i_am_a_sadhak

In every conflict situation, whether in governments, institutions or personal relationships, people communicate far more through their inner state than through words. Before anything is spoken, anxiety, defensiveness or agitation are already felt in the room, and trust becomes fragile. Most negotiations fail because people do not listen. But when a leader is calm, centered and genuinely committed to the well-being of all, something changes, people soften, they begin to listen and solutions emerge more naturally. Inner emotional regulation is not separate from leadership; it is the foundation of wise leadership, especially in times of crisis.

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Faith is a state and you can’t force yourself to have faith. When your prana is high then there is faith and trust.

-Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Satsang Summary with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji 17th June 2026

From Mind Chatter to the Untouched Witness

The satsang began with a light-hearted question from Gurudev:

"What do you want to do? Sing more or talk?"

What appeared to be a simple choice between singing and talking soon unfolded into a profound spiritual teaching.

Full Satsang Link (Must Watch)
https://www.youtube.com/live/bwzJL8Xo8Xw

Gurudev pointed out that most people spend their lives talking, both externally and internally. The mind is constantly commenting, reacting, complaining, worrying, and creating noise. Like small children throwing tantrums, we keep expressing ourselves but rarely pause to truly listen.

We are not listening to nature. We are not listening to life. We are not listening to the Divine.

Spiritual growth begins when we become silent enough to listen.

---

The Untouched Part Within

Gurudev then invited everyone to look within and recognize something very subtle.

Throughout life, we have experienced joy, sorrow, success, failure, excitement, disappointment, and countless emotions. Yet there is something within us that remains untouched by all of these experiences.

Sometimes people notice that things which once disturbed them no longer have the same effect. Things they once craved no longer attract them in the same way.

This can feel strange because we are familiar with involvement, not with witnessing.

Yet this untouched dimension exists in everyone.

---

Niranjan: The Non-Sticky Consciousness

Gurudev explained this untouched aspect through the word Niranjan.

Niranjan means:

- That which nothing sticks to
- The untouched awareness
- The pure witness

Using a simple analogy, he compared it to a non-stick pan.

In an ordinary pan, food sticks and must be scraped off. In a non-stick pan, nothing clings.

Similarly, experiences, emotions, praise, blame, success, and failure may come and go, but there is a light within that remains untouched.

That light is Niranjan.

---

Bhava Bhaya Bhanjan: Destroyer of the Fear of the World

From Niranjan, Gurudev moved to the concept of fear.

He explained the phrase:

Bhava Bhaya Bhanjan

- Bhava = the world
- Bhaya = fear
- Bhanjan = destruction

Human life is filled with fears.

- Fear of losing money
- Fear of not having money
- Fear of loneliness
- Fear of losing relationships
- Fear of rejection
- Fear of insult
- Fear of the future
- Fear of uncertainty

Even when one fear disappears, another takes its place.

If you have money, you worry about what will happen to it.

If you don't have money, you worry about survival.

If you have relationships, you fear losing them.

If you don't have relationships, you fear being alone.

Outer conditions never permanently remove fear.

Fear dissolves only when we connect with the untouched consciousness within.

---

The Rare Blessing of Human Birth

Gurudev reminded everyone how precious human life is.

He described the biological miracle behind birth.

Millions of s***m race toward a single egg, yet only one succeeds.

He compared it to a huge crowd trying to enter a theater where only one person gets through.

Human birth itself is like winning a lottery.

Yet even after receiving a human body, many more blessings are required:

- Interest in spirituality
- Right knowledge
- Right path
- Right teacher
- Right guidance

When all of these come together, one is truly fortunate.

---

The Rome Story: A Prayer Answered

Gurudev then shared an incident from Rome during the early 1990s.

After a course, many people were following him. Being playful by nature, he slipped away and hid behind some bushes on a hillside.

There he noticed a man kneeling in deep prayer with tears flowing from his eyes.

The man was so absorbed that he did not notice Gurudev standing nearby for several minutes.

Eventually he opened his eyes and was shocked.

Since neither spoke the other's language, a translator was brought.

The man then shared his story.

For years he had searched for truth.

He had:

- Travelled around the world
- Visited India
- Collected malas
- Practiced japa for hours daily
- Woken up at 4 a.m.
- Visited monasteries
- Pursued every spiritual practice he could find

Yet he remained dissatisfied.

Finally, exhausted and desperate, he prayed:

"God, I cannot continue anymore. Please send me somebody. Please send me my teacher."

Soon afterward, he saw Gurudev and the group around him, radiating joy, meditation, and bliss.

He immediately felt an overwhelming energy and said:

"I feel unbelievable energy. I feel so good."

The story illustrated how sincere surrender opens the door for grace.

When the seeker is ready, the teacher appears.

---

A Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything

The same man explained that his spiritual search had begun after a scuba-diving accident.

While underwater and close to death, he experienced something beyond the physical body.

He felt:

- "I am not merely this body."
- "There is light."
- "There is something more."

