Only 10% of Reality Is Physical: How Your Intuition Reveals the Rest | Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Author Name:Dr. Mayim Bialik
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Title: Only 10% of Reality Is Physical: How Your Intuition Reveals the Rest | Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Author Name: Dr. Mayim Bialik
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What if consciousness is more fundamental than the physical world? What happens to consciousness when we die? Could quieting the mind, strengthening intuition, and moving beyond our five senses reveal a deeper reality?
In this episode of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader, meditation teacher, and founder of The Art of Living) explores consciousness, spirituality, reality, intuition, meditation, inner peace, and humanity's future.
Gurudev shares what decades of spiritual practice have taught him about the spiritual and physical worlds, including his view that matter represents only a fraction of consciousness. He explains how uniqueness and universality can coexist, where intuition comes from, and how we can open ourselves to experiences beyond the five senses.
CONSCIOUSNESS, REALITY & THE SUPERNATURAL
What happens to consciousness after death? Can humans access something beyond ordinary sensory perception? How can we distinguish spiritual experiences and miracles from psychosis? Gurudev explores these questions while explaining how our understanding of consciousness may be much larger than we realize. He also discusses energy healing, how it may work, and why protecting consciousness, especially among young people, is increasingly important amid pressure, distraction and uncertainty.
MEDITATION, STILLNESS & MENTAL HYGIENE
Gurudev explains how moments of stillness can transform our mental state and shares mental hygiene practices to raise energy, improve well-being, and reconnect with ourselves. He also explains his Sky Breathing technique and how conscious breathing can bring greater rhythm and harmony with the world around us.
INTUITION, PURPOSE & YOUR INNER WORLD - Where does intuition come from, and can you develop it?
Gurudev shares insights into strengthening intuition, discovering your life's purpose, reconnecting with your inner child, and cultivating a playful, joyful spirit. He reflects on recognizing his spiritual calling as a child and feeling different from other children. He explains why losing our natural sense of play, wonder, and joy can have profound consequences, and why reconnecting with that part of ourselves matters.
WHY THE WORLD IS BECOMING MORE VIOLENT
Gurudev discusses growing pressure around the world and why it can lead to increased violence. He shares his vision for the next wave of humanity and explains why protecting consciousness, cultivating inner peace, and living beyond fear and division may be essential to humanity's future.
Gurudev explains why he wants his legacy to emphasize his role as a peacemaker, including his work facilitating a peace dialogue that contributed to a ceasefire in Colombia's civil war, a conflict that claimed more than 220,000 lives over 52 years. He also discusses his work with gang members and efforts to transform cycles of violence.
LOVE, RELATIONSHIPS & SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Gurudev explores wisdom hidden within relationships and explains how cynicism can limit spiritual growth. He discusses why openness, curiosity, joy and wonder may be essential to experiencing life fully.
THE WEST IS WAKING UP TO SPIRITUALITY
Gurudev reflects on changes he has witnessed in the West surrounding meditation, yoga, mindfulness, spirituality, and consciousness.
But where does this movement go next, and what does humanity need now?
This conversation explores consciousness, intuition, energy healing, peace, human transformation and its meaning for humanity's future!
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00:00 - Intro
03:59 - Meditation Goes Mainstream
07:36 - Mental Hygiene Habits
10:59 - Consciousness & Reality
13:42 - Spherical Thinking
15:24 - Silence Beyond Logic
19:35 - Vibration & Vibe Check
21:14 - Sky Breath Technique
23:19 - Energy Healing Stories
24:06 - Childhood Awakening
27:59 - Joyful Education
29:12 - Training Intuition
30:56 - Higher Self & Finding Purpose
34:39 - Meditation for Peace
40:03 - Science Meets Spirit
44:13 - Hallucination vs Insight
45:40 - Death Beyond Body
48:20 - Love & Relationships Advice
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Theme Song Written, Produced, and Performed by Ed Robertson. Mixed by Kenny Luong.
Transcript:
(00:00) Intuition is there in everybody, but we don't nurture [music] it. That's a very delicate balance of navigating from what you know to the unknown. >> How do we get [music] there? >> Many scientists are very cynical. I would ask them to be open-minded to explore the avenue of consciousness. Consciousness [music] is the most amazing thing in the world.
(00:23) It's most ancient and yet it is ever new. >> Medicine is starting to understand everything [music] has a vibration and the physical matter responds to vibration. >> We see this all the time. I have seen so many people getting healed. We even called our program a healing breath. >> Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a globally recognized humanitarian and spiritual leader whose teachings have transformed millions of lives.
(00:49) >> It's 45 years since I'm bringing this knowledge around the world. People thought it is for people who want to have an exclusive life. Now people know yoga, meditation, spiritual practices are an integral part of wellness. Just a few [music] minutes every day. I call it the mental hygiene.
(01:08) What is the purpose of my life? This indicates the maturity of the intellect. Where am I going? This very question [music] is a vehicle for you to move forward. >> What's your vision for the next wave of humanity? >> [music] >> Hi, I'm Mayim Bialik. >> And I'm Jonathan Cohen. >> And welcome to our breakdown. Today, we're going to be speaking to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
(01:39) And this is a man who has changed the lives of millions of people by turning all of the struggles that we encounter in life into something that can be celebrated and can can literally change the course of not just lives, but the world itself. Gurudev displayed an early inclination towards wisdom.
(02:05) Um at age four, he was already identified for his exceptional abilities. By age 17, he graduated with a degree in physics, bridging the worlds of science and spirituality. And in 1981, he founded the Art of Living, which is a charitable and educational organization. He had 10 days of silence that he um experienced and emerged with a transformative breathing technique that he, over the past 44 years, has used to expand his vision into 180 countries, fostering values of love, compassion, and service.
(02:42) And today, the Art of Living is a movement with 37,000 active program leaders and more than 1 million volunteer peace leaders all over the world. >> We had the opportunity to sit and meet with him at his center in Los Angeles. This is a rare time where we're on site and really get an amazing opportunity to talk with him about telepathy, about intuition, about near-death experience, and about consciousness and healing.
(03:06) >> Also, Gurudev um has provided rehabilitation for victims and perpetrators of violence. He He's done incredible, incredible work. He's helped former terrorists, militant insurgents, gang members renounce violence and pursue peace in Kosovo, in Iraq, in India, and beyond. He's really, really a special, special man.
(03:27) And we were so thrilled to get 1 hour of time with him. He receives thousands of visitors when he is at his center here in America. And we literally were surrounded by an energy in the building of people who want to learn from him, to sit with his wisdom. And we're so thrilled we got to have uh time with him.
(03:46) So, kind of an unusual episode because we filmed it in his center, and we can't wait to share with you the wisdom of Gurudev. And so, welcome to our breakdown with Gurudev. >> Break [singing] it down. >> We wanted to start by um asking you to reflect a little bit on the significant changes in the conversation around meditation, around yoga.
(04:11) You know, the West has really seized upon so many ideas um and in many ways they've been marketed and you know, taken up in a lot of ways that have complexity. I wonder if from a positive perspective, can you give some constructive criticism about maybe what the West is missing in this kind of renaissance as it were for us of this kind of thought, intention, behavior.
(04:40) >> It's 45 years since I'm bringing this knowledge around the world. If you ask me to reflect back how it was 45 years back, um uh there was a lot of prejudice against uh Eastern philosophy, but let's say and mainly mainly meditation, yoga. People thought that is for someone who is out there or are only for people of California, not the rest of America.
(05:08) >> [laughter] >> Of course, uh California was a little ahead because there was a lot of awareness about meditation, yoga here. But generally, people thought it is for people who want to have a reclusive life. Not for the mainstream. That was the narrative. But over the years, that has changed. Now people know uh yoga, meditation, spiritual practices are an integral part of wellness.
(05:41) And especially today when uh the mental health issues are so big in the world. I see there is no other alternative than this uh spiritual practices. Because you know, medicines you can rely on but for a temporarily for a short period of time, but on long run it has lots of side effects on you.
(06:07) And then they stop working. For example, let's take insomnia or depression. You know, how much Prozac someone can take? You know, after a while that stops working. Then people go to uh psychedelic drugs and the thing is though they get some relief momentarily in the long-term the damage cocaine and other things have caused to their physical body and make them miserable and their families destroyed is something very very uh uh alarming.
(06:44) So, there is the quest. But still in pockets there is some resistance. There is uh you know, the fear of unknown is there. Oh, I'm just it's a field which is not known to me. And I'm not familiar with. I don't want to do anything not so familiar or popular. Uh that type of prejudice uh happening there. Though it's much less, but still uh still it is there quite a bit.
(07:15) I would say we need these practices, yoga, meditation, spiritual practices and use uh introduced even in schools and colleges. Education system should take care of the container, the consciousness of knowledge. You know? I I would say the consciousness is the container of knowledge. And you are You're taking care of the mind and you're just uh stuffing them with information.
