Spiritual Questions and Answers with Radhanath Swami
Question: My horoscope says so much about my life and it was all coming true but ever since I have taken up Krishna consciousness, it has gone topsy-turvy… Doesn’t astrology works for devotees?
Radhanath Swami Answers: According to your Karma, astrology can predict your experiences in life or what you will further experience in life? This is the science of Astrology, but…
Question to Radhanath Swami: I am a student of science. I believe in science. Still I have not got a proper theory or explanation about life and its aim. How will you explain life and its aim scientifically? Another thing: people are trying to explain behavior of life by mathematical model. Do you think it is possible to do that?
Radhanath Swami: What is your definition of Science?
Question to Radhanath Swami from a Student: When we are introduced to spirituality, we realize that what we learn in academics has little relevance from an absolute perspective. Therefore we lose passion for learning mundane things. But after a while, sometimes, we lose passion even for spirituality. So we are left nowhere. Are you getting my point?
Radhanath Swami: That is a very distinguished way of saying that you are lazy (audience laugh.) We shouldn’t be lazy.
Question to Radhanath Swami: I have heard that bhakti yoga provides a ‘higher taste.’ But how do you define ‘higher taste’? And how to get that ‘higher taste’?
Answer: If you want to taste a gulab-jamun (an Indian sweet), what do you do? Do you chemically test it? Do you see it from all directions under a micro-scope?
Question to Radhanath Swami: Is inquiry taboo in spirituality? I mean, are we expected to be blind followers?
Radhanath Swami: Srila Prabhupada, our beloved Guru, did not want blind followers. He wanted independent thinking people who by their own free will were convinced of the substance of the scriptures through sincere and submissive inquiry. Srila Prabhupada welcomed questions….
Question to Radhanath Swami: I am planning to go on a pilgrimage to Chitrakoot. So, I’d like to know how attending these pilgrimages will enhance our spirituality.
Radhanath Swami: One of the most sacred traditions of all religions is pilgrimage. In our Vedic religion we go to Vrndavana, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Tirupati, Ramesvaram, Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Dwarka, Pandharpur, Kolhapur, Udupi, Varanasi, Kashi, Mayapur, Jagannatha Puri, and so many other places.
