On the day of our visit, the evening satsang was held in the Visalakshi Mandir which, apart from a portrait of the goddess, also has religious symbols from various faiths on its walls. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, you find them all, singing along, swaying to the feeling of bhakti that the guru evokes. Truly, a reflection of Sri Sri's One World, One Family concept.
Swaminathan Ganesan: Why do Modern Indian Gurus allow themselves the tag of Holiness to their names? Great people who lived in the past (Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramana Maharishi to name a few) abhorred this culture. Doesnt this culture of worshipping another Human Being go straight against the teaching on oneness that you preach?
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : why should I be called holiness, you can call me anything, I don't mind. These things come from the public, I don't believe in titles.
Mini : Guruji how can I have the kind of serenity you have on you face
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : See your life in a broader perspective, commit yourself to service.
Anilkumar : is it marriage is neccesary in human life???if yes why not u?
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : It is an individual question. I didn't grow up at all, I remained a child. And I hope to live the same way.
The way I have been travelling, no woman would have been able to cope with it. If I was married, she would have been jealous, and I would have been in trouble
Utsav Mitra : What do you have to say to Javed Akhtar, that he ridiculed spiritualism and called you a guru of the rich?
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : I will just tell him, everybody has the right to be ignorant. And if they want to be ignorant, nobody can stop them
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : They are no different from people who think a particular group is all terrorists, a particular community is all foolish. All jokes are made about one community in India, that's not correct. Similarly, there are good people in every religion, every field has some fakes, not that spirituality is immune to it. Just like there are in business
premkumar : How to Identify a true spirutual leader in this present world of fakes
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : If you are a sincere student, you will see sincere teachers. But if you are charmed by miracles etc, it will take a little longer route
Rao : Why all our (Hindu)religious leaders are claiming that they avtars of God. U cannot find this in any other religion. And those who claim finally they are bogus!!!! and Cheats!!! I really hate this. What is your comment
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : There's a misrepresentation of Vedanta. Its message is, everything is made up of the divine, and that is the answer. If god loves you, me, everyone is made up of love, that is not to be spoken to everyone. It is foolish to do that. If you know it, just keep quiet. That's what I would say. Don't tomtom it. It is an experience of oneness with divinity. Jesus said me and my father are one. This is a mystic experience. Unfortunately, in India that's a loud pronouncement
Deepali : What is Guru? What is spiritual path? How to follow it?
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar : If you see a man with a gun what happens to you? Fear comes out. Likewise a person with compassion, brings out the compassion. A guru is embodiment of living principles. Football, cricket all has coaches or guides. Your mother is your first teacher, then there are friends, family, teachers for various things.
Image: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the evening satsang
The Sri Sri Ravi Shankar interview