Silence & Celebration

Excerpts from discourse by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Silence and Celebration - They appear to be completely opposite. Celebration means lot of noise, a lot of excitement, going completely crazy. But, silence is completely in the opposite dimension, where you are so quiet, so tranquil, so serene, so deep. And we can have both these aspects in us, simultaneously and harmoniously.

There is story from the puranas. Once upon a time, an asura (demon) did a lot of meditation and received a boon from Brahma that whatever he should so touch, should turn into ashes. Hence, his name became Bhasmasura, meaning the one who could reduce into ashes whatever he touched. When he got this boon, he went around touching everyone, immediately charring them to death. The devas (Gods) approached Shiva, who said, ‘Well, I only know to destroy, I do the same job as the asura. I don’t know how to protect you. Let’s go to Vishnu.’