Question: Swamiji, while praying or hearing devotional songs, why the tears is coming automatically? But if I want to cry, in my mind it won’t. How and why this is happening? I will be grateful to u, if you are giving me the answer.
Answer: Sometimes the emotions are high that tears flows. You need not have to attach much importance to it. Continue to pray as your spiritual Guru has guided you. Be a little rational.
Question: While I am meditating, I saw the light is being taken out from my heart. I had similar dreams that, someone is cutting my head and light is being poured out from my head instead of blood. I also dreamed twice that, I am flying up and up through rocks. I have no control over it. In the end there is light all over. First time I dreamt of it. There was someone scary standing with red suit in the light. I felt so scared. I started praying the god then I woke up. Second time I was praying through out the dream. I didn’t see the red suit person, then I woke up. I don’t understand all these meanings. I was hoping may be you could help me sir.
Ps: I don’t meditate regularly. Whenever I feel like it, I do it
Answer: Don’t meditate between eyebrows. Meditate in the heart. It is better to consult some experts in person.
Question: I am unable to perform Sandhya Vandanam thrice a day due to work timings. Is it sufficient to perform it just once in the morning? What is the solution?
Till what time it can be performed in the evening in case of delay? What is the allowable delay for the Pratah Sandhya?
Answer: The tradition prescribes the Sandhya Vandana to be performed thrice a day namely, morning, evening & noon. The noon ritual is known as Maadhyanikha. Most of the people who are working or studying in schools/colleges will not be able to perform in the noon. They may do only morning and evening. If for some reason, it is not possible to perform morning and evening, some do only once i.e. in the morning after taking bath. If even this is not possible, a person can perform the japa of Gayatri Mantra as much as possible. The Gayatri Mantra is the core of the whole of Sandhya Vandana while other aspects relate to more of rituals. It would be more beneficial if one does it knowing its meaning. In case you do not know the meaning well, there are books available in our Ashrama and else where on the subject. Sri Ramakrishna says that Sandhya merges in Gayatri and Gayatri merges in OM.
The main purpose of Sandhya Vandana etc is to think of the Lord at least during some part of the day. It helps us to develop our concentration, will power and character.
Question: I would like to join the Sarada Math. But is it possible to undergo the wandering days first? Is it safe for women to wander in these days? I would like to wander in the Himalayas. Is it a good idea? I have always been tempted to explore the unfathomable beauties of the Himalayas. Is it worth? Are there really great saints who are immortal and appear when the student is ready? Please reply.
Answer: Your intentions are good. But it needs certain modifications in our outlook depending upon social conditions. However, please write to Sarada Math, which is the parallel wing of the Ramakrishna Math for the ladies, who will be able to throw more light in the matter.
The email address of Sarada Math is srismath@vsnl.com and the website is http://www.srisaradamath.org/
Question: A priest in a temple told me that we should apply Kumkuma and Vibhuti to our forehead before worshiping or doing Japa. What is the use of applying such things to forehead ? Why is a person following Bramhacharya (celibacy) advised to take cold bath ? In the books – ‘Youth and Vitality’ by Swami Purushottamananda, and ‘Youth Arise Awake & Know Your Strength’ by Swami Srikanatananda, we are advised to have good food habits. What should be eaten and what should be avoided ?
Answer: Vibhuti or Kumkuma or Chandana is offered to the deity uttering several (108, or 1008) spiritually charged mantras. So it is considered holy. It is kept in a box and devotees apply it on their forehead everyday thinking that it is the prasada of the deity. That is one of the ways of remembering the Lord or Divine Mother. When you apply, it signifies that you belong to a particular community, say Shakta or Shaiva or Vaishnava. These are the main ideas. There may be other ideas also.
A Brahamacharin (celibate) is asked to take cold water bath because that keeps the nerves cool. Anything hot excites the nerve. Cold water bath is a part of Tapasya or austerity which a Brahmachari is expected to practise. Cold water bath helps him to practise Brahmacharya. Eat that food which does not excite your nerves. Eat that food which is Satvik and avoid Tamasik food. If you read Bhagavad Gita (16th Chapter), what food to be taken and what should be avoided is mentioned.
Question: Why the Gods do not allow us to know the secret of birth and death, as it is related to our life ? Why is this process of birth and death, which is very painful ?
Answer: We request you to read the book “Life after death” by Swami Abhedananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.
In “Katha Upanishad”, Nachiketa has already asked this question to the God of Death (Yama). So, please read the book “Katha Upansihad” and also “Raja Yoga”. When you become a yogi of the highest order, you can concentrate your mind on your past lives, and problems like birth and death, and know the secret for yourself. There is nothing so secret kept behind the earnest seeker. Struggle hard and you can know it yourself. My simple question to you is – do you give out all your inner secrets to anybody and everybody? Are you so open? Is everything transparent with you?
