--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In life you can either have a guru or…" description: "\"In life you can either have a guru or misery, you cannot have both.\" — Sri Sri Ravi Shankar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90d/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-942_guru_in-life-you-can-either-have-a-guru-or-mi_2984241.png" --- # In life you can either have a guru or misery, you cannot… ![“In life you can either have a guru or misery, you cannot have both.” quote by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90d/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-942_guru_in-life-you-can-either-have-a-guru-or-mi_2984241.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90d/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-942_guru_in-life-you-can-either-have-a-guru-or-mi_2984241.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90d/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-942_guru_in-life-you-can-either-have-a-guru-or-mi_2984241.png) > “In life you can either have a guru or misery, you cannot have both.” [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One must choose either a guiding teacher (guru) or live in misery; both cannot coexist. **In simple terms:** Choose guidance over misery. Key Takeaway Seek a mentor. Themes spirituality choice guidance Mood calm thoughtful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - career crossroads - spiritual seeking Key Concepts mentor‑mentee dynamics inner peace Questions to Reflect On - What does a guru mean to you? - Can you find guidance without a guru? A Different Perspective May imply dependency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guru/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) ## Related quotes > [“Life with the Guru - there is no manual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hochberg/life-with-the-guru-there-is-no-manual/) [Art Hochberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hochberg/) > [“He was born in a middle class family with struggles in life. He had adverse surroundings and many difficulties in his life. Some moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/he-was-born-in-a-middle-class-family-with-struggles-in-life-he-had/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [“Life is my guru, constantly teaching me what I need to know. Placing exactly who and what I need in my life to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-koulouris/life-is-my-guru-constantly-teaching-me-what-i-need-to-know-placing/) Melanie Koulouris > [Don't wait for a Guru. Your life is your Guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/don-t-wait-for-a-guru-your-life-is-your-guru/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) > [In India, there's a way of seeing life as a cosmic play. It's called Lila. I can watch my life, and I can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/in-india-there-s-a-way-of-seeing-life-as-a-cosmic-play-it-s-called/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [“It could manifest and grow like seeds planted throughout your life, so that life itself becomes the guru. The idea is that life becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/it-could-manifest-and-grow-like-seeds-planted-throughout-your-life-so/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [A Guru is there to show you what you are. You are not different from Me. Whatever I am, that is what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/a-guru-is-there-to-show-you-what-you-are-you-are-not-different-from/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [We do yoga to make life more beautiful.. to stop misery from entering our world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/we-do-yoga-to-make-life-more-beautiful-to-stop-misery-from-entering/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [When you share your misery, it will not diminish. When you fail to share your joy, it diminishes. Share your problems only with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/when-you-share-your-misery-it-will-not-diminish-when-you-fail-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [A miserable person says, 'Let's be positive today!' It's reassuring themselves that things won't get worse. A truly positive person is not thinking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cervantes/a-miserable-person-says-let-s-be-positive-today-it-s-reassuring/) [Andrew Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cervantes/) > [I have always wanted to branch off and become a fashion guru. I want to share my artistic views with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/i-have-always-wanted-to-branch-off-and-become-a-fashion-guru-i-want/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) > [The real guru is the pure intellect within; and the purified, deeply aspiring mind is the disciple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinmayananda-saraswati/the-real-guru-is-the-pure-intellect-within-and-the-purified-deeply/) [Chinmayananda Saraswati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinmayananda-saraswati/) > [I used to study in Guru Nanak college and there we had only seven girls out of 4,300 boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/i-used-to-study-in-guru-nanak-college-and-there-we-had-only-seven/) [Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/) > [I have no disciples, being myself an aspirant after discipleship and in search of a guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-no-disciples-being-myself-an-aspirant-after-discipleship-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The wisdom or the essence of Guru Tattwa is a balance. Like when you maintain a plant, if you do not give it water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/the-wisdom-or-the-essence-of-guru-tattwa-is-a-balance-like-when-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) ## More by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Feeling and experiencing infinity within this finite body, living timelessness within the time span of life - this is what you are here for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/feeling-and-experiencing-infinity-within-this-finite-body-living/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Pleasure simply brings more craving, but the problem is that we try to get contentment through pleasure. True contentment can only come through service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/pleasure-simply-brings-more-craving-but-the-problem-is-that-we-try-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Meditate. A few minutes of deep meditation will connect you with the ocean of intuition deep within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/meditate-a-few-minutes-of-deep-meditation-will-connect-you-with-the/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Your desire for perfection is the cause of anger. Leave room for imperfection. Perfection in action is almost impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/your-desire-for-perfection-is-the-cause-of-anger-leave-room-for/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [I have received and I want to give. This is the path to happiness and contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/i-have-received-and-i-want-to-give-this-is-the-path-to-happiness-and/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [The signs of good health are an intellect which is free from inhibition and arrogance, a heart which is full of compassion is healthy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-signs-of-good-health-are-an-intellect-which-is-free-from/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [When attention is given to the spiritual aspect of one's life, it brings a sense of belongingness, and responsibility, compassion and caring for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/when-attention-is-given-to-the-spiritual-aspect-of-one-s-life-it/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [why