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How can one cultivate softness and kindness in heart and speech? Practice ahiṃsā. See yourself in others. If someone does something bad to you, how would you feel? In the same way, if you harbor negative feelings or thoughts towards others, they too will feel that pain. Several thousand years ago, there lived a great saint named Dadhīcī Ṛṣi. At that time, there was a powerful demon, a Rākṣasa, whom no one could kill. He was destroying all creatures and humans. The only solution from God was this: if a human donated his bones while still alive—if his bones were taken out to make a bow and arrows—then shooting with that weapon would kill the demon. Otherwise, there was no way. Now, many of us may donate our organs after death. But who can donate while living, especially their bones? The great ṛṣi Dadhīci did exactly that, for the well-being of all creatures. He is the ultimate donor. He said: "Do not do to others what you do not like to be done to you." If someone is cruel or tries to harm you, how would you feel? If you do the same to others, they will feel the same. This is the profound teaching of that sage. There is a beautiful Sanskrit śloka for this principle. The same teaching was later repeated in the Bible. The great saint Tulsīdās jī said in the Rāmāyaṇa—the holy book and life story of God Rāma—that the foundation of Dharma, where it stands solid, is kindness. The roots of sin, however, lie in ego and pride. Therefore, Tulsīdās said, do not abandon the grace in your heart as long as you live. Feel love for all in your heart. Question: Svāmijī, when the Jīvātmā is born for the first time in a human body, does it already have karma, or does it begin to gather karma through human life? Answer: Yes, the accumulation begins as soon as individuality comes into existence in this universe, whether in a human or another body. This accumulation is karma, a form of pollution. There are two kinds: physical pollution and mental pollution, the latter being the most dangerous. Pollution increases daily, just as dust gathers on a cleaned table. Therefore, prayers, mantras, and meditation are for purifying the antaḥkaraṇa, which means purifying karma. If you do not wash for a few days, how do you feel? Similarly, if you neglect prayer and meditation, how do you feel? Mahātmā Gandhījī said, "Physically I can fast, mentally I cannot fast." My mental tonic is my prayers; that is my strength. Humans should pray and practice mantra daily. As one saint said, even animals and birds remember God morning and evening. Question: Dear Swamiji, my creative energy is blocked. I cannot do anything creative, which worries me. What technique can help me? Gāyatrī? Answer: Learn to give. When you feel blocked—physically, psychically, or energetically—the best way to open up is to give. Give seeds to birds. Give water to flowers. Give flowers to friends who will not misunderstand. Give birthday presents, give to children, give donations. Give, give, give. We come here for giving. It is a very good question. Now you must open your heart. If you cannot open your heart, then open your purse. Or simply sign a cheque. This advice is for everyone, without discrimination. How to open blocks? There are many kinds: karmic, emotional, energetic, financial. The problems are blocks that stay with you. Constellations and many other factors are involved. I tell you seriously, this is no joke. A great Mahātma said: Pani to chalta bhala, pada gandela ho jā. Water is good when it flows; if it remains stuck, it becomes smelly. Similarly, Lakshmī (wealth) should move; it should not be stuck. A good businessman invests money, creating a flow. A sādhu (saint) should always travel and not stay in one place, lest attachment develop. By always changing, the place remains pure. Yet Mahāprabhujī said something opposite, which is more difficult. He said water should remain in one place, but it must be very deep—like an ocean. If the ocean were to move, it would cause a tsunami, a catastrophe. And a saint should stay in one place, but only if he is truly spiritual. Giving requires great energy and a great heart. Most people work for their families, building houses for their children. But when the children grow and leave, the house stands empty. Rare are those who build and help for the benefit of all: for spirituality, for the well-being of society and all creatures, for humanitarian, veterinary, and environmental causes. We save for our house and children, but one day we will depart, and everything may fall into the wrong hands. With this understanding, people built churches, mosques, temples, and Dharamsalas—inns for free stay, similar to hostels, offering free lodging and food like monastery soup. In India, we have many Annakṣetras (food charity centers) that have run for thousands of years, feeding thousands daily. No one knows where the money comes from, yet there is no end to it. There is a story from America. A man named Max Müller was very ill, and no medicine helped. He was told a yogī in India could help. He and his wife traveled by steamboat, found a great saint, and were taught meditation, mantra, and prayer. The saint said the best remedy is meditation and prayer, requiring faith and confidence. When one has no other hope, real confidence arises. Max Müller recovered, returned to America, and founded a society with a meditation hall and a hostel for students of spirituality. The center ran solely on donations. One day at 11 a.m., the hostel director told Max Müller there was no food for the noon meal. Max Müller told him to ring the bell at twelve anyway and not to disturb him, as he was going to meditate. At 11:40 a.m., a man arrived saying the town mayor had cancelled a large meeting and lunch. The prepared catering—nice, warm, sāttvic vegetarian food—was offered to the center. The food arrived just before noon: vegetables, bread, rice, cake, salad, and more. The students were delighted by the feast. When the director told Max Müller the story, he closed his eyes and said, "Thank you, Gurudev." Faith can melt rocks. You need faith, without doubt. Doubt is like a good salad with sand inside, or a cake with stones. Faith can do everything. There are many Annakṣetras where one never knows how provision comes. If a hundred people each carry one stick, it is just a walking stick. But if one person must carry a hundred sticks, it is a heavy burden. This is how humanitarian work is done—through collective giving for the well-being of society. If you give one dollar, God will give you two. If you give five, He will give ten. God gives more than we give. As it is said: "Everything is yours, Lord; you have given it to me. I am offering myself to you. What do I lose? Nothing." Helping hands have more value than folded hands. Folded hands say, "Sorry, I can't help you." Do not say that. Say, "I can help you." Help is not only monetary. God has given everyone a unique richness: intellectual help, talent in writing, singing, playing instruments, painting. If you have physical strength, use it to help others, not for boxing. One can help physically, mentally, emotionally, materially, socially, politically, religiously, and spiritually. This will let all blocks flow from you. It will open your internal blockades and open the door to Brahmaloka. Not a red carpet—which signifies the blood and material world—but a golden or white carpet, signifying Brahmaloka. That is it. All blockages will open.