Posted on: 09 Mar 2020
[A question from a discussion forum forwarded by Shri Anil: The followers of one God eat meat. The followers of another God do not eat meat. One God tells His followers to kill others. Another God got killed on the cross for the whole of mankind. These different Gods also have different birthdays! Then, how can you say that all these Gods are the same.]
Swami replied: God is like the common sugar present in sugar candy that is moulded into different shapes of swans, parrots etc. Different ‘Gods’ only mean the different media of the same unimaginable God. It refers to different Incarnations of the same God. The same person can be present in different dresses and speak the same subject-matter in different languages. This is unity in diversity. Unity is in the inner God and diversity is in the external media taken up by the same God. Since people differ in language, culture, qualities etc., this arrangement made by God becomes inevitable in order to relate with them.
[A question from a discussion forum forwarded by Shri Anil: If real love is without expectations, then why does Krishna expect devotional service from us? (This question was originally asked to ISKCON devotees.)]
Swami replied: When we expect something from God, it is for our welfare. When God expects something from us, it is not for His welfare, but it is only for our own welfare. This is the difference between the two types of expectations. Service to God itself is the fruit of a very long penance done by a soul for the past several births. The service to God only helps us and not God in anyway.
[A question from a discussion forum forwarded by Shri Anil: God is partial and loves only some people; not all. Those whom He loves the most, do not have to suffer much and such people also receive His help. Those whom He does not like, suffer more and do not receive His help. Jesus loved Peter. That is why Jesus did not allow Peter to betray Him. He allowed Judas to betray Him because Jesus did not love Judas. Judas had to face a bigger temptation than Peter. God gives us choice, but He does not give the same situations. Peter had an easy situation, but Judas did not have that same easy situation. Peter was close to Jesus like John, whereas, Judas was not so close. So, it is obvious that Jesus saved Peter and not Judas.]
Swami replied: All souls are equally the issues (children) of God and God is equally the divine father of all souls. He likes all like a father loving all his issues. But the issues are at different levels and they possess different qualities. So, a uniform procedure of reformation for all souls is not suitable.
[A question from a discussion forum forwarded by Shri Anil.]
Swami replied: The animals accompanying various gods and goddesses are also different and they have different qualities. The forms of God (Incarnations) are also different. The differences belong to the media taken up by God. The media are the different human beings into whom God enters to become each Incarnation. According to the qualities of the devotees in various places and times, God takes up media which also possess similar qualities. The common qualities enable God to get close to those devotees. I have explained this topic in several messages. The animal associated with a particular form of God represents a devotee serving God with full surrender.
[A question from a discussion forum forwarded by Shri Anil.]
Swami replied: The suffering of real deserving devotees is taken up by God mentally, which is invisible to us. The suffering of Jesus during the crucifixion was the external visible suffering. In any external punishment given to a soul, internal mental suffering also exists, which alone is important.
[A question from a discussion forum forwarded by Shri Anil.]
Swami replied: Looking at it only from the materialistic point of view towards life, yes, it was a waste of His life.