Sunday, May 9, 2010

Pictures of the Peace Path









Gurudev at the Millennium Peace Summit











Gurudev at the Kennedy Center (25 Yr)






Gurudev at the Business Ethics Conference







Gurudev at the South Asia Peace Summit











Following the Path of Peace (click to enlarge)

On the voice of "NON Violence"

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on “The Voice of Non-Violence”

The Voice of Non-Violence

His Holiness His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar is a renowned spiritual leader and humanitarian whose mission of uniting the world into a violence-free global family has inspired millions of people around the world. An icon of non-violence and universal human values, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar seeks global peace through service and dialogue.

Born in 1956 in southern India, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s appeal cuts across all barriers of class, race, religion and nationality. Millions of Hindus revere His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as their religious and spiritual leader, while people of other faiths look up to him for inner peace and promoting ecumenical values. After Mahatma Gandhi, it is His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who has succeeded in uniting people of different traditions into a spiritual communion throughout the length and breadth of India.

In 1981, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar started the Art of Living Foundation, an international nonprofit educational and humanitarian organization with a presence in over 140 countries. Its educational and self-development programs offer powerful tools to eliminate stress and foster a sense of well-being. In Europe and the United States, the Foundation’s programs are helping youth in inner cities turn away from gang violence, drugs and alcohol, toward service. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Prison Programs have helped transform the lives of more than 150,000 inmates around the world.

In 1997, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founded the International Association for Human Values, a humanitarian organization that advances human values in political, economic, industrial, and social spheres. In India, South Africa, and Latin America, the Association is working in poor rural communities to promote sustainable growth, and has reached more than 30,000 villages.

Through personal interactions, teachings and humanitarian initiatives, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has reached out to an estimated 300 million people worldwide. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has revived ancient techniques that were traditionally kept exclusive, and made them available to the world. He has designed many self-development programs that help people to calm their minds and heighten enthusiasm.

A leading figure in human development and social transformation, he is a multifaceted social activist whose initiatives include conflict resolution, disaster and trauma relief, prisoner rehabilitation programs, youth leadership, women’s empowerment, campaigns against female foeticide and child labor, and education for all. In Kashmir and Sri Lanka, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is working to further dialogue between opposing parties to resolve the conflicts peacefully. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar travels to more than 40 countries a year to share his message that all the great spiritual traditions share common goals and values. He inspires leaders to balance business with ethics and social responsibility. His teachings of love, practical wisdom, and service promote harmony among people, and encourage individuals to follow their chosen spiritual path, while honoring the path of others.

1.2 His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Universal Declaration of Human Values

This document, developed by His Holiness His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar, represents his vision for a fresh approach to fostering understanding and harmonious coexistence among different peoples and cultures, and fulfilling the purposes for which the United Nations was formed. It is in the form of a proposed resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations. It is hoped that, in due course, member States will formally bring this document forward to the United Nations, in accordance with normal General Assembly processes and channels, for discussion, adoption, and subsequent implementation. It is His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s intention that this proposed Declaration serve as a tool to begin a global discussion of the crucial issues it raises.

The United Nations General Assembly,

Recognizing the paramount importance of harmonious coexistence among different peoples; Acknowledging the urgent need to bring about understanding among different cultures and civilizations and to foster harmony in diversity throughout the world; Deeply concerned by increasing conflict and violence around the globe; Determined to address the root causes of this increasing conflict and violence; Recognizing that much of the conflict and violence today is attributable to religious and ethnic divisions and misunderstanding; Recalling that the United Nations was formed to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of the human person, as set out in the Preamble of the United Nations Charter; Reaffirming our commitment to the purposes of the United Nations that include maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, and achieving international cooperation in encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, as set out in Article 1 of the United Nations Charter; Emphasizing our commitment to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which constitutes a common standard of achievement for all peoples and nations, as well as our commitment to the subsequent existing international human rights instruments;

Recognizing that grave human rights violations continue around the world, despite more than half a century of efforts to achieve human rights and fundamental freedoms for all;

Reaffirming our commitment to the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted on September 8, 2000;

Recalling that the United Nations Millennium Declaration sets out a number of basic societal values considered essential to international relations in the 21st century, as well as specific objectives to be achieved consistent with these values in key areas which include peace, security and disarmament; development and poverty eradication; protecting our common environment; human rights and good governance; protecting the vulnerable; and meeting the special needs of Africa;

Determined to achieve the goals and objectives of the Millennium Declaration, including universal human rights, despite serious challenges that the world now faces in doing so;

Recognizing that we must broaden our vision and readjust our strategies in order to foster mutual respect and understanding among different cultures and civilizations, enabling the achievement of the commitments made in the past;

Acknowledging the urgent need to address the spiritual aspect of human existence in order to achieve harmonious coexistence among diverse peoples, realize universal human rights, and fulfill the purposes for which the United Nations was formed;

Appealing to that same universal Divine consciousness and power that is at the core of all the world’s religions for assistance and support in this crucial endeavor,

Solemnly proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Values.

ARTICLE 1

Global Commitment and Call to Action

1.1 We, heads of State and Government, gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, collectively acknowledge the urgent need today to rekindle universal human values throughout all sectors of society around the world.

1.2 A global resurgence of human values is vital in order to foster harmonious coexistence among different peoples and cultures and to achieve peace and security on the planet, universal human rights, the eradication of poverty, and the protection of the environment.

1.3 We hereby formally declare our solemn commitment to nurture and strengthen universal human values around the world through every possible means. We will work with all organs of society in every sector to ensure that human values are acknowledged, honored, encouraged and rewarded.

1.4 Broad-based education in universal human values, consistent with the principles set out in this Declaration, is essential in this crucial endeavor. Multi-cultural, multi-religious education is urgently needed to bring people together and foster harmony in diversity.

1.5 We hereby formally commit to working with partners in all sectors of society to ensure such education is available to all, and most especially to all children and youth.

