Q1: Gurudev, when something good happens, we say it is Guru kripa (grace). Then what do we say when something bad happens? You say that having a Guru means one is protected, then why do bad things happen to good people?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar::

Well, the divine loves everybody, however they are. If the happening of bad things takes your faith away, then it is no longer faith. But if faith stays in spite of all the bad things that are happening, then the end result will always be great and wonderful.

Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas asked Krishna for a very peculiar boon. She said, “Lord Krishna, let bad things happen in my life.”

Krishna was shocked, he said, “Why do you ask for this?”

Kunti said, “Whenever bad things happened, I know you were with me, and helped me get over that, so I don’t mind. Every time I was in danger, I knew you were always with me.”

A realisation like that is very unique. Bad things do not happen because you are good or not, but because you must have done something bad in the past; that karma is showing up now, and we have to face the consequences. If we had wrong food, it will show up as some disease. If your state of mind was very tense, then it will show up in your body as some disease.

Q2: Gurudev, I want to become like you. Is it possible?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar::

Definitely! Do seva, sadhana and satsang.

There is no difference between you and me. You are what I am. When we came here we were all the same. When children are born they are all the same. Just that I didn’t lose my childlike nature, but you probably got lost somewhere. But you can come back, there is no problem. I consider myself as a boy who hasn’t grown up yet.

Q3: Can you please speak about Kaal Bhairava?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar::

Kaal Bhairava is the Lord of Time. Time itself is the Divinity.

Do you know what the vehicle of Kaal Bhairava is? It is Shwana (Dog). Shwa means Yesterday or Tomorrow, Na means Not. So, Shwana means, not yesterday, nor tomorrow; which means Now.

So, where does Kaal Bhairava reside? In the now.

Q4: Gurudev, it might sound silly but it is a genuine question from the heart. How does one begin to love oneself more?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar::

There is an anecdote. Someone was trying to catch a black cat in a dark room which was not there.

First of all, you think there is a cat and then you try to catch it. The first assumption that you don’t love yourself is itself wrong. You ARE Love. When you think I don’t love myself, and make so much effort to love yourself, it results in total failure. I tell you, you cannot make an effort to love, either yourself or anybody. You simply have to relax and realize that you are love. Got it?

Even the person who wants to commit suicide and thinks he doesn’t love himself, loves himself much more. He loves pleasure so much that he is unable to go through a little discomfort. That is why people commit suicide.

By committing suicide you will not get out of discomfort. It is like removing your jacket when you are feeling so cold. You are feeling so cold and you remove your jacket. How does it help? Simply realize that you are love. Don’t try to love yourself, just relax. The best way is pranayama and mediation. Breathing exercise and meditation.

Q5: Gurudev, ego, misunderstandings and doubts have destroyed my relationship. What is the secret of loving relationships?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar::

Just be natural and accept people. Love is always about giving. Know that you have come here (on the planet) to only give love and not demand love from anybody.