Selection from previously asked Question and respective Answers
Question: When I sit for meditation, lot of other thoughts makes the meditation less effective. So that sometimes meditation is effective and sometimes not. What should I do?
Answer: This is a very common problem for everybody. Go on persisting. After a long time, you will be able to concentrate. Try to keep the mind always pure.
Question: What is the difference between the following: Japa, Tapa, Dhayna, Puja, and equvalent words in English for the above? Human beings have got desires and they pray, worship God for their fulfillment.. May be our greed or we really in need of them. In difficulties, to get over them.. These are all related to this world.. But, very few people wish for higher things like salvation, realisation of self. What humbly, I want to know is what methodology we have to adopt for realisation of the self. A simple thing like repeating RAMANAMA can lead us there.. Or Mantras are more effective.. Were our ancient saints trained how to do Tapasya or on their own, they went about it ?
Answer: The equivalent words are – repetition of Lord’s Name, Austerities, Meditation & Worship. Each is a different type of Spiritual Practice. This desires & greed – one has to discriminate for oneself and decide, because, what is desire for one may not be greed for another. I wish you read some book on Spiritual Subjects which will clear most of your doubts.
Question: I am a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna. I am doing my B.Sc. I found that Swami Vivekananda once said that with the advent of Sri Ramakrishna Avatar the Satya Yuga has begun. Again we find Sri Ramakrishna saying,”Naradiya Bhakti in the Kali Yuga”, “Kalite vedmat chale na”(The path of Vedas is not for the Kali Yuga), “Kalite annagata pran”- about religion in the Kali Yuga. My question is, is Sri Ramakrishna stressing on the principles of Dharma of the Kali Yuga because we are living in a transitional phase between Kali & Satya Yuga? I am eager to know how we can correlate Swamiji’s declaration (begining of Satya Yuga with Sri Ramakrishna) & Thakur’s advices on religion in the Kali Yuga. I will be very grateful to you if you kindly enlighten me about how Yugavatar Sri Ramakrishna has been a bridge between the essentials of Kali Yuga & Satya Yuga.
Answer: It is extremely difficult to understand what Swamiji has definitely meant by Satyayuga. But, since he has said, it has to become. Only we have to wait and see. But, one thing is certain because of the advent of Sri Ramakrishna – the Hindu religion has been saved. I am also sure that the whole world has to turn towards the religion of Sri Ramakrishna which lays emphasis on the unity of religions.
Question: I read that research is going on to create artificial life. Artificial Reproductive techniques like, test tube babies, Surrogate motherhood, cloaning are evolving gradually. Is it technology abuse? Shall we be alarmed? I believe without God’s permission nothing will happen. Are all these His play?
What is the relationship between and among body, mind, intelect and Soul? As the requirements of these are different, if we practise enrichment of one are we starving others? Is it possible only Intelect can take us towards liberation? Or, which of them are closely related among mind, intelect and Self?
Answer: You yourself have given the answer to the question. Everything is the God’s play. If God wants man also to create, all these things will happen.
Intellect can never take to liberation. Where intellect stops, there realisation starts. Intellect will help you only to know what you should realise. This Vedanta calls it as indirect knowledge. Direct knowledge comes from experience. You can get the theoretical knowledge of sugar by reading books, but the experience comes only when you put the sugar into mouth.
Question: I have the following questions:
1) What should be the goal of a person in life?
2) What is the goal of God in creating / enacting this play of life and death?
3) What has to be the whole purpose of a person’s life?
4) What is it that is making me do all these things?
5) Why is everybody running after name, fame & money? These questions are following me even in my dreams.
Expecting a reply soon.
Question: Respected Sirs, I pray respected Monks of Ashrama to enlighten me how to practise UNATTACHMENT in Life.
Answer: Practice of unattachment does not come of in a day. It requires lot of Spiritual Practice. At the outset, you have to believe that the whole universe is a creation of God and it belongs to Him. Whatever we possess also naturally belongs to Him. We are only privileged to enjoy it. So, whatever we are earning, spending, loving people, etc. – all His grace and belong to Him. Since, everything belongs to Him, it is meaningless to get attached to some.
I advise you to read the 3rd chapter of Bhagavad Gita and Swami Vivekananda’s Karma Yoga, which will enlighten you more.
Response to the Reply: I am grateful for your holiness kind reply. Can I take the path of Jnana Yoga to practice slowly Unattachment.. As advised by you, I will read Gita and Karma Yoga. What is your kind advice regarding- Jnana Yoga. Eagerly awaiting your kind path showing..
Answer to the Above Response: I don’t know what exactly you mean by Jnana Yoga. Is it – you mean to follow the Advaita Vedanta? After hearing from you, I shall write to you in details.
His Response to the above: What I am perplexed is this world an illusion (maya). How to realise rather than beleving in a thing.. I felt blessed when received your holiness kind reply.. I am unable to express specifically anything except hope I may find some solace by interaction with great souls. Pranam.
Reply to the above: Is it so easy that I can explain in short letter that this world is an illusion? But it is a fact and we have to undertake necessary spiritual sadhana for realising it. I advise you to read some of Sri Sankara’s works who deals in detail about this inscrutable power in all his books.
