1. Self-improvement is important because it allows us to see the world objectively and respond appropriately, without being influenced by our subjective tendencies. This enables us to help others to the maximum extent, similar to how we must first put on our own oxygen mask before helping others on an airplane. 2. Ancient seers searched for the root causes of all phenomena in the universe. Through dedicated study and experiments, some realized a state of unity with the omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent phenomenon that is the root cause of everything. Different traditions refer to this as God, nothingness, or the great cause, to explain why everything works according to its will.

1. TWO
QUESTIONS
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. 1. Why is it advised by a guru that we should withdraw
our attention from the urge of changing the world and
pay attention to improvement of self?
2. Why is it said that everything works according to the
wish of God?
1. The self improvement here; implies the process of
overcoming subjective whims and fancies.
We cannot see the world as it is, unless we work on this
self improvement and cannot respond to the
circumstances appropriately. In absence of self
improvement we generally respond in accordance with
our gullibility or pettiness or both and keep on getting
disappointed or delirious repeatedly. As a result we
remain unsatisfied with ourselves.
Self improvement helps us see the world as it is and
enables us to behave appropriately to the best our
satisfaction; no matter whether it yields tangible results
or not.
This can be understood also by the analogy of oxygen to
self improvement. In airplanes it is rightly instructed to

3. first use the oxygen mask yourself and then help others;
so that you can help the others maximally. Similarly;
self improvement through various means such
NAMASMARAN is essential to help the others;
maximally.
2. Our ancestors all over the world; searched for the
causes of various phenomena in the universe. Many of
them invented and discovered the causes of several
physical and biological phenomena.
However some others were not satisfied completely as
many phenomena remained unexplained.
They kept on searching through their dedicated study
and experiments; the root cause of the thoughts,
feelings, passions, actions, metabolic processes; and
for that matter everything going on in the living and
nonliving universe.
In the course of time; they did not discover or invent;
but actually merged with the root cause! The state of
being they experienced was variously termed; self
realization, mukti, nirvana, samadhi, sthitapradnya

4. avastha, amrutanubhava (experience of immortality
and eternity).
They experienced that this state; unexplainable by
any words; is beyond the human concepts (such as
tangible cause and effect relationship) and beyond
matter, space and time. They experienced this state as
omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. They
proclaimed through this state; the holistic perspective
of unity of universe, space and time!
They “saw” that this phenomenon is the root cause of
everything. This omnipotent, omniscient and
omnipresent phenomenon into which; several “seers”
are merged; is called God; by some; and nothingness,
shoonya (zero), maha-shoonya (great zero), maha-
karana (great cause) or nature by others.
This is why; and it is in this sense; that even as the
cause and effect relationship and its study are
undeniably valid; everything works according to the
wish of God!