General
General Sandarbhas

Nāma-aparādha: The Eighth Offense

The Name Is Not To Be Equated with Pious Works Bhakti and karma are two distinct paths. The qualifications needed for the two paths are also different. It is important to know this distinction. One should not use the chanting or kīrtana of holy name as a replacement for a Vedic dharmic ritual. That is

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General

Bhagavan’s Presence in the Murti

Question: Sometimes I don`t experience the presence of Bhagavān in the mūrti, and think that the mūrti is material. At other times, when I am out of my house, it seems that the spiritual is everywhere. Is this normal?  Answer: No, this is not normal. It is normal to feel the presence of Bhagavān in

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General Quiz Shastra

Shastra Quiz 6

This quiz is designed to motivate you to study the Gaudiya Vaishnava scriptures in specific, and the Sad Darshanas in general, which are necessary to understand Gaudiya philosophy properly.  

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General

How to Improve Dreams and Lifestyle

Question: Although I have practiced bhakti for many years, these days I have  been having bad dreams at night. What can be the cause? It even happened when I kept a Hare Kṛṣṇa recording playing softly at the bed while sleeping. Answer: Dreams are of various types. They generally come from the saṁskāras, or imprints

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Bhakti General Sandarbhas

Importance of Sādhu Seva

In Anuccheda 238 of Bhakti Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī describes the importance of service and association with Vaiṣṇavas. Citing the statements of Śrī Kṛṣṇa to Uddhava, he shows how sādhu-saṅga captures the heart of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Incidentally he also talks about how to deal with a situation if one has accepted an unqualified guru. Below

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General Sandarbhas

Śravaṇa-guru, Śikṣā-guru, and Dīkṣā Guru

I receive many questions related to śīkṣā-guru and dīkṣā-guru. At present, the general understanding in the devotee community is that these two are different persons. I do not know the reason behind such an understanding, nor the history related to it. Moreover, there is not a very clear understanding of who is a śīkṣā-guru. In Anucchedas 206 and

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General

Sanskrit Non-Translatables—The Rationale Behind the Book

The  new publication “Sanskrit Non-Translatables” is a ground-breaking and audacious attempt at Sanskritizing the English language and enriching it with powerful Sanskrit words. While it is commonly observed that Sanskrit terms have been inadequately translated into English and thus lost some of their original connotations and crucial nuances, with this book the authors attempt to

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