The Gaudiya Heritage

The Gaudiya Heritage

Download

Tantric Tradition

Ours is a tantric tradition in many respects—nana-tantra-vidhanena. Thus the Goswamis have cited the relevant tantras for Gaudiya Vaisnavas. If one prefers a prakrita sahayjia take on Mahaprabhu, that is another thing.

Sweetness

When sweetness is realized in Vraja, if the the sense of Krsna’s Godhood surfaces it ornaments the devotee’s sense of his sweetness.

Attracting Grace

It is not about being qualified as much as it is about understanding one’s lack of qualification. This is what attracts grace.

Theology and Science

Our theory is that consciousness is an ontological reality independent of matter and that this can be experienced.

The Power of Stories of Krishna

The premise that one can attain immortality by hearing the stories of Krishna has the support of revelation. See SB 10.33.39.

Sadhaka Deha

There is a point in one’s practice when external/sadhaka deha characteristics are understood by advanced Vaishnavas to be indicative of one’s internal life.

Removing Doubt

Doubt will be there, but we need to voice it and see if our guru cannot remove it. Also faith in guru means faith in revelation, faith that perfect knowing comes from up to down. The one who has the deepest faith—uttama adhikari—knows the sastra the best and is well equipped with the ability to reason about its implications in any given circumstance, sastre yuktau ca nipunah.

Kevala Sakhya Rati

Regarding kevala sakhya rati, these friends of Krishna headed by Sridama are not unaware of his romantic life, and although they do not directly participate in it, they are nonetheless, like the priyanarmas, pranaya-gamita, or sympathetic to it.

New Light or Preaching Strategy

Take Bhaktivinode Thakura’s position on namabhasa. This is an example of theologizing. He has taken the seed understanding of namabhasa and developed it such that his position is understandable as an improvement or development of the core discussion of the topic.