Table of Contents
Part I
- Question: How can I become a perfect disciple?
- Question: You tell us to give you the things that are bothering us. But when I do that, I feel I am attacking you and hurting you.
- Question: Is it always best for your disciples to try to see you for many hours a day on the physical plane?
- Question: What can I do about the fact that I always have difficulty sleeping during the night?
- Question: What is the best attitude to have when trying to manifest the Light of the Supreme?
- Question: What benefit do we get when we keep our hands over our heart when you are meditating with us?
- Question: Does our physical demeanour have any effect on our receptivity?
- Question: Do you have any advice for those who are giving talks for seekers?
- Question: Last week I dreamed that my wife was thrown down and killed. Whether it was something false or real I don't know.
- Question: I do not really know how to love myself, and yet I feel I need to love the Supreme.
- Question: You once said that love is just the first step in the spiritual ladder and that it has to be followed by devotion and surrender. But in my meditation I cannot go beyond love, so how am I ever going to reach devotion and surrender?
- Question: As a disciple of yours, what main qualities do I need to achieve happiness?
- Question: If we are trying to go up to a higher plane of consciousness, how can we be sure that we are doing so in God's Way and not just using our own wisdom to go up?
- Question: Part of me says it is better to spend all my money on spiritual activities, but a part of me says it would be wiser to save my money for a time of need.
- Question: When your disciples accompany you on your trips to other countries — during the Christmas holidays, for example — what do they receive from these countries and what do they offer?
- Question: Why do some people not care for God-manifestation?
- Question: How can we conquer our defects?
- Question: Is the soul of America still as receptive to the spiritual message that you are offering as it was when you first came to this country?
- Question: What is the best way to please our Lord Supreme in His own Way?
- Question: Is it best that a spiritual Master be in sahaja samadhi when he deals with his disciples?
- Question: When the Buddha reached Nirvana, was that the first time he realised God?
- Question: I have read descriptions of what happened when Buddha reached Nirvana, with the serpents and images of women coming. I was wondering if everybody goes through the same process.
- Question: Why is it that you do not give so much importance to occult power the way that Gorakshanath and others have done?
- Question: How can we get rid of our undivine qualities?
- Question: My children are behaving very undivinely, but they do not listen to me. At what point are parents no longer responsible for their children's behaviour?
- Question: Is it spiritually destructive to spread rumours and gossip?
- Question: Why do you ask your female disciples to wear saris during meditation?
Part II
- Question: How can we help bring peace into our own lives and into the lives of others?
- Question: The situation in Bosnia deeply troubles me and I have been meditating very much in the hope that President Clinton will make the right decisions. I am wondering if there is anything special we can do to help bring peace to these people?
- Question: What can beginners do about all the thoughts that come during meditation? How long does it take to overcome that?
Part III
- Question: What do you feel is the significance of this Chicago Parliament of Religions, which may be the largest gathering of the world's religions ever to be held?
- Question: This centenary of the Parliament of Religions is, for many, associated with the name of Swami Vivekananda, one of the major figures of the Parliament that was held one hundred years ago. You have spent much of the past year giving concerts in his honour. Who was Swami Vivekananda, and what did he offer to the world?
- Question: What does Swami Vivekananda mean to you personally?
- Question: There is a growing sense that spiritual values are necessary if we want to achieve peace or even survive in the future.
- Question: Which spiritual values in particular do you feel are most important in the world today?
- Question: How do you believe world peace can be achieved?
- Question: How, in practical terms, can spirituality actually be effective for change? This seems to be the most difficult challenge.
- Question: The average person may feel that you are exceptional and that all your achievements have nothing to do with him or her.
- Question: What is the spiritual significance of music, which is something that every culture on earth has and cherishes?
