Wisdom is the best shock absorber智慧是最佳的緩衝器
April 10, 2012 (Below is the transcript of Satsang with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.You can watch the Live webcast of future satsangs)
Mahasatsang at Taiwan台灣大型唱場
（台灣‧台北‧小巨蛋‧4/10/2012）
我們都是以小嬰兒來到這星球，我們都帶著微笑、喜悅及與人的一體感來到這裡，不是這樣嗎？但是當我們日漸長大，我們卻失去了那微笑，失去了那友善，失去了那對人的愛。
到底怎麼了？這是值得我們去深思探討的。
我們可以再次從內在變得像個孩子嗎？
⋯⋯
我們經常使用椰子來比喻生命的樣貌。椰子外面有個堅硬的外殼，當從很高的地方掉下來時，它不會被摔破，它有個避震器，或者說有個氣墊。所以，假如我們的行為舉止是友善的，有智慧的，假如我們過著沒有壓力的生活，它就像一個避震器一樣。我們的身體應該像椰子的外殼般強壯；我們的心則要像裡面的果肉，潔白而柔軟；我們的感覺像最裡面的椰子汁一般甜美。假如相反的話，那就麻煩了。假如身體是柔軟又脆弱；心是像外殼一般堅硬，沒有感覺，情感完全枯竭乾涸，生命就成了一種負擔。那就是為什麼有那麼多人自殺，那麼多的人感到沮喪，不是嗎？
所以，我們必須帶來這種改變，在自己本身、在我們社會及在我們的家裡，在那些我們保有堅持這些價值的地方。
今天下午我跟媒體朋友見面，他們告訴我，台灣正在失去它的傳統價值。我說，他們應該要保有自己的根，台灣有很悠久有價值的歷史，而這些價值應該被滋養被保存下來，特別是，家庭的價值。個人的統整也很重要，你們不這麼認為嗎？
這些文化的價值必須被強化，同時也要有活力地向前走。這也正是台灣所做的。台灣非常地有活力，我也要說台灣有著一群最熱情的義工。在我們所有的國際性的活動中，台灣團總是充滿著熱情及精力，不論到世界各地，台灣團的學員總是帶著禮物，每個人總是會帶些禮物，這種分享的喜悅是彌足珍貴的，也是這個文化的源頭。我們需要保有每一種文化裡這種好的及偉大的價值。而我們只有在免於壓力及內在平靜時才有辦法做這一切。
當佛陀在印度時，他到處旅行說法了四十年。他僅僅說，讓我們先放下佛學哲理，來了解一件事，世間悲苦，而有個方法可以擺脫悲苦，擺脫悲苦讓內心自由是可能的。他的這個訊息是宇宙性的，也是當今我們所需要的。我們需要創造一個免於壓力和暴力的社會，而方法就是靜坐。
很多時候，當我們靜坐時，我們的心到處跑。呼吸技術—淨化呼吸法及瑜加這兩者可以幫助我們的心定靜下來。
當你的心定靜下來時，當你不再為自己要求任何東西時，你會獲得一種去為別人祝福的驚人的能力。當你的心是空空洞洞時，這時有人祈求東西，你去祝福他們，這願望是會發生的。我們有祝福的課程，一旦你參加這4、5天課程，你就可以開始去祝福別人。
我曾經和一位世界頂尖的科學家談過，你知道他說什麼嗎？他說，「我研究物質30年了，卻只找出它並不存在。」
他是個量子物理學家，他說，近些時日當他演講時，總有人問他，他是不是在教佛學或是類似的東西。
他說，「這些日子，當我演講時，人們總覺得我在講佛學或吠陀哲學。」佛學或吠陀哲學講的是相同的東西，兩者講的都是內在意識，只是說法有一點點不同而已。佛學的空就是吠陀的滿，就這樣。
因此，物質及一切都是震波。這些震波不斷地改變，它也能改變我們的生命。它能改變或帶來我們所求的，或者我們自己想要的。所以當你的心處在全然圓滿的空間時，你能為別人帶來圓滿。所以今日我要你們，在這裡，拋下你們一切的煩惱及問題，我是來收集你們的所有煩惱擔憂，一切我所要的就是你們快快樂樂的。
每天，靜坐十分鐘，然後讓自己空空洞洞。自我成長對每個人來說是非常重要的。
不論我們是做什麼的或身處何地，我們都應該為社會做點無私的服務。去和每個人分享我們的生活。不論何時，你有了困難或是麻煩，不要認為你是孤單一人的。你不是孤單的。不錯，你將能夠度過任何的困境，並從中帶出微笑。是的，我們必須讓我們的身心靈強壯，我們與周遭的人的關係健康及堅固。這就是生活的藝術的內涵，免於暴力的社會、免於疾病的身體、免於困惑心智、免於壓抑的理智、免於創傷的記憶、免於憂傷的靈魂，我覺得這是每個人與生俱來的權利。
所以，今天你們把所有的問題交給我，然後帶著微笑回家去。
台灣是個有經濟優勢的小國，假如在座的我們每個人都能出點力，我們就能幫助台灣成為一個既強壯又快樂的國家。我們可以要一個沒有罪犯、沒有暴力、沒有不開心、沒有自殺的台灣。我要看到的是這樣的台灣，這是我對台灣的夢想。假如我們在未來兩年內能達成像這樣的事，它將會是台灣理想的狀態，這也將成為其他國家的典範。你知道，世界上最快樂的國家不丹，它是個佛教國家，那裏的人非常的單純，每個人都相信非暴力及快樂。不丹是個全世界最快樂的國家，最近在聯合國有個以快樂為主題的會議，只是，有高人民所得是不夠的，你也需要有高人民快樂所得。
事實上，我本來打算參加那次在聯合國的活動，不丹的首相邀請我去，但是我承諾了要到東南亞、新加坡、巴里島及台灣，我說我不能取消我的行程，但是我會把相同的訊息帶到這些國家。
所以我認為我們應該要有個夢，讓我們一起來思考，在未來兩年內，我們要如何去接觸人群，並教導他們擺脫壓力快樂地生活。不論是在學校裡、大專院校裡、或在家裡，我們只要慶典。
從一個較大的視野來看我們的生命。假設我們活80年，卻活在壓力及不快樂之中，值得嗎？在短暫的生命裡，我們應該讓自己快快樂樂的，也讓別人快快樂樂的，你們不這麼認為嗎？今天讓我們所有人都有這樣的夢想。
所以這裡有兩件事，為這個國家及世界有個大的夢想，另一個是為你自己的需求及欲望。兩個都會實現的。你專注在那大的，然後把小的夢想交給我，好嗎？
