Posted on: 23 Sep 2021
[Shri Anil asked: Pādanamaskāram Swami, some questions raised in internet discussion forum is presented below. Please grace Your response to the same. At Your Lotus Divine Feet-anil]
1. Can Christians and Muslims really be friends since they disagree on almost everything?
Swami Replied: They can become real friends if they understand the concepts of common universal religion proposed by Me.
2. Can You please explain this statement "Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ"?
Swami Replied: Here the word Christ means the contemporary human incarnation of God.
3. Why don't Christians or Muslims believe Jesus (Issa) studied Buddhism in India/Tibet in His last years when there is proof for it?
Swami Replied: Study of Buddhism by Jesus is not at all important. Important is our study of Universal Spirituality that proves all religions are established by the same single unimaginable God.
4. Do all negative thoughts and emotions are caused by Satan?
[Why do I feel like negative thoughts and emotions I have are from satan only and never from Jesus Christ? Jesus wants us to be positive and smile, right?]
Swami Replied: Negative thoughts and emotions are neither from satan nor from Jesus. They are from our minds only.
5. Does Jesus cry if people become bad?
Swami Replied: Why should Jesus cry? We have to cry.
6. Does Islam forbid Muslims to read holy books of other faiths?
Swami Replied: No religion forbids reading the scriptures of other religions, but, before doing that it is better to study the Universal Spirituality established by Me so that you will understand that all religions are one and the same in the basic essence.
7. Why in Quran only pork is banned for eating but not other animals?
Swami Replied: These food habits are not important as far as the basic Spirituality is concerned. Killing any animal is sin. The religion neglects this point when it is difficult to restrict this based on sin and punishment because all the people of that specific area are already strongly accustomed to it.
8. If a Muslim scientist tells that they can only eat halal food, what does that mean?
Swami Replied: In the initial state, it is better not to touch the aspect of food.
9. Why are some people rich and some have no food to eat?
Swami Replied: In a class, why one student gets 60 marks and other students get 59 to 0 marks? The souls enjoy different fruits of their different past and present deeds.
10. Was killing of Vriddhakshatra by Krishna is justified?
[Was Krishna fair in advising Arjuna to kill an old man, Vriddhakshatra, who was away from the battlefield and meditating and was in no way involved with the battle of cousins?]
Swami Replied: When the person is supporting injustice, the merits and defects of that person are unnecessary in giving the punishment.
11. Why is the east direction preferred for many activities in Hinduism?
Swami Replied: The sun rises in east and his rays fall into the house straight in every morning.
12. Does a Jnani feel pain in the waking state?
Swami Replied: Unless God’s grace is upon him, he cannot escape the pain.
13. Raamaanandi Sampradaaya believes that Raama is the source of all incarnations. Is this correct?
[On what authentic basis does Raamaanandi Saampradaaya say Raam is the source of all incarnations and Naarayana is a specific mood of Bhagavan Raam?]
Swami Replied: Devotion to Raama is appreciable, but, decreasing the importance of other forms of Raama is not correct.
14. What are the qualities of a good priest?
Swami Replied: He should preach the Spiritual meaning existing in the hymns read by him in a ritual.
15. How can parents make kids stop sinning?
Swami Replied: By preaching true Spiritual knowledge from childhood, the kids can progress in correct Spiritual path.
16. Is greed a mortal sin?
Swami Replied: It is certainly the worst sin due to which poor people suffer based on the greed of rich people.
17. Why was a newborn baby impure and untouchable?
Swami Replied: The reason is nothing but hygienic reason.
18. At what age are we responsible for our sin?
Swami Replied: Even in the childhood the sin is done due to earlier mental setup (Samskaara) of previous births. Hence, the soul is always responsible. A sage told that sins done in childhood shall not be considered. But, that is only a statement of the sage, who is a human being.
19. How pleasant and beautiful will Karna Loka be, and what will his devotees do after reaching there?
Swami Replied: What is meant by Karnaloka?
20. Whose severed heads are in the garland of the goddess Kali?
Swami Replied: The heads of demons disturbing the society.
