Posted on: 14 Nov 2022
1. Can we be happy if we decide to be happy?
[Ms. Thrylokya asked: Padamaskaram Swami, Can we be happy if we decide to be happy?]
Swami replied:- If you are God, it can happen so. But, all of us are ordinary souls and do not have such omnipotence of God. A soul can be happy provided it has not done any sin.
2. Is it possible to achieve introversion (control of senses) by self-effort?
[Swami, You revealed to us that God has removed inherent introversion from the soul in order to give free will to the soul. Is it possible to achieve introversion (complete control of senses) by self effort or is it possible only with God's help after surrendering to God?]
Swami replied:- The help of God is a must in any effort and in spiritual effort, it is very much needed. With the help of God’s grace, the effort of any soul becomes successful. Both effort and God’s grace are needed because even though God is omnipotent, without effort of the soul, God will not help. A lazy fellow will not be helped by any wise person.
3. Can we give credit to God for achieving success in worldly life?
[Can we give credit to God for achieving success in worldly life? Or should we give credit to God only for the success in spiritual life? At Your Divine Lotus Feet, Thrylokya]
Swami replied:- The final credit goes to God only. Self-effort is the required duty from the side of the soul. Let it be a worldly matter or a spiritual matter. In the spiritual line, one shall not aspire to become God and such aspiration disqualifies the soul forever to become God. The soul must put efforts to become the servant of God. From such serving souls, God picks up one soul to become human incarnation. The aspiration to become God is the cancer in spiritual line. Some feel that if the ego is removed, the soul becomes God. Such a soul becomes a good soul without ego and this does not mean that the soul becomes God. If the impurities from the copper metal are removed, it becomes pure copper, but not gold. By removing ego, the soul is purified partially. If the fascination to the world is also removed, the soul becomes completely pure. It is the wish of God to make a soul to become God to do some welfare work for the world of souls either in Pravrutti or in Nivrutti. All types of aspirations including the aspiration to become God must be destroyed and the soul must always think itself as the eternal servant of God. ‘I am servant of God’ (Dāso'ham) is the divine nectar whereas ‘I am God’ (So'ham) is the horrible poison and both are born from the same sea.
4. How can repentance help me in Nivritti to get close to God?
[Ms. Thrylokya asked: Padamaskaram Swami, You taught us that realisation, repentance and non-repeatition of sin are the three steps of reformation. But even during the three steps, only 'I' is involved and not God. So, how can the self-repentance help me in Nivritti to get close to God?]
Swami replied:- Pravrutti or Nivrutti are related to the soul only and the involvement of the soul is very important. These three steps are done before God and God alone is capable of granting the fruit of reformation, which is to burn all punishments of similar sins. Soul is on this side and God is on that side. Both are involved in their own ways.
5. How to receive the mercy of God?
[Swami, how to receive the mercy of God? Even if God is showing mercy on me, I don't know if I am open from inside to receive it. Please help.]
Swami replied:- The mercy of God is always logical and systematic. If there is a way to show mercy, the kindest God will certainly show mercy. If there is any window or door opened, the Sunlight will enter the house. Opening of door or window means perfect devotion to God, which is the true love without aspiring for any fruit in return from God. The atheist closes all the doors and windows of his/her house and the Sunlight will not enter such a house. Opening the door means true devotion to God.