To understand this you should resort to Satsang and study of scriptures. An intellect that
is clouded by all sorts of desires and evil Samskaras will not be able to grasp even the need for
Moksha. Such an intellect is Asuric. Read the Gita. Attend Satsang. Listen to the discourses of
saints and Sannyasins. Then Viveka will arise in you. You will understand that this world is full
of pain and sorrow. The bungalow, the motor-car, the little position and the small salary that you
are having now will not then satisfy you. Your aspirations will grow. You will want to liberate
yourself.
What great labour goes into the preparation of the microscope lens? After a lot of
grinding only you are able to peep into the beyond. Similarly, after a lot of study and Satsang
only will your intellect even think of the Beyond.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

Yes, yes. That is the Tutelary Deity or Ishta Devata. The mind cannot all at once rise
beyond itself. The ego will seldom cut its own throat. Your consciousness will find it a hard
task to realize the Cosmic Consciousness. Therefore the Name and the Form of a Deity are
chosen to meditate upon. In due time, this Deity will manifest Itself before you and do the work
of annihilating the ego and the mind, enabling you to realize Cosmic Consciousness.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

There is no man in the world who is not divine by nature. The divinity in man differs
only in degree, but not in kind. Even the so-called atheist has got a ray of divinity in him. No
man is devoid of the three Gunas¾Sattva, Rajas and Tamas¾in varying proportions. Whether
one is a skeptic or an atheist or a nihilist or some other, that portion of Sattva that abides in man
helps him do some virtuous actions, which result in further actions of like nature, either in this
birth or in some future births. While he does actions of Rajas and Tamas, he also does Sattvic
actions according to the degree of purity and Sattva in him. No man in the world¾be he a
robber, a thief, a pirate or some other¾commits vicious actions alone. Every man commits both
virtuous actions and vicious actions in life. That is, he is prone to do mixed actions so long as he
is under the grip of Prakriti. When virtuous actions are done, his mind naturally turns towards
the divine, however slightly it be. A sense of inner joy he experiences, though he may not be
able to express why. Meditation is essentially the quality of Sattva. When life is made
ennobling, sure is the man to think of God.
In this connection, the point worthy of remembrance is that Sattvic actions themselves are
to be considered as worship or meditation. Meditation need not necessarily mean sitting in a
lonely corner or sequestered spot and thinking over Rama or Krishna or Jesus or Mohammed or
pouring forth verbal or mental prayers. Actions that tend to purify the grossness of the individual
are to be collectively treated as meditation. Life is thus meditation coupled with Ajnana to an
immeasurable degree in the case of an ordinary individual. If meditation is deliberately taken up
on the instructions of a Guru who ought necessarily to be a more evolved soul, man cannot but
perform good and selfless actions with Akartritva (non-doership) and Abhoktritva (nonenjoyership)
Bhavas to make and feel his life more and more cheerful, more and more
enlightening, more and more attractive. In the latter course which is but a deliberate step, man
evolves more quickly with the speed of lightning, while in the former course man moves forward
with the pace of a snail.
Thus, life and meditation are intertwined.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

I feel that they are not worth studying, since they do not contain the element that would satisfy my hungering soul.

Beloved child! It is too early for you to renounce the world. Besides, you have got your
parents. You should serve them nicely. Earn your livelihood by honest means. Work hard. At
the same time, adopt the Nimitta Bhav: work as an instrument in His hands. Cultivate this.
Carry on your studies also. No doubt, knowledge of this phenomenal world would not confer
Moksha on you. Yet, it has got its own uses. Nothing is bad in itself; it is the use to which a
particular branch of knowledge is put that matters.
Try to carry on your personal Sadhana also side by side. Practice my Twenty Important
Spiritual Instructions to the best of your ability. Maintain the spiritual diary. Always keep the
goal in view. When the time comes, God Himself will facilitate your renunciation.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

There is yet Moha for family, for position, for money and for worldly life. It is strange,
Swamiji, I confess.

