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I am practicing incessant sadhana but am not aware if my mind has come to rest. How is one to learn if the mind has calmed down due to sadhana?

Sri Swamiji:

“When one does sadhana his speech becomes less as the mind gets calmed down. Moreover, such a person would seek solitude. This is the best sign of the mind having calmed down.”

In the case of certain Bhaktas God chooses to appear before them and bestows them with high Bhakti while in the case of many others God expects them to practise sadhana before blessing them with high bhakti or His darshan. Why is this so?

Sri Swamiji:

“Cooked food is offered to a sanyasi (ascetic) who has renounced everything, comes to the door. Whereas, rice and grains are offered to a ‘Brahmachari’ who comes begging. He is not offered cooked food. Likewise, depending on one’s maturity Bhagavãn blesses some with Bhakti and darshan, directly. While in the case of others Bhagavãn encourages them in sadhana, gives them the required maturity and then blesses them with His darshan and Bhakti.”

In her book ‘Selfishness is a virtue’, Ayn Rand says that even all the Mãhans of the world are selfish. What do you have to say to this?

Sri Swamiji:

“I wish to recall here the words of Yogi Ramsuratkumar. A devotee placed this very question before Yogi Ramsuratkumar (who recently attained Siddhi in Tiruvannamalai). The Yogi very aptly replied, “Mahãns have no self. Where then does the question of ‘selfish-ness’ arise?”

It is said that ‘pãrãyana’ of Sundarakãndam brings in the same result as the ‘pãrãyana’ of the whole Ramanaya. How is this possible?

Sri Swamiji:

“In Sundarakãndam when Hanumar has darshan of Sita, She is in the brink of sorrow attempting to kill herself. It was at this stage that Hanumar, with a view to change Pirãtti’s (Sita’s) attitude, renders the Ramayana beginning with the birth of Sri Rama till his own presence there to have the Pirãtti’s darshan. Trijada (one of the demonesses guarding Sita in Asoka vana, who was sympathetic towards Sita) then describes the dream that she had seen to Sita. In this she tells Sita of the battle fought between Rama and Ravana, the killing of Ravana by Rama, Rama and Sita getting together and the performance of ‘Pattãbhisheka’ (crowing ceremony). Thus, the remaining part of Ramayana is rendered here. Therefore, ‘pãrãyana’ of Sundarakandam will give the same ‘pala’ (result) as the ‘pãrãyana’ of the whole Ramayana.”

In Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's charitra, Sri Ramakrishna says that having given his tapas to Vivekananda he (Ramakrishna) had become poor. Yogi Ramsuratkumar has said that he had received his tapas from Ramana Maharishi. Why do Mahãns give their tapas only to a few?

Sri Swamiji:

“Though a father has the same degree of affection towards all his children, he is aware of the temperament of each child. He is fully aware that while one son of his would squander away the money given, another might keep it, as is, guardedly; another son would multiply it several times while yet another son might spend it wisely. Therefore, the father would give his wealth only to that son who would accomplish his own desires. How is a Guru? He desires only the spread of dharma in the world. Therefore, he would give his tapas only to that disciple who would multiply the tapas several folds and use it for the welfare of the world. If given to other disciples they may use it to meet their own selfish needs or towards wrong ends. The Guru, therefore, gives his tapas only after knowing the fitness of the recipient. The amazing way in which Vivekananda, who received the tapas from Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, spread Vedanta all over the world only goes to prove this.”

How is it that Bhaktas perform Nãma Sankirtan even after having seen Bhagavãn?

Sri Swamiji:

“Once, a person put forth the very same question to Papa Ramdas.
Papa Ramadas was then sitting at an estuary.
Papa Ramadas asked, “Has this river joined the sea?”
The man, “Yes. It has”.
After a pause, Papa Ramadas asked, “Is the river still flowing?”
The man, “Yes! It is flowing!”
Papa Ramadas explained, “Likewise Bhaktas, too, perform Nãma Sankirtan even after seeing Bhagavãn!”

Today, many who are in Sanyasa dharma (ascetics) without restricting themselves only to those activities ordained to their dharma involve themselves in several undesired activities also. Why is this so?

Sri Swamiji:

“In Kali Yuga, all the four varnãshramãs have become corrupt. One has failed not only to perform what has been ordained to his dharma but also performs what has not been ordained to his dharma. This is what is seen in today’s world. Different kinds of dharmas have been ordained to ‘Brahmacharya’, ‘Grahastãshrama’ (householder’s life), ‘Vãnaprasta’ (renouncing the family and living in the forest) and ‘Sanyãsa’ (the ascetic life). Today, the one who calls himself ‘brahmachari’ (celibate) remains a brahmachari only by title! He does not follow the dharma set for this stage of life. Similar is the case of ‘Grahastãshrama’. In Kali one does not get to see ‘Vãnaprastãshrama’. When it is so, how can Sanyasa dharma be any different?”

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