Next Level Soul podcaster Alex Ferrari speaks with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar about quantum physics, meditation, spirituality, multiple realities, and more in this interview. Read some of their conversation here:

Quantum physics and spirituality

Alex: How do spirituality and quantum physics intersect? 

Gurudev: Quantum physics says everything is a wave function and vibration. 

And spirituality says absolutely the same thing but in a different language. It says everything is vibration. 

There are two different types of vibrations: special vibration and ordinary vibration. Matter is a special vibration. The ordinary vibration is space, which is non-matter or energy and not perceivable. 

How opposites coexist

Alex: How do you explain that opposites, like destiny and free will, for instance, are happening all at once?

Gurudev: If you fly above the ocean and look down, the waves appear still.  

But when you come down, you see that every moment, there’s a new wave. It’s both classical chemistry and quantum physics. Both are correct.

For example, the inside of this house is all wood. When it catches fire, it will all burn. That's true.

But then, the chair isn’t the table, and the table isn’t the door. The door isn’t the floor. The floor isn’t the ceiling. They’re different. If you say the chair must be the door, I say it’s not so. 

In the same way, there’s free will and destiny. Your height is your destiny, and your weight is your free will. 

Once a pie is done baking, you can’t undo that. But if it isn’t sweet enough, you can put whipped cream on it. You can adjust the flavors with various toppings and ingredients.

Life is a combination. Knowing what’s destiny and what’s free will is wisdom. How we accept destiny and play with free will is up to us. 

Multiple realities

Alex: How do spiritual dimensions align with multiple realities?

Gurudev: The spiritual dimension accepts and reveals multiple realities.

First, we must know that there are three dimensions: waking, dreaming, and sleeping. We don't understand these because we usually ignore dreams and deep sleep. 

When we pay attention, then we have the fourth state of consciousness, which is none of these. This dimension is part of meditation. 

If we meditate regularly, inner calmness, serenity, and witness consciousness exist. Whether you’re sleeping, dreaming, or anything, you get into another dimension.

Then, we have access to other subtle energies and subtle worlds. Our brain is like a frequency analyzer. We can use it the way we want to. 

Power of meditation

Alex: What power does meditation have in this life and reality?

Gurudev: The code of conduct for a meditation teacher is not to tell students that they have to experience this or that. That would be a hindrance. 

If I told them, they would try to anticipate an experience. Those efforts can stop them from going deep within. 

I can only recommend meditation and list the benefits. What should happen during meditation is better not said.

Seeing beyond illusion starts with saying, “I’m not my emotions, which are changing all the time. I’m not these thoughts or even my body. Everything in my body is changing.” 

Once you recognize the changing world, you realize you can only recognize changes when you acknowledge your unchanging reference point. 

Slowly, you become attuned to that reference point. Afterward, there are no questions.

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Editor’s note: Watch the entire conversation where Gurudev and Alex discuss many other topics, including enlightenment, the subtle and causal bodies, near-death experiences, and more. 

To experience Gurudev’s ancient secret to modern well-being, SKY Breath Meditation, register for the Art of Living Part 1 course. SKY has helped millions of people worldwide improve all aspects of their lives.