Posted on: 08 Sep 2021
[Smt. Priyanka asked: Swami, this question is regarding doing our worldly duties, when a devotee's focus has shifted or is shifting only towards God and His work. Swami, from a recent answer of Your’s regarding the same topic, You said that we have to force ourselves to maintain the Pravrutti because it forms the basis of Nivrutti. When God comes down in human form and is available to us, the attraction towards His knowledge and other qualities is very high. For example, Lord Krishna's beauty was very high and He also preached divine knowledge and performed miracles, which created strong attraction towards Him among many souls. Even today, when we simply hear about His beauty and His divinity, strong attraction towards Him gets created in the heart of many souls! Is this attraction also blessed by God because not all souls will have this magnetism towards Him, irrespective of His divine qualities? A soul cannot even recognise the human incarnation of God, if not for God's will and grace alone! When God Himself ignited that spark in our hearts (due to His extreme beauty and divine knowledge), the souls will slowly show their burning desire for His knowledge and infinite love alone. Then, how can souls perform their worldly duties as per God's expectations, with this burning desire in them to reach Him? Swami, kindly correct any misunderstanding I may be having. Is it that we should totally surrender to God and leave all worries in His hands? Should we forcefully put the effort in performing our duties because it pleases God if we maintain peace in Pravrutti? Is it that our goal is not what we desire (to reach God) but simply to do what pleases God and what God desires instead? At Your divine lotus feet, Priyanka.]
Swami Replied:- What all you have said belongs to the side of devotees only and not to the side of God. God does not bless His devotee with the attraction towards Him. Attraction towards God happens from the side of devotee and not from the side of God especially in Nivrutti or Spiritual life. God tries to oppose that attraction also so that the devotees can succeed in Pravrutti. God always supports Pravrutti and opposes Nivrutti. It depends on the strength of the attraction of the devotee towards God in deciding whether the devotee jumps over the Pravrutti to reach God or the devotee controls the attraction and proceed in Pravrutti only. Most of the devotees have controlled devotion only that is suitable for Pravrutti only due to their fascination towards worldly bonds. One in millions only jumps over the worldly bonds for the sake of God even though God Himself puts several hurdles. Such liberated souls also accompany the God as incarnations and jump over the worldly bonds to reach God standing as ideal examples for the devotees. Such ideal examples are sure to defeat the worldly bonds for the sake of God.