Q&A-17: It means we must first think of God? But constant remembrance of God is difficult.

Unless you first get united to God through constant remembrance, you would not be able to unite others with Him.

With the help of the name of God, this becomes easy. Constantly go on chanting the name of God or one of the many devotional songs. Then a part of your mind will remain engaged in God. Pictures of gods and goddesses, of saints and prophets remind us of God and help in producing a spiritual mood

- Swami Brahmeshananda, "Spiritualizing Everyday Actions", Vedanta Kesari, November 2005.

Grateful thanks to Vedanta Kesari.

Q&A-16: Can my relations with my family also be spiritualized?

Yes, Love your friends and relatives through God.

Here is an example. On the surface of the ocean there are waves and bubbles. The bubbles come together and get attached to each and love each other. Sometimes, one or two burst also. Now, we are our friends are like bubbles. We come together and love each other. God is like the ocean and forms the substratum and basis of our existence. So, first we must get in touch with God - the ocean, and through Him, relate ourselves to others since we are all His parts.

- Swami Brahmeshananda, "Spiritualizing Everyday Actions",

Vedanta Kesari, November 2005.

Grateful thanks to Vedanta Kesari.

Q&A-15: What about our day-to-day activities?

Consider all actions as worship of God. In some form or the other, all activities must be associated or connected with God. When you cook food, cook for God. Eat it after offering it to God as prasad etc.

- Swami Brahmeshananda, "Spiritualizing Everyday Actions", Vedanta Kesari, Novbember 2005.

Grateful thanks to Vedanta Kesari.

Q&A-14: All spiritual people suggest us to connect our daily actions to spiritual life. How to do it?

This can be done by various means: First, by setting a spiritual goal in life. Instead of worldly, mundane goal, decide to attain God-realisation.

Together with this, consider yourself a spiritual aspirant. At present, you consider yourself a student or a doctor, or a teacher. With this, also strongly feel that you are a spiritual aspirant. If you can consider yourself as a servant or a son or daughter of God, it is still better. Spiritual life becomes easy and natural if the goal of life and our concept of ourselves are changed and are given a spiritual dimension

- Swami Brahmeshananda, "Spiritualizing Everyday Actions", Vedanta Kesari, Novbember 2005

Q&A-13: How do you differentiate between Spirituality and Materialism?

Materialism means accepting the supremacy of matter and setting material goals as earning money, name and fame, worldly prosperity etc. as goals of life and striving for them. Spirituality means accepting the supremacy of spirit, or God as the ultimate reality, and striving to achieve it

- Swami Brahmeshananda, "Spiritualizing Everyday Actions", Vedanta Kesari, Novbember 2005.

Grateful thanks to Vedanta Kesari.

Q & A-12: Why did God create the World?

"Why did God create the world?" the Master (Swami Sivananda) asked Gurusaranananda. The latter could not reply and kept silent.

Then the Master continued, "Many people put me this question. It is a transcendental question. 'Why' applies only to things of the world and not to things transcendental. Realise this Self. Then you will get an answer to the question."

Courtesy: "Imaya Geetham", Tamil monthly, Dec.2007.

Grateful thanks to Imaya Geetham.

Overcome All Obstacles : Swami Sivananda

1. A weak, emaciated and decrepit old body is unfit for Yoga Sadhana.

2. Be not a victim of imaginary ills and diseases.

3. Let your body be strong, healthy and pure. Body- building is
nation-building.

4. Practise Sirshasana, Sarvangasana, Matsyasana
and Paschimottanasana and a few rounds of Sukh
Purvak Pranayama in the morning. You will
possess wonderful health.

5. Thinking of a disease constantly will intensify it.
Feel always: “I am healthy in body and mind”.

6. Take pure food. You will then have a pure intellect
and good memory. You will attain Self-realisation
with the aid of the pure intellect and good memory.

