• Author's introduction

Chapter 1: The hope-sky of the United Nations

• Dr Robert Muller: Do you think the United Nations exercises a real influence in the world? What in your view is its principal contribution? How does it appear to you in the great stream of history and human evolution?
• Dr Robert Muller: The United Nations is a place where humans from all over the world come together to talk to each other, to learn from each other, to heal rifts and to devise a better common destiny. To my mind, it is no less than a miracle. Is it not the greatest place on earth?
• Dr Robert Muller: U Thant often said that in his view the West was too materialistic and intellectual, and not spiritual enough, whereas the East was too spiritual and fatalistic, and not caring enough for the material and intellectual welfare of people. Do you see a synthesis developing between the two, and how would you envisage a harmonious, happy world-society?
• Dr Robert Muller: The first three of U Thant's four categories of needs — namely, physical, intellectual and moral needs — do not create any insuperable problems for me. But the last and most important one in his view, spirituality, gives me considerable difficulties because there are indeed so many definitions of that term. U Thant described it as "faith in oneself, the purity of one's inner self." How would you define the spiritual goals?
• Dr Robert Muller: I often think that U Thant's four categories of human qualities — physical, intellectual, moral and spiritual — could well form the basis for a world agenda of human goals. From your writings, I notice that these categories are also quite fundamental to you. But you add to it a fifth, which you call the vital. Could you elaborate on it?
• Dr Robert Muller: When I speak to audiences about U Thant's four ways to happiness — physical, mental, moral and spiritual — I sometimes hear the following criticism: "Life cannot be artificially cut into four. Everything is interdependent and linked. We must concentrate on life as an entity and not on components that are the product of the intellect." I am not overly impressed with this argument, for I have indeed observed that life is richest when I cultivate simultaneously all four categories. Nevertheless, there is some truth in that criticism and I would be grateful to learn how you would respond to it.
• Dr Robert Muller: If you were given the task of laying down the basic principles for the education of all the children of this world, what would be your recommendations?
• Dr Robert Muller: Anthropologists have found a gradation of religious beliefs over the history of mankind: ritualism, animism, ancestor worship, polytheism, monotheism. All these forms were associated with changes in the social structure. Recently, the "age of reason" and the scientific and industrial revolution have rendered religion and spirituality obsolete, even harmful, in the eyes of many. What, in your view, is likely to be the religion or spirituality of humanity tomorrow as a satisfactory answer to man's queries about his relationships with the universe, his fellow men and the mysteries of life? And will this be reflected in the United Nations as a forum where humanity is seeking new ways for its destiny and fulfilment?
• Dr Robert Muller: The United Nations is the incredible place where human oneness is seeking itself in the endless diversity of the prodigy of life. How is it possible, then, that so few people recognise this great blessing?
• Dr Robert Muller: What can we do to open the eyes and hearts of people?
• Dr Robert Muller: I often feel that all my speaking and writing is just a drop of water on an infertile field of blindness and disbelief. What more can one do?

Chapter 2: The United Nations in today's world

• Question: How can the delegates at the United Nations best convey the ideal of the United Nations to the people in their country?
• Question: What is the best way to unite the ways of politics and the ways of the soul of a country?
• Question: How do we best deal with people who are actively opposed to the United Nations?
• Question: What is the main problem or quality in the countries of the world that keeps them from acting according to the ideals of the United Nations?
• Question: What does the outer world need in order to accept the real significance of the United Nations?
• Question: How can we help people in the undeveloped countries?
• Question: In general, what is the order of importance, urgency or priority today of mankind's problems — economic, social, political and religious — and why?
• Question: Which is more important: East-West political relations or North-South economic relations?
• Question: Nuclear arms and nuclear energy are very dangerous tools. What is your attitude towards them?
• Question: What should be the attitude of a world-server in relation to dictatorships, imposed will and the restriction of individual rights and liberties? Should one refuse any contact with dictatorships or compromise in the hope of their evolution?
• Question: What is the best way for a nation to contribute to the world at large?
• Question: In what way does the United Nations please you?
• Question: What is the supreme role of each individual nation vis-a-vis the United Nations?
• Question: When you speak of a nation, you speak of it as if it were one person. But a nation is composed of millions of people with different levels of consciousness. Also, how can you reconcile the idea of a nation's karma with the fact that you have within the nation millions of people with their own karmic pasts?
• Question: Many countries are outwardly critical of the United Nations. What is their inner attitude?
• Question: How can the United Nations offer greater inspiration to the aspiring seekers in humanity?
• Question: Does any small, progressive act towards world-oneness anywhere on earth improve the United Nations?
• Question: Does the United Nations itself have special divine protection from bombs, violent riots and so forth?
• Question: What does the United Nations need most today?
• Question: Is it spiritually correct for some countries not to join the United Nations?
• Question: What is the United Nations achieving spiritually in the least developed countries of the world?
• Question: How do you view the problems of the world and how do you think these problems can be solved?
• Question: How has the consciousness of the United Nations affected America as a country?
• Question: How does New York benefit from the presence of the United Nations?
• Question: When did the Supreme create the United Nations?