can't we control our anger? because we love perfection. make a little room for imperfection in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/why-can-t-we-control-our-anger-because-we-love-perfection-make-a/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [The best form of service is to uplift someone's state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-best-form-of-service-is-to-uplift-someone-s-state-of-mind/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [When you share your misery, it will not diminish. When you fail to share your joy, it diminishes. Share your problems only with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/when-you-share-your-misery-it-will-not-diminish-when-you-fail-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [A successful man has the following qualities: A smile that doesn't die; patience; fearless mind; love; self- confidence; love for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/a-successful-man-has-the-following-qualities-a-smile-that-doesn-t-die/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [In meditation, healing can happen. When the mind is calm, alert and totally contented, then it is like a laser beam - it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/in-meditation-healing-can-happen-when-the-mind-is-calm-alert-and/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [If something is not working today, then something better is in store. This surety should be in our mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/if-something-is-not-working-today-then-something-better-is-in-store/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Celebrate Life. Care for others and share whatever you have with those less fortunate than you. Broaden your vision, for the whole world belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/celebrate-life-care-for-others-and-share-whatever-you-have-with-those/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) [Explore all 324 Sri Sri Ravi Shankar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) ## More Guru quotes > [The wisdom or the essence of Guru Tattwa is a balance. Like when you maintain a plant, if you do not give it water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/the-wisdom-or-the-essence-of-guru-tattwa-is-a-balance-like-when-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [I have no disciples, being myself an aspirant after discipleship and in search of a guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-no-disciples-being-myself-an-aspirant-after-discipleship-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I used to study in Guru Nanak college and there we had only seven girls out of 4,300 boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/i-used-to-study-in-guru-nanak-college-and-there-we-had-only-seven/) [Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/) > [The real guru is the pure intellect within; and the purified, deeply aspiring mind is the disciple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinmayananda-saraswati/the-real-guru-is-the-pure-intellect-within-and-the-purified-deeply/) [Chinmayananda Saraswati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinmayananda-saraswati/) > [I have always wanted to branch off and become a fashion guru. I want to share my artistic views with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/i-have-always-wanted-to-branch-off-and-become-a-fashion-guru-i-want/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) > [All worldly pursuits have but one unavoidable and inevitable end, which is sorrow; acquisitions end in dispersion; buildings in destruction; meetings in separation; births…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/all-worldly-pursuits-have-but-one-unavoidable-and-inevitable-end/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [I do not think, like people say, that I am a guru or I know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-jhunjhunwala/i-do-not-think-like-people-say-that-i-am-a-guru-or-i-know-everything/) [Rakesh Jhunjhunwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-jhunjhunwala/) > [Even to the sage who's doing Sahaja Samadhi, the great guru, I'd say: "Hey buddy, you know, I like the robes and everything, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/even-to-the-sage-who-s-doing-sahaja-samadhi-the-great-guru-i-d-say/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I was full of a hot, powerful sadness and would have loved to burst into the comfort of tears, but tried hard not to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-was-full-of-a-hot-powerful-sadness-and-would-have-loved-to-burst/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > ['Lakshmi' is a dance film, a musical that deals with the emotional bond between the guru and his sishya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabhu-deva/lakshmi-is-a-dance-film-a-musical-that-deals-with-the-emotional-bond/) [Prabhu Deva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabhu-deva/) > [I now dream of working with Ilaiyaraaja, who is considered to be A.R. Rehman's guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-kakkar/i-now-dream-of-working-with-ilaiyaraaja-who-is-considered-to-be-a-r/) [Sonu Kakkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-kakkar/) > [I'm not a military general, a business guru, not a philosopher or author. It's only me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/i-m-not-a-military-general-a-business-guru-not-a-philosopher-or/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [Keep growing. Stay awake. Beware of gurus. Keep a low overhead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-larkin/keep-growing-stay-awake-beware-of-gurus-keep-a-low-overhead/) [Joan Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-larkin/) > [In spiritual life, one must conduct one's whole life under the guidance of the guru. Only one who executes his spiritual life under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/in-spiritual-life-one-must-conduct-one-s-whole-life-under-the/) [A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/) > [Phony gurus make themselves objects of adoration and worship. Real spiritual teachers aren't interested in adoration and worship. They like respect only because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/phony-gurus-make-themselves-objects-of-adoration-and-worship-real/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Browse all 505 Guru quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guru/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In life you can either have a guru or misery, you cannot have both.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/in-life-you-can-either-have-a-guru-or-misery-you-cannot-have-both/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Guru" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/in-life-you-can-either-have-a-guru-or-misery-you-cannot-have-both/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90d/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-942_guru_in-life-you-can-either-have-a-guru-or-mi_2984241.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90d/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-942_guru_in-life-you-can-either-have-a-guru-or-mi_2984241.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90d/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-942_guru_in-life-you-can-either-have-a-guru-or-mi_2984241.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In life you can either have a guru or misery, you cannot have both.” — Sri Sri Ravi Shankar", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In life you can either have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/in-life-you-can-either-have-a-guru-or-misery-you-cannot-have-both/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/in-life-you-can-either-have-a-guru-or-misery-you-cannot-have-both/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```