Saturday, June 21, 2008

Questions and Answers

These days the youth have many questions about our religion and philosophy. It is incumbent on our part to answer those questions so that our younger generation undersands the value of our traditions and heritage.

Here are a few Frequently asked Questions and Answers thereto. This has been designed as a discussion between a youth and an old man:

Q.1 If the God is Omnipresent, why should we go to Temples?

The old man who was posed this question, responded as under:

We are living in India under the Indian Government. In this vast land of India, our Government is present everywhere, say omnipresent. Wherever we live or wherever we go, we are under watch by the Government and the moment, we commit any offence, the Government takes appropriate action on us.

Despite the fact that the Government is omnipresent, in case we need the help of the Government, it is not sufficient if we appeal to Government on the bank of a river. To make our appeal to the Government, we need to approach the designated office of the Government and make our prayer to be heard.

Similarly, Temples are offices of God which are meant to receive and hear people. The God is ready to receive you and hear your grievances in these temples.

In addition, Temples have been playing a major role in promoting & maintaining humanity, peace, divinity, spirituality, religion, health and harmony among the people. Temples have been the place for Law and Justice. Besides, Temples have been promoting art and architecture over centuries. Beyond all the above, Temples have been places of learning.

Temples have been playing a crucial role in preserving and promoting mental health of people. Any person who is in a depressed state, can easily come out of his negative state if only he visits a temple, for there he receives Hope, Solace and Mental Strength to carry on. No where else one can redeem his mental health than in a temple. Thus if one desires to keep his personal life healthy, he needs to make Temples a part of his daily routine.




The youth then asked his next question,

Q.2 “What does a religion expect from us? Does it want us to abandon this life and become ‘other-worldly’?

The answer is a clear ‘NO’. The very fact that our religion has provided for “Grahastha Ashrama’, is a clear indication that we should have a family and work for the progress and prosperity of the family and to enjoy the legitimate pleasures of life. Religion recognizes the need to earn wealth to quench the legitimate appetites. Religion does permit seeking wealth and happiness, i.e. Artha and Kaama. What the Religion has done is only to add one key word before the words Artha and Kaama, and that key word is “Dharma”.

“Dharmaarthakaama”, i.e. Dharma, Artha and Kaama is the combined password to spirituality. The Religion only says that Dharma should always be associated with any effort towards acquiring wealth and happiness. In other words, Dharma should come first in earning wealth and enjoying life.

One day I spotted one of my friends speaking untruth to a third party to get things done. Later when we were alone, I reminded my friend that he spoke untruth and that was not correct. My friend told me that these days, speaking truth may put us in disadvantage and hence speaking untruth is a necessity.

Then I asked my friend, ‘how would he like if his child were to tell lies to him or his subordinate in office being untruthful to him’ He immediately said that was not acceptable.

We all know that Dharma is nothing but honesty and purity of mind. We all expect others to transact with us honestly. And that is exactly the same thing that Dharma expects from us also. It simply tells us “Do anything you want, but do it with Dharma”.



The Youth then asked his next question

Q.3 “Whether Dharma would keep us happy?”

He was responded to by the old man as under:

“Before telling you whether Dharma would keep us happy, I need first tell you what exactly is Dharma. The most important element of Dharma is Ahimsa. “Ahimsa Paramo Dharmaha” is the famous saying. Many think eating vegetarian food and avoiding violence in life is Ahimsa. Yes, they are. But that is not the end.

Our elders respected trees, rivers, etc. Trees such as Peepal tree were respected and they used to go round them and pray. It may appear to be a superstition. But by this act, they did something which is known in modern days as “Chipko Andolan”. Similarly all tanks and rivers were considered sacred and worshiped. These attitudes helped in preventing misuses of tanks and rivers and saved us from pollution of water and protected our water resources. If only Dharma had been followed we don’t have to spend crores on cleaning Ganga and that money would be available to us for other welfare programmes. Similarly, if Dharma had been associated with chasing wealth, there would be not scams, scandals, black markets and black money.

