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Ask Ananda’s Experts
Questions and answers about meditation, yoga, the spiritual life, and more

Questions and Answers

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Peter Claver
Uganda

Question

My name is peter. I love God and I have dedicated a big part of my life to self realization. i would so much like to acquire the Yogoda Satsanga home lessons, but the information seems only to cater for those in the indian sub continent. How do I acquire them and the subsequent holy art of kriya yoga? Do i have to travel to india?

Tyagi Dharmaraj

Ananda India

Answer

Dear Peter,

Thank you for your question. There are many devotees who would like to study Yogananda’s teachings but who live far from a teaching center. I myself was one such devotee.

Ananda is a separate organization from Yogoda Satsanga Society. We do offer a home study course in Yogananda’s teachings. You can learn more about it here, if you haven’t already: http://www.ananda.org/meditation/course.html

March 11
2010

M
India

Question

Hello!

I am a shy kind of girl and have been trying to get over my shyness for quite some time.I’ve been able to succeed to a certain extent in being friendly with girls, but I find it still difficult to converse with boys.Its because I am afraid that I'll get attracted towards them and I don’t want to be disloyal to God.I really love God and want to find Him but a part of me says that I hurt the God present in boys by ignoring them and not talking to them in my class(I am a student).Pls help.

Nayaswami Asha

Ananda Palo Alto

Answer

Dear M:

Good for you that you are trying to master your shyness. Making friends first with girls is a good way to start.

It is natural to be attracted to boys. But there is an appropriate time for everything. If now what you want is to keep your energy focused on God and not scattered by infatuation, then you should follow your own feelings, and continue to be more restrained around boys than you are around girls.

Jaya
U.A.E

Question

Aum Guru

I am a housewife and a mother of two children. I have a maid and a cook, as I simply dislike housework, specially cooking. I am presently looking out for a job.However,I wonder,spiritually speaking, if it is ok to allocate what should be my duties(dharma) to someone else even if i am paying them well? Am I shunning my duties and acquiring bad karma? Does the equation change, if I am holding a job and then the help becomes

necessary?

Thank You

Jaya

Nayaswami Asha

Ananda Palo Alto

Answer

Dear Jaya:

There is no divine law that says a woman must clean her own house or cook the food her family eats. Some women enjoy that kind of work. Some don’t. Regardless of their feelings in the matter, however, few have the luxury of choice, as you do. They have to do it and therefore must master their aversion and find a way to enjoy it.

March 9
2010

JK
Norway

Question

Why is the color of Krishna’s skin blue ?

why not brown ? or white or black ?

Nayaswami Gyandev

Ananda Village

Answer

Krishna was an actual historical figure, so his skin was surely not blue. It would have been some shade of brown. In fact, some scriptural references call his skin "dark as a thundercloud," suggesting that his skin may have been a darker shade of brown even than most of his contemporaries.

March 5
2010

Abhishek
India

Question

I perceive myself as one who has lost every battle in life. I want to give up everything (except my family) and join the path of Paramhansa Yogananda. How can I do this.

Nayaswami Seva

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Abhishek,

We’ve all felt the world holds nothing for us. The spiritual path of Paramhansa Yognanad will teach you understanding of this material world as well as the spiritual world.

If you have a desire to know about these life transforming teachings, contact an Ananda ashram. We are pledged to helping all truthseekers find their path to the Divine.

March 4
2010

Bhushan Patel
India

Question

Is all kind of illness, suffering of one and that of the ones with whom he/she is attached like parents, brothers, sisters, wife and children is result of sins committed by him/her in this life or in past lives? If so, then how to overcome fear of about his/her misdeeds of previous birth about which he/she is not aware?

Take case of myself in this life; till today I have not done anything wrong to my conscious knowledge, but I am worried looking at suffering of parents, brother; and in turn I also suffer.

Nayaswami Savitri

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Bhushan,

I hope that I have understood well enough to answer you correctly. If I have misunderstood your question, please write again.

If you are asking if illness and suffering are caused by one’s misdeeds in this or other lifetimes, the answer, generally speaking, is yes.

March 1
2010

shweta
india

Question

i am just a beginner in yoga and meditation. what should i do to increase my connectivity to god? i don’t even know the perfect yoga postures as i have no teacher around....

please help me out friends.

Nayaswami Hriman

Ananda Seattle

Answer

Dear Friend,

During the day and in meditation and yoga practice, talk to God in the silent language of your own heart. Talk to God as your nearest and dearest friend. Share everything you think, feel, and seek, and especially ask for the grace to love God ever more. With the simple words of a chela, a child, a disciple, keep your focus on God’s presence within you, in everyone you meet, and in all of life’s circumstances: whether pleasant, difficult or ordinary.

March 1
2010

Lila
Canada

Question

what meditation can i do for grief?

Nayaswami Anandi

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Lila,

I am sorry for your loss. The most helpful advice I’ve heard about grief was given by Swami Kriyananda to a friend of mine who had just lost her husband.

He suggested that, instead of regret for what she lost, she should focus on gratitude for what she had been given. If you do not have a meditation practice yet, I suggest that you look into this meditation technique. You can use this technique to help you calm and focus your mind. Or you can use another technique that is more familiar to you if you prefer.

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