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
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
Why does the Katha Upanishad fascinate students of philosophy?
The Katha holds a special fascination for all students of the Upanishads for its happy blend of charming poetry, deep mysticism, and profound philosophy; it contains a more unified exposition of Vedanta than any other single Upanishad; its charm is heightened
What is the highest pinnacle of human wisdom?
The Isha Upanisad raises us to the highest pinnacle of human wisdom: यस्तु सर्वाणि भूतान्यात्मन्येवानुपश्यति । सर्वभूतेषु चात्मानं ततो न विजुगुप्सते ।।६।। (Yastu sarvani bhutanyatmanyevanupasyati; Sarvabhutesu catmanam tato na vijugupsate.) 6 'The wise
Where is real peace?
(In the Katha Upanishad) Yama expounds in verse thirteen, this extraordinary Vedantic discipline for the realisation of the Atman: यच्छेद्वाङ्मनसी प्राज्ञस्तद्यच्छेज्ज्ञान आत्मनि । ज्ञानमात्मनि महति नियच्छेत्तद्यच्छेच्छान्त आत्मनि ।।१३।। (Yacchedvanmanasi
Can a good study of the scriptures reveal to me the supreme truth?
(In the Katha Upanishad) Yama speaks of the unique nature of this journey and its goal: नायमात्मा प्रवचनेन लभ्यो न मेधया न बहुना श्रुतेन । यमेवैष वृणुते तेन लभ्य- स्तस्यैष आत्मा विवृणुते तनूं स्वाम् ।।२३।। (Nayamatma pravacanena labhyo na medhaya na bahuna
What is the significance of the Jnana mudra or knowledge pose of Sri Krishna's hand depicted in Bhagavad Gita paintings?
Our body postures have psychological counterparts; as the mind is, so is the body. You are lying down in a particular way; that will show a certain state of your mind. You sit in a particular way; you will find your psyche manifesting in that posture
What is the meaning of Yoga, a word which we hear so often? How many Yogas are there? How do we practise yoga?
Yoga is that which ‘unites’ (yuj—to yoke) the Jivatman (the individual soul) with the Paramatman (the Supreme Self or God). Any path of spiritual discipline which help achieve this union is ‘Yoga’. Yogas are generally considered four in number: Jnanayoga,
Is Bhakti different from Jnana?
The path of Bhakti is different from the path of Jnana. However, in their maturity they do not differ, but are to be understood as the obverse and the reverse of the same coin of spiritual realization. At the disciplinary stage there appears to be a difference.
Who is a true bhakta or devotee?
Many descriptions of a true devotee are given in the scriptures. Striking descriptions are given in the Bhagavata , especially in 3.25.21-24. The Gita gives its own description of a Bhakta in chapter 12. Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings seem to imply that
What are the means by which one can see God?
Can you weep for Him with intense longing of heart (Bhakti) ? Men shed a jug-full of tears for the sake of their children, for their wives, or for money. But who weeps for God? So long as the child remains engrossed with its toys, the mother looks after
How a lover of God (Bhakta) feels?
His attitude is: 'O God, Thou are the Master, and I am Thy servant. Thou art the Mother, and I am Thy child.' Or again: 'Thou art my Father and Mother. Thou art the Whole, and I am a part.' He doesn't like to say, 'I am Brahman.'
May one meditate on the form of one's own mother?
Yes, the mother should be adored. She is indeed an embodiment of Brahman.
In the early stage of spiritual practice, which one is easier - to meditate on God with Form or without Form?
Now you see that the mind cannot be fixed, all of a sudden, on the formless aspect of God. It is wise to think of God with form during the primary stages.
Is it possible to become a Brahmajnani(A Knower of God) by following the path of discrimination according to the Vedanta philosophy?
Yes, one may reach Him [God] by following the path of discrimination too: that is called Jnanayoga. But it is an extremely difficult path. I have told you already of the seven planes of consciousness. On reaching the seventh plane the mind goes into samadhi.
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
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
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
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.
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