Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
Be like the Christmas tree; evergreen, shining, full of lights and full of gifts. So everyone here is a Christmas tree. A Christmas tree only gives, it doesn’t take anything for itself. It just gives. So go with that thought, I’m a Christmas tree!
Come summer or winter or fall, it never falls, never springs. All through the year it’s green and in winter it gives presents.
I want to see everyone smiling and happy. Just create waves of happiness, everything else is irrelevant. In the world things happen, some pleasant, some unpleasant. Some things happen the way you want it, some things don’t happen the way you want. Bundle it all and put it aside. Nothing can really take away your happiness.
When you have had a good meditation, and when the prana is high, what do you feel? Nothing matters! Right? Nothing really matters! This is what we need to know. When you know nothing matters, you are happy. Happiness is our very nature. What overshadows this happiness is, ‘I want this', or, 'I want that'. ‘I want something’, this is what puts away happiness. When you say nothing what so ever matters, immediately freedom is there. Just keep this in mind, that’s all. Nothing, what so ever will matter!
In the world there is always some imperfection, some pleasant things, some unpleasant things. Some things happen the way you want it to happen, some things the way you don’t want it to happen; it’s part of creation. When nothing matters to you then things happen the way you want. 90% things would automatically happen, or whatever is happening that is what you would want.
In this whole drama, in this whole universe of multitude, of diversity, this complex game of life and society is inevitable. Things come and fleet away, and everything that comes and goes has a purpose. A thorn and a soft rose petal, they both have their purpose. It boils down to our first point, opposite values are complimentary.
Don’t worry about anything. No need to be scared or worried about anything.
Though Jesus says in his last moment, ‘God have you forsaken me?’ He immediately realized that no, he has not forsaken me. But that pain sometimes brings that question, ‘Oh God, have you forsaken me?’
So what is the essence? Nothing matters! You’ll say, 'I don’t worry about the world but I worry about my connection to the path, to the knowledge, to God and all that'. I tell you, it can never go! That will not go. You don’t worry about it at all. Do you get it? Your connection with the Divine can never go.