What is the way to dry up the craving for worldly pleasure? How can one overcome the bad Samskaras of the mind?
Pray to the Divine Mother with a longing heart. Her vision dries up all craving for the world and completely destroys all attachment to 'woman and gold'. It happens instantly if you think of Her as your own mother. She is by no means a godmother. She
Does the 'Neti Neti' way eradicate desires? How can we choose and apply this way and make spiritual progress? How can we develop such willpower?
Why do you waste your time simply repeating 'Neti, neti'? Nothing whatsoever can be specified about Brahman, except that It exists. "Whatever we see or think about is the manifestation of the glory of the Primordial Energy, the Primal Consciousness. Creation,
Can spiritual aspirants take non-vegetarian food?
We leave everybody free to know, select, and follow whatever suits and helps him. Thus, for example, eating meat may help one, eating fruit another. Each is welcome to his own peculiarity, but he has no right to criticise the conduct of others, because
An atheist is often seen to lead a peaceful life without many hurdles, whereas a God-loving and spiritually inclined person is not placed in a similar position. Why?
The case cited is largely hypothetical, although we cannot deny that good fortune visits atheists and misfortune overtakes believers from time to time. But it cannot be shown that good fortune is the lifelong privilege of atheists and misfortune that
Scriptures inculcate that holy company (Satsanga) is necessary for the growth of one’s spiritual life. But then how is one to recognize a holy man?
It is true that holy company is the most important factor in the generation and strengthening of faith and devotion. It is also true that real holy men are very rare. The ideal of a holy man is described in the Bhagavata as follows: Wise men say that
Does God listen to the prayers of people?
God is as much justice as He is love and, in regard to persons who approach Him for favours, He is mainly a judge. He functions through the law of Karma, according to which man’s merits and demerits are responsible for his enjoyments and sufferings. But
I know the worldly life is of no use. But there are desires hidden. How to get rid of these desires ?
[Answer for sincere aspirants] We must rouse a tremendous divine discontent, the discontent the mystics of all ages speak of. Unless we are able to rouse in the soul this divine discontent which can destroy all our attachments to worldly things and desires,
Sir, why are there so many different opinions about the nature of God?
A devotee thinks of God as he sees Him. In reality there is no confusion about God. God explains all this to the devotee if the devotee only realizes Him somehow. You haven't set your foot in that direction. How can you expect to know all about God?
I know the worldly life is of no use. But there are desires hidden. How to get rid of these desires ?
[Answer for common man] Those who have not yet come to the end of their enjoyments should not renounce the world. They should try to perform their duties in a detached way. Before you break the jack-fruit open, rub your hands with oil, so that the sticky
Why are we born in this world? What is the purpose of creation?
Very difficult questions indeed! They will put even the wise man into confusion. Obviously we did not arrive here out of our choice but in spite of it we are all very reluctant to depart from here. Three possible answers are given to the first question:
Suppose a man is happy and is contentedly leading a good life, is it necessary for him to try to develop Vairagya? Or will it come by itself to such a person?
What is meant by a man leading a good life? We ordinarily mean doing one’s duties, earning a decent income in correct ways, being free from many problems, having good health, and having a peaceful family life. All such conditions are desirable, but if
A regular and systematic spiritual seeker often lacks peace of mind. Why? What is the way to attain peace?
The Bhagavad Gita says: ‘For one without self-control (Ayukta) and therefore without spiritual perception (Buddhi) there is no meditation (Bhavana). And for one without meditation there is no peace (Santi). And for one without peace, where is happiness?’
How can I know that I am making any progress in the path of spirituality?
Progress in most cases is very gradual and anything very gradual will be difficult to notice, say, like the slow movement of the hand of a clock of huge circumference. Even when we study a language as infants, it is very difficult for us to observe our
What is the purpose of meditation?
The purpose of meditation is to help man attain a direct and immediate experience of his basic nature as Sat-chid-ananda. In our ordinary waking moments the mind is outward-going, through the portals of the senses and it gets a direct knowledge of external
What is the ultimate end and result of the repetition of a holy Mantra constantly as devotees generally practise?
The word Mantra literally means ‘an instrument of deep thought, prayer, meditation, etc.’ Derived from the roots ‘Man’ and ‘Tra’ meaning ‘to think’ and ‘to save’ respectively, it is interpreted to mean also ‘that which Saves one from Samsara’, In a general
I am preoccupied with tremendous work at my workplace and so have little time left to sit for spiritual practices like meditation. In that case is spiritual life practical for me?
That is the development of thought in the Gita, that, by a certain spiritual technique, you convert action into inaction: you get the fruit of inaction through action itself. There is such a state of mind, calm and steady, in which you do a lot of work,
Does everyone get a call for spiritual life and what is its nature?
Over and over again, the Upanishads exhort man to turn his attention to the realisation of his true nature by properly using his nature-given equipment of body, senses, and mind. They implore man not to convert his psycho-physical organism into a tomb
Is it not enough to have a cheerful disposition and positive attitude towards human life?
A merely positivistic attitude to life may question the very necessity of religion; it may question the very validity of this search for the immortal and its technique of meditation. Modern positivism and humanism uphold the ideal of this-worldly excellence
What is the significance of worship, whether at home or at the temple? Is there any prescribed method for doing it?
Puja or worship is a loving entertainment of God, even as we entertain our friends and relatives whom we love. The several steps involved in such worship may be briefly stated as follows: Avahana (invoking the presence of God in the image or symbol),
Why and how should we observe the festivals?
