Deprecated: Function WP_Dependencies->add_data() was called with an argument that is deprecated since version 6.9.0! IE conditional comments are ignored by all supported browsers. in /home1/ramakris/public_html/e-lectures/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131
Skip to content
Question: I was reading the book by Pandit B.N.K. Sharma, “The teachings of Madhva in His own words”. I find that he has very strong arguments for reality of the world and individuality of souls (as different from each other). According to Advaita, differences are due to illusion, i.e. actually wood is same as rice which is same as iron etc. So isn’t it natural to expect that if someone is actually realised in Advaita, he must be able to subsist on air/wood or anything and not insist on having conventional food stuffs, e.g. rice etc. (Which are all illusory visons of the homogeneous Brahman). In general I find the Dvaita school to be quite a formidable counter philosophy to Advaita, what is the Advaitic defence to Madhva’s arguments. Do Advaitins have any counter questions to Dvaita?
Answer: The whole philosophy of Shankara and his followers do counter the arguments of Dvaita and all other schools. And the same with the Dvaitins. If you are really interested in, you should read the commentaries on Brahmasutras by Shankara and his followers as well as Madva and his followers.
Question: I am a student. I am deeply inspired by the ideals of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother & Swami Vivekananda. I have been initiated. Beside my spritual practices, I get great pleasure in reading the ‘Complete works of Swami Vivekananda’.
I find in the ‘Raja Yoga’, the practice of Pranayama by an untrained person can have bad effects. I am keen to know which parts of Raja Yoga can be safely practised by ordinary people & whether one would lose something by omitting Pranayama in order to achieve a harmony between the four Yogas as depicted by Sri Ramakrishna. I will be very grateful to you if you kindly reply my question in the light of Sri Ramakrishna & Swami Vivekananda.
Answer: Pranayama is not a compulsory thing. But a simple Pranayama helps for the concentration. Swamiji has explained it in his Raja Yoga in the introduction. You can safely follow that.
Question: In complete works of Swami Vivekananda, Swamiji explained about 4 kinds of Sanyasa : 1) Vidvat Sanyasa, 2) Vividisha Sannyasa, 3) Markata Sanyasa & 4) Atura Sanyasa. Since I could not understand the same, particularly the 3rd type, I request you to explain the same in detail.
Answer: It is difficult to explain the question you have asked in a short letter. However, I shall try to explain you briefly.
The renunciation must be always natural, rising with the desire for realization of God. Markata means – monkey. The monkey is always restless. Sometimes a man is not at all inclined to spiritual life. But, a sudden tragedy at house such as death of a dear one makes him loose interest in life and he wants to renounce the world. Such renunciation will be lost only as long as that grief remains in his mind. After sometimes again he gets interested in worldly life and forgets all about his renunciation. Such a renunciation is called Markata Sannyasa.
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.
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.
Answer: 1. To realise the real nature of man.
2. There is no goal for God except giving the Karmaphala.
3. To realise the real nature of man.
4. Your Karmaphala makes you do all these things.
5. Because of ignorance man does not know that all these are ephemeral.
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.”
Audio, Video, Articles, Moral Stories, Humor, FAQs & Important Links
