Is black magic real – what should devotees targetted by it do?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
So, as a devotee, he is told by an astrologer or someone that somebody has done some black magic against you and because of which you are having some problems.
Then what should the devotee do in such a situation? Should they also try to counter that black magic by some other means or should they just let it go? How real is the whole thing? See, firstly, the there are three levels of reality. There is physical reality, there is mental reality, as well as sexual reality and there is spiritual reality. So, most of modern science or because all of modern science focuses on physical reality and that which is mental, science doesn’t talk about it at all.
So, because of that, there is a whole lot of things which often science is not able to explain. So, there is much that operates at the level of the subtle reality and black magic also operates at the level of the subtle reality. So, now it is not that anybody will claim that there is black magic and actually black magic doesn’t work.
So, there is a tendency within the human mind to try to externalize one’s problems. That means, I have a problem and I try to put the blame for that problem on something outside and that way we try to take responsibility for that. And that is an unhealthy tendency.
Ultimately, we have to do something to deal with the problem. Now, Prabhupada did talk about how ghosts are real and ghosts can possess people. So, ghosts are basically beings who exist at the subtle level.
They are souls who had bodies in the past but they have lost the physical body and they don’t have any physical body. So, they are souls and such a body is just moving around and they may enter into somebody’s gross body. So, at one time, when Dehode went to Prabhupada and he said, Prabhupada, I am feeling all kinds of strange desires.
I think a ghost has possessed me. So, Prabhupada replied, this is just the weakness of your mind. He was very determined and his bhakti had to go.
And that’s what happened. So, it’s not that any problem you face you should look for some paranormal cause for that. It’s like I told earlier that there can be weak mindedness and people may try to look for some psychiatric cause for the problem.
So, there can be a real psychiatric problem. And similarly, there can be a real paranormal cause for the problem also. But you shouldn’t just jump for that and look for the solution.
And if some devotee is facing a lot of problems unexpectedly and not able to cope with the problems and one feels that that after going to ashram, there seems to be something paranormal. So, at that time, it is best if one can intensify specific forms of bhakti which can deal with paranormal things. So, usually, there are devotees I know who had this kind of problems.
There were 3-4 general things. One is that they wear Narasimha Kavach. Then, whenever they feel any danger, they try to chant the Narasimha Aarti.
And there is also Narasimha Kavach Stotra, which can be recited. And every night, they regularly eat the 7th Chandra of the Bhagavatam that Narasimha Ilai has described. And basically, take more and more Chandra of Narasimha.
And just by specific forms, specific things, you do more. Chant Narasimha Stotra. Chant Narasimha Kavach.
Recite the words as strong as Narasimha Ilai in the Bhagavatam. And especially, if some friends get problems in dreams, when they sleep, then chant Narasimha Aarti or Narasimha Kavach before sleeping. Just keep the 7th Chandra of Bhagavatam, Chant Narasimha Ilai, close to the bed and sleep.
In all these, Narasimha Ilai is a protector. So, by seeking this protection, we can get relief from most problems. Even after doing this, sometimes the problems are not solved.
And if a devotee feels strongly driven, I think this is a paranormal problem, some black magic has been done, I have to do some solution for this in the terms of combating the black magic, then we should not make that a faith issue. That it is not, I don’t have faith in Krishna, that’s why you are doing this. See, they know all that philosophy.
And if at that time they feel this is a solution, we don’t have to come in between them and the solution. It is their life and their choice. And we should encourage them to practice bhakti at whatever level they can.
So, sometimes certain circumstances may involve such problems which they may feel are intolerable. I just need some other solution. So, if that’s what they want to do, we don’t have to malign them or minimize them for seeking that solution.
We can encourage them to practice bhakti and do whatever is required. So, sometimes, if I have a sickness and I go to a doctor, I clearly know the difference between the material and the spiritual. I know the doctor can solve my problem, say my stomach upset or my bone fractured or whatever.
But the doctor cannot help me to come out of psychosis. And so the doctor doesn’t become an alternative object of worship. That was just a practical problem.
But when it comes to the subtle realm, if somebody goes to an exorcist or if somebody goes to an astrologer, at that time, whatever recommendations they give, they can become alternative forms of worship. And then it can become a challenge to others. But if a person is philosophically well grounded and in certain emergency situations, one feels that I should do this and this will solve my problem and then I can practice bhakti.
More, greater focus in facing the problems. Then we don’t have to stand between them. We just let them do whatever it takes and encourage them to continue practicing.
Does it answer your question?