1.6 We call upon all levels of government and all organs of society, including religious institutions, to join us in our sacred and urgent endeavor to reawaken human values across the globe by acknowledging, encouraging, and rewarding universal human values, and by fostering awareness of the principles set out in this Declaration.

1.7 We call upon all individuals of all ages everywhere to put into practice the principles in this Declaration by honoring human values in their own lives and by nurturing human values in their families, at home, at school, in their place of work, and at their place of worship.

1.8 We hereby commit to taking all appropriate measures to ensure that copies of this Declaration, and information about the principles it espouses, are widely disseminated and available to all.

ARTICLE 2

Human Values

2.1 Human values are those attributes and qualities which are the very heart of humanity, representing the highest expression of the human spirit.

2.2 Human values are innate in all people. They are part of our deepest nature and include:

2.2.1 A deep caring for all life
A profound awareness of the sacredness of all life is the basis for all other human values. This awareness goes beyond respect and even reverence to a deeply felt caring for all life that should be nurtured among all people as the highest of values. In its fullest form, this caring for life manifests as unconditional love. Ultimately, love is the very sub-stratum of existence; at the deepest level, love is what we are.

2.2.2 Non-violence
Non-violence arises spontaneously in one who has a deep awareness of the sacredness of all life, including one’s adversaries. True non-violence encompasses non-violence in words and thoughts as well as actions, because words arise from thoughts, and actions arise from both thoughts and words. We need to be ever mindful that, as fire cannot extinguish fire, violence cannot extinguish violence.

2.2.3 Compassion
Compassion arises naturally where, at some level, one feels the suffering of another as one’s own. Compassion is rooted in the awareness that we are all part of one universal spirit. It flourishes where one sees the other as oneself, without blame, pity, or judgment. In its fullest form, compassion is characterized by the desire to eliminate suffering and misery for all life.

2.2.4 Friendliness and cooperation
Human relations should be characterized by friendliness and cooperation, not by competition or jealousy. Friendliness and cooperation are the natural and spontaneous tendencies of all people when they are among those they love, including family and friends. These qualities naturally grow to extend to all people where there is a deep caring for all life and the awareness that we are all part of one world family.

2.2.5 Generosity and sharing
Generosity and sharing are natural responses toward those we care for, starting with the members of our own family. These qualities grow and expand along with the awareness that true prosperity is the result of giving, not of hoarding, and that our family is truly the whole of humankind.

2.2.6 A feeling of belonging and oneness with all life
Within our own families, we naturally experience a sense of comfort, security and ease - a feeling of belonging. A deep understanding that we are all members of one world family leads to the same feeling of belonging with all people everywhere. A recognition that we are all part of one universal spirit leads to a feeling of oneness with all life.

2.2.7 An eco-friendly attitude and caring for the planet
An eco-friendly attitude arises spontaneously with the understanding that the earth is our own mother, and the mother of all life on the planet. The Millennium Declaration identified respect for nature as one of the fundamental societal values essential to international relations. The corresponding human value goes beyond mere respect to reverence and a profound caring for the planet, in the same way that we revere and love our own mother.

2.2.8 Service to society
Helping those in need is a natural tendency in human beings, giving great personal satisfaction to those who engage in altruistic activities. This innate altruistic tendency increases with the awareness that we are all truly part of one world family and are here to contribute something of value to society, not to get something for ourselves, for we will take nothing with us when we depart from this planet.

2.2.9 A sense of commitment and responsibility
We naturally feel a sense of commitment and responsibility for what we perceive as our own: our body, our children, our family, our possessions. When we recognize our oneness with all of life and consequently have a vastly expanded sense of what is our own, we broaden our sense of commitment and responsibility accordingly to encompass all society, all life.

2.2.10 Peace and contentment
Peace and contentment are the hallmarks of the human spirit. They are our very nature, to be nurtured and encouraged. Peace within the individual ultimately manifests as peace in the family, in the community, and in the world. Contentment grows naturally with the awareness of all the gifts that nature has bestowed on us, whatever our condition or situation.

2.2.11 Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm is life itself. The boundless enthusiasm that is natural to all children should not be lost as we mature and age; joy and enthusiasm should be supported and nurtured as life itself. Dampening enthusiasm is an act of violence that amounts to smothering life.

2.2.12 Integrity, honesty and sincerity
There is no spiritual tradition that does not strongly advocate integrity, honesty and sincerity. These qualities are universally prized as virtues that form the foundation of social order and justice. They are innate within all people, to be nurtured and encouraged.

2.3 Human values do not depend on, and are not derived from, any external authority. Human values cannot be imposed by society, nor can they be legislated. They are not the subject matter of rules. As the infinite potentiality within all people, human values are already present in every human heart, whether flourishing or latent, whether manifest or unexpressed. Human values need only be uncovered, rekindled, encouraged and nurtured in order to thrive and grow.

2.4 Just as water flows downhill and fire rises, so the natural tendency of the human spirit is to evolve toward these universal human values. Although these values are innate in every human being, they have been overshadowed by the stresses and strains of our lives and by society’s failure to encourage and nurture them.

2.5 Very little attention has been paid to human values over the past half-century, despite the focus on human rights. Yet, if a tree is to bear fruit, one must water the root. Otherwise, all efforts to make the fruit grow will be futile. Human rights are like the fruits of the tree of human society whose roots are human values. We have collectively neglected to water the root of this tree, though we have waited eagerly for the fruit to appear and ripen. There is now an urgent need to focus our attention on human values.

2.6 Wherever human values flourish, there also will human rights flourish without effort, irrespective of any human rights codes that may or may not exist. There also will peace and security prevail and violence subside. There also will different cultures and civilizations coexist in harmony. There also will people spontaneously help to uplift their neighbors and ultimately to eradicate poverty. There also will the environment be honored and protected, with great care and respect.

