In the earlier post, we saw what part of me survives death and what doesn’t. That raises an obvious question—what happens afterwards? Where do I go? What do the books say—and does it make sense?

What really dies when I die? Does anything of me survive death? Where does this surviving part of me go? What does my future look like after I die? Many questions, but are there any definitive answers? Is there a way to think that may help me deal with the reality of death?

Among all the uncertainties of life, there is only one thing absolutely certain—and that is, we will die one day. We plan for many things that may or may not happen. Do we have a plan for our eventual death? A death without any preparation can be a disaster. With preparation and planning, it becomes an art, which transforms the inevitable into an opportunity to be wise and free.

The only permanent solution to the problem of suffering is to get rid of the ego once and for all. Good luck doing that!—as it is easier said than done. Since it is so tough to get rid of the ego, Sri Ramakrishna’s practical advice was: “Let the rascal be God’s servant.”

The phrase, “the razor’s edge” (kṣurasya dhārā), in the Kaṭha Upaniṣad (1.3.14), refers to the difficult and perilous path to the supreme Reality. The subtle obstacles that lie on the way are beautifully illustrated in a story of the sage Nārada.

“Desire, ignorance and inequality,” Vivekananda said, “is the trinity of bondage.” What does this mean? How did it all start? How will it end?

We visit a temple to have darśan and we stand before the altar to see the Deity. Are we aware of the fact that the Deity is seeing us too? In fact, God is seeing us everywhere, all the time, even when we are not even thinking about God. If I make it a habit to always remember that “God is seeing me”—how will that change my life?

What is the third eye? Where is it located? What does it do that our two eyes don’t? Should I try to get one? (Don’t try Amazon, unless you are looking for a bunch of New Agey books on the subject.) It is time to take the mystery out of the third eye.

2022 is here. 2021 is gone. From where has the new year come? Where did the old year go? How long would it take for the new year to be no longer new? Can anything be done to stop it from getting old? Is there a way to keep it new all the time?

What is the role of joy and sorrow in life? Is it possible to eliminate sorrow altogether and be eternally immersed in joy? In plain, simple words, the question is: how can I be truly happy all the time?

What is the role of relationships in our lives? Why are some relationships happy and fulfilling, and some others not? How to build a successful relationship that ensures mutual happiness and growth? Have relationships anything to do with spiritual life?

Hospitality is not just about food. Even a kind word or a smile or a friendly nod goes a long way. If God is in everyone and in everything, what excuse do I have to be nasty to others? If I want to change my life for the better, all I need to remember is that, no matter in which direction I look, I am seeing God and no one else.

"Strength is life, weakness is death," said Swami Vivekananda. What kind of strength was he referring to? What does the Gita say about strength? What role does strength play in spiritual life?

Are the four puruṣārthas—moral living (dharma), wealth (artha), pleasure (kāma), and freedom (mokṣa)—”goals” that are mandated in the Hindu tradition? Or is each of them only a possible means to happiness?

When does service become sacred? How does serving others become a spiritual practice? Who is the one who serves and to whom is service offered? If ultimately everything is really one, what purpose is served by service?

The more we do our duty because we want to do it—not because somebody is compelling us to do it—the more freedom we experience. A slave’s work gives no joy. The work we do must be out of freedom. The slave is bound. It is the master’s work that the slave does. The work must become ours, not someone else’s.

Most of us have faced situations in life when we are confused and unsure about how to proceed. We have wondered: “What is my duty in these circumstances?” Often we just muddle through the confusion and use whatever justifications the mind can think up to determine the best course of action. What if we yearned for scriptural guidance in this matter? Do our ancient books have any useful insights that may help us figure out what our duty is?

No one is going to hold it against us if we are disappointed with the world. Life was messy even before the pandemic, but now it’s gotten messier still. While we try to figure out the best way to deal with our disappointments, it is helpful to remember that disappointments have the potential to kickstart a serious pursuit of spiritual life.

If someone tells me, “You are stupid,” I hear the sound, I understand what those words mean, and I hear this person tell me, “You are stupid.” That’s the ordinary type of hearing. But then, almost immediately, I also hear this inside me: “How dare you?” Or “Me, stupid? You moron, you are stupid.” Or, “Why do people think I am stupid? I am not stupid.” …

Every case of sickness or hospitalization or death is affecting a family, often devastatingly. Every job that is lost and every business that is shuttered is changing lives, often unalterably. It is essential to remind ourselves of this whenever we get lost in the web of statistical data. How can we retain our sensitivity even when no one personally known to us has been affected adversely?

Who was Jesus? It is difficult to know, not because the question cannot be answered but because the question can be answered in many different ways—and every way may point to the truth which is beyond words. Here is one possible way to understand Jesus and his life-giving words.