Questions by readers- Answers by The Mother! These answers are in no way definitive; nor do they make any claims to authenticity. These are supposed to answer the seeking. The insights contained in these answers issue from patrons of The Mother, among who are saints, holy men, scholars and advanced seekers. To submit a question, send email to editor.themother@gmail.com. Do not feel disappointed if The Mother does not publish the answer to your questions. The Editorial Board will choose questions to be published in The Mother depending upon its significance and service to the spiritual seekers at large. However, we will strive to answer most queries and personally communicate the answers to those who put forth genuine queries. Editor.

Q.

Is everything predestined? How much is in our hands, if at all? Angshuman Ray, Bangalore

Answer.

First of all, everything is not pre-destined. What happens owing to our previous karmas is not events, but circumstances. The finality is never in the grip of karmic throw back, it’s to be sealed by every individual. Based on our past karmas, vasanas, tendencies etc., we are attracted to certain situations and are disposed to act in a particular mould, but that’s about it. Rest is in our hands. We can decide not to give final shape to things and even avert it altogether.

Thus, while the circumstances may be created by past karma, our responses are free and in our hands. We can drive ourselves away from the destined path by repeatedly using our discretion. Our response is a sharp tool in our hands, it’s our free will. We can cut out the web of praarabddha, the near-destined events, with the sword of free will.

It’s like a drunkard, a drunkard has a great, great, great, tendency to have a drink as soon as he is anywhere near it, but actually he is free, he can decide not have it. But usually he gives in. This is how destiny is. We have a maximum tendency of choosing certain patterns, but with awareness, vigilance, spontaneity, we can avert anything.

Our response is always in our hands technically speaking, but since we become slaves of habit, we cannot wield our independence.  Once we begin our endeavours in heightening our awareness, living in the present, using discretion, surrendering etc., we can drive things to desired finality.
If it’s possible for a human being to win moksha, anything is possible.

There are two ways we can look at the prayer aspect. Either we keep making our efforts and pray for the desired end. Or keep perfecting ourselves and the same thing can automatically happen.
Once we become pure and free of paap, whatever we desire comes true, though at that point, constitutionally, we don’t have many desires.

Q.

s it ok to pray for worldly things? Why do we pray for worldly things?

Answer.

We pray to God for worldly things because God is ok with us doing it.

God does not discriminate between one who asks for worldly things and one who asks for unworldly moksha. He gives each one whatever he or she asks.

He says there will be time for each one to seek the higher or lower thing.

In either case, important thing is one is being “related” to God by asking, as against growing egoistically and believing in one’s own Almighty power or the false and shifting powers of this world. He is the real giver, no matter what one is asking.

One day a bhakta will ask for health or money, another day he will ask for Brahma Jnana and moksha. And one day he will be done with all asking and say, “I want nothing, I want YOU!”

We can’t push these things, each will ask according to the place in the individual state of evolution.

Q.

I am presently looking at works of Rudolf Steiner and am getting some idea from there. (Steiner - Esoteric: Reincarnation & Karma). There is also one book from Swami Abhedananda from Ramakrishna Mission. What are Hindu literature sources which are as comprehensive as the works of Rudolf Steiner?

Kapil Kalekar, Mumbai

Answer.

Here are some references.
http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/gita1/bhagavadgita_05.html
http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/ans/ans_61.html
http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/disc/disc_125.html

Q.

I have got the opportunity to meet Shri Maharaj twice and on both the occasions, I noticed that Maharaj didn't allow me to touch his feet, he would of course has a reason for it and I would probably wait for the time when I am capable of doing that.

Answer.

The feet of the Guru are powerful centres of transmission of positive and negative energy. So is the act of prostration. When you bend down, kundalini flows to the feet of the Guru, with that whatever is the disciple’s mental condition it passes to the Guru. So if there are evil thoughts, sins, malevolent tendencies in the one who touches the feet, it is taken over by the Guru. This will surely relieve the disciple but it can make the Guru undertake it. Sometimes the Guru falls sick. This is often seen when Gurus go on tours and are touched by thousands of people, very few of whom are pure. Guru takes over all of it whether he likes it or not. So Gurus avoid contact, so that they can maintain purity for discourse etc and not dissipate it in personal cleansing of disciples. In some pictures of Thakur (Sitaramdas Omkarnath) the feet are seen with a hue of black stone, they don’t look like they were made of flesh and skin. This happened after he went on tours. It took him months before they were restored to the original state.

Q.

Occasionally I do sankalp of doing a number of japa in specified days for example 50,000 japa in 5 days and have been able to complete it by the strength given by gurus and god. Is this a good practice?

Answer.

This is excellent. Sankapas keep the rigour of sadhana alive. It’s a way to test our capacities and also to keep the instruments of spirituality such as Naam, Japa etc in working condition and top condition.

Q.

Answer.