Posted on: 14 Dec 2021
[Shri Bharath Krishna asked: Padanamaskaram Swami, I have a question for which I am trying so hard and so desperate to find an answer. In fact, it is with this question that I came to You hoping that I would find an answer. Actually I got half of the answer. First I will explain the question that I previously had before coming to You and then the fresh question that came up in my mind after learning a little bit of Your knowledge.
Before meeting You, I attended a Bhagavadgita camp. That's where I seriously started learning about You. There they taught me that everything is God. As I learned Your knowledge, I have understood that it is true only in an effective sense. During that same period, due to certain situations in my life, I went through tremendous pain to the point of considering suicide as an option because I didn't find any purpose in my living. But I already learned from Gita that if anyone commits suicide, they have to start exactly from the same point or even much worse. That was not at all a wise thought, so I had to let go. It was from that pain that a serious question came up in my mind for which I couldn't find an answer. So neither suicide was an option nor nobody was there to answer my question. It was so painful that I spent so many sleepless nights.
I learned from Gita that the reason for all my pain and suffering is my own sinful karma. Why did I do such karma? Because of my samskaras (sinful tendencies). Why did I have those samskaras? Because I did some sinful karmas. Then why did I do such sinful karmas which further lead to stronger sinful tendencies? Nobody answered this question of mine. By then I already knew very well that God existed.]
Swami replied:- The sinner himself/herself is responsible for this spontaneous chain of sins because even in the world we can see the practical example, a person addicted to wine or smoking goes on repeating the sin in spite of good advice from elders and well-wishers. Similarly, in spite of hectic efforts from the side of God to uplift you from the chaos, the spontaneous force setup in the chain does not allow even any trace of change and this is the unfortunate fate of humanity. Nobody can blame God on this issue because God has already given the freedom to the souls; only severe punishments can change the soul to some extent. But, the true spiritual knowledge has always tremendous power to change this situation. Here spiritual knowledge means not simply listening it once, but also means memorising it continuously till the decision is reached (Śrotavyo mantavyo nididhyāsitavyaḥ— Veda). After all, the obstructing spontaneous force in the above said chain is only psychological and the remedy (spiritual knowledge) for it is also psychological related to mind. A diamond only can cut another diamond. Solving the problem without postponement is the only path in the practical field of either spiritual life or worldly life. Suicide is the climax of foolishness because suicide can’t solve the problem and after death also the problem is not leaving the soul suffering as a ghost.
[Shri Bharath Krishna asked: Now, being unable to bear that pain, I wanted to find the one who is responsible for my pain. I couldn't think there was any mistake on my side. So I had to assume and then also believe so strongly that it is because of God I did those sinful karmas and then I am suffering. Since I couldn't find any mistakes on my side, I had to blame God and then eventually I became so angry with God. But I desperately wanted to find God and ask this question and know what mistakes I made. I was also considering the possibility that actually the mistake could be mine as well. Hence I wanted to find You and ask this question. If Arjuna can ask You directly, why can't I? That's when You have sent Dr. Nikhil sir into my life. I started learning Your knowledge from him. Gradually he revealed that the Spiritual Knowledge which he was teaching me is actually given by You and also he told me that You are Lord Datta. I was very happy, happy to the core that You finally came to answer all my questions. Dr. Nikhil sir taught me that the reason due to which I did the first sin is the boredom of continuous happiness and taking complete freedom from God. That was a perfect answer to my question.]
Swami replied:- God created all the souls and hence, God is considered to be the ultimate divine Father. He will never think even for fraction of second to spoil any soul created by Him. He always tries to help every soul by giving true spiritual knowledge and at the same time not spoiling the freedom given to the soul after boredom of continuous happiness. This point shall be always protected in your mind and heart in any Tsunami of life. Under any circumstances, this shall not change because misunderstanding and becoming angry to God is greatest sin in this entire creation.