(07:46) And you know, it there comes a tipping point for um for kids and for even um other young adults. And so, we find the violence in society on rise. >> It does feel that there's more pressure. You know, kids at a younger age experience more pressure. It used to be that we would grow up in our neighborhoods, and but now with everyone feeling interconnected, the more information we have, the more pressure it feels.
(08:19) And so, the importance of these tools, as you say, the protection of our consciousness, the vessel that's holding our consciousness, is more important, and it's not taught anywhere. You know, if most people have to receive a crisis before they start to practice. >> Yeah. Yeah. The as- the preventative aspect of mental health is not being attended.
(08:41) When the crisis comes, only then, you know, um uh we are taken by shock and uh But I think uh people are getting more and more of at least these days they are talking openly without the uh you know, um any prejudice about that. Stigma about mental health. >> I think also the importance of getting it early is that when there's the crisis, the western mentality is, "I want something that's very quick.
(09:14) I want to be able to like solve this problem." Therefore, we go to the pill versus having a practice. We don't have the background to to rein- like when you have to learn the practice in a crisis, it's harder than if you learn it as a tool throughout your whole life. >> Yeah.
(09:33) Yeah. Yeah. You know, it's it has to be like um a habit in life. Like you brush your teeth, call it dental hygiene. You don't say I won't brush my teeth, you know? Like that man Some of these habits, exercises, these are habits are ingrained in our uh our self, then it becomes easy for one to take care of the mental health crisis.
(09:56) And one more thing I would say, today, you know, West is no longer West and East is no longer East. The earth is round. Um the social media and everything has made the world almost homogeneous everywhere. I find uh the same skepticism in the East also, a lot of faith and uh insight into the the consciousness, the outer world uh in the West also.
(10:21) So, um that sort of division which was earlier there, very obvious and very visible, it's not there so much now. Especially in the educated classes. Of course, uh people have not gone through uh their high school education, they live in the small uh areas, they they have their own world. But even there, the cell phones and um you know, social media has become really um has become a big influencer people to feel connected to the whole world.
(11:00) >> People often go to spiritual practices for mental health, for for um regulation, but also to explore the nature of reality. And we speak to a lot of physicists who have had awakening experiences or who are trying to use physics to understand the nature of reality. You brought up the word consciousness.
(11:21) Can you talk about what your personal practice has shown you about the nature of reality? >> In the Oriental uh philosophy, there there is no division between the spiritual and the physical. Actually, spiritual is an extension of spirit physical. And physical is one part of the consciousness. As it is the this one-tenth of the consciousness per se is the physical manifest world.
(11:52) The rest is unmanifest, you know, the the Vedas themselves say that, you know, um what you see is just one-tenth of uh the consciousness. Consciousness solidified is matter. And matter in its finest realm, finest subtlest form is consciousness. So, uh there is no conflict between physics and the material so-called material science and the spiritual uh science realm actually.
(12:28) So, um actually, we are in in the oriental philosophy, we count 36 elements. Uh the first is earth, then water, then fire, ether, air, then mind, intellect, memory, ego, like that it goes on. The subtler you go, you get into that field of vibrations. It's just vibration, we call spanda. Everything is just vibrations.
(12:59) And the general vibration and special vibrations. General vibration is all permeating. Special vibrations are like you, me, we are all special vibrations. Which are unique. So, the uniqueness and universalities coexisting uh is what the spiritual knowledge is all about. So, everyone is very unique, but everyone is nothing but one part of a big ocean.
(13:34) Everyone is a wave of emotion. In this sense, oneness. On the other sense, there is uniqueness. Often, people get so confused. When you say oneness, then the uniqueness must be completely gone. The paradox here is uniqueness coexists with the oneness. And this you cannot imagine from a linear thinking. Linear thinking always wants the black and white.
(14:08) You cannot say there is something more than that. You know, what I call a spherical thinking is where there is no beginning, no end, but just an appearance. You know, uh Fortunately, today science is uh looking in this direction. It also says that Big Bang theory is a question thing, you know. Big Bang is you're always looking for a beginning point, where there is none.
(14:39) I give a simple example for uh common people when they ask me, "Where did it all begin?" I tell them, "Now, tell me where Which is the starting point of a tennis ball?" Tell me what's the beginning of a tennis ball. A sphere begins every point and ends in every point. So, that spherical thinking takes you beyond the linear time framework that we are used to thinking and we get stuck with that.
(15:09) Consciousness is from that spherical thinking uh level. That's where you can see that you can uh the linear uh thing there becomes obsolete. >> If matter is let's say 1/10 of consciousness, right? In a form that we can understand or try and understand, how would you best describe the other 9/10? >> indescribable >> [laughter] >> That's not fair.
(15:42) >> So description depends on your knowledge and your logic. Your logic depends on your knowledge, right? And your knowledge is limited. So your logic is also limited. And you need to explore to the unknown. You can't just be stuck with what you already know. But you can't dispense what you already know also.
(16:13) So that's a very delicate balance of navigating from what you know to the unknown. And that's what silence does to you. >> I was going to ask, how do we get there? >> [laughter] >> And the mind becomes so still and very silent. You're connected to more dimension than this one what you think you know. Yeah.
(16:39) And that's why whatever is in the universe is always you know we have heard from childhood you people have been saying that what is in the universe is in the in a in an atom as well. Whatever is in the universe is present in the human body. But through meditation, silence, you know, that becomes a reality. >> For someone who has heard a lot but maybe hasn't experienced this connection with silence, the ability to or or the experience of experiencing more, can you try to even like explain or describe what does that even mean to for someone to go quiet and to experience other
(17:22) dimensions of information? >> We can do multiple choice. Is it bliss? Is [laughter] it peace? Is it love? >> Is it information? >> It's all that and something more. We can say that. You know, you describe on the way you want to describe it. In fact, but it's much more than whatever you express. Yeah. >> I have an 18-year-old who I know would benefit greatly from just small practices of quieting of his mind, but there's YouTube and TikTok and do you worry that humanity doesn't have the patience for boredom and silence anymore?
(18:07) >> In fact, my experience is the other way around. Once they get a taste of it, then they go for it. Usually people are given the idea, "Oh, it's so difficult and it has no it's no fun and it is so hard to do all this." That, you know, scares them. But when something is joyful, something is a lot of fun, and that brings you so much of serenity within you, why would not anybody go for it? And that's why now we are present in about 185 university in this country and about 75 or 85, something like that.
(18:46) Universities in this country and Europe also, about 75 university. In India, about 500 university. The university, you know, grads, they can sit together, they do some breathing, they understand the value of meditation, they go into silence, they find wow. Now, the wow experience is what everyone is looking. In every activity, what is that you look for? Sort of wow experience, some thrill, some excitement.
(19:19) A love that doesn't go away, a joy that lives whatever. And when all this can be gotten with just a few minutes of diving deep within, why would not people go for it? One more thing, you know, we convey more through our vibration than through our words. We can talk or sit and talk about love for 1 hour, but if the vibrations are not full of love, it doesn't mean anything.
(19:53) And when we are so busy, so uptight, our vibrations get so messed up and becomes start to become negative more and more. Without our knowledge, we become source of repulsiveness. And when you start being repulsive yourself, then the next thing is you feel lonely. Neither you enjoy yourself, nor you enjoy the nature, nor you enjoy anything. You start feeling lonely.
(20:27) So, I would say correct your vibrations. Make your vibrations more positive. For that, you have to invest some time. And not much, I would say. Just a few minutes every day. I usually call it the mental hygiene. >> Yeah, there's a vibrational hygiene required [laughter] for everyone. Like, it's a vibe check. >> Yeah, vibe check, right.
(20:54) >> We think about, oh, how do I feel in a certain environment? We think that it's the outside environment. We don't realize what we're contributing. >> [laughter] >> In my experience with Kundalini Yoga, we talk about clearing the space around you. And there are physical movements, right, that we make to try and incorporate that in a way that we can understand physically.
(21:15) >> If everything is vibration and we need to vibe check ourselves, do you have a simple practice that people can wake up every morning and and start with if if they haven't done this already? >> Yeah. That's why the breathing technique, the sky breathing technique. >> Yeah, can you talk a little bit about it? >> Uh you know, the whole world is uh is all rhythms.
(21:43) Everything is in some rhyme. The whole world uh our whole nature is in a sort of symphony. There's a music in it. The seasons happen, you know, the then the birds uh the the fauna, flora, the animals everything is in some rhythm. Even our body, there is an circadian rhythm in our own body, you know, uh This kriya brings uh that rhythm into make you realize the harmony. It brings the harmony in you.
