Living in the Present Moment
An Interview with Amma
Question: Can the future be known?
Yes, but astrology can help one only as long as one is in the plane
of body and mind as it is based on the 'karma kanda' of Vedas. Astrology
is more of an experience. I have met millions across the globe and
know their experiences, and when compared with the birth time, it
tallies well. You can find both kings and beggars born in the same
star, it is the time that makes the difference. A child born in
Mumbai and Pune at the same time are different-direction and other
subtle factors make a big difference.
Question: What is the goal of life and how does one find
it?
The real goal of life is to be in the present moment. When constructing
a bridge you must be there, not after that. What we really need
to find in life is to lead a peaceful life without harming others.
Unfortunately most people have an attitude of 'taking' - they do
not want to give. Just like keeping a handful of seeds in the hand
without sowing them will not result in a tree coming up on its own.
Question: People are confused by so many gurus. How can
one know whether a guru is right?
Even if gurus are doing little good, let it happen. It is for you
to find them. If you inhale and exhale very fast you will get some
experience-a 'kick'. For instance, if you climb a mountain you get
tired-you experience being 'spaced out'. You may think that you
are in a world beyond, but that's not true spiritual experience.
Spiritual experience is inner attainment reflected as maturity in
thoughts and actions. It happens within-it is a subject change.
It depends on how you can face life and challenges and how much
transformation takes place. This does not mean that all my followers
have attained purity. I train disciples to remove their egos and
they will attain maturity.
Question: How does one find happiness in life? Can one
attain it without a guru?
Reading about the lives and teaching of great masters helps us
to a certain degree. All humans haves the precious stone of spirituality
within them, but it is immersed in oil and that is why it needs
to be rubbed using suitable spiritual practices. Spiritual practices
are like a tonic-taking two spoons instead of five is harmful. Step
by step methods are important in spiritual fields. Bookish knowledge
is dangerous. It's like driving by looking at a map-you do not know
the perils awaiting you. Spirituality is life-there is no difference
between the two. Time is not predictable; some scientists are lucky
to get results fast. Even 'pranayam' is not something, which can
be instructed to everyone-as each person has different maturity
and constitution. In olden times true masters would put disciples
through different tests, like putting grass under their nose to
see how they breathe. Then, according to the flow of breath they
would advise. It can be very dangerous to advise the same method
to everyone. Simple meditation techniques are okay. Just focusing
on your normal breathing will help a lot in attaining concentration.
Question: Do you foresee a war with Pakistan? How long
can we keep quiet?
Dharma of a nation is that of a teacher. We should not jump to
conclusions, we need to have patience, but a nation needs security.
If our house is on fire you have to extinguish the fire. As far
as we can, we must have patience, we may save many innocent lives
on both sides. But they have eaten us a lot on account of our patience.
It is definitely time to be alert and not to sleep.
Question: Nowadays relationships are under tremendous pressure
and are collapsing.
It is due to imitating western culture. In the west parents do
not support children after sixteen years even if they are millionaires.
But in India there is a strong between family members-even grown
up children are supported by parents if they are jobless.
There are a number of good things in the west, but we don't follow
the good side. We pick only what they reject, which is why we are
losing values. It is because we do not respect our culture. In the
west, they are well disciplined in work-we don't follow that.
Now there is a sudden increase in mental depression and illnesses
despite economic freedom, there is no contentment and happiness.
We should have fun in life, but 'samskara' is important, that's
what makes life a celebration.
The solution is to respect our elders and value system. Certain
degree of freedom is good. Being dominating will create friction
and problems, it is not a healthy approach. Parents need to give
children love and affection at proper times.
Question: What is the role of karma? If everything is fated,
then what is the way to break the karmic chain?
Fate is the end result of action; it's we who have desired it,
not somebody else. Our actions created destiny. God doesn't create
anyone blind without reason. Even people who know that indiscriminate
actions are dangerous are prompted to act indiscriminately. Like
a drunkard knows it's bad for health, but he still drinks. Mere
understanding alone doesn't help. To get out of the intense karmic
chain, one needs awareness. To be in the present is very important.
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