Thus Dharma has a direct relevance to our lives and only Dharma can keep us happy. All the ills we are facing in Society and the Nation today are directly the result of non-observance of Dharma in people’s lives. Hence the need for all people is to observe Dharma in day to day life so that our lives are problem free and happy.”




The Youth asked his next question.

Q.4: “Sir, please tell me whether it is rational to worship a stone as God?”

The old man replied as under:

“My dear young man, think of the National Flag. The same cloth which we use in our day to day lives for different purposes becomes highly respectable and salutable when it takes the form of a National Flag.

Next, consider Books. There are books of many kinds like novels, stories, etc. While they are not respectable, the books giving us knowledge and wisdom are highly respected.

In the same way, stones also are used for different purposes. But the ones that take such a shape and conform to the forms of God becomes highly respectable.

As for the deities in our temples, they are not mere stones. By invocation of God’s power in them through various Mantras, they become Gods themselves.

Have you known the Homeopathy pills? They are mere sugar pills, but potentised with various processes they acquire the power of curing illnesses. Thus every material we have around us can be put to either ordinary use or turned into a noble one. And once they are given the form of nobility, they become highly respectable.



The youth then asked his next question. While agreeing with the fact that the Dieties are highly divine, his concern was on the financial angle. He asked

Q. 5 "Whether it is justified to spend so much money on Deities in Temples."

The old man responded as under:

“My dear young man, you were already informed about ordinary cloth taking the form of National Flag and getting the respect of one and all at the National level. Just think as to how much money we do spend on Independence Day and Republic Day every year throughout the country just to salute this National Flag? Can any one claim that this is waste of money? Such celebrations are necessary to arouse and renew national and patriotic feelings in the citizens. Similarly, we do celebrate many festivals in our Temples and even spend money so that people turn religious and pious and of course ultimately turn spiritual.

Even if you consider the monetary aspect alone, you should take into account the economic law of circulation of wealth. When one Republic Day is celebrated, so many poor artisans make flags and sell them. When the buyers make the purchases, they may be spending money, but it goes to support many families. Take the festival of Deepavali and examine how many crores of rupees are burnt into ashes in a matter of few hours. But still, no Government has banned it, because the money spent on the festival directly supports many families. Similarly, when money is spent on temple festivals, we should take into account the number of families such as flower vendors, decorators, electricians, etc. who earn their livelihood, through such festivals.”



The youth then asked his next question:


Q 6: “Sir, is it true that there is a God?”

“Wow! It is a Great Question” said the old man whom the young man asked his above question.

The old man asked the youth “What do you think?” The young man replied, “Sir, I thought about it again and again. But I am not clear.”

The old man said, “True, there are many people who tell us not to blindly accept anything that is told to us. They say that before you accept any thing, first think and do research to know whether what is told to you is right….and then only accept. Thus people are asked to think about a matter first and if found agreeable, accept. But then, do you know Andal, I mean have you heard of Andal?” he asked.

“Yes, sir, I know Andal who had sung Thiruppavai”.

“Yeh, she had said in her Pasuram Mayanai Mannu Vada Madurai Mainthani, something different. In that Pasuram, she asks us to

“Thoomalar Thoovi Thozhu, Vayinal padi and
………….Manathinal sinthikka”.

In effect she asks us to first accept and then think.

In fact in her every Pasuram she says “Elor Empavai”. The word that she constantly uses in every Pasuram is “Elor”. This expression “Elor” consists of two words El and Or. El means Accept and Or means “and then Think”.

You know, that is the right way of doing things. In fact that is what all parents have been doing with their children. In all families, parents demand their children to obey first and after obeying ask any questions if they want. By demanding such unquestioned obedience, what the elders convey is that they had already thought about the matter exhaustively and arrived at conclusions and there is no need for our children to waste their time and energy in analyzing what the parents had asked them to do, before doing the same.

Not only in families. Even in Schools, the same sequence is demanded. Teachers impart education to our children. They ask children to accept new words, new formulas, etc. without questioning. No child can ask why 2+2=4 and why not 3? No teacher can try to prove to the children why it is not 3 and is only 4. They cannot ask why “tion” should be pronounced as “shun”. What is told by elders must be first be accepted and there is no need to do research on that and no need to waste time on reinventing the wheel.