(22:16) And in short period of time, it takes couple of days to learn it. Once you learn it, 10 minutes practice every day. And you practice the rhythmic breathing and meditate with that, then you find your vibrations are so good. >> Mhm. >> I become so better. What people uh you know, many we hold on to emotions and we feel, "Oh, I feel this way. I feel that way.
(22:41) " And you feel sorry for yourself and so on. And get upset with others, you can see you can change your mood. >> It's like he knows me. He knows all the things I do. >> You can change your mood. You don't feel helpless and desperate for anything because you have a technique with you. And doing the technique will help.
(23:01) And I would recommend everyone to go for that. Uh For some silence retreat. Three days, four days. Once in six months, once in a year even. That can recharge your whole body and put us back into the rhythm. You know? >> We recently heard a study this is a intense medical study that talked about energy healing reducing cancer in a petri dish.
(23:31) And I think medicine is starting to understand everything has a vibration and the physical matter responds to vibration. I'm sure this doesn't surprise you that that medicine is moving in this direction. >> We see this all the time every [laughter] day. I see so many people getting healed and At some point we even called our program a healing breath.
(23:55) But then I changed the name because then people thought only sick people this only for sick people. >> We're all sick so that's perfect. >> Nobody acknowledges that. >> [laughter] >> So >> As a child it was noted that you were very precocious in your ability to touch something, right? Bigger than >> I think I'm still a >> You still yes.
(24:20) But I I wonder if if you can give us any reflection on what you remember of the awakening that you had of an awareness of consciousness when you were small. Did it feel a particular way? >> completely out of place when I was playing with my friends and they would talk about all the soccer or football or cricket and all I would say what are they talking about? >> Wow.
(24:51) >> It was difficult. Difficult in the sense you know I I could not relate to some of the silly talks and small talks that people would say and blame each other, fight each other, and and even when two people are fighting, I would try to go in between, try to stop them fighting, and you know what happens at that time.
(25:16) >> [laughter] >> So, those are but I was fortunate enough to be in association with all very aware people at that time. My first teacher was one who lived with Mahatma Gandhi for 40 years. And he was Mahatma Gandhi's teacher. After Mahatma Gandhi's passing away, uh you know, then I was with him, you know, >> Wow.
(25:43) >> Like that, I had many saints. You know, India is a land of saints. I had interaction with many saints. So, I usually say, in my childhood, I was with all elderly people. Now, I'm growing old, I'm with all young people. >> That's what I was going to ask because a lot of people who are in touch with these parts of themselves do feel out of place.
(26:08) They feel like people don't understand them. It can be very lonely. It can be a place of isolation. And yeah, I was going to ask what your relationships were like and who you kind of connected with so that you didn't feel lonely or scared. >> No, I was not. That was never there. Never. I I could not totally relate to those small talks and fights and which normally kids have and I was not fascinated by any of the games that I would see that the whole world looks like a game.
(26:46) What a big thing in winning a game or losing a game, you know? Uh someone is lost, I would always go and uh console them. Don't cry. Don't You know, competitions are sometimes very traumatizing for kids. For young people. In schools especially. And people lose a game or they get less marks. They lose their heart.
(27:15) But they're not so much in those days, but now you can see that even more and more >> [snorts] >> in schools and colleges uh I don't know how it's in America, but in Asian countries it's a lot, you know. Children lose their marks or they lose a competition. Sports they they don't take sports with a sporty spirit.
(27:39) It's it's like a burden. Look at their faces, you know. I feel really sorry for them. Before they start the game, they are so anxious. After the game is finished, then they are all so they look not so happy. >> I think that's a lot of people's experience in life with their job, you know. >> [laughter] >> That's it.
(28:01) You know, we know we need more and more awareness about our own consciousness and how you are a bundle of beauty and joy. Not one child is born on this planet which is as a bad child, you know. As a a horrible child. Every child has come here on this planet as a bubble of enthusiasm, as a bundle of joy. Bundle of joy and enthusiasm. Somewhere in the process of life they they lose it.
(28:34) And here education can make a big difference. You know, and enabling them in in intuitive abilities, making them understand, "Hey, your consciousness is much more powerful." So, we started this intuition program for children. We said the Art Excel program, all round training in excellence from kids. So, uh they're not trained in just one thing, but just the talents.
(29:06) They're able to be more talented, more skilled, and uh better communicators. >> We have a lot of interest in intuition, extrasensory perception. Can you talk a little bit about intuition, what that means both for kids navigating and developing it, but also for adults? >> Intuition is there in everybody, but we don't nurture it.
(29:32) It's like you you all have 10 fingers, but many of them don't know how to play music from these fingers. It's a matter of training. You know, if you're trained well, you can play piano. If you're trained well, you can play guitar or flute. You know, uh So, uh it needs a little bit of training and little bit of investment in investing in time.
(29:58) And our mind is cluttered with so many thoughts, >> [snorts] >> and we are so stuck with impressions of the past or anxieties of the future, then intuition, though it is there, doesn't work. So, you have to cleanse that mind. You have to calm that mind. When you become steady, become you realize you're hollow and empty, then intuition takes over.
(30:28) Intuition is a very shy guy, you know. He doesn't push forward and come forward. It stays in the back. So, when the when the ways are given to to it, it just uh manifests. I would say people have to uh do some practices. Meditation, breathing exercises, some silence and with a proper step-by-step guidance, you can do that.
(30:56) >> Where do you think intuition comes from? Because it could be and this I'm sure there are other options, but it it could be that the universe is communicating with us and that the whole collective universe has an intelligence and a plan. It could be a higher self that exists somewhere. >> You are right. You got it.
(31:17) It's the same. >> It's the same. >> It's the same. Higher self is nothing but this one. I would say you're the causal body of ours. You know, we have three bodies, the physical, the subtle and the causal body. So, when we are awake, we are using more of the physical body. When we are sleeping, physical body is gone to rest, but the causal body is functioning.
(31:42) The the the subtle body, that's when you get dreams. But in deep sleep, we are in touch with the causal body, which is just pure energy and intelligence. And consciously experiencing it. That is meditation. Wherein uh you feel centered everywhere and circumference nowhere. A sense of if you want to describe it.
(32:10) But basically very difficult to describe. >> And is this intuition leading us with a purpose? Like do we believe that each one of us is here for some divine dance? Is it all random? >> First of all, the question, what is the purpose of my life itself is very significant. This question indicates the maturity of the intellect.
(32:34) You are awake. You want to see what is the um purpose of my life? Where am I going? I would say you just list out what is not the purpose of life. Go by negation. Because, you know, the secret is one who knows what's the purpose of life will not tell you. If he's compassionate, he or she. >> Why is that? >> Because this very question is a vehicle for you to move forward.
(33:02) >> It has to be answered individually. >> Yeah, that will clear your ways. Every time you ask the question, "What is the purpose of my life?" All that which is not the purpose will start falling apart. So, I don't want you to go to San Francisco and uh take away your vehicle from you, right? I I don't want you to go to San Francisco without your vehicle, right? So, when you want to go there to really find out what the purpose of your life, go by negation.
(33:35) Go what's not the purpose of your life. And it'll become so obvious. It'll hit like a thunder uh to you and and you will see that everything is happening naturally. >> Is the Michelangelo, when he was asked how he created, you know, David, he said, "I took away everything that wasn't David." Right? So, that reminds me of that.
(34:01) You take away everything that's not and what's left over. You'll have to find out. >> Key and I know. You don't know. >> And she's [clears throat] not going to tell me now. >> That's right. >> [laughter] >> I I think a lot of people are being pulled in every different direction because there's so much external influence, because we're looking outside of ourselves for these answers.
(34:22) >> with it all and go all over and you know, >> and see which one resonates. >> Ah, no, no. You will see none of those resonates. Yeah. And you your next experience then you will sit quiet and you know, you will you will explore. >> This kind of work you've taken all over the world and it's had such a tremendous impact.
(34:46) Can you talk a little bit about this legacy of introducing a kind of meditation and a kind of perspective that has the potential to heal war, strife, conflict. Can you talk about that so people can understand this kind of global impact of your work? >> Oh, yeah. You know, as I said earlier, you know, it's all about vibrations, not what you say, but what who you are.
(35:13) Makes a difference. You know, when we dissolve this thing in Colombia with the FARC and the press asked me, "What is that you told them that they agreed to come for uh ceasefire and agreed for peace talk?" That uh uh the US has tried and the European Union has tried and EU has tried, everybody has tried. They did not budge.
(35:42) I said, "It's not what we talked, but who spoke." That you know, the con- the cause of conflict you will see is lack of trust and breakdown of communication. And it's basically both are part of human consciousness, human mind. When I first went to visit the FARC guerrillas then Commodores Commodores in the beginning they were I said, "No, don't want to talk.
