Sivananda Yoga FAQ

Q 1:  The Bhagavad Gita touches on many subjects which are useful to an aspirant seeking God-Knowledge, but strangely enough, it omits to mention anything about the purpose behind Creation. Why did God embark on Creation at all?

A: The Lord’s silence, in the Bhadavad Gita, about the purpose of Creation, is truly a demonstration of His divine wisdom. This very same problem arises in various minds in various forms. How did Avidya arise in Brahman? When did Karma begin? Why did the Formless assume forms? How could darkness or Maya exist in the Supreme Absolute Light? And so on. There can be no answer to these questions. It involves the understanding of the Ultimate Principle, the Intelligence that is behind and beyond these questions, the Cause of all causes, the Subject of all objects. It cannot be known as an object. And, when the subject (Self or Atman) knows Itself, speech and thought cease. The questioner and question vanish in the quest. The doubt disappears in the doubter. In that Supreme Silence, the problem is inexpressibly solved! The riddle is solved; but speech is baffled and the question remains unanswerable. Therefore, the Lord is silent about the transcendental question in the Gita; but, such is the divine wisdom of the Almighty that He gives ways and means of solving the problem. Don’t bother about why creation came into being, but try to know the Creator! Take creation for what it is and try to transcend it. This is wisdom. Trying to probe intellectually into the mystery is only buying psychological distress. There is no ‘Why?’ in respect of transcendental matters. ‘Why?’ is only for worldly things. Reason is finite and frail. God only knows the ‘Why?’. Realize the Self. Then you will get the answer. Then you will know the origin and nature of Maya and everything.

Q 2: Are there fulfilled prophecies in the Hindu scriptures?

A: The Lord has given His ever-standing promise that He would appear on earth whenever there is a danger to Dharma, whenever Adharma tries to vanquish Dharma. To fulfill that promise He has appeared many times in the form of saints and sages who have protected Dharma from decay and from the onslaughts of foreign oppression. They have instilled new elements of vigour and perspective in Hinduism. Therefore, Hinduism continues to flourish. Whenever there is a necessity, saints and sages will emerge, not from the heavens, but from among the people themselves. Hinduism does not believe exclusively in one prophet. The prophecies given in the Puranas about the state of affairs to come have also proved true.

Q 3: What is the difference between Jivanmukti and Videhamukti? As long as the body lasts how can there be Videhamukti?

A: Jivanmukti itself is Videhamukti, but there is slight difference. In a Jivanmukta there is Svarupasana of the mind. In him Rajas and Tamas are destroyed, but the Sattvic frame of mind remains. It is on account of this Sattvic mind a Jivanmukta is able to do Lokasangraha. In Videhamukti there is destruction of the mind without form. Even Sattva is not there in him. So he cannot do any Lokasangraha.

Knowledge reveals itself. It is not taught. – Sri Swami Sivananda