Spiritual Questions and Answers with Radhanath Swami
Question to Radhanath Swami: How to develop appreciation for deities?
Radhanath Swami: Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswathi Thakur, a prominent saint and ourparam guru, instructed us, “Do not try to see Lord Krishna. Try to serve Lord Krishna so that He wants to see you.” We should not think the deity as an object of our enjoyment. We should approach the deity thinking we are an object of His enjoyment.
Why Worship Deities
Question to Radhanath Swami : If God is omnipresent, why worship a Deity?
Radhanath Swami : If God is omnipresent is he not in the Deity too? Be honest and realistic, not to me, but to yourself. Are you able to fix your mind in love and devotion on God present everywhere and in everything? Difficult, isn’t it?
Question to Radhanath Swami: What is the difference between mind and intelligence?
Radhanath Swami: Lord Krishna speaks about his energies in the Bhagavad Gita. “Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—all together these eight constitute My separated material energies.” Out of these, earth, water, fire, air and ether are gross energies, or the gross elements of creation. The other three—mind,
Question to Radhanath Swami : Isn’t it true that only the rich can afford religion?
Radhanath Swami : I remember, when I was child there was a song I listened to. It’s called “All my trials Lord, will soon be over.” One stanza in this song said, “If religion is that a thing that money could
Question to Radhanath Swami : Is it possible to achieve social equality through bhakti?
Radhanath Swami : Certainly. Krishna tells in Gita that a bhakti yogi sees everyone with an equal vision.
“The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and an outcaste.”
Question to Radhanath Swami : Swamiji, spirituality is all impractical. What if everybody became like you? Who will grow the food? Who will build the houses? Who will do the business? Who will protect the citizens?
Radhanath Swami : What if everyone in the world became an engineer like you?(audience laughs)
