Question and Answer Session with Guruji
What is your idea of God and how can man reach him through the Art of Living course?
"That which is the basis of all creation, from which you can never be separate, that is Divinity, that is God. "So there are different levels of understanding. On one level, on the intellectual level, God is like the space, the basis of the whole creation in which we are, we remain and we dissolve all there was, all that is, and all that will be. On the emotional level, we all seek love. Love is God and God is love.
"You cannot know God through the five senses, that has to be felt from the heart. That is why we say love is God, because only in the state of love you can experience love.
"The Art of Living course can get you into that unstressed state of mind. You cannot experience love if you are stressed; so when you get out of stress and tension and go into deep meditation, then you realize that you can feel the love for God. "
Have you seen God?
"There are certain questions for which no answer is the right answer. Like if someone is sleeping and you ask 'Are you sleeping?' and if he doesn't answer, then he must be asleep."If he says 'Yes,' that means he is not sleeping. This is one such question. God is not an object of your senses, it is the very basis of your life."
What is your concept of hell and heaven?
"I have none. Heaven is, perhaps, when there is harmony in your environment and within yourself, and hell is when there is no harmony within you and around you."
You said, if you wanted to introduce religion, let it be the religion of happiness. That sounds like a negation of religion as we know it.
"No, definitely we should learn a little about every religion and we should be firm and strong about our own religion. Religion should not create hatred, guilt but happiness."One who is full of happiness, compassion and love is truly religious; it is when one doesn't see that one gets disheartened. Religious people should bring that happiness. If a religion does not have love and broad-mindedness then it is not worth following."
What are your long-term objectives?
"To see a smile on every face, a smile that is not fragile, a smile that does not evaporate and disappear just like that."
What is your mission in life?
To put a smile on as many faces as possible.
What advice do you give those who are seeking peace and happiness?
Get rid of stress, know that peace is there where you are and that it's in your heart. Peace is your very nature.
What makes you happy?
Happiness is my nature.
What makes you cry?
When I see the ignorance and small-mindedness. I cry at the top of my lungs, saying hey come on wake up, there's so much inside of you, don't sit and mourn about yourself. Go out and do something for the people around you.
What would you want to be reborn as?
I still have a lot of time here, so that I will decide later. I keep that choice open.
Do you have a recurring dream, and if so what is it?
I see the whole world as a dream, all the phenomena, even this moment that we are talking could be a dream.
Any unfulfilled dreams?
I don't think we should seek fulfillment in dreams.
Does the world need religion?
Whether it needs religion or not, it is indispensable, and you have to work around it. Dismissing religion will not work, it has not worked in Russia for 40 years, what is needed here is harmony.
Who does the future belong to?
Whoever has gone through the past.
Who do you draw inspiration from?
Any one who is in front of me.
How does one find a soulmate?
By first finding your soul.
What is intuition?
It is the tuition that you get from inside!
Why is so much attention given to your celebrity disciples?
We have reached out to 20 million people, and not all 20 million are celebrities. We have reached out through sewa and the five H program. Now we have started chemical- free farming. Farmers borrow money to buy pesticides and fertilizers and they go bankrupt and commit suicide. We have started a village-to-village campaign to teach farmers to start chemical and pesticide-free farming and natural farming using leaves as pesticides. It has done wonders. We have adopted 25,000 villages.
Do you wonder why the media goes on about your celebrity disciples?
The media needs celebrities.
What is the definition of God?
G-O-D! Generator, Operator, Destroyer.
Is the Sudarshan Kriya just simple hyperventilation?
I just smile at people who say that, they need to study more. If some one is a full scientist there's no problem, if the person is not a scientist, even that's not a problem, but a half scientist, they become agnostics and atheists.
What is the one thing that the world needs today?
It needs many things. Like harmony. It is the lack of spirituality that is causing the disharmony. Either people become aggressive and violent because of it, or they become depressed and commit suicide. The answer for this is spirituality.
Is spirituality against marriage?
You can get married. Then both of you can be spiritual.
