Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers

Liberated and Empowered Beings

Question: Is there any difference between objects which are originally from svarūpa-śakti and those that are tādātmya prāpta (iron in contact with fire acts like fire), such as items offered to Kṛṣṇa? For example, will there always be a difference between the offered objects like flowers and flowers from Vaikuṇṭha? The body of a pure devotee

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Questions & Answers

Chitta, Perception of the Self, Sudarśana

Question: My question is regarding the concept of citta, which you present as the “unconscious mind”. On many occasions, I have heard/read that what we may call the “subtle body” is divided into three departments: ahaṅkāra, buddhi and manas; but on other occasions I´ve also heard/read that citta is included as a fourth one. At

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Questions & Answers

How to Understand Dhruva’s Rage?

Question: What can explain Dhruva’s rage in attacking all the puṇya-jana upadevas in revenge for his brother? Answer: What is there to explain? If someone kills your brother, would you not be upset? It is human nature. Devotees are human beings too. Moreover, Dhruva was a king and it is the duty of the king

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Gaudiya Vaishnavas Questions & Answers

Siddha-Deha and Nitya-Līlā

Question: My Gurudeva and you both state that our siddha-deha is inactive until it is actuated when we attain svarūpa-siddhi. I like your example of the siddha-deha decorating the spiritual world in a passive way like a flower decorates an altar. Also, I love the example my Gurudeva gives of wonderful dress, not fitting us

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Questions & Answers

Devas in the Material and Spiritual World

Question: What is the difference between the demigods who manifested during the time of creation from the false ego in the mode of goodness (and manifested before the birth of Brahmāji asper the 3rd Canto) and the demigods who took birth from mother Aditī after the birth of Brahmāji? Answer: The devas who existed before Brahma’s birth are

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Questions & Answers

Līlā Smaraṇam, Sense enjoyment and Suffering

Question: Some devotees say that we should focus mainly on hearing about Vraja-līlā, otherwise we may end up in Vaikuṇṭha/Dvārakā/Mathurā/Hastināpura instead of Vraja. This idea doesn’t sound correct to me, but I would like to hear your response to such an argument. Answer: People say all sorts of things. So if the argument is that if one does

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Questions & Answers

Types of Worship, Impersonalism, Universal Form

Question: Why would a Vaiṣṇava Upaniṣad, like Gopāla Tāpanī Upaniṣad, recommend that one meditate on the concept “I am Gopāla” or “I am He”? This is a little confusing to me. How do we understand such statements in śāstra? Answer: Śastra is for all. But not everything in it is meant for everyone. It is like a

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