[Shri Bharath Krishna asked: But then a new question came up? Why did I get bored? Can God not create me in such a way that I will never get bored? In that case I will just be a robot and You will not be entertained by having earth full of inert robots. There is no fun in that. You wanted to create souls with basic freedom within the rules of Dharma so that You can constantly be entertained in guiding us to live a happy life. You did that with so much love. I also learned the example of a rich person starting a school with good intention of guiding the students. If the students don't listen to teachers and end up making mistakes, that rich person is not responsible. I understood all of this very well. This is where my new questions came up. I thought of suppressing them temporarily hoping that one day or the other I will find the answer in Your knowledge as I understand it more and more. But then these new questions itself are becoming the road block in understanding Your knowledge. Hence I am bringing them to You now. Following are those questions.
Is there any soul in Your entire creation who became a climax devotee without even committing a single sin? According to my understanding of Your knowledge, there are a few (Gopikas). I don't know if I am correct, but, If I am correct, why am I not one of them? Why did they choose not to commit any sin and why did I choose to commit sins?]
Swami replied:- In the school mentioned above in your question based on My knowledge, let us take two cases:- 1) A student following the advice of teacher takes the implementation of it from the beginning and scores first class. 2) A student not following the advice of teacher from the beginning and finally failed in the examination. Suppose the second student starts investigating the reason for his damage and puts questions like you referring to the first student, what will you answer? After the school-classes, all students are given freedom to study or to enjoy. At the same time, the teacher is advising right path in every step, but, the failed student never cared about it. The reason for such behaviour of the failed student is only carelessness based on ego. The failed student is trying to throw the blame on somebody or something, but, will you support his arguments? Even now, the teacher says that it is better to be late than never. Even now, if care is taken, the failed student can recover by keeping the first student as his goal.
[Shri Bharath Krishna asked: If Gopikas too did sins during their past lives, what made them choose to enquire about You and what made me not choose to enquire about You then? Why did this delay happen in my case?]
Swami replied:- Gopikas were sages for millions of births dying to reach God. Their love to God was in climax and this made God to transfer their sins on to Him. Without knowing their secret fixed deposits, you are comparing their current account balances with your current account balances. The reason for your failure and their success was within yourself and themselves only. Arjuna asked Krishna about the address of external enemy provoking to do sins. Krishna replied that the enemy is only internal desire for worldly luxuries and foolish anger shown to others (Kāma eṣa krodha eṣa…). Ego based jealousy is the main misleading enemy. But, if you direct this jealousy to right face, the same jealousy will help you in your self-development to reach the stage of Gopikas. Shankara was showing more love on the disciple called Padmapaada and this made other disciples to become highly jealous. One day, Shankara ordered Padmapaada to bring His clothes, which were spread for drying on the other bank of Ganga river. Padmapaada took the clothes and ran on the water in the shortest straight way neglecting the sudden flood of Ganga river. Then, mother Ganga placed lotus flowers below the feet of Padmapaada so that he could reach this side without drowning! Only Sadguru knows the secret fixed deposits of a soul and this point is realized by those disciples, who can conquer their ego based jealousy rising from deep ignorance. There is no use in brooding over the past, which is sheer wastage of time. One has to study and analyse the past to learn lessons from it and not to suffer or to show anger on others.
[Shri Bharath Krishna asked: In every cycle of Your creation some Gopikas (climax devotees) must have existed. You told us that the Gopikas of this cycle of creation are in Goloka which is created by You. What about all those other Gopikas from previous cycles of creation? What happened to them?]
Swami replied:- All Gopikas existed in one cycle only, which was the end of Dvaapara age. The Gopikas from Goloka also accompany God to this earth to assist His divine program. What is the use of such enquiry, which will not help your spiritual effort?
[Shri Bharath Krishna asked: What is the reason I am continually having this doubting nature? In general, what is the root cause of a continuous doubting nature?
Swami, I couldn't deal with these thoughts in my mind. I tried really hard. Hence I am bringing them to You now. Please forgive me for having this doubting nature and kindly answer my questions Swami. No one else in this world other than You can tolerate me Swami. The fact that You are there with me is the very reason I am having hope on life. I want to quickly clarify all of my doubts so that I will always be with You forever. Your defective servant, Bharath Krishna.]
