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“Some opine that it does not make any sense to speak about God to those who are in dire poverty and are in distress; that only the wealthy can be devoted to God. What do you feel about this?”

Sri Swamiji:

“In my opinion, it is very difficult for the wealthy to have any devotion. He is able to secure all worldly needs through his money power. He also enjoys respect and a high status in the society, which fattens up his ego. Therefore, I believe, it’s rare indeed for such a person to earn devotion. In fact, we find that many Mahãns were born in very humble circumstances. Later on when worldly comforts came to them unsought, they shunned them, lived a simple life and accepted trials and tribulations happily.”

“Many Mahans, who are found to be deeply dispassionate early in their lives, seem transformed later. They establish big ashrams and mingle freely with all kinds of people! How is this possible?”

Sri Swamiji:

“A person practicing sãdhana with deep dispassion in his early stage has to earn it (dispassion) with great difficulty. As he progresses in his sãdhana, he develops aversion towards the world and all worldly matters. He desires solitude and is averse to meeting anyone. As a result of this he experiences external vision of God. At this stage he becomes mad for God. This external vision is then experienced within and comes to stay. At this stage, he does not feel any aversion towards the society; instead, deep compassion begins to flow from him towards all and sundry. Since these experiences can not be comprehended by all, they comment that-“He is not as he was before. He has changed a lot!”

“Why do Bhagavatãs apply sandal paste on their body and wear flower garlands?”

Sri Swamiji:

“As progress is made in Bhakti mãrga (Path of Devotion), unbearable burning sensation and pain is experienced in the body. During his sãdhana period, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa experienced such unbearable burning sensation and pain. Mathur Babu, who took care of all his needs, tried innumerable medications. But all went in vain. When he became desperate to find a way out, Bhairavi Brahmani arrived there. She advised that application of sandal paste on Sri Ramakrishna’s body and offering him flower garland would alleviate his burning sensation and pain. Mathur Babu did not believe in her words. However, he tried it as his last resort and was surprised that Sri Ramakrishna’s body afflictions were totally cured. Any one who has read Sri Ramakrishna’s life will know this incident. Therefore, it will suffice if we understand that such matters do exist.”

“I do not believe in God. What do you have to say to people like me?”

“Just as you say, many tell me that-“I do not believe in God. I have no faith in the epics, the Vedas, rituals and sãdhanas.” Some take pride in such statements. I do not know if they say this to hurt my feelings or to make me feel sad. But the truth is that these do not affect me in any way. As a matter of fact, I have learnt to enjoy even these!”

Ashrams preserve things that have been used by Mahãns. A person known to me wears the ‘vastra’ (cloth) that had been worn by his Guru, while doing japa. What is its importance?”

“A ‘sãnnidhya’ comes to be in things that had been used by Mahatmas. Writer Sri Balakumaran, devotee of Sri Yogiramsuratkumar, went to meet Him after a long time. The writer gave his japamãla to Yogi seeking His blessings. But Yogiramsuratkumar, who took the japamãla into His hands, asked, “Have I not blessed this japamala earlier?” The surprised Balakumaran said, “Bhagavãn! How did could you make this out?” Bhagavan replied, “When this beggar touches something, it becomes different.” From this we can understand that the things used by Mahans develop a special ‘sãnnidhya’. Great progress is made if the ‘vastras’ used by Mahans is kept on one’s head while doing dhyana.”

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