Q&A: The practical problem solver

Can we answer our own questions through our daily meditations? And if so, how can we tell if the answer really comes from the heart or the soul, as opposed to the mind?

Any question you have can be answered during your meditation or at the end of your meditation. If you go deep within, you are bound to get an answer. But when you get an answer, you have to determine whether it is coming from the soul or from the mind. If it comes from the heart or the soul, then you will feel a sense of relief and peace. At that time no contradictory thought will come to negate the answer. But if the answer does not come from the heart or the soul, then the mind will come to the fore and contradict the idea you have received.

Messages that come from the mind will have no certainty in them. This moment the mind tells you one thing; the next moment the mind tells you something else. '1'his moment your mind will tell you that I am a very good man; the next moment your mind will say, "No, he is very bad." But the heart always offers the same message. When you sit down to meditate in the morning, it gives one message. In the evening when you meditate, you will get the same message from the heart.

If you get an inner message to see somebody-let us say your boss-you will simply go and sec that person. But if the message comes from the mind, before you see him there will be many questions in your mind. Then, if you finally do sec him and the result does not come out according to your satisfaction, you will curse yourself and say, "No, it was not the right thing to do. I got the wrong message."

But if the message comes from the soul, you will have tremendous conviction, and you will take both success and failure with equal satisfaction. While you are executing the message, you will not expect anything in your own way; you will not expect that your boss will be pleased with you or will do something for you. You will just do it, and whether the result comes in the form of success or failure, you will feel that you have done the right thing.

Q&A: The practical problem solver

Can one learn to overcome one's fears through meditation?

Through meditation, outer fear and inner fear are bound to leave us. Now you are a victim to fear because you do not know how to expand your consciousness. But when you take refuge in your divinity, with the help of meditation, then fear has to leave you, for it feels that it is knocking at the wrong door. Now you are helpless, but fear will be helpless the moment it sees that through meditation you are in touch with something most powerful.

The very purpose of meditation is to unite, expand, enlighten and immortalise our consciousness. When we meditate, we enter into our own divinity. Divinity is not afraid of humanity, because divinity has infinite power. When we have free access to divinity, when our entire existence, inner and outer, is surcharged with divinity's boundless and infinite power, then how can we be afraid of humanity? It is impossible!

Have no fear. Nobody has any power of his own. Only God has power, and His power is another name for His sleepless Love.

Q&A: The practical problem solver

Can meditation protect us from all the injustice we experience in life?

When you have to defend yourself or protect yourself, always try to use a higher weapon. If people say something and you retaliate on the same level, there will be no end to it. Again, if you simply swallow your anger, they will continue to take advantage of you. But when they see and feel tremendous inner peace in you, which you can get from your meditation, they will see something in you which can never be conquered. They will see a change in you, and this change will not only puzzle them but also threaten and frighten them. They will feel that their weapons are useless.

Inner peace is the most effective weapon with which to conquer injustice. When you pray and meditate, your whole being becomes flooded with peace. This is not something imaginary. You can feel peace; you can swim in the sea of peace. Then, no matter what other people do, you will feel that they are just children playing in front of you. You will say, "These are all children. What more can I expect from them?" But right now, because they are grown up in terms of years, you become angry and upset instead. If you pray and meditate regularly, you will soon feel that your inner peace is infinitely stronger, more fulfilling and more energising than the unfortunate situations that others create.

Q&A:The hour of meditation

What should we do if we miss our appointed hour for meditation? Should we try to make up for it at our next meditation by meditating for a longer time?

If you have to miss your appointed hour one day due to unavoidable circumstances, do not feel I miserable. As long as you have not let the hour go by out of inertia or negligence or the feeling that because you have meditated for a few days, now you deserve a rest, then you have not committed a spiritual crime. But you cannot "make up" a missed meditation by meditating longer the next time. You eat three times a day. Suppose that early in the morning you did not have breakfast, and at noon you also missed your lunch. When it is time for dinner, if you try to eat all that you have not eaten in the morning and at noon, it will only upset your stomach. If you do not eat for two or three days, and then you try to make up for the food that you missed during your fast, you will run into trouble.

With meditation it is the same. You have the inner capacity to meditate for a certain amount of time early in the morning, at noon, in the evening or at night. If you cannot follow this routine on a certain day, it is better just to meditate most soulfully at your regular hour. If you try to increase the length of time, if you try to meditate for two or three hours instead of half an hour, your physical mind will not be able to bear the pressure. Instead of creating more capacity, this will break your capacity. It will create tremendous tension in your aspiration-life. Everything has to be done systematically and gradually. Eventually you will be able to meditate for eight hours or ten hours at a stretch, but right now it is not possible.

If your aspiration is really intense, if God really comes first in your life, then you can easily adjust your outer life to make time to meditate. The inner aspiration has infinitely more power than outer obstacles. If you utilise your inner strength, then circumstances have to surrender to your aspiration. If you really want to meditate every day, then I wish to tell you that your inner aspiration will give you the power to do it. Outer obstacles can easily be overcome, because the inner life is the living expression of the infinite power. Before the infinite power, outer obstacles have to surrender.

A spiritually established life is not an easy task. But a materially satisfied life is an impossible task.

Q&A:The hour of meditation

For a six o'clock meditation, will we do better if we get up at five and are up for a full hour before meditating? If we enter into activity, will we become more awake?

It is not good if there is too much activity. If you touch a material object, immediately the consciousness of that object enters into you. If you touch a novel, immediately the consciousness of the author will enter into you. If you are drowsy and start doing housework to wake yourself up, then the housework consciousness will enter into you. If you are drowsy, it is best to take a shower. Water signifies consciousness. Once consciousness enters into you, you will not sleep. So do not enter into any activity before meditation. Just take a shower and then meditate. You can prepare yourself inwardly by reading spiritual writings for a few minutes or by singing some soulful, spiritual songs. But you should not do housework or office work.

Q&A:The hour of meditation

Very often I feel full of love and joy before I fall asleep, and I may remain awake without any conscious thoughts except gratitude. But I am worried about getting up in the morning. I want to be rested.

If you cannot fall asleep but undivine thoughts are not bothering you, why not try to meditate again? If you do not feel like meditating, then you can read some spiritual books. If it is your bedtime, but you are not sleepy, then the best thing is for you to feel that God has given you an opportunity to meditate more. If you feel sleepy while you are meditating, then you can go to bed. But, if sleepiness is not bothering you, then you should feel fortunate that you can use this time for a divine purpose.

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