Question: I have just found your website when searching for “use of Ramanam”. I am 19 years old and doing my B.E. in a self financing college. For the past few months I don’t know why I suddenly got interest in kamam. I need your suggestion for controlling one’s mind from these matters. I also request you to explain “how for does fate is true in one’s life?” I hope you will reply as soon as possible
Answer: My humble advice to you is
1. Take only Satvik food.
2. Offer intense prayers to make your mind pure.
3. Take some physical exercises daily like Yogasanas.
4. Keep good company.
5. Read good books which will elevate your mind, and cogitate on such good thoughts.
6. Don’t think opposite sex as an object of enjoyment, a manufacturing machine. Instead think that they are divine and they are also to be honoured, respected and worshipped. In this connection I request you to read that portion from the life of Sri Ramakrishna who worshipped his wife as the Mother of the universe. Unless until you change your outlook you cannot raise in the Moral scale. Every woman is Shakti and she has divinity in her. Pay due respects to that divinity and hate it not. “It is people who are getting old, who talk of fate. It is the strong man, Who stands up and says, ‘I will make my fate,’ says Swami Vivekananda.
May Divine Mother of the universe give you sufficient mental strength to overcome all temptations in your life!
Question: Is there any difference between spiritual initiation and Upanayana? If any may I request you to explain the difference?
Answer: Yes there is difference between spiritual initiation and Upanayana.
In spiritual initiation you seek a competent Guru to initiate you in the spiritual path. Every Mantra has inherent power in it. When Guru initiates the disciple this power is transmitted too. That qualified Guru gives you a fully charged divine Mantra and fixes your chosen deity. It contains “Bija” or seed. Then he gives you certain instructions which will be helpful in spiritual life if followed sincerely. He is the dependable Guru for all your life who initiates you most unselfishly. He prays for the welfare of the disciple and sincerely feels for the progress of the disciple in the spiritual Path. The real Guru welcomes all seekers of Truth, irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
Upanayana is one of the Samskaras in the life of a person. Father performs Upanayanam Ceremony and gives Gayatri Mantra. The Gayatri also can lead to the goal, provided it is practiced sincerely.
Even if you are initiated with a Mantra (what you call spiritual initiation) the chanting of Gayatri can be continued.
Try sincerely to progress in spiritual path.
Question: I am interested to become a Monk. Currently I live in USA.
In the following link “Become a Monk” http://www.ramakrishnamath.com/join.asp
It is mentioned that one has to be less than 30. Why so? According to Vedanta “Thatwa Masi” which means you are already that, which means you are already GOD. GOD has no age limit then why do you have age limit in becoming a Monk?
Is it like joining in Military where there is an age limit? Or is it about eligibility to become an IAS officer? Or eligibility for a government job?
Also it is mentioned that one should have obedience to seniors. But if the senior is mistaken then how can you be obedient to him?
Answer: To become a monk there is no age limit. But from the point of view of this organization, for its proper functioning, age limit is necessary.
A person takes to monastic life to perform spiritual practice. What can he achieve it he is old and sick? The body is the primary instrument in any endeavor. Swami Vivekananda has prescribed Karma Yoga as part of the Sadhana to realize God. The organization is the immanent aspect of “tat”.
The monks, who join the Mission at less than 30 years, work with amity and efficiency. The young monk possesses infinite capacity to work. Thus gaining experience through work they will be holding responsible posts in future. Will not the work be run much better, (which the old and aged cannot do) by young men of character – trustworthy and with executive capacity? They have thinking capacity and ability to face the challenges. Why the govt. has fixed retirement age at 58? Our age limit is much more meaningful than, military or IAS. Young men having lot of energy have much capacity to serve the country and suffering people in a better way than the old people.
Read another Vedantic Upanishad (Taittiriya Upanishad) which speaks about and believing young men. As a rule the young are optimistic, and the old are pessimistic. Young have life before them. The old complain that their day is gone. Therefore Swami Vivekananda believed in young and energetic.
You are quoting the scriptural dictum in an improper place. Organization needs such rules. Rules are framed by Swami Vivekananda.
In an organization obedience to seniors is a must. If the senior does any mistake, the junior is permitted to point out the mistake in a humble way without any bitterness.
Even Buddha has told:
Question: Can you please send the answers to some of my questions? 1. Is it bad to be good? Everyone around me says that we must be good but only to a certain extent. Is it true?
