Answer: Your intentions are good. But it needs certain modifications in our outlook depending upon social conditions. However, please write to Sarada Math, which is the parallel wing of the Ramakrishna Math for the ladies, who will be able to throw more light in the matter.
The email address of Sarada Math is srismath@vsnl.com and the website is http://www.srisaradamath.org/

Answer: Vibhuti or Kumkuma or Chandana is offered to the deity uttering several (108, or 1008) spiritually charged mantras. So it is considered holy. It is kept in a box and devotees apply it on their forehead everyday thinking that it is the prasada of the deity. That is one of the ways of remembering the Lord or Divine Mother. When you apply, it signifies that you belong to a particular community, say Shakta or Shaiva or Vaishnava. These are the main ideas. There may be other ideas also.

A Brahamacharin (celibate) is asked to take cold water bath because that keeps the nerves cool. Anything hot excites the nerve. Cold water bath is a part of Tapasya or austerity which a Brahmachari is expected to practise. Cold water bath helps him to practise Brahmacharya. Eat that food which does not excite your nerves. Eat that food which is Satvik and avoid Tamasik food. If you read Bhagavad Gita (16th Chapter), what food to be taken and what should be avoided is mentioned.

Answer: We request you to read the book “Life after death” by Swami Abhedananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.

In “Katha Upanishad”, Nachiketa has already asked this question to the God of Death (Yama). So, please read the book “Katha Upansihad” and also “Raja Yoga”. When you become a yogi of the highest order, you can concentrate your mind on your past lives, and problems like birth and death, and know the secret for yourself. There is nothing so secret kept behind the earnest seeker. Struggle hard and you can know it yourself. My simple question to you is – do you give out all your inner secrets to anybody and everybody? Are you so open? Is everything transparent with you?

The scriptures say that we identify ourselves with our body-mind-complex and think ourselves to be as the mere body-mind-complex which is essentially inert; the body is gross whereas the mind is subtle, but both are inert only. This is happening due to our ignorance about our Real Nature which is Pure Consciousness. Once a person realizes his Real Nature through the spiritual practices and God’s grace, he himself will automatically be able to know the secret of the birth and death and also he will not be bound in the chain of birth and death; he will then become free – the Liberated, Mukta Purusha. The ignorance again is due to our innumerable desires, Samskaras or the impressions in the mind; these Samskaras are stored embedded in the depth of the mind acquired through all our actions happened in different births. Each action / thought we do leaves behind an impression in our mind; these impressions are powerful and determines one’s propensities or to say, the character. Through spiritual practices one attains purity and these impressions get lost or loose their power and then the inner light flashes revealing the Real Nature of the person. In spiritual life, the grace of God and Guru is essential. Again, the God likes the play of this world going. So, He keeps certain things in secret. That is His wish. But, He listens to the sincere prayers and is moved by the spiritual practices of His devotee and thus He compassionately loosens the bonds of the devotee and frees him from the chain of birth and death. Hope this will clear your doubts to some extent.

Response to the Above: The creation of God is excellent. Endless human sufferings too excellent. Is it called frolics of God? If somebody does harm to you, don’t you call it sadism? Please answer me.

Answer to the above Response: We, the created beings, suffer or enjoy owing to our own past actions -mental or verbal or physical, performed in this life as well as during our innumerable earlier lives about which most of us have forgotten. It is somewhat like – if a man eats chili, his mouth is supposed to burn inside. How it happens? In two ways: Individual and Providential.

Individual: Each action results in the mind an impression. It is said, the mind is like a video camera, nay, much more than that; as, video camera can capture only sound and picture, but the mind can access many such dimensions Ð sound, picture, smell, touch, taste, hatred, love, jealousy, bliss, etc. When we do good actions, good impressions are left behind, and similarly for bad actions, bad impressions. Repeated such actions make the similar impressions stronger. When in a person the good impressions are prevalent, his propensities become good and so for the bad ones. These propensities determine the character of a person. Under same circumstance, a bad and a good man will act in a different way depending on their impressions. Also these stored impressions determine the mental and physical sufferings or enjoyments of a person as a matter of consequence, as Swami Vivekananda says, “If you project hatred and jealousy, they will rebound on you with compound interest. No power can avert them; when once you have put them in motion, you will have to bear them. Remembering this will prevent you from doing wicked things.” (Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. 1, p. 262) So, whatever we do should carefully and thoughtfully be done. Providential: Again, as in the world, for bad actions or, for good actions in the society, a person is punished or praised, similarly each of our actions – gross or subtle, the Providence observes every bit of these actions and accordingly sufferings or enjoyments are granted by Him to a person. God has both aspects: benign or gracious and dreadful or terrible aspect. We should not expect that He should always be kind and compassionate; is it right to expect this for our misdeeds also? It is like, in a family, the parents chastise their children at times, only for their good and also for the smooth-going of the things around. Our sufferings also are good in its real consequence, though most of us do not understand it.

