Excellent Questions For Excellent Life

How questions influence the quality of our life and service

SB 1.2.5Verse / O sages, I have been justly questioned

by you. Your questions are worthy because they relate to Lord Krsna and so are of relevance to the world's welfare. Only questions of this sort are capable of completely satisfying the self.

Purport / Satisfaction of the soul can only be obtained by questions and answers on the subject of Krsna.

athato brahma jijnasa

One should inquire into the SupremeNow one should inquire about BrahmanHe inquires about the real value of life, which

is called brahma jijnasaIn the human form of life one should put

many questions to himself and to his intelligence

In the human form of life the living entity must inquire about his spiritual identity

athato brahma jijnasahuman life is meant for understanding the

ultimate causeone should inquire about the Supreme Soulmust inquire about his constitutional positionone must try to inquire about life's goalNow let us begin to inquire about the

Supreme Absolute Truth

ARJUNA’S QUESTIONSBG 1.32-35: O Govinda, of what avail to us

are a kingdom, happiness or even life itself when all those for whom we may desire them are now arrayed on this battlefield? O Madhusudana, when teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives are ready to give up their lives and properties and are standing before me, why should I wish to kill them, even though they might otherwise kill me?

InquireJust try to learn the truth by approaching a

spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.

BG 4.34

SRIMAD BHAGAVATAMQUESTIONS BY THE SAGES1. What is the ultimate good for people in general?2. What is the essence of all scriptures?3. What is the reason for Krsna's appearance in this

world?4. In what way is Lord taking part in creating,

maintaining and annihilating creations?5. Please describe different activities of different

incarnations of the Lord!6. Where has dharma took shelter after Krsna's

disappearance from this world?

THE PURPOSE OF ASKING QUESTIONS

1. Understand the devotee well2. Help them understand themselves3. Clarify what they want4. Discover new options, opportunities,

possibilities and advantages5. Identify and remove obstacles6. Make an action plan7. Take action

WHY QUESTIONS?Great results start with great questions

Questions > Thinking > Action > Results

Quality of questions influences quality of life

WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK?What questions we want to ask?What questions should we ask?What questions are we avoiding?What questions will benefit this person the

most?

TYPESOpen-ended and closed-endedQuestions for yourselfQuestions for othersSolution-focusedProblem-focusedAppreciative inquiry

POWER OF A RIGHT QUESTIONThe question that saved concentration

camp prisoner’s life.

EINSTEIN“If I had an hour to solve a problem and my

life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.”

INTELLIGENT QUESTIONSWho am I?Why am I suffering?Why do I have to die?What happens after death?How can I become happy?Why are some people more successful than

others?What do I want to be, do and have?

DEVOTEE QUESTIONSHow can I please Krsna?How can I please Srila Prabhupada?How can I please my spiritual master?How can I please the devotees?How can I serve them?When will that day come ... ? (kabe habe

bolo)

BENEFITSClarityFocusIntelligenceExpanding possibilities WisdomConnection with the Supersoul

EXCELLENT QUESTIONSWhat one thing, if you would do superbly well

everyday, would make the greatest positive difference in your life? (question about personal habits / best practices)

What can you learn from this?How can you turn this problem into an

opportunity?What and who inspires you the most?Are you ready to pay the price?

EXCELLENT QUESTIONS What are your strengths, talents, skills,

good qualities?What do you want?What one great thing would you dare to

dream if you knew you could not fail? (question about an exciting goal)

What I am grateful for?

EXCELLENT QUESTIONSWhat's great about this problem?What can I learn from this?How can I improve in every area of my life?What can I give today?How can I serve today?What one thing, if you would do superbly

well every single day, would have a greatest positive impact on your life (or on any particular area)?

EXCELLENT QUESTIONSWhat do you want to have in your life -

excuses or results?What can I do better today than I have done

yesterday?If not you - who? If not now - when? Do you spend time or invest time?What has to happen for you to feel ...

successful, happy, loved, fulfilled, love?What are your rules or conditions for

happiness?

COUNTERPRODUCTIVE QUESTIONS Why are you so bad?Why you don’t understand what’s good

for you?When are you going to change / shape up

/ grow up?How could you do such a thing?

EXERCISE

Pair up and help each other discover 3 questions that will change the quality of life

Question Thinking is a systemof tools for transforming thinking,action, and results through skillfulquestion asking—questions weask ourselves as well as thosewe ask others.

