Answers on the Spiritual Path
General explanation/Q&A -
The ability to recognize a genuine Saint and God is the same. You cannot comprehend them through words, nor can you identify them using your material intellect. Only when you have genuine faith, sincere inquisitiveness, and are worthy of receiving grace can you recognize a Saint through the saint's grace. Otherwise, it is impossible.
jāra citte kṛṣṇa premā karaye udaya, tāra vākya kriyā mudrā vijñeya na bujhaya।
Gauranga Mahaprabhu said: One in whose heart divine love for Krishna has arisen - who has become a true saint - cannot be understood even by Saraswati (the goddess of knowledge) and Brihaspati (the preceptor of the celestial gods). bhagavata rasika rasika kī bāteṃ, rasika binā kou samujhi sakai nā।
Only a rasik saint can understand another rasik saint. You cannot comprehend them through material intellect. People recognise saints by observing their divine love for God, the manifestation of the eight symptoms of divine love within them, and their complete knowledge of the Vedas and scriptures. Then, by maintaining constant association with such a saint, you can gradually come to recognise him through personal experience.
Question - Why do obstacles arise in devotion?
Shri Maharaj Ji's answer - Obstacles do not arise in devotion itself. You may face obstacles due to:
- your destiny (prārabdh),
- sanskārs (mental impressions or tendencies carried over from past lives) and
- your own mistakes.
Problems arise whether or not you perform devotion. Even great saints encounter problems. Devotion removes obstacles; it does not invite them. Since devotion belongs to God, God always helps the devotee. devotee. He never acts contrary to this.
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Question - Why is it said that Maya troubles a sadhak and does not allow him to practice devotion to God?
Shri Maharaj Ji's answer - In truth, devotion drives Maya away; Maya does not approach the devotee.
tāte tehi ḍarapati ati māyā। -
Maya trembles in fear of one who performs devotion to God.
However, if you face prārabdh (destiny) arising from sinful actions of past lives, you must endure it, whether you are an aspiring devotee or a God-realized saint. But do not think, even in your dreams, that obstacles enter an aspiring devotee's path to keep him from practising devotion.
God wants you to practice devotion; why would He stop you? Maya cannot stand before devotion. It does not dare trouble a devotee:
vilajjamanaya yasya sthatumikshapathey'muya
God remains subordinate to the devotee; in fact, He is always ready to give up His own life for a devotee. He always walks behind the devotee, constantly protecting him.
Even if you are still an aspiring devotee and have not yet attained the perfected state of devotion, devotion itself removes obstacles - it does not invite them. If any obstacle does arise, devotion stands and fights against it.
If you have genuine love for God, devotion will give you such strength that the feeling of worldly loss and suffering will be greatly reduced. God takes full responsibility for the devotee's welfare.
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