uestions on today's Swami call: In Gaudiya Vaishnavism it is taught that devotees embody five types of love. How is the type of love chosen? How do the attributes of the soul play a part in our lives or reflect into our everyday lives if in any way? Can you explain how a samskara that happens in time can have an effect on an eternal svabhava? Can you explain the analogy of the gold box and the gold-plated box that is used to describe different types of perfected persons? Srila Saraswati...

0:00 News. 01:19 How come we cannot shorten the realization gap between disciple and guru faster? Why does it need to take several lifetimes? 14:38 On this long path, how do we make sure to not go astray? 21:11 In the Uddhava-Gita it is said that there are three ways to worship: Vedic, Tantric, and mixed. Can you elaborate on this? 24:51 Some devotees are of the opinion that the book distribution in the early years of ISKCON not only gave the mission a bad reputation but also harmed those...

0:00 If one prays to Sri Krishna for a material boon before one learned that it is more wise to simply ask for devotional service to Sri Krishna, and the boon was granted, should one keep the boon or return it? 04:35 What would your opinion be of a devotee giving harinama initiation to others after having distanced themselves from their own guru who was engaged in bad conduct? 09:16 Dandavat pranama, Guru Maharaja. In your book Circle of Friends you outline the progression from sthayi-bhava...

0:00 Technicals details. 0:46 Is the division of Vishnu into Karanadakasayi, Garbhodakasayi, and Ksirodakasayi unique to the teachings of the Gaudiya sampradaya? 6:06 Dandavats, Maharaja. Thank you for maintaining your association with us every Sunday. Can you please share an explanation of the term ‘aesthetic rapture’ that you often use? 25:56 When did Sri Sukadeva Goswami study the Srimad Bhagavatam? 30:34 Why did Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu need the permission of Sri Advaita Acharya to...

0:00 News. 00:01:37 What is the origin of harinama-initiation in Gaudiya Vaishnavism? Who is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's harinama-guru? Is someone with only harinama-initiation a full member of the tradition?  00:13:47 Can you share something about the pastime of Srila Jiva Goswami appearing to Srila Prabhupada at Radha Damodara mandir? 00:18:42 It is common for religious groups to consider themselves the chosen ones, that the form of God they worship is the highest, and that the names they...

Questions on today's Swami call: 0:00 Appearance day of Bhaktivinoda Thakura 00:20:38 Working as a counsellor, I sometimes feel depleted when having to deal with the grief of many people. What can I do in my Krishna consciousness to handle situations like this? 00:28:37 How should we think about the details of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s inner life, given that his relationship to his diksa-guru, who is said to have revealed those details to our Thakura, appears to have been distanced at...

Questions on today's Swami call: 0:00 How should we understand arcana? Regardless of the different standards of worship found in different temples and homes, what are your general guidelines regarding arcana? 00:21:52 How should we understand the statement of Sri Krishna, “ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān”? 00:36:00 In Brhad-Bhagavatamrta, Srimati Radharani refers to Janasharma as her devotee as he is worshipping Durga, who is her expansion. Is Srimati Radharani’s blessing Janasharma because he is...

Questions/topics on today's Swami call: Lord Balarama and the sandhini-sakti It appears that Nityananda Prabhu does not manifest vatsalya-bhava as much as he does as Lord Balarama. What could be the reason for that? What can I do when I desperately need sadhu sanga, but my immediate situation does not allow it? What are the fundamental teachings that you impart to your married and unmarried students with regards to chastity/sexuality? Sri Krishna says we should think of him and love him,...

Questions on today's Swami call: 0:00 Dandavat pranams, Maharaja. My question is, why did Srila Sridhara Maharaja not like the phrase “thank you”? 00:13:23 What does it mean that some rasas are incompatible? 00:25:11 Does Bhagavad-gita 9.14 explain how we can worship Sri Krishna with love despite our western unfavorable upbringing? 00:31:39 What is bhajana? How does one progress from anisthita bhajana-kriya to have bhajana? 00:45:17 I have heard that the naimittika lilas of Sri Krishna are...

Questions on today’s Swami call: 0:00 Does the stage of unsteady devotional practice (anisthita bhajana kriya) manifest differently in eastern and western practitioners? 00:09:20 In my understanding, true bliss can only be experienced in love, and love requires a lover and a beloved (asraya and visaya). Still it is said that there is ananda in Brahman. Can you explain this? 00:34:15 With the simplicity, lack of majesty, and focus on nature and animals in Vraja-bhakti, could we say that...

0:00 News. 00:01:28 What do you think of the idea that we should tolerate our own anarthas and that we should not tolerate others anarthas. 00:10:44 Does Balarama catch the coded messages that Krishna gives to the narma-sakhas? 00:15:03 Please can you share a few words about the meaning of Nityananda Gayatri? 00:23:15 The Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu mentioned that some of Krishna"s enemies attain sarupyabhasam- a form similar to God's form in which they remain absorbed in the happiness of...

0:00 Introduction 00:02:47 Srila Sridhara Maharaja Tirobhava Mahotsava 00:52:35 Can you comment on the final days of Srila Sridhar Maharaja being with us? 00:53:57 To what degree should we engage our intellect when receiving siksa. 01:10:20 What are the books written by Sridhar Maharaja? Which ones would you recommend for us? 01:14:05 What can you share with us about Pujyapada Sridhara Maharaja's inner mood and his siddha deha? Any examples or hints? 01:30:15 Would you say Sridhara...

Questions on today's Swami call: 0:00 Technical details. 00:01:47 Can you explain the division among the pioneers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement into gopalas and mahantas? 00:08:49 How does the devotional practice of remembrance (smaranam), as recommended and exemplified by Prahlada Maharaja, relate to the time factor? 00:16:45 If Sri Krishna’s quality of being a meticulous dresser (suvesa) is an excitant (uddipana) only for sakhya-rasa, what about the times that Sri Krishna...

Questions on today’s Swami call: 0:00 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura wrote about how some devotees focused on Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as the life-force of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, while others focused on him as the life-force of Sri Gadadhara Pandit. Is this related to what you talk about as the two windows of opportunity--sakhya and madhurya--in our sampradaya, one given by Sri Nityananda Prabhu's lineage and the other by lineages stemming from other associates of Sri Caitanya...

Questions on today's Swami call: Why did the cowherd boys fearlessly march into the mouth of Aghasura, assured of Krishna's protection, but when there was a forest fire they became frightened and cried out to Krishna? How did Sri Krishna deal with the fact that he could not marry Srimati Radharani? What is a balanced way to see the importance of guru, sadhu, and shastra on the one hand, and the caitya-guru on the other hand? Can one take guidance from the caitya-guru directly in higher...

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