Posted on: 18 Oct 2022
1. Who are Mahatmas (Sages)?
[Smt. Lakshmi Lavanya K asked: Pada namaskaram Swami, in a book, I have read that Sage Ekanadh maharaj has said "ఆవు తల నుండి తోక వరకు ఆవే అయినప్పటికీ, ఆవు పొదుగు నుండి మాత్రమే పాలను పొందగలం, అలాగే ప్రపంచమంతా భగవంతుడే నిండి వున్నప్పటికీ భగవంతుని అనుగ్రహం మహాత్ముల ద్వారా మాత్రమే పొందగలము" (I may not translate correctly, so i write in Telugu). Although it is a cow from head to tail, we can get milk only from a certain part, in the same way, Although the whole world is GOD, we can gain grace of GOD through Mahatmas only. My doubts are: Who are Mahatmas (Sages)?]
Swami replied: Mahatmas or sages are the devotees, who have reached the stage of climax of true love towards God.
2. What is difference between Mahatmas and God?
Swami replied: Mahatmas are the highest devotees and God is their ultimate goal.
3. What is the difference between the closest devotee and a human incarnation?
[What is difference between closest devotees and the human incarnation? For example, I have read in Guru charitra, 4 closest devotees are there with Sri Nrusimha Saraswathi at the time of His samadhi.]
Swami replied: The closest devotee is that soul, which has hundred percent concentration on God only and no trace of concentration on anything or anybody.
4. Can we take the words of devotees as words of the human incarnation?
Swami replied: You can take their words as absolute authority, but, sometimes, you may take the word of a false devotee thinking him as a mahatma. Here, you have erred in identifying the real Mahatma. In order to avoid the wrong result of such an illusion, it is always better to get the concept heard from the devotee verified by the Sadguru or the Human Incarnation of God.
5. If we observe any difference between words of these devotees and God on the same concept, then what do we do?
Swami replied: The words of God are always correct because God is omniscient.
6. Shall we see Your closest devotees as Yourself?
[In the starting of guru charitra, the closest devotee of Sri Nrusimha Saraswathi Swami helps a devotee Namadharaka to get climax devotion, so shall we see Your closest devotees as You.]
Swami replied: I have already answered about this in the above question. Always, you must have Sadguru as the final authority. The devotee may err sometimes because he is only a human being and not God. The knowledge of God alone is the highest authority. Whatever may be the extent of your logical analysis, the knowledge of God will stand firm. If your analysis is weak, you may mistake the wrong knowledge of the devotee as the right knowledge.
7. Please explain the following Narada Bhakti Sutra.
[సూత్రం. ( 47) యో వివిక్త
స్థానం సేవతే: యో లోకబ్ంధ మున్మూలయతి;
యో నిస్త్రై గుణయో భవతి; యో యోగక్షేమం త్యజతి" ||
భావం:- ఎవడు ఏకాంత ప్రదేశ్ంలో నివసిస్తారో, ఎవడు లౌకిక బంధాలను కూకటి వేళ్లతో సహా పెకలించి వేస్తాడో; ఎవడు ౩ గుణములకు అతీతుడు అగుచున్నరో; ఎవడు లేని దానిని సంపాదించుకోవడం, వున్న దానిని కాపాడుకోవడం అనేవానిని వదిలి పెడుతున్నారో, అతను మాయను తరించగలడు.
Who is living alone, who is detached from all worldly bonds and 3 gunas, who is not trying to earn new things which one doesn't have and is not trying to protect things which one already has, only that person will cross Maya. Please explain this from the Narada Bhakthi Sutra.]
Swami replied: The basic principle in crossing the bad side of maayaa (which is called as avidyaa related to bad qualities, rajas and tamas) is only to get the grace of God through true devotion, which is characterised by both theoretical and practical devotion based on complete true spiritual knowledge. Gita says that one can cross the maayaa of God (avidyaa maayaa) by total surrender or prapatti to God. The other side of maayaa is vidyaa maayaa that is related to the good side of maayaa (the sattvam quality) which will never be affected by the avidyaa maayaa. Maayaa to be crossed means only the avidyaa maayaa and not the vidyaa maayaa.
8. Is Pravrutti based on Nivrutti because without the help of God, a peaceful worldly life not possible?
[You said we shall lead a peaceful worldly life with the help of God which helps us to focus on our spiritual life. So I think that Pravrutti is based on Nivrutti because without help of God, we cannot lead a peaceful worldly life and without faith in Him, we can't pray Him, please explain.]
Swami Replied: God is the Lord of both Pravrutti and Nivrutti. Whether Pravrutti supports Nivrutti or vice-versa, the total basis is only to please God through sincere true love supported by practical proof. It is immaterial which supports which, when both are in both hands of God.