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Question: My mind is filled with many thoughts which constantly disturb me during meditation. Help me out to free my mind from all these thoughts during meditation.
Answer: It is not very easy to control the mind. But by constant practice & by reading good books, you will be able to overcome it. For any reason don’t give up the spiritual practice.
Question: I have been reading Bhagavad Gita, Upanishad’s like Mundakopanishat, Khathopanishat and some works by Shree Swami Vivekananda, Shree Swami Chinmayananda (Chinmaya Trust, Bangalore) and some Dvaita school of thoughts by Shree Madhvacharya. There are so many twist and turns and inter connections between one and other, I realize, I can’t figure out some of the things without a Guru’s Blessings and I don’t have all the books and perhaps time as well .To begin with these are my doubts
1) “When Shree Madhvacharya (incarnation of God Vayu) preached Dvaita, did he mean people following Advaita should quit and follow? Is Dvaita for “Realization and liberation”?
2) Did he really mean Advaita is misguiding people by its MAYA vada? My concern is both Shree Sankaracharya and Shree Madhvacharya are believed to be incarnations of God (Lord Shiva, Lord Vayu respectively) So I can’t think of any one lying for any sake. Both the doctrine’s have to be true isn’t it?
3) If both are true considering both the schools of thought address spirituality in different angles and hence approaches differ, still I would have some questions like i) Dvaita Philosophy says “Brahman is not the material cause of universe? Does this mean, Brahman (Parabrahman, Ultimate God) does not create this earth and other planets but only are dependent on him? “If this true then who creates? And also what about Advaita philosophy which says ÒExistence of universe is because of only one real ‘Chaitanya’ that is Brahman?
ii) Dvaita maintains that the distinction between Atman and Brahman is eternal, and union after salvation doesn’t mean that Atman will get merged with Brahman.
My understanding is that “Advaita is conveying the same message but at a higher level” Here is how I interpret:
Advaita never denies the Brahman with form. It accepts both forms and formless (impersonal) Brahman. So when Advaita says “Atman gets
merged/united with Brahman after salvation/liberationÓ it may well mean like following 2 ways
a) Atman the individual soul is freed of cycle of birth and death and is living in Gods planet along with God blessed by him forever, offering transcendental service to the Almighty Lord. This is when Brahman is perceived as with form
b) And when Brahman is thought as of impersonal, the salvation may mean ÒThe individual soul after liberation is like Brahman in terms of nature and quality and hence Atman essentially is like merged with Brahman”. It may not be to state that Atman is equal to Brahman but he becomes like him, or he becomes one in him”. So physically they me be different but conceptually they are same, just one.”
Can I interpret like above..? Is it right?
Answer: Each of the Acharyas is a realized soul. No doubt even though each had ultimately the same experience, they taught according to the time and need of the society. Instead of confusing ourselves with all these, we should select which ever path is suitable to us and engage in spiritual practice. Paths are many, but the goal is same.
Question: I have been searching for a place where I can study scriptures and more over find the truth about myself. I have been striving my best to lead a social life and find the truth about myself. But I am unable to find the answer. I am not able to fulfill my goal of learning the scriptures, I remain engaged with the worldly works, which to be frank, has not given me any peace of mind nor any satisfaction. Hence after a lot of thoughts and thinking I have been trying to find a place where I can fullfill my goals and learn scriptures. I know it requires dedication and sacrifice, I am sure I want to do it. So for achieving all this I need an able guru and a favorable environment which I have been searching. I have been going through the works done at your ashram and have been inspired by it. So I need your advice and sincere help to find out whether I can achieve the supreme knowledge at your ashram? For which I need to know more about the teachings taught there, I would also like to meet knowledgeable persons and ask for their valuable guidance. Hence I request you to please do guide me in this respect. I am hereby enclosing my bio-data with this mail for your kind reference. I would be very happy to clarify details required on my part.
