Opening Reflection

In the Upanishads, it is shared that one should see the Spirit as one would see objects around them. The way to do this is through shravana, manana and nidhidhyasana. Each of these practices has a distinct value.

• Shravana (Active listening): The purpose is to dissolve samshaya bhavana, i.e. the feeling of confusion is dissolved when one is engaged in active listening. 
• Manana (Active reflecting): The purpose is to dissolve assam bhavana, i.e. the feeling that doubts about the reality of these teachings is dissolved. 
• Nidhidhyasana (Active living): The purpose is to dissolve viparita bhavana, i.e. the feeling of wrong identification is dissolved through active practice of active listening and reflecting.

When it comes to learning, we need more quality, not quantity. 

Q&A

Question 1

What is Vivekji’s personal feeling in visiting holy places such as Kurukshetra or Mt. Kailash? Why is it important for our children to have a physical connection with India?

Vivekji’s Response 

Vivekji is glad that people who don’t have a deep feeling towards their own history and culture have an opportunity to experience these places. It is not so much for Vivekji personally, but more that it is accessible for others. A real yatra highlights discomfort and getting used to it. When we are comfortable, we don’t inquire. 

When everything important in one’s life has come from Bharat (parents, value system, eating habits etc.), it is important for one’s kids to have a connection to this place. This is a way to express gratitude for all that one has. But this should not be for tourism or to visit family. It should be to experience the simplicity of ashrams and villages.  

Question 2 

In the Autobiography of a Yogi there are a lot of descriptions of siddhis, intuition, manifestation. How are these connected? How should we think about these? 

Vivekji’s Response

This book should be read in a light way, because it is very sensational and fantastical. Reality gets distorted because we project onto reality. If someone is speaking kindly to me but I am upset, I project that she is being mean or being unkind. For those like Paramahansa Yogananda, they are able to view reality without distortion. Intuition is you tuning into reality, it is not coming from you. This requires humility to appreciate. Use this to find ways to generate more peace. 

Question 3:

How do we share these ideas of self-development / peace with our family members without being preachy? Even though each person will come to see it in their own time, when it is clear and obvious to me, how can I make them see it?

Vivekji’s Response: 

• People around you care less about your words and more about your actions. So if you act cranky, it won’t matter to them what words you share. If you are cheerful, it will captivate those around you. Live what you are learning. 
• Prompt them to reflect on their terms. For example, ask them to engage in reflection through questions. 
• Encourage, don’t enforce self-development. 
• Accept that people move towards self-development when they are supposed to. 

Question 4:

How do we respond to a child that asks if this life is a dream?

Vivekji’s Response:

• Don’t dismiss this thought – let them keep thinking about this and figuring it out. 
• Ask them to hypothesize – if this is a dream, what changes in their life? This will help them get to the thinking that if life is a dream, we should not take it too seriously. 
• Encourage them to be a watcher rather than get involved in everything. Observe as though life is a play – this will encourage detachment, empathy etc. 
• Overall, don’t answer the question directly, rather encourage reflection. 

Question 5: 

When we are tying shoes etc., we are encouraged to focus on the task but also we are asked to chant Bhagavan’s name constantly – how can we do both? 

When a loved one is in pain, is this because they are being punished? 

Vivekji’s Response: 

Our mind stays in the present when our thoughts, words, actions are in sync and doing the same thing. Engaging in Japa is a meaningful way to stay in the present. But this is not true if it is mechanical. Your head should be backing what your mouth is chanting. 

The divine takes avatara to protect and to correct. Punishment has a sense of miscalculation. But the divine is the governor of actions and results – there is no miscalculation. Everything that happens to us is for our development – to protect or to correct us. This understanding gives us positivity and acceptance. This is hard to practice when you see loved ones struggle, but share with them that even this will pass. We are trying to free ourselves from the cycle of hard times and happy times. 

Question 6:

If we continue our sadhana, will Bhagavan take away all our attachments? 

Vivekji’s Response: 

When the Divine wants to bless someone, the Divine does this by removing their supports (e.g. job, husband, physical wellness etc.). When we have these supports, it means we are not depending on the Divine as much. Taking these away, we have no choice but to depend on the Divine, leading to more blessings. Anyone can ride a tricycle, but a bicycle requires more focus and a unicycle requires an extreme level of focus. As the support of the extra wheel gets taken away, your mind has to be more vigilant. 

Question 7:

Is the Gayatri Mantra not meant to be chanted unless there is a guide that gives it to you?

Vivekji’s Response:

There is no such thing as taking God’s name in vain in our culture. The Gayatri Mantra is the essence of all 100,000 mantras. There is no obstruction to chanting this mantra; no one can make this mantra impure. If you can do it in the right context, that’s better. But if you can’t, that’s alright too. 

Keep in mind that the meter of the mantra needs to be maintained. It loses its potency if the meter is changed. 

Reflection Assignment (RAW)

How strongly are you engaged in purification, inspiration, reflection, contemplation?