Q&A with Swami Aparajitananda (02/27/2025)

Online Q&A Session with Swami Aparajitananda - February 27th, 2025

Q1. We are taught to pursue work with Nishkama Attitude (without desires), but without desires for results how can we get the motivation to work ?

Desire is not the problem. Prayojana/Goal is natural, but all these worldly goals should be pursued towards the spiritual goal. Material goal should not end up intensifying our vasanas & likes & dislikes. Think about Purushartha. Moksha should be the goal.

Insistence on the results is to be avoided, not the existence of results.

Q2. Being anxious is equivalent to not having faith in Bhagwaan. How ?

When we are anxious - it means we are unsure of something we want badly. If we have firm faith in God, and the justice of God and the laws of God, that He loves me limitlessly, then we will not worry. But we have our strong insistences with likes & dislikes. If we are a devotee, we will say God's grace. But if we have likes & dislikes, we look for the way that we want things. Great resistance is provided when likes & dislikes are strong. Faith reduces. Anxiety & Forgetfulness of God goes hand in hand. It is directly proportional. There is someone inside us who knows everything about us, but different than us. With this increase in anxiety, we get all the other negativities of the mind.

Q3. Dharma is not specified very directly. How can we determine our swadharma as we wear multiple hats.

No one can tell what is our Swadharma, except GOD. Not even scriptures, books, saints. As we grow spiritually, our Swadharma also changes, because our spiritual acumen increases, Viveka increases, Vairagya increases. Who is guiding us ? Bhagwaan is only guiding us from inside. Scriptures, other sadhanas are means to guide us, for quietening of the mind, so that we can hear God's voice very clearly. Bring up the topic in meditation, only when we are ready and the mind is quiet. Yogakshema is a guarantee NOT ONLY for food, clothing, shelter. It is also for Swadharma. We should quieten the ego through 30 mins of prayer, devotion and then enter into meditation. When the heart is ruled by devotion, we feel God. When heart is ruled by ego, heart is heavy. It is God's responsibility to guide us. God will surely guide us as long as our devotion is good and we are sincere.

Q4. How can we apply the Chariot analogy practically to control senses in meditation.

We experience that the mind is wandering. Cause is - Mind has certain likes & dislikes. We are trying to withdraw through the intellect. The reins of the chariot is the mind. Charioteer is the intellect. Find where all the mind is going at the seat of meditation. Identify those whirlpools where mind is stuck. The Intellect is weak, hence it is not able to pull out the mind from the whirlpools. Work on these whirlpools. Intellect will become strong and pull the mind out.

Q5. It is easy to start spiritual practice, but difficult to sustain it. How can we sustain it consistently ?

Once we get the higher sense of joy, as we get disciplined, we find that there is a greater sense of fulfillment. Once we have tasted the higher joy, if we come down or stop the sadhana, there is misery. We should feel inspired by the joy and dispirited by the misery. That will be the propelling energy for us to get back on the Sadhana trail. Guilt yourself - I have compromised with my spiritual sadhana, so I am going to penalize myself. For every slip, punish yourself. Once we rise, Bhagwaan will give us more opportunities & responsibilities to shine and go further. Guilt is a voice from God.

Q6. What practice will make the ego subservient to the intellect. 

Ego can be subsided only by surrendering. Always have the attitude - "By God's grace, I was able to do this". When we don't do it, ego will take credit. Practice the process of watching the ego and taming it. This is strengthening of God-Remembrance Vasana.

Q7. I am doing Nama Japa regularly & I want to progress. Only Guru can assist. How can we find the Guru and get the right Guru.

God will provide Guru if necessary. Follow the intellect strongly. Deny the mind in all wrongful things. This will strengthen the Spiritual muscles. Ultimate Guru is Bhagwaan. If He feels that you need a Guru, He will send one to you. Just like the baby doesn't need to worry about the milk in the mother & God provides everything by His grace, the sincere devotee will have all his needs fulfilled.

Q8. What are some examples from Puranas for handling unfavorable situations

Dhruv, Narada, Prahlada, Ambareesh, Draupadi's children, Gajendra, Vibheeshana, Shabhari, Kunti. Every story is about unfavorable situations.

Q9. How to continue our bhakti when hard situations arise ?

When we are showing disinterest in Sadhana, then negativities start to overpower you. If we don't identify this, then things will become worse. When we withdraw from God, we will find ourselves disconnected from the world and wrong things will happen, we will say bad things.

Q10. Nothing is a mistake when wrong things happen. How can we reconcile this in Vedanta ?

When others are not mature give them a hug when they go through issues. Say that you understand what they are going thru. Give them solace and love. Words should be beneficial, sweet, non-agitating (Satyam, Priyam, Hitam).

This approach is just like a painkiller. Falsehood is more useful sometimes.

Q11. For a beginner in Meditation, how can I make sure I am doing it well.

Purpose of Meditation

First step is Love for Bhagwaan. I am sitting in mediation because I want to tune in to Him. Then I can live properly. The child in the lap always meditates - Am I in the lap of my mother. As long as I am with her, I am fine. In the beginning, develop such a relationship with Bhagwaan. Be thankful for our skills, our environment, family. Am I doing things according to His wish. More our emotions are involved, more fulfillment we get in meditation. Bhakti is the way. Instead of emptying the mind, fill it with devotion.

Here is the LINK to this Q&A Recording.