5 Types of Restlessness

Guruji , H.H. sri Sri Ravi Shankarji speaks something really wonderful about 5 types of restlessness.This is what HE says.

The first kind of restlessness is due to the place you are in and one feels better as soon as one moves away from that place, the street or the house. Chanting, singing, children playing and laughing can change the atmospheric restlessness. If you chant and sing, the vibration in the place changes.

The second kind of restlessness is in the body which is bought by eating wrong food or vata. Aggravating food, eating at odd times, not exercising and overworking can all cause a physical restlessness. Exercise, moderation in work habits and going on a vegetable or juice diet for a day or two is the remedy.

The third type of restlessness is mental restlessness caused by ambition, strong thoughts, likes or dislikes and knowledge alone can cure this restlessness. Seeing life from a broader perspective, knowledge about self and impermanence of everything, after your achievement you will die, knowledge of your death or life, confidence in the self, in the divine can all calm down the mental restlessness.

The fourth kind of restlessness is emotional restlessness. No amount of knowledge helps here, only Sudarshan Kriya helps in this. Also the presence of the guru, a wise person or a saint will help to calm your emotional restlessness.

The fifth restlessness is that of the soul. When everything feels empty and meaningless, the longing and restlessness is restlessness of the soul. HE said one should not try to get rid of it, in fact on should embrace it. HE said to get rid of it, people do all sorts of things like change places, jobs or partners. It seems to help for sometime but does not last. HE said this restlessness alone brings authentic prayer in one. It brings perfection, sidhis and miracles in life. It is so precious to get that innermost longing for the divine. Satsang, the presence of the enlightened one, soothes the restlessness of the soul.

What are You? Lion or a Jackal

There lived a man who always complained and cribbed about everything in his life. One night he saw a dream. In the dream he saw a jackal in a jungle. The jackal was hungry but could not hunt. The jackal was wounded and tired. Just then, the jackal finds this lion feasting on a deer. The jackal waits for the lion to satisfy his hunger. The lion leaves and the jackal then feeds on the left over and is saved. Then God appeared in the dream and said, “See, I care!”

The next day the man did not do any work. He was hungry but kept waiting hoping for help. The whole day passed but no help, no food, by this time the man was hungry, tired and frustrated with GOD. He had lost faith and started cursing God.

Hungry and tired, the man fell asleep. Goa appeared in his dreams.

God said, “My dear, I made you lion and not the jackal.”

Butterfly Story

Long time ago in a remote village in India lived a man named Mahesh. He would roam around the entire village troubling people and causing nuisance to all. He was intelligent but not humble and would not respect anybody. He had not spared a single villager and visitors from insults and comments. He had not even spared a single saint or holy men visiting their village. He would ask them stupid questions and humiliate them. All the villagers were fed up of him. They had tried everything to teach him a lesson but nothing worked.

One fine day there was news all across the village about a renowned saint visiting their village. The saint had been traveling across the country spreading the message of love and peace. The villagers had cleaned and decorated the village. An evening of prayers and knowledge was organised for the villagers.

The renowned saint had finally arrived. The venue was crowded with the villagers. Mahesh was also present there waiting for a chance to test the saint’s knowledge.

Amongst the celebration, knowledge and session of question answers Mahesh got up. Mahesh looked at the saint showed him his closed fist and asked the saint, “There is a butterfly here. Tell me whether it is alive or dead.” Now this was a tricky question, if the saint answered “alive” then the man would crush the butterfly to death and if the saint answered “dead” the man would let the butterfly free. In both the cases the saint would be proved wrong. Every one present there were angry, shocked and knew what the man would do. Every one eagerly was waiting for the saint’s reply.

The answer the saint gave changed the man’s attitude towards people and his own life.

The saint smiled and very calmly replied, “My dear the answer lies in YOUR hands.”

To make the best use of a certain comfortable or uncomfortable situation is in our hands. We are responsible for our actions and our inactions.

From Wander to Wonder

Wonders are beyond the questions of the head. That which makes one exclaim ‘WOW’ is a WONDER. One does not understand how and why but every WONDER brings peace, joy and gratefulness.

This blog shall include events, incidents, stories and happenings that have taken me from wandering around to a state of wonder.