In June of 1995, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar began a weekly tradition of creating a short talk, often on a subject that was relevant to current events. Each week, this knowledge flowed by electronic mail, by fax and by post all around the world, to every continent, and each year, these talks were compiled into volumes. This is a collection of excerpts from these talks from the first five years.
Whether reading a talk from years past or hearing a current one for the first time, the knowledge is always fresh and meaningful. Those lucky enough to be with Gurudev when the knowledge is created discover truths that fill both the heart and the intellect. In his words, 'Being with the Guru means spontaneous integration of life and wisdom.'
People often feel that the knowledge applies to an immediate need, and there are many instances where someone seeking wisdom or advice picks up a volume and opens it randomly to find exactly what they require at that moment. The paradigm of time, space and separateness breaks down.
The journey for this collection over five years began in New Delhi and ended in Rishikesh, India. The voyage in between included many passages around the world, during which many hearts and minds were blessed with the wisdom of this humble man.
This collection is thematic in preference to being chronological. The first chapter helps us understand the issues of anger, doubt and fear-the things we want to change and love and dispassion-the things we want to culture. The second chapter, building on the first, educates us on what it means to be on a spiritual path, discussing service, spiritual practices and surrender. The third chapter is most sublime, leading us through an understanding of God and back to our inner Self-that we really seek, often without knowing.