Swami Prakashanand Saraswati is a revered spiritual leader known for his profound insights on devotion and the path to God realization. In this Q&A session, he addresses crucial topics such as the nature of sin, the importance of heartfelt repentance, and the fickleness of the mind. His answers offer guidance for seekers on their spiritual journey. On a broader level, his teachings emphasize the transformative power of loving God and the need for sincere devotion as we navigate life’s challenges and work toward attaining divine grace.
Question & Answer:
Question: Is a sin forgiven when a person repents?
Answer: There are many kinds of sin. If you repent, the sin in fact is not eliminated from the records of your life, but the effect is reduced. If you remain a devotee for your whole life up to God realization, then sins remain inactive, and on God realization they are destroyed. You have to wholeheartedly repent from the heart to Krishn.
Question: Is it appropriate to discuss or share devotional experiences with others?
Answer: Experiences are personal. The moment you tell others there is a subtle pride. If someone is very close you can share, but sharing with everyone is not appropriate.
Question: My mind is very fickle, how can I control it?
Answer: The mind is fickle by nature. It is not possible to absolutely quieten it. It’s like saying, “Why do my eyes see things?’ Eyes see because it is their nature to see. Mind is born fickle. If you control it, either you will enter into deep sleep, or samadhi, or faint.
There are two kinds of fickleness: natural fickleness and emotional fickleness with attachment. For instance: you were thinking of Krishn, and suddenly you start thinking of your son. That kind of emotional fickleness can be controlled. The mind goes to your field of attachment. You cannot control natural fickleness, but you can control emotional fickleness of jealousy, greed, hatred, affection, and their corresponding fields of worldly attachments.
Krishn told Arjun in the Gita that this kind of control is possible. Through thinking of Krishn as your Beloved you can detach your mind from the world. We do the reverse; we multiply our worldly affections. First decide to cut your attachments, and selflessly love God.
A devotee uses his mind and thinks of different objects of Krishn phenomena; for instance: the leelas, the ornaments of Krishn and Radha’s beauty. The mind is still active, but the field of the mind is changed from the material world to the Divine phenomena.
Question: If I pray God for His mercy, is it ambition?
Answer: No. We have to pray to God for His mercy, because He is not only merciful, He is the embodiment of mercy. He is the form of kindness. We have to pray, “Please God, help me to find Your path. Oh Krishn! Help me; how can I come to You?” But, it is worldliness to pray to Him for worldly benefits. You must pray to Him for Divine things. Seeking His help to find a Master, to come close to Him, to develop a love for Him is something you all have to do. Repent for your mistakes, yearn for Him, and seek for His love.