QUESTION: Most householders yearn for God at a very
late stage in life and that too only for
a short time. Can they realize God?
ANSWER: Seeking God is not the question of when one begins one's
spiritual life but how intensely one seeks God. If one is intense, one can
realize God even if one begins the spiritual life late in life, that too, in a
short time. There are examples of saints who led a fast life earlier but when they
turned towards God, they turned with equal intensity and realized God in a
short time.
QUESTION: Previously I used to do Japa and meditation
for 20 to 30 minutes
both in the morning and evening but now I am not able to concentrate for
more than 10 minutes. My mind remains restless and I cannot concentrate on
the Ishtam (one's chosen form of God). Please suggest how my mind may think of
the Ishtam during ]apa and meditation and not think of other thigs.
ANSWER: Japa and meditation alone are not enough for spiritual
advancement. In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, as well as in the Bhagavad Gita,
it is said that both abhyasa (repeated practice) and vairagya
(dispassion) are required for attaining the goal of Yoga. If one does
only Japa and meditation and has no renunciation, one cannot make any spiritual
progress. This is a mistake which most people commit: they do Japa and
meditation but do not try to detach themselves from worldly entanglements.
QUESTION: According to my knowledge, 'yearning for
God' is spontaneous—we cannot
force it on ourselves. Is it not so?
ANSWER: In some fortunate people, yearning or longing for God
may be spontaneous and natural. However, in most of us, longing can be increased
by spiritual practice. Some people turn to God and long for Him after getting
blows in life. Others develop longing when they listen to God's glories. Still others
by develop holy company. Reading of noble literature also helps in keeping
longing for God and higher life in general.
QUESTION: In spite of knowing the fact that intensity
and yearning is essential for God
realization, we don't have it. How to increase yearning for God?
ANSWER: There are two ways in which yearning for God can be
increased. First, by developing disgust for worldly pleasures. This can be done
by practising discrimination and thinking deeply about the ugly aspect of world
pleasures, power and riches. In the Gita, it is said that one should meditate
upon the suffering associated with birth, death, old age and disease. When we
are convinced that the world is indeed ugly and full of suffering, we shall
naturally turn towards God. The second method is to learn about the glories and
greatness of God, etc., and thus, develop love for God. If one has true love
for God, yearning
will come naturally. 