A : A boy who believed in himself. A man who had the courage to follow his dreams and convert them into reality. A monk who had the charisma of a king!
CW : My Life and Mission
Life and Message of Swami Vivekananda by Prof. NVC Swamy (former Director of IIT Madras)
Q : What is the main purpose of our life?
A : Self-discovery. And as Vivekananda once said, “This life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, but they alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.”
CW : The Goal
Dalai Lama : Finding purpose in life
Q : If every human gets results only of his/her actions, what is the use of helping anyone?
A : Individuals are not disconnected beings. As the old saying goes, united we stand and divided we fall. A purely self-centred view is a perfect recipe for depression. Vivekananda has also repeatedly said that the best way to purify our mind is to help others.
CW : We help ourselves, not the world
Q : Why do we need to purify the mind?
A : In the journey of life, the only thing that will always accompany us is our own mind. A pure mind can be our best friend in this journey and an impure mind can be our worst enemy.
CW : Introduction to Raja Yoga
TED Talk : The Art of Stillness
Q : What is meditation?
A : A process which leads to a state of heightened awareness. This can also be quite helpful in purifying the mind.
CW : Meditation
TED Talk : All it takes is 10 mindful minutes
Q : I find it difficult to do meditation. Are there are some simple habits that I can form which are easy to do and can progressively make my mind prepared for deeper meditation?
A : Yes, there are several simple and very effective habits that one can inculcate which eventually prepare the mind for higher pursuits. Some of these habits are the following:
- Every night before going to sleep, think about some positive thoughts and positive actions that you did during the day.
- Make it a point to read at least one page of some inspiring book every day.
- Spend at least a couple of hours every week in the company of spiritually inclined people.
- Avoid situations and people who you think induce negative thoughts/habits
Q : I find it difficult to wake up early in the morning. How can I solve this problem?
A : Find out a productive activity that you like to do in the morning. For example, it could be playing some sport/game or reading some books or going for a walk.Then find some friends who are also interested in doing this activity along with you in the morning.
Q : What is the role of good company in our spiritual journey?
A : Jim Rohn once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”.
TED Talk : Where good ideas come from
Q : How can I measure my spiritual progress?
A : Though there is no quantitative way to measure spiritual progress, a very good indicator is the calmness that you feel within your own mind. Visions and miracles can be misleading. If you feel more calm, more peaceful and more sensitive towards other people, you are certainly making very good spiritual progress. Other indicators could be a better understanding of the world around you, increased clarity of thought, ability to take better decisions and the courage to take your thoughts to their logical conclusion.
Q : Are there some books/articles on spirituality simple enough to understand by beginners?
A : Certainly yes! The following can be a great source of inspiration and knowledge:
- Work and its Secret by Vivekananda
- Hints on Practical Spirituality by Vivekananda
- Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
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