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Will Swami answer my questions Himself?

Posted on: 23/04/2020

Shri Vamsi asked: Parama Pujya Swamivaru! It was too tempting when I read that my email would be answered by You Yourself! I could not hold myself from sending this email. I am a spiritual aspirant following the path of kriyā yoga of Paramahamsa Yogananda Swamiji. It is a great privilege to be born in the same time as You and to be writing to You like this. I just wanted to convey my deepest regards and respects to You and seek Your divine blessings for a successful sādhanā that I am currently struggling with. Jai Gurudeva! With most sincere and humble respects, and sāṣṭāṅga namaskārams at your lotus feet. Vamsi, Hyderabad.

Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! Can you send Me the details of your understanding of kriyā yoga? Kriyā yoga is nothing but the practical service done for God. Kriyā is an alternative word for karma. In kriyā yoga or karma yoga...

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Can You please answer my questions related to education, career, happiness, righteousness and emotional balance?

Posted on: 23/04/2020

Shri Mittapalli Bharath asked: I have numerous questions but there are no answers for them. In my whole education, I did not see a guru who could find some uniqueness in me. I want a guru who can find something special in me. I searched for such a guru, but I could not find one. Finally, I started reading and listening to the Bhagavad Gita daily. Then alone could I find my Guru. He is Lord Krishna, who helped me find my inner thoughts...

Swami replied: First of all, you must build the foundation for the house. Education is the foundation and the house consists of your worldly life and spiritual life. Worldly life is the ground floor of the house. Spiritual knowledge is the first floor that is built on top of the ground floor. You must first complete your professional education, find a job and get married to the girl chosen by you, with guidance from your parents. Then, you would have built the foundation...

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Are the present planetary positions responsible for the coronavirus pandemic?

Posted on: 23/04/2020

Tinku K. asked: Jai Guru Datta, Guruji! I read an online post by an astrologer which is as follows: “This is not the right time to do astrology, as the whole world is suffering. But here are some points. On 5th November, Jupiter entered Sagittarius and Ketu was already there. Ketu represents viruses and epidemics and Jupiter represents expansion (or spread). From Sagitarius, Jupiter aspected Gemini, where Rahu is already present. Rahu also represents epidemics. Gemini represents...

Swami replied: You should have raised this doubt to the astrologer who made that prediction. How many times have such combinations of Ketu, Śani (Saturn) and Guru (Jupiter) not happened before? Rahu and Ketu are derived from a demon and are always responsible for such viruses. But Śani is the son of the Sun-god, who is praised to be the Sadguru...

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Could You please interpret my vision of Lord Rama?

Posted on: 19/04/2020

Shri Martin Evind asked: Dear Shri Datta Swami! Pranams. Some years ago, I was sitting in meditation and I had a powerful experience. Suddenly, I was looking at a large Indian classical painting on a wall. The painting was of a residential compound in India. A wall surrounded the compound with buildings. Then the painting opened up and became actual reality...

Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! Dreams and visions (day-dreams) are of two types: (1) Messages given by God and (2) Our strong thoughts arising from our experiences in this world, in the present life or in previous lives. We have to analyse the dreams or visions so that we can find out whether it is God who is giving us a message or whether they are merely some strongly-impressed worldly thoughts...

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Are eggs vegetarian or non-vegetarian?

Posted on: 19/04/2020

Tinku K. asked: Most doctors recommend eating eggs because they contain proteins. Some people are even saying that eggs are not non-vegetarian, but vegetarian. Guruji, please tell me whether eggs are a vegetarian food or a non-vegetarian food.

Swami replied: As regards proteins, they are available...

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Does the Shri Satyanaaraayana vratam mean being truthful in word and deed?

Posted on: 19/04/2020

Tinku K. asked: One scholar said that Gandhiji followed satyavrata or the vow of truthfulness like king Satya Harishchandra. You have explained in one discourse that Shri Sathya Sai Baba performed a drama in His childhood days called "Cheppindi Chestara", which means being truthful, not only in what you say, but also in what you do. Is this principle of being truthful in both word and deed, the real meaning of the Śrī Satyanārāyaṇa Swami vratam?

