- Opening Reflection
This space is a specialization for our own internalization.
- Q&A
Question 1
What inspires Vivekji to be consistent with classes and all that Vivekji does?
Vivekji’s Response
From a mission perspective, there is a singular purpose to feel that all is His (Vivek is a sevaka) and all is Him (there is no individual Vivek). From a vision perspective, if I don’t live by this, it doesn’t feel good to me. I will feel really bad when I am not steady. From an action perspective, it makes me more satvic to follow the path of shreya. If I wasn’t answering questions now, I would be doing the dishes and listening to a podcast or eating something I don’t need to be. But if I postpone doing the dishes to tomorrow morning, I will listen to a discourse instead.
I have received such unconditional love from Swami Tejomayananda that I can’t help but share it in such a comprehensive way.
Question 2
Many great saints did not marry. It’s easier to be single because then your life is easier. If marriage is all about kama and not sadhana, should I even think about marriage and pursue it? Should I do the Sacred Union course if I am not thinking about marriage?
Is marriage different than living with your family? Can I just be married to Bhagavan?
Vivekji’s Response
Divinity is not concerned with our Karma (e.g.chanting Vishnu Sahasranama) but Bhava (e.g.feeling Vishnu Sahasranama). Whether you get married or not, i.e. anything you do, is inconsequential. What you are feeling is what is important. Marriage is attractive because you have someone who is so close to you (physically, mentally, politically etc.), that it helps us get to know ourselves better. You can’t get to know yourself by yourself.
The saints lived in a time where there was very little distraction. But this is not our reality/context. So if you are on a journey where someone can reveal to you your weaknesses and strengths, then that is very useful to your purpose.
No one can make you sacrifice like a family member can. What a parent does for a child is incalculable. This helps rid us of deservership and doership. Doing without receiving helps dissolve our ego.
Marriage is beyond kama. The Sacred Union course is branded as for people that want to get married, but it is much more than that. Even those that have been married for a while can do it to strengthen their relationship.
Question 3
How to handle when politics comes between relationships?
Vivekji’s Response
Don’t take anything personally, because you are giving up quietude of mind. Try to encourage a culture where people can share without debating right and wrong. Some subjects should not be discussed in certain contexts.
Question 4
How do we overcome fear that keeps us from failure?
Vivekji’s Response
Fear arises because of focus on results. If you let go of results and focus on learning and growing, it will help you embrace “failure” (there is no failure, no regrets as long as there is learning). Fear comes from living in the future where the focus is on karma phala instead of karma. Having a growth mindset will help overcome this.
Question 5
When there are tragic events where lives are lost, how do we keep moving forward? How do we continue to meet everyone with love when there is targeted violence by some people?
Vivekji’s Response
The nature of Dvaitha (everything we experience) is that there are difficulties and deficiencies. When we know this, our dependence on society decreases in a satvic way. When you don’t know anything else, you will depend more on divinity. This will help us keep moving forward.
When difficulties happen in the world, it rallies people together. We have all faced some hardship which has brought us together in this community; if we were comfortably numb, we wouldn’t be here to inquire more. Hardship faced by a few can help many others be safe. Sanatana Dharma is such that a reincarnation helps to set things right when there is a lack of balance. So let us not forget this. Every facet of the multi verse is going to disappoint you, other than God.
Question 6
There is a Bal Vihar substitute teacher who seems to be using profanity and causing fear among high school students. As a fellow Bal Vihar teacher, what can I do?
Vivekji’s Response
Be neutral with spiritual leaders you don’t agree with, be respectful. Does the guide choose the disciple or the disciple choose the guide? If the disciple chooses the guide, that implies they know as much as the guide.
For highschoolers, share some utility for them that they will care about, on matters like stress or time management. When a co-teacher is being mean to students, over-compensate in kindness, openness etc. Be a ray of positivity to change the dynamics between them.
Question 7
As a Bal Vihar teacher of a grade 5 class, I’m supposed to teach the Mahabharat. When there are mature concepts like the birth of the Pandavas, Swayamvara etc., how do I approach such themes?
Vivekji’s Response
Watch the Stepping Stones video on Narakasura to understand how to approach a sexual theme and make it more systematic.
It’s ok to leave some details to get the learning across – know what to focus on so that the intention is clear. Make the class more discussion oriented on the principles rather than details.
Question 8
When I try to focus on likita japa or meditation, I have trouble focusing on one God. How do I choose what God to focus on when I know theoretically all God is one?
Vivekji’s Response
Sanatana Dharma is a monotheistic (core of our understanding is oneness) polytheism (many-ness). Unity in diversity. Having one God, one scripture and one guru is critical to accelerate our journey. There are multiple puranas, and each one has one God who is highlighted. But there is no God who is supreme. It is whoever you feel is supreme.