Question: There was a statement by Swami Vivekananda : “It is good and grand to conquer external nature but grander still to conquer our internal nature.” What comprises internal nature? Are they our thoughts? What practical methods exist and need to be practised for one to try conquering the internal nature ?
Answer: Conquering the internal nature is controlling the mind. It has to be done through meditation. For details, read Swami Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga.
Question: I have a question – When I try to do meditation in the morning -that is the days when I can concentrate better, I suddenly realize after sometime that my mouth is opened. I have never seen anybody meditating with open mouth, I wonder if this is natural or something I should try to control
Answer: If it is possible to close the mouth, it is good. It can be done by practice.
Question: I am working in a software firm. I am 23 years of age now. I was intitiated in 1998 when I was in college. I was chanting that Mantra regularly for 2 years and I used to attend the classes for the youth in Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. I found that my mind was getting a bit pure and clear. But after I got my job (through campus interviews), I lost my control of my mind and I stopped doing Japa and started enjoying like a normal college guy.
At present, I am working in Mumbai .What I want is a good, pure life free from jealousy, desire for girls, deceit. Nowadays I do Japa of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’. I do not chant the intitiated mantra because I am afraid of some things. I do read works of Vivekanda though not regularly. … …
I am learning music and I hear lot of carnatic, Western classic and cinema songs/music. Also I am learning violin for few months. Hearing pure classical music is sometimes boring and I hear cinema songs to pass that boredom. Will hearing music disturb the mentality of a person ?
Answer: The Mantra given by the Guru will help you to purify your mind. It is natural for men to err, but God will definitely forgive, if you are sincere in correcting yourself. If you are finding peace in repeating Shiva Mantra, you may continue to do so, but you have to do the Japam of the Mantra given by your Guru, at least as much as he has asked you to do.
Regarding the music, the cinema songs will only lead you towards more & more desires. There are so many devotional songs. It is better to hear them, or cultivate the habit of reading good books. That will always help you to keep your mind in higher levels.
Question: Even though I practise Japam, I am not able to come out of the attachment of women related thoughts. I think more about sex. I feel shy while seeing women. Can you help me in this regard ?
Answer: What you have written is the common problem of all. But it is possible to remain pure, if you follow the following advices:
1. Read good books,
2. Avoid talking to women when they are alone,
3. Do not see the films which highlight the sex.
Question: Is it true that there is/are higher world/s where there is no old age, death, disease etc. Second doubt is – Are we i.e., has every individual (human being) reached some spritual stage however much initial stage it may be and he goes further only and not back or he may fall down and has to start again. In other words, if a person reached a stage of some power of discrimination about right and wrong, some amount of control over his senses, are they likely to decrease? or they won’t ?
Answer: According to our scriptures, there do exist the heaven & hell. People who do meritorious acts in this world, do reach the heaven and enjoy as long as the merit lasts. It is only the question of pure faith.
Regarding the progress or coming down, depends on the way of life you lead. After making some progress, if you continue your spiritual practice, you will be going up. If you indulge yourself in sensual activities, you will be going down. If you remain neutral there will not be either progress & degradation.
Question: What is the importance Upanayanam in Hindu religion. It is said that only those people who gone through Upanayanam, should chant Gayatri. Why it is like that?
Answer: In the Hindu custom, Upanayanam is a rebirth to a man, when he is invested into spiritual life. If you are invested ceremoniously, it has its sanctity. However, you are free to chant Gayatri. Learn it from one who knows it.
Question: Why people offer animals as a worship to God?
Answer: This is a controversial question, on which much can be said on both the sides. This tradition is coming from ages. So, it cannot be said whether it is right or wrong. Only, if we are averse to it, let us keep away from it and don’t bother to convert others.
Question: I am a married man with 2 children and I am 37 years of age. My queries are with reference to the 7 planes of the mind, discussed at several places in “The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna”. (For example, it is described in Chapter 6, The Master with the Brahmo devotees (I), October 28, 1882). Here, Sri Ramakrishna says that the 4th plane is located at the heart and when the mind dwells there, one has the first glimpse of spiritual consciousness. One sees light all around. Such a man, perceiving the divine light, becomes speechless with wonder and says: ‘Ah! What is this? What is this?’ His mind does not go downward to the objects of the world. How to make the mind go to the 4th plane? Is an intiation by one whose mind has already reached the 4th (or higher) plane necessary to reach the 4th plane of the mind? I do practice of Suryanamaskaar, Pranayama and prayer in the morning. When I pray, I ask God that I may remember Him all the time. I also do Japa of Sri Rama mentally or chanting softly (whenever He makes me remember), while at work or home or going from home to work and back. Is this the way to get a glimpse of spiritual consciousness?
Answer: I am happy to note your interest in spiritual matters. I wish that you continue the spiritual practice which you are already practising. The path of Raja Yoga mentioned in the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, is a different path and you need a Guru to guide you and also that will be a full time job, which means you have to dedicate your whole life for that purpose. But, the same result can be attained by constantly praying to the Lord and leading a pure life
Question: Kindly enlighten me how to forget for a few minutes about our environment, external sorroundings indeed external world and dwell into innerself.. Will Dhayna (Meditation) lead us there?
Answer: You have put in a very simple manner what our ancient sages have tried hundreds of years to succeed in what you have asked for. It is possible, but it requires patience, perseverance and long practice. Try and wish you all success. Dhyana is the only method for it.
Question: What is the significance of Guru Purnima ? Is it suggested that devotees should bear all hardships ( e.g., Standing in long queues for hours), just to offer a momentary pranam to their Gurus on that particular day? What is the underlining utility of this occassion ? Is there any book that can inform me about the significance of Guru Purima ?
Answer: I don’t know who has explained you the significance of Gurupurnima in this manner. It is supposed to be sage Vyasa’s birth and death day. Since he is considered as the Parama Guru, it is celebrated as Gurupurnima. Remembering our Guru and spending more time on spiritual practice on that day is the best way to celebrate it. There is a book called ‘Guru Gita’ which is in the form Sanskrit verses. Of course, it does not explain what is Gurupurnima.
Response to the Above: I do realize how blind I am about our own ocassions / rituals. Can I bother you with another question ? I have taken initiation. But being introvert by nature, I don’t believe in bothering other people with my problems. So I don’t even open up to my Guru for guidence, not only because I’m an introvert, but also because he is very busy doing good for humanity and I feel I should not disturb him with my petty problems / confusions. I just pray to God and believe that He’s the best guide, the only person that I can pour out to without wasting others time ! Am I thinking on the right lines ? Or is it risky to solely depend upon such devine guidence without proper spiritual maturity ? Since it is suggested that one should not consider his Guru to be a mere human, but should know one’s Guru and Ishta / God to be one, am I under-estimating my Guru by saying that he’ll get disturbed / I’ll waste his time (after all who can waste God’s time !) ?
Reply to the Above: You may write to your Guru without any hesitation. He will be too happy to guide you.