Q   Will family life be an obstacle to spiritual elevation?

        Definitely not! A person who is perfect in carrying out his family duties need not go in search of God; God is by his side at all times. In an office, every employee is given a set of duties to perform, and his good performance is rewarded with promotion. Similarly, consider the family as a branch office of God; each one of us is given certain responsibilities towards our parents, children, spouse, relatives and friends. Only if we perform our duties perfectly will our boss (i.e., God), be pleased with us. Instead of going from temple to temple in search of God and leading a wavering life, consider your mother as Goddess Shakti, your father as Lord Shiva, child as Muruga and all your friends, relatives and anyone you come across in life, maybe a beggar on the road or a customer in your office, as some divine form. In due course of time, your love expands from the boundaries of your family and reaches out to your neighbours, friends, and gradually to everything in this world.

Besides this, master the art of performing even the smallest task with perfection. If you prepare coffee, prepare the best coffee on earth, if you sweep, do it in such a way that nobody else will be able to sweep so perfectly as you have done. This concentration and commitment to perfection gradually improve your mind power, and the highest ideals can be achieved with absolute ease. Your life itself becomes a penance -- you can live like a recluse with the world yet without it, and you need not run to any forest in search of God.

(Baba's answers to other questions continues next week....)