15 Nov 2024
1. Can we say that Gopikas were also Sthitaprajna when God Krishna was in physical proximity?
[Ms. Saatvika asked:- Can we say that Gopikas were also Sthitaprajna when God Krishna was in physical proximity? Only when He left Brundaavanam, they became mad?]
Swami replied:- In situations like the separation from God Krishna only, the state of Sthitaprajna is needed.
2. How can ego cause sin? I believe that the ego destroys only one’s own self. How can ego affect others to cause the sin?
Swami replied:- Demons due to excess of ego caused suffering to angels and sages. Due to the boons attained in penance, they got ego and have done several sins, which resulted in the suffering of others.
3. How are jealousy and ego greater enemies when the gateway to hell are the last three bad qualities?
[In this discourse https://www.universal-spirituality.org/discourses/swami-how-to-overcome-ego-and-jealousy--4866--4998--ENG, how are jealousy and ego greater enemies when the gateway to hell are the last three bad qualities.]
Swami replied:- Illegal sex, illegal anger and illegal greediness drive the soul to hell. Ego and jealousy are punished by God immediately in this world itself because both these are the sins that effect one’s spiritual progress also.
4. How to correlate the following statements?
[i) God doesn't need anyone. ii) God doesn't expect anyone to love Him. iii) God even gives hurdles in spiritual path. But, He created this world to enjoy the pure love of Nivritti devotees only. How to correlate these statements?]
Swami replied:- The first statement says that God is not in need of happiness from anybody since He is the infinite ocean of bliss. But still, due to the boredom of loneliness, He created this world so that He can enjoy the true love of devotees. The second statement is only a variety of enjoyment and does not mean that God was sad without happiness before the entertainment. The king goes to forest for hunting not because he is unhappy in the palace. It is only a change of variety of entertainment. Hurdles are created in the path of Nivrutti to test the strength of the devotion. Hurdles also improve the devotion like culverts improving the speed of flow of water in the canal.
5. How to answer people, who are judging that spiritual people do not need materialistic achievements like hikes, promotions etc.?
Swami replied:- The desire on X, Y , Z etc does not mean that there is no desire on A. The question is which desire is the strongest. The strongest desire can be told as the single desire of the soul. Interest in Nivrutti or spiritual life does not mean that one shall be foolish in Pravrutti or worldly life so that people can easily exploit the devotee.
6. When God wished to create this world for His entertainment, can we say that He is not beyond desire?
Swami replied:- It is not a question of desire. It is only the natural tendency to change the variety of enjoyment. Desire is the wish for something, which causes misery in its absence.
7. Why is Hanuman highlighted in the Ramayana in the Sundara Kaanda?
[Why is Hanuman highlighted in the Ramayana in the Sundara Kaanda? Shouldn't God be the one to be highlighted always? Since the Ramayana was written by Valmiki, why did he highlight Hanuman, who is God acting in a servant role rather than highlighting God Himself, who is Lord Rama?]
Swami replied:- Basically, Hanuman is also God. Highlighting Hanuman is basically highlighting God only. If you take the servant-role as significant, the soul doing service to God must also be highlighted in order to encourage his/her dedicated action of service.
8. Did Yashoda love Krishna as God or her son? Isn't it easier to love Him as a son? How easy or difficult is it to love Him as God?
Swami replied:- Yashoda always loved God Krishna as son only. Even though Yashoda realised Krishna as God in the context of some miracles, Krishna immediately removed that impression using His illusory power (Maayaa). It is difficult to love Him as God and easy to love Him as son.
9. Is it possible to enjoy while suffering?
[In the case of contemporary human incarnation, who takes the sins of His real devotees and suffers on His own body, You told that "Justice has no objection if one enjoys the suffering after undergoing the suffering." Referring to this discourse - https://www.universal-spirituality.org/discourses/is-god-insulted-if-misery-is-refused-is-it-not-the-karma-playing-its-role-whenever-misery-enters--4886--5019--ENG
a) Is it possible to enjoy while suffering?
b) Is it cheating justice if one tries to enjoy while suffering ?]
Swami replied:- Enjoying the suffering is after suffering and not during the suffering. Since suffering was over before enjoyment, the punishment of the sin got exhausted. Hence, the deity of justice cannot object to this. There is no cheating in this because enjoyment is not during suffering. Even among human beings, none can enjoy the hot dish while eating it. After eating only, the enjoyment comes.
10. How is the reformation of a soul considered the greatest miracle of God?
[I have heard that reformation is the greatest miracle of God. In the process of realisation, repentance and non-repetition of sin—only human efforts are involved. Then, how is the reformation of a soul considered as the greatest miracle of God?]
Swami replied:- Cancelling sins of that nature due to reformation is certainly the gift of God to souls and hence, such gift can be considered as a miracle of His kindness. Even though the soul puts efforts, the provision of such cancellation of all pending punishments of that type of sin is certainly the grace of God only.
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