Frequently one comes across the concept that Kṛṣṇa’s names are Kṛṣṇa Himself. The reason this is a difficult concept is that śabda or a word, in our experience, at best gives parokṣa jñāna or knowledge that is obstructed from the seer or subject’s perception in some way. If […]
A curious notion in the minds of many in some modern sects of Caitanya Vaiṣṇavism is that they are in the material world because they envy Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The explanation proffered is that one’s desire to be the center of attention reflects an intrinsic desire to take God’s […]
We have seen the definition of pure or uttamā bhakti elsewhere. Many practitioners tend to mix pure bhakti with other methods like karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga and dhyāna-yoga which gives rise to varieties of mixed bhakti. Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī’s commentary on the Gītā explains the various mixtures at various places, […]
Maharajji answers questions about guru, which we reproduce below from Śrī Guru darṣanam (page 204 onward)
Is the universe real? What does the word ‘real’ mean?
Hinduism has so many gods and so many scriptures. Why?
Caitanya Vaiṣṇavism has come to be associated with proselytizing in modern times. However, a deeper study of the foundations of the tradition appear to not support the notion that ‘preaching’ was the main purpose of Śrī Caitanya. I have written about this elsewhere. We can also discern this […]
A sincere question comes from a lack of understanding, and it is the duty of a teacher to answer it.
In the previous two articles, we saw how the first four Vedānta-sūtras map onto the first verse of the Bhāgavatam. We now examine the fifth and final sūtra, 1.1.5 ikṣater nāśabdam: 1.1.5 Because of the mention of [Brahman’s] act of seeing, pradhāna [is not the source of creation]. […]
We continue our examination of the mapping of the Vedānta-sūtras onto Bhāgavatam 1.1.1.
This is a summary of the Paramatma Sandarbha.
The word ‘anādi’ is a simple word. Yet, in recent decades, much confusion has surrounded it owing to novel interpretations offered for it by some modern sects of Caitanya Vaiṣṇavism. Here we examine what it means according to our ācāryas like Śrī Jīva Goswami and Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravarti. […]