(36:13) " We don't know they refused to even meet with me because I look spiritual and religious in my attire. Perhaps if I had a jeans and wore a cap it would have been a different thing, but my appearance they said, "No, we don't want to meet with him." But then I gave a talk in the Hawaii University of Havana where they were all then uh they they sent uh two of their person to check me out.
(36:43) And they sat and they did a short meditation. Then they said, "Uh you know, uh someone from India they known uh everywhere, so uh they came to they agreed to to make a short story short, they agreed to talk with me, meet with me. But they were trying to convince me I should convince Colombian government to stop firing on them.
(37:08) But then uh they agreed for ceasefire and peace negotiation. They agreed to take the Gandhian principle of non-violence. And we have done some similar work with uh the inner-city gang members in this city also, Los Angeles. We have done Cities for Peace where we brought together the police force and the inner-city gang members.
(37:37) They both did breathing meditation. They sat together. And they hugged each other and you know, they understand there is a humanness in all of us. And that a gap got bridged. We did it in many cities and most interesting was uh in uh Denmark. Where we had the drug peddlers and gang members and 6,000 of them totally changed, you know.
(38:08) They they are now uh doing social work, helping people out. So the Danish government has opened all the prisons. They asked us to work in all our prisons. So as I [snorts] said, you know, every human being is born in the planet with all the positive qualities. Somewhere they that not nurtured properly. We have many such conflicts in India as we have um been working I I give my the credit for this goes to all of our teachers who benefited themself and they started to teach as volunteers.
(38:51) They go there and go and help people from their trauma from and the broken hearts and then, you know, disappointments and all that. We have also been doing this for uh counseling and conflicts like Ayodhya, you might have heard about the 500-year-old conflict in India about the temple and mosque problem. There also, you know, I met about 1,200 Imams individually and then both sides, Hindu and Muslim sides.
(39:28) They all agreed to have a peaceful resolution. >> Amazing. >> So, we need more um bridge makers. There are many who come and can break the bridges, but there are few who need to make the bridges. I think that is needed today in the world. And thanks to my teachers, we have 38,000 teachers there healing people in this way around the world.
(40:00) 108 countries, 180 countries. >> What's your vision for the next wave of humanity? >> I would expect everyone to have their own vision and go on with that. Be more aware, more conscious. Bring science and spirituality together. In fact, they are together. You only simply have to realize it. See, people who are stuck in that spiritual thing and um I would ask them to be more scientific.
(40:34) And people who are very much uh close-minded being a scientist, this is very important. Many scientists are very cynical. >> Mhm. Skeptic- Skepticism is okay, >> but cynicism limits your uh growth. I would ask them to be be open-minded to explore the avenue of consciousness. >> In that realm, we have picked a lot of uh scientists who have seen unbelievable experiences of what would be seen as uh almost unbelievable, right? Like >> Get it.
(41:11) >> it telepathy or premonitions. And we've spoken to people who have had near-death experiences and come back with the ability to have precognitive dreams. Can you tell us a little bit about some of the unbelievable things that you have experienced being around the world? >> You know, when when you are stuck so much in in the five senses and visible world, you think this is all unbelievable.
(41:38) >> [laughter] >> And it appears to be something oh shocking, but you know. >> But it's not. >> The kid in the street, street kids, for them a sweet is something that's very am- wow, but a sweet shop owner will just feel it okay, this is one lakh. You understand what I mean? >> Yeah. >> That means, you know, this is if there is in our living, I usually say if there is no miracle, you must wonder why there is no miracle.
(42:11) Cuz you know, these are a part of our life and consciousness is the most amazing uh thing in the world. And it's most ancient and yet it is ever new. And so and that is everybody's. It's not It doesn't belong to somebody, some culture, or some tradition, or some practices even. It It goes beyond the practices. So, whichever way you get access to it, that is what is important.
(42:45) And that is available today. You know? And we are in a very uh fortunate time when in technology has aided this possibility. And scientists are having these experiences, not that scientists in the past had never had. They must have had, but they have ignored it. >> And or they were ridiculed or they were >> Ridiculed they Yeah, ridiculed they.
(43:12) They silenced it and I really congratulate the scientists who who can acknowledge this thing and they wrote about it. They came out together. Even then there are some skeptics even today for those scientists. They say, "Oh, they must be hallucinating something." >> We spoke to uh a medical doctor who by her own statement said that in the past she would have been a part of a team to institutionalize someone who experienced what she experienced.
(43:41) And what was the experience she had is her uh husband passed and she had after-death communication with the husband. She saw him. She received messages from him. She could hear him clearly, more than just an internal voice, as though he was there. And she said in the past that would have been a hallucination. But all of a sudden she began to see that the veil between this world and anyone who has gone is wasn't what she thought it was.
(44:13) >> At the same time I would say they don't hallucinations also happen. So, it's a very thin line. It's a very heavy thin line between hallucinating and or psychedelic experience or the real experience, you know. So, in the in the tradition of yoga we call them branti darshan. Branti darshan is your own mind gets to the different forms and appears in front of you.
(44:45) Uh you know, it's one of the nine obstacles. Uh in the path of self-liberation meditation. Uh one is branti darshan that you get into a sort of these experiences. So, >> It's a spiritual psychosis. >> spiritual psychosis But, that should not deny the existence of the true experience. >> How do we know which one is which? >> It's just like mirage.
(45:14) Mirage appears like water, but when you think this is mirage and you think real water is also mirage. >> Yeah. >> Then you are at loss. You see? So, that's where you need a proper guidance in in the spiritual path. Experts guidance is needed especially in that level. Then you can say, "Okay, look what you had is a more more an imagination.
(45:41) " >> This notion that some people have access to communicating, let's say, with people who have passed. How would you describe death in terms of consciousness, in terms of our awareness? >> I I usually give an example. Look, there is a TV screen. When you switch off the TV screen, nothing shows anymore. But that doesn't mean the vibrations are already the waves are not there.
(46:14) The frequencies are there. Waves are there. Our body is all like a TV screen. But you are there beyond this. And you if not in this tele- in this TV, another monitor will appear there. >> So that presupposes reincarnation. >> I'm going to give a talk about death and beyond soon here in LA sometime later. >> But it's it's a most fascinating uh thing to you know explore, especially with a scientific angle to it.
(46:52) You know, uh I would say you are very ancient at the same time you are very new. Like your body for example. Every atom in your body is very old. Is as as old as this planet Earth. And yet new cells are being born every day. Not just let forget about the conscious the subtle invisible consciousness. Even the physical body is not solid as you think it is a solid. It is fluid.
(47:25) It's running. So, um that is what the ancient people Rishis Can you imagine? Thousands of years ago they cognized these things. They said about this. I mean, uh it's mind-boggling that how the ancient philosophy the knowledge of Vedanta and then the modern they just uh authenticate each other. >> And we're seeing that more and more with people who have had near-death experience with no formal education, no exposure to these ancient religions come back
(48:08) with all this information that exists back in the ancient text. >> Yeah, right. >> Where does it come from? It's just being given to them. >> It's there. You You only get an access to it. You just plug into it. >> I wonder if you could give us any wisdom about love and the power of love in relationships and in how we relate to each other.
(48:30) >> Take it for granted there is love and it is eternal. Never question the love of your loved one because then you are putting the burden to prove proof of from the other person. And it is something so subtle, so serene, so uh strong deep within you. And its expression may change. Just the fact that uh you know, your partner is not looking at you or looking somewhere else, don't think there is no love in it.
(49:05) And for someone to prove their love for their partner becomes a big headache. Isn't it? >> Yeah. >> How do I prove? How do I convince? Yeah, you are the love of my life. Just saying you are honey, you are my honey every day doesn't help. I mean So, first thing is do not question the love whether it is there or not.
(49:30) It may get overshadowed sometime, but then it will reveal on its own. Number one. Second is whenever you feel that the love is diminishing know that it's just the play of time. And wait, give enough time for that to happen, change. >> Beautiful. Thank you. >> Man and wife for woman, This usually I give them. I'm not for you maybe.
(49:56) Maybe it will be useful for someone else. Men should not step on the emotions of women. At the same time women should not step on the ego of a man. >> [laughter] >> Men women should nurture the ego of a man. You know, women says, "You are stupid. You are dull. You have no brains." That's it. He will break up. I mean he will break down.
(50:27) So, she should be very skillful in handling the ego. And men don't step on her emotions. Emotional issue especially concerning her family. You know, uh she may complain to you about her family, but if you complain, she will change the party. She will change the wheel, you know. So, I would advise usually to them, when it comes to that, silence is best.
(50:56) Okay? Okay, all the best. >> Thank you so [music] much. Thank you. Thank you. >> It's Mayim Bialik's Breakdown. She's going to break it down for you. She's got a neuroscience [music] PhD or two. It's a breakdown. And now she's going to break down. It's a breakdown. She's going to break it down.
