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“Adi Sankara roamed around Bharata desa (India) as a ‘parivrãjaka sanyãsi’ (wandering monk). Why did he establish Mutts after taking becoming a sanyasi?”

“During Adi Sankara’s time Buddhism was popular. Buddhism had begun to spread all over the world as the Buddhists established institutions through which they did ‘prachara’ (propaganda) of their faith. Adi Sankara must have felt that to spread the teachings of our Sanatana dharma He should also establish such institutions. He must have thus established Mutts around the country as he must have felt that preaching through such institutions would be more effective.”

“Today’s society seems to be in a very bad condition as never seen before. What is the reason for this?”

Sri Swamiji:

“It is only men who form the Society. Today, individual discipline has become a big question mark. Therefore, society will also be indisciplined only.

Responsible parents bring up their children in a disciplined way. They do not like their children reading unwanted, useless books or view such scenes. They also behave in an exemplifying manner. When the child prepares for examination they behave in the most responsible way and take care to avoid any disturbance to him/her. However, such precautions are restricted to the home only. Is that not so? What is the child’s position in the society?

One can say that there is no book or magazine in today’s society that does not have matters, which pull the mind very easily to obscene features. Such subjects are found in television, cinema and also in the websites on the internet. On the one side they carry such obnoxious scenes and write ups instigating lust in youth while on the other side they also carry advertisements, ‘Do not give birth to children’.

On the side are scenes, news that instigate violence and on the other side broadcast against such violence! News items that create fear are published, as they are sensational. Those who read such news items lose their hold in life and become mentally sick. The mind of man can be easily corrupted. It is the responsibility of the Government to keep it healthy. In today’s circumstances man does not adhere to Shastras; as also to Government’s rules and regulations. Do you know the reason for repeated narration of Ramayana, Mahabharata and such other Holy Texts in days past? Only on listening to these epics time and again would one feel that one should not speak lies or move away from dharma even under the most difficult circumstances. Then the society would also be disciplined. The bad condition in present day is only because of today’s state of affairs.”

“Today we find the whole society in a very bad condition. Sanyasis are no exception! Why should one then point fingers only at their faults?”

Sri Swamiji:

“Brahmachari (celebate), Grahasta (householder), Vãnaprasta (hermit) are ‘ãsramãs’ (the first three stages of life of a Brahmin) that one has to necessarily undertake. They are unavoidable. But, one is not under compulsion to embrace sanyasa-ãsrama (ascetic life - the fourth stage). It is taken up from an appropriate Guru, only when one who has high mental maturity. It is taken up voluntarily. This is the reason that when one fails to adhere to the conditions of sanyasa-ãsrama fingers are pointed at them.”

“Today there are innumerable fake Sadhus and Sanyasis. Can’t we, therefore, do away with Sadhus and Sanyasis?”

Sri Swamiji:

“The same question was placed before Yogiramsuratkumar in Tiruvannamalai. He questioned back, “Some in the Security department err. What would happen to the world if the whole department were to be removed?”

“A person in Satsang performs Kirtans, Nãma japa, pãrãyana (reading of Holy Texts), etc. He has embraced an able Guru. But, he commits ungentlemanly acts. He hurts others by his sharp tongue. Will he attain Moksha?”

Sri Swamiji:

“Anyone who commits sin has to undergo punishments. Badrachala Ramadas was a great Rama Bhakta. But, when he used Government money to renovate Rama’s temple he had to undergo the punishment inflicted by the king. This was how Rama placed him. However, the Lord would make them suffer the punishments for all the sins committed in this janma itself and bestow Moksha on them. We should never think of their faults. If we do, we would earn a share of the sins committed by them!”

“Are not Lakshmana Ãzhwãr in Ramayana and Balarama in Srimad Bhãgavatam an Avatar of Ãdisesha (the Divine serpent who forms the bed for Lord Vishnu)? Why is it that only Balarama is listed in one of the 10 Avatars of the Lord?”

Sri Swamiji:

“Avatars are described in various forms as ‘poorna’, ‘amsa’, ‘amsãmsa’, ‘kalãmsa’, ‘saktiyamsa’, ‘ãvesa’, etc. Balarama was ‘amsa-avatar’. Lakshmana was ‘amsãmsa-avatar’. Balarama was the Avatar of Sankarshana murti. Lakshmana was the Avatar of Sesha (Divine snake) who was Sankarshanãmsa. Balarama has by his own right said to have destroyed the wicked and protected Sadhus. Lakshmana always stood along side the Lord. His killing Indrajit and other wicked was performed only as a service to Lord Rama. Since Balarama was an Avatar separate puja is prescribed for him in Pãncharãtrãdi vidãna. These matters are found in Jiva Goswãmi’s ‘Sri Bhagavatsandarba’. This is the reason that Balarama alone is taken as one in ‘dasãvatar’ (10 incarnations).

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