Jagadananda Das, a.k.a. Jan K. Brzezinski (b. 1950), joined the Hare Krishna movement in Toronto, Canada, in 1970 and was initiated by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1971 in Detroit. In ISKCON, he served in various capacities at ISKCON Press in Brooklyn and then at the Dallas Gurukula where he taught Sanskrit, in New
Question: As you know, the Smārtas, Śrī Vaiṣṇavas, and Madhvas differ philosophically. While people at times engage in polemical attacks on Smārtas, the attack on them has become a street fight. What is the attitude of traditional Gauḍīyas toward Smārtas? Do you think it is proper for Vaiṣṇavas to attack Smārta brāhmaṇas? Answer: Let us
Question: According to Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, what happens to nitya-karma upon attainment of vidya (prema-bhakti)? Does it become ineffective, or does it become vidya (prema-bhakti)? Answer: I am not sure if I understand your question. Do you mean what happens to the result of nitya-karmas performed by a devotee who attains prema-bhakti? If yes, then Baladeva
Question: I heard you say that sāmānya-bhakti can be attained without dīkṣā and that it would grant one sālokya. How does sāmānya-bhakti manifest in this world and where does it bring the sādhaka who practices it? Is there any diversity in it? Answer: The word sāmānya means general. The word meaning itself implies that it is
The following are the last questions in the context of Babaji’s podcast interview with Namarasa. Question: If dīkṣā and śikṣā are never separated, why did Narottama, Śyāmānanda, and Śrīnivāsācārya all take śikṣā from Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī who was not their dīkṣā guru? Answer: First of all, I did not say that dīkṣā and śikṣā
The following questions were asked following Babaji’s podcast interview with Namarasa Das. Question: The term bhāgavata-paramparā is commonly used in our saṃpradāya, but you seem to doubt it. I was under the impression that there is no difference between śīkṣā-paramparā, the process of receiving spiritual knowledge through Hari-kathā or spiritual instructions, and bhāgavata-paramparā. Can you
“Can a female be guru?” is a frequently asked question. Such a question did not arise in the minds of people a few decades ago because people in general, and in India specifically, were clear about their identities and roles. With the advancement of technology and science, our lifestyles have changed drastically. This has also
