Posted on: 06 Feb 2021
[An online spiritual discussion was conducted on January 02, 2021, in which several devotees participated. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]
1. Did Śrī Hanumān burn Lanka out of ego or due to some other reason?
[A question asked by Śrī Ganesh.]
Swāmi replied: Hanumān, while burning Lanka, announced that He was the weakest monkey in the army of Sugrīva (Mattaḥ pratyavaraḥ kaścit...). Sugrīva, the leader of the army was certainly greater than his army. That Sugrīva had been defeated by Vāli and that Vāli had been killed by Rāma. By this gradation, Hanumān wanted to convey the strength of Rāma to the enemy. If Hanumān, the weakest monkey of Sugrīva’s army Himself was able kill so many demons and burn the city of Lanka, the demons could estimate the power of Rāma, Sugrīva and the army. Hanumān damaged the confidence of the demons in this way. This shows the climax of intelligence of Hanumān (Buddhimatāṃ variṣṭham...)
2. Why is it said that Lord Gaṇeśa should not be worshiped with tulasī leaves except on Ganesh Chaturthi?
[A question asked by Śrī Hrushikesh.]
Swāmi replied: Every person wants to become a special personality by telling something special to others. While telling such a thing to others, he should also tell the reason for it. Then, people will understand and appreciate the point. If you ask Me the reason for such a belief, what can this poor Datta Swami do? If this belief is actually so well-known, anybody should be able to tell the reason behind it!
3. Why do I only get worldly dreams, even though I desire to have dreams of God?
[A question asked by Smt. Sheela Prasad.]
Swāmi replied: The dreams that you get are only related to your strong thoughts. Weak thoughts do not appear in your dream. Let your devotion be strengthened further. Then, you will get divine dreams.
4. After committing the criminal act of crucifying Jesus, did the non-believers of Lord Jesus get reformed or not?
[A question by Smt. Anita Renkuntla.]
Swāmi replied: Certainly, many supporters of the crucifixion of Lord Jesus repented and got reformed. The tragic scene of the crucifixion and the climax of divine forgiveness of Jesus was such that it indeed filled many people with kindness. God had planned that incident so as to melt the rockiest of hearts and fill them with kindness. Only when the heart softens with kindness, can spiritual knowledge enter the heart.
5. What is meant by Your statement that God had the knowledge of creation, even before He created it?
[A question asked by Shri Anil Anthony.]
Swāmi replied: God is omniscient. It means that He knows the past, the present and the future. The same thing was told by God in the Gītā (Vedāhaṃ samatītāni...). Nothing is impossible for God since He is omnipotent.