Great results begin with great questions

A question not asked is a door not opened

Self-questions and interpersonal questions

Problem-oriented or solution-orientedJudger or Learner

EXERCISES

1. What questions are you aksing yourself daily? What questions produce what results?

2. Change thought-statement into question and see the effect

Judger Questions

What's wrong? Who's to blame? How can I prove I'm right? How can I protect my turf? How can I be in control?How could I lose? How could I get hurt? Why is that person so clueless? Why bother?

Learner QuestionsWhat works?What am I responsible for?What are the facts?What's the big picture?What are my choices?What's useful about this?What can I learn?What is the other person feeling, needing,

wanting? What's possible?

Learner/Judger ChartJudger Mindsets Learner MindsetsJudgmental (of self and/or others Accepting (of self and others)

Reactive and automatic Responsive and thoughtful

Know-it-already Values not-knowing

Inflexible and rigid Flexible and adaptiv

Either/or thinking Both/and thinking

Self-righteous Inquisitive

Afraid of difference Values difference

Personal perspective only Considers perspectives of others

Defends assumptions Questions assumptions

Possibilities seen as limited Possibilities seen as unlimited

Primary mood: protective Primary mood: curious

We all have both mindsets, and we have the power to choose wherewe operate from in any momen

Learner/Judger ChartRelationships

Judger Learner

Win-lose relationships Win-win relationships

Feels separate from others Feels connected with others

Fears differences Values differences

Debates Dialogues

Criticizes Critiques

Listens for: right/wrong, agree/disagree, differnces

Listens for: facts, understanding, commonalities

Feedback perceived as rejection Feedback perceived as worthwhile

Seeks to attack or defend Seeks to resolve and create

We all relate from both mindsets, and we have the power to choosehow we relate in any moment

A-B-C-C Choice ProcessA – Aware: Am I in a judger ?B – Breathe: Do I need to step back, pause,

and look at this situation more objectively?C – Curiosity: Do I have all the facts? What’s

happening here?C – Choose: What’s my choice?

Judger QuestionsWho’s to blame?What’s wrong with

me?Why am I such a

failureHow could I lose?How can I prove I’m

right?

How can I be in control?

Why are they so clueless and frustrating?

How did I get stuck with the worst team?

Why bother?

Switching QuestionsAm I in Judger?Where would I rather be?How can I get there?What are the facts?How else can I think about this?What assumptions am I making?Is this what I want to feel?

Switching QuestionsIs this what I want to be doing?What am I missing or avoiding?How can I be more objective and honest?What is the other person thinking, feeling,

needing,and wanting?

What humor can I find in this situation?What’s my choice right now?

Learner QuestionsWhat happened?

What’s useful about this?What do I want?What can I learn?What is the other person thinking, feeling, needing, and wanting?How can this be a win-win?What’s possible?What are my choices?What’s best to do now?”

TIPSAccept Judger, practice LearnerCuriosity: Fast track to Learner

The Top 12 Questions for Change1.What do I want?

2.What are my choices?3.What assumptions am I making?4.What am I responsible for?5.How else can I think about this?6.What is the other person thinking, feeling, needing, and wanting?

7.What am I missing or avoiding?

8.What can I learn. . . from this person or situation?. . . from this mistake or failure?. . . from this success?9.What questions should I ask (myself and/or others?)10.What action steps make the most sense?11.How can I turn this into a win-win?12.What is possible?

The 10 Tools of Question Thinking

Tool 1. Empower Your ObserverTool 2. Use the Choice Map as a GuideTool 3. Put the Power of Questions to WorkTool 4. Distinguish Learner and Judger Mindsets and QuestionsTool 5. Make Friends with JudgerTool 6. Question AssumptionsTool 7. Take Advantage of Switching QuestionsTool 8. Create Learner TeamsTool 9. Create Breakthroughs with Q-Storming®Tool 10. Ask the Top Twelve Questions for Success

What will you choose?JudgerLearner

Create your own favorite questions?

Krsna QuestionsWhat is the most Krsna conscious thing to do

in this situation?How can I see this through the eyes of

sastra?What would please Krsna here?What would Prabhupada do in this situation?What would I do now if Prabhupada was

watching?What is the spiritual test that I have to pass

here?What can I learn from this that will help me

be more Krsna conscious?How is this an opportunity to surrender to

Krsna?

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