The scriptures say that we identify ourselves with our body-mind-complex and think ourselves to be as the mere body-mind-complex which is essentially inert; the body is gross whereas the mind is subtle, but both are inert only. This is happening due to our ignorance about our Real Nature which is Pure Consciousness. Once a person realizes his Real Nature through the spiritual practices and God’s grace, he himself will automatically be able to know the secret of the birth and death and also he will not be bound in the chain of birth and death; he will then become free – the Liberated, Mukta Purusha. The ignorance again is due to our innumerable desires, Samskaras or the impressions in the mind; these Samskaras are stored embedded in the depth of the mind acquired through all our actions happened in different births. Each action / thought we do leaves behind an impression in our mind; these impressions are powerful and determines one’s propensities or to say, the character. Through spiritual practices one attains purity and these impressions get lost or loose their power and then the inner light flashes revealing the Real Nature of the person. In spiritual life, the grace of God and Guru is essential. Again, the God likes the play of this world going. So, He keeps certain things in secret. That is His wish. But, He listens to the sincere prayers and is moved by the spiritual practices of His devotee and thus He compassionately loosens the bonds of the devotee and frees him from the chain of birth and death. Hope this will clear your doubts to some extent.
Response to the Above: The creation of God is excellent. Endless human sufferings too excellent. Is it called frolics of God? If somebody does harm to you, don’t you call it sadism? Please answer me.
Answer to the above Response: We, the created beings, suffer or enjoy owing to our own past actions -mental or verbal or physical, performed in this life as well as during our innumerable earlier lives about which most of us have forgotten. It is somewhat like – if a man eats chili, his mouth is supposed to burn inside. How it happens? In two ways: Individual and Providential.
Individual: Each action results in the mind an impression. It is said, the mind is like a video camera, nay, much more than that; as, video camera can capture only sound and picture, but the mind can access many such dimensions Ð sound, picture, smell, touch, taste, hatred, love, jealousy, bliss, etc. When we do good actions, good impressions are left behind, and similarly for bad actions, bad impressions. Repeated such actions make the similar impressions stronger. When in a person the good impressions are prevalent, his propensities become good and so for the bad ones. These propensities determine the character of a person. Under same circumstance, a bad and a good man will act in a different way depending on their impressions. Also these stored impressions determine the mental and physical sufferings or enjoyments of a person as a matter of consequence, as Swami Vivekananda says, “If you project hatred and jealousy, they will rebound on you with compound interest. No power can avert them; when once you have put them in motion, you will have to bear them. Remembering this will prevent you from doing wicked things.” (Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. 1, p. 262) So, whatever we do should carefully and thoughtfully be done. Providential: Again, as in the world, for bad actions or, for good actions in the society, a person is punished or praised, similarly each of our actions – gross or subtle, the Providence observes every bit of these actions and accordingly sufferings or enjoyments are granted by Him to a person. God has both aspects: benign or gracious and dreadful or terrible aspect. We should not expect that He should always be kind and compassionate; is it right to expect this for our misdeeds also? It is like, in a family, the parents chastise their children at times, only for their good and also for the smooth-going of the things around. Our sufferings also are good in its real consequence, though most of us do not understand it.
Thus, you understand that God is not to be called the sadist for the sufferings in His creation. Whether we call Him to be a sadist or compassionate, it does not affect Him at all. As we had written in our earlier e-mail to read some books, please do read those along with other books of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda-Vedanta Literature, for example, “Karma YogaÓ, ÒBhagavad Gita” (Chapter 3, 4). This will help you to keep up your spirit and also help you gradually to reduce the bad thoughts; this also will enable to clear your doubts gradually in the life. These books or some scriptures are to be read and also contemplated on the sublime ideas; along with this, spiritual practices are to be done – these will help you understand gradually the subtler things in the world. Through the grace of the God and these Spiritual Practices, one realizes his Real Nature and becomes free from the sufferings as well as from the chain of birth and
Question: My son is doing his PHD in U.S. He is very firm that he does not want to get married; he wants to serve the humanity later on. Is there any shloka (verse) which he could recite daily so that it helps him to remain as a bachelor and do what he has decided to do in his life.
Answer: 1. Please ask him to read the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda and Vedanta Literature.
2. He can daily recite Lalita Sahasranama and Devi Mahatmyam, etc.
3. Ask him to offer sincere prayers to the Lord.
4. It is better to choose a Guru and take initiation or Mantra Deeksha of his Chosen Deity and practice regularly as per the instructions of his Guru.
Question: In general, people pray or give importance on Saturday – to Lord Venkateswara, on Monday – to Lord Shiva, on Thursday – to Saibaba. Can you please tell me like this for all the days from Sunday to Saturday. Please mention all the names of Gods / Goddesses for each day. Just curious to know, nothing special !
Answer: Hereunder we give you the names of the deities from Monday to Sunday :- Monday: Lord Shiva, Tuesday: Divine Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Wednesday: Sri Ramakrishna, Thursday: Initiated Guru or Sachchidananda as Guru or Saibaba, Friday: Divine Mother Laxmi, Saturday: Sri Krishna, Sunday: Bhagavan Sri Rama. Is it not better to worship one God who is your chosen deity or favourable deity ? Think and meditate always that deity alone. Thus you can progress spiritually.
