QUESTION: We see that materialism is spreading and
these days man can commit any crime for money.
Human relationships are also deteriorating. How to change this trend?
ANSWER:
This
is quite true but materialism has always been there. There are religious
materialists too, who believe in God but also believe that God must fulfill
their material desires. This is also materialism. As a matter of fact, 90%
people in every age are materialists. It is also true that man can commit any
crime for money. This is the special
characteristic of the modern age which may be called the Vaishya Yuga,
the Commercial age in which money becomes most important.
How to change this trend? Change can
be brought about through changing individuals. First of all, we ourselves have
to change and this is not easy. Anyone who has tried to change
towards good, knows how difficult it is. We have to practise spiritual
principles in life. Parents must become ideal parents because children learn by
seeing. So, also teachers must try to be ideal teachers. As for students, they
must reduce seeing television or see it very judiciously. Constant commercial
breaks shown in the television have an adverse effect on our power of concentration
and also make us more greedy, restless and worldly.
QUESTION: Why are most of the devotees
coming to Ashramas and temples older people? Why are young people lesser in number?
ANSWER: This is only partially true. A large number of students
and young people do visit our Ashramas and temples. Again, there are many youth
coming forward to join the Ramakrishna Order as monks. It is a fact that there
are greater temptations and attractions in the world today and young men and
women with strong senses are drawn towards them. But, it is also true that
modern youth is more inquisitive and idealism still persists in them. There is no
cause for despair because the spiritual consciousness is present in everyone
and will sooner or later struggle to manifest itself.
QUESTION: How do we resolve the
conflict between responsibility as a householder al/li tl/e aspiration for
spirituality? Should responsibility /llllOlIle gel tlle priority?
ANSWER: When rightly understood, there is no conflict between
them. Sri Ramakrishna used to say, 'live in the world as a maid servant: Do all
your duties whole-heartedly as it is service towards God. But do not have any
attachment with the world just as the maidservant, who remembers all the time
that her own children are living far away in a village for whose sake she is
doing the work of a maidservant. Sri Ramakrishna used to say that one should do
the worldly work with one hand and catch hold of God with the other hand, and
when the worldly work is done, catch hold of God with both the hands.
QUESTION: What are the steps to be
followed in day-to-day works to enhance the longing for God?
ANSWER: Let us go on turning all our little worldly yearnings,
for whatever object or person, towards God. Whenever there is disappointment,
let us turn towards God for help. Whenever we need something, let us pray to
God. In this way, we can turn all our little yearnings towards God. This is a
simple method which can be practised on a day-to-day basis.
QUESTION: Call one get knowledge and realize
God without the proximity of Guru? Call this be obtained merely by reading
books?
ANSWER: No. Sanatana Dharma firmly believes that it is not
possible to realize God without the guidance of a Guru. We go to schools and
colleges for secular knowledge; do we not need a teacher for learning spiritual
truths? Swami Brahmananda, the first President of the Ramakrishna Order, used
to say that you need a Guru even to learn pick-pocketing! Moreover, in the
course of sadhana, a number of problems arise for which the guidance of an expert
who has gone through the path is required. Hence the need for a guru.
QUESTION: Is the Japa and Dhyana for
deep concentration? What is the process to get it through Japa and Dhyana?
ANSWER: Yes, carefully done Japa and Dhyana helps in improving
concentation. Conversely, deep concentration is importantfor success in Japa
and Dhyana. No Dhyana is possible without concentration. Both are interrelated.
QUESTION: Sometimes I like to meditate
upon formless God and sometimes with form. Which is the right one?
QUESTION: Some people appear highly devoted at some time in life,
yet seem to lose all devotion at other times. Why this happens and how can this be prevented?
ANSWER: Life is an extremely complex phenomenon.
Sometimes good Samskaras [inherent past tendencies] become more active and the
person behaves well. At times, bad samskaras come up and give a different turn to
the life. To prevent this, one must always remain in holy company and carefully
avoid evil company.
QUESTION:
What is meant by 'divine grace' and 'self-effort'?
ANSWER: Human beings have certain limitations.
Man is not all-powerful. He can do his efforts only according to his strength.
Sri Ramakrishna used to give an example of a cow tied with a rope to a pole in
a lawn. The cow has freedom to graze in a particular area according to the
length of the rope. Beyond that it cannot go. But, if it eats the grass in that area, the master can come and
increase the length of the rope. That increasing the length is the example of
divine grace.
It is said that we must do at least 25% of self-effort in
spiritual life. Then, the rest of the 75
% is obtained by the divine grace. But, we must do our 25% fully, not 24.5 %.
QUESTION:
If man is the maker of his destiny, then why is divine grace required?
ANSWER: This sounds quite true. Some religious
systems like Jainism do not believe in divine grace at all. Again, it is also
said that divine grace comes in the form of self-effort. As a matter of fact,
all spiritual aspirants somehow or other realize that their self-effort has its
limitations and they need the help of something else; it may be by the help or
the guidance of a guru or some unseen power, which they call divine grace.
QUESTION:
What is the practical meaning of Self-realisation?
ANSWER: The Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi
used to say that by self-realization one does not grow two horns. As a result
of this realisation, one gets discrimination between the real and the unreal. It does not have to do anything external. It is an inner
transformation and one feels that he is unattached and free from all
attachments, desires, ambitions, and so on. This is the practical gain of
realising the Self or knowing God.
QUESTION: In spite of all
efforts. doubts about spiritual issues do not disappear. Why?
