Questions You Always Wanted To Ask - ❓ Answering Life's Biggest Questions - Summary

Blind faith vs true faith: We all live by faith, and where we place it shapes our lives. Blind faith—believing without questioning—leads to poor decisions and actions. True belief is founded on correct knowledge, making knowledge an essential aspect of life's journey.

What is the right way to gather knowledge? The Vedas hold the highest place as they contain divine knowledge. They instruct that their understanding comes through a Guru. A true Guru’s teachings can be validated if they align with the scriptures and past Gurus. True belief, placed in scriptures and a Guru, can transform us.

How to regain shattered confidence after failure? We must dismantle debilitating beliefs like 'I am a failure.' To do this, remind yourself that you are not just a material body but a soul - a fragment of God, with a great destiny planned by your divine father.

Why is visualization effective? Visualization is a powerful tool, often underutilized. Spend 15 minutes daily visualizing your goals and desired self. This mental imagery programs your subconscious, making it a reliable and trustworthy assistant.

How to overcome anger? To neutralize anger, accept that not everything will go your way, delay your response with strategies like visualizing a happy place, deep breathing, or staying silent, and reduce worldly desires to avoid anger forever.

Secret of mental strength: Mental strength, or grit, is crucial for achieving long-term goals. To develop grit, choose persistence, build resilience, align with a higher purpose, and learn to tolerate pain by putting things in the right perspective.

How to stop procrastination? To overcome procrastination, reframe tasks to find enjoyable aspects, remind yourself why they are important, and develop self-control through rewards.

How to develop willpower? Strengthen your willpower by exercising it, with meditation being one of the best methods. Remember that old habits will initially resist change.

Achieving focus at work: For better absorption at work, match your skills with the task, focus on one task at a time, have a clear outcome in mind, and work in a quiet place free from distractions.

How to become an elite performer? Mastery comes through deliberate practice. Steps include, identifying a weakness, breaking goals into smaller tasks, focusing entirely on each task, stepping out of your comfort zone, and seeking feedback.

Balancing academic, professional, and spiritual pursuits: Karm Yog offers many benefits: seeing ourselves as divine fragments, viewing work as service to the divine, and feeling God's presence while working, which purifies our work and intentions.

Mind swings between gunas: Sadhana involves overcoming the pull of the three material or mayic gunas as best as possible to maintain devotional absorption in God and Guru. As the mind attaches to the divine through sadhana, it transcends the gunas and becomes cleansed, leading to spiritual growth and immediate and lasting tranquillity.

How to sustain motivation? Enthusiasm counters discouragement. Inspiration arises from recognising an activity's importance. Stay enthusiastic by remembering human life is precious and temporary.

Peace in adverse circumstances? Recognise the gap between your mind and the external world. The outside world is beyond our control, but our inner world is. Chaos arises from our reactions. Decouple your mind from the environment, embrace your freedom to choose thoughts, and select happy, optimistic emotions.

Are ‘we’ the doer, or is ‘God’ the doer? God grants us the energy to perform actions and the freedom to use it as we wish. This free will allows us to make our own choices.

Rebirth: a fact or myth? Reincarnation helps explain human disparities, such as being born blind. Most major religions reference reincarnation, either directly or indirectly.

Why don’t we remember our past lives? Both death and birth are so painful to the soul that they erase past life impressions. However, some residual memories remain in the subconscious, causing feelings of ‘déjà vu’.

Does destiny control us? The three types of karma are:

Sañchit Karmas: Accumulated from countless lifetimes, forming a stockpile that God tracks.

Prārabdh Karmas: A fixed and largely unchangeable portion of sañchit karmas assigned at birth to be experienced in the current life.

Kriyamāṇ Karmas: Actions performed in the present life based on free will, which is in our conscious control. The Prārabdh is predetermined, but Kriyamāṇ is not. It is in our hands and can be changed as we wish.

Why we came into the world? We have turned away from God since eternity, but He grants us the free will to return to Him. We use this freedom to begin our soul's evolutionary journey. In human form, we have a golden opportunity to complete this journey and reach His eternal divine abode.

Goal of life: God has given us knowledge for basic survival and a higher purpose: to know and attain the absolute Truth.

Atma Jnana vs Brahma Jnana: Knowledge of God is called Brahma jnana, and knowledge of the soul is called Atma jnana. Atma jnana is a tiny fraction of Brahma jnana. Thus, attaining Brahma jnana means you automatically gain Atma jnana, but not vice versa.