Hoping for your favorable reply,
Answer: Ramakrishna Order is purely for monastics and for those who desire to become monks. Of course scriptural study classes are conducted for lay people who come from their residences. But, if you want residential accommodations & study scriptures then you may contact Swami Dayananda Saraswathiji’s institution, which conducts the same somewhere near Coimbatore. I do not know the exact address. If you can find out & get in touch with them, I hope your wish will be fulfilled. Reply to the above response: Respected sir,
Hope you remember me. Anyway as per your advice I had sent letters and mail to Swami Dayananda Saraswathiji’s institution, but unfortunately I didn’t get any reply. Anyway sir, as you had mentioned in your mail that at Ramakrishna Ashram its for only monastics, so I have been thinking over it, I do want to detach myself from all the worldly affairs that keep holding me back to the same position, I want to learn about myself and about creator (GOD), I know he dwells within me, but for me to understand him more closely and deeply I need to detach myself from all other kinds of worldly attachments and devote my life to that sole purpose, this is what I want to do. And I hope I would get that kind of environment at your ashram. So I need to know more about Ramakrishna Ashram and I want to visit your ashram at Bangalore and discuss it in person. So can it be possible for me to come and meet you at sometime of your convenience early next month. I don’t know the formalities for meeting any learned persons at ashram, so I would be grateful to you if you could guide me in this.
Hoping for your kind reply. Have a good day.
Answer: I wish you make a trip to Coimbatore & meet in person swami Dayananda Saraswathi. If you are interested in monastic life & to become a monk, the first condition is you should be below 28 years, unmarried, & thoroughly conversant with the philosophy of Sri Ramakrishna. We have centers at Kerala in the following places. You can visit any one of them which is nearer to you. Of course if you are keen in coming to Bangalore, you are welcome. But you have to ascertain of my availability before hand as I am always on tour.
Addresses:
Ramakrishna Advaita Ashrama
P.O. Kalady
Dr. Ernakulam 683 574
Kerala, India
Phone: 0484-246-2345, 246-1071
Ramakrishna Math
P.O. Vyttila, Kochi
Dt. Ernakulam 682 019
Kerala, India
Phone: 0484-230-1860
Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama Kallai, P.O. Arts & Science College (Calicut),
Kozhikode 673 018
Kerala, India
Phone: 0495-232-0191, 232-5345.
Ramakrishna Math
P.O. Arunapuram
Palai
Dt. Kottayam 686 574
Kerala, India
Phone: 0482-220-0700
Ramakrishna Math
Swami Vivekananda Road
P.O. Melur, Quilandy
Dt. Kozhikode 673 319
Kerala, India
Phone: 0496-263-0990
Ramakrishna Ashrama
Sasthamangalam
Thiruvananthapuram 695 010
Kerala, India
Phone: 0471-272-2125, 272-2453, 272-6603, 272-7393, 272-7607.
Ramakrishna Ashrama Nettayam,
P.O.- Katchani,Thiruvananthapuram - 695 013.
Phone: 0471-236-4936.
Ramakrishna Math
Vilangan, P.O. Puranattukara
Dt. Thrissur 680 551 Kerala, India
Phone: 0487-230-7719, 230-7492.
Ramakrishna Ashrama
Thukalassery
Tiruvalla
Dt. Pathanamthitta 689 101
Kerala, India
Phone: 0469-260-3125
Question: I am an engineering college student. My problem is I don’t want any base feelings towards the opposite sex. But I can’t help it. That thought is always disturbing me a lot. I am lagging in studies also. Few years back I was good at studies. I read Vivekananda’s book regularly. But I canÕt follow his advice. Give me suitable advice to be able to overcome this problem
Answer: Develop good habits & avoid contact with the members of opposite sex to the extent possible. You have to keep away from T.V., reading novels, bad magazines, etc. & also try to repeat any Lord’s name which you like as many times as possible. By these measures one can easily get over bad thoughts.
Question: I am Doctor, lately facing problems in my professional life. I always felt crying is weakness. I always knew if we have faith in god nothing can harm them. I write Srichakra everyday and read Lalita Sahasranama everyday. This I am doing it, since from 10th standard. I worship lord Ganesha. If I feel scared and depressed I read Vishnu Sahasranama. Now from past few months whatever I am doing is everything wrong. I always empathized with people and helped them out of my way. I always felt they are my well-wishers but they have caused me more trouble. I always felt as long as god is with me nothing will go wrong. Now I am becoming very pessimistic. I always solved my problem alone. I need your suggestion now. Thanking you, I hope a good response from you Swamiji.
Answer: I am extremely happy that you are chanting Lalita Sahasranama regularly. The Divine Mother will always protect you. Don’t have any second opinion about it. Only develop intense faith in it. It is good to help others, but don’t expect anything from them, even appreciation. Don’t worry. Things will be all right.
