MEANING OF THE WORD 'DATTA'

Shri Anil asked: In the recent reply to the letter of Dr. Nikhil, 1) You said that Datta will protect His real devotee. Does this mean that Datta alone is having omnipotence?

Swami replied: Datta means the unimaginable God given to the creation through the first energetic incarnation. The meaning of the word ‘Datta’ clearly indicates that Datta does not mean the first energetic incarnation related to a specific religion called Hinduism. 'God given' means in general and is related to every religion. The same unimaginable God is indirectly referred by different names and forms of the medium taken by God for His expression. Even the basic material of the medium is inert energy only and the innermost unimaginable God is also the same, whatever may be the religion. Other religions call Datta as Father of Heaven or Allah, etc. The form of the first energetic incarnation may slightly differ from one religion to the other religion since the name and form are only the imaginations of different sects of human beings. The same unimaginable God, the same first energetic incarnation of God and the same way of protection from God to devotee exists in every religion. When I replied the letter of Dr. Nikhil, the word ‘you’ used does not refer Dr. Nikhil but several devotees in the spiritual journey. Similarly, when Krishna expressed Arjuna, the word ‘you’ used refers several human souls in this infinite span of time.

2) Does this mean that the true devotee shall ask Datta for protection in problems?

Swami replied: Dr. Nikhil wrote that letter by the will of God only, representing devotees in problems. Due to his letter, the subject of God is expressed clearly, which happens to be an important aspect of spiritual knowledge. This is for the welfare of the spiritual knowledge of the devotees. Similarly, Arjuna asked questions to compile the spiritual knowledge called as the Gita. Arjuna represented all types of devotees and asked questions for the welfare of spiritual humanity. Those are not his personal questions. Arjuna was a sage by himself called as Nara and was closely associated with God, called as Sage Narayana. Actually, the devotee need not ask God for anything. God is not only omnipotent, but also omniscient. He knows every problem of His real devotee. He is the Creator of problems (Vighnakartaa) and also the solution of problems (Vighnahartaa). Problems are created by God to enhance the speed of your devotion like the culvert increasing the speed of the flow of water in a canal. Due to increased intensity of devotion, God solves the problem also. Once the water crosses over the culvert, the falling water runs with high speed and the culvert is already crossed over. The intense speed of devotion to God itself is the solution of any worldly problem. Problems are useful culverts and not opposing enemies. Problem is always your real friend like the culvert. Problems are helping you in your practical spiritual effort like the laboratory instructors in practical classes. The preacher is like the professor explaining the concept in the classroom, which is to be verified practically in the laboratory of your worldly life. You have also asked these questions on the will of God only to throw light on some important point.

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