The Nature of Enlightenment

The Nature of Enlightenment

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Tiburon, California
June 25, 1990

This is the video that brought me to the Art of Living!  In 1991, a co-worker had invited me to come take the Art of Living Course with him and they showed this at the intro talk.  I wasn't sure at first if I was going to attend the course coming up the next weekend, but during the video, I was taken by Guruji's presence and grace.  I took the course!

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Summary of the talk:

Question: Nature of Enlightenment

Enlightenment is like a joke. It is like the fish searching for the ocean!

Enlightenment is the core of our Being. We are gifted with that Innocence, that Silence, and we live in our Heart...when we come into the world. We lose touch with it gradually as we become intelligent, as we move into our heads. The reversal is enlightenment...it is the journey from head to Heart, from words to Silence. Getting back to our innocent nature in spite of our intelligence.

The purpose of Knowledge is ignorance. Knowledge leads to "I don't know". Completion of Knowledge leads to amazement, to wonder. Knowledge makes you aware of the mystery of this existence. No one can understand what life is but one can live life so fully. 

Enlightenment is a natural state...nothing can rob the smile from your Heart.

Enlightenment is feeling one with everyone. it is breaking all barriers and limitations, feeling that all that exists belongs to me...owning all that has been in the world, that is maturity. Because that is your wealth. It all belongs to you because you belong to that Divine which has put it all there. Having that belongingness, that unity, that oneness...like a very small child.

Enlightenment is that rare combination of innocence and intelligence.

Mind stays in the present moment so much. What is necessary is revealed to you. In a natural and spontaneous way. Just sit and the song flows through you.

Question: What is prayer?

The supreme kind of prayer is just being in that gratefulness, for this very life...words dissolve.

Prayer arises when you feel helpless, when you realize your insignificance. The mind becomes calm, silent. Prayerfulness simply happens.

Atheists say "Show me God". Believers say "Now I have believed, now show me God''. One who prays says "Let Thy will be done. I have seen enough of Your form...in the stars, the kindness of hearts, the flowers...the sky." Letting go, everything is prayer.

Question: How to maintain spirituality at work, in the world?

Remove the concept that spirit and work or world are against each other. They are together. 

Accept things as they are. The present moment is inevitable.

Act according to the situations as they arise. For instance, do not think anger is anti-spiritual. Becoming angry consciously is fine. Resisting anger, you become anger.

Do not regret if you have lost your peace, your balance. Regret carries on that experience to the next moment. You end up going in circles. Then you judge and blame yourself...and lose your confidence to be on the spiritual path. So surrender every moment's happening as an offering. This is a rule of Divine Love. Then there is no regret. This helps you stay in the present moment.

Question: What is important in the education of children?

Innocence! 

Marriage...is it forever or for a time?

 Love manifests in 3 forms: Attraction (physical), love or emotional attachment (mental level) and surrender (spiritual dimension).

Balance of love and closeness and respect or distance.

How to understand surrender in meditation?

One has to go further. Don't stop until you reach the House of God. Go beyond...go beyond. Finally, you will feel that Essence and that is Surrender. Do not negate the steps or experiences along the way.

Question: How to live with physical pain?

Accepting the pain. Don't try to be peaceful. When you have physical pain and you want to be peaceful that creates more disturbance. Be with the pain. Cry, yell, laugh...whatever you want to do, do it for the time until you are relieved. When children feel pain they cry and their crying relieves their pain. Or, do some breathing techniques. They can help.

Can you tell us something about the kriya that you teach?

There is a rhythm in creation, in the body, in the breath, in your thought patterns, in your emotions. And, there is an innermost rhythm of the Being, the Silence in you. In kriya a harmony is brought between all these rhythms from the outermost to the innermost. So, when all these 6 rhythms are not in harmony you are disturbed, you feel miserable. When harmony is brought then there is bliss, there is joy and you feel more alive from every cell of your body. It brings you to the present moment so you feel very alive. It helps people. 

Next week: May 4th, 2021

Guru Purnima 1990 (7/1/1990)