Question: I am an aspiring musician, doing Engineering & aged 20 years. Since very much inclined towards spirituality, I would like to know – which Yoga would suit my day-to-day life struggle. Would I be successful in my spiritual attainment ?
Answer: We request you to read all the four Yogas by Swami Vivekananda, viz., Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga & Raja Yoga and you yourself can decide which Yoga will suit you. If you can harmonize all the four Yogas in your day-to-day life, as taught by Swami Vivekananda, you will certainly be successful in your spiritual lif
Question: I am aged 20 years and have just completed the 6th Semester in B. Tech. I have been reading lots of spiritual books and also I practise some Mudras, Pranayamas, Hatha Yoga, etc. I am not formally initiated, however I continuously chant mentally the Narayana Mantra (Om Namo Narayanaya) throughout the day. … I have tried to meditate in different ways, but has not been able to carry out it out systematically. I have read Swami Vivekananda’s ‘Raja Yoga’ and Swami Yatiswarananda’s ‘Meditation and Spiritual Life’. I have the following doubts regarding Japa and Meditation:
1. What exactly is Nididhyasana ? If Shravana is hearing / reading and Manana is ratiocination, what is the third process ? It is somewhere defined as “Swajaatiya Vritti Pravaaha and Vijaatiya Vritti Tiraskaara”; in this regard, it just seems to be an intensified Manana – is it so ? If so, how does it complete the metaphor – eating, chewing the cud / ruminating and finally absorption of ideas ?
2. When I think, I usually hear sound inside the mind or see pictures. Is this the way everyone thinks ? Is there a way to think a thought only and not hear or see it ? If so, how can I do that ? Is hearing the ‘Madhyama’ stage of thought ?
3. How is one thought to be held up in the mind continuously ? For example, is repeating continuously ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ (‘I am Brahman’) equivalent to holding on to that thought ? Is the thought to be continuously spoken or visualized ? Is there no other way ?
4. Swami Yatiswarananda asks to visualize the Lord along with Japa. When I do Japa, however I feel the Lord all around me and more so near the hypothetical points. When I make deliberate effort to place the form of the Lord in the heart, I feel like localizing what is more pervasive – I am unable to see Lord in a figure. Further, when I do Japa for a long time, I feel a lightness of the body and head and a feeling to dissolve in the God who is enveloping me which I can’t, because I am still associated with my body. …. Is this inability to go across body consciousness due to the fact that the Mantra I use is not the one for me ?
Answer: 1. Shravana is hearing from the teacher or coming to know from any other authoritative source, about the Truth. It should give conviction about the Truth. Manana is constant thinking or reasoning about the Truth. Nididhyasana or meditation is a stream of ideas of the same kind as that of the Truth excluding the every other ideas. In this state, ratiocination is absent; the aspirant goes on contemplating on the Truth, till he gets established in the Truth. These three terms are not so difficult to understand; rather, more difficult it is to do proper Shravana and Manana, which are more beneficial. Take an idea from an authoritative scripture or person, and go on contemplating on it; this will help you to do Nididhyasana properly and in course of time, to live that idea in your life. Swami Vivekananda said, “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success. … If we really want to be blessed, and make others blessed, we must go deeper.” (Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. 1, page – 177)
2. When thinking goes on inside, probably you also think of form and name. That is why you hear the sound. When one advances in spiritual life, and goes deeper and deeper, there does not arise thought, name and form; you will also hear the sound – ‘Om’ to the exclusion of all other thoughts and sounds. As you grow in spiritual life, thought waves gradually reduce. Every one may not think as you think and do. Each has got his own method. To go beyond thoughts, sound, name and form – must be the goal of every spiritual aspirant. You can do this by gradual and sincere uninterrupted practice and under the guidance of a competent Guru. Only hearing will help you to clear some of the doubts you may be having and to strengthen the faith you already have about the goal to be achieved.
3. You have already answered your question in your doubt no. 1, as ‘Swajaatiya Vritti … Tiraskaara’. Hold on to one thought – ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ and repeat the Vedic dictum with intense contemplation on it which will, in time, lead you to realize it. There is no other way.
4. We understand from your e-mail that you are not formally initiated by getting a Mantra from a competent Guru. You have written, “I have tried to meditate in different ways, but haven’t been able to carry it out systematically.” We therefore request you to follow one method of meditation according to an authoritative book for the time being, and in the meanwhile, you should seek for a guru. And also sincerely pray to the Lord to find a competent Guru. In the proper time, the Lord arranges the sincere aspirants to get a competent guru who is able to show him the spiritual path faultlessly.
