(Q & A session in London Euro Datta Centre on 24th August 2000)
Compiled by Sri H.V.Prasad

At the beginning of the Q & A Session, Sri Swamiji cautioned the devotees who had gathered there as follows:
Let us have a question answer session. Ask only spiritual questions. Don’t start to think and come up with questions.

Question - We understand the law of Karma and incarnation and reincarnation. How about animals? If an animal is killed, is it law of Karma where animal pays its Karma or is it law of nature?
Answer - Animals have no free will. Animal when it dies or killed, it is paying its Karma. Slowly they move to the level of being born as humans. So, many people whom we find good and charitable and righteous suffer and it causes us confusion. We have to understand that they are paying for their previous life’s actions. Their goodness in the present birth has only limited consequence. They will reap the benefit in subsequent births. So, start to be good from today onwards. Be happy that the Lord has given you air to breathe and food to eat. Help others when ever possible. We have to have the fear that killing or eating animals will bring us bad Karma.
Question - What about those in medical researchers who have to kill animals?
Answer - They have no Karma consequence here. It has been said in the Shastras that the intent is important. The research is for world well-being. Even Ashwini Devathas had this question. Brahma has cleared them saying those in medical profession are exempt from sinning or merit. Brahma told them to be righteous and to do Tapas and Satsang. Those in medical professions and big doctors feel ego that they have saved many lives. But actually he has no credit or merit. Ashwini Devathas and Dhanvantari are good examples. The Ashwini Devathas are the doctors for Angels. They expressed your doubt before many Yugas. It is an old question. It is like saying a tape recorder gets merit because it has sung so many songs.
Question - What about organ donation? Some feel that if you donate an eye, in your next birth you will be born with out one eye. What is it?
Answer - It is an old question. Dadhichi, a great sage gifted his spinal cord to Indra to make a weapon of it. Indra then asked Brahma if Dadhichi would have problem in his next life and Brahma had already clarified that Dadhichi would not be suffering but instead would benefit from this act. So, please donate organs and save lives.
Question - What about Nazi Germany when Doctors used such experiments on humans?
A-Dharma is Sookshma. Dharmic truths are very subtle and sensitive. Each action has consequence and is bound by the law of reaction. It is sin to arrogate yourself to be the authority. You should be an instrument of God.
Question - When you live your life, you have choices of doing good and bad. Some choose more good over bad and vice versa. Some may not pray God, but still are good humans. What about them?
Answer - They are following the qualities of God. He is already a realized soul. He won’t get benefit just by doing Puja and Vrata. These acts are just for purification and discipline. One has to develop the character of piety and do well. Many present day situations cannot be explained. Probably after 20 or 30 years, realisation may come. The younger generation look for results even before acting. That is wrong. Seeking spiritual truths needs conditioning of mind and body. Many of the rituals are mainly for preparing the mind for spiritual journey. But my finding is that the present day younger generation is very good and understanding. They will come up in life. It is our Karma that many people only look at dark sides of life.
Question - Why did God create all this confusion and hatred and violence?
Answer - Because he is compassionate. He was kind enough to create and one day he will merge you all with him.
Question - Is it true that everything is God?
Answer - Yes. That is what Vedanta says. Learning Vedanta is not important. Experiencing is more important.
Question - Is God not happy?
Answer - He is happy, He is with joy and he is with love yet with depression and crying. He is everything yet nothing. We have to develop compassion. Many show devotion to God, Sadguru and neglect affairs at home. This is very Bad. Neglecting duties and serving God is bad. You have to have the proper balance of being religious and leading the duties of family. You may have faults. Your family may have faults. Yet we are fighting as if we are saints. Serving God by neglecting affairs at Home will not bring any Punya. Consider your parents, wife and children as your Guru. That is real Guru Bhakti. Hurting your wife and loving Sadguru is a great sin. There are many such people here today. Please change your attitudes. First look after your home. Fulfill the needs. That is your Kartavya and your Karma. Being Dharmic is your duty and taking care of your family is your Karma. Sanyasis have no Karma because they have no family. You all are Grihastha (family holder). Our life should have acceptance at home. Shankaracharya’s mother did not want him to take sainthood when he was a boy. But he convinced her and later only did he take the Sanyasa. I too followed the instruction of my mother. I was not a Sanyasi then. You must face the family Karma and take care of the family because you are a debtor to them as you have derived happiness out of them. Be balanced and make both sides of your life a happy one. Don’t hurt anybody. Try to convince them in a slow and steady manner. You have to win their affection through showing affection only. Not by being abusive. I don’t want to bring troubles in family. Association with Sadguru is considered essential for progress in the spiritual path. It is to clear your confusions and to treat Sadguru as a formless entity. Here much confusion arose and ignorance seeped in and brought many other things in to this association. It is a delicate balancing act. The love you show to Sadguru should be equally showed to all the members of family also. Otherwise you incur the curse of family members. In the end, you will lose both Sadguru and family. In Datta tradition it is even more important. All the Datta family members should understand this very much. However, much the non-cooperation at home may be, yet show love and affection. The first lesson from Sadguru is to be loving and affectionate to the whole creation. You should feel God everywhere. Sadguru’s Love asks for nothing in exchange. That is why it is so original and fulfilling. Mere association brings this feeling. That is why you all are here today. In the story of Prahlada, the boy asks Lord Narasimha that his devil minded demon father is forgiven and blessed. This was in spite of the bad treatment he got from his deceased father. Daya, Love and affection take precedence over the rituals, spiritual exercises and meditations. These acts are only for aiding our achievement of concentration. Then why are we here? In this room for four hours listening to the blabbering of Swamiji? So that you all are away from your bad habits of smoking or drinking or seeing television. That is all.

Jaya Guru Datta