Yesterday evening Swami Vishwananda gave another wonderful satsang and he has answered many questions in surprising depth. The atmosphere was very joyful and we had a lot of laughter. Here is a first part of selected questions and answers for you to enjoy
1)
Equanimity is one of the 26 qualities of devotee. Do
you think it is possible for an average person to attain it and how?
Yes,
it is. Because the real nature of who you are, the soul, is not bound by anything
– not by good, not by bad. Soul is ever free. Nothing to bind it. As how the
soul looks at it is always looking in an equal way.
But
the soul receives all the information of the universal consciousness – God. But
when this knowledge enters the mind, the mind has to interpret it in a certain
way. So the mind automatically puts a limitation, a judgement, on anything.
This is why we judge. Because of the judgment the mind can´t comprehend the
knowledge.
In
the Gita Krishna says: hey Uddhava, don´t waste your time with good and bad in
this world. If you want to attain me you have to go above these qualities. This
means it is possible. In the Bible it says: if you want to attain the kingdom
of God, you have to rise above all limitation.
Yes,
one can attain that level, if one really wants. This is the most important
point. To attain equanimity is possible - but if you want it, this is the
question. Until you are sincere, you can´t. Because the limitation, it is you
who puts it. It is possible to attain that level even for a normal person.
How
much you focus on it, how much you desire for it. Desire in a right way – even
to desire the Divine needs to be in a right way. Outside people desire the
material things. But here, to desire you have to have a certain eagerness. We
can say we love God, but do we have the eagerness for Him to manifest Himself?
We can do japa, but to have this love you have to want it, you have to rise
above limitation. You are on that path. That’s why God has called you. Through
many lives of working. Its up to you. The teacher is here to remind you that´s
up to you to follow it.
2)
Should one learn to do everything with joy or only to
do what brings joy?
Sometimes
you do things which do not bring joy, but you should always try to do it with joy.
3)
How do we be in contact all the time that He guides
us?
The Divine is never far away from people. He is continuously
close to you. How to become aware is through mantra japam. The more you chant
the Divine name, the more the mind is in a subtle state and the more you will
feel Him and you will feel Him in every action, in all that you do. From time
to time He has to withdraw Himself, because the human nature is greedy. If the
Divine gives everything in one go, how will you appreciate? But when you have
to look for Him, you will feel that longing. Otherwise you will be ungrateful
for it. You have to remind your mind through your japam. No matter, how you
are, where you are, He is one step ahead. He is walking facing you. He is
always in front of you, guiding your step, whether you want it or not.
4) How
to help others through prayer? Pray, but don´t beg.
5)
If I give myself up completely to the Divine, do I
also give up my personality?
Why
would you give up yourself but hang onto your personality? Better to not give
anything. That’s how people are: they give a gift and want back half. If you
give something, let go of it. But if you hold on one side and He is holding on
other side… Even the personality, you have to let go. To transcend the
personality into the Divine you have to let go. If you don´t let go, you have
another life to let go and another and another.
6)
Should I serve even when I get abused?
If
one has taken a certain path, duty of serving, it does not matter if you get
abused or not. But if you feel that despite giving all your service, to whom
you are serving, there is not appreciation and there is not willingness to
enjoy the service, you should bug away from that. Than you should reduce your
service so that the person starts to appreciate it.