Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - Mind Matters

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1st Edition: June 2007

Copyrights 2007 All rights reserved.

eISBN: 978 9 351 06638 5

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher

Sri Sri Publications Trust
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Udaypura, Bangalore 560082
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One of the worlds most inspirational and dynamic leaders, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is also one of the most original thinkers of our times. Emphasising practical wisdom, He has transformed millions of lives all over the globe. His talks are a blend of knowledge and guidance, delivered with simplicity and humour a powerful and unbeatable combination that touches lives and hearts.

It is with great joy that we offer this deeply absorbing collection of profound, yet simple talks on the matters of the mind given by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, over a period of time. They compel one to delve deeper, ponder further and look beyond the obvious.

Cravings that keep you away from the truth

What is it that keeps you far and away from reality, from truth and from the divine? They are four types of fears or cravings that bind you to the world. These are called Aishanas, and they are Putraishana,Vittaishana, Lokaishana and Jeevaishana.

First is Putraishana Ever thinking about ones progeny; attachment to ones children. Tomorrow, when they grow up and dont have time for you, you will be heartbroken. In reality, whose children are they? They are Gods children. You were just the doorway for them to come through. But people say, Oh my children, my children. It gets you so feverish in your mind. it clogs your thinking so much that you dont real y see what is good for them. There are so many problems and sufferings because of this aishana.

Then comes Vittaishana money. I know an old woman who would say, If somebody is sick in their head, give them lots of coins. Theyll go on counting, and the sickness will go away. Vittaishana is hunger for money. How much can you have? What do you want to do with it? Okay, lets say you have 30 million dollars. What will you do with it? Are you going to enjoy thirty million in your lifetime? Money is essential but the craving for money can overshadow you and your life so completely that you will be unable to see the reality, recognise love, and see something beyond.

Vittaishana binds you. It is a book that keeps your mind in the bank. It gives you false security. Some billionaires were stranded in the Sahara desert for many days, fighting like dogs over a loaf of bread and getting into a panic for a bottle of water. Havent you seen this? People who were very rich had to abandon everything and become paupers overnight.

Very big companies, who have billions, are in debt. Dont you know this? Why worry so much about money? Have trust and say, Let what I need be provided and then work, putting in 100 per cent of yourself into it. See what happens whatever is to come will come. And whatever has to be spent will be spent.

Then follows Lokaishana. You may not care so much about money. But what you care about now is Oh! What will people think about me? You want to be praised by everybody in the world; want to be famous; want to be something; want to do something so that your name should be there for all generations to come; want to become immortal!

What is happening to the people who are very famous? Does their fame remain the same all the time? Some other person becomes a little more famous than them say, another singer, another actor, another dancer. This puts a lot of fire in them. They become jealous and start criticising the others. And they become very unhappy! When you are at the peak of fame and trying to maintain it, there is so much fear and uneasiness in you. You become so uncomfortable. This wanting so as to be able to show off, for other peoples sake, for what others will say, is lokaishana. Lokaishana can create fear in you and pull you down.

Then comes Jeevaishana the fourth aishana wanting to live longer; wanting to become physical y immortal. But why make the physical body immortal? Nature is providing you with a fresh body again and again. When there are so many fresh apples growing, why keep one apple, make it ancient, and then eat it?

The body is a perishable item. People who have not lived their lives fully have this craving to live longer and longer. You see these very sick people, who are absolutely ill; they are not ready to die. They say, I want to live a few more years. I should see the end of this century Jeevaishana, holding on to life. People who have incurable diseases, amputated limbs, dont want to die. They hanker to live longer and longer. What is its result? It does not allow them to enjoy the moment, to be free. And it creates tension in life.

A healthy man will die, and a sick person will also die. A patient dies, a doctor dies. Every body will die. It is an inevitable phase of life. It has a beginning and an end. It is going to happen and it will happen. That does not mean you dont have to take care of your body. You should take absolute care of this body, but without feverishness, without this aishana.

When these four types of fears disappear, then you are qualified to sit close to the divine. Sit in Upanishad, and walk through the gates of Gurumandala. Upanishad means being total y in the present moment, with the willingness to hear and observe; ready to catch the moment; like a thirsty man waiting for water. This waiting, this longing, this readiness brings the wandering mind closer. Then something happens a phenomenon takes place.

Then you are qualified to hear about the Brahman. What is that something beyond this world? What is the reality? What is the truth? What is the centre of all this? Then this secret, which is very sacred, will be revealed to you through the Gurumandala.

Gurumandala literal y means drawing concentric circles charming circles. In the centre is the Guru. Around the Guru there will always be many attractive things, many talented people and different types of charms. And when you are going towards the centre, it is always possible that you could get stuck with the aishanas.

Simply sitting and saying Who am I? Who am I? will not lead you anywhere! You have to cross over all these temptations, and come to the Gurumandala!

The mind has two abilities one is to focus, the other is to expand and relax. When you put a thread through a needle, the mind is focusing. When you are looking at the empty sky, the mind is expanding. This ability to focus and expand should come simultaneously in the consciousness all the confusion is between this focus and expansion.