25 Aug 2025
[Shri Anil Antony asked: Padanamaskaram Swami, Kindly give answers to the following questions –at Your Divine Lotus Feet-anil.]
1. Is it possible for a close devotee to acquire the kalyana gunas of God in human form due to close association with Him?
Swami replied:- Certainly. Association is the medium through which the qualities are transferred from one person to the other person. The qualities of God can be acquired by the human being from God. The reverse is not possible because God is with unimaginable miraculous powers. If two ordinary people are associated, qualities will be exchanged from one person to the other person in both ways.
2. Is friendship devotion higher than Master-servant devotion?
[Friendship devotion (Sakhyam) is considered higher than servant devotion (Daasyam). Arjuna and Hanuman are the two perfect examples for these two types of devotion, respectively. However, service and dedication of Hanuman to His contemporary human incarnation God Rama seems to be much beyond that of Arjuna. Arjuna sometimes even doubted the divinity of God Krishna even though He was in sakhya bhakti. If we restrict to the two roles only, it seems to contradict the logic that friendship devotion is higher than daasya devotion. Moreover, if a soul has reached friendship devotion, it must have crossed the servant devotion in some of its previous birth. Is it not so? Then how come this contradiction appears?]
Swami replied:- Hanuman acted in the role of servant even though He is God as actor. Here, the role is for the sake of human devotees. When love increases, friendship develops. In the servant also, there is love, but, it is masked by discipline and obedience to the master. Due to increased love, friendship is considered to be higher than disciplined service.
3. If a devotee continues to donate to trusts run by devotees of Sai Baba, will it be considered as Karma Phala Tyaaga?
[Shri Anil Antony asked: Paadanamaskaaram Swami, please answer the following questions, At Your Divine Lotus Feet-anil. Consider the case of a devotee, who was doing Karma Phala Tyaaga directly to Shri Sathya Sai Baba during the time when Shri Sathya Sai Baba was alive. After Shri Sathya Sai Baba left His body on this earth, still if that devotee continues to donate to management trusts run by devotees of Shri Sathya Sai Baba, will it be considered as Karma Phala Tyaaga to Shri Sathya Sai Baba? If we consider another case of a devotee who donates to organizations like ISKCON. Will his donations be considered as Karma Phala Tyaaga?]
Swami replied:- When the human incarnation of God like Shri Satya Sai Baba was alive, even a very minute step of expenditure took place by His guidance. If the devotees follow the same type of guidance sincerely even after Him, the donation is okay. It depends on what type of persons are running the trust after Him.
4. Are the submissiveness and absence of ego to be exhibited in worldly matters?
[The fruit knowledge is submissiveness and absence of ego. Is this submissiveness and absence of ego also to be exhibited in worldly matters (Pravrutti)?]
Swami replied:- In Pravrutti or worldly life, even bad qualities are to be used by turning those qualities in the direction of their good faces. The good face of anger is that you must show your anger on bad people to control them by preventing them from destroying justice. In Nivrutti or spiritual life also, such activities are necessary because the final aim is only to control injustice in the protection of justice.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★