Thus, you understand that God is not to be called the sadist for the sufferings in His creation. Whether we call Him to be a sadist or compassionate, it does not affect Him at all. As we had written in our earlier e-mail to read some books, please do read those along with other books of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda-Vedanta Literature, for example, “Karma YogaÓ, ÒBhagavad Gita” (Chapter 3, 4). This will help you to keep up your spirit and also help you gradually to reduce the bad thoughts; this also will enable to clear your doubts gradually in the life. These books or some scriptures are to be read and also contemplated on the sublime ideas; along with this, spiritual practices are to be done – these will help you understand gradually the subtler things in the world. Through the grace of the God and these Spiritual Practices, one realizes his Real Nature and becomes free from the sufferings as well as from the chain of birth and

Answer: Hereunder we give you the names of the deities from Monday to Sunday :- Monday: Lord Shiva, Tuesday: Divine Mother Sri Sarada Devi, Wednesday: Sri Ramakrishna, Thursday: Initiated Guru or Sachchidananda as Guru or Saibaba, Friday: Divine Mother Laxmi, Saturday: Sri Krishna, Sunday: Bhagavan Sri Rama. Is it not better to worship one God who is your chosen deity or favourable deity ? Think and meditate always that deity alone. Thus you can progress spiritually.

Answer: 1. Total unconditional surrender is what is required. If you are doing that, your attitude is perfect. Continue to do that sincerely. Wish you all the best.

2. Whenever bad thoughts arise in your mind, think of opposite good thoughts. If negative thoughts arise, think of positive thoughts. If thoughts of weakness come, think of strength. Offer all your weakness at the feet of the Lord. You have to continually do it. And be mentally alert, and do this repeatedly and without any respite.

3. Do mental Padapuja (worshiping the lotus feet) of Swami Vivekananda with flowers with love and devotion. Surely it will reach Him. He understands your sincere feelings and heart-felt worship.

Response to the Above: Thank you for replying my mail. Your suggestions cleared me from various doubts and gave me more strength. In this world, the greatest thing is pure love. And I want this life of mine should go away by praying to Swami Vivekananda. I never want to get married and I am very sure about this. I am God’s; that’s all I know. Each and every moment of this life is for Swamiji. But the glamour of this world really gives some fear to me. I fear of separation from Swamiji. Yet it is true that for a second also we cannot separate ourselves from the Supreme Being. I want till death I must be at Swamiji’s feet. But these worldly temptations always drag me from my path. I have to fight with all these or else I keep silent. Can you tell me how I can dispel all these things ? … … I wanted to know that in the path of devotion, there are many distractions of the mind. How we can overcome and stick to our goal ? These distractions give some fear in me. So how I can remove all these ?

Answer to the above Response: As you are devoted to Swami Vivekananda, PLEASE READ “The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda”, published in English and other Indian languages, everyday and contemplate on the sublime ideas that came out from him. These books you should read again and again. Apart from this, we suggest you to read the following books:

On the Life of Swami Vivekananda: “Life of Swami Vivekananda by His Eastern & Western Disciples”, etc.

On the Life & Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna: “The Great MasterÕ, “Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna”, etc.

On the Life & Teachings of Holy Mother Sri Sarade Devi: “The Life of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi” – by Swami Gambhirananda, “Gospel of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi”, etc. Holy Mother’s life is a role model for every women in the present age. So, please read Her Life & Teachings thoroughly. If you regularly read the above books definitely you will get tremendous strength, courage and self-confidence which will help you face the inner and outer problems in life. Of course, side by side, you should cultivate the habit of sincere prayer. God listens to the sincere prayer of His devotees. The problems mentioned by you are natural for a spiritual aspirant; these get reduced through oneÕs spiritual practices and the grace of the Lord. We request you, if you need more details, to meet the following Swami, who is a senior swami of our Order and discuss about your personal problems with him.

Answer: 1. You are already doing one hour meditation; please continue to do.
2. Fill your stomach with only Sattvik food. Don’t take irritating, stimulating and such other food which makes the mind restless.
3. of your stomach should be filled with food of nutritious value and ? should be filled with water and the other ? should be left for air circulation.
4. When you feel restless to the same subject again and again, change the subject.
5. Everyday you must take physical exercise and deep breathing for at least 1 hour.
6. DonÕt see those programmes in TV, which distracts the mind. DonÕt read such books which distracts the mind.
7. Keep the company of the good people. Read good books, send good thought currents to all directions for the welfare of all and offer sincere prayers to the Almighty to give you the power of concentration and retaintive memory and pure mind.
8. Anything that helps you to concentrate, you can adopt such methods.