Maya is powerful, and except in very rare cases where the Samskaras are very strong,
taste for a life of contemplation does not manifest itself in man. No doubt, Satsang, Japa and
Dhyana help a Sadhak a lot. But the Avarana of Avidya or the veil of ignorance is so thick that
these are not sufficient to pierce it. They only create Samskaras which take shape in future
births. But, if at the same time you do Vichara, develop Viveka and cultivate Vairagya, then the
progress is extremely rapid. Vairagya and Viveka are absolutely necessary. Without these, no
amount of Satsang, Japa or Dhyana will produce immediate results. Maya is extremely powerful:
she can be annihilated only through Dridha Vairagya, only through intense dispassion.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

Should one’s repeated failures in respect of a certain
work be also taken as the Will of the Lord? Is it a fact that we get what we deserve or is it
that we are not really fit for what we actually aspire for? This doubt is eluding a clear-cut
answer from my own limited brain. I refer the same to your greater brain to re solve this
doubt and I hope you will do so.

It is true that everything is predestined and pre-planned by the Lord; and only in
accordance with the holy writ, everything takes place. God has given free will also to the
individual to do right or wrong, to discriminate between the Preyo Marga and the Sreyo Marga.
If one is endowed with true wisdom as to the fleeting and painful nature of the worldly
enjoyments, one can exert oneself in the right direction to do or undo his Prarabdha, the portion
of Karmas ripened for actual experience in this current birth. Without the Lord’s special grace,
none can make or mar himself. Even for realization, the Lord’s grace is necessary. For obtaining
the Lord’s grace, intense Purusha Prayatna, otherwise known as Purushartha, which is voiced
forth throughout the famous “Yoga Vasishtha” is to be put forth..
Whether it be failure or success in any undertaken work, it is but the effect of the Lord’s
grace and will alone. Accept everything in the light of Vedantic indifference. Be a silent witness
and rejoice over the mystery of the Lord.
Everybody gets what he actually deserves; nothing more, nothing less. The Divine Law is
altogether different from man-made law. The Law and Verdict and Judgement of the Lord is
final and unquestionable. No bribing business there. His Law is always impartial and uniform
and even, with the whole of mankind, why only mankind, with the whole of His own creation.
Aspiration on the mundane side is but an expression of egoism that bursts forth in every
moment of man’s life through actions, thoughts and speech. Unless it is, as already stated, willed
by the Lord, nothing mundane or spiritual is possible of attainment by any human being on earth.
God actually helps those that help themselves, provided that the thing aspired for is in strict
conformity with the injunctions of the holy writ. From the cradle to the grave, from birth till
death, from the moment of awareness to that of eternal rest, the guiding factor of man should be
self-effort, self-effort, self-effort and self-effort alone, based on surrender, without minding the
results.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

If we do not waste time and energy in propagating spiritual ideas, Gita studies and
Sankirtan, but devote that energy to the above end, then we shall get economic betterment
earlier, after which those who wish can pursue philosophy and religion.
We should develop our material and physical powers and get to the same peak of
progress, power and comfort as the Western nations before we can dabble in philosophy
and the like.

Two types of workers, social and religious, are necessary in this world. Social workers
will work in their own fields of activity. Religious workers will carry on special propaganda and
dissemination of spiritual knowledge. A carpenter has his own field of work and an electrician
has his own field. You cannot ask a carpenter to do the work of an electrician and the electrician
to do the work of a carpenter. Social, economic, political and industrial development and
constructive work in those directions are very necessary. These should not be ignored.
But, religion only can save people. Without religion, man is nowhere. Even those who
work in the other fields cannot turn out good work without disciplining themselves, without
having a spiritual basis, without undergoing a religious training, without practicing Ahimsa,
Satyam and Brahmacharya. Leaders who are selfish and corrupt spoil the society. They fight for
their own superiority and power.
Bread, butter, jam and nice biscuits cannot give you everlasting peace. Comforts are
enemies of spiritual life and peace. They pull a man down. After all, man wants very little on
this earth. You will think of God only when you are in adversities. What is wanted is spiritual
wealth which is inexhaustible.
That work which removes the ignorance of man and gives him happiness can eradicate
human sufferings in toto and give him eternal happiness. That work is spiritual propaganda.
That work is the dissemination of Bhakti and knowledge of Yoga and Vedanta. It is the
crowning glory of human activities. This is the greatest Yajna or Yoga. This is Jnana Yajna, the
highest of all Yajnas.
India alone possesses the supreme divine wealth. Even the richest people of the different
parts of the world come to the Himalayas to practice Yoga, to seek the guidance of Rishis, seers,
Yogis and sages and to acquire this imperishable wealth.
Happiness does not come from wealth. The Western nations are quite restless despite
their enormous wealth. From this we can infer that spiritual life alone can give real, everlasting
peace and happiness.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

