Questions:

I often get frustrated without any cause. What can be done to deal with it?

Vineetaji,there is nothing in this world, that is without cause. More often than not, cause of frustration is always within ourselves, outer circumstances work only as trigger.Like any any other mental discomfort, we should deal frustration on two levels: on psychological level and on spiritual level. On psychological level, try to identify and analyse your unconscious aspirations and emotional needs.Either satisfy them or try to weed them out logically.On spiritual level, prayer is very helpful for this type of frustration. Apart from this, whenever you feel the spurt of frustration, try to witness it and make a conscious effort to concentrate on your breath. This will certainly help you in overcoming your frustration.

 

Can I do japa while walking?

Yes, you can practice japa while walking. But there are few points to be considered while taking up this practice. Only NISHKAAM japa can be practiced in this way. Preferebly, one should practice only his/her gurumantra this way. Any japa, for the purpose of purashcharan or anushthan can not be practiced this way.

 

What is the difference between prayer and contemplation?Is there any contradiction between them?

Meditation, contemplation and prayer are simply three different processes, but there is no conflict between them. All three can be used by sadhak.In prayer; person tries to make direct contact with supreme power and thus purifies his/her soul. In contemplation, he uses his conscious mind to examine and consider some principal or concept. Then he/she allows his/her mind to assimilate the concept by considering how it can be applied in daily life.

 

I feel more intensity in my practice on some days than the rest. What do I do to mailtain it?Secondly, even intensity of the desire for self realisation varies,at least it seems to.On some days I'm fully aware of that,and on others I'm not.What should I do?

Dear seeker dry patches during sadhna are a phenomenon that always bothers Sadhaks. All of us have two kinds of samskaras, one of which are beckoning us towards the ultimate goal, while the others are pulling us towards the world. So when the intensity of spiritual samskaras seems decreased, it is due to the surge of worldly samskaras of previous life. It is not the weakening of intensity of desire. When clouds cover the sun, it is not the weakening of the sun. Within a short time clouds disperse and the sun shines with its full blaze. What we can do during this period is that we should continue with our practices, and gradually the intensity as well as the frequency of the dry patches decreases.

 

How can I love Lord Krishna?

Dear friend Shiv, you are very fortunate that you have been blessed with the desire to love Lord. Seed of love to God is always in your heart. Now to nurture this seed, you should remember Him through bhajan and kirtan. Chanting opens the heart chakra, which is supposed to be the centre of Bhakti. Swadhyay and Satsang are also two very useful tools. Therefore try to stay as much as possible in the company of spiritual people, and read scriptures. Avoid being in the company of worldly people, and contact with anything that might pull you further into the material world