所以今天，我們既然要一起靜坐，就有權利來許個願望。今晚在你上床睡覺之前，你可以許個願望，想著這個願望，放下，然後好好睡覺。
現在，每天花點時間靜坐，承諾做點服務，一個月至少4小時。我們有個大願景，去創造出一個沒有壓力、沒有暴力的台灣，所以我們可以15到20個人為一組，出去激勵人們要快樂，我們將在台灣創造一股快樂的浪潮。
We all came to this planet as babies. We all carried smiles, joy and a sense of belongingness with everybody. Isn't that so? But as we grew older somewhere we lost that smile, we lost that friendliness and we lost that love for everyone.
What happened? This is what we need to enquire.
Can we become like a child again from inside?
We usually use coconut as an example of how life should be. A coconut has a husk around it, and when it falls from a high level it doesn't break. It has a shock absorber or cushion. So if our behavior is friendly, wise, and if we live a life where we are free from stress, it acts like a shock absorber. Wisdom is the best shock absorber. Our body should be like the coconut shell – strong, and our mind like the kernel inside – white and soft. And our feelings like the water deep inside – sweet. If it is the other way around then it is a problem. If the body is soft and weak, mind is harsh like a shell and there are no feelings, they are all dried up then life becomes a burden. And that is the reason why so many people commit suicide and people get depressed. Isn't it?
So we need to bring this change in ourselves, in the society and in our families, where we hold on to the values.
This afternoon when I was talking to the press they were telling me that Taiwan is losing its traditional values. I said they should hold on to their roots. Taiwan has a very long history of values and these values should be nurtured and preserved. Especially family values are very important. Personal integrity is very important. Don't you think so?
These cultural values need to be strengthened, at the same time dynamic progress, which Taiwan is anyways doing. Taiwan is very dynamic. And I also say that Taiwan has the most enthusiastic volunteers. In all our international programs, there is a group from Taiwan which is all the time full of energy and enthusiasm. And when the people of Taiwan go anywhere in the world, they always carry gifts. Everyone caries some gift. This joy in sharing is very precious and is original to this culture. We need to maintain the values which are very good and very great to each culture. We can only do all that when we are free from stress and our mind is at peace.