People dying in natural calamities: Natural calamities can result from a community's shared karma, though we can't link specific events to collective karma. The Law of Karma is complex, beyond our frail human intellect. Yet, even in calamities, some are miraculously saved.

Why good people suffer? When we say bad things happen to good people, the time frame is uncertain. What seems bad now may lead to inner growth, making it ultimately good. A truly good thing promotes inner growth, while a truly bad one leads to our soul's downfall.

Simplicity vs cleverness: Expecting selflessness from worldly people is naive; be cautious when dealing with them. In contrast, trust in God and the Guru is safe as they have no self-interest. In spiritual matters, practice faith. In worldly dealings, stay cautious to avoid being cheated.

Being humble and confident at the same time: We are sentient because God bestows us with sentience. Without His presence, we would cease to exist. Understanding this fosters confidence without arrogance.

Detachment vs enthusiasm: Detachment should be based on results, not duties. Enthusiasm is essential on the spiritual path. True detachment means letting go of lower desires and goals while attaching to a higher purpose that motivates you.

Positivity vs focusing on your faults: Positive thinking means focusing only on beneficial thoughts. Positive people are solution-oriented, addressing problems and eliminating faults without dwelling on them. With zeal, they engage in life-transformational practices. Don't let negative thoughts about your defects overwhelm you.

Family disapproves of bhakti: To balance devotion with family happiness, communicate effectively to understand their perspective, assure them of your love, explain the importance of devotion without arguing, let actions speak louder than words, and remember that people can change.

What is true love?: True love endures despite hurt, demands nothing, and overlooks flaws. It involves a service attitude, focusing on giving rather than receiving, as exemplified by the gopis of Vrindavan with Shri Krishna.

Do I have a soulmate?: All relationships face conflict and are temporary in nature, based on self-seeking. The concept of a "soulmate" does not apply to the material realm. From the soul’s perspective, God is our true soulmate, offering infinite, permanent, ever-fresh divine love that fully satisfies the soul.

Science vs spirituality: Both science and spirituality rely on assumptions. Science cannot solve our internal defects like lust, anger, and greed, while spirituality is incomplete without scientific understanding. Embrace both in your life for a holistic approach.

Spirituality vs religion: Religious ceremonies aid in spiritual growth, but their importance diminishes once a person attains a certain level of devotion. At this stage, the mind naturally engages in loving devotion, the ultimate goal of all rituals.

Evidence of the soul? The existence of free will is the most conclusive evidence of the soul's presence. If humans were only matter, free will wouldn't exist. Like science, which begins with a hypothesis, assume the soul's existence as per scriptures and start spiritual practice to purify your mind. As you progress, you'll directly perceive the soul.

How to read the scriptures? Study the scriptures, then, with firm faith, implement the knowledge in your life and cultivate love for God in your heart.

How to retain spiritual wisdom? 1. Spend time reading or hearing divine knowledge. 2. Think deeply about what you've learned. 3. Create a firm belief aligned with this knowledge.

Ekadashi fasting: Saints and scriptures teach love for God and prescribe rituals like fasting to aid devotion. However, we often focus on the rules rather than the devotion. We must remember that the goal is to increase our love for God on Ekadashi, Dwadashi, and every day.

Is it wrong to ask God for material boons? Selfishly motivated devotion keeps the mind unpurified. When we approach God with material desires, our minds remain entangled in worldly things, preventing cleansing. Resolve not to ask the Lord for material boons to purify your heart.

Do rituals give us benefits? The purpose of all scriptures is to always remember God and never to forget Him. Sadly, people often lose the spiritual essence of religious ceremonies, engaging physically while their minds dwell on worldly things. While the world values external acts, God values our thoughts and intentions.

The need for daily sadhana: Dedicate time daily to secluded sadhana to counteract daily distractions and maintain a focused mind. This helps keep your mind elevated despite worldly disturbances.

How should I set up my daily practice? Commit to at least one hour of daily sadhana. The ideal time is 4:30-6:30 a.m. when the environment is serene and the mind is clear. Sit in any comfortable, alert posture. A designated corner for devotion helps the mind enter meditation mode whenever you sit there.

Is kirtan compulsory in sadhana? Singing kirtan is not compulsory, but shravan (listening) and kirtan greatly assist smaran (remembering) by engaging the senses in devotion and preventing wandering thoughts. Bhajans contain elements of devotion and are excellent for contemplation, aiding meditation.

