FAQ

   The most frequently asked questions (FAQ) are baffling. For instance, people ask, Is there re-incarnation, rebirth? or Where do we go from here after death?. Some people ask are these ancient scriptures written by God? Where is God? Does God talk, if they say, "Bhagavan uvacha"? Should we accept all these religious cults? Why do people indulge in all malpractices and still worship god? Is science divorced to Religion and spirituality? Is it necessary to become a recluse, take to sanyas in order to get emancipation, mukti, moksha? Has this life, earthly mundane existence, any meaning? Is it worth living after one finds disillusionment? Can anybody avoid old age, sickness and  death? etc.

    The answer to these questions have been partly answered in these one hundred and blogs posted so far. But it is felt necessary to clarify certain points here.

  Just as a person requires a certain qualification (adhikara) and experience for a job, so also here, a person requires a certain preliminary knowledge and experience, called sanskar. Born as we are, in a certain family we acquire some qualities, mindset, impressions about the way of life. This does not mean that one should hold on to the same age-old practices blindly; one can take to any ways of life as one deems fit. However, there is a cliche here. Bhagavan Shree Krishna warns here: "It is better to follow one's dharma and die in it rather than to take to others' however attractive it may be!" It is dangerous to follow blindly others. para dharma bhayaavaha | Others' ways of life may not be useful for our goal in the long run. Thus we are stay put. But the question remains!
   Had we taken birth ...? This sort of hypothetical questions do not have any concrete answers. Let's first take our locus standi and deal with our problems.
   When we put a question, it is necessary to question ourselves whether we are really interested in knowing the answer and can devote some time for that? More often, than not, people come to me, sit for a while, ask a question or two like this, and even before I try to answer them they remember some other urgent task and go away! In some cases, they are eager to understand, but they have their own limitations. One professor friend of mine simply said, "it is beyond my capacity understand and left!"

  In fact, it is difficult to differentiate between spirituality, religion, cults, and philosophy. There are certain pre-requisites for everything and, it is specially so, in the case of understanding the spiritual texts, not necessarily the Samskruta Bhasha. Most of these sacred scriptures have been kept hidden because of the immense power vested in them (mantra shastra) when properly used can work as a Bomb of certain TNT force! Mantra are very powerful when chanted for a certain number of days with devotion, faith and diligence. But do we have enough faith in mantra shakti that can be a good therapy for all human psychosomatic ailments?
  Another interesting thing is about lack of knowledge. People cannot understand the fact that the entire universe is created by "Sound" (Sabda). However, the recent scientific researches have now come to rescue our lost faith. Every word we talk is extremely powerful and create psychological problems especially on children of impressionable age and the old. Do we understand? Some times we are forced to think that we are still aborigines; we have not evolved as humans, as yet. May be we are on the downward trend from a very ancient civilization!

      One of the most interesting thing about human nature is that of taking hypothetical questions and ask for answers. Some people always think of others like `so and so said this, said that', or 'somebody is like this or that'. They do not even think about whom they are talking and what is it they are talking! For instance, if somebody does not believe in rebirth in Africa or Australia, in what way we are concerned? So also, if some body believes in sin and hell, what do we mean by that when we are already suffering a hell without drinking water, good education, health and medical facilities, and easy means of transport and communication despite the decade of planning and expenditures incurred on these?
   Another pastime of most of the people is to talk about current politics and pass judgments without ever bothering to know whether these are really believable authentic facts or not. And the worst thing is about indulging in gossip, talking about past experiences or tell tale stories. Is it not better to discard all these as a dram. Remember Shakespeare; "The world is a stage and all are actors and spectators, too". Shree krishna says, "Be a Witness" saakshin bhava arjunaa | 

   These are pointed out here as some of the spurious elements that come in the way of development of a spiritual orientation; Spirituality is a serious business of those who seek redemption from eartthly existence after realizing the truth that there is nothing one can enjoy here.No body can overcome old age sickness and death; however, there are secrets in yoga that help us to overcome these. Dhyana yoga and mantra japa greatly helps releasing us from the grip of fear of death and sufferings. When a person takes to yoga, the body cells are rejuvenated and sickness is warded off; further, a person in samadhi casts off his physical and mental dispositions and remains happy and joyful and will not care if the physical body is cast off. A person realizes the truth that the human being is essentially an embodiment of the soul and is of no consequence.

   There is no alternate, but to sit in solitude and chant the name of the Lord a million times, at the most, and set the mind rivet to divine mode from the mundane. It is also absolutely essential to have rigid control on our food habits and discipline in everyday life. As one becomes older, necessary adjustments have to be made in life style.

   Spiritual path is a very slippery path and a risky one, too. it may take one away from worldly existence for some time and create hatred towards indulgences in sensuous life. Only those who are ripe for this will get a hold and all others leave it sooner or later. Moreover, these spiritual exercises are not for the young and the middle-aged people who have lots of family responsibilities. It is only for those who want to retire from active life and take to solitary life and devote more time to study of scriptures, meditation and satsang. A good teacher is a must for the beginners.

  One should not mistake spiritual development is easy and everybody can attain to brahman. Even the great sages have to struggle hard and many have not succeeded despite their best efforts. Finally divine intervention, and grace of the Lord, purva punya and blessings of elders and teachers are essential in this regard. 

 To begin with, the seekers should adhere to the following strict rules:

  1. One has to conserve energy by all means. It is better not to talk unnecessarily, and talk only when needed, that too, short and sweetly; it is advisable to talk always about the glory of the Lord. "Talk only about Me", says Sri Krishna to Arjuna. He also warns not to talk to those who do not want to hear about Him! Never join people of  lower nature.

  2. Avoid gossip and and do not talk anything about persons whom you do not personally know, or who are not in your presence, and those who do not concern or matter to you.

  3. Do not remember anything about the past. Past is dead and, hence, do not carry dead trash in the mind. By cleansing the mind, peace and tranquility automatically occur. God occupies mind when it is cleansed of all trash,

  4. Reserve a certain period of time during day or night for meditation. Take a topic of study and contemplate on it. The topics may range from prana, prajnya, circulation of vital-airs in the body, and take to pranayama (breathing); one can contemplate on 'void', space, or akasha, avataras of Lord, Life-forces in living beings like ants and elephants, etc. These will gradually take the place of affirmation and the truth will be revealed at the appropriate time. The Lord steps in when the jiva cries in distress for help. 

  5. Chants of the Lord's name, Mantra japa, are useful only when a certain numbers are chanted devotedly consistently. Gayatree japa is the most powerful one. Heat should be generated in the process of japa (tapah); then only the mantra is useful. Faith is essential in all these things. No faith, no life!