Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, a revered spiritual master, offers profound insights into how one can stay connected to Radha Krishn while navigating life’s challenges. In this enlightening Q&A, he shares how to avoid being ensnared in maya by keeping the Divine close to heart and remembering life’s ultimate goal. He also emphasizes that the true purpose of pilgrimage is a journey of devotion rather than a mere excursion. Through these teachings, Swami Ji connects seekers with the deeper essence of spiritual practices, and guides them toward eternal bliss.
Question & Answer with Swami Prakashanand Saraswati
Question: Swamiji, how can I stop myself from becoming enmeshed in maya?
Answer: Keep in mind the aim of your life. Then you will be careful. If you always feel the presence of Radha Krishn with you, you won’t get caught by maya.
Question: What does it mean that Radha Krishn’s decorations are not separate from them?
Answer: The scriptures and Saints have described that in the Divine world nothing is lifeless. The whole of the Divine Vrindaban is part of Radha Krishn’s personality: the Gopis, plants, mountains, atmosphere. When we wear something, it is separate from us. All the shringar of Radha and Krishn, Their crowns, anklets, Krishn’s flute, etc., are part their personality. Sometimes it is said that a particular rasik Saint of Vrindaban is the descension of Murali, Krishn’s flute. But this is not for meditation, it is just philosophy for understanding the Divine phenomena.
Question: Please explain the right way to go on pilgrimage.
Answer: Pilgrimage is a part of devotion, so all along the way he should keep his mind in thoughts of God, keeping away from worldly entertainments. He should have some books like biographies of Saints, Ramayanam or Bhagwatam to read on the way to keep his mind in the devotional realm.
These holy places have been established by our great Saints and Sages – they are like a Divine nucleus. People living an ordinary life with family and children do not get much time or opportunity to think of God closely. Pilgrimage of this sort is a kind of boon for them, where they can spend all their time in thoughts of God as they are away from their home town and the hassles of their work or business.
Normally what happens is that while going to a holy place people think of God but as soon as they have the darshan of the deity and start back home their mind is totally engrossed in their business affairs and they begin to realize the days they were away from their business. This is not correct. The success of a pilgrimage is only when a person going on pilgrimage is in thoughts of God. When he sees the deity he should be engrossed in a feeling of closeness to God and while coming back he should be further engrossed in feeling the closeness of God. This is the correct way of doing a pilgrimage otherwise it becomes like a sight-seeing trip. Accomplishment of a pilgrimage is to feel the personal presence of the Beloved form of God in his daily life.
Conclusion: Swami Prakashanand Saraswati highlights the importance of remembrance of the Divine to avoid the pitfalls of maya. He further explains how to get the most devotional value from a pilgrimage. Prakashanand teaches that true spiritual journeys immerse us in divine thoughts and can help us to create a lasting connection with Radha Krishn in everyday life.
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