Jiva Institute has just released a brand new edition of Tattva Sandarbha, which is the first book of Jīva Gosvāmī’s Ṣaṭ Sandarbha. The first edition, published nineteen years ago, has been out of print for some time. The new edition has been completely revised from start to finish. The entire text has been re-translated from
Question: I am taking your view very seriously. It is plausible and searching, but so far I find such a God less attractive than the soul-making God I defend. Answer: There are two ways to know or understand God. One is from our view, the other is God's own view about Himself. They both can
Question: Allow me to share my reservations about the Playful God. I understand the psychology of wanting to serve the one you adore, but only when service is needed does it make any sense. All my research tells me that service rendered by evolved spirits in the afterlife is one of the keys to their
Of the Six Sandarbhas, Tattva Sandarbha is the smallest in size, but not in importance. As its name suggests, it discusses the Reality (tattva) that is the ultimate subject to be understood and realized. Tattva also means “essence,” and thus Tattva Sandarbha provides the essence of what is to be elaborated upon in the rest
Śravaṇam precedes kīrtanam and smaranam because it is impossible to remember or glorify something one has not yet heard about. Despite this practical primacy of śravaṇam, kīrtanam is actually of primary significance and importance, and, therefore special attention should be given to its practice.
In the 7th Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Śrī Prahlāda speaks two verses to his demoniac father Hiraṇyakaśipu, which, in brief, contain the essence of the primary forms of bhakti. In the following we will discuss an explanation of these verses based on the commentary of Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī. śrī-prahlāda uvāca śravaṇaṁ
In the Seventh Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, there is a very interesting dialogue recited by Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī about the liberation of Śiśupāla who was killed by Kṛṣṇa during Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja’s Rājasūya-yajña. Śiśupāla was Kṛṣṇa’s cousin, but hated ...
