Respect

Weekly Knowledge #141 Bangalore Ashram 18 Feb 1998 India

When someone respects you, it is not because you possess some virtues, it is because of their generosity, their greatness. If you say God is great, it makes YOU great. God is anyway already great, you saying so doesn't affect God. When you respect someone, it only shows your own magnanimity. How many people you don't respect in the world, that much less is your wealth. If you respect everyone in the world, that much more is your value. Wiser is the one who respects everyone. Question : But Gurudev, you can't respect a terrorist! Sri Sri : You have to respect a terrorist too because he shows you the way at his own cost. Respectfulness is a quality of refined consciousness. Respect for the Self is faith. Faith is being open. If you are open, you are close. If you are close, you cannot but open up.

NEWS FLASH Bhanu greeted the entourage with smiles and roses as we arrived in India at 1:30 am. Touring through all the Ashram facilities, Guruji personally saw to each ones comfort and accommodations until well past dawn. The inaugural session for the second symposium of the International Association for Human Values inspired delegates from 30 countries. Messages arrived from world leaders expressing their support and gratitude. A lecture on Ayurveda and talks by eminent spiritual leaders rounded out the program.