21. Do the Vedas/Puranas/Upanishads/Gita/other epics mention anything about keeping "fasts" and the reasons for keeping them?
Swami Replied: The word used for fasting is Upavaasa, which means closeness to God by knowledge and devotion and this has nothing to do with foregoing the daily food.
22. Why didn't Lord Krishna save the babies killed by Puutana?
Swami Replied: The doctrine of deeds and fruits of souls (Karmasiddhaanta) will explain this point to you.
23. Does the sacred Bhagavad Gita say anything about divorce?
Swami Replied: Divorce is not mentioned by the Bhagavad Giita in direct way. The Giita says that the legitimate sex and living together of a couple is as holy as God (Dharmāviruddhaḥ…).
24. What motivated Sri Raamakrishna Paramahamsa to oppose the Vedas?
Swami Replied: He never opposed the Vedas. In fact, He preached the real essence of the Vedas to a common man.
25. How do we deal with our fears? Does meditation help to eradicate them?
Swami Replied: Meditation on God will help.
26. What mantra should I recite for the long life of my parents?
Swami Replied: The longevity is already decided by God. If a soul needs some extension of life in the Spiritual path, God always extends it.
27. Why do I have a fear of death even after knowing about there is life after death? Will I meet my deceased grandfather?
Swami Replied: How many grandfathers you had since the beginning of the creation?
28. Is it possible for anyone to see Hanuman in Kali Yuga?
Swami Replied: God is visible based on your purity of devotion. If you have seen the contemporary human incarnation of God, you have seen all the forms of God in one place.
29. According to Hinduism, what are the qualifications one should possess to consider as a deity?
Swami Replied: True Spiritual knowledge and true love towards real devotees are the two identity marks of God in human form.
30. Why does Lord Vishnu not prevent Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma from giving boons to Asuras?
Swami Replied: Lord Vishnu Himself is Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva. The same one God is giving boons to demons with a hope of reformation in them, but, in the case of disappointment, the same God is punishing them.
31. Is Krishna the basis of Brahman according to Gita?
[Referring to the verses 12.5 & 14.27 of the Bhagavad Gita, isn't God Himself saying clearly that He is the basis of Brahman and attaching our minds to the unmanifest is exceedingly difficult?]
Swami Replied: Here Brahman means the Veda and God is the basis of the Veda as author. Brahman means any greatest item in a specific group of items. The Veda is Brahman since it is the greatest among the scriptures of Hinduism.
32. I made a promise by touching the Bhagavad Gita but I failed to keep that promise. What am I supposed to do? Will Lord Krishna forgive me?
Swami Replied: The details of case and reasons for the failure decide about forgiving you by Krishna.
33. Is Hinduism the only religion where even Gods are punished for wrong doings like humans?
Swami Replied: Gods are not punished, who are different forms of the same absolute God. Angels are also punished for sins like human beings.
34. What does God say about time management?
Swami Replied: Time moves with very fast speed. Hence, don’t postpone worship of God due to false attractions of worldly life.
35. I have Covid and I’m in pain. Why can’t God see this and end my dreadful suffering?
Swami Replied: Pray God sincerely promising your reformation from this minute itself. You will be cured and protected by God.
36. How can I give my life to God as a living sacrifice?
Swami Replied: Involve in spreading the true Spiritual knowledge preached by your contemporary human incarnation.
37. Can a woman with no morals and values make a good wife?
Swami Replied: You have to see the circumstances of the woman and understand the true picture. Even though circumstances do not force her, if she is not having moral values, she will not be a good wife.
38. We use Vishnu and Shiva as names for a person. Why not Brahma?
Swami Replied: Brahma is also used as a name for a human being.
39. Why can’t cow protection be made as a fundamental right of Hindus?
Swami Replied: Cow represents any soft natured animal and hence, non-violence in the case of all soft natured living beings is the essence of cow protection.
40. Does God resonate according to respective religion?
[Why does every cultures God’s look like them? Is this a depiction that the people of particular cultures use to be able to resonate with them, or did the deities appear as looking similar to them so they could better relate?]
