A series of Q&As filmed at the Shivabalayogi Devarayasamudram Ashram in South India during a meditation retreat with Shri Babaji over the course of 10 days. Recorded in February 2025.

0:00 Intro
0:12 How can one recognise the tests in daily life?
1:28 What did Vasistha mean in the Yoga Vasistha, when he said, “Don’t seek non-action as a goal.”
3:52 Vasistha also said, “Even the gods have to take human form to attain Nirvana.” Is this true?
4:23 So have the gods still not reached the highest state?
5:55 Could Babaji explain the concept of Shiva?
7:21 What did Vasistha mean by, “Nothing is real and nothing is unreal”?
8:58 A devotee shares a dilemma they had about whether to stay at home to care for a beloved dog that is ill or to come to the Ashram for retreat.
11:44 Once one starts on the spiritual path, even if one doesn’t achieve Nirvikalpa samadhi in this birth, will it continue in the next birth?
13:25 How is karma stored and how is it carried forward?
16:43 What is the concept of the name Ram?
19:46 Is it natural for the mind to be habitual?
20:41 When one person troubles another person, who’s karma is it?
22:50 How do we practice detachment without being indifferent?
24:05 Is there any knowledge that you got during Tapas that you didn’t have before?
26:28 What is the nature of the ego in the Self Realized state?
27:05 Is it possible to reach Nirvikalpa Samadhi through daily one hour meditation, or is Tapas necessary?
29:22 How does a Yogi act in the world without any habit in the mind?
38:06 Is it ok to just pray to reach our highest spiritual potential in this lifetime, is that wrong?
39:02 How do we perform our responsibilities in life while not getting too entangled in the work?
40:26 What is the meaning of satsang?
43:13 I have heard that the literal meaning of Upanishad is ‘sitting at the Master’s feet.’ Are we generating an Upanishad here in this session?
44:05 It is lost in the West that we can follow the path of the Master. Like Jesus also said, “All that I have done, you can do and more.”
45:30 At the end of the Yoga Vasistha, what was the purpose of Vasistha telling Rama that everything he has told him in the last seven days is false, to forget about it?
47:09 Can you talk about Shri Krishna? Some say you should listen to Krishna, but don’t follow him, follow Rama.
52:40 Why did Shri Krishna choose not to drive the chariot in the war but not take up a weapon?
56:26 When Arjuna was hesitating, Krishna told him, “Take up the bow and shoot the arrow, I have already defeated the enemy.”