Posted on: 18 May 2023
1. Why did Rama Himself go to meet Shabari while Sudama went to Dwaraka to meet Krishna?
[Smt. Lakshmi Lavanya K asked: Namaste Swami. What is the difference between Sabari and Sudama. Why did Rama Himself go to meet Sabari but Sudama went to Dwaraka to meet Krishna?]
Swami replied:- Rama did not go to Shabari specifically. While searching for Sita in the forest, the asylum of Shabari was on the way. Sudaama also did not go to Krishna for any help. You can find both these visits as one and the same without any difference.
2. Why did Lord Krishna give that much of a luxurious life to Sudama?
[Why did Lord Krishna give that much of a luxurious life (beyond basic needs) to Sudama (for the sake of his family members or for the sake of Sudama)]
Swami replied:- The wealth given by Krishna was not in the view of a luxurious life. It only indicates the gift from God, who appreciated the attitude of Sudaama for not having aspiration for any fruit in return from God. This angle of a luxurious life spoiling Sudaama also came before the eyes of Rukmini, who obstructed Krishna from eating the third portion of the parched rice.
3. How did Sudama lead his devotional life after returning home? How did he maintain the relationship with Lord Krishna in his daily life?
Swami replied:- He maintained the same devotion towards Krishna as he maintained earlier before going to Krishna.
4. What is the difference between Ranthidevudu and Saktuprasthudu?
Swami replied:- I find only similarity, which is lack of selfishness.
5. Please explain about Saints like Ravidas, Surdas, Kabirdas, Tulasidas, Meerabai. Are they human incarnations or climax devotees?
Swami replied:- They are climax devotees. Even if some incarnation of God exists, such incarnation also behaves as per the role only. Hanuman is the incarnation of God Shiva, but, behaved as a devotee only.
6. How did the above devotees feel the presence of God in their lives without the human incarnation?
[How did they feel the presence of God in their lives without human incarnation (because the poetry written by them helps us to feel highest devotion)]
Swami replied:- Human incarnation exists in every human generation. Otherwise, God will be blamed with irrational partiality. Their devotion may be excellent, but, without a proper goal. ‘Without proper goal’ does not mean that there is no goal. It only means that the contemporary human incarnation was not caught by them. They can get the same in their next births. Afterall, one birth is just one second in this infinite stream of time. Instead of taking these examples, why don’t you take the best and supermost examples like Hanuman and Radhaa, who caught their contemporary human incarnations. After catching the highest, why should you look at others? From these examples, you can take the quality of their devotion to God.
7. Why did Saint Ravidas not take the money given by Lord Rama?
[I heard in the story of Saint Ravidas that Lord Rama used to give him daily expenses under the statue of Rama, but Ravidas used to throw away that money because money is enemy of devotees, Lord Rama gave him Parasuvedi but he didn't even touch it although he was in poverty. Goddess Ganga gave him a diamond bangle but he gave that bangle to The queen of that Kingdom although he had loans. Please explain inner meaning of these stories. Thank You Swami.]
Swami replied:- These stories reveal the detachment of the devotee from the bond with money (Dhaneshanaa). These are the tests of God regarding that strongest bond, which is one of the three strongest worldly bonds (bond with money, bond with children and bond with spouse).
8. How do I control my mind when I listen to wrong knowledge at my workplace?
[Smt. Sudha Rani asked: Padanamaskaram Swami, though my dhyanam is on and off, You are constantly protecting me like mother, father, Sadguru and God. First of all, I apologize for the lengthy question Swami. Being a government employee, I need to obey the policy of the Government although I don't like it. Praising hypocritical leaders like Nehru on his birthday displeases me. And few effective and famous writers in Hindi and Telugu (Premchand in Hindi, Kandukuri in Telugu, and many others with polluted secularism, who craved fame) are observed as biased and non-theistic. They presented brahmins as villains, humiliated Hindu epics, misused the characters to preach their own biased perception which is misleading the ignorant Hindus. At the end of the day, the Hindu nation is deviated from true literature and is totally brainwashed. In their creativity and artfulness, false concepts appear as true. They successfully created a trust to propagate Hinduism as just a fantasy. Please enlighten me Swami how to control my mind when I listen to such wrong knowledge at my workplace?]
Swami replied:- You leave all this to God because it is His responsibility. You maintain human devotion to God. If an opportunity comes to you to present logical points in a spiritual debate, don’t miss such an opportunity and be prepared for it in your leisure time. You can send their points to your Sadguru and get proper answers.