When Lord Buddha was in India, he traveled for forty years. He simply said, let us keep the philosophy on one side and understand one thing – there is sorrow, and there is a way to get rid of sorrow. It is possible to get rid of sorrow and become free from inside.
This message is universal, and this message is what we need today. We need to create a society free from stress and violence, and the way for it is through meditation.
Many times when we sit for meditation, the mind goes all over the place. That is where Sudarshan Kriya, which is a breathing technique, and yoga, both of these help the mind to calm down and become serene.
When your mind is serene and settled, and when you don't want anything for yourself, you gain this amazing power to bless others. When your mind is hollow and empty and when someone wants something and you bless them, it will happen. We have made a blessing course; once you attend this course for 4 to 5 days then you can start blessing people.
I spoke to one of the leading scientists in the world and do you know what this man said? He said, ‘I studied matter for 30 years only to find out it doesn't exist.’
He is a quantum physicist, and he says that these days whenever he gives talks, people ask him if he is teaching Buddhism or something like that?
He said, ‘These days when I give my lectures, people feel I am talking about Buddhism or Vedanta.’ Vedanta and Buddhism talk about the same thing; both talk about that inner consciousness, only in a slightly different way. The emptiness in Buddhism is the fullness in Vedanta. That is all.
So matter and everything is vibrations, and these vibrations keep changing, and it can change our life. It can change or bring what we desire or what we want for us. So when your mind is in the space of total fulfilment, you can bring fulfillment to others.
So today I want you to drop all your worries and problems here. I have come to collect all your worries. All that I want from you is for you to be happy.
Every day, for ten minutes meditate and become hollow and empty. Personal development is very important for everyone.
See, whatever and wherever we are, we should be able to do some service to society. Share our life with everyone. And whenever you have any difficulty or trouble don't think you are alone. You are not alone. Okay! You will be able to pass through any tough times that come with a smile. Yes! We need to make our spirit, mind and body strong and our bonding with people around us healthy and strong. This is what is The Art of living. Violence free society, disease free body, confusion free mind, inhibition free intellect, trauma free memory and sorry free soul. I feel this is the birth right of everybody.
So today, give me all your problems and go back with a smile.
Taiwan is a small country with a strong economy. If all of us here put a little effort we can make Taiwan strong in happiness as well.
We can think of a Taiwan free of crime; no violence, no unhappiness, no suicide. I want to see such a Taiwan. This is my dream for Taiwan. If we can achieve something like this in the next two years, it will be a very ideal situation in Taiwan, and this could become an example for all other nations to follow.
Do you know, the happiest country in the world is Bhutan. It is a Buddhist country and people are very simple there. Everybody believes in non-violence and in happiness. Bhutan is number one in happiness. Recently, couple of days ago, there was a seminar at the United Nation on happiness. It is not enough to have a high GDP but you also need to have a high GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness).
In fact, I was supposed to attend this program at the United Nation. The Prime Minister of Bhutan had invited me, but since I was committed to come here to South East Asia, to Singapore, Bali and then Taiwan, I said I cannot cancel my travel but I am taking the same message to all these countries.
So now today I am thinking we should have a dream, all of us collectively think, in the next two years, how we can all reach out to people and teach them how to get rid of stress and be happy. In schools, in colleges, at homes, we can have only celebrations.
See life from a broader perspective. 80 years of life we are living, is it worth being stressed, unhappy? In this short span of life, we should spend our time being happy and making others happy. Don't you think so? Let us all today have this dream.
So there are two things, a bigger dream for the country or the world. Another is your individual needs or desires that you have. Both can be fulfilled. You focus on a bigger dream and leave the small dream to me. Okay!
So today, since we meditated together, we are entitled to ask for one wish. Tonight, before going to bed you can think of that one wish. Think about the wish, let go and then sleep well.
Now, everyday take out some time and meditate, and commit yourself to do some service. At least four hours of service a month.
We have a big vision to create a stress free and violence free Taiwan. So we can go around in groups of 15 to 20 people and inspire people to be happy. We will create a wave of happiness in Taiwan.
Q: Today since I dropped my botheration in the basket, tomorrow when I wake up, will it disappear?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: You have dropped the botheration in the basket, now don't carry it in your mind. I can't tell you how long it will take, may be today or tomorrow or in 10 days or 12 months, but definitely the botheration will be over.
Q: How can I become like you?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: When you were a child you were like me. I am a baby who refuses to grow up. Inside you there is still a child, just recognize it. Become hollow and empty.