Author Name:Dr. Mayim Bialik
Youtube Channel Url:https://www.youtube.com/@MayimBialik
Youtube Video URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XavvAZyRSMM
Title: Only 10% of Reality Is Physical: How Your Intuition Reveals the Rest | Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Author Name: Dr. Mayim Bialik
Description: Watch episodes & bonus content ad-free on https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/
What if consciousness is more fundamental than the physical world? What happens to consciousness when we die? Could quieting the mind, strengthening intuition, and moving beyond our five senses reveal a deeper reality?
In this episode of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader, meditation teacher, and founder of The Art of Living) explores consciousness, spirituality, reality, intuition, meditation, inner peace, and humanity's future.
Gurudev shares what decades of spiritual practice have taught him about the spiritual and physical worlds, including his view that matter represents only a fraction of consciousness. He explains how uniqueness and universality can coexist, where intuition comes from, and how we can open ourselves to experiences beyond the five senses.
CONSCIOUSNESS, REALITY & THE SUPERNATURAL
What happens to consciousness after death? Can humans access something beyond ordinary sensory perception? How can we distinguish spiritual experiences and miracles from psychosis? Gurudev explores these questions while explaining how our understanding of consciousness may be much larger than we realize. He also discusses energy healing, how it may work, and why protecting consciousness, especially among young people, is increasingly important amid pressure, distraction and uncertainty.
MEDITATION, STILLNESS & MENTAL HYGIENE
Gurudev explains how moments of stillness can transform our mental state and shares mental hygiene practices to raise energy, improve well-being, and reconnect with ourselves. He also explains his Sky Breathing technique and how conscious breathing can bring greater rhythm and harmony with the world around us.
INTUITION, PURPOSE & YOUR INNER WORLD - Where does intuition come from, and can you develop it?
Gurudev shares insights into strengthening intuition, discovering your life's purpose, reconnecting with your inner child, and cultivating a playful, joyful spirit. He reflects on recognizing his spiritual calling as a child and feeling different from other children. He explains why losing our natural sense of play, wonder, and joy can have profound consequences, and why reconnecting with that part of ourselves matters.
WHY THE WORLD IS BECOMING MORE VIOLENT
Gurudev discusses growing pressure around the world and why it can lead to increased violence. He shares his vision for the next wave of humanity and explains why protecting consciousness, cultivating inner peace, and living beyond fear and division may be essential to humanity's future.
Gurudev explains why he wants his legacy to emphasize his role as a peacemaker, including his work facilitating a peace dialogue that contributed to a ceasefire in Colombia's civil war, a conflict that claimed more than 220,000 lives over 52 years. He also discusses his work with gang members and efforts to transform cycles of violence.
LOVE, RELATIONSHIPS & SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Gurudev explores wisdom hidden within relationships and explains how cynicism can limit spiritual growth. He discusses why openness, curiosity, joy and wonder may be essential to experiencing life fully.
THE WEST IS WAKING UP TO SPIRITUALITY
Gurudev reflects on changes he has witnessed in the West surrounding meditation, yoga, mindfulness, spirituality, and consciousness.
But where does this movement go next, and what does humanity need now?
This conversation explores consciousness, intuition, energy healing, peace, human transformation and its meaning for humanity's future!
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00:00 - Intro
03:59 - Meditation Goes Mainstream
07:36 - Mental Hygiene Habits
10:59 - Consciousness & Reality
13:42 - Spherical Thinking
15:24 - Silence Beyond Logic
19:35 - Vibration & Vibe Check
21:14 - Sky Breath Technique
23:19 - Energy Healing Stories
24:06 - Childhood Awakening
27:59 - Joyful Education
29:12 - Training Intuition
30:56 - Higher Self & Finding Purpose
34:39 - Meditation for Peace
40:03 - Science Meets Spirit
44:13 - Hallucination vs Insight
45:40 - Death Beyond Body
48:20 - Love & Relationships Advice
---
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Theme Song Written, Produced, and Performed by Ed Robertson. Mixed by Kenny Luong.
Transcript:
(00:00) Intuition is there in everybody, but we don't nurture [music] it. That's a very delicate balance of navigating from what you know to the unknown. >> How do we get [music] there? >> Many scientists are very cynical. I would ask them to be open-minded to explore the avenue of consciousness. Consciousness [music] is the most amazing thing in the world.
(00:23) It's most ancient and yet it is ever new. >> Medicine is starting to understand everything [music] has a vibration and the physical matter responds to vibration. >> We see this all the time. I have seen so many people getting healed. We even called our program a healing breath. >> Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a globally recognized humanitarian and spiritual leader whose teachings have transformed millions of lives.
(00:49) >> It's 45 years since I'm bringing this knowledge around the world. People thought it is for people who want to have an exclusive life. Now people know yoga, meditation, spiritual practices are an integral part of wellness. Just a few [music] minutes every day. I call it the mental hygiene.
(01:08) What is the purpose of my life? This indicates the maturity of the intellect. Where am I going? This very question [music] is a vehicle for you to move forward. >> What's your vision for the next wave of humanity? >> [music] >> Hi, I'm Mayim Bialik. >> And I'm Jonathan Cohen. >> And welcome to our breakdown. Today, we're going to be speaking to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
(01:39) And this is a man who has changed the lives of millions of people by turning all of the struggles that we encounter in life into something that can be celebrated and can can literally change the course of not just lives, but the world itself. Gurudev displayed an early inclination towards wisdom.
(02:05) Um at age four, he was already identified for his exceptional abilities. By age 17, he graduated with a degree in physics, bridging the worlds of science and spirituality. And in 1981, he founded the Art of Living, which is a charitable and educational organization. He had 10 days of silence that he um experienced and emerged with a transformative breathing technique that he, over the past 44 years, has used to expand his vision into 180 countries, fostering values of love, compassion, and service.
(02:42) And today, the Art of Living is a movement with 37,000 active program leaders and more than 1 million volunteer peace leaders all over the world. >> We had the opportunity to sit and meet with him at his center in Los Angeles. This is a rare time where we're on site and really get an amazing opportunity to talk with him about telepathy, about intuition, about near-death experience, and about consciousness and healing.
(03:06) >> Also, Gurudev um has provided rehabilitation for victims and perpetrators of violence. He He's done incredible, incredible work. He's helped former terrorists, militant insurgents, gang members renounce violence and pursue peace in Kosovo, in Iraq, in India, and beyond. He's really, really a special, special man.
(03:27) And we were so thrilled to get 1 hour of time with him. He receives thousands of visitors when he is at his center here in America. And we literally were surrounded by an energy in the building of people who want to learn from him, to sit with his wisdom. And we're so thrilled we got to have uh time with him.
(03:46) So, kind of an unusual episode because we filmed it in his center, and we can't wait to share with you the wisdom of Gurudev. And so, welcome to our breakdown with Gurudev. >> Break [singing] it down. >> We wanted to start by um asking you to reflect a little bit on the significant changes in the conversation around meditation, around yoga.
(04:11) You know, the West has really seized upon so many ideas um and in many ways they've been marketed and you know, taken up in a lot of ways that have complexity. I wonder if from a positive perspective, can you give some constructive criticism about maybe what the West is missing in this kind of renaissance as it were for us of this kind of thought, intention, behavior.
(04:40) >> It's 45 years since I'm bringing this knowledge around the world. If you ask me to reflect back how it was 45 years back, um uh there was a lot of prejudice against uh Eastern philosophy, but let's say and mainly mainly meditation, yoga. People thought that is for someone who is out there or are only for people of California, not the rest of America.
(05:08) >> [laughter] >> Of course, uh California was a little ahead because there was a lot of awareness about meditation, yoga here. But generally, people thought it is for people who want to have a reclusive life. Not for the mainstream. That was the narrative. But over the years, that has changed. Now people know uh yoga, meditation, spiritual practices are an integral part of wellness.
(05:41) And especially today when uh the mental health issues are so big in the world. I see there is no other alternative than this uh spiritual practices. Because you know, medicines you can rely on but for a temporarily for a short period of time, but on long run it has lots of side effects on you.
(06:07) And then they stop working. For example, let's take insomnia or depression. You know, how much Prozac someone can take? You know, after a while that stops working. Then people go to uh psychedelic drugs and the thing is though they get some relief momentarily in the long-term the damage cocaine and other things have caused to their physical body and make them miserable and their families destroyed is something very very uh uh alarming.
(06:44) So, there is the quest. But still in pockets there is some resistance. There is uh you know, the fear of unknown is there. Oh, I'm just it's a field which is not known to me. And I'm not familiar with. I don't want to do anything not so familiar or popular. Uh that type of prejudice uh happening there. Though it's much less, but still uh still it is there quite a bit.
(07:15) I would say we need these practices, yoga, meditation, spiritual practices and use uh introduced even in schools and colleges. Education system should take care of the container, the consciousness of knowledge. You know? I I would say the consciousness is the container of knowledge. And you are You're taking care of the mind and you're just uh stuffing them with information.
