FAQ on Caitanya Vaiṣṇavism
Inspired by an FAQ I came across on a Sri Vaiṣṇavism site, I have prepared a similar FAQ on Caitanya Vaiṣṇavism. Happy Reading!
The three types of meanings of Sanskrit words
Three types of meanings are typically accepted for Sanskrit words. Here we list a discussion of the three types of meanings by Sri Babaji in his commentary on Bhagavat Sandarbha, Anuccheda 98: “All literature, including the Veda, is composed of words. Every Sanskrit word (pada) has a meaning […]
The unique contributions of Śrī Jīva Goswami
In the cast of stellar Indian theologians, Śrī Jīva Goswami occupies an important position. He made several unique contributions to Indian theology that were not present before his advent. Śrī Jīva’s theology stands out not only because it draws exclusively from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, but also because he […]
śraddhā in bhakti is śāstriya śraddhā, and is nirguṇā
A key qualification on the path of bhakti is śraddhā, which is generally understood as faith. However, the word śraddhā indicates something very specific in the context of uttamā bhakti. Śrī Jīva Goswami takes this topic up in some detail in the Bhakti Sandarbha. Here we examine his […]
Bhagavān and Brahman are related as dharmī and dharma
In the Bhagavat Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Goswami does an extensive and relentless analysis of the relationship between Brahman and Bhagavān. The advaitavādis claim that Bhagavān is nothing but Brahman delimited by māyā. Bhagavān according them is vyavahārika reality, and not pāramārthika reality. That is, the ultimate and only […]
Hitopadeśa : recognizing a deceptive spiritualist
The spiritual prospects of many a modern sādhaka fade owing to entrapment by smart and savvy individuals who come across as authentic, scholarly spiritualists. In the Indian cultural context, a lot of thought has historically been given to protecting oneself from such dangers. The Hitopadeśa is one such […]
Kṛṣṇa and not unqualified Brahman is the Bhāgavata’s satyaṁ paraṁ
The Bhāgavatam is a long and comprehensive work which has 17000 verses. It is studied by Vaiṣṇavas and Advaita Vedāntins alike. These two groups differ in their interpretation of what the core subject of the Bhāgavatam is. The Advaitins claim it is Brahman. The Caitanya Vaiṣṇavas propose that […]
Why the dārśanikas disagree with each other
A common question is why there are so many religions. Many religions claim to be the ‘only way’. All of them cannot be correct! Even within the same dhārmic fold, the dārśanikas disagree with each other. For example, nyāya posits ārambhavada- an effect does not exist in its […]
Q/A: dying in Vṛndāvana
Maharajji answers questions in Śrī Guru Darśanam, p 490 Question: Many people believe if they just leave their body here in Vṛndāvana, they will go to Kṛṣṇa-loka. What is the actual destination of somebody who leaves his body in Vṛndāvana? Answer: Just by dying you do not go to the […]
When śāstra clashes with pratyakśa
Jambūdvīpa is not an account of a physical reality. The purāṇas contain a bewildering array of information about the material world that does not match with pratyakśa or direct perception. A typical example is the account in the purāṇas of a lotus-like Bhū whose pericarp is the Meru […]
Avoiding yoga khicaḍī
There are three broad divisions of yoga – karma yoga, jñāna yoga and bhakti yoga. Understanding these three yogas is important so that one’s sādhanā matches their respective definitions. Otherwise, one is liable to be a khicaḍī yogī who mixes practices of the three paths with each other. […]
Bhagavān has no experience of material misery
A perennial question is why people suffer in the material world. If God is benevolent, why does He not immediately relieve people of suffering? The suffering of people suggests that God is either cruel, or He is incapable of alleviating the suffering of others. Śrī Jīva Goswami provides […]
