Radhanath Swami on The Great God

We are infinitesimal beings who are conditioned with the idea of what is great and what is not. What can we do that is very great? If we do something a little greater than somebody else, it is considered wonderful. And then everyone must read about it, see it, and talk about it. The scriptures describe the activities of the Supreme Absolute Truth that has no limitation, who is all-knowing and can do anything He wants whenever He wants. He is the Controller of all controllers. There is nothing impossible for God. If there was anything impossible for God, there would be no such thing as God, because God by definition means the Complete Whole and the Supreme Controller. Therefore, it is not difficult for all of us to have faith in any story that comes in the authoritative literatures about God.

Radhanath Swami on Bhisma's Surrender

Why in the world would Bhisma want to take the side of, fight and give his life for irreligion? Since time immemorial, this has been a very perplexing and bewildering question. Many people say he was obliged to do so due to his position. But would such a great soul as Bhisma be afraid of going against such superficial principles of social morality at the cost of shooting arrows into the pure devotees of the Lord? On a very superficial level, it is true that he fought on the side of the Kurus because he was obliged to them socially. But the internal reason was that Bhisma was a completely surrendered soul. He was completely pure and had no ambition other than the pleasure of Krishna. His only motivation was to execute the will of God. Therefore, although Bhisma knew that he would be criticized and misunderstood for taking the wrong side for all time to come, he did not care at all for his own reputation. He knew that Krishna had a plan - He wanted to show that anyone who is not on the side of God would be vanquished. And this is the most important instruction for all humanity.

Radhanath Swami on The Laws of Nature

During the making of the constitution of a nation, certain laws of the state are made. But unless there are some authorities to carry out and protect them, those laws have no meaning. Similarly the Lord has created certain laws of nature, and are executed at every step by a law maker. For every action there is an equal corresponding reaction. This is a law of nature. Although this is the law, karma means that according to how you live your life, there will be a certain state of consciousness, a certain thought at the time of death, and according to the nature of that thought you will be carried to the next body. At the time of death, a living being is carried by his subtle body to another gross body. Higher authorities decide what kind of gross body the living entity will have according to the way he has lived his life.