Chapter 14. Vinod Responds
Alcohol – Not Good for Health
Alcohol is not good for your health, but no matter what, we must not be dependent on anything. When you are dependent on something, your soul will no longer be under your control and won’t listen to your words. When you depend on something else, your attitude and character become negative. When you’re addicted to anything, your soul won’t be able to comprehend and realize because you are caught up in something external, in your own state. If you fall into dependency, it becomes even worse, so it’s better to avoid it altogether.
Thank you very much. I love you all.
Om Namah Shivaya
---
How to Cope with the Pain of Losing Loved Ones?
It is not easy. I experienced this when I lost my father shortly after my wedding. Seven days after the wedding, my father passed away. This created a mental problem for me; I even contemplated suicide a month later.
Time is the best healer for such situations. It helps us get through emotional breaks. I managed to recover, engaged in various activities, and began to understand that those who loved us remain with us even though they are no longer physically present. Their souls watch over us. They won’t be happy if we suffer, because they loved us.
When I was in pain, I realized that my father’s soul would not be happy because he always cared for me. Our task is to recover and live a good life, showing that we are okay. This will make their souls happy.
You must decide whether you want their soul to be happy or to suffer. We can overcome this pain and become successful to bring joy to their souls.
Om Namah Shivaya
---
What Is the Meaning of Life?
Life is not a number—living 90, 100, or 150 years. Living by a number is not life. Life means your life should be meaningful for you and for others. The life you live should speak about you even when you are no longer on this Earth.
This means that if I’m no longer alive, but someone talks about me and misses me, that is real life—the life you’ve lived. Living 70 or 80 years is just a number. That’s not life.
The essence of life is first to understand yourself. Why were you born? What is the purpose of your birth, and what should you do? Why were you born as a human? This is what you must first understand. Once you understand yourself, then help others understand themselves.
This is life. Life is not just about getting married, having children, chasing money, enjoying your days, and being happy. No. These are things humans need, but they are not life.
Life is when people who were not born with you, who are not related to you, talk about you. That is proof that you truly lived a good life.
Om Namah Shivaya
---
What Is the Power of the Ashram?
The power of an ashram, the place where we build an ashram, lies in the energy of the place. It is not tied to any specific request. Whatever happiness is missing in your life—whether spiritual, related to relationships, children, health, or financial business—whatever you pray for, that missing happiness will manifest in your life.
This is the primary feature, energy, and power of this place. Forty-eight stages, 48,000 stages of requests, meditations, and pujas have been conducted here to pray to Shiva for various kinds of happiness. Everything has been combined here.
So, whatever happiness you are lacking, you can pray for it and receive it. Around the world, there are special places for specific needs—healing in one place, a child in another temple, spiritual energy in another, or business in another. But here, everything is united. You can take from this place the exact happiness you are missing.
Om Namah Shivaya
---
Who Is Shiva?
If you think Shiva is someone you must constantly pray to, you are mistaken. Shiva is a flow; Shiva is a spirit.
How you go with the flow and enjoy yourself—that is what pleases Shiva. If music is playing and you dance, you’re not doing it for others or for yourself—you’re doing it for Shiva, for the flow, from the flow.
Shiva is the spirit. Shiva is the flow. How you enjoy and express yourself in your joy—that is Shiva.