How to meditate? To grow devotion, focus on God, who is transcendental to material gunas. Roop dhyan meditation, concentrating on God's form, makes this easier and more natural. It fosters emotional connection and devotional bliss, making meditation effortless.

Incremental progress in spirituality: People often overestimate what they can change in a day but underestimate the cumulative effect of daily small changes. Over time, these little changes lead to significant transformations.

Which form to worship? The Vedas state there is one Supreme Divinity with many forms. When choosing your Ishta Dev, select an enchanting form, enthral your mind with divine pastimes, and relish the nectar of devotion by viewing Him as your own.

Is changing my Ishta Dev a sin? God is one. Ram, Krishna, Shiv, Ganesh, Narayan, Durga, and Parvati are forms of the same Supreme Lord. There is no need to fear changing your Ishta Dev; the fear of sin is only in your mind and has no factual basis.

Who is Radha? Radha is not just a woman in a temple; she is the divine Yogmaya power, God's divine power that governs all other powers. With Yogmaya, God manifests His Divine Abode and displays His divine pastimes.

How to recognize a Guru? Meeting a true Guru transforms pure hearts immediately and impure hearts gradually. If you don't feel a transformation, attend satsangs with various saints. Attach yourself to the one who has the most spiritual impact on you; he is your Guru.

Guru mantra: In the spiritual realm, inner feelings matter, not speech. God knows our hearts. Complex mantras are unnecessary; simply taking God's name is the greatest mantra.

Fear of the unknown: To overcome fear and anxiety, recognise how it stems from attachment—whether attachment to comfort, material situations, or people. Explore and make peace with your worst-case scenario, then place your faith in God, our eternal father.

Dealing with disparagement: To handle others' condemnations: 1. Accept that you can’t please everyone; seeking universal validation is futile. 2. Recognize people’s opinions as their right and choose to disregard them. 3. View unfair criticism as a chance to practise forbearance and purification.

What is the sign of true forgiveness? True forgiveness means no longer feeling resentment when recalling the hurt. It doesn’t require forgetting but involves moving on by accepting the situation and releasing its burden. Due to its selfless nature, forgiveness uplifts both the forgiver and the forgiven.

What kind of austerities are to be followed? The highest austerity is dedicating body, mind, and intellect to God's service: seeing God in everything, chanting His glories, lovingly remembering Him and the Guru, and performing every action as an offering to the Supreme.

Why vegetarian diet? A simple vegetarian diet fosters virtues in the mode of goodness, aiding spiritual progress. It promotes longevity, good health, and the benefits of a sattvic diet.

Balancing duties to God and family: Karm Yogis perform both spiritual and material duties, prioritising attachment to God. Dedicate 1-2 hours daily to spiritual sadhana, so ensuring that everything else will fall into place.

Is some level of pride required at work? Success comes to the humble, not the conceited. Freedom from vanity is a valuable trait that attracts divine grace, as God favours humility over pride.

Dealing with depression: Gratitude is the antidote to toxic emotions. Train yourself to thank God for your blessings and avoid taking them for granted. Instead of feeling hopeless, seek God's protection and compassion during difficult times.

How to deal with bullies? On the path of devotion, avoid actions and thoughts that harm others but assert your right to take legitimate actions to avoid being perceived as a soft target.

Sadhana vs seva: Both Seva and Sadhana are essential for a sadhak. Sadhana deepens our relationship with God, while Seva provides the opportunity to put our learning into practice. Eventually, the distinction between the two fades as the sadhak’s sole focus becomes pleasing God and Guru.

How to serve? Serving the Lord begins with wealth, progresses to volunteering physically, then to mansi seva (serving with the mind), and ultimately leads to constant remembrance of the Divine.

Switching from IIT and IIM to sanyas: Swami Ji's academic pursuits left him questioning life's deeper meanings: 'Who am I?', 'What is the purpose of life?', 'Why am I here?' and 'Who is my Creator?'. Delving into the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavatam, Swamiji found clarity and began practising Bhakti, attaching his mind to God. Inspired by a saint who emphasised the need for educated spiritual teachers over engineers and MBAs, Swamiji embraced sanyas to realise the Supreme and help others do the same.

Secret of Swamiji’s fitness: Swamiji takes a holistic approach to staying fit, comprising Yogasanas, Pranayam, and a healthy diet. Swamiji targets 60 minutes of exercise daily, 5-6 days a week. Swamiji also enjoys casual walks, as they give the opportunity to unwind and rejuvenate.