(07:46) And you know, it there comes a tipping point for um for kids and for even um other young adults. And so, we find the violence in society on rise. >> It does feel that there's more pressure. You know, kids at a younger age experience more pressure. It used to be that we would grow up in our neighborhoods, and but now with everyone feeling interconnected, the more information we have, the more pressure it feels.
(08:19) And so, the importance of these tools, as you say, the protection of our consciousness, the vessel that's holding our consciousness, is more important, and it's not taught anywhere. You know, if most people have to receive a crisis before they start to practice. >> Yeah. Yeah. The as- the preventative aspect of mental health is not being attended.
(08:41) When the crisis comes, only then, you know, um uh we are taken by shock and uh But I think uh people are getting more and more of at least these days they are talking openly without the uh you know, um any prejudice about that. Stigma about mental health. >> I think also the importance of getting it early is that when there's the crisis, the western mentality is, "I want something that's very quick.
(09:14) I want to be able to like solve this problem." Therefore, we go to the pill versus having a practice. We don't have the background to to rein- like when you have to learn the practice in a crisis, it's harder than if you learn it as a tool throughout your whole life. >> Yeah.
(09:33) Yeah. Yeah. You know, it's it has to be like um a habit in life. Like you brush your teeth, call it dental hygiene. You don't say I won't brush my teeth, you know? Like that man Some of these habits, exercises, these are habits are ingrained in our uh our self, then it becomes easy for one to take care of the mental health crisis.
(09:56) And one more thing I would say, today, you know, West is no longer West and East is no longer East. The earth is round. Um the social media and everything has made the world almost homogeneous everywhere. I find uh the same skepticism in the East also, a lot of faith and uh insight into the the consciousness, the outer world uh in the West also.
(10:21) So, um that sort of division which was earlier there, very obvious and very visible, it's not there so much now. Especially in the educated classes. Of course, uh people have not gone through uh their high school education, they live in the small uh areas, they they have their own world. But even there, the cell phones and um you know, social media has become really um has become a big influencer people to feel connected to the whole world.
(11:00) >> People often go to spiritual practices for mental health, for for um regulation, but also to explore the nature of reality. And we speak to a lot of physicists who have had awakening experiences or who are trying to use physics to understand the nature of reality. You brought up the word consciousness.
(11:21) Can you talk about what your personal practice has shown you about the nature of reality? >> In the Oriental uh philosophy, there there is no division between the spiritual and the physical. Actually, spiritual is an extension of spirit physical. And physical is one part of the consciousness. As it is the this one-tenth of the consciousness per se is the physical manifest world.
(11:52) The rest is unmanifest, you know, the the Vedas themselves say that, you know, um what you see is just one-tenth of uh the consciousness. Consciousness solidified is matter. And matter in its finest realm, finest subtlest form is consciousness. So, uh there is no conflict between physics and the material so-called material science and the spiritual uh science realm actually.
(12:28) So, um actually, we are in in the oriental philosophy, we count 36 elements. Uh the first is earth, then water, then fire, ether, air, then mind, intellect, memory, ego, like that it goes on. The subtler you go, you get into that field of vibrations. It's just vibration, we call spanda. Everything is just vibrations.
(12:59) And the general vibration and special vibrations. General vibration is all permeating. Special vibrations are like you, me, we are all special vibrations. Which are unique. So, the uniqueness and universalities coexisting uh is what the spiritual knowledge is all about. So, everyone is very unique, but everyone is nothing but one part of a big ocean.
(13:34) Everyone is a wave of emotion. In this sense, oneness. On the other sense, there is uniqueness. Often, people get so confused. When you say oneness, then the uniqueness must be completely gone. The paradox here is uniqueness coexists with the oneness. And this you cannot imagine from a linear thinking. Linear thinking always wants the black and white.
(14:08) You cannot say there is something more than that. You know, what I call a spherical thinking is where there is no beginning, no end, but just an appearance. You know, uh Fortunately, today science is uh looking in this direction. It also says that Big Bang theory is a question thing, you know. Big Bang is you're always looking for a beginning point, where there is none.
(14:39) I give a simple example for uh common people when they ask me, "Where did it all begin?" I tell them, "Now, tell me where Which is the starting point of a tennis ball?" Tell me what's the beginning of a tennis ball. A sphere begins every point and ends in every point. So, that spherical thinking takes you beyond the linear time framework that we are used to thinking and we get stuck with that.
(15:09) Consciousness is from that spherical thinking uh level. That's where you can see that you can uh the linear uh thing there becomes obsolete. >> If matter is let's say 1/10 of consciousness, right? In a form that we can understand or try and understand, how would you best describe the other 9/10? >> indescribable >> [laughter] >> That's not fair.
(15:42) >> So description depends on your knowledge and your logic. Your logic depends on your knowledge, right? And your knowledge is limited. So your logic is also limited. And you need to explore to the unknown. You can't just be stuck with what you already know. But you can't dispense what you already know also.
(16:13) So that's a very delicate balance of navigating from what you know to the unknown. And that's what silence does to you. >> I was going to ask, how do we get there? >> [laughter] >> And the mind becomes so still and very silent. You're connected to more dimension than this one what you think you know. Yeah.
(16:39) And that's why whatever is in the universe is always you know we have heard from childhood you people have been saying that what is in the universe is in the in a in an atom as well. Whatever is in the universe is present in the human body. But through meditation, silence, you know, that becomes a reality. >> For someone who has heard a lot but maybe hasn't experienced this connection with silence, the ability to or or the experience of experiencing more, can you try to even like explain or describe what does that even mean to for someone to go quiet and to experience other
(17:22) dimensions of information? >> We can do multiple choice. Is it bliss? Is [laughter] it peace? Is it love? >> Is it information? >> It's all that and something more. We can say that. You know, you describe on the way you want to describe it. In fact, but it's much more than whatever you express. Yeah. >> I have an 18-year-old who I know would benefit greatly from just small practices of quieting of his mind, but there's YouTube and TikTok and do you worry that humanity doesn't have the patience for boredom and silence anymore?
(18:07) >> In fact, my experience is the other way around. Once they get a taste of it, then they go for it. Usually people are given the idea, "Oh, it's so difficult and it has no it's no fun and it is so hard to do all this." That, you know, scares them. But when something is joyful, something is a lot of fun, and that brings you so much of serenity within you, why would not anybody go for it? And that's why now we are present in about 185 university in this country and about 75 or 85, something like that.
(18:46) Universities in this country and Europe also, about 75 university. In India, about 500 university. The university, you know, grads, they can sit together, they do some breathing, they understand the value of meditation, they go into silence, they find wow. Now, the wow experience is what everyone is looking. In every activity, what is that you look for? Sort of wow experience, some thrill, some excitement.
(19:19) A love that doesn't go away, a joy that lives whatever. And when all this can be gotten with just a few minutes of diving deep within, why would not people go for it? One more thing, you know, we convey more through our vibration than through our words. We can talk or sit and talk about love for 1 hour, but if the vibrations are not full of love, it doesn't mean anything.
(19:53) And when we are so busy, so uptight, our vibrations get so messed up and becomes start to become negative more and more. Without our knowledge, we become source of repulsiveness. And when you start being repulsive yourself, then the next thing is you feel lonely. Neither you enjoy yourself, nor you enjoy the nature, nor you enjoy anything. You start feeling lonely.
(20:27) So, I would say correct your vibrations. Make your vibrations more positive. For that, you have to invest some time. And not much, I would say. Just a few minutes every day. I usually call it the mental hygiene. >> Yeah, there's a vibrational hygiene required [laughter] for everyone. Like, it's a vibe check. >> Yeah, vibe check, right.
(20:54) >> We think about, oh, how do I feel in a certain environment? We think that it's the outside environment. We don't realize what we're contributing. >> [laughter] >> In my experience with Kundalini Yoga, we talk about clearing the space around you. And there are physical movements, right, that we make to try and incorporate that in a way that we can understand physically.
(21:15) >> If everything is vibration and we need to vibe check ourselves, do you have a simple practice that people can wake up every morning and and start with if if they haven't done this already? >> Yeah. That's why the breathing technique, the sky breathing technique. >> Yeah, can you talk a little bit about it? >> Uh you know, the whole world is uh is all rhythms.
(21:43) Everything is in some rhyme. The whole world uh our whole nature is in a sort of symphony. There's a music in it. The seasons happen, you know, the then the birds uh the the fauna, flora, the animals everything is in some rhythm. Even our body, there is an circadian rhythm in our own body, you know, uh This kriya brings uh that rhythm into make you realize the harmony. It brings the harmony in you.