Question: We often hear of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Is it possible only for the Avatars to attain this? Or is it possible for all sincerely practising Sadhakas to attain that stage? Could you explain the types of Samadhis?
My friends criticised that Lord Buddha’s renouncing could not be justified because he neglegted his duty as a father and husband. I didnot know what to answer. Is it right for a householder to leave ones duty? Kindly clarify my doubts.
Answer: Nirvikalpa Samadhi is the last word in Spiritual Life. It is definitely possible for every Sadhaka (Spiritual Aspirant) to attain it, provided he pursues his Spiritual Sadhana (Spiritual Practices) sincerely. Different texts speak of different Samadhis and Patanjali has dealt in detail about this in his ‘Patanjali Yoga Sutras’. Swami Vivekananda has translated it in his book ‘Raja Yoga’. Try to get a copy of it and make a study.
Regarding renunciation of Buddha, he neglected his duty in the large interest of society of society. Just imagine how many thousands of aspirants have been benefited because of his realization.
There is a saying in Sanskrit – “One should renounce the home for the benefit of his village. One should renounce the village for the benefit of his town. One should renounce the town for the benefit of his country. One should renounce the country for the benefit of the world. One should renounce the whole world for the realization of God, because in turn, after his realization, the whole world will be benefited.”
Question: Why it’s been stressed to get self realization and subsequent salvation (freedom) ? What is the problem if one takes birth again and again ? You are born, do good work, enjoy the fruit of work, and if your work is too good, society will also enjoy it.It is true that one’s life is a blend of sorrow and happiness. But what is wrong with it ? It breaks the monotonocity and makes you stronger. What is there lying in space as a free soul ? Even Gods have been taking birth at times as living beings.
Answer: If you are happy with the present state of life, you may continue the same & nobody is forcing you to change your way of life. Since, others feel that, what you say is only nice theory and not real state of affairs, they would like to find out if there is a permanent solution for the present suffering. That leads them to Religion.
Question: Respected Sir, my question is: Does a spiritual aspirant need a Guru ?
Answer: Definitely a guru is required to tread the right path in spiritual life. But one can start the life with the help of books and finding the guru will not be very difficult. But, you have to choose the right guru.
RESPONSE to the Above REPLY : Respected Sir, I’m an Engineering graduate of 25 years age. Last year during 2001 February, I went to Ramakrishna Math (RKM) for personality development programme, there they taught us Yoga & Meditation. I practised those very sincerely; during meditation I used to experience some very good spiritual experiences. At RKM, Hyderabad, they taught us how to meditate. Later I studied a book named ‘Dhyana Yoga’ by Sri Swami Sivananda. In that book every thing regarding meditation was there. I had the same experiences as what it was in the book. My mind turned inwards. I’m not interested in all these worldly affairs. I want to lead spiritual life and I’m the lonely son of my parents. But they want me to pursue a carrer; They don’t know all these spiritaul aspects & yoga. My father is a drunkard & my mother – she does rituals, I mean Pujas & all. For the last one year I’m unable to take a decision and I’m not having peace of mind. Earlier I used to do all evil things like smoking, drinking and not studied well. But, now a radical change occured & now I’m completely a different man. For the last one year, I’m struggling very much. I don’t have peace of mind. I’m very much interested in leading a divine life. Please guide me in this aspect.
Answer to the Above Response: That there are lot of contradictions in your statements. You say that you have picked up the yoga, meditation and given up all bad habits. You were also happy and peaceful. But, again you write, you don’t have peace of mind for last one year. First of all, pay your utmost attention to the studies and complete it. Your future life of becoming a monastic or otherwise, has to be decided latter. Read good literature of Swami Vivekananda by which you will get more strengthening inspiration to face the challenges of life. You are welcome to correspond whenever you feel like.
Question: Please answer the following questions of mine. a) It has been said that the soul neither takes birth, nor does it die. It means number of souls in this universe is constant. Also, every human being has a soul. Now, population of the world is rising. So, from where these extra souls are coming in ? b) From where does the soul comes in, when a birth takes palce, and where does it go when a death takes place ? Does it carry something with it ? c) How long does this continous chain of birth-death for a soul continue ? d) Is it possible for a soul to take birth again, when it has achieved “Mukti” ? e) How the form of body for a soul is decided viz. male, female, animals etc. ? f) Who is God and why is it so that He has all the controls of universe, not anybody else? Why did he create this universe and living beings ? What if nothing had been created ?
Answer: a. The plants, animals & all other living beings have souls. So, all these beings will be evolving as humans. Similarly, if the human beings are living like animals, they will be taking birth as animals etc. So, the no. of souls will not increase or decrease. b. According to the Vedanta, after the death, the soul takes a new birth, as per its Karma; good good, bad bad. c. By doing extreme good, all the bad samskaras are destroyed and man rises to the Godhood; and his life will come to an end. d. It is the body which takes birth. The soul is eternal; it has neither birth nor death. e. It is purely by the Karma one does. f. God is beyond all reasoning and limitations. So, you cannot put the question ‘Why’ to Him.