Posted on: 05 Aug 2021
1. Can we say that the 12 Gopikas were born as the 12 disciples of Jesus?
[Ms. Laxmi Thrylokya asked: Pādanamaskāraṃ Swāmi, 1. Thank you for everything. We have learnt from You that the same Unimaginable God incarnated as both Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Jesus. You also revealed that there were 12 Gopikas who passed all the tests of Lord Kṛṣṇa and attained God. Can we conclude that the same 12 Gopikas were born as the 12 disciples of Jesus?]
Swāmi Replied:- The unimaginable God in both is one and the same in the sense that both Kṛṣṇa and Jesus did unimaginable events called miracles. Regarding the qualities (Sattvam, Rajas and Tamas) of the medium, which is other than unimaginable God, there is difference between Kṛṣṇa and Jesus. Kṛṣṇa showed all the three qualities whereas Jesus showed only Sattvam quality. The number coincides, which does not mean that those 12 and these 12 are one and the same. The 12 of Kṛṣṇa passed all the tests fully whereas in the 12 of Jesus, one devotee failed in the test and that devotee was Peter, who told thrice that he does not know his divine Spiritual preacher called Jesus. It is just a coincidence of the number.
2. Swāmi, in what way is Satyabhāmā referred to as possessing Rajas quality?
Swāmi Replied:- Rajas indicates dynamism and anger. Satyabhāmā was very hasty and used to get anger frequently. The food materials related to promotion of Rajas are also hot substances like chillies etc.
3. Swāmi, is a soul once liberated always remains liberated of the worldly bonds?
Swāmi Replied:- Once the soul is liberated from worldly bonds due to climax attachment with God, the devotee can never be entangled by worldly bonds even if the soul is born again and again in this world along with God to assist Him in His mission. Once the divine nectar is tasted, who will drink this bloody coffee again?
4. Swāmi, what is the difference between 'Sarvasva Śaraṇāgati' and 'Niṣkāma Bhakti'? At Your Divine Lotus Feet, Laxmi Thrylokya
Swāmi Replied:- Sarvasva Śaraṇāgati means surrendering everything including self to God, in which nothing remains unsurrendered. Niṣkāma Bhakti means devotion to God (both theoretical and practical) without aspiring anything in return. The former is the climax devotion and the latter is the initial devotion.
5. Every soul wants to love God when He takes all our sins and such love is not be true?
[When God is giving this offer of taking all our sins (like 100% off in a shopping mall), every soul wants to love God which would be artificial fabrication. Does God like it? Does God encourage it?]
Swāmi Replied:- The love of the devotee to God as described above was not based on the aspiration for any fruit in return. The devotee is prepared to go to hell for the sake of God not thinking that he/she will get such a divine fruit of getting rid of all the sins by pretending that the soul is prepared to go to hell. God is omniscient and knows everything about you, which you may also not know!
6. Why does God have special place for His devotees?
[When God said He would take all the sins of the devotee and suffer for Himself personally, it shows the ocean of love of God on His devotees. Why does God have this special place for His devotees? Is it our ego to expect God to love every soul equally no matter if it is a devoted soul or a non-devoted soul?]
Swāmi Replied:- How can you equate a gold medalist in the class with all other classmates? The teacher teaches all the students with equal attention and love. This does not mean that he shall give a gold medal to every student in the class. If each student is given a gold medal, what is the value of the special effort put up by that specific student, who got the gold medal?