Swami Answers Devotees' Questions

[An online spiritual discussion was conducted on December 20, 2020, in which several devotees participated. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

1. What is Your advice for a newly married couple on how they should live their life?

[A question asked by Smt. Sudha Rani.]

Swāmi replied: At any time, turning towards God is very very important in human life. As such, the divine duty of a newly married couple is to try to have children and extend the human race, in the service of God. Even this step is indeed related to the service of God.

2. Can some holy persons bring the dead back to life?

[Śrī Rajashekar asked: I have heard about a small incident that happened in Śrī Ramaṇa Maharṣi’s life. A devotee who was suffering a lot due to a disease went to Śrī Ramaṇa Maharṣi to seek His blessings, so that he could be cured. To that devotee, Maharṣi said the following words, “This body-consciousness itself is a big disease. Realize the Ātman and get rid of this disease first. All other diseases will naturally be gone”. I also heard that some Mahātmās can bring a dead person back to life. Is it true?]

Swāmi replied: Only a Human Incarnation of God has the power to bring a dead person back to life. Kṛṣṇa gave life to the dead child called Parīkṣit. Kṛṣṇa also brought back the dead son of Sage Sāndīpani. Jesus raised a dead person to life. Ramaṇa Maharṣi was also a Human Incarnation of God Subrahmaṇya. His advice is related to a very high level of devotees on the spiritual path.

3. What is meant by dīkṣā?

[A question asked by Śrī Vajradhar.]

Swāmi replied: Dīkṣā means the determination and concentration of one’s effort to achieve a fixed goal in life.

4. Does a person forget his relationship with a Human Incarnation of God after he dies?

[Śrī Bharath Krishna asked: Swāmi, I have learned from You that when a person dies, he forgets all the relationships that he had here on Earth. If that is true, what if I forget all these sweet memories of the beautiful interactions I am having with You as well?]

Swāmi replied: The human being only forgets the memories of matters related to this life that are of a normal or weak intensity. But the soul carries the memories of the interactions that are extremely strong in intensity along with it into future lives after the death of the body.