Chapter 3: The body and soul of the United Nations

• Mr David Rowe: A spiritual figure once referred to the United Nations as a "society for united animals" where people are not interested in religious things. Could you please comment on this?
• Mr David Rowe: Is the highest goal that the United Nations can aspire for no more than the highest goals of the Member States which compose it?
• Mr David Rowe: Can we hope that individual delegations of Member States will work towards higher goals than their home governments would normally support?
• Mr David Rowe: When a Member State assumes an "anti-United Nations attitude", it is probably due to frustration or fear that the United Nations has taken or may take some action against it. Does such an attitude weaken the United Nations system?
• Mr David Rowe: Secretaries-General have conceived of their office in various ways. Is there a preferred definition of the institution of the Secretary-General?
• Mr David Rowe: The style and personality of the Secretary-General influence numerous individuals and national governments and to a degree determine the performance of the entire United Nations. Don't you think, then, that it is essential to select a Secretary-General who will not allow possible wrong influences or powers to guide his actions?
• Mr David Rowe: Is there a special need to promote co-operation between the newer and often poorer countries in the General Assembly and the older and, in most cases, more established, wealthier countries? Should the latter not take the lead in fostering good relations?
• Mr David Rowe: Co-operation among all nations is an ancient dream. Assuming we are building on the past, how can we assess the outlook now?
• Question: What stands between the outer goal of the United Nations and the inner goal of the United Nations?
• Question: What does the United Nations need most from the Member States?
• Question: Some nations accept the United Nations as their own. Other nations would even deny the United Nations. What are the differences in the soul-growth of the nations that have not yet become one with the United Nations?
• Question: Can you describe the stage of evolution of the United Nations soul?
• Question: How can the strong and developed countries offer their guidance to the less developed countries without incurring resentment?
• Question: What is involved in establishing an inner connection with the United Nations?
• Question: Are the ideals of the United Nations applicable to every area of our lives without exception?
• Question: Do you foresee the possibility of a fully committed spiritual person becoming Secretary-General of the United Nations in this century?
• Question: Do you think it is possible to change the organisation of the United Nations without changing the Member States? If so, of what use would be the existence of such a closed circuit?
• Question: If you want to draw an analogy between different organs of the body and different individuals or organisations in the United Nations, which of the following — the Secretary-General, the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council — would correspond with the heart centre?
• Question: Do you envisage the creation of a second chamber at the United Nations? If so, should it be composed of some non-governmental organisations or of the wise men of nations?
• Question: Do you think that the system of "one country — one vote" is democratic? If not, do you see any alternative before the time arrives when the accumulated wisdom of nations' souls becomes the yardstick in voting?
• Question: Here at the United Nations many decision-makers have to take positions on controversial issues. What is the most effective way to make sure the position they take is the correct one?
• Question: On what principles should the United Nations be unyielding and uncompromising?
• Question: What are the major qualities of the soul of the United Nations?
• Question: What is the relationship between the soul of the United Nations and the soul of the world?
• Question: How does the Supreme see the United Nations?
• Question: How much of the United Nations is a spiritual reality and how much is a secular reality, or are these meaningless distinctions?
• Question: In what way does the Supreme work most effectively through the United Nations?
• Question: Is the United Nations in seed form or is it a fruit?
• Question: What is the most significant change that you have seen at the United Nations since you have been here?