(22:16) And in short period of time, it takes couple of days to learn it. Once you learn it, 10 minutes practice every day. And you practice the rhythmic breathing and meditate with that, then you find your vibrations are so good. >> Mhm. >> I become so better. What people uh you know, many we hold on to emotions and we feel, "Oh, I feel this way. I feel that way.
(22:41) " And you feel sorry for yourself and so on. And get upset with others, you can see you can change your mood. >> It's like he knows me. He knows all the things I do. >> You can change your mood. You don't feel helpless and desperate for anything because you have a technique with you. And doing the technique will help.
(23:01) And I would recommend everyone to go for that. Uh For some silence retreat. Three days, four days. Once in six months, once in a year even. That can recharge your whole body and put us back into the rhythm. You know? >> We recently heard a study this is a intense medical study that talked about energy healing reducing cancer in a petri dish.
(23:31) And I think medicine is starting to understand everything has a vibration and the physical matter responds to vibration. I'm sure this doesn't surprise you that that medicine is moving in this direction. >> We see this all the time every [laughter] day. I see so many people getting healed and At some point we even called our program a healing breath.
(23:55) But then I changed the name because then people thought only sick people this only for sick people. >> We're all sick so that's perfect. >> Nobody acknowledges that. >> [laughter] >> So >> As a child it was noted that you were very precocious in your ability to touch something, right? Bigger than >> I think I'm still a >> You still yes.
(24:20) But I I wonder if if you can give us any reflection on what you remember of the awakening that you had of an awareness of consciousness when you were small. Did it feel a particular way? >> completely out of place when I was playing with my friends and they would talk about all the soccer or football or cricket and all I would say what are they talking about? >> Wow.
(24:51) >> It was difficult. Difficult in the sense you know I I could not relate to some of the silly talks and small talks that people would say and blame each other, fight each other, and and even when two people are fighting, I would try to go in between, try to stop them fighting, and you know what happens at that time.
(25:16) >> [laughter] >> So, those are but I was fortunate enough to be in association with all very aware people at that time. My first teacher was one who lived with Mahatma Gandhi for 40 years. And he was Mahatma Gandhi's teacher. After Mahatma Gandhi's passing away, uh you know, then I was with him, you know, >> Wow.
(25:43) >> Like that, I had many saints. You know, India is a land of saints. I had interaction with many saints. So, I usually say, in my childhood, I was with all elderly people. Now, I'm growing old, I'm with all young people. >> That's what I was going to ask because a lot of people who are in touch with these parts of themselves do feel out of place.
(26:08) They feel like people don't understand them. It can be very lonely. It can be a place of isolation. And yeah, I was going to ask what your relationships were like and who you kind of connected with so that you didn't feel lonely or scared. >> No, I was not. That was never there. Never. I I could not totally relate to those small talks and fights and which normally kids have and I was not fascinated by any of the games that I would see that the whole world looks like a game.
(26:46) What a big thing in winning a game or losing a game, you know? Uh someone is lost, I would always go and uh console them. Don't cry. Don't You know, competitions are sometimes very traumatizing for kids. For young people. In schools especially. And people lose a game or they get less marks. They lose their heart.
(27:15) But they're not so much in those days, but now you can see that even more and more >> [snorts] >> in schools and colleges uh I don't know how it's in America, but in Asian countries it's a lot, you know. Children lose their marks or they lose a competition. Sports they they don't take sports with a sporty spirit.
(27:39) It's it's like a burden. Look at their faces, you know. I feel really sorry for them. Before they start the game, they are so anxious. After the game is finished, then they are all so they look not so happy. >> I think that's a lot of people's experience in life with their job, you know. >> [laughter] >> That's it.
(28:01) You know, we know we need more and more awareness about our own consciousness and how you are a bundle of beauty and joy. Not one child is born on this planet which is as a bad child, you know. As a a horrible child. Every child has come here on this planet as a bubble of enthusiasm, as a bundle of joy. Bundle of joy and enthusiasm. Somewhere in the process of life they they lose it.
(28:34) And here education can make a big difference. You know, and enabling them in in intuitive abilities, making them understand, "Hey, your consciousness is much more powerful." So, we started this intuition program for children. We said the Art Excel program, all round training in excellence from kids. So, uh they're not trained in just one thing, but just the talents.
(29:06) They're able to be more talented, more skilled, and uh better communicators. >> We have a lot of interest in intuition, extrasensory perception. Can you talk a little bit about intuition, what that means both for kids navigating and developing it, but also for adults? >> Intuition is there in everybody, but we don't nurture it.
(29:32) It's like you you all have 10 fingers, but many of them don't know how to play music from these fingers. It's a matter of training. You know, if you're trained well, you can play piano. If you're trained well, you can play guitar or flute. You know, uh So, uh it needs a little bit of training and little bit of investment in investing in time.
(29:58) And our mind is cluttered with so many thoughts, >> [snorts] >> and we are so stuck with impressions of the past or anxieties of the future, then intuition, though it is there, doesn't work. So, you have to cleanse that mind. You have to calm that mind. When you become steady, become you realize you're hollow and empty, then intuition takes over.
(30:28) Intuition is a very shy guy, you know. He doesn't push forward and come forward. It stays in the back. So, when the when the ways are given to to it, it just uh manifests. I would say people have to uh do some practices. Meditation, breathing exercises, some silence and with a proper step-by-step guidance, you can do that.
(30:56) >> Where do you think intuition comes from? Because it could be and this I'm sure there are other options, but it it could be that the universe is communicating with us and that the whole collective universe has an intelligence and a plan. It could be a higher self that exists somewhere. >> You are right. You got it.
(31:17) It's the same. >> It's the same. >> It's the same. Higher self is nothing but this one. I would say you're the causal body of ours. You know, we have three bodies, the physical, the subtle and the causal body. So, when we are awake, we are using more of the physical body. When we are sleeping, physical body is gone to rest, but the causal body is functioning.
(31:42) The the the subtle body, that's when you get dreams. But in deep sleep, we are in touch with the causal body, which is just pure energy and intelligence. And consciously experiencing it. That is meditation. Wherein uh you feel centered everywhere and circumference nowhere. A sense of if you want to describe it.
(32:10) But basically very difficult to describe. >> And is this intuition leading us with a purpose? Like do we believe that each one of us is here for some divine dance? Is it all random? >> First of all, the question, what is the purpose of my life itself is very significant. This question indicates the maturity of the intellect.
(32:34) You are awake. You want to see what is the um purpose of my life? Where am I going? I would say you just list out what is not the purpose of life. Go by negation. Because, you know, the secret is one who knows what's the purpose of life will not tell you. If he's compassionate, he or she. >> Why is that? >> Because this very question is a vehicle for you to move forward.
(33:02) >> It has to be answered individually. >> Yeah, that will clear your ways. Every time you ask the question, "What is the purpose of my life?" All that which is not the purpose will start falling apart. So, I don't want you to go to San Francisco and uh take away your vehicle from you, right? I I don't want you to go to San Francisco without your vehicle, right? So, when you want to go there to really find out what the purpose of your life, go by negation.
(33:35) Go what's not the purpose of your life. And it'll become so obvious. It'll hit like a thunder uh to you and and you will see that everything is happening naturally. >> Is the Michelangelo, when he was asked how he created, you know, David, he said, "I took away everything that wasn't David." Right? So, that reminds me of that.
(34:01) You take away everything that's not and what's left over. You'll have to find out. >> Key and I know. You don't know. >> And she's [clears throat] not going to tell me now. >> That's right. >> [laughter] >> I I think a lot of people are being pulled in every different direction because there's so much external influence, because we're looking outside of ourselves for these answers.
(34:22) >> with it all and go all over and you know, >> and see which one resonates. >> Ah, no, no. You will see none of those resonates. Yeah. And you your next experience then you will sit quiet and you know, you will you will explore. >> This kind of work you've taken all over the world and it's had such a tremendous impact.
(34:46) Can you talk a little bit about this legacy of introducing a kind of meditation and a kind of perspective that has the potential to heal war, strife, conflict. Can you talk about that so people can understand this kind of global impact of your work? >> Oh, yeah. You know, as I said earlier, you know, it's all about vibrations, not what you say, but what who you are.
(35:13) Makes a difference. You know, when we dissolve this thing in Colombia with the FARC and the press asked me, "What is that you told them that they agreed to come for uh ceasefire and agreed for peace talk?" That uh uh the US has tried and the European Union has tried and EU has tried, everybody has tried. They did not budge.
(35:42) I said, "It's not what we talked, but who spoke." That you know, the con- the cause of conflict you will see is lack of trust and breakdown of communication. And it's basically both are part of human consciousness, human mind. When I first went to visit the FARC guerrillas then Commodores Commodores in the beginning they were I said, "No, don't want to talk.
