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[A devotee asked a question: “God is said to be happy continuously without any break (Akhanda ananda swaroopa). But, we do not have continuous happiness. Why is this difference?” Given below is Shri Swami’s reply.]
People say that God is bliss or extreme happiness (ananda). This means that God is not the extensive happiness and it means only that God possesses the extensive happiness. It is the custom to call the possessor of some item by the name of that very item itself. You call the possessor of apples by the apples. You call “Oh Apples! Come here”. Similarly, the Veda says that God is the true and infinite knowledge...
[A devotee asked “What is the reason for the variation in scriptures and philosophies in preaching ethics (Pravrutti) and in the spiritual knowledge related to God (Nivrutti), which is the source of confusion and splits leading to hot debates? Why is the truth not revealed directly to avoid all this chaos?” Given below is Shri Swami’s reply.]
The truth can be revealed directly in simple language without twists and modifications if the receivers are in the uniform level of maturity to digest the revealed truth. In the same time, there are different people existing in different levels of digestion. The same truth has to be revealed in different ways and with necessary twists...
[Dr. Nikhil asked Swami that several participants in a spiritual meeting quoted the Veda and other scriptures, which speak in favor of non-vegetarian food. They asked him about Swami speaking against non-vegetarian food. Swami gave the following message in reply.]
Eating the non-vegetarian food is one issue and killing a living being, to collect the flesh out of it, is another issue. The first issue does not involve any sin because the non-vegetarian food or flesh or meat contains the same ingredients as those of a vegetarian item. The same carbohydrates, the same proteins, the same vitamins, the same minerals etc., exist in both meat and vegetables...
For Scholars Posted on: 07/07/2012[This is a continuation of the question and answer session on Guru Purnima.]
7. Recently, scientists say that they have discovered the God-particle, which is the cause for the universe. Does this not eliminate the need for God?
Scientists are investigating the cause for mass of the fundamental particle of matter. This is only the research pertaining to the conversion of energy into matter. The word Universe used by scientists is the materialized phase. Before the production of such Universe, the cosmic energy exists. Therefore, it is related only to the materialization of the particles of matter from the energy. The word Universe in the spiritual knowledge...
For Scholars Posted on: 05/07/2012[This is a continuation of the question and answer session on Guru Purnima.]
6. The three philosophies of Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva differ from each other as we see the disputes and arguments among their followers. How to bring unity among these three main philosophies?
The aim of the preacher is not only the exposure of truth but also upliftment of the people from their existing levels. If exposure of truth alone is the aim, there is no difference between these three preachers. The final 100th step is the absolute common goal for all the preachers. When Shankara came, people were standing on the ground and Shankara will not show the 100th step seeing which all the people will be discouraged
For Scholars Posted on: 04/07/2012[On the day of Guru Purnima, Shri Swami answered the questions posed by the devotees, which are presented here.] 1. In spite of being the most intelligent among all living beings, why is the human being the most disturbed and without peace and happiness?
A runner is very capable in the process of running. But, he is running in the opposite direction. Will he reach the goal? Therefore, the direction is important, which decides the goal. If the goal is right, which is the right aim in the beginning, the process of running becomes fruitful. If the goal is wrong, the aim and direction become...
Guru means the preacher, who removes the ignorance so that we can see the truth clearly and differentiate the right from wrong. The ignorance is like darkness in which you cannot find the existence of an item and also you cannot differentiate the different items. Gayatri mantra says that the Guru is like the Sun, who removes the ignorance–darkness by knowledge-light that initiates the intelligence. The word Guru Purnima also indicates that Guru removes the darkness-ignorance like the full Moon in the night. Thus, Guru is compared to Sun...
The development of any limb of a human being is desirable as it grows from the childhood onwards. But, the growth of any limb should be within the proper limits. The growth of the finger should not be equal to the growth of the leg. Similarly, the development of science should not cross the proper limits so that there is no harm to the global environment and the health of humanity. In ancient India, sages also developed sciences. But, the sages were strong devotees of God and hence, the development of the research in science and technology did not cross the limits of danger by the grace of God...
The modern world thinks that the ancient people have wasted lot of time in the analysis about the unimaginable God. This is the first foolishness because these people do not know that the realization of the existence of God in the mind of a citizen is directly linked to the resistance towards crime and corruption that establish the peaceful social balance. The concept of God is the tremendous basis of the self control of every human being to reject crime and corruption in the society...