Chapter 4: The future of the United Nations

• Question: Is world peace possible without the United Nations?
• Question: How far is the United Nations from accomplishing the ideals of its founders?
• Question: Why is progress at the United Nations so slow?
• Question: The Preamble of UNESCO's constitution states that wars begin in the minds of men and it is there that they have to be eradicated first. I believe that the minds of men are changing, yet a general war is still a possibility. Would you comment?
• Question: How do you envision politics in the next century?
• Question: Will the United Nations grow into a world government?
• Question: Will the dream that began with the League of Nations need yet another organisation to manifest itself?
• Question: What role will the United Nations ultimately play in the spiritual transformation of humanity?
• Question: When and how will the leaders and representatives of the nations of the world, especially of the developing nations, begin to seek spiritual solutions to their problems?
• Question: Will the Supreme send more real leaders to help support the United Nations?
• Question: As the United Nations evolves, will it become less of a political centre and more of a spiritual centre?
• Question: Is it possible that the United Nations will one day be a nucleus of worldwide spirituality?
• Question: Do you see any role for the United Nations in the enlightenment of mankind? If so, will music be one of the components of such a role?
• Question: Is the Supreme pleased with the progress of the United Nations?
• Question: When peace is finally established on earth, what then will be the function of the United Nations?

Chapter 5: Serving the United Nations

• Question: What do the delegates and ambassadors who are participating in the General Assembly offer to the United Nations spiritually?
• Question: Do you think diplomats gain anything from these prayer and meditation meetings that is particularly useful to their own work?
• Question: The United Nations is, of course, a very political place. Does politics ever enter into your spiritual work?
• Question: When several individuals form a committee to do a project, you may have five different people discussing something with their own backgrounds and ideas. And in the United Nations, you may have five different countries, or even more, discussing one topic, each country with its own firm belief. What is the best course to follow in such cases?
• Question: How can the knowledge of spirituality help professional people in their efforts to serve mankind through their work?
• Question: How can you maintain inner tranquillity at work when you are in an atmosphere with a great deal of pressure?
• Question: How can we help the pilots of the United Nations — the Secretary-General and the Directors?
• Question: What is patriotism?
• Question: How can we be patriotic without separating ourselves from other countries?
• Question: If we love our country but live elsewhere, how can we serve our country?
• Question: Is not patriotism restrictive even at its highest level?
• Question: What is the most important thing to remember while working at the United Nations?
• Question: How can we best fulfil our roles at the United Nations?
• Question: What qualities can we offer to the United Nations to best fulfil it?
• Question: What should our attitude be towards working at the United Nations?
• Question: You have said that if we wish to serve the world we must have the proper attitude. Could you explain please what that attitude is?
• Question: In practical terms, how can we give the world love and concern?
• Question: You often talk about serving God in others. How can I develop more of the feeling of being with God when I am with people?
• Question: How can a lover of the United Nations contribute the utmost to the goals of the world body?
• Question: Do you agree that the main task of the world-server today is to help bring the nations' souls to the fore?
• Question: What should be the attitude of those who work at the United Nations?
• Question: When you speak about serving the United Nations with gratitude, could you please elaborate on this?
• Question: How can I be more soulful and devoted in my work at the United Nations?
• Question: What is the seeker's responsibility at the United Nations?
• Question: How can we work with dynamism and confidence at the United Nations?
• Question: What is the best way to serve the United Nations: through meditation or action?
• Question: How can you dedicate each task you do to the soul of the United Nations?
• Question: What is the best way to bring a divine consciousness to our everyday activities at the United Nations?
• Question: How can I work with true spontaneity and sincerity at the United Nations?
• Question: Should the body of the United Nations remain fluid so that the soul of the United Nations can more easily manifest itself?
• Question: How can we meditate on the soul of the United Nations?
• Question: How can I increase my oneness with the soul of the United Nations?
• Question: How can we consecrate our lives to the soul of the United Nations?
• Question: Are the people who work at the United Nations especially chosen to work here by some higher force?
• Question: How can we feel and show our gratitude to the United Nations?
• Question: How can we help to increase the speed of the United Nations?
• Question: How can one best serve the ideal of the United Nations when not working at the United Nations?
• Question: When I meditate on my own, I take it as my own personal meditation. But I was wondering whether I should come here with the idea of meditating on the United Nations and for the United Nations?
• Question: At our United Nations meetings, should we meditate on specific themes related to United Nations conferences as well as on general qualities like peace and love?
• Question: Is there any way that we can meditate specifically to help the United Nations?
• Question: How can the individual seeker offer his aspiration to the world community?
• Question: Does the peace that we experience during the meditations in the United Nations conference rooms have any effect on the delegates who do not attend these meetings?
• Question: How can both staff members and delegates of Member States understand that spirituality is a true base to build their goals upon?
• Question: In general, what kind of people join your meditation meetings?
• Question: How can we instil a spiritual feeling in the work that we do?
• Question: How can we have oneness with our fellow workers?
• Question: How can we accept everyone who works at the United Nations as our very own?
• Question: How can we best inspire the people we work with?
• Question: How will our meditation influence our colleagues at the United Nations?
• Question: How can I feel that my small job at the United Nations is really important to the total spirit of the United Nations?
• Question: How can spiritual seekers who have ordinary positions at the United Nations most effectively inspire higher-ranking persons who may not be spiritual seekers?
• Question: How can we overcome feelings of resentment and anger that we feel when our superiors appear to be unfair?
• Question: What should a spiritual seeker do when he observes dishonesty or corruption among his colleagues?
• Question: If we are feeling tired, is it still beneficial to attend the meditation sessions at the United Nations?
• Question: How does the spiritual singing that we do here help our meditation and our offering to the United Nations soul?
• Question: You have started offering songs to the Peace Meditation Group to sing at our United Nations meetings, and I was wondering if you could expound upon the purpose of this?
• Question: What can be done about the large gap between the high ideals of the United Nations and routine daily life in the Secretariat offices?
• Question: What should one feel towards those senior United Nations officials who sometimes seem to have a lesser vision of the highest ideals of the Charter of the United Nations?
• Question: In our work at the United Nations, how can we be discriminating without being critical?
• Question: Is there a special blessing of peace for those who work at the United Nations?
• Question: Does working at the United Nations give us a special sense of responsibility?
• Question: Is a portion of the soul of the United Nations inside all the people who work for the United Nations in some capacity?
• Question: Is there an inner connection between the United Nations employees and the soul of the United Nations?
• Question: What can we do to help humanity become more receptive to the United Nations efforts towards peace?
• Question: What is the most important aspect of our work at the United Nations?
• Question: How should a seeker at the United Nations deal with staff members who do not want to work and who even block the work of others?
• Question: How can staff at the United Nations with seemingly insignificant jobs contribute to world peace?