Andal recognized that it is very difficult to make people re-understand the proven truth if they were allowed to think and research before they accept. You should know, there are certain realities which have already been analysed sufficiently and our elders have come to the conclusion that they are facts.

Thus First Accept what our elders have said over centuries that there is God. Every generation has no need to re-research on the same before accepting! There is no need for reinventing the wheel.




Then the Youth asked his next question:

Q 7: “Sir, our religion has been telling us about Paramapadam, also called Moksham or Sri Vaikuntam and that our Acharyas and Family elders are still living there. Sir, is it true that there really is a Sri Vaikuntam and our ancestors are living there still?”

The old man pondered over the question asked to him. Then he said, “Well, my dear Young man, I would tell you a story which might answer your question on Sri Vaikuntam. Here is the story”, he said.

Once upon a time, a mother conceived a twin. Weeks passed and the twins developed. As their awareness grew, the twins explored their life. They found their mother's cord that gave them life. The first child said to the other, "How great our mother's love is, that she has given us our lives!" The second child responded, “How do you know, we have a Mother? Have you ever seen our mother?" “No” said the first child. "Maybe she only lives in our minds." The first child had no reply.

More time passed. In a few months, the twins noticed how much each was changing. "What does this mean?" the second child asked. "It means our stay in this world is drawing to an end." said the first child.

"But I don't want to go," said the second child. "I want to stay here always." "We have no choice," said the first child. "Maybe there is life after exit", he continued.

"But how can there be?" responded the second child. "If there is life after exit, no one who had exited before us has returned to tell us there is life after leaving this world. I think once we exit this place, we do not live any more”.

So the last days in the womb were filled with deep questioning and fear.

Finally, the moment of exit from their world arrived. When the twins had passed from their world, they fell into an altogether new world. They opened their eyes and cried with joy - for what they saw exceeded their fondest dreams. What a great fantastic new world it is, in comparison with the one they lived before!!

There is life after birth……...
And similarly there is life after death.
Believe, our Poorvacharyas and our beloved family elders continue to live in a happier world, even today!!




The Youth then asked his next question.

Q 8: “Sir, if God resides in Sri Vaikuntam, what is the sanctity of idols in our Temples?”

The old man replied, “My dear Young man, you see God lives in different forms.

The form in which He lives in Sri Vaikuntam is called ‘Param’. The form in which He lives In the Milky ocean is called ‘Vyuham’, The form in which He took birth in this world in ten Avataras is called ’Vibhavam’.

Then the old man asked the young man, “Have you ever been to the sea shore and heard the noise of the sea?”

Yes, of course”, the young man said.

“And have you ever put the sea shell on your ears?”

“Yes, I had done that at home in my childhood and listened to the noise of the Sea coming from within the sea shell”.

“Yes, just like the noise of the sea resides in each and every sea shell, the God resides in the heart of each and every one of us. And this form is called ‘Antaryami’. And it is this Antaryami that guides you in your day to activities…...Well, have you ever felt your inner voice that said NO when you were out to do something wrong?

“Yes sir, I had felt this inner voice.”

“And this is Antaryami—God speaking to you and guiding you.”

And now to the form of God in our Temples. This form is called the ‘Archa’.

Thus God has different forms and we can worship Him in every form. “

The old man then asked, “Well, are there photographs of yourself in your house?”

“Yes sir, there are”, the young man replied.

“How many of your photographs are there in your house?”

“Six or seven”, the young man said.

“Well, there must be different photographs of yours, as a baby, as a child, as a teenager and as you are today. Isn’t ? In these photographs of yourself, you may be in different forms, but all of them are only YOU. Am I right”

“Yes sir”

“Thus, God may be in different forms, but they are all ONE “, he concluded.




After knowing that there are many Roopas i.e. different forms of Lord, the Youth asked his next question. He now asked a very fundamental question.

Q 9. He innocently asked, “Sir, please tell me what does God do to us?”

The old man was flabbergasted. He never thought that the Youth would ask this very basic question. Then he remembered about a poem that he read sometime earlier. He got up, went to his book shelf, picked up the relevant book and opened the pages. After finding the poem he handed the book to the Youth and asked him to read the same to know what God has done to us. The poem was as under:

All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens
Each little bird that sings
He made their glowing colours
He made their tiny wings.

The purple headed mountain
The river running by
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky

The cold wind in the winter
The pleasant summer sun
The ripe fruits in the garden
He made them every one.

He gave us eyes to see them
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty
Who has made all things well !






The youth was impressed with the poem on God’s Contribution to humanity. But then he posed his next question.

Q 10. “Sir, if the God is so merciful as explained in the poem, can you please tell me as to why there is so much of suffering in this world and why God allows many people to suffer?”

The old man replied. “My dear Young Man, you know that of the many creations God made, the humans are special. No other creature was given the wisdom and ability that the man was conferred. The man was the only creature that was gifted with a Mind and the Free Will. With these gifts the man is able to read, write, speak, paint, work, invent and achieve many things.”

“But, you see, with this Free Will, the man could do anything—good or bad.”

“The Divine rule is that if the man does good, he would get good results and if he does bad, he would get bad results. This is called the Law of Karma, the law of cause and effect. It only means ‘As you sow, so shall you reap’. You cannot sow thorns and reap mangoes. So, please understand that people who suffer are those people who had committed wrong and thus suffer the consequence”, the old man concluded.

The youth then asked, “Sir, there are many people, who had committed wrong but still they are leading a happy life. What do you say for this?”

The old man replied, “My dear young man, you do not really know the personal life of those people whom you say, have done wrong and are leading happy life. We all have problems, but in public we maintain a happy face. So when you say, I am leading a happy life, that is your perception and you do not really know what is happening in my life.”

The old man continued. “And then, there are some causes that produce their effect immediately and there are other causes that produce their effect after a long time. “

“If you over eat, there is immediate effect, of indigestion. But then if you smoke, you find the ill effects over a period of time. “

“Thus people suffer because of their own doing out of their free will. It is this reason, even within the same family one may be rich and another poor; one may be healthy and another sick. All this, good or bad, is the result of one’s karma and God cannot be blamed for one’s suffering.”





Thus the Youth was told that God cannot be blamed for the problems of human beings and that all problems that we face are our own creations.

The Youth then asked his next question.

Q. 11 He said, “Sir, many times when we are in trouble we make prayers to God to help us. But majority of times we do not receive any help and we fail in our endeavors. Sir, Please tell me why God does not answer our prayers many times?”

The old man said, “My dear young man, you have asked a very good question. You must understand that God answers all your prayers. Only you may not hear His voice.

May be He answers our prayers sometimes with a NO, sometimes with YES and some other times with an answer which is neither YES or NO.

But then, think what a catastrophe it would be if God answered every prayer of every one? Terrorists may be praying for the worst for the world. What would happen if God grants their prayer? May be an incompetent student prays for 1st rank. What would happen if God grants his prayer?

Thus God cannot grant everyone’s prayer every time. He has to be choosy in granting our prayers.

There is also another angle to it. If God were to concede every one’s prayer every time, He would become our servant. Suddenly, He would be working for us instead of us working for God! Thus, be aware that God knows when to grant our Prayers.

Let me explain you further.

When your idea is not right, God says NO.
NO when your idea is not the best
NO when your idea is absolutely wrong
NO when though it may help you, it could create problems for some one else.

When the time is not right, God says SLOW.

When you are not right, God says GROW. The selfish person has to grow in unselfishness. The timid person has to grow in confidence. The dominating person has to grow in sensitivity. The critical person must grow in tolerance. The negative person has to grow positive. The pleasure seeking person has to grow in compassion for the suffering people

But, when everything is alright, God says GO. The door to your dream suddenly swings open and there stands God saying “Proceed” !!





Well, the youth was told as to why God cannot grant all our wishes all the time. He was further told that God has given us a thinking brain which he has not given to other creatures. This means that God wants us to think for ourselves and steer out of problems.

Here was his next question.

Q. 12

No comments: