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 : What is the importance of discipline in spiritual life?
Radhanath Swami : Lord Krishna explains in the Bhagavad Gita that without controlling the mind and the senses there is no question of real yoga or real spiritual practice. To do anything good in life or to succeed, discipline is required.
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 : I understand that all the actions that we perform will give back a reaction. But what about the thoughts in our mind? What about the bad thoughts that we don’t act upon?
Radhanath Swami : According to the scriptures, in the time spans Satya yuga, Treta yuga and Dwapara yuga, humans were karmically responsible for every thought.
