Q: After death, does the soul retain any of the senses?
G: Yes. It is very interesting. After death, the soul retains the sight, smell and hearing. Touch and taste will go. The sight, smell and hearing and not retained for ever, but for about eight to ten days. Then the soul goes into a deep state of rest.
Q: Guruji, how do you know this?
G: <smilng> Those who have known themselves know this. You know, it is all in the consciousness. Also this has been recorded in the ancient texts by scholars.
Q: What to do if you have a boss who doesn't recognize your contributions?
G: Just smile.
Q: Guruji, why do so many innocent people suffer in man-made and natural disasters?
G: It makes you wonder about whether there is a God or not, doesn't it? More than five hundred people in Bombay this week... You simply have to wonder.
You know, you should think about how we can change the bad people into good people. We have to think constructively.
It is also nature's way of telling us to have compassion. Without misery there would be no compassion, is it not? In Africa millions of children cannot afford a square meal. In Washington DC, fifty percent of school children drop out and go into violence. What can we do? How to reinstate goodness and faith in non-violence?
Non-violence is the first limb of yoga. The second limb is truth. Why do we lie? It is because of our fear of losing our reputation and of losing others love. You know why spouses lie to each other? Because if they tell the truth, there will be a fight! When there is a conflict between love and truth, love always wins, that is why spouses lie.
Yogas limbs are non-violence and truth, but yoga also leads to non-violence and truth. See we have done lots of good work in prisons, and in places like Israel, Kashmir... Is Dafna here? <Dafna, who has been teaching in Israel, stands up to applause> We have been teaching in Tel Aviv, and also in the prisons in Israel. And in Iraq. Recently 43 people, mostly women and some men also, were in the Bangalore ashram. They took training for eight weeks, and now they are going back to Iraq to teach various yoga and meditation.
<applause>
Q: What is dharma?
G: Dharma is more than just duty. It is that which uplifts you. Serving, etc. It is that which is your inherent nature.
Q: Guruji, you said earlier that the ego is useful for action. Is it possible to act without ego?
G: Yes. An enlightened person will act without any ego.
See, praising a wise person is useless. They will anyway do good work. They will continue doing good work even if you blame them. Praise a fool -- that will pump up their ego and motivate them into doing good work.
Have you noticed, the ego troubles ones own mind more than others?
Q: Guruji, I have been having bad thoughts throughout this course.
G: That is because of stress, toxins in the blood. Could also be due to some hormonal imbalance. More cleansing will help. Don't be bothered. The more you grow, the more these negative emotions, anger etc. will be intolerable to you. So it is a good sign.
Q: (A question on natural disasters)
G: Haan, natural disasters will always happen, no? last year we had 19 water-related disasters around the world. The year before was fire.
<last year when I was at a part 2 course in Florida in January just after the tsunami in Asia, he spoke of some more water-related disasters, particularly some coming from the Atlantic Ocean and also in other places around the world... and what we did we have? The most insane hurricane season.>
G: Calamities are part of natures work. The ozone layer is getting depleted, global warming is happening, and so many other things. There is also so much greed. There is an imbalance in the nature. But more than that, it is the stress causing man-made calamities. Terrorism and so on. That is why it is so important to continue doing yoga, meditation, pranayamas, satsang, to uplift the consciousness. And also to teach all these practices to more people. Don't you think so? (Applause.)
Q: Is it possible to attain enlightenment while having physical blocks in the spine?
G: Why not? Ashtavakra had eight deformities in his body, and he was enlightened.
Q: Guruji, you are our role model.
G: But I model all your roles!
Q: Guruji, who is dearest to you: a sadhak, devotee or an enlightened person?
G: Just you!
Q: Why do more enlightened masters seem to hail from India then anywhere else?
G: It is just a question of time. At this particular time many masters have come from India. At another time many masters came from the middle east. And at one time many saints were from Europe. See at one time there were many scientists only from the west. Merchants were from Europe. Earlier at one time there were also many saints in China. Why is maple found only in Canada? We don't know! Or bulls in Texas. But it doesn't belong only to that place. Knowledge and wisdom belong to the entire universe.
Q: Guruji, I am very attached to you, but at the same time we do this process of bowing down to the angels to rid ourselves of attachment. How should I reconcile this?