In ancient times, the total education was concentrated on the establishment of the existence of God, heaven and hell. If justice is followed, God rewards you with heaven and if injustice is done, God punishes you in hell. If you say that God exists, people may not believe and may commit sins by which the balance of the society gets disturbed. The existence of God is to be proved through very deep logical analysis and discussions. All the seminars and conferences in ancient India ran on single subject, which is about the existence...
The over attachment to worldly bonds is the source of sin. Every human being exists in this stage of over attachment to world. Pravrutti is the reduction of this over attachment so that limited proper attachment to the worldly bonds is reached and thereby, the balance of this society is achieved. Over attachment to worldly bonds is injustice and pravrutti is the justice. Nivrutti is total detachment from these worldly bonds so that total attachment to God results. The human being is inherently associated with the characteristic of attachment...
Whenever you want to do some donation, there are two important aspects, which should be well understood so that you can get good fruit for your good sacrifice. The first aspect is to detect the most deserving receiver and the second aspect is about the nature of your donation. What should be donated and to whom it should be donated are the two important enquiries. The Veda gives answers for these two enquiries. The Veda says that the most deserving person should be the scholar of divine knowledge, who shall not aspire anything...
The case of the present politicians, officials, contractors, businessmen etc., can be compared to the case of Kuchela as far as the sin is concerned. You cannot compare Kuchela with these people as far as the nature of the soul is concerned. Regarding the nature of the sin, the comparison is that all these people snatch away the wealth of others in spite of their stabilized life. God has given you sufficient wealth to maintain your health. But, you steal others wealth in doing the corruption, which develops tension that spoils your health...
The reformation of human being, which is indicated by repentance, takes place in the human being even before the implementation of punishment. As soon as the human being hears the punishment from the mouth of the judge, the repentance is expressed, which indicates the reformation of the soul. There is no scientific instrument to test the reformation of the soul, except the expression of repentance. The punishment of the prisoner is reduced by the observation of the repentance and practical behavior of the human being...
Pravrutti is the balance of the society by maintaining justice in the context of worldly bonds. Nivrutti is exceptional record break by sacrificing the worldly bonds for the sake of love to God. God never aims at Nivrutti since it is somebody loving Him personally. Nivrutti deals with a single individual called as God. Pravrutti is the subject dealing with all the living beings in the society to maintain the balance of the world. God never aims at Nivrutti because it is the case of an individual and more over that individual is Himself. Generally, a human being encourages...
The punishment for the sin is to reform the mental setup of the soul so that the balance of the society is maintained. The reformation is not to develop devotion to God. God does not wish a soul to be devoted to Him. The devotion should be from the side of the devotee and God does not encourage it. In fact, God discourages the devotion. The soul has to surpass the hurdle created by such discouragement. Therefore, the aim of God is only Pravrutti (social justice) and not Nivrutti (devotion to God). God undergoes the punishment of some sins of some devotees due to their intense devotion to Him...
For Scholars Posted on: 13/05/2012The unimaginable God created this Universe, which is different from God since this is imaginable. There are two schools in philosophy regarding the process of creation. 1) One is the real modification (Parinama) and 2) the other is the apparent modification (Vivarta). In the first type, the cause is really modified into the effect like the modification of milk into curd. In the second type, the cause is apparently modified into effect like the modification of water into wave...
The incidents in human life and the results of the actions of the human being are the constituents of the cycle of deeds (karma chakra). This cycle is very complicated and is a multi-dimensional network as said in the Gita (gahanaa karmano gatihi…). The basic concept of this cycle is only preaching the soul for its reformation. God alone is the preacher as said ‘Guruh sakshaat parabrahma’. The unimaginable God is expressed in human form in this world of humanity. Such human incarnation is called as Datta, which means...
This world of humanity is based on full freedom and absence of any forcible destiny. Here, you are free to do any type of work and no destiny forces you to do any specific work as said in the Gita (Na kartrutvam...). The concept of destiny exists only in the link of the specific work and the specific fruit. You have full freedom to put your finger in fire or water. No destiny forces you to put your finger in fire or water. The destiny lies only in the link between a specific work and corresponding specific fruit. It is destined that the fire burns your finger...
Unreal Thought for God; Material Reality for Man: The Veda says ‘God alone could not enjoy. Hence, He thought of the second item, which is the creation. He created this entire universe. After creation, He entered this universe. After entering this universe, He maintained Himself as the absolute truth and also became the medium, which is the relative truth’ (Ekaaki na ramate sa dvitiyamaichchat sa idam sarvamasrujata tat srushtvaa tadevaanupraavishat tadanu pravishya satcha tyatchaabhavat…). If you analyze this...
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