Swami replied: Vratam is the worship of God. The word Satyanārāyaṇa actually means the source or embodiment of true knowledge (Satyasya nārasya jñānasya ayanaṃ yaḥ). It actually means the divine preacher who is preaching the true spiritual knowledge to you. Nārāyaṇa or Viṣṇu stands for the quality of sattvam...

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Is the coronavirus lockdown not similar to the imprisonment of Vasudeva and Devaki?

Posted on: 19/04/2020

Tinku K. asked: Gurudeva! In this coronavirus lockdown situation, staying at home for the past 14 days, without going outside, I feel like I am in jail. Please explain the story of Devakī and Vasudeva, the parents of Lord Krishna and Balarāma, who lived in jail for years, waiting for their children to free them. How did they manage to live in jail for so many years? Your answer will be an inspiration for so many people!

Swami replied: Vasudeva and Devakī were actually blessed by God to live in jail...

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Can We Not Find Causes And Effects in a Continuous Process?

Posted on: 14/04/2020

Shri Anil asked: Padanamaskaram Swami! This question is with reference to Your discourse dated February 27, 2020, which was related to the following verse from the Gita:

Asatyamapratiṣṭaṃ te jagaāhuranīśvaram

Aparaspara-sambhūtām, kimanyat kāma haitukam ।।16.8।।

In this verse, Lord Krishna was stating whatever is believed by an atheist about the production life in this world. Therefore, from the point of view of the atheist, that statement is fully correct. It means that if God Krishna is replaced by an atheist, the atheist would make the same statement....

Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! Your question is intended for an atheist and I am not an atheist to answer your question! Here the couple is referred to as the cause and the child possessing awareness...

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Swami Answers Devotee's Questions

Posted on: 14/04/2020

[Shri Anil asked: You have said in Your discourse on March 7, 2020 that a south-facing property is beneficial for people who regularly kill animals and are involved in the meat business (Kirātānāṃ dakṣiṇā). This means that by occupying a south-facing house, such people will not experience any bad effects and will continue to prosper. Does this not mean that the sages who gave the Vāstu Śāstra are promoting their sinful activity?]

Swami replied: Vāstu does not deal with sin and merit, it only deals with profit and loss. Souls of this level, who are involved in killing animals are not connected with spiritual knowledge. The connection between the south facing house of a butcher and the profit earned by him is unimaginable. The unimaginability of this connection paves the way for developing faith in the unimaginable God. Vāstu is not a physical...

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How Can One Attain Mental Peace While Carrying Out Worldly Duties?

Posted on: 14/04/2020

Swami replied: If you are detached from the fruit of your work (duty), your mind will not be disturbed. If you are attached to the fruit, anxiety or tension constantly keep arising in your mind and they will consume part of your energy, making you weak. While doing God’s work, you are expected to not aspire for any fruit from God. But this being free of aspiration is limited only to God’s work and it should not be applied to your worldly work. If you do your worldly work without aspiring for any fruit...

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Can You Please Explain the Significance of the Two Most Famous Incarnations of God namely, Rama and Krishna?

Posted on: 13/04/2020

[A question by Shri Phani]

Swami replied: There is a saying of elders “Old age has come, so think about Rama and Krishna”! Therefore, the names of these two Incarnations have some special significance. Rāma is called ‘Māyā Mānuṣa Vigraha’, which means the Human Incarnation of God that hides its divinity. So, all human beings feel that Rāma was only an ideal human being and not God. Māyā means a very deep ignorance. It refers to hiding the truth so deeply that no soul can find out the truth with its own effort. For example, matter is energy, but in a hidden way. You may theoretically know that energy itself appears as matter. This is the stage of the removal of theoretical ignorance (ajñāna āvaraṇa). But no soul can practically realise and experience matter to be energy ....

