25 Aug 2025
[Shri Anil Antony asked: Padanamaskaram Swami, Kindly give answers to the following questions –at Your Divine Lotus Feet-anil.]
1. Just before death Jesus prays, “Father, into Your hands I commit My soul.” Is it an example of Atma Nivedanam?
Swami replied:- Certainly, this is the final step of devotion. In total surrender, there is no self-desire. Every action of the soul is aimed at the pleasure of God only and not for self-pleasure. When the desire becomes zero, then only self-surrender takes place.
2. The two thieves crucified along with Jesus also stated that ‘Thy Will be done’. Is it justified?
[Jesus prayed before crucifixion that ‘Thy Will Will be done.’ If the two thieves crucified along with Jesus also pray the same way, stating that ‘Thy Will Will be done’, is it justified?]
Swami replied:- The association with the human incarnation of God even for a little time brings tremendous change even in an ordinary soul.
3. Will non-Christians remain sinners as Jesus died for Christians sins only?
[Questions for internet forum: Christians claim Jesus died for their sins and to save all. Does this mean that Non-Christians i.e., followers of other religion, remain sinners for life?]
Swami replied:- Any human incarnation of God suffers the punishments of sins of the deserving devotees only and not the sins of all the people belonging to a specific religion. Christians propagate about Jesus even to non-Christians by saying that Jesus has suffered for their sins. This is a false trick used for the propagation of the religion. Jesus neither suffered the sins of all Christians nor suffered any sin of a non-Christian. Jesus as eternal God suffers the sins of good devotees of all religions.
4. Should Christians join the military, when the Bible says "Thou shall not kill"?]
Swami replied:- Here, killing refers to every human being, who kills living beings for their food. The soldier is fighting for the sake of the country and if he dies in the war, he is rewarded in heaven. God Krishna told the same (Hato vaa praapsyase svargam…- Gita).
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