Receiving Mantra Diksa by Tape Recording
The will of the Vaisnava is the heart of the affair. If his will is in place, if he gives his consent, the connection is complete and everything else surrounding initiation is secondary.
Read MoreArchive for the ‘Sanga 2002’ Category
Ekadasi: The Day of God
Often the scriptures make these kinds of statements to motivate persons to follow vows out of fear for what will happen to them if they do not. Fear is the most basic motive for serving God, followed by prospect, duty, and love.
Read MoreSri Caitanya and Madhvacarya: Different Angles of Vision
This does not mean that either the Gaudiyas or Madhva are wrong, but rather that the Lord has revealed himself to them from different angles of vision and has thus given them the power to support their respective visions with scripture.
Read MoreSex Desire and Our Karmic Experience
The chanting creates a bright future for us, whereas restraint is both a by-product of the chanting and further supports the chanting. Never give up the chanting of the holy name under any circumstances, even if it may seem hypocritical at times given the strength of your material desires.
Read MoreThe Brahma Sutras of Badarayana
Sankara himself admits that sutras 1.1.16-17 are concerned with the difference between Brahman and the individual soul. However, Sankara adds his own comment, declaring that the difference only exists on a lower level of reality.
Read MoreLilas, Avataras, and Demons
Regarding Krishna lila, in a drama there must be some bad guys, but inside they are not so. Again, in the highest vision, all are devotees, except for ourselves.
Read MoreHarinama and Diksa Mantra
The knowledge of one’s relationship with Krishna is within the diksa mantra and the guru will instruct his disciple as to the efficacy of this mantra. It leads to the liberated stage of svarupa siddhi.
Read MoreWomen and the Gayatri Mantra
While it was not customary for initiated Gaudiya Vaisnava women in Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura’s line to chant Brahma gayatri, my own Guru Maharaja’s innovation in this regard represents once again the insight of an empowered devotee.
Read MoreMoksa and Mayavada
Mukti (liberation) is included within prema bhakti, but the desire for liberation gets in the way of cultivating prema bhakti. This notion is perhaps unique to Gaudiya Vaisnavism and thus distinguishes it from many other lineages.
Read MoreTaking Shelter of a Bona Fide Spiritual Master
Without this (cultivating humility and chanting the holy name) nothing else will bring one to the spiritual platform, and with this alone one can attain the goal of life. Of course it is to be understood that this practice must be received from a bona fide guru, and that it is remotely possible that even without chanting, by his mercy, one can attain perfection.
Read More
