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Softness and kindness in heart and in speech. How does one cultivate this kindness? Through the practice of ahiṃsā (non-violence). See yourself in others. If someone treats you poorly, how would you feel? Similarly, if you harbor negative feelings or thoughts toward others, they feel the same. Several thousand years ago, there lived a great sage named Dadhīci Ṛṣi. At that time, there was a demon (Rākṣasa) whom no one could kill. He was destroying all creatures and humans. Divine counsel revealed that only if a human donated his bones while still alive—having them taken from his body to make arrows and bows—could the demon be slain. Who could make such a donation? The great ṛṣi Dadhīci did so for the well-being of all. 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 harmful to you, consider your feelings. If you act similarly, others will feel the same. There is a beautiful Sanskrit mantra-śloka for this principle. The same teaching was later repeated in the Bible, but it was first given by Dadhīci Ṛṣi. The great saint Tulsīdāsjī said in the Rāmāyaṇa, the holy book which is the life story of God Rāma: "The foundation of dharma is kindness (dayā), and the root of sin is pride and ego." Therefore, Tulsīdāsjī said, "Do not abandon dayā, mercy, as long as you have life in your heart." So feel love for all in your heart. Question: Dear Swamiji, does the jīvātmā, when it first gets a human body, have karma and destiny? Or does it start collecting and creating karma with the human body? Answer: The accumulation of karma—which is a form of pollution—begins as soon as individuality comes into existence in this universe, whether in a human or another body. There are two kinds of pollution: physical and mental. Mental pollution is the most dangerous. Pollution increases daily; you clean a table, yet dust reappears. Therefore, prayers, mantras, and meditation are for the purification of the antaḥkaraṇa (the inner instrument), meaning the purification of karmas. If you do not wash yourself for days, how do you feel? Similarly, if you neglect prayer, mantra, and meditation, how do you feel? Mahatma Gandhījī said, "Physically, I can fast; mentally, I cannot fast." My mental tonic is my prayers; that is my strength. Thus, 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. That makes me worried. Please, what technique can help me? Answer: Learn to give. When you feel blocked—physically, psychically, or energetically—the best way to open is to give. Give seeds to birds, water to flowers, flowers to friends who will not misunderstand. Act with awareness of the time and place, as discussed. Give birthday presents, give to children, give donations. Give, give, give. We come here to give. Now, open your heart. If you cannot open your heart, open your purse. Write a check. This advice is for everyone, without discrimination. How to open blocks? There are karmic, emotional, energetic, and financial blocks. Problems are blocks that stay with you. A great saint (Mahātma) said: "Water is good when it’s flowing. If it remains stuck, it becomes foul." Similarly, Lakṣmī (wealth) should move and not be stuck. A good businessman invests; others put money in a bank for interest. This flow is essential. A sādhu (saint) should travel and not stay in one place, lest attachment develop. Changing places maintains purity. However, Mahāprabhujī offered a different perspective: water can remain in one place if it is very deep, like an ocean. If the ocean moved, it would cause disaster. Similarly, a sādhu can stay in one place if he is truly spiritual. Giving requires great energy and a big heart. Every creature works for its family. Humans build houses for their families, but when children grow and leave, the house stands empty. Rare are those who build and help for the benefit of all—for spirituality and the well-being of society and all creatures. 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 or low-cost stay). There are also Annakṣetras (places for free food), like monastery soup kitchens. In India, many Annakṣetras have run for thousands of years, feeding thousands daily, with no known source of funds—it never ends. There is a story. In Kansas City, America, a man named Max Muller was very ill, with no medicine helping. Hearing of India's spirituality, he and his wife traveled by steamer (there were no airplanes) and, after searching, found a great saint who taught him meditation, mantra, and prayer as the best remedy. With faith and confidence—having no other hope—he recovered. Returning to America, he founded a society with a meditation hall and a hostel for students, run solely on donations. One day at 11 a.m., the hostel director told Max Muller there was no food for the 12 o'clock lunch. Max Muller instructed him to ring the bell at noon anyway and went to meditate. At 11:40 a.m., a man arrived explaining that the mayor's catered meeting was cancelled due to a death, and they had been advised to bring the freshly prepared, sattvic vegetarian food to the meditation center. The director accepted. The truck arrived, and the students enjoyed a feast. When the director told him the story, Max Muller closed his eyes and said, "Thank you, Gurudev." Faith can melt rocks. Doubt is like a salad with sand or a cake with grit. Faith can do everything. In such Annakṣetras, one never knows how provision comes. One drop fills the pot. If a hundred people each carry one stick, it is easy, but for one person to carry a hundred sticks is a heavy burden. Similarly, humanitarian work is helped when many contribute. If you give one dollar, God gives you two. God gives more than we give. It is said: "Everything is yours, Lord. You have given to me. Yours, I am offering to you. What do I lose? Nothing." That is helping. Helping hands have more value than folded hands, which say, "Sorry, I can't help you." Do not say that. You can help. Help is not only monetary; God has given everyone a unique richness. Intellectual help, talent in writing, singing, playing instruments, painting, physical strength—all are ways to help. God gave you strong arms not to box someone, but to help. Help can be physical, mental, emotional, material, social, political, religious, or spiritual. This will open all your blocks, making energy flow, and open the way to Brahmaloka—not on a red carpet (symbolizing the blood of the material world), but on a golden or white carpet, symbolizing the spiritual realm.