14 May 2021
[An online spiritual discussion was conducted on May 08, 2021, in which several devotees participated. Swami’s answers to devotees’ questions are given below.]
[Śrī Sasidhar asked: Namaskaram Swamiji! You have said earlier that the corona virus is the result of our sins. We need to pay the price. Now, the entire country is shaking like a leaf. We are unable to watch this mayhem. Can I dare to ask You to save us from our sins and restore peace to everybody? Please show us the light and happiness.]
Swāmi replied: The realization of the sin and repentance for it are not sufficient for excusing sins. After these two stages, there exists a final stage, which is the practical non-repetition of the sin. Unless this third and final stage is followed in practice by the person, his sin cannot be excused. Realization and repentance are both merely theoretical. On the basis of these two, the soul may beg for being excused. But when the sins are excused, the soul will again practically commit the same sins. God’s punishment of the soul for its sin is only to make the soul attain the third stage of practical non-repetition.
The first stage in the process of reformation is realization. It happens by knowledge or jñāna yoga, which is represented by Śaṅkara. The second stage of repentence is an emotional step related to devotion or bhakti yoga and is represented by Rāmānuja. The third stage of non-repetion of the sin is a practical step related to karma yoga and is represented by Madhva. The first two stages are merely theoretical and are expected to lead to third practical stage. If the first two stages do not result in the third stage, they have zero value. Only those people who have completed all these three stages can be said to be actually reformed. Such people alone are eligible for being excused by God. God cancels all the pending punishments of their sins because, the punishment is only meant for reformation and not for revenge.
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