The question asked here was- Is it ok if one is spiritual but not religious? Om Swami says that a person who is religious believes in the power of an almighty, who is controlling certain things which they have no control over and to which they wish to be surrendered. A person who is spiritual may or may not believe in the existence of god but believes in living a life doing good deeds for their family, themselves and humanity. He says if a person’s nature is spiritual then somewhere they are...

This discourse is in continuation of the question - Who were the sapta chiranjeevi or the immortal seven? [The True Meaning of Being Immortal] Om Swami says that the soul is immortal and therefore he feels that everyone is a chiranjeevi. He says that when one embraces old age gracefully and is at peace and has taken care of himself or herself physically, emotionally and spiritually through their lives, they then age beautifully and they also will have less probability of contracting the...

This is the second part to the question - Importance of Practice in sadhana(spiritual practice). Om a swami says that everything depends on what one wants. If one wants yog samadhi then they have to learn to meditate well. If they want to walk the path of devotion then they have to learn to practice devotion. If one wants to walk the path of knowledge then they need to introspect on the real truth of who they really are and the truth regarding this world. The path of introspection has been...

The question asked here was - Who were the sapta(seven) chiranjeeve or the immortal seven? Om Swami says that he feels that one should aim for the highest like Sri Hari or mother Divine or any other god one prays to. The rest is immaterial he says. Om Swami says that it is impossible to have a human body and be immortal as the human body is subject to the laws of nature and so will deteriorate and decay. The soul lives on and is immortal and is the centre of one’s world. If one focuses on...

The question asked here was- Is fitness necessary for a person wanting to do sadhana(spiritual practice)? Is devotion then a way for a householder? Om Swami says that it all depends on what a person wants. Giving the example of a competitive runner he says that if a runner has an aim of accomplishing his or her task within a time frame then he or she needs to prepare and train their body and mind accordingly. If they do not do that, they will be unable to accomplish what they set out to do....

In this discourse, Om Swami has spoken on two things. The first part of the discourse is on turning inwards. Om Swami says that one needs to turn inward to discover the self-sufficiency within themselves, without looking for it in the outside world constantly to feel fulfilled. To go within is to look at oneself for answers and to know that one is responsible for their own thoughts, actions and feelings, he says. The second part of the discourse was on- If solitude was necessary to turn...

Two questions have been answered by Om Swami in this discourse. The first question asked was- Ma Janaki has been given different versions in different languages and in scriptures like Ram charit Manas and in some other scriptures too. What is the real truth about the birth of Goddess Sita? Om Swami says that Ma Janaki was king Janak’s daughter. He further says that there are two ways of seeing things. Either we believe that the scriptures are true or we think that it is fictional. In both...

This is the second part to the question- What is the difference between aatma (soul) and paramatma (supreme soul) and if we have two entities in our body? Om Swami says that there is only one supreme soul which has always been, and, which will always be there. He states, if wisdom is being sought and one wants to grow spiritually then one must have the courage to question, validate and then accept things on their own. If not, they would be constantly shifting from one belief system to...

Two questions have been answered in this discourse. The first question asked was- How to control negative thoughts and excessive thinking? Om Swami says that as rightly asked in the question, these thoughts can be decreased but cannot be stopped completely. He says that according to his observation, women suffer more from it than men. A woman is usually lost in her world of dreams looking for love or wanting to belong to someone. This could probably be due to evolution, as she being the...

The question asked here was- What is the difference between aatma (soul) and paramatma (supreme soul) and if we have two entities in our body? Om Swami says that there is no difference between aatma and paramatma but if by aatma one means the jeevatma then there is a subtle difference. Jeevatma is an embodied soul and Paramatma is the supreme soul which in reality means the liberated soul. He says that the jeevatma is like the water flowing, contained by the banks but a paramatma is like the...

The question asked here was- What is the meaning of the word Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which is mentioned in our Upanishads and Puranas? For, we first give importance to our family and then to the extended family and only after that comes the society. Om Swami says that if one has to set an example in the society, then they have to place the welfare of the society before anything or anyone, just like shri Ram did. Shri Ram put society before his own family and did the best for that yuga. Shri...

In this discourse, two questions have been answered by Om Swami. The first question asked was- As killing is considered bad, is it wrong to kill insects and other bugs which enter our home? Om Swami says that according to him if one is living in the city and insects enter one’s home then they should take measures to keep them out, in whichever way, for if not then they will cause an infestation which is a big problem. The second question asked was- Is it ok to tell someone who is eating...