ARTICLE 3

Creating New Heroes of Humanity

3.1 Although the qualities of non-violence, friendliness and cooperation represent the highest expression of the human spirit, it is often the baser qualities of violence, aggression and domination that are respected, rewarded, and glorified in today’s society. These baser qualities, common to the animal kingdom, are often erroneously associated with bravery, strength and heroism, and consequently held in high regard by many.

3.2 Youth in particular often seek approval and recognition from their peers by engaging in violent and aggressive behavior. A great sense of pride comes from being perceived by one’s peers as exceptionally violent, aggressive or even cruel. Unfortunately, no similar pride or status is attached to the qualities of non-violence, friendliness and cooperation. In fact, these human values may even be viewed as signs of weakness rather than the great strength they truly represent.

3.3 This situation needs to be reversed. Non-violence, friendliness and cooperation must come to be recognized as the new norm, as hallmarks of today’s true hero. Moreover, a sense of pride must be kindled in connection with these qualities, instead of with violence and aggression.

3.4 We must foster the creation of new role models and heroes in order to reawaken human values in youth. Today’s heroes for humanity must exemplify those values that represent the highest expression of the human spirit. They must serve as models of non-violence, friendliness, and service to society. Today’s heroes must be ready to face any challenge for the sake of helping the world and its people, with an unshakeable confidence in their ability to achieve whatever they may undertake. The true heroes of humanity shine, not as a result of triumphing over a villain, but because of their very character and virtue.

ARTICLE 4

Human Values and Conflict Resolution

4.1 One in whom human values have fully blossomed shines as an example to all of the potential for spiritual perfection that exists in every human being. Only such a person, regarded as a friend to all, will be successful in promoting dialogue in areas of conflict around the world. Only such a person, whose very presence soothes, calms and comforts, can truly be effective as a peacemaker.

4.2 In creating arbitrators and negotiators to work toward achieving peace in areas of conflict, primary consideration must be given to choosing individuals in whom human values are exceptionally strong, and whose lives exemplify those qualities that represent the essence of what it is to be human.

ARTICLE 5

Spirituality, Human Values, and Identity

5.1 There is an urgent need to reverse the growing lack of spirituality in the world today which is contributing to the increase in all kinds of violence throughout society, including armed conflict, criminal activity, domestic violence, and suicide.

5.2 The term spirituality, as it is used in this Declaration, means living and honoring human values. It means a deep caring for all life and a profound awareness of its sacredness.

5.3 Spirituality means rising above limited concepts of one’s own identity to be able to see one’s basic identity first and foremost as part of one universal spirit, one consciousness, one light, one God; secondly, as a human being; thirdly, as a man or a woman; and, finally, as a member of a particular religion and citizen of a particular nation.

5.4 Today, however, this hierarchy of identity is reversed, as most people identify themselves with their religion first, failing to recognize that we all belong to one world family.

5.5 Only the clear and unshakable awareness that we are all part of one universal spirit, and that our family is truly all of humankind, will provide a solid foundation for peace and security in the world.

ARTICLE 6

Human Values and the Millennium Declaration

6.1 A resurgence of universal human values throughout the world is urgently needed in order to achieve the objectives of the Millennium Declaration.

6.2 The Millennium Declaration set out certain shared societal values that are essential to international relations in the 21st century. These values govern the conduct of nations and include freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, and shared responsibility.

6.3 Underlying the shared societal values of the Millennium Declaration are universal human values, which are part of the deepest nature of all human beings and which govern human conduct.

6.4 The world is at a tipping point today. It is on fire with hatred, conflict, violence, and religious and ethnic strife. Universal human values now need to be the focus of our attention, in order to strengthen the societal values of the Millennium Declaration and achieve its goals and objectives in the key areas of peace, security and disarmament; human rights and good governance; development and poverty eradication; protecting our common environment; protecting the vulnerable; and meeting the special needs of Africa.

ARTICLE 7

Globalizing Human Values and Wisdom

7.1 Universal human values are at the basis of all the major world religions. All religions advocate compassion, love, generosity, non-violence, and selfless service to others. Today, however, religious fanaticism, arising from a narrow vision and a lack of knowledge and understanding about other religions, has become a menace to world peace and security.

7.2 Globalizing human values is essential to counter religious fanaticism. Although we have globalized the market economy today, including technology, fashion, food, and music, we have yet to globalize human values and wisdom.

7.3 The Millennium Declaration calls for equitable and inclusive globalization, so that it becomes a positive force for all the world’s people. We need to further expand and refine this principle of globalization as a positive force. Globalization of a market economy is not enough. Globalization of wisdom must now be our focus.

7.4 All children must receive a multi-religious, multi-cultural education so they have a general knowledge of all the world’s religions. Only in this way will they come to see the one truth among the diversity of religions and grow up to honor all spiritual traditions.

7.5 Broad-based ecumenical education throughout every part of the world is essential to promote understanding among different cultures and civilizations, and to achieve peace and security. Even if only a small area of the planet remains untouched by this effort and is left in darkness, thinking its own religion alone provides ultimate salvation, the world will not be a safe place.

ARTICLE 8

Follow – Up

8.1 Given the paramount importance of putting into practice the principles contained in this Declaration in order to foster understanding among different cultures and civilizations, to fulfill the purposes for which the United Nations was formed, and to assure the future of society and of the planet itself, we call upon the General Assembly to monitor and review on a regular basis the progress of member States in implementing our common commitments in this Declaration. We further request the Secretary-General to issue periodic progress reports, as a basis for further action.

