Question: Hello sir, I am a student from Mumbai. I don't actually have any problem. I just read a biography of swamiji. I am really fascinated. It's so difficult to understand him. I want to know that where can I go & know more about him & read more books on him & in some way or the other try to follow his teachings.
Answer: I am happy you are fascinated by reading Swami Vivekananda. We have a center at Khar, Mumbai, India, and their address is:
Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission Marg
12th Road, Khar (West), MUMBAI 400 052
Phones: 022-649-4760 & 646-4363, 600-7176
Hospital: 648-4119. Fax: 022-604-8568
E-mail: rkmkhar@bom5.vsnl.net.in
You may talk to Swami Debarupanandaji. He will be able to guide you further. Fix an appointment before meeting him. You may write back to me after the meeting.
Question : We all say that what we are doing is ultimately because GOD wants us to do that, all good and bad whatever we do that is because of will of GOD. Means if we do something wrong, behind that also ultimately GOD was there, then why should we get convicted for that guilty, and we have to face the problems for that guilty?
Answer: All these statements have a philosophy behind which you have to think over carefully. Just as production of bad actions are of God, the results also belong to Him. Conviction also naturally belong to the God. He who does good, will be rewarded and the other punished for his guilt.
Question: Sir I am a student in Mumbai, studing in 12th. My exams are coming near, but I can not study as I am more into performing arts like dance. Please help me to do good in my exams. Thank you.
Answer: My Dear ***** ****, You are now in the 12th standard and the Examination is very near. No doubt your favourite art is very interesting, but, this examination alone decides your future. All your friends will go for higher studies and different fields, whereas you will be left behind. Taking all these into consideration, give rest to your arts, for sometime and put your whole mind to the studies. Take some private tuition, if needed. But, determine to do well in the examination. Wish you all the best.
Question: I have been going through your useful site quite sometime and found it extremely useful. from young i am much focussed in formless god . also I am much impressed by advaita vedanta. Now the problem is i find great difficulty in meditation as i do not have any ' istham'. how am I to proceed? I feel as if caught between mid-heavens. should I try to cultivate devotion on any istham ? if not how to proceed with formless meditation ? I am very worried if I would waste this birth with these confusions. can you please help me?
Answer: My Dear ********, You write that you are fascinated by formless aspect of the God. If so, the question now - Ishhtam - does not
arise at all. You should have full faith & confidence in feeling yourself as all pervading Brahman. That is what "Aham Brahmaasmi",
refers to. Follow the "Neti" (Not this, Not this)path & go on discriminating & rejecting everything as unreal. In your meditation, do
Vichara or discrimination and get more & more established in the Advaitic thought of "Aham Brahmaasmi", I am Brahman. This also needs
the Scriptural study, which confirms this truth. I wish you make a thorough study of Shankaracharya's Viveka Chudamani.
From the e-mail I am unable to find out, your address. If I know where you are staying, I shall suggest you to get a copy of it from
the nearest centre, if you do not already possess it. However, I wish you all success in your endeavour.
Question: I am an engineering student. I want to excel in this field. I am impressed by exhortations of Swami vivekananda. He says that youth of this country must do something to improve the conditiond of the downtrodden and poor people. How can I serve the same purpose ? I do not think that continuing in my profession will in any way improve the conditions of the downtrodden. I think about it. I can't concentrate. Hence I am not able to perform well in my academics. Please advise. ***** ******, ****.
Answer: My Dear ****** ******, I am happy to know your interest in listening to the words of Swami Vivekananda. At the outset give your whole mind to the studies, so that you will be able to do justice. Excelling is not very difficult. As the proverb goes - "A genius is 90% perspiration & 10% inspiration." If you can concentrate fully in your studies, you will be definitely able to do well. You will have plenty of time & opportunity to serve the poor & downtrodden once you start earning money.