MYRIAD SHADES OF FULLNESS

Excerpts from talks by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

AWARENESS BRINGS ABOUT THE HIGHEST TRANSFORMATION

Once a thief came to a saint wanting to surrender to him, but he didn’t want to give up stealing. The saint allowed him to have his way under the condition that he can steal provided he does it with full awareness. The thief thought it would be very easy as stealing was his habit, his second nature. But as and when he got ready for his next adventure, he remembered the saint’s condition and became aware of his action. And he couldn’t steal! He assumed the blessings of the saint will lessen with time. But even after a considerable time, he couldn’t steal as he would become aware of the saint’s advice the moment he would try breaking into a house.

Such is the power of awareness. It can bring about the highest transformation. All mistakes happen in unawareness. In awareness, one cannot get angry, complain or commit a mistake. Such awareness comes when one establishes a connection with the Self, with true existence beyond the physical and the mental realms. When we have knowledge about something, it becomes easy to handle it. When we acquire a little understanding of life, it becomes simpler to handle it.

When a Guru enters the life of a seeker, the awareness of higher Self dawns. The Master acts as a catalyst for deep churning and realizing one’s divinity. The Guru is like a doorway that one sees when groping for shelter from rain and thunder, or hot sun. The same rain and thunder which appeared frightening, become beautiful and pleasant when one is inside the shelter.