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[An online satsaṅga took place among devotees on October 10, 2020. Following is a discourse given by Swamiji based on the points discussed by the devotees in the satsaṅga.]
Swāmi said: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! Śrī Ganesh was saying in the satsaṅga that he told a lie to his higher officer that some work assigned to him had already been completed, because he wanted to spend time in spiritual study. Later on, he found that the task was actually completed. Ganesh wanted to know whether his lie was a sin or not. The answer is that one can only tell a lie in order to establish justice over injustice. Except for this one occasion, lies are sins. God is above justice...
Shri Anil asked: Pādanamaskāraṃ Swami! There is an incident in New Testament of Bible in which the angel of God (Gabriel) appeared to Zechariah who was a priest and a very good devotee of God observing all the commandments of God. The angel announced to him that his wife would give birth to a son, whom he was to name John, and that this son would be the forerunner of the Lord (Jesus). Citing their advanced age, Zechariah asked...
Shri Anil said: A person asked in an online forum why Allāh does nothing when a person burns the Quran, even though Muslims say that Allāh has taken the responsibility of protecting the Quran. The verses supporting the protection and preservation of the Quran by Allāh are: Absolutely, we have revealed the reminder, and, absolutely, we will preserve it [Quran 15:9]. This is an honorable Quran. In a protected book...
Shri Anil asked: Does a country have a horoscope like an individual based on date of birth? India was a land of sages and saints. Now our country is facing threats of war from our neighbours (China and Pakistan). We never attacked other countries. But still, we were attacked many times by Pakistan and China. Just as we say for a person, can we also say for a country that it is the fate (karma cakra) of that country that has brought such a situation?...
Shri Anil asked: In the Old Testament (Exodus), it is written “You shall not bow down to them (idol) or worship them (idol); for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Swami, I want to know why it is mentioned that God is ‘a jealous God’...
Shri Anil asked: In the Hadith, the following incident is mentioned: Mohammad passed by some women on his way to the mosque. He said to them, “Give for charity. I looked in hell and saw that most of its dwellers are women.” The women asked, “Why messenger of Allāh?” He replied, “Because you are inferior in your mind and religion, and slander your companion.” They asked, “How are we inferior in our mind and religion?” He replied, “You are inferior...
Shri Anil asked: In the Quran it is depicted that Prophet Muhammad receives the knowledge (Quran) from angel Gabriel, then subsequently He speaks that knowledge to others. In the Bible, angel Gabriel spoke to Mother Mary that she will give birth to Jesus by God’s intervention. But when Jesus entered into the mission of propagation of knowledge, a voice from heaven spoke “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased...
Shri Anil asked: Swami in the question that you answered on September, 15, 2020, You mentioned that You had visited Madurai Mīnākṣī Amma Temple in 1980 and 1990. What was the context...
Shri Anil asked: Pādanamaskāraṃ Swami! Abdullah has narrated the following in the Hadith: “We used to participate in the holy battles led by Allāh's Apostle and we had nothing (no wives) with us. So we said, ‘Shall we get ourselves castrated?’ He forbade us that and then allowed us to marry women with a temporary contract and recited to us: ‘O you who believe! Make not unlawful the good things which Allah...
Shri Anil asked: The angel Gabriel asked the Prophet “What is Ihsan (perfection)?” Allāh's Messenger replied, “To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion, then you must consider that He is looking at you.” Swami, what is the meaning of this statement? As per the preaching of Islam, Allāh cannot be seen. Then why did the Prophet stress upon developing devotion...
Shri Anil asked: There is a reference of Doomsday (the day the world ends or is destroyed) in the Quran in which, in one instance, a person asked the Prophet about it and in another instance angel Gabriel asked the Prophet about it, as given in the following verses. While the Prophet (ﷺ) was saying something in a gathering, a Bedouin came and asked him, “When would the Hour (Doomsday) take place?” Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ) continued his talk, so some people said that Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ) had heard the question...
Swami replied: Whether it is the dissolution of an individual or a group of individuals or all individuals, it is only a quantitative difference. Whether the rape is done by an individual or a gang, the sin is qualitatively one and the same. The subsequent punishment...
Shri Anil said: A muslim devotee asked why Jesus could not defend Himself, when He is said to be God. He said that if the so-called God cannot protect Himself, is He even worthy of worship? Swami, kindly give a reply to this.
Swami replied: Jesus rose a dead person by His miraculous power. This shows that He had complete divine powers and could even control death. He did not defend Himself only as per the divine plan...
Shri Anil asked: Jesus said: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Swami, why did Jesus say this? Does loving money indicate hating God and vice versa? Please clarify.]
Swami replied: Money is created by God along with this world and God also created...
Shri Anil said: A person is quoting verses from the Quran to prove that Jesus or Muhammad were not God-in-human-form as they did not know the hour (doomsday). The person further says that Jesus could not be God based on the following points: Mark 9:1, ESV: And He said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God, after it has come with power...
Swami replied: Regarding the last hour, the reply has already been given. One God doing the three cosmic activities of creation, ruling and final dissolution of the world are depicted as three Gods. This actually means that there is only one God doing all the three activities. ‘Clinging substance’ or ‘black clay’ mean the ‘same substance’, owing to which the human being clings...
Shri Anil asked: Pādanamaskāraṃ Swami! When the rich man approached Jesus for salvation, he could not sacrifice his wealth, as per the order of Jesus because he possessed a lot of wealth. Subsequently, Jesus said that “The truth is, it will be very hard for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom. Yes, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom...
Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! The essence of all this is that the quality of sacrifice is extremely important for a soul to become God. One can become a Human Incarnation of God in the present life itself. The soul’s bond...
Shri Anil asked: Before Jesus’s crucifixion, He was brought before the Roman governor named Pilate. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are You the king of the Jews?” Jesus asked him “Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me? Pilate replied, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What is it You have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would...
Swami replied: God is beyond this entire creation, which includes this earth and the upper worlds also. Jesus was not referring to this earth in contrast with the upper worlds. Certainly, the entire creation is under the control of God. Jesus was talking in the context of what was said about Him by the Jews referred to by the Governor. Jesus was referring to the spiritual world, which is quite different from this materialistic...
Shri Anil asked: The Roman governor, Pilate, could not find any charge against Jesus for His crucifixion. Pilate even declared that to the people and tried to free Jesus, but the public pressurised Pilate to crucify Jesus. When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent...
Swami replied: Not at all! Even if he had used sanitizer to clean his hands, not even a trace of his sin would be washed! He acted as per his own nature. Power and wealth are the most costly wines to which some people are always addicted. Hence, one should not blame God by saying that the governor...
Shri Anil asked: Angel Gabriel appeared to virgin Mary and said “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God”. To this, Mary replied: “I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said.” Even though Mary was unmarried, she meekly accepted the message from God. Would this prove...
Swami replied: A devotee can become a dualistic incarnation of God through his or her devotion. It means that the devotee remains a devotee, but is regarded as God. Such dualistic incarnations are greater than the devotee...
Shri Anil asked: When Jesus was carrying the cross, a great number of people followed Him and sympathised. To them, He said “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children”. Swami, why did Jesus say this to the sympathising public?
Swami replied: Jesus was carrying out the divine program of God, even though it involved the terrible agony of crucifixion. That agony was temporary and would last only for a few hours. After it, He was going to sit on the right lap of the Father of heaven, forever. The public appeared to be temporarily happy in the world, as they associated with their bodies and their dearest children. But their happiness was temporary. It was limited to just a few more years...
Shri Anil asked: Pādanamaskāram, Swāmi! I am giving two instances of differences in Jesus’s life history as depicted in the gospels. The gospels written by Mathew and John did not mention about Jesus ascending to heaven after He appeared to the disciples following His resurrection. But the gospels written by Mark and Luke mention Jesus’s ascending to heaven. In the gospels written by Mathew and Mark, it is mentioned that both the thieves mocked at Jesus while on the cross to save Himself. But in the gospel by Luke, it is written that out of the two thieves crucified along with Jesus, one criticized Jesus while the other prayed to Jesus to give him a chance to be with Him in heaven, which Jesus sanctioned. Also, there is no mention of rebirth by Jesus in any of the four gospels. Swāmi, do these differences in reporting the gospel matter to us in the spiritual path? Please grace us with Your reply. At Your Divine Feet –anil.
Swāmi replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! Analysis will solve this problem. Disciples have different mentalities and their mentalities are reflected in their recording of different points. One may feel that some points are very important and another may feel...
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