7. First offer to the Lord whatever you eat, then take
it as His Prasad. This will purify your food.

8. Take illness as the Lord’s blessing.

9. Again and again assert: “I am the bodiless,
disease-less, all-pervading immortal Soul or
Atma”.

10. Every disease is a Karmic purgation.

11. All diseases take their origin in the mind. Treat the
mind first, then the physical diseases will disappear.

12. Worry has caused newer and deadlier diseases, like
blood pressure, heart trouble, nervous breakdown etc.

13. Fear checks the flow of blood and even poisons it. Laughter
and cheerfulness increase the circulation of blood. They are
blood tonics.

14. Ill-health is a myth. It does not exist beyond the range of the
physical and mental sheaths. The body and mind alone are
subject to diseases. The Atma, your true Self, is beyond these
and, therefore, eternally free from diseases and death.

15. Brahmacharya rejuvenates. It augments energy, nerve and
brain power and vitality. It is the life-ray of man.

16. The practice of Hatha Yoga to a limited extent is necessary to
keep you fit, hale and healthy.

17. Hatha Yoga is a course of psycho-physiological discipline for
the attainment of complete mastery over the body, the nervous
system and Prana.

18. The control of the body and its subordination to the Spirit
makes the Hatha Yogic system an invaluable aid to the aspirant.

19. Diseases, worries and troubles can affect only the physical
and mental aspects, but not the spiritual Self.

20. Disharmony of thought, word and deed is the cause of all
troubles, miseries and quarrels in this world.

Courtesy: “Imaya Geetham”, Tamil monthly, Dec.2007

Q&A-11: "How to Attain Immortality? - Swami Sivananda"

Through ignorance and lust comes death. Through knowledge the deathless state or the immortal Atman is reached. Both life eternal and death abide in the body. Life is a lightning flash or breath. Time is but a thunderclap of death. Live in Atman. You will attain immortality. Go beyond time. You will attain eternity.

Withdraw the Indriyas. Meditate. Live in the Self. Your whole being will be uplifted into mystic ecstasy. You will feel the divine thrill of joy.

Courtesy: “Imaya Geetham”, Tamil monthly, December 2007.

Grateful thanks to Imaya Geetham.

Need for Detachment

Detachment (Vairagya) is the sine quo non for renunciation as engagement with the world leads to attachment by fuelling desires. Spiritual practices are designed to wean a spiritual seeker away from sensory attractions and hence for one who has attained self-control it makes no difference if he does not renounce the world formally (Sanyasa). If one renounces family life to pursue the spiritual path without developing total detachment his renunciation will only be an outer mark.

In his discourse, Sri B.Sundar Kumar said it was not incumbent on everyone to renounce the world to pursue the spiritual path. In fact, scriptural texts are replete with examples of great devotees who realized God as householders.

The Bhagavata Purana relates the life of King Priyavrata, the elder son of Swayambhuva Manu, to show that a devotee can stay attuned to the spiritual goal amidst family life. When he was called upon by his father to rule the kingdom, the prince, who had with the blessing of Sage Narada developed unalloyed devotion to God, was on the verge of undertaking a vow of total contemplation on the Lord.

Being a dutiful son he accepted his father's word though he was not interested in power and pelf, which he knew were deterrents to the spiritual path. In order to promote creation, Brahma, the creator, came down to the world to counsel Priyavrata to accept the kingdom and to propagate his lineage. Brahma advised, "He who is keen to subdue the six foes (to spiritual pursuit) should in the first instance strive to conquer them while remaining at home; for he alone who has ensconced himself in a stronghold is able to overcome even powerful enemies. When these (internal) foes grow weak, the wise man may roam about at will."

Priyavrata accepted his advice and ruled the world righteously; he married the divine architect Viswakarma's daughter and begot 10 sons and a daughter. He had three more sons by another wife. Such an emperor, who was blessed with all that a man could ask for, remembered his earlier resolve one day and handing over the reins of his kingdom to his sons followed the path of renunciation.

Courtesy: Religion, The Hindu, Madurai, November 6, 2007

Gems-1:

Religion is like a medicine. You have to ingest it to combat the illness - The Dalai Lama