Question: I have the following questions:

1) What should be the goal of a person in life?
2) What is the goal of God in creating / enacting this play of life and death?
3) What has to be the whole purpose of a person's life?
4) What is it that is making me do all these things?
5) Why is everybody running after name, fame & money? These questions are following me even in my dreams.
Expecting a reply soon.

Question: I read that research is going on to create artificial life. Artificial Reproductive techniques like, test tube babies, Surrogate motherhood, cloaning are evolving gradually. Is it technology abuse? Shall we be alarmed? I believe without God's permission nothing will happen. Are all these His play?
What is the relationship between and among body, mind, intelect and Soul? As the requirements of these are different, if we practise enrichment of one are we starving others? Is it possible only Intelect can take us towards liberation? Or, which of them are closely related among mind, intelect and Self?

Question: I am a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna. I am doing my B.Sc. I found that Swami Vivekananda once said that with the advent of Sri Ramakrishna Avatar the Satya Yuga has begun. Again we find Sri Ramakrishna saying,"Naradiya Bhakti in the Kali Yuga", "Kalite vedmat chale na"(The path of Vedas is not for the Kali Yuga), "Kalite annagata pran"- about religion in the Kali Yuga. My question is, is Sri Ramakrishna stressing on the principles of Dharma of the Kali Yuga because we are living in a transitional phase between Kali & Satya Yuga? I am eager to know how we can correlate Swamiji's declaration (begining of Satya Yuga with Sri Ramakrishna) & Thakur's advices on religion in the Kali Yuga. I will be very grateful to you if you kindly enlighten me about how Yugavatar Sri Ramakrishna has been a bridge between the essentials of Kali Yuga & Satya Yuga.

Question: What is the difference between the following: Japa, Tapa, Dhayna, Puja, and equvalent words in English for the above? Human beings have got desires and they pray, worship God for their fulfillment.. May be our greed or we really in need of them. In difficulties, to get over them.. These are all related to this world.. But, very few people wish for higher things like salvation, realisation of self. What humbly, I want to know is what methodology we have to adopt for realisation of the self. A simple thing like repeating RAMANAMA can lead us there.. Or Mantras are more effective.. Were our ancient saints trained how to do Tapasya or on their own, they went about it ?

Question: When I sit for meditation, lot of other thoughts makes the meditation less effective. So that sometimes meditation is effective and sometimes not. What should I do?

Question: In complete works of Swami Vivekananda, Swamiji explained about 4 kinds of Sanyasa : 1) Vidvat Sanyasa, 2) Vividisha Sannyasa, 3) Markata Sanyasa & 4) Atura Sanyasa. Since I could not understand the same, particularly the 3rd type, I request you to explain the same in detail.

Question: I am a student. I am deeply inspired by the ideals of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother & Swami Vivekananda. I have been initiated. Beside my spritual practices, I get great pleasure in reading the 'Complete works of Swami Vivekananda'.
I find in the 'Raja Yoga', the practice of Pranayama by an untrained person can have bad effects. I am keen to know which parts of Raja Yoga can be safely practised by ordinary people & whether one would lose something by omitting Pranayama in order to achieve a harmony between the four Yogas as depicted by Sri Ramakrishna. I will be very grateful to you if you kindly reply my question in the light of Sri Ramakrishna & Swami Vivekananda.

Question: I was reading the book by Pandit B.N.K. Sharma, "The teachings of Madhva in His own words". I find that he has very strong arguments for reality of the world and individuality of souls (as different from each other). According to Advaita, differences are due to illusion, i.e. actually wood is same as rice which is same as iron etc. So isn't it natural to expect that if someone is actually realised in Advaita, he must be able to subsist on air/wood or anything and not insist on having conventional food stuffs, e.g. rice etc. (Which are all illusory visons of the homogeneous Brahman). In general I find the Dvaita school to be quite a formidable counter philosophy to Advaita, what is the Advaitic defence to Madhva's arguments. Do Advaitins have any counter questions to Dvaita?

Question: What is the significance of Guru Purnima ? Is it suggested that devotees should bear all hardships ( e.g., Standing in long queues for hours), just to offer a momentary pranam to their Gurus on that particular day? What is the underlining utility of this occassion ? Is there any book that can inform me about the significance of Guru Purima ?

