Question: I am a student of philosophy. I have read Sri Ramakrishna’s Gospel and loved it a lot, but some times I get skeptic, if God really listens to our prayers. We hear Sri Ramakrishna to have questioned God’s existence and got favorable answers. I think, we need to test too. Many times we take these things for granted, but can a prayer really change the course of events?
Let’s take a simple example. I will use an unbiased coin which I’ll toss 50 times. Can any amount of prayer influence the course of events in such a way as to get me 50 heads? Can you or some devotee demonstrate to me, let us say someone prays and then asks me to test, I throw the coin 50 times to get 50 heads. It would be a beautiful demonstration.
If no one can demonstrate it this way, and since I myself am not able to do it no matter how much faith I express towards my God, it would only be right for us to conclude that
1. Prayers to God are not answered.
2. We cannot influence the course of events through prayer.
3. So it’s useless to ask God to save us or to improve our personality.
4. It’s useless to request him to show himself to us.
[I do not question prayer as an aid to meditation. It definitely is, but perhaps meditation can be even without prayer. If prayer is only a misconception, it does good to meditate without its aid than using it as an aid.]
I know that these ideas, if they are true would shake the whole basis of my philosophical beliefs and I would suffer. Coz I am an ardent devotee of God and Ramakrishna. Yet, if this is not true, it has to be discarded. Coz more important than our beliefs is the Truth. Truth or the Reality is all I seek and am ready to discard any idea or concept that is not true.
Please show me the way and help me out of going astray. I would lose my companion if I lose God, I may become lonely and hapless. But yet, if it is not true, I do not want to hold onto ideas that work like wine Ð by getting be habituated to the set of ideas.
Can prayers help us influence the situation?
Answer: I find that you are really in a mess!!! I suggest you to read the book titled “Meditation and Spiritual Life” by Swami Yatishwarananda. This can clear most of your doubts. The book is available in any of the book stalls of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.
Question: I am fed up with this worldly life where attachments and sorrows are ruling us. I am not running away from life as a timid. I just want to be free myself from all emotional debts. I would like to reach Lord’s feet at the earliest. I know suicide is a sin. So for the tenure assigned to me on earth, I would like to be in the path of renunciation.
I want to join Sri Ramakrishna Math as a monk. Please help me with your suggestions.
Answer: The sister organization of the Ramakrishna Math for girls is Sarada Math. The website address of Sarada Math is: www.srisaradamath.org . You can get the addresses of all the centers of Sarada Math there. You can contact the Mataji incharge of any of the centers and discuss the matter.
Question: Respected sir, thanks for your reply.
1. What is the method to do meditation?
2. What is the process involves in it?
3. What is the difference between Japa and Dhyana?
4. How we do Japa?
5. What is the difference between Manassu & Buddhi? Are they same or not?
6. Who is Brahmarshi? What is meant by Bramastvam?
7. What is Brahmacharyam? Why we do Brahmacharyam & what are the conditions in that?
Answer: I suggest that you read the following three books:
1.Meditation & Spiritual life by Swami Yatishwarananda
2. Vedantasara of Sadananda
3. Eternal Companion – Swami Brahmananda
The above three books are available in any of the showrooms of our centers. If you are in Bangalore, you are welcome to visit us.
Question: Please guide the process/procedures on becoming a MONK. What will be expected of me and duties to do/follow.
Answer: The Hindu Monasticism is voluntary. A person takes to this life solely for realization of God, renouncing all worldly bondages like the home, parents, name-fame etc.
In our order an unmarried graduate without any encumbrances and who is ready to cut off all connections with his relatives etc can join up to the age of 28. The motto here is “For one’s own realization and for the good of the world” A person must be ready to do all types of work without any distinction and complaints as the work of the Lord, in addition to Japa, Meditation etc.
Please read the books on Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and Vedanta literature.
Question: What is the main purpose of the caste system?
In the Hindu religion, people of lower caste are suppressed. I am the Rama Bhakta. My cast is camma. I love my religion (Hindu). But people of other religion criticize Hinduism. Are Sudra’s aren’t allowed to learn Vedas, doing Japa, etc. I didn’t know even how I do Puja according to Sastra. I don’t know about my religion, knowledge, truths, Sadanas etc., Please tell me about caste system and why it is placed in Hinduism. What are main things in our religion?
What is the difference between Manassu and Buddhi?
How to develop ourselves in spiritual life?
Answer: The caste system originated in our society depending upon the type of work and the nature of persons. This has reflected as class system in many other societies. However the caste system in the course of time became hereditary irrespective of one’s nature and the type of work a person undertakes.
In the Ramakrishna Order we do not make any distinction basing on the caste. We allow all the people to do Japa, Dhyana, Puja, chant the Vedic Mantras etc. depending upon the aptitude and ability of the person. You might have also noticed that the caste system is fading away particularly in the cities. The inter-caste, inter-religious and inter-community marriages etc, are taking place. There are Brahmins who sell wines or do shoe business and there are the S.C. and S.T. who are leading religious life and teaches of various subjects. We feel it is only a question of time when the original concept of nature and type of work based groups will spread completely in the society.
Buddhi and Manas are two technical terms used in Vedanta. The mind is a faculty where the various ideas and thoughts are not clearly determined. It is also a store house of a memory. Mind when it starts thinking about the pros and cons of a subject and not able to decide clearly, then the subject matter is referred to Buddhi which steps into decide. Buddhi is the faculty which determines as to what is what.
