Questions & Answers
General Questions & Answers

Reconciling Conflicting Statements

Question: As you often cite Gītā verse 7.14 to support that only bhakti to Kṛṣṇa delivers one from the material world, what would you say about the following verse from Śiva Purāṇa? “One who takes refuge with you, has surely taken refuge with me. The one who thinks that you (Hari) are different from me

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Questions & Answers

Spiritual Substance, Interpretation of the Mahāmantra

Question: Brahma-samhitā (5.29) mentions the term cintāmaṇi. In one of its purports, it is referred to as a transcendental gem: “Just as māyā builds this mundane universe out of the five material elements, so the spiritual (cit) potency has built the spiritual world out of transcendental gems.” Also, in one of the commentaries on Brhad Bhāgavatāmrta (2.4.49),

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Questions & Answers

Fear of Rebirth and Doubt, Causeless Mercy

Question: I have been practicing bhakti for about 10 years and somehow I have become discouraged in my practice because of doubts, thus I am humbly asking for help. First of all, since we are endeavoring for Goloka, is there a sign that confirms that one will go there after this life (and not after

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Questions & Answers

Bhāva, Kurukṣetra, Worship

Anu- or Sāttvika- Bhāva Question: As far as I know, sāttvika-bhāvas are a subset of anubhāvas (i.e., they are both citta-stha-bhāvāna avabhodaka) but sāttvika-bhāvas are distinct from anubhāvas in a sense that they arise without any buddhi. The citta affects the prāṇa so strongly that the prāṇa manifests a physical effect directly, bypassing the intellect. This seems

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Gaudiya Philosophy Questions & Answers

Jīvas, Absolute Reality, Brahman, and Bhagavān

The Nature of Jīvas Question: One thing you could confirm is the definition of adrṣtā within Gaudīya Vedānta. I’m looking at Govinda Bhāṣya 2.3.49 onward. The discussion is regarding the difference between jīvas. They are not similar on account of their adrṣtā and karma. However, their essential nature is the same. I have checked that

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Bhakti Gaudiya Philosophy Questions & Answers

God’s Compassion – Part 3

Question: In Paramātma Sandarbha, Annucheda 93, it is said, “Bhagavān did not rescue Gajendra out of empathy for his pain, but rather because of his surrender in the form, ‘You are my only shelter.’” But He resides within the heart of every jīva as Paramātmā. How does He remain neutral to the threefold miseries of

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Questions & Answers

God’s Compassion – Part 2

Question: Thank you for your reply. You have raised some interesting points. My understanding is that Jīva Gosvāmi ultimately admits that there is no harm in thinking that Bhagavān’s knowledge of material misery is an indirect cause of Bhagavān’s compassion. The direct cause is His compassionate affection toward His devotees, who do feel compassion for samsārins, desiring to give them bhakti. Thus

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