After finding a proper guru you should get yourself initiated by him who will give you a Mantra and instruct you how to meditate. According to his instructions, you should proceed slowly. However, it is generally advised to meditate in the heart than in the head. If you so desire to take initiation from the Ramakrishna Order, please contact any of our centres. We find from your letter that there is lot of confusion in your mind. We, therefore, request you to find at first your spiritual preceptor and then, it is better to consult him regarding these personal doubts than to seek too many individual opinions and thus get more confused.
Question: What is the difference between a Math and an Ashrama ?
Answer: Traditionally the community form of Hindu monastic life is of three kinds: the Ashrama, the Math and the Akhada. The Ashrama is a temporary institution meant for a small group of people. It is normally without any permanent arrangement for worship. The Ashrama form of life is meant not only for monks but also for householders. The ancient Rishis who lived in Ashramas were married people.
The Math is a permanent institution with permanent arrangement for worship, started by Shankaracharya. Following him, Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya also founded Maths. The Math is meant for a single monk, spreading Dharma among the people.
The Akhada is a semi-permanent institution in which worship does not play an important role. It consists of a loosely-knit community of very large number of monks who do not follow a written rule. This kind of monastic institution was founded by Madhusudan Saraswati in 16th Century.
But, the Ramakrishna Order does not conform to any of the patterns of monastic life mentioned above although it includes the good aspects of all of them. The truth is, the lifestyle of the members of the Ramakrishna Order is a new way of life, which is based on the lives and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and other Direct Disciples, and the vision of Vedic Rishis with a modern outlook. They live with a motto as taught by Swami Vivekananda, “For one’s own salvation and for the good of the world”, through renunciation and service.
Question: After every person has to die — Allah is written his fortune on his forehead what will happen after death, I had a doubt about this a person has to die with my hands it is the fortune for that person he has to die with my hands then why I will go to hell his fortune is written that he has to die with my hands then I have to go to hell after death?
Please tell me answer for my question?
Answer: Your question is not clear; therefore it is not possible to give suitable answer.
However I shall reproduce a parable, it may help you to understand the will of Allah.
Extracts from “Snacks for the Soul by J.P. Vaswani” published by Sterling Publishers Limited. The Key to heaven
A man once had a dream in which he saw that he stood at the gates of Paradise.
And in the dream he saw a learned Rabbi who said, “I long to enter Heaven. I studied the Holy books day and night!”
“Wait!” said the Angel. “We shall know from your earthly record if you studied the books in reverence for the prophets or for the sake of social applause.”
Then in the dream appeared another learned man.
He said, “I long to enter Paradise. I fasted much.”
“Wait!” said the Angel, “We shall first enquire if your motives were pure.”
Then appeared in the dream another man. Simple was he. He said, “I long to enter Paradise. A few fragments of my bread I shared each day with a man who limped and could not earn his daily bread, and I swept his floor and I filled his water-jar every day. And I prayed, “O Lord! Make me a servant of some one who suffer and are in pain, ever day!”
And the Angel said, “Blessed amongst mortal’s art thou! Thou hast attained the Abode of the Immortals. The gates of Heaven are opened unto thee!”
Question: With your kind wishes I am practising Rama namasmarana whenever I am blessed with the remembrance of Lord. I also do practice sandhyavandana during morning and evening as per knowledge from books and websites. (Though I have been initiated during my upanayanam before marriage, at those days I was not interested and lost track.)
It would be great and blessing for me if swamiji can help in this to show a noble person who can give ‘hands-on’ sandhyavandana training for me.
I do not know whether it is a genuine question to ask Swamiji but I have no other option.
If that is not possible, at least please bless me so that I can continue with the practice. (As you did earlier in case of namasmarana.)
Answer: “If you do not get qualified person to teach Sandhya Vandana please do not worry so much. Regarding Sandhya Vandana Ramakrishna says ‘Sandhya merges in Gayatri and Gayatri merges in Om.’ So; you chant only Gayatri with sincerity and feeling that is more than enough. That mantra has the capacity to purify the mind.”
You may please read the book “Om! Gayatri & Sandhya” by ‘Swami Mukhyananda’
Question: Swamiji daily I am chanting Sri Lalitha thrishathi & evening “Hreem” beejakshara in Likhitha Japa. Some times I feel to go another Naama means, “Sri Lalitha Sahasranama” but I don’t have much time to do that.Beacause I am working in a company. Swamiji I like very much “Sri Matha Sarada Devi”.
