Q: When there is intolerance around you, how to retain equilibrium?
Sri Sri: See life from a broad picture. See intolerance as a lack of education. That is one thing. Second is patience and perseverance.
Sri Sri: See life from a broad picture. See intolerance as a lack of education. That is one thing. Second is patience and perseverance.
Q: Do you get stressed?
Sri Sri:: The product really works well! (laughs) Just last week I went to Kerala. They had organised 19 appointments in a day. I cancelled some of them before I went there. Yet, I ended up attending 22 appointments. I thought I would get irritated, but I surprised myself and didn’t. Each one of us has tremendous energy within us. One single cell can light up the entire city of Bangalore for 24 hours.
Sri Sri:: The product really works well! (laughs) Just last week I went to Kerala. They had organised 19 appointments in a day. I cancelled some of them before I went there. Yet, I ended up attending 22 appointments. I thought I would get irritated, but I surprised myself and didn’t. Each one of us has tremendous energy within us. One single cell can light up the entire city of Bangalore for 24 hours.
Q: Where does Obama get his inspiration from?
Sri Sri: Today, the global problem is terrorism through wrong ideology. I feel that we need to emphasise a broad spectrum of education for the future generation. If each child knows about other religions,it won’t think other religions will go to hell. Even in India, madrassas are getting CBSE status because of the vote bank. I’m not saying all madrassas are bad but there is an 80 percent chance of narrowing vision. We need to have a long term goal and long term vision in everything. An education which has science and spirituality - head and heart is the only solution.
Sri Sri: Today, the global problem is terrorism through wrong ideology. I feel that we need to emphasise a broad spectrum of education for the future generation. If each child knows about other religions,it won’t think other religions will go to hell. Even in India, madrassas are getting CBSE status because of the vote bank. I’m not saying all madrassas are bad but there is an 80 percent chance of narrowing vision. We need to have a long term goal and long term vision in everything. An education which has science and spirituality - head and heart is the only solution.
Q: What inspired you?
Sri Sri: In school I used to say I have family everywhere, I am going to go everywhere. Sometimes you get that gut feeling or inner premonition. My mother was my inspiration. She was so alert, so awake. She never made a mistake, never said sorry in her life - can you imagine!! Another inspiration was my teacher, who was associated with Mahatma Gandhi for 40 years.
Sri Sri: In school I used to say I have family everywhere, I am going to go everywhere. Sometimes you get that gut feeling or inner premonition. My mother was my inspiration. She was so alert, so awake. She never made a mistake, never said sorry in her life - can you imagine!! Another inspiration was my teacher, who was associated with Mahatma Gandhi for 40 years.
Q: How do I handle criticism?
Sri Sri: When someone criticises you, they are taking a risk. Who wants to take the risk of making enemies! When they are doing that, you appreciate them. Stand up to criticism. Also have the courage to criticise for their improvement. But if someone is criticising you out of jealousy, you smile, it is their problem.
Sri Sri: When someone criticises you, they are taking a risk. Who wants to take the risk of making enemies! When they are doing that, you appreciate them. Stand up to criticism. Also have the courage to criticise for their improvement. But if someone is criticising you out of jealousy, you smile, it is their problem.
Q: How do you ensure that conflicts, backbiting, politics doesn’t happen in your organisation?
Sri Sri: People are people wherever they are. I can count on my finger how many times I got angry - seven times maybe! If you fight, fight a new fight, don't fight the same fights! Intellectuals don't walk like sheep. They don't agree many times, they don't walk the same way. That is the fun. They should know how to de-stress themselves. Let out the steam, get into the team!!
Sri Sri: People are people wherever they are. I can count on my finger how many times I got angry - seven times maybe! If you fight, fight a new fight, don't fight the same fights! Intellectuals don't walk like sheep. They don't agree many times, they don't walk the same way. That is the fun. They should know how to de-stress themselves. Let out the steam, get into the team!!
Q: You emphasise education. Yet, most problems are caused by educated people.
Sri Sri: When I say education, I don't mean only a degree from college. Unfortunately, in recent times, pride has got attached to aggression. If you lose your equanimity or calmness, it means something wrong. This shift from pride getting attached from aggression to non-violence must happen.
Sri Sri: When I say education, I don't mean only a degree from college. Unfortunately, in recent times, pride has got attached to aggression. If you lose your equanimity or calmness, it means something wrong. This shift from pride getting attached from aggression to non-violence must happen.
Q: Do you have any goals?
Sri Sri: I just inspire people to set their own goals.
Sri Sri: I just inspire people to set their own goals.
Q: What are the two-three mistakes the organization has made. How has it learnt?
Sri Sri: Our biggest blunder is our first principle: ‘Accept people as they are’. I cannot reject anyone! Drug addicts, fools, riffraffs everyone comes. We can’t reject anyone and we lose a lot of time!! We cannot discard even the incorrigible. Second is we don't have a hierarchy - it becomes difficult to manage and track! Everywhere, people are starting on their own. Now after 28 years, we are streamlining.
Everyone is a spokesperson - that becomes difficult to control. During our Silver Jubilee, we had such a hilarious time. The program was mesmerising, but behind the scenes, every department was in a mess.
Sri Sri: Our biggest blunder is our first principle: ‘Accept people as they are’. I cannot reject anyone! Drug addicts, fools, riffraffs everyone comes. We can’t reject anyone and we lose a lot of time!! We cannot discard even the incorrigible. Second is we don't have a hierarchy - it becomes difficult to manage and track! Everywhere, people are starting on their own. Now after 28 years, we are streamlining.
Everyone is a spokesperson - that becomes difficult to control. During our Silver Jubilee, we had such a hilarious time. The program was mesmerising, but behind the scenes, every department was in a mess.
Q: Are we getting too caught up in the negativity of today and forgetting the big picture that this will pass?
Sri Sri: There are natural calamities where we can wait and watch. But in manmade calamities, we can't afford to take that outlook. Change is not possible if you don't do that. For some things, we cannot be just fatalistic and say this will pass.
Sri Sri: There are natural calamities where we can wait and watch. But in manmade calamities, we can't afford to take that outlook. Change is not possible if you don't do that. For some things, we cannot be just fatalistic and say this will pass.
Q: How does one make a balance between the heart and mind?
Sri Sri: Yes. You do your business with your mind, and service with your heart. In both cases, there is a third component - intuition. Never be with in the business with heart. With family, be with the heart, don't use your mind there. Do both with the gut feeling!
Sri Sri: Yes. You do your business with your mind, and service with your heart. In both cases, there is a third component - intuition. Never be with in the business with heart. With family, be with the heart, don't use your mind there. Do both with the gut feeling!