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Honors and Awards

  • Honorary Doctorate, Nagarjuna University, Andhra Pradesh, India, 2008
  • Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa by Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India, 2007
  • National Veterans Foundation Award, USA, 2007
  • Honorary Doctorate of Science by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India, 2007
  • Varshada Kannadiga (Kannadiga of the Year) by ETV, 2007
  • Leadership Award for Extraordinary Promotion for World Peace and Harmony by Amity University, 2007
  • Sant Shri Dnyaneshwara World Peace Prize 2006 by World Peace Centre, Pune
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Holistic Medicine) by Open International University for Complementary Medicine, Sri Lanka
  • Order of the Pole Star 2006, highest state honour by the President of Mongolia
  • Fervent Global Love of Life 2006 by the Cultural and Education Foundation of Human Life, Taiwan
  • Peter the Great, First Grade Award, Russian Federation, 2006
  • Mongolian Prime Minister's Award, 2006
  • Mahavir-Mahatma Award for Contribution to Peace, Times Foundation, India, 2005
  • Dara Shikoh National Award for Harmony, New Delhi, 2005
  • Global Humanitarian Award, Illinois, USA, 2005
  • Member of Martin Luther Collegium of Scholars, 2005
  • Bharat Shiromani Award, New Delhi, India, 2004
  • Honorary Doctorate of Literature from Kuvempu University, Karnataka, India
  • The Illustrious Visitors Award, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2004
  • Phoenix Award, Atlanta, USA, 2002
  • Guru Mahatmya Award, Government of Maharashtra, India, 1997
  • Title of Yoga Shiromani (Supreme Jewel of Yoga), President of India, 1986

Quotable Quotes by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Quotable Quotes by Gurudev

1. When thoughts are constrained and your mind has settled down peacefully in that meditative state, you have become one with the Divine. You are no more your small, little individual self, but you are one with the cosmic life, cosmic being, and one with God.

2. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. Happy moments, praise God; Difficult moments, seek God; Quiet moments, worship God; Painful moments, trust God; Every moment, thank God.

3. There is some power, someone who is really caring for you---not just someone: there is only one in the whole universe. That One in the Universe is caring and taking care. Relax; just be peaceful.

4. If you just look into all the pleasures or joy that you get in life from the world, from anything---they all come with a tax. You have to pay a tax for them. And this tax is sorrow.

5. Make the whole life a game. There is no purpose; there is no aim, nothing. Just take it lightly, easily. Play the game. That is worship, which is celebration.

6. Most of the sorrow in the world is because of this: speech -- what people say. If they kept their lips tight, ninety percent of the problems in the world would be over.

7. There is no escape for man from misery until he reaches the other end of his journey, lives the state of Divine Love, full love. And it's not very difficult. It's worth walking that path

8. The present moment, making the mind be there -- now, now, now -- makes you like a child: innocent and still a lot of wisdom and depth

9. In surrender, you realize that, "It is not possible for me to handle my mind or head with all its guilt and with all its rubbish." Now you say, "Divine, you take care of this”.

10. Jesus is the only way? Jesus is Love-yes, Jesus is the only way. Jesus has many names: he is Buddha, he is Krishna, and he is you. Your name also belongs to Jesus

11. Surrender means, "Who cares what is happening -- I just let go"

12. Bad company is company that disturbs the coolness, simplicity, and innocence in you. Company that robs the joy from you is bad company. Company that stimulates passion and ambition in you is bad company.

13. Make your desire bigger. Desire for the highest. Don't go for anything smaller than that. Hmmm? Then also Divine Love dawns in you.

14. Celibacy is a happening in life; it's not a practice. It's not something one forces on the mind. But when that same love becomes devotion, then your mind is so much in the present moment, totally, all the 24 hours, then you see you are having the same joy a hundred times more, magnified, without having the feverishness of lust

15. You are not jealous about someone very dear to you. When someone very close to you is very happy, it doesn't bother you, it doesn't bring jealousy in you. When you think so-and-so is very happy and they are not connected to you totally, then the jealousy comes.

16. One bases one's life in the way one looks, and that causes great fear

17. The desire has driven you crazy. Stop for a while and look at it: "What is it?"-that feverishness dissolves and disappears, vanishes

18. The Infinity longs for you as much as you long for It

19. Whatever action you do, whatever events happen around you, it does not touch a central point of your life. That central core of your life remains a virgin.

20. "Jesus is born to a virgin" means that Jesus, or the Lord, is born to this virgin area deep inside you which is untouched by any events that are happening in life

21. Don't think a Guru or a Master is always blessing. There are certain moments when that blessing flows with great force. Those are very precious moments, to sit and receive that

22. The direction of life is towards one thing: that is love. You be prosperous and have no love, that prosperity has no value. You are on spiritual path but you don't experience, feel the Love, then that spiritual path is no path, it is very dry: it's all up here -- intellectual exercises

23. A servant is one who does not think, "What about me." He has so much trust in the Master. He has come to dissolve and be one with the main stream, the ocean. It's like a river flowing into the ocean. It no more exists; it is transformed. Now it exists as the ocean itself. That is a servant

24. "Perfection" is availability of the Divine Love deep within us, of the wholeness of Love deep within us -- undying, unshakeable, ever-growing Love deep within us

25. The more you are loaded with desires, the more poor you are, the more weak you are. Strength is wakefulness, and in wakefulness there is no desire. Remember this

26. Offer every moment into the Divine

27. The Divine is serving you day and night. See, in time, in seasons, it brings rain for you and food, crops to you. It delivers. In fact, the Divine is serving you. Sun and moon going around you-everything is being provided to you. Is it not a service

28. You think dispassion means lack of joy. This is not so; dispassion *is* joy. Dispassion means "full of joy." When you say, "I don't want anything," that means you have everything

29. If an enlightened person walks around, do you know how he feels? He feels like taking a stick and beating everybody and asking them to laugh! "All has been provided to you, and God is with you every moment. Now, why don't you smile, laugh, and be happy in life!