What lies behind the beard?
I haven't looked behind the beard. I tell my disciples, the swami's hair is his antennae and the beard is the earthing, it's just a uniform.
Any last message for the reader?
Compare the problem to a dog, the solution is its tail, if you don't see its tail, just wait for a while, it will wag itself. Then you will see the solution.
How would you describe yourself?
Just a child - who refuses to grow up
How would you like to be remembered?
As a friend!
After death, does the soul retain any of the senses?
Yes. It is very interesting. After death, the soul retains the sight, smell and hearing. Touch and taste will go. The sight, smell and hearing are not retained for ever, but for about eight to ten days. Then the soul goes into a deep state of rest.
Guruji, how do you know this?
Those who have known themselves know this. You know, it is all in the consciousness. Also this has been recorded in the ancient texts by scholars.
What to do if you have a boss who doesn't recognize your contributions?
Just smile.
Guruji, why do so many innocent people suffer in man-made and natural disasters?
It makes you wonder about whether there is a God or not, doesn't it? More than five hundred people in Bombay this week... You simply have to wonder. You know, you should think about how we can changethe bad people into good people. We have to think constructively.It is also nature's way of telling us to have compassion. Without misery there would be no compassion, is it not? In Africa millions of children cannot afford a square meal. In Washington DC, fifty percent of school children drop out and go into violence. What can we do? How to reinstate goodness and faith in non-violence? Non-violence is the first limb of yoga. The second limb is truth. Why do we lie? It is because of our fear of losing our reputation and of losing others love. You know why spouses lie to each other? Because if they tell the truth, there will be a fight! When there is a conflict between love and truth, love always wins, that is why spouses lie.Yogas limbs are non-violence and truth, but yoga also leads to non-violence and truth. See we have done lots of good work in prisons, and in places like Israel, Kashmir... Is Dafna here?
What is dharma?
Dharma is more than just duty. It is that which uplifts you. Serving, etc. It is that which is your inherent nature.
Guruji, you said earlier that the ego is useful for action. Is itpossible to act without ego?
Yes. An enlightened person will act without any ego.See, praising a wise person is useless. They will anyway do good work. They will continue doing good work even if you blame them. Praise a fool -- that will pump up their ego and motivate them intodoing good work. Have you noticed, the ego troubles ones own mind more than others?
Guruji, I have been having bad thoughts throughout this course.
That is because of stress, toxins in the blood. Could also be due to some hormonal imbalance. More cleansing will help. Don't be bothered. The more you grow, the more these negative emotions, anger etc. will be intolerable to you. So it is a good sign.
(A question on natural disasters)
Haan, natural disasters will always happen, no? last year we had 19 water-related disasters around the world. The year before was fire.
Is it possible to attain enlightenment while having physical blocksin the spine?
Why not?
Ashtavakra had eight deformities in his body, and he was enlightened.
Guruji, you are our role model.
But I model all your roles!
Guruji, who is dearest to you: a sadhak, devotee or an enlightenedperson?
Just you!
Why do more enlightened masters seem to hail from India thananywhere else?
It is just a question of time. At this particular time many masters have come from India. At another time many masters came from the middle east. And at one time many saints were from Europe. See atone time there were many scientists only from the west. Merchants were from Europe. Earlier at one time there were also many saints in China.Why is maple found only in Canada?
We don't know! Orbulls in Texas. But it doesn't belong only to that place. Knowledge and wisdom belong to the entire universe.
Guruji, I am very attached to you, but at the same time we do this process of bowing down to the angels to rid ourselves of attachment. How should I reconcile this? Someone from the crowd: Even the angels are attached to him.
I have noticed that all my botherations are due to the inconsiderate actions of other people. My mind immediately jumps to resentment, judgment, etc. How do I make my mind unshakeable? How do I become accepting of myself and all?
Once you have recognized the situation in the mind, you are already out of it! You just say, I am going to stand up and smile.
How to love somebody you hate the most?
