Please read through the FAQ’s below to hear Dr. Pillai’s response to a number of commonly asked questions:
1. Why did Baba change his name to Dr. Pillai?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “I am opening my doors to those who are yet to come and standing outside the gate. Their numbers are above 99.999%. I need to reach out to them, and my name needs to be accessible to them. I will still teach devotional practices to students who resonate with that path, but will also offer greater accessibility (by changing my name) to those who need to relate to me through the intellect.”
2. How should Dr. Pillai’s existing students refer to him?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “My official name to the world is Dr. Pillai which is also the name on my passport. In public settings, you should always refer to me as Dr. Pillai. Many of you have also been calling me Baba which is a term of endearment and respect. You can continue to do that informally. Regardless of which name you use to call on me, I will answer your prayer. Devotion is a proven path. Jesus said that if a few people join together in my name, I will answer their prayers. People call on God as Shiva, Allah, Yaweh, Jesus, Buddha and so on. It is your choice. All names and forms refer to the one nameless, formless being who assumes all names and forms. You can refer to me by any name you choose. However, my official name to the world is Dr. Pillai.”
3. Since Baba will now be referred to as Dr. Pillai, is he still our guru?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “Don’t get involved in the semantics. The term guru literally means “one who removes ignorance”. I will do that whether I am in the body or after, whether I am called a guru or not. Jesus said that he would do better service after he left his body. St. Paul, who lived after the time of Jesus’ life, was more important and dedicated to Jesus than the rest of the apostles. I will respond to you in whatever form or name you relate to me. I am no longer confined by the limited identity or label of guru. I am moving beyond that limited identity to the unlimited form where I can touch and serve more people around the world.
4. Now that Dr. Pillai is expanding beyond being a guru, what is our relationship to him?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “Those who want to stay on the path of devotion can do so. I am also opening my doors to those who are yet to come and standing outside the gate. Their numbers are above 99.999%. I need to reach out to them, since they are not reaching out to me. My current students get the privilege of being with me as I embark on this new chapter. Their love and support for this shift will help open the doors even wider to all of those waiting at the gate.”
5. How can Dr. Pillai’s current community of students help facilitate this shift?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “I am asking you to support this shift. You are very lucky to be living on the planet at this time. As my early students, you have recognized the power of my teachings and know my true identity. Now I’d like you to play a role in embracing my expanded message to those who need to receive ancient wisdom in a more scientific package. Every one of you has a role to play as community leaders. I will give you the tools and language that will resonate with the rest of the world, so you can help to spread the teachings and bring in the golden age.”
6. Why is it challenging for some people to hear about Dr. Pillai’s name change?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “It is because people are attached to name, form and concepts. You should go beyond this and relate to my higher self. This situation is an opportunity for everyone to look at how stuck they are. An opportunity to move beyond your limited thinking. I changed Veda’s name to Isis. Still I sometimes call her Veda because I am used to her old name, but soon I will forget Veda and only remember Isis. It is a matter of time and releasing old ideas.”
7. Will Dr. Pillai still teach his existing teachings?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “The teachings will remain the similar, but they will acquire more power and understanding. I will teach a tri-fold model, incorporating the Path of the Intellect (Jnana yoga), Path of Devotion (Bhakti yoga) and Path of Action/Service (Karma yoga). Even though I refer here to the word yoga, I'm not a teacher aligned with the Indian tradition. I am a teacher that embraces the wisdom and archetypes of all cultures and faiths.”
8. When and how can we learn more about the new teachings of MindScience?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “Soon you will be receiving newsletters from the Pillai Center for MindScience and video clips from my new Youtube channel PillaiCenter. There will also be teachings and announcements posted on www.pillaiCenter.com.
9. What is super-consciousness?
Response from Dr. Pillai: "The heart is the seat of the super-conscious. The heart holds the secret of intelligence - the higher intelligence of omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. When the mind falls into the heart, then you will have the ability to know and do everything. The teachings MindScience are intended to help more people attain the super-intelligence of the heart."
10. What role do the mantras play in MindScience?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “The mantras (sacred sounds) are fundamental Truth and will be a core part of the MindScience program. You will be given deeper understanding about them than I have revealed in the past. These powerful sound vibrations are also included in my Mind-Sound Technology program and soon I plan to develop software programs around them.”
11. What role do the rituals such as fire ceremonies play in MindScience?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “The fire ritual is part of all ancient traditions, not only the Vedic tradition. The Pillai Center for MindScience will include fire ritual practices within our offerings. Our Centers will be laboratories for a deepening understanding of how ritual practices, like the fire ritual, can improve people’s lives. I call them our Fire Labs.”
12. Will Dr. Pillai still offer blessings and help students remove karma?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “Yes. Removing the karma of others is the purpose of my incarnation, but it will not be done in an ostentatious manner in the public.”
13. What is our daily practice? Should people still chant the mantra Vayanamasi, do tarpanam and planetary rituals, etc., or are there new methods?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “Everything will remain the same. I will periodically throw more light on the concepts and practices from a scientific point of view. Vayanamasi is the most important practice.”
14. Can we still use all the existing CDs and DVDs in our daily practice?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “Yes, all the existing tools still apply.”
15. Can we still share Grace Light with others with the existing Grace Light Empowerment Program DVD?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “Yes, all the existing tools still apply.”
16. Will the Pillai Center cultivate communities of like-minded individuals around the world?
Response from Dr. Pillai: “You will receive guidelines down the road in a few months.”
Response from Pillai Center staff: Dr. Pillai's Center for MindScience encourages people to join together in local community groups and global community online forums, with the highest purpose of living the path of heart intelligence and contributing to the creation of a new world without suffering. Dr. Pillai's encourages people to form communities that unite in meditation and spiritual practice to awaken the heart, deepen their understanding of super-consciousness, and to engage in selfless service activities that help less fortunate. When every individual has an opportunity to live this highest intelligence, together we can create a world of peace and harmony for all.
17. Will Grace Light groups still be meeting around the globe?
The current Grace Light groups will be incorporated into the Pillai Center community groups. These growing communities of like-minded individuals will unite in meditation and spiritual practice with such tools as the Grace Light empowerment program previously release by Dr. Pillai, in addition to new Pillai Center teachings. The intention of these groups, to awaken the heart intelligence of humanity and to come together in service, still remains the same.
18. How many Centers for MindScience will Dr. Pillai have?
Currently, we have Pillai Centers for MindScience in San Diego, San Rafael, Pittsburgh, Singapore and Chennai, India. Dr. Pillai hopes to expand the number of Centers globally over the coming years.
19. Will your ashram temple in India, and centers in San Diego and San Francisco, still carry out the same services as before? Can we still visit and participate in these services?
Yes, these various facilities have been renamed Pillai Centers for MindScience. We have Pillai Centers in San Diego, San Rafael, Pittsburgh, Singapore and Chennai, India. They will perform the same services as in the past, plus additional services designed by Dr. Pillai. Community members will be able to participate in various services provided by these Centers.