30. Prayer is not a practice; it is a happening

31. The seers, the seen, and the process of seeing all merge. The knowledge, the knower, and the known, they all merge, become one -- that is Divine Love

32. You eat, and after eating you should not think about eating. Same thing, sex. You have sex -- finished; afterwards you should not carry sex in the head all the 24 hours

33. "Hurt" is part of love. You can get hurt only when you love; otherwise – impossible

34. Offer desire to the Divine. Challenge the Divine: "Why did you give this desire to me in the first place! Better if you take care of it." At that very moment that pain, or restlessness, or desire, transforms into an infinite state of clear awareness, or Love. An immense Love wells forth in you. This is called "surrender.

35. There is a Divine Love, which is the very source, the very center, of all other types of love...Every cell of our being reverberates with that essence of Love, that Love which can transcend all the limitations and still grow

36. Longing, the pain of separation, increases the love in you. That increases the prayerfulness in you

37. Gratefulness purifies your system

38. Celibacy is a happening. When you feel that joy is with you all 24 hours then you lose interest in an act to get joy. It is a happening, it's not something forced or suppressed. We either know to just completely be into sex, always going into it, or we know to suppress it completely. But transcending is going beyond that, and that happens with more awareness

39. Beauty has no utility, because beauty is not a "means," it is an end in itself. All that is useful in life is only a means. All that is useless is an end in itself. Do you see that? What is the use of being in love?

40. You are that Longing that you have for me. You are that Love you have for me. You *are* That. Be with That

41. Divine Love is when you transcend the knowledge, when you don't care -- say we are sitting here, even if I don't say a word, if it's okay for you just to be sitting

42. Tonight, when you go to sleep, feel your whole body. As you start feeling your body, you'll see you are not the body. You are a glow, you are consciousness. You are that scintillating energy, sparkling energy in the whole body.

43. The taste of that surrender will make your life worth living. Without that, you may be a king, you may be a president, you may be a millionaire, you may have all the pleasures in the world-still, you are poor; still, your life is not worth breathing

44. The Divine rejoices in your being happy. God, or the Creation, is so happy when you are happy. When you dance, sing, and jump up and down happily, that is true prayer, that is true meditation. Meditation is a fountain of joy, an ecstasy; and Divine enjoys that more. Divine is not fond of your suffering

45. Competition destroys creativity; but you have been told the other way around. People have always told you that you have to be competitive, that you should win over the competition, otherwise you can't survive. No -- if you want to be creative, you shouldn't be competitive

46. When you are longing for a pleasure, ...the longing for it brings a bondage. And liberation, or enlightenment, Nirvana, all that, is to take off the bondage, to be free from any bondage. But [for] one to whom even Nirvana doesn't appeal... in that heart Love blossoms fully: "I am yours, you use me how you want

47. If you could give yourself, then your needs will all be taken care of, more than it is needed. That is called "sidhi" -- whatever is needed comes before it is needed

48. If someone is beautiful, that beauty is bestowed by the Divine, it belongs to the Divine. If someone is educated, that knowledge is bestowed by the Divine. Someone is doing some good or bad actions, those actions are from the Divine

49. Offer the desires that have already arisen in you, then also you'll become peaceful and happy – instantaneously

50. Desire and ambition suppressed, fermented, become anger. Like milk becomes yogurt, desire ferments and becomes anger. And when you cannot show anger, or even if you have shown anger, the anger gets fermented and becomes passion, attachment -- that's called "mohaa." "Mohaa" means you are attached to somebody in spite of all your misery

51. When there is Love, there is no ego; ego dissolves like the dew drops with the sun.

52. Behind every misery, there is a hope. The fuel for miserable people is hope. Foreseeing happiness sometime in the future, makes one miserable right now. Having desire for some pleasure in the future, either in the world or in heaven, one misses the boat

53. Every experience, when it is over done, every sense, brings nausea. Craving turns into aversion. And aversion continues, then it turns into craving. With this feverishness of aversion and craving the mind gets clogged, closed---it's unable to see the light deep within.

54. If there is love, there is bound to be longing; and if there is longing, know that there is love. Attend to the sensation in your body, attend to that; attend to the root of desire: that ambition, that craving.

55. The purpose of every practice -- spiritual practice, meditation, breathing techniques, and kriya, all this -- is to uncover something that blocks the expression of Divine Love.

56. Attend to every part of your body with honor-all feverishness will be transformed into love.

57. Do not judge. Just look at yourself -- how many flaws you have. And Nature, the Divine, has accepted you with all your flaws... It doesn't judge you at all.

58. In fact surrender is a joke. You have nothing to surrender. Everything is anyway belonging to the Divine. And if you "have" something, what is it that you have? But if you think you have something, the enlightened say, "Okay, you surrender it." It makes your mind free

59. See the world from the eyes of the Master. This is a sign that you have come to the Master

60. You can do this as an experiment: when you are very worried or tense, just sit by a flowing river or gushing water and just keep looking at the water. You know, within few moments you feel as though like a magnetic pull, that your mind is being pulled in the direction of the flow of water...and in a short while all that anguish, delusion, whatever you had, [with] the flowing water it all flows away. You become fresh.

61. Love is not just an emotion. It is the very state of your being.

62. If somebody is hateful, we can only have compassion for them, because they are not aware of the center; they have moved from their love.

63. Prayer is not a practice; it is a happening.

64. Just the memory of the Lord, of the Divine, can remove obstacles from your way.

65. Offer to the Divine all your wants, your aversions, your cravings. Rest deep in a state of contentment. And look at what all has been given to you. Look around, see how rich your life is, how beautiful the world is -- you'll be taken up by waves of gratitude.

66. The more organized your life is, the more the false idea comes in your mind that you are in control. That doesn't mean you shouldn't take care of things, take care of everything, organize, but know that you are not in control of anything. Then surrender has happened.

67. Dispassion is not apathy. Often we think dispassion means being totally unenthusiastic, depressed, not interested in anything -- this is not dispassion. Dispassion is lack of feverishness.

68. In life, any time you become stiff---and there you get a slap! Become soft; smile there. Any stiffness, life just smoothens it out, evens it out, in you.

