Lord Krishna: Reciprocation of Lord Krishna

Q. Kindly inform me on what basis we identify Krishna/Bhagavan Vigraha, which is sat chit ananda, with deity/archa which is made up of matter. I want to know the Gaudiya logic and appropriate scriptural backing.

Q. While practicing Krishna consciousness, sometimes I am very enthusiastic and sometimes I feel very morose. The cause for being morose is not being able to see any change in my attitude. Please help me.

Q. Is the choice of our spouse predestined by karma (are marriages made in "heaven")? Is it predestined by God? Does my free-will have a role in such a choice?

If I like one person and am neutral towards another, how do I make a decision that is best? Should I simply surrender to God and let God decide - is such surrender cowardice or escapism? If God will make a decision, how does God decide in such situations - will God take my preferences into account?

Q. It is known that If one comes forward one step, Krishna comes forward ten steps. But in BG 4.11 Krishna says: "As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly." How should we understand that contradiction?

Q. Is it wrong to pray to the Lord to help us in the situation that we are placed in? Is that considered totally material and why does it sometime feel that the Lord does not reciprocate? Is it some shortage from our side? How do we react to such situations?

Q. I would just like to ask if a bad person can love himself (is it allowed to)? Can this help him to become a better person?

Each one of us is part and parcel of Krishna. Thus originally we are all pure; the soul itself is neither bad or good.

Q. I am coming to realize that a ship without a captain can have no direction and could get lost; in the same way I'm constantly thinking of choosing a Guru to help me understand and lead my life in the proper guided direction. How to make this difficult choice with so many great learned spiritual teachers (Gurus) out there?

Q. 1. I was just reading BG 2.40 and had a question in relation to what Krishna says there:

Is it the case that anyone performing any small amount of devotional service for the explicit purpose of pleasing God, with or without the knowledge of what is actually pleasing to God, will have the chance to be born again in a body suitable for taking up devotional service (meaning, at least a human body)?

Q. 1. It is said in the scriptures that taking diksha is very important. In ISKCON we see many spiritual masters. How should one decide whom to choose?

Please see Digest 223 and our other discussions on the topic of Initiation, where similar questions are discussed.

Q. 2. Should one choose spiritual master himself or wait for mercy of Lord in the form of Spiritual master? Sometimes it is also said that one should not be for long time without a spiritual master. Please guide.

Q. Some burning questions and my problems brought me to Krishna Consciousness. Seeing a few devotees who extended themselves for help made me start practicing with a little faith. Now I am somewhat attached to those devotees deeply and feel big pain when I see them in pain. Sometimes I feel what kind of God is Krsna who is keeping His devotees in so much pain (sometimes physical or other problems) even after they have spent all their life worshiping His name. I find myself helpless and stuck not being able to help them anyway. And it shakes my faith as well. When we don't have anyone around in trouble, we have to fight alone having no choice. But when we take shelter, we want to be saved from the problems of life.