First just accept that person. Just accept that they are incorrigible and will never change. Then understand that they are a victim themselves, of their circumstances and their ignorance.Compassion is the next step. See, step by step we have 1, 2, 3. Acceptance, understanding and love.
What is the difference between skill and manipulation?
Good question. In manipulation, the intentions are not that good. There is viciousness behind the action. In skill the intentions are clear and good. Manipulation leaves you with a guilty feeling. Itwill pinch you. When you are using your skill your conscience is clear. With manipulation there is dishonesty. You are dishonest to yourself and to the other person. When you are using skill there ishonesty. And only you can know the difference! Others can't.
What is the difference between sacrifice and service?
In sacrifice someone else's happiness is more important than our own.
Does nature always guide us?
If I miss the bus on the way to an interview, should I take a cab or look for another job?Take a cab to the interview, and if you don't get the job, look for another one!
How to handle financial burden?
First of all, don't think it is a burden. Have the confidence that you can make it happen. Burden brings worry, and that will kill your creativity.
Why must people talk all the time?
Even in your divine presence?I don't know! I have the same question.
Guruji, can we have Guru Poornima in Tahoe next year?
All is possible!
Why do we do yoga?
In order to make life more beautiful. Heyam dukham anahatam -- to stop misery from entering our world. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.For the body we have asanas. For the mind we have pranayamas, for emotional and mental well-being. Also asanas work on the mind and pranayams on the body -- there are no strict boundaries. Meditationremoves spiritual misery, dejection, darkness and depression. That is why yoga, Yogas-chitta- vritti-nirodhaha , it stops the chitta-vritti, or the endless activity of the chitta.And also by singing. Be in satsang, and sing with everyone.Also in chanting -- we will do chanting later today, we will chant sathyam param dhimahi a few times before meditation. It means let the ultimate truth dawn in my intellect. Beauty, truth anddivinity. It is good to chant just before meditation.
Karma vs. free will: how much are we governed by karma and how muchdo we have any free will?
You should read Celebrating Silence, its all explained there. Also in the Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker, the first sheet is on that topic.
When the body dies, does the mind go with the soul?
Yes.
How can we change our karma?
By experience and wisdom, and some karma you just have to overcome it and work through it.
How to raise kids to not lose their innocence?
It is good to inculcate human values, love, compassion etc. in children when they are young. It is also important to make them strong. Should not make them too strong, then they become aggressive. At the same time some strength is needed in addition to the innocence, otherwise how will they go through life? Not too strong or innocent. Take the middle path.
About home sickness.
See, I consider that every tree in the planet is in my garden. When the whole world is your family, there can be no homesickness. Feel always at home -- it is all your attitude.
Are there any extra-terrestrial beings outside of the earth?
(smiling)Some may consider that I am one! (applause)
Some people were not happy that in our prayer meeting we did not condemn the attacks and we took a soft approach. So people wrote about us in the papers, are we from another planet or what?Extra-terrestrials are also possible. The universe has many layers of consciousness. Have you all seen the silver jubilee video? The one with the angels in it? We should show it here after some time.When we talk of healing and miracles and all, you know what our teachers say? We don't believe in miracles, we depend on them!
Are there any coincidences?
Could be -- we cannot rule anything out!
Guruji, what is the meaning of the word Bhajan?
In Sanskrit the word Vibhajan means separation. Therefore the word bhhajan means togetherness. When we all are together and have only one thought, and that is the thought of the Lord, it is Bhajan. We are together thinking about that Eshwara, then there is a lot of shakti in that. And what else do wedo? We clap. Clapping brings you in the present moment. Tell me if you are very happy what do you do? You clap. Right? Someone is very happy how do they express? By clapping! All throughout the world.. . there is this practice.
Guruji, many people come everyday and attend the Satsang. Most of them don't even know what there are coming here for? After sometime they don't come.. what could be done with this?
Leave about others. Krishna says,…Which means, there are crores of people who take birth and out of that only a few come to the path. And out of that few who pursue the path, only a few reach me.
Friday, September 25, 2009
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