Chandogya Upanishad 4.12-13 Lecture 142 on 28 September 2025 Q&A

Q&A Session with Swami Dayatmanandaji Maharaj

Questions on Gṛdhra-dṛṣṭi and Gṛdhra-vṛtti

Q: You mentioned gṛdhra-dṛṣṭi and gṛdhra-vṛtti today. Could you explain what dṛṣṭi actually means?

A: The first, dṛṣṭi, actually means the knowledge, the reality for that person. What is called the outlook. Dṛṣṭi means outlook. How do we look?

How does a farmer look upon his field? Like his own family? No—how much can I squeeze? How does he look upon his cow? How does your employer look upon you? Worse than that.

That is called gṛdhra-dṛṣṭi. Once the selfish outlook is there, will his actions be unselfish or what? Selfish. Even his so-called unselfish actions will also be purely selfish actions.

So supposing such a believer in God, he donates to Ramakrishna Ashrama so much money. Is that a selfish action or unselfish action? It looks unselfish. But what is the purpose? "I want puṇyam. I want to go to higher lokas."

So gṛdhra-dṛṣṭi immediately transmits itself into gṛdhra-vṛtti. What is vṛtti? Conduct. Lifestyle. What a person knows to be the truth, reality, he has to follow. These are marvelous truths of psychology.

Questions on Charitable Organizations and Spiritual Practice

Q: Maharaj, there are a lot of these non-profits and a lot of initiatives that are going around. We have this doubt about how much we should get involved. Is there a general guideline?

A: I think the main purpose is to get rid of our selfishness or to get over it. Correct?

So if you know some people there personally—all these organizations means what? Persons, isn't it? Yes.

You see, this Red Cross is supposed to be one of those. You know what they found after investigation? More than—I don't know, it is only a newspaper report—more than 80% of the money they get from charitable people goes only towards their salaries and their first-class travels through aeroplanes, hotels, etc.

Guidelines for Charitable Giving

So there are some institutions—for example, Ramakrishna Mission, many institutions—they are doing quite good. If you know the people, that they are doing good work, then whatever you want, give it through them. Let them do good work. At least they are doing much better work than many people.

There may be very good people, but unless we know—this is also a venue to squeeze money and become rich.

The Principle of Good Faith

So what I am trying to tell you: if you know people, give it to them. With good faith you are giving. If someone is misusing, God will take care. No doubt about it.

Questions on the Nature of Brahman and Śakti

Q: Swamiji, Guruji, Maharajji, Praṇām. With all the jñāna, so why, I mean, so... Holy Mother said... So, is it the Buddha, you know, so it is, you know, Prabhu and then Prabhu has a power which is manifested as Devī? Is that what it is? I just wanted to understand the concept.

A: Yes, God. The Brahman, who is without name, without form, is conceived by our mind—because of our impurities—with form, with name, with qualities. Because God doesn't have any qualities, that's why He is called Nirguṇa.

But we require it, so that is called Śakti. You call it Śakti, you call it Personal God, you call it Nārāyaṇa—it doesn't matter.

The Essential Question

The question is: Are you becoming a better person, a happier person, an unselfish person through that contemplation? Don't emphasize whom you are worshipping. Emphasize what is the result, the outcome of this contemplation.

Q: The only reason why I am asking is because there is a limit to gaining knowledge. Beyond that there is some—the only way one can...

A: So don't even try. Do what best you can do, and if you do that, God Himself will open the door and make you understand.