On Respect

Weekly Knowledge #112 Bad Antogast 30 Jul 1997 Germany

Question: What do you do if people don't respect you? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Thank them. They have given you freedom. (Laughter and amazement) When people respect you, they often take away your freedom. They expect you to smile at them, recognize them, behave in a certain way with them. If they don't respect you, you are not obliged to answer their questions and you can drop all the formalities. Either you will be naturally smiling or frowning. So you will be complete. When people love and respect you, you are obliged to return their courtesies because you don't want to hurt them. When they don't respect or love you, they will not be hurt by your actions and expressions. So they set you free. When you gain respect, you often do it at the cost of your freedom. Wisdom is to put the freedom first and not bother about respect. Q: Will freedom not bring arrogance? A: True freedom is not an "I don't care" attitude. It is lightness from within, a genuine smile and not stiffness. When someone is stiff and arrogant, they are not really free. True love blossoms only in such freedom. And when there is genuine love, respect simply follows you.

NEWS FLASH Midway through the Art Excel Course at Lake Tahoe, the teenagers staged a 'rebellion' against the course teachers. A half hour meeting with Guruji totally changed the situation both for the teenagers and the teachers. The American tour ended with an outdoor Satsang at Emerald Bay overlooking Lake Tahoe. Now onto the beginning of the European summer celebrations!