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Mindfulness
[Mindfulness – Yoga Day GEV] Podcast: Chaitanya Charan · Mindfulness Video:
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I can’t speak anything about God at my mother’s funeral – should I just remain silent?
Chaitanya Charan · I Can’t Speak Anything About God At My Mother’s Funeral – Should I Just Remain Silent My mother passed away recently, and as the elder sister, I am expected to speak at her funeral. However, my remaining family—especially in the context of Western society—generally disapproves of any mention of God during funerals….
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What does vikalpa mean in the mind’s sanklpa-vikalpa?
Transcribed by: Nishant Arora and Keshavgopal Das Question: In the saṅkalpa – vikalpa of the mind what exactly does vikalpa mean? Vikalpa, does it refer to indecision in doing one thing or another or does it refer to means of executing things? Answer: It can refer to both. The word vikalpa from the Sanskrit dictionary…
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Where exactly is faith located: in the soul or in the mind?
Transcription: (By Ramanand Borse) Question: Where exactly is faith located? is it in the subtle body or is it in the soul? Answer: For a soul in the natural spiritual pure stage, the faith is in the soul.The soul has natural love for Krishna and that love is based on faith in Krishna – implicitly. But…
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What is the difference between the mind and the brain?
From: sudindra What is the difference between Manasu(mind) and Brain as per the vedic texts? People talk of keeping the mind blank. and only allowing the brain to function.Is such a thing possible? What is the vedantas reply to this question please.
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What does the soul experience at the time of death?
From: Jugal What is its condition when it is getting out of the body? After getting out of the body what does the soul experience?
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How does the soul experience the pains and pleasures of the body?
From: Jugal What makes us feel the pains and pleasures of the body? Of course it is due to the misidentification with the body but how exactly it happens…how the soul experiences the pains and pleasures of the body? What are these pains and pleasures?
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How can we overcome discouragement due to constant mental lethargy?
From: Raja Rama Dasa Eventhough we know that services such as book distribution, preaching etc. are very much required to uplift us and others as well, sometimes feel morose, lethargy in actually taking the body and mind out to service. I feel this is definitely the effect of modes of nature on me. How should…
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How can we understand that we are different from our mind?
Question: To progress towards self-realization, we need to understand that we are neither our body nor our mind. Understanding that we are not our physical bodies is relatively easier: we are conscious, whereas the physical body isn’t. But how can we understand that we are not our mind? Brief Answer: By trying to do an…
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Isn’t good or bad a state of mind? Why then are the regulative principles necessary?
From: srikanth I have heard in KC movement there are four regulative principles. But why those things are considered bad or sinful ? Isn’t this just depends on the way you perceive things in this world that makes them good or bad.Than why bother so much about all of them.
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Is the face the index of the mind?
From: Panca pandava das Pr this question was asked by someone to me that face is the index of mind it means when your mind controlled your automatically blissful and the best to control mind by krsna consciousness like chanting etc. But we see this bollywood and Hollywood personalities from their face blissfull and charming…
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Is there any way we can perceive the nature of the soul?
Question: Is there any way we can perceive the nature of the soul? Answer: Yes, we can by sustained reflection. The Vedic wisdom-tradition states that the soul is by its very nature sat-cit-anand, eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Is this eternal, enlightened and ecstatic nature of the soul expressed in any way…
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What is the difference between the mind, intelligence, consciousness and the soul?
From: Utkarsh Punkhia At the outset I would like to tell you as to how much I have learned from your articles since one year.I really wish to have your association someday. Although I have read the article on the difference between the mind and consciousness could…
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What exactly are dreams?
Question: Are dreams real? What exactly are they according to the Vedic perspective. During dream, does the soul actually leaves the body or are they just imaginations of the mind.
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If the soul is changeless, then how does it change from its svarupa to a seed form?
From: panca pandava das Prji in your class you mention that soul has dimension like krishna, radharani has, similarly soul has like certain heights etc. and then you mention when soul get material body his dimension become seed form so my question in B.G. 2.24 prabhupada translation was soul eternally the same(changeless) then why soul…
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What could be the reason for the feeling that someone is pressing and pulling me at night?
From Krishnaloka Pr: Sometimes while sleeping i experience that someone is pressing and pulling me. i am trying to get up but unable to do so. i am aware of my existence but i am not able to open my eyes and get up. what is the reason for this? To hear the answer, please…
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What exactly are ghosts? How can we protect ourselves from them?