Response to the Above: Thank you for giving me the suggestions. … … … Can you please guide me how to keep up the concentration when I am overpowered by the bad thoughts, like over-confidence, depressed moods, etc. ?

Answer to the above Response: You have asked how to concentrate the mind when bad thoughts arise in the mind. It is also not possible to concentrate the mind even when various other types of thoughts run in the mind. Always try to be a witness of every thought and action in the world. Know that you and your thoughts are different; we generally mix ourselves with the thoughts. When we try to be a witness, automatically the mind becomes calm and concentrated and also the bad thoughts disappear from the mind. You yourself can feel it if you do it. What is required is to allow the mind to run on as it likes and to keep a watch over it. By sincere and uninterrupted practice to be a witness, you can surely improve the present condition of the mind.

When we stand on the bank of a river and watch the water flowing, we are not carried away by the strong current of water and we remain still on the bank itself. In a football game, the viewer who does not support any of the teams, enjoys most and does not feel sorry for any of the teamsÕ loosing or winning the game. Similarly, a witness in this world can enjoy living in this world, by not involving himself with either the outside world or the mental world.

Answer: We request you to read “The Lectures from Colombo to Almora” and the lectures on Yoga delivered by Swami Vivekananda. These will help you to a great extent. There are some booklets: “Instant Inspiration”, “Power Capsules”, “Gospel of Strength” and “Vivekananda – His call to the Nation”, etc. These also you may read.

There are several other books meant for youths which you will get from our book stalls. Please visit the nearest Ramakrishna Math centre and purchase them. If it is not possible for you to purchase those books, please enroll yourself as a member of the library and borrow books. You read them thoroughly and I am sure you can improve your confidence.

Answer: 1. Mukti or Moksha or liberation is to go out of the chain of birth and death. A liberated man will not take birth again. But, there are Nitya-Mukta-Purushas (i.e., the ever-free), who are born with the Avataras or the incarnations to assist in His mission.

2. Through intense and sincere spiritual practices, an aspirant can attain Moksha or Liberation. Of course, only spiritual practices will not be enough, the grace of the God is required for that.

3. Kama is desiring for anything.

4. It is possible; you may read the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna. No doubt it is very difficult. Actually, also it is very difficult even for the Sannyasins (monk) ! The more a person can achieve towards this, i.e., the more a person gives up his desires, the better for him.

Response to the Above: So to get Mukti, we need to pray to God and follow the Spiritual Practices. Could you please explain this in depth like what is the logic here between getting Mukti by following the Spiritual Practices and leaving Kama. What are the Spritual Practices? Kama mean that not to have desires. Could please suggest how to slowly remove all the desires from me. But I have a desire to have Mukti. I heard about God and I feel Him while I do Bhajans (Devotional songs), though I didn’t see Him physically. Sometimes when I become depressed, I think that He doesn’t exist.

Answer to the above Response: By doing the spiritual practices, the mind becomes purified. And when the mind becomes completely purified, the person becomes Mukta (liberated / free). As the dirt covers the mirror creating obstacle to see our face on it, similarly, these impurities that are in the mind, do not allow us to see / to know our Real Nature. Being completely purified, a person knows his Real Nature; and when he thus knows his Real Nature, he becomes free. The spiritual practices are: Japa (repetition of a mantra or a name of the aspirant’s Chosen Deity), Dhyana (meditation), prayer, discrimination, etc. The more the mind becomes purified through the spiritual practices, lesser will be the worldly desires in the mind. Thus the desires are to be removed. The desire for Mukti is not considered as a desire. When doubts come, please think assertively that the Saints, Rishis, Avataras had told that the God exists and they have realized God. And also the scriptures tell the same thing. These scriptures and the saints also show us the way to realize God. Hence, God exists. Only due to our ignorance and impurities, we cannot see Him. We wish you read the ‘Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’, ‘Life of Swami Vivekananda’, ‘Lectures from Colombo to Almora’ – by Swami Vivekananda, and other spiritual literature. These books can be availed from the Sales Section of any our centres.

Response to the Above Reply: I am very much impressed after getting the answer to my question. Thanks for the good reply. I’ll start doing what you said. You have said that having desire to have Mukti is not a Desire. How is this? Also I am thinking that the married life will disturb the goal to get the Mukti, where the desires (good or bad) will be increased a lot because of the attachments. Could you please guide me the correct way regarding the marriage.

