Question from Sam: Ramakrishna said Krishna and Jesus were incarnations of God. Yogananda said they were spiritual masters who established their union with God. Why is there such a difference in their teachings? Yogananda said that spiritual masters are free to come and go because they are one with God. Ramakrishna said that God himself incarnates on earth. What exactly is the difference…
Question from SS: I have read that to be emotionally reactive produces karma, negative karma I assume. Isn’t this saying that you have to be even minded all the time and accept everything that comes your way even severe trials and mistreatment from other people? It doesn’t make any sense to me as most people will react emotionally at being abused, mistreated, or…
Question from SS: Why is it that even if some people who do a lot of austerities like meditation, mantra chanting, pilgrimages, scripture study don’t change much, and still lack self awareness, and remain selfish and self centered? Austerities are done to purify the mind to draw closer to God, how come their minds are not getting purified? and don’t austerities help to…
Question from Esak: For years I have asked God, or some aspect of God, for help for a specific problem. It hasn’t helped. They say you must have faith. Well, I have enough faith to ask for help. But why should I have faith? Is God so weak that He can’t help if you don’t have enough faith? Then He/She is nothing but…
Question from Namita: Currently I am going through an unknown anxiety. The reason is unknown. e.g. I used to drive few years back. But one small accident happened three years back and I completely lost my confidence to drive again. Though it was minor, but I hurt one man slightly. Due to this I keep on fearing and unable to drive, keep on…
Question from SS: What is the reason behind saying affirmations in the present tense, that is to say you already have wealth even if you are materially poor, or if you want good friends to affirm you already have it? it appears contradictory? is it because you are affirming from a “spiritual” level instead of one’s limited “egoic” material level where clearly there…
Question from Rounak Agrawal: Respected Sir, As mentioned in the book The Holy Science, and also as mentioned in some of the answers provided by Ananda Sangha, the last descending Dwapara Yuga ended around 700 BC, and the Mahabharata war and Lord Krishna existed around that time. Since we have clear historically documented events of the world and of India for the period around…
Question from Pooja: I’ve had a challenging youth overall but I’ve invested every effort possible in transcending my challenges, most of which I have. The future honestly looks bright, no matter how hard the past. The present is pretty good too. But no matter how much the Grace of the Guru and the Divine help me and protect me, karma and life do…
Question from Veronika Millonig: There is a lot of negative events in my life, as soon as I resolve one there is already the next one, a never ending file of problems. I have no regular spiritual practice, I pray and also try to meditate but those negative events interrupt my daily routine, create chaos and such fear in me that I am unable…
Question from Andreas: In yogic texts I read that life current (from Brahma) is introduced into the human body through the crown chakra (and the equivalent causal region) and from there it descends downwards in the body. Other times I read (like in kriya yoga) that the life current starts from the sacrum and flows upwards through the spine/shushumna/brahmanadi and then through the…
