18 Jun 2025
1. Kindly elaborate the meaning of the following parable from the Bible.
[Shri Anil asked: Paadanamaskaaram Swami, Kindly elaborate the meaning of the following parable from the Bible.
The Parable of the Talents [Matthew 25:14-30]:- “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He, who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he, who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’]
Swami replied:- Knowledge can be improved in a normal way and in extraordinary way. Reading books is a normal way and listening the knowledge from Sadguru is the extraordinary way. Similarly, investing money in agriculture is ordinary way, whereas investing money in business is extraordinary way. Knowledge buried in the brain without propagation becomes useless like the money buried in the earth without any growth.
2. In Christianity, people confess their mistakes in front of the Father in the church to wash off their sins.
[Smt. Anita asked: Paada Namaskaaram Swamiji 🙇♀️🙏 Swamiji, do enlighten me with Your answers for the questions asked out of my ignorance. And I Thank You millions of times for the Grace showing upon me whenever am going out of the divine spiritual track. Do forgive me for I have hurt You Swamiji 🙇♀️ In Christianity, people confess their mistakes or misdeeds in front of the Father in the church to wash off their sins. In the same manner, they write letters of indulgence and drop in confession box.]
Swami replied:- Realization and repentance of sin are good, but, of no use. Only non-repetition of sin is the best practical way that cancels all the past sins of that type.
3. Are their sins really washed off? What is the story behind letters of indulgence in Christianity?
Swami replied:- Unless non-repetition of sin is practically implemented, all these steps are good but useless.
4. Jesus said to Mathews on the day before giving the big sermon, “You are salt of the earth”. How to understand this Swamiji?
[At Your Divine Lotus Feet, Anita]
Swami replied:- Salt tasted individually is not at all tasteful. But, when it is added to the food while cooking, it gives very good taste. Similarly, some people are bad independently, but they become very good when associated with good spiritual people.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★