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Smt. Latha asked: Namaskaram Swamiji! Two things happened to me in the past three days that I am not able to understand. I request you to clear my confusion. Three days ago, before dawn, I saw a person wearing a white dress in my dream. I felt as if Sai Baba was telling me that lots of money is going to pour from the nairuthu (south-west). Next, usually, I do not sleep during the day, but yesterday, I was feeling sleepy at about 10 o’ clock in the morning. A few minutes after lying in bed, I could not...
Tinku K asked: Jai Guru Datta, Guruji! I have heard from experts that if a person has a good immune system, the chance of such a person getting infected by the coronavirus is very low. Guruji, could You please suggest to us how we could improve our immune system through different foods, as per Ayurveda?
Swami replied: Whatever was suggested in Ayurveda is also suggested by modern medical science. Both medical systems analyze the effects of food on the body. Patients who have high blood sugar should avoid carbohydrates...
[A question by Shri Phani] Swami replied: In the Gita, it is said that adhibhūta is that which is non-eternal (Adhibhūtam kṣaro bhāvaḥ), adhidaiva is the Lord (Īśvara) (Puruṣaścādhi daivatam) and adhyātma is the natural tendency of the soul (Svabhāvodhyātmam ucyate). This means that adhibhūta is the entire lot of items within creation, which are studied by science and which are governed by scientific laws. Adhidaiva means the administration of the Lord (Īśvara), who is the first Energetic Incarnation...
[A question by Shri B. N. Sastry] Swami replied: Even though the three preachers are one and the same God Dattātreya, the difference in their philosophies is due to the difference in the levels of the receivers of their knowledge in their respective times. Śaṅkara incarnated in an atmosphere of atheism. Atheists belonging to the Buddhist or the Pūrva Mīmāmsā philosophies dominated India in His time. Atheists are not even willing to listen to even a single word from you if you say that a God other than themselves exists. So, Śaṅkara told the atheist that the atheist himself is already God and since he exists, God must exist. With this, He made the atheist...
Smt. Priyanka asked: Padanamaskaram Swami! I have a question regarding staying married when a couple feels the marriage is already broken. Should the couple stay married for the sake of their children, even though there is no trust, barely any respect towards each other, no healthy means of resolving conflicts and the spouse’s lack of ambition, laziness, inconsistency...
Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! One should get married only after perfectly studying and analyzing the qualities of the would-be life-partner. One must inquire about the nature of the person from his or her relatives and friends. Generally, the qualities and attitudes of the person...
[Tinku K. asked: Jai Guru Datta! Social customs related to marriage and sex have a close relation with dharma (justice). These customs have changed drastically in recent times. I have heard that in olden days, everyone used to get married around 12–15 years of age. So they had legitimate sex with their life-partner and remained satisified. But nowadays, everyone is getting married much later, between 28–35 years. It increases the pressure to have illegitimate sex, which is adharma (against the divine law). Also films, internet and even our friends, draw our senses to lust and sex. Western culture has influenced society very strongly and according to it, everything including multiple love affairs and illegitimate sex are...
Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! In olden days, marriage was done with the main aim of having children, which pleases one’s departed ancestors (pitṛ devatās). Producing children is part of God’s mission of continuing the human race from one generation to the other. The aim of marriage was...
Shri Durgaprasad asked: Padanamaskaram Swami! Following is a comment made by a person about hell and heaven in a Facebook discussion forum. Could You kindly enlighten us more on this?
[The Facebook user wrote: My opinion on whether there is the concept of hell or heaven in Sanātana Dharma (Hinduism) is that we have not any such concept. None of our scriptures suggest it. Because after you die, your soul will leave the body and concept of hell or heaven is for the soul. Now read our Bhagavad Gita. In Chapter-2, Text 22, it is said that as a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones. Even more importantly, it is said in Chapter-2 Text 23, that the soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon...
Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! It is important to distinguish between two terms namely, soul, which is called ātman and the individual soul, which is called jīva. The soul (ātman) is basically the inert energy in the nervous system that gets converted into awareness, while the individual soul (jīva) is the awareness. Gold is the soul and a golden chain is the individual soul. All the description...
Dr. K. V. Prasad asked (via telephone): I have read Your explanation about māyā and avidyā. Can you please explain more about theoretical and practical ignorance in the light of these two?
Swami replied (via telephone): Māyā is totally related to God (Māyāvacchinna Īśvaraḥ) and avidyā is totally related to the individual soul (Avidyāvacchinno jīvaḥ). In both of them, the truth is hidden and falsehood is experienced. In both, there is theoretical ignorance (Ajñāna āvaraṇam) as well as practical ignorance (Ajñāna vikṣepaḥ). In both, the theoretical ignorance can be removed through knowledge and analysis. In the case of māyā...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
[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...
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...
[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 ....
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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