69. Duality -- a divided mind -- is the cause of fear and misery.

70. You need someone from the other shore to throw the rope which you can hold on[to] and cross.

71. Don't think, "I have lots of duties. How will I fulfill my duties?" See, the moment you think something is your duty; there is no beauty in it. Duty, responsibility, becomes a burden; it becomes bondage on your head. Love the job that you are doing.

72. If you are given ten compliments and one insult, that one insult gets into your mind so strongly, it overwhelms you, takes you in your totality, eats you up; all pleasant thoughts leave you; one unpleasant thought clogs the mind, blocks your life, limits it to a very small thing. One single thought in the mind can restrict your awareness, the totality of awareness. How big is your mind? How vast is your life? There are so many things in life. One small, insignificant thought, insignificant thing, can clog and cloud your whole awareness.

73. If we all just sit and think, "What about me, what about me," then that is the hell.

74. When this mind is causing so much disappointment to you, why don't you drop it! Why do you hang onto that mind.

75. When a devotee flowers on this planet, God is so happy..

76. It's not necessary that one has to go through all the suffering. That is why there is a Guru. Yes, one has gone through some suffering -- that is enough. There is no need to be repeating it over again and again.

77. What is happening in gazing? You are looking at somebody. For a few moments you gaze with all your heart. Then for a few moments your mind is not running here and there. Then you sit with eyes closed -- the mind is completely settled.

78. Surrender is your innate nature. But the fear is that you think you will "lose" by surrendering -- I tell you, what is it you have to lose! You have nothing, in the first place, to lose. Surrender means, "Who cares what is happening -- I just let go"

79. Love is now and here.

80. The central focus of our life is spiritual growth, is peace, and then all other things will be around that. Your first and foremost commitment in life is to be with the Truth, to evolve in Truth.

81. Meditation is very similar to this experience of void. In meditation you realize you are not just the body, but you are more than the body. That annihilates the fear of death.

82. God never punishes you. He has never lost hope on the human beings.

83. Even if you live for five minutes in this planet, even if you live for five days, five months, five years - a few moments of that Love makes the life worthwhile. A few moments of that Love brings joy, not only to you but to the entire creation around you.

84. It's not worth living in this planet -- walking, talking, eating, drinking, doing anything -- if the heart is not opened. And 95% of the population, I could even say 99% of the population, dies without the heart being opened.

85. The mind plays so many tricks. The mind is charmed always by a distance. We are not charmed by God because he is very close to us; he is the nearest. So the mind tries to keep God at a very great distance.

86. God is the cheapest commodity available, because outside of God there can be nothing. There is no "outside" at all.

87. Look at this arguing mind. This is what you have been carrying all these years-and you want to continue carrying it.

88. The seed of all knowledge is present in the consciousness, no doubt about it. There is no doubt -- the Sadguru will know something which you have never revealed to anybody. [To] the innermost secret, [he] has an access, because there is no difference. At the same time, he has no interest in poking into anybody's mind, or reading anybody's thoughts, or reading anybody's opinions. He allows the "I don't know" state to remain.

89. If someone is beautiful, that beauty is bestowed by the Divine, it belongs to the Divine. If someone is educated, that knowledge is bestowed by the Divine. Someone is doing some good or bad actions, those actions are from the Divine.

90. Servant is the real master. Who becomes a master, is one who serves. God has been serving you day and night. He takes care of every thing for you.

91. Don't evaluate yourself. When you stop evaluating yourself, which in itself is a sign of progress.

92. A semi-conscious state is the cause of action -- the dream state, where you create. A spark of beauty with rajas (rajoguna), pushes you into action. This entire universe is a dream, it is full of action.

93. Creation and destruction are two sides of the same coin. They almost happen simultaneously -- the moment you are born, you are also dying.

94. Love cannot be experienced in the process of asking: "Give me more. What you can give me? What you can give me? What joy you can give me?" In this run of asking, snatching, there can't be the Divine Love.

95. We call a city totally literate when? When each and every person in the city has learned how to read and write. Like that, in the city of your body some people get a turn today to learn, some others get a turn tomorrow to learn, some others get the next day to learn. So every day there are different "people," different molecules coming up front. Every day that you meditate, you culture them. It takes some time to culture, and culture, and cultures all the neurons in the brain. Then they are all cultured to live the bliss.

96. The whole world is here for you to enjoy, but when enjoying, don't forget your Self.

97. Memory of one's Being, memory of the Self, memory of freedom, memory of devotion, memory of surrender, memory of love, memory of joy brings back you to your Self.

98. When you stop becoming judgmental, when you start loving everybody, when you stop seeing the dualities -- at the same time living skillfully among the dualities -- you are already becoming close to me.

99. A guru is there so that you can experience your love fully and then experience that love for yourself and for the whole creation. And if some mistakes are there or even if some scandals are there, why should we hang onto it? We see there are many other good points. We just take those things and use them.

100. Often your enemies are created not by your action as much as by your tongue, by your words -- how you speak, what you speak, what you do. You do this unaware, completely unaware.

101. There is no escape for man from misery until he reaches the other end of his journey, lives the state of Divine Love, full love. And it's not very difficult. It's worth walking that path.

102. Have a balance in you. If there is balance, then you can dance, then life becomes a dance. If you can't stand, then you cannot dance, and "standing" is appreciating, looking at all the values in life and keeping your life in its very center.

103. When a disciple says, "you are my Guru," and establishes a very personal and wonderful relationship, then he becomes a devotee. And a devotee is one who is God -- God is none other than a devotee. Then you are breathing, you are walking, you are talking, all in unconditional love.

104. There is no way---not by any action or by words---that you can ever convince anybody that you really love them. The more we try to do it, the more we are doing the contrary.

105. The center core of existence rules this whole universe. Like the sun is the center of the solar system, and sun rules all the planets -- like that, the very center core of your life is ruled by Love.

