QUESTION: It is said that God's name has power and it has a purifying
effect. How do I or anyone trust that?
ANSWER: Just take up a word like 'war' or 'rupee' and go on
repeating it for six months, what do think will be its effect on your mind?
QUESTION: My mind will start thinking
of money or war.
ANSWER: Something more would happen. Thinking of money all the
time, with intensity, you will think of the ways to how to get money; and even
problems of tax and thieves will arise! If you were to repeat the 'war' mantra,
after six months, you might start fighting with others. Similarly, if you
repeat a name, gradually its effect will be produced in our subconscious mind and you
will be purified.
QUESTION: But we find many people
chanting the name of God and yet, leading an impure life?
ANSWER: Such people do not generally observe the conditions
prescribed for chanting of God's name.
QUESTION: What are they?
ANSWER: or chanting of the name of the God must be done with a
concentrated and focused mind, thinking about its meaning, and with devotion.
It is preferable to do it in solitude.
QUESTION: How should one decide which name
to repeat as there are several names in which one may have faith?
ANSWER: It is best to
leave the choice of the name to a competent Guru. In the absence of such a
Guru, you may take up any name and go on chanting with full faith that it is
the best for you. In the due course, with God's grace and with the help of a
Guru, your problem will be solved.
QUESTION: What is the difference
between meditation and concentration?
ANSWER: Concentration is a general term for one-pointedness of
mind but concentration on higher values, especially with a spiritual objective,
is meditation. Even a child can concentrate its mind on the object of its
interest. But religious or spiritual meditation is not easy and must be learnt
with effort.
QUESTION: And what is contemplation?
ANSWER: It is a process in which one does a mental survey of any object.
QUESTION: How can the strength of mind
or will power be improved?
ANSWER: There are various methods by which mental strength can
be increased. Leading a strictly regulated life, developing good habits,
gradual taking up difficult tasks, commencing a work and pursuing it till the end
are some such techniques.
QUESTION: It is said that disease is an
obstacle in spiritual life. How can we get over this obstacle?
ANSWER: Follow the rules of health to prevent disease. When you
fall ill, consult a doctor and follow his advice. Together with this, you
should try to remain undisturbed by disease.
This can be done by the practice of awareness of the body and by discrimination
between the body and the soul. Learn to detach yourself from the body and thus, you will be
able to reduce the disturbing effect of disease on the mind. If you feel that you are not the body, you
will be less disturbed by disease.
QUESTION: How to remain calm? As a
student, when I am inside the examination hall, my mind
thinks wrongly. After coming out I feel I could have answered the question
differently and correctly. Why does this happen and what should I do?
ANSWER: Mind under stress does not work
as it should. Try to remain relaxed
before the examination and during
examination. Make calmness a habit of
mind.
QUESTION: Why is religion needed? One
can lead a moral life without subscribing to any religion.
ANSWER: Religion is something more than simply leading a moral
life, though morality is the very foundation of religion. There is a natural
urge in every human being to go beyond,
to transcend the limitations of the body and mind and to experience the
superconscious reality which is called God or Truth or Brahman and many other
names. This urge cannot be satisfied merely by a moral life.
QUESTION: But how to explain the religious
fundamentalism which is causing more harm than the benefits of religion?
ANSWER: Religion is an extremely complex phenomenon. It has
spiritual, ethical, social and even political aspects. Sri Ramakrishna and
Swami Vivekananda have tried to emphasize the spiritual aspect and have taught
us that we must accept all religions as paths to the ultimate goal. By
following their teachings one can become truly religious and at the same time,
be free from dogmatism, intoleration and religious fanaticism. Fundamentalism
is an attitude of the people who are yet to realize the highest truth which is
all-inclusive and universal. The more one grows spiritually, the less fanatical
one becomes.
