The topic for the Hindi Satsang on Sunday, 30th June, 2013 was ‘Positive Thinking.’
Following is the transcript of the Q & A between the audience and Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra and Smt. Hansaji Yogendra.
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Q. Why does the human mind tend towards negative thoughts more than positive thoughts?
Dr. J: The teachings from childhood are responsible for this.
Smt. H: We are made in such a way, our structure is such that our mind keeps running here and there. From childhood, if we do not learn to train our mind to think positively, it will keep holding on to negative thoughts. Training the mind is necessary.
Q. Does positive attitude lead to positive happenings in life?
Dr. J: To a certain extent it does.
Smt. H: Definitely. Attitude has to be positive and things start getting corrective. Even Nature helps you to move ahead in a positive direction.
Q. At home we start doing some positive rituals but over time we are not able to continue with them. What should we do?
Dr. J: Continue for a longer time.
Smt. H: If you cannot continue with one ritual, decide on which other ritual you will begin with. Choose something with which the mind will remain quiet and Kleshas (afflictions) will reduce. This much hard work will have to be done; don’t stop the rituals.
Q. Is God a machine?
Dr. J: We don’t know the mechanics.
Smt. H: No. God in any case does not come into the picture. You create and make your own life. You do right action and get the right effect, so we should work hard on that. We remember God as a model who is all pervading, who can do anything, who has tremendous energy, who doesn’t want anything from you, who is happy within himself. That model is there in yoga, God is a model. So keep that model and start becoming like that.
Q. What is the correct way to counter anxiety?
Dr. J: To strengthen belief. The opposite thing should be done. Instead of thinking something bad will happen, think that something good will happen.
Smt. H: If you want to think, think something good, otherwise stop thinking. Make the mind focus on your breath, repeat the Mantra ‘Om,’ do Nispandabhava and quiet the mind. Stop thinking negative.
Q. Children do not believe in idol worship. What to do?
Dr. J: You see, if there are strong beliefs that remain instilled from early childhood, carry them on.
Smt. H: Whether the child believes in it or not, you continue with your beliefs. They should see that you are composed and calm, that you don’t react, you don’t worry, that you have faith and that you can handle problems of life calmly. You should become a role model for children. Then they would start believing. Otherwise not. We pray to God under fear, under tension, because we want something from God. That is not the way we should be thinking about God.
Q. Being CFO of the company, there is always pressure for growth. In such situations, how can one follow the Niyama of Santosh (contentment)?
Dr. J: Change the company.
Smt. H: If there is so much tension working in the company then leave it. That aside, we have to work and work really hard. We have to really slog in life. But that same work can be done happily on in tension. The choice is yours. So why not work with enthusiasm and faith? This is the Karma Yoga philosophy. If you are tense, whatever has to happen will happen anyway, but till then, you will be in a bad state and get heart attack and diabetes, etc. So remember, if one has to think, think good things.
Satsang is an open meeting held every Sunday from 9:30 to 10:30 am at The Yoga Institute, Santacruz East, Mumbai. It involves an interesting presentation to the public, made by the students of the Teacher Training Course. Each week, a new presentation of a Yogic concept is made in a simple way through skits and decoration for the general public, followed by a short speech from our Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji Yogendra.