As you would see the material objects with the help of a material instrument in the form
of the eye, the Yogi would see subtler objects through the help of subtler instruments. Except in
the plane of intuition, in all other lower planes, there exists a subject-object relationship as far as
cognition is concerned. The only thing is: the instrument used in perceiving the object should be
of the same material of which the object of perception is made.
For further grasping of the exact vision of the Yogi, you yourself should become one.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

I shall be obliged if you could explain to me what happens to the soul after death and what merits
we could do for the peace of the departed soul and whether he could see or hear us,
mortals. Is there any truth in what the spiritualists say that we could commune with the
dead through a thing called ‘medium’ and is it really the dead person who answers?

Do not allow yourself to be fascinated by spiritualism, mediumship, crystal crazing, etc.
They will lead you astray. Communication with the dead and talking with the dead are all fads
which have no connection with real spirituality. The purpose of life is different. The goal is to
realize the essential imperishability of your Self. This alone will confer perfect bliss and peace.
The spirit is neither born nor does it die. Like a person passing from one room to another,
the soul passes from one plane of existence to another. In the period between death and rebirth,
the individual works out a certain portion of his Karmas in subtler spheres. At the appointed
time, the soul takes up a new body again.
The best means of ensuring peace for the departed is to do Kirtan, increase your Japa,
relieve other people’s distress by selfless service and charity, and do earnest prayer.
Do not try to commune with the departed soul of your husband. Communion with the
departed soul will stand in the way of its onward march to higher blissful regions and make it
earth-bound. Do not try to drag your husband down. It will disturb his peace. The spirit-guide
which controls the medium is ignorant and deceitful. It utters falsehood.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

Yes. All spirits do not possess the power of materialization. Only advanced spirits that
are endowed with psychic power are able to materialize. They take human form, sit in the chair
in the seance and shake hands with those who sit in the seance. They talk also. The touch is as
tangible and warm as that of a living human body. In a short time, the hand of the spirit melts
away. Photographs of the spirits also have been taken.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

His bewailings rent the clouds when Lakshmana fell down
on the ground in an unconscious state, being struck by the arrow of Indrajit. Why did
Rama, the Supreme Being, forget his real divine nature? He was sunk in the ocean of
sorrow at the ordeal of Sita. If Rama always knew his true Self, why did he grieve for the
loss of Sita?

The answer to this question is that verily Rama was the Supreme Self. He never moved
or did anything. He was never subject to joy or sorrow, birth or death, pleasure or pain.
But, throughout his life, Sri Rama behaved like an ordinary man only. He had to do that,
because Ravana had a boon that he could not be killed by Devas, Asuras, Rakshasas, Yakshas,
serpents, bears, etc. Ravana, in his pride, had belittled the strength of man and Ravana could be
killed only by a man. So Sri Rama had to show that he was an ordinary man only. Otherwise, if
Rama had exhibited himself to be a god, according to the boon of Brahma, he would have been
disqualified for destroying Ravana.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

What was the age of Lord Krishna at that time? Was He not a boy of seven? Can there
be a tinge of passion in Him? Who can understand the secret of Rasa Lila and Madhurya Bhav,
the culmination of the highest Bhakti, Atmanivedan or total surrender to the Lord? It is only
Narada, Suka Deva, Chaitanya, Mira, Hafiz, Ramananda and the Sakhis or Gopis that can
understand the secret of Rasa Lila. The Sakhis only are qualified for this. Did He not play
miracles when he was a boy? Did He not show that He was the Avatara of Lord Hari? Did He
not show Virat Darshan to His mother when He was a baby? Did He not kill the Kaliya serpent
by standing on its hood? Did He not multiply Himself as countless Krishnas? Who were the
Gopis? Were they not God-intoxicated beings who saw Krishna alone everywhere, who saw
themselves also as Krishna? The sound of the Murali could throw them into a state of divine
ecstasy or holy communion. They were above body consciousness.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

Even a Sannyasin should work in the political field. There is no necessity for a life of seclusion or
the order of Sannyas or Nivritti Marga. We want workers only.