(36:13) " We don't know they refused to even meet with me because I look spiritual and religious in my attire. Perhaps if I had a jeans and wore a cap it would have been a different thing, but my appearance they said, "No, we don't want to meet with him." But then I gave a talk in the Hawaii University of Havana where they were all then uh they they sent uh two of their person to check me out.
(36:43) And they sat and they did a short meditation. Then they said, "Uh you know, uh someone from India they known uh everywhere, so uh they came to they agreed to to make a short story short, they agreed to talk with me, meet with me. But they were trying to convince me I should convince Colombian government to stop firing on them.
(37:08) But then uh they agreed for ceasefire and peace negotiation. They agreed to take the Gandhian principle of non-violence. And we have done some similar work with uh the inner-city gang members in this city also, Los Angeles. We have done Cities for Peace where we brought together the police force and the inner-city gang members.
(37:37) They both did breathing meditation. They sat together. And they hugged each other and you know, they understand there is a humanness in all of us. And that a gap got bridged. We did it in many cities and most interesting was uh in uh Denmark. Where we had the drug peddlers and gang members and 6,000 of them totally changed, you know.
(38:08) They they are now uh doing social work, helping people out. So the Danish government has opened all the prisons. They asked us to work in all our prisons. So as I [snorts] said, you know, every human being is born in the planet with all the positive qualities. Somewhere they that not nurtured properly. We have many such conflicts in India as we have um been working I I give my the credit for this goes to all of our teachers who benefited themself and they started to teach as volunteers.
(38:51) They go there and go and help people from their trauma from and the broken hearts and then, you know, disappointments and all that. We have also been doing this for uh counseling and conflicts like Ayodhya, you might have heard about the 500-year-old conflict in India about the temple and mosque problem. There also, you know, I met about 1,200 Imams individually and then both sides, Hindu and Muslim sides.
(39:28) They all agreed to have a peaceful resolution. >> Amazing. >> So, we need more um bridge makers. There are many who come and can break the bridges, but there are few who need to make the bridges. I think that is needed today in the world. And thanks to my teachers, we have 38,000 teachers there healing people in this way around the world.
(40:00) 108 countries, 180 countries. >> What's your vision for the next wave of humanity? >> I would expect everyone to have their own vision and go on with that. Be more aware, more conscious. Bring science and spirituality together. In fact, they are together. You only simply have to realize it. See, people who are stuck in that spiritual thing and um I would ask them to be more scientific.
(40:34) And people who are very much uh close-minded being a scientist, this is very important. Many scientists are very cynical. >> Mhm. Skeptic- Skepticism is okay, >> but cynicism limits your uh growth. I would ask them to be be open-minded to explore the avenue of consciousness. >> In that realm, we have picked a lot of uh scientists who have seen unbelievable experiences of what would be seen as uh almost unbelievable, right? Like >> Get it.
(41:11) >> it telepathy or premonitions. And we've spoken to people who have had near-death experiences and come back with the ability to have precognitive dreams. Can you tell us a little bit about some of the unbelievable things that you have experienced being around the world? >> You know, when when you are stuck so much in in the five senses and visible world, you think this is all unbelievable.
(41:38) >> [laughter] >> And it appears to be something oh shocking, but you know. >> But it's not. >> The kid in the street, street kids, for them a sweet is something that's very am- wow, but a sweet shop owner will just feel it okay, this is one lakh. You understand what I mean? >> Yeah. >> That means, you know, this is if there is in our living, I usually say if there is no miracle, you must wonder why there is no miracle.
(42:11) Cuz you know, these are a part of our life and consciousness is the most amazing uh thing in the world. And it's most ancient and yet it is ever new. And so and that is everybody's. It's not It doesn't belong to somebody, some culture, or some tradition, or some practices even. It It goes beyond the practices. So, whichever way you get access to it, that is what is important.
(42:45) And that is available today. You know? And we are in a very uh fortunate time when in technology has aided this possibility. And scientists are having these experiences, not that scientists in the past had never had. They must have had, but they have ignored it. >> And or they were ridiculed or they were >> Ridiculed they Yeah, ridiculed they.
(43:12) They silenced it and I really congratulate the scientists who who can acknowledge this thing and they wrote about it. They came out together. Even then there are some skeptics even today for those scientists. They say, "Oh, they must be hallucinating something." >> We spoke to uh a medical doctor who by her own statement said that in the past she would have been a part of a team to institutionalize someone who experienced what she experienced.
(43:41) And what was the experience she had is her uh husband passed and she had after-death communication with the husband. She saw him. She received messages from him. She could hear him clearly, more than just an internal voice, as though he was there. And she said in the past that would have been a hallucination. But all of a sudden she began to see that the veil between this world and anyone who has gone is wasn't what she thought it was.
(44:13) >> At the same time I would say they don't hallucinations also happen. So, it's a very thin line. It's a very heavy thin line between hallucinating and or psychedelic experience or the real experience, you know. So, in the in the tradition of yoga we call them branti darshan. Branti darshan is your own mind gets to the different forms and appears in front of you.
(44:45) Uh you know, it's one of the nine obstacles. Uh in the path of self-liberation meditation. Uh one is branti darshan that you get into a sort of these experiences. So, >> It's a spiritual psychosis. >> spiritual psychosis But, that should not deny the existence of the true experience. >> How do we know which one is which? >> It's just like mirage.
(45:14) Mirage appears like water, but when you think this is mirage and you think real water is also mirage. >> Yeah. >> Then you are at loss. You see? So, that's where you need a proper guidance in in the spiritual path. Experts guidance is needed especially in that level. Then you can say, "Okay, look what you had is a more more an imagination.
(45:41) " >> This notion that some people have access to communicating, let's say, with people who have passed. How would you describe death in terms of consciousness, in terms of our awareness? >> I I usually give an example. Look, there is a TV screen. When you switch off the TV screen, nothing shows anymore. But that doesn't mean the vibrations are already the waves are not there.
(46:14) The frequencies are there. Waves are there. Our body is all like a TV screen. But you are there beyond this. And you if not in this tele- in this TV, another monitor will appear there. >> So that presupposes reincarnation. >> I'm going to give a talk about death and beyond soon here in LA sometime later. >> But it's it's a most fascinating uh thing to you know explore, especially with a scientific angle to it.
(46:52) You know, uh I would say you are very ancient at the same time you are very new. Like your body for example. Every atom in your body is very old. Is as as old as this planet Earth. And yet new cells are being born every day. Not just let forget about the conscious the subtle invisible consciousness. Even the physical body is not solid as you think it is a solid. It is fluid.
(47:25) It's running. So, um that is what the ancient people Rishis Can you imagine? Thousands of years ago they cognized these things. They said about this. I mean, uh it's mind-boggling that how the ancient philosophy the knowledge of Vedanta and then the modern they just uh authenticate each other. >> And we're seeing that more and more with people who have had near-death experience with no formal education, no exposure to these ancient religions come back
(48:08) with all this information that exists back in the ancient text. >> Yeah, right. >> Where does it come from? It's just being given to them. >> It's there. You You only get an access to it. You just plug into it. >> I wonder if you could give us any wisdom about love and the power of love in relationships and in how we relate to each other.
(48:30) >> Take it for granted there is love and it is eternal. Never question the love of your loved one because then you are putting the burden to prove proof of from the other person. And it is something so subtle, so serene, so uh strong deep within you. And its expression may change. Just the fact that uh you know, your partner is not looking at you or looking somewhere else, don't think there is no love in it.
(49:05) And for someone to prove their love for their partner becomes a big headache. Isn't it? >> Yeah. >> How do I prove? How do I convince? Yeah, you are the love of my life. Just saying you are honey, you are my honey every day doesn't help. I mean So, first thing is do not question the love whether it is there or not.
(49:30) It may get overshadowed sometime, but then it will reveal on its own. Number one. Second is whenever you feel that the love is diminishing know that it's just the play of time. And wait, give enough time for that to happen, change. >> Beautiful. Thank you. >> Man and wife for woman, This usually I give them. I'm not for you maybe.
(49:56) Maybe it will be useful for someone else. Men should not step on the emotions of women. At the same time women should not step on the ego of a man. >> [laughter] >> Men women should nurture the ego of a man. You know, women says, "You are stupid. You are dull. You have no brains." That's it. He will break up. I mean he will break down.
(50:27) So, she should be very skillful in handling the ego. And men don't step on her emotions. Emotional issue especially concerning her family. You know, uh she may complain to you about her family, but if you complain, she will change the party. She will change the wheel, you know. So, I would advise usually to them, when it comes to that, silence is best.
(50:56) Okay? Okay, all the best. >> Thank you so [music] much. Thank you. Thank you. >> It's Mayim Bialik's Breakdown. She's going to break it down for you. She's got a neuroscience [music] PhD or two. It's a breakdown. And now she's going to break down. It's a breakdown. She's going to break it down.
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