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

Nayaswami Anandi

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Rosy,

I’m sorry to hear of your difficulty. Though I don’t know you, I will try to give a few suggestions.

1. You mention that there is a block between your mind and speech. You don’t mention if this is something that you always face, or only during interviews. I will assume that this happens because you are nervous about the interview. When we are fearful or nervous, our energy goes to a primitive part of our brain, and we are less able to think clearly.
I think it might help you to meditate before the interview and try to bring your attention to the point between the eyebrows. This is the highest and calmest awareness in the body. Centering your attention in the point between the eyebrows might make you less nervous and might hellp you think more clearly.

Nayaswami Hriman

Ananda Seattle

Answer

Dear Joyd,

How to deal with a difficult person is one of life’s great tests, and, great opportunities. The very fact that you find yourself in this situation a second time is a sure indication that Divine Mother has a wonderful opportunity for you to grow spiritually. Be glad, therefore!

Tyagini Dharmadevi

Ananda Los Angeles

Answer

Dear Max,

Thank you for your question. I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to share a story that Swami Kriyananda shares quite often, as it relates to dharma:

I was in the Hospital in India several years ago with double pneumonia, lying barely conscious in my bed, when a doctor came into the room. Usually under such circumstances doctors come into one’s room to offer help. This one, however, had a different agenda.

“Sir,” he said, “Can you help me?”

“I can try,” I murmured weakly.

“I have a son in college in Canada,” he continued. “I also have many other financial obligations. I believe in spiritual principles, but how can I make ends meet and not bend the rules of right action at least a little bit?”

I replied, still very weakly, “I have always found that by adhering rigidly to right action, I have achieved all the success I wanted and needed in life.”

And indeed, Swamiji is an incredible example to all of us that even in the face of extreme adversity, if we stick to dharma, we will be successful in everything we do.

If you’re interested, he went on to create the AKASH (Ancient Keys to Attaining Success & Happiness) Course after that interaction with the doctor in India.

Here is a link to that course on Online With Ananda:
http://www.anandaonlineclasses.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=3674

Love & Blessings,
Dharmadevi

Nayaswami Pranaba

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear friend,

It’s helpful to look at your life from the perspective of asking, “What will bring me fulfillment?” Another way of phrasing that question is, “What will bring me closer to the presence of God?”

Paramhansa Yogananda said that “environment is stronger than willpower," hence it is very important to look at the different parts of our lives and be aware of the influences of our environment — especially of other people and their energies.

Tyagini Dharmadevi

Ananda Los Angeles

Answer

Dear Shabu,

You are obviously on the right track because you asked "how to overcome through spirituality".

The only way we can really get through any crisis is through spiritual success and connecting with that Divine reality within us. Of course, we do this to varying degrees throughout our lives but the more we make our spiritual life the main priority, the more outward success we see as well.

Nayaswami Savitri

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Kumar,

Life often presents us with situations like the one in which you find yourself. There are several answers, the primary one being that you must lift your consciousness to a higher place through meditation.

With the bigger perspective offered through meditation, you'll see why your boss is behaving in this negative way and thereby, you can be more compassionate. Someone who behaves like this is often very unhappy for various unknown reasons.

Nayaswami Devi

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Friend,

One of my favorite quotes from Yoganandaji is: "Life is a battle for joy every step of the way. Let me win that battle on the very spot on which I now stand." What we do in life is less important than the inner environment that we create within ourselves by practicing meditation and right attitudes.

Puru (Joseph) Selbie

Ananda Village

Answer

Bhushan,

There is an old saying that "God watches the heart," meaning our motivation is more important than our action. Honestly and industriously earning money is a very positive action. Giving that money to worthy causes is better yet. But the mere act of giving money, however worthy the cause, does not necessarily indicate that the person is doing it for God.