Q: There are some people who say that guruji will take care of everything. Anyway, the one has planted will also water. What is your suggestion to such people?

A: We have lost so many things with this attitude. Our country has lost its wealth and yoga because of this. Self effort and grace both are required. Suppose I say that you will get light if you open the door. If you open the door in night and then say there is no light is it correct interpretation? Light comes only during the day and only through the sun. If you keep the door closed during the day, then light cannot reach you. You opening the door is self effort and the light coming in is grace. So both of them are required.

Q: There are some situations that bribing becomes essential because it involves very basic and necessary things in life. Please advise me on what to do.

A: You need courage to stand by the truth. You have to face some tough situations if you go by the truth. If you pray and meditate daily, such situations will not occur. Our ashram has taken a stand that we will stand by the truth. We have taken a firm step against corruption. If lots of people like you also take a stand, then sooner they will have no choice. Of course, because of our policy, we have gone through lot of deals either in acquiring land or getting some approval. But we have chosen to wait. This is very much possible for a spiritual organization. But in a business perspective, a couple of months can topple the whole business. If you take a firm step against corruption I will appreciate it. Otherwise, I will understand. In any situation, you have to evaluate the pros and cons and take a decision accordingly. If something important has to be done and all it takes is a hundred rupee, I say it is better to give it off rather than go through the drama.

Q: what is the reason behind your beard? It appears to me after seeing you, that only people having beard can attain knowledge. Can you explain?

A: There is nothing like that. Everyone can attain knowledge. I am sporting because it is like a uniform for us. Otherwise, there is nothing. You can consider the hair to be an antenna and this beard to be an earthing. Around 25-30 years back I was in Delhi. At that time lot of people use to come to see me. They used to ask people where guruji is and some of them have asked me also the same question. When I told them that I am the one they are looking for, they almost lost all their enthusiasm and suddenly became sad. I was very young at that time. Just to look a lit older, I started growing this beard. After that, I just became lazy and am continuing with that. I don’t know why the swamijis are having beard and he looked at swami sadyojatah. You better ask them why they are having …. (Loads of laughter)

Q: Some question related to seva (Could not hear the question)

A: when you are doing something for others, nature will help you. He narrated his experience. I was in Germany some years back and people from Russia wanted me to come there. I too agreed and they organized a program. The program was on Monday. It was Friday or Saturday and I was still in Germany. I still did not have the visa for Russia. Those days, getting a visa was really tough and it will take couple of weeks for it. I just decided to go to Russia with out a visa. I landed in Moscow airport without a visa. On seeing my passport, they said that I have to go back. I told them that nearly 6000 people are waiting outside the airport for me. Do you really want me to go back without meeting them? The officer said that it is not possible to get in but he will just see if he can do something. I was smiling and relaxed along with the people who came with me. He came back and said I can’t give you the visa and it is not possible. As he was saying NO NO he stamped my passport! When you are doing something for others, nature will help you

Q: I went to the divine shop. There are lots of your photos and I could not choose. I am confused. Can you please help to choose one?

A: Take a mirror. It gives you the true picture. If you see yourself in the mirror, you smile. You can’t frown if you are seeing yourself in the mirror. There is nice tradition that they follow here in Karnataka during marriages. People from the girl’s side receive the people from the boy’s side. They receive them with a kalasam (a container of water with coconut covering the mouth + flowers on top + …) and a mirror behind the kalasam. Nobody knew the reason for these things. I was pondering on this and I struck me. The reason is that if the mirror is shown to you, irrespective of your mood you have to smile. So I found the reason