Question: Kindly enlighten me how to forget for a few minutes about our environment, external sorroundings indeed external world and dwell into innerself.. Will Dhayna (Meditation) lead us there?

Question: I am a married man with 2 children and I am 37 years of age. My queries are with reference to the 7 planes of the mind, discussed at several places in "The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna". (For example, it is described in Chapter 6, The Master with the Brahmo devotees (I), October 28, 1882). Here, Sri Ramakrishna says that the 4th plane is located at the heart and when the mind dwells there, one has the first glimpse of spiritual consciousness. One sees light all around. Such a man, perceiving the divine light, becomes speechless with wonder and says: 'Ah! What is this? What is this?' His mind does not go downward to the objects of the world. How to make the mind go to the 4th plane? Is an intiation by one whose mind has already reached the 4th (or higher) plane necessary to reach the 4th plane of the mind? I do practice of Suryanamaskaar, Pranayama and prayer in the morning. When I pray, I ask God that I may remember Him all the time. I also do Japa of Sri Rama mentally or chanting softly (whenever He makes me remember), while at work or home or going from home to work and back. Is this the way to get a glimpse of spiritual consciousness?

Question: Why people offer animals as a worship to God?

Question: What is the importance Upanayanam in Hindu religion. It is said that only those people who gone through Upanayanam, should chant Gayatri. Why it is like that?

Question: Is it true that there is/are higher world/s where there is no old age, death, disease etc. Second doubt is - Are we i.e., has every individual (human being) reached some spritual stage however much initial stage it may be and he goes further only and not back or he may fall down and has to start again. In other words, if a person reached a stage of some power of discrimination about right and wrong, some amount of control over his senses, are they likely to decrease? or they won't ?

Question: Even though I practise Japam, I am not able to come out of the attachment of women related thoughts. I think more about sex. I feel shy while seeing women. Can you help me in this regard ?

Question: I am working in a software firm. I am 23 years of age now. I was intitiated in 1998 when I was in college. I was chanting that Mantra regularly for 2 years and I used to attend the classes for the youth in Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. I found that my mind was getting a bit pure and clear. But after I got my job (through campus interviews), I lost my control of my mind and I stopped doing Japa and started enjoying like a normal college guy.
At present, I am working in Mumbai .What I want is a good, pure life free from jealousy, desire for girls, deceit. Nowadays I do Japa of 'Om Namah Shivaya'. I do not chant the intitiated mantra because I am afraid of some things. I do read works of Vivekanda though not regularly. ... ...
I am learning music and I hear lot of carnatic, Western classic and cinema songs/music. Also I am learning violin for few months. Hearing pure classical music is sometimes boring and I hear cinema songs to pass that boredom. Will hearing music disturb the mentality of a person ?

Question: I have a question - When I try to do meditation in the morning -that is the days when I can concentrate better, I suddenly realize after sometime that my mouth is opened. I have never seen anybody meditating with open mouth, I wonder if this is natural or something I should try to control

Question: There was a statement by Swami Vivekananda : "It is good and grand to conquer external nature but grander still to conquer our internal nature." What comprises internal nature? Are they our thoughts? What practical methods exist and need to be practised for one to try conquering the internal nature ?

Question: I want to ask you a question I have always pondered on. Though I am a strong believer in God and the scriptures, sometimes I cannot but think that if man suffers or prospers according to his past karma, then why does one pray to God, I mean what could be the role of God? If he has committed a crime in his previous birth for which he is undergoing suffering, is there no way out for him? Surely, praying to God and asking his forgiveness for his previous sins (which he is not aware of in this birth) may help? Please guide me.
Another question I would like to know is that suppose A harms B. It is understood that it is the fate of B and 'dushkarma' (bad action) of A. Both seem to be contradictory to me, if it is the fate of B then how is it the 'dushkarma of' 'A'? Again if the cycle of A harming B and vice versa goes on, does that mean that neither of them are at fault?. I do not know if I am able to frame my words and doubts properly. Still I expect guidance from you.

Question: How to control our mind not to expect anything from others except doing our duty?

