Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
The search of every being is for joy. Whatever the pursuit—material or spiritual, in movies or in meditation, in bars or in temples, in money, fame, or power—it is ultimately joy that one seeks. And the Divine is nothing but pure joy.
The Divine is existence, consciousness, and bliss. Bliss is joy in its highest form—free from feverishness, pain, and suffering. And Krishna is that absolute joy, that absolute bliss. He is mischievous, and mischief is a sign of unadulterated happiness. Nothing could ever rob Krishna of His joy.
Mischief flows naturally from joy. Krishna teased, lied, and playfully troubled those around Him. People would go to complain, but in His presence, their anger would melt into laughter. Before pure joy, all complaints vanish, and life reveals itself as play.
But how was Krishna so joyful? Was his life a bed of roses? Not at all. His life was filled with challenges, chaos, and constant upheaval. Yet, His smile enchanted all who saw it. His smile was not born of comfort, but of awareness. Anyone can smile when life is smooth, but to smile amidst uncertainty is a true achievement. On the battlefield, amid confusion and war, Krishna remained centered, offering the highest wisdom to His friend. That depth of clarity, in such a moment, is simply awe-inspiring.
Joy is the dance of life, and Krishna’s life itself was that eternal dance. Even His stance reflects His philosophy—flute in hand, one foot rooted firmly on the ground, the other lifted lightly in the air. You can dance only when one foot is grounded. Buried in the mud, you cannot dance. Hovering above the earth, you cannot dance. Dance happens only when you are rooted in the world, yet free enough to rise above it.
Krishna is the blossoming of all possibilities within us. His divine dance drew everyone to Him—humble gopis and austere saints alike. It is Divinity that is truly attractive, the energy that pulls everything towards it.
Krishna is the formless center present everywhere. Every attraction, from anywhere, arises only from Him. Yet people often mistake the outer shell for the essence. The moment they try to cling to the shell, Krishna withdraws His spirit, leaving only emptiness and tears.
Be wise like Radha—never be tricked by Krishna. Radha held Him in her heart completely. Her world was filled with Krishna, so He could never leave her. When you realize that every attraction is Krishna, you become Radha. You become centered.
