Question: respected gurujis, please answer my questions sir, i am in a sort of philosophical crisis after for about 3-4 years tryst with spirituality i feel the want for nirvaana (though might sound selfisf) should i renounce the world to attain it. my istha is lord krishns and i love him. do only monks attain moksha. though it may be called maya i feel a responsibility to look after my mother (especialls since she has done so much for me and totally loves me ) and i feel lord krishna has given me all these to look after and i have to do it. but doing so do i again become materialistic i am caught in an intense debate- to renounce or not to renounce. if all monks attain the supreme goal even i want it but do ihave the strength to renounce and give up my prescribed duty or is it better to do my duty. i am a 2nd year mbbs student and becaues of this debate my studies have suffered I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO please advice me and give me a blueprint of how i should lead my life to reach krishna should i just accept evrything as the wish of krishana (even ma studying medicine and becoming a doctor) and work or become a monk - please reply very very urgently because unless this is solved i just cannot do anything- not even do my basic duty of studies pleasse..... answer back to *******@*******.com
Answer: Please let me have your full address so that if there is any centre of ours nearby, I shall direct you to go & meet the Swami there, so that you can know things in detail. Don't get confused in mind, your first duty is to complete your medical graduation. By that time, you will be quite mature and also you can decide what life to take over. For the present, don't think of renouncing anything. Pray to Lord Krishna whole heartedly and also serve your mother. If one is sincere, he can see Lord Krishna, either being a good devotee or a monk. It is not exclusively meant for anybody. In life, duty stands first and for the present, the duty of a student is to study well. Lead a good & clean life. Pray sincerely & read good books, when you find time.
Response to the Answer: thank you for your advice, found much solace after many months. i reside at Basavaswarnagar.
Reply to the above Response: You have written that you are at Basavaswarnagar. I don't know if it is at Bangalore. If so, you can kindly come someday so that we can discuss further. You may take an appointment before coming here by telephone.
Response to above Reply: I live in bangalore sir surly after my exams i will be coming to meet you .please mould my spiritual life so that my fickle mind does not hither and tither and firmly stands in bhakthi .lookinn forward yo our meeting.
Question: I am really and truly happy to come to know Indian profound wisdom of Vedanta, especially the teaching of Sri Ramakrishna and
his disciples. By the way I have some questions on Vedanta. I will be very glad if you answer them. I am forty years old man and
married.
What does love mean and play a part in each of four Yogas?
Answer: I am happy to know your interest in the Vedanta. I wish you read the four Yogas by Swami Vivekananda, which will give you a
clear idea. It is too difficult to explain in such a small letter. However, first of all you have to get the concept of the word
'Love' used in these four Yogas.
In the Bhakti Yoga, it is easy to understand the concept of love. It is pure love towards God, without any expectation. To give a
small example, it is just as the mother's love towards the new born baby. We can say it is love for love's sake. If such a love can be
developed towards God, it definitely brings infinite grace on you.
In Karma Yoga, it is performing all our actions with the spirit of dedicating the fruits of action to the Lord. Or, it is our love
towards Him that makes us work for the well being of all.
In Jnana Yoga, it is the idea that the whole world is nothing but the manifestation of God. So, to love all the beings is loving God.
In this case, not much of differentiation is made between God and His beings.
In the Raja Yoga, it is almost like Bhakti Yoga. There the love is towards the personal God. Or, it may also mean to feel the divine
in our heart by raising the power of Kundalini. When one gets the vision of the Divine, then his heart will be filled with love &
bliss.
Response to the above Answer: I have received your reply. I am deeply grateful to you for your kindness. And I have another question.
I will be very glad if you answer it.
I am deeply impressed with the idea of strength Swami Vivekananda often emphasizes. What is the meaning of strength in Advaita Vedanta
and what should I do in my everyday life in order to be strong?
Reply to the above Response: There are three types of strength mentioned in our scriptures - for the holistic development of a person.
All these three types of strength are necessary.
These are - 1. Physical Strength,
2. Mental Strength,
3. Spiritual Strength.
They are called in Sanskrit as -
1. Baahu Balam,
2. Mano Balam,
3. Aatma Balam, respectively.
Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda) always meant these three things wherever he refers to fearlessness. But, to acquire this, we have to be
very pure & truthful. The fear comes because we don't hold to truth strictly.
Gandhiji is a great example for his fearlessness because, he valued truth at most.
RESPONSE to the Above REPLY : I am grateful to you for your answer from the bottom of my heart. Although spiritual ideal in vedanta seems to be very high to me, I am going to put the great priciples of vedanta,especially what Swami Vivekananda exhorts into practice in my daily life as possible as I can. I am always looking forward to seeing your wonderful and helpful website.
Question: One question - is that right that when you do NAMASKAR gesture (both hands together in the praying position) you say NAMASTE (I salute to the sun that is in me and in you)? I asked you this because sometimes people do not know what really means Namaste and Namaskar, or it is may be just different pronounciation?
Answer: The word 'Namaste', in Sanskrit, contains two words: 'Namah' and 'te'. 'te' - means 'to you'. 'Namah' - means 'salutations'. It usually implies, I bow down to the God within you. The same is done when one addresses God directly. Primarily, it is done to erase our ego. Invariably, our psychology is that others should recognise me as great & they should respect. That is, we have the superiority complex. By doing this, we shall be effacing our ego and become humble, which is a primary condition for Spiritual Progress. The word 'Namaskar' also means the same thing.