Q: Sri Sri, Where was God on September 11^th? 

Sri Sri: Where was God when the Columbine killings occurred? Where was God when the Mississippi River flooded? Where was God when there was a tornado in Florida or the earthquake in Gujarat? Why are you asking only about September 11^th? 365 days a year calamitous events happen in the world.  Whether man-made or natural, calamity is part of life on this planet.  We cannot question the existence of Divinity over an event, pleasant or unpleasant. 

A faith based on God preventing calamities will be weak. Faith is that which stands the test of events.  Many of the Christian saints and apostles were persecuted or executed.  If they had questioned, “Where is God? Where is God?” faith would have had no place in their lives.  Faith is something much bigger, much more fundamental to life than the events that happen throughout life.

God is not a toy of your security or a concept for your convenience.  God is love.  God is the substratum of this universe, the basis of this existence.  God is the space in which all things happen.

Q: In the face of such evil, isn’t it heard not to question whether there is a God? 

Sri Sri: If you have to question whether something is there or not, you must have a concept about it.  And if events shake that concept, then the concept will have to change.  If you know that God is love and you see that there is love in the world, then you won’t question God.  But if you think God exists for your security, then when you are in trouble, when you have problems, this question will certainly arise in your mind.  And when you have a limited understanding of your life-not knowing that the life energy in you is eternal, is indestructible, is a continuum-then, too, you may question whether there is a God or not. 

See that God is all-pervading consciousness that alone exists, that nothing else exists.  You never question whether atoms exist or not; you know atoms exist. Let that which is the basis of an atom, that field, that space in which everything exists, everything blossoms, grows and perishes, that basic substratum of this creation-let that be your understanding of God.  Then you won’t ever ask if God exists. 

Q: What attitude should we have toward the terrorists? 

Sri Sri : I would say we need to be compassionate toward the terrorists.  They are completely mistaken. They are mistaken as to their religious teachings, they have a mistaken idea of freedom, and they are mistaken in what they want to achieve in life because they are inflicting suffering on others and also on themselves.  So they need compassion, they need understanding. 

Directing hatred and anger towards terrorists will not change or improve them.  We need to bring transformation in them.  For this we need patience, endurance, and compassion.
 

Q: Your position is that the key response to the situation in the world today is to educate people in human values, and until we have done that in all corners of the world, you say we will not be safe.  Is that an achievable goal? 

Sri Sri : Definitely until a few hundred years ago, there were tribal people who did not wear clothes.  Today, in the most remote parts of the world, people wear clothes. People have been educated in understanding numbers, in using electricity, in using a telephone.  All the people in the world have been educated in these things. 

If we can teach people how to count, we can teach them how to live.  It is definitely possible.  Educating people in human values is not a difficult thing because the values are already present.  They are our nature.  By nature we are friendly, cooperative, compassionate.  If we are unfriendly, it is because of stress and tension.  There are meditation and breathing techniques, which can be practiced to reduce stress.
 

Q: What then are the practical steps we can take to lift up human values in the world? 

Sri Sri  : If a person identifies himself with a race, religion, culture or nationality, that’s it. He remains in that position and he will fight for that and die for that and others will die with him.  Instead, give him a broader perspective.  First and foremost we are part of the Divine.  Our second identity is that we are human beings.  The third identity we have a is that we are male or female.  The fourth identity is that we belong to a particular nation.  The fifth identity is that we belong to a particular religion.  If the right order of identity its understood, then human values are honored. But if I identify myself with a religion or nationality, forgetting that first I am part of the Divine and that I am a human being, then I bring misery onto myself and onto other also.
 

Q: If you had the ear of the whole world for one minute, what would your message be? 

Sri Sri : Life is sacred.  Celebrate life. Care for others and share whatever you have with those less fortunate than you.  Broaden your vision, for the whole world belongs to you.
 

Q: Guruji, how can we control daydreams? 

Sri Sri : Dream in the night. What is daydreaming? You have a desire but you do not have a the faith that you can achieve a your desire that is what you call daydreaming.  You can control daydreaming by having a strong goal and believing in it.  Like the scientist who wanted to go to the moon and kept dreaming about if-for him it was the goal of this life but for other it was daydreaming about if-for him it was the goal of his life but for others it was daydreaming.  Either you drop that it will not happen or you believe. 

When you do not know, your potentiality, you have no faith and confidence in your dream.  You have faith and confidence in your dream; it’s no longer a daydream.