April 3, 2017 archive

Does Swamiji approve worship of Lord with form or without form?

Every human aspires to be very close to God, to be in His presence and to achieve unity with the Almighty. The real aim of a human birth is to experience God and to unite in Him. However there exists a veil of illusion between man and God. This is Prakriti (nature). Man has to conquer Prakriti to reach the Lord.

Worshipping the formless God is principally necessary to reach the goal, however this is highest type of action and is extremely difficult. An ordinary person cannot directly attempt to complete the university degree. He has to first and foremost complete his first grade, move on to 2nd grade, 3rd  grade and so on and lastly attempt to complete the master’s degree. If the master’s degree syllabus is given to him when he is in the 1st grade itself, it is of no use to him. Idol worship is like the first grade syllabus. It is essentially the first step but is a very crucial step that needs to be completed. At the higher steps it is not needed. Therefore Swamiji likes both equally.

-Glimpses of Bhaktimala 4

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How does Swamiji come in our dreams? How can He communicate heart to heart with the devotee?

Swamiji looks upon everything and everyone equally. When you share your grievances with Him or tell Him your sorrows, when you talk to Him and when He is in your thoughts, He enters you and shares yours sorrows and joys along with you and at the same level as you. When you weep and are aggrieved, He too weeps. When you are joyful, He too is joyful. Each time He comes down to your level and once again returns to His level. He can do this instantaneously and thus He can help you. He is able to stand by you both in good as well as bad times.

Swamiji has no personal experience or opinion about his miracles. He possesses sankalpa siddhi (power of intention). That is why He can be calm, peaceful and contended at all times.

-Glimpses of Bhaktimala 4

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Why it is said that it is impossible to reach God without help of Pujas and Spiritual Gurus?

A very good question. In this world, without such help it is impossible for anyone to unite with the divine energy. In the Puranas there are people who have united with this divine energy independently without any aid. Undoubtedly this is true. However, it is impossible now. Why is it so? There are numerous reasons.

First of all, to directly achieve union with God you should be in a state where you can perform various meritorious deeds without any influence from the subtle impressions of his past actions (samskaras, tendencies). In reality however reaching this state is a very gradual progression.  Currently, you are even devoid of patience. This world you are living in is causing you plenty of confusions and is putting you in a great dilemma and instability. It is out to destroy you. Your mind runs from hither and tither every moment. It demands fulfillment of all desires. It wants this and it also wants that. This is a bad world full of enemies. How will you conquer them all?

That is why it is advisable to take the help of a spiritual Self-realized Guru. Under His guidance complete your puja, disciplines and spiritual practices. These are aids that get you closer to God. This too progresses gradually. There is no guarantee that you will be able to unite with the Almighty within this birth itself. Perhaps you could be successful in your next birth; perhaps after 10 births. No one knows. You have no authority to demand that you need it in this birth- just now, this minute and so on. The first step in this path is to develop extreme patience. Getting a human birth is itself extremely rare. Take a Guru’s help. Begin with puja, dhyana, yoga etc.

-Glimpses of Bhaktimala 4

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Our mind at times pushes us towards bad actions. When we tend to disregard such messages from the mind, are we not cheating our mind?

Disobeying the mind definitely amounts to cheating it. But a very important thing to be understood here is that at certain times our mind itself is our biggest enemy. It sends out negative or evil instructions. It tries to spoil you and thereby destroy you. At such a critical time you seek the guidance of a Guru or a master who is well versed in these matters.

A pure Guru is like a lamp. He will show you the right path as against the wrong one. He is that person who has conquered the bad part of the mind and has been able to keep it under his control. He clearly knows what is ultimately good for you. So, all you need to do is to follow what He says. Under His guidance and as per His instructions, learn to involve in good activities only. This cannot be cheating the mind.

You need to repair a bad mind. You should at first set right your mind and thereafter you should make use of its help for your good. Such a thing is possible purely with the help of a Sadguru. He knows how to pick the good from the bad. He will gradually give you the energy to identify what is good and what is bad for you. This mind can at times behave like a stubborn baby. Be alert.

Sometimes the Guru says, “Yes, this is good. Do this.” Else He may say, “This is bad for you. Don’t do this.” You have faith, just obey. If he says to do, go ahead and obey. If he says, don’t do, then also blindly obey and listen. In your mind you may think, ‘why is Swamiji saying like this?’. This appears good for my future. Then why is He asking me not to do this? Later after some period of time you will understand- ‘oh, what I thought was good for me would actually have been bad for me. It would have been a bad decision, a disaster. That is why He asked me not to accept it.’ Thus He is able to advise you in the right way. He is a master in all tattva. He is a true friend, philosopher and guide. Use Him.

 

-Glimpses of Bhaktimala 4

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/our-mind-at-times-pushes-us-towards-bad-actions-when-we-tend-to-disregard-such-messages-from-the-mind-are-we-not-cheating-our-mind/

Is it a sin to visit temple without any devotion?

Our Scriptures and Puranas (epics) contain material that helps in strengthening our mind. It is stated therein that Puja done whether at home or at a temple helps the person acquire merit (punya).

Take the case of the person who visits the temple not out of his will but due to the persistence of a friend. He is merely doing this action to please the friend. It is an action driven purely out of friendship. Even then it results in multiple benefits!

First and foremost, the friend is tremendously pleased that you have accompanied him to the temple. He believes that you, like him, have a faith in God and that therefore you are basically a good person. Secondly, you will get good thoughts. Good thoughts lead to good feelings.  Thus this visit has benefited you both physically and mentally. At a physical level your friend has believed that you are basically a good person. On the mental plane, you could get good thoughts and good feelings. These benefits are termed ‘punya’ in our religion. Therefore although your visit was merely to please your friend, you were rewarded with punya. Hence it cannot be a sin. Gradually, as you keep visiting the temple albeit without faith, you will be acquiring mental peace and concentration. This is an additional benefit accrued to you, the benefit of which will be reflected throughout your life. That is why it is important to spend time in puja, homa, dhyana etc.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/at-times-friends-force-us-to-accompany-them-to-the-temple-is-it-not-a-sin-to-visit-temple-without-any-devotion/

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