106. You think, "Nobody loves me! Everybody hates me!" and I tell you, that is what is going to happen. Because you will be looking in that direction, looking that way. I'm sure you'll find somebody---even the most nice person will look at you and may not give a big smile to you.

107. In fact all actions are propelled by love, have you seen this in creation? Even if you get angry, behind that anger there is love.

108. You are the source that you are seeking. You are in your driveway, but you are searching for your home.

109. Regretting, regretting, regretting -- every minute you are regretting, and so you are angry. You know how anger comes? It piles up. Drop by drop, it collects.

110. A game is where you win and you lose, and both are part of it. When there is more chance of losing, it is more charming. The game has value when it is tough. So some little problems that come in life are part of the whole game.

111. Don't think, "It's my duty to raise my children." No -- take it as a service; service is different from duty. You have been a door for these little kids to come into this world. They are not yours; they belong to the Divine. You have just been a door.

112. You can be happy now -- right now -- wherever you are. And you can still do all that you want to do. We have a wrong notion that only when we have ambition and desire will we be able to make progress. I tell you, [it is] not so. You can make better progress without this ambition, without this feverishness.

113. Surrender is respect plus love. If you love someone, respect them, respect the Divinity in them. You will see that the relationship is never strained; it continues, continues, continues. This is the greatest secret about relationships.

114. A servant breathes in gratitude. Every moment in his life is of joy, is flowing out of gratitude, is out of tears. It's not expectation. It's dissolving into the Master.

115. Your forgiveness should be such that the person who is being forgiven does not even know that you are forgiving them. They don't even feel guilty of a mistake. That is the right type of forgiveness.

116. Beauty has three levels: indication, expression, and exposure. Spirituality indicates, art expresses, and science exposes.

117. It is impossible to know thoughts before they come. You know them as they come. And, if they are stupid, simply smile at them, laugh at them, and they will move away.

118. You have just been overshadowed by the events in your mind... that is all that has happened. A cloud has covered the sun. What can any cloud do to the sun? Can it destroy it? Remember your nature. You are the only Soul, only Being.

119. The more "in" you are, the more consolidated you are, in the very core of your Being, the center of your Being, the more you speak the language of the Existence. You do so much good, you do so many wonderful things around you.

120. Do anything... if there is no shradhaa (faith), nothing is going to benefit you. And if you do nothing and there is shradhaa, that itself becomes saadhana for you, becomes a practice.

121. If you do service so that you will gain some merit, I tell you, it is not service. If you are doing a service in order to gain some merit out of it, it is no service.

122. The moment purity comes, depression cannot be there; it goes away.

123. The fight is always between the small, little mind and the big, universal Mind. That's why we say "Jai Guru Dev"... victory to the big Mind. It happens so many times that the small mind wins. Whenever the small mind wins, it is called "misery." The result is misery. Inside you are both the big Mind and the small mind.

124. When the big Mind wins over the small, even the failure of the small mind is a joy. It has always happened that way. Turn back and see... some of your failures have been very good. They have made you progress somewhere, made you stronger.

125. This definite knowledge that, "I am not the body. I am the Self. I am the space. I am the Imperishable... untouched, untainted by the prakriti, by this world around me. This body is all hollow and empty. And every particle in this body is changing and changing and changing. The mind is changing and changing and changing." This definite knowledge is the way out of the cycle. Hm?

126. When something bothers you too much in the mind, you want to talk. This is in between. I tell you, when something bothers you in the mind, get into action - work. You will see that gives a bigger relief.

127. Open your eyes and see. You think you are in control of a situation... what are you in control of? Where are you? Everything is happening, and you are in God. God is all that is.

128. For a few moments, repose in your Self... say, "I want nothing." Be desireless. Those moments are very precious in your life. Those moments strengthen your inner Being in such a way that it goes with you for lifetimes.

129. Everything is changing. And this is all there only to heat you up, to bake you. You are baked in joy, and you are baked in sorrow. You are baked in this event, and you are baked in that event. So everything in the world bakes you, heats you up. And if you put your finger deeper into it, you will get burned. So move lightly.

130. This is a very great unwritten truth: mistakes are nobody's, neither mine nor yours.

131. When you recognize a mistake as mistake, but not as "my" mistake, your guilt will not be there. You see "Oh, this is a mistake... whether it is by me or someone else... this is a mistake that needs rectification." Your mind is lighter, it is not stiff. It is not loaded with tension.

132. No use in all these talks. Don't go on wasting your energy and time in talking. Be in silence. A thousand words cannot convey a glance, a look from your eyes. And even many thousand looks cannot convey one minute of silence. Just stay, silently.

133. When you go to bed, don't be "somebody" and sleep. Be a cloud of light, a glow of a candle, full of life, alive.

134. If some sadness arises, "Oh, I feel a little sad", go deep into the sadness, and you will see that very sadness is nothing but longing. And that very longing, the tears of longing, is nothing but love. And love is nothing but gratefulness. And gratefulness is nothing but your very Being.

135. Life is nothing to be very serious about. Life is a ball in your hands to play with. Don't hold on to the ball.

136. You define your responsibilities and you define your limitations.

137. You sell your happiness for peanuts! You sell your smile for pennies! I tell you, it's not worth it. The entire world is not worth your smile. Even if you are made the king or the emperor of the world, it's not worth giving away your smile.

138. If you are established in non-violence, in your very presence violence will be dropped by other creatures. Someone comes to attack you... and as soon as they come near you, because your vibration is totally non-violent, they drop down. They stop being violent.

139. You have nothing to lose. All that you can lose is your tension and your worry, your little-mindedness, fear, and anxiety. And fear and anxiety, tension and worry in the small, little mind will keep the mind from being free, will keep the mind from experiencing its infinite potential, will keep the mind from becoming more powerful on this planet.