This is the second part to the question- Why can't there be just one form that we worship or on which we meditate, instead of three different forms, like, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh(Shiva)? Om Swami says that if a person after concluding one deity’s worship, starts the worship of another deity, then they should just remember that they are not praying to another deity, but to another form with a different sentiment. He says, maybe only when grace showers will a person start to see the unity...

The question asked here was-Though intellectually we may know that the same divine lives in everybody, still we feel a difference. How can one realize that we are all the same and feel a sense of oneness even in the face of conflict? Does it require cleansing, does it take time, or is it a process of evolution? Om Swami says that the only to feel that way is to practice compassion and to work continuously on oneself. If one can be thoughtful not to hurt others with their unkind words then...

The question asked here was- Why can’t there be just one form that we worship or on which we meditate, instead of three different forms, like, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh? Om Swami says that the question of one god was never a question of Sanatan dharma. For, in Sanatan dharma, puja and worship was towards the elders and ancestors first. According to the shastras, Shankaracharya, Vyaas, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, are not permanent. The chair always remained the same, but the person occupying it...

This discourse is in continuation of the question related to Nath yogis. This is the second part to it. Om Swami says that there are two non-negotiable rules that the Nath yogis follow. The first one is the wearing of kundalas or ear rings. These ear rings are made of mud and are baked. The Nath yogis are supposed to wear it at all times, even while sleeping, bathing etc. It called for acute mindfulness as otherwise the kundalas could break, which would then be considered a compromised...

The question asked here was- Why do people want moksha? Is the time between death and a new life very painful? When with a new life a new body is received and all past is not remembered then why do people still look for moksh(liberation)? Om Swami says that people who want moksh have understood that there is no real meaning in life, as, one has to take on so many hardships to keep themselves and others happy. A person advancing on the spiritual path, will realise this truth and start...

The question asked here was- If Om Swami could talk about the Nath yogis who come across as very kind and at times very short-tempered. Om Swami says that since part of his lineage is linked to the Nath parampara (lineage), he can shed light on it. Matsyendranath, who is considered the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, started the Nath parampara. Gorakshnath (the result from the holy ash given to a woman by Matsyendranath )came out of the compost pit as a twelve-year-old. He was trained under...

In this discourse, Om Swami says that a person can hide their misdeeds from others surely, but cannot hide it from their own inner mind. For, our mind is our constant companion and one cannot run away from it. Only a very elevated person can look into the mirror, observe their flaws and say that they have to work on them. While leading their lives, the more a person is truthful with their conduct, the faster will their progress be on the spiritual path. Listen to the full discourse to get...

In this discourse, two questions have been answered by Om Swami. The first question asked was- Is there a difference between believing in someone and simply following that person? Om Swami says that there is a big difference between believing someone and believing in someone. When one believes somebody they follow them but it’s more at a surface level and is a material concept. But when one believes in somebody it is a given that they follow him or her but more than that it means that they...

The question asked here was- How to deal with difficult times in life? How can a person get over bad times when they are unable to even pray or contemplate? Om Swami says that in life one should live their bad times just like they would live their good times. Whether it is good or bad times they are phases in one’s life and one should not differentiate between them. Usually, when good times are on, people tend to feel that it is their own doing, but when bad times come they feel it is due to...

The question asked here was- How to break the conditioning of the mind? Om Swami says that to break the conditioning, is a process and it’s a painful process. To start with conditioning has to be replaced and a mind in progress needs to be filled with something. He says there is no strength in negating everything but true strength is in being able to look at oneself and see where they are wrong. Om Swami says that if a person is happy with their conditioning then they should be left as they...

The question asked here was - How can a householder balance between worship, his householder’s duties and happiness, all together? Om Swami says that if a person irrespective of whether he/she is a householder, celibate or a renunciate, understands to do his/her duty like a sadhana (disciplined surrender) then they will not be unhappy. He says that there are three reasons as to why a person feels sad and disgruntled. One is that they have something or someone in their lives that they don’t...

In this discourse, two questions are answered. The first question is the second part to the question - Why did creation take place? What was the need for it? Om Swami says that when one understands that everything is presided by God and that the whole universe resides in him then there will be no sorrow in their life. They may feel pain sometimes but their hearts and mind will be filled with happiness and peace. Just like creepers climb a wall and spread totally covering everything,...

The question asked here was- Why Was the Universe Created? What was the need for it? Om Swami says that there is no answer to this question as it is beyond comprehension. It is only humans who think of needs and they do not go beyond their desires and needs throughout their lives. Whenever their desires are complete they go to sleep and they get up again when they have the need to fulfill them. He says God does not need anything and the question as to why he created this universe cannot have...