Question: Could you kindly help me understand the following words of Srila Prabhupada regarding the fall-down from sāyujya-mukti? “In the opinion of many scholars, this sāyujya-mukti, although counted among the five kinds of mukti, is not actually mukti because, from sāyujya-mukti, one may again fall down to this material world. This information we have
In today’s digital world, spiritual seekers have more access to teachings and resources than ever before. Jiva Institute, with its mission to preserve and share the ancient wisdom of the Vedas, has been at the forefront of offering high-quality content to those who are eager to deepen their bhakti practice and understanding of Vedic philosophy.
Question: In Bhakti Sandarbha, Anuccheda 238, Śrī Jīva suggests serving Vaiṣṇavas after seeking permission from one’s guru, otherwise such service may be faulty. He also suggests distancing oneself from one’s guru if he doesn’t allow association with genuine sādhus. In such a case, how does one reconcile the following points? It is impractical to ask
Sometimes, a wife may ask someone, “Please pray for my sick husband”. We don’t usually take the time to contemplate this kind of statement, or to understand what it really means, and instead, we just try to say or do something to pacify the distressed person. Depending on what kind of empathy we have, we
Question: Are there a precise number of souls at the beginning of creation, or do the souls multiply? Answer: Do you mean to ask, at the beginning of this particular creation? This is not the first creation but the latest one. Creation follows dissolution, and then it repeats. The cycle of creation and dissolution has
Question: Who are the ācāryas we take as final authorities to settle differing opinions? Answer: Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the propounder of our sampradāya. Therefore, Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the ultimate authority. But He did not write any philosophical works, as is seen in the case of the propounders of other sampradāyas, such as Śrī Rāmānujācārya. However, he personally instructed
Question: I am of the opinion that politics and religion should be separate. One should not mix them while working for the government. Is it wrong to have such an opinion? Answer: Wrong from whose point of view? Politics is called rājanīti—the principles followed by a king for administering his kingdom. The king or ruler