Chapter 6: A real member of the United Nations

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Chapter 7: Prayer and meditation

• Question: For a long time people have been meditating for the good of humanity, but there does not seem to be any positive sign that humanity is advancing along the right path. Do you feel that meditation can expedite world-progress?
• Question: When we meditate, to what extent do we represent humanity and to what extent are we responsible?
• Question: When I pray and meditate, I feel a flood of love and joy. But then I find that all the suffering of the world seems to well up inside me and I feel guilty for feeling joyful when so many other people are unhappy.
• Question: Can we give our happiness to others by writing about it, and does it help them?
• Question: There is concern by some people that meditation rejects the world. What is your response to that?
• Question: Do you believe that activity and meditation contradict one another or do you feel they go hand in hand?
• Question: What age were you when you commenced meditating?
• Question: I would like to know the difference between prayer and meditation.
• Question: What is the best way to pray for others?
• Question: How can we make our prayer most intense?
• Question: Since the Supreme is fully aware of all of our needs, why is it appropriate to pray?
• Question: For achieving inner peace, are there other techniques besides meditation that might be more suitable or more effective for certain types of people?
• Question: Is there a place for prayer and meditation in equal measure?
• Question: Could you explain what contemplation is and how it differs from meditation?
• Question: Does spirituality necessarily go hand in hand with prayer and meditation?
• Question: Could you please tell us the difference between concentration, meditation and contemplation?
• Question: What is the purpose of meditation?
• Question: Is meditation for everybody regardless of whether a person is consciously seeking God?
• Question: What kind of knowledge can we achieve through meditation?
• Question: Can this illumination be shared among people — for example, between a person who has meditated for a long time and a person who has not?
• Question: When you speak of the outer silence, do you mean inaction?
• Question: So outer silence or dynamic silence is really divine action — doing the Will of God by serving man?
• Question: Is inner silence equated with prayer and meditation?
• Question: Does each person have a different way of meditating?
• Question: Because there are many schools of meditation, it becomes hard for a person to select one. How can we find the best one for us?
• Question: Should we meditate on various subjects?
• Question: What do you recommend for beginners?
• Question: Can meditation help cure physical ailments such as high blood pressure?
• Question: I have just started coming to your meetings and I would like to know exactly what is meant by meditation. Is it good to read books on the subject? Is meditation a form of thinking?
• Question: How can we learn to meditate? I believe in God, but it is very hard for me to meditate.
• Question: I would very much like to learn what the spiritual heart is like.
• Question: How can we keep our awareness?
• Question: How can I go deep within?
• Question: How can I have deeper meditations?
• Question: Once we reach a certain level in our meditation, how then can we go higher and deeper?
• Question: How can we know whether we are meditating well or not?
• Question: I read something about the control of breath in meditation. Could you elaborate on that?
• Question: Is it better to meditate in the lotus position than in other positions?
• Question: During a meditation, if something external to the meditation occurs — such as noise or something unforeseen — is it better to include it in the meditation or to try to shut it out and pursue the meditation?
• Question: Should meditation be done in silence or can we mentally chant some slokas or holy verses?
• Question: What exactly is a mantra?
• Question: Is it essential to have a mantra?
• Question: Sometimes when I meditate, I feel that I am about to go through some experience, but nothing happens. What is the cause of that?
• Question: What is the difference between going high and going deep in meditation?
• Question: Which is better: morning meditation or evening meditation?
• Question: How can we avoid falling asleep during meditation?
• Question: Since God is within us and we know that one day we will realise God, why is it necessary to meditate?
• Question: How can we bring our dreams into our meditation?
• Question: Could you speak on guidance?
• Question: When I was meditating I had a tense feeling. My head was hurting and I felt I was pulling my meditation.
• Question: What concrete or practical things can I do, either during meditation or apart from it, in order to see light? I am not afraid of seeing light but I do not know how to do it.
• Question: Some people believe that fasting will help to achieve inner peace. Do you recommend fasting before meditation?
• Question: When we meditate, how should we deal with thoughts that come from our imagination? Do these thoughts have any kind of reality to them?
• Question: How do we know if a thought is progressive or not?
• Question: Why does the mind resist so much when one tries to meditate and how can one overcome this?
• Mrs Mohini Singh, wife of CPN Singh (Member of Parliament, India): When you sit down to meditate, there are times when you reach a very quiet sort of place and all the sounds seem distant. It has happened to me and it started frightening me, because it was a strange sort of calm. I felt, at times, that I needed some kind of guidance, which was not available immediately. Do you think that one can meditate by oneself without somebody there who can help you at every step?
• Mr CPN Singh, Member of Parliament (India): With the kind of life we have and the kind of world we live in, it is not easy to sit and be with oneself. You said there are many things that we do in the mind. The first thing to do would be to shut out the other influences or other vibrations one gets. How does one do that?
• Mrs Noemi Kovanda: I would like to ask you about meditation itself, especially concerning my son. Should I meditate on certain things for him?
• Mrs Noemi Kovanda: Is there any special meditation I can do to benefit my husband?
• Mrs Noemi Kovanda: I find it very difficult to pray for anything other than health because health is so important. I feel selfish when I pray for anything else.
• Mrs Noemi Kovanda: Should I pray in silence or out loud?

