Q   Can’t we communicate with God directly? Do we need festivities, poojas, rejoicing, or a huge crowd ? Do we need a Guru? If there is God, then why can’t we have direct communication with Him?

I agree with this question cent percent. There is no seeker, there is no sought. You are God; there is nothing in this world that is alien to God. There is none other than God, there is nothing else but God. This is our only principle.

But, assume you suddenly wish to visit Badrinath. You do not know where Badrinath is, the facilities there, how long it will take you to reach that place, or how much the trip would cost. You need to find out this information, as also the rituals conducted at temples there. So what would you do? You will enquire from pilgrims who have earlier visited Badrinath: 'Is it a difficult trek? Will it be cold? Can we rent horses or should we trek?'

If the question this brother has asked translates to, 'Can't I go directly to Badrinath?' the answer is -– yes, you can go. You need not seek guidance. But when you are guided, the path is made easy. Your mind is set -– you know how much it would cost, how many days it will take. So to avoid the risk element –- that is, in the effort to do yourselves, you may have some gain and you may lose something. You may incur unnecessary expenses -– maybe spend Rs.5000 on a pooja that normally costs Rs.30. Some such embarrassing incidents result when you go inexperienced, without the Guru as escort.

If there is someone called God, in the journey towards Him, if you chance upon a Guru as a fellow traveller, it will be helpful. Why should you think that he is higher than you? You can look on him as someone with more experiences.

Coming to the second part of the question –- can't we directly communicate with the Lord? As long as you have the confidence that you can directly communicate, you do not require anyone's help.

If you know that you can be in direct communion with the Lord, you have the requisite ability and qualification, you do not need any guide. That's why Vivekananda said that the New Faith declares a person who lacks confidence as an atheist.

I agree that you are God. If you have faith in yourself, that too is faith in God. I agree that there is no separate entity called God. But till the time you reach that total, realized confidence in yourself, you need a guide.

Some time back, a family from Kotturpuram who worship Seshadri Swamigal invited me to their house for Sathsangh. In my discourse there, I explained that all these poojas are required for understanding the functioning of the Lord's Kingdom. If you send a petition to the Prime Minister of India, it will reach his assistant first. That assistant may read the letter and dump it in the trash bin. If he is honest, he will send it across to the concerned department. You may get a reply from him that 'your petition has been forwarded to the concerned department of your state for consideration'. It is possible that those department officials throw it into the dustbin after reading it. Or it may be filed for further consideration or rejection.

When you want some work done with the Prime Minister, you will first get in touch with the politicians close to him for recommending your case. They will plead your case with the Prime Minister or the concerned department to consider your case. That department will not check out the worth of your petition. You will be granted the favour based on the status of the politician who has proposed or recommended your case. If you really want your file to be considered, such a channel is required, even in your known circle. If you ask why such things happen, why these government officials cannot do their duty properly -– there is no answer. This is how things happen. God's kingdom functions in a similar way.

God does not take into account any of these worldly matters. He is in a state of eternal bliss –- unmindful of His existence. Siva Shankar Baba is in such bliss, charging you with his exuberance, dancing, laughing, joking, talking and showing you so much love. All these material matters and inanities are unnecessary to the Soul. I am happy when people come to me with spiritual doubts rather than ask for astrological advice. My soul finds joy only in spirituality.

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa used to plead with Kali, 'Can't you give me four good seekers, at least today?' Even a Mahatma wants a real seeker. So, forget about him being a senior; in terms of being more realized, being prepared to sacrifice even his life in service for you -- if you get such a Guru, what do you lose? Nothing!

What do you lose by coming to Siva Shankar Baba? I don't ask for any fees, donation or money. Whatever flowers or fruits or sweets you bring to me, I return to you. In fact, I help you along your way. So what do you lose by coming to me? Here is one man who doesn't need anything from you, who is willing to give you total love, without any motive -- I do not ask you for anything. I give you Selfless Love.

You will not get This Love from your father, or mother or wife or children. I challenge you. There is an earthly attitude in their affection -– a worldly dimension. But my love surpasses everything. You yourself are witness that I do not differentiate in any way -- I am impartial.
I treat everyone equally.

Even towards persons who are new to Samratchana, I express love based on their souls' qualification. I am loving and compassionate towards all, without any difference. When your love reaches such levels, when your love grows to such dimensions, you can also enjoy the bliss I do now.

God is in a perpetual state of bliss, transcending all, dancing in ecstasy. Whatever Siva Shankar Baba is, Siva is several crore times that. I am just the shadow of Siva. If I were so exuberant, how much so, Siva would be?

Why would He bother about whether your well provides water or you need to sink a borewell? He has got individual departments -– the sub deities. God created these deities, like He created birds, animals, and human beings. They are highly evolved Athmas -– they are more intelligent than human beings.

Birds are able to build nests -– we are unable to. Elephants are able to carry heavy weights -– we are not. Spiders are able to spin webs -– we cannot. This specific talent is called creativity -- Kriya Shakthi. But we are able to tame a huge elephant. This is called Gnana Shakthi. A celestial (devatha) is one who has more of this talent. Since these deities are wiser, God set them the task of ruling over the other creations human beings, birds, animals and such other living beings.

It is we who provide for the monthly income of our government officials, -– through the taxes we pay to the Government. The money paid as tax by those who are governed is given as income to those who govern. So also, God set the task of ruling the world to the celestials and specified the poojas and Havirbhagams of Homams as their food.

Varuna rules Water Department, Saraswathy rules Education Department, Mahalakshmi – Finance Department and so on. But they do not make the highest form of God. All these are positions. Indra is a position. Nothing else. That’s why Azhwar sang, ‘Even if I get the pleasure of ruling over Indraloka, I do not want it, O SriRanganatha!’.

There have been so many Indras. You would have read in the Puranas, that when a ruler performed major Yagnas, Indra, fearing that he would lose his position, created obstacles for the completion of the Yagna, by stealing the sacrificial horse, spoiling those kings’ meditation and the Yagna. All this, because Indra is a position. If Indra loses that, he loses his power… like in present day politics, ministers go to extremes to safeguard their posts.

Our prayers reach the celestials. These celestials are nobler than government officials of the world. They have certain values, good conduct and ethics. When your prayers reach them, they check out your balance sheet -– check out your past actions and consequences and decide whether to consider your case, accept it or reject it. So what you need to do is, hold on to someone like Paramacharya, Koti Swamigal, Ram Surat Kumar Swamigal, Shirdi Sai Baba, Raghavendra Swamigal, Seshadri Swamigal or someone close to these deities. How did these Mahaans secure this proximity? He, who is prepared to undergo the Fire of Sacrifice for the world’s good, obtains a place in God’s kingdom, positions, and boons. Mahaan is a position. If you want to attain that position, you must become unselfish. As long as you keep hoarding for yourself, you cannot reach that position.

(Baba's replies to other questions continues next week)