2. In the past I have observed and many people keep telling me that I am too good and have too much faith. Is it good to be that way? It would be nice of you to send my reply.
Answer: 1. No. it is not bad to be good. The goodness that is in you, what is its quality? What is its strength? Can it change a bad man to become good? It is better to be good than to be goody-goody. A goody-goody person appears victorious and respectable. But he has no inner strength/grit or determination to remain good always. He behaves extremely well in order to please people around him. That behavior is not approved; if something wrong is going on in front of him he closes his eyes. He does not want to resist it or fight against it. Such a person is called goody-goody. He does not have the capacity to fight against injustice.
2. Swami Vivekananda used to say that If you want to learn anything from Krishna it is that is good should be equally aggressive as evil is. Please read Bhagavad Gita chapter IV, Sloka 40, in which he says, “Never my son does a doer of good come to grief.”
3.Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi was good. But when mad person Harish chased Her, she was able to put him down and slap on his face, and changed his course of thinking. That is the strength of goodness.
Question: I am writing this mail from New Delhi. I am an initiated devotee I am also a regular (daily) reader of Sri Ramakrishna Vedanta literature publications.
Recently I have visited The Bangalore Ramakrishna Math at Bull Temple Road. Needless to say, that I liked the place very much and also the serene spiritual environment maintains around the Rock where the holy mother also meditated.
I have visited Ramakrishna Math and Mission at few other places also like — Chennai, Vrindaban, Mumbai and Delhi. In the Math at Bull Temple Road at Bangalore Has Sri Sri Thakur facing the East direction where as at most of the other Math’s Sri Sri Thakur is facing West.
Now my query is, does it has any significance on which Direction the deity is facing or which direction the Devotees should face while doing Japa / meditation or Puja. If yes, then why? My ignorance may be pardoned.
I always perform my daily Japa facing East direction only.
Please advice.
Answer: When the Lord is all-pervading all directions are equally important. It is immaterial whether Lord is facing east or west. In Bangalore Lord is facing east because the devotees could see Him even from the main road (Bull Temple Road).
You are doing Japa facing east. That is a right, but what is most important thing is you should do Japa thinking of its meaning & with devotion and earnestness. As long as you are doing this Japa with that idea you are on the right track. Even though you are facing the east, if your mind is wandering in all the 10 directions, your doing Japa will bear no fruit. Therefore, directions are not important. Yearning, earnestness and devotion are much more important than east or west. Please continue your Japa without any break.
May Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna shower His choicest blessings and give you necessary strength to carry on the Japa Yajna.
Question: I have a question. How do we choose truth from lie??? Is there such a thing exists??? Who made the decision what is truth and what is not? Is it ok to tell a lie in order to please someone as long as you are not gaining something from it? I am not sure if it’s a right question to ask you sir, but it been bothering me too long. I do not know the answer to the question. I was hoping you can help me to clarify it.
Answer: You have put a highly philosophical question. I do not know to what extent I can clarify your doubt through this mail.
The very existence is Truth. Truth does not need a proof. It is a proof by itself.
In the higher realm, discrimination between the real and the unreal is the method. Real is Truth. That which stands in all the 3 times (past, present, and future) is truth.
In the day to day life (Vyavaharika) Truth refer to certain statement of facts to our best of knowledge. Supposing a glass of milk is placed before you mixed with poison. I openly tell you about the fact and request you to drink the milk. Will you not use your discrimination and reject it because it is harmful and dangerous to your health and life? Sticking to the Truth gives us moral strength to face the life as it comes, though at times the results may not be encouraging in the beginning. But the end is strength and Joy
. Though it is not advisable to tell even a ‘fib’ the unpleasant truth should be avoided. These is a Sanskrit Sloka which says: Satyam bruyat priyam bruyat, Na bruyat satayampriyam.
Question: I want to join the Ashram as a Monastic and want to serve the humanity… Kindly provide me the information how can I proceed with this thought and what is the input required from my side…. Waiting for your valuable feedback…
Answer:
1.You must be a graduate.
2. Age should be with in 30 years.
3.You must be a bachelor.
4. No family encumbrances.
5.You must have thorough knowledge about the life & teachings of Ramakrishna- Vivekananda and Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi.
