Bangalore (India), April 16 (Thursday), 8:10 pm: The 2,000-strong crowd in the Vishalakshi Mantap Hall at the Art of Living Centre sat rapt in attention as Sri Sri answered many questions at the satsang this evening.
Q. What is the science of relativity? How does it work in life?
A.: You go on the internet. There is so much on it. Volumes and volumes. Everything is related: if you've slept well, you see everything better. If not, then things are blurred.
The observer and the observed vary. That is why it is said that different states of consciousness understand different knowledge.
Have you heard the Japanese story?
In Japan, there is a rule that a motel-owner must give free boarding and lodging to monks.
To test if a monk is genuine, the owner would ask a knowledge question. If the question is answered, monk can then stay. If the owner gives the right answer, then the monk will go further.
There was a motel run by two brothers. The elder one was very intelligent. The younger one was dull. The elder brother used to manage affairs such that he did not have to give free rooms to the monks. If the elder brother had to go away, he would tell the younger one: 'If any monk comes here, act dumb. If you're silent, the monk will not stay here."
As soon as the elder brother left, a group of monks arrived. They said: 'Come we will argue.'
The younger brother gestured: 'I am in silence.'
The monks: 'We will have a dialogue in silence.' They showed the forefinger to indicate 'one'.
The younger brother had only one eye. The other eye was bandaged. He showed two fingers.
The monks then showed three fingers.
The brother then showed a fist.
The monks became very happy and left.
When the elder brother came, the younger one explained what happened:
'They told me that you have only one eye.
So I said, 'You have two.'
They then said: The dialogue is between three eyes.
So I said: I will punch you.'
Later the monks returned and told the elder brother that the younger one had shared the highest knowledge in silence.
The monks narrated:
'We asked: What is the one truth?
He said: Not one, there are two: Buddham and Dhammam.
We said: There are three things: – Buddham, Dhammam, and Sangham.
He said: They are all one!'
It was such a mind-blowing realization!
This story shows that different levels of consciousness can interpret different things, differently.
Fools always create conflicts over nothing. And die for it. The intelligent will celebrate diversity. Fools can't tolerate diversity.
The ancient sages in the Rig Veda have said: 'Accept even the atheist and they have included them in prayers: Those who call You as no God and think there is no Divinity, I bow down. Those who say, You are not there, I offer my obeisance.'
One accepts even atheism. That is true wisdom: You have broad vision which accepts people and differences.
Intelligent people celebrate diversity, fools fight over diversity.
Regards,
AOL Parsippany
"Celebrate Life. Care for others and share whatever you have with those less fortunate than you. Broaden your vision, for the whole world belongs to you."
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, Art of Living Foundation, www.artofliving.org
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