I have read most of your work and the work of Wayne Dyer, and have recently been reading Carolyn Myss, Doreen Virtue, and Esther and Jerry Hicks. I also recently stumbled upon the work of A Course In Miracles. How can I balance and make sense of all of these different concepts and teachings? How does the Law of Attraction balance with the concept of Sacred Contracts in a world that doesn’t really exist? Can you help me make some sense of all this?

We all know there is a definite difference between animate and inanimate matter. I reckon the difference is that of “That Intelligence” which you talk about as God, which we so clearly see when studying biology. That intelligence which knows how to run the life. As I understand from your talk, this is the soul, intelligence or god or the consciousness, awareness. Because this Intelligence is lacking in inanimate matter, I don’t quite see the soul in inanimate matter. My question is how can we say that consciousness is there in inanimate matter too?? The definite difference between the two is what I see as the real magical God, or the consciousness which is so self creating and self repairing, even though the inanimate matter is still considered God, because God is Omnipresent. In Advaita, as they say “All there is, is consciousness” doesn’t make complete sense to me, as I see there is that Special Intelligence in life forms which is lacking in inanimate matter, because of which we can call it soul less. Your explanation would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Last year my father was suffering from cancer. A malignant tumor had grown inside his stomach. As per the suggestion from the doctors he was operated on. But they could not take out the tumor and was eventually put on life support system. As the doctors did not see any hope of survival (he had a weak heart and could not take the operation) and I was running out of money I gave the consent to take out the life support from him and the he eventually died after two days.

Had the operation been not carried out he could have lived for another one year by chemo etc.

Now I am in a mental dilemma. On one hand I felt it was good that he did not suffer much and died peacefully. Then the next moment I feel terribly guilty that I had the life support removed. This is making my life miserable. I cannot concentrate on the daily trivial work also. My mind is always filled up with this.

This was not the end of all. My mother who was a diabetic died within two months of my father’s death. All on a sudden she suffered from multiple organ failure. Only two months back I spent a lot of money for my father’s treatment and was having no money. This made us shift my mother to a government hospital. She died there within four days. The doctor said my mother’s case was hopeless from the beginning. As these two incidents occurred nearly simultaneously I am in a terrible state of mind. I always think I am the only one to be blamed and I could not do anything for them though they were my parents who have done so much for me. Please help me Deepak. Please tell me whether I was wrong.

What is the purpose of the ego? is it a distraction from our spiritual self, the bad guy or is its existence just necessary to the counterpart of … what?

I feel as though I have commenced my own spiritual journey, probably in earnest since the beginning of this year (though in reality for probably for a few years I suspect).

I have adopted a regular meditation practice which I thoroughly enjoy and have definitely felt calmer, more settled and peaceful in daily life though not necessarily more joyous.

Having also read quite extensively (mostly your books) I try to be more mindful and aware throughout the day.

My question is as I attempt to live my life with ever present witnessing awareness I am finding it difficult to reconcile my alertness to negative egoic traits and dissociating from them and living life happily and joyously. Instead I find myself pursuing calm and silence which I seem to attain but I don’t seem to have replaced worrisome/compulsive thoughts with joy and happiness as such.

Am I going wrong here? Taking the process too seriously? Or is this simply part of the process of a spiritual awakening. it’s certainly true that emotional shifts are taking place because I sometimes find myself welling up, almost crying but in a kind of joyful way.