This is a sad mistake. The Census Report is false. Beggars are included in the list of
Sannyasins and Sadhus. Real Sannyasins are rare. They can be counted on the finger-tips. A
real Sannyasin is the only mighty potentate of this earth. He never takes anything. He always
gives. It was Sannyasins only who did glorious sublime work in the past. It is Sannyasins only
who can work wonders in the present and in the future also. Sri Sankara’s name can never be
obliterated as long as the world lasts. It was Swami Dayananda, it was Swami Vivekananda, it
was Swami Rama Tirtha, it was Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who disseminated the sublime
teachings of the scriptures and preserved the Hindu religion. A Sannyasin alone can do any real
Lokasangraha, because he has divine knowledge, he is a whole-timed man. One real Sannyasin
can change the destiny of the whole world. It was one mighty Sankara who established the
doctrine of Kevala Advaita. He still lives in our hearts.
Paramahamsas lived on a few pieces of bread and in exchange moved from door to door
and spread the sublime teachings of Vedanta, the Upanishads, the Ramayana and the Bhagavata
throughout the length and breadth of India. The world is under a great debt of gratitude to them.
Their writings are still a guide to us. Study a few Slokas or verses of the Avadhuta Gita. You
will at once be raised to magnanimous heights of divine splendour and glory. You will become a
changed man. Depression, weakness, anxieties and tribulations will vanish at once.
Just as there are research scholars or post-graduate students in science, psychology,
biology and philosophy, there should be post-graduate Yogins and Sannyasins who will devote
their time to study and meditation, to research on Atma. These post-graduate Yogins will give to
the world their experiences and realizations in the field of religion. They will train students and
send them into the world for preaching.
It is the duty of householders, Zamindars, Rajas and Maharajas to look after the wants of
these Sannyasins. In turn, these Sannyasins will take care of their souls. Thus the wheel of the
world will revolve smoothly. There will be peace in the land.
Every religion has a band of anchorites who lead the life of seclusion and meditation.
There are Bhikshus in Buddhism, Fakirs in Mohammedanism, Sufistic Fakirs in Sufism, Fathers
and Reverends in Christianity. The glory of a religion will be lost absolutely if you remove these
hermits or Sannyasins or those who lead a life of renunciation and divine contemplation. It is
these people who maintain or preserve the religions of the world. It is these people who give
solace to the householders when the latter are in trouble and distress. They are the harbingers of
divine wisdom and peace. They are the messengers of Atmic knowledge. They are the
disseminators of the Adhyatmic science and the Upanishadic revelations. They heal the sick,
comfort the forlorn, nurse the bedridden. They bring hope to the hopeless, joy to the depressed,
strength to the weak and courage to the timid by imparting the knowledge of the Vedanta and the
significance of the “Tat Tvam Asi” Mahavakya.
Political Svarajya has been achieved; but can it give real lasting peace and freedom to
man? Can this political Svarajya eradicate human sufferings and ignorance in toto? Can this
political Svarajya solve the real problems of life? It can give a little more comfort to man. He
can have more butter, bread and jam. He will be still miserable and unhappy, because he is still
sunk in ignorance; he has no knowledge of the Self. Knowledge of the Self alone can give real
lasting happiness and abiding bliss. Atma Svarajya or realization of Atma or one’s own Self
alone can make a man really independent and immortal. Atma Svarajya alone can give him real
freedom, suzerainty and perfect satisfaction.
Even those who work in the political field should live in the spirit of the Gita and the
Upanishads. They should have ethical training, self-control, self-sacrifice, spiritual discipline
and understanding of their real nature before they enter the political field. They should practice
the three kinds of Tapas - physical, verbal and mental - mentioned in the Gita and the Yama and
Niyama of Patanjali Maharshi. They should clearly have a comprehensive understanding of the
immortality of the soul, the illusory nature of this world, the unity of Atma or oneness of
consciousness, oneness of life. They should understand that the whole world is one family only.
Then only they can really serve the country and their own selves.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

The astral body is the subtle body which is within this physical body like the bladder of a
football. It is an exact counterpart of the physical body. It is made up of the five organs of
action, the five organs of knowledge, the five Pranas, mind, intellect, Chitta or the subconscious
mind, and Ahankar or egoism. Some call it “the double”. It is this astral body that comes out of
the physical body after death and moves to heaven. Death of this astral body through the
knowledge of the Eternal frees one from the cycle of births and deaths.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

