I’ve always believed that my ego is what I strongly feel and think. According to you, what is ego? Should we let go of it? While ego does come in the way of a compromise and giving up one’s stand, sometimes it pays to stick to your guns. How do we come to know that ego is getting the better of us?

You say that we should concentrate on our present actions and not get emotionally attached to the result. Then how should we plan our future? When we set our goals, we’re generally expecting things to turn out it a certain manner. Isn’t it how we plan our lives? How do we detach ourselves from the outcome and yet find the strength and motivation to take action towards our goal?

Ever since I’ve started meditating, my mind is muddled with questions regarding my life, my aim, my existence and so many things. Is it because of something new taking place inside me or is it because of a social conditioning that we begin to look for such answers whenever we think of meditation and spirituality. Why are there only questions? How do we get the answers? Is it just the beginning?

My relationship with my mother has become very strained. Though I consciously make an effort not to do or say anything that in any way gives her a chance to stir me. I have a feeling that I can’t love her any more even though she is my mother. I try to forgive and forget but she finds ways to upset me and out there to get me somehow. Is it something in my energy that’s creating all this? How do I take the responsibility of these circumstances and her behavior towards me? Please guide how do I calm her, my circumstances or so become so strong that her comments, her actions don’t disturb me. (The question is small but I hope u understand that intensity of this matter. My heart bleeds because of her words and actions and also no sitting together and solving issues helped. Everything falls back to square one.

I feel like I am trapped in my own mind and I’ll explain you why. Since 2008, I started to develop this pity feeling about people in general, specially people who have no opportunities in life, who live on the streets, who go to jail, who live in the “favelas” (I live in Brazil), who work in simple jobs, like cleaning, for instance. I feel like they have no reason to live because life doesn’t get any better to the majority of them. I also feel sorry because people are not concerned about changing themselves, how they are and how the world is. I feel deeply sorry for people who suffer, either because of poverty, of sickness, of wars, of drugs. I know that I am wrong and I shouldn’t feel sorry for anyone, not even for myself. I know that everybody is where its conscious is and that their lives, like my own, are a reflect of their own evolution stage (if I can call it like that). I know all that, but I can’t refrain myself from feeling this way. You see, I know one thing, but I feel another, that is why I feel like I am trapped in my own mind and I don’t know that answer for this. I just don’t want to feel sorry for anyone because that is really bothering me and making me depress… I would like you to help with this…