An Interview, which appeared in the 12/2003 issue of the DOTEK spiritual magazine in Czech

An Interview, which appeared in the 12/2003 issue of the DOTEK spiritual magazine in Czech

 

the questions were posed by Josef Stastny a Jiri Skuba

 

S:     What brought you to Prague in the Czech Republic?

B: The Self.

S: Do you or did you have a regular job?

B: I was a schoolteacher. Now I am retired.

S: Do you have a family life?

B: Yes. I have a wife, three daughters and a son.

S: How was your spiritual journey to Self realization?

B: I gave up my desires and surrendered heartfully.

S: Did you have a guru? If so, at what age did you meet him?

B: Yes. I have a guru. Guru may be with or without body. My guru is Ramana Maharshi.

When I was 27 I got his grace.

S: In your discourses you mention the Indian guru Ramana Maharshi. Why him in particular?

B: I have always peace by Ramana Maharshi. Further I recognized that all realized souls are the same. Enquiring „Who Am I“ removes the ego directly.

S: Could you describe the main point of your teaching? (the short path)

B: Be in peace always. Enquire „Who Am I?“

S: Also the position of this method within the system of known spiritual methods?

B: This is the direct method for removing the ego.

S: How, when and for whom is this way of realisation suitable?

B: This way is suitable at the time of no tendencies. It is suitable for peaceful people.

S: Why is it necessary to go on a spiritual journey?

B: To have always peace.

S: Isn’t it enough to only be a good person according to widely accepted rules?

B: Good is a creation of the ego. Only God knows good.

S: Is it possible to combine this path together with basically positive human traits – love towards another person, wife and children and admiration for the beauty of nature?

B: It is possible by peace only. Peace is real love.

S: It seems as if in Europe there is an increasing need for spiritual life and an increasing search for spiritual paths other than the ones that the established churches offer. Is it only a reaction to the heartless lifestyle of the consumer society or is there more to it?

B: God knows everything. Salvation is possible to all.

S: Most practicing beginners must actually by their ego get rid of their illusionary existence. How can this be achieved?

B: Grace removes the ego. One who practises – he has grace. Without grace he would never practice. You cannot understand grace by your ego.

S: In the Czech Republic we have a saying that a fish will not drain its own tank. Isn’t this the case?

B: It is not possible to remove ego by ego.

S: Why isn’t man more perfect right away? Why must he suffer so much?

B: Due to tendencies and desires.

S: The European spiritual tradition speaks of the lost paradise out of which Adam and Eve were expelled after commiting the hereditary sin. What do you think actually happened in paradise and what was it that man lost at that time?

B: Ego arose with body identification. They lost God consciousness immediately. Since then they lived with ego always. So ego never knows paradise.

S: It seems that in countries like India even the poor people are happier than people in Europe who have material security. What is your explanation of this?

B: All Indians trust God. They consider even poverty to be God’s gift.

S: Can the karma burden or destiny be transferred also to whole nations or does it apply only to individual people and their destinies?

B: God is ruling everything according to karma. Both people and country.

S: Is it possible to compare the attitude of disciples or devotees in India to devotees in other countries and in the Czech Republic?

B: Indian people give preference to the non-material. People in other countries give preference to material things.

S: Do you sometimes feel sad or angry? If so, what do you do?

B: Sadness or anger are to the mind only. Inside there is no attachment.

 

If any person has attachment to those feelings – immediately question „Who Am I?“.

S: What is the purpose of human life?

B: Self realisation, or in other words – always peace.

S: It is said that God sees all. Is he actually looking at us or rather through us, meaning utilizing us for seeing? But then we wouldn’t be God’s instruments but God himself. What do you say to that?

B: Yes, he sees all.

S: What is religion in your opinion?

B: Religion is only to the mind, but the mind is not religion.

S: Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to work on themselves under the guidance of a true guru, meaning a fully realized person. One can even say, that there is only a handfull of lucky onces who meet a guru in their lives. Do you have advice for the other ones?

B: The advice is – everyone can know guru. It takes time.

S: Concerning books – would you recommend some to those who are beginning to feel unsatisfied with themselves and with the common values of the consumer society?

B: It is better to read the Bhagavadgita.

S: What could solve the military conflicts in the world? Do you think it is possible to stop man’s destruction of nature, which threatens life on earth?

B: By the understanding of selfishness.

S: What is your impression of the people in our country? Did you take a walk around Praha?

B: I didn’t meet many people. I walked in a few streets.

S: Do you know some personality in Czech history, or some contemporary one, who caught your interest – coming from culture, science or politics etc.?

B: No.

S: We suppose you, being a native of India, are a Hindu. Is this correct?

B: Yes, I’m a Hindu.

S: What value do you give to the performing of religious rituals?

B: Rituals are important.

S: What would you recommend to us who don’t understand your teaching and who would like to understand it better?

B: Be peaceful.

S: What actually is meditation? Many people say that they meditate, but it maybe isn’t so, maybe they are dreaming, or are trying for something.

B: Actual meditation is the removing of all thoughts.

S: Do you recommend some particular position for meditation?

B: Easy position.

S: How much time daily is needed for meditation in your opinion?

B: Until having peace meditation is needed.

S: Why are we afraid of death?

B: Due to our body identification.

S: What is death?

B: Death is only a thought.

S: Could you tell us about your activities at home in India? You are a spiritual master, a person with full Self realization, who helps us understand the meaning of life. Do you have an Ashram in India, where people can come and see you? Could you talk about your Ashram?

B: The activities of my ashram include: poor feeding, cultural programmes such as classical dance and bhajans, lectures by invited speakers, helping dissapointed people and people with family problems, providing shelter and food for any guests – sadhus, poor people and visitors. I give discourses in a variety of places about meditation and Self enquiry and about how to be in life with peace and happiness

 

My aims are to build a school for physically handicapped children, a school for poor children and orphans and a home for old people on available land at my ashram.

S: You spent three weeks in our country and during this period everybody was welcome to meet you. People came to your discourses two times daily to the house of Mr. and Mrs. Milan Svoboda and Jana Paulova in the town of Jiloviste near Prague, where you were staying as a guest. Besides that you gave a discourse at the Prague Buddhist Center and three discourses in the lecture hall of the Avatar Publishing House and also in other places. Most of the halls were packed with people. Do you think you will come back in the near future to our country? More and more people are interested in meeting you, but you are leaving back to India to continue in your local activities.

B: I cannot tell.