140. Your worries, your feelings, your thoughts arise in your own mind. You are totally responsible for all your feelings---how you feel, what you think, what you do---all that. You are responsible.

141. Poor people fight for food. Rich people share their food. Richer are those who share power. Richer still are those who share fame. Richest of all are those who share themselves. A person's wealth is measured by his ability to share and not by what he hoards.

142. Something stunning takes you to silence. Something wonderful... words disappear, you become silent. At the helm of every emotion, at the peak of every happening, there is silence. And recognizing it, manifesting it in our life, you cross the ocean of "samsara," the ocean of misery.

143. If the center focus of our life is spiritual growth, is peace, then all other things will be around that. Your first and foremost commitment in life is to be with the Truth, to evolve in Truth.

144. In the morning, when you walk, become aware of your infinite nature. You are like the sky. You are infinity. And walk with that infinity nature. Move through this world like a white cloud, unstained, untouched.

145. Yoga is to realize that your mind is dynamic, your life is dynamic. Depression is a sign of static understanding about life. When you feel everything in life is dead, static, there is nothing more, nowhere to go... that is when one gets depressed.

146. Before this earth eats you up, become free... free from this feverishness that is gripping your mind, free from this craving for happiness.

147. If you look to God, pray to God, with a full heart, dropping sorrow (What is sorrow? Huh? Hanging on to the past.) Then whatever you desire will all be given to you.

148. It is the individual who gets destroyed. Infinity is indestructible. Being immortal is looking at your infinite nature.

149. Existing as though you are not, living as though you are not there at all: hollow and empty - pure, empty space - that is when one says, "Let Thy will be done. Let Thy will be done. Let Thy will be done." That is true unity between the little small mind and the infinite mind, the cosmic mind, the universal mind.

150. This is the nature of sense objects: they promise pleasure to begin with and even give you also a little taste, but then leave you with pain and suffering.

151. Love is seeing God in the person next to us, and meditation is seeing God within us.

152. The more we open ourselves, the more room we will have for God to fill us.

153. Suffering is a product of limited knowledge.

154. Forgiveness shields and protects your mind, your spirit, from being violent.

155. Open your hands up - that is surrender. It is your very nature.

156. Your desire for pleasure or happiness makes you unhappy. You examine- whenever you are miserable or unhappy, behind that is you’re want to be happy.

157. The purpose of every practice, spiritual practice, meditation, breathing techniques, and kriya, all this... is to uncover something that blocks the expression of Divine Love.

158. Worry is a product of loving something that is not permanent, that is not eternal.

159. When there is no peace, forget about God, forget about Truth, forget about Divinity, forget about everything else. The first requirement is peace.

160. There can't be love without longing and there can't be longing without love.

161. You are as important in this creation as God, not less important.

162. The nature of joy is to share, to expand, to stretch.

163. Do not see intention behind somebody else's mistakes.

164. When you look at someone else's mistake, you should laugh at it and feel compassionate towards it; then you are able to save your mind.

165. When you are natural, when you don't pretend, then you are very close to the Divine.

166. If you do spiritual practices, to do that needs an effort- that is painful. If you don't do it, not doing it creates more pain; it's even more painful.

167. The whole world is here for you to enjoy, but when enjoying, don't forget your Self.

168. Anger is meaningless, because it is always about something that has already passed.

169. There is nothing else that is more valuable than love in life.

170. The whole universe is one body.

171. When doubts arise in you: fast, meditate, do pranayam, and do prayers, and see whether the doubt will remain.

172. Discipline is not torturing oneself for nothing---that's no discipline. Purpose of discipline is to obtain joy.

173. The only thing that God doesn't tolerate is arrogance.

174. Though enlightenment is one in the world, there are many different flavors.

175. There is no death for you. Death is nothing but a long sleep. Death is nothing but just changing your jackets.

176. For one who has awakened in knowledge, there is no more suffering.

177. Purpose of words is to create silence.

178. Real freedom is the freedom from the future and freedom from the past.

179. When innocence is lost, beauty is lost, too.

180. Once respect is lost, even love is not tasty.

181. The sign of enlightenment is no complaints and no explanations!

182. The sign of life is enthusiasm. The sign of success is smile and joy.

183. Knowledge of death will improve the quality of your life.

184. Prayer means not just sitting and saying so many words, but being in that serene, calm space, meditative state.

185. Life is a package of surprise gifts for you.

186. Bondage is not anywhere outside. It is in the mind, in the consciousness.

187. You clean your windows, you clean your tables, you wash your clothes, but you forget to wash this mind.

188. When the "I, I, my, mine" is not there, is dissolved, that is liberation.

189. The Existence cannot be measured through your little, small, tiny intellect.

190. Just observe the nature - how big this world is, how big the universe is. Nothing is permanent here.

191. Consciousness is the Master, is the Divinity, is the Guru, is your Self.

192. You are holding your fist now. And often you punch your own nose.

193. Happiness is a quality of consciousness. It does depend on matter, but to a far greater degree, it depends on attitude and understanding… Living the spiritual values makes your personality solid and strong.

194. Desire means that the present is not sufficient enough; that it is not okay the way it is now, this moment. Desire means projection to the next moment.

195. When you get overwhelmed with responsibility, like Janaka, listen to Ashtavakra... relax and let go! When you experience lethargy and dullness, feel like running away, like Arjuna, listen to Krishna and get into action!

196. Wake up and realize this is all made up of thoughts, just thoughts, just thoughts. Your appreciation of beauty is a thought; your aversion to an object that is ugly is a thought. Your craving or aversion is nothing but a passing thought in the mind. Realize this is just a thought and you will be free.

197. Do sadhana and involve people for service service & celebration. To sustain service you need celebration and in order to authentically celebrate you need service. Few years on the planet, do something good and go with a smile!

198. Our energy is getting dissipated in the form of fears and desires, fears and desires. And it is the desire that makes you weak.