Chapter 8: Beyond the mind

• Question: Could you speak about the importance of meditating on the heart instead of in the mind?
• Question: Can you tell if something comes from the mind or the heart, or do things always go from the heart to the mind?
• Question: Some people are very absent-minded and they seem to be in another world. Are they meditating all the time?
• Question: In meditation sometimes the mind stops functioning and there seems to be little information coming.
• Question: You say we should meditate in the heart, but I find it easier to meditate in the mind.
• Question: Yesterday when I was meditating, I got a message from the silence that said, "Love one another." When we get this kind of message in our meditation, should we meditate on it and take it into ourselves?
• Question: I was wondering about the relationship between the heart and the mind. How can we integrate the two?
• Question: How can I illumine my mind?
• Question: In one of your talks you said that if we do less thinking and more meditating, less planning and more acting, then we will be happier. Could you elaborate on this, please?
• Question: Why should you concentrate on the heart instead of concentrating on the mind?
• Question: Can I reach the Truth with my intellect?
• Question: Does it help our spiritual progress to understand things intellectually?
• Question: Is the mind ever self-giving?
• Question: How can we increase the mind's sincerity?
• Question: What is the difference between the mind of a world-renowned statesman and the mind of a world-renowned scientist?
• Question: How does one stop the mind?
• Question: Is the mind jealous of the heart?
• Question: How can we stay in the heart when we are doing tasks which involve the mind?
• Question: How can we use our imagination to help raise our consciousness or improve our meditation?
• Question: How can you tell the difference between true intuition and imagination?
• Question: Is it a good idea to use our intuition in our daily tasks?
• Question: Could you speak a little about the significance of dreams?
• Question: What do you mean when you speak of unconditional surrender to God's Will, and how can we develop this quality?
• Question: How can I know if an inspiration comes from God or my heart or soul rather than my mind?
• Question: How can one tell the difference between the Will of God and wishful thinking?
• Question: Is there any difference between Messages from God and messages from our own soul?
• Question: Sometimes when I am meditating I fall asleep, not because I am tired, but because I feel that I am somehow trapped in my mind. I try to get into my heart, but I do not succeed; thoughts keep racing through my mind, and then I fall asleep.
• Question: What is the subconscious?
• Question: There seems to be a movement in which countries are starting to work with parapsychology and the discipline of mind control. Is this a step towards the heart or away from the heart?

Chapter 9: Our peace is within

• Question: How can we attain lasting inner peace?
• Question: Why does God love peace the most among all His children?
• Question: Every time I act, I am not certain if I am doing the right thing. I was wondering if perhaps the best way to find real peace would be to withdraw from the world and not act at all.
• Question: What is the best way of obtaining peace in our inner life and in our outer life?
• Question: Quite often I find that when I look at someone who is in a peaceful frame of mind, my own inner peace increases. Why is this?
• Question: How would you characterise real peace of mind?
• Question: How do you reach that state?
• Question: Why is it so hard to find peace of mind?
• Question: Unless the peoples of the world aspire collectively, will there ever be abiding peace in the world?
• Question: Will the consciousness of all the individuals in the world have to be transformed before we have world peace?

Chapter 10: Life's problems

• Question: Do you feel that a problem is not a problem if we know how to look at it?
• Question: Could you please tell us the best way to conquer the ego?
• Question: When we try to help others, sometimes a kind of barrier builds up in ourselves and also in those we try to help. Could you speak about this?
• Question: How can a person detach himself emotionally from irritating people and situations?
• Question: While I am in the office, how can I control my emotions? There is so much injustice and nothing I can do to help myself.
• Question: How can we remember to forgive the world for its defects and to forgive ourselves for our own defects?
• Question: How do you eradicate negativities and imperfections in the soul?
• Question: When I feel that my spiritual progress is not fast enough and that my meditation is not deep enough, sometimes feelings of depression and frustration enter. How can I deal with this?
• Question: Can an individual have a feeling of insecurity because of a feeling of separation from God?
• Question: I do not know what is going to happen to me in the future and I worry a lot about my destiny. Is this right?
• Question: Could you speak about the need for individuals to defend themselves?
• Question: If we find that certain situations disturb us, should we avoid the situations or try to face them and cope with them?
• Question: How can we not bother about other people's opinions of us?
• Question: How can we feel safe from the dark forces in us?
• Question: How can I lose my suspicion of the outer world?
• Question: Is the best way to get rid of anxiety just to ignore it?
• Question: If we are confused and nervous, how will meditation ever be able to help us?
• Question: Is it really necessary to seek help when we are suffering from mental problems? Can't we just meditate by ourselves and find the answer?
• Question: You speak of night and light. Do you believe that parts of life are dark and imperfect?
• Question: How can we overcome our ego-motivated life and self-centredness?
• Question: After we stop meditating, how can we maintain the level of consciousness we reached during our meditation? I know it is difficult at work, but I find it equally hard at home.
• Question: How can we avoid tension when doing a project under pressure?
• Question: Sometimes I feel hopeless and helpless.
• Question: Why has God made it so difficult for us to reach Him?
• Question: What does destruction mean in the spiritual life?
• Question: How can we maintain a good spiritual standard consistently instead of going up and down?
• Question: How can I get rid of expectation?
• Question: How can you reinforce your spiritual aspiration when you feel it is wavering?
• Question: What can we do if we feel that although we are inwardly struggling, spiritual qualities like joy and aspiration are abandoning us?
• Question: Could you please speak about ego and pride?
• Question: Could you speak a little about how a spiritual person should handle the pleasures and problems of daily life?
• Question: I would like to stop finding fault with others, but sometimes the work that I have to do — for instance, proofreading — requires looking for others' mistakes.

