Narrator:
Namaskar and good evening. Today, Gurudeb will be answering some of your important questions. Before we begin, my respects to Gurudeb and Dr. Babu. My respects to everyone watching. Today's program is going to be very significant because Gurudeb will be addressing several questions chosen by you.
Devotee:
Gurudeb, the first question is: "Is it possible to perform God's Sadhana (spiritual practice) while staying at home?"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We generally discourage practicing at home because there are many obstacles. There is noise, shouting, and a lack of peace. This practice requires a secluded environmentâa place with no sound where one can meditate deeply. If there is noise, the concentration breaks repeatedly.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That is why seekers often go to the mountains; they seek absolute silence. This level of Sadhanaâthe deep, intense meditation required to realize Godâis difficult to achieve at home. While you can sit with your eyes closed and pray, the "Deep Shanti" (Deep Peace) required for high-level realization isn't easily found in a bustling household. Great seekers live in seclusion so that nothing disturbs their ears. To truly find God, one often has to leave the domestic life behind.
Devotee:
Regarding Tantra Sadhana, someone wants to know the difference between Avidya Tantra and Vidya Tantra.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
A true seeker is a master of Vidya. Avidya is practiced by those who are incomplete. Avidya refers to knowledge that isn't used for divine connection but rather for mundane or petty tasksâlike dealing with ghosts or minor spirits. People try to master it for personal gain or to use it in ways that aren't spiritually beneficial.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
True Vidya, on the other hand, requires intense hardship and deep penance. When you look at figures like Swami Vivekananda, Baba Lokenath, or Sri Ramakrishna, they possessed true Vidya. They didn't need elaborate rituals; they could heal or bless someone just by a touch or a look. That is the power of Vidya. In Avidya, people have to perform rituals in cremation grounds or light fires for show. But for those with true Vidya, a mere presence is enough to remove all darkness. This is the beauty of Indian philosophy; it has its own unique dignity.
Devotee:
Gurudeb, in Hindu scriptures, there is a concept called Upabasa (fasting). Since our religion is often based on scientific principlesâand we have Dr. Babu hereâis fasting actually beneficial for the human body?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It is very beneficial, especially when dealing with the "Six Passions" (Shada-ripu). There are advanced yogis who can stay without food for long periods because they know how to draw sustenance from the air. There is "food" in the airâPrana. While common people eat solid food, these seekers absorb energy differently. This is called Bahu-bhakshan or Vayu-bhakshan.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Think of a snake during winter; it hibernates for six months without eating. How? It has stored fat and energy within its body. Similarly, the human body and brain have certain secretionsâwhich we call Khoron. If a seeker can activate this, it provides an energy a thousand times more potent than sugar or regular food. When this "nectar" flows from the brain to the liver, the seeker no longer feels hunger or the need for sleep. They remain awake and energized. This state is reached after immense penance. They store this energy and can go months without a meal, yet remain perfectly healthy.
Devotee:
A user asks: "Should we consider onion and garlic as vegetarian or non-vegetarian? They come from plants, after all."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
You must understand that these are Uttejak (stimulating/exciting) substances. Consuming them increases excitement and physical desires (Kaam). Even though they grow in the earth like potatoes or beans, their chemical properties are different. In the past, widows and spiritual seekers avoided them to maintain a calm and "Sattvic" mind.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Even today, those who are deeply devoted to God usually avoid onion and garlic. We actually use onion garlands for the Goddess in certain rituals, but that is a different tradition. For a seeker, these foods are avoided because they disturb the peace of the mind.
Devotee:
Should a Mantra be chanted mentally or aloud?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Think of it this way: if a guest or a relative comes to your house, don't you talk to them? You share stories. It's the same with the Divine Mother. If you only chant in your mind, it's like sitting next to someone and not speaking. You should chant with some sound so that the "Mother" can hear you. It's about that personal connection between a child and a mother.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
God says, "I create the demons, and I destroy them." He possesses "I-ness" (Aham), but in a divine sense. He creates challenges to fulfill divine purposes. As the scriptures say, "Devas create the demons and then take the credit for slaying them." Everything is a play of the Divine.
Devotee:
Gurudeb, could you say a few words about the Addya Ma temple near Dakshineswar?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Addya Ma represents Maha Saraswatiâthe primordial, ancient power (Adi Shakti). Traditionally, her puja was performed by women. In many temples, you see men performing rituals, but Addya Ma's worship has a deep connection to female energy. That is why you often find the temple doors closed to the public at certain times; it is a very private, powerful ritual. She is the power recognized by the Vedas.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The Addya Stotram (hymn) describes where and how the Mother is worshipped in different formsâas Annapurna in Varanasi, as Vimala in another place. It's a beautiful record of her manifestations. The idol of Addya Ma was actually discovered in a pond at what is now Eden Gardens. The seeker who found her worshipped her and then immersed her back into the water as per divine instruction. The current image of Addya Ma is based on the sketches and visions of that seeker.
Devotee:
Many people in the comments ask about Gurudeb's location. I will answer that: Gurudeb stays at the Rajpur Maha-shashan (cremation ground) near Rajpur Market. You can reach here from Sonarpur or Garia. He welcomes everyone and never turns anyone away empty-handed.
Dr. Babu:
Every time I come here, I see a different environment. Gurudeb explains spiritual concepts with scientific logic. For example, his "freezer" analogy for deep meditationâeveryone knows a fridge is cold, but the "deep freeze" is where things actually solidify. That is a scientific way to explain spiritual depth. Everything he says has a logical and scientific basis, and we have much to learn from him.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Anindya, I have a question for you. You are famous on TikTok and you are an actor. What is your next project?
Devotee:
With your blessings, I am working on a project where I play an avatar of Sri Krishnaâspecifically, the role of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
That's wonderful. It is a very challenging role. I bless you so that you can portray Mahaprabhu's character with perfection. I want to see you succeed in this.
Devotee:
Thank you, Gurudeb. Blessings to everyone watching. May everyone's parents and families stay well.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We strive so that everyone remains happy. People come here with their burdens, and we don't look at who is a sinner or who is virtuous; we just do our work. By the Mother's grace, everything is controlled. I am just a medium. If people feel better by coming here, it is all Her grace. Namaskar to all.