Re: Does God really punish
Originally Posted by
rv2789
Thanks for all the replies. I have one more doubt in my mind..Pls clear this
If a person prayed to God for something and vowed to do something in return if his wish gets fulfilled, can he fulfill his vow to God in advance, before his wish gets granted? Will God accept that vow which was completed in advance before his wish gets granted?
Also, if the person's prayer gets answered in future, do he has to fulfil his vow again?
Sri Mahaganapataye Namah
Sri Sarasvatyai Namah
Sri Padavallabha Narasimha Sarasvati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namah
Namaste, rv..!!
This is very good to see, indeed it is great to see you posted. Glad to be of help. Probably you can see there are a lot of similarities between the three posters who replied... While each comes from a different lineage, perhaps, there is a primary accord on all the major points.
To answer your question, definitely yes... Sooner one completes austerity, this is generally best. Now, this is a principle in itself... To do something always soon as it is possible, is to make sure it is done. The great value of time is ubiquitous (universal) in shastras and other sources... I.e., every moment should be used for spiritual activities, and not a single second should be lost.
And so, the sooner we would complete our activities, then we can do more good. -- What good, can be many things, -- helping others, being ourselves healthy, active.
Generally God accepts what is given with a pure heart... If we give with love, and with faith, and without any other desire.
Indeed the term desirelessness is found throughout many teachings. For instance, Sri Sarada Devi, who was Sri Ramakrishna's wife, expressed this as very essential or quintessential (when you attain desirelessness, she said, you will attain God.)
So to attain this state, is very good in and of itself, to be free of desires. However, this word can be a hangup in itself sometimes...... I.e., to desire good for others is good and so forth.
What is the nature of the thing asked for and wished for? Should also come into consideration. Sri Swamiji says, it is okay and good to ask for devotion, to ask for conditions that help to bring upliftment, advancement. We should ask for upliftment of all beings. Indeed this is a very beneficial prayer.
On the other hand, we certainly shouldn't wish for a downfall. So, we know our upliftment is best, so what is that? This is where viveka comes in, where discernment of good and bad comes in.... And knowledge, vijnana. .
To ask for God for vijnana is very good... Also our spiritual well-being -- but as we understand always, to make our life dedicated to the well-being of all life is our best course, (and that which is lost beneficial for ourselves, too).
This will also benefit us, and preserve us from any danger. Now, having said this, many asked from antiquity for such things as noble children, or many children....... And it is especially seen in the Vedas for devotees to request God to be in their family.
There are more examples of this than I can count or list; but of course Dattatreya was in this category, so also was Rama, who was Dasaratha's son in the line of Iksvaku. Dasaratha performed two sacrifices for having progeny, with the help of the forest sage, and on the instruction of Guru.
And he was given four royal and heroic (divine) sons, Rama, Lakshmana, (who were always inseparable), and Bharath and Satrughna.
In any case we can say that what one asks for is certainly central.
The Sage Atri also did much penance after which Dattatreya took birth in his family ... Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva appeared before him and asked what is his wish, and he asked them to be born in his family, and so the were. Indeed Dattatreya's name means Atri's Gift.
In this case Atri was given the instruction to do penance before hand, and performed it perfectly. In other cases as well, a devotees may have had no wish, but when asked, requested the Lord to be in their family.
Pranam.
Gam Gam Ganapati
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2mXQjrK1bwQ
Dattavani.org
https://dattavani.org/pravachana-malika/datta-vaakya/
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