Some element within us does not perish

Excerpts from talks by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Life is eternal; we never give a thought to this truth. When someone dies we declare that the person is immortal, but the truth is we ourselves are immortal. That is why we do not feel that we have grown old. No matter how old a person is, he feels he is never going to die. This feeling is always there. If someone else dies, we say, ‘that poor fellow died.’ Everyone else dies but I don’t; this is the feeling which goes on. There is a stream (awareness) within us that cannot be destroyed, which is undying.

To acknowledge and observe that stream is spirituality. Such courage, such strength, such solidity comes in life that nothing can shake you, no one can shake you. It is a subtle stream - ‘I have not changed, I have not grown old, I am just the same.’

When you examine your life, the observing of life is spirituality; it is satsang.

Satsang is not just singing bhajans, but pondering the truths of life. What is the most important truth of life - there is some element within us that does not perish, that does not die. There is something within that does not diminish, is inerasable, unchanging and undying. If even the slightest attention is directed to it, life becomes easy and uncomplicated.

The second truth - everything changes - body changes, mind changes, intellect changes, thoughts change, and everything is changing.