What Sri Sri said today:
India (Art of Living International Center, Bangalore), July 30:
Q. How can I increase my faith in anything? Does faith grow with time? Is it the same for everyone?
Sri Sri: You cannot increase your faith. Either you have it or you don't. The more you try to increase your faith, it will only be a struggle. It doesn't 'get increased'. So whenever you feel you have less faith that itself indicates you have faith.
And when you realize that, it means it is returned back. The doubt has ended.
In the Samaveda (an ancient Indian scripture), a hymn says. "I am building the bridge from not having faith to having the faith."
'I didn't have the faith', this idea comes when faith has started coming back, from lack of faith to faith. These two banks can't come together, they can't be one and the bridge is what you are.
When the prana (life energy) is high, then faith is more. When the prana is low, the faith is less.
Q. How can I be emotionally strong?
Sri Sri: By using your intellect a little more! Bring back the balance and see life from a broader perspective. Your emotions, either very pleasant or unpleasant are attached to the past. So when you see the world with a broader vision and don't get stuck with past events, people or experience, you will be strong. Getting emotionally upset over something somebody said is limited vision. There are millions of people, millions of things happening in the world.
In the Bhagwad Geeta, Lord Krishna shows Arjuna the Cosmic Vision and Time swallowing everything. First, Arjuna got scared, then all his fear vanished. There was nothing to hang on to. That's why Lord Krishna says, "I am here, don't worry, don't be afraid"
This way, all the emotional worries, and mess that one is in, one comes out of. Only meditation can give you wisdom and strength.
Q. In general, it is seen that those who have money don't have a generous heart and those who have a generous heart don't have money. Is there a fight between the Goddess of money and love?
Sr Sri: Well, you can have both! Money is not some currency kept in bank. It is the satisfaction that one has. If you feel you are rich, you are. I have seen people with bigger lakhs (millions) have lacks!