Question: I have this curiosity in my mind. I have studied the Bhagavad Gita quite a lot. I have attended a lot of religious discourses. Certainly by observing Karma Yoga, etc., the world will be a better place to live in. What I am trying to say is that religion certainly without a doubt makes a man better. But is this the intended goal of religion, or is there certainly a Conscious & Watching Entity whom we call God? Is there a person in this year - say 2003 who can say without a single doubt in his mind that there is a GOD watching our activities. Also, since I am a Dvaitin, I will not be satisfied by an Advaitic answer.

Question: Can females chant the Gayatri Mantra regularly?

Question: I am working as a Senior Software Engineer in Bangalore. I do practise meditation, Pranayama and Gayatri Japa daily. Kindly clarify me the following: How to develop desire to realise GOD. How I can move further in Sadhana (Spiritual Practice).

Question: It is said that Karma Yoga and Raja Yoga (the Path of Meditation) lead to the same end, but as in Raja Yoga one meditates and has certain expiriences to indicate his progress similarly do we have any bench marks to check progress in Karma Yoga.

Question: I have been practising meditation for few months, but I find after meditating for few minutes, the energy of both the mind & body diminishes so much that I have to discontinue. (I take nutrisitious food.) I find that lack of energy is a great obstacle to success. Please suggest something.

Question: The science today talks about heridity, genes, etc. to solve the problems of defects in birth, diseases etc. They are trying to talk tall about the DNA and chains, etc. But I do not understand how the theory will explain the different behaviour of the brothers born to the same parents both at different times and almost together (twins)? How one child is behaving differently from the other. I understand our philosphy states that "you choose your parents".

Question: I am living abroad. I am much interested in Advaitic philosophy and currently reading works of Vivekananda. I was blessed to have some good people around me to give guidance in this journey (Though the Law of the Land where I live does not allow any public religious activities). Also lucky to receive some great books from Ramakrishna Math. I wish to write many things to you and sure this will give me a good start. Currently I request you to help me on the following two items.
1. Though I read a lot books on Advaita especially from the works of Adi Sankara and Vivekananda, I find it very difficult to meditate. I tried with the audio cassettes from Ramakrishna Mission. The mind starts wavering and all other thoughts come to my mind. I do chant Vishnu Sahasranamam early morning almost every day, and a lot of other Slokas (Panchaksharms, Bhajagovindam, etc. taken from Sri Sankara's collection) during the evening prayer. Since I am more interested in Advaitic philosophy where the Truth is above names and forms, do these chanting retard me in the Advaitic path?
2. This item is really disturbing me for the last few days and tried find an answer from many, but no clear answers. I am sure you will be able to help me in this.
This happened when I was talking to my friend who is a pure Krishna Bakta (a devotee of Lord Krishna), about my Advaitic views. I told him that I am Krishna / Vishnu Bakta but I wish to come out of the names and forms especially with the help of Adi Sankara's teachings. His view / argument was that, there is nothing beyond Krishna and it is not possible to get rid of the forms and names, the highest is to surrender to him (Lord Krishna). Other than Krishna all others are demigods then he quoted a verse from Adi Sankara's teaching itself as follows:
Sripad Sankaracharya writes the follwing in his Gita-Mahatmya (glorification of the Bhagavad Gita):
"Ekam sastram devaki-putra-gitam
Eko devo Devaki-putra eva
Eko Mantras tasya namani yani
Karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva."
"Let the world have one scripture: The Bhagavad-Gita. Let there one God be worshipped: Sri Krishna. Let there be one Mantra chanted: His holy names; and let there be only one activity: the devotional service of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna."
After reading this I am a little disturbed and confused, whether I am in the right path or not, because the above words are from Sankaracharya himself who talk about highest Advaitism. In Gita Bhagavan says that, "Those who worship demigods will reach them (demigods), but Mukthi is not possible till you reach me". Here when he said pray me is that me stands for the Devaki-putra or the supreme Consciousness?

Question: Two years back, by Lord's grace, I got a chance to read Swami Vivekananda's life and his Chicago speech. Since then I have been deeply interested in spirituality. But what is preventing my spiritual growth is what is know as "time sickness". I always feel that I am at a lack of time. I can do everything in time and I also have lots of free time. But still I feel a serious lack of time, despite of my having no pending work. This keeps me always in a sense of anxiety. I used to feel that I should realise God in this very life itself but now this feeling also seems to be due to "time sickness". I sincerely seek your help in this regard. I am a 22 year old male and am presently doing engineering in Chennai.