From: Jugal Can you write (i dont have access to a computer so i am not able to hear your audio lectures…it would be good if it is made available in mp3 format to download) a detailed article about ghosts from both scientific and vedic perspectives? And please mention if hag attacks are true? Plus…
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Are desires the cause of the modes or the modes the cause of desires?
From: Amit More Is desire the cause of Modes or Modes is the Cause of desire?
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How do people get insights during dreams?
From: Nirmesh Joshi Many a times i have heard people saying that in unconscious state of mind means in dreams they have observed that some formula, some idea,some slokas,some advise given in dream which is not possible for them when they are awake, so how it is possible? and we have heard that due to…
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If intelligence is higher than the mind, then why does intelligence come from passion and mind from goodness?
From Murari Bhagvan Prabhu, in BG it is mentioned Inteligence is higher than mind , soul is even higher than inteligence But how is it intelligence comes from the mode of passion. And mind comes from mode of goodness ? From where false ego comes ? Transcribed (edited) by: Shalini Ahluwalia Question: In the Bhagavad Gita…
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Why does the mind seem stronger than the soul?
From: Isha nagargoje: Both mind and soul have their own individual existence and hence desires.But majority of the time our mind seems to be more powerfull than the soul.and the soul misunderstands the desires of the mind as its own and wants to enjoy.in day to day life how can we distinguish between the desires…
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Isn’t belief in an invisible soul on the same level as belief in any absurd claim like payment with invisible money?
From Tushar Vora: Just because the soul, which is atomic in size, has not been perceived yet by senses or instruments, we should not conclude that it is not there.” – someone can say, “OK, so you are saying somethig is there even though I cannot perceive it – so how about you give me…
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Is the size of the soul literal or metaphorical?
To hear the answer, pl click here Answer summary: 1. Scriptures give measure of soul and also say that soul is immeasurable. eg. time in the spiritual world. 2. The soul is immeasurable in the sense that it can’t be measured materially and it has a measure in the sense that it is not formless….
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What is the difference between mind, heart and soul?
Answer Podcast Download by “right-click and save content” Transcription: what is the difference between mind , heart, and soul ? The soul is spiritual and eternal part and parcel of the Lord, the soul is the source of consciousness and life in the body. The mind is the part of the subtle body which is…
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What is the difference between mind and consciousness?
To hear the answer, please click here Answer Summary: 1. Consciousness being energy of the soul is spiritual, whereas mind is material, being one of the constituents of the subtle material body. 2. The mind is like the screen of the TV whereas the soul is the person watching the TV and consciousness is like…
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As we don’t remember our past lives, how do we learn anything from them?
Question: The reincarnation theory claims that we are given multiple lives for cumulative learning. However, as we don’t remember our past lives, how do we learn anything from them? Answer: The cumulative learning over multiple lives is the assimilation of essential life-lessons about how to act and how to live, not the recollection of specific…
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Is the mind a being or a thing or a nothing?
Question: In our normal talks, we intuitively treat the mind as a reality, as an entity capable of making us irritated or bored or depressed. What exactly is the mind? Is it a factual reality or a convenient fiction? If it is real, then is it a living being or a non-living thing? Answer: The…
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Isn’t the claim that the soul is the source of energy in the body disproved by the bodily need of food?
Question: We need food for energy. So isn’t the claim that the soul is the source of energy in the body disproved by everyday experience? Answer: In the Bhagavad-gita (18.34) Lord Krishna explains the relationship between the soul and the body with an insightful analogy: “As the sun illuminates the universe, so does the soul…
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Is there any proof of reincarnation?
Question: Is there any proof of reincarnation? Answer: Certainly; there’s lot. But before we can understand the proof of reincarnation, we need to understand how reincarnation takes place. The Bhagavad-gita explains that our current existence is three-dimensional: physical (related with the gross material body that we can see and touch), mental (related with the subtle…
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Is there any scientific proof for the soul’s existence?
Question: Is there any scientific proof for the soul’s existence? Answer: There’s plenty. One of the most striking proofs is documented by the renowned father of modern neurosurgery, Dr Wilder Penfield, in his book The Mystery of the Mind. Let’s consider one of his many experiments, paraphrased here without the technical jargon for easy understanding….
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Why can’t we remember our past lives?
