Here are the answers to the basic questions on life, which we all have. From the Bhagavad-Gita and Shrimad-Bhagavatam.
It is very important to get a reference from the scriptures to support the answers to questions, because some gurus will make things up to deceive and mislead people.
01. Are You this lump of matter (the body)?
We are the soul and not the body. The living entity is the soul, which is within the body, and not the body. The car is driven by the driver and not the car, in a similar way, the body is controlled by the soul.
(Bhagavad-Gita 2.13 and many others)
02. Where were You before this life?
Just as we exist now, we existed before this life in another body, and we will continue to exist after this life in another body. (Bhagavad-Gita 2.12)
03. Where will You be after this life?
We exist in our current body in the material manifestation, due to our past desires and deserves. After this body we will continue to exist in another body, exactly based on our desires and deserves.
(Bhagavad-Gita 14.14-15)
04. Have You always existed (eternal)?
Yes. We are the soul which is eternal. This body where we have now is temporary, but we (the soul) are eternal.
(Bhagavad-Gita chapter 2, many verses)
05. Why do You exist?
We exist in this material world, called the material manifestation, due to our own desire. Before our material world existence, we were all in the spiritual manifestation, the Kingdom of God. The words ‘Back to Godhead’ is mentioned thousands of times in the Vedic scriptures. This means we were once there in the Godhead and now we have a chance to go back.
Reference Bhagavad-Gita 9.28 and many others in Shrimad-Bhagavatam.
06. Are You being tested on like the animals by scientists?
We are not tested because we are not animals in a laboratory and God is omniscient, He knows the past, present, and the future. He does not need to test us. We suffer or enjoy based on our own actions (Karma).
(Bhagavad-Gita 4.17)
07. Why are some born blind, some rich, some poor, etc.?
Karma. Life is an intelligent design; nothing happens by chance. Based on your previous life actions, you will suffer or enjoy in this life. Based on the action you take now; you will suffer or enjoy in the future.
08. Why do You suffer?
Karma. We are suffering or enjoying based on our past actions. As we sow so shall we reap.
(Bhagavad-Gita 17.2 and others)
09. Why do some suffer more than others?
Karma. Those who took very bad actions in their past are now paying for their actions, suffering.
(Bhagavad-Gita 16.19-20 and others)
10. Are animals food for humans?
No, animals are not food for humans. The humans are given dominance over the animals. This means the humans should be taking care of the animals and not eating them. The parents are given dominance over the children. Does this mean the parents should eat their children?
11. Do you eat lizards and snakes?
No? What happened to the logic of animals being food?
12. Why is there a variety of species?
The variety of species is due to the variety of mentalities developed by humans. These mentalities are transformed into birth in the animal kingdom after the human life, among the 8 million species in the plant and animal kingdoms. The soul transmigrates from one body to another through each of the 8 million plant and animal species before getting another human body. There are 400,000 species of human beings. There is evolution of consciousness among the various species and not evolution of the same body.
“jalaja nava lakshani, sthavara laksha-vimshati, krimayo rudra-sankhyakah, pakshinam dasha-lakshanam, trinshal-lakshani pashavah, chatur lakshani manavah” (Padma Purana)
(Also Bhagavad-Gita 13.22, 15.10, 15.8)
13. What is Your relationship with God?
We are all part of God. We are all sparks of God.
(Bhagavad-Gita 15.7)
14. Is God eternal?
Yes. God is eternal.
(Bhagavad-Gita 11.18 and other scripture)
15. Are God’s instructions eternal?
Yes. If God is eternal, His instructions must also be eternal.
(Bhagavad-Gita 11.18 and other scriptures)
16. How many times has God appeared on this planet?
Millions of times.
(Bhagavad-Gita 9.6, 4.6 and others)
17. How many books can one man compile?
There are many humans who have compiled more than 100 books.
18. How many books has God compiled?
The God of Sanatan-Dharma has compiled thousands of books. There are more than a million verses today in the scriptures of Sanatan-Dharma, compiled by God Himself in Person. There were many millions of verses but now only a million remain, most of the Vedic knowledge has been lost due to many reasons including destruction by invaders.
19. What is Time and why is it eternal?
Time is one of the energies of God, and it’s eternal because God and His energies are eternal.
““I am also inexhaustible time…” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 10.33)
20. What is Matter and why is it eternal?
Material nature or matter is one of the energies of God, and it’s eternal because God and His energies are eternal.
“Material nature and the living entities should be understood to be beginning less. Their transformations and the modes of matter are products of material nature.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 13.20)
21. How old is the universe and when will it end?
The lifespan of the universe is 311.040 trillion years. The current age of the universe is 155.52197 trillion years, and it will end in 155.51803 trillion years’ time.
(Reference, Bhagavad-Gita 8.17, 9.7, Shrimad-Bhagavatam 3.11.34-38, 9.4.56)
22. The Bhagavad-Gita is the only scripture which is suitable for taking oath on?
The Bhagavad-Gita does NOT advocate slavery, stoning people to death, burning people, eternal sentencing, taking females captive, diving humanity based on religion, intolerance towards any religion, etc…
The teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita comply with laws of countries like USA, U.K., Canada, etc.. and thus the Bhagavad-Gita is suitable for taking oath on in courts and for government positions like the presidency.
The Bhagavad-Gita is truly the universal scripture which is of benefit to all living beings.