Question: Few months ago, I started meditation by focusing between my eyebrows and within a day I started having some unpleasant reactions and I stopped meditating within 3-4 days. I was advised to meditate at my heart centre. But due to the demands of my academics, I had to stop meditation all together. During the time when I had those experiences while and after meditating, one thing that happened was that I began to feel a strange sensation in the middle and around my forehead. At its peak, during those few days, I could feel a certain pressure on almost my entire forehead coming down till the upper part of my nose. However, all this went away when I stopped. But even now when I come in a contemplative mood, I feel the same sensation at the middle of my forehead. It happens whenever I get deeply engrossed in a spiritual book or thought. The last time it happened was probably 4 months ago because the last four months all I did was college work and study. Now I got a chance and I spent my entire day reading Swamiji’s biography and refrained from watching television etc and that sensation returned. I am just curious to know if this is bad thing because I certainly remember that the reactions I had when I used to meditate (after which all this started) were quite violent and not a sign of something good.
“And here is the test of truth: Anything that makes you weak physically, intellectually, and spiritually, reject as poison; there is no life in it, it cannot be true.”
Answer: You are right that anything which makes one physically, intellectually or in any manner weak has to be rejected like a poison. Therefore your stopping to meditate between the eyebrows is perfectly in order. Consciously try to meditate at the heart centre. It is better you take initiation (Mantra Diksha) preferably in India from our president or vice-president of the order.
You please try to get in touch with our nearest centre to you, the addresses with telephone numbers of all our U.S. Centres are available in our web, and discuss the matter in person with a swami-in-charge.
Question: 1. I have no job. I have been searching for job from 3 years. I did one job oriented course also for job. Though I am trying to get job very hardly, it’s not coming. Force is very more to me from my home. I cannot bare any pressure in my present situation. Job getting is solution. But how can I get job? 2. I helped my friend in his marriage issue selflessly. But while I was helping them I behaved closely to them. They completely misunderstood me and avoided me. Though I tried to convince them they misunderstood me a lot. This also I cannot bare. Everyday those thoughts are coming to my mind. How can I avoid those thoughts? Please give me solution to these problems.
Answer: You have written that you are trying to get job very “hardly”. Try “hard.” You will be successful. Only the degree will not count, you must have sufficient general knowledge, good English, and communication skills. Equip yourself and face the interviews with self-confidence.
Forget the episode regarding your friend and your helping him. If you have done the help selflessly, without any motives, their should be no problem in vanishing the thoughts. Still if you fail consult a suitable councilor.
Question: Everyday I pray in the morning by worshiping mother goddess (Durga) and then Lord Hanuman. First I offer prayer to Mother Goddess by chanting Durga Chalis and then Devi Kavach. After that I worship Lord Hanuman by Chanting Hanuman Chalis. But some people say that, I should worship only one God. In this way I am getting confused. Please guide me sir. Before prayers I offer water to Tulsi plant and other Plant and trees. I offer prayers in the room where I am sleeping. For this also there is objection. Although we have separate room for prayers but I am not able to concentrate in that room. Please guide me sir, what should I do.
Answer: You need a proper orientation in respect of your spiritual life. I do not know whether you have taken any Mantra Diksha (spiritual initiation) from any person and accepted him as your Guru. It is advisable for you to have initiation.
Please contact any of our centres which is nearest to you and talk to the Swamiji-in-charge. In the meanwhile start reading the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and Gospel of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi. This will help you to a great extent. Do not worry much about the formal worships and customs.
You have written “for this also there is objection”. If the objections are from your family people, perform your spiritual practices by reading, Japa and meditation, contemplation etc. without much ado.
Question: Vivekanandaji’s most famous statement “if I got ten young personalities I will change the entire world” always inspiring me. I want to be like that personality. I want to change Bihar. Whenever I see the people, my eyes can’t stop the tears, for that work I need strength. I think that, I am unable to do it. I always defeated by myself. I always want to help others especially poor people. But how can I do that? How I can help and change my Bihar? I have no idea. I would like to complete study well. If u guide me, I can store much strength in myself by that I might not turn back in future for doing that job. I also got the problem in doing the meditation. Because in nigh, I never sleep before 2 a.m. so I can not wake up early morning. All the routine of my days is improper. How can I manage to meditate?
Answer: Now in your present stage concentrate on your studies and complete the course successfully. During your leisure time read Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Works of Swami Vivekananda and Meditation and Spiritual life by Swami Yatiswarananda.
You can meditate as per your convenience. Don’t bother about the ritualistic aspects.
Question: Two year back I had a very strong touch with Swami Vivekananda’s opinion. I studied few books of him and got inspire. At that time I was meditating daily. And all the time, I was trying to reborn my sleeping power .The question that is always hustling in my mind is: Who am I? From where I have come? Where I have to go? The most important question is what’s our aim? For which purpose I have got the life? At that time I was used to be in jolly mood, and study well. But after 3 months I was not able to study well and from that time my mind digressed.
After joining our college I was trying to meditate regularly. But I was not remaining much strong to fight the worldliness. But all the time I was thinking about GYAN. From last one month I am regularly meditating in the middle of eyebrow and in the middle of mind. I am always trying to forget myself and see the PARMATMA. But I do not know the proper way how I have to do DHYAN. So can I get SAMADHI? I want to know the truth of life and sacrifice all the life for helping others. Please help me to find the truth.
Answer: I find that instead of getting inspiration you are more confused. Now concentrate on your studies and complete the course successfully. This should be your first goal.
Continue to read Swami Vivekananda’s works and the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. This will clear many of your doubts. The life and teachings of Holy Mother Sarada Devi will also help you. Therefore, please read that also.
Stop meditating in the middle of the eyebrow. You can meditate at the heart level. In this connection the book Meditation and Spiritual Life written by Swami Yatiswaranandaji Maharaj will guide you better.
From your mail we are not able to make out where you are? It is advisable to have a personal discussion. Try to meet the Swami-in-charge of our any centre which is nearest to you. Or you can come and meet us during your semester holidays. The addresses of our centers are available in our website.
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