6. Some Questions Have No Answers

People often judge us by the questions we ask. Knowing this, we try to think of witty and wise questions in order to impress people.

In spiritual life, questions have no importance. I tell my disciples that answers I give to questions posed by new-comers are like candy, brain candy! It keeps them happy. Once I find that the seeker is serious, I stop answering his questions. And when this happens, the questions also drop for the intelligent one. A mature mind does not need brain candy.

When a child asks a question, it reflects the child's curiosity. However, when an adult asks questions, it reflects either lack of wisdom or the need to flaunt one's own knowledge. Some of our questions, actually have no answers but we keep debating on them just to show that we are very intelligent.

Take this example: if I ask you, 'Who are you?,' you will tell me about your status or relationships. You know to answer it only through relationships and status. You do not answer the question directly because you do not know the direct answer.

Try this exercise: sit alone in a room, close the door, and start asking the question, 'Who am I?' If you are well read in philosophy, you will think you are Atman, Brahman, or your body. You might instinctively think of yourself as your body. If you are of intellectual make up, you think you are Atman. But have you truly experienced who you are, either as a body or as Atman? No!

We play with identities, as well as hide in them. The more identities we have, the easier it will be to switch back and forth and hide behind them. Our spiritual pursuits also serve to establish an identity. A spiritual identity is as much a trap as a material identity.

We obey our boss, but when we interact with our subordinates, we put on another identity, another mask. None of these is true. We simply continue to play with pseudo identities. That's all.

Our life is a journey between birth and death. We have no idea why we were born. We have no idea when we will die. Our life is a bridge between these two unknown points. This is because we are playing with several pseudo identities. We have never asked ourselves the question, 'Who am I?' or 'What am I doing here?'

Whenever someone asked Ramana Maharishi, a realized master, a question, he would ask, 'Who is asking this question?' The questioning would then cease.

Go on and ask yourself the question. The answer will surprise, shock, or shake you. These are baby steps in a spiritual journey.