Chapter 11: Inner qualities

• Question: You often encourage us to dive deep within. Can you explain what this means?
• Question: Is there one divine quality which encompasses all the rest or does a seeker have to meditate on each one?
• Question: What is gratitude?
• Question: Does gratitude also help to increase our receptivity during meditation?
• Question: Are human gratitude and divine Compassion all-encompassing because there is a feeling of oneness in them?
• Question: What is the best aspect of the Supreme to concentrate on for transformation?
• Question: What is most important in keeping the inner cry?
• Question: Could you speak on Grace?
• Question: What is the significance of the enormous amount of talent someone might have in sports, music or art? Is it necessarily a gift of Grace from the Supreme?
• Question: Is there any relationship between the light that the seeker receives and the light that the earth receives?
• Question: How can we be most receptive?
• Question: Is there something that we can consciously do or practise to cultivate humility?
• Question: How can one accept and love one's fellow man?
• Question: Goodwill is love in action and a first step towards true spiritual love. Should it not be the main quality to be fostered in mankind?
• Question: Are love and awareness the same thing?
• Question: What does power mean in the spiritual life?
• Question: How can I have more will-power and clarity?
• Question: How can I live in God's Beauty?
• Question: How can I have more patience in my spiritual journey?
• Question: Is patience always necessary?
• Question: How can we develop patience?
• Question: Is it important for a spiritual aspirant to have satisfaction?
• Question: How can I get satisfaction right this moment?
• Question: What is the spiritual significance of balance?
• Question: How can we increase our purity?
• Question: What are some of the worst impurities?
• Question: How can we acquire practicality in a divine sense?
• Question: How can we more fully surrender to the Supreme?
• Question: If our fulfilment lies in our utter consecration to the life divine, could you say something about consecration?
• Question: How can self-offering be distinguished from other kinds of actions?
• Question: What is charity?
• Question: How can I be more selfless?
• Question: How can I become self-giving with spontaneity and joy?
• Question: What is the best way to establish joy in every part of the being?
• Question: When we feel spontaneous inner joy, how can we preserve it?
• Question: How can I acquire lasting inner joy?
• Question: Is there any difference between delight and bliss?
• Question: Can you give us some suggestions on how we might use in our jobs the light, joy, bliss and other qualities that we receive in our meditation?
• Question: How can I develop and maintain a feeling of worthiness and self-respect?
• Question: Can you tell us the role of good character in the spiritual life?
• Question: How can we become childlike in spirit?
• Question: It seems to me that it is easy to have this feeling if one is living in a spiritual community with all his needs provided for. But what about someone who is a separate individual living in the world?
• Question: How can we become aware of truth?
• Question: How would you define ultimate Truth?

Chapter 12: The spiritual dimension

• Question: What is spirituality?
• Question: Can you define the soul?
• Question: You say that when the body dies the soul goes back to its own world. What is the soul's world?
• Question: Can the soul experience sorrow?
• Question: If a soul is more evolved, will it take on a body that is more physically beautiful, or is there no correlation between physical beauty and spiritual development?
• Question: I have read in the writings of a modern Western philosopher that the soul and the body are inseparable. Can you please tell us your own philosophy on this matter?
• Question: Does the body have to be perfect in order to be a perfect instrument of the soul?
• Question: How can man live forever?
• Question: What actually is illumination?
• Question: What do you mean by perfection?
• Question: How can we bring enough perfection into our own lives and into the world to be truly satisfied?
• Question: Will the process of striving for perfection ever come to an end?
• Question: I always felt it was selfish to look for salvation. I thought that this would come of itself if one did the right thing.
• Question: What can we do to bring perfection to godless people in the world?
• Question: How do we know if it is the proper time for us to enter into the spiritual life? Can the spiritual life help us to overcome frustration?
• Question: Why should spiritual people accept life around them?
• Question: What is the best code of life?
• Question: How can an individual truly know what God's Will is for him?
• Question: How can I trust my discrimination and know what is the right thing to do in my life?
• Question: How does spirituality help one decide between what is right and what is wrong?
• Question: Is the difference between materialism and spirituality that the one tries to possess the outer world and that the other tries to possess the inner world?
• Question: What is the best way to inspire others to follow the spiritual life?
• Question: Why are people afraid of spirituality?
• Question: Should we try to justify our spiritual practices to others?
• Question: What is your view on the equality of the sexes?
• Question: How can we fulfil the hearts and souls of the children of the world?
• Question: From the spiritual point of view, does the new year have any specific significance?
• Question: The degradation of the earth is so far advanced right now that the great mystics, shamans and spiritual people are saying that we have already crossed the line of no return regarding the oceans, the soil and the forests. What is your opinion?
• Question: But if the soil is dead, it is dead. If a forest is gone, it is gone. If the ozone is gone, it is gone.
• Question: Do you see the day when your spiritual work will be done?