Question: I am a girl of 20 yrs, studying in college. Our entire family has been initiated from Ramakrishna Mission. My problem is as follows:
About my mother & father, both are very devoted to God & have been initiated from Ramakrishna Ashram. About their nature, my mother follows all the rituals, ‘Niyam-Kanoons’, she believes in various ‘shubha-ashubha’ habits also like one should not put hand on forehead as it is a sign of misfortune, should wash hands & mouth after taking ‘Prasad’ etc. she also likes cleanliness in the house but my papa is entirely opposite. He always throws things here & there, do not follow the Niyams even if mummy requests a hundred times also, after eating fruits etc throws the seeds here & there in the house, he never cares for what mummy & even we tell papa to do, enters the GOD room with impure clothes. Many many such things he will do. That we also hate, but we (sisters) don’t say anything as he is our father & we should respect him. We tolerate all the ‘aniyamas’ that he does. But mummy can’t tolerate, she becomes mad by seeing all these.
One day mummy was thus interrupting papa. Papa angrily cursed her that in her old age, she will be bed ridden & no body will be near you because all will abhor & detest or hate you. After that mummy has become very depressed. She has left talking to papa since few months except some inevitable conversations. She always remains sad & morose. She always broods over the curse whether it will come true or not. We try to console her, comprehend her but she is as she was.
I want to know whether the curse will come true. Please reply soon Maharaj. The environment of our home has become very morose what should we do now?
Answer: This type of problems remains at every house. It is not possible to correct him in this old age. So the best thing is to ignore him & allow him to do in his own way. Automatically he will come round after sometime. Tell you mother not to worry about any curse. Sri Sri Thakur & her Guru will always take care of her only let her have infinite faith in them.
Question: I am 26 years of age and working as a Scientist in ISRO, Dept of Space in Hyderabad. I am a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna and I visit Ramakrishna Math in Hyderabad regularly during weekends, spend some time in the temple and listen to the lectures given by the Swamijis. I also attend the spiritual retreats whenever they are being held. At home, I do Sandhyavandanam and also read few slokas
My problems are as follows:
1) I am a very short-tempered person. Even for petty things, I lose my temper and get frustrated.
2) I also remain too impatient most of the time.
3) I also dwell too much on the past and keep on worrying unnecessarily.
I would be grateful if my problems are being addressed.
Answer: Loosing temper is the nature of some people. That has to be got over by only by repetition of the Lord’s name & also by analyzing when you are in a calm state of mind. If your spiritual practices are not helping to solve your problems it must be that you are doing these things mechanically. Try to do it whole heartedly with intense devotion. If you read every day some page of Swami Vivekananda particularly talks of mind & its nature it may help you.
Question: Regarding Rama Nama Japam some people say we MUST prefix ‘Sri’ before ‘Rama’ to make ‘Sri Rama’ otherwise practicing simply ‘Rama’ will not be powerful. Please answer me if you feel my question is genuine.
Answer: It can be chanted either way. It doesn’t make any difference.
Question: Ashtawakara Gita says that the entire universe is just like a dust in the total Consciousness. Whereas the chain of birth and death seems to be infinite like the vision of snake appears as real, due to illusion, in terms of qualities like example 6′ length, 1/2 inch diameter, coiled up.
I know that The Truth is ‘the entire universe is just like a dust in the total consciousness.’ Being an Advaithist, I had no doubt about it. Kindly clarify then, does the illusion of birth and death appear as infinite due to one’s mind stretching in time, space and causation out of Vasanas. (desires).
In reality, there is no world exists. Is my vision in this regard is right or wrong? If wrong, kindly correct me.
Answer: You are absolutely correct in your thought. Even the appearance as dust is again an illusion. The words are used in order to explain things. But in reality Brahman alone is real.
Question: What is the significance of Aditya Hridayam Stotram? Can it be chanted daily by everyone? Since Rama Himself is the supreme person then why did sage Agastya gave that Stotram to Sri Rama? Is planetary Sun the supreme person? Or is it in the sense that indweller of Sun being Narayana?
Answer: Aditya Hridayam as the name indicates is the prayer to Lord Sun for achieving success in all our endeavors. The Lord Sun dispels the obstacles come on the way. Sri Rama too achieved success by praying to Lord Sun. when the God incarnates as man he likes to behave like a man in order to set an example. So lord Rama worshipped the Sun.
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