Swami replied:- Doubting nature is always good, which leads to sharp analysis and to take help from your Sadguru wherever necessary. If you are not doubting, false preachers will exploit you for your ignorance. The only main requirement in spiritual knowledge is doubting to get correct answers. At the end of the Gita, even Krishna said that Arjuna shall believe His knowledge after sharp analysis only and not blindly. But, the doubts shall come naturally in a genuine manner. Doubting Sadguru with jealousy and putting questions based on ego are not good since such doubts are not natural but artificial.
[Shri Bharath Krishna asked: I sometimes share Your knowledge with someone who have some spiritual interest. They also read it and appreciate it also. They seem to be understanding it also. But at last they say that "I think I am not ready for this journey yet". In such case should I continue to give the knowledge and push him further or let go of that person? What to do when such a person is a close relationship and constant interaction with such person is inevitable? They will come back to me for a friendly discussion but I can't waste my time by encouraging the worldly discussions. It is neither useful to me nor that person. Thank you so much Swami for patiently answering all of my questions clearing all of my doubts. Your defective devotee and servant, Bharath Krishna.]
Swami replied:- God always tries to bring every soul into the spiritual line. When a school is established in village, a teacher of the school not only teaches the students in the school, but also, tries his level best to bring every teenager of the village to the school. If he fails in a case, it is not the bad fate of the teacher, but it is the bad fate of the teenager. A spiritual devotee shall try to create spiritual interest in every soul as far as possible to please God.
[Shri Bharath Krishna asked: Padanamskaram Swami, Kindly answer the following questions of mine.
Shri Satya Baba said, "Start early, drive slowly and reach safely". I used to see this quote everytime I went to my hometown. Later I watched one of the YouTube videos in which Swami revealed the inner meaning of that statement. When He said "Start early", we have to start our journey towards God as soon as possible. "Drive Slowly" means be very careful and go slow, no need to hurry. "Reach safely" means successfully reaching God by avoiding all the possible slips during our journey due to our mistakes. It is You who was in Baba's body said this.
I have also learned from Your knowledge that one should put spiritual efforts just like the one who is drowning in water wants to desperately come out for taking that single breath. This kind of makes me think that I have to hurry. Now I am confused because You are saying to go slow at the same time to hurry. I am unable to understand this. Kindly help me understand this Swami. If I surrender to You completely, is it required for me to take care of that "Reach Safely" aspect of the journey?]
Swami replied:- Both hurry and slowness are merits in the necessary contexts. In selecting Sadguru, one has to be slow in analysing various factors that decide the detection of real Sadguru. Once you have decided the goal correctly, you shall run to the goal like the non-stop GT express! In such case only the safety is ensured.
[Shri Bharath Krishna asked: Swami, You have always emphasized so much on Spiritual Knowledge because that is the major step. Now if we consider this stage of learning knowledge, it contains learning theoretical knowledge as well as gaining practical experience. Now based on my experience, I feel that the contribution of theory in learning a lesson is around 10% whereas the practical situations that You are creating in my life is what is really making me understand the knowledge. Hence I feel it's contribution is 90% in this knowledge learning stage. But You are creating such practical situations for learning for each and every soul You have created. But many of us fail to learn because that 10% theory is missing. Hence this 90% practical experience obtained in this valuable Human life is of very little use without that theory. Is what I understood correct Swami?
I am so happy to witness Your unimaginable patience in teaching me. Thank you so much Swami. You defective devotee and servant, Bharath Krishna.]
Swami replied:- Learning the true spiritual knowledge is 100% effort. Once the true spiritual knowledge (Jñāna Yoga) is digested after clarification of all the doubts with the help of sharp analysis, the inspiration for practice (Bhakti Yoga) is spontaneously developed and then the practice (Karma Yoga) follows spontaneously. After reading the knowledge, if inspiration is not developed, such knowledge is defective due to lack of clarity. Once inspiration is not developed the practice will not appear. Hence, the first step is learning the knowledge with full clarity and this takes almost all the time. This is the first step of reaction as per Reaction Kinetics in chemistry. The second step (development of inspiration) and the third step (practice) are spontaneous requiring no time at all. Hence, the time consumed by the first step is the time consumed by the overall reaction (which includes three steps).