Chapter 13: World religions

• Question: Why is there religion and what role should it play in our lives?
• Question: What is the goal of religion?
• Question: What is the original significance of religion?
• Question: The family has always been seen as the centre of both religious and social activities in most religions. Can you explain the sacred and divine purpose that the family is supposed to have?
• Question: Can religion help mankind achieve a world of true brotherhood and love?
• Question: How can religion overcome its narrow outlook and accept all other religions as true and necessary?
• Question: What does God like best in a religion?
• Question: What is the difference between religion and spirituality?
• Question: When the follower of one religion meditates on the ideals of his religion, will this produce the same results as when the follower of another religion meditates on the ideals of that religion?
• Question: What are the major obstacles to praying meaningfully?
• Question: Why don't religions love and respect each other more?
• Question: If each religion claims to teach the truth, which religion is most true?
• Question: If one has great faith in one's own religion, how should he view other religions and those who follow them?
• Question: Is mutual understanding and respect possible between the different religions of the world?
• Question: How can we as individuals encourage a worldwide recognition of the basic unity of all major religions?
• Question: What is the difference between Hinduism and Zen?
• Question: Does this mean that Zen and yoga have different goals?
• Question: Is there no sense of strong discipline in yoga?
• Question: What is the purpose of yoga?
• Question: The yogi believes in realisation on earth after a series of reincarnations; the Christian believes in salvation after death through Christ. How can one synthesise these two great beliefs?
• Question: Are you part of a particular organised religious body, and is the meditation you teach derived from the Hindu religion?
• Question: Do you feel that parents should give young children religious instruction, or should children be free to choose their own form of worship when they are old enough?
• Question: How can the different religions best respect and value each other?
• Question: Can we transcend our religion for a more vast spirituality?
• Question: Is it possible to reach the state of God-realisation by devotedly practising one's religion?
• Question: Why does the reference to God or religion embarrass so many people?
• Question: Please explain the difference between 'religious fervour' and 'delight'. Can the two complement each other?
• Question: Is religion indispensable for our self-realisation?
• Question: How does religious discipline differ from spiritual discipline?
• Question: How can the various world religions respond more co-operatively and effectively to humanity's aspiration?
• Question: Are people growing away from organised religion and moving towards meditation?
• Question: People are often afraid of practices like meditation, which are not prescribed by their own religion. Why is this?
• Question: Can one find the fulfilment of his life in religion?
• Question: Is what you teach a religion?
• Question: How can religion be made more spiritual?
• Question: Is there any real difference between one religion and another?

Chapter 14: God and the universe

• Question: You have written an aphorism which says: "God is at once finite and infinite. He is space. He is beyond space. He is measured. He can be measured. He must needs be measured. He is measureless. He is boundless. He is infinite." Could you please explain this, particularly how God can be called finite?
• Question: Can God and the universe be separated?
• Question: All around us we hear of wars and conflicts. I want to know if these conflicts are all part of the divine order?
• Question: What is God? Where is He?
• Question: Why should one give his time to God?
• Question: What do you think of a person who is an atheist?
• Question: Why did God create evil?
• Question: What is the sound 'AUM'?
• Question: When does God want His Name spoken?
• Question: What is your basic philosophy?
• Question: Why is darkness impermanent and light permanent?
• Question: I was wondering if there is a spiritual reason why earth is suffering from so many disasters at this time.
• Question: Where did God originate?
• Question: How did we ever lose God?
• Question: How can we see through God's Eyes?
• Editor's preface to the first edition