Celebration of festivals and sacred days is a common phenomenon found in all religions. The common masses, though they may gain some knowledge through philosophy, and wisdom through mythology, are not satisfied at heart unless they can perform some rites
Where is the need for pilgrimages? Are there set rules to be observed while undertaking them?
A routine daily life in this humdrum world generates boredom very soon. Undertaking pilgrimages on such occasions will reinvigorate the mind, in the same way as recharging a battery that is rundown. How can a place of pilgrimage contribute to this? No
Why do we undergo suffering in life? Will it never come to an end?
It is exactly what has been called "Maya', 'Ajnana or Avidya'! Because of it, we forget our real nature as Atman, identify ourselves with the body, senses and mind, and consequently suffer. How and when we came under the subjection of Maya is a problem
Why has God put us in the world?
The world is the field of action. Through action one acquires knowledge. The guru instructs the disciple to perform certain works and refrain from others. Again, he advises the pupil to perform action without desiring the result. The impurity of the mind
If She (The Divine Mother) likes, She can give freedom to all. Why, then, has She kept us bound to the world?
That is Her will. She wants to continue playing with Her created beings. In a game of hide-and-seek the running about soon stops if in the beginning all the players touch the 'granny'. If all touch her, then how can the game go on? That displeases her.
What should a spiritual aspirant do if his/her spouse complains: 'You are neglecting me' ?
If a man has sincere love for God, then all come under his control – the king, wicked persons, and his wife. Sincere love of God on the husband's part may eventually help the wife to lead a spiritual life. If the husband is good, then through the grace
Why should God make us run about (in this world)?
It is His will that we should run about a little. Then it is great fun. God has created the world in play, as it were. This is called Mahamaya, the Great Illusion. Therefore one must take refuge in the Divine Mother, the Cosmic Power Itself. It is She
What are the benefits of practising Brahmacharya or continence for a Spiritual Aspirant?
The main purpose of brahmacharya is the development of the spiritual faculty — the spiritual 'nerve' called medha nadi. When a man practises brahmacharya for ten or twelve years he feels the awakening of this 'nerve' or faculty in him. It is the power
I seem to have little yearning for God and Spirituality ? How did the saints possess intense love for God?
It is often very difficult to have yearning for God in the beginning, and the reason is that God does not seem a reality to us. With most of us this body is our soul, and it is for the enjoyment of this body on the material plane-it need not necessarily
What is the nature of true Spiritual Conversion?
The Katha Upanisad says: "Arise! Awake! And realize the Truth following the great teachers." Indeed, from time immemorial God has been speaking to man through the great scriptures to take up the cross and follow Him. And, in obedience to this call thousands
Some modern psychologists promote the theory of free expression and advise us to avoid repression of instincts. Is that correct?
Modern psychologists have done a great service to humanity by their researches into the nature of the unconscious, dreams, motivation, complexes, repression, etc. But very many of them have in effect done an equal amount of harm by propagating the theory
What are the blessings needed for a Spiritual Life?
Shankaracharya says: 'A human birth, desire for emancipation, and contact with holy men-these three are very rare and are attained only through the grace of the Lord. But even these three advantages are not enough. We must be eager to profit by these
Is training needed for leading a Spiritual Life?
A disciple of the great Chinese mystic philosopher Lao Tsu narrates the following story. A young man joined the gang of a robber chief named Chi. One day the young apprentice asked his leader, "Can the Tao (the right Way) be found is thieving?". And Chi
How can i know my inner strengths and overcome the weaknesses to avoid any spiritual pitfalls?
Learn to become fully conscious under all circumstances and in all situations of life, and learn to recognize your own true motives in every undertaking. Criticize yourself severely, but this criticism must always be constructive, and never merely destructive,
How to make God the pivot of my life?
A spiritual aspirant must cultivate a definite attitude or relationship with the Divine. To begin with, he must love a particular aspect of God, or a holy Personality, intensely. Then he must learn to see the cosmic Being at the back of the Personal God,
Is it easy to practise the spiritual path and attain the supreme goal?
A seer of the Upanishads, after having followed the spiritual path and after having realized the supreme Spirit, spoke in these terms: "The wise ones say that the path to the realization of the supreme Spirit is as difficult to tread as the sharp edge
Can you give me some suggestions on how to do japa inspite of a restless mind?
When the mind is awfully restless and outgoing, we should tenaciously persist in our Japa, even do it mechanically, without giving in to this restlessness. That way, at least a part of our mind would be engaged in Japa. Thus the whole mind cannot become
How does one handle situations of uncertainity in life?
From a spiritual point of view it is good to remain amidst great uncertainty. It is often good if everything you relied upon is taken away from you and you are left without any worldly support. It is good if all old values, friendships and attachments
Does divine grace remove all our miseries and confer peace?
Divine Grace may not necessarily remove all our physical miseries and sorrows, but if we have the Grace, we can pass through the fiery ordeal of life successfully, burning the dross in us the process. This increases our inner purity and spirit of surrender.
I consider myself as a follower of the great Advaita Vedanta philosophy. Do i still need to follow moral virtues ?
Nowadays there is an attempt in the West to popularize Vedanta without stressing purity of mind. Many people in the West feel drawn to Advaita because of its loftiness and logical beauty. But intellectual appreciation alone is not enough. Many people
I am fully convinced of the evil effects of desires, but still unable to rid myself completely of them. What am i to do? How can i rise above them?
One way is to control them using will power. Another is to cultivate the witness attitude towards them. Neither of these is easy and in the beginning of one's spiritual life, well nigh impossible. What then is the way for a spiritual aspirant? He should
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