Answer to the above Response: Worldly desire is harmful for the spiritual life and it stands in the way of reaching the goal – realizing the Truth, or to say, Mukti, which is the goal of the human life. Desiring for Mukti itself is the goal of human life. This desire for Mukti is called Mumukshutvam. The more it is in a spiritual aspirant, the better it is for him to reach the goal. Hence, desiring for Mukti, for Bhakti, Jnana, for doing spiritual practices, etc. won’t be considered as desires. Regarding to marry or not, please think deeply and act accordingly. Please read the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda-Vedanta literatures as much as possible, including few books which were mentioned in the last e-mail-reply, and contemplate on those ideas. You will get the positive ideas from this.

Response to the Above Reply: While doing Japa, I find my mind is very much distracted. Is there any particular time to do Japa ?

Answer to the above Response: Please don’t worry about the distractions. Continue to do Japa, prayer, meditation and reading the holy books. “Slow but steady wins the race.” Don’t give up the regular practice. Anytime is Japa-time. In the beginning, it is good to have fixed time – in the morning, noon and evening. Once the practice becomes perfect, anytime is Japa-time.

Answer: We should perform every duty in this world thoughtfully. Our conscience and reasoning should be clear in regard to our activities. I am happy to understand that you are following this principle.

Your questions can be divided into two sub-divisions:
1. Donating for the cause of Service Activities meant for the poor and the needy people, and
2. Donating to the Temples for the service of the Lord and His devotees.

1. We should know clearly why we are going to do some service activities. Swami Vivekananda said, “Our duty to others means helping others; doing good to the world. Why should we do good to the world ? Apparently to help the world, but really to help ourselves. Do not stand on a high pedestal and take five cents in your hand and say, Here, my poor man, but be grateful that the poor man is there, so that by making a gift to him, you are able to help yourself. It is not the receiver that is blessed, but it is the giver. Be thankful that you are allowed to exercise your power of benevolence and mercy in the world, and thus become pure and perfect.” (Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. 1, page Ð 75-76) Hence, we understand that to do good to ourselves, we should also serve others. It is because we are in a very big family called the world, and the needy and poor people are also part of our family. As in our day-to-day family life, we see, if anyone of our relatives is not keeping well physically, mentally or economically, spontaneously helping propensities come to us and we go ahead in removing the problems. Similarly the service activities for the needy people should be the outcome of our spontaneous feeling of oneness. Thus our heart expands. We become more and more unselfish. Gradually our mind becomes pure.

Again, Swami Vivekananda said, “After so much austerity, I have understood this as the real truth – God is present in every jiva (living being); there is no other God besides that. Who serves jiva, serves God indeed. “(Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. 7, page Ð 247) This is the central idea behind the multifarious service activities which are carried on by different centres of the Ramakrishna Math & Mission. And this should be the ideal behind any of our philanthropic activities. Keeping this ideal constantly in the mind, if we try to serve others – who are Gods in different forms and manners, it also becomes the worship of the Lord and naturally the consequences of this sort of worship also brings to its performers the same results, as in the ritualistic worship of the Lord. This type of worshippers get broadness of heart, selflessness, feeling of oneness with all, purity of mind through these service activities which lead them in course of time to the supreme goal of a person that is, God realization.

This is in brief about the ideas which should be behind our philanthropic activities. Please read thoroughly these books: “Salvation and Service” (a compilation from Swamiji’s works), “Lectures from Colombo to Almora”, “Karma Yoga” by Swami Vivekananda and other books on his life and teachings, and contemplate on the sublime ideas therein. Swami Vivekananda revolutionized in combining the Vedanta with our mundane activities, especially those meant for the God in the living beings. After you become convinced, you may go ahead with doing some services to the needy directly or indirectly, depending on your convenience; donating monetarily is an indirect way in doing these services.

2. A devotee inclines to serve his Lord as much as he can. The more he loves Him, more he tries to serve Him in some way or the other. Again, Sri Ramakrishna says that the Lord, His devotees and the Bhagavatam is the same; i.e., the essence is – the God manifests more in His devotees than in others. So, if somebody, out of the genuine love for his Ishta or the Chosen Deity, donates in a temple wherein his Ishta is worshipped daily and also His devotees and His created beings, creatures, animals, etc. are also served in some way, then he feels tremendous inward joy by doing something for the Lord. And this leads him towards the supreme goal of realizing his Ishta. Again, a devotee can also visit or donate temples of Deities different from his own chosen Deity, as the same Supreme Lord only takes the forms of different Deities.

Again, our scriptures prescribe to whom to donate. In Srimad Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 17, verses 20-22), Sri Krishna said that we should do charity or donation seeing the proper time, place and person. There are three types of charity – Sattvika, Rajasika and Tamasika; Sattvika Charity is of the highest type. Please read these verses and its explanations as well. Hope this will clear your doubts to some extent.