Question: If we are souls who have been transmigrating for many lives, then why can’t we remember our past lives? Answer: Firstly, it’s our tendency to forget; can we remember what we were doing at this very moment one year ago, one month ago or even one week ago? Unlikely. Similarly, to remember our past lives…
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Does the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra do any practical good for the world?
Answer: Certainly. As most of us know, the fundamental problem in economics is to reconcile the unlimited desires of people with the limited resources of the world. All of us perpetually seek happiness by fulfilling our desires. Two conflicting forces within our hearts determine our desires: the centrifugal force that allures us to external objects,…
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Are the words dharma and religion synonyms?
Answer: No. Religion is changeable; dharma isn’t. Etymologically, dharma comes from the Sanskrit root dhri which means “to support, hold up, or bear.” So, the dharma of an object refers to its essential irreducible quality that holds up its existence. Thus the dharma of fire is heat and the dharma of sugar is sweetness; there…
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Isn’t chanting an act of blind faith?
Answer: Chanting is an act not of blind faith, but of reasonable faith. Reasonable faith is faith that is sensible and verifiable. Reasonable faith is not just desirable but also essential – and not just for chanting but for every human act. Let’s compare chanting with a common act of faith, taking medicines, because chanting…
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Doesn’t spirituality demand blind faith?
Answer: No. Spirituality requires not blind faith, but intelligent doubt: doubt in our assumed and unexamined faith in materialism. Materialism requires us to believe that material trappings like money, sex and luxuries will make us happy. But is this belief grounded in facts? Let’s analyze the facts of life. Doomed at Death: The first fact…
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What is the Vedic perspective on the current agitation against corruption?
Answer: It is a vital step in the right direction of establishing morality and integrity in the social body of India. Corruption is a malignant cancer that is eating up the fabric of Indian society today. Corruption originates in greed, which the Bhagavad-gita (16.21) describes as one of the gateways to hell. Greed brings hellish…
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Isn’t spirituality an escapeway for those who can’t take life’s sufferings?
Question: People often turn to spirituality when they become frustrated with material life. Doesn’t this prove that spirituality is an escape-way for those without the guts to face life’s challenges? Answer: Material frustration can be an impetus for practicing spirituality, but it is neither sufficient nor necessary. Let’s analyze these three correlations between material frustration…
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How does the knowledge of reincarnation benefit us practically?
Answer: A reincarnation-based worldview helps us to make sense out of life and inspires us to grow to our full potential. Life presents us blatant inequities: some people are born fabulously rich, some, distressingly poor. To make sense out of these disparities of life, we have three principal worldviews: Chance: This is the materialist worldview…
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What’s wrong with sex?
Answer: Sex is natural for the body, but not for the soul. Spiritual traditions, by helping us regulate that which is natural for the body: limited sexual pleasure, enable us to relish that which is natural for the soul: unlimited spiritual happiness. Spiritual seers consider the pleasure of sex to be like the pleasure of…
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If God is good, then why does he allow suffering?
Answer: The pains of the world serve as protectors from a far greater pain. Let’s see how. The Discovery Health Channel’s Mystery Diagnosis episode aired on 21 November, 2009, had an intriguing title: “The Boy Who Never Cried.” It featured an infant, Baby Carson, who suffered from an extremely rare disorder called Congenital Insensitivity to…
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Why do people feel peaceful while meditating?
Question: While meditating, praying or chanting, many people say that they feel great peace and joy. What is the cause of this feeling? Answer: This feeling comes from the experience of our home within. All of us have experience of the relief that we feel on returning home after a long day’s hard work. This subjective…
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Is there any practical use of knowing about the soul?
Answer: Yes, there is immense and immediate use. Let’s see how. Knowledge about the soul is not like knowledge about some abstract theoretical concept like a quark that has no bearing on our practical lives. Knowledge about the soul being knowledge about our own selves has immediate bearing on our lives. The answer to the…
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Doesn’t population growth disprove reincarnation?
Question: Doesn’t the growth of population disprove reincarnation? As all souls are eternal and so no new souls are ever created, doesn’t the increase in population imply that new human bodies will eventually run out of souls with which to be incarnated? Answer: No. This argument is based on two unstated assumptions: Only human beings have souls….
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Do animals have souls?
Answer: Obviously. The soul is not the monopoly of humans. How can we know the presence of the soul? By the remarkable difference in the behavior of living organisms and nonliving systems. Nonliving systems have three phases to their existence: creation, deterioration and destruction. Living organisms exhibit three more phases: growth, reproduction and maintenance. These…
