & Subramanya and peacock, what does this signify? What is the importance of Gods’ vehicles in Hinduism? This is a question raised by a disciple in the Satsang of Pujya Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of Art of Living. […]
Why are the rivers revered so much in India?
Why are the rivers revered so much in India? Sri Sri Ravishankar answers this question in his satsang at Art of Living. Well, in all ancient cultures around the world rivers, mountains and trees were all revered. There were considered sacred. Not just rivers, even trees are very holy. Like Peepal tree (or banyan tree) […]
Why does Shanmukha (Karthikeya) have six heads?
Why does Shanmukha (Karthikeya) have six heads? The story behind Kartikeya’s six heads… So that he can recite all the Shad Darshanas (six Hindu philosophies) at once. Six faces – this has a significance. We say, ‘The four directions’, North, South, East and West. Brahma has four faces, which means that, he gets knowledge from […]
When will we attain the fruits of Karma of this Lifetime?
If we are experiencing the fruits of our karma of previous lifetimes in this life, then when will we attain the fruits of karma of this lifetime? To this question by a disciple, Sri Sri Ravishankar (Founder of Art of Living) replied like…. That is not how it is! The outcome of some of our […]
Why Hindus follow many Gods, there are 330 Million Gods in Hinduism
There are 33 crores (330 Million) Gods in Hinduism, Why Hindus follow many Gods? People say that follow only one God. If we follow many Gods what happens? This is a question raised by a devotee in Art of Living’s Maha Satsang in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Let’s read the reply from Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji. […]
Paada Puja: Significance, Importance of Paada Pooja
Why do we do Paad Pooja (an ancient Indian ritual of welcoming a guest by washing his feet with water and flowers)? What is the significance of Paad Pooja? This question asked by a devotee at a Satsang of Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji of Art of Living.. Let’s hear/read what Sri Sri has said… In the olden days […]
Relevance of Tapasya in Kaliyuga, How to understand Penance & Austerities in Kaliyuga?
What is the relevance of tapasya (penance or austerities) in Kali Yuga and how should we understand it? Tapa helps to purify all the organs of the body and rid them of impurities. The entire body gets cleansed and all the sense organs become stronger with tapa. Tapasya is not done to please God, or to attain self realization, but it […]
Everyone is a thief, What is the difference between an emperor and a thief
Alexander the Great arrested one thief, and was going to punish him. The thief pleaded, “Sir, you are punishing me, but what is the difference between you and me? I am a small thief, you are a great thief. You are occupying other’s kingdom by force; you have no right. Because you are strong, you […]
Did human life exist billions of years ago on this planet?
Did human life exist billions of years ago on this planet? To this question from a devotee in his Satsang of Art of Living, let us read the response from Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji… Who knows? I don’t know! One thing I can tell you is, the Panchang (Hindu calendar and almanac, which follows traditional […]