Questions & Answers
Gaudiya Philosophy Questions & Answers

Guru-tattva: Saṅga

Question: You wrote that if one’s guru falls down, then one should accept another guru. However, some disciples of such a controversial guru argue that it is wrong to give up one’s guru because the guru should never be given up. They also cite the famous Gītā verse, api cet su-durācāro, which says that even

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Questions & Answers

Guru-tattva: Dīkṣā- and Śikṣā-guru

Question: A dīkṣā-guru is accepted by taking a mantra in a ceremony, but how is a śikṣā-guru accepted? Could any Vaiṣṇava, from whom we hear lectures, be our śikṣā-guru? Shouldn’t the śikṣā-guru also accept a person as a śikṣā disciple? If yes, how does this happen in today’s world, where all lectures are available online

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Gaudiya Vaishnavas Questions & Answers

Guru-tattva: Necessity of Guru

Question:  I would like your educated opinion about the necessity of a “living” i.e. physically present guru. There are a lot of strong opinions on this topic that are very often one-sided and pushed with an agenda. I am mainly interested to know whether it is legitimate to follow a guru’s teachings without ever having

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Questions & Answers

Souls and Cells

Question: What happens at the time of conception? How does an ātmā choose a sperm or an egg cell? Does each sperm cell have an ātmā? Answer: There are certain mysteries in this universe, which are not known to human beings. Karma, birth, and death are three such mysteries. These mysteries are under the control

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Bhakti Questions & Answers

Bhakti and Neuroscience

Question: In a seminar about the nature of the mind, you had mentioned that the subtle body (manas, buddhi, ahaṅkāra, citta) expresses itself through the physical brain, chemicals, etc. Therefore bhakti, Kṛṣṇa’s spiritual energy, also expresses itself through the manas, buddhi, ahaṅkāra, citta, and the brain chemistry. This may mean that theoretically, it should be

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Questions & Answers Shastra

Understanding Śāstra Properly

Question: In Bhagavad Gīta 4.12, Śrī Kṛṣṇa states that people approach the devas for quick benefits. It is also said that devas like Lord Śiva, “Āśutoṣa”, become quickly pleased with their worshipers.  However, in Bhāgavatam 3.24.27, Kardama Muni says in his glorification of Kapiladeva that a deva becomes pleased with the worshiper only after a

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Questions & Answers

Realizing Kṛṣṇa’s Sweetness

Question: In Bhakti Rāsāmṛta Sindhu 1.2.24, Śri Rupa Gosvāmipāda quotes SB 3.25.26 about Śri Kṛṣṇa’s beauty, and how a bhakta can never desire any sort of mukti after realizing Śri Kṛṣṇa‘s sweetness.  This makes perfect sense to me. I do have a doubt about the experiences of jñāna-mārga saints, especially those from Maharashtra who had

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