16 Dec 2017
Shri Anil asked:
1) When divine actors like Rama, Sita, Lakshmana etc., act in roles to preach an ideal to humanity, do they suffer really in their punishments?
2) Is there possibility of realization, repentance and non-repetition of sin in the case of these divine actors also?
Swami Replied: 1) An actor while acting in a role may really suffer by real identification with that role and then we say that the actor lived in the role. Such type of acting is essential in a cinema since such acting will lead to the success of the cinema and the actor may be rewarded more. But, there is no such necessity in the case of divine actors to live in their roles. Of course, the spectators (general humanity) must feel reality in the suffering of punishments of sins by the divine actors. Even without real suffering, they may act wonderfully by living in the roles and this is sufficient for the desired requirement. The only aim is that the humanity shall be warned against such sins seeing the suffering of even such divine personalities. It is immaterial that whether the divine actor suffered really or not, but, it is essential that the divine actor must appear to suffer really. Generally, an actor identifies himself fully with the role and in doing so, the imposed ignorance of the actor really exists through which only such real identification is possible. Such real suffering through imposed real ignorance may be acting as an alternate phase for divine actor, who is already bored with continuous happiness. All these points are secondary only and the primary point is only preaching the humanity against sins in view of their serious punishments in this world itself.
In the case of Rama suffering the misery due to loss of Sita, a past story says that Lord Vishnu killed the wife of Sage Bhrugu, who gave protection to a demon. Shocked by this, Sage Bhrugu cursed Vishnu to suffer without wife and this suffering is said to be taken by God Vishnu in the time of incarnation as Rama. In such case, the suffering of Rama is also to be considered as true. This may be again taken as a drama to preach the humanity that one should not be hasty in taking away the life of other living being. However, when God suffers the punishments of His true devotees in the time of incarnation, such suffering is real, otherwise, the deity of justice gets cheated! Lot of background exists in the case of a divine personality and lot of analysis is to be done in such exceptional case!
2) Since the sin and its punishment are appearing in the case of divine actors only as apparent, but not real, the concept of cancelling of sins by non-repetition of sin is not applicable. The aim of this divine drama is only to create fear against the sin, which is followed by severe punishment here in this life itself. After developing fear, the soul may proceed to the step of non-repetition of sin in future and this will result in cancellation of pending sins already done (sanchita). Due to non-repetition of sin in future, there is no addition of future sins (Aagaami). Sometimes, even the present punishment (Praarabdha) can be cancelled by the good impression of God regarding your sincere implementation of realization after repentance. All this is needed in the case of human beings doing sins really and the exhibited concepts by the divine actors should be only taken for the welfare of the humanity. Discussions on unnecessary non-related points need not be much entertained. The points raised by you are at least related to the spiritual knowledge and hence are answered by Me. Sometimes, people bother about the historical dates of the Ramayana, which are not of much use in view of the ideals exhibited by the Ramayana for Pravrutti as well as Nivrutti to be implemented by the human beings.
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