Swami Replied: Culture is only the superficial customs adopted by human beings without reference to God.
41. Why is there a difference between Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva while granting boons?
[ Why does Shiva grant boons easily to His devotees, whereas Lord Vishnu makes His devotees wait with immense patience and extreme penance?]
Swami Replied: Both these natures belong to the same God. Different natures are exhibited to different natured human beings. The ultimate philosophy of both these natures is one and the same.
42. What decides the mindset of Kaurava widows to unite with their husbands in heaven?
[When the widows of hundred Kauravas left to heavenly abodes to unite with their husbands by drowning in river Ganga why a similar opportunity was not availed by other war widows like Lakshmanaa, Uttaraa and many others?]
Swami Replied: It depends on the will of the widow.
43. Who was Arjuna's true soulmate, Draupadi or Subhadraa?
Swami Replied: The social conditions in that time were different from the present social conditions. Both were true soulmates of Arjuna.
44. How long does a Guru help His disciple?
Swami Replied: As long as the disciple needs the help.
45. Is it mentioned in Gita that converting to other religion is a crime?
Swami Replied: Yes. It is said that one shall remain in own religion since all the religions speak the same basic Spiritual knowledge in different languages to different external cultures.
46. Why did Shri Krishna break His flute after the death of Raadhaa?
Swami Replied: We must worry more about the love of Raadhaa to God Krishna than such things. Raadhaa proved that God Krishna is higher than any worldly bond.
47. Why does Guru Granth Sahib say "Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the deities were created" where we call them creators?
Swami Replied: God Datta took the three different energetic incarnations called Brahmaa, Vishnu and Shiva to do creation, control and destruction of the world. God Datta merged with each of the three incarnations and is identified with each incarnation.
48. Is it a sin for immediate cousins to be married by brothers from another family?
Swami Replied: It is not sin at all. It is only an ancient tradition (Ekasyāpi sutādvayaṃ na vihitaṃ nāpyekajanmadvayoḥ…- Dharma Śāstra)
49. Why is there a dispute on 9th avatar of Vishnu?
Swami Replied: Since Krishna is taken as original God, who took the 10 incarnations, Buddha stands as 9th incarnation due to which the 8th incarnation becomes Balaraama. Some consider Krishna as the 8th incarnation in the place of Balaraama. We need not worry about the numbers.
50. Are Shudras allowed in temples?
Swami Replied: Shuudra is not by birth, but, by qualities and deeds. A human being always worried about materialistic life only is called Shuudra. God Krishna clearly said that caste shall be decided by qualities and deeds and not by birth (Cāturvarṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭam, guṇakarma vibhāgaśaḥ…- Gītā).
51. Is it true that the fruits of deeds of incarnation go to both relative soul and the unimaginable awareness equally?
[Shri Anil asked: Pādanamaskāram Swami, Q1) Referring to Your knowledge (click here) as given below, I have a question. Kindly give Your response to it, at Your Divine Feet-Anil
“The ultimate item is only the mediated God called Purusha or energetic or human incarnation. If the body is taken as the tree, both the relative soul of God Datta and the unimaginable awareness (Parabrahman) can be taken as the two birds described in the Veda (Dvā suparṇā…- Veda). In the case of human being only one bird (relative soul) exists that enjoys the fruits of deeds. In the case of the incarnation, both birds are said to be bonded with love or devotion since the soul-bird is devoted to God-bird.”
Question: Based on the above, it means that in case of Incarnation, either human or energetic incarnation, the fruits of Their deeds go to both relative soul and the unimaginable awareness equally? What are the deeds of God? What are the fruits of God’s deeds? Are the fruits of His deeds viz. Creation, Administration, Destruction of the universe, is the entertainment itself?]
Swami Replied:- Neither in the original text of the Veda nor in My comments it is told that both birds (Absolute awareness and relative awareness) enjoy the fruits of deeds. Only the human soul enjoys the fruits (Tayorekaḥ pippalaṃ svādu atti…) and the unimaginable God shines without enjoying the fruits (Anaśnan anyo abhicākaśīti…).