Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa
Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Bhakti Shastra

The Two Divisions of Pure Bhakti – 2

Vaidhī, Rāgānugā and Svābhāvika Bhakti: The natural function (svābhāvika vṛtti) of the senses in relationship to bhakti is of two types. The first occurs, when a person follows the injunctions of scriptures to approach a spiritual teacher, takes instructions from that teacher, and thereby practices pure devotion. By regularly practicing devotion he or she moves

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Bhakti Philosophy

The Two Divisions of Pure Bhakti – 1

This article describes the two divisions of pure devotion, known as vaidhī and rāgānugā, based on Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s explanation of Śrī Kapila’s statements in the 25th chapter of the Third Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Philosophy

The Self and Free Will in the Caitanya Sampradāya – Conclusion

One of the knotty problems in Vedānta is the relation of ātmā with the three guṇas of prakṛti. Ātmā, although conditioned by the material guṇas, never contacts them. The guṇas of prakṛti are not inherent in the ātmā and have no direct contact with it. The self does not have any type of relation with

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Vaishnavas Philosophy

The Self and Free Will in the Caitanya Sampradāya – Part 6

Different Types of Vṛttis - All acquired knowledge, valid and invalid, is a product of the mind (mano-vṛtti). Śrī Kapila says that there are five types of vṛttis (SB 3.26.30): saṁśayo 'tha viparyāso niścayaḥ smṛtir eva ca svāpa ity ucyate buddher

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Philosophy

The Self and Free Will in the Caitanya Sampradāya – Part 5

Because the nature of ātmā is jñāna, it is self-luminous. The ātmā’s intrinsic “I” is called ahamartha and is not the same as the conditional “I” called ahaṅkāra, which is projected through the mind to form a knot between ātmā and a material body. Ahaṅkāra is tangible as the delusion that a material body is

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Philosophy

The Self and Free Will in the Caitanya Sampradāya – Part 4

Section 2:  The Conception of Advaita-vāda Advaita-vādīs offer authoritative quotations: yo vijñane tiṣṭhan — “It is that which is situated within consciousness.” (Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad, 5.7.22) vijñānam yajnam tanute — “Consciousness performs sacrifice.” (Taittriya Upaniṣad, 2.5.1) jñāna-svarūpa — “Its intrinsic form is consciousness.” (Visnu Purāna, 1.2.6) Referring to these statements, they claim that ātmā is the

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Vaishnavas Philosophy

The Self and Free Will in the Caitanya Sampradāya – Part 3

Ātmā is nitya-nirmala, ever pure. This means it never mixes with the qualities (gunas) of matter (prakṛti), it is always distinct from matter, factually untouched by it. This is evident from a statement in Bhāgavata Purāna (5.11.12): “The pure self witnesses the activities of the impure mind.”

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