Introduction 

Reflect and Ask makes us value-oriented. 

Life’s shock absorbers are the Sadhana Chatushchaya (framework of four that centers us).

When someone is in a bad mood, endure it (Titiksha) but for more serious matters, we need to have Shraddha in the Creator and transcend dvaita (duality) to understand we are not different from the other person.

The 9th quality is: Mumukshutv a (to desire freedom) – to realize that you cannot make yourself free, therefore you surrender. Surrender to Divinity out of strength and honesty, not fear. 

Question 1:

In the Mahabharata, Duryodhana is always scheming to do bad things. How does Yudhishtira embrace Duryodhana despite this? 

Response:

Yudhishtira is a role model. A role model is one who does not have likes and dislikes. He is also displaying a lot of Titiksha and the embodiment of dharma (integrity). A sponge can be damaged easily but a rock does not let anything get in its crevices. Integrity helps one be less affected by positivity or negativity. One’s intention leads to immunization against others’ likes and dislikes. 

As well, Yudhishtira does finally fight. When endurance leads to greater harm, he decides it’s time to stop enduring and start fighting. We need to do this – but endurance comes first, and then fighting. 

Question 2:

How do we deal with suicide of a child in the community? How do we balance this with how we discipline our child without worrying that they will not harm themselves? 

Response

In the long-term: Be clear that the purpose of life is to be happy – SQ (spiritual quotient), not EQ (emotional quotient) or IQ (intelligence quotient). We are helping our children to remember that the reason to wake up is to smile. Be inclusive and supportive as possible. Being ignored is worse than being criticized. Celebrate the child’s life (that died) rather than treat it as something bad – remember the positive rather than negative.Kali yuga is dark. So surrender to Divinity. 

Question 3: 

Not all wishes are granted or prayers are answered because Bhagavan is our well wisher and not a wish fulfiller. This being the case, why was Draupadi’s wish granted when she prayed five times thinking that her earlier prayers were not answered?

Response:

The Divine may or may not give what you pray for because whether you get it or not, it is good for you. The more we trust that Bhagavan is our well wisher, the less we pray from the perspective of wants. 

The director of the leela (Bhagavan) knows all parts of it. So this should make us less unaccepting and judgmental.