Association Question: How detrimental is the regular association of non-devotees (in terms of family, and business associates)? And what is to be done about it? Answer: It is not detrimental if you are fixed in your goal of devotion to God, rather you will influence them. * Enjoyment Question: Is the aim to stop material
Question: Srila Jiva Gosvami’s Bhakti Sandarbha, anuccheda 286 says : “The asuras, or demons, however, who participated in the Lord’s pastimes in this world, are not present as conscious entities in the Lord’s abode. Rather, they are felt to be there in a figurative sense as representations of the same forms witnessed in this world.
Question: Is it correct to say that if one meditates wrongly one can take the next birth as a material Indian girl; one can only attain gopi svarupa while following the descriptions in the Gosvamis’ books. Anwer: You were right. One needs to submissively follow the indications and descriptions given by the Guru and by
Question: I have studied Sankhya very briefly as part of another course I took at the Hindu University. But, I have been very interested in it ever since. I have read about it and have learned some and been confused some. Your lesson notes are very clear and helpful. Of course, being from the Western
Question: Can you please explain the meaning of the six obstacles in bhakti: kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya. Answer: Kama literally means desire but more commonly is translated as lust, which is one of the most preoccupying desires of the human mind. Krodha (anger): When kama is obstructed anger arises. Lobha (greed): If
Question: I have a question about this verse from Bhakti Sandarbha (312), from Gautamiya Tantra: prItir atra tAdRza-ruciH …. na japo nArcanaM naiva dhyAnaM nApi vidhi-kramaH kevalaM santataM kRSNa-caraNAmbhoja-bhAvinAm “There is no japa, no deity worship, no meditation and no succession of rules. There is only feelings for Krishna’s lotusfeet.” This verse is quoted in
Question: It is said in shastra – ataeva kama prema bahut antara – kama andhatama prema nirmala bhaskara. Prema and kama are totally different from each other. In their tikas to BRS 3.5.2, Sri Jiva and Sri Visvanatha confirm this: nivRtteSu prAkRta-zRGgAra-rasa-sama-dRSTyA bhAgavatAd apy asmAd rasAd virakteSv anupayogitvAd ayogyatvAt Because they see it as the