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Permanent Solution for the Coronavirus Pandemic (Telugu message)

Posted on: 11/04/2020

కరోనా విపత్తు నివారణపై పరమపూజ్య శ్రీ దత్తస్వామి దివ్యసందేశము

శ్రీ ఫణి:- ఈ భయంకరమైన వైరస్ కారణముగా ప్రపంచము ఎదుర్కొనుచున్న విపత్తులను ఎలా అధిగమించాలి?

శ్రీ ఫణి అడిగిన ప్రశ్నకు స్వామి ఇలా సమాధానమిచ్చారు:-

ఓ విజ్ఞులైన దత్త సేవకులారా! ఒక రాజు తన రాజ్యములో అనుసరించవలసిన నియమములను రూపొందించి ఆ నియమములను ప్రజలు అందరు తప్పకుండ పాటించాలి అని ఆదేశించారు. ప్రజలు ఆ నిబంధనను పాటించకపోతే వారు శిక్షింపబడతారు. కొంతమంది ప్రజలు ఈ నిబంధనను ఉల్లంఘించినారు. వారు రాజ్యములో ఉన్న ధర్మాసనము (court) చేత శిక్షింపబడినారు. ఇప్పుడు, ఈ నేరస్థులు రాజును అనేక విధములుగా స్తుతించినను, రాజు తన విశేష అధికారములను ఉపయోగించి వారి శిక్షను రద్దు చేస్తారా? రాజు ఏర్పరిచిన నియమాలను అనుసరించిన ప్రజలు రాజును ప్రశంసించకపోయినను శిక్షింపబడరు. అందువలన, రాజు ప్రశంసలతో సంబంధము లేకుండా, రాజు ఏర్పాటు చేసిన నిబంధనలను పాటించటము...

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Permanent Solution for the Coronavirus Pandemic (Hindi Message)

Posted on: 11/04/2020

कोरोना महामारी की शाश्वत रोकथाम

समस्त मानव जाति को कोरोना जैसी महामारियों से बचाने का क्या उपाय है?

[श्री फणी द्वारा पूछा हुआ प्रश्न]

श्री स्वामी ने कहा:- हे विद्वानों और भगवान के समर्पित सेवकों! एक राजा ने अपने राज्य में एक नियम पारित किया, जिसका सभी नागरिकों को पालन करना जरूरी था। नियम का पालन न करने वाले नागरिकों के लिए दंड निर्धारित था। कुछ नागरिकों ने नियम का उल्लंघन किया और उन्हें राज्य की अदालत (धर्म-सभा) द्वारा दंडित किया गया। अब मान लीजिये कि ये दंडित उल्लंघनकर्ता राजा की बहुत स्तुति करते हैं और उससे क्षमा-प्रार्थना करते हैं। तो क्या राजा अपनी सर्वोच्च शक्ति का उपयोग करके उनके दंड को रद्द कर देगा? अन्य नागरिकों को...

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Permanent Solution for the Coronavirus Pandemic

Posted on: 10/04/2020

Shri Phani asked: How to overcome such calamities as all the world is facing now due to the present horrible virus?

Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! A king passed a rule in his kingdom which was to be followed by all citizens. The citizens who failed to follow the rule were to be punished. Some citizens violated the rule and were punished by the court of law (dharmāsanam) present in the kingdom. Now, suppose these punished violators praise the king a lot and pray to him, will the king cancel their punishment using his supreme power? The other citizens who followed his rule were not punished, even though they never praised the king. Hence, the main point here is to follow the rule of the king. Whether citizens praise the king or not is immaterial.

If you replace the king with God and the kingdom with this entire world, you will be able to relate the above story to the present context. God has given the divine constitution called the Dharma Śāstra, to humanity through ancient...

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Should I follow my family's religious tradition or a different one?

Posted on: 09/04/2020

Shri Arunkumar asked: Dear Swamiji! My humble pranams. I have a doubt regarding the sacred thread. I am a Veera Shaiva Shiva Acharya Jangam by birth. People in my caste do not wear a sacred thread. But one group within the community says they follow the Vedas and the other says that they do not. In Kedarnath, people of our caste perform pūjā to Lord Śiva. My question is, I do not know whether...