6. Have clear ideas as to why you want to renounce worldly life and become a monk to serve the humanity at large.
7. You are a highly qualified person, so you should think very deeply about your future life.
8. Don’t be in a hurry and resign your job, and land yourself in great difficulties which are unknown and unexpected. If you feel you can take some leave & come and stay with us, when we can discuss the matter in person,
Question: I am male software engineer married and have only daughter.
I have no intention to stop it as I feel very happy about go ahead.
The problem is with chanting Ramanam with mind only. But while I chant in mind, my tongue also moving accordingly in some pace. After sometime here only I feel pain at lower jaws.
If I keep the tongue fixed by some force, then chanting goes along with breath. Then while inhaling “Sri” and exhaling “Rama”. Is it good Swamiji?
I am sharing with you in the view you might have encountered this before by yourself or any of your devotee friends. Is it common issue or because I am not doing it properly?
With your diving grace from Sri Ramakrishna order I will keep continue to do Ramanam Smarana.
Answer: When you inhale “Sri”, please inhale “Rama” along with it. Both words should go together. Please don’t separate them. Don’t do too much of inhaling & exhaling. Instead while chanting Ramanam, meditate the Divine effulgent form of Rama in the heart. That will ease the tension. You have progressed very well in the right direction. Also pray to Sri Hanuman for proper guidance. He will definitely help you. He is the servant of Rama and Ramabhaktas
Question: I am a 22 year old man in a desperate need for help. I am an engineering graduate, now proceeding with a computer course. With the blessings of God I am expecting to get a good job soon. By the grace of God, I am born of very good parents, with a wonderful family background.
I am really sticking to the principles taught by Swami Vivekananda, which has made me a confident, energetic young man. I have decided to contribute a handsome amount to the society, from the moment I start earning. Even now I have been helping out the poor and needy to any possible extent and I do that only with respect to God.
Coming to my problem, I have the same problem which most men of my age face. I am not able to overcome, or control my sensual pleasures. If I try to control my sexual desires, because of my determination, I think of it most of the time and the time gets wasted. Instead I feel that I can give way to those feelings so that I don’t waste time anymore, but for 5-10 minutes. Because of my nature of my profession in which I would soon be, it would be nearly impossible to cut down contact with people of opposite sex. I am practising meditation, chanting Gayathri Mantra 108 times in the morning and in the evening, followed by Sivapuranam (Tamil Sloka for lord Shiva). Please tell me if there are any specific Slokas that would help me overcome my problem. I am deeply depressed as I am not able to keep up the promises made to God in this regard and am afraid that I would be punished. To say the truth, I have been to Vivekananda Ashram Ulsoor, for the meditation classes conducted on Sundays from 4:30 to 5:30. I wanted to have a discussion. But I was feeling ashamed of discussing such a problem with my religious Guru. Now I am back to my native, please help me in this regard,
Answer: My humble advice to you is
1.Take bland diet (Without Salt & species).
2. Don’t take pickles or any Garam Masala items.
3.You should give up such food that excites your nerves like garlic or onion.
4.Take only Satvik food.
5. Continue to chant Gayatri Mantra with meaning which you are doing now.
6. Offer intense prayers to make your mind pure.
7.Take some physical exercises daily like Yogasanas.
8. Keep good company.
9. Read good books which will elevate your mind, and cogitate on such good thoughts.
10. Don’t think opposite sex as an object of enjoyment, a manufacturing machine. Instead think that they are divine and they are also to be honored, respected and worshipped. In this connection I request you to read that portion from the life of Sri Ramakrishna who worshipped his wife as the Mother of the universe. Unless until you change your outlook you cannot raise in the Moral scale. Every woman is Shakti and she has divinity in her. Pay due respects to that divinity and hate it not.
May Divine Mother of the universe give you sufficient mental strength to overcome all temptations in your life!
Question: I do not have Guru, how to get initiated by a Guru, about Japam?
Answer: I came to know from your letter cited above that you do not have a Guru and you are interested in doing Japam and therefore, how to get initiated?
First of all pray sincerely to your Ishta Devata to take you to a right type of Guru who can lead you in the right path towards the goal supreme. Then one day Lord Himself will lead you to the right person who will guide you in the right direction properly and initiate you with suitable Manta. Guru himself will instruct you how to do Japa? In the meantime you can prepare the ground by daily chanting the name of your favorite deity as many times as possible, reading the Holy Scriptures and life & teachings of your Ishta Devata. Cultivate some sweet relationship between you and the deity.
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