DEVOTEE:
Greetings, Gurudev.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Greetings, my son.
DEVOTEE:
Gurudev, we receive many comments on your YouTube channel. One recurring question is: Why are those who pray to God and remember Him often in such misery, while those who don't believe in Him seem to live in happiness and have no financial problems? We would like to hear your perspective on this.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
It is not a complicated matter. Look, I often say, "Don't bother calling out to God." What is the point of calling upon someone who doesn't eat, doesn't wear clothes, and doesn't sleep? It might seem like there is no benefit.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
However, from another perspective, calling upon God is very important. God never said, "Call me, and I will make things good or bad for you." Both those who call Him and those who don't receive His grace. When the sun rises, does it give one kind of light to Kolkata and another to us here? No, it spreads equally. Similarly, God is universal. He is there for the one who calls Him and the one who doesn't.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
But why should you call Him? One reason is that when you call God, those around you are enlightened by your light. You aren't doing it just for yourself; you are doing it for the well-being of everyone around you. You shouldn't be envious of who is well-off or who is struggling. "Today's king is tomorrow's beggar"—it is all a play of destiny. No one can hold onto these things forever. God gives them to you to use for a while, then He takes them back and gives them to someone else.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Think of it like an atomic charge. It doesn't just affect the point of impact; it affects the entire surrounding area. Similarly, those of you who pray are doing a service for others. Because of people like you, the world is still turning.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Sorrow is necessary. Without sorrow, no one remembers God. When people are in deep pain, they call out to Him. You might feel bad because you are in pain while your neighbor is wealthy, but you shouldn't feel envy. Pray that they stay well.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
A sandalwood tree makes all the trees around it smell like sandalwood. Similarly, when you pray, you aren't just doing it for yourself—you are doing it for everyone. Some people, driven by money or influence, think God is nothing and they should just enjoy life. They are atheists. But because of the believers, the world retains some goodness.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Look at science; it is falling behind. Science cannot cure many of the new diseases emerging today. I believe spirituality is coming to the forefront much faster than I anticipated. If you come here at 6:00 AM, you will see how much people crave a connection with God. But they lack a true guide. Most of what you see in the "market" are businessmen—fake gurus selling charms and amulets. They are only interested in money.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
But for those who truly seek, God takes their burden. When a mother takes the burden of her child, the child no longer has to worry.
DEVOTEE:
Gurudev, you have been here in this cremation ground (Shamshan) for a long time, leading a life of meditation. You have many high-profile disciples. Isn't that a great achievement? You said you only gain "ashes" from the cremation ground, but you have earned so much respect.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
How does it help me? If my disciple is a millionaire, what does that change for me? They had a "debt" from a previous life, and I am here to settle it by giving them initiation. I have disciples from America, London, and Canada. They don't know me personally, but they feel a pull. It is their destiny.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Respect is not something given; it is something you must earn. People come to me when they are in danger or in pain. When someone is in agony, they cry out "Ma" (Mother) or "Baba" (Father). That cry is a cry of suffering. People call me "Gurudev" or "Baba" out of that same desperation.
DEVOTEE:
There was a comment asking why we never see you worshipping the Mother (Goddess Kali).
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Once I have given the mantra and the duty of worship to my disciples, I should not perform it myself. I have passed that responsibility on. However, I still "hold the door" for the Mother. When someone is in trouble or in the hospital, I pray for them. My relationship with the Mother is intense—sometimes there is even a bit of "conflict" or "argument" between us because of the suffering I see.
DEVOTEE:
For the viewers, when is the best time to come and see you?
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
People should come between Monday and Friday, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. I don't see people on Saturdays, Sundays, or on specific lunar phases like Amavasya or Purnima. By the time I see 100 people, my mind is heavy with their stories of sorrow. No one comes here laughing; everyone comes crying.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
I remember a woman once brought some simple sugar drops (batasa) to a temple. The priest there threw them away because they were cheap and he wanted expensive sweets. I scolded him. I told him that the only thing the Mother would "eat" that day was those sugar drops because they were brought with pure devotion.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Another time, a poor woman who sold eggs dreamed of a Kali temple in the jungle. She searched and searched until she found me. She brought dry garlands and a couple of simple sweets. She was so happy to have found the place from her dream. That is true faith. God doesn't want your expensive clothes or gold; He wants your love and devotion.
DEVOTEE:
Thank you, Gurudev, for these beautiful insights. My respects to you.
GURU SHYAMA KHYAPA:
Blessings to you, son.