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“Can only a Jnãni comprehend the spiritual status of others?”

Sri Swamiji:

“Only a Jnãni can comprehend the spiritual status of others. Some ‘upãsakãs’ (worshippers of a particular deity) also speak with their ‘upãsana devatas’ (god of worship). This ‘upasana devata’ shows them the spiritual status of others.”

“In today’s world several ‘swamijis’ have come up and they have a huge following!”

Sri Swamiji:

“In today’s world many people, attracted to such ‘swamijis’, follow them. This ‘swamiji’ whom the world takes to will in fact be searching for a real Mahãn!”

“My friend and I met with a true Sadhu from the Himalayas. This Sadhu led my friend to a very high spiritual state through his ‘sparsa diksha’ (initiation by touch). My friend then had several divine visions. However, my friend who was in this state for some time is now in a very ordinary state. I am unable to understand this.”

Sri Swamiji:

“Bhagavan Sri Krishna showed ‘Viswaroopa darshan’ to Arjuna when the latter refused to fight the battle. Arjuna who was awe struck by this returned to ordinary plane of men after a time. Therefore, this only goes to show that a until a person reaches the highest state of ‘jivan mukti’, he can suffer a fall from any high spiritual level.”

“I met a person who does not eat much. He goes on frequent ‘fastings’. He puts his body to severe tests. He does incessant japa of a mantra. I look upon him as a great ‘tapasvi’. Can I meet him frequently?”

“Even if this be true, the sign of a Mahãtma does not lay in intense sadhana alone. His mental make up is very important. Some people do tapas (spiritual sadhana) to bring about others’ destruction. It is indeed dangerous if a person who has not won over desire, anger and avarice does tapas. This is the reason that Bhagavãn tests a ‘tapasvi’ (one who performs ‘tapas’) in several ways that provoke desire and anger. Their fall destroys their ‘tapas’. This is the ‘sankalpa’ (Will) of Bhagavãn because such people would otherwise harass others with their ‘tapo shakti’ (power of tapas). If one is able to successfully come out of Bhagavãn’s tests, it goes to show his ‘sattvic’ tendencies. His tapas is used only for the benefit of the world. In Srimad Bhãgavatam, Lord Brahma admires Hiranyakashipu’s tapas. Brahma tells him, “No one can perform tapas as you do.” But, nobody accepts Hiranyakashipu as a Mahãn!”

“Recently I read a book written by the author in English. I also attended his English lecture. His speech and writings are totally ‘advaitic’. I feel that he has attained that high state of jnãna.”

“Writing and speaking on ‘advaita’ or any other ‘siddhãnta’ (philosophy) does not necessarily mean that the person ‘experiences’ the same. Speech ceases in a Jnãni who has attained the highest Advaita state. Experience (‘anubhava’) is different from knowledge. In Viveka Choodãmani, Adi Sankara Bhagavat Pãdãl says, ‘When the king is pleased with the melodious playing of the veena, he might offer the musician the invaluable necklace around his neck but never his throne!’

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