A. 1. In self-awakening and in serving others.
Q. 2. What is meant by self-awakening?
A. 2. Become spiritually aware of one's oneness with the universe and feeling an intense love for all.
Q. 3. Why must we love others?
A. 3. You cannot help doing so because all are so many manifestations of your Self.
Q. 4. Why must we serve others at all?
A. 4. Because a life of service is a life of work well done with a higher objective of Self-realization and world-maintenance. Else, work is merely a pursuit of narrow self-interest that neither gives satisfaction nor peace.
Q. 5. What should be our attitude towards monks?
A. 5. Veneration and obedience of their spiritual instructions. We should seek their association and serve them in whatever way we can. We should also serve them by giving financial assistance in their social-welfare projects. We should absorb spiritual vibrations from them and activate our spiritual life.
Q. 6. What should be our attitude to work?
A. 6. We should work moderately everyday and in a detached manner with the aim of attaining mental purification. Work should be performed in a worshipful spirit for Self-realization and world-maintenance. We should exert our utmost towards executing the job at hand efficiently but must surrender the fruit of the work to the Lord or simply dissociate ourselves from it by force of will. We should engage in socially beneficial activity in a spirit of service and ever strive to sublimate action to adoration of the Lord that resides in all.
Q. 7. Is there rebirth?
A. 7. Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism have rebirth as a cardinal principle of the Law of Karma which is common to all three religions. This birth is evident but past and future births we are unaware of in general. It is up to the individual to repose faith in rebirth or not to do so. However, till one has the actual experience of the memory of past lives, doubt will dwell in one's mind. So, it is practically unwise to attach too much importance to such speculations and it is wiser to build one's spiritual life here and now.
Q. 8. Has God created the universe?
A. 8. The Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) holds the view that phenomena is beginningless and endless. So, there has never been a starting point to the universe and hence, there never has been creation of it as such. So, the question of a Creator God doing the job of creation simply does not arise. However, the Abrahamic religions assert that God created the universe but cannot prove the same using rational rigour.
Q. 9. Is religion a force for good or is it a force for evil?
A. 9. Fanaticism of monotheistic religions is evil but, surely, Hinduism with its universal approach to reality and its pluralistic culture is a force for good. The inner life of the Spirit that religion stresses on is a force for good but the outer dissensions of religions which are politically motivated are malicious. Religious conversion through inducement, force and propaganda is evil but religious contemplation is surely good. The unscientific attitude of Abrahamic religions and the indoctrinations they subject their adherents is evil but the rationality and catholicity of the Vedanta is assuredly the most enlightening element of spiritual culture. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism are largely benign and enlightening religions.
Q. 10. Should children be taught religion?
A. 10. Never. Children must be allowed to grow up learning basic techniques of concentration and meditation but not a word of irrational faith must be taught them nor must they be indoctrinated in absolutist scriptural instructions. Children are the future of humanity and their minds must be protected from all forms of nefarious religious instructions that have no basis in evidential truth or rational rigour. Then only may they grow up into vigorous souls possessed of the capacity of unravelling truth for themselves in much the same way as scientists do, be they of matter or of the Spirit.
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