Question: I have completed MBA degree. … While doing MBA degree my physical, mental and family situation was very troubled. But due to God’s grace and others’ grace I was able to complete my degree with flying colours. Due to repeated problems, I surrendered myself completely at the feet of God, and I was able to overcome them. My questions are:
1. For me every event is like a dream and I am only witnessing them. Everything is done by God. So, I have stopped worrying for future as God is taking care of me for ever. Am I right ?
2. We can not stop thoughts from arising in our mind which may be good or bad. But can we ignore the bad thoughts by surrendering ourselves at God’s feet or thinking about God ?
3. While praying, if with love I do Padapadmapuja (worshiping the lotus feet) of Swami Vivekananda with flowers by imagination, will it reach Him ?
Answer: 1. Total unconditional surrender is what is required. If you are doing that, your attitude is perfect. Continue to do that sincerely. Wish you all the best.
2. Whenever bad thoughts arise in your mind, think of opposite good thoughts. If negative thoughts arise, think of positive thoughts. If thoughts of weakness come, think of strength. Offer all your weakness at the feet of the Lord. You have to continually do it. And be mentally alert, and do this repeatedly and without any respite.
3. Do mental Padapuja (worshiping the lotus feet) of Swami Vivekananda with flowers with love and devotion. Surely it will reach Him. He understands your sincere feelings and heart-felt worship.
Response to the Above: Thank you for replying my mail. Your suggestions cleared me from various doubts and gave me more strength. In this world, the greatest thing is pure love. And I want this life of mine should go away by praying to Swami Vivekananda. I never want to get married and I am very sure about this. I am God’s; that’s all I know. Each and every moment of this life is for Swamiji. But the glamour of this world really gives some fear to me. I fear of separation from Swamiji. Yet it is true that for a second also we cannot separate ourselves from the Supreme Being. I want till death I must be at Swamiji’s feet. But these worldly temptations always drag me from my path. I have to fight with all these or else I keep silent. Can you tell me how I can dispel all these things ? … … I wanted to know that in the path of devotion, there are many distractions of the mind. How we can overcome and stick to our goal ? These distractions give some fear in me. So how I can remove all these ?
Answer to the above Response: As you are devoted to Swami Vivekananda, PLEASE READ “The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda”, published in English and other Indian languages, everyday and contemplate on the sublime ideas that came out from him. These books you should read again and again. Apart from this, we suggest you to read the following books:
On the Life of Swami Vivekananda: “Life of Swami Vivekananda by His Eastern & Western Disciples”, etc.
On the Life & Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna: “The Great MasterÕ, “Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna”, etc.
On the Life & Teachings of Holy Mother Sri Sarade Devi: “The Life of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi” – by Swami Gambhirananda, “Gospel of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi”, etc. Holy Mother’s life is a role model for every women in the present age. So, please read Her Life & Teachings thoroughly. If you regularly read the above books definitely you will get tremendous strength, courage and self-confidence which will help you face the inner and outer problems in life. Of course, side by side, you should cultivate the habit of sincere prayer. God listens to the sincere prayer of His devotees. The problems mentioned by you are natural for a spiritual aspirant; these get reduced through oneÕs spiritual practices and the grace of the Lord. We request you, if you need more details, to meet the following Swami, who is a senior swami of our Order and discuss about your personal problems with him.
Question: I need some tips about how to follow perfect concentration in studies. Though I do meditation daily for one hour, please give me some tips.
Answer: 1. You are already doing one hour meditation; please continue to do.
2. Fill your stomach with only Sattvik food. Don’t take irritating, stimulating and such other food which makes the mind restless.
3. of your stomach should be filled with food of nutritious value and ? should be filled with water and the other ? should be left for air circulation.
4. When you feel restless to the same subject again and again, change the subject.
5. Everyday you must take physical exercise and deep breathing for at least 1 hour.
6. DonÕt see those programmes in TV, which distracts the mind. DonÕt read such books which distracts the mind.
7. Keep the company of the good people. Read good books, send good thought currents to all directions for the welfare of all and offer sincere prayers to the Almighty to give you the power of concentration and retaintive memory and pure mind.
8. Anything that helps you to concentrate, you can adopt such methods.
Response to the Above: Thank you for giving me the suggestions. … … … Can you please guide me how to keep up the concentration when I am overpowered by the bad thoughts, like over-confidence, depressed moods, etc. ?
Answer to the above Response: You have asked how to concentrate the mind when bad thoughts arise in the mind. It is also not possible to concentrate the mind even when various other types of thoughts run in the mind. Always try to be a witness of every thought and action in the world. Know that you and your thoughts are different; we generally mix ourselves with the thoughts. When we try to be a witness, automatically the mind becomes calm and concentrated and also the bad thoughts disappear from the mind. You yourself can feel it if you do it. What is required is to allow the mind to run on as it likes and to keep a watch over it. By sincere and uninterrupted practice to be a witness, you can surely improve the present condition of the mind.
When we stand on the bank of a river and watch the water flowing, we are not carried away by the strong current of water and we remain still on the bank itself. In a football game, the viewer who does not support any of the teams, enjoys most and does not feel sorry for any of the teamsÕ loosing or winning the game. Similarly, a witness in this world can enjoy living in this world, by not involving himself with either the outside world or the mental world.