In Sri Sarada Devi Jeevana Ganga written by Sri Purushothmanadaji. In that Ma said “chant My name as “AMMA” is enough.
Swamiji please can you suggest me what should I do. Shall I continue my daily sadhana this is enough for me.
Answer: It is better to take Mantra Deeksha (Spiritual Initiation) from a spiritually advanced Guru.
Before going to bed at night and after getting up early in the morning if you chant ‘Amma’ with devotion and feeling that is much better than forgetting Her.
Question: I have read in a book that one has to offer the five pranas, five indriyas, manas, budhi, ahankar to Lord to get jnana. Can you elaborate on what is the meaning of offering five pranas? Offering five indriyas means always seeing Him, listening about Him, etc., is it? If that is the case what about the indriyas like nose and skin. How do we offer them? Also what is the difference between manas, budhi & ahankar and how do we offer them?
Answer: 1. In the first sentence you mention that you have read a book in which it is mentioned to offer the five pranas etc. can you quote the name of the book, the author, publisher and page number, and any other necessary details so that we can also go through the same book and understand the context? Please give the reference.
2. Any spiritual aspirant is asked by his Guru to offer his everything at the feet of his chosen deity. The idea is not to own anything for himself but to hold everything as a Trust which belongs to the Lord. The idea of complete surrender lies behind this action.
3. How to do it? You imagine as if you are the owner of all these things and offer it at the Lord’s feet. It is a strong imagination and mental action.
4. Manas is what is called mind, which is more of mater and knows only pros and cons of a subject. Buddhi is more subtle and can decide and give the answer to questions posed by the mind. Buddhi is the determinative faculty.
5. Ego comes when the soul identifies itself with body and says ‘I’, ‘I’, ‘I’.
for more details read thoroughly Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda and keep contact with the Swamiji-in-charge of the nearest Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission centre
uestion: I am 22 years young man. I am interested in spiritual life. I am student. I am doing M.Sc-physics. I am in A.P. I concentrate on agna chakram (bhroomadya pradesam). As I try to concentrate on it for some time, I suffer with eye pain. Is my practice is correct?.
My Istadevam is Sree Rama. I want to see him in this life without leaving my duties. Is it possible? Someone say only you reach your goal when all other things are leave. If I leave my duties, what about my parents? We are very poor. For reaching my goal how I do Sadana? In present days there are so many attractions. How can I overcome it. Please give me direction
Answer: Glad to know that you are interested in spiritual life.
It is better you concentrate at the heart-centre instead of eye-brows. Stop it, certain problems like head-ache, etc may come when you concentrate at eye-brows.
First concentrate on your studies and complete your course. Then you can think of the rest.
In the meanwhile read the following books:
1. Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
2. Selections from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
3. Paramartha Prasanga by Swami Virajananda
4. Spiritual Practice by Swami Ashokananda
We have our centres in Hyderabad, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, and Vaizag in Andhra Pradesh. You can visit your nearest centre and talk to the Swamiji-in-charge there. The addresses are available in our website.
Question: Most of my life, I spent believing in god. If god is above me and beside me in everything then how can such a thing happen. When there is righteousness fails ….won’t god come to me ???? if the world is maya then aren’t I maya too. If so, how can I be hurt?
Please help me to understand sir
Answer: ‘God sees the truth but waits’ and ‘Slow and steady wins the race’ are the famous statements. Patience, perseverance & forbearance will yield the fruit.
May God speed to you.
Question: I thank you for your reply. I asked you the question about nirvikalpa samadhi to know whether even in this kali yuga we can reach such a state and if we did how we would escape the newspapers and televisions.
I have a hobby of reading philosophical books. I have read in many books that if we are good and spiritual it means that we seek our own liberation, we are selfish and that we have to work for others and help them even at the cost of telling lies or giving false hopes. Is it true sir ?
Answer: You are reading philosophical books. Read Swami Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga. You will know about Nirvikalpa Samadhi. It is a very high state. Let us start from where we are and proceed step by step.
When you have attraction towards more important things say – examination – you will automatically refrain from T.V. and newspapers. So also in respect of spiritual life.
Swami Vivekananda has given the ideal as “Atmano Mokshartham Jagad hitaya ca’ – for the salvation of one self and for the good of the world. If you take care of the means the goal is automatically taken care of. Do you think by telling lies and giving false hopes you can achieve anything? Sri Ramakrishna says that through cleverness nothing great can be achieved. Do not cheat yourself. Be a role model. Be strong and you will succeed. Choose Swami Vivekananda as your hero and read his works thoroughly and then decide about your path.
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