That glimpse transformed his life.

He realized life must be more than:

- Eating
- Drinking
- Socializing
- Moving through routines

Years later, after meeting Gurudev, he felt complete.

His search had finally ended.

---

Finding the Path Was Not Always Easy

Gurudev reflected on earlier decades.

There was:

- No YouTube
- No WhatsApp
- No social media
- No instant communication

People distributed flyers by hand to invite seekers to programs.

Today information is easily available.

Yet the real challenge remains unchanged:

Many seek.

Few persist.

Even fewer find.

That is why the meeting of seeker, path, knowledge, and Guru should never be taken for granted.

---

Your Own Experience Is Your Teacher

Gurudev then turned everyone's attention inward.

Look back.

Last year there were worries.

You survived.

Before that there were disappointments.

You survived.

There were fears.

You survived.

There were moments when you thought things would never improve.

Yet here you are.

Life itself teaches that difficulties come and go.

What remains is the witness.

---

The Two Birds on the Tree

Gurudev then referred to the ancient image of two birds sitting on a tree.

One bird eats the fruits.

The other bird simply watches.

In life:

One part of us is constantly engaged in:

- Pleasure
- Pain
- Jealousy
- Excitement
- Happiness
- Misery

Another part simply witnesses.

Gurudev's instruction was:

"Be with the bird that is watching."

Remembering the witnessing bird immediately brings relief and perspective.

---

The Mind Cannot Repair the Mind

People constantly make promises:

- "I will never get angry again."
- "I will change."
- "I won't repeat this mistake."

Yet the same patterns often return.

Why?

Because the mind is trying to repair itself using the same mind.

Gurudev explained that real transformation comes not from fighting the mind, but from recognizing the witness beyond it.

---

Alak Niranjan

Again and again Gurudev emphasized:

"Remember Alak Niranjan."

The unmoving.

The untouched.

The non-sticky consciousness.

Remembering this removes fear and anxiety and establishes one in stable awareness.

---

The Strength That Comes Through Guru Remembrance

Gurudev asked how many people had experienced strength simply by remembering the Guru.

He explained that remembrance of the Guru reconnects us with the stable consciousness beyond fear.

The Guru becomes a living bridge to the witness within.

---

From Separation to Oneness

Fear exists wherever there is separation.

A child feels safe with the mother.

Fear appears when the child feels separated.

Fear disappears when connection returns.

Similarly:

- Separation creates fear
- Connection creates strength

As one feels connected to the Guru, to consciousness, and ultimately to all existence, fear naturally dissolves.

---

Guru, Sangha and Knowledge

Gurudev explained that three supports are always available:

1. Guru
2. Sangha (spiritual community)
3. Knowledge

At least one of these is always accessible.

Even physical distance is no longer a barrier.

The true connection is an inner connection.

As this connection deepens, it expands from the Guru to the entire existence.

---

The Vastness of the Guru

Using the language of Guru Puja, Gurudev described the Guru as:

- Vast like the sky
- Spacious
- All-encompassing

The more we contemplate that vastness, the more our own consciousness expands.

Gradually, the feeling of separation weakens.

The sense of oneness grows stronger.

---

Closing Message

Gurudev concluded by bringing all the teachings together:

Whenever fear arises:

- Remember the Guru
- Remember Alak Niranjan
- Remember the untouched witness
- Remember the bird that watches

What we remember shapes our state of consciousness.

If we repeatedly remember worries, we become anxious.

If we remember wisdom, we become established in wisdom.

The satsang ended in a joyful atmosphere with birthday celebrations, blessings, and devotional chanting of:

"Jai Jai Radha Raman Hari Bol"

The gathering closed in devotion, joy, and silence.

Essence of the Satsang

The entire satsang moved from:

- Talking → Listening
- Mind chatter → Silence
- Fear → Fearlessness
- Separation → Connection
- Seeking → Finding
- Identification → Witnessing

Gurudev's central message was:

"Remember the unchanging witness. Remember Alak Niranjan. Remember the Guru. Fear dissolves."

Must Watch Satsang
https://www.youtube.com/live/bwzJL8Xo8Xw

Satsang with Gurudev About - World-renowned humanitarian, spiritual leader, an...

Just drop all that is bothering you. If you are not free today, you can never be free anytime.

-Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Q: Gurudev, There are a few people in my life who I want to forgive. Many times I decide to forgive and forget, but all of a sudden I go into the past and start disliking them again. What should I do? I want to be free.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - Do it right away. They just did what they had to do, they had no choice. Don’t think of them as free individuals who could go with their choice. They were programmed like that; and the programmed chip is inside. They just work like that, poor thing. Just be compassionate for them. They were compelled to do what they did to you. That is it, finished!

Q: Gurudev, I am from Rajasthan, there are many ashrams in Rajasthan and I was thinking that if a small ashram of The is built there, that would be a very nice thing. What are ur thoughts?

