Q: Gurudev, in the Upanishads, we usually find references of
Samit Pani (ritual of offering dry sticks to the Master).
Gurudev, could you please tell us, what is the significance of
this? Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:Samit is the stick which is ready to
catch fire. Here, it is a symbol of being ready, so that when
the knowledge is given, you just grab it. Samit Pani has many
meanings. One is, ‘Be Attentive’; second is, ‘Ready to Give
Hundred Percent’. You know when Samit (dry stick) is put in the
fire it burns totally without any residue. So, the meaning of
Samit Pani is, ‘Be prepared to absorb the knowledge and live it.
Give your hundred percent.’ In earlier days, they used to say,
‘When you go to a Guru, go with something.’ The Guru is going to
give you knowledge, so what you can do is, exchange it with a
little Give something in exchange, because knowledge flows with
an exchange. Samit also means, ‘Go (to the master) with
Stability.’ A student needs some stability and endurance. If
there is a little difficulty, an