India-w | Englishw [Searchwebsite Peeram | Find an Art of Living Center THE ART OF LIVING Home > Wisdom The Wise Are Not Moved By Praise Or Blame leal ality and spiritual leaders? people mock, so what? ’s not going to change anything. Truth is never afraid of mockery. When the wind blows, dust arises, but solid rocks remain there, they don’t move. So just smile at th - Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Questions & Answers Collapse allQ &A How to deal with people who mock spirituality and spiritual leaders in the name of freedom of expression? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let people mock, let them make fun, so what? It's not going to change anything. Truth is never afraid of mockery. When wind blows, dust arises, but solid rocks remain there, they don't move, So just smile at them. Like Z]}— —Twoo Galo Europe has been bearing the brunt of the refugee crisis. How to balance compassion and practicality?Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: That's a challenge. It's the same thing here in India. There are some beggars who are strong but people still give them alms, | would say, don’t give them any alms. There are some weak elderly women, definitely do charity for them. In the same way, there should be training for refugees. They come from a place where there has been violence, mistrust and they have been victims of rage, anger and inhuman treatments, so we need to remove these impressions of trauma from them. If they carry their trauma and violence, then they can only express or contribute what they have in their psyche. Just giving them food and shelter is not sufficient, we need to cater to their emotional scars, spiritual poverty, and intellectual misconceptions. We need to give them proper understanding through techniques and teachings which will make them feel fresh, alive and help them have a new outlook in life, and not see society from their past impressions. Unless they are given such training that will uplift and educate them in etiquettes and in behavior, there will be disaster in society. It will create more problems for people who are living in a civilized society, who are used to peaceful conditions of co-existence, of human values or etiquette. There will be a mismatch which will create problems and violence in society. So we need to attend to these issues. We have seen this in South Africa, when after the apartheid was over, there was so much hatred and feeling of revenge among communities. Whether in prison or outside of prison, violence had escalated. '™m really proud to say that The Art of living is one of the very few organizations which had people from all communities, the Caucasians, native Africans and Indians, where everybody came together and worked in prisons. The change that it has brought in just seven days in prisons is a testimony for how spirituality can remove the root cause of violence from the human psyche, and bring harmony in the society as well as within the individual. BBC has made a documentary on this as well. We will have to do something like this in Europe too. Along with bread, butter and shelter we need to counsel them, give them techniques to remove violent impressions. Itis not their fault, itis unfortunate. The world still has many violent incidents in many societies. = Like Twos Gf o Gurudev, what is the objective of meditation? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Let me ask you, "Why should you sleep? Why should you study? Why do you want entertainment? Why do you want to be healthy? Why do you want to be happy? Have you thought about it?” Meditation is food for the soul, it nurtures the core of our existence. It gives the deepest rest in the shortest time. Meditation has multiple benefits ~ it keeps you fit and healthy physically, focused and sane mentally, brings sharpness in the intellect, keenness of attention and awareness. It also makes the emotions lighter, softer and purer. It helps you let go of all the past garbage and creates positive vibes around you. It influences your behavior with others and other's behavior with you. = tke TP — thee ea fioThe Vignan Bhairava talks about different techniques to slip into meditation. How do | find the best one for me? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It doesn’t matter which technique you do, when you get into the space of stillness, a state of stillness and a space of nothingness, then you are in meditation. And this can come to you through any of the techniques. But Sahaj Samadhi is the best because that you can do anytime, anywhere. — Like £0] Twee Gif o I'm unable to express myself properly to people whom I love and end up losing friends. Please advice. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Talk less, smnile more and whenever you feel that the friction is coming up, just be aware of what you are doing. Don't forget to meditate because when you meditate you emit positive vibes around you. We convey more through our vibes than through our words. Like Twee Go