Sri Sri - Alright, build an Ashram, all of you get together and make one. I make people, u make the Ashram. Just yesterday we were discussing that there are so many ashrams but there are no people. In the ashrams, there are no Yogis. So that is why I thought first, let’s make strong people and that is why I called this ‘Vyakti Vikas’ (in ) not ‘Ashram Vikas’. So now this work u do, the other work I have already started.

Q: Gurudev, I feel that India’s socio-economic problems are a lot based on over population, do you agree?

Sri Sri - No, no. India’s problems are not based on over population, they are based on corruption. The problem is because of corruption. Population was thought to be a curse till a few years ago but today it’s the population that is the basis for improving the economy. Population means big market, why would other countries look at India? Because it’s a huge market. We need to ensure that every person in nook and corner of our country (and also the world) experince the sense of belongingness u all experience in the and that can happen only when you bring them to this precious path.

Q: Gurudev, is it true that every chapter of the Bhagavad Gita has influence on a particular plane?

Sri Sri - Planets are far away, they have an influence on ur mind, on ur Self. Every chapter has an influence on u.

Follow for more such amazing wisdom by Gurudev

Q: Gurudev, if our nearest and dearest ones don’t understand the feelings that we have towards you and they logically try to analyze and this hurts us. How do we handle this situation, this often comes in our life.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji - Why do you want to explain everything to everybody? Feelings are such that people don’t understand. You don’t have to express all ur feelings like that. They could be insecure and think that you will leave home and go to the Ashram and be there. So see that people don’t get into that fear. Your love and devotion should be expressed only as much as they can understand. Same with joy, sometimes you don’t know how to express your happiness; if you express too much people don’t understand.

One devotee went to a funeral of somebody, a mourning meeting and there were bhajans and he started dancing and the people didn’t understand. There is satsang and bhajans, of course you dance when you are in joy and he said that anyways everything should be a celebration. But if you dance there people can get annoyed. So you should see what a person can understand; how much they can understand and how to convey what you want to convey. Be skillful in conveying so that ur expression doesn’t bring fear and anger in others as much as possible. And then ignore. Beyond a level you should simply ignore.

Q: Gurudev, What is the difference between Moha and Love?

Sri Sri - Moha (attachment) means I want something back. Love is only how I can be useful.

Q: Gurudev, How to arrive at what my dharma is?

Sri Sri - Gut feeling, if it feels right, this is what one should do.

Q: Gurudev, Is it possible to be both ethical and practical?

Sri Sri - Yes. Your yukti should be like the salt in the food - just a little bit salt in ur business. If there is too much salt, it becomes like food in the salt.

Q: Gurudev, Is it ok to forego discipline to experience immense love?

Sri Sri - They go together. Discipline has to be followed. I have spoken about this in Narad Bhakti Sutra.

Q: Gurudev, What about people who haven’t come to you yet?

Sri Sri - They will come in sometime.

Follow for more such amazing wisdom by Gurudev

Watch "This Will Save You From Hurtful Attachments! | Gurudev" on YouTube https://youtu.be/vtU6WAiX01c?si=1Fmnd9Vz_0zhPFaM

Visit this website for more such knowledge by Gurudev to overcome/transform any negative feelings
https://srisrinote.com/Transform/

Q: Gurudev, Psychologists and mostly western thinkers say one should strive to find one’s own purpose and live it. Does each soul have a unique purpose in this life, outside of attaining enlightenment that is?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji - Each soul is doing some work here on this planet.

You can choose whatever work you want to do, whatever career you want to take. But there is a common thing that psychologists forget. What is that common thing? Shared values, human values, happiness. These days they have started talking about it.

‘Are you happy?’ This is something we need to ask.

If you are not, then turn inward to find the happiness. Don’t look for it somewhere outside. Once you turned inward, everything starts opening up.

So the purpose of life is not to be miserable and not make others miserable. If you make this one thing clear in the mind then what is the purpose will automatically come.

Do maximum good to maximum number of people. Wherever you are, be the one who is wanted there.

Have you given your 100%? Are you that type of personality where people want to have you back in their team? Are u a team player? If not, then we have to tune ourselves to be team players. When we smoothen these rough edges in our life then the purpose in life becomes very clear.

Do you know why u want a purpose? It is because that brings you satisfaction.

What is the point of doing a purposeful thing? It is because it brings satisfaction. You do something which is not purposeful and it does not bring you satisfaction. So, wanting to have a purpose or no purpose is centered on attaining satisfaction.

If you attain satisfaction, every little thing u do will become very useful.

When you say, ‘I want a purpose’, you are the center of it and you are always thinking what u will gain from this. But when u are satisfied, ur whole life becomes useful.

And if being useful is the purpose of ur life, then be it, and that is it. Got it? You feel very satisfied when u are being useful. This is something that people have to keep in mind, to be useful. And when you say I want to be useful, then wherever you are whatever u do, automatically u will find urself to be very useful.

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