Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers Vedic Culture

The Gurukula System in Modern Age

Question: Could you explain the purpose and benefits of the gurukula system and if it still has a place in modern society? What are the qualities of a proper teacher and how are they exhibited in a gurukula? Answer: In the past, when a male brahmana child was seven or eight years old, he was

Read More
Questions & Answers Sadhana

What Is Wrong with Onions and Garlic?

Question: What is the rational, logical reason behind not eating Garlic, Onions, (Carrots, etc)? It seems there is not logical reason, only a reference to a myth with several versions claiming that certain vegetables sprouted for the first time in connection with the slaughter of a cow. Can you give any logical reason for this dietary

Read More
Questions & Answers

God’s Love, Samadhi, Meditation on Intimate Pastimes

Bhagavan’s Love Question: In Paramatma Sandarbha you write: “Bhagavan implies that the bliss of His loving exchange with His devotees is superior to Svarūpānanada as well as Aiśvaryānanada. He says that without His devotees He does not want His own Self or His opulence.” What does it mean that He does not want His own

Read More
Philosophy Questions & Answers

Advaita Vedanta, Shastra

Question: What is the concept of shakti in Advaita-vada? Answer: Brahman has no shakti but Isvara has. Question: From where does Isvara get his shakti? If Brahman, the cause, doesn’t have it, how can the effect have shakti?

Read More
Questions & Answers

Different Ways of Chanting, Focus during Japa

Question: I would like to know which chanting is more powerful, in the mind or audibly. 1) Srila Jiva Gosvami writes in his Krama sandarbha: “The names of God should be chanted loudly.” 2) Baladeva Vidyabhusana explain in the Stava malabibhusana bhasya, “If one chants the Hare Krsna mantra loudly, Krsna personally dances on his

Read More
Questions & Answers

Physical Pain in Bhakti, Pandavas, Balarama’s Favoritism

Question: I have understood that bhakti leads to release from the three sources of miseries. This should also include physical pain. How does this work? Is Krsna going to appear like a kind of anesthesic? Fear of pain is even more fearful than fear of death (for a devotee will get either a new fresh

Read More
Questions & Answers

Krsna’s Body, Dramatic Writing according to Siddhanta

Krsna’s Spiritual Body Question: In Bhagavad Gita the Lord says ‘ksine punye martya-lokam vishanti’ and also we know from scriptures like Brhad-bhagavatamrita that the demigods regularly have the audience of Lord Vamanadev. So they develop such devotional credits by being in the direct presence of the Lord and serving Him in some ways. So how is

Read More