Someone from the crowd: Even the angels are attached to him.
G: <smiling> Yeah!
Q: I have noticed that all my botherations are due to the inconsiderate actions of other people. My mind immediately jumps to resentment, judgment, etc. How do I make my mind unshakeable? How do I become accepting of myself and all?
G: Once you have recognized the situation in the mind, you are already out of it! You just say, I am going to stand up and smile. <incomplete>
Q: How to love somebody you hate the most?
G: First just accept that person. Just accept that they are incorrigible and will never change. Then understand that they are a victim themselves, of their circumstances and their ignorance. Compassion is the next step. See, step by step we have 1, 2, 3. Acceptance, understanding and love.
Q: What is the difference between skill and manipulation?
G: Good question. In manipulation, the intentions are not that good. There is viciousness behind the action. In skill the intentions are clear and good. Manipulation leaves you with a guilty feeling. It will pinch you. When you are using your skill your conscience is clear. With manipulation there is dishonesty. You are dishonest to yourself and to the other person. When you are using skill there is honesty. And only you can know the difference!
Others can't.
Q: What is the difference between sacrifice and service?
G: In sacrifice someone else's happiness is more important than our own.
Q: Does nature always guide us? If I miss the bus on the way to an interview, should I take a cab or look for another job?
G: Take a cab to the interview, and if you don't get the job, look for another one!
Q: How to handle financial burden?
G: First of all, don't think it is a burden. Have the confidence that you can make it happen. Burden brings worry, and that will kill your creativity.
Q: Why must people talk all the time? Even in your divine presence?
G: I don't know! I have the same question. <smiles> Here when satsang is going on, people sit and talk. I don't know what they are talking about.
When satsang is happening we should all sit and sing together, no? All the minds come together.
Q: Guruji, can we have Guru Poornima in Tahoe next year?
G: All is possible!
[At the Y&M session:]
G: Why do we do yoga? In order to make life more beautiful. Heyam dukham anahatam -- to stop misery from entering our world. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
For the body we have asanas. For the mind we have pranayamas, for emotional and mental well-being. Also asanas work on the mind and pranayams on the body -- there are no strict boundaries. Meditation removes spiritual misery, dejection, darkness and depression. That is why yoga, Yogas-chitta-vritti-nirodhaha, it stops the chitta-vritti, or the endless activity of the chitta.
And also by singing. Be in satsang, and sing with everyone.
Also in chanting -- we will do chanting later today, we will chant sathyam param dhimahi a few times before meditation. It means let the ultimate truth dawn in my intellect. Beauty, truth and divinity. It is good to chant just before meditation.
Q: Karma vs. free will: how much are we governed by karma and how much do we have any free will?
G: You shoud read Celebrating Silence, its all explained there. Also in the Intimate Note to the Sincere Seeker, the first sheet is on that topic.
Q: When the body dies, does the mind go with the soul?
G: Yes.
Q: How can we change our karma?
G: By experience and wisdom, and some karma you just have to overcome it and work through it.
Q: How to raise kids to not lose their innocence?
G: It is good to inculcate human values, love, compassion etc. in children when they are young. It is also important to make them strong. Should not make them too strong, then they become aggressive. At the same time some strength is needed in addition to the innocence, otherwise how will they go through life? Not too strong or innocent. Take the middle path.
Q: <something about homesickness>
G: See, I consider that every tree in the planet is in my garden. When the whole world is your family, there can be no homesickness. Feel always at home -- it is all your attitude.
Q: Are there any extra-terrestrial beings outside of the earth?
G: <smiling> Some may consider that I am one! <applause>
Some people were not happy that in our prayer meeting we did not condemn the attacks and we took a soft approach. So people wrote about us in the papers, are we from another planet or what?
Extra-terrestrials are also possible. The universe has many layers of consciousness. Have you all seen the silver jubilee video? The one with the angels in it? We should show it here after some time.
When we talk of healing and miracles and all, you know what our teachers say? We don't believe in miracles, we depend on them! <applause> Vismayo-yoga-bhoomika. The preface to yoga is astonishment. Have you wondered how the seeds sprout into giant trees, and how babies are born, or how the planets revolve, and so on? That is wonder.
Q: Are there any coincidences?
G: Could be -- we cannot rule anything out!