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How to resolve family quarrels?

Posted on: 09/04/2020

Smt. Tanuja asked: Padanamskaram Swamiji! Kindly help me in the situation I am in. How can I resolve the quarrelling in the family? How can children communicate to their parents when they are feeling unsatisfied due to disturbances with their siblings or partner?]
Swami replied: The belief in God and the fear of His punishment for breaking justified traditions of elders and for violating justice in general, alone can bring perfect discipline in any soul. This is equally true whether the soul is a father...

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Why is it said that God is the world?

Posted on: 07/04/2020

[This question was asked as part of the evening satsaṅga with Swami, at the house of Shri Pavan K.

Shri Kishore Ram asked: Swami, could You please explain the meaning of “Viśvaṃ Viṣṇuḥ” from the Viṣṇu Sahasranāma Stotram, which contains a thousand names of Lord Viṣṇu? ]

Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! Literally, viśvaṃ means the world and Viṣṇuḥ means God. So, “Viśvaṃ Viṣṇuḥ” would mean that the world is God. But this is not the correct meaning of the statement. In this particular context, viśvam means worldly knowledge and Viṣṇuḥ stands for spiritual knowledge. The statement means that you can build all the concepts of spiritual knowledge with the help of worldly knowledge. It means that every concept of spiritual knowledge is found in worldly knowledge. Not only that, but the knowledge of God...

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How can we continue to serve without aspiration?

Posted on: 07/04/2020

[This question was asked as part of the evening satsaṅga with Swami, at the house of Shri Pavan K.

Shri Karthik asked: Whenever we attempt to follow Your knowledge and do service without any aspiration for the fruit, we are discouraged because immediately, we get trapped by the desire for some fruit in return. It causes us to stop making any further effort. How can we overcome this problem?]

Swami replied: There are three types of people. The lowest type never start any work due to the fear of failure in the future. The middle type start, do some work and then stop, due to some failure. The highest type of people start the work and finally stop only when they achieve success in it, even if they have to face a hundred hurdles on the way. You have ascended from the lowest type to the middle type. Now you have to ascend...

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Should we follow elders' instructions blindly?

Posted on: 07/04/2020

[This question was asked as part of the evening satsaṅga with Swami, at the house of Shri Pavan K.

Shri Nitin asked: Elders give us some instructions and ask us to follow those instructions without any analysis. Is this acceptable?]

Swami replied: This is not correct in any way. Even God Krishna asked Arjuna not to blindly follow whatever He had said, but to follow it only after thorough analysis (Vimṛśyaitadaśeṣeṇa). If the shopkeeper is sure that the gold sold by him is genuine 24 carat gold, he will ask the purchaser to subject it to any test and purchase it only after he is fully satisfied. This is because he is totally confident of the purity...

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Can One Leave the Family for God?

Posted on: 06/04/2020

[Swami visited the house of Shri. K. Pavan Kumar and had the following spiritual discussion (satsaṅga). Kumari Sarada Snehitha asked the following question to Swami: “Swami, You said that Śaṅkara left His mother, Prahlāda left his father and Buddha left His kingdom, son and wife for the sake of God. But how is it justified to leave these legitimate worldly bonds?”]

Swami replied: We totally agree with your point, as far as pravṛtti or worldly life is concerned. All family bonds are legitimate worldly bonds that are within the boundaries of worldly life. This means that you should vote for these legitimate worldly bonds over illegitimate worldly bonds. You must give top priority to your mother, your father, your life-partner (wife or husband), your son, your daughter, your property etc. If you neglect your life-partner for the sake of an illegitimate bond with some other person, you have failed at pravṛtti. You are in the state of duśpravṛtti, which is the lowest level of injustice. Pravṛtti or the worldly life following justice, is the middle level. One must vote for pravṛtti over duśpravṛtti. But the highest level...

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