Question: When I try to concentrate on the my thoughts - I can almost see the part of the mind which carries the impression that comes from my actions and engagements in day to day life , then I also see the part of mind that is really observing the flow, I feel I can take control on this process but this is also a thought which only stops the previous thought .
Then I feel for sometime the thought process becomes very vague and fuzzy - sort of blankness. but still I am quite aware that even that is a thought. I feel my body is sort of transparent but I am still aware that this is also a thought - I just can not reach anywhere beyond one form of thought to other. I feel I am just hitting a hopeless wall and do not know where to go from here. Though I feel quite relaxed and good after this process but I feel I am not going anywhere beyond this temporary relaxation. Is there something else that I can do ?

Question: I am a student at University and know that I have enormous potential and can achieve extremely high grades, however when I sit down to study I lack total concentration. How can I increase my concentration in whatever I do. Does concentration also depend on your goals, if so, what should be the ultimate goal and how can it be intertwined with ordinary everyday goals.

Question: Even though I am performing my duties effectively and going in the right path without disturbing the others in the way of spatiality I think the people around me are going away from me as I don't want to defend my mistakes and others too. when I say the same to my family members and friends they are treating me as the hurdle for there free and jolly life. Please suggest me the way to come out of it.

Question: Can you tell me the various paths to the realization of God according to the Hindu yoga philosophy?

Question: I have a question that is disturbing me for quite some time and I have not been able to find an answer. Not that this would be the end of doubt, but think that on the path of self-realization, this is the most basic doubt in my mind.Is it possible for a householder to have self-realization or is being a monk a pre-requisite?

Question: I am 28 year old physician in States. I lead a fairly busy life. Please give me some simple spiritual exercises to practise. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Question: I am a student. I always loose control on myself. Please help me out to control myself.

Question: I practise meditation mostly during night. My main obstacle is sloth/sleepiness & lack of physical energy. Can you suggest me a remedy/cure.

Question: Are all religions same?

Question: 1. Swamiji, I have a doubt. What is the exact use of japa?? Is concentration the only outcome of JAPA ?? If suppose I am able to get very good concentration in my work, then does that mean JAPA is not necessary?? (I am discussing purely from materialistic point of view). What does JAPA exactly do ??? The one benefit which I clearly see is concentration.
2. My second question is: What is the speciality of a MANTRA (say, Om Namah Shivaya). Why can't I say, "ABRACADABRA" and repeat it as a Mantra ? Please explain me the science behind this.

Question: When one is meditating and thinking of his oneness with his true self or seeking comunion with God, there occurs a particular kind of pain in the back at a specific location (e.g., middle of the spine). However, this subsides after the pratice of meditation is over in a few minutes.
Also a series of progressive colors (red-green-orange at times, at certain other times, violet-blue) are seen at the centre of the eyebrows. However, the breath isn't perfectly controlled.
Could you please explain what these happenings imply - isn't the practitioner on the right track or is he going away?

Question: I am trying to practise meditation for some time. I am facing some problems:

1) I imagine the subject of meditation in the heart. I start off by concentrating on the heart but after some time as I go a little deeper in the concentration, I forget about the heart or the body and I imagine in the mind ( just like people day-dream in the mind ). I do it unconsciously but when I become aware that I am supposed to imagine in the heart, my concentration is broken. What should I do at this stage? Is it O.K. to give the control over to the mind or shall I try to revert back to the heart ?
2) Another great hurdle is my breath. When I breathe then there is flickering of my mind (The subject of meditation gets disturbed every time I breathe). This is preventing my furthur advancement in the practise of meditation.I do not practise any Pranayama separately but during meditation, I usually start of with a deep breath, which shortens gradually. Kindly advice soon.

Question: Does meditation has any role in the formation of Medha Nadi, the astral nerve that gives MEDHA (INTELLIGENCE & MEMORY). How did Swami Vivekananda develop such sharp intelligence & memory ? Brahmacharya is practised by many but all do not develop such sharp intellegence.