I’m in my 20’s. My friends head to the bar in the evenings – hanging out and drinking till late in the night. Why do we depend so much on alcohol?
Sri Sri: When an element of masti (unfettered enjoyment) is there, then you feel a certain connection with the world or universe; you enjoy the experience of losing your consciousness. People drink to experience a high; to lose themselves and forget everything. Alcohol cheats your brain into giving you a temporary feeling of elation. Alcohol can make you forget everything but the elevation you experience is only momentary. But when this elevation is already there; when your are already in masti with bhakti (devotion), you do not need a bottle to give you a high. You are already high and that celebration is so genuine. People attending a satsang often experience this sort of high. Satsang is neither serious nor boring; it’s a different kind of party and people really enjoy the party.
How can young people be persuaded to celebrate without alcohol? No Guruji is hovering around them to guide them this.
Sri Sri: Drinking is rampant among today’s youth. Most of them drink because of peer pressure; I would even say its mob mentality. The young need to understand that it’s just escapism and it’s harming their health.
We need a revolution of sorts to change things. A group of young people need to come forward to help others quit the unhealthy habit. They need to convince their friends that there are other options available that could give a high as well as bring genuine happiness. The options could include community service, music, and even some kind of adventure – anything that can take one towards bliss.
It’s a question of shifting habits from that which is unhealthy to what is healthy – and have fun. A group of your friends should gather together and resolve to avoid that which only gives temporary elation and move towards that which offers a much safer high.
Those who party often may drink regularly. Perhaps they really like it but you might notice most look bored. It’s just that they do it because they don’t know what else they can do. They drink only because someone else is drinking, they get led by a group activity, it’s almost like mob psychology, where nobody knows what they are doing, but they move with the flow nevertheless.
(H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is the founder of the Art of Living)
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