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

Tyagi Jayadev

Ananda Assisi, Italy

Answer

Dear Nandini,

It depends on the type of your "intuition", of that feeling: if it is a calm feeling in which you are emotionally uninvolved, then it might well be a true intuition, a premonition; and if it is an undesired event, you might call it a "warning".

Nayaswami Devarshi

Ananda Village

Answer

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22)

Paramhansa Yogananda taught that we should go to God not as beggars, but as children of God demanding our divine birthright. He called the prayers in his book, Whispers from Eternity, "prayer-demands," to reflect that attitude.

Nayaswami Gyandev

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Manisha,

It seems that you have not yet established healthy personal boundaries. The absence of clear, appropriate boundaries inevitably makes it hard to know when to accommodate others, and when to stand firm. And when other people perceive this—whether consciously or unconsciously—they all-too-frequently take advantage of the situation. They are not necessarily being nasty when they do that; self-interest is simply human nature.

Nayaswami Pranaba

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Ramanathan,

I’m not entirely sure what you are asking but perhaps this will be helpful:

Anyone who is living a spiritual life and tuning into being instruments for God will achieve their highest potential.

The word that is used to describe this highest potential in the yoga teachings is “Satchidananda”; Paramhansa Yogananda gave this word the meaning of “ever existing, ever conscious, ever new bliss”. This is beyond mere belief in God or a higher power; this is merging into God as bliss, which permeates all of creation, and brings fulfillment to the devotee.

Nayaswami Diksha

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Sweety,

Not all people who are lazy are new to the human body. People can develop wrong habits and evil qualities through many incarnations, as they continue to follow the wrong path, away from God.

People can change in one incarnation, and make great progress, if they turn towards God whole heartedly. Of couse the degree of change depend on how much energy and will they put into transforming themselves and purifying their actions. It says in the Bhagavad Gita: "Even the worst of sinners, by steadfast meditation on Me, speedily comes to Me!"

Nayaswami Gyandev

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Joseph,

Sooner or later, everyone encounters this question. Unfortunately, it is impossible to answer it in general because there are many possbilities, depending on the individual: Perhaps you need simply to keep trying, because you need to overcome a certain karma. Perhaps you need to try even harder or you need more skills in order to succeed. Perhaps it’s yet not the right time in your life for this particular success. Or as you say, perhaps this success is not part of the divine plan for you.

Nayaswami Gyandev

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Guriya,

Unfortunately, this sort of disharmony sometimes happens among in-laws—and for that matter, within immediately family as well.

How can you help them? You can be kind to all involved, as it seems you are doing. You can avoid condoning your sister-in-law’s negative behavior (nor condemning it either). You can affirm your love for all of them (whether inwardly or outwardly). And you can pray for harmony. But that is all you can do to change the situation. Everything else is in their hands, and in God’s hands.

Tyagi Jayadev

Ananda Assisi, Italy

Answer

Dear Mona,

About love for God: God watches the heart, Yogananda said. It is the heart’s intention that counts. I don’t think we need to perfect all virtues to reach God. Perfection is not of this world. Yogananda once said, "Never count your faults. Just see that your love for God is deeply sincere. For God doesn’t mind your imperfections: He minds your indifference." (From The Essence of Self-Realization). So this is why loving God is the virtue Nr.1. In Jesus' words: "Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." (Luke 7:47)