So long as Prana pulls up and Apana pulls down the life-forces, there is continuity of life.
But, the moment either of these becomes weaker, there is an exit of the life-force. If the Apana
gives way, then the Jiva will pass out of the body through either the head or the nose or the ear or
the mouth. If the Prana gives way, then it will pass out of the body through the anus.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

We should keep up the progeny of the line. If all people become Sannyasins and go to forests, what will
become of this world?
These beautiful women and wealth are the instruments of Maya to delude you and entrap
you into the nets. If you wish to remain always as a worldly man with low thoughts, debasing
desires, you can by all means do so. You are at perfect liberty. You can marry three hundred and
fifty wives and procreate as many children. Nobody can check you. But you will soon find that
this world cannot give you the satisfaction you want, because all objects are conditioned in time,
space and causation. There are death, disease, old age, cares, worries and anxieties, fear, loss,
disappointment, failure, heat, cold, snake-bites, scorpion-stings, abuse, earthquakes, accidents,
etc. You cannot at all find rest of mind even for a single second. As your mind is filled with
passion and impurity, your understanding is clouded and your intellect is perverted now. You are
not able to understand the illusory nature of the universe and the everlasting bliss of Atma.
Passion can be effectively checked. There are potent methods. After checking passion,
you will enjoy real bliss from within - from Atma.
All men cannot become Sannyasins. They have various ties and attachments. They are
passionate and cannot, therefore, leave the world. They are pinned to their wives, children and
property. Your proposition is wholly wrong. It is Asambhava, impossible. Have you ever heard
in the annals of the world’s history that this world had become vacant as all men had become
Sannyasins? Then, why do you bring in this absurd proposition? This is an ingenious trick of
your mind to support your foolish arguments and Satanic philosophy which has passion and
sexual gratification as its important tenets. Do not talk like this in future. This exposes your
foolishness and passion-nature. Do not bother yourself about this world. Mind your own
business. God is all-powerful. Even if this world is completely evacuated when all people retire
to forests, God will immediately create crores of people by mere willing, within the twinkling of
an eye. This is not your look-out. Find out methods to eradicate your passion.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

Jivatman is the individual soul, a reflection of Brahman in Avidya or the mind.
Paramatman is the Supreme Soul, Brahman or the Atman. From the empirical viewpoint, the
Jivatman is a finite and conditioned being, while the Paramatman is the infinite, eternal, Sat-chitananda
Brahman. In essence, the Jivatman is identical with Paramatman when Avidya is
destroyed.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

clear and there comes some difficulty in doing Pranayam. What shall I do to make the breath flow freely?

Insert the end of a thread into the nostril. You will begin to sneeze. This will clear the
passage. Or lie down for five minutes on the left side if the right nostril is clogged. This also
will relieve. Do four rounds of Bhastrika Pranayam. You will be all right.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

My wife too is a pious lady. Suppose
I take Sannyasa, can I live with her and do spiritual Sadhana?

Now you are not fit for Sannyasa, though you might have a minute trace of Vairagya due
to the death of your child. After Sannyasa, you should not live with your wife. You should not
remain even in your own place, as Moha will be lurking in a corner of your mind. Old worldly
Samskaras will be ever waiting to dupe you. Maya is powerful. You will have to spend all your
energy in waging a guerilla war against old Samskaras and temptations. You will have no energy
for spiritual practices. Though you may think that you possess a high degree of Vairagya and that
your wife also is pious, yet you should be far away from her. You should not even think of her.
That is real Sannyasa. What is the meaning of taking Sannyasa and living with your wife and
children? How can you destroy Moha, worldly Samskaras and Vasanas?

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda

The practice of Sirshasan for a long time will doubtless help you a lot in destroying your
passion. Your thoughts also should be pure. You should not entertain any lustful thought. Have
Satsang. Take Sattvic food. Do not look at ladies. Develop Vairagya. Control the Indriyas. All
these instructions should be followed if you want sure success. If you happen to entertain lustful
thoughts, if you live in the company of lustful persons, and if you do not take Sattvic food, how
can you destroy your passion even if you practice Sirshasan for a full three hours?

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda