|
Q:
Now-a-days temples have become a target of robbery. Money, jewelry and
costly clothing are reported to be stolen from the temples and God is
inactive. I mean, God is not able to stop it. Do you think that in
this Kali Yuga, the power or the influence of God has diminished?
A: I would
say that the power of God has not diminished but your understanding
has certainly taken a beating (laughter). Just as wealthy people have
security guards at their gates, do you assume that God is also a
temple security guard, one who protects the wealth?
Have they
(God) ever demanded any material wealth for themselves? Have they ever
told you that we need a house so build a temple for us or that we do
not have nice clothes so adorn us with fine clothing and jewelry? You
have done all that according to your wishes so why would God protect
and take care of such opulence? Are they servants of the temple?
People have
interest in the temple, its jewelry, costly clothing and money, so
it’s their duty to protect it. Why leave that to God? Moreover, why
blame God if anything goes wrong?
For
realized saints everything holds the same value – a stone, a piece of
gold or a handful of soil. It does not matter to them whether people
offer anything or nothing at all. Even if someone take away their
offerings, they remain nonchalant. If saints behave that way then why
would one - who is above all, the supreme deity or God would feel
attraction towards any object? It’s the ordinary people that fight for
money, fame and position not God. If you offer God all the articles or
you offer nothing - that does not affect Him in any way.
So my
answer is, God’s supremacy or influence has not lessened but peoples
comprehension about God has reduced at large.
Q:
Are you in favor of building temples? Are you going to build any?
A: I am not
against the building of temples nor I am in favor of them. However, I
wish that temples would become centers of service. I am in favor of
temples where social services are performed, where activities aimed at
benefiting the masses are taking place. Yes, most definitely I am in
favor of such temples.
In
response to your second question I would say that in my own way I am
already building temples. I am talking about moving temples (human
body) where the supreme deity the ‘atman’ resides. I love to
build such temples which inspire the masses, which exhibit to mankind
the righteous path of progress. I strive to rejuvenate such
dilapidated human temples by invigorating their faith and devotion. I
show them the way to worship the supreme deity ‘atman’ that
resides inside their own temple ‘panchmahabuta’ - the physical
body. I feel satisfaction in my efforts. I have always endeavored for
reconstructing such temples and I will continue to do this in the
future.
|
