Looking Within : A Talk By Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Looking Within is an Art

 Meditation is a conscious experience of that aspect within you that enriches all other six layers. Nowhere, neither at home nor at school, are we taught to deal with our minds and emotions. Has anybody ever taught you how to cope with depression, anger, jealousy, tension? Nobody taught Thomas Edison how to make a bulb either. He did it on his own. When you learn something yourself, it is great. You should always be open to learning; if you don’t learn from your own intuition, take advantage of someone else’s intuition.

You may feel ‘‘It is my mind; why should anyone else teach me how to control it?’’. But while it is your hands and feet that operate a car, while the steering and accelerator are fitted in the car, you still have to learn to drive. Someone has to teach you. Of course, if you know or learn on your own, then there is no problem!

Emotional problems do exist in schools and colleges but nobody is taught how to handle these emotions. It is startling to read news reports of brilliant children, with bright futures, committing suicide. There is a connection between your breath and emotion. When you are angry, your breath moves in one rhythm; when you are upset, your breath moves in another rhythm; when you are jealous or depressed, your breath moves in yet other rhythms. You need to be aware of this and how through the rhythm of breath, you can handle your emotions and your mind. It is very simple, just keep an open mind.

What is that you can do for eternity?
Definitely not anything that is big or great because it needs effort, and effort tires. So, it is a temporary state. If you can think of one thing that is below your capacity to do and agree to do it, that becomes Pooja. The readiness to consciously do trivial things for eternity unites you with eternity. This is an antidote to ego.

Ego is always ambitious and wants to do the toughest job like climbing Mount Everest, etc. Whereas in a simple act like watching a butterfly, watering the garden, watching the birds or the sky, can bring deep relaxation, and relaxation connects you with your source. Not that you do trivial things all your life, but consciously agreeing to do the trivial actions for eternity, opens a new dimension and brings in immense peace and restfulness.

To find rest in activity, choose an activity that is far below your capacity and agree to do it until eternity. Doing a job far below your capacity and being satisfied with it will make it possible to do a job much beyond your capacity. And to get rid of stress, do something really simple and silly, like taking a walk. Just come out of your little shells and feel free. Let anyone think what they like; do not be a football of other people’s opinions. If there is love in you, enthusiasm, sense of belongingness, that is real success.

Know that all actions are born out of infinity and that which is born out of infinity can take you to infinity.

A talk by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar