Posted on: 22 Feb 2024
[Ms. Bhanu Samykya asked: Padanamaskaram Swami, when I read knowledge, I get to understand that God is real relationship of soul. So automatically some desires like speaking to God, etc., arises. At the same time, You have said that a devotee should always think that he/ she is undeserving to be in association of God and only then they will be deserving. How to balance these 2 opposite feelings? I.e., wanting the association of God at the same time thinking that I'm undeserving? -At the Divine Lotus Feet, bhanu samykya.]
Swami replied:- I told that a devotee shall think that he/she is undeserving only on the occasion of increased ego resulting in pride. When the fever rises, pieces of ice are advised to be put on your forehead. It is not a remedy when your body temperature is normal. If you have no fever and put ice on your forehead, you will catch a cold and result in running of nose. Whenever I suggest some remedy, there is a context for it and it is not a permanent remedy like thinking about God or surrendering to God. These two are permanent remedies like taking multi-vitamin tablets, which will give general strength, and is not for curing any specific disease. Self-criticism lowers confidence and is as dangerous as self-praise that increases over-confidence leading the soul into a stage of blind pride or ego. Both extremities must be avoided, and you must keep yourself in the normal state, which is exactly at the centre of these two extremities. Self-downing makes you lose your basic identity of the self, due to which you cannot perform neither worldly activities nor spiritual activities. A specific medicine must be used when you find the symptoms of its related specific illness. Without such specific context, if you use that specific medicine, that specific medicine will give you side reactions resulting in tremendous weakness so that you are incapable of doing any activity. You must have the full required confidence that makes you intensively active in the service of God.